Minnesota Session Laws - 1991, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1991 

                         CHAPTER 79-H.F.No. 584 
           An act relating to local government; authorizing 
          municipalities to enter into joint ventures with 
          telecommunications organizations; amending Minnesota 
          Statutes 1990, section 237.19. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1990, section 237.19, is 
amended to read: 
    237.19 [MUNICIPALITIES MAY OPERATE TELEPHONE EXCHANGES 
PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.] 
    Any municipality shall have the right to own and operate a 
telephone exchange within its own borders, subject to the 
provisions of this chapter, and.  It may construct such plant, 
or purchase an existing plant by agreement with the owner, or 
where it cannot agree with the owner on price, it may acquire an 
existing plant by condemnation, as hereinafter provided, but in 
no case shall a municipality construct or purchase such a plant 
or proceed to acquire an existing plant by condemnation until 
such action by it is authorized by a majority of the electors 
voting upon the proposition at a general election or a special 
election called for that purpose, and if the proposal is to 
construct a new exchange where an exchange already exists, it 
shall not be authorized to do so unless 65 percent of those 
voting thereon vote in favor of the undertaking.  A municipality 
that owns and operates a telephone exchange may enter into a 
joint venture as a partner or shareholder with a 
telecommunications organization to provide telecommunications 
services within its service area. 
     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
     This act is effective the day following final enactment. 
    Presented to the governor May 9, 1991 
    Signed by the governor May 13, 1991, 11:55 a.m.