Minnesota Session Laws - 1983, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1983 

                        CHAPTER 307--S.F.No. 541
           An act relating to counties; authorizing a jobs 
          program; providing that members of the Hennepin county 
          personnel board may serve as political party 
          delegates; amending Laws 1965, chapter 855, section 3, 
          subdivision 2, as amended by Laws 1980, chapter 573, 
          section 3, subdivision 2.  
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  [375.551] [COUNTY EMERGENCY JOBS PROGRAM.] 
    Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the board of 
commissioners of a county experiencing chronic high unemployment 
may establish an emergency employment program to meet the needs 
of its economically disadvantaged, unemployed residents.  
    Sec. 2.  [375.552] [DEFINITIONS.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [APPLICATION.] For the purposes of sections 
1 to 5, the following terms have the meanings given them.  
    Subd. 2.  [EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.] "Employment program" means 
a program offering job training programs or jobs through public 
works projects to economically disadvantaged, unemployed 
residents of a county.  
    Subd. 3.  [ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, UNEMPLOYED 
RESIDENT.] "Economically disadvantaged, unemployed resident" 
means a person (a) who is not eligible for or who refuses to 
accept financial assistance pursuant to chapter 256, 256B, 256D, 
or 268; (b) whose income or household income is at or below 25 
percent of the statewide median household income as determined 
by the 1980 federal census; (c) who is a bona fide resident of 
the county; and (d) who is unemployed.  
    Subd. 4.  [WAGE.] "Wage" means the basic minimum wage 
pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 177.24.  
    Subd. 5.  [CHRONIC HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT.] "Chronic high 
unemployment" means an unemployment rate as defined by the 
department of economic security in a county or portion of a 
county that exceeds the national unemployment rate for four 
consecutive months in the 12-month period immediately preceding 
September 1.  
    Sec. 3.  [375.553] [COUNTY EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.] 
    The funds authorized in section 5 shall be expended by the 
county for job training programs or for jobs through public 
works projects submitted to the county by its departments and 
agencies and those of cities, towns, school districts, state and 
federal agencies, park reserve districts, and other special 
districts, including metropolitan agencies that are located 
totally or partially within the county.  The funds shall be 
expended only for training programs or public works projects 
located within the county.  The projects shall be beneficial to 
the submitting local unit and may include permanent improvements 
or maintenance of public property, residential weatherization 
programs, landscaping of public grounds or parks, planting or 
trimming trees, improving open space areas, playgrounds, and 
recreational facilities owned or operated by the sponsoring unit 
of government, and reclamation and reforestation.  The 
sponsoring unit of government shall provide the administration, 
supervision, supplies, and materials for its training program or 
public works project.  All funds available through the authority 
granted in section 5 shall be expended for wages and benefits 
for program participants except that up to two percent of the 
total amount shall be available to reimburse the county for its 
actual cost of administering the program.  
    Sec. 4.  [375.554] [PROGRAM RULES.] 
    The county board of commissioners shall establish rules 
governing the operation of the employment program.  Rules shall 
include but not be limited to number of hours worked, benefits, 
and methods and terms of payment.  
    Sec. 5.  [375.555] [FUNDING.] 
    To implement the county emergency jobs program, the county 
board is authorized to expend an amount equal to what would be 
generated by a levy of 0.5 mills on all taxable property within 
the county.  The money to be expended may be from any available 
funds not otherwise earmarked. 
    Sec. 6.  Laws 1965, chapter 855, section 3, subdivision 2, 
as amended by Laws 1980, chapter 573, section 3, subdivision 2, 
is amended to read: 
    Subd. 2.  [APPOINTMENT; TERMS.] (a) The county board shall 
by majority vote appoint seven persons to serve for four year 
terms.  Terms of office of persons who are members of the 
personnel board as of the effective date of this act shall 
continue in accordance with the terms of their original 
appointment.  As the term of each member expires, the board of 
county commissioners shall by majority vote fill the vacancy for 
a term of four years. 
    (b) The expiration date of all expiring terms shall be 
January 2. 
    (c) Any vacancies shall be filled by majority vote of the 
county board for the unexpired term.  
    (d) Each member shall take an oath of office before 
assuming the duties of office. 
    (e) Each member shall hold office until a successor has 
been appointed and qualified. 
    (f) No person shall be appointed or be a member of the 
board while holding any public office or having filed as a 
candidate for any office or any public employment or position in 
a political party within one year immediately preceeding such 
appointment. 
    (g) No person shall be appointed or be a member of the 
board while holding or within one year of holding employment 
with Hennepin county or a position in a political party, except 
as a political party delegate.  
    (h) Each member of the board shall be a resident of the 
county and in the event the member becomes a nonresident, the 
member thereby forfeits the office. 
    (h) (i) A board member may be removed from office by the 
county board for cause, after a copy of the charges has first 
been given to the member and opportunity of being publicly heard 
before the county board, upon not less than ten days written 
notice.  A majority vote of the county board shall be required 
for removal. 
    Sec. 7.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
    Section 6 is effective the day after compliance by the 
Hennepin County Board of Commissioners with Minnesota Statutes, 
section 645.021, subdivision 3. 
    Approved June 9, 1983