HF 71

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:33am

A bill for an act
relating to legislative procedure; requiring certain conference committee
communications to be open to the public; requiring budget negotiations between
legislative leaders and bill and budget negotiations between the governor and
legislative leaders to be open to the public; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 3.055, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3.055, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Meetings to be open.

new text begin (a) new text end Meetings of the legislature shall be open
to the public, including sessions of the senate, sessions of the house of representatives,
joint sessions of the senate and the house of representatives, and meetings of a standing
committee, committee division, subcommittee, conference committee, or legislative
commission, but not including a caucus of the members of any of those bodies from the
same house and political party nor a delegation of legislators representing a geographic
area or political subdivision. For purposes of this section, a meeting occurs when a quorum
is present and action is taken regarding a matter within the jurisdiction of the body.

new text begin (b) In addition to the openness requirements imposed on conference committees by
paragraph (a), from the time a conference committee is appointed until it is disbanded,
any negotiations between senate and house of representatives members of the conference
committee or senate and house of representatives staff members related to the conference
committee or the bill referred to the conference committee must be open to the public.
new text end

new text begin (c) A meeting between the majority leader of the senate and the speaker of the house
to set budget targets or negotiate the state budget must be open to the public.
new text end

new text begin (d) A meeting with the governor to negotiate a bill pending in the senate or house of
representatives or to set budget targets or negotiate the state budget must be open to the
public if the meeting includes any of the following members of the legislature:
new text end

new text begin (1) the majority leader of the senate;
new text end

new text begin (2) the speaker of the house;
new text end

new text begin (3) the minority leader of either the senate or house of representatives; or
new text end

new text begin (4) the chair of a standing committee or division of the senate or house of
representatives.
new text end

new text begin (e) new text end Each house shall provide by rule for posting notices of meetings, recording
proceedings, and making the recordings and votes available to the public.

Sec. 2. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin This act is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end