HF 2730

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/10/2016 03:18pm

A bill for an act
relating to public money; prohibiting use of public money or eminent domain
to host a world's fair; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapters 16A; 117; 459.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [16A.1247] NO SPENDING FOR WORLD'S FAIR COSTS.
new text end

new text begin (a) The definitions and enforcement provisions under section 459.37 apply to this
section.
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new text begin (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), no appropriation or other state money may
be expended or used for any costs of hosting a world's fair.
new text end

new text begin (c) The restrictions under this section do not apply to amounts obtained from
contributions, grants, or other voluntary payments made by nongovernmental entities
from private sources.
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Sec. 2.

new text begin [117.029] CONDEMNATION FOR WORLD'S FAIR-RELATED
FACILITIES PROHIBITED.
new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding section 222.27, or any other law to the contrary, no condemning
authority may take property for the development or construction of facilities intended
primarily to serve the site of a world's fair, as defined in section 459.37.
new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [459.37] NO SPENDING MONEY FOR WORLD'S FAIR COSTS.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms
have the meanings given, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
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new text begin (b) "Costs of hosting a world's fair" include:
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new text begin (1) costs related to studying the feasibility of, planning for, designing, engineering,
acquiring property, or constructing facilities for a world's fair, whether publicly or
privately owned;
new text end

new text begin (2) operating costs of a world's fair;
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new text begin (3) costs of planning for, designing, engineering, acquiring property, or constructing
public infrastructure, if the infrastructure is intended primarily to serve the world's fair or
the timing of its construction was accelerated by two or more years to serve the world's
fair; and
new text end

new text begin (4) costs of additional public services, such as police, fire, other health and public
safety services, street or other maintenance services, or other services required or
stimulated by a world's fair hosted in the state of Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Local government unit" means:
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new text begin (1) a statutory or home rule charter city;
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new text begin (2) a county;
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new text begin (3) a special taxing district as defined in section 275.066; or
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new text begin (4) an entity or agency created or controlled by or constituting a component part of
an entity listed under clauses (1) to (3).
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new text begin (d) "World's fair" means:
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new text begin (1) a world expo, specialized international expo, and horticultural exhibition
regulated or overseen by the Bureau International des Expositions; or
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new text begin (2) other similar event designed to attract 1,000,000 or more domestic and foreign
visitors to Minnesota over a period of a year or less and requiring investment of substantial
amounts of money in public and private facilities to host the event.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin No public spending. new text end

new text begin A local government unit must not spend money
for costs of hosting a world's fair.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Exception for private funding. new text end

new text begin The restrictions under this section do not
apply to amounts the local government unit obtains from contributions, grants, or other
voluntary payments made by nongovernmental entities from private sources.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Enforcement provisions. new text end

new text begin (a) In addition to any other remedies provided
by law, a taxpayer of the local government unit may bring civil action to enforce the
provisions of this section. For purposes of this subdivision, a taxpayer includes any owner
of taxable property located in the local government unit or an individual or business entity
required to remit or pay any other tax imposed by the governmental unit.
new text end

new text begin (b) Official immunity under the common law or other provision of law does not
apply to an elected public official authorizing expenditures in violation of this section.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
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new text begin This act is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end