1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; establishing a Legislative Commission on Housing 
1.3 	Affordability; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 3.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. [3.8845] LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON HOUSING 
1.6 	AFFORDABILITY.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Established. The Legislative Commission on Housing Affordability is 
1.8 	created to study issues relating to housing affordability, existing and future government 
1.9 	regulations impacting housing affordability, and access to homeownership.
1.10 		Subd. 2.Membership. The commission consists of four senators appointed by the senate 
1.11 	Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration, and four 
1.12 	members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker. Two members from each 
1.13 	chamber must be from the majority party in that chamber and two members from each 
1.14 	chamber must be from the minority party in that chamber. Each appointing authority must 
1.15 	make appointments as soon as possible after the beginning of the regular legislative session 
1.16 	in the odd-numbered year. The ranking senator from the majority party appointed to the 
1.17 	commission must convene the first meeting of a biennium by February 15 in the 
1.18 	odd-numbered year. The commission may elect up to four former legislators who have 
1.19 	demonstrated an interest in, or have a history of working in, the areas of housing affordability 
1.20 	to serve as nonvoting members of the commission. The former legislators must not be 
1.21 	registered lobbyists and shall be compensated as provided under section 15.0575, subdivision 
1.22 	3.
2.1 		Subd. 3.Terms; vacancies. Members of the commission serve for terms beginning upon 
2.2 	appointment and ending at the beginning of the regular legislative session in the next 
2.3 	odd-numbered year. The appropriate appointing authority must fill a vacancy for a seat of 
2.4 	a current legislator for the remainder of the unexpired term.
2.5 		Subd. 4.Officers. The commission must elect a chair and may elect other officers as it 
2.6 	determines are necessary. The chair alternates between a member of the senate and a member 
2.7 	of the house of representatives in January of each odd-numbered year.
2.8 		Subd. 5.Staff. Legislative staff must provide administrative and research assistance to 
2.9 	the commission.
2.10 		Subd. 6.Duties. The commission shall:
2.11 	(1) review and provide the legislature with research and analysis of emerging issues 
2.12 	negatively affecting housing affordability and homeownership access, especially with regard 
2.13 	to first-time home buyers and socially and economically disadvantaged buyers;
2.14 	(2) review and provide the legislature with research and analysis of policies to reduce 
2.15 	the homeownership equity gap; and
2.16 	(3) review and make recommendations on legislative and rulemaking proposals positively 
2.17 	impacting personal housing affordability, access to homeownership, and other related barriers 
2.18 	to homeownership.
2.19 		Subd. 7.Expiration. This section expires June 30, 2023.

2.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment. Initial 
2.21 	members of the commission serve for a term ending in January 2021. A member of the 
2.22 	house of representatives shall serve as the first chair of the commission. A member of the 
2.23 	senate shall serve as chair of the commission beginning in January 2020.

2.24 	Sec. 2. INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.
 2.25 	Appointing authorities for the Legislative Commission on Housing Affordability under 
2.26 	Minnesota Statutes, section 3.8845, must make initial appointments by June 1, 2019. The 
2.27 	speaker of the house of representatives must designate one member of the commission to 
2.28 	convene the first meeting of the commission by June 15, 2019.