SF 3250

1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/19/2024 10:11am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; requiring an open bidding process when deputy registrars
and driver's license agents close locations; requiring a study; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2022, sections 168.33, by adding a subdivision; 171.061, by adding a
subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 168.33, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 8b. new text end

new text begin Open bidding. new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding any statute or rule to the contrary, if a
deputy registrar appointed under this section permanently stops offering services at the
approved office location and permanently closes the approved office location, the
commissioner must allow an open bidding process for the appointment of a replacement
deputy registrar. A replacement deputy registrar appointed by the commissioner under this
section may continue to offer services at the approved office location.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner must not give any preference to any partner, owner, manager, or
employee of the closed deputy registrar office location in the open bidding process.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner must adopt rules to administer and enforce an open bidding process
to select a replacement deputy registrar. If the replacement deputy registrar elects to not
offer services at the office location of the prior registrar, the rules governing the selection
of a proposed office location apply.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective October 1, 2025.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 171.061, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 5a. new text end

new text begin Open bidding. new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding any statute or rule to the contrary, if a
driver's license agent appointed under this section permanently stops offering services at
the approved office location and permanently closes the approved office location, the
commissioner must allow an open bidding process for the appointment of a replacement
driver's license agent. A replacement driver's license agent appointed by the commissioner
under this section may continue to offer services at the approved office location.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner must not give any preference to any partner, owner, manager, or
employee of the closed driver's license agent office location in the open bidding process.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner must adopt rules to administer and enforce an open bidding process
to select a replacement driver's license agent. If the replacement driver's license agent elects
to not offer services at the office location of the prior agent, the rules governing the selection
of a proposed office location apply.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective October 1, 2025.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin DEPUTY REGISTRAR AND DRIVER'S LICENSE AGENT LOCATIONS
OPEN BIDDING STUDY REQUIRED.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public safety.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Deputy registrar" means a public or private deputy registrar appointed by the
commissioner under Minnesota Statutes, section 168.33.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Driver's license agent" means a public or private driver's license agent appointed
by the commissioner under Minnesota Statutes, section 171.061.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Study required. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must conduct a driver's license agent and
deputy registrar open bidding process study. The study must evaluate and analyze the
appointment process for a replacement deputy registrar or driver's license agent when an
appointed deputy registrar or driver's license agent closes their approved office location. At
a minimum, the study must evaluate the requirements established in Minnesota Statutes,
section 168.33, subdivision 8b, and Minnesota Statutes, section 171.061, subdivision 5a,
and must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) the commissioner's proposal for administering and enforcing an open bidding process
to select a replacement deputy registrar or driver's license agent at an existing approved
location;
new text end

new text begin (2) recommended legislation to establish, implement, administer, and enforce an open
bidding process and its requirements in statute rather than the commissioner using rulemaking
to create the process;
new text end

new text begin (3) an analysis of how the open bid proposal would interact with the commissioner's
existing rules on deputy registrar and driver's license agent office locations and propose
recommendations to reconcile any issues;
new text end

new text begin (4) the effect of an open bidding process on service outcomes, financial sustainability,
and needed financial assistance for deputy registrars and driver's license agents;
new text end

new text begin (5) how an open bidding process would initiate business development for persons who
are seeking appointment as a deputy registrar or driver's license agent;
new text end

new text begin (6) the expected fiscal impact for creating and administering an open bidding process;
new text end

new text begin (7) recommendations on the impact of implementing an open bidding process on existing
deputy registrar and driver's license agent locations; and
new text end

new text begin (8) feedback from existing deputy registrars and driver's license agents on the
commissioner's proposal.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By February 1, 2025, the commissioner must complete the study and
submit it to the chairs, ranking minority members, and staff of the legislative committees
with jurisdiction over transportation finance and policy. The study must include proposed
legislation to establish and implement the open bidding process required in Minnesota
Statutes, section 168.33, subdivision 8b, and Minnesota Statutes, section 171.061, subdivision
5a.
new text end