HF 2160

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/07/2019 02:47pm

A bill for an act
relating to elections; modifying certain election requirements governing ward
population changes for cities of the first class; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018,
section 205.84, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 205.84, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

General provisions.

deleted text begin (a) deleted text end In a city electing council members by wards,
wards shall be as equal in population as practicable and each ward shall be composed of
compact, contiguous territory. Each council member shall be a resident of the ward for
which elected deleted text begin , deleted text end but deleted text begin , except as otherwise provided by paragraph (b), deleted text end a change in ward
boundaries does not disqualify a council member from serving for the remainder of a term.

deleted text begin (b) Notwithstanding any home rule charter provision to the contrary, in a city of the first
class where council members are elected by ward to serve for four years to terms that are
not staggered, if the population of any ward changes by five percent or more, all council
members must be elected to new terms at the first municipal general election after ward
boundaries are redefined under subdivision 2; provided, however, that if no municipal
general election would otherwise occur in the year ending in "2" or the year ending in "3,"
a municipal general election must be held in one of those years.
deleted text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end