HF 195

1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/23/2015 03:50pm

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; governing transit finance; establishing certain
legislative authorization requirements related to light rail transit; amending
certain state appropriations and funding obligations; prohibiting the Metropolitan
Council from certain indebtedness; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections
398A.04, by adding a subdivision; 473.39, by adding a subdivision; 473.399,
by adding a subdivision; 473.4051, subdivision 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 398A.04, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

Subd. 2b.

Legislative authorization.

The powers conferred to a regional rail
authority under this chapter are subject to the requirements under section 473.399,
subdivision 6.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective the day following final enactment.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 473.39, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

Subd. 6.

Limitations.

The council may not issue certificates of indebtedness,
bonds, or other obligations secured in part or in whole by a pledge of motor vehicle sales
tax revenue received under sections 16A.88 and 297B.09, or by a pledge of any earnings
from the council's investment of motor vehicle sales tax revenues.

EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.

This section is effective the day following
final enactment, and applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey,
Scott, and Washington.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 473.399, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

Subd. 6.

Light rail transit development; legislative authorization.

(a) The
commissioner of transportation and any political subdivision, including but not limited to
the Metropolitan Council, a regional railroad authority, a county, and a statutory or home
rule charter city, may not complete an alternatives analysis or select a locally preferred
alternative for a light rail transit project unless (1) a law is enacted that specifically identifies
and authorizes the project, or (2) state funds are appropriated specifically for the project.

(b) The powers conferred under sections 473.399 to 473.3999 to a responsible
authority, as defined in section 473.3993, subdivision 4, are subject to the requirements
under this subdivision.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective the day following final enactment,
and applies for any project not approved by the Federal Transit Administration for
preliminary engineering or a subsequent project phase as of the effective date of this
section. That portion of this section that relates to the Metropolitan Council applies in the
counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 473.4051, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Operating costs.

After operating revenue and federal money have been
used to pay for light rail transit operations, 50 100 percent of the remaining operating and
ongoing maintenance costs must be paid by the state from nonstate sources. For purposes
of this subdivision, state sources include but are not limited to general fund appropriations
and revenue from the motor vehicle sales tax under chapter 297B.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective July 1, 2015, and applies in the
counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.

Sec. 5. METROPOLITAN COUNCIL; BASE APPROPRIATIONS.

Notwithstanding Laws 2013, chapter 117, article 1, section 4, and Laws 2014,
chapter 312, article 9, section 9, the base appropriation from the general fund to the
Metropolitan Council for transit system operations under Minnesota Statutes, sections
473.371 to 473.449, in each fiscal year is the greater of zero or:

(1) $76,626,000; less

(2) funds available to the council in that fiscal year under Minnesota Statutes, section
16A.88, attributable to motor vehicle sales tax revenue under Minnesota Statutes, section
297B.09; less funds appropriated to the council in fiscal year 2015 under Minnesota
Statutes, section 16A.88, attributable to motor vehicle sales tax revenue.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective the day following final enactment.