1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; repealing obsolete, redundant, and unnecessary laws 
1.3 	administered by the Department of Employment and Economic Development, 
1.4 	Metropolitan Council, and MN.IT; making conforming changes;amending 
1.5 	Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 15.991, subdivision 1; 16E.01, as amended; 
1.6 	16E.03, subdivision 2; 16E.035; 16E.05, subdivision 1; 116C.34, subdivision 3; 
1.7 	116D.04, subdivision 2a; 116L.02; 116L.05, subdivision 5; 116L.20, subdivision 
1.8 	2; 256J.49, subdivision 4; 256J.51, subdivision 2; 268.105, subdivision 7; 
1.9 	268.186; 473.123, subdivision 4; 473.125; 473.129, subdivisions 6, 12; 
1.10 	473.173, subdivision 2; 473.181, subdivision 2; 473.254, subdivisions 3a, 4, 
1.11 	5; 473.315, subdivision 1; 473.375, subdivision 11; 473.39, subdivision 1e; 
1.12 	473.391, subdivision 1; 473.405, subdivision 5; 473.42; 473.504, subdivisions 
1.13 	5, 11; 473.858, subdivision 1; 473.859, subdivision 6; 473.861, subdivision 2; 
1.14 	473.862, subdivision 2; Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, sections 16E.04, 
1.15 	subdivision 2; 16E.18, subdivision 8; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 
1.16 	16E.02, subdivisions 2, 3; 16E.03, subdivision 8; 16E.0475; 116C.22; 116C.23; 
1.17 	116C.24; 116C.25; 116C.26; 116C.261; 116C.27; 116C.28; 116C.29; 116C.30; 
1.18 	116C.31; 116C.32; 116C.33; 116J.037; 116J.422; 116J.68, subdivision 5; 
1.19 	116J.74, subdivision 7a; 116J.874, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 116J.885; 116J.987; 
1.20 	116J.988; 116J.989; 116J.990, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; 116L.06; 116L.10; 
1.21 	116L.11; 116L.12, subdivisions 1, 3, 4, 5, 6; 116L.13; 116L.14; 116L.15; 
1.22 	116L.361, subdivision 2; 116L.363; 116L.871; 116L.872; 473.123, subdivision 7; 
1.23 	473.13, subdivision 1c; 473.23; 473.241; 473.243; 473.244; 473.254, subdivision 
1.24 	3; 473.315, subdivision 2; 473.326; 473.333; 473.375, subdivision 9; 473.382; 
1.25 	473.388, subdivision 8; 473.392; 473.516, subdivision 5; 473.523, subdivision 2; 
1.26 	473.535; 473.852, subdivision 11; Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, sections 
1.27 	116J.6581; 116J.70, subdivision 2a; 473.517, subdivision 9.
1.28 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.29 	ARTICLE 1
1.30 	OBSOLETE AND REDUNDANT STATUTES

1.31 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 268.105, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
2.1 		Subd. 7.Judicial review. (a) The Minnesota Court of Appeals must, by writ of 
2.2 	certiorari to the department, review the unemployment law judge's decision, provided a 
2.3 	petition for the writ is filed with the court and a copy is served upon the unemployment 
2.4 	law judge or the commissioner and any other involved party within 30 calendar days of 
2.5 	the sending of the unemployment law judge's order under subdivision 2.
2.6 	(b) Any employer petitioning for a writ of certiorari must pay to the court the 
2.7 	required filing fee and upon the service of the writ must furnish a cost bond to the 
2.8 	department in accordance with the Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure. If the employer 
2.9 	requests a written transcript of the testimony received at the evidentiary hearing conducted 
2.10 	under subdivision 1, the employer must pay to the department the cost of preparing the 
2.11 	transcript. That money is credited to the administration account.
2.12 	(c) Upon issuance by the Minnesota Court of Appeals of a writ of certiorari as a result 
2.13 	of an applicant's petition, the department must furnish to the applicant at no cost a written 
2.14 	transcript of any testimony received at the evidentiary hearing conducted under subdivision 
2.15 	1, and, if requested, a copy of all exhibits entered into evidence. No filing fee or cost bond is 
2.16 	required of an applicant petitioning the Minnesota Court of Appeals for a writ of certiorari.
2.17 	(d) The Minnesota Court of Appeals may affirm the decision of the unemployment 
2.18 	law judge or remand the case for further proceedings; or it may reverse or modify the 
2.19 	decision if the substantial rights of the petitioner may have been prejudiced because the 
2.20 	findings, inferences, conclusion, or decision are:
2.21 	(1) in violation of constitutional provisions;
2.22 	(2) in excess of the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the department;
2.23 	(3) made upon unlawful procedure;
2.24 	(4) affected by other error of law;
2.25 	(5) unsupported by substantial evidence in view of the entire record as submitted; or
2.26 	(6) arbitrary or capricious.
2.27 	(e) The department is considered the primary responding party to any judicial action 
2.28 	involving an unemployment law judge's decision. The department may be represented by 
2.29 	an attorney licensed to practice law in Minnesota who is an employee of the department.

2.30 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 268.186, is amended to read:
2.31 	268.186 RECORDS; AUDITS.
2.32 	(a) Each employer must keep true and accurate records for the periods of time 
2.33 	and on individuals performing services for the employer, containing the information the 
2.34 	commissioner may require by rule under Minnesota Rules, part 3315.1010. The records 
2.35 	must be kept for a period of not less than four years in addition to the current calendar year.
3.1 	For the purpose of administering this chapter, the commissioner has the power to 
3.2 	audit, examine, or cause to be supplied or copied, any books, correspondence, papers, 
3.3 	records, or memoranda that are relevant, whether the books, correspondence, papers, 
3.4 	records, or memoranda are the property of or in the possession of the employer or any 
3.5 	other person at any reasonable time and as often as may be necessary.
3.6 	(b) Any employer that refuses to allow an audit of its records by the department, or 
3.7 	that fails to make all necessary records available for audit in Minnesota upon request of 
3.8 	the commissioner, may be assessed an administrative penalty of $500. 
3.9 	An employer that fails to provide a weekly breakdown of money earned by an 
3.10 	applicant upon request of the commissioner, information necessary for the detection of 
3.11 	applicant fraud under section 268.18, subdivision 2, may be assessed an administrative 
3.12 	penalty of $100. Any notice requesting a weekly breakdown must clearly state that a $100 
3.13 	penalty may be assessed for failure to provide the information. The penalty collected is 
3.14 	credited to the trust fund.
3.15 	(c) The commissioner may make summaries, compilations, photographs, 
3.16 	duplications, or reproductions of any records, or reports that the commissioner considers 
3.17 	advisable for the preservation of the information contained therein. Any summaries, 
3.18 	compilations, photographs, duplications, or reproductions is admissible in any proceeding 
3.19 	under this chapter. The commissioner may duplicate records, reports, summaries, 
3.20 	compilations, instructions, determinations, or any other written or recorded matter 
3.21 	pertaining to the administration of this chapter.
3.22 	(d) Regardless of any law to the contrary, the commissioner may provide for the 
3.23 	destruction of any records, reports, or reproductions, or other papers that are no longer 
3.24 	necessary for the administration of this chapter, including any required audit. In addition, 
3.25 	the commissioner may provide for the destruction or disposition of any record, report, 
3.26 	or other paper from which the information has been electronically captured and stored, 
3.27 	or that has been photographed, duplicated, or reproduced.

3.28 	Sec. 3.  REPEALER.
 3.29 		Subdivision 1.Environmental Coordination Procedures Act. Minnesota Statutes 
3.30 	2012, sections 116C.22; 116C.23; 116C.24; 116C.25; 116C.26; 116C.261; 116C.27; 
3.31 	116C.28; 116C.29; 116C.30; 116C.31; 116C.32; and 116C.33, are repealed.
3.32 		Subd. 2.E-Commerce ready designations. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 
3.33 	116J.037, is repealed.
3.34 		Subd. 3.Rural policy and development center fund. Minnesota Statutes 2012, 
3.35 	section 116J.422, is repealed.
4.1 		Subd. 4.Minnesota Entrepreneur Resource Virtual Network (MERVN).
 4.2 	Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 116J.6581, is repealed.
4.3 		Subd. 5.Small Business Development Center Advisory Board meetings.
 4.4 	Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 116J.68, subdivision 5, is repealed.
4.5 		Subd. 6.Business license assistance exceptions. Minnesota Statutes 2013 
4.6 	Supplement, section 116J.70, subdivision 2a, is repealed.
4.7 		Subd. 7.Affirmative enterprise program. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 
4.8 	116J.874, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, are repealed.
4.9 		Subd. 8.Biomedical Innovation and Commercialization Initiative. Minnesota 
4.10 	Statutes 2012, section 116J.885, is repealed.
4.11 		Subd. 9.Board of Invention. Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 116J.987; 
4.12 	116J.988; 116J.989; and 116J.990, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, are repealed.
4.13 		Subd. 10.HIRE education loan program. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 
4.14 	116L.06, is repealed.
4.15 		Subd. 11.Healthcare and human services worker program. Minnesota Statutes 
4.16 	2012, sections 116L.10; 116L.11; 116L.12, subdivisions 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6; 116L.13; 
4.17 	116L.14; and 116L.15, are repealed.
4.18 		Subd. 12.Youthbuild advisory committee. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 
4.19 	116L.363, is repealed.
4.20 		Subd. 13.Local service unit delivery. Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 116L.871; 
4.21 	and 116L.872, are repealed.

4.22 	ARTICLE 2
4.23 	CONFORMING CHANGES

4.24 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 15.991, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.25 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section and section 15.992:
4.26 	(1) "business license" or "license" has the meaning given it in section 116J.70, 
4.27 	subdivision 2, and also includes licenses and other forms of approval listed in section 
4.28 	116J.70, subdivision 2a, clauses (7) and (8), but does not include those listed in 
4.29 	subdivision 2a, clauses (1) to (6);
4.30 	(2) "customer" means an individual; a small business as defined in section 645.445, 
4.31 	but also including a nonprofit corporation that otherwise meets the criteria in that 
4.32 	section; a family farm, family farm corporation, or family farm partnership as defined in 
4.33 	section 500.24, subdivision 2; or a political subdivision as defined in section 103G.005, 
4.34 	subdivision 14a;
5.1 	(3) "initial agency" means the state agency to which a customer submits an 
5.2 	application for a license or inquires about submitting an application; and
5.3 	(4) "responsible agency" means the initial agency or another state agency that agrees 
5.4 	to be designated the responsible agency.

5.5 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 116C.34, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
5.6 		Subd. 3.County responsibility. The auditor of each county shall post in a 
5.7 	conspicuous place in the auditor's office the telephone numbers of the Bureau of Business 
5.8 	Licenses and the permit information center in the office of the applicable regional 
5.9 	development commission; copies of any master applications or permit applications 
5.10 	forwarded to the auditor pursuant to section 116C.27, subdivision 1; and copies of any 
5.11 	information published by the bureau or an information center pursuant to subdivision 1.

5.12 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 116D.04, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
5.13 		Subd. 2a.When prepared. Where there is potential for significant environmental 
5.14 	effects resulting from any major governmental action, the action shall be preceded by a 
5.15 	detailed environmental impact statement prepared by the responsible governmental unit. 
5.16 	The environmental impact statement shall be an analytical rather than an encyclopedic 
5.17 	document which describes the proposed action in detail, analyzes its significant 
5.18 	environmental impacts, discusses appropriate alternatives to the proposed action and 
5.19 	their impacts, and explores methods by which adverse environmental impacts of an 
5.20 	action could be mitigated. The environmental impact statement shall also analyze those 
5.21 	economic, employment, and sociological effects that cannot be avoided should the action 
5.22 	be implemented. To ensure its use in the decision-making process, the environmental 
5.23 	impact statement shall be prepared as early as practical in the formulation of an action.
5.24 	(a) The board shall by rule establish categories of actions for which environmental 
5.25 	impact statements and for which environmental assessment worksheets shall be prepared 
5.26 	as well as categories of actions for which no environmental review is required under this 
5.27 	section. A mandatory environmental assessment worksheet shall not be required for the 
5.28 	expansion of an ethanol plant, as defined in section 41A.09, subdivision 2a, paragraph 
5.29 	(b), or the conversion of an ethanol plant to a biobutanol facility or the expansion of a 
5.30 	biobutanol facility as defined in section 41A.105, subdivision 1a, based on the capacity 
5.31 	of the expanded or converted facility to produce alcohol fuel, but must be required if 
5.32 	the ethanol plant or biobutanol facility meets or exceeds thresholds of other categories 
5.33 	of actions for which environmental assessment worksheets must be prepared. The 
5.34 	responsible governmental unit for an ethanol plant or biobutanol facility project for which 
6.1 	an environmental assessment worksheet is prepared shall be the state agency with the 
6.2 	greatest responsibility for supervising or approving the project as a whole.
6.3 	A mandatory environmental impact statement shall not be required for a facility 
6.4 	or plant located outside the seven-county metropolitan area that produces less than 
6.5 	125,000,000 gallons of ethanol, biobutanol, or cellulosic biofuel annually, if the facility 
6.6 	or plant is: an ethanol plant, as defined in section 41A.09, subdivision 2a, paragraph 
6.7 	(b); a biobutanol facility, as defined in section 41A.105, subdivision 1a, clause (1); or a 
6.8 	cellulosic biofuel facility, as defined in section 41A.10, subdivision 1, paragraph (d).
6.9 	(b) The responsible governmental unit shall promptly publish notice of the 
6.10 	completion of an environmental assessment worksheet by publishing the notice in at least 
6.11 	one newspaper of general circulation in the geographic area where the project is proposed, 
6.12 	by posting the notice on a Web site that has been designated as the official publication site 
6.13 	for publication of proceedings, public notices, and summaries of a political subdivision in 
6.14 	which the project is proposed, or in any other manner determined by the board and shall 
6.15 	provide copies of the environmental assessment worksheet to the board and its member 
6.16 	agencies. Comments on the need for an environmental impact statement may be submitted 
6.17 	to the responsible governmental unit during a 30-day period following publication of the 
6.18 	notice that an environmental assessment worksheet has been completed. The responsible 
6.19 	governmental unit's decision on the need for an environmental impact statement shall be 
6.20 	based on the environmental assessment worksheet and the comments received during the 
6.21 	comment period, and shall be made within 15 days after the close of the comment period. 
6.22 	The board's chair may extend the 15-day period by not more than 15 additional days upon 
6.23 	the request of the responsible governmental unit.
6.24 	(c) An environmental assessment worksheet shall also be prepared for a proposed 
6.25 	action whenever material evidence accompanying a petition by not less than 100 
6.26 	individuals who reside or own property in the state, submitted before the proposed 
6.27 	project has received final approval by the appropriate governmental units, demonstrates 
6.28 	that, because of the nature or location of a proposed action, there may be potential for 
6.29 	significant environmental effects. Petitions requesting the preparation of an environmental 
6.30 	assessment worksheet shall be submitted to the board. The chair of the board shall 
6.31 	determine the appropriate responsible governmental unit and forward the petition to it. 
6.32 	A decision on the need for an environmental assessment worksheet shall be made by 
6.33 	the responsible governmental unit within 15 days after the petition is received by the 
6.34 	responsible governmental unit. The board's chair may extend the 15-day period by not 
6.35 	more than 15 additional days upon request of the responsible governmental unit.
7.1 	(d) Except in an environmentally sensitive location where Minnesota Rules, part 
7.2 	4410.4300, subpart 29, item B, applies, the proposed action is exempt from environmental 
7.3 	review under this chapter and rules of the board, if:
7.4 	(1) the proposed action is:
7.5 	(i) an animal feedlot facility with a capacity of less than 1,000 animal units; or
7.6 	(ii) an expansion of an existing animal feedlot facility with a total cumulative 
7.7 	capacity of less than 1,000 animal units;
7.8 	(2) the application for the animal feedlot facility includes a written commitment by 
7.9 	the proposer to design, construct, and operate the facility in full compliance with Pollution 
7.10 	Control Agency feedlot rules; and
7.11 	(3) the county board holds a public meeting for citizen input at least ten business 
7.12 	days prior to the Pollution Control Agency or county issuing a feedlot permit for the 
7.13 	animal feedlot facility unless another public meeting for citizen input has been held with 
7.14 	regard to the feedlot facility to be permitted. The exemption in this paragraph is in 
7.15 	addition to other exemptions provided under other law and rules of the board.
7.16 	(e) The board may, prior to final approval of a proposed project, require preparation 
7.17 	of an environmental assessment worksheet by a responsible governmental unit selected 
7.18 	by the board for any action where environmental review under this section has not been 
7.19 	specifically provided for by rule or otherwise initiated.
7.20 	(f) An early and open process shall be utilized to limit the scope of the environmental 
7.21 	impact statement to a discussion of those impacts, which, because of the nature or location 
7.22 	of the project, have the potential for significant environmental effects. The same process 
7.23 	shall be utilized to determine the form, content and level of detail of the statement as well 
7.24 	as the alternatives which are appropriate for consideration in the statement. In addition, 
7.25 	the permits which will be required for the proposed action shall be identified during the 
7.26 	scoping process. Further, the process shall identify those permits for which information 
7.27 	will be developed concurrently with the environmental impact statement. The board 
7.28 	shall provide in its rules for the expeditious completion of the scoping process. The 
7.29 	determinations reached in the process shall be incorporated into the order requiring the 
7.30 	preparation of an environmental impact statement.
7.31 	(g) The responsible governmental unit shall, to the extent practicable, avoid 
7.32 	duplication and ensure coordination between state and federal environmental review 
7.33 	and between environmental review and environmental permitting. Whenever practical, 
7.34 	information needed by a governmental unit for making final decisions on permits 
7.35 	or other actions required for a proposed project shall be developed in conjunction 
7.36 	with the preparation of an environmental impact statement. When an environmental 
8.1 	impact statement is prepared for a project requiring multiple permits for which two or 
8.2 	more agencies' decision processes include either mandatory or discretionary hearings 
8.3 	before a hearing officer prior to the agencies' decision on the permit, the agencies 
8.4 	may, notwithstanding any law or rule to the contrary, conduct the hearings in a single 
8.5 	consolidated hearing process if requested by the proposer. All agencies having jurisdiction 
8.6 	over a permit that is included in the consolidated hearing shall participate. The responsible 
8.7 	governmental unit shall establish appropriate procedures for the consolidated hearing 
8.8 	process, including procedures to ensure that the consolidated hearing process is consistent 
8.9 	with the applicable requirements for each permit regarding the rights and duties of parties to 
8.10 	the hearing, and shall utilize the earliest applicable hearing procedure to initiate the hearing.
8.11 	 The procedures of section 116C.28, subdivision 2, apply to the consolidated hearing.
8.12 	(h) An environmental impact statement shall be prepared and its adequacy 
8.13 	determined within 280 days after notice of its preparation unless the time is extended by 
8.14 	consent of the parties or by the governor for good cause. The responsible governmental 
8.15 	unit shall determine the adequacy of an environmental impact statement, unless within 60 
8.16 	days after notice is published that an environmental impact statement will be prepared, 
8.17 	the board chooses to determine the adequacy of an environmental impact statement. If an 
8.18 	environmental impact statement is found to be inadequate, the responsible governmental 
8.19 	unit shall have 60 days to prepare an adequate environmental impact statement.
8.20 	(i) The proposer of a specific action may include in the information submitted to the 
8.21 	responsible governmental unit a preliminary draft environmental impact statement under 
8.22 	this section on that action for review, modification, and determination of completeness and 
8.23 	adequacy by the responsible governmental unit. A preliminary draft environmental impact 
8.24 	statement prepared by the project proposer and submitted to the responsible governmental 
8.25 	unit shall identify or include as an appendix all studies and other sources of information 
8.26 	used to substantiate the analysis contained in the preliminary draft environmental impact 
8.27 	statement. The responsible governmental unit shall require additional studies, if needed, 
8.28 	and obtain from the project proposer all additional studies and information necessary for 
8.29 	the responsible governmental unit to perform its responsibility to review, modify, and 
8.30 	determine the completeness and adequacy of the environmental impact statement.

8.31 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 116L.02, is amended to read:
8.32 	116L.02 JOB SKILLS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
8.33 	(a) The Minnesota Job Skills Partnership program is created to act as a catalyst to 
8.34 	bring together employers with specific training needs with educational or other nonprofit 
8.35 	institutions which can design programs to fill those needs. The partnership shall work 
9.1 	closely with employers to prepare, train and place prospective or incumbent workers in 
9.2 	identifiable positions as well as assisting educational or other nonprofit institutions in 
9.3 	developing training programs that coincide with current and future employer requirements. 
9.4 	The partnership shall provide grants to educational or other nonprofit institutions for 
9.5 	the purpose of training workers. A participating business must match the grant-in-aid 
9.6 	made by the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership. The match may be in the form of funding, 
9.7 	equipment, or faculty.
9.8 	(b) The partnership program shall administer the health care and human services 
9.9 	worker training and retention program under sections 116L.10 to 116L.15.
9.10 	(c) (b) The partnership program is authorized to use funds to pay for training for 
9.11 	individuals who have incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line. 
9.12 	The board may grant funds to eligible recipients to pay for board-certified training. 
9.13 	Eligible recipients of grants may include public, private, or nonprofit entities that provide 
9.14 	employment services to low-income individuals.

9.15 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 116L.05, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
9.16 		Subd. 5.Use of workforce development funds. After March 1 of any fiscal year, 
9.17 	the board may use workforce development funds for the purposes outlined in sections 
9.18 	116L.02, and 116L.04, and 116L.10 to 116L.14, or to provide incumbent worker training 
9.19 	services under section 116L.18 if the following conditions have been met:
9.20 	(1) the board examines relevant economic indicators, including the projected 
9.21 	number of layoffs for the remainder of the fiscal year and the next fiscal year, evidence of 
9.22 	declining and expanding industries, the number of initial applications for and the number 
9.23 	of exhaustions of unemployment benefits, job vacancy data, and any additional relevant 
9.24 	information brought to the board's attention;
9.25 	(2) the board accounts for all allocations made in section 116L.17, subdivision 2;
9.26 	(3) based on the past expenditures and projected revenue, the board estimates future 
9.27 	funding needs for services under section 116L.17 for the remainder of the current fiscal 
9.28 	year and the next fiscal year;
9.29 	(4) the board determines there will be unspent funds after meeting the needs of 
9.30 	dislocated workers in the current fiscal year and there will be sufficient revenue to meet 
9.31 	the needs of dislocated workers in the next fiscal year; and
9.32 	(5) the board reports its findings in clauses (1) to (4) to the chairs of legislative 
9.33 	committees with jurisdiction over the workforce development fund, to the commissioners 
9.34 	of revenue and management and budget, and to the public.

10.1 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 116L.20, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
10.2 		Subd. 2.Disbursement of special assessment funds. (a) The money collected 
10.3 	under this section shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the workforce 
10.4 	development fund to provide for employment and training programs. The workforce 
10.5 	development fund is created as a special account in the state treasury.
10.6 	(b) All money in the fund not otherwise appropriated or transferred is appropriated 
10.7 	to the Job Skills Partnership Board for the purposes of section 116L.17 and as provided for 
10.8 	in paragraph (d). The board must act as the fiscal agent for the money and must disburse 
10.9 	that money for the purposes of section 116L.17, not allowing the money to be used for 
10.10 	any other obligation of the state. All money in the workforce development fund shall be 
10.11 	deposited, administered, and disbursed in the same manner and under the same conditions 
10.12 	and requirements as are provided by law for the other special accounts in the state treasury, 
10.13 	except that all interest or net income resulting from the investment or deposit of money in 
10.14 	the fund shall accrue to the fund for the purposes of the fund.
10.15 	(c) Reimbursement for costs related to collection of the special assessment shall be 
10.16 	in an amount negotiated between the commissioner and the United States Department 
10.17 	of Labor.
10.18 	(d) If the board determines that the conditions of section 116L.05, subdivision 5, 
10.19 	have been met, the board may use funds for the purposes outlined in sections section
10.20 	116L.04and 116L.10 to 116L.14, or to provide incumbent worker training services under 
10.21 	section 116L.18.

10.22 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256J.49, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
10.23 		Subd. 4.Employment and training service provider. "Employment and training 
10.24 	service provider" means:
10.25 	(1) a public, private, or nonprofit agency with which a county has contracted to 
10.26 	provide employment and training services and which is included in the county's service 
10.27 	agreement submitted under section 256J.626, subdivision 4;
10.28 	(2) a county agency, if the county has opted to provide employment and training 
10.29 	services and the county has indicated that fact in the service agreement submitted under 
10.30 	section 256J.626, subdivision 4; or
10.31 	(3) a local public health department under section 145A.17, subdivision 4a, that a 
10.32 	county has designated to provide employment and training services and is included in the 
10.33 	county's service agreement submitted under section 256J.626, subdivision 4.
10.34 	Notwithstanding section 116L.871, An employment and training services provider 
10.35 	meeting this definition may deliver employment and training services under this chapter.

11.1 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256J.51, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
11.2 		Subd. 2.Appeal; alternate approval. (a) An employment and training service 
11.3 	provider that is not included by a county agency in the service agreement under section 
11.4 	256J.626, subdivision 4, and that meets the criteria in paragraph (b), may appeal 
11.5 	its exclusion to the commissioner of employment and economic development, and 
11.6 	may request alternative approval by the commissioner of employment and economic 
11.7 	development to provide services in the county.
11.8 	(b) An employment and training services provider that is requesting alternative 
11.9 	approval must demonstrate to the commissioner that the provider meets the standards 
11.10 	specified in section 116L.871, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), except that the provider's 
11.11 	past experience may be in services and programs similar to those specified in section 
11.12 	116L.871, subdivision 1, paragraph (b).

11.13 	Sec. 9. REPEALER.
 11.14 		Subdivision 1.Reference to Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.70, subdivision 2a.
 11.15 	Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 116J.74, subdivision 7a, is repealed.
11.16 		Subd. 2.Reference to Minnesota Statutes, section 116L.363. Minnesota Statutes 
11.17 	2012, section 116L.361, subdivision 2, is repealed.

11.18 	ARTICLE 3
11.19 	METROPOLITAN COUNCIL

11.20 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.123, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
11.21 		Subd. 4.Chair; appointment, officers, selection; duties and compensation. (a) 
11.22 	The chair of the Metropolitan Council shall be appointed by the governor as the 17th 
11.23 	voting member thereof by and with the advice and consent of the senate to serve at the 
11.24 	pleasure of the governor to represent the metropolitan area at large. Senate confirmation 
11.25 	shall be as provided by section 15.066.
11.26 	The chair of the Metropolitan Council shall, if present, preside at meetings of the 
11.27 	council, have the primary responsibility for meeting with local elected officials, serve as 
11.28 	the principal legislative liaison, present to the governor and the legislature, after council 
11.29 	approval, the council's plans for regional governance and operations, serve as the principal 
11.30 	spokesperson of the council, and perform other duties assigned by the council or by law.
11.31 	(b) The Metropolitan Council shall elect other officers as it deems necessary for the 
11.32 	conduct of its affairs for a one-year term. A secretary and treasurer need not be members 
11.33 	of the Metropolitan Council. Meeting times and places shall be fixed by the Metropolitan 
11.34 	Council and special meetings may be called by a majority of the members of the 
12.1 	Metropolitan Council or by the chair. The chair and each Metropolitan Council member 
12.2 	shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses. The annual budget of the council 
12.3 	shall provide as a separate account anticipated expenditures for compensation, travel, and 
12.4 	associated expenses for the chair and members, and compensation or reimbursement shall 
12.5 	be made to the chair and members only when budgeted.
12.6 	(c) Each member of the council shall attend and participate in council meetings 
12.7 	and meet regularly with local elected officials and legislative members from the council 
12.8 	member's district. Each council member shall serve on at least one division committee for 
12.9 	transportation, environment, or community development.
12.10 	(d) In the performance of its duties the Metropolitan Council may adopt policies 
12.11 	and procedures governing its operation, establish committees, and, when specifically 
12.12 	authorized by law, make appointments to other governmental agencies and districts.

12.13 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.125, is amended to read:
12.14 	473.125 REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR.
12.15 	The Metropolitan Council shall appoint a regional administrator to serve at 
12.16 	the council's pleasure as the principal administrative officer for the Metropolitan 
12.17 	Council. The regional administrator shall organize the work of the council staff. The 
12.18 	regional administrator shall appoint on the basis of merit and fitness, and discipline and 
12.19 	discharge all employees in accordance with the council's personnel policy, except (1) the 
12.20 	performance and budget analysts provided for in section 473.123, subdivision 7, (2) the 
12.21 	general counsel, as provided in section 473.123, subdivision 8, (3) employees of the 
12.22 	offices of wastewater services and transit operations, who are appointed, disciplined, and 
12.23 	discharged in accordance with council personnel policies by their respective operations 
12.24 	managers, and (4) metropolitan transit police officers. The regional administrator must 
12.25 	ensure that all policy decisions of the council are carried out. The regional administrator 
12.26 	shall attend meetings of the council and may take part in discussions but may not vote. 
12.27 	The regional administrator shall recommend to the council for adoption measures deemed 
12.28 	necessary for efficient administration of the council, keep the council fully apprised of 
12.29 	the financial condition of the council, and prepare and submit an annual budget to the 
12.30 	council for approval. The regional administrator shall prepare and submit for approval by 
12.31 	the council an administrative code organizing and codifying the policies of the council, 
12.32 	and perform other duties as prescribed by the council. The regional administrator may be 
12.33 	chosen from among the citizens of the nation at large, and shall be selected on the basis of 
12.34 	training and experience in public administration.

13.1 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.129, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
13.2 		Subd. 6.On metro agencies. (a) The Metropolitan Council shall appoint from its 
13.3 	membership a member to serve with each metropolitan agency. Each member of the 
13.4 	Metropolitan Council so appointed on each of such agencies shall serve without a vote.
13.5 	(b) The Metropolitan Council shall also appoint individuals to the governing body 
13.6 	of the cable communications metropolitan interconnected regional channel entity under 
13.7 	section 238.43, subdivision 5.

13.8 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.129, subdivision 12, is amended to read:
13.9 		Subd. 12.Best value procurement alternative. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions 
13.10 	of section 471.345, the council may award a contract for the purchase of transit vehicles 
13.11 	to the vendor or contractor offering the best value under a request for proposals. For the 
13.12 	purposes of this subdivision, "transit vehicles" means buses and coaches, commuter rail 
13.13 	locomotives and coach cars, light rail vehicles, and paratransit vehicles that are used to 
13.14 	provide transit and special transportation service pursuant to sections 473.371 to 473.449.
13.15 	(b) For the purposes of this subdivision, "best value" describes a result intended in 
13.16 	the acquisition of goods and services described in paragraph (a). Price must be one of 
13.17 	the evaluation criteria when acquiring such goods and services. Other evaluation criteria 
13.18 	may include, but are not limited to, environmental considerations, quality, and vendor or 
13.19 	contractor performance. A best value determination must be based on The evaluation 
13.20 	criteria detailed must be included in the solicitation document. If criteria other than 
13.21 	price are used, the solicitation document must state as well as the relative importance of 
13.22 	price and other factors.

13.23 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.173, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
13.24 		Subd. 2.Rules. By September 1, 1976, The council shall adopt and put into effect 
13.25 	rules establishing standards, guidelines and procedures for determining whether any 
13.26 	proposed matter is of metropolitan significance, and establishing a procedure for the review 
13.27 	of and final determination on such matters in accordance with the powers and requirements 
13.28 	set forth in this section. The purpose of these rules shall be to promote the orderly and 
13.29 	economic economical development, public and private, of the metropolitan area.

13.30 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.181, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
13.31 		Subd. 2.Parks. The council shall review local government park master plans 
13.32 	pursuant to section 473.313. The Metropolitan Council shall approve the use of moneys 
13.33 	made available for land acquisition to local units of government from the land and 
14.1 	conservation fund, the open space program of HUD, the natural resources account in the 
14.2 	state treasury, if the use thereof conforms with the system of priorities established by 
14.3 	law as part of a comprehensive plan for the development of parks; otherwise it shall 
14.4 	disapprove of the use thereof.

14.5 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.254, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
14.6 		Subd. 3a.Affordable, life-cycle housing opportunities amount after 2002.
 14.7 	(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, commencing for calendar 
14.8 	year 2003 and each succeeding calendar year,(a) Each municipality's "affordable and 
14.9 	life-cycle housing opportunities amount" for that year must be determined annually by 
14.10 	the council using the method in this subdivision. The affordable and life-cycle housing 
14.11 	opportunities amount must be determined for each calendar year for all municipalities 
14.12 	in the metropolitan area.
14.13 	(2) (b) The council must allocate to each municipality its portion of the $1,000,000 
14.14 	of the revenue generated by the levy authorized in section 473.249 which is credited to the 
14.15 	local housing incentives account pursuant to subdivision 5, paragraph (b). The allocation 
14.16 	must be made by determining the amount levied for and payable in each municipality in 
14.17 	the previous calendar year pursuant to the council levy in section 473.249 divided by the 
14.18 	total amount levied for and payable in the metropolitan area in the previous calendar year 
14.19 	pursuant to such levy and multiplying that result by $1,000,000.
14.20 	(3) (c) The council must also determine the amount levied for and payable in 
14.21 	each municipality in the previous calendar year pursuant to the council levy in section 
14.22 	473.253, subdivision 1.
14.23 	(4) (d) A municipality's affordable and life-cycle housing opportunities amount 
14.24 	for the calendar year is the sum of the amounts determined under clauses (2) and (3)
14.25 	 paragraphs (b) and (c).
14.26 	(5) Within 90 days after the effective date of this act, the council must notify each 
14.27 	municipality of its affordable and life-cycle housing opportunities amount for calendar 
14.28 	years 2003 and 2004 as determined by the method in this subdivision. These amounts 
14.29 	replace the affordable and life-cycle housing opportunities amount for each municipality 
14.30 	for calendar years 2003 and 2004 as previously determined by the method in subdivision 3.
14.31 	(6) (e) By August 1, 2004, and by August 1 of each succeeding year, the council 
14.32 	must notify each municipality of its affordable and life-cycle housing opportunities 
14.33 	amount for the following calendar year determined by the method in this subdivision.

14.34 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.254, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
15.1 		Subd. 4.Affordable and life-cycle housing requirement. In 1998, and thereafter,
15.2 	 (a) A municipality that does not spend 85 percent of its affordable and life-cycle housing 
15.3 	opportunities amount to create affordable and life-cycle housing opportunities in the 
15.4 	previous calendar year must do one of the following with the affordable and life-cycle 
15.5 	housing opportunities amount for the previous year as determined under subdivision 3 
15.6 	or 3a, as applicable:
15.7 	(1) distribute it to the local housing incentives account; or
15.8 	(2) distribute it to the housing and redevelopment authority of the city or county in 
15.9 	which the municipality is located to create affordable and life-cycle housing opportunities 
15.10 	in the municipality.
15.11 	(b) A municipality may enter into agreements with adjacent municipalities to 
15.12 	cooperatively provide affordable and life-cycle housing. The housing may be provided 
15.13 	in any of the cooperating municipalities, but must meet the combined housing goals of 
15.14 	each participating municipality.

15.15 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.254, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
15.16 		Subd. 5.Sources of funds. (a) The council shall credit to the local housing 
15.17 	incentives account any revenues derived from municipalities under subdivision 4, 
15.18 	paragraph (b) (a), clause (1).
15.19 	(b) The council shall credit $1,000,000 of the proceeds of solid waste bonds issued 
15.20 	by the council under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.831, before its repeal, to the local 
15.21 	housing incentives account in the metropolitan livable communities fund. In 1998 and each 
15.22 	year thereafter, The council shall annually credit $1,000,000 of the revenues generated by 
15.23 	the levy authorized in section 473.249 to the local housing incentives account.
15.24 	(c) In 1997, and each year thereafter, The council shall annually transfer $500,000 
15.25 	from the livable communities demonstration account to the local housing incentives 
15.26 	account.

15.27 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.315, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
15.28 		Subdivision 1.To metro local governments. The Metropolitan Council with the 
15.29 	advice of the commission may make grants, from any funds available to it for recreation 
15.30 	open space purposes, to any municipality, park district or county located wholly or 
15.31 	partially within the metropolitan areaimplementing agency, as defined in section 473.351, 
15.32 	to cover the cost, or any portion of the cost, of acquiring or developing regional recreation 
15.33 	open space in accordance with the policy plan; and all such agencies may enter into 
16.1 	contracts for this purpose or rights or interests therein. The cost of acquisition shall 
16.2 	include any payments required for relocation pursuant to sections 117.50 to 117.56.

16.3 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.375, subdivision 11, is amended to read:
16.4 		Subd. 11.Ride sharing. The council shall administer a ride-sharing program in 
16.5 	the metropolitan area, except for the statewide vanpool leasing program conducted by the 
16.6 	commissioner of transportation and shall cooperate with the commissioner in the conduct 
16.7 	of ride-sharing activities in areas where the commissioner's programs and the council's 
16.8 	program overlap. The council shall establish a rideshare advisory committee to advise it in 
16.9 	carrying out the program. The council may contract for services in operating the program.

16.10 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.39, subdivision 1e, is amended to read:
16.11 		Subd. 1e.Obligations; additional authority. In addition to the authority in 
16.12 	subdivisions 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, the council may issue certificates of indebtedness, bonds, 
16.13 	or other obligations under this section in an amount not exceeding $32,500,000, which may 
16.14 	be used for capital expenditures as prescribed in the council's transit capital improvement 
16.15 	program and for related costs, including the costs of issuance and sale of the obligations.
16.16 	The Metropolitan Council, the city of St. Paul, and the Minnesota Department 
16.17 	of Transportation shall jointly assess the feasibility of locating a bus storage facility 
16.18 	near Mississippi and Cayuga Street and I-35E in St. Paul. If the metropolitan council 
16.19 	determines feasibility, the first priority for siting must be at that location.

16.20 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.391, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
16.21 		Subdivision 1.Contracts. The council may contract with other operators or local 
16.22 	governments for route planning and scheduling services in any configuration of new 
16.23 	or reconfiguration of existing transit services and routes, including route planning and 
16.24 	scheduling necessary for the test marketing program, the service bidding program, and the 
16.25 	interstate highway described generally as Legislative Routes Nos. 10 and 107 between 
16.26 	I-494 and the Hawthorne interchange in the city of Minneapolis, commonly known as I-394.

16.27 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.405, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
16.28 		Subd. 5.Acquisition of transit systems. The council may acquire by purchase, 
16.29 	lease, gift, or condemnation proceedings any existing public transit system or any part 
16.30 	thereof, including all or any part of the plant, equipment, shares of stock, property, real, 
16.31 	personal, or mixed, rights in property, reserve funds, special funds, franchises, licenses, 
16.32 	patents, permits and papers, documents and records belonging to any operator of a public 
17.1 	transit system within the metropolitan area, and may in connection therewith assume any 
17.2 	or all liabilities of any operator of a public transit system. The council may take control of 
17.3 	and operate a system immediately following the filing and approval of the initial petition 
17.4 	for condemnation, if the council, in its discretion, determines this to be necessary, and 
17.5 	may take possession of all right, title and other powers of ownership in all properties 
17.6 	and facilities described in the petition. Control must be taken by resolution which is 
17.7 	effective upon service of a copy on the condemnee and the filing of the resolution in 
17.8 	the condemnation action. In the determination of the fair value of the existing public 
17.9 	transit system, there must not be included any value attributable to expenditures for 
17.10 	improvements made by the former Metropolitan Transit Commission or council.
17.11 	The council may continue or terminate within three months of acquisition any 
17.12 	advertising contract in existence by and between any advertiser and a transit system that 
17.13 	the council has acquired. If the council determines to terminate the advertising contract, 
17.14 	it shall acquire all of the advertiser's rights under the contract by purchase or eminent 
17.15 	domain proceedings as provided by law.

17.16 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.42, is amended to read:
17.17 	473.42 EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES.
17.18 	Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of section 352.029, the council shall make 
17.19 	the employer contributions required pursuant to section 352.04, subdivision 3, for any 
17.20 	employee who was on authorized leave of absence from the transit operating division of the 
17.21 	former Metropolitan Transit Commission who is employed by the labor organization which 
17.22 	is the exclusive bargaining agent representing Metro Transit Division employees of the 
17.23 	Office of Transit Operations council and who is covered by the Minnesota State Retirement 
17.24 	System in addition to all other employer contributions the council is required to make.

17.25 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.504, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
17.26 		Subd. 5.Gifts, grants, loans. The council may accept gifts, may apply for and 
17.27 	accept grants or loans of money or other property from the United States, the state, or any 
17.28 	person for any of its purposes, including any grant available under the federal Water 
17.29 	Pollution Act amendments of 1972, whether for construction, research, or pilot project 
17.30 	implementation, may enter into any agreement required in connection therewith, and may 
17.31 	hold, use, and dispose of such money or property in accordance with the terms of the gift, 
17.32 	grant, loan, or agreement relating thereto. The council has all powers necessary to comply 
17.33 	with the federal Water Pollution Control Act amendments of 1972 and any grant offered to 
17.34 	it thereunder including, but not limited to, the power to enter into such contracts with, 
18.1 	or to impose such charges upon, persons using the metropolitan disposal system as it 
18.2 	shall determine to be necessary for the recovery of treatment works and interceptor costs 
18.3 	paid with federal grant funds. Insofar as possible these costs shall be recovered by local 
18.4 	government units on behalf of the council.

18.5 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.504, subdivision 11, is amended to read:
18.6 		Subd. 11.Surplus property. The council may sell or otherwise dispose of any real 
18.7 	or personal property acquired by it which is no longer required for accomplishment of its 
18.8 	purposes. Such property may be sold in the manner provided by section 469.065, insofar 
18.9 	as practical. The council may give such notice of sale as it shall deem appropriate. When 
18.10 	the council determines that any property or any interceptor or treatment works or any part 
18.11 	thereof which has been acquired from a local government unit without compensation is no 
18.12 	longer required, but is required as a local facility by the government unit from which it 
18.13 	was acquired, the council may by resolution transfer it to such government unit.

18.14 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.858, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
18.15 		Subdivision 1.No conflicting zoning, fiscal device, official control. Within nine 
18.16 	months following the receipt of a metropolitan system statement for an amendment to a 
18.17 	metropolitan system plan and within three years following the receipt of a metropolitan 
18.18 	system statement issued in conjunction with the decennial review required under section 
18.19 	473.864, subdivision 2, every local governmental unit shall have reviewed and, if 
18.20 	necessary, amended its comprehensive plan in accordance with sections 462.355, 473.175, 
18.21 	and 473.851 to 473.871 and the applicable planning statute and shall have submitted the 
18.22 	plan to the Metropolitan Council for review pursuant to section 473.175. The provisions 
18.23 	of sections 462.355, 473.175, and 473.851 to 473.871 shall supersede the provisions of the 
18.24 	applicable planning statute wherever a conflict may exist. If the comprehensive municipal 
18.25 	plan is in conflict with the zoning ordinance, the zoning ordinance shall be brought into 
18.26 	conformance with the plan by local government units in conjunction with the review 
18.27 	and, if necessary, amendment of its comprehensive plan required under section 473.864, 
18.28 	subdivision 2. After August 1, 1995, A local government unit shall not adopt any fiscal 
18.29 	device or official control which is in conflict with its comprehensive plan, including any 
18.30 	amendments to the plan, or which permits activity in conflict with metropolitan system 
18.31 	plans, as defined by section 473.852, subdivision 8. The comprehensive plan shall provide 
18.32 	guidelines for the timing and sequence of the adoption of official controls to ensure planned, 
18.33 	orderly, and staged development and redevelopment consistent with the comprehensive 
18.34 	plan. For purposes of this section, a fiscal device or official control shall not be considered 
19.1 	to be in conflict with a local government unit's comprehensive plan or to permit an activity 
19.2 	in conflict with metropolitan system plans if such fiscal device or official control is adopted 
19.3 	to ensure the planned, orderly, and staged development of urbanization or redevelopment 
19.4 	areas designated in the comprehensive plan pursuant to section 473.859, subdivision 5.

19.5 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.859, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
19.6 		Subd. 6.Plan review. The council shall, by January 1, 1994, prepare guidelines 
19.7 	for the preparation of the water supply plans required in subdivision 3, clause (4). The 
19.8 	plans must be submitted to the council by January 1, 1996 as part of the decennial review 
19.9 	required under section 473.864, subdivision 2. The council shall review the plans under 
19.10 	section 473.175, subdivision 1, after submitting them to affected counties that have 
19.11 	adopted groundwater plans under section 103B.255 for their review and comment.

19.12 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.861, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
19.13 		Subd. 2.By 1976 Plan preparation. By December 31, 1976, Each town within 
19.14 	the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Scott and Washington, authorized to plan under 
19.15 	sections 462.351 to 462.364, or under special law, shall by resolution determine whether it 
19.16 	will prepare the comprehensive plan for its jurisdiction. Each such town also shall specify, 
19.17 	pursuant to agreement with the county within which it is situated, any parts of its plan and 
19.18 	official controls, if any, the preparation of which it delegates to the county.

19.19 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.862, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
19.20 		Subd. 2.Towns with no plan by 1976 Town planning. Each county other than 
19.21 	Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, and Dakota shall prepare, with the participation and assistance 
19.22 	of the town, the comprehensive plan for any town within the county which fails by 
19.23 	December 31, 1976, to take has not taken action by resolution pursuant to section 473.861, 
19.24 	subdivision 2 and shall prepare all or part of any plan delegated to it pursuant to section 
19.25 	473.861, subdivision 2.

19.26 	Sec. 22.  REPEALER.
 19.27 	Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 473.123, subdivision 7; 473.13, subdivision 1c; 
19.28 	473.23; 473.241; 473.243; 473.244; 473.254, subdivision 3; 473.315, subdivision 2; 
19.29 	473.326; 473.333; 473.375, subdivision 9; 473.382; 473.388, subdivision 8; 473.392; 
19.30 	473.516, subdivision 5; 473.523, subdivision 2; 473.535; and 473.852, subdivision 11,
19.31 	 and Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 473.517, subdivision 9, are repealed.

20.1 	Sec. 23. APPLICATION.
 20.2 	This article applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, 
20.3 	Scott, and Washington.

20.4 	ARTICLE 4
20.5 	INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

20.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 16E.01, as amended by Laws 2013, 
20.7 	chapter 134, section 21, is amended to read:
20.8 	16E.01 OFFICE OF MN.IT SERVICES.
20.9 		Subdivision 1.Creation; chief information officer. The Office of MN.IT Services, 
20.10 	referred to in this chapter as the "office," is an agency in the executive branch headed by 
20.11 	a commissioner, who also is the state chief information officer. The appointment of the 
20.12 	commissioner is subject to the advice and consent of the senate under section 15.066.
20.13 		Subd. 1a.Responsibilities. The office shall provide oversight, leadership, and 
20.14 	direction for information and telecommunications technology policy and the management, 
20.15 	delivery, accessibility, and security of information and telecommunications technology 
20.16 	systems and services in Minnesota. The office shall manage strategic investments in 
20.17 	information and telecommunications technology systems and services to encourage the 
20.18 	development of a technically literate society, to ensure sufficient access to and efficient 
20.19 	delivery of accessible government services, and to maximize benefits for the state 
20.20 	government as an enterprise.
20.21 		Subd. 2.Discretionary powers. The office may:
20.22 	(1) enter into contracts for goods or services with public or private organizations 
20.23 	and charge fees for services it provides;
20.24 	(2) apply for, receive, and expend money from public agencies;
20.25 	(3) apply for, accept, and disburse grants and other aids from the federal government 
20.26 	and other public or private sources;
20.27 	(4) enter into contracts with agencies of the federal government, local governmental 
20.28 	units, the University of Minnesota and other educational institutions, and private persons 
20.29 	and other nongovernmental organizations as necessary to perform its statutory duties;
20.30 	(5) appoint committees and task forces of not more than two years' duration to 
20.31 	assist the office in carrying out its duties;
20.32 	(6) (5) sponsor and conduct conferences and studies, collect and disseminate 
20.33 	information, and issue reports relating to information and communications technology 
20.34 	issues;
21.1 	(7) participate in the activities of standards bodies and other appropriate conferences 
21.2 	related to information and communications technology issues;
21.3 	(8) (6) review the technology infrastructure of regions of the state and cooperate 
21.4 	with and make recommendations to the governor, legislature, state agencies, local 
21.5 	governments, local technology development agencies, the federal government, private 
21.6 	businesses, and individuals for the realization of information and communications 
21.7 	technology infrastructure development potential;
21.8 	(9) (7) sponsor, support, and facilitate innovative and collaborative economic 
21.9 	and community development and government services projects, including technology 
21.10 	initiatives related to culture and the arts, with public and private organizations; and
21.11 	(10) (8) review and recommend alternative sourcing strategies for state information 
21.12 	and communications systems.
21.13 		Subd. 3.Duties. (a) The office shall:
21.14 	(1) manage the efficient and effective use of available federal, state, local, and 
21.15 	public-private resources to develop statewide information and telecommunications 
21.16 	technology systems and services and its infrastructure;
21.17 	(2) approve state agency and intergovernmental information and telecommunications 
21.18 	technology systems and services development efforts involving state or intergovernmental 
21.19 	funding, including federal funding, provide information to the legislature regarding 
21.20 	projects reviewed, and recommend projects for inclusion in the governor's budget under 
21.21 	section 16A.11;
21.22 	(3) ensure cooperation and collaboration among state and local governments in 
21.23 	developing intergovernmental information and telecommunications technology systems 
21.24 	and services, and define the structure and responsibilities of a representative governance 
21.25 	structure;
21.26 	(4) cooperate and collaborate with the legislative and judicial branches in the 
21.27 	development of information and communications systems in those branches;
21.28 	(5) continue the development of North Star, the state's official comprehensive online 
21.29 	service and information initiative;
21.30 	(6) promote and collaborate with the state's agencies in the state's transition to an 
21.31 	effectively competitive telecommunications market;
21.32 	(7) collaborate with entities carrying out education and lifelong learning initiatives 
21.33 	to assist Minnesotans in developing technical literacy and obtaining access to ongoing 
21.34 	learning resources;
22.1 	(8) promote and coordinate public information access and network initiatives, 
22.2 	consistent with chapter 13, to connect Minnesota's citizens and communities to each 
22.3 	other, to their governments, and to the world;
22.4 	(9) promote and coordinate electronic commerce initiatives to ensure that Minnesota 
22.5 	businesses and citizens can successfully compete in the global economy;
22.6 	(10) manage and promote the regular and periodic reinvestment in the information 
22.7 	and telecommunications technology systems and services infrastructure so that state and 
22.8 	local government agencies can effectively and efficiently serve their customers;
22.9 	(11) facilitate the cooperative development of and ensure compliance with standards 
22.10 	and policies for information and telecommunications technology systems and services, 
22.11 	electronic data practices and privacy, and electronic commerce among international, 
22.12 	national, state, and local public and private organizations;
22.13 	(12) eliminate unnecessary duplication of existing information and 
22.14 	telecommunications technology systems and services provided by other public and private 
22.15 	organizations while building on the existing governmental, educational, business, health 
22.16 	care, and economic development infrastructures state agencies;
22.17 	(13) identify, sponsor, develop, and execute shared information and 
22.18 	telecommunications technology projects and ongoing operations;
22.19 	(14) ensure overall security of the state's information and technology systems and 
22.20 	services; and
22.21 	(15) manage and direct compliance with accessibility standards for informational 
22.22 	technology, including hardware, software, Web sites, online forms, and online surveys.
22.23 	(b) The chief information officer, in consultation with the commissioner of 
22.24 	management and budget, must determine when it is cost-effective for agencies to develop 
22.25 	and use shared information and telecommunications technology systems and services for 
22.26 	the delivery of electronic government services. The chief information officer may require 
22.27 	agencies to use shared information and telecommunications technology systems and 
22.28 	services. The chief information officer shall establish reimbursement rates in cooperation 
22.29 	with the commissioner of management and budget to be billed to agencies and other 
22.30 	governmental entities sufficient to cover the actual development, operating, maintenance, 
22.31 	and administrative costs of the shared systems. The methodology for billing may include 
22.32 	the use of interagency agreements, or other means as allowed by law.
22.33 	(c) A state agency that has an information and telecommunications technology 
22.34 	project with a total expected project cost of more than $1,000,000, whether funded as part 
22.35 	of the biennial budget or by any other means, shall register with the office by submitting 
22.36 	basic project startup documentation, as specified by the chief information officer in both 
23.1 	format and content, before any project funding is requested or committed and before 
23.2 	the project commences. State agency project leaders must demonstrate that the project 
23.3 	will be properly managed, provide updates to the project documentation as changes are 
23.4 	proposed, and regularly report on the current status of the project on a schedule agreed to 
23.5 	with the chief information officer.
23.6 	(d) The chief information officer shall monitor progress on any active information 
23.7 	and telecommunications technology project with a total expected project cost of more than 
23.8 	$5,000,000 and report on the performance of the project in comparison with the plans for 
23.9 	the project in terms of time, scope, and budget. The chief information officer may conduct 
23.10 	an independent project audit of the project. The audit analysis and evaluation of the 
23.11 	projects subject to paragraph (c) must be presented to agency executive sponsors, the 
23.12 	project governance bodies, and the chief information officer. All reports and responses 
23.13 	must become part of the project record.
23.14 	(e) For any active information and telecommunications technology project with a 
23.15 	total expected project cost of more than $10,000,000, the state agency must perform an 
23.16 	annual independent audit that conforms to published project audit principles promulgated 
23.17 	by the office.
23.18 	(f) The chief information officer shall report by January 15 of each year to the 
23.19 	chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with 
23.20 	jurisdiction over the office regarding projects the office has reviewed under paragraph (a), 
23.21 	clause (2) (13). The report must include the reasons for the determinations made in the 
23.22 	review of each project and a description of its current status.

23.23 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 16E.03, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
23.24 		Subd. 2.Chief information officer's responsibility. The chief information officer 
23.25 	shall coordinate the state's information and telecommunications technology systems and 
23.26 	services to serve the needs of the state government. The chief information officer shall:
23.27 	(1) design a master plan for information and telecommunications technology 
23.28 	systems and services in the state and its political subdivisions and shall report on the plan 
23.29 	to the governor and legislature at the beginning of each regular session;
23.30 	(2) coordinate, review, and approve all information and telecommunications 
23.31 	technology projects and oversee the state's information and telecommunications 
23.32 	technology systems and services;
23.33 	(3) establish and enforce compliance with standards for information and 
23.34 	telecommunications technology systems and services that are cost-effective and support 
24.1 	open systems environments and that are compatible with state, national, and international 
24.2 	standards, including accessibility standards;
24.3 	(4) maintain a library of systems and programs developed by the state and its 
24.4 	political subdivisions for use by agencies of government;
24.5 	(5) direct and manage the shared operations of the state's information and 
24.6 	telecommunications technology systems and services; and
24.7 	(6) establish and enforce standards and ensure acquisition of hardware and software 
24.8 	necessary to protect data and systems in state agency networks connected to the Internet.

24.9 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 16E.035, is amended to read:
24.10 	16E.035 TECHNOLOGY INVENTORY.
24.11 	The chief information officer must prepare an a financial inventory of technology 
24.12 	owned or leased by state agencies MN.IT Services. The inventory must include: (1) 
24.13 	information on how the technology fits into the state's information technology architecture; 
24.14 	and (2) a projected replacement schedule. The chief information officer must report the 
24.15 	inventory to the legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over state technology 
24.16 	issues by July 1 of each even-numbered year.

24.17 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 16E.04, subdivision 2, is 
24.18 	amended to read:
24.19 		Subd. 2.Responsibilities. (a) In addition to other activities prescribed by law, the 
24.20 	office shall carry out the duties set out in this subdivision.
24.21 	(b) (a) The office shall develop and establish a state information architecture to ensure:
24.22 	(1) that state agency development and purchase of information and communications 
24.23 	systems, equipment, and services is designed to ensure that individual agency information 
24.24 	systems complement and do not needlessly duplicate or conflict with the systems of other 
24.25 	agencies; and
24.26 	(2) enhanced public access to data can be provided consistent with standards 
24.27 	developed under section 16E.05, subdivision 4.
24.28 	When state agencies have need for the same or similar public data, the chief information 
24.29 	officer, in coordination with the affected agencies, shall manage the most efficient and 
24.30 	cost-effective method of producing and storing data for or sharing data between those 
24.31 	agencies. The development of this information architecture must include the establishment 
24.32 	of standards and guidelines to be followed by state agencies. The office shall ensure 
24.33 	compliance with the architecture.
25.1 	(c) The office shall, in cooperation with state agencies, plan and manage the 
25.2 	development and improvement of information systems so that an individual information 
25.3 	system reflects and supports the state agency's mission and the state's requirements and 
25.4 	functions.
25.5 	(d) (b) The office shall review and approve agency requests for funding for the 
25.6 	development or purchase of information systems equipment or software before the 
25.7 	requests may be included in the governor's budget.
25.8 	(e) (c) The office shall review and approve agency requests for grant funding that 
25.9 	have an information and technology component.
25.10 	(f) (d) The office shall review major purchases of information systems equipment to:
25.11 	(1) ensure that the equipment follows the standards and guidelines of the state 
25.12 	information architecture;
25.13 	(2) ensure the agency's proposed purchase reflects a cost-effective policy regarding 
25.14 	volume purchasing; and
25.15 	(3) ensure that the equipment is consistent with other systems in other state agencies 
25.16 	so that data can be shared among agencies, unless the office determines that the agency 
25.17 	purchasing the equipment has special needs justifying the inconsistency.
25.18 	(g) (e) The office shall review the operation of information systems by state agencies 
25.19 	and ensure that these systems are operated efficiently and securely and continually meet 
25.20 	the standards and guidelines established by the office. The standards and guidelines must 
25.21 	emphasize uniformity that is cost-effective for the enterprise, that encourages information 
25.22 	interchange, open systems environments, and portability of information whenever 
25.23 	practicable and consistent with an agency's authority and chapter 13.

25.24 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 16E.05, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
25.25 		Subdivision 1.Duties. The office, in consultation with interested persons, shall:
25.26 	(1) coordinate statewide efforts by units of state and local government to plan for 
25.27 	and develop a system for providing access to government services; and
25.28 	(2) make recommendations to facilitate coordination and assistance of demonstration 
25.29 	projects; and
25.30 	(3) (2) explore ways and means to improve citizen and business access to public 
25.31 	services, including implementation of technological improvements.

25.32 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 16E.18, subdivision 8, is 
25.33 	amended to read:
26.1 		Subd. 8.Exemption. The state information network is exempt from the five- 
26.2 	and ten-year limitation on contracts set by sections 16C.03, subdivision 17;16C.05, 
26.3 	subdivision 2, paragraph (b); 16C.06, subdivision 3b; 16C.08, subdivision 3, clause (5); 
26.4 	and 16C.09, clause (6). A contract compliance review must be performed by the office on 
26.5 	a five-year basis for any contract that has a total term greater than five years. The review 
26.6 	must detail any compliance or performance issues on the part of the contractor.

26.7 	Sec. 7.  REPEALER.
 26.8 	Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 16E.02, subdivisions 2 and 3; 16E.03, subdivision 
26.9 	8; and 16E.0475, are repealed the day following final enactment.