1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; creating a task force to examine and recommend the 
1.3 	elimination of unfunded mandates in general education; requiring a report; 
1.4 	appropriating money.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. GENERAL EDUCATION UNFUNDED MANDATES TASK FORCE.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Recommendations and duties. The General Education Unfunded 
1.8 	Mandates Task Force is established to investigate, examine, and recommend to the 
1.9 	legislature and the commissioner of education the elimination of unfunded mandates 
1.10 	related to general education in Minnesota schools.
1.11 		Subd. 2. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have 
1.12 	the meanings given.
1.13 	(a) "Mandate" means a requirement imposed by state law or rules or promulgated by 
1.14 	the commissioner of education or the Board of Teaching upon a school district, charter 
1.15 	school, or private school that, if not complied with, results in civil liability, injunctive 
1.16 	relief, a criminal penalty, or an administrative sanction, including reduction or loss of 
1.17 	funding. This definition does not include requirements imposed by federal law or rules.
1.18 	(b) "Unfunded" means an expected additional cost to school districts, charter 
1.19 	schools, and private schools that exceeds the legislative appropriations to school districts, 
1.20 	charter schools, and private schools to cover these costs.
1.21 		Subd. 3.Membership. (a) The General Education Unfunded Mandates Task Force 
1.22 	shall have 11 members appointed by July 1, 2016, as follows:
1.23 	(1) two members appointed by the governor;
1.24 	(2) two members appointed by the commissioner of education;
2.1 	(3) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the 
2.2 	house of representatives;
2.3 	(4) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the minority leader 
2.4 	of the house of representatives;
2.5 	(5) two senators appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the 
2.6 	Committee on Rules and Administration;
2.7 	(6) one member designated by Minnesota Association of School Administrators;
2.8 	(7) one member designated by Minnesota School Boards; and
2.9 	(8) one member designated by Minnesota Association of School Business Officials.
2.10 	(b) At least three members shall be current teachers.
2.11 		Subd. 4.Terms. Unless replaced by their appointing authority, each member shall 
2.12 	serve until the task force expires.
2.13 		Subd. 5.First meeting. The commissioner of education must convene the first 
2.14 	meeting of the task force by August 1, 2016.
2.15 		Subd. 6.Chair. The chair of the task force must be elected by the task force 
2.16 	membership at the first meeting and, unless replaced by a vote of the task force 
2.17 	membership, shall serve as chair until the task force expires.
2.18 		Subd. 7.Assistance. The commissioner of education, upon request, must provide 
2.19 	meeting space, technical assistance, and administrative support to task force members, 
2.20 	including identifying past reports that have identified unfunded mandates that should 
2.21 	be eliminated.
2.22 		Subd. 8.Report. By January 1, 2017, the task force must submit its 
2.23 	recommendations to the chairs of the committees in the house of representatives and the 
2.24 	senate with jurisdiction over education and the commissioner of education regarding 
2.25 	unfunded mandates that should be eliminated. The commissioner of education must 
2.26 	consider these recommendations when advising the governor on the governor's education 
2.27 	policy and funding budget recommendations.
2.28 		Subd. 9.Expiration. The task force expires January 2, 2017, or the day after 
2.29 	submitting its final report under subdivision 8, whichever is earlier.

2.30 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; GENERAL EDUCATION UNFUNDED MANDATES 
2.31 	TASK FORCE.
 2.32 	$....... in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
2.33 	of education for the duties of the General Education Unfunded Mandates Task Force 
2.34 	established in section 1.