HF 2092

1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/20/2023 03:45pm

A bill for an act
relating to metropolitan government; creating a task force on metropolitan
governance.

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

Section 1. new text begin TASK FORCE ON METROPOLITAN GOVERNANCE.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Established. new text end

new text begin A task force on metropolitan governance is established to
study and make recommendations to the legislature on reform and governance of the
Metropolitan Council.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force consists of the following members:
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new text begin (1) the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with primary
jurisdiction over transportation finance and policy and state and local government finance
and policy;
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new text begin (2) two persons representing cities in the metropolitan area, appointed by the Association
of Metropolitan Municipalities;
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new text begin (3) two county commissioners representing counties in the metropolitan area, appointed
by the Association of Minnesota Counties;
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new text begin (4) one person representing townships in the metropolitan area, appointed by the
Minnesota Association of Townships;
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new text begin (5) one person representing an employee collective bargaining unit of the Metropolitan
Council, appointed by the Minnesota AFL-CIO;
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new text begin (6) one person representing private business, appointed by the Minnesota Chamber of
Commerce;
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new text begin (7) one person representing transit, appointed by Move Minnesota;
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new text begin (8) one person representing institutions of higher education, appointed by the Office of
Higher Education; and
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new text begin (9) two members of the public, appointed by the Legislative Coordinating Commission.
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new text begin (b) The appointing authorities under paragraph (a) must make the appointments by July
15, 2023.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Chair; other officers. new text end

new text begin The task force shall elect from among its members a
chair and vice-chair and any other officers that the task force determines would be necessary
or convenient.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The task force shall study and evaluate options to reform and reconstitute
governance of the Metropolitan Council. The study shall include an analysis of the costs
and benefits of:
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new text begin (1) direct election of members to the Metropolitan Council;
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new text begin (2) a combination of directly elected and appointed members to the Metropolitan Council;
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new text begin (3) a council of governments which would replace the current Metropolitan Council;
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new text begin (4) reapportioning responsibilities of the Metropolitan Council to state agencies and
local units of government; and
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new text begin (5) any other regional governance approaches that are viable alternatives to the current
structure of the Metropolitan Council.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin State; metropolitan agencies must cooperate; subcommittees. new text end

new text begin The
Metropolitan Council and state and metropolitan agencies shall cooperate with the task
force and provide information requested in a timely fashion. The task force may establish
subcommittees and invite other stakeholders to participate in the task force's study and
development of recommendations.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin No compensation or expenses; grants. new text end

new text begin Members of the task force shall receive
no compensation or per diem for participation on the task force. The task force may accept
grant funds from any federal, state, local, or nongovernmental source to support its work
and offset any costs, provided accepting the money does not create a conflict of interest for
the task force or its members. The Legislative Coordinating Commission may administer
any grant money given to the task force.
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new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Administrative support; staff. new text end

new text begin The Legislative Coordinating Commission
must provide meeting space, administrative support, and staff support for the task force.
The task force may hold meetings in any publicly accessible location in the Capitol Complex
that is equipped with technology that can facilitate remote testimony.
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new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Open meeting law. new text end

new text begin Meetings of the task force are subject to Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 13D.
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new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the
chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with responsibility for
or jurisdiction over the Metropolitan Council and metropolitan agencies. The report is due
by February 1, 2024.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE; EXPIRATION; APPLICATION. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the
day following final enactment and expires June 30, 2024. Subdivisions 5, 6, and 7 apply in
the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.
new text end