as introduced - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
Engrossments | ||
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Introduction | Posted on 02/24/1997 |
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to metropolitan government; providing for a 1.3 transfer of transit powers; appropriating money; 1.4 amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 117.57, 1.5 subdivision 3; 160.265, subdivision 1; 161.17, 1.6 subdivision 2; 161.171, subdivision 5; 161.173; 1.7 161.174; 169.781, subdivision 1; 169.791, subdivision 1.8 5; 169.792, subdivision 11; 174.03, subdivisions 4 and 1.9 5; 174.031, subdivision 3; 174.04, subdivisions 1 and 1.10 2; 174.32, subdivision 2; 174.50, subdivision 4; 1.11 216C.15, subdivision 1; 221.022; 221.025; 221.031, 1.12 subdivision 3a; 221.041, subdivision 4; 221.071, 1.13 subdivision 1; 352.01, subdivision 2b; 352.03, 1.14 subdivision 1; 353.64, subdivision 7a; 473.167, 1.15 subdivisions 2 and 2a; 473.168, subdivision 2; 1.16 473.223; 473.375, subdivisions 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 1.17 15; 473.382; 473.384; 473.385, subdivisions 1 and 2; 1.18 473.386, subdivisions 1, 2, 2a, 3, 4, 5, and 6; 1.19 473.387, subdivisions 2, 3, and 4; 473.391; 473.3915, 1.20 subdivisions 3 and 4; 473.392; 473.399; 473.3994, 1.21 subdivisions 5, 8, 9, 10, and 12; 473.3997; 473.405, 1.22 subdivisions 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, and 15; 473.4051; 1.23 473.407, subdivisions 1, 3, 4, and 5; 473.408, 1.24 subdivisions 1, 2, 2a, 2b, 4, 6, and 7; 473.409; 1.25 473.411, subdivision 5; 473.415, subdivision 1; 1.26 473.416; 473.42; 473.448; and 473.449; proposing 1.27 coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 473; 1.28 repealing Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 174.22, 1.29 subdivision 3; 221.295; 473.166; 473.167, subdivisions 1.30 3, 3a, and 4; 473.388, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5; 1.31 473.39, subdivisions 1, 1a, 1b, 2, and 4; 473.3915, 1.32 subdivisions 5 and 6; 473.3994, subdivisions 4, 7, and 1.33 13; 473.411, subdivisions 3 and 4; 473.436, 1.34 subdivisions 2, 3, and 6; and 473.446. 1.35 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.36 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 117.57, 1.37 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 1.38 Subd. 3. [RELATION TO REGIONAL RAILROAD AUTHORITIES.] An 1.39 authority shall not be adjudged to have a superior public use to 1.40 that of a regional railroad authority as defined in section 2.1 398A.01, a railroad property which has been identified and 2.2 approved before the effective date of this act as a light rail 2.3 corridor by the metropolitan council under chapter 473, or a 2.4 state trail covered by section 85.015. 2.5 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 160.265, 2.6 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 2.7 Subdivision 1. [STATE BIKEWAYS.] The commissioner of 2.8 transportation shall establish a program for the development of 2.9 bikeways primarily on existing road rights-of-way. The program 2.10 shall include a system of bikeways to be established, developed, 2.11 maintained, and operated by the commissioner of transportation 2.12 and a system of state grants for the development of local 2.13 bikeways primarily on existing road rights-of-way. The program 2.14 shall be coordinated with the local park trail grant program 2.15 pursuant to section 85.019, with the bicycle trail program 2.16 established by the commissioner of natural resources pursuant to 2.17 section 85.016, with the development of the statewide 2.18 transportation plan pursuant to section 174.03, and with 2.19 existing and proposed local bikeways.In the metropolitan area2.20as defined in section 473.121, the program shall be developed in2.21accordance with plans and priorities established by the2.22metropolitan council.The program shall be developed after 2.23 consultation with the state trail council, local units of 2.24 government, and bicyclist organizations. The program shall be 2.25 administered in accordance with the provisions of sections 2.26 160.262 to 160.264 and standards promulgated pursuant thereto. 2.27 The commissioner shall compile and maintain a current registry 2.28 of bikeways in the state and shall publish and distribute the 2.29 information contained in the registry in a form and manner 2.30 suitable to assist persons wishing to use the bikeways. 2.31 Themetropolitan council, thecommissioner of natural resources, 2.32 the commissioner of trade and economic development, the 2.33 Minnesota historical society, and local units of government 2.34 shall cooperate with and assist the commissioner of 2.35 transportation in preparing the registry. The commissioner 2.36 shall have all powers necessary and convenient to establish the 3.1 program pursuant to this section including but not limited to 3.2 the authority to adopt rules pursuant to chapter 14. 3.3 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 161.17, 3.4 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 3.5 Subd. 2. [INTERSTATE SYSTEM.] It is hereby declared that 3.6 construction of the interstate system of highways will vitally 3.7 affect the future development of the cities through which these 3.8 routes pass and such municipalities should have an important 3.9 role in the development of this highway system; that on the 3.10 other hand the future planning and programming of construction 3.11 projects over a period of years is necessary to take maximum 3.12 advantage of federal aid and to build a unified and coordinated 3.13 interstate system; that excessive delay in local approval of 3.14 plans for construction of one segment may seriously impede 3.15 completion of the entire system and adversely affect other 3.16 municipalities along the interstate routes; that the mutual 3.17 exchange of information and close cooperation between the 3.18 department and local governing bodies should be encouraged by 3.19 improved administrative processes for securing orderly review of 3.20 plans and the resolution of differences over interstate routes 3.21 and projects; and that the provisions of sections 161.171 to 3.22 161.177 for local approval of trunk highway plans must be 3.23 modified for the interstate highway system in the light of these 3.24 various considerations. Before proceeding with the preparation 3.25 of the final plans for the construction, reconstruction, or 3.26 improvement of any route on the interstate system lying within 3.27 any city, the commissioner shall submit to its governing body 3.28 preliminary plans covering the route location. The preliminary 3.29 plans shall be submitted as part of a report containing such 3.30 supporting data that the commissioner deems helpful to the 3.31 governing body in appraising the plans submitted. 3.32 Any public hearing on location of an interstate route held 3.33 in compliance with federal requirements shall be held at least 3.34 one month after submission to the governing body of the report 3.35 provided for in this subdivision. After the public hearing and 3.36 on preparing final plans, the commissioner shall submit the 4.1 final plans to the governing body for approval. If the 4.2 governing body does not approve the final plans within three 4.3 months after submitted, the commissioner may refer the plans to 4.4(1) the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, if4.5the project is within the area of its jurisdiction, or (2)the 4.6 municipal advisory committee on state-aid rules established 4.7 under section 162.09, subdivision 2, if the project is elsewhere4.8in the state. If a member of the advisory committee is from the 4.9 municipality concerned that member shall be excused. If the 4.10 plans are so referred, the commission or committee shall give 4.11 the commissioner and the governing body ample opportunity to 4.12 present the case for or against approval of the plans so 4.13 referred. Not later than three months after such hearings and 4.14 independent study as it deems desirable, it shall approve or 4.15 disapprove such plans, making such additional recommendations 4.16 consistent with state and federal requirements as it deems 4.17 appropriate, and it shall submit a written report containing its 4.18 findings and recommendations to the commissioner and the 4.19 governing body. The commissioner shall not proceed with the 4.20 proposed construction, reconstruction, or improvement except in 4.21 accordance with plans approved by the governing body or, if 4.22 referred to the commission or committee, until after the 4.23 commission or committee has made its report, and then only after 4.24 the governing body has had an additional 90 days within which to 4.25 consider the plans originally submitted or such modified plans 4.26 as may be submitted to it by the commissioner following the 4.27 report of the commission or committee. If within such 90-day 4.28 period, the governing body does not approve the plans submitted 4.29 to it, and if the commissioner then wishes to proceed with the 4.30 project according to plans differing substantially from the 4.31 plans recommended by the commission or committee in its report, 4.32 the commissioner shall, before proceeding with the project, file 4.33 a written report with the commission or committee and the 4.34 governing body stating fully the reasons for doing so.Whenever4.35plans are referred to the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Planning4.36Commission, the commission shall be reimbursed from the trunk5.1highway fund for actual and necessary expenses incurred by the5.2commission in staff work incident to consideration of plans and5.3action thereon by the commission.Whenever plans are referred 5.4 to the advisory committee on rules, members of the committee 5.5 shall be paid their necessary expenses to the same extent and in 5.6 the same manner as for its duties in considering the 5.7 commissioner's rules. 5.8 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 161.171, 5.9 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 5.10 Subd. 5. [METROPOLITAN AREA.] "Metropolitan area" includes 5.11 the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, 5.12 and Washington, presently under the jurisdiction, for 5.13 metropolitan area planning and coordination purposes, of the 5.14metropolitan councilestablished pursuant to chapter 473, which 5.15 council is hereinafter referred to as "agency"." 5.16 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 161.173, is 5.17 amended to read: 5.18 161.173 [SUBMISSION OF CORRIDOR PROPOSAL.] 5.19 The commissioner shall submit to the governing body of each 5.20 municipality wherein a trunk highway is proposed to be 5.21 constructed or improved, and to the governing body of each 5.22 municipality adjacent to any such municipality, a report 5.23 containing: a statement of the need for this proposed 5.24 construction or improvement, a description of alternate routes 5.25 which were considered by the commissioner and an explanation of 5.26 the advantages and disadvantages in the selection of any route 5.27 considered. The report shall also contain for each alternate, 5.28 the following information: general alignment and profile, 5.29 approximate points of access, highway classification, an 5.30 approximate cost estimate, relation to existing and planned 5.31 regional and local development and to other transportation 5.32 routes and facilities, and a statement of the expected general 5.33 effect on present and future use of the property within the 5.34 corridor.Where a state trunk highway is proposed to be5.35constructed or improved within the metropolitan area, a copy of5.36the report shall also be submitted to the metropolitan council.6.1 In all areas of the state a copy of the report shall be sent to 6.2 established regional, county and municipal planning commissions 6.3 in the area affected by the highway project. Not less than 45 6.4 nor more than 90 days, or as otherwise mutually agreed, after 6.5 the report has been submitted, the commissioner shall hold a 6.6 public hearing on the proposed highway construction or 6.7 improvement at such time and place within any municipality 6.8 wherein a portion of the proposed construction or improvement is 6.9 located, as the commissioner shall determine. Not less than 30 6.10 days before the hearing the commissioner shall mail notice 6.11 thereof to the governing body of each municipality or agency 6.12 entitled to receive a copy of the report, and shall cause notice 6.13 of the hearing to be published at least once each week for two 6.14 successive weeks in a newspaper or newspapers having general 6.15 circulation in such municipalities, the second publication to be 6.16 not less than five days before the date of the hearing. The 6.17 notice shall state the date, time, place and purpose of the 6.18 hearing, shall describe the proposed or actual general location 6.19 of the highway to be constructed or improved, and shall state 6.20 where the report may be inspected prior to the hearing by any 6.21 interested person. The hearing shall be conducted by the 6.22 commissioner or the commissioner's designee, and shall be 6.23 transcribed and a record thereof mailed to each municipality or 6.24 agency entitled to receive a copy of the report. All interested 6.25 persons shall be permitted to present their views on the 6.26 proposed highway construction or improvement. The hearing may 6.27 be continued as often as necessary. Within 120 days after the 6.28 hearing is completed, the governing body of each municipality or 6.29 agency entitled to receive a copy of the report shall submit to 6.30 the commissioner its approval or disapproval of the report. If 6.31 all or any part of the report is disapproved, the municipality 6.32 or agency shall state the reasons for such disapproval and 6.33 suggested changes in the report. The commissioner shall, before 6.34 preparing additional plans for the proposed highway construction 6.35 or improvement, submit to the governing body of each 6.36 municipality or agency disapproving the report, a statement 7.1 accepting or rejecting any suggested changes and the reasons for 7.2 acceptance or rejection. 7.3 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 161.174, is 7.4 amended to read: 7.5 161.174 [SUBMISSION OF LAYOUT PLANS.] 7.6 The commissioner shall submit to the governing body of each 7.7 municipality wherein a highway is proposed to be constructed or 7.8 improved, a proposed layout plan for the highway construction or 7.9 improvement containing: the proposed location, elevation, width 7.10 and geometrics of the construction or improvement, together with 7.11 a statement of the reasons therefor. Said plan shall also 7.12 contain: approximate right-of-way limits; a tentative schedule 7.13 for right-of-way acquisition, if known; proposed access points; 7.14 frontage roads; separation structures and interchanges; location 7.15 of utilities, when known; landscaping, illumination, a tentative 7.16 construction schedule, if known; and the estimated cost of the 7.17 construction or improvement. The commissioner shall submit more 7.18 than one layout plan.Each such plan shall also be submitted to7.19the metropolitan council if any portion of the proposed highway7.20construction or improvement is located in the metropolitan7.21area.In all areas of the state a copy of the layout plan shall 7.22 be sent to established regional, county and municipal planning 7.23 commissions in the area affected by the highway project. Not 7.24 less than 90 nor more than 120 days after said plan has been 7.25 submitted, the commissioner shall hold a public hearing on the 7.26 proposed highway construction or improvement at such time and 7.27 place within any municipality wherein a portion of the 7.28 construction or improvement is located, as the commissioner 7.29 shall determine. The hearing shall be noticed, held and 7.30 conducted in the manner provided in section 161.173, except that 7.31 the commissioner shall mail notice of the hearing only to those 7.32 municipalities and agencies entitled to receive a copy of the 7.33 layout plan. The hearing shall be transcribed and a record 7.34 thereof made available to each municipality or agency entitled 7.35 to receive a copy of said plan. Within 180 days after the 7.36 hearing is completed, the commissioner shall formally adopt a 8.1 layout plan. A copy of the layout plan as adopted shall be 8.2 submitted to each municipality or agency entitled to receive a 8.3 copy of the proposed plan, together with the reasons for any 8.4 change in the plan as presented at the hearing. Within 120 days 8.5 after the receipt of the adopted layout plan, each such 8.6 municipality or agency shall submit to the commissioner its 8.7 approval or disapproval of the layout plan and the reasons for 8.8 such disapproval, and proposed alternatives, which may include a 8.9 recommendation of no highway.Such alternatives submitted by a8.10municipality located within the metropolitan area shall, upon8.11request of the municipality, be reviewed by the metropolitan8.12council in order to determine whether such alternatives are8.13likely to meet minimum federal requirements. The metropolitan8.14council is authorized to provide whatever assistance it deems8.15advisable to the submitting municipality in order to assist it8.16in arriving at an alternative which meets minimum federal8.17requirements.If said plan or any part thereof is not 8.18 disapproved within such period, the commissioner may proceed to 8.19 prepare final construction plans and specifications for the 8.20 highway construction or improvement consistent with the adopted 8.21 layout plan, and may acquire the necessary right-of-way. If the 8.22 layout plan or any part thereof is disapproved by any 8.23 municipality or agency, and the commissioner determines to 8.24 proceed with the plan without modifications, the commissioner 8.25 shall proceed in the manner provided in section 161.175. On 8.26 determining to proceed with the plan with modifications, the 8.27 commissioner shall submit the modified layout plan to the 8.28 municipalities and agencies entitled to receive the original 8.29 layout plan in the manner described above, for approval or 8.30 disapproval by each such municipality or agency within 60 days 8.31 after receipt of the modified layout plan. If the modified 8.32 layout plan or any part thereof is not disapproved by any 8.33 municipality or agency within 60 days after its receipt, the 8.34 commissioner may proceed to prepare final construction plans and 8.35 specifications consistent with the modified layout plan, and may 8.36 acquire the necessary right-of-way. If the modified plan is 9.1 disapproved by any municipality and the commissioner determines 9.2 to proceed with the plan without additional modification, the 9.3 commissioner shall proceed in the manner provided in section 9.4 161.175. If the layout plan is disapproved, either as 9.5 originally submitted or as modified and the commissioner does 9.6 not act pursuant to section 161.175, within one year from the 9.7 date of the completion of the hearing, any objecting 9.8 municipality entitled to receive a copy of the layout plan by 9.9 virtue of this section may invoke the appellate procedure 9.10 pursuant to section 161.175, in the same manner as the same 9.11 might be invoked by the commissioner. In the event the 9.12 appellate procedure is invoked by either the commissioner or the 9.13 municipality, the commissioner shall hold a public hearing prior 9.14 to the appointment of an appeal board. Such hearing shall be 9.15 limited to the proposed alternative layout plans. 9.16 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.781, 9.17 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 9.18 Subdivision 1. [DEFINITIONS.] For purposes of sections 9.19 169.781 to 169.783: 9.20 (a) "Commercial motor vehicle" means: 9.21 (1) a commercial motor vehicle as defined in section 9.22 169.01, subdivision 75, paragraph (a); and 9.23 (2) each vehicle in a combination of more than 26,000 9.24 pounds. 9.25 "Commercial motor vehicle" does not include (1) a school 9.26 bus or Head Start bus displaying a certificate under section 9.27 169.451, (2) a bus operated by themetropolitan council9.28 department of transportation or by a local transit commission 9.29 created in chapter 458A, or (3) a motor vehicle with a gross 9.30 weight of not more than 26,000 pounds, carrying in bulk tanks a 9.31 total of not more than 200 gallons of petroleum products or 9.32 liquid fertilizer or pesticide. 9.33 (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public safety. 9.34 (c) "Owner" means a person who owns, or has control, under 9.35 a lease of more than 30 days' duration, of one or more 9.36 commercial motor vehicles. 10.1 (d) "Storage semitrailer" means a semitrailer that (1) is 10.2 used exclusively to store property at a location not on a street 10.3 or highway, (2) does not contain any load when moved on a street 10.4 or highway, (3) is operated only during daylight hours, and (4) 10.5 is marked on each side of the semitrailer "storage only" in 10.6 letters at least six inches high. 10.7 (e) "Building mover vehicle" means a vehicle owned or 10.8 leased by a building mover as defined in section 221.81, 10.9 subdivision 1, paragraph (a), and used exclusively for moving 10.10 buildings. 10.11 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.791, 10.12 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 10.13 Subd. 5. [EXEMPTIONS.] Buses or other commercial vehicles 10.14 operated by themetropolitan councildepartment of 10.15 transportation, commercial vehicles required to file proof of 10.16 insurance pursuant to chapter 221, and school buses as defined 10.17 in section 171.01, subdivision 21, are exempt from this section. 10.18 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.792, 10.19 subdivision 11, is amended to read: 10.20 Subd. 11. [EXEMPTIONS.] Buses or other commercial vehicles 10.21 operated by themetropolitan councildepartment of 10.22 transportation, commercial vehicles required to file proof of 10.23 insurance pursuant to chapter 221, and school buses as defined 10.24 in section 171.01, subdivision 21, are exempt from this section. 10.25 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 174.03, 10.26 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 10.27 Subd. 4. [OTHER DUTIES.] The commissioner shall: 10.28 (a) Construct and maintain transportation facilities as 10.29 authorized by law; 10.30 (b) Cooperate with, and may provide technical and financial 10.31 assistance to, themetropolitan council andregional development 10.32 commissions in the regional transportation planning process, in 10.33 accordance with mutually acceptable terms and conditions; 10.34 (c) Cooperate with and may provide planning and technical 10.35 assistance upon the request of any political subdivision or 10.36 other governmental agency in accordance with mutually accepted 11.1 terms and conditions, except as otherwise restricted by law; and 11.2 (d) Develop, revise and monitor a statewide rail 11.3 transportation plan as part of the statewide transportation 11.4 planning process, including a study and evaluation of 11.5 alternative methods for insuring adequate and economical 11.6 transportation of agricultural commodities, supplies and other 11.7 goods to and from rural areas of the state. The plan shall 11.8 include an analysis of rail lines in the state for the purpose 11.9 of determining: (1) eligibility of rail lines for assistance 11.10 under federal and state rail assistance programs; (2) 11.11 eligibility of rail lines for inclusion in the state rail bank; 11.12 and (3) the actions required by the state to insure the 11.13 continuation of rail service that meets essential state needs 11.14 and objectives. 11.15 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 174.03, 11.16 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 11.17 Subd. 5. [REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.] The 11.18metropolitan council, pursuant to section 473.146, and the11.19 regional development commissions shall develop regional 11.20 long-range transportation policy plans in cooperation with the 11.21 commissioner and local units of government. Upon promulgation 11.22 of the statewide transportation plan, and periodically as 11.23 necessary thereafter, each regional policy plan shall be 11.24 reviewed and amended, if necessary, by the appropriate regional 11.25 agency to insure that the regional policy plan is not in 11.26 conflict with the statewide transportation plan. 11.27 Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 174.031, 11.28 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 11.29 Subd. 3. [STUDIES COMMISSIONED.] (a) On and after August 11.30 1, 1985, the commissioner shall enter into agreements with 11.31 regional development commissions by which the commissions will 11.32 conduct studies of highway jurisdiction in each region. The 11.33 studies must include: 11.34 (1) the jurisdiction of each road in the region; 11.35 (2) criteria for changes in jurisdiction, based on the 11.36 commissioner's guidelines; 12.1 (3) jurisdictional changes actually made since January 1, 12.2 1985; 12.3 (4) recommended changes in jurisdiction based on the 12.4 criteria; 12.5 (5) changes in financial obligations resulting from the 12.6 recommended jurisdictional change, based on the commissioner's 12.7 guidelines; 12.8 (6) estimated effects of the recommended jurisdictional 12.9 changes on highway staffing needs of each level of government in 12.10 the region; and 12.11 (7) estimated effects of the recommended jurisdictional 12.12 changes on law enforcement on the affected roads. 12.13 (b) In development regions where no regional development 12.14 commission is functioning, or where a regional development 12.15 commission declines to enter into an agreement to perform a 12.16 jurisdiction study, the jurisdiction study must be organized by 12.17 a district office of the department of transportation as 12.18 designated by the commissioner. A district office so designated 12.19 must act through the counties in the development region and 12.20 through other public agencies the commissioner directs.For12.21purposes of this section the metropolitan council is a regional12.22development commission.12.23 (c) The agreements must provide that each entity 12.24 undertaking a study under this subdivision must produce and 12.25 present to the commissioner, not later than July 31, 1987, a 12.26 jurisdiction proposal for the region. Each jurisdiction 12.27 proposal must identify each instance where a proposed 12.28 jurisdictional change is based on a factor that deviates from 12.29 the commissioner's guidelines and explain the reasons for each 12.30 deviation. 12.31 (d) The commissioner shall pay not more than two-thirds of 12.32 the cost of each study. 12.33 Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 174.04, 12.34 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 12.35 Subdivision 1. [REVIEW OF APPLICATION.] Any state agency 12.36 which receives an application from a regional development 13.1 commission,metropolitan council,public transit commission, 13.2 airport commission, port authority or other political 13.3 subdivision of the state, or any nonpublic organization, for 13.4 financial assistance for transportation planning, capital 13.5 expenditures or operations to any state or federal agency, shall 13.6 first submit the application to the commissioner of 13.7 transportation. The commissioner shall review the application 13.8 to determine whether it contains matters that substantially 13.9 affect the statewide transportation plan and priorities. If the 13.10 application does not contain such matters, the commissioner 13.11 shall within 15 days after receipt return the application to the 13.12 applicant political subdivision or nonpublic organization for 13.13 forwarding to the appropriate agency. If the application 13.14 contains such matters, the commissioner shall review and comment 13.15 on the application as being consistent with the plan and 13.16 priorities. The commissioner shall return the application 13.17 together with comments within 45 days after receipt to the 13.18 applicant political subdivision or nonpublic organization for 13.19 forwarding with the commissioner's comments to the appropriate 13.20 agency. 13.21 Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 174.04, 13.22 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 13.23 Subd. 2. [DESIGNATED AGENT.] A regional development 13.24 commission,metropolitan council,public transit commission, 13.25 airport commission, port authority, or any other political 13.26 subdivision of the state, or any nonpublic organization, may 13.27 designate the commissioner as its agent to receive and disburse 13.28 funds by entering into an agreement with the commissioner 13.29 prescribing the terms and conditions of the receipt and 13.30 expenditure of the funds in accordance with federal and state 13.31 laws, rules, and regulations. 13.32 Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 174.32, 13.33 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 13.34 Subd. 2. [TRANSIT ASSISTANCE FUND; DISTRIBUTION.] The 13.35 transit assistance fund receives money distributed under section 13.36 297B.09. Eighty percent of the receipts of the fund must be 14.1 placed into a metropolitan account for distribution to 14.2 recipients located in the metropolitan area and 20 percent into 14.3 a separate account for distribution to recipients located 14.4 outside of the metropolitan area.Except as otherwise provided14.5in this subdivision, the metropolitan council is responsible for14.6distributing assistance from the metropolitan account, and the14.7commissioner is responsible for distributing assistance from the14.8other account.14.9 Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 174.50, 14.10 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 14.11 Subd. 4. [CERTIFICATION AND DISBURSAL FOR STATE PROJECTS.] 14.12 Before disbursement of an appropriation made from the fund to 14.13 the commissioner of transportation or any other officer or 14.14 agency of the state the commissioner shall certify to the 14.15 commissioner of finance that the project for which the funds are 14.16 appropriated has been reviewed by the proper regional 14.17 development commissionor the metropolitan councilas the case 14.18 may be, for consistency with the long-term comprehensive 14.19 development plans and guides for which that agency is 14.20 responsible. 14.21 Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 216C.15, 14.22 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 14.23 Subdivision 1. [PRIORITIES AND REQUIREMENTS.] The 14.24 commissioner shall maintain an emergency conservation and 14.25 allocation plan. The plan shall provide a variety of strategies 14.26 and staged conservation measures to reduce energy use and in the 14.27 event of an energy supply emergency, shall establish guidelines 14.28 and criteria for allocation of fuels to priority users. The 14.29 plan shall contain alternative conservation actions and 14.30 allocation plans to reasonably meet various foreseeable shortage 14.31 circumstances and allow a choice of appropriate responses. The 14.32 plan shall be consistent with requirements of federal emergency 14.33 energy conservation and allocation laws and regulations, shall 14.34 be based on reasonable energy savings or transfers from scarce 14.35 energy resources and shall: 14.36 (a) give priority to individuals, institutions, 15.1 agriculture, businesses, and public transit under contract with 15.2 the commissioner of transportationor the metropolitan council15.3 which demonstrate they have engaged in energy-saving measures 15.4 and shall include provisions to insure that: 15.5 (1) immediate allocations to individuals, institutions, 15.6 agriculture, businesses, and public transit be based on needs at 15.7 energy conservation levels; 15.8 (2) successive allocations to individuals, institutions, 15.9 agriculture, businesses, and public transit be based on needs 15.10 after implementation of required action to increase energy 15.11 conservation; and 15.12 (3) needs of individuals, institutions, and public transit 15.13 are adjusted to insure the health and welfare of the young, old 15.14 and infirm; 15.15 (b) insure maintenance of reasonable job safety conditions 15.16 and avoid environmental sacrifices; 15.17 (c) establish programs, controls, standards, priorities or 15.18 quotas for the allocation, conservation and consumption of 15.19 energy resources; and for the suspension and modification of 15.20 existing standards and the establishment of new standards 15.21 affecting or affected by the use of energy resources, including 15.22 those related to the type and composition of energy sources, and 15.23 to the hours and days during which public buildings, commercial 15.24 and industrial establishments, and other energy consuming 15.25 facilities may or are required to remain open; 15.26 (d) establish programs to control the use, sale or 15.27 distribution of commodities, materials, goods or services; 15.28 (e) establish regional programs and agreements for the 15.29 purpose of coordinating the energy resources, programs and 15.30 actions of the state with those of the federal government, of 15.31 local governments, and of other states and localities; 15.32 (f) determine at what level of an energy supply emergency 15.33 situation the pollution control agency shall be requested to ask 15.34 the governor to petition the president for a temporary emergency 15.35 suspension of air quality standards as required by the Clean Air 15.36 Act, United States Code, title 42, section 7410f; and 16.1 (g) establish procedures for fair and equitable review of 16.2 complaints and requests for special exemptions regarding 16.3 emergency conservation measures or allocations. 16.4 Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 221.022, is 16.5 amended to read: 16.6 221.022 [EXCEPTION.] 16.7 The powers granted to the board under sections 221.011 to 16.8 221.296 do not include the power to regulate any service or 16.9 vehicles operated by themetropolitan councildepartment of 16.10 transportation or to regulate passenger transportation service 16.11 provided under contract to the departmentor the metropolitan16.12council. A provider of passenger transportation service under 16.13 contract to the department or the metropolitan council may not 16.14 provide charter service without first having obtained a permit 16.15 to operate as a charter carrier. 16.16 Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 221.025, is 16.17 amended to read: 16.18 221.025 [EXEMPTIONS.] 16.19 The provisions of this chapter requiring a certificate or 16.20 permit to operate as a motor carrier do not apply to the 16.21 intrastate transportation described below: 16.22 (a) the transportation of students to or from school or 16.23 school activities in a school bus inspected and certified under 16.24 section 169.451 and the transportation of children or parents to 16.25 or from a Head Start facility or Head Start activity in a Head 16.26 Start bus inspected and certified under section 169.451; 16.27 (b) the transportation of solid waste, as defined in 16.28 section 116.06, subdivision 22, including recyclable materials 16.29 and waste tires, except that the term "hazardous waste" has the 16.30 meaning given it in section 221.011, subdivision 31; 16.31 (c) a commuter van as defined in section 221.011, 16.32 subdivision 27; 16.33 (d) authorized emergency vehicles as defined in section 16.34 169.01, subdivision 5, including ambulances; and tow trucks 16.35 equipped with proper and legal warning devices when picking up 16.36 and transporting (1) disabled or wrecked motor vehicles or (2) 17.1 vehicles towed or transported under a towing order issued by a 17.2 public employee authorized to issue a towing order; 17.3 (e) the transportation of grain samples under conditions 17.4 prescribed by the board; 17.5 (f) the delivery of agricultural lime; 17.6 (g) the transportation of dirt and sod within an area 17.7 having a 50-mile radius from the home post office of the person 17.8 performing the transportation; 17.9 (h) the transportation of sand, gravel, bituminous asphalt 17.10 mix, concrete ready mix, concrete blocks or tile and the mortar 17.11 mix to be used with the concrete blocks or tile, or crushed rock 17.12 to or from the point of loading or a place of gathering within 17.13 an area having a 50-mile radius from that person's home post 17.14 office or a 50-mile radius from the site of construction or 17.15 maintenance of public roads and streets; 17.16 (i) the transportation of pulpwood, cordwood, mining 17.17 timber, poles, posts, decorator evergreens, wood chips, sawdust, 17.18 shavings, and bark from the place where the products are 17.19 produced to the point where they are to be used or shipped; 17.20 (j) the transportation of fresh vegetables from farms to 17.21 canneries or viner stations, from viner stations to canneries, 17.22 or from canneries to canneries during the harvesting, canning, 17.23 or packing season, or transporting sugar beets, wild rice, or 17.24 rutabagas from the field of production to the first place of 17.25 delivery or unloading, including a processing plant, warehouse, 17.26 or railroad siding; 17.27 (k) the transportation of property or freight, other than 17.28 household goods and petroleum products in bulk, entirely within 17.29 the corporate limits of a city or between contiguous cities 17.30 except as provided in section 221.296; 17.31 (l) the transportation of unprocessed dairy products in 17.32 bulk within an area having a 100-mile radius from the home post 17.33 office of the person providing the transportation; 17.34 (m) the transportation of agricultural, horticultural, 17.35 dairy, livestock, or other farm products within an area having a 17.36 25-mile radius from the person's home post office and the 18.1 carrier may transport other commodities within the 25-mile 18.2 radius if the destination of each haul is a farm; 18.3 (n) passenger transportation service that is not charter 18.4 service and that is under contract to and with operating 18.5 assistance from the departmentor the metropolitan council; 18.6 (o) the transportation of newspapers, as defined in section 18.7 331A.01, subdivision 5, telephone books, handbills, circulars, 18.8 or pamphlets in a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 18.9 pounds or less; and 18.10 (p) transportation of potatoes from the field of 18.11 production, or a storage site owned or otherwise controlled by 18.12 the producer, to the first place of processing. 18.13 The exemptions provided in this section apply to a person 18.14 only while the person is exclusively engaged in exempt 18.15 transportation. 18.16 Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 221.031, 18.17 subdivision 3a, is amended to read: 18.18 Subd. 3a. [CONTRACTORS OR RECIPIENTS OF TRANSPORTATION 18.19 ASSISTANCE.] Notwithstanding subdivision 3, providers of 18.20 passenger transportation service under contract to and with 18.21 operating assistance from the departmentor the metropolitan18.22councilmust comply with rules for driver qualifications; 18.23 driving of motor vehicles; parts and accessories necessary for 18.24 safe operation; hours of service of drivers; inspection, repair, 18.25 and maintenance; and the rules adopted in section 221.0314, 18.26 subdivision 8, for accident reporting. 18.27 This subdivision does not apply to (1) a local transit 18.28 commission, (2) a transit authority created by the legislature, 18.29 (3) special transportation service certified by the commissioner 18.30 under section 174.30, or (4) special transportation service 18.31 defined in section 174.29, subdivision 1, when provided by a 18.32 volunteer driver operating a private passenger vehicle defined 18.33 in section 169.01, subdivision 3a. 18.34 Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 221.041, 18.35 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 18.36 Subd. 4. [NONAPPLICABILITY.] This section does not apply 19.1 to any regular route passenger transportation in the 19.2 metropolitan area being performed with operating assistance 19.3 provided by themetropolitan councildepartment. 19.4 Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 221.071, 19.5 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 19.6 Subdivision 1. [CONSIDERATIONS; TEMPORARY CERTIFICATES; 19.7 AMENDING.] If the board finds from the evidence that the 19.8 petitioner is fit and able to properly perform the services 19.9 proposed and that public convenience and necessity require the 19.10 granting of the petition or a part of the petition, it shall 19.11 issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity to the 19.12 petitioner. In determining whether a certificate should be 19.13 issued, the board shall give primary consideration to the 19.14 interests of the public that might be affected, to the 19.15 transportation service being furnished by a railroad which may 19.16 be affected by the granting of the certificate, and to the 19.17 effect which the granting of the certificate will have upon 19.18 other transportation service essential to the communities which 19.19 might be affected by the granting of the certificate. The board 19.20 may issue a certificate as applied for or issue it for a part 19.21 only of the authority sought and may attach to the authority 19.22 granted terms and conditions as in its judgment public 19.23 convenience and necessity may require. If the petitioner is 19.24 seeking authority to operate regular route transit service 19.25 wholly within the seven-county metropolitan area with operating 19.26 assistance provided by themetropolitan councildepartment, the 19.27 board shall consider only whether the petitioner is fit and able 19.28 to perform the proposed service. The operating authority 19.29 granted to such a petitioner must be the operating authority for 19.30 which the petitioner is receiving operating assistance from the 19.31metropolitan councildepartment. A carrier in the metropolitan 19.32 area receiving operating assistance from themetropolitan19.33councildepartment may amend the certificate to provide for 19.34 additional routes by filing a copy of the amendment with the 19.35 board, and approval of the amendment by the board is not 19.36 required if the additional service is provided with operating 20.1 assistance from themetropolitan councildepartment. 20.2 The board may grant a temporary certificate, ex parte, 20.3 valid for a period not exceeding 180 days, upon a showing that 20.4 no regular route common carrier or petroleum carrier is then 20.5 authorized to serve on the route sought, that no other petition 20.6 is on file with the board covering the route, and that a need 20.7 for the proposed service exists. 20.8 A certificate may be amended by the board on ex parte 20.9 petition and payment of a $25 fee to the commissioner, to grant 20.10 an additional or alternate route if there is no other means of 20.11 transportation over the proposed additional route or between its 20.12 termini, and the proposed additional route does not exceed ten 20.13 miles in length. 20.14 Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 352.01, 20.15 subdivision 2b, is amended to read: 20.16 Subd. 2b. [EXCLUDED EMPLOYEES.] "State employee" does not 20.17 include: 20.18 (1) elective state officers; 20.19 (2) students employed by the University of Minnesota, the 20.20 state universities, and community colleges unless approved for 20.21 coverage by the board of regents, the state university board, or 20.22 the state board for community colleges, as the case may be; 20.23 (3) employees who are eligible for membership in the state 20.24 teachers retirement association except employees of the 20.25 department of children, families, and learning who have chosen 20.26 or may choose to be covered by the Minnesota state retirement 20.27 system instead of the teachers retirement association; 20.28 (4) employees of the University of Minnesota who are 20.29 excluded from coverage by action of the board of regents; 20.30 (5) officers and enlisted personnel in the national guard 20.31 and the naval militia who are assigned to permanent peacetime 20.32 duty and who under federal law are or are required to be members 20.33 of a federal retirement system; 20.34 (6) election officers; 20.35 (7) persons engaged in public work for the state but 20.36 employed by contractors when the performance of the contract is 21.1 authorized by the legislature or other competent authority; 21.2 (8) officers and employees of the senate and house of 21.3 representatives or a legislative committee or commission who are 21.4 temporarily employed; 21.5 (9) receivers, jurors, notaries public, and court employees 21.6 who are not in the judicial branch as defined in section 43A.02, 21.7 subdivision 25, except referees and adjusters employed by the 21.8 department of labor and industry; 21.9 (10) patient and inmate help in state charitable, penal, 21.10 and correctional institutions including the Minnesota veterans 21.11 home; 21.12 (11) persons employed for professional services where the 21.13 service is incidental to regular professional duties and whose 21.14 compensation is paid on a per diem basis; 21.15 (12) employees of the Sibley House Association; 21.16 (13) the members of any state board or commission who serve 21.17 the state intermittently and are paid on a per diem basis; the 21.18 secretary, secretary-treasurer, and treasurer of those boards if 21.19 their compensation is $5,000 or less per year, or, if they are 21.20 legally prohibited from serving more than three years; and the 21.21 board of managers of the state agricultural society and its 21.22 treasurer unless the treasurer is also its full-time secretary; 21.23 (14) state troopers; 21.24 (15) temporary employees of the Minnesota state fair 21.25 employed on or after July 1 for a period not to extend beyond 21.26 October 15 of that year; and persons employed at any time by the 21.27 state fair administration for special events held on the 21.28 fairgrounds; 21.29 (16) emergency employees in the classified service; except 21.30 that if an emergency employee, within the same pay period, 21.31 becomes a provisional or probationary employee on other than a 21.32 temporary basis, the employee shall be considered a "state 21.33 employee" retroactively to the beginning of the pay period; 21.34 (17) persons described in section 352B.01, subdivision 2, 21.35 clauses (2) to (5); 21.36 (18) temporary employees in the classified service, 22.1 temporary employees in the unclassified service appointed for a 22.2 definite period of not more than six months and employed less 22.3 than six months in any one-year period and seasonal help in the 22.4 classified service employed by the department of revenue; 22.5 (19) trainee employees, except those listed in subdivision 22.6 2a, clause (10); 22.7 (20) persons whose compensation is paid on a fee basis; 22.8 (21) state employees who in any year have credit for 12 22.9 months service as teachers in the public schools of the state 22.10 and as teachers are members of the teachers retirement 22.11 association or a retirement system in St. Paul, Minneapolis, or 22.12 Duluth; 22.13 (22) employees of the adjutant general employed on an 22.14 unlimited intermittent or temporary basis in the classified and 22.15 unclassified service for the support of army and air national 22.16 guard training facilities; 22.17 (23) chaplains and nuns who are excluded from coverage 22.18 under the federal Old Age, Survivors, Disability, and Health 22.19 Insurance Program for the performance of service as specified in 22.20 United States Code, title 42, section 410(a)(8)(A), as amended, 22.21 if no irrevocable election of coverage has been made under 22.22 section 3121(r) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended 22.23 through December 31, 1992; 22.24 (24) examination monitors employed by departments, 22.25 agencies, commissions, and boards to conduct examinations 22.26 required by law; 22.27 (25) persons appointed to serve as members of fact-finding 22.28 commissions or adjustment panels, arbitrators, or labor referees 22.29 under chapter 179; 22.30 (26) temporary employees employed for limited periods under 22.31 any state or federal program for training or rehabilitation 22.32 including persons employed for limited periods from areas of 22.33 economic distress except skilled and supervisory personnel and 22.34 persons having civil service status covered by the system; 22.35 (27) full-time students employed by the Minnesota 22.36 historical society intermittently during part of the year and 23.1 full-time during the summer months; 23.2 (28)temporary employees, appointed for not more than six23.3months, of the metropolitan council and of any of its statutory23.4boards, if the board members are appointed by the metropolitan23.5council;23.6(29)persons employed in positions designated by the 23.7 department of employee relations as student workers; 23.8(30)(29) members of trades employed by the successor to 23.9 the metropolitan waste control commission with trade union 23.10 pension plan coverage under a collective bargaining agreement 23.11 first employed after June 1, 1977; 23.12(31)(30) persons employed in subsidized on-the-job 23.13 training, work experience, or public service employment as 23.14 enrollees under the federal Comprehensive Employment and 23.15 Training Act after March 30, 1978, unless the person has as of 23.16 the later of March 30, 1978, or the date of employment 23.17 sufficient service credit in the retirement system to meet the 23.18 minimum vesting requirements for a deferred annuity, or the 23.19 employer agrees in writing on forms prescribed by the director 23.20 to make the required employer contributions, including any 23.21 employer additional contributions, on account of that person 23.22 from revenue sources other than funds provided under the federal 23.23 Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, or the person agrees 23.24 in writing on forms prescribed by the director to make the 23.25 required employer contribution in addition to the required 23.26 employee contribution; 23.27(32)(31) off-duty peace officers while employed by the 23.28metropolitan councilcommissioner of transportation; 23.29(33)(32) persons who are employed as full-time police 23.30 officers by themetropolitan councilcommissioner of 23.31 transportation and as police officers are members of the public 23.32 employees police and fire fund; 23.33(34)(33) persons who are employed as full-time 23.34 firefighters by the department of military affairs and as 23.35 firefighters are members of the public employees police and fire 23.36 fund; 24.1(35)(34) foreign citizens with a work permit of less than 24.2 three years, or an H-1b/JV visa valid for less than three years 24.3 of employment, unless notice of extension is supplied which 24.4 allows them to work for three or more years as of the date the 24.5 extension is granted, in which case they are eligible for 24.6 coverage from the date extended; and 24.7(36)(35) persons who are employed by the board of trustees 24.8 of the Minnesota state colleges and universities and who elect 24.9 to remain members of the public employees retirement association 24.10 or the Minneapolis employees retirement fund, whichever applies, 24.11 under section 136C.75. 24.12 Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 352.03, 24.13 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 24.14 Subdivision 1. [MEMBERSHIP OF BOARD; ELECTION; TERM.] The 24.15 policy-making function of the system is vested in a board of 11 24.16 members, who must be known as the board of directors. This 24.17 board shall consist of three members appointed by the governor, 24.18 one of whom must be a constitutional officer or appointed state 24.19 official and two of whom must be public members knowledgeable in 24.20 pension matters, four state employees elected by state employees 24.21 covered by the system excluding employees in categories 24.22 specifically authorized to designate or elect a member by this 24.23 subdivision, one employee of the transit operating division of 24.24 the metropolitan transit commission or its successor agency 24.25 designated by the executive committee of the labor organization 24.26 that is the exclusive bargaining agent representing employees of 24.27 the transit division, one member of the state patrol retirement 24.28 fund elected by members of that fund at a time and in a manner 24.29 fixed by the board, one employee covered by the correctional 24.30 employees plan elected by employees covered by that plan, and 24.31 one retired employee elected by disabled and retired employees 24.32 of all plans administered by the system at a time and in a 24.33 manner to be fixed by the board. Two state employee members, 24.34 whose terms of office begin on the first Monday in May after 24.35 their election, must be elected biennially. Elected members and 24.36 the appointed member of themetropolitan council'sdepartment of 25.1 transportation's office of metropolitan transit operations hold 25.2 office for a term of four years, except the retired member whose 25.3 term is two years, and until their successors are elected or 25.4 appointed, and have qualified. An employee of the system is not 25.5 eligible for membership on the board of directors. A state 25.6 employee on leave of absence is not eligible for election or 25.7 reelection to membership on the board of directors. The term of 25.8 any board member who is on leave for more than six months 25.9 automatically ends on expiration of this period. 25.10 Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 353.64, 25.11 subdivision 7a, is amended to read: 25.12 Subd. 7a. [PENSION COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN METROPOLITAN 25.13 TRANSIT POLICE OFFICERS.] A person who is employed as a 25.14 full-time police officer on or after the first day of the first 25.15 payroll period after July 1, 1993, by themetropolitan council25.16 commissioner of transportation and who is not eligible for 25.17 coverage under the agreement with the Secretary of the federal 25.18 Department of Health and Human Services making the provisions of 25.19 the federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Act 25.20 because the person's position is excluded from application under 25.21 United States Code, sections 418(d)(5)(A) and 418(d)(8)(D), and 25.22 under section 355.07, is a member of the public employees police 25.23 and fire fund and is considered to be a police officer within 25.24 the meaning of this section. Themetropolitan councilemployer 25.25 shall deduct the employee contribution from the salary of each 25.26 full-time police officer as required by section 353.65, 25.27 subdivision 2, shall make the employer contribution for each 25.28 full-time police officer as required by section 353.65, 25.29 subdivision 3, and shall meet the employer recording and 25.30 reporting requirements in section 353.65, subdivision 4. 25.31 Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.167, 25.32 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 25.33 Subd. 2. [LOANS FOR ACQUISITION.] (a) Thecouncil25.34 commissioner of transportation may make loans to counties, 25.35 towns, and statutory and home rule charter cities within the 25.36 metropolitan area for the purchase of property within the 26.1 right-of-way of a state trunk highway shown on an official map 26.2 adopted pursuant to section 394.361 or 462.359 or for the 26.3 purchase of property within the proposed right-of-way of a 26.4 principal or intermediate arterial highway designated by 26.5 thecouncilcommissioner as a part of the metropolitan highway 26.6 system planand approved by the council pursuant to subdivision26.71. The loans shall be made by thecouncilcommissioner, from 26.8 the fund established pursuant to this subdivision, for purchases 26.9 approved by thecouncilcommissioner. The loans shall bear no 26.10 interest. 26.11 (b) Thecouncilcommissioner shall make loans only: 26.12 (1) to accelerate the acquisition of primarily undeveloped 26.13 property when there is a reasonable probability that the 26.14 property will increase in value before highway construction, and 26.15 to update an expired environmental impact statement on a project 26.16 for which the right-of-way is being purchased; 26.17 (2) to avert the imminent conversion or the granting of 26.18 approvals which would allow the conversion of property to uses 26.19 which would jeopardize its availability for highway 26.20 construction; 26.21 (3) to advance planning and environmental activities on 26.22 highest priority major metropolitan river crossing projects, 26.23 under the transportation development guide chapter/policy plan; 26.24 or 26.25 (4) to take advantage of open market opportunities when 26.26 developed properties become available for sale, provided all 26.27 parties involved are agreeable to the sale and funds are 26.28 available. 26.29 (c) Thecouncilcommissioner shall not make loans for the 26.30 purchase of property at a price which exceeds the fair market 26.31 value of the property or which includes the costs of relocating 26.32 or moving persons or property. The eminent domain process may 26.33 be used to settle differences of opinion as to fair market 26.34 value, provided all parties agree to the process. 26.35 (d) A private property owner may elect to receive the 26.36 purchase price either in a lump sum or in not more than four 27.1 annual installments without interest on the deferred 27.2 installments. If the purchase agreement provides for 27.3 installment payments, thecouncilcommissioner shall make the 27.4 loan in installments corresponding to those in the purchase 27.5 agreement. The recipient of an acquisition loan shall convey 27.6 the property for the construction of the highway at the same 27.7 price which the recipient paid for the property. The price may 27.8 include the costs of preparing environmental documents that were 27.9 required for the acquisition and that were paid for with money 27.10 that the recipient received from the loan fund. Upon 27.11 notification by thecouncilcommissioner that the plan to 27.12 construct the highway has been abandoned or the anticipated 27.13 location of the highway changed, the recipient shall sell the 27.14 property at market value in accordance with the procedures 27.15 required for the disposition of the property. All rents and 27.16 other money received because of the recipient's ownership of the 27.17 property and all proceeds from the conveyance or sale of the 27.18 property shall be paid to thecouncilcommissioner. If a 27.19 recipient is not permitted to include in the conveyance price 27.20 the cost of preparing environmental documents that were required 27.21 for the acquisition, then the recipient is not required to repay 27.22 the council an amount equal to 40 percent of the money received 27.23 from the loan fund and spent in preparing the environmental 27.24 documents. 27.25 (e) Theproceeds of the tax authorized by subdivision 3 and27.26distributed to theright-of-way acquisition loan fundpursuant27.27to subdivision 3a, paragraph (a), all money paid to thecouncil27.28 commissioner by recipients of loans, and all interest on 27.29 theproceedsfund and payments shall be maintained as a separate 27.30 fund. For administration of the loan program, thecouncil27.31 commissioner may expend from the fund each year an amount no 27.32 greater than three percent of the amount of the proceeds 27.33 distributedtofrom the right-of-way acquisition loan 27.34 fundpursuant to subdivision 3a, paragraph (a),for that year. 27.35 Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.167, 27.36 subdivision 2a, is amended to read: 28.1 Subd. 2a. [HARDSHIP ACQUISITION AND RELOCATION.] (a) 28.2 Thecouncilcommissioner may make hardship loans to acquiring 28.3 authorities within the metropolitan area to purchase homestead 28.4 property located in a proposed state trunk highway right-of-way 28.5 or project, and to provide relocation assistance. Acquiring 28.6 authorities are authorized to accept the loans and to acquire 28.7 the property. Except as provided in this subdivision, the loans 28.8 shall be made as provided in subdivision 2. Loans shall be in 28.9 the amount of the fair market value of the homestead property 28.10 plus relocation costs and less salvage value. Before 28.11 construction of the highway begins, the acquiring authority 28.12 shall convey the property to the commissioner of transportation 28.13 at the same price it paid, plus relocation costs and less its 28.14 salvage value. Acquisition and assistance under this subdivision 28.15 must conform to sections 117.50 to 117.56. 28.16 (b) Thecouncilcommissioner may make hardship loans only 28.17 when: 28.18 (1) the owner of affected homestead property requests 28.19 acquisition and relocation assistance from an acquiring 28.20 authority; 28.21 (2) federal or other state financial participation is not 28.22 available; 28.23 (3) the owner is unable to sell the homestead property at 28.24 its appraised market value because the property is located in a 28.25 proposed state trunk highway right-of-way or project as 28.26 indicated on an official map or plat adopted under section 28.27 160.085, 394.361, or 462.359; 28.28 (4) thecouncilcommissioner agrees to and approves the 28.29 fair market value of the homestead property, which approval 28.30 shall not be unreasonably withheld; and 28.31 (5) the owner of the homestead property is burdened by 28.32 circumstances that constitute a hardship, such as catastrophic 28.33 medical expenses; a transfer of the homestead owner by the 28.34 owner's employer to a distant site of employment; or inability 28.35 of the owner to maintain the property due to physical or mental 28.36 disability or the permanent departure of children from the 29.1 homestead. 29.2 (c) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms 29.3 have the meanings given them. 29.4 (1) "Acquiring authority" means counties, towns, and 29.5 statutory and home rule charter cities in the metropolitan area. 29.6 (2) "Homestead property" means a single-family dwelling 29.7 occupied by the owner, and the surrounding land, not exceeding a 29.8 total of ten acres. 29.9 (3) "Salvage value" means the probable sale price of the 29.10 dwelling and other property that is severable from the land if 29.11 offered for sale on the condition that it be removed from the 29.12 land at the buyer's expense, allowing a reasonable time to find 29.13 a buyer with knowledge of the possible uses of the property, 29.14 including separate use of serviceable components and scrap when 29.15 there is no other reasonable prospect of sale. 29.16 Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.168, 29.17 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 29.18 Subd. 2. Themetropolitan councilcommissioner may require 29.19 that any freeway constructed in the metropolitan area on which 29.20 actual construction has not been commenced byApril 12, 1974the 29.21 effective date of this act include provisions for exclusive 29.22 lanes for buses and, as thecouncilcommissioner may determine, 29.23 other forms of multipassenger transit. Thecounciloffice, in 29.24 making its determination, must demonstrate that the exclusive 29.25 lanes are necessary to implement the transportation policy plan 29.26 of the development guide. 29.27 Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.223, is 29.28 amended to read: 29.29 473.223 [FEDERAL AID.] 29.30 For the purposes of this section the term "governmental 29.31 subdivision" includes municipalities, counties and other 29.32 political subdivisions generally. If federal aid for 29.33 transportation programs and projects is otherwise unavailable to 29.34 an existing agency or governmental subdivision, themetropolitan29.35councilcommissioner of transportation may cooperate with the 29.36 government of the United States and any agency or department 30.1 thereof and the affected agency or other governmental 30.2 subdivision in establishing metropolitan area eligibility to 30.3 receive federal aid, and may comply with the provisions of the 30.4 laws of the United States and any rules and regulations made 30.5 thereunder for the expenditure of federal moneys upon such 30.6 projects as are proposed for federal assistance. 30.7 Themetropolitan councilcommissioner may accept federal aid and 30.8 other aid, either public or private, for and in behalf of the 30.9 metropolitan area or any governmental subdivision of the state, 30.10 for transportation programs and projects within the metropolitan 30.11 area upon such terms and conditions as are or may be prescribed 30.12 by the laws of the United States and any rules or regulations 30.13 made thereunder, and is authorized to act as agent of any 30.14 governmental subdivision of the state with jurisdiction in the 30.15 metropolitan area upon request of such subdivision in accepting 30.16 the aid in its behalf for such programs or projects financed 30.17 either in whole or in part by federal aid. The governing body 30.18 of any such subdivision is authorized to designate the 30.19metropolitan councilcommissioner as its agent for such purposes 30.20 and to enter into an agreement with thecouncilcommissioner 30.21 prescribing the terms and conditions of the agency relationship 30.22 in accordance with state and federal laws, rules and 30.23 regulations.The metropolitan council is authorized to30.24designate an appropriate state agency as its agent for such30.25purposes and to enter into an agreement with such agency30.26prescribing the terms and conditions of the agency relationship30.27in accordance with state and federal laws, rules and regulations.30.28 Nothing contained herein shall limit any separate authority 30.29 of agencies or governmental subdivisions of the state to 30.30 contract for and receive federal aid. 30.31 Sec. 30. [473.3715] [DEFINITIONS.] 30.32 Subdivision 1. [COMMISSIONER.] "Commissioner" means the 30.33 commissioner of transportation for the purposes of sections 30.34 473.371 to 473.449. 30.35 Subd. 2. [DEPARTMENT.] "Department" means the department 30.36 of transportation for the purposes of sections 473.371 to 31.1 473.449. 31.2 Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.375, 31.3 subdivision 9, is amended to read: 31.4 Subd. 9. [ADVISORY COMMITTEES.] Thecouncilcommissioner 31.5 may establish one or more advisory committees composed of and 31.6 representing transit providers, transit users, and local units 31.7 of government to advise it in carrying out its purposes. The 31.8 members of advisory committees serve without compensation. 31.9 Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.375, 31.10 subdivision 11, is amended to read: 31.11 Subd. 11. [RIDESHARING.] Thecouncilcommissioner shall 31.12 administer a ridesharing program in the metropolitan area,31.13except for the statewide vanpool leasing program conducted by31.14the commissioner of transportation and shall cooperate with the31.15commissioner in the conduct of ridesharing activities in areas31.16where the commissioner's programs and the council's program31.17overlap. Thecouncilcommissioner shall establish a rideshare 31.18 advisory committee to advise it in carrying out the program. 31.19 Thecouncilcommissioner may contract for services in operating 31.20 the program. 31.21 Sec. 33. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.375, 31.22 subdivision 12, is amended to read: 31.23 Subd. 12. [ASSISTANCE.] Thecouncilcommissioner shall 31.24 offer, use, and apply its services to assist and advise transit 31.25 providers in the metropolitan transit area in the planning, 31.26 promotion, development, operation, and evaluation of programs 31.27 and projects which are undertaken or proposed to be undertaken 31.28 by contract with thecouncilcommissioner, and shall seek out 31.29 and select recipients of this assistance and advice. 31.30 Sec. 34. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.375, 31.31 subdivision 13, is amended to read: 31.32 Subd. 13. [FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.] Thecouncilcommissioner 31.33 may provide financial assistance to public transit providers as 31.34 provided in sections 473.371 to 473.449.The council may not31.35use the proceeds of bonds issued under section 473.39 to provide31.36capital assistance to private, for-profit operators of public32.1transit, unless the operators provide service under a contract32.2with the council, the former regional transit board, or32.3recipients of financial assistance under sections 473.371 to32.4473.449.32.5 No political subdivision within the metropolitan area may 32.6 apply for federal transit assistance unless its application has 32.7 been submitted to and approved by thecouncilcommissioner. 32.8 Sec. 35. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.375, 32.9 subdivision 14, is amended to read: 32.10 Subd. 14. [COORDINATION.] Thecouncilcommissioner shall 32.11 coordinate transit operations within the metropolitan area and 32.12 shall establish a transit information program to provide transit 32.13 users with accurate information on transit schedules and service. 32.14 Sec. 36. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.375, 32.15 subdivision 15, is amended to read: 32.16 Subd. 15. [PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.] Thecouncil32.17 commissioner may establish performance standards for recipients 32.18 of financial assistance. 32.19 Sec. 37. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.382, is 32.20 amended to read: 32.21 473.382 [LOCAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.] 32.22 Thecouncilcommissioner shall establish a program to 32.23 ensure participation by representatives of local government 32.24 units and the coordination of the planning and development of 32.25 transit by local government units. Thecouncilcommissioner 32.26 shall encourage the establishment of local transit planning and 32.27 development boards by local governments for the purpose of: 32.28 (a) identifying service needs and objectives; 32.29 (b) preparing, or advising and assisting local units of 32.30 government in preparing the transit study and service plan 32.31 required by section 473.384; 32.32 (c) preparing or advising thecouncilcommissioner in the 32.33 review of applications for assistance under section 473.384. 32.34 Thecouncilcommissioner may provide local boards with 32.35 whatever assistanceitthe commissioner deems necessary and 32.36 appropriate. 33.1 Sec. 38. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.384, is 33.2 amended to read: 33.3 473.384 [CONTRACTS.] 33.4 Subdivision 1. [CONTRACTS REQUIRED.] Thecouncil33.5 commissioner shall make contracts with eligible recipients for 33.6 financial assistance to transit service within the metropolitan 33.7 area. Thecouncilcommissioner may not give financial 33.8 assistance to another transit provider without first having 33.9 executed a contract. The provisions of this section do not 33.10 apply to contracts made undersectionssection 473.386and33.11473.388. 33.12 Subd. 2. [ELIGIBILITY.] To be eligible to receive 33.13 financial assistance by contract under this section a recipient 33.14 must be: 33.15 (a) a county, statutory or home rule charter city or town 33.16 or combination thereof, or public authority organized and 33.17 existing pursuant to chapter 398A, providing financial 33.18 assistance to or providing or operating public transit;or33.19 (b) a private provider of public transit; or 33.20 (c) a transit provider formerly operated under section 33.21 473.388. 33.22 Subd. 3. [APPLICATIONS.] Thecouncilcommissioner shall 33.23 establish procedures and standards for review and approval of 33.24 applications for financial assistance under this section. An 33.25 applicant must provide thecouncilcommissioner with the 33.26 financial and other information thecouncilcommissioner 33.27 requires to carry out its duties. Thecouncilcommissioner may 33.28 specify procedures, including public hearing requirements, to be 33.29 followed by applicants that are cities, towns, or counties or 33.30 combinations thereof in conducting transit studies and 33.31 formulating service plans under subdivisions 4 and 5. 33.32 Subd. 4. [TRANSIT STUDY.] Thecouncilcommissioner shall 33.33 require that prior to applying for financial assistance by 33.34 contract under clause (a) of subdivision 2, the applicant must 33.35 prepare and submit a transit study which includes the following 33.36 elements: 34.1 (a) a determination of existing and future transit needs 34.2 within the area to be served, and an assessment of the adequacy 34.3 of existing service to meet the needs; 34.4 (b) an assessment of the level and type of service required 34.5 to meet unmet needs; 34.6 (c) an assessment of existing and future resources 34.7 available for the financing of transit service; and 34.8 (d) the type or types of any new government arrangements or 34.9 agreements needed to provide adequate service. 34.10 The transit study for any applicant may be done by the 34.11councilcommissioner. 34.12 Subd. 5. [SERVICE PLAN.] Thecouncilcommissioner shall, 34.13 before making a contract with an eligible recipient, require the 34.14 submission of a service plan which includes the following 34.15 elements: 34.16 (a) a description of the service proposed for financial 34.17 assistance, including vehicles, routes, and schedules; 34.18 (b) an assessment of the extent to which the proposed 34.19 service meets the needs as determined by the transit study; 34.20 (c) a description of the contract administration and review 34.21 process if the operation of the proposed service is to be done 34.22 by a private contractor; 34.23 (d) a description of the amount required to establish and 34.24 operate the proposed service and the proposed sources of the 34.25 required amount including operating revenue, other local 34.26 sources, and assistance from thecouncilcommissioner and from 34.27 federal sources; 34.28 (e) the fare structure of the proposed service; and 34.29 (f) projections of usage of the system. 34.30 Thecouncilcommissioner may specify procedures, including 34.31 public hearing requirements, to be followed by applicants that 34.32 are cities, towns, or counties or combinations thereof in 34.33 conducting transit studies and formulating service plans. 34.34 Subd. 6. [FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN PROVIDERS.] The 34.35councilcommissioner shall provide financial assistance to 34.36 recipients who were receiving assistance by contract with the 35.1 commissioner of transportation under Minnesota Statutes 1982, 35.2 section 174.24, subdivision 3 on July 1, 1984, so that the 35.3 percentage of total operating cost, as defined by thecouncil35.4 commissioner, paid by the recipient from all local sources of 35.5 revenue, including operating revenue, does not exceed the 35.6 percentage for the recipient's classification as determined by 35.7 the commissioner of transportation under the commissioner's 35.8 final contract with the recipient.The council may include35.9funds received under section 473.446, subdivision 1a, as a local35.10source of revenue.The remainder of the total operating cost 35.11 will be paid by thecouncilcommissioner less all assistance 35.12 received by the recipient for that purpose from any federal 35.13 source. 35.14 If a recipient informs thecouncilcommissioner in writing 35.15 prior to the distribution of financial assistance for any year 35.16 that paying its designated percentage of total operating cost 35.17 from local sources will cause undue hardship, thecouncil35.18 commissioner may adjust the percentage as it deems equitable. 35.19 If for any year the funds available to thecouncilcommissioner 35.20 are insufficient to allow thecouncilcommissioner to payits35.21 the department's share of total operating cost for those 35.22 recipients, thecouncilcommissioner shall reduce its share in 35.23 each classification to the extent necessary. 35.24 Subd. 7. [TRANSIT OPERATIONS IMPACT ASSESSMENT.] Prior to 35.25 entering into a contract for operating assistance with a 35.26 recipient, thecouncilcommissioner shall evaluate the effect, 35.27 if any, of the contract on the ridership, routes, schedules, 35.28 fares, and staffing levels of the existing and proposed service 35.29 provided by thecouncildepartment. Thecouncilcommissioner 35.30 may enter into the contract only if it determines that the 35.31 service to be assisted under the contract will not impose an 35.32 undue hardship on the ridership or financial condition of 35.33 thecouncil'sdepartment's transit operations. The requirements 35.34 of this subdivision do not apply to contracts for assistance to 35.35 recipients who, as part of a negotiated cost-sharing arrangement 35.36 with thecouncilcommissioner, pay a substantial part of the 36.1 cost of services that directly benefit the recipient as an 36.2 institution or organization. 36.3 Subd. 8. [PARATRANSIT CONTRACTS.] In executing and 36.4 administering contracts for paratransit projects, thecouncil36.5 commissioner has the powers and duties given to the commissioner 36.6 of transportation in section 174.255, subdivisions 1 and 2 36.7 relating to handicapped accessibility and insurance coverage. 36.8 The provisions of section 174.255, subdivision 3, apply to 36.9 paratransit projects which receive assistance by contract with 36.10 thecouncilcommissioner. 36.11 Sec. 39. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.385, 36.12 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 36.13 Subdivision 1. [DEFINITIONS.] (a) "Fully developed service 36.14 area" means the fully developed area, as definedinby the 36.15 metropolitan council's development guide, plus the cities of 36.16 Mendota Heights, Maplewood, North St. Paul, and Little Canada. 36.17 (b) "Regular route transit" has the meaning given it in 36.18 section 174.22, subdivision 8, except that, for purposes of this 36.19 section, the term does not include services on fixed routes and 36.20 schedules that are primarily intended to provide circulator 36.21 service within a community or adjacent communities rather than 36.22 feeder service to the system of metropolitan regular route 36.23 transit operated by thecouncildepartment. 36.24 Sec. 40. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.385, 36.25 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 36.26 Subd. 2. [SERVICE AREAS.] Thecouncilcommissioner may 36.27 provide financial assistance (whether directly or through 36.28 another entity) to private, for-profit operators of public 36.29 transit only for the following services: 36.30 (1) services that are not regular route services; 36.31 (2) regular route services provided on June 2, 1989, by a 36.32 private, for-profit operator under contract with the former 36.33 regional transit board or under a certificate of convenience and 36.34 necessity issued by the transportation regulation board; 36.35 (3) regular route services outside of the fully developed 36.36 service area that are not operated on June 2, 1989, by the 37.1 former metropolitan transit commission; 37.2 (4) regular route services provided under section 473.388; 37.3 (5) regular route services to recipients who, as part of a 37.4 negotiated cost-sharing arrangement with thecouncil37.5 commissioner, pay at least 50 percent of the cost of the service 37.6 that directly benefits the recipient as an institution or 37.7 organization; or 37.8 (6) regular route services that will not be operated for a 37.9 reasonable subsidy by thecouncilcommissioner. 37.10 Sec. 41. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.386, 37.11 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 37.12 Subdivision 1. [SERVICE OBJECTIVES.] Thecouncil37.13 commissioner shall implement a special transportation service, 37.14 as defined in section 174.29, in the metropolitan area. The 37.15 service has the following objectives: 37.16 (a) to provide greater access to transportation for the 37.17 elderly, people with disabilities, and others with special 37.18 transportation needs in the metropolitan area; 37.19 (b) to develop an integrated system of special 37.20 transportation service providing transportation tailored to meet 37.21 special individual needs in the most cost-efficient manner; and 37.22 (c) to use existing public, private, and private nonprofit 37.23 providers of service wherever possible, to supplement rather 37.24 than replace existing service, and to increase the productivity 37.25 of all special transportation vehicles available in the area. 37.26 Sec. 42. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.386, 37.27 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 37.28 Subd. 2. [SERVICE CONTRACTS; MANAGEMENT; TRANSPORTATION 37.29 ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.] (a) Thecouncilcommissioner 37.30 may contract for services necessary for the provision of special 37.31 transportation. Transportation service provided under a 37.32 contract must specify the service to be provided, the standards 37.33 that must be met, and the rates for operating and providing 37.34 special transportation services. 37.35 (b) Thecouncilcommissioner shall establish management 37.36 policies for the service and may contract with a service 38.1 administrator for day-to-day administration and management of 38.2 the service. Any contract must delegate to the service 38.3 administrator clear authority to administer and manage the 38.4 delivery of the service pursuant tocouncildepartment 38.5 management policies and must establish performance and 38.6 compliance standards for the service administrator. Thecouncil38.7 commissioner may provide directly day to day administration and 38.8 management of the service and may own or lease vehicles used to 38.9 provide the service. 38.10 (c) Thecouncilcommissioner shall ensure that the service 38.11 administrator establishes a system for registering and 38.12 expeditiously responding to complaints by users, informing users 38.13 of how to register complaints, and requiring providers to report 38.14 on incidents that impair the safety and well-being of users or 38.15 the quality of the service. Thecouncilcommissioner shall 38.16 annually report tothe commissioner of transportation andthe 38.17 legislature on complaints and provider reports, the response of 38.18 the service administrator, and steps taken by thecouncil38.19 commissioner and the service administrator to identify causes 38.20 and provide remedies to recurring problems. 38.21 (d) Each year before renewing contracts with providers and 38.22 the service administrator, thecouncilcommissioner shall 38.23 provide an opportunity for the transportation accessibility 38.24 advisory committee, users, and other interested persons to 38.25 testify before thecouncilcommissioner concerning providers, 38.26 contract terms, and other matters relating tocouncildepartment 38.27 policies and procedures for implementing the service. 38.28 (e) Thecouncilcommissioner shall establish a 38.29 transportation accessibility advisory committee. The 38.30 transportation accessibility advisory committee must include 38.31 elderly and disabled persons, other users of special 38.32 transportation service, representatives of persons contracting 38.33 to provide special transportation services, and representatives 38.34 of appropriate agencies for elderly and disabled persons to 38.35 advise thecouncilcommissioner on management policies for the 38.36 service. At least half the transportation accessibility 39.1 advisory committee members must be disabled or elderly persons 39.2 or the representatives of disabled or elderly persons. Two of 39.3 the appointments to the transportation accessibility advisory 39.4 committee shall be made by the council on disability in 39.5 consultation with thechair of the metropolitan39.6councilcommissioner. 39.7 Sec. 43. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.386, 39.8 subdivision 2a, is amended to read: 39.9 Subd. 2a. [ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATION.] Thecouncil39.10 commissioner shall include the notice of penalty for fraudulent 39.11 certification, and require the person certifying the applicant 39.12 to sign the eligibility certification form and the applicant to 39.13 sign the application form, as provided in section 174.295. 39.14 Sec. 44. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.386, 39.15 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 39.16 Subd. 3. [DUTIES OFCOUNCILCOMMISSIONER.] In implementing 39.17 the special transportation service, thecouncilcommissioner 39.18 shall: 39.19 (a) encourage participation in the service by public, 39.20 private, and private nonprofit providers of special 39.21 transportation currently receiving capital or operating 39.22 assistance from a public agency; 39.23 (b) contract with public, private, and private nonprofit 39.24 providers that have demonstrated their ability to effectively 39.25 provide service at a reasonable cost; 39.26 (c) encourage individuals using special transportation to 39.27 use the type of service most appropriate to their particular 39.28 needs; 39.29 (d) ensure that all persons providing special 39.30 transportation service receive equitable treatment in the 39.31 allocation of the ridership; 39.32 (e) encourage shared rides to the greatest extent 39.33 practicable; 39.34 (f) encourage public agencies that provide transportation 39.35 to eligible individuals as a component of human services and 39.36 educational programs to coordinate with this service and to 40.1 allow reimbursement for transportation provided through the 40.2 service at rates that reflect the public cost of providing that 40.3 transportation; 40.4 (g) establish criteria to be used in determining individual 40.5 eligibility for special transportation services; 40.6 (h) consult with the transportation accessibility advisory 40.7 committee in a timely manner before changes are made in the 40.8 provision of special transportation services, including, but not 40.9 limited to, changes in policies affecting the matters subject to 40.10 hearing under subdivision 2; 40.11 (i) provide for effective administration and enforcement of 40.12councildepartment policies and standards; and 40.13 (j) annually evaluate providers of special transportation 40.14 service to ensure compliance with the standards established for 40.15 the program. 40.16 Sec. 45. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.386, 40.17 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 40.18 Subd. 4. [COORDINATION REQUIRED.] Thecouncilcommissioner 40.19 may not grant any financial assistance to any recipient that 40.20 proposes to use any part of the grant to provide special 40.21 transportation service in the metropolitan area unless the 40.22 program is coordinated with thecouncil'sdepartment's special 40.23 transportation service in the manner determined by thecouncil40.24 department. Thecouncilcommissioner is not required to provide 40.25 funding for transportation services from a residence to a 40.26 service site and home again when the services are used by 40.27 individuals in conjunction with their participation in human 40.28 service developmental achievement center programs in which 40.29 transportation to and from the program is a required and funded 40.30 component of those programs. 40.31 Sec. 46. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.386, 40.32 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 40.33 Subd. 5. [EQUITABLE ALLOCATION AND ANNUAL REALLOCATION.] 40.34 Thecouncilcommissioner shall distribute all available funding 40.35 under this section in a manner designed to achieve an equitable 40.36 allocation of special transportation services based on the 41.1 proportion of the number of elderly, disabled, or economically 41.2 disadvantaged individuals with special transportation needs who 41.3 actually use the special transportation service. 41.4 Sec. 47. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.386, 41.5 subdivision 6, is amended to read: 41.6 Subd. 6. [OPERATING AND SERVICE STANDARDS.] A person 41.7 operating or assisting the operation of a vehicle may leave the 41.8 vehicle to enter premises in order to help a passenger who does 41.9 not require emergency ambulance service. Operators and 41.10 assistants shall provide the help necessary for 41.11 door-through-door service, including help in entering and 41.12 leaving the vehicle and help through the exterior entrance and 41.13 over any exterior steps at either departure or destination 41.14 buildings, provided that both the steps and the wheelchair are 41.15 in good repair. If an operator or assistant refuses help 41.16 because of the condition of the steps or the wheelchair, the 41.17 operator of the service shall send letters to the service 41.18 administrator designated by thecouncilcommissioner, who shall 41.19 notify the person denied service describing the corrective 41.20 measures necessary to qualify for service. 41.21 Sec. 48. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.387, 41.22 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 41.23 Subd. 2. [ADMINISTRATION.] Thecouncilcommissioner shall 41.24 design and administer the programs under this section. The 41.25councilcommissioner may request proposals for projects to 41.26 demonstrate methods of achieving the purposes of programs 41.27 administered under this section. Thecouncilcommissioner shall 41.28 design or ensure the design of programs that will provide better 41.29 access for the targeted service groups to places of employment 41.30 and activity throughout the metropolitan area, using regular 41.31 route transit, paratransit, taxis, car or van pools, or other 41.32 means of conveyance. Thecouncilcommissioner may organize the 41.33 services by providing to individuals, directly or indirectly, 41.34 reduced fares or passes on public transit or vouchers to be used 41.35 to purchase transportation; by contracting with public and 41.36 private providers; by arrangements with government agencies, 42.1 civic and community organizations or nonprofit groups providing 42.2 assistance to the targeted service groups; by arrangements with 42.3 prospective employers, with employment, education, retail, 42.4 medical, or other activity centers, or with local governments; 42.5 or by any other methods designed to improve service and reduce 42.6 costs to the targeted service groups. 42.7 Sec. 49. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.387, 42.8 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 42.9 Subd. 3. [JOBSEEKERS.] Thecouncilcommissioner shall 42.10 establish a program and policies to increase the availability 42.11 and utility of public transit services and reduce transportation 42.12 costs for persons who are seeking employment and who lack 42.13 private means of transportation. 42.14 Sec. 50. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.387, 42.15 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 42.16 Subd. 4. [TRANSIT DISADVANTAGED.] Thecouncilcommissioner 42.17 shall establish a program and policies to reduce transportation 42.18 costs for persons who are, because of limited incomes, age, 42.19 disability, or other reasons, especially dependent on public 42.20 transit for common mobility. 42.21 Sec. 51. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.391, is 42.22 amended to read: 42.23 473.391 [ROUTE PLANNING AND SCHEDULING.] 42.24 Subdivision 1. [CONTRACTS.] Thecouncilcommissioner may 42.25 contract with other operators or local governments for route 42.26 planning and scheduling services in any configuration of new or 42.27 reconfiguration of existing transit services and routes, 42.28 including route planning and scheduling necessary for the test 42.29 marketing program, the service bidding program, and the 42.30 interstate highway described generally as legislative routes 42.31 Nos. 10 and 107 between I-494 and the Hawthorne interchange in 42.32 the city of Minneapolis, commonly known as I-394. 42.33 Subd. 2. [ROUTE ELIMINATION; SERVICE REDUCTION.] The 42.34councilcommissioner shall, before making a determination to 42.35 eliminate or reduce service on existing transit routes, consider: 42.36 (1) the level of subsidy per passenger on each route; 43.1 (2) the availability and proximity of alternative transit 43.2 routes; and 43.3 (3) the percentage of transit dependent riders, including 43.4 youth, elderly, low-income, and disabled riders currently using 43.5 each route. 43.6 Sec. 52. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.3915, 43.7 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 43.8 Subd. 3. [TRANSIT ZONE.] "Transit zone" means the area 43.9 within one-quarter of a mile of a route along which regular 43.10 route transit service is provided that is also within the 43.11 metropolitan urban service area, as determined by thecouncil43.12 commissioner. "Transit zone" includes any light rail transit 43.13 route for which funds for construction have been committed. 43.14 Sec. 53. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.3915, 43.15 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 43.16 Subd. 4. [TRANSIT ZONES; MAP AND PLAN.] For the purposes 43.17 of section 273.13, subdivision 24, thecouncilcommissioner 43.18 shall designate transit zones and identify them on a detailed 43.19 map and in a plan. Thecouncilcommissioner shall review the 43.20 map and plan once a year and revise them as necessary to 43.21 indicate the current transit zones. Thecouncilcommissioner 43.22 shall provide each county and city assessor in the metropolitan 43.23 area a copy of the current map and plan. 43.24 Sec. 54. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.392, is 43.25 amended to read: 43.26 473.392 [SERVICE BIDDING.] 43.27 Thecouncilcommissioner may competitively bid transit 43.28 service only in accordance with standards, procedures, and 43.29 guidelines adopted byresolution ofthecouncilcommissioner. 43.30 Thecouncilcommissioner shall establish a project management 43.31 team to assist and advise thecouncilcommissioner in developing 43.32 and implementing standards, procedures, and guidelines. The 43.33 project management team must include representatives of the 43.34 Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005, private operators, local 43.35 governments, and other persons interested in the subject. At 43.36 least 60 days before adopting any standards, procedures, or 44.1 guidelines for competitive bidding of transit service, 44.2 thecouncilcommissioner shall hold a public hearing on the 44.3 subject. Thecouncilcommissioner shall publish notice of the 44.4 hearing in newspapers of general circulation in the metropolitan 44.5 area not less than 15 days before the hearing. At the hearing 44.6 all interested persons must be afforded an opportunity to 44.7 present their views orally and in writing. Following the 44.8 hearing, and after considering the testimony, thecouncil44.9 commissioner shall revise and adopt the standards, procedures, 44.10 and guidelines. 44.11 Sec. 55. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.399, is 44.12 amended to read: 44.13 473.399 [LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT; REGIONAL PLAN.] 44.14 Subdivision 1. [GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.] (a) The 44.15councilcommissioner shall adopt a regional light rail transit 44.16 plan to ensure that light rail transit facilities in the 44.17 metropolitan area will be acquired, developed, owned, and 44.18 capable of operation in an efficient, cost-effective, and 44.19 coordinated manner as an integrated and unified system on a 44.20 multicounty basis in coordination with buses and other 44.21 transportation modes and facilities. To the extent practicable, 44.22 thecouncilcommissioner shall incorporate intoitsthe plan 44.23 appropriate elements of the plans of regional railroad 44.24 authorities and the metropolitan council in order to avoid 44.25 duplication of effort. 44.26 (b) The regional plan required by this section must be 44.27 adopted by thecouncilcommissioner before the commissionerof44.28transportationmay begin construction of light rail transit 44.29 facilities and before the commissioner may expend funds 44.30 appropriated or obtained through bonding for constructing light 44.31 rail transit facilities. Following adoption of the regional 44.32 plan, each regional railroad authority and the commissioner of 44.33 transportation shall act in conformity with the plan. The 44.34 commissioner shall prepare or amend the final design plans as 44.35 necessary to make the plans consistent with the regional plan. 44.36 (c) Throughout the development and implementation of the 45.1 plan, thecouncilcommissioner shall contract for or otherwise 45.2 obtain engineering services to assure that the plan adequately 45.3 addresses the technical aspects of light rail transit. 45.4 Sec. 56. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.3994, 45.5 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 45.6 Subd. 5. [FINAL DESIGN PLANS.](a)Before beginning 45.7 construction, the commissioner shall submit the physical design 45.8 component of final design plans to the governing body of each 45.9 statutory and home rule city, county, and town in which the 45.10 route is proposed to be located. Within 60 days after the 45.11 submission of the plans, the city, county, or town shall review 45.12 and approve or disapprove the plans for the route located in the 45.13 city, county, or town. A local unit of government that 45.14 disapproves the plans shall describe specific amendments to the 45.15 plans that, if adopted, would cause the local unit to withdraw 45.16 its disapproval. Failure to approve or disapprove the plans in 45.17 writing within the time period is deemed to be approval, unless 45.18 an extension is agreed to by the city, county, or town and the 45.19 commissioner. 45.20(b) If the governing body of one or more cities, counties,45.21or towns disapproves the plans within the period allowed under45.22paragraph (a), the commissioner may refer the plans, along with45.23any comments of local jurisdictions, to the metropolitan45.24council. The council shall review the final design plans under45.25the same procedure and with the same effect as provided in45.26subdivision 4 for preliminary design plans.45.27 Sec. 57. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.3994, 45.28 subdivision 8, is amended to read: 45.29 Subd. 8. [METROPOLITAN SIGNIFICANCE.] This section does 45.30 not diminish or replace the authority of the council under 45.31 section 473.173 in areas other than transportation. 45.32 Sec. 58. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.3994, 45.33 subdivision 9, is amended to read: 45.34 Subd. 9. [LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT OPERATING COSTS.] (a) Before 45.35 submitting an application for federal assistance for light rail 45.36 transit facilities in the metropolitan area, the applicant must 46.1 provide to themetropolitan councilcommissioner estimates of 46.2 the amount of operating subsidy which will be required to 46.3 operate light rail transit in the corridor to which the federal 46.4 assistance would be applied. The information provided to the 46.5councilcommissioner must indicate the amount of operating 46.6 subsidy estimated to be required in each of the first ten years 46.7 of operation of the light rail transit facility. 46.8 (b) Thecouncilcommissioner must review and evaluate the 46.9 information provided under paragraph (a) with regard to the 46.10 effect of operating the light rail transit facility on the 46.11 currently available mechanisms for financing transit in the 46.12 metropolitan area. 46.13 (c) Thecouncilcommissioner must present its evaluation to 46.14 the transportation and taxes committees of the house and senate, 46.15 to the appropriations committee of the house and the finance 46.16 committee of the senate, to the local government and 46.17 metropolitan affairs committee of the house, and to the 46.18 metropolitan affairs committee of the senate. 46.19 Sec. 59. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.3994, 46.20 subdivision 10, is amended to read: 46.21 Subd. 10. [CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.] A corridor 46.22 management committee shall be established to advise the 46.23 commissioner of transportation in the design and construction of 46.24 light rail transit in each corridor to be constructed. The 46.25 corridor management committee shall consist of the members of 46.26 the light rail transit joint powers board established pursuant 46.27 to section 473.3998 and one representative from each city in 46.28 which the corridor is located.Additionally, the commissioner46.29of transportation and three representatives of the metropolitan46.30council shall each appoint a member to the committee.For the 46.31 corridor between Minneapolis and St. Paul, the University of 46.32 Minnesota shall appoint one member to the committee.A member46.33representing the metropolitan councilThe commissioner shall 46.34 appoint a member to chair the committee. 46.35 The corridor management committee shall advise the 46.36 commissioner of transportation and the regional railroad 47.1 authority or authorities in whose jurisdiction the line or lines 47.2 are located on issues relating to the alternatives analysis, 47.3 environmental review, preliminary design, preliminary 47.4 engineering, final design, implementation method, and 47.5 construction of light rail transit. 47.6 Sec. 60. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.3994, 47.7 subdivision 12, is amended to read: 47.8 Subd. 12. [ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS; ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.] 47.9 For light rail transit lines to be constructed in the 47.10 metropolitan area, the regional railroad authority or 47.11 authorities in whose jurisdiction a line or lines are to be 47.12 constructed and the commissioner of transportation shall jointly 47.13 prepare an alternatives analysis, the environmental review 47.14 documents required, and the preliminary engineering plan.The47.15council must approve the design for the alternatives analysis47.16and the completed alternatives analysis.The department of 47.17 transportation shall be the responsible governmental unit. 47.18 Sec. 61. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.3997, is 47.19 amended to read: 47.20 473.3997 [FEDERAL FUNDING; LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT.] 47.21 (a) Upon completion of the alternatives analysis and draft 47.22 environmental impact statement for the central corridor transit 47.23 improvement project,the council,the commissioner of 47.24 transportation, and the affected regional rail authorities may 47.25 prepare a joint application for federal assistance for light 47.26 rail transit facilities in the metropolitan area.The47.27application must be reviewed and approved by the metropolitan47.28council before it is submitted by the council and the47.29commissioner. In reviewing the application the council must47.30consider the information submitted to it under section 473.3994,47.31subdivision 9.47.32 (b) Until the application described in paragraph (a) is 47.33 submitted, no political subdivision in the metropolitan area may 47.34 on its own apply for federal assistance for light rail transit 47.35 planning or construction. 47.36 Sec. 62. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.405, 48.1 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 48.2 Subdivision 1. [GENERAL.] Themetropolitan48.3councilcommissioner has the powers and duties prescribed by 48.4 this section and sections 473.407 to 473.449 and all powers 48.5 necessary or convenient to dischargeitsthe commissioner's 48.6 duties. 48.7 Sec. 63. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.405, 48.8 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 48.9 Subd. 3. [CONDEMNATION.] Thecouncilcommissioner may for 48.10 transit purposes acquire property, franchises, easements, or 48.11 property rights or interests of any kind by condemnation 48.12 proceedings pursuant to chapter 117. Except as provided in 48.13 subdivision 9, thecouncilcommissioner may take possession of 48.14 any property for which condemnation proceedings have been 48.15 commenced at any time after the filing of the petition 48.16 describing the property in the proceedings. Thecouncil48.17 commissioner may contract with an operator or other persons for 48.18 the use by the operator or person of any property under 48.19 thecouncil'scommissioner's control. 48.20 Sec. 64. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.405, 48.21 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 48.22 Subd. 4. [TRANSIT SYSTEMS.] Thecouncilcommissioner may 48.23 engineer, construct, equip, and operate transit and paratransit 48.24 systems, projects, or any parts thereof, including road lanes or 48.25 rights of way, terminal facilities, maintenance and garage 48.26 facilities, ramps, parking areas, and any other facilities 48.27 useful for or related to any public transit or paratransit 48.28 system or project. 48.29 Sec. 65. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.405, 48.30 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 48.31 Subd. 5. [ACQUISITION OF TRANSIT SYSTEMS.] The 48.32councilcommissioner may acquire by purchase, lease, gift, or 48.33 condemnation proceedings any existing public transit system or 48.34 any part thereof, including all or any part of the plant, 48.35 equipment, shares of stock, property, real, personal, or mixed, 48.36 rights in property, reserve funds, special funds, franchises, 49.1 licenses, patents, permits and papers, documents and records 49.2 belonging to any operator of a public transit system within the 49.3 metropolitan area, and may in connection therewith assume any or 49.4 all liabilities of any operator of a public transit system. The 49.5councilcommissioner may take control of and operate a system 49.6 immediately following the filing and approval of the initial 49.7 petition for condemnation, if thecouncilcommissioner, inits49.8 the commissioner's discretion, determines this to be necessary, 49.9 and may take possession of all right, title and other powers of 49.10 ownership in all properties and facilities described in the 49.11 petition. Control must be taken by resolution which is 49.12 effective upon service of a copy on the condemnee and the filing 49.13 of the resolution in the condemnation action. In the 49.14 determination of the fair value of the existing public transit 49.15 system, there must not be included any value attributable to 49.16 expenditures for improvements made by the former metropolitan 49.17 transit commission or the former metropolitan council. 49.18 Thecouncilcommissioner may continue or terminate within 49.19 three months of acquisition any advertising contract in 49.20 existence by and between any advertiser and a transit system 49.21 that thecouncilcommissioner has acquired. If thecouncil49.22 commissioner determines to terminate the advertising 49.23 contract,itthe commissioner shall acquire all of the 49.24 advertiser's rights under the contract by purchase or eminent 49.25 domain proceedings as provided by law. 49.26 Sec. 66. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.405, 49.27 subdivision 9, is amended to read: 49.28 Subd. 9. [CONDEMNATION OF PUBLIC PROPERTY OR PROPERTY OF 49.29 PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATIONS.] The fact that property is owned by 49.30 or is in charge of a public agency or a public service 49.31 corporation organized for a purpose specified in section 300.03, 49.32 or is already devoted to a public use or to use by the 49.33 corporation or was acquired therefor by condemnation may not 49.34 prevent its acquisition by thecouncilcommissioner by 49.35 condemnation, but if the property is in actual public use or in 49.36 actual use by the corporation for any purpose of interest or 50.1 benefit to the public, the taking by thecouncilcommissioner by 50.2 condemnation may not be authorized unless the court finds and 50.3 determines that there is greater public necessity for the 50.4 proposed use by thecouncilcommissioner than for the existing 50.5 use. 50.6 Sec. 67. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.405, 50.7 subdivision 10, is amended to read: 50.8 Subd. 10. [VOLUNTARY TRANSFER OF PUBLIC PROPERTY TO THE 50.9COUNCILCOMMISSIONER.] Any state department or other agency of 50.10 the state government or any county, municipality, or other 50.11 public agency may sell, lease, grant, transfer, or convey to the 50.12councilcommissioner, with or without consideration, any 50.13 facilities or any part or parts thereof or any real or personal 50.14 property or interest therein which may be useful to thecouncil50.15 commissioner for any authorized purpose. In any case where the 50.16 construction of a facility has not been completed, the public 50.17 agency concerned may also transfer, sell, assign, and set over 50.18 to thecouncilcommissioner, with or without consideration, any 50.19 existing contract for the construction of the facilities. 50.20 Sec. 68. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.405, 50.21 subdivision 12, is amended to read: 50.22 Subd. 12. [MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS.] Notwithstanding any of 50.23 the other provisions of this section and sections 473.407 to 50.24 473.449, thecouncilcommissioner may, in lieu of directly 50.25 operating any public transit system or any part thereof, enter 50.26 into contracts for management services. The contracts may 50.27 provide for compensation, incentive fees, the employment of 50.28 personnel, the services provided, and other terms and conditions 50.29 that thecouncilcommissioner deems proper. The contracts must 50.30 provide that the compensation of personnel who work full time or 50.31 substantially full time providing management or other services 50.32 for thecouncilcommissioner is public data under chapter 13. 50.33 Thecouncilcommissioner may not permit a contract manager 50.34 to supervise or manage internal audit activities. Internal 50.35 audit activity must be supervised and managed directly by the 50.36councilcommissioner. Thecouncilcommissioner shall advertise 51.1 for bids and select contracts for management services through 51.2 competitive bidding. The term of the contract may not be longer 51.3 than two years. The contract must include clear operating 51.4 objectives, stating the service policies and goals of 51.5 thecouncilcommissioner in terms of the movement of various 51.6 passenger groups, and performance criteria, by means of which 51.7 success in achieving the operating objectives can be measured. 51.8 Thecouncilcommissioner shall consider and determine the 51.9 feasibility and desirability of having all its transit 51.10 management services provided internally by employees of the 51.11councilcommissioner. 51.12 The employees of any public transit system operated 51.13 pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision for the purpose 51.14 of resolving any dispute arising under any existing or new 51.15 collective bargaining agreement relating to the terms or 51.16 conditions of their employment, may either engage in a concerted 51.17 refusal to work or to invoke the processes of final and binding 51.18 arbitration as provided by chapter 572, subject to any 51.19 applicable provisions of the agreement not inconsistent with law. 51.20 Sec. 69. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.405, 51.21 subdivision 15, is amended to read: 51.22 Subd. 15. [RELOCATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS.] The 51.23councilcommissioner may plan for and assist in the relocation 51.24 of individuals, families, business concerns, nonprofit 51.25 organizations, and others displaced by operations of thecouncil51.26 department, and may make relocation payments in accordance with 51.27 federal regulations. 51.28 Sec. 70. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.4051, is 51.29 amended to read: 51.30 473.4051 [LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT OPERATION.] 51.31 Thecouncildepartment shall operate light rail transit 51.32 facilities and services upon completion of construction of the 51.33 facilities and the commencement of revenue service using the 51.34 facilities. The commissioner of transportationand the council51.35 may not allow the commencement of revenue service until after an 51.36 appropriate period of acceptance testing to ensure satisfactory 52.1 performance. In assuming the operation of the system, the 52.2councilcommissioner must comply with section 473.415. The 52.3councilcommissioner shall coordinate operation of the light 52.4 rail transit system with bus service to avoid duplication of 52.5 service on a route served by light rail transit and to ensure 52.6 the widest possible access to light rail transit lines in both 52.7 suburban and urban areas by means of a feeder bus system. 52.8 Sec. 71. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.407, 52.9 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 52.10 Subdivision 1. [AUTHORIZATION.] Thecouncilcommissioner 52.11 may appoint peace officers, as defined in section 626.84, 52.12 subdivision 1, paragraph (c), and establish a law enforcement 52.13 agency, as defined in section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph 52.14 (h), known as the metropolitan transit police, to police its 52.15 transit property and routes and to make arrests under sections 52.16 629.30 and 629.34. The jurisdiction of the law enforcement 52.17 agency is limited to offenses relating tocouncildepartment 52.18 transit property, equipment, employees, and passengers. 52.19 Sec. 72. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.407, 52.20 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 52.21 Subd. 3. [POLICIES.] Before thecouncilcommissioner 52.22 begins to operateitsthe department's law enforcement agency 52.23 within a city or county with an existing law enforcement agency, 52.24 the transit police shall develop, in conjunction with the law 52.25 enforcement agencies, written policies that describe how the 52.26 issues of joint jurisdiction will be resolved. The policies 52.27 must also address the operation of emergency vehicles by transit 52.28 police responding to transit emergencies. These policies must 52.29 be filed with the board of peace officer standards and training 52.30 by August 1, 1993. Revisions of any of these policies must be 52.31 filed with the board within ten days of the effective date of 52.32 the revision. Thecouncilcommissioner shall train all of its 52.33 peace officers regarding the application of these policies. 52.34 Sec. 73. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.407, 52.35 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 52.36 Subd. 4. [CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.] The 53.1councilcommissioner shall appoint a peace officer employed full 53.2 time to be the chief law enforcement officer and to be 53.3 responsible for the management of the law enforcement agency. 53.4 The person shall possess the necessary police and management 53.5 experience and have the title of chief of metropolitan transit 53.6 police services. All other police management and supervisory 53.7 personnel must be employed full time by thecouncil53.8 commissioner. Supervisory personnel must be on duty and 53.9 available any time transit police are on duty. The 53.10councilcommissioner may not hire part-time peace officers as 53.11 defined in section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (f), except 53.12 that thecouncilcommissioner may appoint peace officers to work 53.13 on a part-time basis not to exceed 30 full-time equivalents. 53.14 Sec. 74. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.407, 53.15 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 53.16 Subd. 5. [EMERGENCIES.] (a) Thecouncilcommissioner shall 53.17 ensure that all emergency vehicles used by transit police are 53.18 equipped with radios capable of receiving and transmitting on 53.19 the same frequencies utilized by the law enforcement agencies 53.20 that have primary jurisdiction. 53.21 (b) When the transit police receive an emergency call they 53.22 shall notify the public safety agency with primary jurisdiction 53.23 and coordinate the appropriate response. 53.24 (c) Transit police officers shall notify the primary 53.25 jurisdictions of their response to any emergency. 53.26 Sec. 75. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.408, 53.27 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 53.28 Subdivision 1. [DEFINITION.] "Off-peak hours" means the 53.29 time from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. until the last 53.30 bus on Monday through Friday of each week and all day Saturday, 53.31 Sunday, and holidays designated by thecouncilcommissioner. 53.32 Sec. 76. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.408, 53.33 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 53.34 Subd. 2. [FARE POLICY.] (a) Fares and fare collection 53.35 systems shall be established and administered to accomplish the 53.36 following purposes: 54.1 (1) to encourage and increase transit and paratransit 54.2 ridership with an emphasis on regular ridership; 54.3 (2) to restrain increases in the average operating subsidy 54.4 per passenger; 54.5 (3) to ensure that no riders on any route pay more in fares 54.6 than the average cost of providing the service on that route; 54.7 (4) to ensure that operating revenues are proportioned to 54.8 the cost of providing the service so as to reduce any disparity 54.9 in the subsidy per passenger on routes in the transit system; 54.10 and 54.11 (5) to implement the social fares as set forth in 54.12 subdivision 2b. 54.13 (b) The plan must contain a statement of the policies that 54.14 will govern the imposition of user charges for various types of 54.15 transit service and the policies that will govern decisions by 54.16 thecouncilcommissioner to change fare policy. 54.17 Sec. 77. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.408, 54.18 subdivision 2a, is amended to read: 54.19 Subd. 2a. [REGULAR ROUTE FARES.] Thecouncilcommissioner 54.20 shall establish and enforce uniform fare policies for regular 54.21 route transit in the metropolitan area. The policies must be 54.22 consistent with the requirements of this section and the 54.23council'stransportation policy plan. Thecouncilcommissioner 54.24 and other operators shall charge a base fare and any surcharges 54.25 for peak hours and distance of service in accordance with the 54.26council'scommissioner's fares policies. Thecouncil54.27 commissioner shall approve all fare schedules. 54.28 Sec. 78. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.408, 54.29 subdivision 2b, is amended to read: 54.30 Subd. 2b. [SOCIAL FARES.] For the purposes of raising 54.31 revenue for improving public safety on transit vehicles and at 54.32 transit hubs or stops, thecouncilcommissioner shall review and 54.33 may adjust its social fares as they relate to passengers under 54.34 the age of 18 during high crime times provided that the 54.35 increased revenues are dedicated to improving the safety of all 54.36 passengers. 55.1 Sec. 79. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.408, 55.2 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 55.3 Subd. 4. [CIRCULATION FARES.] Thecouncilcommissioner and 55.4 other operators may charge a reduced fare for service on any 55.5 route providing circulation service in a downtown area or 55.6 community activity center. Thecouncilcommissioner and other 55.7 operators shall not contribute more than 50 percent of the 55.8 operating deficit of any such route that is confined to a 55.9 downtown area or community activity center. The boundaries of 55.10 service districts eligible for reduced fares under this 55.11 subdivision must be approved by thecouncilcommissioner. 55.12 Sec. 80. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.408, 55.13 subdivision 6, is amended to read: 55.14 Subd. 6. [MONTHLY PASSES.] Thecouncilcommissioner may 55.15 offer monthly passes for regular route bus service for sale to 55.16 the general public. 55.17 Sec. 81. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.408, 55.18 subdivision 7, is amended to read: 55.19 Subd. 7. [EMPLOYEE PLAN.] Thecouncilcommissioner may 55.20 offer monthly passes for regular route bus service for sale to 55.21 employers at a special discount subject to the provisions of 55.22 this subdivision. An employer may be eligible to purchase 55.23 passes at a special discount if the employer agrees to establish 55.24 a payroll deduction plan as a means for its employees to 55.25 purchase the passes at a price at or below the amount charged by 55.26 thecouncilcommissioner. The special discount on passes sold 55.27 pursuant to this subdivision shall be determined by thecouncil55.28 commissioner. 55.29 Sec. 82. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.409, is 55.30 amended to read: 55.31 473.409 [AGREEMENTS WITHCOMMISSIONCOMMISSIONER; 55.32 ENCOURAGEMENT OF TRANSIT USE.] 55.33 A state department or agency, including the legislative 55.34 branch, any local governmental unit, or a metropolitan agency 55.35 may enter into an agreement with thecouncilcommissioner and 55.36 other operators for the purpose of encouraging the use of 56.1 transit by its employees residing in the metropolitan area. The 56.2 agreement may provide for, among other things: (a) the advance 56.3 purchase of tokens, tickets or other devices from thecouncil56.4 commissioner or other operator for use in lieu of fares on 56.5 vehicles operated by thecouncilcommissioner or other operator; 56.6 and (b) special transit service for employees to and from their 56.7 place of employment, at fares to be agreed upon by the 56.8 contracting parties. The tokens, tickets, or other devices or 56.9 services may be made available to employees at reduced rates. 56.10 Any such agreement and arrangement by a state department or 56.11 agency shall be submitted to the commissioner of administration 56.12 for approval before execution. Any operating deficits or 56.13 subsidy resulting from such agreements shall be assumed by the 56.14 contracting department, agency, governmental unit, or other 56.15 commission, unless otherwise provided in an agreement approved 56.16 by thecouncilcommissioner. 56.17 Sec. 83. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.411, 56.18 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 56.19 Subd. 5. [USE OF PUBLIC ROADWAYS AND APPURTENANCES.] 56.20 Thecouncilcommissioner may use for the purposes of sections 56.21 473.405 to 473.449 upon the conditions stated in this 56.22 subdivision any state highway or other public roadway, parkway, 56.23 or lane, or any bridge or tunnel or other appurtenance of a 56.24 roadway, without payment of any compensation, provided the use 56.25 does not interfere unreasonably with the public use or 56.26 maintenance of the roadway or appurtenance or entail any 56.27 substantial additional costs for maintenance. The provisions of 56.28 this subdivision do not apply to the property of any common 56.29 carrier railroad or common carrier railroads.The consent of56.30the public agency in charge of such state highway or other56.31public highway or roadway or appurtenance is not required;56.32except thatIf thecouncilcommissioner seeks to use a 56.33 designated parkway for regular route service in the city of 56.34 Minneapolis,itthe commissioner must obtain permission from and 56.35 is subject to reasonable limitations imposed by a joint board 56.36 consisting of two representativesfromof thecouncil57.1 commissioner, two members of the board of park commissioners, 57.2 and a fifth member jointly selected by the representatives of 57.3 thecouncilcommissioner and the park board. 57.4 The board of park commissioners and thecouncil57.5 commissioner may designate persons to sit on the joint board. 57.6 In considering a request by thecouncilcommissioner to use 57.7 designated parkways for additional routes or trips, the joint 57.8 board consisting of thecouncil or theircommissioner's 57.9 designees, the board of park commissioners or their designees, 57.10 and the fifth member, shall base its decision to grant or deny 57.11 the request based on the criteria to be established by the joint 57.12 board. The decision to grant or deny the request must be made 57.13 within 45 days of the date of the request. The park board must 57.14 be notified immediately by thecouncilcommissioner of any 57.15 temporary route detours. If the park board objects to the 57.16 temporary route detours within five days of being notified, the 57.17 joint board must convene and decide whether to grant the 57.18 request, otherwise the request is deemed granted. If the agency 57.19 objects to the proposed use or claims reimbursement from 57.20 thecouncilcommissioner for additional cost of maintenance, it 57.21 may commence an action against thecouncilcommissioner in the 57.22 district court of the county wherein the highway, roadway, or 57.23 appurtenance, or major portion thereof, is located. The 57.24 proceedings in the action must conform to the rules of civil 57.25 procedure applicable to the district courts. The court shall 57.26 sit without jury. If the court determines that the use in 57.27 question interferes unreasonably with the public use or 57.28 maintenance of the roadway or appurtenance, it shall enjoin the 57.29 use by thecouncilcommissioner. If the court determines that 57.30 the use in question does not interfere unreasonably with the 57.31 public use or maintenance of the roadway or appurtenance, but 57.32 that it entails substantial additional maintenance costs, the 57.33 court shall award judgment to the agency for the amount of the 57.34 additional costs. Otherwise the court shall award judgment to 57.35 thecouncilcommissioner. An aggrieved party may appeal from 57.36 the judgment of the district court in the same manner as is 58.1 provided for such appeals in other civil actions. Thecouncil58.2 commissioner may also use land within the right-of-way of any 58.3 state highway or other public roadway for the erection of 58.4 traffic control devices, other signs, and passenger shelters 58.5 upon the conditions stated in this subdivisionand subject only58.6to the approval of the commissioner of transportation where58.7required by statute,and subject to the express provisions of 58.8 other applicable statutes and to federal requirements where 58.9 necessary to qualify for federal aid. 58.10 Sec. 84. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.415, 58.11 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 58.12 Subdivision 1. If thecouncilcommissioner acquires an 58.13 existing transit system, thecouncilcommissioner shall assume 58.14 and observe all existing labor contracts and pension 58.15 obligations. All employees of such system except executive and 58.16 administrative officers who are necessary for the operation 58.17 thereof by thecouncilcommissioner shall be transferred to and 58.18 appointed as employees of thecouncildepartment for the 58.19 purposes of the transit system, subject to all the rights and 58.20 benefits of sections 473.405 to 473.449. Such employees shall 58.21 be given seniority credit and sick leave, vacation, insurance, 58.22 and pension credits in accordance with the records or labor 58.23 agreements from the acquired transit system. The 58.24councilcommissioner shall assume the obligations of any transit 58.25 system acquired byitthe department with regard to wages, 58.26 salaries, hours, working conditions, sick leave, health and 58.27 welfare and pension or retirement provisions for employees. The 58.28councilcommissioner and the employees, through their 58.29 representatives for collective bargaining purposes, shall take 58.30 whatever action may be necessary to have pension trust funds 58.31 presently under the joint control of the acquired system and the 58.32 participating employees through their representatives 58.33 transferred to the trust fund to be established, maintained and 58.34 administered jointly by thecouncilstate and the participating 58.35 employees through their representatives. No employee of any 58.36 acquired system who is transferred to a position with the 59.1councildepartment shall by reason of such transfer be placed in 59.2 any worse position with respect to workers' compensation, 59.3 pension, seniority, wages, sick leave, vacation, health and 59.4 welfare insurance or any other benefits than the employee 59.5 enjoyed as an employee of such acquired system. 59.6 Sec. 85. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.416, is 59.7 amended to read: 59.8 473.416 [COUNCIL;TAKING OVER PERSONNEL AND CONTRACTS OF 59.9 TRANSIT SYSTEMS.] 59.10 Whenever thecouncildepartment directly operates any 59.11 public transit system, or any part thereof, or enters into any 59.12 management contract or other arrangement for the operation of a 59.13 system, thecouncilcommissioner shall take the action necessary 59.14 to extend to employees of the affected public transit systems, 59.15 in accordance with seniority, the first opportunity for 59.16 reasonably comparable employment in any available nonsupervisory 59.17 jobs in respect to such operations for which they can qualify 59.18 after a reasonable training period. The employment must not 59.19 result in any worsening of the employee's position in the 59.20 employee's former employment nor any loss of wages, hours, 59.21 working conditions, seniority, fringe benefits, and rights and 59.22 privileges pertaining thereto. Thecouncilcommissioner may 59.23 enter into an agreement specifying fair and equitable 59.24 arrangements to protect the interests of employees who may be 59.25 affected if thecouncilcommissioner should acquire any interest 59.26 in or purchase any facilities or other property of a privately 59.27 owned and operated transit system, or construct, improve, or 59.28 reconstruct any facilities or other property acquired from any 59.29 system, or provide by contract or otherwise for the operation of 59.30 transportation facilities or equipment in competition with, or 59.31 supplementary to, the service provided by an existing transit 59.32 system. The agreement, specifying the terms and conditions of 59.33 the protective arrangements, must comply with any applicable 59.34 requirements of this chapter, and with the requirements of any 59.35 federal law or regulation if federal aid is involved. The 59.36 agreement may provide for final and binding arbitration of any 60.1 dispute. 60.2 Sec. 86. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.42, is 60.3 amended to read: 60.4 473.42 [EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES.] 60.5 Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of section 352.029, 60.6 thecouncilstate shall make the employer contributions required 60.7 pursuant to section 352.04, subdivision 3, for any employee who 60.8 was on authorized leave of absence from the transit operating 60.9 division of the former metropolitan transit commission who is 60.10 employed by the labor organization which is the exclusive 60.11 bargaining agent representing employees of the office of transit 60.12 operations and who is covered by the Minnesota state retirement 60.13 system in addition to all other employer contributions the 60.14councilstate is required to make. 60.15 Sec. 87. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.448, is 60.16 amended to read: 60.17 473.448 [TRANSIT ASSETS EXEMPT FROM TAX BUT MUST PAY 60.18 ASSESSMENTS.] 60.19 (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the 60.20 contrary, the properties, moneys, and other assets of the 60.21councildepartment of transportation used for transit operations 60.22 in the metropolitan area or for special transportation 60.23 services in the metropolitan area and all revenues or other 60.24 income from thecouncil'sdepartment's transit operations in the 60.25 metropolitan area or special transportation services in the 60.26 metropolitan area are exempt from all taxation, licenses, or 60.27 fees imposed by the state or by any county, municipality, 60.28 political subdivision, taxing district, or other public agency 60.29 or body of the state. 60.30 (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), thecouncil's60.31 department's transit properties are subject to special 60.32 assessments levied by a political subdivision for a local 60.33 improvement in amounts proportionate to and not exceeding the 60.34 special benefit received by the properties from the improvement. 60.35 Sec. 88. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.449, is 60.36 amended to read: 61.1 473.449 [ACT EXCLUSIVE.] 61.2 The exercise by thecouncilcommissioner of the powers 61.3 provided in sections 473.405 to 473.449 shall not be subject to 61.4 regulation by or the jurisdiction or control of any other public 61.5 body or agency, either state, county, or municipal, except as 61.6 specifically provided in this chapter. 61.7 Sec. 89. [BONDS.] 61.8 Bonds and other debt authorized by Minnesota Statutes, 61.9 sections 473.39 and 473.436 that are outstanding on the 61.10 effective date of this act must be paid and retired according to 61.11 those sections, Minnesota Statutes, section 473.446, and the 61.12 terms of the bonds or other debt instruments. The auditors of 61.13 the metropolitan counties shall see to the administration of 61.14 this section. 61.15 Sec. 90. [TRANSFER PROVISIONS.] 61.16 Subdivision 1. [GENERAL.] The metropolitan council's 61.17 powers and duties related to transit financing, coordination, 61.18 and operation are transferred to the commissioner of 61.19 transportation. Minnesota Statutes, section 15.039 applies to 61.20 the transfer of the council's powers and duties to the 61.21 commissioner to the extent practicable. 61.22 Subd. 2. [LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL.] (a) The commissioner of 61.23 transportation shall prepare and submit to the legislature by 61.24 February 1, 1999, proposed legislation to integrate the 61.25 department's metropolitan area transit powers and duties with 61.26 its other transportation powers and duties. 61.27 (b) The proposal must include the following elements: 61.28 (1) the metropolitan council transit operations will become 61.29 MnDOT transit division (MTD); 61.30 (2) a dedicated fund adequate for MTD transit operations be 61.31 established separate from road and bridge and other 61.32 transportation department funds; 61.33 (3) MTD must fully prorate and advertise publicly-owned and 61.34 operated transit for the metropolitan area; 61.35 (4) MTD will continue to operate and maintain regional 61.36 fleet buses and routes with a process set up to transfer 62.1 ownership of the regional fleet buses to MTD; 62.2 (5) MCTO Union Local 1005 employees who were absorbed into 62.3 metropolitan council headquarters be given an opportunity to 62.4 transfer to the new MTD by a process in the legislative 62.5 proposal; 62.6 (6) MCTO Union Local 1005 employees at the time of the 62.7 transfer from MCTO to MDT be transferred to MTD and that the 62.8 collective bargaining agreement in effect for Transit Union 62.9 Local 1005 at the time of the transfer continue in effect 62.10 unchanged; and 62.11 (7) so-called opt-out and similar transit services that use 62.12 MTD fare boxes, radio system, transit supervision, police, 62.13 security, maintenance, mechanical, and other services may 62.14 continue to do so if a fee is paid to MDT for the reasonable 62.15 value of the services. 62.16 Sec. 91. [APPROPRIATION.] 62.17 $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the 62.18 commissioner of transportation for the biennium ending June 30, 62.19 1999, for the purposes of this act. 62.20 Sec. 92. [REPEALER.] 62.21 Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 174.22, subdivision 3; 62.22 221.295; 473.166; 473.167, subdivisions 3, 3a, and 4; 473.388, 62.23 subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5; 473.39, subdivisions 1, 1a, 1b, 62.24 2, and 4; 473.3915, subdivisions 5 and 6; 473.3994, subdivisions 62.25 4, 7, and 13; 473.411, subdivisions 3 and 4; 473.436, 62.26 subdivisions 2, 3, and 6; and 473.446, are repealed. 62.27 Sec. 93. [APPLICATION.] 62.28 Sections 1 to 89 apply in the counties of Anoka, Carver, 62.29 Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington. 62.30 Sec. 94. [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 62.31 This act is effective July 1, 1998.