1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; reducing transportation and infrastructure costs through 
1.3 	community virtualization electronic access; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. COMMUNITY VIRTUALIZATION.
 1.6 	(a) For the purpose of this section, "community virtualization" means the application 
1.7 	of telecommunication technologies to more cost effectively deliver and expand access 
1.8 	to services within communities, including but not limited to transportation, health care, 
1.9 	environment, education, commerce, and demands on infrastructure, through a reduction in 
1.10 	commercial and personal trips.
1.11 	(b) The commissioner of transportation shall:
1.12 	(1) assess the impact of community virtualization on travel, emissions, energy, public 
1.13 	infrastructure, facilities, safety, emergency management, and economic development based 
1.14 	upon the development of an occupational profile of employees in each business sector;
1.15 	(2) quantify trip reduction potentials for the transportation network along major 
1.16 	corridors as well as totals by major occupational classes;
1.17 	(3) quantify energy and emissions reductions;
1.18 	(4) estimate the impact of community virtualization on commercial real estate 
1.19 	values, construction, and location decisions;
1.20 	(5) quantify, by sector, managerial awareness of the impact of telework on the 
1.21 	operational performance of employers;
1.22 	(6) develop strategies to evaluate the impact of telework on operational efficiencies 
1.23 	for business continuity;
1.24 	(7) examine current continuity and disaster recovery strategies;
2.1 	(8)  assess how the region may support and improve the community virtualization 
2.2 	process;
2.3 	(9) identify policies or regulations that restrict virtual work; and
2.4 	(10) recommend follow-up activities and deployment strategies.
2.5 	(c) In carrying out the requirements of paragraph (b), the commissioner shall 
2.6 	work cooperatively with employers, insurance industry representatives, telemedicine 
2.7 	representatives, distance learning providers, other electronic application providers, 
2.8 	Internet service providers, community organizations, and employee groups.

2.9 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; COMMUNITY VIRTUALIZATION.
 2.10 	$880,000 in fiscal year 2016 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
2.11 	commissioner of transportation for community virtualization under section 1. This is a 
2.12 	onetime appropriation and is available until expended.