SF 2226

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/24/2017 09:10am

A bill for an act
relating to the Public Utilities Commission; providing for legislative appointments
to the Public Utilities Commission; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section
216A.03, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 216A.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Members.

new text begin (a) new text end The Public Utilities Commission deleted text begin shall consist deleted text end new text begin consists new text end of
five members. The terms of members shall be six years and until their successors have been
appointed and qualified. deleted text begin Each commissioner shall be appointed by the governor by and with
the advice and consent of the senate. deleted text end Not more than three commissioners shall belong to
the same political party. At least one commissioner must have been domiciled at the time
of appointment outside the seven-county metropolitan area. If the membership of the
commission deleted text begin after July 31, 1986, deleted text end does not consist of at least one member domiciled at the
time of appointment outside the seven-county metropolitan area, the membership shall
conform to this requirement following normal attrition of the present commissioners. deleted text begin The
governor deleted text end When selecting commissioners new text begin , the appointing authorities under paragraph (c) new text end
shall give consideration to persons learned in the law or persons who have engaged in the
profession of engineering, public accounting, property and utility valuation, finance, physical
or natural sciences, production agriculture, or natural resources as well as being representative
of the general public.

new text begin (b) new text end For purposes of this subdivision, "seven-county metropolitan area" means Anoka,
Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington Counties.

new text begin (c) The legislature and the governor shall appoint members of the commission as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) the speaker of the house shall appoint one member;
new text end

new text begin (2) the leader of the majority caucus in the senate shall appoint one member;
new text end

new text begin (3) the leader of the minority caucus in the house of representatives shall appoint one
member;
new text end

new text begin (4) the leader of the minority caucus in the senate shall appoint one member; and
new text end

new text begin (5) the governor shall appoint one member.
new 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

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 216A.03, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 1b. new text end

new text begin Transition. new text end

new text begin (a) This subdivision governs the membership of the commission
between July 1, 2017, and July 1, 2019.
new text end

new text begin (b) On or before July 1, 2017, the leaders of the senate majority and minority caucuses
shall each appoint one commissioner to serve a term ending July 1, 2023, to replace
commissioners whose terms expire in 2022 and 2023.
new text end

new text begin (c) On or before February 1, 2019, the governor shall appoint a commissioner to serve
a term ending July 1, 2025, to replace a commissioner whose term ends in 2021.
new text end

new text begin (d) On or before July 1, 2019, the leaders of the house of representatives majority and
minority caucuses shall each appoint one commissioner to serve a term ending July 1, 2025,
to replace commissioners whose terms expire in 2019 and 2020.
new 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