1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to government operations; appropriating money for the general 
1.3 	legislative and administrative expenses of state government; raising fees; 
1.4 	regulating state and local government operations; modifying provisions related 
1.5 	to public employment; providing for automatic voter registration; abolishing the 
1.6 	Department of Employee Relations;amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 
1.7 	4.035, subdivision 3; 5.12, subdivision 1; 15.06, subdivisions 2, 8; 15B.17, 
1.8 	subdivision 1; 16A.1286, subdivision 2; 16B.03; 16C.08, subdivision 2; 43A.02, 
1.9 	by adding a subdivision; 43A.03, subdivision 3; 43A.08, subdivisions 1, 2a; 
1.10 	43A.24, subdivision 1; 43A.346, subdivision 1; 45.013; 84.01, subdivision 3; 
1.11 	116.03, subdivision 1; 116J.01, subdivision 5; 116J.035, subdivision 4; 174.02, 
1.12 	subdivision 2; 201.12; 201.13, subdivision 3; 201.161; 241.01, subdivision 
1.13 	2; 270B.14, by adding a subdivision; 302A.821, subdivision 4; 321.0206; 
1.14 	336.1-110; 336.9-525; 471.61, subdivision 1a; 517.08, subdivisions 1b, 1c; Laws 
1.15 	2005, First Special Session chapter 1, article 4, section 121; proposing coding for 
1.16 	new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 5; 13; 16B; 16C; repealing Minnesota 
1.17 	Statutes 2006, sections 43A.03, subdivision 4; 43A.08, subdivision 1b; Laws 
1.18 	2006, chapter 253, section 22.
1.19 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.20 	ARTICLE 1
1.21 	STATE GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS

1.22	Section 1.  SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
1.23 	The amounts shown in this section summarize direct appropriations, by fund, made 
1.24 	in this article.

1.25			2008
		2009
		Total
	
1.26	General
	$
	 303,275,000
	$
	311,133,000
	$
	614,408,000
	
1.27	Health Care Access
		1,825,000
		1,869,000
		3,694,000
	
1.28
1.29	State Government Special 
Revenue
		2,119,000
		2,124,000
		4,243,000
	
1.30	Environmental
		443,000
		 450,000
		893,000
	
2.1	Remediation
		250,000
		 250,000
		500,000
	
2.2	Special Revenue
		 6,849,000
		3,851,000
		10,700,000
	
2.3
2.4	Highway User Tax 
Distribution
		2,143,000
		2,190,000
		4,333,000
	
2.5	Workers' Compensation
		7,640,000
		7,350,000
		14,990,000
	
2.6	Total
	$
	 324,544,000
	$
	 329,217,000
	$
	653,761,000

2.7	Sec. 2. STATE GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
2.8 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the 
2.9 	agencies and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the 
2.10 	general fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated 
2.11 	for each purpose. The figures "2008" and "2009" used in this article mean that the 
2.12 	appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, or 
2.13 	June 30, 2009, respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2008. "The second year" is fiscal 
2.14 	year 2009. "The biennium" is fiscal years 2008 and 2009. Appropriations for the fiscal 
2.15 	year ending June 30, 2007, are effective the day following final enactment.

2.16				APPROPRIATIONS
	
2.17				Available for the Year
	
2.18				Ending June 30
	
2.19					2008
		2009

2.20	Sec. 3. LEGISLATURE

2.21	Subdivision 1. Total Appropriation
 	$
	 66,293,000
	$
	67,852,000

2.22	Appropriations by Fund
	
2.23		2008
	2009
	
2.24	General
	66,165,000
	67,724,000
	
2.25	Health Care Access
	128,000
	128,000
	
2.26 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
2.27 	purpose are specified in the following 
2.28 	subdivisions.

2.29	Subd. 2.Senate
 		23,158,000
		23,677,000

2.30	Subd. 3.House of Representatives
 		28,467,000
		29,167,000

2.31	Subd. 4.Legislative Coordinating Commission
 		14,668,000
		15,008,000

2.32	Appropriations by Fund
	
2.33	General
	14,540,000
	14,880,000
	
2.34	Health Care Access
	128,000
	128,000
	
3.1 	$360,000 the first year and $360,000 the 
3.2 	second year are for public information 
3.3 	television, Internet, Intranet, and other 
3.4 	transmission of legislative activities. At 
3.5 	least one-half of those amounts must go for 
3.6 	programming to be broadcast and transmitted 
3.7 	to rural Minnesota.
3.8 	$5,188,000 the first year and $5,316,000 the 
3.9 	second year are for the Office of the Revisor 
3.10 	of Statutes.
3.11 	$1,182,000 the first year and $1,211,000 the 
3.12 	second year are for the Legislative Reference 
3.13 	Library.
3.14 	$5,587,000 the first year and $5,721,000 
3.15 	the second year are for the Office of the 
3.16 	Legislative Auditor.
3.17 	$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the 
3.18 	second year are for completing the study of 
3.19 	state budget trends in article 2, section 40. 
3.20 	This is a onetime appropriation.
3.21 	All legislative offices should, whenever 
3.22 	possible, implement information technology 
3.23 	systems that are compatible and work 
3.24 	seamlessly across the legislature. Wherever 
3.25 	possible, single systems should be 
3.26 	implemented to avoid unnecessary 
3.27 	duplication and inefficiency. The directors 
3.28 	of information technology for the senate, 
3.29 	house of representatives, and the Legislative 
3.30 	Coordinating Commission must submit 
3.31 	a written report describing their efforts 
3.32 	to collaborate on implementing shared 
3.33 	information technology systems. The report 
3.34 	must be submitted to the chairs of the house 
3.35 	of representatives and senate committees 
4.1 	with jurisdiction over rules and to the 
4.2 	Legislative Coordinating Commission on 
4.3 	January 15, 2008, and January 15, 2009.

4.4
4.5	Sec. 4. GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT 
GOVERNOR
 	$
	3,687,000
	$
	3,793,000
	
4.6 	This appropriation is to fund the offices of 
4.7 	the governor and lieutenant governor.
4.8 	$19,000 the first year and $19,000 the 
4.9 	second year are for necessary expenses in 
4.10 	the normal performance of the governor's 
4.11 	and lieutenant governor's duties for which no 
4.12 	other reimbursement is provided.
4.13 	By September 1 of each year, the 
4.14 	commissioner of finance shall report to 
4.15 	the chairs of the senate Governmental 
4.16 	Operations Budget Division and the house 
4.17 	State Government Finance Division any 
4.18 	personnel costs incurred by the Office of 
4.19 	the Governor and Lieutenant Governor that 
4.20 	were supported by appropriations to other 
4.21 	agencies during the previous fiscal year. 
4.22 	The Office of the Governor shall inform the 
4.23 	chairs of the divisions before initiating any 
4.24 	interagency agreements.

4.25	Sec. 5. STATE AUDITOR
 	$
	9,234,000
	$
	9,220,000
	
4.26 	$484,000 the first year and $244,000 the 
4.27 	second year are for staff retention.

4.28	Sec. 6. ATTORNEY GENERAL
 	$
	25,857,000
	$
	26,867,000

4.29	Appropriations by Fund
	
4.30		2008
	2009
	
4.31	General
	23,743,000
	24,748,000
	
4.32
4.33	State Government 
Special Revenue
	1,719,000
	1,724,000
	
5.1	Environmental
	145,000
	145,000
	
5.2	Remediation
	250,000
	250,000

5.3	Sec. 7. SECRETARY OF STATE
 	$
	8,989,000
	$
	6,439,000

5.4	Appropriations by Fund
	
5.5	General
	6,145,000
	6,439,000
	
5.6
5.7	State Government 
Special Revenue
	2,844,000
	-0-
	
5.8 	$310,000 of this appropriation must be 
5.9 	transferred to the Help America Vote Act 
5.10 	account and is designated as a portion of the 
5.11 	match required by section 253(b)(5) of the 
5.12 	Help America Vote Act.
5.13 	$2,844,000 the first year is appropriated from 
5.14 	the Help America Vote Act account for the 
5.15 	purposes and uses authorized by federal law. 
5.16 	This appropriation is available until June 30, 
5.17 	2009.
5.18 	Notwithstanding Laws 2005, chapter 162, 
5.19 	section 34, subdivision 7, any balance 
5.20 	remaining in the Help America Vote Act 
5.21 	account after previous appropriations and the 
5.22 	appropriations in this section is appropriated 
5.23 	to the secretary of state for the purposes of 
5.24 	the account. This appropriation is available 
5.25 	until June 30, 2011.
5.26 	$100,000 each year is for the safe at home 
5.27 	program.

5.28
5.29	Sec. 8. CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND PUBLIC 
DISCLOSURE BOARD
 	$
	714,000
	$
	734,000

5.30	Sec. 9. INVESTMENT BOARD
 	$
	151,000 
	$
	151,000

5.31
5.32	Sec. 10. OFFICE OF ENTERPRISE 
TECHNOLOGY
 	$
	7,680,000
	$
	7,755,000
	
6.1 	$3,910,000 the first year and $3,915,000 
6.2 	the second year are for information 
6.3 	technology security. The base appropriation 
6.4 	is $4,675,000 in fiscal year 2010 and 
6.5 	$4,675,000 in fiscal year 2011.
6.6 	Of this appropriation, $500,000 the first year 
6.7 	is for grants to be distributed to the counties 
6.8 	participating in the development of the 
6.9 	integrated financial system for enhancements 
6.10 	to the system. Enhancements include:
6.11 	(1) systems to improve the tracking and 
6.12 	reporting of state and federal grants;
6.13 	(2) electronic payments to vendors;
6.14 	(3) electronic posting of state payments to 
6.15 	the financial system;
6.16 	(4) automating revenue collection and 
6.17 	posting through check conversion, automatic 
6.18 	clearing house transactions, or credit card 
6.19 	processing;
6.20 	(5) improvements to county budgetary 
6.21 	systems;
6.22 	(6) storage or linkage of electronic 
6.23 	documents;
6.24 	(7) improved executive level reporting and 
6.25 	extraction of data; and
6.26 	(8) improved information and reporting for 
6.27 	audits.
6.28 	Before the chief information officer may 
6.29 	distribute the grants, this appropriation 
6.30 	must be matched by $1,500,000 from 
6.31 	nonstate sources. The grant funds shall be 
6.32 	distributed on a pro rata basis to each of the 
6.33 	counties participating in the development 
6.34 	of the integrated financial system. The 
7.1 	Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative, 
7.2 	acting as a fiscal agent for the participating 
7.3 	counties, shall receive the grant money for 
7.4 	the counties. The chief information officer 
7.5 	may require a report or other information the 
7.6 	chief information officer deems appropriate 
7.7 	to verify that the requirements of this section 
7.8 	have been met. The chief information officer 
7.9 	shall report to the legislative committees with 
7.10 	jurisdiction over state government policy 
7.11 	and finance and economic development 
7.12 	programs. This appropriation is available 
7.13 	until June 30, 2011.

7.14	Sec. 11. ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
 	$
	7,810,000
	$
	7,528,000

7.15	Appropriations by Fund
	
7.16		2008
	2009
	
7.17	General
	270,000
	278,000
	
7.18
7.19	Workers' 
Compensation
	7,540,000
	7,250,000

7.20	Sec. 12. ADMINISTRATION

7.21	Subdivision 1. Total Appropriation
 	$
	 21,067,000
	$
	21,538,000
	
7.22 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
7.23 	purpose are specified in the following 
7.24 	subdivisions.

7.25	Subd. 2.State Facilities Services
 		11,176,000
		11,412,000
	
7.26 	$7,888,000 the first year and $7,888,000 the 
7.27 	second year are for office space costs of the 
7.28 	legislature and veterans organizations, for 
7.29 	ceremonial space, and for statutorily free 
7.30 	space.

7.31	Subd. 3.State and Community Services
 		3,072,000
		3,252,000
	
8.1 	(a) $60,000 the first year and $240,000 the 
8.2 	second year are to fund activities to prepare 
8.3 	for and promote the 2010 census. Base 
8.4 	funding for this activity is $260,000 in fiscal 
8.5 	year 2010 and $180,000 in fiscal year 2011.
8.6 	(b) $805,000 the first year and $805,000 the 
8.7 	second year are for the Land Management 
8.8 	Information Center.
8.9 	(c) $196,000 the first year and $196,000 the 
8.10 	second year are for the Office of the State 
8.11 	Archaeologist.

8.12	Subd. 4.Administrative Management Services
 		4,614,000 
		4,669,000
	
8.13 	$74,000 the first year and $74,000 the second 
8.14 	year are for the Developmental Disabilities 
8.15 	Council.

8.16	Subd. 5.Public Broadcasting
 		2,205,000 
		2,205,000
	
8.17 	$1,411,000 the first year and $1,411,000 
8.18 	the second year are for matching grants for 
8.19 	public television.
8.20 	$200,000 the first year and $200,000 
8.21 	the second year are for public television 
8.22 	equipment grants.
8.23 	Equipment or matching grant allocations 
8.24 	shall be made after considering the 
8.25 	recommendations of the Minnesota Public 
8.26 	Television Association.
8.27 	$17,000 the first year and $17,000 the second 
8.28 	year are for grants to the Twin Cities regional 
8.29 	cable channel.
8.30 	$287,000 the first year and $287,000 the 
8.31 	second year are for community service 
8.32 	grants and $100,000 each year is for 
8.33 	equipment grants to public educational radio 
8.34 	stations. The grants must be allocated after 
9.1 	considering the recommendations of the 
9.2 	Association of Minnesota Public Educational 
9.3 	Radio Stations under Minnesota Statutes, 
9.4 	section 129D.14.
9.5 	$190,000 the first year and $190,000 the 
9.6 	second year are for equipment grants to 
9.7 	Minnesota Public Radio, Inc. 
9.8 	Any unencumbered balance remaining the 
9.9 	first year for grants to public television or 
9.10 	radio stations does not cancel and is available 
9.11 	for the second year.

9.12
9.13
9.14	Sec. 13. CAPITOL AREA 
ARCHITECTURAL AND PLANNING 
BOARD
 	$
	307,000
	$
	319,000

9.15	Sec. 14. FINANCE

9.16	Subdivision 1. Total Appropriation
 	$
	 15,229,000 
	$
	15,664,000
	
9.17 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
9.18 	purpose are specified in the following 
9.19 	subdivisions.

9.20	Subd. 2.State Financial Management
 		8,692,000 
		8,945,000 

9.21
9.22	Subd.  3.Information and Management 
Services
 		6,537,000
		6,719,000

9.23	Sec. 15. EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
 	$
	5,657,000
	$
	5,613,000

9.24	Sec. 16. REVENUE

9.25	Subdivision 1. Total Appropriation
 	$
	 115,731,000
	$
	120,186,000

9.26	Appropriations by Fund
	
9.27		2008
	2009
	
9.28	General
	 111,593,000
	115,950,000
	
9.29	Health Care Access
	1,697,000
	1,741,000
	
9.30
9.31	Highway User Tax 
Distribution
	2,143,000
	2,190,000
	
9.32	Environmental
	298,000
	305,000
	
10.1 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
10.2 	purpose are specified in the following 
10.3 	subdivisions.

10.4	Subd. 2.Tax System Management
 		 96,244,000
		99,480,000

10.5	Appropriations by Fund
	
10.6	General
	 92,106,000
	95,244,000
	
10.7	Health Care Access
	1,697,000
	1,741,000
	
10.8
10.9	Highway User Tax 
Distribution
	2,143,000
	2,190,000
	
10.10	Environmental
	298,000
	305,000
	
10.11 	$5,955,000 the first year and $6,852,000 
10.12 	the second year are for additional activities 
10.13 	to identify and collect tax liabilities from 
10.14 	individuals and businesses that currently do 
10.15 	not pay all taxes owed. This initiative is 
10.16 	expected to result in new general revenues of 
10.17 	$41,200,000 for the biennium ending June 
10.18 	30, 2009.
10.19 	The department must report to the chairs of 
10.20 	the house of representatives Ways and Means 
10.21 	and senate Finance Committees by March 1, 
10.22 	2008, and January 15, 2009, on the following 
10.23 	performance indicators:
10.24 	(1) the number of corporations noncompliant 
10.25 	with the corporate tax system each year and 
10.26 	the percentage and dollar amounts of valid 
10.27 	tax liabilities collected;
10.28 	(2) the number of businesses noncompliant 
10.29 	with the sales and use tax system and the 
10.30 	percentage and dollar amount of the valid tax 
10.31 	liabilities collected; and
10.32 	(3) the number of individual noncompliant 
10.33 	cases resolved and the percentage and dollar 
10.34 	amounts of valid tax liabilities collected.
11.1 	The reports must also identify base-level 
11.2 	expenditures and staff positions related to 
11.3 	compliance and audit activities, including 
11.4 	baseline information as of January 1, 2006. 
11.5 	The information must be provided at the 
11.6 	budget activity level.
11.7 	$30,000 the first year and $30,000 the second 
11.8 	year are for preparation of the income tax 
11.9 	sample.

11.10	Subd. 3.Accounts Receivable Management
 		19,487,000
		20,706,000
	
11.11 	$875,000 the first year and $1,555,000 the 
11.12 	second year are for additional activities 
11.13 	to identify and collect tax liabilities from 
11.14 	individuals and businesses that currently do 
11.15 	not pay all taxes owed. This initiative is 
11.16 	expected to result in new general revenues of 
11.17 	$30,000,000 for the biennium ending June 
11.18 	30, 2009.

11.19	Sec. 17. GAMBLING CONTROL
 	$
	2,875,000 
	$
	2,952,000
	
11.20 	These appropriations are from the lawful 
11.21 	gambling regulation account in the special 
11.22 	revenue fund.

11.23	Sec. 18. RACING COMMISSION 
 	$
	 1,130,000
	$
	899,000
	
11.24 	(a) These appropriations are from the racing 
11.25 	and card playing regulation accounts in the 
11.26 	special revenue fund.
11.27 	(b) $295,000 the first year and $64,000 the 
11.28 	second year and thereafter are for information 
11.29 	technology improvements implemented in 
11.30 	consultation with the Office of Enterprise 
11.31 	Technology.

11.32	Sec. 19. STATE LOTTERY
 					
12.1 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
12.2 	349A.10, the operating budget must not 
12.3 	exceed $27,378,000 in fiscal year 2008 and 
12.4 	$28,141,000 in fiscal year 2009.

12.5	Sec. 20. TORT CLAIMS
 	$
	161,000 
	$
	161,000 
	
12.6 	To be spent by the commissioner of finance.
12.7 	If the appropriation for either year is 
12.8 	insufficient, the appropriation for the other 
12.9 	year is available for it.

12.10
12.11	Sec. 21. MINNESOTA STATE RETIREMENT 
SYSTEM

12.12	Subdivision 1. Total Appropriation
 	$
	1,608,000
	$
	1,649,000
	
12.13 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
12.14 	purpose are specified in the following 
12.15 	subdivisions.
12.16 	If an appropriation in this section for either 
12.17 	year is insufficient, the appropriation for the 
12.18 	other year is available for it.

12.19	Subd. 2.Legislators
 		1,170,000
		1,200,000
	
12.20 	Under Minnesota Statutes, sections 3A.03, 
12.21 	subdivision 2; 3A.04, subdivisions 3 and 4; 
12.22 	and 3A.115.

12.23	Subd. 3. Constitutional Officers
 		438,000 
		449,000
	
12.24 	Under Minnesota Statutes, section 352C.001.

12.25
12.26	Sec. 22. MINNEAPOLIS EMPLOYEES 
RETIREMENT FUND
 	$
	 9,000,000
	$
	 9,000,000
	
12.27 	These amounts are estimated to be needed 
12.28 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 422A.101, 
12.29 	subdivision 3.

12.30
12.31	Sec. 23. TEACHERS RETIREMENT 
ASSOCIATION
 	$
	15,800,000
	$
	15,800,000
	
13.1 	The amounts estimated to be needed are as 
13.2 	follows:

13.3
13.4
13.5
13.6	(a) Special direct state aid to first class city 
teachers retirement funds authorized under 
Minnesota Statutes, section 354A.12, subdivisions 
3a and 3c.
		13,300,000
		13,300,000

13.7
13.8
13.913.10
	(b) Special direct state matching aid to 
Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund 
Association authorized under Minnesota Statutes, 
section 354A.12, subdivision 3b.
		2,500,000
		2,500,000

13.11
13.12	Sec. 24. ST. PAUL TEACHERS 
RETIREMENT FUND
 	$
	2,967,000
	$
	2,967,000
	
13.13 	The amounts estimated to be needed for 
13.14 	special direct state aid to first class city 
13.15 	teachers retirement funds authorized under 
13.16 	Minnesota Statutes, section 354A.12, 
13.17 	subdivisions 3a and 3c.

13.18	Sec. 25. AMATEUR SPORTS COMMISSION 
 	$
	303,000
	$
	306,000
	
13.19 	The amount available for appropriation to 
13.20 	the commission under Laws 2005, chapter 
13.21 	156, article 2, section 43, is reduced in the 
13.22 	first year and the second year by the amounts 
13.23 	appropriated in this section.
13.24 	The base appropriation is $221,000 in fiscal 
13.25 	year 2010 and $221,000 in fiscal year 2011.

13.26
13.27	Sec. 26. COUNCIL ON BLACK 
MINNESOTANS
 	$
	285,000
	$
	292,000

13.28
13.29	Sec. 27. COUNCIL ON CHICANO/LATINO 
AFFAIRS
 	$
	277,000
	$
	283,000

13.30
13.31	Sec. 28. COUNCIL ON ASIAN-PACIFIC 
MINNESOTANS
 	$
	247,000
	$
	254,000

13.32	Sec. 29. INDIAN AFFAIRS COUNCIL
 	$
	485,000
	$
	495,000

13.33
13.34	Sec. 30. GENERAL CONTINGENT 
ACCOUNTS
 	$
	1,000,000 
	$
	500,000

14.1	Appropriations by Fund
	
14.2		2008
	2009
	
14.3	General
	500,000
	-0-
	
14.4
14.5	State Government 
Special Revenue
	400,000
	400,000
	
14.6
14.7	Workers' 
Compensation
	100,000
	 100,000
	
14.8 	The appropriations in this section may only 
14.9 	be spent with the approval of the governor 
14.10 	after consultation with the Legislative 
14.11 	Advisory Commission under Minnesota 
14.12 	Statutes, section 3.30.
14.13 	If an appropriation in this section for either 
14.14 	year is insufficient, the appropriation for the 
14.15 	other year is available for it.
14.16 	If a contingent account appropriation is made 
14.17 	in one fiscal year, it should be considered a 
14.18 	biennial appropriation.

14.19	Sec. 31. COMPENSATION INCREASES
 					
14.20 	The appropriations in this article, and any 
14.21 	statutory appropriations from which state 
14.22 	employee compensation is paid from any 
14.23 	fund, include an amount sufficient to fund 
14.24 	compensation increases of at least 3.25 
14.25 	percent of the 2007 compensation base for 
14.26 	the first year, compounded at the rate of 3.25 
14.27 	percent for the second year. This amount 
14.28 	must be used for that purpose and no other.

14.29	Sec. 32. SALARY SAVINGS
 					
14.30 	The commissioner of finance shall determine 
14.31 	the costs of salaries and economic benefits 
14.32 	attributable to the positions eliminated by 
14.33 	article 2 and reduce the appropriation to 
14.34 	each affected agency accordingly. The total 
15.1 	reduction to general fund appropriations 
15.2 	must be at least $3,646,000 for the fiscal year 
15.3 	ending June 30, 2008, and $3,646,000 for the 
15.4 	fiscal year ending June 30, 2009.

15.5 	ARTICLE 2
15.6 	STATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

15.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 4.035, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
15.8 		Subd. 3.Expiration date. Unless an earlier date is specified by statute or by 
15.9 	executive order, an executive order shall expire 90 days after the date that the governor 
15.10 	who issued the order vacates leaves office.

15.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

15.12 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 5.12, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
15.13 		Subdivision 1.Fees. The secretary of state shall charge a fee of $5 for each 
15.14 	certificate or certification of a copy of any document filed in the Office of the Secretary 
15.15 	of State. The secretary of state shall charge a fee of $3 for a copy of an original filing of 
15.16 	a corporation, limited partnership, assumed name, or trade or service mark, or for the 
15.17 	complete record of a certificate of assumed name. The secretary of state shall charge a 
15.18 	fee of $3 for a copy of any or all subsequent filings of a corporation, limited partnership, 
15.19 	assumed name, or trade or service mark. The secretary of state shall charge a fee of $1 per 
15.20 	page for copies of other nonuniform commercial code documents filed with the secretary of 
15.21 	state. At the time of filing, the secretary of state may provide at the public counter, without 
15.22 	charge, a copy of a filing, ten or fewer pages in length, to the person making the filing.

15.23 	Sec. 3. [5.32] TEMPORARY TECHNOLOGY SURCHARGE.
15.24 		Subdivision 1.Surcharge. For fiscal years 2008 and 2009, the following technology 
15.25 	surcharges are imposed on the filing fees required under the following statutes:
15.26 	(1) $25 for articles of incorporation filed under section 302A.151;
15.27 	(2) $25 for articles of organization filed under section 322B.17;
15.28 	(3) $25 for applications for certificates of authority to transact business in Minnesota 
15.29 	filed under section 303.06;
15.30 	(4) $20 for annual reports filed by non-Minnesota corporations under section 
15.31 	303.14; and 
16.1 	(5) $50 for reinstatements to authority to transact business in Minnesota filed under 
16.2 	section 303.19.
16.3 		Subd. 2.Deposit. The surcharges listed in subdivision 1 shall be deposited into the 
16.4 	uniform commercial code account.
16.5 		Subd. 3.Expiration. This section expires June 30, 2009.

16.6 	Sec. 4. [13.595] GRANTS.
16.7 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
16.8 	the meanings given them.
16.9 	(a) "Completion of the evaluation process" means that the granting agency has 
16.10 	completed negotiating the grant agreement with the selected grantee.
16.11 	(b) "Grant agreement"  has the meaning given in section 16B.97, subdivision 1.
16.12 	(c) "Grantee" means a person that applies for or receives a grant.
16.13 	(d) "Granting agency" means the state government entity that provides the grant.
16.14 	(e) "Opened" means the act that occurs once the deadline for submitting a response 
16.15 	to a proposal to the granting agency has been reached.
16.16 	(f) "Request for proposal" means the data outlining the responsibilities the granting 
16.17 	agency wants the grantee to assume.
16.18 	(g) "Response" means the data submitted by a grantee as required by a request for 
16.19 	proposal.
16.20 		Subd. 2.Request for applications. Data created by a granting agency to create a 
16.21 	request for proposal is classified as nonpublic until the request for proposal is published. 
16.22 	To the extent that a granting agency involves persons outside the granting agency to create 
16.23 	the request for proposal, the data remain nonpublic in the hands of all persons who may 
16.24 	not further disseminate any data that are created or reviewed as part of the request for 
16.25 	proposal development. At publication, the data in the request for proposal is public.
16.26 		Subd. 3.Responses to request for proposals. (a) Responses submitted by a grantee 
16.27 	are private or nonpublic until the responses are opened. Once the responses are opened, 
16.28 	the name and address of the grantee and the amount requested is public. All other data in a 
16.29 	response is private or nonpublic data until completion of the evaluation process. After a 
16.30 	granting agency has completed the evaluation process, all remaining data in the responses 
16.31 	is public with the exception of trade secret data as defined and classified in section 13.37. 
16.32 	A statement by a grantee that the response is copyrighted or otherwise protected does 
16.33 	not prevent public access to the response.
16.34 	(b) If all responses are rejected prior to completion of the evaluation process, 
16.35 	all data, other than that made public at the opening, remain private or nonpublic 
17.1 	until a resolicitation of proposals results in completion of the evaluation process or a 
17.2 	determination is made to abandon the grant. If the rejection occurs after the completion of 
17.3 	the evaluation process, the data remain public. If a resolicitation of proposals does not 
17.4 	occur within one year of the grant opening date, the remaining data become public.
17.5 		Subd. 4.Evaluation data. (a) Data created or maintained by a granting agency as 
17.6 	part of the evaluation process referred to in this section are protected nonpublic data until 
17.7 	completion of the evaluation process at which time the data are public with the exception 
17.8 	of trade secret data as defined and classified in section 13.37.
17.9 	(b) If a granting agency asks individuals outside the granting agency to assist with 
17.10 	the evaluation of the responses, the granting agency may share not public data in the 
17.11 	responses with those individuals. The individuals participating in the evaluation may not 
17.12 	further disseminate the not public data they review.

17.13 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 15.06, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
17.14 		Subd. 2.Term of office; successor. The term of a commissioner shall end with the 
17.15 	term of the office of governor. If the appointing authority is the governor In addition, the 
17.16 	term shall end on the date the governor who appointed the commissioner if the governor
17.17 	vacates office. The appointing authority shall submit to the president of the senate 
17.18 	the name of an appointee as permanent commissioner as provided by section 15.066, 
17.19 	subdivision 2, within 45 legislative days after the end of the term of a commissioner 
17.20 	and within 45 legislative days after the occurrence of a vacancy. The appointee shall 
17.21 	take office as permanent commissioner when the senate notifies the appointing authority 
17.22 	that it has consented to the appointment. A commissioner shall serve at the pleasure of 
17.23 	the appointing authority. 

17.24 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

17.25 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 15.06, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
17.26 		Subd. 8.Number of deputy commissioners. Unless specifically authorized by 
17.27 	statute, other than section 43A.08, subdivision 2, No department or agency specified in 
17.28 	subdivision 1 shall have more than one deputy commissioner.

17.29 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 15B.17, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
17.30 		Subdivision 1.Proposals. (a) Before a state agency or other public body develops, 
17.31 	to submit to the legislature and the governor, a budget proposal or plans for capital 
17.32 	improvements within the Capitol Area to submit to the legislature and the governor, 
17.33 	it must consult with the board.
18.1 	(b) The public body must provide enough money for the board's review and planning 
18.2 	if the board decides its review and planning services are necessary. Money received by the 
18.3 	board under this subdivision is deposited in the special revenue fund and appropriated to 
18.4 	the board.

18.5 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 16A.1286, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
18.6 		Subd. 2.Billing procedures. The commissioner may bill up to $7,520,000 in 
18.7 	each fiscal year for statewide systems services provided to state agencies, judicial branch 
18.8 	agencies, the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, 
18.9 	and other entities. Billing must be based only on usage of services relating to statewide 
18.10 	systems provided by the Intertechnologies Division. Each agency shall transfer from 
18.11 	agency operating appropriations to the statewide systems account the amount billed by 
18.12 	the commissioner. Billing policies and procedures related to statewide systems services 
18.13 	must be developed by the commissioner in consultation with the commissioners of 
18.14 	employee relations and administration, the University of Minnesota, and the Minnesota 
18.15 	State Colleges and Universities.

18.16 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 16B.03, is amended to read:
18.17 	16B.03 APPOINTMENTS.
18.18 	The commissioner is authorized to appoint staff, including twoone deputy 
18.19 	commissioners commissioner, in accordance with chapter 43A.

18.20 	Sec. 10. [16B.97] GRANTS MANAGEMENT.
18.21 		Subdivision 1.Grant agreement. (a) A grant agreement is a written instrument or 
18.22 	electronic document defining a legal relationship between a granting agency and a grantee 
18.23 	when the principal purpose of the relationship is to transfer cash or something of value 
18.24 	to the recipient to support a public purpose authorized by law instead of acquiring by 
18.25 	professional or technical contract, purchase, lease, or barter property or services for the 
18.26 	direct benefit or use of the granting agency.
18.27 	(b) This section does not apply to capital project grants to political subdivisions as 
18.28 	defined by section 16A.86.
18.29 		Subd. 2.Grants governance. The commissioner shall provide leadership and 
18.30 	direction for policy related to grants management in Minnesota in order to foster more 
18.31 	consistent, streamlined interaction between executive agencies, funders, and grantees that 
18.32 	will enhance access to grant opportunities and information and lead to greater program 
19.1 	accountability and transparency. The commissioner has the duties and powers stated in this 
19.2 	section. An executive agency must do what the commissioner requires under this section.
19.3 		Subd. 3.Discretionary powers. The commissioner has the authority to:
19.4 	(1) review grants management practices and propose policy and procedure 
19.5 	improvements to the governor, legislature, executive agencies, and the federal government;
19.6 	(2) sponsor, support, and facilitate innovative and collaborative grants management 
19.7 	projects with public and private organizations;
19.8 	(3) review, recommend, and implement alternative strategies for grants management;
19.9 	(4) collect and disseminate information, issue reports relating to grants management, 
19.10 	and sponsor and conduct conferences and studies; and
19.11 	(5) participate in conferences and other appropriate activities related to grants 
19.12 	management issues.
19.13 		Subd. 4.Duties. (a) The commissioner shall:
19.14 	(1) create general grants management policies and procedures that are applicable to 
19.15 	all executive agencies. The commissioner may approve exceptions to these policies and 
19.16 	procedures for particular grant programs. Exceptions shall expire or be renewed after five 
19.17 	years. Executive agencies shall retain management of individual grants programs;
19.18 	(2) provide a central point of contact concerning statewide grants management 
19.19 	policies and procedures;
19.20 	(3) serve as a resource to executive agencies in such areas as training, evaluation, 
19.21 	collaboration, and best practices in grants management;
19.22 	(4) ensure grants management needs are considered in the development, upgrade, 
19.23 	and use of statewide administrative systems and leverage existing technology wherever 
19.24 	possible;
19.25 	(5) oversee and approve future professional and technical service contracts and 
19.26 	other information technology spending related to executive agency grants management 
19.27 	activities;
19.28 	(6) provide a central point of contact for comments about executive agencies 
19.29 	violating statewide grants governance policies and about fraud and waste in grants 
19.30 	processes;
19.31 	(7) forward received comments to the appropriate agency for further action, and may 
19.32 	follow up as necessary; 
19.33 	(8) provide a single listing of all available executive agency competitive grant 
19.34 	opportunities and resulting grant recipients;
19.35 	(9) selectively audit executive agency grants to ensure funds are spent as intended;
20.1 	(10) selectively review development and implementation of executive agency 
20.2 	grants, policies, and practices; and
20.3 	(11) selectively review executive agency compliance with best practices.
20.4 	(b) The commissioner may determine that it is cost-effective for agencies to develop 
20.5 	and use shared grants management technology systems. This system would be governed 
20.6 	under section 16E.01, subdivision 3, paragraph (b).

20.7 	Sec. 11. [16B.98] GRANTS MANAGEMENT PROCESS.
20.8 		Subdivision 1.Limitation. As a condition of receiving a grant from an appropriation 
20.9 	of state funds, the recipient of the grant must agree to minimize administrative costs. The 
20.10 	granting agency is responsible for negotiating appropriate limits to these costs so that the 
20.11 	state derives the optimum benefit for grant funding.
20.12 		Subd. 2.Ethical practices and conflict of interest. An employee of the executive 
20.13 	branch involved directly or indirectly in grants processes, at any level, is subject to the 
20.14 	code of ethics in section 43A.38.
20.15 		Subd. 3.Conflict of interest. (a) The commissioner must develop policies 
20.16 	regarding code of ethics and conflict of interest designed to prevent conflicts of interest for 
20.17 	employees, committee members, or others involved in the recommendation, awarding, 
20.18 	and administration of grants. The policies must apply to employees who are directly or 
20.19 	indirectly in the grants process, which may include the following:
20.20 	(1) developing request for proposals or evaluation criteria;
20.21 	(2) drafting, recommending, awarding, amending, revising, or entering into grant 
20.22 	agreements;
20.23 	(3) evaluating or monitoring performance; or
20.24 	(4) authorizing payments.
20.25 	(b) The policies must include:
20.26 	(1) a process to make all parties to the grant aware of policies and laws relating to 
20.27 	conflict of interest, and training on how to avoid and address potential conflicts; and
20.28 	(2) a process under which those who have a conflict of interest or a potential conflict 
20.29 	of interest must disclose the matter.
20.30 	(c) If the employee, appointing authority, or commissioner determines that a conflict 
20.31 	of interest exists, the matter shall be assigned to another employee who does not have a 
20.32 	conflict of interest. If it is not possible to assign the matter to an employee who does not 
20.33 	have a conflict of interest, interested personnel shall be notified of the conflict and the 
20.34 	employee may proceed with the assignment.
21.1 		Subd. 4.Reporting of violations. A state employee who discovers evidence 
21.2 	of violation of laws or rules governing grants is encouraged to report the violation or 
21.3 	suspected violation to the employee's supervisor, the commissioner or the commissioner's 
21.4 	designee, or the legislative auditor. The legislative auditor shall report to the Legislative 
21.5 	Audit Commission if there are multiple complaints about the same agency. The auditor's 
21.6 	report to the Legislative Audit Commission under this section must disclose only the 
21.7 	number and type of violations alleged. An employee making a good faith report under this 
21.8 	section has the protections provided for under section 181.932, prohibiting the employer 
21.9 	from discriminating against the employee.
21.10 		Subd. 5.Creation and validity of grant agreements. (a) A grant agreement is 
21.11 	not valid and the state is not bound by the grant unless:
21.12 	(1) the grant has been executed by the head of the agency or a delegate who is 
21.13 	party to the grant; and
21.14 	(2) the accounting system shows an encumbrance for the amount of the grant in 
21.15 	accordance with policy approved by the commissioner.
21.16 	(b) The combined grant agreement and amendments must not exceed five years 
21.17 	without specific, written approval by the commissioner according to established policy, 
21.18 	procedures, and standards, or unless the commissioner determines that a longer duration is 
21.19 	in the best interest of the state.
21.20 	(c) A fully executed copy of the grant agreement with all amendments and other 
21.21 	required records relating to the grant must be kept on file at the granting agency for a time 
21.22 	equal to that required of grantees in subdivision 8.
21.23 	(d) Grant agreements must comply with policies established by the commissioner 
21.24 	for minimum grant agreement standards and practices.
21.25 	(e) The attorney general may periodically review and evaluate a sample of state 
21.26 	agency grants to ensure compliance with applicable laws.
21.27 		Subd. 6.Grant administration. A granting agency shall diligently administer 
21.28 	and monitor any grant it has entered into.
21.29 		Subd. 7.Grant payments. Payments to the grantee may not be issued until the 
21.30 	grant agreement is fully executed.
21.31 		Subd. 8.Audit. (a) A grant agreement made by an executive agency must include an 
21.32 	audit clause that provides that the books, records, documents, and accounting procedures 
21.33 	and practices of the grantee or other party that are relevant to the grant or transaction are 
21.34 	subject to examination by the granting agency and either the legislative auditor or the state 
21.35 	auditor, as appropriate, for a minimum of six years from the grant agreement end date, 
21.36 	receipt and approval of all final reports, or the required period of time to satisfy all state 
22.1 	and program retention requirements, whichever is later. If a grant agreement does not 
22.2 	include an express audit clause, the audit authority under this subdivision is implied.
22.3 	(b) If the granting agency is a local unit of government, and the governing body of 
22.4 	the local unit of government requests that the state auditor examine the books, records, 
22.5 	documents, and accounting procedures and practices of the grantee or other party 
22.6 	according to this subdivision, the granting agency shall be liable for the cost of the 
22.7 	examination. If the granting agency is a local unit of government, and the grantee or other 
22.8 	party requests that the state auditor examine all books, records, documents, and accounting 
22.9 	procedures and practices related to the grant, the grantee or other party that requested the 
22.10 	examination shall be liable for the cost of the examination.
22.11 		Subd. 9.Authority of attorney general. The attorney general may pursue 
22.12 	remedies available by law to avoid the obligation of an agency to pay under a grant or to 
22.13 	recover payments made if activities under the grant are so unsatisfactory, incomplete, or 
22.14 	inconsistent that payment would involve unjust enrichment. The contrary opinion of the 
22.15 	granting agency does not affect the power of the attorney general under this subdivision.
22.16 		Subd. 10.Grants with Indian tribes and bands. Notwithstanding any other law, 
22.17 	an agency may not require an Indian tribe or band to deny its sovereignty as a requirement 
22.18 	or condition of a grant with an agency.

22.19 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 16C.08, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
22.20 		Subd. 2.Duties of contracting agency. (a) Before an agency may seek approval of 
22.21 	a professional or technical services contract valued in excess of $5,000, it must provide 
22.22 	the following:
22.23 	(1) a description of how the proposed contract or amendment is necessary and 
22.24 	reasonable to advance the statutory mission of the agency;
22.25 	(2) a description of the agency's plan to notify firms or individuals who may be 
22.26 	available to perform the services called for in the solicitation; and
22.27 	(3) a description of the performance measures or other tools that will be used to 
22.28 	monitor and evaluate contract performance.
22.29 	(b) In addition to paragraph (a), the agency must certify that:
22.30 	(1) no current state employee is able and available to perform the services called 
22.31 	for by the contract;
22.32 	(2) the normal competitive bidding mechanisms will not provide for adequate 
22.33 	performance of the services;
22.34 	(3) reasonable efforts will be made to publicize the availability of the contract to 
22.35 	the public;
23.1 	(4) the agency will develop and implement a written plan providing for the 
23.2 	assignment of specific agency personnel to manage the contract, including a monitoring 
23.3 	and liaison function, the periodic review of interim reports or other indications of past 
23.4 	performance, and the ultimate utilization of the final product of the services;
23.5 	(5) the agency will not allow the contractor to begin work before the contract is fully 
23.6 	executed unless an exception under section 16C.05, subdivision 2a, has been granted by 
23.7 	the commissioner and funds are fully encumbered; 
23.8 	(6) the contract will not establish an employment relationship between the state or 
23.9 	the agency and any persons performing under the contract; and
23.10 	(7) in the event the results of the contract work will be carried out or continued by 
23.11 	state employees upon completion of the contract, the contractor is required to include 
23.12 	state employees in development and training, to the extent necessary to ensure that after 
23.13 	completion of the contract, state employees can perform any ongoing work related to the 
23.14 	same function; and
23.15 	(8) the agency will not contract out its previously eliminated jobs for four years 
23.16 	without first considering the same former employees who are on the seniority unit layoff 
23.17 	list who meet the minimum qualifications determined by the agency.
23.18 	(c) A contract establishes an employment relationship for purposes of paragraph (b), 
23.19 	clause (6), if, under federal laws governing the distinction between an employee and an 
23.20 	independent contractor, a person would be considered an employee.

23.21 	Sec. 13. [16C.147] DOCUMENT IMAGING; USE OF PERSONS WITH 
23.22 	DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
23.23 	The commissioner shall promote the use of persons with developmental disabilities 
23.24 	to provide document imaging services for state and local government agencies.

23.25 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 43A.02, is amended by adding a subdivision 
23.26 	to read:
23.27 		Subd. 18a.Domestic partner. "Domestic partner" means a person who has entered 
23.28 	into a committed interdependent relationship with another adult of the same sex, where 
23.29 	the partners:
23.30 	(1) are responsible for each other's basic common welfare;
23.31 	(2) share a common residence and intend to do so indefinitely;
23.32 	(3) are not related by blood or adoption to an extent that would prohibit marriage in 
23.33 	this state; and 
23.34 	(4) are legally competent and qualified to enter into a contract.
24.1 	For purposes of this subdivision, domestic partners may share a common residence, 
24.2 	even if:
24.3 	(1) they do not each have a legal right to possess the residence; or
24.4 	(2) one or both domestic partners possess additional real property.
24.5 	If one domestic partner temporarily leaves the common residence with the intention 
24.6 	to return, the domestic partners continue to share a common residence for the purposes 
24.7 	of this subdivision.

24.8 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 43A.03, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
24.9 		Subd. 3.Organization. The department shall be organized into two bureaus which 
24.10 	shall be designated the Personnel Bureau and the Labor Relations Bureau. Each bureau 
24.11 	shall be responsible for administering the duties and functions assigned to it by law. 
24.12 	When the duties of the bureaus are not mandated by law, the commissioner may establish 
24.13 	and revise the assignments of either bureau. Each bureau shall be under the direction of 
24.14 	a deputy commissioner.

24.15 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 43A.08, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
24.16 		 Subdivision 1.Unclassified positions.  Unclassified positions are held by employees 
24.17 	who are:
24.18 	 (1) chosen by election or appointed to fill an elective office;
24.19 	 (2) heads of agencies required by law to be appointed by the governor or other 
24.20 	elective officers, and the executive or administrative heads of departments, bureaus, 
24.21 	divisions, and institutions specifically established by law in the unclassified service;
24.22 	 (3) deputy and assistant agency heads and one confidential secretary in the agencies 
24.23 	listed in subdivision 1a and in the Office of Strategic and Long-Range Planning section 
24.24 	15.06, subdivision 1;
24.25 	 (4) the confidential secretary to each of the elective officers of this state and, for the 
24.26 	secretary of state and state auditor, an additional deputy, clerk, or employee;
24.27 	 (5) intermittent help employed by the commissioner of public safety to assist in 
24.28 	the issuance of vehicle licenses;
24.29 	 (6) employees in the offices of the governor and of the lieutenant governor and one 
24.30 	confidential employee for the governor in the Office of the Adjutant General;
24.31 	 (7) employees of the Washington, D.C., office of the state of Minnesota;
24.32 	 (8) employees of the legislature and of legislative committees or commissions; 
24.33 	provided that employees of the Legislative Audit Commission, except for the legislative 
25.1 	auditor, the deputy legislative auditors, and their confidential secretaries, shall be 
25.2 	employees in the classified service;
25.3 	 (9) presidents, vice-presidents, deans, other managers and professionals in 
25.4 	academic and academic support programs, administrative or service faculty, teachers, 
25.5 	research assistants, and student employees eligible under terms of the federal Economic 
25.6 	Opportunity Act work study program in the Perpich Center for Arts Education and the 
25.7 	Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, but not the custodial, clerical, or maintenance 
25.8 	employees, or any professional or managerial employee performing duties in connection 
25.9 	with the business administration of these institutions;
25.10 	 (10) officers and enlisted persons in the National Guard;
25.11 	 (11) attorneys, legal assistants, and three confidential employees appointed by the 
25.12 	attorney general or employed with the attorney general's authorization;
25.13 	 (12) judges and all employees of the judicial branch, referees, receivers, jurors, and 
25.14 	notaries public, except referees and adjusters employed by the Department of Labor 
25.15 	and Industry;
25.16 	 (13) members of the State Patrol; provided that selection and appointment of State 
25.17 	Patrol troopers must be made in accordance with applicable laws governing the classified 
25.18 	service;
25.19 	 (14) examination monitors and intermittent training instructors employed by the 
25.20 	Departments of Employee Relations and Commerce and by professional examining boards 
25.21 	and intermittent staff employed by the technical colleges for the administration of practical 
25.22 	skills tests and for the staging of instructional demonstrations;
25.23 	(15) student workers;
25.24 	(16) executive directors or executive secretaries appointed by and reporting to any 
25.25 	policy-making board or commission established by statute;
25.26 	(17) employees unclassified pursuant to other statutory authority;
25.27 	(18) intermittent help employed by the commissioner of agriculture to perform 
25.28 	duties relating to pesticides, fertilizer, and seed regulation;
25.29 	(19) the administrators and the deputy administrators at the State Academies for the 
25.30 	Deaf and the Blind; and
25.31 	(20) chief executive officers in the Department of Human Services.

25.32 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 43A.08, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
25.33 		Subd. 2a.Temporary unclassified positions. The commissioner, upon request of 
25.34 	an appointing authority, may authorize the temporary designation of a position in the 
25.35 	unclassified service. The commissioner may make this authorization only for professional, 
26.1 	managerial or supervisory positions which are fully anticipated to be of limited duration.
26.2 	An individual may not be employed by an appointing authority under this subdivision 
26.3 	for more than 18 months.

26.4 	EFFECTIVE DATE. For individuals who are employed under section 43A.08, 
26.5 	subdivision 2a, on the effective date of this section, the 18-month time limit under this 
26.6 	section commences the day following final enactment.

26.7 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 43A.24, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
26.8 		Subdivision 1.General. Employees, including persons on layoff from a civil 
26.9 	service position, and employees who are employed less than full time, shall be eligible 
26.10 	for state paid life insurance and hospital, medical and dental benefits as provided in 
26.11 	collective bargaining agreements or plans established pursuant to section 43A.18. If a 
26.12 	collective bargaining agreement or plan provides state paid health insurance for spouses of 
26.13 	employees, the same insurance must be made available at full cost to domestic partners of 
26.14 	state employees without state payment for any portion of the insurance.

26.15 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 43A.346, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
26.16 		Subdivision 1.Definition. For purposes of this section, "state employee" means a 
26.17 	person currently occupying a civil service position in the executive or legislative branch of 
26.18 	state government, the Minnesota State Retirement System, or the Office of the Legislative 
26.19 	Auditor, or a person employed by the Metropolitan Council.

26.20 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 45.013, is amended to read:
26.21 	45.013 POWER TO APPOINT STAFF.
26.22 	The commissioner of commerce may appoint fourone deputy commissioners, four 
26.23 	assistant commissioners, and an assistant to the commissioner. Those positions, as well as 
26.24 	that ofand a confidential secretary, arein the unclassified service. The commissioner may 
26.25 	appoint other employees necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities entrusted to 
26.26 	the commissioner.

26.27 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 84.01, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
26.28 		Subd. 3.Employees; delegation. Subject to the provisions of Laws 1969, chapter 
26.29 	1129, and to other applicable laws The commissioner shall organize the department and 
26.30 	employ up to three assistant commissioners, each of whom shall serve at the pleasure of 
26.31 	the commissioner in the unclassified service, one of whom shall have responsibility for 
27.1 	coordinating and directing the planning of every division within the agency, and such other
27.2 	officers, employees, and agents as the commissioner may deem necessary to discharge the 
27.3 	functions of the department, define the duties of such officers, employees, and agents and 
27.4 	to delegate to them any of the commissioner's powers, duties, and responsibilities subject 
27.5 	to the control of, and under the conditions prescribed by, the commissioner. Appointments 
27.6 	to exercise delegated power shall be by written order filed with the secretary of state.

27.7 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 116.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
27.8 		Subdivision 1.Office. (a) The office of commissioner of the Pollution Control 
27.9 	Agency is created and is under the supervision and control of the commissioner, who is 
27.10 	appointed by the governor under the provisions of section 15.06. 
27.11 	(b) The commissioner may appoint a deputy commissioner and assistant 
27.12 	commissioners who shall be in the unclassified service.
27.13 	(c) The commissioner shall make all decisions on behalf of the agency that are not 
27.14 	required to be made by the agency under section 116.02. 

27.15 	Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 116J.01, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
27.16 		Subd. 5.Departmental organization. (a) The commissioner shall organize the 
27.17 	department as provided in section 15.06. 
27.18 	(b) The commissioner may establish divisions and offices within the department. 
27.19 	The commissioner may employ four deputy commissioners in the unclassified service.
27.20 	(c) The commissioner shall:
27.21 	(1) employ assistants and other officers, employees, and agents that the commissioner 
27.22 	considers necessary to discharge the functions of the commissioner's office;
27.23 	(2) define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents, and delegate to them any 
27.24 	of the commissioner's powers, duties, and responsibilities, subject to the commissioner's 
27.25 	control and under conditions prescribed by the commissioner.
27.26 	(d) The commissioner shall ensure that there are at least three employment and 
27.27 	economic development officers in state offices in nonmetropolitan areas of the state who 
27.28 	will work with local units of government on developing local employment and economic 
27.29 	development.

27.30 	Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 116J.035, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
27.31 		Subd. 4.Delegation of powers. The commissioner may delegate, in written orders 
27.32 	filed with the secretary of state, any powers or duties subject to the commissioner's 
27.33 	control to officers and employees in the department. Regardless of any other law, the 
28.1 	commissioner may delegate the execution of specific contracts or specific types of 
28.2 	contracts to the commissioner's deputies deputy, an assistant commissioner, or a program 
28.3 	director if the delegation has been approved by the commissioner of administration and 
28.4 	filed with the secretary of state.

28.5 	Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 174.02, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
28.6 		Subd. 2.Unclassified positions. The commissioner may establish four positions 
28.7 	in the unclassified service at theappoint a deputy and assistant commissioner, assistant 
28.8 	to commissioner orand a personal secretary levels. No more than two of these positions 
28.9 	shall be at the deputy commissioner level in the unclassified service.

28.10 	Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 201.12, is amended to read:
28.11 	201.12 PROPER REGISTRATION; VERIFICATION BY MAIL; 
28.12 	CHALLENGES.
28.13 		Subdivision 1.Notice of registration. To prevent fraudulent voting and to eliminate 
28.14 	excess names, the county auditor may mail to any registered voter a notice stating the 
28.15 	voter's name and address as they appear in the registration files. The notice shall request 
28.16 	the voter to notify the county auditor if there is any mistake in the information.
28.17 		Subd. 2.Challenges Moved within state.  If the notice is returned as undeliverable 
28.18 	but with a permanent forwarding address in this state, the county auditor shall notify the 
28.19 	auditor of the county where the voter resides. Upon receipt of the notice, the county 
28.20 	auditor shall update the voter's address in the statewide voter registration system and mail 
28.21 	to the voter the notice of registration required by section 201.121, subdivision 2. The 
28.22 	notice must advise the voter that the voter's voting address has been changed and that the 
28.23 	voter must notify the county auditor within 21 days if the new address is not what the 
28.24 	voter intended to be their permanent address.
28.25 		Subd. 3.Moved out of state. If the notice is returned as undeliverable but with a 
28.26 	permanent forwarding address outside this state, the county auditor shall promptly mail 
28.27 	to the voter at the forwarding address a notice advising the voter that the voter's voter 
28.28 	registration in this state will be deleted unless the voter notifies the county auditor within 
28.29 	21 days that the voter intends to retain the former address as the voter's permanent address. 
28.30 	If the notice is not received by the deadline, the county auditor shall delete the registration.
28.31 		Subd. 4.Challenges. Upon return of any nonforwardable mailing from an 
28.32 	election official, the county auditor or the auditor's staff shall ascertain the name and 
28.33 	address of that individual. If the individual is no longer at the address recorded in the 
28.34 	statewide registration system If the notice is returned as undeliverable but with no 
29.1 	forwarding address, the county auditor shall change the registrant's status to "challenged" 
29.2 	in the statewide registration system. An individual challenged in accordance with this 
29.3 	subdivision shall comply with the provisions of section 204C.12, before being allowed to 
29.4 	vote. If a notice mailed at least 60 days after the return of the first nonforwardable mailing 
29.5 	is also returned by the postal service, the county auditor shall change the registrant's status 
29.6 	to "inactive" in the statewide registration system. 

29.7 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2007.

29.8 	Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 201.13, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
29.9 		Subd. 3.Use of change of address system. The county auditor may delete the 
29.10 	records in the statewide registration system of voters whose change of address can be 
29.11 	confirmed by the United States Postal Service. The secretary of state may provide the 
29.12 	county auditors with periodic reports on voters whose change of address can be confirmed 
29.13 	by the United States Postal Service. (a) At least once each month the secretary of state 
29.14 	shall obtain   a list of individuals in this state who have filed with the United States Postal 
29.15 	Service a change of their permanent address. If an individual is registered as a voter in the 
29.16 	statewide voter registration system and the change is to another address in this state, the 
29.17 	secretary of state shall transmit the registration by electronic means to the county auditor 
29.18 	of the county where the voter resides. Upon receipt of the registration, the county auditor 
29.19 	shall update the voter's address in the statewide voter registration system and mail to the 
29.20 	voter the notice of registration required by section 201.121, subdivision 2. The notice 
29.21 	must advise the voter that the voter's permanent address has been changed and that the 
29.22 	voter must notify the county auditor within 21 days if the new address is not what the voter 
29.23 	intended to be the voter's permanent address.
29.24 	(b) If the change of permanent address is to a forwarding address outside this state, 
29.25 	the secretary of state shall notify by electronic means the auditor of the county where the 
29.26 	voter formerly resided that the voter has left the state. The county auditor shall promptly 
29.27 	mail to the voter at the forwarding address a notice advising the voter that the voter's voter 
29.28 	registration in this state will be deleted unless the voter notifies the county auditor within 
29.29 	21 days that the voter intends to retain the former address as the voter's permanent address. 
29.30 	If the notice is not received by the deadline, the county auditor shall delete the registration.

29.31 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective March 1, 2008.

30.1 	Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 201.161, is amended to read:
30.2 	201.161 AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION OF DRIVER'S LICENSE, 
30.3 	INSTRUCTION PERMIT, AND IDENTIFICATION CARD APPLICATIONS
30.4 	APPLICANTS.
30.5 		Subdivision 1.Automatic registration. An individual who properly completes 
30.6 	an application for a new or renewed Minnesota driver's license, instruction permit, or 
30.7 	identification card, and who is eligible to vote under section 201.014, must be registered to 
30.8 	vote as provided in this section, unless the applicant declines to be registered.
30.9 		Subd. 2.Applications. The Department commissioner of public safety, in 
30.10 	consultation with the secretary of state, shall change its the applications for an original, 
30.11 	duplicate, or change of address driver's license, instruction permit, or identification card so 
30.12 	that the forms may also serve as voter registration applications. The forms must contain 
30.13 	spaces for all information collected by voter registration applications prescribed by the 
30.14 	secretary of state and a box for the applicant to decline to be registered to vote. Applicants 
30.15 	for driver's licenses or identification cards must be asked if they want to register to vote 
30.16 	at the same time and that Unless the applicant has declined to be registered to vote, the 
30.17 	commissioner shall transmit the information must be transmitted at least weeklydaily by 
30.18 	electronic means to the secretary of state. Pursuant to the Help America Vote Act of 2002, 
30.19 	Public Law 107-252, the computerized driver's license record containing the voter's name, 
30.20 	address, date of birth, citizenship, driver's license number or state identification number, 
30.21 	county, town, and city or town, and signature must be made available for access by the 
30.22 	secretary of state and interaction with the statewide voter registration system.
30.23 		Subd. 3.Registration. (a) The secretary of state shall determine whether the 
30.24 	applicant is currently registered in the statewide voter registration system. For each 
30.25 	currently registered voter whose registration is not changed, the secretary of state shall 
30.26 	update the voter's registration date in the statewide voter registration system. For each 
30.27 	currently registered voter whose registration is changed, the secretary of state shall 
30.28 	transmit the registration daily by electronic means to the county auditor of the county 
30.29 	where the voter resides.
30.30 	(b) If the applicant is not currently registered in the statewide voter registration 
30.31 	system, the secretary of state shall determine whether the applicant is 18 years of age or 
30.32 	older and a citizen of the United States and compare the voter registration information 
30.33 	received from the commissioner of public safety with the information on wards, 
30.34 	incompetents, and felons received from the state court administrator under sections 201.15 
30.35 	and 201.155, to determine whether the applicant is eligible to vote. If an applicant is 
30.36 	less than 18 years of age, the secretary of state shall wait until the applicant has turned 
31.1 	18 years of age to determine whether the applicant is eligible to vote. For each applicant 
31.2 	the secretary of state determines is an eligible voter, the secretary of state shall transmit 
31.3 	the registration daily by electronic means to the county auditor of the county where the 
31.4 	voter resides.
31.5 		Subd. 4.Notice. Upon receipt of the registration, the county auditor shall mail to 
31.6 	the voter the notice of registration required by section 201.121, subdivision 2.
31.7 		Subd. 5.Registrations dated 20 days or less before election.  An application for 
31.8 	registration that is dated during the 20 days before an election in any jurisdiction within 
31.9 	which the voter resides is not effective until the day after the election.

31.10 	EFFECTIVE DATE. An applicant for a Minnesota driver's license, instruction 
31.11 	permit, or identification card must not be registered to vote under this section until the 
31.12 	secretary of state has certified that the system for automatic registration of those applicants 
31.13 	has been tested and shown to properly determine whether an applicant is eligible to vote.

31.14 	Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 241.01, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
31.15 		Subd. 2.Divisions; deputies Deputy. The commissioner of corrections may 
31.16 	appoint and employ no more than twoa deputy commissioners commissioner. The 
31.17 	commissioner may also appoint a personal secretary, who shall serve at the commissioner's 
31.18 	pleasure in the unclassified civil service.

31.19 	Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 270B.14, is amended by adding a 
31.20 	subdivision to read:
31.21 		Subd. 19.Disclosure to Department of Finance. The commissioner may disclose 
31.22 	to the commissioner of finance returns or return information necessary in order to prepare 
31.23 	a revenue forecast under section 16A.103.

31.24 	Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 302A.821, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
31.25 		Subd. 4.Penalty; reinstatement. (a) A corporation that has failed to file a 
31.26 	registration pursuant to the requirements of subdivision 2 must be dissolved by the 
31.27 	secretary of state as described in paragraph (b).
31.28 	(b) If the corporation has not filed the registration for two consecutiveduring 
31.29 	any calendar years year, the secretary of state must issue a certificate of administrative 
31.30 	dissolution and the certificate must be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State. The 
31.31 	secretary of state shall send notice to the corporation that the corporation has been 
31.32 	dissolved and that the corporation may be reinstated by filing a registration and a $25 fee. 
31.33 	The notice must be given by United States mail unless the company has indicated to the 
32.1 	secretary of state that they are willing to receive notice by electronic notification, in which 
32.2 	case the secretary of state may give notice by mail or the indicated means. The secretary 
32.3 	of state shall annually inform the attorney general and the commissioner of revenue of 
32.4 	the methods by which the names of corporations dissolved under this section during the 
32.5 	preceding year may be determined. The secretary of state must also make available in 
32.6 	an electronic format the names of the dissolved corporations. A corporation dissolved in 
32.7 	this manner is not entitled to the benefits of section 302A.781. The liability, if any, of the 
32.8 	shareholders of a corporation dissolved in this manner shall be determined and limited in 
32.9 	accordance with section 302A.557, except that the shareholders shall have no liability to 
32.10 	any director of the corporation under section 302A.559, subdivision 2. 
32.11 	(c) After administrative dissolution, filing a registration and the $25 fee with the 
32.12 	secretary of state:
32.13 	(1) returns the corporation to good standing as of the date of the dissolution;
32.14 	(2) validates contracts or other acts within the authority of the articles, and the 
32.15 	corporation is liable for those contracts or acts; and
32.16 	(3) restores to the corporation all assets and rights of the corporation to the extent 
32.17 	they were held by the corporation before the dissolution occurred, except to the extent that 
32.18 	assets or rights were affected by acts occurring after the dissolution or sold or otherwise 
32.19 	distributed after that time.

32.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2008.

32.21 	Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 321.0206, is amended to read:
32.22 	321.0206 DELIVERY TO AND FILING OF RECORDS BY SECRETARY OF 
32.23 	STATE; EFFECTIVE TIME AND DATE.
32.24 	(a) A record authorized or required to be delivered to the secretary of state for filing 
32.25 	under this chapter must be captioned to describe the record's purpose, be in a medium 
32.26 	permitted by the secretary of state, and be delivered to the secretary of state. Unless the 
32.27 	secretary of state determines that a record does not comply with the filing requirements 
32.28 	of this chapter, and if the appropriate filing fees have been paid, the secretary of state 
32.29 	shall file the record and:
32.30 	(1) for a statement of dissociation, send:
32.31 	(A) a copy of the filed statement to the person which the statement indicates has 
32.32 	dissociated as a general partner; and
32.33 	(B) a copy of the filed statement to the limited partnership;
32.34 	(2) for a statement of withdrawal, send:
33.1 	(A) a copy of the filed statement to the person on whose behalf the record was 
33.2 	filed; and
33.3 	(B) if the statement refers to an existing limited partnership, a copy of the filed 
33.4 	statement to the limited partnership; and
33.5 	(3) for all other records, send a copy of the filed record to the person on whose 
33.6 	behalf the record was filed.
33.7 	(b) Upon request and payment of a fee, the secretary of state shall send to the 
33.8 	requester a certified copy of the requested record.
33.9 	(c) Except as otherwise provided in sections 321.0116 and 321.0207, a record 
33.10 	delivered to the secretary of state for filing under this chapter may specify an effective 
33.11 	time and a delayed effective date. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a record 
33.12 	filed by the secretary of state is effective: 
33.13 	(1) if the record does not specify an effective time and does not specify a delayed 
33.14 	effective date, on the date and at the time the record is filed as evidenced by the secretary 
33.15 	of state's endorsement of the date and time on the record;
33.16 	(2) if the record specifies an effective time but not a delayed effective date, on the 
33.17 	date the record is filed at the time specified in the record;
33.18 	(3) if the record specifies a delayed effective date but not an effective time, at 12:01 
33.19 	a.m. on the earlier of:
33.20 	(A) the specified date; or
33.21 	(B) the 30th day after the record is filed; or
33.22 	(4) if the record specifies an effective time and a delayed effective date, at the 
33.23 	specified time on the earlier of:
33.24 	(A) the specified date; or
33.25 	(B) the 30th day after the record is filed.
33.26 	(d) The appropriate fees for filings under this chapter are:
33.27 	(1) for filing a certificate of limited partnership, $100;
33.28 	(2) for filing an amended certificate of limited partnership, $50;
33.29 	(3) for filing any other record, other than the annual report required by section 
33.30 	321.0210, for which no fee must be charged, required or permitted to be delivered for 
33.31 	filing, $35;
33.32 	(4) for filing a certificate requesting authority to transact business in Minnesota as a 
33.33 	foreign limited partnership, $85;
33.34 	(5) for filing an application of reinstatement, $25; and
33.35 	(6) for filing a name reservation for a foreign limited partnership name, $35; and
34.1 	(7) for filing any other record, other than the annual report required by section 
34.2 	321.0210, for which no fee must be charged, required or permitted to be delivered for 
34.3 	filing on a foreign limited partnership authorized to transact business in Minnesota, $50.

34.4 	Sec. 33. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 336.1-110, is amended to read:
34.5 	336.1-110 UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE ACCOUNT.
34.6 	The Uniform Commercial Code account is established as an account in the state 
34.7 	treasury. Fees that are not expressly set by statute but are charged by the secretary of state 
34.8 	to offset the costs of providing a service under this chapter must be deposited in the state 
34.9 	treasury and credited to the Uniform Commercial Code account.
34.10 	Fees that are not expressly set by statute but are charged by the secretary of state 
34.11 	to offset the costs of providing information contained in the computerized records 
34.12 	maintained by the secretary of state must be deposited in the state treasury and credited to 
34.13 	the Uniform Commercial Code account.
34.14 	Money in the Uniform Commercial Code account is continuously appropriated to the 
34.15 	secretary of state to implement and maintain the central filing system under this chapter, 
34.16 	to provide, improve, and expand other online or remote lien and business entity filing, 
34.17 	retrieval, and payment method services provided by the secretary of state, and to provide 
34.18 	electronic access to other computerized records maintained by the secretary of state.

34.19 	Sec. 34. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 336.9-525, is amended to read:
34.20 	336.9-525 FEES.
34.21 	(a)  Initial financing statement or other record: general rule. Except as otherwise 
34.22 	provided in subsection (d), the fee for filing and indexing a record under this part delivered 
34.23 	on paper is $20 and for a record delivered by any electronic means is $15. $5 of the 
34.24 	fee collected for each filing made online must be deposited in the uniform commercial 
34.25 	code account.
34.26 	(b)  Number of names. The number of names required to be indexed does not 
34.27 	affect the amount of the fee in subsection (a). 
34.28 	(c)  Response to information request. The fee for responding to a request for 
34.29 	information from the filing office, including for issuing a certificate showing whether there 
34.30 	is on file any financing statement naming a particular debtor, delivered on paper is $20 
34.31 	and for a record delivered by any electronic means is $15. $5 of the fee collected for each 
34.32 	request delivered online must be deposited in the uniform commercial code account.
34.33 	(d)  Record of mortgage. This section does not require a fee with respect to a record 
34.34 	of a mortgage which is effective as a financing statement filed as a fixture filing or as a 
35.1 	financing statement covering as-extracted collateral or timber to be cut under section 
35.2 	336.9-502(c). However, the recording and satisfaction fees that otherwise would be 
35.3 	applicable to the record of the mortgage apply.

35.4 	Sec. 35. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 471.61, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
35.5 		Subd. 1a.Dependents. Notwithstanding the provisions of Minnesota Statutes 1969, 
35.6 	section 471.61, as amended by Laws 1971, chapter 451, section 1, the word "dependents" 
35.7 	as used therein shall mean spouse and minor unmarried children under the age of 18 years 
35.8 	and dependent students under the age of 25 years actually dependent upon the employee, 
35.9 	and others as defined by governmental units at their discretion. 

35.10 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

35.11 	Sec. 36. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 517.08, subdivision 1b, is amended to read:
35.12 		Subd. 1b.Term of license; fee; premarital education. (a) The local registrar 
35.13 	shall examine upon oath the party applying for a license relative to the legality of the 
35.14 	contemplated marriage. If at the expiration of a five-day period, on being satisfied that 
35.15 	there is no legal impediment to it, including the restriction contained in section 259.13, the 
35.16 	local registrar shall issue the license, containing the full names of the parties before and 
35.17 	after marriage, and county and state of residence, with the county seal attached, and make a 
35.18 	record of the date of issuance. The license shall be valid for a period of six months. In case 
35.19 	of emergency or extraordinary circumstances, a judge of the district court of the county in 
35.20 	which the application is made, may authorize the license to be issued at any time before 
35.21 	the expiration of the five days. Except as provided in paragraph (b), the local registrar shall 
35.22 	collect from the applicant a fee of $100$110 for administering the oath, issuing, recording, 
35.23 	and filing all papers required, and preparing and transmitting to the state registrar of vital 
35.24 	statistics the reports of marriage required by this section. If the license should not be used 
35.25 	within the period of six months due to illness or other extenuating circumstances, it may 
35.26 	be surrendered to the local registrar for cancellation, and in that case a new license shall 
35.27 	issue upon request of the parties of the original license without fee. A local registrar who 
35.28 	knowingly issues or signs a marriage license in any manner other than as provided in this 
35.29 	section shall pay to the parties aggrieved an amount not to exceed $1,000.
35.30 	(b) The marriage license fee for parties who have completed at least 12 hours of 
35.31 	premarital education is $30 $40. In order to qualify for the reduced license fee, the 
35.32 	parties must submit at the time of applying for the marriage license a signed and dated 
35.33 	statement from the person who provided the premarital education confirming that it was 
35.34 	received. The premarital education must be provided by a licensed or ordained minister 
36.1 	or the minister's designee, a person authorized to solemnize marriages under section 
36.2 	517.18, or a person authorized to practice marriage and family therapy under section 
36.3 	148B.33. The education must include the use of a premarital inventory and the teaching of 
36.4 	communication and conflict management skills.
36.5 	(c) The statement from the person who provided the premarital education under 
36.6 	paragraph (b) must be in the following form:
36.7 	"I, (name of educator), confirm that (names of both parties) received at least 12 
36.8 	hours of premarital education that included the use of a premarital inventory and the 
36.9 	teaching of communication and conflict management skills. I am a licensed or ordained 
36.10 	minister, a person authorized to solemnize marriages under Minnesota Statutes, section 
36.11 	517.18, or a person licensed to practice marriage and family therapy under Minnesota 
36.12 	Statutes, section 148B.33."
36.13 	The names of the parties in the educator's statement must be identical to the legal 
36.14 	names of the parties as they appear in the marriage license application. Notwithstanding 
36.15 	section 138.17, the educator's statement must be retained for seven years, after which 
36.16 	time it may be destroyed.
36.17 	(d) If section 259.13 applies to the request for a marriage license, the local registrar 
36.18 	shall grant the marriage license without the requested name change. Alternatively, the local 
36.19 	registrar may delay the granting of the marriage license until the party with the conviction:
36.20 	(1) certifies under oath that 30 days have passed since service of the notice for a 
36.21 	name change upon the prosecuting authority and, if applicable, the attorney general and no 
36.22 	objection has been filed under section 259.13; or
36.23 	(2) provides a certified copy of the court order granting it. The parties seeking the 
36.24 	marriage license shall have the right to choose to have the license granted without the 
36.25 	name change or to delay its granting pending further action on the name change request.

36.26 	Sec. 37. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 517.08, subdivision 1c, is amended to read:
36.27 		Subd. 1c.Disposition of license fee. (a) Of the marriage license fee collected 
36.28 	pursuant to subdivision 1b, paragraph (a), $15$25 must be retained by the county. The 
36.29 	local registrar must pay $85 to the commissioner of finance to be deposited as follows:
36.30 	(1) $50 in the general fund;
36.31 	(2) $3 in the special revenue fund to be appropriated to the commissioner of 
36.32 	education for parenting time centers under section 119A.37;
36.33 	(3) $2 in the special revenue fund to be appropriated to the commissioner of health 
36.34 	for developing and implementing the MN ENABL program under section 145.9255;
37.1 	(4) $25 in the special revenue fund is appropriated to the commissioner of 
37.2 	employment and economic development for the displaced homemaker program under 
37.3 	section 116L.96; and
37.4 	(5) $5 in the special revenue fund is appropriated to the commissioner of human 
37.5 	services for the Minnesota Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Initiative under 
37.6 	section 256.742.
37.7 	(b) Of the $30$40 fee under subdivision 1b, paragraph (b), $15$25 must be retained 
37.8 	by the county. The local registrar must pay $15 to the commissioner of finance to be 
37.9 	deposited as follows:
37.10 	(1) $5 as provided in paragraph (a), clauses (2) and (3); and
37.11 	(2) $10 in the special revenue fund is appropriated to the commissioner of 
37.12 	employment and economic development for the displaced homemaker program under 
37.13 	section 116L.96.
37.14 	(c) The increase in the marriage license fee under paragraph (a) provided for in Laws 
37.15 	2004, chapter 273, and disbursement of the increase in that fee to the special fund for the 
37.16 	Minnesota Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Initiative under paragraph (a), 
37.17 	clause (5), is contingent upon the receipt of federal funding under United States Code, title 
37.18 	42, section 1315, for purposes of the initiative.

37.19 	Sec. 38. Laws 2005, First Special Session chapter 1, article 4, section 121, is amended 
37.20 	to read:
37.21 	Sec. 121. SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMISSION.
 37.22 		Subdivision 1.Commission; purpose. The Minnesota Sesquicentennial 
37.23 	Commission is established to plan for activities relating to Minnesota's 150th anniversary 
37.24 	of statehood. The commission shall create a plan for capital improvements, celebratory 
37.25 	activities, and public engagement in every county in the state of Minnesota.
37.26 		Subd. 2.Membership. The commission shall consist of 17 members who shall 
37.27 	serve until the completion of the sesquicentennial year of statehood, appointed as follows:
37.28 	(1) nine members appointed by the governor, representing major corporate, 
37.29 	nonprofit, and public sectors of the state, selected from all parts of the state;
37.30 	(2) two members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
37.31 	(3) two members appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives;
37.32 	(4) two members from the majority party in the senate, appointed by the 
37.33 	Subcommittee on Committees; and 
37.34 	(5) two members from the minority party in the senate, appointed by the 
37.35 	Subcommittee on Committees.
38.1 		Subd. 3.Compensation; operation. Members shall select a chair from the 
38.2 	membership of the commission. The chair shall convene all meetings and set the agenda 
38.3 	for the commission. The Minnesota Historical Society shall provide office space and staff 
38.4 	support for the commission, and shall cooperate with the University of Minnesota and 
38.5 	Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to support the programs of the commission. 
38.6 	Meetings shall be at the call of the chair. The commission may appoint an advisory 
38.7 	council to advise and assist the commission with its duties. Members shall receive no 
38.8 	compensation for service on the Sesquicentennial Commission. Members appointed by 
38.9 	the governor may be reimbursed for expenses under Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, 
38.10 	subdivision 3.
38.11 		Subd. 4.Duties. The commission shall have the following duties:
38.12 	(1) to present to the governor and legislature a plan for capital grants to pay for 
38.13 	capital improvements on Minnesota's historic public and private buildings, to be known as 
38.14 	sesquicentennial grants;
38.15 	(2) to seek funding for activities to celebrate the 150th anniversary of statehood, and 
38.16 	to form partnerships with private parties to further this mission; and 
38.17 	(3) to present an annual report to the governor and legislature outlining progress 
38.18 	made towards the celebration of the sesquicentennial.
38.19 		Subd. 4a.Powers. (a) The commission may accept gifts, grants, and other donations 
38.20 	and revenues, either in cash or in-kind. These gifts, grants, and donations are accepted on 
38.21 	behalf of the state and constitute donations to the state of Minnesota. Funds received under 
38.22 	this subdivision are appropriated to the commission for the purpose of commemorating 
38.23 	the Minnesota sesquicentennial.
38.24 	(b) The commission may enter into contracts and award grants to carry out its 
38.25 	purposes.
38.26 		Subd. 5.Commemorative coin. The commission may arrange for design, 
38.27 	production, distribution, marketing, and sale of a commemorative coin. Proceeds from 
38.28 	sale of the commemorative coin are appropriated to the commission.
38.29 		Subd. 6.Expiration. The commission shall continue to operate until January 30, 
38.30 	2009, at which time it shall expire.

38.31 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

38.32 	Sec. 39. DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONS ABOLISHED; DUTIES 
38.33 	TRANSFERRED.
 38.34 	(a) The Department of Employee Relations and the position of the commissioner 
38.35 	of employee relations are abolished as of June 1, 2008. Duties of the Department of 
39.1 	Employee Relations and the commissioner of employee relations are transferred on or 
39.2 	before June 1, 2008, to the commissioner of finance, except as follows:
39.3 	(1) duties relating to administration of the state employees workers' compensation 
39.4 	program are transferred on or before June 1, 2008, to the commissioner of administration; 
39.5 	and
39.6 	(2) duties relating to health care purchasing improvement under Minnesota Statutes, 
39.7 	section 43A.312, are transferred on or before June 1, 2008, to the commissioner of health.
39.8 	(b) The commissioner of employee relations, in consultation with the commissioner 
39.9 	of finance, may specify one or more dates before June 1, 2008, on which any or all of the 
39.10 	transfers provided in paragraph (a) will occur.
39.11 	(c) The governor may, in consultation with the commissioner of employee relations, 
39.12 	the commissioner of finance, the commissioner of administration, and the director of the 
39.13 	Office of Enterprise Technology, transfer other duties of the Department of Employee 
39.14 	Relations to other state agencies in order to most effectively and efficiently accomplish the 
39.15 	reorganization required by this act.
39.16 	(d) Transfer of duties under this section is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
39.17 	15.039.
39.18 	(e) In addition to any other protection, no employee in the classified service shall 
39.19 	suffer job loss, have a salary reduced, or have employment benefits reduced as a result of 
39.20 	a reorganization mandated or recommended under authority of this section. No action 
39.21 	taken after June 1, 2009, shall be considered a result of reorganization for the purposes 
39.22 	of this section.

39.23 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment. 

39.24 	Sec. 40. STATE BUDGET TRENDS STUDY COMMISSION.
 39.25 	(a) The State Budget Trends Study Commission is established for the purpose 
39.26 	of completing a study of the implications of state demographic trends for future state 
39.27 	budget conditions, including both expected revenue collections and spending for state 
39.28 	government services and local services supported by state revenues. The commission 
39.29 	shall consist of 15 public members, including five members appointed by the governor; 
39.30 	five members appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee 
39.31 	on Rules and Administration; four members appointed by the speaker of the house of 
39.32 	representatives; and one member appointed by the minority leader of the house of 
39.33 	representatives. The respective appointing authorities must complete their appointments 
39.34 	under this section within 30 days of the effective date of this section. The commissioner of 
39.35 	finance must convene the commission within 30 days of the completion of appointments 
40.1 	under this section. The members shall select their chair at the first meeting. When making 
40.2 	appointments under this section, the appointing authorities must consider the education 
40.3 	and expertise of appointees in fields such as public finance, demography, and public 
40.4 	administration.
40.5 	(b) Per diem and expense payments to members, removal of members, and vacancies 
40.6 	are governed by Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059. 
40.7 	(c) The commissioners of finance and revenue must provide data, analysis, and staff 
40.8 	support required by the commission to complete the study, including, but not limited to, 
40.9 	the effect of expected demographic changes over the next 25 years on state tax bases and 
40.10 	on existing state programs and appropriations. In preparing the study, the commission 
40.11 	shall consult with and use the services of the state demographer to estimate the changing 
40.12 	profile of the Minnesota population by age and other factors relevant to the study. The 
40.13 	commission may also contract with appropriate consultants and experts as needed to 
40.14 	complete the study.
40.15 	(d) In completing the study, the commission must consider:
40.16 	(1) the effect of expected demographic changes over the next 25 years on the tax 
40.17 	base and revenue collections for state income and sales tax, or other state taxes;
40.18 	(2) estimates of tax revenue collections for the years 2012, 2017, 2022, 2027, and 
40.19 	2032, taking into account the sensitivity of the results for changes in estimated migration 
40.20 	rates, labor force participation by older individuals, and other shares of capital versus labor;
40.21 	(3) the effect of demographic trends on entitlement programs and other large state 
40.22 	appropriations relative to current budget commitments;
40.23 	(4) relative trends in spending for state programs including trends identified in the 
40.24 	fast growing expenditures report completed under Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.103, 
40.25 	subdivision 4; and
40.26 	(5) the structure of the state budget with regard to budget stability and flexibility.
40.27 	(e) The commission may make recommendations for state tax or budget policy 
40.28 	changes, including recommendations for changes in tax base, mix of tax types, state 
40.29 	and local finance relationships, entitlements, or budget structure. The commission shall 
40.30 	present preliminary results to the chairs of the legislative committees with jurisdiction 
40.31 	over finance and taxes by February 1, 2008, and a final written report to the same chairs by 
40.32 	January 15, 2009, in compliance with Minnesota Statutes, sections 3.195 and 3.197. 
40.33 	(f) This section expires on June 30, 2009.

40.34 	Sec. 41. MINNESOTA COMMISSION ON NEW AMERICANS.
 41.1 		Subdivision 1.Commission established. The Minnesota Commission on New 
41.2 	Americans is established to identify the strengths of the immigrant community in 
41.3 	Minnesota. The commission shall identify the underutilized resources within the 
41.4 	immigrant community and make recommendations to the legislature and state agencies 
41.5 	to facilitate the full participation of immigrants in social, cultural, and economic life in 
41.6 	this state.
41.7 		Subd. 2.Membership. (a) The Minnesota Commission on New Americans consists 
41.8 	of ten members. The governor shall appoint two public members; the Subcommittee on 
41.9 	Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the senate shall appoint 
41.10 	two public members and two senators, one from the majority party and one from the 
41.11 	minority party; and the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint two public 
41.12 	members and two members of the house of representatives, one from the majority party 
41.13 	and one from the minority party.
41.14 	(b) Public members must have experience in working with the immigrant 
41.15 	community, including training, special skills, and experience that would benefit the 
41.16 	commission, such as training and experience in business, management, economics, public 
41.17 	policy, legal affairs, and social work. The appointing authorities are encouraged to consult 
41.18 	with business and business trade organizations in the state and appoint public members 
41.19 	who include:
41.20 	(1) a business executive or employer with policy making or hiring authority, 
41.21 	including the owner, chief executive, or operating officer of a business in this state; or
41.22 	(2) a representative of a private business with employment opportunities that reflect 
41.23 	the employment opportunities available within the state.
41.24 	The appointing authorities shall seek to collaborate with each other and with the councils 
41.25 	established in Minnesota Statutes, sections 3.9223, 3.9225, and 3.9226, to ensure that the 
41.26 	public membership of the commission is ethnically and geographically diverse and is 
41.27 	reasonably balanced by gender.
41.28 	(c) Compensation and expenses for public members are as provided in Minnesota 
41.29 	Statutes, section 15.0575. 
41.30 	(d) The appointments required under this subdivision must be completed no later 
41.31 	than September 1, 2007.
41.32 		Subd. 3.Organization. As soon as possible after the appointments under 
41.33 	subdivision 2 have been completed, the executive director of the Legislative Coordinating 
41.34 	Commission shall convene the first meeting of the commission. The members of the 
41.35 	commission shall select their chairperson at the first meeting.
42.1 		Subd. 4.Duties. The Minnesota Commission on New Americans shall study and 
42.2 	consider opportunities to:
42.3 	(1) take steps to address the underutilization of the New American workforce in 
42.4 	the state's economy;
42.5 	(2) develop entrepreneurial and business opportunities to enhance and promote the 
42.6 	current and future economic endeavors of New Americans;
42.7 	(3) identify means to enhance and expand the state's trade relations with other 
42.8 	regions and countries through the relationship, language, and cultural assets of New 
42.9 	Americans; and
42.10 	(4) improve the economic and social condition of Minnesota's newest Americans 
42.11 	including, but not limited to, education for New American children and adults, access to 
42.12 	state and nonprofit programs and services, and integration into civic life in the state.
42.13 	By December 1, 2008, the commission shall report to the chairs and ranking 
42.14 	minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over 
42.15 	issues affecting immigrants. The report must include a discussion of the items listed in 
42.16 	this subdivision together with recommendations for state agencies and the legislature, 
42.17 	including any proposed legislation necessary to accomplish the recommendations. The 
42.18 	executive director of the Legislative Coordinating Commission shall ensure that copies of 
42.19 	the report are available on the Legislative Coordinating Commission's Web site.
42.20 		Subd. 5.Expiration. This section expires on June 30, 2009.

42.21 	Sec. 42. ELECTRONIC DATA STUDY AND REPORT.
 42.22 		Subdivision 1.Study. The chief information officer, in consultation with the 
42.23 	state archivist and the legislative reference librarian, shall study how government data 
42.24 	as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 13.02, hardware, software, and media can be 
42.25 	created, maintained, exchanged, and preserved by the state to ensure access, competition, 
42.26 	and interoperability. The evaluation must consider, but not be limited to, the policies of 
42.27 	other states and nations with regard to electronic records management guidelines for 
42.28 	state archives, including policies and procedures needed to preserve all state data no 
42.29 	matter what its medium of storage, public access to information, expected storage life of 
42.30 	electronic data, costs of implementation, and potential cost savings. The chief information 
42.31 	officer shall solicit comments from stakeholders, including, but not limited to: the 
42.32 	legislative auditor, the attorney general, records management professionals, librarians, 
42.33 	the media, state services for the blind, and historians, including representatives of the 
42.34 	Minnesota Historical Society. The chief information officer shall also solicit comments 
42.35 	from members of the public. The chief information officer shall, in consultation with 
43.1 	stakeholders, identify what changes, if any, should be made to the government records 
43.2 	management provisions in Minnesota Statutes, sections 138.17 to 138.226.
43.3 		Subd. 2.Report. The chief information officer shall report the officer's findings 
43.4 	and recommendations to the chairs of the senate State and Local Government Operations 
43.5 	and Oversight Committee, house of representatives Governmental Operations, Reform, 
43.6 	Technology and Elections Committee, and the senate and house of representatives State 
43.7 	Government Finance Divisions by January 15, 2008.

43.8 	Sec. 43. VOLUNTARY UNPAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
 43.9 	(a) Appointing authorities in state government may allow each employee to take 
43.10 	unpaid leaves of absence for up to 1,040 hours between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2009. 
43.11 	Each appointing authority approving such a leave shall allow the employee to continue 
43.12 	accruing vacation and sick leave, be eligible for paid holidays and insurance benefits, 
43.13 	accrue seniority, and, if payments are made under paragraph (b), accrue service credit 
43.14 	and credited salary in the state retirement plans as if the employee had actually been 
43.15 	employed during the time of leave. An employee covered by the unclassified plan may 
43.16 	voluntarily make the employee contributions to the unclassified plan during the leave of 
43.17 	absence. If the employee makes these contributions, the appointing authority must make 
43.18 	the employer contribution. If the leave of absence is for one full pay period or longer, 
43.19 	any holiday pay shall be included in the first payroll warrant after return from the leave of 
43.20 	absence. The appointing authority shall attempt to grant requests for the unpaid leaves of 
43.21 	absence consistent with the need to continue efficient operation of the agency. However, 
43.22 	each appointing authority shall retain discretion to grant or refuse to grant requests for 
43.23 	leaves of absence and to schedule and cancel leaves, subject to the applicable provisions 
43.24 	of collective bargaining agreements and compensation plans.
43.25 	(b) To receive eligible service credit and credited salary in a defined benefit plan, the 
43.26 	member shall pay an amount equal to the applicable employee contribution rates. If an 
43.27 	employee pays the employee contribution for the period of the leave under this section, 
43.28 	the appointing authority must pay the employer contribution. The appointing authority 
43.29 	may, at its discretion, pay the employee contributions. Contributions must be made in a 
43.30 	time and manner prescribed by the executive director of the applicable pension plan.

43.31 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

43.32 	Sec. 44. BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD.
 44.1 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.1522, subdivision 4, any positive 
44.2 	unrestricted general fund budgetary balance as of June 30, 2007, is carried forward to the 
44.3 	fiscal year ending June 30, 2008.

44.4 	Sec. 45. REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.
 44.5 	In the next and subsequent editions of Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota Rules, the 
44.6 	revisor of statutes must replace references to the Department of Employee Relations and 
44.7 	commissioner of employee relations with references to the appropriate department and 
44.8 	commissioner specified in section 39. The revisor of statutes, in consultation with affected 
44.9 	commissioners of state agencies, must prepare a bill for introduction in the 2008 legislative 
44.10 	session making other statutory changes needed to implement or conform with section 39.

44.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

44.12 	Sec. 46.  REPEALER.
 44.13 	(a) Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 43A.03, subdivision 4; and 43A.08, 
44.14 	subdivision 1b, are repealed.
44.15 	(b) Laws 2006, chapter 253, section 22, is repealed.