Minnesota Session Laws - 1996, Regular Session

  
    
KEY: stricken = old language to be removed
     underscored = new language to be added
    
                            CHAPTER 454-H.F.No. 1800 
                  An act relating to local government; requiring a 
                  sustainable development planning guide and a model 
                  ordinance to be developed for local government use by 
                  the office of strategic and long-range planning; 
                  directing the environmental quality board to adopt 
                  principles of sustainable development; requiring 
                  reports; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
                  Statutes, chapter 4A. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  [4A.07] [SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR LOCAL 
        GOVERNMENT.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITIONS.] (a) "Local unit of 
        government" means a county, statutory or home rule charter city, 
        town, or watershed district.  
           (b) "Sustainable development" means development that 
        maintains or enhances economic opportunity and community 
        well-being while protecting and restoring the natural 
        environment upon which people and economies depend.  Sustainable 
        development meets the needs of the present without compromising 
        the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.  
           Subd. 2.  [PLANNING GUIDE.] The office of strategic and 
        long-range planning must develop and publish a planning guide 
        for local units of government to plan for sustainable 
        development, based on the principles of sustainable development 
        adopted by the environmental quality board with advice of the 
        governor's round table on sustainable development.  The office 
        must make the planning guide available to local units of 
        government within the state. 
           Subd. 3.  [MODEL ORDINANCE.] The office of strategic and 
        long-range planning, in consultation with appropriate and 
        affected parties, must prepare a model ordinance to guide 
        sustainable development. 
           Subd. 4.  [SPECIFICITY AND DISTRIBUTION.] The model 
        ordinance must specify the technical and administrative 
        procedures to guide sustainable development.  When adopted by a 
        local unit of government, the model ordinance is the minimum 
        regulation to guide sustainable development that may be 
        adopted.  Upon completion, the office of strategic and 
        long-range planning must notify local units of government that 
        the model ordinance is available, and must distribute it to 
        interested local units. 
           Subd. 5.  [PERIODIC REVIEW.] At least once every five 
        years, the planning office must review the model ordinance and 
        its use with local units of government to ensure its continued 
        applicability and relevance. 
           Sec. 2.  [AGENCIES' REPORTS TO BOARD.] 
           Each state department, agency, and board shall report to 
        the environmental quality board by October 15, 1996, how the 
        mission and programs of the department, agency, or board reflect 
        and implement the state sustainable development principles, or 
        how the mission and programs could be changed to do so. 
           Sec. 3.  [REPORT TO LEGISLATURE.] 
           The environmental quality board shall report to the 
        legislature by January 15, 1997, on the state agencies' review 
        of their missions and programs in relation to the principles of 
        sustainable development. 
           Sec. 4.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           This act is effective the day after final enactment. 
           Presented to the governor April 4, 1996 
           Signed by the governor April 11, 1996, 11:40 a.m.