as introduced - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to transportation; providing for certain 1.3 types of claims; permitting transfer or extinguishment 1.4 of access rights; regulating snow fence easements, 1.5 highway closures, and signs; changing distributions 1.6 from the highway user tax distribution fund; providing 1.7 for the costs of town highways and bridges; permitting 1.8 conveyances to public bodies; providing for the 1.9 revision of the state transportation plan; regulating 1.10 private carriers; regulating charges for air 1.11 transportation services; removing a route from the 1.12 trunk highway system; amending Minnesota Statutes 1.13 1996, sections 84.63; 117.21; 160.27, by adding a 1.14 subdivision; 160.296, subdivision 1; 160.80, 1.15 subdivision 1, and by adding a subdivision; 161.081, 1.16 subdivision 1, and by adding a subdivision; 161.082, 1.17 subdivisions 1 and 2a; 161.44, subdivision 1; 174.03, 1.18 subdivisions 1a and 2; 221.011, by adding a 1.19 subdivision; 221.0251, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 5, and by 1.20 adding subdivisions; 221.031, subdivision 6; 221.034, 1.21 subdivisions 1 and 5; 222.63, subdivision 4; 270.077; 1.22 and 360.024; Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, 1.23 section 3.736, subdivision 3; repealing Minnesota 1.24 Statutes 1996, section 161.115, subdivision 219. 1.25 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.26 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 1.27 3.736, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 1.28 Subd. 3. [EXCLUSIONS.] Without intent to preclude the 1.29 courts from finding additional cases where the state and its 1.30 employees should not, in equity and good conscience, pay 1.31 compensation for personal injuries or property losses, the 1.32 legislature declares that the state and its employees are not 1.33 liable for the following losses: 1.34 (a) a loss caused by an act or omission of a state employee 1.35 exercising due care in the execution of a valid or invalid 2.1 statute or rule; 2.2 (b) a loss caused by the performance or failure to perform 2.3 a discretionary duty, whether or not the discretion is abused; 2.4 (c) a loss in connection with the assessment and collection 2.5 of taxes; 2.6 (d) a loss caused by snow or ice conditions on a highway or 2.7 public sidewalk that does not abut a publicly owned building or 2.8 a publicly owned parking lot, except when the condition is 2.9 affirmatively caused by the negligent acts of a state employee; 2.10 (e) a loss caused by wild animals in their natural state, 2.11 except as provided in section 3.7371; 2.12 (f) a loss other than injury to or loss of property or 2.13 personal injury or death; 2.14 (g) a loss caused by the condition of unimproved real 2.15 property owned by the state, which means land that the state has 2.16 not improved, state land that contains idled or abandoned mine 2.17 pits or shafts, and appurtenances, fixtures, and attachments to 2.18 land that the state has neither affixed nor improved; 2.19 (h) a loss involving or arising out of the use or operation 2.20 of a recreational motor vehicle, as defined in section 84.90, 2.21 subdivision 1, within the right-of-way of a trunk highway, as 2.22 defined in section 160.02; 2.23 (i) a loss incurred by a user arising from the 2.24 construction, operation, or maintenance of the outdoor 2.25 recreation system, as defined in section 86A.04, or for a loss 2.26 arising from the construction, operation, maintenance, or 2.27 administration of grants-in-aid trails as defined in section 2.28 85.018, or for a loss arising from the construction, operation, 2.29 or maintenance of a water access site created by the iron range 2.30 resources and rehabilitation board, except that the state is 2.31 liable for conduct that would entitle a trespasser to damages 2.32 against a private person. For the purposes of this clause, a 2.33 water access site, as defined in section 86A.04 or created by 2.34 the iron range resources and rehabilitation board, that provides 2.35 access to an idled, water filled mine pit, also includes the 2.36 entire water filled area of the pit and, further, includes 3.1 losses caused by the caving or slumping of the mine pit walls; 3.2(i)(j) a loss of benefits or compensation due under a 3.3 program of public assistance or public welfare, except if state 3.4 compensation for loss is expressly required by federal law in 3.5 order for the state to receive federal grants-in-aid; 3.6(j)(k) a loss based on the failure of a person to meet the 3.7 standards needed for a license, permit, or other authorization 3.8 issued by the state or its agents; 3.9(k)(l) a loss based on the usual care and treatment, or 3.10 lack of care and treatment, of a person at a state hospital or 3.11 state corrections facility where reasonable use of available 3.12 appropriations has been made to provide care; 3.13(l)(m) loss, damage, or destruction of property of a 3.14 patient or inmate of a state institution; 3.15(m)(n) a loss for which recovery is prohibited by section 3.16 169.121, subdivision 9; 3.17(n)(o) a loss caused by an aeration, bubbler, water 3.18 circulation, or similar system used to increase dissolved oxygen 3.19 or maintain open water on the ice of public waters, that is 3.20 operated under a permit issued by the commissioner of natural 3.21 resources; 3.22(o)(p) a loss incurred by a visitor to the Minnesota 3.23 zoological garden, except that the state is liable for conduct 3.24 that would entitle a trespasser to damages against a private 3.25 person; 3.26(p)(q) a loss arising out of a person's use of a logging 3.27 road on public land that is maintained exclusively to provide 3.28 access to timber on that land by harvesters of the timber, and 3.29 is not signed or otherwise held out to the public as a public 3.30 highway; and 3.31(q)(r) a loss incurred by a user of property owned, 3.32 leased, or otherwise controlled by the Minnesota National Guard 3.33 or the department of military affairs, except that the state is 3.34 liable for conduct that would entitle a trespasser to damages 3.35 against a private person. 3.36 The state will not pay punitive damages. 4.1 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 84.63, is amended 4.2 to read: 4.3 84.63 [CONVEYANCE OF INTERESTS IN LANDS TO STATE AND 4.4 FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS.] 4.5 Notwithstanding any existing law to the contrary, the 4.6 commissioner of natural resources is hereby authorized on behalf 4.7 of the state to convey to the United States or to the state of 4.8 Minnesota or any of its subdivisions, upon state-owned lands 4.9 under the administration of the commissioner of natural 4.10 resources, permanent or temporary easements for specified 4.11 periods or otherwise for trails, highways, roadsand trails4.12 including limitation of right of access from the lands to 4.13 adjacent highways and roads, flowage for development of fish and 4.14 game resources, stream protection, flood control, and necessary 4.15 appurtenances thereto, such conveyances to be made upon such 4.16 terms and conditions including provision for reversion in the 4.17 event of nonuser as the commissioner of natural resources may 4.18 determine. 4.19 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 117.21, is 4.20 amended to read: 4.21 117.21 [EASEMENTTOMAY INCLUDE SNOW FENCES.] 4.22 When the right to establish a public road is acquired by 4.23 the state, or by any of its agencies or political subdivisions, 4.24 thereshallmay be included in the easement so acquired the 4.25 power to erect and maintain temporary snow fences as required 4.26 upon lands adjoining the highway part of which lands have been 4.27 taken for road purposes. If included, the right to erect and 4.28 maintain such fences shall be considered in awarding damages, 4.29 and any award shall be conclusively presumed to include the 4.30 damages, if any, caused by the right to erect and maintain such 4.31 fences; provided, that, if the state, or agency or political4.32subdivision thereof, shall file with its petition, or at any4.33time before the question of damages is submitted to a jury, a4.34written disclaimer of its desire and intention to acquire a4.35right to erect and maintain snow fences as to any particular4.36tract of land involved, then no such right shall be acquired in5.1such proceeding and no consideration given to such fences as an5.2element of damage. 5.3 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 160.27, is 5.4 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 5.5 Subd. 7. [TRUNK HIGHWAY CLOSURE; AUTHORITY, NOTICE, CIVIL 5.6 PENALTY.] (a) The commissioner may restrict the use of, or 5.7 close, any state trunk highway for the protection and safety of 5.8 the public or for the protection of the highway from damage 5.9 during storms if there is danger of the road becoming impassable 5.10 or if visibility is so limited that safe travel is unlikely. 5.11 (b) To notify the public that a trunk highway is closed or 5.12 its use restricted, the commissioner shall give notice by one or 5.13 more of the following methods: 5.14 (1) erect suitable barriers or obstructions on the highway; 5.15 (2) post warnings or notices of the closing or restricting 5.16 of a trunk highway; 5.17 (3) place signs to warn, detour, direct, or otherwise 5.18 control traffic on the highway; or 5.19 (4) place personnel to warn, detour, direct, or otherwise 5.20 control traffic on the highway. 5.21 (c) A person is civilly liable for rescue costs if the 5.22 person (1) fails to obey the direction or instruction of 5.23 authorized personnel, or (2) drives over, through, or around a 5.24 barricade, fence, or obstruction erected to prevent traffic from 5.25 passing over a portion of a highway closed to public travel. 5.26 "Civilly liable for rescue costs" means that the person is 5.27 liable to a state agency or political subdivision for costs 5.28 incurred for the purpose of rescuing the person, any passengers, 5.29 or the vehicle. Civil liability may be imposed under this 5.30 subdivision in addition to the misdemeanor penalty imposed under 5.31 subdivision 5. However, civil liability must not exceed 5.32 $10,000. A fine paid by a defendant in a misdemeanor action 5.33 that arose from the same violation may not be applied toward 5.34 payment of the civil liability imposed under this subdivision. 5.35 (d) A state agency or political subdivision that incurs 5.36 costs as described in paragraph (c) may bring an action to 6.1 recover the civil liability and related legal, administrative, 6.2 and court costs. A civil action may be commenced as is any 6.3 civil action. 6.4 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 160.296, 6.5 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 6.6 Subdivision 1. [PROCEDURE.] (a) A person who desires a 6.7 specific service sign panel shall request the commissioner of 6.8 transportation to install the sign. The commissioner of 6.9 transportation may grant the request if the applicant qualifies 6.10 for the sign panel and if space is available. All signs shall 6.11 be fabricated, installed, maintained, replaced and removed by 6.12 the commissioner of transportation. The applicant shall pay a 6.13 fee to the commissioner of transportation to cover all costs for 6.14 fabricating, installing, maintaining, replacing and removing. 6.15The requests for specific service sign panels shall be renewed6.16every three years.6.17 (b) If the applicant desires to display a business panel, 6.18 the business panel for each specific service sign panel shall be 6.19 supplied by the applicant. All costs to fabricate business 6.20 panels shall be paid by the applicant. All business panels 6.21 shall be installed and removed by the appropriate road 6.22 authority. The costs for installing and removing business sign 6.23 panels on specific service signs located on nonfreeway trunk 6.24 highways are included in the fee specified in paragraph (a). If 6.25 a business panel is stolen or damaged beyond repair, the 6.26 applicant shall supply a new business panel paid for by the 6.27 applicant. 6.28 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 160.80, 6.29 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 6.30 Subdivision 1. [COMMISSIONER MAY ESTABLISH PROGRAM.] (a) 6.31 The commissioner of transportation may establish a sign 6.32 franchise program for the purpose of providing on the 6.33 right-of-way of interstate and controlled-access trunk highways 6.34 specific information on gas, food, camping, and lodging, for the 6.35 benefit of the motoring public. 6.36 (b) The sign franchise program must include urban 7.1 interstate highways.The commissioner may implement policies7.2that apply only to signs on interstate highways in urban areas,7.3such as distance requirements from the interstate for eligible7.4services, priority issues, and mixing of service logos.7.5 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 160.80, is 7.6 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 7.7 Subd. 1a. [ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR BUSINESS PANELS.] (a) 7.8 To be eligible for a business panel on a logo sign panel, a 7.9 business establishment must: 7.10 (1) be open for business; 7.11 (2) have a sign on site that both identifies the business 7.12 and is visible to motorists; 7.13 (3) be open to everyone, regardless of race, religion, 7.14 color, age, sex, national origin, creed, marital status, sexual 7.15 orientation, or disability; 7.16 (4) not impose a cover charge or otherwise require 7.17 customers to purchase additional products or services; and 7.18 (5) meet the appropriate criteria in paragraphs (b) to (e). 7.19 (b) Gas facilities must provide vehicle services including 7.20 fuel and oil; restroom facilities and drinking water; 7.21 continuous, staffed operation at least 12 hours a day, seven 7.22 days a week; and public access to a telephone. 7.23 (c) Food facilities must serve at least two meals a day 7.24 during normal mealtimes of breakfast, lunch, and dinner; provide 7.25 a continuous, staffed food service operation at least ten hours 7.26 a day, seven days a week except holidays as defined in section 7.27 645.44, subdivision 5, and except as provided for seasonal food 7.28 service facilities; provide seating capacity for at least 20 7.29 people; possess food service equipment consisting of (1) a 7.30 range, oven, steam table, salad bar or salad preparation area, 7.31 or (2) at least one deep fat fryer, one grill, and one hot 7.32 holding container; and possess any required state or local 7.33 licensing or approval. Seasonal food service facilities must 7.34 provide a continuous, staffed food service operation at least 7.35 ten hours a day, seven days a week, during their months of 7.36 operation. 8.1 (d) Lodging facilities must include sleeping 8.2 accommodations; provide public access to a telephone; and 8.3 possess any required state or local licensing or approval. 8.4 (e) Camping facilities must include sites for camping; 8.5 include parking accommodations for each campsite; provide 8.6 sanitary facilities and drinking water; and possess any required 8.7 state or local licensing or approval. 8.8 (f) Businesses that do not meet the appropriate criteria in 8.9 paragraphs (b) to (e) but that have a signed lease as of January 8.10 1, 1998, may retain the business panel until December 31, 2005, 8.11 or until they withdraw from the program, whichever occurs first, 8.12 provided they continue to meet the criteria in effect in the 8.13 department's contract with the vendor on August 1, 1995. After 8.14 December 31, 2005, or after withdrawing from the program, a 8.15 business must meet the appropriate criteria in paragraphs (a) to 8.16 (e) to qualify for a business panel. 8.17 (g) Seasonal businesses must indicate to motorists when 8.18 they are open for business by either putting the full months of 8.19 operation directly on the business panel or by having a "closed" 8.20 plaque applied to the business panel when the business is closed 8.21 for the season. 8.22 (h) The maximum distance that an eligible business in 8.23 Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, or Washington 8.24 county can be located from the interchange is: for gas 8.25 facilities, one mile; for food facilities, two miles; for 8.26 lodging facilities, three miles; and for camping facilities, ten 8.27 miles. 8.28 (i) The maximum distance that an eligible business in any 8.29 other county can be located from the interchange shall not 8.30 exceed three miles in either direction, except that if 8.31 facilities described in paragraphs (b) to (e) are not available 8.32 within the three-mile limit, the limit of eligibility may be 8.33 extended in three-mile increments until one or more of those 8.34 facilities are reached. The maximum distance that eligible 8.35 facilities can be located from the interchange to qualify for a 8.36 business panel is 15 miles in either direction. 9.1 (j) Logo sign panels must be erected so that motorists 9.2 approaching an interchange view the panels in the following 9.3 order: camping, lodging, food, gas. 9.4 (k) When more than six eligible businesses of the same type 9.5 of service (gas, food, lodging, or camping) wish to display a 9.6 business panel when there are more eligible businesses than 9.7 space available, businesses closer to an interchange have 9.8 priority over businesses farther away from that interchange. 9.9 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 161.081, 9.10 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 9.11 Subdivision 1. [DISTRIBUTION OF FIVE PERCENT.] Pursuant to 9.12 article 14, section 5, of the constitution, five percent of the 9.13 net highway user tax distribution fund is set aside, and 9.14 apportionedas follows:9.15(1) 28 percent to the trunk highway fund;9.16(2) 64 percenttoa separate account inthe county 9.17 state-aid highway fundto be known as the county turnback9.18account, which account in the state treasury is hereby created;. 9.19(3) 8 percent to a separate account in the municipal9.20state-aid street fund to be known as the municipal turnback9.21account, which account in the state treasury is hereby created.9.22 That apportionment is further distributed as follows: 9.23 (1) 30.5 percent to the town road account created in 9.24 section 162.081; 9.25 (2) 16 percent to the town bridge account, which is created 9.26 in the state treasury; and 9.27 (3) 53.5 percent to the flexible highway account created in 9.28 subdivision 3. 9.29 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 161.081, is 9.30 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 9.31 Subd. 3. [FLEXIBLE HIGHWAY ACCOUNT; TURNBACK ACCOUNTS.] (a) 9.32 The flexible highway account is created in the state treasury. 9.33 Money in the account may be used either for the restoration of 9.34 former trunk highways that have reverted to counties or to 9.35 statutory or home rule charter cities or for regular trunk 9.36 highway purposes. 10.1 (b) For purposes of this subdivision, "restoration" means 10.2 the level of effort required to improve the route that will be 10.3 turned back to an acceptable condition as determined by 10.4 agreement made between the commissioner and the county or city 10.5 before the route is turned back. 10.6 (c) The commissioner shall review the need for funds to 10.7 restore highways that have been or will be turned back and the 10.8 need for funds for the trunk highway system. The commissioner 10.9 shall determine on a biennial basis, the percentage of this 10.10 flexible account to be used for county turnbacks, for municipal 10.11 turnbacks, and for regular trunk highway projects. The 10.12 commissioner shall make this determination only after meeting 10.13 and holding discussions with committees selected by the 10.14 statewide associations of both county commissioners and 10.15 municipal officials. 10.16 (d) Money that will be used for the restoration of trunk 10.17 highways that have reverted or that will revert to cities must 10.18 be deposited in the municipal turnback account, which is created 10.19 in the state treasury. 10.20 (e) Money that will be used for the restoration of trunk 10.21 highways that have reverted or that will revert to counties must 10.22 be deposited in the county turnback account, which is created in 10.23 the state treasury. 10.24 (f) As part of the biennial budget submission to the 10.25 legislature, the commissioner shall describe how the money in 10.26 the flexible highway account will be apportioned among the 10.27 county turnback account, the municipal turnback account, and the 10.28 trunk highway fund. 10.29 (g) Money apportioned from the flexible highway account to 10.30 the trunk highway fund must be used for state road construction 10.31 and engineering costs. 10.32 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 161.082, 10.33 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 10.34 Subdivision 1. [RULES.] Except ashereinafterprovided in 10.35 this section and in section 161.081, all money accruing to the 10.36 county turnback account shall be expended in accordance with 11.1 rules of the commissioner of transportation in paying a county 11.2 for the restoration of former trunk highways, or portions 11.3 thereof, that have reverted to the county in accordance with 11.4 law, and have become a part of the county state-aid highway 11.5 system. 11.6 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 161.082, 11.7 subdivision 2a, is amended to read: 11.8 Subd. 2a. [TOWN BRIDGES AND CULVERTS; TOWN ROAD ACCOUNT.] 11.9 (a) An amount equal to2516 percent of the county turnback 11.10 account must be expended on town road bridge structures that are 11.11 ten feet or more in length and on town road culverts that 11.12 replace existing town road bridges. In addition, if the present 11.13 bridge structure is less than ten feet in length but a 11.14 hydrological survey indicates that the replacement bridge 11.15 structure or culvert must be ten feet or more in length, then 11.16 the bridge or culvert is eligible for replacement funds. 11.17 (b) In addition, if a culvert that replaces a deficient 11.18 bridge is in a county comprehensive water plan approved by the 11.19 board of water and soil resources and the department of natural 11.20 resources, the costs of the culvert and roadway grading other 11.21 than surfacing are eligible for replacement funds up to the cost 11.22 of constructing a replacement bridge. 11.23 (c) The expenditures onbridge structures and culverts may11.24be on a matching basis, and if on a matching basis, not more11.25than 90 percent of the cost ofa bridge structure or culvert may 11.26 be paid from the county turnback account.and may be for 100 11.27 percent of the cost of the replacement structure or culvert or 11.28 for 100 percent of the cost of rehabilitating the existing 11.29 structure. 11.30 (d) The town bridge account may be used to pay the costs to 11.31 abandon an existing bridge that is deficient and in need of 11.32 replacement, but where no replacement will be made. It may also 11.33 be used to pay the costs to construct a road or street to 11.34 facilitate the abandonment of an existing bridge determined by 11.35 the commissioner to be deficient, if the commissioner determines 11.36 that construction of the road or street is more cost efficient 12.1 than replacing the existing bridge. 12.2 (e) When bridge approach construction work exceeds $10,000 12.3 in costs, or when the county engineer determines that the cost 12.4 of the replacement culverts alone will not exceed $20,000, the 12.5 town shall be eligible for financial assistance from the town 12.6 bridge account. Financial assistance shall be requested by 12.7 resolution of the county board and shall be limited to: 12.8 (1) 100 percent of the cost of the bridge approach work 12.9 that is in excess of $10,000; or 12.10 (2) 100 percent of the cost of the replacement culverts 12.11 when the cost does not exceed $20,000 and the town board agrees 12.12 to be responsible for all the other costs, which may include 12.13 costs for structural removal, installation, and permitting. The 12.14 replacement structure design and costs shall be approved and 12.15 certified by the county engineer, but need not be subsequently 12.16 approved by the department of transportation. 12.17 (f) An amount equal to47.530.5 percent of the county 12.18 turnback account must be set aside as a town road account and 12.19 distributed as provided in section 162.081. 12.20 Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 161.44, 12.21 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 12.22 Subdivision 1. [CONVEYANCE.] The commissioner may convey 12.23 and quitclaim any lands, including any improvements thereon, 12.24 owned in fee by the state for trunk highway purposes but no 12.25 longer needed therefor. Notwithstanding any provisions in this 12.26 section or in section 161.23 to the contrary, fee title to or an 12.27 easement in all or part of the lands and lands previously 12.28 acquired in fee for trunk highways or acquired pursuant to 12.29 section 161.23, in excess of what is needed for highway purposes 12.30 may be conveyed and quitclaimed for public purposes to the 12.31 government of the United States and any agency or department of 12.32 the federal government or to any political subdivision or agency 12.33 of the state upon the terms and conditions as may be agreed upon 12.34 between the commissioner and the United States or between the 12.35 commissioner and the political subdivision or agency of the 12.36 state. 13.1 Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 174.03, 13.2 subdivision 1a, is amended to read: 13.3 Subd. 1a. [REVISION OF STATE TRANSPORTATION PLAN.] The 13.4 commissioner shall revise the state transportation plan by 13.5 January 1, 1996, andby January 1 of each odd-numbered year13.6 periodically thereafter as determined by the commissioner. 13.7 Before final adoption of a revised plan, the commissioner 13.8 shallhold a hearing toreceive public comment on the plan. The 13.9 revised state transportation plan must: 13.10 (1) incorporate the goals of the state transportation 13.11 system in section 174.01; and 13.12 (2) establish objectives, policies, and strategies for 13.13 achieving those goals. 13.14 Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 174.03, 13.15 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 13.16 Subd. 2. [IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN.] After the adoption and 13.17 each revision of the statewide transportation plan, the 13.18 commissionerand the transportation regulation boardshall take 13.19 no action inconsistent with the revised plan. 13.20 Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 221.011, is 13.21 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 13.22 Subd. 48. [PRIVATE CARRIER OF PROPERTY.] "Private carrier 13.23 of property" means a private carrier who engages in the 13.24 intrastate transportation of property. 13.25 Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 221.0251, 13.26 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 13.27 Subdivision 1. [REGISTRATION STATEMENT.] (a) Aperson who13.28wishes to operate as a motor carrier shall file acomplete and 13.29 accurate registration statement must be filed with the 13.30 commissioner by: 13.31 (1) a person who wishes to operate as a motor carrier of 13.32 property, regardless of the weight of its vehicles; 13.33 (2) a private carrier of property who operates vehicles 13.34 with a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds; and 13.35 (3) a person who wishes to engage in any transportation 13.36 described in section 221.025, clauses (b), (e) to (m), (o), and 14.1 (p) and who operates vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 14.2 more than 10,000 pounds. 14.3 (b) A registration statement must be on a form provided by 14.4 the commissioner and include: 14.5 (1) the registrant's name, including an assumed or 14.6 fictitious name used by the registrant in doing business; 14.7 (2) the registrant's mailing address and business telephone 14.8 number; 14.9 (3) the registrant's federal Employer Identification Number 14.10 and Minnesota Business Identification Number and the 14.11 identification numbers, if any, assigned to the registrant by 14.12 the United States Department of Transportation, Interstate 14.13 Commerce Commission, or Environmental Protection Agency; 14.14 (4) the name, title, and telephone number of the individual 14.15 who is principally responsible for the operation of the 14.16 registrant's transportation business; 14.17 (5) the principal location from which the registrant 14.18 conducts its transportation business and where the records 14.19 required by this chapter will be kept; 14.20 (6) if different from clause (5), the location in Minnesota 14.21 where the records required by this chapter will be available for 14.22 inspection and copying by the commissioner; 14.23 (7) whether the registrant transports hazardous materials 14.24 or hazardous waste; 14.25 (8) whether the registrant's business is a corporation, 14.26 partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability 14.27 company, or sole proprietorship; and 14.28 (9) if the registrant is a foreign corporation authorized 14.29 to transact business in Minnesota, the state of incorporation 14.30 and the name and address of its registered agent. 14.31 (c) This subdivision does not apply to a private carrier of 14.32 property or a person providing transportation under section 14.33 221.025 if the private carrier or person is a farmer who 14.34 operates only vehicles with four or fewer axles. 14.35 Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 221.0251, is 14.36 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 15.1 Subd. 1a. [FEDERAL FORM REQUIRED.] A person who is 15.2 required to comply with subdivision 1 who has not filed a 15.3 registration statement with the commissioner before August 1, 15.4 1998, shall file a complete and accurate federal Motor Carrier 15.5 Identification Report, form MCS-150, as its registration 15.6 statement. 15.7 Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 221.0251, 15.8 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 15.9 Subd. 2. [SIGNATURE REQUIRED.] A registration statement 15.10 may be signed only by a corporate officer, general partner, 15.11 limited liability company board member, or sole proprietor.A15.12signature must be notarized.15.13 Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 221.0251, 15.14 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 15.15 Subd. 3. [CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION; ISSUANCE; 15.16 LOCATION.] (a) The commissioner shall issue a certificate of 15.17 registration to a registrant who has filed a registration 15.18 statement that complies with subdivisions 1 and 2and paid the15.19required fee, has a satisfactory safety ratingor subdivisions 15.20 1a and 2 and, if applicable, has complied with the financial 15.21 responsibility requirements in section 221.141. The 15.22 commissioner may not issue a certificate of registration to a 15.23 registrant who has an unsatisfactory safety rating. 15.24 (b) A certificate of registration must be numbered and bear 15.25 an effective date. 15.26 (c) A certificate of registration must be kept at the 15.27 registrant's principal place of business. 15.28 Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 221.0251, is 15.29 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 15.30 Subd. 3a. [ISSUANCE OF CARRIER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.] The 15.31 commissioner shall issue, or cause to be issued, a "USDOT" 15.32 carrier identification number to a carrier who has filed a 15.33 federal Motor Carrier Identification Report, form MCS-150, under 15.34 subdivision 1a if one has not been issued to the carrier 15.35 previously. 15.36 Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 221.0251, 16.1 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 16.2 Subd. 5. [OBLIGATION TO KEEP INFORMATION CURRENT.] A 16.3 registrant shall notify the commissioner in writing of any 16.4 change in the information described insubdivisionsubdivisions 16.5 1 and 1a. 16.6 Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 221.031, 16.7 subdivision 6, is amended to read: 16.8 Subd. 6. [VEHICLE IDENTIFICATIONRULE.] (a) The following 16.9 carriers shall display thecarrier's name and address16.10 identifying information described in paragraph (b) on the power 16.11 unit of each vehicle: 16.12 (1) intrastate motor carriers, regardless of the weight of 16.13 the vehicle; 16.14 (2)interstate andintrastate private carriers operating 16.15 vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds; 16.16 and 16.17 (3) vehicles providing intrastate transportation described 16.18 in section 221.025 with a gross vehicle weight of more than 16.19 10,000 pounds except those providing transportation described in 16.20 section 221.025, clauses (a), (c), and (d). 16.21 Vehicles described in clauses (2) and (3) that are operated 16.22 by farmers or farm employees and have four or fewer axles are 16.23 not required to comply withthe vehicle identification rule of16.24the commissionerthis subdivision. 16.25 (b) Vehicles subject to this subdivision must show: 16.26 (1) the name or "doing business as" name of the carrier 16.27 operating the vehicleand; 16.28 (2) the city or community and abbreviation of the state in 16.29 which the carrier maintains its principal office or in which the 16.30 vehicle is customarily based; and 16.31 (3) the carrier identification number, if issued by the 16.32 Federal Highway Administration or the commissioner, preceded by 16.33 the letters "USDOT".If the carrier operates a leased vehicle,16.34it may show its name and the name of the lessor on the vehicle,16.35if the lease relationship is clearly shown.16.36 If the name of a person other than the operating carrier 17.1 appears on the vehicle, either alone or in combination, the 17.2 words "operated by" must immediately precede thename of the17.3carrierinformation required by clauses (1) to (3). Other 17.4 identifying information may be displayed on the vehicle if it is 17.5 not inconsistent with the information required by this paragraph. 17.6 (c) Thename and addressinformation required in paragraph 17.7 (b) must appear on both sides of the vehicle, be in letters that 17.8 contrast sharply in color with the background on which the 17.9 letters are placed, be readily legible during daylight hours 17.10 from a distance of 50 feet while the vehicle is stationary, and 17.11 be maintained in a manner that retains the legibility of the 17.12 markings. Thename and addressinformation required in 17.13 paragraph (b) may be painted on the vehicle or may be shown by 17.14 use of a removable device if that device meets the 17.15 identification and legibility requirements of this subdivision. 17.16 A carrier operating a vehicle that is subject to this 17.17 subdivision under a rental agreement having a term of 30 17.18 calendar days or less may meet the requirements of this 17.19 subdivision by complying with paragraph (b) or by complying with 17.20 Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, section 390.21, paragraph 17.21 (e), which is incorporated by reference. 17.22 Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 221.034, 17.23 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 17.24 Subdivision 1. [NOTICE REQUIRED.] At the earliest 17.25 practicable moment, each person who transports hazardous 17.26 materials, including hazardous wastes, shall give notice in 17.27 accordance with subdivision 2 after each incident that occurs 17.28 during the course of transportation including loading, 17.29 unloading, and temporary storage, in which as a direct result of 17.30 hazardous materials: 17.31 (1) a person is killed; 17.32 (2) a person receives injuries requiring hospitalization; 17.33 (3) estimated carrier or other property damage exceeds 17.34 $50,000; 17.35 (4) an evacuation of the general public occurs lasting one 17.36 or more hours; 18.1 (5) one or more major transportation arteries or facilities 18.2 are closed or shut down for one hour or more; 18.3 (6) the operational flight pattern or routine of an 18.4 aircraft is altered; 18.5 (7) fire, breakage, spillage, or suspected radioactive 18.6 contamination occurs involving shipment of radioactive material; 18.7 (8) fire, breakage, spillage, or suspected contamination 18.8 occurs involving shipment of etiologic agents;or18.9 (9) a situation exists of such a nature that, in the 18.10 judgment of the carrier, it should be reported in accordance 18.11 with subdivision 2 even though it does not meet the criteria of 18.12 clause (1), (2), or (3), but a continuing danger to life exists 18.13 at the scene of the incident; or 18.14 (10) there has been a release of a marine pollutant in a 18.15 quantity exceeding 450 liters (119 gallons) for liquids or 450 18.16 kilograms (882 pounds) for solids. 18.17 Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 221.034, 18.18 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 18.19 Subd. 5. [DISCHARGES NOT APPLICABLE.] Except as provided 18.20 in subdivision 6, the requirements of subdivision 3 do not apply 18.21 to incidents involving the unintentional release of hazardous 18.22 materials being transported under the following proper shipping 18.23 names: 18.24 (1) consumer commodity; 18.25 (2) battery, electric storage, wet, filled with acid or 18.26 alkali; 18.27 (3) paint, enamel, lacquer, stain, shellac or varnish 18.28 aluminum, bronze, gold, wood filler, and liquid or lacquer base 18.29 liquid when shipped in packagings of five gallons or less; or 18.30 (4) materials prepared and transported as a limited 18.31 quantity according to Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, 18.32 subchapter C. 18.33 Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 222.63, 18.34 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 18.35 Subd. 4. [DISPOSITION PERMITTED.] (a) The commissioner may 18.36 lease any rail line or right-of-way held in the state rail bank 19.1 or enter into an agreement with any person for the operation of 19.2 any rail line or right-of-way for any of the purposes set forth 19.3 in subdivision 2 in accordance with a fee schedule to be 19.4 developed by the commissioner. 19.5 (b) The commissioner may convey any rail line or 19.6 right-of-way, for consideration or for no consideration and upon 19.7 other terms as the commissioner may determine to be in the 19.8 public interest, to any other state agency or to a governmental 19.9 subdivision of the state having power by law to utilize it for 19.10 any of the purposes set forth in subdivision 2. 19.11 (c) The commissioner may convey a portion of previously 19.12 acquired rail bank right-of-way to a state agency or 19.13 governmental subdivision when the commissioner determines that: 19.14 (1) the portion to be conveyed is in excess of that needed 19.15 for the purposes stated in subdivision 2; 19.16 (2) the conveyance is upon terms and conditions agreed upon 19.17 by both the commissioner and the state agency or governmental 19.18 subdivision; and 19.19 (3) after the sale, the rail bank corridor will continue to 19.20 meet the future public and commercial transportation and 19.21 transmission needs of the state. 19.22 Proceeds from a sale shall be deposited in the rail bank 19.23 maintenance account described in subdivision 8. 19.24 Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 270.077, is 19.25 amended to read: 19.26 270.077 [TAXES CREDITED TO STATE AIRPORTS FUNDCREATED.] 19.27There is hereby created in the state treasury a fund to be19.28known as the state airports fund to which shall be credited the19.29proceeds ofAll taxes levied under sections 270.071 to 270.079 19.30and all other moneys which may be deposited to the credit19.31thereof pursuant to any other provision of law. All moneys in19.32the state airports fund are hereby appropriated to the19.33commissioner of transportation for the purpose of acquiring,19.34constructing, improving, maintaining, and operating airports and19.35other air navigation facilities for the state, and to assist19.36municipalities within the state in the acquisition,20.1construction, improvement, and maintenance of airports and other20.2air navigation facilitiesmust be credited to the state airports 20.3 fund created in section 360.017. 20.4 Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 360.024, is 20.5 amended to read: 20.6 360.024 [AIR TRANSPORTATIONSERVICES, COST REIMBURSEMENT20.7 SERVICE CHARGES.] 20.8 The commissioner shall charge users of air transportation 20.9 services provided by the commissioner foralldirect operating 20.10 costs,including salaries and acquisition ofexcluding pilot 20.11 salary and aircraft acquisition costs. All receipts for these 20.12 services shall be deposited in the air transportation services 20.13 account in the state airports fund and are appropriated to the 20.14 commissioner to payallthese direct air service operating costs 20.15, including salaries.Receipts to cover the cost of acquisition20.16of aircraft must be transferred and credited to the account or20.17fund whose assets were used for the acquisition.20.18 Sec. 28. [REPEALER.] 20.19 Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 161.115, subdivision 219, 20.20 is repealed when the transfer of jurisdiction of a portion of 20.21 legislative route No. 288 agreed to by the commissioner of 20.22 transportation and the Anoka county board and the jurisdiction 20.23 of the remainder of the route is agreed to by the commissioner 20.24 and the Anoka city council and a copy of the agreement, signed 20.25 by the commissioner, the chair of the Anoka county board, and 20.26 the mayor of the city of Anoka, is filed in the office of the 20.27 commissioner. 20.28 Sec. 29. [INSTRUCTION TO THE REVISOR.] 20.29 The revisor of statutes shall delete the route identified 20.30 in section 28 in the next publication of Minnesota Statutes 20.31 unless the commissioner of transportation informs the revisor 20.32 that the conditions required to transfer the route were not 20.33 satisfied. 20.34 Sec. 30. [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 20.35 Sections 8 to 11 are effective July 1, 1999.