HF 861

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:42am

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; regulating the regent nomination joint committee;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 137.0246, subdivision 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 137.0246, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:

Subd. 2.

Regent nomination joint committee.

(a) The joint legislative committee
consists of the members of the higher education budget and policy divisions in each house
of the legislature. The chairs of the divisions from each body shall be cochairs of the
joint legislative committee. A majority of the members from each house is a quorum of
the joint committee.

(b) By February 28 of each odd-numbered year, or at a date agreed to by concurrent
resolution, the joint legislative committee shall meet to consider the advisory council's
recommendations for regent of the University of Minnesota for possible presentation to a
joint convention of the legislature.

(c) The joint committee may recommend to the joint convention candidates
recommended by the advisory council and the other candidates nominated by the joint
committee. A candidate other than those recommended by the advisory council may be
nominated for consideration by the joint committee only if the nomination receives the
support of at least three house of representatives members of the committee and two
senate members of the committee. A candidate must receive a majority vote of members
from the house of representatives and from the senate on the joint committee to be
recommended to the joint convention. The joint committee may recommend no more than
one candidate for each vacancy. In recommending nominees, the joint committee must
consider the needs of the board of regents and the balance of the board membership with
respect to gender, racial, and ethnic composition.

deleted text begin (d) The joint committee must meet twice, approximately one week apart. The first
meeting is for the purpose of interviewing candidates and recommending candidates for
the joint committee to consider. The second meeting is for the purpose of voting for
candidates for recommendation to the joint convention.
deleted text end