<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>congressional plans;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>chapter 2.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>    Section 1. <b>[2.92] DISTRICTING PRINCIPLES.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>    Subdivision 1. <b>Applicability.</b> The principles in this section apply to legislative <br/>
<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>and congressional districts.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>    Subd. 2. <b>Nesting.</b> A representative district may not be divided in the formation <br/>
<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>of a senate district.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>    Subd. 3. <b>Equal population.</b> (a) Legislative districts must be substantially equal <br/>
<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>in population. The population of a legislative district must not deviate from the ideal <br/>
<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>by more than one percent, plus or minus.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>(b) Congressional districts must be as nearly equal in population as practicable. <br/>
<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>    Subd. 4. <b>Contiguity; compactness.</b> The districts must be composed of convenient <br/>
<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>contiguous territory. To the extent consistent with the other principles in this section, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>districts should be compact. Contiguity by water is sufficient if the water is not a serious <br/>
<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>obstacle to travel within the district. Point contiguity is not sufficient.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>    Subd. 5. <b>Numbering.</b> (a) Legislative districts must be numbered in a regular series, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>beginning with house district 1A in the northwest corner of the state and proceeding <br/>
<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>across the state from west to east, north to south, but bypassing the 11 county metropolitan <br/>
<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>area until the southeast corner has been reached; then to the 11 county metropolitan area <br/>
<a id="pl.1.23"></a><var>1.23</var>outside the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul; then in Minneapolis and St. Paul.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>(b) Congressional district numbers must begin with district one in the southeast <br/>
<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>corner of the state and end with district eight in the northeast corner of the state.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>    Subd. 6. <b>Minority representation.</b> (a) The dilution of racial or ethnic minority <br/>
<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>voting strength is contrary to the laws of the United States and the state of Minnesota. <br/>
<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>These principles must not be construed to supersede any provision of the Voting Rights <br/>
<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>Act of 1965, as amended.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>(b) A redistricting plan must not have the intent or effect of dispersing or <br/>
<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>concentrating minority population in a manner that prevents minority communities from <br/>
<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>electing their candidates of choice.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>    Subd. 7. <b>Minor civil divisions.</b>  (a) A county, city, or town must not be unduly <br/>
<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>divided unless required to meet equal population requirements or to form districts <br/>
<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>composed of convenient, contiguous territory.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>(b) A county, city, or town is not unduly divided in the formation of a legislative or <br/>
<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>congressional district if:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>(1) the division occurs because a portion of a city or town is noncontiguous with <br/>
<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>another portion of the same city or town; or<br/>
<a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>(2) despite the division, the known population of any affected county, city, or town <br/>
<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var>remains wholly located within a single district.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var>    Subd. 8. <b>Preserving communities of interest.</b> (a) Districts should attempt to <br/>
<a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>preserve identifiable communities of interest where that can be done in compliance with <br/>
<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>the preceding principles.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>(b) For purposes of this subdivision, "communities of interest" means recognizable <br/>
<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>areas with similarities of interests, including but not limited to racial, ethnic, geographic, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>social, or cultural interests.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>    Subd. 9. <b>Data to be used.</b> The geographic areas and population counts used in <br/>
<a id="pl.2.26"></a><var>2.26</var>maps, tables, and legal descriptions of the districts must be those used by the Geographic <br/>
<a id="pl.2.27"></a><var>2.27</var>Information Systems Office of the Legislative Coordinating Commission. The population <br/>
<a id="pl.2.28"></a><var>2.28</var>counts will be the 2010 block population counts provided to the state under Public Law <br/>
<a id="pl.2.29"></a><var>2.29</var>Number 94-171, subject to correction of any errors acknowledged by the United States <br/>
<a id="pl.2.30"></a><var>2.30</var>Census Bureau.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.31"></a><var>2.31</var>    Subd. 10. <b>Consideration of plans.</b> A redistricting plan must not be considered for <br/>
<a id="pl.2.32"></a><var>2.32</var>adoption by the senate or house of representatives until a block equivalency file showing <br/>
<a id="pl.2.33"></a><var>2.33</var>the district to which each census block has been assigned, in a form prescribed by the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.34"></a><var>2.34</var>director of the Geographic Information Systems Office, has been filed with the director.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.35"></a><var>2.35</var>    Subd. 11. <b>Priority of principles.</b>  Where it is not possible to fully comply with the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.36"></a><var>2.36</var>principles contained in subdivisions 1 to 8, a redistricting plan must give priority to those <br/>
<a id="pl.3.1"></a><var>3.1</var>principles in the order in which they are listed in this section, except to the extent that <br/>
<a id="pl.3.2"></a><var>3.2</var>doing so would violate federal or state law.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.3"></a><var>3.3</var><b>EFFECTIVE DATE; EXPIRATION.</b> This section is effective the day following <br/>
<a id="pl.3.4"></a><var>3.4</var>final enactment and applies to any plan for districts enacted or established for use at the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.5"></a><var>3.5</var>state primary in 2012 and thereafter. This section expires June 1, 2012.<br/>