HF 1233

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/21/2011 09:51am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; creating Minnesota Rural Road Safety Task Force;
providing appointments; requiring development of strategy to reduce rural road
fatalities and serious injuries; requiring report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin MINNESOTA RURAL ROAD SAFETY TASK FORCE.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Members. new text end

new text begin (a) The Minnesota Rural Road Safety Task Force is
composed of 17 members, appointed as follows:
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new text begin (1) one member designated by the commissioner of transportation;
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new text begin (2) one member designated by the commissioner of public safety;
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new text begin (3) one member designated by the commissioner of health;
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new text begin (4) one member designated by the commissioner of agriculture;
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new text begin (5) two members of the senate, one appointed by the majority leader and one
appointed by the minority leader;
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new text begin (6) two members of the house of representatives, one from the majority party,
appointed by the speaker of the house, and one from the minority party, appointed by
the minority leader;
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new text begin (7) three members representing counties with fatalities and injuries on rural roads,
appointed by the Association of Minnesota Counties;
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new text begin (8) three members associated with the University of Minnesota's Center for
Excellence in Rural Safety, appointed by the dean of the Hubert H. Humphrey School of
Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota; and
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new text begin (9) three members associated with the Toward Zero Deaths coalition, appointed by
the commissioner of transportation.
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new text begin (b) Appointments must be made by July 1, 2011. The member designated by the
commissioner of transportation shall convene the first meeting of the task force no later
than August 1, 2011. The task force shall elect a chair from among the members at the
first meeting.
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new text begin (c) The Center for Excellence in Rural Safety in the Hubert H. Humphrey School of
Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, shall provide assistance to the task force.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The task force shall develop a comprehensive state plan targeted
toward reducing fatalities and serious injuries on rural roads and highways, building
on the state highway safety plan, and county-level safety plans in greater Minnesota.
To develop this plan, the task force shall:
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new text begin (1) consider all facets of a solution, including engineering, education, enforcement,
and emergency medical systems;
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new text begin (2) develop a multifaceted policy plan that includes the identification of unsafe
driving behaviors and uses the most advanced technology;
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new text begin (3) use SafeRoadMaps.org and other online tools to enhance accessibility of fatality
and serious injury crash data to support rural safety planning and rural outreach on road
safety issues;
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new text begin (4) investigate issues surrounding rural teen driving;
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new text begin (5) examine innovative approaches to rural emergency medical systems;
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new text begin (6) explore state and local policies that have impact in reducing rural road fatalities,
including, but not limited to, stronger enforcement of the primary seat belt law in rural
areas, sobriety checkpoints, motorcycle safety approaches, graduated drivers' licenses,
automated speed enforcement, and breathalyzer-based ignition locks for DWI violators;
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new text begin (7) conduct outreach and education on rural road safety; and
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new text begin (8) examine the creation of a database or secure cloud-based service that could be
used to track improvements in rural roadway safety, including research and evaluation of
initiatives and measures.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Reports. new text end

new text begin The task force shall submit a preliminary report to the legislature
by January 15, 2012. The task force shall submit a final report to the legislature by January
15, 2013. The reports shall contain findings on all matters identified in subdivision 2, along
with proposed legislation to implement recommendations contained in the report and
proposals for executive agency activities to implement recommendations of the task force.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin The task force expires June 30, 2014, unless extended by law.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $500,000 is appropriated from the trunk highway fund to the commissioner of
transportation for a grant to the Center for Excellence in Rural Safety, Hubert H.
Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, for the purpose stated
in section 1, subdivision 1, paragraph (c).
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