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Key: (1) language to be deleted (2) new language

CHAPTER 130--S.F.No. 1372

An act

relating to state government; changing provisions for professional and technical service contracts for the legislature and the Legislative Coordinating Commission; changing the term of the chair of the Legislative Coordinating Commission between the senate and the house of representatives and other provisions; certain reports to the Legislative Coordinating Commission must be submitted electronically; changing provisions for ethnic councils;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 3.225, subdivisions 2, 3, 5; 3.303, subdivisions 3, 10; Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 15.0145, subdivisions 4, 5, 8.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 3.225, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Requirements for all contracts.

Before entering into a contract for professional or technical services, the contracting entity must determine that:

(1) deleted text begin all provisions of section 16C.16, subdivision 3, relating to purchases from small businesses, have been verified or complied withdeleted text end new text begin no current legislative employee is able and available to perform the services called for by the contractnew text end ;

(2) the work to be performed under the contract is necessary to the entity's achievement of its responsibilities;

(3) the contract will not establish an employment relationship between the state or the entity and any persons performing under the contract;

(4) no current legislative employees will engage in the performance of the contract;

(5) deleted text begin no state agency has previously performed or contracted for the performance of tasks which would be substantially duplicated under the proposed contract;deleted text end new text begin the entity will assign personnel to manage the contract; andnew text end

deleted text begin (6) the contracting entity has specified a satisfactory method of evaluating and using the results of the work to be performed; and deleted text end

deleted text begin (7)deleted text end new text begin (6)new text end the combined contract and amendments will not extend for more than five years.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 3.225, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Contracts over deleted text begin $5,000deleted text end new text begin $25,000new text end .

Before an entity may seek to enter into a professional or technical services contract valued in excess of deleted text begin $5,000deleted text end new text begin $25,000new text end , it must determine that:

deleted text begin (1) no current legislative employee is able and available to perform the services called for by the contract; deleted text end

deleted text begin (2)deleted text end new text begin (1)new text end reasonable efforts were made to publicize the availability of the contract to the public;new text begin andnew text end

deleted text begin (3)deleted text end new text begin (2)new text end the entity deleted text begin has received, reviewed, and accepted a detailed work plan from the contractor for performance under the contract; anddeleted text end new text begin has established any performance measures or other tools that the entity determines are necessary to evaluate contractor performance.new text end

deleted text begin (4) the entity has developed, and fully intends to implement, a written plan providing for: the assignment of personnel to a monitoring and liaison function; the periodic review of interim reports or other indications of past performance; and the ultimate utilization of the final product of the services. deleted text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 3.225, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Reports.

(a) The house of representatives, the senate, and the Legislative Coordinating Commission shall submit to the Legislative Reference Library new text begin by September 1 of each year new text end a deleted text begin monthlydeleted text end listing of all contracts for professional or technical services executed in the preceding deleted text begin monthdeleted text end new text begin fiscal yearnew text end . The report must identify the parties and the contract amount, duration, and tasks to be performed.

(b) The deleted text begin monthlydeleted text end new text begin yearlynew text end report must:

(1) be sorted by contracting entity and by contractor;

(2) show the aggregate value of contracts issued by each agency and issued to each contractor;

(3) distinguish between contracts that are being issued for the first time and contracts that are being renewed;

(4) state the termination date of each contract; and

(5) categorize contracts according to subject matter, including topics such as contracts for training, contracts for research and opinions, and contracts for computer systems.

(c) Within 30 days of final completion of a contract over $40,000 covered by this subdivision, the chief executive of the entity entering into the contract must file a one-page performance report with the Legislative Reference Library. The report must:

(1) summarize the purpose of the contract, including why it was necessary to enter into a contract;

(2) state the amount spent on the contract; and

(3) explain why this amount was a cost-effective way to enable the entity to provide its services or products better or more efficiently.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 3.303, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Chair.

The deleted text begin president of the senate and the speaker of the house shall alternate annually asdeleted text end chair of the commissionnew text begin alternates between the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives at the start of the regular legislative session in each odd-numbered yearnew text end .

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 3.303, subdivision 10, is amended to read:

Subd. 10.

Constitutionally dedicated funding accountability.

(a) The Legislative Coordinating Commission shall develop and maintain a user-friendly, public-oriented Web site that informs, educates, and demonstrates to the public how the constitutionally dedicated funds in the arts and cultural heritage fund, outdoor heritage fund, clean water fund, parks and trails fund, and environment and natural resources trust fund are being expended to meet the requirements established for each fund in the state constitution. Information provided on the Web site must include, but is not limited to:

(1) information on all project proposals received by the Outdoor Heritage Council and the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources;

(2) information on all projects receiving funding, including:

(i) the name of the project and a project description;

(ii) the name, telephone number, members of the board or equivalent governing body, and e-mail address of the funding recipient and, when applicable, the Web site address where the public can directly access detailed information on the recipient's receipt and use of money for the project;

(iii) the amount and source of funding, including the fiscal year of the appropriation;

(iv) the amount and source of any additional funding or leverage;

(v) the duration of the project;

(vi) the number of full-time equivalents funded under the project. For the purposes of this item, "full-time equivalent" means a position directly attributed to the receipt of money from one or more of the funds covered under this section, calculated as the total number of hours planned for the position divided by 2,088;

(vii) the direct expenses and administration costs of the project;

(viii) proposed measurable outcomes and the plan for measuring and evaluating the results;

(ix) for pass-through, noncompetitive grants, the entity acting as the fiscal agent or administering agency and a point of contact for additional information; and

(x) for competitive grants, the name and a brief description of the qualifications of all board members or members of an equivalent governing body ultimately responsible for awarding the grants, as well as any grant-making advisory group. In addition, an entity that awards competitive grants, including but not limited to a state agency or any statewide, regional, or local organization, must report whether an employee, decision maker, advisory group member, or other person involved in the grant process disclosed a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest. If the entity reports that a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest was disclosed, the entity must provide the Legislative Coordinating Commission with a contact person for additional information and the Legislative Coordinating Commission must post this information on the Web site. An entity that awards competitive grants must obtain and apply the conflict of interest policies developed by the commissioner of administration under section 16B.98, subdivision 3, unless the entity maintains and applies its own documented conflict of interest policies which are substantially similar to the commissioner of administration's policies;

(3) actual measured outcomes and evaluation of projects as required under sections 85.53, subdivision 2; 114D.50, subdivision 4; and 129D.17, subdivision 2;

(4) education about the areas and issues the projects address, including, when feasible, maps of where projects have been undertaken;

(5) all frameworks developed for future uses of each fund; and

(6) methods by which members of the public may apply for project funds under any of the constitutionally dedicated funds.

Information that could be used to identify, contact, or locate an individual minor shall be withheld from the information required for the Web site.

(b) As soon as practicable or by January 15 of the applicable fiscal year, whichever comes first, a state agency or other recipient of a direct appropriation from a fund covered under this section shall submit the information required under paragraph (a) and, when applicable, compile and submit the same information for any grant recipient or other subrecipient of funding. All information for proposed and funded projects, including the proposed measurable outcomes, must be made available on the Web site as soon as practicable. Information on the measured outcomes and evaluation must be posted as soon as it becomes available. The costs of these activities shall be paid out of the arts and cultural heritage fund, outdoor heritage fund, clean water fund, parks and trails fund, and the environment and natural resources trust fund proportionately. For purposes of this section, "measurable outcomes" means outcomes, indicators, or other performance measures that may be quantified or otherwise measured in order to measure the effectiveness of a project or program in meeting its intended goal or purpose.

new text begin If, in addition to providing the information directly to the Web site, an agency submits a formal report to the Legislative Coordinating Commission, the report must be submitted electronically. new text end

(c) The Legislative Coordinating Commission shall be responsible for receiving all ten-year plans and 25-year frameworks for each of the constitutionally dedicated funds. To the extent practicable, staff for the commission shall provide assistance and oversight to these planning efforts and shall coordinate public access to hearings and public meetings for all planning efforts.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 15.0145, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Training; executive committee; meetings; support.

(a) A member appointed by the governor must attend orientation training within the first six months of service for deleted text begin eachdeleted text end new text begin the member's initial new text end term. The commissioner of administration must arrange for the training to include but not be limited to the legislative process, government data practices, open meeting law, Robert's Rules of Order, fiscal management, and human resources. The governor must remove a member who does not complete the training.

(b) Each council shall annually elect from among the members appointed by the governor a chair and other officers it deems necessary. These officers and one legislative member selected by the council shall serve as the executive committee of the council.

(c) Forty percent of voting members of a council constitutes a quorum. A quorum is required to conduct council business. A council member may not vote on any action if the member has a conflict of interest under section 10A.07.

(d) Each council shall receive administrative support from the commissioner of administration under section 16B.371. The council may contract in its own name but may not accept or receive a loan or incur indebtedness except as otherwise provided by law. Contracts must be approved by a majority of the members of the council and executed by the chair and the executive director. The council may apply for, receive, and expend in its own name grants and gifts of money consistent with the powers and duties specified in this section.

(e) The attorney general shall provide legal services to the councils on behalf of the state on all matters relating to the councils, including matters relating to the state as the employer of the executive directors of the council, and other council staff.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 15.0145, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Executive director; staff.

(a) The Legislative Coordinating Commission must appoint an executive director for each council. The executive director must be experienced in administrative activities and familiar with the challenges and needs of the ethnic council's larger community. The executive director serves in the unclassified service at the pleasure of the Legislative Coordinating Commission.

(b) The Legislative Coordinating Commission must establish a process for recruiting and selecting applicants for the executive director positions. This process must include consultation and collaboration with the applicable council.

(c) The executive director and applicable council members must work together in fulfilling council duties. The executive director must consult with the deleted text begin commissionersdeleted text end new text begin commissioner new text end of administration deleted text begin and management and budgetdeleted text end to ensure appropriate financial, purchasing, human resources, and other services for operation of the council.

new text begin (d) Once appointed, each council is responsible for supervising the work of its director. The council chair must report to the chair of the Legislative Coordinating Commission regarding the performance of the executive director, including any recommendations regarding disciplinary actions. new text end The executive director must appoint and supervise the work of other staff necessary to carry out the duties of the council. new text begin The executive director must consult with the council chair prior to taking the following disciplinary actions with council staff: written reprimand, suspension, demotion, or discharge. new text end The executive director and other council staff are executive branch employees.

new text begin (e) The executive director must submit the council's biennial budget request to the commissioner of management and budget as provided under chapter 16A. new text end

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 15.0145, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

Subd. 8.

Reports.

A council must report on the measurable outcomes achieved in the council's current strategic plan to meet its statutory duties, along with the specific objectives and outcome measures proposed for the following year. The council must submit the report by January 15 each year to the chairs of the committees in the house of representatives and the senate with primary jurisdiction over state government operations. Each report must cover the calendar year of the year before the report is submitted. The specific objectives and outcome measures for the following current year must focus on three or four achievable objectives, action steps, and measurable outcomes for which the council will be held accountable. The strategic plan may include other items that support the statutory purposes of the council but should not distract from the primary statutory proposals presented. The deleted text begin funding requestdeleted text end new text begin biennial budget new text end of each councildeleted text begin , after approval bydeleted text end new text begin must be submitted to new text end the Legislative Coordinating Commissiondeleted text begin , must also be presenteddeleted text end by February 1 in each odd-numbered year.

Presented to the governor May 18, 2016

Signed by the governor May 19, 2016, 11:02 a.m.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes