1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to state employment; making changes of a 
  1.3             technical and housekeeping nature; amending Minnesota 
  1.4             Statutes 1996, sections 43A.01, subdivision 2; 43A.02, 
  1.5             subdivisions 1, 14, 20, 30, and 37; 43A.04, 
  1.6             subdivisions 1, 2, 3, and 9; 43A.05, subdivisions 1 
  1.7             and 3; 43A.08, subdivisions 1 and 1a; 43A.13, 
  1.8             subdivision 7; 43A.27, subdivision 1; 43A.30, 
  1.9             subdivision 1; and 43A.36, subdivisions 1 and 2. 
  1.10  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.11     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.01, 
  1.12  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.13     Subd. 2.  [PRECEDENCE OF MERIT PRINCIPLES AND 
  1.14  NONDISCRIMINATION.] It is the policy of this state to provide 
  1.15  for equal employment opportunity consistent with chapter 363 by 
  1.16  ensuring that all personnel actions be based on the ability to 
  1.17  perform the duties and responsibilities assigned to the position 
  1.18  without regard to age, race, creed or religion, color, 
  1.19  disability, sex, national origin, marital status, status with 
  1.20  regard to public assistance, or political affiliation.  It is 
  1.21  the policy of this state to take affirmative action to eliminate 
  1.22  the underutilization of qualified members of protected groups in 
  1.23  the civil service, where such action is not in conflict with 
  1.24  other provisions of this chapter or chapter 179, in order to 
  1.25  correct imbalances and eliminate the present effects of past 
  1.26  discrimination.  
  1.27     No contract executed pursuant to chapter ~~179~~ 179A shall 
  2.1   modify, waive or abridge this section and sections 43A.07 to 
  2.2   43A.13, 43A.15, and 43A.17 to 43A.21, except to the extent 
  2.3   expressly permitted in those sections.  
  2.4      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.02, 
  2.5   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  2.6      Subdivision 1.  [INTERPRETATION.] Unless the language or 
  2.7   context indicates that a different meaning is intended, the 
  2.8   following terms, for the purposes of ~~Laws 1981,~~ this chapter 
  2.9   ~~210~~, have the meanings given them in this section.  
  2.10     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.02, 
  2.11  subdivision 14, is amended to read: 
  2.12     Subd. 14.  [COMMISSIONER'S PLAN.] "Commissioner's plan" 
  2.13  means the plan required by section 3.855 regarding total 
  2.14  compensation and terms and conditions of employment, including 
  2.15  grievance administration, for employees of the executive branch 
  2.16  who are not otherwise provided for in ~~Laws 1981,~~ this chapter 
  2.17  ~~210~~ or other law.  
  2.18     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.02, 
  2.19  subdivision 20, is amended to read: 
  2.20     Subd. 20.  [ELIGIBLE LIST.] "Eligible list" means a list of 
  2.21  candidates qualified under provisions of ~~Laws 1981,~~ this chapter 
  2.22  ~~210~~ for employment in a specific class.  
  2.23     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.02, 
  2.24  subdivision 30, is amended to read: 
  2.25     Subd. 30.  [PERMANENT STATUS.] "Permanent status" means the 
  2.26  state or condition achieved ~~by a tenured laborer or~~ by an 
  2.27  employee in the classified service who has successfully 
  2.28  completed an initial probationary period or a probationary 
  2.29  period required following reinstatement or reemployment, or 
  2.30  whose probationary period is waived through specific statutory 
  2.31  direction.  
  2.32     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.02, 
  2.33  subdivision 37, is amended to read: 
  2.34     Subd. 37.  [REEMPLOYMENT LIST.] "Reemployment list" means 
  2.35  an eligible list by class of current or former permanent or 
  2.36  probationary employees laid off, demoted in lieu of layoff, or 
  3.1   separated in good standing from the class, or former permanent 
  3.2   or probationary employees of the class who are receiving 
  3.3   disability benefits under a state retirement plan and whose 
  3.4   written applications for consideration for reemployment in the 
  3.5   class have been approved by the commissioner.  
  3.6      Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.04, 
  3.7   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  3.8      Subdivision 1.  [STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP.] (a) The 
  3.9   commissioner is the chief personnel and labor relations manager 
  3.10  of the civil service in the executive branch.  
  3.11     Whenever any power or responsibility is given to the 
  3.12  commissioner by any provision of ~~Laws 1981,~~ this chapter ~~210~~, 
  3.13  unless otherwise expressly provided, the power or authority 
  3.14  applies to all employees of agencies in the executive branch and 
  3.15  to employees in classified positions in the office of the 
  3.16  legislative auditor, the Minnesota state retirement system, the 
  3.17  public employees retirement association, and the teacher's 
  3.18  retirement association.  Unless otherwise provided by law, the 
  3.19  power or authority does not apply to unclassified employees in 
  3.20  the legislative and judicial branches.  
  3.21     (b) The commissioner shall operate an information system 
  3.22  from which personnel data, as defined in section 13.43, 
  3.23  concerning employees and applicants for positions in the 
  3.24  classified service can be retrieved.  
  3.25     The commissioner has access to all public and private 
  3.26  personnel data kept by appointing authorities that will aid in 
  3.27  the discharge of the commissioner's duties.  
  3.28     (c) The commissioner may consider and investigate any 
  3.29  matters concerned with the administration of provisions of ~~Laws~~ 
  3.30  ~~1981~~, this chapter ~~210~~, and may order any remedial actions 
  3.31  consistent with law. 
  3.32     (d) The commissioner has sole authority to settle state 
  3.33  employee workers' compensation claims. 
  3.34     (e) The commissioner may assess or establish and collect 
  3.35  premiums from all state entities to cover the costs of programs 
  3.36  under sections 15.46 and 176.603. 
  4.1      Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.04, 
  4.2   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  4.3      Subd. 2.  [EXECUTIVE DIRECTION.] The commissioner shall 
  4.4   direct all departmental services, appoint employees and may 
  4.5   enter into contracts to carry out the provisions of ~~Laws 1981,~~ 
  4.6   this chapter ~~210~~.  
  4.7      Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.04, 
  4.8   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  4.9      Subd. 3.  [RULES.] The commissioner shall adopt rules under 
  4.10  the administrative procedure act to implement the provisions of 
  4.11  this chapter that directly affect the rights of or processes 
  4.12  available to the general public.  The rules have the force and 
  4.13  effect of law and may include but are not limited to: 
  4.14     (1) the processes for determining the extent of competition 
  4.15  for filling vacancies, for recruiting applicants, for conducting 
  4.16  competitive open examinations, for ranking candidates and 
  4.17  maintaining competitive open eligible lists, and for 
  4.18  certification and appointment of eligibles from competitive open 
  4.19  eligible lists; 
  4.20     (2) the process for effecting noncompetitive and qualifying 
  4.21  appointments; 
  4.22     (3) the process for temporary designation of positions in 
  4.23  the unclassified service and for effecting appointments to the 
  4.24  unclassified service; 
  4.25     (4) a statewide affirmative action program to include 
  4.26  requirements for agency affirmative action plans, statewide 
  4.27  policies and procedures, reporting requirements, accountability 
  4.28  and responsibility of employees in the executive branch, and 
  4.29  overall objectives of the program; 
  4.30     (5) conditions under which moving and other expenses may be 
  4.31  authorized and paid prior to appointment to persons who have 
  4.32  accepted state employment; 
  4.33     (6) procedures for administration of the code of ethics for 
  4.34  employees of the executive branch; 
  4.35     (7) examination procedures for candidates with disabilities 
  4.36  as described in section ~~43A.10~~ 43A.15, subdivision ~~8~~ 14; and 
  5.1      (8) procedures or policies that affect the operation of or 
  5.2   participation in the public employees insurance program. 
  5.3      Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.04, 
  5.4   subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
  5.5      Subd. 9.  [EXPERIMENTAL OR RESEARCH PROJECTS.] The 
  5.6   commissioner of employee relations may conduct experimental or 
  5.7   research projects designed to improve recruitment, selection, 
  5.8   referral, or appointment processes for the filling of state 
  5.9   classified positions. 
  5.10     The commissioner shall meet and confer with the affected 
  5.11  exclusive bargaining representative of state employees 
  5.12  concerning the design and implementation of experimental and 
  5.13  research projects under this subdivision. 
  5.14     Any provision in sections 43A.09 to 43A.15, associated 
  5.15  personnel rules adopted under subdivision 3, or administrative 
  5.16  procedures established under subdivision 4, is waived for the 
  5.17  purposes of these projects.  The number of appointments under 
  5.18  this subdivision may not exceed five percent of the total number 
  5.19  of appointments in the preceding fiscal year. 
  5.20     The commissioner shall report by September 1 to the 
  5.21  ~~legislative commission~~ joint subcommittee on employee relations 
  5.22  the results of the experimental research projects conducted in 
  5.23  the preceding fiscal year. 
  5.24     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.05, 
  5.25  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  5.26     Subdivision 1.  [GENERAL.] The commissioner through the 
  5.27  personnel bureau shall perform the duties assigned in ~~Laws 1981,~~ 
  5.28  this chapter ~~210~~.  The deputy for the personnel bureau shall 
  5.29  perform any duties delegated by the commissioner.  
  5.30     The commissioner's authority and responsibility shall 
  5.31  include but not be limited to maintenance of a classification 
  5.32  plan, assignment of all positions in the classified service to 
  5.33  job classes, maintenance and approval of total compensation 
  5.34  plans for all positions in the executive branch pursuant to the 
  5.35  provisions of section 43A.18 and other provisions of law; 
  5.36  preparation of examinations, rating of candidates for employment 
  6.1   and preparation of eligible lists; maintenance of employee 
  6.2   performance appraisal, training and affirmative action programs; 
  6.3   and maintenance and publication of logical career paths in the 
  6.4   classified civil service.  
  6.5      Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.05, 
  6.6   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  6.7      Subd. 3.  [COMMISSIONER'S PLAN.] The commissioner shall 
  6.8   periodically develop and establish pursuant to ~~Laws 1981,~~ this 
  6.9   chapter ~~210~~ a commissioner's plan.  The commissioner shall 
  6.10  submit the plan, before becoming effective, to the legislative 
  6.11  coordinating commission for approval.  
  6.12     Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.08, 
  6.13  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  6.14     Subdivision 1.  [UNCLASSIFIED POSITIONS.] Unclassified 
  6.15  positions are held by employees who are: 
  6.16     (1) chosen by election or appointed to fill an elective 
  6.17  office; 
  6.18     (2) heads of agencies required by law to be appointed by 
  6.19  the governor or other elective officers, and the executive or 
  6.20  administrative heads of departments, bureaus, divisions, and 
  6.21  institutions specifically established by law in the unclassified 
  6.22  service; 
  6.23     (3) deputy and assistant agency heads and one confidential 
  6.24  secretary in the agencies listed in subdivision 1a and in the 
  6.25  office of strategic and long-range planning; 
  6.26     (4) the confidential secretary to each of the elective 
  6.27  officers of this state and, for the secretary of state, state 
  6.28  auditor, and state treasurer, an additional deputy, clerk, or 
  6.29  employee; 
  6.30     (5) intermittent help employed by the commissioner of 
  6.31  public safety to assist in the issuance of vehicle licenses; 
  6.32     (6) employees in the offices of the governor and of the 
  6.33  lieutenant governor and one confidential employee for the 
  6.34  governor in the office of the adjutant general; 
  6.35     (7) employees of the Washington, D.C., office of the state 
  6.36  of Minnesota; 
  7.1      (8) employees of the legislature and of legislative 
  7.2   committees or commissions; provided that employees of the 
  7.3   legislative audit commission, except for the legislative 
  7.4   auditor, the deputy legislative auditors, and their confidential 
  7.5   secretaries, shall be employees in the classified service; 
  7.6      (9) presidents, vice-presidents, deans, other managers and 
  7.7   professionals in academic and academic support programs, 
  7.8   administrative or service faculty, teachers, research 
  7.9   assistants, and student employees eligible under terms of the 
  7.10  federal economic opportunity act work study program in the 
  7.11  ~~school and resource center for the arts, state universities and~~ 
  7.12  ~~community colleges, and the board of trustees of~~ Lola and Rudy 
  7.13  Perpich Minnesota Center for Arts Education and the Minnesota 
  7.14  state colleges and universities, but not the custodial, 
  7.15  clerical, or maintenance employees, or any professional or 
  7.16  managerial employee performing duties in connection with the 
  7.17  business administration of these institutions; 
  7.18     (10) officers and enlisted persons in the national guard; 
  7.19     (11) attorneys, legal assistants, and three confidential 
  7.20  employees appointed by the attorney general or employed with the 
  7.21  attorney general's authorization; 
  7.22     (12) judges and all employees of the judicial branch, 
  7.23  referees, receivers, jurors, and notaries public, except 
  7.24  referees and adjusters employed by the department of labor and 
  7.25  industry; 
  7.26     (13) members of the state patrol; provided that selection 
  7.27  and appointment of state patrol troopers must be made in 
  7.28  accordance with applicable laws governing the classified 
  7.29  service; 
  7.30     (14) chaplains employed by the state; 
  7.31     (15) examination monitors and intermittent training 
  7.32  instructors employed by the departments of employee relations 
  7.33  and commerce and by professional examining boards and 
  7.34  intermittent staff employed by the technical colleges for the 
  7.35  administration of practical skills tests and for the staging of 
  7.36  instructional demonstrations; 
  8.1      (16) student workers; 
  8.2      (17) executive directors or executive secretaries appointed 
  8.3   by and reporting to any policy-making board or commission 
  8.4   established by statute; 
  8.5      (18) employees unclassified pursuant to other statutory 
  8.6   authority; 
  8.7      (19) intermittent help employed by the commissioner of 
  8.8   agriculture to perform duties relating to pesticides, 
  8.9   fertilizer, and seed regulation; and 
  8.10     (20) the administrators and the deputy administrators at 
  8.11  the state academies for the deaf and the blind. 
  8.12     Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.08, 
  8.13  subdivision 1a, is amended to read: 
  8.14     Subd. 1a.  [ADDITIONAL UNCLASSIFIED POSITIONS.] Appointing 
  8.15  authorities for the following agencies may designate additional 
  8.16  unclassified positions according to this subdivision:  the 
  8.17  departments of administration; agriculture; commerce; 
  8.18  corrections; economic security; children, families, and 
  8.19  learning; employee relations; trade and economic development; 
  8.20  finance; health; human rights; labor and industry; natural 
  8.21  resources; public safety; public service; human services; 
  8.22  revenue; transportation; and veterans affairs; the housing 
  8.23  finance and pollution control agencies; the state lottery; the 
  8.24  state board of investment; the office of administrative 
  8.25  hearings; the office of environmental assistance; the offices of 
  8.26  the attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, and 
  8.27  state treasurer; ~~the board of trustees of~~ the Minnesota state 
  8.28  colleges and universities; the higher education services office; 
  8.29  the Lola and Rudy Perpich Minnesota center for arts education; 
  8.30  and the Minnesota zoological board. 
  8.31     A position designated by an appointing authority according 
  8.32  to this subdivision must meet the following standards and 
  8.33  criteria:  
  8.34     (1) the designation of the position would not be contrary 
  8.35  to other law relating specifically to that agency; 
  8.36     (2) the person occupying the position would report directly 
  9.1   to the agency head or deputy agency head and would be designated 
  9.2   as part of the agency head's management team; 
  9.3      (3) the duties of the position would involve significant 
  9.4   discretion and substantial involvement in the development, 
  9.5   interpretation, and implementation of agency policy; 
  9.6      (4) the duties of the position would not require primarily 
  9.7   personnel, accounting, or other technical expertise where 
  9.8   continuity in the position would be important; 
  9.9      (5) there would be a need for the person occupying the 
  9.10  position to be accountable to, loyal to, and compatible with, 
  9.11  the governor and the agency head, the employing statutory board 
  9.12  or commission, or the employing constitutional officer; 
  9.13     (6) the position would be at the level of division or 
  9.14  bureau director or assistant to the agency head; and 
  9.15     (7) the commissioner has approved the designation as being 
  9.16  consistent with the standards and criteria in this subdivision. 
  9.17     Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.13, 
  9.18  subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
  9.19     Subd. 7.  [EXPANDED CERTIFICATION.] When the commissioner 
  9.20  determines that a disparity as defined in rules exists between 
  9.21  an agency's work force and its affirmative action plan approved 
  9.22  in accordance with section 43A.19, the commissioner shall ensure 
  9.23  to the extent possible that eligibles who are members of the 
  9.24  protected groups for which the disparity exists are certified 
  9.25  for appointment.  When fewer than two eligibles of each 
  9.26  protected group for which a disparity has been determined to 
  9.27  exist would be certified under subdivisions 4 and 5, the 
  9.28  commissioner shall certify two eligibles from each protected 
  9.29  group for which a disparity exists or four from each group for 
  9.30  which a disparity exists if the number of names referred has 
  9.31  been increased under subdivision 4, paragraph (b).  
  9.32  Implementation of this subdivision may not be deemed a violation 
  9.33  of other provisions of ~~Laws 1981,~~ this chapter ~~210~~ or chapter 
  9.34  363. 
  9.35     Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.27, 
  9.36  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 10.1      Subdivision 1.  [GENERAL.] Notwithstanding any other 
 10.2   provisions of ~~Laws 1981,~~ this chapter ~~210~~, the persons listed in 
 10.3   subdivisions 2 and 3, and their dependents, may elect to enroll 
 10.4   at their own expense in the appropriate life insurance, 
 10.5   hospital, medical and dental benefits, and optional coverages at 
 10.6   the time, in the manner, and under conditions of eligibility the 
 10.7   commissioner prescribes and otherwise approves.  The 
 10.8   commissioner may also provide for payroll deductions to be made 
 10.9   in the same manner and under the same conditions as provided in 
 10.10  section 43A.30, subdivision 2 authorizing payroll deductions for 
 10.11  an eligible employee and the employee's dependents.  
 10.12     Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.30, 
 10.13  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 10.14     Subdivision 1.  [PAYMENTS FROM AGENCY REVENUES.] Each 
 10.15  agency shall pay the amounts due for state paid life insurance 
 10.16  and hospital, medical and dental benefits coverage authorized 
 10.17  for eligible employees pursuant to ~~Laws 1981,~~ this chapter ~~210~~.  
 10.18     Each agency shall pay the amounts from accounts and funds 
 10.19  from which the agency receives its revenues, including 
 10.20  appropriations from the general fund and from any other fund, 
 10.21  now or hereafter existing for the payment of salaries and in the 
 10.22  same proportion as it pays therefrom the amounts of salaries.  
 10.23  In order to enable the commissioner of finance to maintain 
 10.24  proper records covering the appropriations pursuant to this 
 10.25  section, the commissioner of finance may require certifications 
 10.26  in connection with payments as the commissioner of finance deems 
 10.27  necessary from the Minnesota historical society, the University 
 10.28  of Minnesota, or any agency whose employees receive benefits 
 10.29  pursuant to ~~Laws 1981,~~ this chapter ~~210~~.  The accounts and funds 
 10.30  from which agencies receive appropriations under the terms of 
 10.31  this section are a source of revenue for the purposes of any 
 10.32  other law or statutory enactment.  
 10.33     Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.36, 
 10.34  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 10.35     Subdivision 1.  [COOPERATION; STATE AGENCIES.] The 
 10.36  commissioner may delegate administrative functions associated 
 11.1   with the duties of the commissioner to appointing authorities 
 11.2   who have the capability to perform such functions when the 
 11.3   commissioner determines that it is in the best interests of the 
 11.4   state civil service.  The commissioner shall consult with 
 11.5   agencies and agencies shall cooperate as appropriate in 
 11.6   implementation of ~~Laws 1981,~~ this chapter ~~210~~.  
 11.7      The commissioner, in conjunction with appointing 
 11.8   authorities, shall analyze and assess current and future human 
 11.9   resource requirements of the civil service and coordinate 
 11.10  personnel actions throughout the civil service to meet the 
 11.11  requirements.  The commissioner shall permit appointing 
 11.12  authorities to use eligible lists in making appointments to 
 11.13  positions in the unclassified service and shall provide 
 11.14  recruiting assistance.  
 11.15     The head of each agency in the executive branch shall 
 11.16  designate an agency personnel officer.  The agency personnel 
 11.17  officer shall be accountable to the agency head for all 
 11.18  personnel functions prescribed by laws, rules, collective 
 11.19  bargaining agreements, the commissioner and the agency head.  
 11.20  Except when otherwise prescribed by the agency head in a 
 11.21  specific instance, the personnel officer shall be assumed to be 
 11.22  the authority accountable to the agency head over any other 
 11.23  officer or employee in the agency for personnel functions.  
 11.24     The head of each agency in the executive branch shall 
 11.25  designate an affirmative action officer who shall have primary 
 11.26  responsibility for the administration of the agency's 
 11.27  affirmative action plan.  The officer shall report directly to 
 11.28  the head of the agency on affirmative action matters.  
 11.29     Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 43A.36, 
 11.30  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 11.31     Subd. 2.  [SERVICES AVAILABLE TO POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.] 
 11.32  The services and facilities of the department and its staff may 
 11.33  be made available upon request to political subdivisions of the 
 11.34  state.  Enforcement and administration of other provisions 
 11.35  of ~~Laws 1981,~~ this chapter ~~210~~ shall take precedence over the 
 11.36  provision of the services and facilities.  Political 
 12.1   subdivisions shall reimburse the state for the reasonable cost 
 12.2   of services and facilities.