1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; requiring the Legislative Coordinating Commission 
1.3 	to oversee legislative training forums; appropriating money;proposing coding 
1.4 	for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 3.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [3.051] LEGISLATIVE TRAINING FORUMS.
1.7 	(a) The Legislative Coordinating Commission shall oversee legislative training 
1.8 	forums each year. The commission shall:
1.9 	(1) create an annual gathering of legislators to be held within the first two weeks of 
1.10 	each legislative session, and other legislative training forums within the first two months 
1.11 	of each year's legislative session;
1.12 	(2) select speakers, including nonpartisan legislative or executive staff, who will 
1.13 	provide:
1.14 	 (i) an overview of the issues affecting Minnesota, including demographic issues, 
1.15 	economic and other perspectives on Minnesota and its role in the global economy, and 
1.16 	background on key policy issues the legislature is expected to address that year; and
1.17 	(ii) training to improve legislative skills in running effective meetings and other 
1.18 	issues; and
1.19 	(3) invite current executive branch officials to provide opportunities for legislators 
1.20 	and invited executive officials to interact and work to form cooperative solutions to 
1.21 	Minnesota issues, problems, and challenges.
1.22 	(b) The joint rules of the house of representatives and senate must prohibit any 
1.23 	official gathering of legislators that might conflict with the legislative forums provided 
1.24 	for in this section.
2.1 	(c) The Legislative Coordinating Commission may select a partner or partners from 
2.2 	Minnesota's institutions of higher education, executive branch agencies, and nonprofit 
2.3 	communities to run the training, schedule activities, and create meeting agendas. The 
2.4 	commission may accept donations from foundations, corporations, and individuals to 
2.5 	defray costs of the forums, and shall publish these donations on the legislature's Web site. 
2.6 	No registered lobbyist or principal shall contribute for this purpose. Donations received 
2.7 	are appropriated to the Legislative Coordinating Commission for purposes of this section.

2.8 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.9 	$20,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Legislative Coordinating 
2.10 	Commission in fiscal year 2008 for the legislative forums in 2008.