SF 2036

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/05/2019 09:30am

A bill for an act
relating to the legislature; requiring conference committee and budget negotiations
to be open to the public; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 3.055,
subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 3.055, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Meetings to be open.

new text begin (a) new text end Meetings of the legislature shall be open to the
public, including sessions of the senate, sessions of the house of representatives, joint
sessions of the senate and the house of representatives, and meetings of a standing committee,
committee division, subcommittee, conference committee, or legislative commission, but
not including a caucus of the members of any of those bodies from the same house and
political party nor a delegation of legislators representing a geographic area or political
subdivision. For purposes of this section, a meeting occurs when a quorum is present and
action is taken regarding a matter within the jurisdiction of the body.

new text begin (b) In addition to the openness requirements imposed on conference committees by
paragraph (a), from the time a conference committee is appointed until it is disbanded, any
negotiations between senate and house of representatives members of the conference
committee or senate and house of representatives staff members related to the conference
committee or the bill referred to the conference committee must be open to the public.
new text end

new text begin (c) A meeting between the majority leader of the senate and the speaker of the house or
the majority leader of the house of representatives to negotiate budget targets or formally
negotiate the state budget must be open to the public.
new text end

new text begin (d) A meeting to negotiate budget targets or formally negotiate the state budget must be
open to the public if the meeting includes the governor and one or more of the following
members of the legislature:
new text end

new text begin (1) the majority leader of the senate;
new text end

new text begin (2) the speaker of the house or majority leader of the house of representatives; or
new text end

new text begin (3) the minority leader of either the senate or house of representatives.
new text end

new text begin (e) new text end Each house shall provide by rule for posting notices of meetings, recording
proceedings, and making the recordings and votes available to the public.