HF 1903

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 02/25/2014 01:39pm

A bill for an act
relating to cities; prohibiting cities from retaining persons to lobby on their
behalf; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 415; 477A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [415.20] CITY LOBBYING PROHIBITED.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Prohibition. new text end

new text begin A statutory or home rule charter city must not pay any
employee of the city, or any other person or business, to attempt to influence legislative
or administrative action at the federal, state, or metropolitan government level, by
communicating or urging others to communicate with representatives or employees of the
legislative or administrative body.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Investigation; penalty. new text end

new text begin A taxpayer in a city may request the state auditor
to investigate whether the city has violated this section. If the state auditor determines
that the city spent money in violation of this section, the commissioner of revenue shall
reduce the local government aid payment to the city by an amount equal to two times the
amount the city spent on lobbying.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin This section does not apply to a city's membership in a
nonprofit organization of cities, including the League of Minnesota Cities. This section
does not apply to a city official or employee responding to a request for information
from a representative or employee of a federal, state, or metropolitan legislative or
administrative body.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [477A.0175] DEDUCTIONS FROM AID PAYMENTS.
new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the aid payment to a city under section
477A.013, subdivision 9, shall be reduced by the penalty amount determined in section
415.20, subdivision 2. If the penalty is imposed before July 1 of any calendar year it will
be a reduction in aids paid during that same calendar year; otherwise the penalty shall be a
reduction in aid in the next calendar year. If the certified aid amount is less than the
penalty, any excess penalty shall be deducted from the city's taconite aid payments under
sections 298.28 and 298.282, and then if necessary, from its municipal street aid payments
under section 162.13. Any money deducted from aid payments under this section shall be
retained in the fund from which they were appropriated. Notwithstanding any other law to
the contrary, no adjustment will be made to any imposed property tax levy limit to allow
the city to increase its property tax levy to compensate for an aid loss under this section.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for aids payable in calendar year
2015 and thereafter.
new text end