Minnesota Session Laws - 1997, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 184-S.F.No. 1383 
                  An act relating to the legislature; increasing 
                  membership on the legislative audit commission and the 
                  commission advisory council; prescribing procedures 
                  for rotation of the chair; amending Minnesota Statutes 
                  1996, sections 3.97, subdivision 2; and 3.971, 
                  subdivision 4. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 3.97, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  The legislative audit commission is created.  The 
        commission consists of: 
           (1) the majority leader of the senate and the president of 
        the senate or their designees; 
           (2) the chair of the senate committee on taxes or a 
        designee who is a member of the committee; 
           (3) the chair of the senate committee on governmental 
        operations and reform or a designee who is a member of the 
        committee; 
           (4) the chair of the senate committee on finance or a 
        designee who is a member of the committee; 
           (5) three five members of the senate appointed by the 
        senate minority leader; 
           (6) the speaker of the house and the chair of the house 
        committee on rules or their designees; 
           (7) the chair of the house committee on taxes or a designee 
        who is a member of the committee; 
           (8) the chair of the house committee on governmental 
        operations and gaming or a designee who is a member of the 
        committee; 
           (9) the chair of the house ways and means committee or a 
        designee who is a member of the committee; and 
           (10) three five members of the house appointed by the house 
        minority leader.  
        The appointed members of the commission shall serve for a term 
        commencing upon appointment and expiring at the opening of the 
        next regular session of the legislature in the odd-numbered year 
        and until a successor is appointed.  A vacancy in the membership 
        of the commission shall be filled for the unexpired term in a 
        manner that will preserve the representation established by this 
        subdivision.  
           The commission shall meet in January of each odd-numbered 
        year to elect its chair and other officers as it may determine 
        necessary.  It A chair shall serve a two-year term, expiring on 
        January 1 in the odd-numbered year following election, and until 
        a successor is elected.  The chair shall alternate biennially 
        between the senate and the house.  The commission shall meet at 
        the call of the chair or the executive secretary.  The members 
        shall serve without compensation but be reimbursed for their 
        reasonable expenses as members of the legislature.  The 
        commission may exercise the powers prescribed by section 3.153. 
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 3.971, 
        subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 4.  (a) To perform best practices reviews, the 
        legislative auditor through the program evaluation division 
        shall examine the procedures and practices used to deliver local 
        government services, including municipalities and counties, 
        determine the methods of local government service delivery, 
        identify variations in cost and effectiveness, and identify 
        practices to save money or provide more effective service 
        delivery.  The legislative auditor shall recommend to local 
        governments, service delivery methods and practices to improve 
        the cost-effectiveness of services.  The legislative auditor and 
        the board of government innovation and cooperation shall notify 
        each other of projects being conducted relating to improving 
        local government services. 
           (b) The commission shall identify local government services 
        to be reviewed with advice from an advisory council whose 
        membership shall consist of: 
           (1) three representatives from the Association of Minnesota 
        Counties; 
           (2) three representatives from the League of Minnesota 
        Cities; and 
           (3) two representatives from the Association of 
        Metropolitan Municipalities; and 
           (4) one representative from the Minnesota Association of 
        Townships.  
           (c) This subdivision expires June 30, 1999. 
           Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment. 
           Presented to the governor May 19, 1997 
           Signed by the governor May 20, 1997, 10:28 a.m.