3rd Engrossment - 83rd Legislature (2003 - 2004) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to appropriations; appropriating money for 1.3 transportation and other purposes; authorizing 1.4 issuance of state bonds; modifying provisions relating 1.5 to reverse auctions, wetland replacement, land 1.6 appraisal, archaeological or historic sites, 1.7 high-occupancy vehicle lanes, town line roads and 1.8 easements, major transportation projects commission, 1.9 advertisements for bids, city transit capital 1.10 improvement projects in metropolitan area, bus rapid 1.11 transit and other transit, local government permits, 1.12 and other transportation-related activities; providing 1.13 for fees, accounts, transfers, fund allocations, and 1.14 expenditures; modifying provisions regulating speed 1.15 limits, vehicle insurance requirements, essential 1.16 employee status, the capitol complex security 1.17 oversight committee, and other activities related to 1.18 public safety; authorizing administrative powers, 1.19 penalties, and remedies for public safety purposes; 1.20 requiring studies and reports; making technical and 1.21 clarifying changes; changing transit funding, aid, and 1.22 tax levy provisions; amending Minnesota Statutes 2002, 1.23 sections 13.44, subdivision 3; 16A.88, subdivision 1; 1.24 16C.10, subdivision 7; 103G.222, subdivisions 1, 3; 1.25 138.40, subdivisions 2, 3; 160.28, by adding a 1.26 subdivision; 161.08; 161.20, subdivision 3; 164.12; 1.27 168.12, subdivision 5; 168.54, subdivision 4; 168A.29, 1.28 subdivision 1; 169.14, by adding a subdivision; 1.29 169.791, subdivision 1; 169.796, by adding a 1.30 subdivision; 169.797, subdivision 4a; 169.798, 1.31 subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 171.20, 1.32 subdivision 4; 171.29, subdivision 2; 174.24, 1.33 subdivisions 1, 3b; 174.55, subdivision 2; 179A.03, 1.34 subdivision 7; 179A.10, subdivision 2; 275.71, 1.35 subdivision 5; 297B.09, subdivision 1; 299A.465, 1.36 subdivision 4; 299E.03, subdivision 3; 471.345, 1.37 subdivision 14; 473.446, subdivision 1; Laws 1999, 1.38 chapter 238, article 1, section 2, subdivision 2; Laws 1.39 2001, First Special Session chapter 8, article 1, 1.40 section 2, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law 1.41 in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 117; 160; 299A; 331A; 1.42 373; 414; 473; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2002, 1.43 sections 16A.88, subdivision 3; 169.794; 169.799; 1.44 174.242; Minnesota Rules, parts 7403.1300; 7413.0400; 1.45 7413.0500. 2.1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 2.2 ARTICLE 1 2.3 APPROPRIATIONS 2.4 TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER AGENCIES 2.5 Section 1. [TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS.] 2.6 The sums shown in the columns marked "APPROPRIATIONS" are 2.7 appropriated from the general fund, or another named fund, to 2.8 the agencies and for the purposes specified in this article, to 2.9 be available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose. 2.10 The figures "2004" and "2005," where used in this article, mean 2.11 that the appropriations listed under them are available for the 2.12 year ending June 30, 2004, or June 30, 2005, respectively. If 2.13 the figures are not used, the appropriations are available for 2.14 the year ending June 30, 2004, or June 30, 2005, respectively. 2.15 The term "first year" means the year ending June 30, 2004, and 2.16 the term "second year" means the year ending June 30, 2005. 2.17 SUMMARY BY FUND 2.18 2004 2005 TOTAL 2.19 General $ 78,949,000 $ 79,805,000 $ 158,794,000 2.20 Airports 19,558,000 19,558,000 39,116,000 2.21 C.S.A.H. 425,687,000 443,298,000 868,985,000 2.22 M.S.A.S. 112,186,000 114,557,000 226,743,000 2.23 Special Revenue 994,000 994,000 1,988,000 2.24 Highway User 12,336,000 12,336,000 24,672,000 2.25 Trunk Highway 1,191,962,000 1,262,396,000 2,454,358,000 2.26 TOTAL $1,841,702,000 $1,922,944,000 $3,764,586,000 2.27 APPROPRIATIONS 2.28 Available for the Year 2.29 Ending June 30 2.30 2004 2005 2.31 Sec. 2. TRANSPORTATION 2.32 Subdivision 1. Total 2.33 Appropriation $1,670,825,000 $1,751,242,000 2.34 The appropriations in this section are 2.35 from the trunk highway fund, except 2.36 when another fund is named. 2.37 Summary by Fund 2.38 2004 2005 2.39 General 16,220,000 16,221,000 3.1 Airports 19,508,000 19,508,000 3.2 C.S.A.H. 425,687,000 433,298,000 3.3 M.S.A.S. 112,186,000 114,557,000 3.4 Trunk Highway 1,097,224,000 1,167,658,000 3.5 The amounts that may be spent from this 3.6 appropriation for each program are 3.7 specified in the following subdivisions. 3.8 Subd. 2. Multimodal Systems 41,648,000 41,649,000 3.9 Summary by Fund 3.10 Airports 19,483,000 19,483,000 3.11 General 16,155,000 16,156,000 3.12 Trunk Highway 6,010,000 6,010,000 3.13 The amounts that may be spent from this 3.14 appropriation for each activity are as 3.15 follows: 3.16 (a) Aeronautics 3.17 20,495,000 20,495,000 3.18 Summary by Fund 3.19 Airports 19,483,000 19,483,000 3.20 Trunk Highway 1,012,000 1,012,000 3.21 Except as otherwise provided, the 3.22 appropriations in this subdivision are 3.23 from the state airports fund. 3.24 (1) Airport Development 3.25 and Assistance 3.26 14,298,000 14,298,000 3.27 These appropriations must be spent 3.28 according to Minnesota Statutes, 3.29 section 360.305, subdivision 4. 3.30 Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, 3.31 section 16A.28, subdivision 6, funds 3.32 are available for five years after 3.33 appropriation. 3.34 If the appropriation for either year is 3.35 insufficient, the appropriation for the 3.36 other year is available for it. 3.37 (2) Aviation Support and Services 3.38 Summary by Fund 3.39 Airports 5,185,000 5,185,000 3.40 Trunk Highway 1,012,000 1,012,000 3.41 $165,000 the first year and $165,000 3.42 the second year are for the civil air 3.43 patrol. 3.44 (b) Transit 4.1 15,957,000 15,958,000 4.2 Summary by Fund 4.3 General 15,809,000 15,810,000 4.4 Trunk Highway 148,000 148,000 4.5 (c) Freight 4.6 1,569,000 1,569,000 4.7 Summary by Fund 4.8 General 220,000 220,000 4.9 Trunk Highway 1,349,000 1,349,000 4.10 Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, 4.11 section 222.49, after July 1, 2003, and 4.12 before June 30, 2004, the commissioner 4.13 of finance shall transfer $3,200,000 4.14 from the rail service improvement 4.15 account in the special revenue fund to 4.16 the debt service fund. 4.17 Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, 4.18 section 222.49, after July 1, 2004, and 4.19 before June 30, 2005, the commissioner 4.20 of finance shall transfer $3,200,000 4.21 from the rail service improvement 4.22 account in the special revenue fund to 4.23 the debt service fund. 4.24 (d) Commercial Vehicles 4.25 3,627,000 3,627,000 4.26 Summary by Fund 4.27 General 126,000 126,000 4.28 Trunk Highway 3,501,000 3,501,000 4.29 Subd. 3. State Roads 1,039,324,000 1,109,758,000 4.30 Summary by Fund 4.31 General 9,000 9,000 4.32 Trunk Highway 1,039,315,000 1,109,749,000 4.33 The amounts that may be spent from this 4.34 appropriation for each activity are as 4.35 follows: 4.36 (a) Infrastructure Investment and Planning 4.37 836,593,000 907,027,000 4.38 $266,000 the first year and $266,000 4.39 the second year are available for 4.40 grants to metropolitan planning 4.41 organizations outside the seven-county 4.42 metropolitan area. 4.43 $75,000 the first year and $75,000 the 4.44 second year are for a transportation 4.45 research contingent account to finance 4.46 research projects that are reimbursable 4.47 from the federal government or from 5.1 other sources. If the appropriation 5.2 for either year is insufficient, the 5.3 appropriation for the other year is 5.4 available for it. 5.5 $600,000 the first year and $600,000 5.6 the second year are available for 5.7 grants for transportation studies 5.8 outside the metropolitan area to 5.9 identify critical concerns, problems, 5.10 and issues. These grants are available 5.11 (1) to regional development 5.12 commissions, and (2) in regions where 5.13 no regional development commission is 5.14 functioning, to joint powers boards 5.15 established under agreement of two or 5.16 more political subdivisions in the 5.17 region to exercise the planning 5.18 functions of a regional development 5.19 commission, and (3) in regions where no 5.20 regional development commission or 5.21 joint powers board is functioning, to 5.22 the department's district office for 5.23 that region. 5.24 (1) State Road Construction 5.25 635,457,000 685,450,000 5.26 It is estimated that these 5.27 appropriations will be funded as 5.28 follows: 5.29 Federal Highway Aid 5.30 325,000,000 375,000,000 5.31 Highway User Taxes 5.32 310,457,000 310,457,000 5.33 The commissioner of transportation 5.34 shall notify the chair of the 5.35 transportation budget division of the 5.36 senate and the chair of the 5.37 transportation finance committee of the 5.38 house of representatives of any 5.39 significant events that should cause 5.40 these estimates to change. 5.41 This appropriation is for the actual 5.42 construction, reconstruction, and 5.43 improvement of trunk highways including 5.44 consultant usage to support these 5.45 activities. This includes the cost of 5.46 actual payment to landowners for lands 5.47 acquired for highway rights-of-way, 5.48 payment to lessees, interest subsidies, 5.49 and relocation expenses. 5.50 The commissioner may transfer up to 5.51 $15,000,000 each year to the 5.52 transportation revolving loan fund. 5.53 The commissioner may receive money 5.54 covering other shares of the cost of 5.55 partnership projects. These receipts 5.56 are appropriated to the commissioner 5.57 for these projects. 5.58 (2) Highway Debt Service 6.1 40,149,000 60,583,000 6.2 $33,640,000 the first year and 6.3 $54,012,000 the second year are for 6.4 transfer to the state bond fund. If 6.5 this appropriation is insufficient to 6.6 make all transfers required in the year 6.7 for which it is made, the commissioner 6.8 of finance shall notify the committee 6.9 on state government finance of the 6.10 senate and the committee on ways and 6.11 means of the house of representatives 6.12 of the amount of the deficiency and 6.13 shall then transfer that amount under 6.14 the statutory open appropriation. Any 6.15 excess appropriation cancels to the 6.16 trunk highway fund. 6.17 (b) Infrastructure Operations 6.18 and Maintenance 6.19 197,741,000 197,741,000 6.20 (c) Electronic Communications 6.21 4,990,000 4,990,000 6.22 Summary by Fund 6.23 General 9,000 9,000 6.24 Trunk Highway 4,981,000 4,981,000 6.25 $9,000 the first year and $9,000 the 6.26 second year are from the general fund 6.27 for equipment and operation of the 6.28 Roosevelt signal tower for Lake of the 6.29 Woods weather broadcasting. 6.30 Subd. 4. Local Roads 537,873,000 547,855,000 6.31 Summary by Fund 6.32 C.S.A.H. 425,687,000 433,298,000 6.33 M.S.A.S. 112,186,000 114,557,000 6.34 The amounts that may be spent from this 6.35 appropriation for each activity are as 6.36 follows: 6.37 (a) County State Aids 6.38 425,687,000 433,298,000 6.39 This appropriation is from the county 6.40 state-aid highway fund and is available 6.41 until spent. 6.42 (b) Municipal State Aids 6.43 112,186,000 114,557,000 6.44 This appropriation is from the 6.45 municipal state-aid street fund and is 6.46 available until spent. 6.47 If an appropriation for either county 6.48 state aids or municipal state aids does 6.49 not exhaust the balance in the fund 6.50 from which it is made in the year for 7.1 which it is made, the commissioner of 7.2 finance, upon request of the 7.3 commissioner of transportation, shall 7.4 notify the chair of the transportation 7.5 finance committee of the house of 7.6 representatives and the chair of the 7.7 transportation budget division of the 7.8 senate of the amount of the remainder 7.9 and shall then add that amount to the 7.10 appropriation. The amount added is 7.11 appropriated for the purposes of county 7.12 state aids or municipal state aids, as 7.13 appropriate. 7.14 Subd. 5. General Support 7.15 and Services 51,980,000 51,980,000 7.16 Summary by Fund 7.17 General 56,000 56,000 7.18 Airports 25,000 25,000 7.19 Trunk Highway 51,899,000 51,899,000 7.20 The amounts that may be spent from this 7.21 appropriation for each activity are as 7.22 follows: 7.23 (a) Department Support 7.24 38,653,000 38,653,000 7.25 Summary by Fund 7.26 Airports 25,000 25,000 7.27 Trunk Highway 38,628,000 38,628,000 7.28 (b) Buildings 7.29 13,327,000 13,327,000 7.30 Summary by Fund 7.31 General 56,000 56,000 7.32 Trunk Highway 13,271,000 13,271,000 7.33 If the appropriation for either year is 7.34 insufficient, the appropriation for the 7.35 other year is available for it. 7.36 Subd. 6. Transfers 7.37 (a) With the approval of the 7.38 commissioner of finance, the 7.39 commissioner of transportation may 7.40 transfer unencumbered balances among 7.41 the appropriations from the trunk 7.42 highway fund and the state airports 7.43 fund made in this section. No transfer 7.44 may be made from the appropriation for 7.45 state road construction. No transfer 7.46 may be made from the appropriations for 7.47 debt service to any other appropriation. 7.48 Transfers under this paragraph may not 7.49 be made between funds. Transfers 7.50 between programs must be reported 7.51 immediately to the chair of the 7.52 transportation budget division of the 8.1 senate and the chair of the 8.2 transportation finance committee of the 8.3 house of representatives. 8.4 (b) The commissioner of finance shall 8.5 transfer from the flexible account in 8.6 the county state-aid highway fund 8.7 $14,400,000 the first year and 8.8 $8,300,000 the second year to the 8.9 municipal turnback account in the 8.10 municipal state-aid street fund, and 8.11 the remainder in each year to the 8.12 county turnback account in the county 8.13 state-aid highway fund. 8.14 Subd. 7. Use of State Road 8.15 Construction Appropriations 8.16 Any money appropriated to the 8.17 commissioner of transportation for 8.18 state road construction for any fiscal 8.19 year before fiscal year 2003 is 8.20 available to the commissioner during 8.21 fiscal years 2004 and 2005 to the 8.22 extent that the commissioner spends the 8.23 money on the state road construction 8.24 project for which the money was 8.25 originally encumbered during the fiscal 8.26 year for which it was appropriated. 8.27 The commissioner of transportation 8.28 shall report to the commissioner of 8.29 finance by August 1, 2003, and August 8.30 1, 2004, on a form the commissioner of 8.31 finance provides, on expenditures made 8.32 during the previous fiscal year that 8.33 are authorized by this subdivision. 8.34 Subd. 8. Contingent Appropriation 8.35 The commissioner of transportation, 8.36 with the approval of the governor after 8.37 review by the legislative advisory 8.38 commission under Minnesota Statutes, 8.39 section 3.30, may transfer all or part 8.40 of the unappropriated balance in the 8.41 trunk highway fund to an appropriation 8.42 (1) for trunk highway design, 8.43 construction, or inspection in order to 8.44 take advantage of an unanticipated 8.45 receipt of income to the trunk highway 8.46 fund or to take advantage of Federal 8.47 Advanced Construction funding, (2) for 8.48 trunk highway maintenance in order to 8.49 meet an emergency, or (3) to pay tort 8.50 or environmental claims. Any transfer 8.51 as a result of the use of Federal 8.52 Advanced Construction funding must 8.53 include an analysis of the effects on 8.54 the long-term trunk highway fund 8.55 balance. The amount transferred is 8.56 appropriated for the purpose of the 8.57 account to which it is transferred. 8.58 Sec. 3. METROPOLITAN COUNCIL 8.59 TRANSIT 55,693,000 56,573,000 8.60 (a) The agency's budget base for fiscal 8.61 year 2006 is $56,693,000 and for fiscal 8.62 year 2007 is $57,693,000. 8.63 (b) Bus Transit 9.1 53,453,000 53,453,000 9.2 This appropriation is for bus system 9.3 operations. 9.4 (c) Rail Operations 9.5 2,240,000 3,120,000 9.6 This appropriation is for operations of 9.7 the Hiawatha LRT line. The base for 9.8 rail operations for fiscal year 2006 is 9.9 $3,240,000 and for fiscal year 2007 is 9.10 $4,240,000. 9.11 This appropriation is for paying 40 9.12 percent of operating costs for the 9.13 Hiawatha light rail transit line after 9.14 operating revenue and federal funds 9.15 used for light rail transit operations. 9.16 The remaining costs are to be paid as 9.17 follows: 9.18 (1) 40 percent by the Hennepin county 9.19 regional rail authority from its 9.20 reserves; and 9.21 (2) 20 percent by the cities of 9.22 Minneapolis and Bloomington in 9.23 proportion to the miles of the line 9.24 located in each city and in operation. 9.25 Sec. 4. PUBLIC SAFETY 9.26 Subdivision 1. Total 9.27 Appropriation 114,149,000 114,154,000 9.28 Summary by Fund 9.29 General 7,006,000 7,011,000 9.30 Trunk Highway 93,938,000 93,938,000 9.31 Highway User 12,211,000 12,211,000 9.32 Special Revenue 994,000 994,000 9.33 Subd. 2. Administration 9.34 and Related Services 9,684,000 9,689,000 9.35 Summary by Fund 9.36 General 2,361,000 2,366,000 9.37 Trunk Highway 5,938,000 5,938,000 9.38 Highway User 1,385,000 1,385,000 9.39 (a) Office of Communications 9.40 385,000 385,000 9.41 Summary by Fund 9.42 General 39,000 39,000 9.43 Trunk Highway 346,000 346,000 9.44 (b) Public Safety Support 9.45 6,845,000 6,850,000 10.1 Summary by Fund 10.2 General 2,231,000 2,236,000 10.3 Trunk Highway 3,248,000 3,248,000 10.4 Highway User 1,366,000 1,366,000 10.5 $365,000 the first year and $370,000 10.6 the second year are for payment of 10.7 public safety officer survivor benefits 10.8 under Minnesota Statutes, section 10.9 299A.44. If the appropriation for 10.10 either year is insufficient, the 10.11 appropriation for the other year is 10.12 available for it. The base for fiscal 10.13 year 2006 is $375,000 and for fiscal 10.14 year 2007 is $380,000. 10.15 $314,000 the first year and $314,000 10.16 the second year are to be deposited in 10.17 the public safety officer's benefit 10.18 account. This money is available for 10.19 reimbursements under Minnesota 10.20 Statutes, section 299A.465. 10.21 $508,000 the first year and $508,000 10.22 the second year are for soft body armor 10.23 reimbursements under Minnesota 10.24 Statutes, section 299A.38. 10.25 $792,000 the first year and $792,000 10.26 the second year are appropriated from 10.27 the general fund for transfer by the 10.28 commissioner of finance to the trunk 10.29 highway fund on December 31, 2003, and 10.30 December 31, 2004, respectively, in 10.31 order to reimburse the trunk highway 10.32 fund for expenses not related to the 10.33 fund. These represent amounts 10.34 appropriated out of the trunk highway 10.35 fund for general fund purposes in the 10.36 administration and related services 10.37 program. 10.38 $610,000 the first year and $610,000 10.39 the second year are appropriated from 10.40 the highway user tax distribution fund 10.41 for transfer by the commissioner of 10.42 finance to the trunk highway fund on 10.43 December 31, 2003, and December 31, 10.44 2004, respectively, in order to 10.45 reimburse the trunk highway fund for 10.46 expenses not related to the fund. 10.47 These represent amounts appropriated 10.48 out of the trunk highway fund for 10.49 highway user tax distribution fund 10.50 purposes in the administration and 10.51 related services program. 10.52 $716,000 the first year and $716,000 10.53 the second year are appropriated from 10.54 the highway user tax distribution fund 10.55 for transfer by the commissioner of 10.56 finance to the general fund on December 10.57 31, 2001, and December 31, 2002, 10.58 respectively, in order to reimburse the 10.59 general fund for expenses not related 10.60 to the fund. These represent amounts 10.61 appropriated out of the general fund 10.62 for operation of the criminal justice 11.1 data network related to driver and 11.2 motor vehicle licensing. 11.3 (c) Technical Support Services 11.4 2,454,000 2,454,000 11.5 Summary by Fund 11.6 General 91,000 91,000 11.7 Trunk Highway 2,344,000 2,344,000 11.8 Highway User 19,000 19,000 11.9 Subd. 3. State Patrol 66,332,000 66,332,000 11.10 Summary by Fund 11.11 General 2,871,000 2,871,000 11.12 Trunk Highway 63,369,000 63,369,000 11.13 Highway User 92,000 92,000 11.14 (a) Patrolling Highways 11.15 57,024,000 57,024,000 11.16 Summary by Fund 11.17 General 37,000 37,000 11.18 Trunk Highway 56,895,000 56,895,000 11.19 Highway User 92,000 92,000 11.20 (b) Commercial Vehicle Enforcement 11.21 6,474,000 6,474,000 11.22 This appropriation is from the trunk 11.23 highway fund. 11.24 (c) Capitol Security 11.25 2,834,000 2,834,000 11.26 Subd. 4. Driver and Vehicle Services 11.27 36,815,000 36,815,000 11.28 Summary by Fund 11.29 General 1,774,000 1,774,000 11.30 Trunk Highway 24,307,000 24,307,000 11.31 Highway User 10,734,000 10,734,000 11.32 (a) Vehicle Services 11.33 12,452,000 12,452,000 11.34 Summary by Fund 11.35 General 1,718,000 1,718,000 11.36 Highway User 10,734,000 10,734,000 11.37 (b) Driver Services 12.1 24,363,000 24,363,000 12.2 Summary by Fund 12.3 General 56,000 56,000 12.4 Trunk Highway 24,307,000 24,307,000 12.5 Subd. 5. Traffic Safety 324,000 324,000 12.6 This appropriation is from the trunk 12.7 highway fund. 12.8 The commissioners of public safety and 12.9 transportation shall jointly report 12.10 annually to the chairs and ranking 12.11 minority members of the house of 12.12 representatives and senate committees 12.13 having jurisdiction over transportation 12.14 and public safety finance issues on the 12.15 expenditure of any federal funds 12.16 available under the repeat offender 12.17 transfer program, Public Law 105-206, 12.18 section 164. 12.19 Subd. 6. Pipeline Safety 994,000 994,000 12.20 This appropriation is from the pipeline 12.21 safety account in the special revenue 12.22 fund. 12.23 Sec. 5. GENERAL CONTINGENT 12.24 ACCOUNTS 375,000 375,000 12.25 Summary by Fund 12.26 Trunk Highway 200,000 200,000 12.27 Highway User 125,000 125,000 12.28 Airports 50,000 50,000 12.29 The appropriations in this section may 12.30 only be spent with the approval of the 12.31 governor after consultation with the 12.32 legislative advisory commission 12.33 pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 12.34 3.30. 12.35 If an appropriation in this section for 12.36 either year is insufficient, the 12.37 appropriation for the other year is 12.38 available for it. 12.39 Sec. 6. TORT CLAIMS 600,000 600,000 12.40 To be spent by the commissioner of 12.41 finance. 12.42 This appropriation is from the trunk 12.43 highway fund. 12.44 If the appropriation for either year is 12.45 insufficient, the appropriation for the 12.46 other year is available for it. 12.47 ARTICLE 2 12.48 OTHER CHANGES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION 12.49 AND PUBLIC SAFETY 13.1 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 13.44, 13.2 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 13.3 Subd. 3. [REAL PROPERTY; APPRAISAL DATA.] (a) [ 13.4 CONFIDENTIAL OR PROTECTED NONPUBLIC DATA.] Estimated or 13.5 appraised values of individual parcels of real property which 13.6 are made by personnel of the state, its agencies and 13.7 departments, or a political subdivision or by independent 13.8 appraisers acting for the state, its agencies and departments, 13.9 or a political subdivision for the purpose of selling or 13.10 acquiring land through purchase or condemnation are classified 13.11 as confidential data on individuals or protected nonpublic data. 13.12 (b) [PUBLIC DATA.] The data made confidential or protected 13.13 nonpublic by the provisions of paragraph (a) shall become public 13.14 upon the occurrence of any of the following: 13.15 (1) the negotiating parties exchange appraisals; 13.16 (2) the data are submitted to a court appointed 13.17 condemnation commissioner; 13.18 (3) the data are presented in court in condemnation 13.19 proceedings;or13.20 (4) the negotiating parties enter into an agreement for the 13.21 purchase and sale of the property; or 13.22 (5) the data are submitted to the owner under section 13.23 117.036. 13.24 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 16A.88, 13.25 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 13.26 Subdivision 1. [GREATER MINNESOTA TRANSIT FUND.] The 13.27 greater Minnesota transit fund is established within the state 13.28 treasury. Money in the fund is annually appropriated to the 13.29 commissioner of transportation for assistance to transit systems 13.30 outside the metropolitan area under section 174.24. Beginning 13.31 in fiscal year 2003, the commissioner may use up to $400,000 13.32 each year for administration of the transit program. The 13.33 commissioner shall use the fund for transit operations as 13.34 provided in section 174.24 and related program administration. 13.35 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 16C.10, 13.36 subdivision 7, is amended to read: 14.1 Subd. 7. [REVERSE AUCTION.] (a) For the purpose of this 14.2 subdivision, "reverse auction" means a purchasing process in 14.3 which vendors compete to provide goods or services at the lowest 14.4 selling price in an open and interactive environment. 14.5 (b) The provisions of section 16C.06, subdivisions 2 and 3, 14.6 do not apply when the commissioner determines that a reverse 14.7 auction is the appropriate purchasing process. 14.8 (c) Notwithstanding any other law, the commissioner of 14.9 transportation may not award contracts for highway construction 14.10 or engineering services using a reverse auction process. 14.11 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 103G.222, 14.12 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 14.13 Subdivision 1. [REQUIREMENTS.] (a) Wetlands must not be 14.14 drained or filled, wholly or partially, unless replaced by 14.15 restoring or creating wetland areas of at least equal public 14.16 value under a replacement plan approved as provided in section 14.17 103G.2242, a replacement plan under a local governmental unit's 14.18 comprehensive wetland protection and management plan approved by 14.19 the board under section 103G.2243, or, if a permit to mine is 14.20 required under section 93.481, under a mining reclamation plan 14.21 approved by the commissioner under the permit to mine. Mining 14.22 reclamation plans shall apply the same principles and standards 14.23 for replacing wetlands by restoration or creation of wetland 14.24 areas that are applicable to mitigation plans approved as 14.25 provided in section 103G.2242. Public value must be determined 14.26 in accordance with section 103B.3355 or a comprehensive wetland 14.27 protection and management plan established under section 14.28 103G.2243. Sections 103G.221 to 103G.2372 also apply to 14.29 excavation in permanently and semipermanently flooded areas of 14.30 types 3, 4, and 5 wetlands. 14.31 (b) Replacement must be guided by the following principles 14.32 in descending order of priority: 14.33 (1) avoiding the direct or indirect impact of the activity 14.34 that may destroy or diminish the wetland; 14.35 (2) minimizing the impact by limiting the degree or 14.36 magnitude of the wetland activity and its implementation; 15.1 (3) rectifying the impact by repairing, rehabilitating, or 15.2 restoring the affected wetland environment; 15.3 (4) reducing or eliminating the impact over time by 15.4 preservation and maintenance operations during the life of the 15.5 activity; 15.6 (5) compensating for the impact by restoring a wetland; and 15.7 (6) compensating for the impact by replacing or providing 15.8 substitute wetland resources or environments. 15.9 For a project involving the draining or filling of wetlands 15.10 in an amount not exceeding 10,000 square feet more than the 15.11 applicable amount in section 103G.2241, subdivision 9, paragraph 15.12 (a), the local government unit may make an on-site sequencing 15.13 determination without a written alternatives analysis from the 15.14 applicant. 15.15 (c) If a wetland is located in a cultivated field, then 15.16 replacement must be accomplished through restoration only 15.17 without regard to the priority order in paragraph (b), provided 15.18 that a deed restriction is placed on the altered wetland 15.19 prohibiting nonagricultural use for at least ten years. 15.20 (d) Restoration and replacement of wetlands must be 15.21 accomplished in accordance with the ecology of the landscape 15.22 area affected. 15.23 (e) Except as provided in paragraph (f), for a wetland or 15.24 public waters wetland located on nonagricultural land, 15.25 replacement must be in the ratio of two acres of replaced 15.26 wetland for each acre of drained or filled wetland. 15.27 (f) For a wetland or public waters wetland located on 15.28 agricultural land or in a greater than 80 percent area, 15.29 replacement must be in the ratio of one acre of replaced wetland 15.30 for each acre of drained or filled wetland. 15.31 (g) For a wetland or public waters wetland impacted by a 15.32 public transportation project located in a 50 to 80 percent 15.33 area, the replacement must be in a ratio of 1-1/2 acres of 15.34 replaced wetland for each acre of drained or filled wetland. 15.35 (h) Wetlands that are restored or created as a result of an 15.36 approved replacement plan are subject to the provisions of this 16.1 section for any subsequent drainage or filling. 16.2(h)(i) Except in a greater than 80 percent area, only 16.3 wetlands that have been restored from previously drained or 16.4 filled wetlands, wetlands created by excavation in nonwetlands, 16.5 wetlands created by dikes or dams along public or private 16.6 drainage ditches, or wetlands created by dikes or dams 16.7 associated with the restoration of previously drained or filled 16.8 wetlands may be used in a statewide banking program established 16.9 in rules adopted under section 103G.2242, subdivision 1. 16.10 Modification or conversion of nondegraded naturally occurring 16.11 wetlands from one type to another are not eligible for 16.12 enrollment in a statewide wetlands bank. 16.13(i)(j) The technical evaluation panel established under 16.14 section 103G.2242, subdivision 2, shall ensure that sufficient 16.15 time has occurred for the wetland to develop wetland 16.16 characteristics of soils, vegetation, and hydrology before 16.17 recommending that the wetland be deposited in the statewide 16.18 wetland bank. If the technical evaluation panel has reason to 16.19 believe that the wetland characteristics may change 16.20 substantially, the panel shall postpone its recommendation until 16.21 the wetland has stabilized. 16.22(j)(k) This section and sections 103G.223 to 103G.2242, 16.23 103G.2364, and 103G.2365 apply to the state and its departments 16.24 and agencies. 16.25(k)(l) For projects involving draining or filling of 16.26 wetlands associated with a new public transportation projectin16.27a greater than 80 percent area, public transportation 16.28 authorities, other than the state department of transportation,16.29may purchase credits from the state wetland bank established16.30with proceeds from Laws 1994, chapter 643, section 26,16.31subdivision 3, paragraph (c). Wetland banking credits may be16.32purchased at the least of the following, but in no case shall16.33the purchase price be less than $400 per acre: (1) the cost to16.34the state to establish the credits; (2) the average estimated16.35market value of agricultural land in the township where the road16.36project is located, as determined by the commissioner of17.1revenue; or (3) the average value of the land in the immediate17.2vicinity of the road project as determined by the county17.3assessor. Public transportation authorities in a less than 8017.4percent areamay purchase credits from the state at the cost to 17.5 the state to establish credits. 17.6(l)(m) A replacement plan for wetlands is not required for 17.7 individual projects that result in the filling or draining of 17.8 wetlands for the repair, rehabilitation, reconstruction, or 17.9 replacement of a currently serviceable existing state, city, 17.10 county, or town public road necessary, as determined by the 17.11 public transportation authority, to meet state or federal design 17.12 or safety standards or requirements, excluding new roadsor17.13roads expanded solely for additional traffic capacity lanes. 17.14 This paragraph only applies to authorities for public 17.15 transportation projects that: 17.16 (1) minimize the amount of wetland filling or draining 17.17 associated with the project and consider mitigating important 17.18 site-specific wetland functions on-site; 17.19 (2) except as provided in clause (3), submit 17.20 project-specific reports to the board, the technical evaluation 17.21 panel, the commissioner of natural resources, and members of the 17.22 public requesting a copy at least 30 days prior to construction 17.23 that indicate the location, amount, and type of wetlands to be 17.24 filled or drained by the project or, alternatively, convene an 17.25 annual meeting of the parties required to receive notice to 17.26 review projects to be commenced during the upcoming year; and 17.27 (3) for minor and emergency maintenance work impacting less 17.28 than 10,000 square feet, submit project-specific reports, within 17.29 30 days of commencing the activity, to the board that indicate 17.30 the location, amount, and type of wetlands that have been filled 17.31 or drained. 17.32 Those required to receive notice of public transportation 17.33 projects may appeal minimization, delineation, and on-site 17.34 mitigation decisions made by the public transportation authority 17.35 to the board according to the provisions of section 103G.2242, 17.36 subdivision 9. The technical evaluation panel shall review 18.1 minimization and delineation decisions made by the public 18.2 transportation authority and provide recommendations regarding 18.3 on-site mitigation if requested to do so by the local government 18.4 unit, a contiguous landowner, or a member of the technical 18.5 evaluation panel. 18.6 Except for state public transportation projects, for which the 18.7 state department of transportation is responsible, the board 18.8 must replace the wetlands, and wetland areas of public waters if 18.9 authorized by the commissioner or a delegated authority, drained 18.10 or filled by public transportation projects on existing roads, 18.11 except for those that are exempt under section 103G.2241, 18.12 subdivisions 5 and 9, paragraph (a), clause (5). The department 18.13 of transportation may enter into an agreement with the board to 18.14 replace wetlands according to this paragraph. 18.15 Public transportation authorities at their discretion may 18.16 deviate from federal and state design standards on existing road 18.17 projects when practical and reasonable to avoid wetland filling 18.18 or draining, provided that public safety is not unreasonably 18.19 compromised. The local road authority and its officers and 18.20 employees are exempt from liability for any tort claim for 18.21 injury to persons or property arising from travel on the highway 18.22 and related to the deviation from the design standards for 18.23 construction or reconstruction under this paragraph. This 18.24 paragraph does not preclude an action for damages arising from 18.25 negligence in construction or maintenance on a highway. 18.26(m)(n) If a landowner seeks approval of a replacement plan 18.27 after the proposed project has already affected the wetland, the 18.28 local government unit may require the landowner to replace the 18.29 affected wetland at a ratio not to exceed twice the replacement 18.30 ratio otherwise required. 18.31(n)(o) A local government unit may request the board to 18.32 reclassify a county or watershed on the basis of its percentage 18.33 of presettlement wetlands remaining. After receipt of 18.34 satisfactory documentation from the local government, the board 18.35 shall change the classification of a county or watershed. If 18.36 requested by the local government unit, the board must assist in 19.1 developing the documentation. Within 30 days of its action to 19.2 approve a change of wetland classifications, the board shall 19.3 publish a notice of the change in the Environmental Quality 19.4 Board Monitor. 19.5(o)(p) One hundred citizens who reside within the 19.6 jurisdiction of the local government unit may request the local 19.7 government unit to reclassify a county or watershed on the basis 19.8 of its percentage of presettlement wetlands remaining. In 19.9 support of their petition, the citizens shall provide 19.10 satisfactory documentation to the local government unit. The 19.11 local government unit shall consider the petition and forward 19.12 the request to the board under paragraph(n)(o) or provide a 19.13 reason why the petition is denied. 19.14 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 103G.222, 19.15 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 19.16 Subd. 3. [WETLAND REPLACEMENT SITING.] (a) Siting wetland 19.17 replacement must follow this priority order: 19.18 (1) on site or in the same minor watershed as the affected 19.19 wetland; 19.20 (2) in the same watershed as the affected wetland; 19.21 (3) in the same county as the affected wetland; 19.22 (4) in an adjacent watershed or county to the affected 19.23 wetland; and 19.24 (5) statewide, only for wetlands affected in greater than 19.25 80 percent areas and for public transportation projects, except 19.26 that wetlands affected in less than 50 percent areas must be 19.27 replaced in less than 50 percent areas, and wetlands affected in 19.28 the seven-county metropolitan area must be replaced in 19.29 theaffected county or, if no restoration opportunities exist in19.30the county, in anotherarea comprised of the major watersheds 19.31 that drain into the seven-county metropolitan area county. 19.32 (b) The exception in paragraph (a), clause (5), does not 19.33 apply to replacement completed using wetland banking credits 19.34 established by a person who submitted a complete wetland banking 19.35 application to a local government unit by April 1, 1996. 19.36 (c) When reasonable, practicable, and environmentally 20.1 beneficial replacement opportunities are not available in siting 20.2 priorities listed in paragraph (a), the applicant may seek 20.3 opportunities at the next level. 20.4 (d) For the purposes of this section, "reasonable, 20.5 practicable, and environmentally beneficial replacement 20.6 opportunities" are defined as opportunities that: 20.7 (1) take advantage of naturally occurring 20.8 hydrogeomorphological conditions and require minimal landscape 20.9 alteration; 20.10 (2) have a high likelihood of becoming a functional wetland 20.11 that will continue in perpetuity; 20.12 (3) do not adversely affect other habitat types or 20.13 ecological communities that are important in maintaining the 20.14 overall biological diversity of the area; and 20.15 (4) are available and capable of being done after taking 20.16 into consideration cost, existing technology, and logistics 20.17 consistent with overall project purposes. 20.18 (e) Regulatory agencies, local government units, and other 20.19 entities involved in wetland restoration shall collaborate to 20.20 identify potential replacement opportunities within their 20.21 jurisdictional areas. 20.22 Sec. 6. [117.036] [APPRAISAL AND NEGOTIATION REQUIREMENTS 20.23 APPLICABLE TO ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY FOR TRANSPORTATION 20.24 PURPOSES.] 20.25 Subdivision 1. [APPLICATION.] This section applies to the 20.26 acquisition of property for public highways, streets, roads, 20.27 alleys, airports, mass transit facilities, or for other 20.28 transportation facilities or purposes. 20.29 Subd. 2. [APPRAISAL.] (a) Before commencing an eminent 20.30 domain proceeding under this chapter, the acquiring authority 20.31 must obtain at least one appraisal for the property proposed to 20.32 be acquired. In making the appraisal, the appraiser must confer 20.33 with one or more of the owners of the property, if reasonably 20.34 possible. At least 20 days before presenting a petition under 20.35 section 117.055, the acquiring authority must provide the owner 20.36 with a copy of the appraisal and inform the owner of the owner's 21.1 right to obtain an appraisal under this section. 21.2 (b) The owner may obtain an appraisal by a qualified 21.3 appraiser of the property proposed to be acquired. The owner is 21.4 entitled to reimbursement for the reasonable costs of the 21.5 appraisal from the acquiring authority up to a maximum of $1,500 21.6 at the time the owner submits the appraisal to the acquiring 21.7 authority, provided that the owner does so within 60 days after 21.8 the owner receives the appraisal from the authority under 21.9 paragraph (a). 21.10 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 138.40, 21.11 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 21.12 Subd. 2. [COMPLIANCE, ENFORCEMENT, PRESERVATION.] State 21.13 and other governmental agencies shall comply with and aid in the 21.14 enforcement of provisions of sections 138.31 to 138.42. 21.15 Conservation officers and other enforcement officers of the 21.16 department of natural resources shall enforce the provisions of 21.17 sections 138.31 to 138.42 and report violations to the director 21.18 of the society. When archaeological or historic sites are known 21.19 or based on investigations or are suspected to exist on public 21.20 lands or waters, or in the case of a public highway project 21.21 undertaken by a road authority are known or based on scientific 21.22 investigations are predicted to exist, the agency or department 21.23 controlling said lands or waters shall use the professional 21.24 services of archaeologists from the University of Minnesota, 21.25 Minnesota historical society, or other qualified professional 21.26 archaeologists, to preserve these sites. In the event that 21.27 archaeological excavation is required to protect or preserve 21.28 these sites, state and other governmental agencies may use their 21.29 funds for such activities. 21.30 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 138.40, 21.31 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 21.32 Subd. 3. [REVIEW OF PLANS.] When significant 21.33 archaeological or historic sites are known or suspected to exist 21.34 on public lands or waters, or in the case of a public highway 21.35 project undertaken by a road authority are known or based on 21.36 scientific investigations are predicted to exist, the agency or 22.1 department controlling said lands or waters shall submit 22.2 construction or development plans to the state archaeologist and 22.3 the director of the society for review prior to the time bids 22.4 are advertised. The state archaeologist and the society shall 22.5 promptly review such plans and within 30 days of receiving the 22.6 plans shall make recommendations for the preservation of 22.7 archaeological or historic sites which may be endangered by 22.8 construction or development activities. When archaeological or 22.9 historic sites are related to Indian history or religion, the 22.10 state archaeologist shall submit the plans to the Indian affairs 22.11 council for the council's review and recommend action. 22.12 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 160.28, is 22.13 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 22.14 Subd. 3. [REST AREA LEASE AGREEMENTS.] (a) Except as 22.15 provided in paragraph (e), notwithstanding any other law the 22.16 commissioner may enter into lease agreements, through 22.17 negotiations or best value, with private entities relating to 22.18 the use of highway rest areas. 22.19 (b) A lease under this subdivision may: 22.20 (1) prescribe a term of up to 20 years, with the approval 22.21 of the commissioner of administration, and may be renewable for 22.22 additional terms; 22.23 (2) provide for corporate or business sponsorship of a rest 22.24 area for a fee to be determined by the commissioner; 22.25 (3) allow the lessee to offer for sale products or service 22.26 that the commissioner deems appropriate for sale in a highway 22.27 rest area; and 22.28 (4) allow the lessee to add leasehold improvements to the 22.29 site. 22.30 (c) A lease agreement for a rest area is subject to section 22.31 160.282 and must allow the commissioner to negotiate maintenance 22.32 service agreements that promote and encourage the employment of 22.33 needy elderly persons. 22.34 (d) Revenues from leases or sponsorships authorized under 22.35 this subdivision must be deposited in a highway rest area lease 22.36 account in the special revenue fund. Money in the account is 23.1 appropriated to the commissioner for administration of the rest 23.2 area program. 23.3 (e) Nothing in this subdivision affects existing contracts 23.4 under section 248.07 or their renewal. 23.5 (f) The commissioner shall take no action under this 23.6 subdivision that would result in the loss of federal highway 23.7 funds or require the payment of highway funds to the federal 23.8 government. 23.9 Sec. 10. [160.93] [USER FEES; HIGH-OCCUPANCY VEHICLE 23.10 LANES.] 23.11 Subdivision 1. [FEES AUTHORIZED.] To improve efficiency 23.12 and provide more options to individuals traveling in a trunk 23.13 highway corridor, the commissioner of transportation may charge 23.14 user fees to owners of single-occupant vehicles using designated 23.15 high-occupancy vehicle lanes. The fees may be collected using 23.16 electronic or other toll-collection methods and may vary in 23.17 amount with the time of day and level of traffic congestion 23.18 within the corridor. The commissioner shall consult with the 23.19 metropolitan council and obtain necessary federal authorizations 23.20 before implementing user fees on a high-occupancy vehicle lane. 23.21 Fees under this section are not subject to section 16A.1283. 23.22 Subd. 2. [DEPOSIT OF REVENUES; APPROPRIATION.] Money 23.23 collected from fees authorized under subdivision 1 must be 23.24 deposited in a high-occupancy vehicle lane user fee account in 23.25 the special revenue fund. A separate account must be 23.26 established for each trunk highway corridor. Money in the 23.27 account is appropriated to the commissioner. From this 23.28 appropriation the commissioner shall pay all costs of 23.29 implementing and administering the fee collection system for 23.30 that corridor. The commissioner shall spend remaining money in 23.31 the account as follows: 23.32 (1) one-half must be spent for transportation capital 23.33 improvements within the corridor; and 23.34 (2) one-half must be transferred to the metropolitan 23.35 council for expansion and improvement of bus transit services 23.36 within the corridor beyond the level of service provided on 24.1 January 1, 2003. 24.2 Subd. 3. [EXEMPTIONS.] With respect to this section, the 24.3 commissioner is exempt from statutory rulemaking requirements 24.4 and from sections 160.84 to 160.92 and 161.162 to 161.167. 24.5 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 161.08, is 24.6 amended to read: 24.7 161.08 [BOOKS OF ACCOUNTRECORDS AND REPORTS.] 24.8 Subdivision 1. [BOOKS OF ACCOUNT.] (a) The commissioner 24.9 shall keep accurate and complete books of account as may be 24.10 prescribed by the commissioner of finance, the same to show in 24.11 detail itemized receipts and disbursements of the trunk highway 24.12 fund. The books of account shall show the following facts, 24.13 among others: 24.14 (1) the expenses of maintaining the transportation 24.15 department, including the salaries and expenses of the 24.16 individual members thereof; 24.17 (2) the amounts of money expended in each county of the 24.18 state for the construction of trunk highways, and when, where, 24.19 and upon what job or portion of road expended so that the cost 24.20 per mile of such construction can be easily ascertained; 24.21 (3) any other money expended by the state in connection 24.22 with any roads other than trunk highways and when, where, and 24.23 upon what portion of road so expended; and 24.24 (4) the amount of road equipment and materials purchased, 24.25 and when, where, and from whom purchased, and the price paid for 24.26 each item. 24.27 (b) The original invoices shall form a part of the 24.28 permanent files and records in the department of transportation 24.29 and be open to public inspection. 24.30 Subd. 2. [BIENNIAL REPORT.] No later than October 15 of 24.31 each odd-numbered year, the commissioner shall report to the 24.32 legislature the total expenditures from the trunk highway fund 24.33 during the previous biennium in each of the following 24.34 categories: road construction; planning; professional and 24.35 technical contracts; design and engineering; labor; compliance 24.36 with environmental requirements; acquisition of right-of-way; 25.1 litigation costs, including payment of claims, settlements, and 25.2 judgments; maintenance; and road operations. 25.3 Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 161.20, 25.4 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 25.5 Subd. 3. [TRUNK HIGHWAY FUND APPROPRIATIONS.] The 25.6 commissioner may expend trunk highway funds only for trunk 25.7 highway purposes. Payment of expenses related tosales tax,25.8 bureau of criminal apprehension laboratory, office of tourism 25.9 kiosks, Minnesota safety council, tort claims, driver education 25.10 programs, emergency medical services board, and Mississippi 25.11 River parkway commission do not further a highway purpose and do 25.12 not aid in the construction, improvement, or maintenance of the 25.13 highway system. 25.14 Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 164.12, is 25.15 amended to read: 25.16 164.12 [ROAD ON TOWN LINE.] 25.17 Subdivision 1. [PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH; MAINTAIN.] When 25.18 adjoining towns propose to establish, alter,orvacate, or 25.19 maintain a road on or along the line between such towns they 25.20 shall proceed as hereinafter provided. 25.21 Subd. 2. [DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES.] The town boards 25.22 shall divide the length of the road proposed to be established, 25.23 altered,orvacated, or maintained into two parts. When it is 25.24 proposed to establish or alter a road, the division shall be 25.25 made so as to divide as nearly equal as possible the cost of 25.26 right-of-way, construction, and maintenance of the entire road. 25.27 If the proposal is to vacate a road, the division shall be made 25.28 so as to divide as nearly equal as possible any damages that may 25.29 be occasioned thereby. 25.30 Subd. 3. [AGREEMENT.] After the division the boards shall 25.31 enter into an agreement specifying which part shall be vacated, 25.32 or opened, constructed, and maintained by each. Thereafter, 25.33 each board shall proceed in the manner and subject to the same 25.34 review as provided in section 164.06 or section 164.07. 25.35 Subd. 4. [JOINT CONTRACT.] When a town line road is 25.36 establishedor, altered, or maintained as provided herein, the 26.1 boards may jointly let a contract covering all or part of the 26.2 work to be performed on the road. If a joint contract is not 26.3 let each town board shall open and construct its portion thereof 26.4 as expeditiously as possible. 26.5 Subd. 5. [PORTION OF ROAD TAKEN BY STATE OR COUNTY.] If a 26.6 portion of a town line road is taken over by the state as a 26.7 trunk highway, or by a county as a county state-aid highway or 26.8 county highway, the town boards concerned shall divide the 26.9 portions of the town line road not taken over by the state or 26.10 county, so that the cost of construction, reconstruction, and 26.11 maintenance thereof will be apportioned as nearly equal as 26.12 possible. After such division the boards shall enter into an 26.13 agreement specifying which part shall be constructed and 26.14 maintained by each. 26.15 Subd. 6. [FAILURE TO AGREE.] (a) When the town boards 26.16 cannot agree upon a division as provided in subdivision 2 or 26.17 subdivision 5, or upon the petition of either town board when a 26.18 division previously agreed upon has proved to be inequitable, 26.19 the county board, or where the road is on a county line the 26.20 county boards of the counties concerned, shall determine the 26.21 proper division of responsibility. In making such division the 26.22 county board or boards shall follow the procedure provided for 26.23 in subdivision 2 or 5. Where deemed necessary the services of 26.24 the county engineer may be used. 26.25 (b) When for any reason an agreement under paragraph (a) 26.26 cannot be reached, the town board of either or both towns may 26.27 request to have the matter determined through mediation, 26.28 arbitration, mediation-arbitration (med-arb), or other form of 26.29 alternative dispute resolution as described in Rule 114.02 of 26.30 the General Rules of Practice for the District Courts. The 26.31 parties may select a neutral who does not qualify under Rule 26.32 114.02. Mediated settlement agreements must be in accordance 26.33 with the Minnesota Civil Mediation Act, sections 572.31 to 26.34 572.40. Arbitrated agreements and med-arb agreements must be 26.35 final and binding. 26.36 Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 168.12, 27.1 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 27.2 Subd. 5. [ADDITIONAL FEE.] (a) In addition to any fee 27.3 otherwise authorized or any tax otherwise imposed upon any motor 27.4 vehicle, the payment of which is required as a condition to the 27.5 issuance of any number license plate or plates, the commissioner 27.6 of public safetymayshall imposeathe fee specified in 27.7 paragraph (b) that is calculated to cover the cost of 27.8 manufacturing and issuing the license plate or plates, except 27.9 for license plates issued to disabled veterans as defined in 27.10 section 168.031 and license plates issued pursuant to section 27.11 168.124, 168.125, or 168.27, subdivisions 16 and 17, for 27.12 passenger automobiles. Graphic design license plates shall only 27.13 be issued for vehicles registered pursuant to section 168.017 27.14 and recreational vehicles registered pursuant to section 27.15 168.013, subdivision 1g. 27.16 (b) Unless otherwise specified or exempted by statute, the 27.17 following plate and validation sticker fees apply for the 27.18 original, duplicate, or replacement issuance of a plate in a 27.19 plate year: 27.20 Sequential Double Plate $ 4.25 27.21 Sequential Special Plate-Double $ 7.00 27.22 Sequential Single Plate $ 3.00 27.23 Sequential Special Plate-Single $ 5.50 27.24 Self-Adhesive Plate $ 2.50 27.25 Nonsequential Double Plate $14.00 27.26 Nonsequential Single Plate $10.00 27.27 Duplicate Sticker $ 1.00 27.28 (c) Fees collected under this subdivision must be paid into 27.29 the state treasury and credited to the highway user tax 27.30 distribution fund. 27.31 Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 168.54, 27.32 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 27.33 Subd. 4. [TRANSFER FEE.] A fee of$2$3 is imposed upon 27.34 every transfer of ownership by the commissioner of public safety 27.35 of any motor vehicle for which a registration certificate has 27.36 heretofore been issued under this chapter, except vehicles sold 28.1 for the purposes of salvage or dismantling or permanent removal 28.2 from the state. 28.3 Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 168A.29, 28.4 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 28.5 Subdivision 1. [AMOUNTS.] (a) The department shall be paid 28.6 the following fees: 28.7 (1) for filing an application for and the issuance of an 28.8 original certificate of title, the sum of$2$3; 28.9 (2) for each security interest when first noted upon a 28.10 certificate of title, including the concurrent notation of any 28.11 assignment thereof and its subsequent release or satisfaction, 28.12 the sum of $2, except that no fee is due for a security interest 28.13 filed by a public authority under section 168A.05, subdivision 28.14 8; 28.15 (3) for the transfer of the interest of an owner and the 28.16 issuance of a new certificate of title, the sum of$2$3; 28.17 (4) for each assignment of a security interest when first 28.18 noted on a certificate of title, unless noted concurrently with 28.19 the security interest, the sum of $1; 28.20 (5) for issuing a duplicate certificate of title, the sum 28.21 of $4. 28.22 (b) After June 30, 1994, in addition to each of the fees 28.23 required under paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (3), the 28.24 department shall be paid $3.50. The additional fee collected 28.25 under this paragraph must be deposited in the special revenue 28.26 fund and credited to the public safety motor vehicle account 28.27 established in section 299A.70. 28.28 Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 169.14, is 28.29 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 28.30 Subd. 2a. [SPEED LIMIT ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 35E.] The 28.31 commissioner shall designate the speed limit on marked 28.32 interstate highway 35E from West Seventh Street to marked 28.33 interstate highway 94 in St. Paul as 55 miles per hour, unless 28.34 the commissioner designates a different speed limit on that 28.35 highway after conducting an engineering and traffic 28.36 investigation under subdivision 4 and determining on the basis 29.1 of the investigation that a different speed limit is reasonable 29.2 and safe. Any speed in excess of a speed limit designated under 29.3 this section is unlawful. 29.4 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective August 1, 2003. 29.5 Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 169.791, 29.6 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 29.7 Subdivision 1. [TERMS DEFINED.] (a) For purposes of this 29.8 section and sections 169.792 to169.799169.798, the following 29.9 terms have the meanings given. 29.10 (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public safety. 29.11 (c) "District court administrator" or "court administrator" 29.12 means the district court administrator or a deputy district 29.13 court administrator of the district court that has jurisdiction 29.14 of a violation of this section. 29.15 (d) "Insurance identification card" means a card issued by 29.16 an obligor to an insured stating that security as required by 29.17 section 65B.48 has been provided for the insured's vehicle. 29.18 (e) "Law enforcement agency" means the law enforcement 29.19 agency that employed the peace officer who demanded proof of 29.20 insurance under this section or section 169.792. 29.21 (f) "Peace officer" or "officer" means an employee of a 29.22 political subdivision or state law enforcement agency, including 29.23 the Minnesota state patrol, who is licensed by the Minnesota 29.24 board of peace officer standards and training and is authorized 29.25 to make arrests for violations of traffic laws. 29.26 (g) "Proof of insurance" means an insurance identification 29.27 card, written statement, or insurance policy as defined by 29.28 section 65B.14, subdivision 2. 29.29 (h) "Vehicle" means a motor vehicle as defined in section 29.30 65B.43, subdivision 2, or a motorcycle as defined in section 29.31 65B.43, subdivision 13. 29.32 (i) "Written statement" means a written statement by a 29.33 licensed insurance agent stating the name and address of the 29.34 insured, the vehicle identification number of the insured's 29.35 vehicle, that a plan of reparation security as required by 29.36 section 65B.48 has been provided for the insured's vehicle, and 30.1 the dates of the coverage. 30.2 (j) The definitions in section 65B.43 apply to sections 30.3 169.792 to169.799169.798. 30.4 Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 169.796, is 30.5 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 30.6 Subd. 3. [SAMPLING TO VERIFY INSURANCE COVERAGE.] (a) The 30.7 commissioner of public safety may implement a monthly sampling 30.8 program to verify insurance coverage. The sample must annually 30.9 include at least two percent of all drivers who own motor 30.10 vehicles, as defined in section 168.011, licensed in the state, 30.11 one-half of whom during the previous year have been convicted of 30.12 at least one vehicle insurance law violation, have had a 30.13 driver's license revoked or suspended due to habitual violation 30.14 of traffic laws, have had no insurance in effect at the time of 30.15 a reportable crash, or have been convicted of an alcohol-related 30.16 motor vehicle offense. No sample may be selected based on race, 30.17 religion, physical or mental disability, economic status, or 30.18 geographic location. 30.19 (b) The commissioner shall request each vehicle owner 30.20 included in the sample to furnish insurance coverage information 30.21 to the commissioner within 30 days. The request must require 30.22 the owner to state whether or not all motor vehicles owned by 30.23 that person were insured on the verification date stated in the 30.24 commissioner's request. The request may require, but is not 30.25 limited to, a signed statement by the owner that the information 30.26 is true and correct, the names and addresses of insurers, policy 30.27 numbers, and expiration or renewal dates of insurance coverage. 30.28 (c) The commissioner shall conduct a verification of the 30.29 response by transmitting necessary information to the insurance 30.30 companies named in the owner's response. 30.31 (d) The insurance companies shall electronically notify the 30.32 commissioner, within 30 days of the commissioner's request, of 30.33 any false statements regarding coverage. 30.34 (e) The commissioner shall suspend, without preliminary 30.35 hearing, the driver's license, if any, of a vehicle owner who 30.36 falsely claims coverage, who indicates that coverage was not in 31.1 effect at the time specified in the request, or who fails to 31.2 respond to the commissioner's request to furnish proof of 31.3 insurance. The commissioner shall comply with the notice 31.4 requirement of section 171.18, subdivision 2. 31.5 (f) Before reinstatement of the driver's license, there 31.6 must be filed with the commissioner of public safety the written 31.7 certificate of an insurance carrier authorized to do business in 31.8 the state stating that security has been provided as required by 31.9 section 65B.48. The commissioner of public safety may require 31.10 the certificate of insurance provided to satisfy this 31.11 subdivision to be certified by the insurance carrier for a 31.12 period not to exceed one year. The commissioner of public 31.13 safety may also require a certificate of insurance to be filed 31.14 with respect to all vehicles required to be insured under 31.15 section 65B.48 and owned by any person whose driving privileges 31.16 have been suspended as provided in this section before 31.17 reinstating the person's driver's license. 31.18 Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 169.797, 31.19 subdivision 4a, is amended to read: 31.20 Subd. 4a. [REGISTRATION REVOCATION AND LICENSE 31.21 SUSPENSION.] The commissioner of public safety shall revoke the 31.22 registration of any vehicle andmayshall suspend the driver's 31.23 license of any operator, without preliminary hearing upon a 31.24 showing by department records, including accident reports 31.25 required to be submitted by section 169.09, or other sufficient 31.26 evidence that security required by section 65B.48 has not been 31.27 provided and maintained. Before reinstatement of the 31.28 registration, there shall be filed with the commissioner of 31.29 public safety the written certificate of an insurance carrier 31.30 authorized to do business in the state stating that security has 31.31 been provided as required by section 65B.48. The commissioner 31.32 of public safety may require the certificate of insurance 31.33 provided to satisfy this subdivision to be certified by the 31.34 insurance carrier to be noncancelable for a period not to exceed 31.35 one year. The commissioner of public safety may also require a 31.36 certificate of insurance to be filed with respect to all 32.1 vehicles required to be insured under section 65B.48 and owned 32.2 by any person whose driving privileges have been suspended or 32.3 revoked as provided in this section before reinstating the 32.4 person's driver's license. 32.5 Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 169.798, 32.6 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 32.7 Subdivision 1. [AUTHORITY.] The commissioner of public 32.8 safety shall have the power and perform the duties imposed 32.9 by this section and sections 65B.41 to 65B.71, this section,and 32.10sections169.797and 169.799,and may adopt rules to implement 32.11 and provide effective administration of the provisions requiring 32.12 security and governing termination of security. 32.13 Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 169.798, is 32.14 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 32.15 Subd. 4. [ATTESTATION OF INSURANCE REQUIRED.] Every owner, 32.16 when applying for motor vehicle or motorcycle registration, 32.17 reregistration, or transfer of ownership, must attest that the 32.18 motor vehicle or motorcycle is covered by an insurance policy. 32.19 Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 171.20, 32.20 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 32.21 Subd. 4. [REINSTATEMENT FEE.] (a) Before the license is 32.22 reinstated, (1) a person whose driver's license has been 32.23 suspended under section 171.16, subdivision 2; 171.18, except 32.24 subdivision 1, clause (10); or 171.182, or who has been 32.25 disqualified from holding a commercial driver's license under 32.26 section 171.165, and (2) a person whose driver's license has 32.27 been suspended under section 171.186 and who is not exempt from 32.28 such a fee, must pay a fee of $20. 32.29 (b) Before the license is reinstated, a person whose 32.30 license has been suspended or revoked under sections 169.791 to 32.31 169.798 must pay a $30 reinstatement fee. 32.32 (c) When fees are collected by a licensing agent appointed 32.33 under section 171.061, a handling charge is imposed in the 32.34 amount specified under section 171.061, subdivision 4. The 32.35 reinstatement fee and surcharge must be deposited in an approved 32.36 state depository as directed under section 171.061, subdivision 33.1 4. 33.2 (d) A suspension may be rescinded without fee for good 33.3 cause. 33.4 Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 171.29, 33.5 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 33.6 Subd. 2. [REINSTATEMENT FEES AND SURCHARGES, ALLOCATION.] 33.7 (a) A person whose driver's license has been revoked as provided 33.8 in subdivision 1, except under section 169A.52, 169A.54, or 33.9 609.21, shall pay a $30 fee before the driver's license is 33.10 reinstated. 33.11 (b) A person whose driver's license has been revoked as 33.12 provided in subdivision 1 under section 169A.52, 169A.54, or 33.13 609.21, shall pay a$250$300 fee plus a $40 surcharge before 33.14 the driver's license is reinstated. Beginning July 1, 2002, the 33.15 surcharge is $145. Beginning July 1, 2003, the surcharge is 33.16 $380. The$250$300 fee is to be credited as follows: 33.17 (1) Twenty percent must be credited to the trunk highway 33.18 fund. 33.19 (2)Sixty-sevenFifty-six percent must be credited to the 33.20 general fund. 33.21 (3) Eight percent must be credited to a separate account to 33.22 be known as the bureau of criminal apprehension account. Money 33.23 in this account may be appropriated to the commissioner of 33.24 public safety and the appropriated amount must be apportioned 80 33.25 percent for laboratory costs and 20 percent for carrying out the 33.26 provisions of section 299C.065. 33.27 (4)FiveSixteen percent must be credited to a separate 33.28 account to be known as the traumatic brain injury and spinal 33.29 cord injury account. The money in the account is annually 33.30 appropriated to the commissioner of health to be used as 33.31 follows:3583 percent for a contract with a qualified 33.32 community-based organization to provide information, resources, 33.33 and support to assist persons with traumatic brain injury and 33.34 their families to access services, and6517 percent to maintain 33.35 the traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury registry 33.36 created in section 144.662. For the purposes of this clause, a 34.1 "qualified community-based organization" is a private, 34.2 not-for-profit organization of consumers of traumatic brain 34.3 injury services and their family members. The organization must 34.4 be registered with the United States Internal Revenue Service 34.5 under section 501(c)(3) as a tax-exempt organization and must 34.6 have as its purposes: 34.7 (i) the promotion of public, family, survivor, and 34.8 professional awareness of the incidence and consequences of 34.9 traumatic brain injury; 34.10 (ii) the provision of a network of support for persons with 34.11 traumatic brain injury, their families, and friends; 34.12 (iii) the development and support of programs and services 34.13 to prevent traumatic brain injury; 34.14 (iv) the establishment of education programs for persons 34.15 with traumatic brain injury; and 34.16 (v) the empowerment of persons with traumatic brain injury 34.17 through participation in its governance. 34.18 No patient's name, identifying information, or identifiable 34.19 medical data will be disclosed to the organization without the 34.20 informed voluntary written consent of the patient or patient's 34.21 guardian or, if the patient is a minor, of the parent or 34.22 guardian of the patient. 34.23 (c) The surcharge must be credited to a separate account to 34.24 be known as the remote electronic alcohol-monitoring program 34.25 account. The commissioner shall transfer the balance of this 34.26 account to the commissioner of finance on a monthly basis for 34.27 deposit in the general fund. 34.28 (d) When these fees are collected by a licensing agent, 34.29 appointed under section 171.061, a handling charge is imposed in 34.30 the amount specified under section 171.061, subdivision 4. The 34.31 reinstatement fees and surcharge must be deposited in an 34.32 approved state depository as directed under section 171.061, 34.33 subdivision 4. 34.34 Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 174.24, 34.35 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 34.36 Subdivision 1. [ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.] A public transit 35.1 participation program is established to carry out the objectives 35.2 stated in section 174.21 by providing financial assistance from 35.3 the state, including the greater Minnesota transit fund 35.4 established in section 16A.88, to eligible recipients outside of 35.5 the metropolitan area. 35.6 Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 174.24, 35.7 subdivision 3b, is amended to read: 35.8 Subd. 3b. [OPERATING ASSISTANCE.] (a) The commissioner 35.9 shall determine the total operating cost of any public transit 35.10 system receiving or applying for assistance in accordance with 35.11 generally accepted accounting principles. To be eligible for 35.12 financial assistance, an applicant or recipient shall provide to 35.13 the commissioner all financial records and other information and 35.14 shall permit any inspection reasonably necessary to determine 35.15 total operating cost and correspondingly the amount of 35.16 assistancewhichthat may be paid to the applicant or recipient. 35.17 Where more than one county or municipality contributes 35.18 assistance to the operation of a public transit system, the 35.19 commissioner shall identify one as lead agency for the purpose 35.20 of receiving money under this section. 35.21 (b) Prior to distributing operating assistance to eligible 35.22 recipients for any contract period, the commissioner shall place 35.23 all recipients into one of the following classifications: 35.24 urbanized area service, small urban area service, rural area 35.25 service, and elderly and handicapped service. The commissioner 35.26 shall distribute funds under this section so that the percentage 35.27 of total operating cost paid by any recipient from local sources 35.28 will not exceed the percentage for that recipient's 35.29 classification, except as provided in an undue hardship case. 35.30 The percentages must be: for urbanized area service and small 35.31 urban area service,4020 percent; for rural area service,3515 35.32 percent; and for elderly and handicapped service,3515 percent. 35.33 The remainder of the total operating cost will be paid from 35.34 state funds less any assistance received by the recipient from 35.35 any federal source. For purposes of this subdivision "local 35.36 sources" meanspayments under section 174.242 plusall local 36.1 sources of funds and includes all operating revenue, tax levies, 36.2 and contributions from public funds, except that the 36.3 commissioner may exclude from the total assistance contract 36.4 revenues derived from operations the cost of which is excluded 36.5 from the computation of total operating cost. Total operating 36.6 costs of the Duluth transit authority or a successor agency 36.7shalldoes not include costs related to the Superior, Wisconsin 36.8 service contract and the independent school district No. 709 36.9 service contract. For calendar years 2004 and 2005, to enable 36.10 public transit systems to meet the provisions of this section 36.11 the commissioner may adjust payments of financial assistance to 36.12 recipients that were under a contract with the department on 36.13 January 1, 2003. 36.14 (c) If a recipient informs the commissioner in writing 36.15 after the establishment of these percentages but prior to the 36.16 distribution of financial assistance for any year that paying 36.17 its designated percentage of total operating cost from local 36.18 sources will cause undue hardship, the commissioner may reduce 36.19 the percentage to be paid from local sources by the recipient 36.20 and increase the percentage to be paid from local sources by one 36.21 or more other recipients inside or outside the classification,36.22provided that no recipient shall have its. However, the 36.23 commissioner may not reduce or increase any recipient's 36.24 percentagethus reduced or increasedunder this paragraph for 36.25 more than two years successively. If for any year the funds 36.26 appropriated to the commissioner to carry out the purposes of 36.27 this section are insufficient to allow the commissioner to pay 36.28 the state share of total operating cost as provided in this 36.29 paragraph, the commissioner shall reduce the state share in each 36.30 classification to the extent necessary. 36.31 Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 174.55, 36.32 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 36.33 Subd. 2. [COMPOSITION.] The major transportation projects 36.34 commission is composed of the governor or the governor's 36.35 designee; four citizen members appointed by the governor and 36.36 serving at the pleasure of the governor; seven senators 37.1 appointed by the subcommittee on committees of the committee on 37.2 rules and administration, three of whom must not be members of 37.3 the senate majority party; and seven members of the house of 37.4 representatives appointed by the speaker, three of whom must not 37.5 be members of the house majority party. The commissioner of 37.6 transportation shall serve as a nonvoting member unless the 37.7 commissioner is the governor's designee. The commission shall 37.8 elect a chair from among its members. Nongovernment members of 37.9 the commission shall receive compensation in accordance with 37.10 section 15.059, subdivision 3. The commission expires June 30, 37.11 2004. 37.12 Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 179A.03, 37.13 subdivision 7, is amended to read: 37.14 Subd. 7. [ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEE.] "Essential employee" means 37.15 firefighters, peace officers subject to licensure under sections 37.16 626.84 to 626.863, 911 system and police and fire department 37.17 public safety dispatchers, guards at correctional facilities, 37.18 confidential employees, supervisory employees, assistant county 37.19 attorneys, assistant city attorneys, principals, and assistant 37.20 principals. However, for state employees, "essential employee" 37.21 means all employees in law enforcement, public safety radio 37.22 communications operators, health care professionals, 37.23 correctional guards, professional engineering, and supervisory 37.24 collective bargaining units, irrespective of severance, and no 37.25 other employees. For University of Minnesota employees, 37.26 "essential employee" means all employees in law enforcement, 37.27 nursing professional and supervisory units, irrespective of 37.28 severance, and no other employees. "Firefighters" means 37.29 salaried employees of a fire department whose duties include, 37.30 directly or indirectly, controlling, extinguishing, preventing, 37.31 detecting, or investigating fires. Employees for whom the state 37.32 court administrator is the negotiating employer are not 37.33 essential employees. 37.34 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective July 1, 2003. 37.35 Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 179A.10, 37.36 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 38.1 Subd. 2. [STATE EMPLOYEES.] Unclassified employees, unless 38.2 otherwise excluded, are included within the units which include 38.3 the classifications to which they are assigned for purposes of 38.4 compensation. Supervisory employees shall only be assigned to 38.5 units 12 and 16. The following are the appropriate units of 38.6 executive branch state employees: 38.7 (1) law enforcement unit; 38.8 (2) craft, maintenance, and labor unit; 38.9 (3) service unit; 38.10 (4) health care nonprofessional unit; 38.11 (5) health care professional unit; 38.12 (6) clerical and office unit; 38.13 (7) technical unit; 38.14 (8) correctional guards unit; 38.15 (9) state university instructional unit; 38.16 (10) state college instructional unit; 38.17 (11) state university administrative unit; 38.18 (12) professional engineering unit; 38.19 (13) health treatment unit; 38.20 (14) general professional unit; 38.21 (15) professional state residential instructional unit;and38.22 (16) supervisory employees unit; and 38.23 (17) public safety radio communications operator unit. 38.24 Each unit consists of the classifications or positions 38.25 assigned to it in the schedule of state employee job 38.26 classification and positions maintained by the commissioner. 38.27 The commissioner may only make changes in the schedule in 38.28 existence on the day prior to August 1, 1984, as required by law 38.29 or as provided in subdivision 4. 38.30 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective July 1, 2003. 38.31 Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 275.71, 38.32 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 38.33 Subd. 5. [PROPERTY TAX LEVY LIMIT.] Notwithstanding any 38.34 other provision of a municipal charter which limits ad valorem 38.35 taxes to a lesser amount, or which would require a separate 38.36 voter approval for any increase, for taxes levied in 2001 and 39.1 2002, the property tax levy limit for a local governmental unit 39.2 is equal to its adjusted levy limit base determined under 39.3 subdivision 4 plus any additional levy authorized under section 39.4 275.73, which is levied against net tax capacity, reduced by the 39.5 sum of (i) the total amount of aids and reimbursements that the 39.6 local governmental unit is certified to receive under sections 39.7 477A.011 to 477A.014, except for the increases in city aid bases 39.8 in calendar year 2002 under section 477A.011, subdivision 36, 39.9 paragraphs (n), (p), and (q), (ii) homestead and agricultural 39.10 aids it is certified to receive under section 273.1398, (iii) 39.11 taconite aids under sections 298.28 and 298.282 including any 39.12 aid which was required to be placed in a special fund for 39.13 expenditure in the next succeeding year, and (iv) low-income 39.14 housing aid under sections 477A.06 and 477A.065, and (v)39.15property tax replacement aids under section 174.242. 39.16 Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 297B.09, 39.17 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 39.18 Subdivision 1. [DEPOSIT OF REVENUES.] (a) Money collected 39.19 and received under this chapter must be deposited as provided in 39.20 this subdivision. 39.21 (b)From July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2002, 30.86 percent of39.22the money collected and received must be deposited in the39.23highway user tax distribution fund, and the remaining money must39.24be deposited in the general fund.39.25(c)On and after July 1, 2002, 32 percent of the money 39.26 collected and received must be deposited in the highway user tax 39.27 distribution fund,20.5 percent must be deposited in the39.28metropolitan area transit fund under section 16A.88,and 1.25 39.29 percent must be deposited in the greater Minnesota transit fund 39.30 under section 16A.88.In fiscal year 2004 and thereafter, two39.31percent of the money collected and received must be deposited in39.32the metropolitan area transit appropriation account under39.33section 16A.88.Of the money collected and received, 39.34 $125,583,000 in each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005, and 20.5 39.35 percent thereafter, must be deposited in the metropolitan area 39.36 transit fund under section 16A.88. The remaining money must be 40.1 deposited in the general fund. 40.2 Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 299A.465, 40.3 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 40.4 Subd. 4. [PUBLIC EMPLOYER REIMBURSEMENT.] A public 40.5 employer subject to this section may annually apply by August 1 40.6 for the preceding fiscal year to the commissioner of public 40.7 safety for reimbursement to help defray a portion of its costs 40.8 of complying with this section. The commissioner shall provide 40.9reimbursementan equal pro rata share to the public employer out 40.10 of the public safety officer's benefit account based on the 40.11 availability of funds for each eligible officer, firefighter, 40.12 and qualifying dependents. Individual shares must not exceed 40.13 the actual costs of providing coverage under this section by a 40.14 public employer. 40.15 Sec. 33. [299A.80] [ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS AND PENALTIES; 40.16 GENERAL.] 40.17 Subdivision 1. [DEFINITIONS.] (a) For purposes of sections 40.18 299A.80 to 299A.802, the terms defined in this subdivision have 40.19 the meanings given them. 40.20 (b) "Administrative agent" means a person or entity 40.21 licensed by or granted authority by the commissioner of public 40.22 safety under: 40.23 (1) section 168.33 as a deputy registrar; 40.24 (2) section 168C.11 as a deputy registrar of bicycles; or 40.25 (3) section 171.061 as a driver's license agent. 40.26 (c) "Other authority" means licenses, orders, stipulation 40.27 agreements, settlements, or compliance agreements adopted or 40.28 issued by the commissioner of public safety. 40.29 (d) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public safety. 40.30 (e) "License" means a license, permit, registration, 40.31 appointment, or certificate issued or granted to an 40.32 administrative agent by the commissioner of public safety. 40.33 Subd. 2. [APPLICABILITY.] Sections 299A.80 to 299A.802 40.34 apply to administrative agents licensed by or subject to other 40.35 authority of the commissioner. 40.36 Subd. 3. [CUMULATIVE REMEDY.] The authority of the 41.1 commissioner to issue a corrective order or assess an 41.2 administrative penalty under sections 299A.80 to 299A.802 is in 41.3 addition to other remedies available under statutory or common 41.4 law, except that the state may not seek a civil penalty under 41.5 any other law for a violation covered by an administrative 41.6 penalty order. The payment of a penalty does not preclude the 41.7 use of other enforcement provisions, under which civil fines are 41.8 not assessed, in connection with the violation for which the 41.9 penalty was assessed. 41.10 Subd. 4. [ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND PROPERTY.] The 41.11 commissioner, an employee, or an agent authorized by the 41.12 commissioner, upon presentation of credentials, may: 41.13 (1) examine and copy any books, papers, records, memoranda, 41.14 or data of an administrative agent; and 41.15 (2) enter upon any property where an administrative agent 41.16 conducts its place of business to take actions authorized under 41.17 statute, rule, or other authority, including (i) obtaining 41.18 information from an administrative agent who has a duty to 41.19 provide information under statute, rule, or other authority, (ii) 41.20 taking steps to remedy violations, or (iii) conducting surveys 41.21 or investigations. 41.22 Subd. 5. [FALSE INFORMATION.] (a) An administrative agent 41.23 may not: 41.24 (1) make a false material statement, representation, or 41.25 certification in a required document; 41.26 (2) omit material information from a required document; or 41.27 (3) alter, conceal, or fail to file or maintain a required 41.28 document. 41.29 (b) In this section, "required document" means a notice, 41.30 application, record, report, plan, or other document required 41.31 under statute, rule, or other authority. 41.32 Subd. 6. [ENFORCEMENT.] (a) The attorney general may 41.33 proceed on behalf of the state to enforce administrative 41.34 penalties that are due and payable under section 299A.802 in any 41.35 manner provided by law for the collection of debts. 41.36 (b) The attorney general may petition the district court to 42.1 file a final administrative penalty order as an order of the 42.2 court. At any court hearing to enforce a final administrative 42.3 penalty order, the only issues the parties may contest are 42.4 procedural and notice issues. Once entered, the administrative 42.5 penalty order may be enforced in the same manner as a final 42.6 judgment of the district court. This paragraph does not 42.7 preclude district court review of the merits of an 42.8 administrative penalty order if the order is appealed by the 42.9 administrative agent under section 299A.802, subdivision 5. 42.10 (c) If an administrative agent fails to pay an 42.11 administrative penalty, the attorney general may bring a civil 42.12 action in district court seeking payment of the penalty, 42.13 injunctive relief, or other appropriate relief including 42.14 monetary damages, attorney fees, costs, and interest. 42.15 Subd. 7. [RECOVERY OF REASONABLE COSTS AND ATTORNEY 42.16 FEES.] (a) In any judicial action brought by the attorney 42.17 general for civil penalties, injunctive relief, or an action to 42.18 compel performance pursuant to this section, if the state 42.19 finally prevails, and if the proven violation was willful, the 42.20 state, in addition to other penalties provided by law, may be 42.21 allowed an amount determined by the court to be the reasonable 42.22 value of all or part of the costs and attorney fees incurred by 42.23 the state or the prevailing party. In determining the amount of 42.24 the reasonable costs and attorney fees to be allowed, the court 42.25 must give consideration to the economic circumstances of the 42.26 defendant. 42.27 (b) However, if a defendant prevails, the court may award 42.28 the reasonable value of all or part of the reasonable costs and 42.29 attorney fees incurred by the defendant. 42.30 Subd. 8. [EDUCATION AND COMPLIANCE ACCOUNT; MONEY 42.31 ALLOCATED.] An education and compliance account is created for 42.32 the deposit of administrative penalty order receipts. Of the 42.33 funds deposited in this account, the commissioner is authorized 42.34 to expend up to $5,000 per fiscal year for education and 42.35 compliance activities related to the regulated parties affected 42.36 by this chapter. At the end of each biennium, all money not 43.1 expended lapses to the general fund. 43.2 Subd. 9. [PLAN FOR USING ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES AND 43.3 CEASE AND DESIST AUTHORITY.] The commissioner shall prepare a 43.4 plan for using the administrative penalty order and cease and 43.5 desist authority in this section. The commissioner shall 43.6 provide a 30-day period for public comment on the plan. The 43.7 plan must be finalized by July 1, 2004, and may be modified as 43.8 necessary upon subsequent notice and opportunity for comment. 43.9 Sec. 34. [299A.801] [CORRECTIVE ORDERS AND INJUNCTIONS.] 43.10 Subdivision 1. [CORRECTIVE ORDERS.] (a) Before seeking an 43.11 administrative penalty order under section 299A.802, the 43.12 commissioner must issue a corrective order that requires the 43.13 administrative agent to correct the violation of statute, rule, 43.14 or other authority. The corrective order must state the 43.15 deficiencies that constitute the violation of the specific 43.16 statute, rule, or other authority, and the time by which the 43.17 violation must be corrected. In addition to service by 43.18 certified mail on the administrative agent, a copy of the 43.19 corrective order must be given to the county auditor in the 43.20 county where the administrative agent is located. 43.21 (b) The administrative agent to whom the corrective order 43.22 was issued shall provide information to the commissioner, by the 43.23 due date stated in the corrective order, demonstrating that the 43.24 violation has been corrected or that the administrative agent 43.25 has developed a corrective plan acceptable to the commissioner. 43.26 The commissioner must determine whether the violation has been 43.27 corrected and notify the administrative agent subject to the 43.28 order of the commissioner's determination. 43.29 (c) If the administrative agent believes that the 43.30 information contained in the commissioner's corrective order is 43.31 in error, the administrative agent may ask the commissioner to 43.32 reconsider the parts of the corrective order that are alleged to 43.33 be in error. The request must: 43.34 (1) be in writing; 43.35 (2) be delivered to the commissioner by certified mail 43.36 within seven calendar days after receipt of the corrective 44.1 order; 44.2 (3) specify which parts of the corrective order are alleged 44.3 to be in error and explain why they are in error; and 44.4 (4) provide documentation to support the allegation of 44.5 error. 44.6 (d) The commissioner shall respond to requests made under 44.7 paragraph (c) within 15 calendar days after receiving a 44.8 request. A request for reconsideration does not stay the 44.9 corrective order; however, after reviewing the request for 44.10 reconsideration, the commissioner may provide additional time to 44.11 comply with the order if necessary. The commissioner's 44.12 disposition of a request for reconsideration of a corrective 44.13 order is final. 44.14 Subd. 2. [CEASE AND DESIST ORDER.] The commissioner, or an 44.15 employee of the department designated by the commissioner, may 44.16 issue an order to cease an activity otherwise authorized by 44.17 statute, rule, or other authority if continuation of the 44.18 activity would result in an immediate risk to public safety. A 44.19 cease and desist order issued under this subdivision is 44.20 effective for a maximum of 72 hours. In conjunction with 44.21 issuing the cease and desist order, the commissioner may post a 44.22 sign to cease an activity until the cease and desist order is 44.23 lifted and the sign is removed by the commissioner. To restrain 44.24 activities for a period beyond 72 hours, the commissioner must 44.25 seek an injunction or take other administrative action 44.26 authorized by law. The issuance of a cease and desist order 44.27 does not preclude the commissioner from pursuing any other 44.28 enforcement action available to the commissioner. 44.29 Subd. 3. [ACTION FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.] In addition to 44.30 any other remedy provided by law, the commissioner may bring an 44.31 action for injunctive relief in the district court in Ramsey 44.32 county or, at the commissioner's discretion, in the district 44.33 court in the county in which a violation of a statute, rule, or 44.34 other authority has occurred to enjoin the violation. 44.35 Sec. 35. [299A.802] [ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY ORDERS.] 44.36 Subdivision 1. [GENERAL.] The commissioner may issue an 45.1 administrative penalty order for a violation of statute, rule, 45.2 or other authority if an administrative agent has failed to 45.3 comply with a corrective order issued under section 299A.801 45.4 related to that violation. The maximum amount of an 45.5 administrative penalty order is $10,000 for each administrative 45.6 agent for all violations identified in an inspection or review 45.7 of compliance. In addition to service by certified mail on the 45.8 administrative agent, a copy of the administrative penalty order 45.9 must be given to the county auditor in the county where the 45.10 administrative agent is located. 45.11 Subd. 2. [AMOUNT OF PENALTY; CONSIDERATIONS.] (a) In 45.12 determining the amount of a penalty to be assessed under this 45.13 section, the commissioner may consider: 45.14 (1) the willfulness of the violation; 45.15 (2) the gravity of the violation, including damage to 45.16 consumers or the state; 45.17 (3) the history of past violations; 45.18 (4) the number of violations; 45.19 (5) the economic benefit gained by the administrative agent 45.20 by allowing or committing the violation; and 45.21 (6) other factors as justice may require, if the 45.22 commissioner specifically identifies the additional factors in 45.23 the commissioner's order. 45.24 (b) If an administrative agent violates a corrective order 45.25 after a violation of a previous corrective order, the 45.26 commissioner, in determining the amount of a penalty, must 45.27 consider the factors in paragraph (a) and the following factors: 45.28 (1) similarity of the most recent previous violation of a 45.29 corrective order and the violation to be penalized; 45.30 (2) time elapsed since the last violation of a corrective 45.31 order; 45.32 (3) number of previous violations; and 45.33 (4) response of the administrative agent to the most recent 45.34 previous violation identified. 45.35 Subd. 3. [CONTENTS OF ORDER.] An administrative penalty 45.36 order under this section must include: 46.1 (1) a concise statement of the facts alleged to constitute 46.2 a violation; 46.3 (2) a reference to the portion of the statute, rule, 46.4 variance, order, or stipulation agreement or the term or 46.5 condition of a permit that has been violated; 46.6 (3) a description of the violation of the corrective order 46.7 that forms the basis for issuance of the administrative penalty 46.8 order; 46.9 (4) a statement of the amount of the administrative penalty 46.10 to be imposed and the factors upon which the penalty is based; 46.11 and 46.12 (5) a statement of the administrative agent's right to 46.13 review and appeal of the administrative penalty order. 46.14 Subd. 4. [DUE DATE.] (a) Unless the administrative agent 46.15 requests review of the administrative penalty order under 46.16 subdivision 5 before the penalty is due, the penalty in the 46.17 order is due and payable on the 31st day after the 46.18 administrative penalty order was received, if the administrative 46.19 agent subject to the order fails to provide information to the 46.20 commissioner showing that the violation has been corrected or 46.21 that appropriate steps have been taken toward correcting the 46.22 violation. These requirements may be waived or extended by the 46.23 commissioner. 46.24 (b) Interest at the rate established in section 549.09 46.25 begins to accrue on penalties under this subdivision on the 31st 46.26 day after the order with the penalty was received, unless waived 46.27 by the commissioner. 46.28 Subd. 5. [EXPEDITED ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING.] (a) Within 30 46.29 days after receiving an administrative penalty order, the 46.30 administrative agent subject to an order under this section may 46.31 request an expedited hearing, using the procedures of Minnesota 46.32 Rules, parts 1400.8510 to 1400.8612, or their successor rules, 46.33 to review the commissioner's action. The hearing request must 46.34 specifically state the reasons for seeking review of the 46.35 administrative penalty order. The administrative agent to whom 46.36 the administrative penalty order is directed and the 47.1 commissioner are the parties to the expedited hearing. At least 47.2 15 days before the hearing, the commissioner shall notify the 47.3 administrative agent to whom the administrative penalty order is 47.4 directed of the time and place of the hearing. The expedited 47.5 hearing must be held within 30 days after a request for hearing 47.6 has been filed with the commissioner unless the parties agree to 47.7 a later date. 47.8 (b) All written arguments must be submitted within ten days 47.9 following the close of the hearing. The hearing must be 47.10 conducted under Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8510 to 1400.8612, 47.11 or their successor rules, as modified by this subdivision. The 47.12 office of administrative hearings, in consultation with the 47.13 agency, may adopt rules specifically applicable to cases under 47.14 this section. 47.15 (c) Within 30 days following the close of the record, the 47.16 administrative law judge shall issue a report making 47.17 recommendations about the commissioner's action to the 47.18 commissioner. The administrative law judge may not recommend a 47.19 change in the amount of the proposed administrative penalty 47.20 unless the administrative law judge determines that, based on 47.21 the factors in subdivision 1, the amount of the administrative 47.22 penalty is unreasonable. 47.23 (d) If the administrative law judge makes a finding that 47.24 the hearing was requested solely for purposes of delay or that 47.25 the hearing request was frivolous, the commissioner may add to 47.26 the amount of the administrative penalty the costs charged to 47.27 the agency by the office of administrative hearings for the 47.28 hearing. 47.29 (e) If a hearing has been held, the commissioner may not 47.30 issue a final order until at least five days after receipt of 47.31 the report of the administrative law judge. Within those five 47.32 days, the administrative agent to whom an administrative penalty 47.33 order is issued may comment to the commissioner on the 47.34 recommendations and the commissioner shall consider the 47.35 comments. The final administrative penalty order may be 47.36 appealed to the district court for a de novo review of the order. 48.1 (f) If a hearing has been held and a final administrative 48.2 penalty order issued by the commissioner, the administrative 48.3 penalty must be paid by 30 days after the date the final order 48.4 is received unless it is appealed to the district court. If an 48.5 appeal is not taken or the administrative penalty order is 48.6 upheld on appeal, the amount due is the administrative penalty, 48.7 together with interest accruing from 31 days after the original 48.8 order was received, at the rate established in section 549.09. 48.9 Subd. 6. [MEDIATION.] In addition to review under 48.10 subdivision 5, the commissioner may enter into mediation 48.11 concerning an order issued under this section if the 48.12 commissioner and the administrative agent to whom the order is 48.13 issued both agree to mediation. 48.14 Sec. 36. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 299E.03, 48.15 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 48.16 Subd. 3. [EXPIRATION AND COMPENSATION.]Notwithstanding48.17section 15.059,The oversight committeedoes not expireexpires 48.18 June 30, 2004. Committee members may not receive compensation 48.19 for serving, but may receive expense reimbursements as provided 48.20 in section 15.059. 48.21 Sec. 37. [331A.12] [WEB SITE PUBLICATION OF LOCAL 48.22 TRANSPORTATION RFP.] 48.23 Subdivision 1. [DEFINITIONS.] (a) The terms defined in 48.24 this subdivision and section 331A.01 apply to this section. 48.25 (b) "Web site" means a specific, addressable location 48.26 provided on a server connected to the Internet and hosting World 48.27 Wide Web pages and other files that are generally accessible on 48.28 the Internet all or most of the day. 48.29 Subd. 2. [DESIGNATION.] At the meeting of the governing 48.30 body of the local public corporation at which the governing body 48.31 must designate its official newspaper for the year, the 48.32 governing body may designate in the same manner publication of 48.33 transportation projects on the local public corporation's Web 48.34 site. Publication on the Web site may be used in place of or in 48.35 addition to any other required form of publication. Each year 48.36 after designating publication on the Web site for transportation 49.1 projects, the local public corporation must publish in a 49.2 qualified newspaper in the jurisdiction and on the Web site, 49.3 notice that the local public corporation will publish any 49.4 advertisements for bids on its Web site. 49.5 Subd. 3. [FORM, TIME FOR PUBLICATION SAME.] A local public 49.6 corporation that publishes on its Web site under this section 49.7 must post the information in substantially the same format and 49.8 for the same period of time as required for publication in an 49.9 official newspaper or another other print publication. 49.10 Subd. 4. [RECORD RETENTION.] A local public corporation 49.11 that publishes notice on its Web site under this section must 49.12 ensure that a permanent record of publication is maintained in a 49.13 form accessible by the public. 49.14 Sec. 38. [373.29] [EXEMPTION FROM PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.] 49.15 Notwithstanding any statute or rule that requires a county 49.16 to obtain a permit to reconstruct or maintain a highway, a 49.17 county that reconstructs or maintains a county or county 49.18 state-aid highway within the right-of-way of an existing county 49.19 or county state-aid highway is exempt from all permits. This 49.20 exemption does not relieve any county from any substantive 49.21 requirement imposed by law or rule other than a requirement to 49.22 obtain a permit. 49.23 Sec. 39. [414.038] [EFFECT OF ANNEXATION OF TOWNSHIP 49.24 ROADS.] 49.25 Whenever a municipality annexes property abutting one side 49.26 of a township road, the segment of road abutting the annexed 49.27 property must be treated as a line road and is subject to 49.28 section 164.14. Whenever a municipality annexes the property on 49.29 both sides of a township road, that portion of road abutting the 49.30 annexed property ceases to be a town road and becomes the 49.31 obligation of the annexing municipality. This section does not 49.32 prohibit the annexing municipality from contracting with the 49.33 township for continued maintenance of the road. Any portion of 49.34 a township road that ceases to be a township road pursuant to 49.35 this section may still be counted as a township road for the 49.36 road-and-bridge account revenues for the year in which the 50.1 annexation occurs. 50.2 Sec. 40. [414.039] [EFFECT OF ANNEXATION ON EASEMENTS.] 50.3 If a municipality annexes property in which the affected 50.4 township holds any easement for the benefit of the public, the 50.5 township's easement interest continues unless otherwise agreed 50.6 to by the township. 50.7 Sec. 41. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 471.345, 50.8 subdivision 14, is amended to read: 50.9 Subd. 14. [DAMAGE AWARDS.] In any action brought 50.10 challenging the validity of a municipal contract under this 50.11 section, the court shall not award,damages as any part of its 50.12 judgment,damages, or attorney's fees,but may award an 50.13 unsuccessful bidder the costs of preparing an unsuccessful bid. 50.14 If the court finds that the municipality has engaged in unlawful 50.15 bidding practices and invalidates the award of the bid, the 50.16 court may award reasonable attorney fees and costs to the 50.17 protester. If the court finds that the municipality did not 50.18 violate the law, and the award is not invalidated, the court may 50.19 award reasonable attorney fees and costs to the municipality if 50.20 the court makes the further finding that the protest was filed 50.21 without substantial basis in fact or law. 50.22 Sec. 42. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 473.446, 50.23 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 50.24 Subdivision 1. [METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT TAX.] (a) For 50.25 the purposes of sections 473.405 to 473.449 and the metropolitan 50.26 transit system, except as otherwise provided in this 50.27 subdivision, the council shall levy each year upon all taxable 50.28 property within the metropolitan area, defined in section 50.29 473.121, subdivision 2, a transit tax consisting of: 50.30 (1) an amount necessary to provide full and timely payment 50.31 of certificates of indebtedness, bonds, including refunding 50.32 bonds or other obligations issued or to be issued under section 50.33 473.39 by the council for purposes of acquisition and betterment 50.34 of property and other improvements of a capital nature and to 50.35 which the council has specifically pledged tax levies under this 50.36 clause; and 51.1 (2) an additional amount necessary to provide full and 51.2 timely payment of certificates of indebtedness issued by the 51.3 council, after consultation with the commissioner of finance, if 51.4 revenues to the metropolitan area transit fund in the fiscal 51.5 year in which the indebtedness is issued increase over those 51.6 revenues in the previous fiscal year by a percentage less than 51.7 the percentage increase for the same period in the revised 51.8 Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for the St. 51.9 Paul-Minneapolis metropolitan area prepared by the United States 51.10 Department of Labor. The authority to levy a tax under this 51.11 clause applies only to certificates issued before July 1, 2003. 51.12 (b) Indebtedness to which property taxes have been pledged 51.13 under paragraph (a), clause (2), that is incurred in any fiscal 51.14 year may not exceed the amount necessary to make up the 51.15 difference between (1) the amount that the council received or 51.16 expects to receive in that fiscal year from the metropolitan 51.17 area transit fund and (2) the amount the council received from 51.18 that fund in the previous fiscal year multiplied by the 51.19 percentage increase for the same period in the revised Consumer 51.20 Price Index for all urban consumers for the St. Paul-Minneapolis 51.21 metropolitan area prepared by the United States Department of 51.22 Labor. 51.23 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective July 1, 2003. 51.24 Sec. 43. [473.92] [DEFINITIONS.] 51.25 Subdivision 1. [APPLICABILITY.] The terms in sections 51.26 473.92 to 473.94 have the meanings given them in this section. 51.27 Subd. 2. [CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.] "Capital 51.28 improvement project" means any of the following types of 51.29 projects for which the council has authority under law to 51.30 acquire easements by eminent domain: construction, expansion, 51.31 or improvement of public transit facilities, including exclusive 51.32 transit ways, park-and-ride facilities, passenger hubs, and 51.33 vehicle maintenance facilities. 51.34 Subd. 3. [FINAL LAYOUT.] (a) "Final layout" means 51.35 geometric layouts and supplemental drawings that show the 51.36 location, character, dimensions, access, property or 52.1 right-of-way limits, easements acquired, and explanatory 52.2 information about a capital improvement project. 52.3 (b) In the case of public transit facilities, final layout 52.4 includes any improvements to roadways, bridges, intersections, 52.5 and approaches that are an essential element of the project. 52.6 Subd. 4. [CITY.] "City" means a home rule charter or 52.7 statutory city within the metropolitan area. 52.8 Subd. 5. [GOVERNING BODY.] "Governing body" means the city 52.9 council of a city. 52.10 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day 52.11 following final enactment and applies in the counties of Anoka, 52.12 Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington. 52.13 Sec. 44. [473.93] [APPROVAL OF FINAL LAYOUT.] 52.14 Subdivision 1. [SUBMISSION OF FINAL LAYOUT.] Before 52.15 proceeding with the construction of a capital improvement 52.16 project lying within a city, the council shall submit to its 52.17 governing body a final layout of the project. The final layout 52.18 must be submitted as part of a report containing any supporting 52.19 data that the council deems helpful to the governing body in 52.20 reviewing the final layout submitted. The supporting data must 52.21 include a detailed description of all easements that the council 52.22 determines will be or may be taken by eminent domain. 52.23 Subd. 2. [GOVERNING BODY ACTION.] (a) Within 15 days of 52.24 receiving a final layout from the council, the governing body 52.25 shall schedule a public hearing on the final layout. The 52.26 governing body shall, within 60 days of receiving a final layout 52.27 from the council, conduct a public hearing at which the council 52.28 shall present the final layout for the project. The governing 52.29 body shall give at least 30 days' notice of the public hearing. 52.30 (b) Within 90 days from the date of the public hearing, the 52.31 governing body shall approve or disapprove the final layout in 52.32 writing, as provided in clause (1), (2), or (3): 52.33 (1) if the governing body approves the final layout or does 52.34 not disapprove the final layout in writing within 90 days, in 52.35 which case the final layout is deemed to be approved, the 52.36 council may continue the project development; 53.1 (2) if the final construction plans for a project contain 53.2 significant changes in acquisition of easements from the final 53.3 layout approved by the governing body, the council shall 53.4 resubmit the portion of the final construction plans where 53.5 changes were made to the governing body. The governing body 53.6 must approve or disapprove the changes, in writing, within 60 53.7 days from the date the council submits them; 53.8 (3) if the governing body disapproves the final layout, the 53.9 council may make modifications requested by the municipality, 53.10 decide not to proceed with the project, or refer the final 53.11 layout to an appeal board. 53.12 (c) The appeal board shall consist of one member appointed 53.13 by the chair of the council, one member appointed by the 53.14 governing body, and a third member agreed upon by both the 53.15 council chair and the governing body. If the council chair and 53.16 the governing body cannot agree upon the third member, the chief 53.17 justice of the supreme court shall appoint a third member within 53.18 14 days of the request of the council to appoint the third 53.19 member. 53.20 Subd. 3. [APPEAL BOARD.] Within 30 days after referral of 53.21 the final layout, the appeal board shall hold a hearing at which 53.22 the council and the governing body may present the case for or 53.23 against approval of the final layout referred. Not later than 53.24 60 days after the hearing, the appeal board shall recommend 53.25 approval, approval with modifications, or disapproval of the 53.26 final layout, making additional recommendations consistent with 53.27 state and federal requirements as it considers appropriate. It 53.28 shall submit a written report containing its findings and 53.29 recommendations to the council and the governing body. 53.30 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day 53.31 following final enactment and applies in the counties of Anoka, 53.32 Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington. 53.33 Sec. 45. [473.94] [COUNCIL ACTION.] 53.34 Subdivision 1. [ACTION ON APPROVED FINAL LAYOUT.] If the 53.35 appeal board recommends approval of the final layout or does not 53.36 submit its findings or recommendations within 60 days of the 54.1 hearing, in which case the final layout is deemed approved, the 54.2 council may prepare substantially similar final construction 54.3 plans and proceed with the project. If the final construction 54.4 plans contain significant changes in the acquisition of 54.5 easements from the final layout approved by the appeal board, 54.6 the council shall submit the portion of the final construction 54.7 plan that shows the changes to the governing body for its 54.8 approval or disapproval under section 473.93, subdivision 2. 54.9 Subd. 2. [ACTION ON FINAL LAYOUT APPROVED WITH 54.10 CHANGES.] (a) If the appeal board approves the final layout with 54.11 modifications, the council may: 54.12 (1) prepare final construction plans including the 54.13 modifications, notify the governing body, and proceed with the 54.14 project; 54.15 (2) decide not to proceed with the project; or 54.16 (3) prepare a new final layout and resubmit it to the 54.17 governing body for approval or disapproval under section 473.93, 54.18 subdivision 2. 54.19 (b) If the final construction plans contain significant 54.20 changes in acquisition of easements from the final layout 54.21 approved by the appeal board or the governing body, the council 54.22 shall resubmit the portion of the final construction plans that 54.23 shows the changes to the governing body for its approval or 54.24 disapproval under section 473.93, subdivision 2. 54.25 Subd. 3. [ACTION ON DISAPPROVED FINAL LAYOUT.] If the 54.26 appeal board disapproves the final layout, the council may: 54.27 (1) decide not to proceed with the project; or 54.28 (2) prepare a new final layout and submit it to the 54.29 governing body for approval or disapproval under section 473.93, 54.30 subdivision 2. 54.31 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day 54.32 following final enactment and applies in the counties of Anoka, 54.33 Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington. 54.34 Sec. 46. Laws 1999, chapter 238, article 1, section 2, 54.35 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 54.36 Subd. 2. Aeronautics 19,327,000 19,410,000 55.1 Summary by Fund 55.2 Airports 19,266,000 19,349,000 55.3 General 50,000 50,000 55.4 Trunk Highway 11,000 11,000 55.5 Except as otherwise provided, the 55.6 appropriations in this subdivision are 55.7 from the state airports fund. 55.8 The amounts that may be spent from this 55.9 appropriation for each activity are as 55.10 follows: 55.11 (a) Airport Development and Assistance 55.12 2000 2001 55.13 13,948,000 13,948,000 55.14 $12,846,000 the first year and 55.15 $12,846,000 the second year are for 55.16 navigational aids, construction grants, 55.17 and maintenance grants. If the 55.18 appropriation for either year is 55.19 insufficient, the appropriation for the 55.20 other year is available for it. 55.21 These appropriations must be spent in 55.22 accordance with Minnesota Statutes, 55.23 section 360.305, subdivision 4. 55.24 Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, 55.25 section 16A.28, subdivision 6, funds 55.26 are available for five years after 55.27 appropriation. 55.28 (b) Aviation Support 55.29 5,247,000 5,329,000 55.30 $65,000 the first year and $65,000 the 55.31 second year are for the civil air 55.32 patrol. 55.33 (c) Air Transportation Services 55.34 132,000 133,000 55.35 Summary by Fund 55.36 Airports 71,000 72,000 55.37 General 50,000 50,000 55.38 Trunk Highway 11,000 11,000 55.39 Sec. 47. Laws 2001, First Special Session chapter 8, 55.40 article 1, section 2, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 55.41 Subd. 2. Aeronautics 20,748,000 20,489,000 55.42 Summary by Fund 55.43 Airports 20,687,000 20,428,000 55.44 General 50,000 50,000 56.1 Trunk Highway 11,000 11,000 56.2 Except as otherwise provided, the 56.3 appropriations in this subdivision are 56.4 from the state airports fund. 56.5 The amounts that may be spent from this 56.6 appropriation for each activity are as 56.7 follows: 56.8 (a) Airport Development and Assistance 56.9 14,298,000 14,298,000 56.10 These appropriations must be spent 56.11 according to Minnesota Statutes, 56.12 section 360.305, subdivision 4. 56.13 If the appropriation for either year is 56.14 insufficient, the appropriation for the 56.15 other year is available for it. 56.16 Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, 56.17 section 16A.28, subdivision 6, funds 56.18 are available for five years after 56.19 appropriation. 56.20 (b) Aviation Support 56.21 6,315,000 6,053,000 56.22 $65,000 the first year and $65,000 the 56.23 second year are for the civil air 56.24 patrol. 56.25 $600,000 each year is for GPS 56.26 navigation systems. Of this amount, 56.27 $250,000 each year adds to the agency's 56.28 budget base. 56.29 $400,000 the first year and $50,000 the 56.30 second year are for the development of 56.31 on-line aircraft registration 56.32 capabilities. 56.33 (c) Air Transportation Services 56.34 135,000 138,000 56.35 Summary by Fund 56.36 Airports 74,000 77,000 56.37 General 50,000 50,000 56.38 Trunk Highway 11,000 11,000 56.39 The commissioner shall take all 56.40 feasible actions to seek a waiver from 56.41 the appropriate federal authorities 56.42 that would allow the commissioner to 56.43 sell the airplane described in Laws 56.44 1997, chapter 159, article 1, section 56.45 2, subdivision 2, clause (c). Any 56.46 proceeds from the sale of the airplane 56.47 must be deposited in the general fund. 56.48 Sec. 48. [TRANSFER FROM LOAN FUND.] 56.49 The commissioner of finance shall transfer to the general 57.1 fund $8,200,000 of the money appropriated to the transportation 57.2 revolving loan fund under Laws 2000, chapter 479, article 1, 57.3 section 6, subdivision 2. This transfer must be made at the 57.4 rate of $4,100,000 each year of the 2004-2005 biennium. 57.5 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective July 1, 2003. 57.6 Sec. 49. [FEDERAL FUNDS ALLOCATION.] 57.7 The transportation advisory board of the metropolitan 57.8 council must allocate federal congestion mitigation and air 57.9 quality funds each year so that at least one-half of those funds 57.10 are allocated to highway projects. 57.11 Sec. 50. [STUDY.] 57.12 The commissioner of transportation shall convene a panel 57.13 consisting of highway users, motor carriers, current suppliers 57.14 of goods and services to or for highway rest areas, and other 57.15 persons directly affected by the department of transportation's 57.16 highway rest area program. The panel shall consider: 57.17 (1) financing and partnership opportunities at highway rest 57.18 areas; 57.19 (2) impact of changes in rest area operations on the blind 57.20 and on low-income senior citizens; and 57.21 (3) impact of those changes on the safety of the traveling 57.22 public and on motor carriers. The panel shall also evaluate the 57.23 impact of these changes on the supply of parking for commercial 57.24 vehicles and make recommendations on ways to preserve needed 57.25 spaces and meet further demand. 57.26 By January 15, 2004, the commissioner shall report to the 57.27 legislative committees having jurisdiction over transportation 57.28 policy and finance on the findings and recommendations of the 57.29 panel. 57.30 Sec. 51. [REPORT.] 57.31 The commissioner shall, to the maximum feasible extent, 57.32 enter into lease agreements under section 160.28, subdivision 57.33 3. By January 15, 2005, the commissioner shall report to the 57.34 legislative committees having jurisdiction over transportation 57.35 policy and finance on existing lease agreements, revenues 57.36 collected and projected, and the impact of the lease agreements 58.1 and revenues on the highway rest area program. 58.2 Sec. 52. [RESTORATION OF STATE AIRPORTS FUND CASH 58.3 BALANCE.] 58.4 Any money transferred from the state airports fund to the 58.5 general fund during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, must 58.6 be restored to the state airports fund by law effective July 1, 58.7 2007. 58.8 Sec. 53. [TRANSITION.] 58.9 Subdivision 1. [ASSIGNMENT OF JOB CLASSIFICATION TO UNIT.] 58.10 The commissioner of the bureau of mediation services shall 58.11 assign the job classifications and positions of employees 58.12 working as public safety radio communications operators to state 58.13 employee bargaining unit 17. 58.14 Subd. 2. [TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT.] The terms 58.15 and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement, memoranda 58.16 of understanding, or other salary and benefit provisions 58.17 covering public safety radio communications operators 58.18 immediately before the effective date of this section remain in 58.19 effect until a successor agreement between the commissioner of 58.20 employee relations and the exclusive representative of 58.21 bargaining unit 17 becomes effective, subject to Minnesota 58.22 Statutes, section 179A.20, subdivision 6. 58.23 Subd. 3. [EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE.] The employee 58.24 organization that is the exclusive representative of employees 58.25 assigned to bargaining unit 17 on the day before the effective 58.26 date of this section must be certified by the commissioner of 58.27 the bureau of mediation services as the exclusive representative 58.28 of newly created bargaining unit 17, subject to future changes 58.29 as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 179A.12. For 58.30 employees assigned to bargaining unit 17, the exclusive 58.31 representative retains all rights and obligations under the 58.32 contract governing these employees immediately before the 58.33 effective date of this section, so long as that contract 58.34 continues to apply to those employees. 58.35 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective July 1, 2003. 58.36 Sec. 54. [BUS RAPID TRANSIT STUDY.] 59.1 Subdivision 1. [STUDY REQUIRED.] The department of 59.2 transportation shall conduct a study on the feasibility of 59.3 implementing a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in the I-35W 59.4 corridor from downtown Minneapolis through south Minneapolis and 59.5 the cities of Richfield, Bloomington, Burnsville, and 59.6 Lakeville. Bus rapid transit systems are those systems that 59.7 provide for significantly faster operating bus speeds, 59.8 integrated service, greater service reliability, and increased 59.9 convenience through investments in bus infrastructure, 59.10 equipment, technology, and operational improvements. 59.11 Subd. 2. [STUDY REQUIREMENTS.] The study must, at a 59.12 minimum, include an analysis of the benefits and costs of 59.13 implementing a bus rapid transit system that includes the 59.14 following: 59.15 (1) frequent operation of buses on exclusive or 59.16 near-exclusive right-of-way on marked interstate highway 35W; 59.17 (2) changes in bus or platform design and fare collection 59.18 that provide for faster convenient boarding; 59.19 (3) station locations that are adjacent to, or easily 59.20 accessible from, the exclusive right-of-way; 59.21 (4) traffic management improvements and traffic signal 59.22 preemption on local streets within the I-35W corridor; and 59.23 (5) changes to existing transit services to provide for 59.24 timely connections and transfers. 59.25 Subd. 3. [STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS.] The study must recommend: 59.26 (1) options for implementing bus rapid transit in the I-35W 59.27 corridor; 59.28 (2) the associated cost of each option; and 59.29 (3) the anticipated benefits in terms of reduced travel 59.30 times, increased ridership, increased mobility, and impacts on 59.31 congestion levels within the corridor. 59.32 The study must be submitted by December 10, 2004, to the 59.33 house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction 59.34 over transportation policy and finance. 59.35 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective July 1, 2003. 59.36 Sec. 55. [TRANSIT CENTER IN BROOKLYN CENTER.] 60.1 The metropolitan council must construct and maintain a 60.2 transit center in Brooklyn Center to service the area. The 60.3 center must include adequate bathroom facilities, must be 60.4 climate controlled, and must be off the street. The center must 60.5 be located north of Bass Lake Road, east of Shingle Creek 60.6 Parkway, and west of marked trunk highway 100 and must be 60.7 completed and operational by June 1, 2004. 60.8 Sec. 56. [STUDY; USE OF CENTERLINE RUMBLE STRIPS.] 60.9 The commissioner of transportation shall study the 60.10 feasibility and practicability of: 60.11 (1) including milled-in rumble strips on the centerline of 60.12 the highway in all projects for the construction, 60.13 reconstruction, or resurfacing of two-lane trunk highways; and 60.14 (2) requiring that all projects for the construction, 60.15 reconstruction, or resurfacing of two-lane county state-aid 60.16 highways include milled-in rumble strips on the centerline of 60.17 the highway. 60.18 Sec. 57. [SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR RAIL TRANSIT; PROHIBITIONS.] 60.19 Subdivision 1. [DEFINITION.] For purposes of this section, 60.20 "southwest transit way corridor" means the southwest transit way 60.21 corridor between Minneapolis and Eden Prairie as identified by 60.22 the Hennepin county regional rail authority in its southwest 60.23 corridor rail transit study. 60.24 Subd. 2. [PROHIBITIONS.] Neither the commissioner of 60.25 transportation, the metropolitan council, nor the Hennepin 60.26 county regional rail authority may take any action or spend any 60.27 money for preliminary engineering, final design, or construction 60.28 for light rail or commuter rail transit in the southwest transit 60.29 way corridor. 60.30 Sec. 58. [MUNICIPAL CONSENT LAW AND CROSSTOWN HIGHWAY 60.31 PROJECT.] 60.32 For purposes of obtaining municipal approval under 60.33 Minnesota Statutes, sections 161.162 to 161.167, the entire 60.34 marked interstate highway 35W/marked trunk highway 62 60.35 interchange improvement project is deemed to be entirely within 60.36 the interstate highway system. On marked interstate highway 61.1 35W, the project limits are from 66th Street in the city of 61.2 Richfield to 42nd Street in the city of Minneapolis. On marked 61.3 trunk highway 62, the project limits are from the first 61.4 interchange west of the commons area at Penn Avenue to the first 61.5 interchange east of the commons section at Portland Avenue. 61.6 Sec. 59. [PLANTING REQUIREMENTS; RESTRICTIONS.] 61.7 (a) No state agency or soil and water conservation district 61.8 may require the planting of native grass seeds or native 61.9 wildflowers as a condition for the issuance of a permit to any 61.10 local governmental unit. 61.11 (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to grasses or flowers 61.12 planted within replacement wetland acres. 61.13 Sec. 60. [REPEALER.] 61.14 (a) Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 16A.88, subdivision 3, 61.15 is repealed. 61.16 (b) Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 169.794, is repealed. 61.17 (c) Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 169.799, is repealed. 61.18 (d) Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 174.242, is repealed. 61.19 (e) Minnesota Rules, part 7403.1300, is repealed. 61.20 (f) Minnesota Rules, part 7413.0400, is repealed. 61.21 (g) Minnesota Rules, part 7413.0500, is repealed. 61.22 Sec. 61. [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 61.23 This article is effective the day following final 61.24 enactment, unless otherwise specified. 61.25 ARTICLE 3 61.26 TRUNK HIGHWAY BONDING 61.27 Section 1. [HIGHWAY AND TRANSIT APPROPRIATIONS.] 61.28 Subdivision 1. [TRUNK HIGHWAY PROJECTS FINANCED BY STATE 61.29 BONDS.] (a) $550,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds 61.30 account in the trunk highway fund to the commissioner of 61.31 transportation for trunk highway improvements. This 61.32 appropriation is for: 61.33 (1) trunk highway improvements within the seven-county 61.34 metropolitan area primarily for improving traffic flow and 61.35 expanding highway capacity by eliminating traffic bottlenecks 61.36 and improving segments of at-risk interregional corridors within 62.1 the seven-county area; and 62.2 (2) trunk highway improvements on at-risk interregional 62.3 corridors located outside the seven-county metropolitan area. 62.4 These appropriations include the cost of actual payment to 62.5 landowners for lands acquired for highway right-of-way, payment 62.6 to lessees, interest subsidies, and relocation expenses. Within 62.7 each category in clauses (1) and (2), the commissioner shall 62.8 spend not less than $25,000,000 on highway safety and capacity 62.9 improvement projects including but not limited to the addition 62.10 of lanes on trunk highway corridors with known safety problems. 62.11 (b) The commissioner of transportation may use up to 62.12 $93,500,000 of this appropriation for program delivery. 62.13 (c) The commissioner shall use $50,000,000 of this 62.14 appropriation for accelerating transit capital improvements on 62.15 trunk highways such as shoulder bus lanes, bus park-and-ride 62.16 facilities, and ramp meter-bypass facilities. 62.17 Subd. 2. [REPORT.] The commissioner shall report to the 62.18 committees having jurisdiction over transportation finance in 62.19 the house of representatives and senate, no later than January 62.20 15, 2004, on projects selected to be funded by this 62.21 appropriation. The report must include the geographic 62.22 distribution of the selected projects and their adherence to the 62.23 criteria listed in subdivision 1. 62.24 Subd. 3. [PROHIBITION.] The commissioner shall not award a 62.25 construction contract with the proceeds from this section until 62.26 30 days after the submission of the report required in 62.27 subdivision 2. 62.28 Subd. 4. [BOND SALE EXPENSES.] $550,000 is appropriated 62.29 from the bond proceeds account in the trunk highway fund to the 62.30 commissioner of finance for bond sale expenses under Minnesota 62.31 Statutes, section 16A.641, subdivision 8. 62.32 Subd. 5. [ANTILAPSE.] Notwithstanding other law to the 62.33 contrary, the appropriations in this section do not cancel until 62.34 February 1, 2009. 62.35 Sec. 2. [BOND SALE.] 62.36 To provide the money appropriated in section 1, 63.1 subdivisions 1 and 4, from the bond proceeds account in the 63.2 trunk highway fund, the commissioner of finance shall sell and 63.3 issue bonds of the state in an amount up to $550,550,000 in the 63.4 manner, on the terms, and with the effect prescribed by 63.5 Minnesota Statutes, sections 167.50 to 167.52, and by the 63.6 Minnesota Constitution, article XIV, section 11, at the times 63.7 and in the amounts requested by the commissioner of 63.8 transportation. The proceeds of the bonds, except accrued 63.9 interest and any premium received from the sale of the bonds, 63.10 must be deposited in the bond proceeds account in the trunk 63.11 highway fund. 63.12 Sec. 3. [ADVANCE CONSTRUCTION.] 63.13 (a) Through June 30, 2009, the commissioner of 63.14 transportation may spend up to $550,000,000 on trunk highway 63.15 improvements from funds approved for expenditure by the Federal 63.16 Highway Administration and designated as advance construction 63.17 funds. 63.18 (b) Any additional advance construction expenditures by the 63.19 commissioner approved by the Federal Highway Administration 63.20 through June 30, 2009, may be added to the amount in paragraph 63.21 (a). 63.22 Sec. 4. [GREATER MINNESOTA TRANSIT.] 63.23 The commissioner of transportation may spend up to 63.24 $5,000,000 through June 30, 2008, in federal transit funds for 63.25 capital assistance to public transit systems under Minnesota 63.26 Statutes, section 174.24. This amount is in addition to any 63.27 appropriations made by law for this purpose. 63.28 Sec. 5. [REPORT.] 63.29 The commissioner shall report by January 15 of each year of 63.30 the 2004-2005 biennium to the chairs of the legislative 63.31 committees with jurisdiction over transportation policy and 63.32 finance on (1) how the department is spending the appropriations 63.33 in this article for trunk highway improvements, and (2) the 63.34 department's plans to implement trunk highway improvements 63.35 funded under this article with current department staffing, and 63.36 an analysis of the need for additional staffing and consultant 64.1 services. 64.2 Sec. 6. [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 64.3 Sections 1 to 4 are effective the day following final 64.4 enactment.