1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to metropolitan government; creating a task force on metropolitan 
1.3 	governance.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. TASK FORCE ON METROPOLITAN GOVERNANCE.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Established. A task force on metropolitan governance is established to 
1.7 	study and make recommendations to the legislature on reform and governance of the 
1.8 	Metropolitan Council.
1.9 		Subd. 2.Membership. (a) The task force consists of the following members:
1.10 	(1) the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with primary 
1.11 	jurisdiction over transportation finance and policy and state and local government finance 
1.12 	and policy;
1.13 	(2) two persons representing cities in the metropolitan area, appointed by the Association 
1.14 	of Metropolitan Municipalities;
1.15 	(3) two county commissioners representing counties in the metropolitan area, appointed 
1.16 	by the Association of Minnesota Counties;
1.17 	(4) one person representing townships in the metropolitan area, appointed by the 
1.18 	Minnesota Association of Townships;
1.19 	(5) one person representing an employee collective bargaining unit of the Metropolitan 
1.20 	Council, appointed by the Minnesota AFL-CIO;
2.1 	(6) one person representing private business, appointed by the Minnesota Chamber of 
2.2 	Commerce;
2.3 	(7) one person representing transit, appointed by Move Minnesota;
2.4 	(8) one person representing institutions of higher education, appointed by the Office of 
2.5 	Higher Education; and
2.6 	(9) two members of the public, appointed by the Legislative Coordinating Commission.
2.7 	(b) The appointing authorities under paragraph (a) must make the appointments by July 
2.8 	15, 2023.
2.9 		Subd. 3.Chair; other officers. The task force shall elect from among its members a 
2.10 	chair and vice-chair and any other officers that the task force determines would be necessary 
2.11 	or convenient.
2.12 		Subd. 4.Duties. The task force shall study and evaluate options to reform and reconstitute 
2.13 	governance of the Metropolitan Council. The study shall include an analysis of the costs 
2.14 	and benefits of:
2.15 	(1) direct election of members to the Metropolitan Council;
2.16 	(2) a combination of directly elected and appointed members to the Metropolitan Council;
2.17 	(3) a council of governments which would replace the current Metropolitan Council;
2.18 	(4) reapportioning responsibilities of the Metropolitan Council to state agencies and 
2.19 	local units of government; and
2.20 	(5) any other regional governance approaches that are viable alternatives to the current 
2.21 	structure of the Metropolitan Council.
2.22 		Subd. 5.State; metropolitan agencies must cooperate; subcommittees. The 
2.23 	Metropolitan Council and state and metropolitan agencies shall cooperate with the task 
2.24 	force and provide information requested in a timely fashion. The task force may establish 
2.25 	subcommittees and invite other stakeholders to participate in the task force's study and 
2.26 	development of recommendations.
2.27 		Subd. 6.No compensation or expenses; grants. Members of the task force shall receive 
2.28 	no compensation or per diem for participation on the task force. The task force may accept 
2.29 	grant funds from any federal, state, local, or nongovernmental source to support its work 
2.30 	and offset any costs, provided accepting the money does not create a conflict of interest for 
2.31 	the task force or its members. The Legislative Coordinating Commission may administer 
2.32 	any grant money given to the task force.
3.1 		Subd. 7.Administrative support; staff. The Legislative Coordinating Commission 
3.2 	must provide meeting space, administrative support, and staff support for the task force. 
3.3 	The task force may hold meetings in any publicly accessible location in the Capitol Complex 
3.4 	that is equipped with technology that can facilitate remote testimony.
3.5 		Subd. 8.Open meeting law. Meetings of the task force are subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
3.6 	chapter 13D.
3.7 		Subd. 9.Report. The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the 
3.8 	chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with responsibility for 
3.9 	or jurisdiction over the Metropolitan Council and metropolitan agencies. The report is due 
3.10 	by February 1, 2024.

3.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE; EXPIRATION; APPLICATION. This section is effective the 
3.12 	day following final enactment and expires June 30, 2024. Subdivision 5 applies in the 
3.13 	counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.