1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to metropolitan government; establishing a Blue Ribbon Commission to 
1.3 	study and make recommendations on metropolitan governance; appropriating 
1.4 	money.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON THE METROPOLITAN 
1.7 	COUNCIL.
 1.8 		Subdivision 1.Blue Ribbon Commission on the Metropolitan Council 
1.9 	established. The Blue Ribbon Commission on the Metropolitan Council is established 
1.10 	to study the needs of the region and make recommendations to the legislature and the 
1.11 	governor on the powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities that the Metropolitan 
1.12 	Council should have, the appropriate relationship the Metropolitan Council should have 
1.13 	with metropolitan area local governments, and the appropriate governance structure to 
1.14 	support and enhance those powers, duties, functions, and relationships.
1.15 		Subd. 2.Authority; duties. (a) Among any other topics that the commission 
1.16 	determines are useful for informing the commission's understanding and recommendations 
1.17 	for the Metropolitan Council's powers, duties, functions, and relationships, the commission 
1.18 	shall study:
1.19 	(1) the history and development of regional government in the metropolitan area;
1.20 	(2) goals of local and regional government, whether they are appropriate goals, and 
1.21 	obstacles to achieving those goals;
1.22 	(3) how to ensure adequate and appropriate accountability of the council to the 
1.23 	region and to the constituent local governments and residents of the region; and
2.1 	(4) whether long-term regional planning is compatible with operation of major 
2.2 	regional systems.
2.3 	(b) The commission shall conduct meetings and hearings to gather information 
2.4 	and analysis.
2.5 	(c) The commission shall consult with all interested parties, including but not 
2.6 	limited to:
2.7 	(1) local elected officials and staff of metropolitan area cities, counties, and towns; 
2.8 	(2) the Metropolitan Council;
2.9 	(3) state agencies that coordinate planning or services with or issue permits to the 
2.10 	Metropolitan Council;
2.11 	(4) academics with expertise and interest in regional government models and 
2.12 	local-regional government relations;
2.13 	(5) former chairs of the Metropolitan Council; and
2.14 	(6) other former state or regional officials with experience with and interest in 
2.15 	regional government and local-regional relations.
2.16 	(d) The commission shall report the results of its study to the chairs and ranking 
2.17 	minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over the Metropolitan 
2.18 	Council and to the governor by March 15, 2017. The report may be in the form of 
2.19 	proposed legislation.
2.20 		Subd. 3.Members. The commission shall consist of the following members:
2.21 	(1) three state representatives appointed by the speaker of the house, at least one 
2.22 	each from the majority and minority caucuses;
2.23 	(2) three state senators appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of 
2.24 	the Committee on Rules and Administration, at least one each from the majority and 
2.25 	minority caucuses; 
2.26 	(3) seven public members, one from each of the metropolitan counties, who may be 
2.27 	but are not required to be local elected officials; three must be appointed by the senate 
2.28 	Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration, three must 
2.29 	be appointed by the speaker of the house, and one must be appointed by the governor. 
2.30 	Appointments under this clause must be made as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.31 	15.0597. Appointing authorities are encouraged to consult with each other in making 
2.32 	their respective appointments in order to ensure that appointees represent the diverse 
2.33 	economic, social, and racial population of the metropolitan area, have diverse interests in 
2.34 	and experience with local and regional government, and have diverse relevant expertise.
2.35 	Appointments must be made as soon as practicable after the effective date of this section.
3.1 		Subd. 4.Chairs. The legislative appointing authorities shall each designate a 
3.2 	legislative appointee to serve as cochair of the commission.
3.3 		Subd. 5.Meetings; staff. Meetings of the commission are subject to Minnesota 
3.4 	Statutes, chapter 13D. The Legislative Coordinating Commission shall provide 
3.5 	administrative support to the commission, including posting meeting notices on the 
3.6 	legislative Web site. Legislative staff, the Metropolitan Council, and state agencies shall 
3.7 	provide assistance when requested by the commission. The Legislative Coordinating 
3.8 	Commission may accept gifts, as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 3.303, to support 
3.9 	the work of the Blue Ribbon Commission.
3.10 		Subd. 6.Compensation; expenses. Legislative members of the commission may 
3.11 	be compensated as provided by the respective bodies of the legislature. Public members of 
3.12 	the commission shall not receive compensation, but must be reimbursed for expenses as 
3.13 	provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 15.0575, subdivision 3.
3.14 		Subd. 7.Appropriation. $....... in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general 
3.15 	fund to the Legislative Coordinating Commission to pay the costs of the commission. This 
3.16 	appropriation is available until June 30, 2018.
3.17 		Subd. 8.Expiration. The commission expires June 30, 2017.

3.18 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.