SF 2747

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/15/2016 11:37am

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; modifying the process for electing members of the
Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota; providing for recommendations
by congressional district legislative delegation; requiring ranked choice voting at
the joint convention to elect regents; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections
137.0245, subdivisions 1, 4; 137.0246, subdivision 2, by adding subdivisions.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 137.0245, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Establishment.

A Regent Candidate Advisory Council is established
to assist in determining criteria for, and identifying and recruiting qualified candidates for
membership on the Board of Regents and making recommendations new text begin for at-large positions
on the board new text end to the joint legislative committee described in section 137.0246, subdivision 2.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 137.0245, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Recommendations.

(a) The advisory council shall recommend at least
two and not more than four candidates new text begin for each at-large position new text end . By January 15 of each
odd-numbered year, the advisory council shall submit its recommendations to the joint
legislative committee described in section 137.0246, subdivision 2.

(b) The advisory council must submit a report to the joint committee on the needs
criterion identified under subdivision 3, paragraph (c), at the same time it submits its
recommendations.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 137.0246, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Regent nomination joint committee.

(a) The joint legislative committee
consists of the members of the higher education budget and policy divisions in each house
of the legislature. The chairs of the divisions from each body shall be cochairs of the
joint legislative committee. A majority of the members from each house is a quorum of
the joint committee.

(b) By February 28 of each odd-numbered year, or at a date agreed to by concurrent
resolution, the joint legislative committee shall meet to consider the advisory council's
recommendations for new text begin at-large positions of new text end regent of the University of Minnesota for
possible presentation to a joint convention of the legislature.

(c) The joint committee may recommend to the joint convention candidates
new text begin for at-large positions new text end recommended by the advisory council and the other candidates
nominated by the joint committee. A candidate other than those recommended by the
advisory council may be nominated for consideration by the joint committee only if the
nomination receives the support of at least three house of representatives members of the
committee and two senate members of the committee.

new text begin (d) new text end A candidate must receive a majority vote of members from the house of
representatives and from the senate on the joint committee to be recommended to the
joint convention. The joint committee may recommend no more than one candidate for
each vacancy. In recommending nominees, the joint committee must consider the needs
of the board of regents and the balance of the board membership with respect to gender,
racial, and ethnic composition.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 137.0246, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Congressional district legislative delegation. new text end

new text begin (a) A congressional district
legislative delegation consists of the members of the legislature whose districts include
territory within that congressional district. A member of the legislature whose district
includes territory in multiple congressional districts may only participate as a member of
the legislative delegation for one congressional district in any year.
new text end

new text begin (b) By February 28 of each odd-numbered year, or at a date agreed to by concurrent
resolution, the congressional district legislative delegation shall meet to consider
recommendations for regent of the University of Minnesota to represent that congressional
district. Voting must be proportional, based on the amount of territory within the
congressional district that each member of the delegation represents.
new text end

new text begin (c) The recommendations of the congressional district legislative delegation must
be presented to the joint convention of the legislature. The legislative delegation may
recommend no more than one candidate for each vacancy. In recommending nominees,
the delegation must consider the needs of the Board of Regents and the balance of the
board membership with respect to gender, racial, and ethnic composition.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 137.0246, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Joint convention to elect regents; ranked choice voting. new text end

new text begin Members of
the Board of Regents shall be elected by the legislature at a joint convention, on a date
agreed to by concurrent resolution. The convention must be conducted according to the
requirements of the University of Minnesota Charter, the joint rules of the senate and
house of representatives, and any other applicable law. If more than two nominations are
made for a position, the vote shall be conducted by ranked-choice ballot. The procedures
for conducting a vote by ranked-choice ballot shall be provided in the joint rules of
procedure governing the convention.
new text end