HF 1241

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/03/2017 08:42am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; requiring the commissioner of transportation to consult,
develop, adopt, and publicize best practices to improve objectivity and transparency
in project selection processes; requiring a report.

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

Section 1. new text begin TRANSPORTATION PROJECT SELECTION PROCESS.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Adoption of best practices. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of transportation,
after consultation with the Federal Highway Administration, metropolitan planning
organizations, regional development commissions, area transportation partnerships, local
governments, the Metropolitan Council, and transportation stakeholders, must develop,
adopt, and implement best practices for project evaluation and selection to apply to the
standard project process and to special programs, such as corridors of commerce. The
commissioner must adopt and begin implementing the best practices no later than January
1, 2018, and may update the best practices as appropriate. The commissioner must publicize
the best practices and updates on the department's Web site and through other effective
means selected by the commissioner.
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new text begin (b) The best practices adopted under this section must:
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new text begin (1) describe each selection process and identification of ranking criteria and weight of
each criterion with respect to any selection process;
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new text begin (2) identify and apply all relevant criteria contained in enacted Minnesota or federal law,
or added by the commissioner;
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new text begin (3) identify for stakeholders and general public the candidate project selected under each
selection process and every project considered that was not selected;
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new text begin (4) involve area transportation partnerships and other local authorities, as appropriate,
in the process of scoring and ranking candidate projects under consideration; and
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new text begin (5) publicize scoring, ranking, and decision outcomes concerning each candidate project,
including the projects that were considered but not selected.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Report to legislature. new text end

new text begin By March 1, 2018, the commissioner must report to the
chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives committees
having jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance concerning the adopted best
practices and how these best practices are anticipated to improve the consistency, objectivity,
and transparency of the selection process. The report must include information on input
from members of the public and the organizations identified in subdivision 1.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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