SF 3244

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/01/2016 02:51pm

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; establishing an advisory working group to observe
and report on development of a passenger rail project between Rochester and
the Twin Cities.

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

Section 1. new text begin ESTABLISHMENT OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT ADVISORY
WORKING GROUP.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, "project" means the
planning, design, engineering, and construction, including environmental processes, land
acquisition, and federal agency interaction, of a potential privately financed passenger
high-speed rail line between the city of Rochester and a location in the Minneapolis-St.
Paul metropolitan area.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Purpose. new text end

new text begin The high-speed rail project advisory working group is established
to examine issues related to the potential development of the project in order to ensure
affected landowners, area residents, and other stakeholders have the opportunity to engage
in public discussion related to various aspects of high-speed rail generally and specific
elements of the potential project, and so that:
new text end

new text begin (1) adequate public engagement opportunities are offered at a range of locations
along the project corridor and through various means of communication; and
new text end

new text begin (2) considerations related to taxpayer protections, landowner rights, potential
development processes, and associated contracts and agreements adequately manage risks
to the state and the public, including but not limited to risks associated with the project's
finances, right-of-way acquisition, environmental processes, and construction impacts.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Advisory working group membership. new text end

new text begin (a) The high-speed rail project
advisory working group consists of 15 members, all of whom are voting members and
must be appointed within 60 days of the effective date of this section, as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) two senators appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee
on Rules and Administration of the senate;
new text end

new text begin (2) two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the
house;
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new text begin (3) two members appointed by the governor;
new text end

new text begin (4) the commissioner of transportation or the commissioner's designee;
new text end

new text begin (5) the commissioner of public safety or the commissioner's designee;
new text end

new text begin (6) one member who resides in the county of Dakota appointed by the Dakota
County Board;
new text end

new text begin (7) one member who resides in the county of Dodge appointed by the Dodge County
Board;
new text end

new text begin (8) one member who resides in the county of Goodhue appointed by the Goodhue
County Board;
new text end

new text begin (9) one member who resides in the county of Hennepin appointed by the Hennepin
County Board;
new text end

new text begin (10) one member who resides in the county of Olmsted appointed by the Olmsted
County Board;
new text end

new text begin (11) one member who resides in the county of Ramsey appointed by the Ramsey
County Board; and
new text end

new text begin (12) one member who represents the University of Minnesota appointed by the
Center for Transportation Studies.
new text end

new text begin (b) The advisory working group must elect from among its members a chair, and
may elect a cochair and any other officers the advisory working group determines are
necessary or convenient.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin First meeting. new text end

new text begin The University of Minnesota Center for Transportation
Studies must convene the first meeting of the advisory working group within 30 days
after all members are appointed.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The advisory working group must examine and report to the
legislature annually by February 1 concerning its activities and developments regarding
the potential project. Items the advisory working group must report on include public
engagement processes, land acquisition activities, and relevant contracts and agreements
and the adequacy of each to protect the public from risks associated with the project.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Authorization. new text end

new text begin The advisory working group may solicit gifts, grants, or
donations of any kind from any private or public source to carry out the purposes of this
section. All gifts, grants, or donations received by the advisory working group must be
deposited in a high-speed rail project account, which is established in the special revenue
fund. Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner of transportation for a grant
to the University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies to support the activities of
the advisory working group. When the advisory working group expires under subdivision
12, the commissioner of management and budget must transfer any money remaining in
the account to the private and public sources that provided the gift, grant, or donation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Compensation. new text end

new text begin Public members of the advisory working group must
not receive any compensation or per diem payments for participating in the advisory
working group.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Notification and administrative support. new text end

new text begin The University of Minnesota
Center for Transportation Studies must provide meeting space, administrative support, and
staff support for the advisory working group, and must notify all entities responsible for
appointing members to the advisory working group of the effective date of this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Open Meeting Law. new text end

new text begin Meetings of the advisory working group are subject
to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13D.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The advisory working group must report its findings and
any recommendations to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance annually by February
1 until the advisory working group expires under subdivision 12.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 11. new text end

new text begin Funding. new text end

new text begin The costs of the advisory working group must be paid entirely
by nonstate sources that are deposited in the high-speed rail project account in the special
revenue fund.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 12. new text end

new text begin Sunset. new text end

new text begin This section expires June 30, 2020, or when the project
commences revenue operation or is abandoned, whichever occurs first.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day after the commissioner of
transportation notifies the University of Minnesota that a request to begin negotiating for
use of right-of-way to construct a project has been received.
new text end