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

                            CHAPTER 250-H.F.No. 878 
                  An act relating to the organization and operation of 
                  state government; appropriating money for the general 
                  legislative and administrative expenses of state 
                  government with certain conditions; modifying 
                  provisions relating to state government operations; 
                  amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 3.3005, by 
                  adding a subdivision; 3.17; 3C.12, subdivision 2; 
                  8.15, subdivisions 1, 2, and 3; 12.31, subdivision 2; 
                  12.37; 13.03, subdivision 2; 13.05, by adding a 
                  subdivision; 13.073, by adding a subdivision; 14.131; 
                  14.23; 15.50, subdivision 2; 16A.102, subdivision 1; 
                  16A.103, subdivision 1; 16A.11, by adding a 
                  subdivision; 16A.126, subdivision 3; 16A.129, 
                  subdivision 3; 16A.45, subdivision 1; 16A.85, 
                  subdivision 1; 16B.03; 16B.104; 16B.24, subdivision 5; 
                  16B.31, subdivision 2; 16B.32, subdivision 2; 16B.415; 
                  16B.42, subdivision 1; 16B.46; 16B.465; 16B.72; 
                  16B.73; 16B.748; 16C.14, subdivision 1; 16D.04, 
                  subdivision 2; 16E.01, subdivision 1; 16E.02; 16E.08; 
                  18.54; 21.92; 43A.047; 43A.22; 43A.23, subdivisions 1 
                  and 2; 43A.30, by adding a subdivision; 43A.31, 
                  subdivision 2, and by adding a subdivision; 60A.964, 
                  subdivision 1; 60A.972, subdivision 3; 97B.025; 
                  103G.301, subdivision 2; 103I.525, subdivision 9; 
                  103I.531, subdivision 9; 103I.535, subdivision 9; 
                  103I.541, subdivision 5; 115B.49, subdivisions 2 and 
                  4; 115B.491, subdivisions 2 and 3; 116.07, subdivision 
                  4d; 116.12; 116C.834, subdivision 1; 128C.02, by 
                  adding a subdivision; 138.17, subdivisions 7 and 8; 
                  144.98, subdivision 3; 176.102, subdivision 14; 
                  183.375, subdivision 5; 192.49, subdivision 3; 197.79, 
                  subdivision 10; 202A.18, by adding a subdivision; 
                  202A.20, subdivision 2; 204B.25, subdivision 2, and by 
                  adding a subdivision; 204B.27, by adding a 
                  subdivision; 204B.28, subdivision 1; 223.17, 
                  subdivision 3; 239.101, subdivision 4; 240A.09; 
                  297F.08, by adding a subdivision; 299M.04; 325K.03, by 
                  adding a subdivision; 325K.04; 325K.05, subdivision 1; 
                  325K.09, by adding a subdivision; 325K.10, subdivision 
                  5; 325K.14, by adding a subdivision; 325K.15, by 
                  adding a subdivision; 326.50; 326.86, subdivision 1; 
                  and 349.163, subdivision 4; Laws 1993, chapter 192, 
                  section 16; Laws 1994, chapter 643, section 69, 
                  subdivision 1; Laws 1995, First Special Session 
                  chapter 3, article 12, section 7, subdivision 1, as 
                  amended; section 10; Laws 1997, chapter 202, article 
                  2, section 61; and Laws 1998, chapter 366, section 2; 
                  proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
                  chapters 16A; 16B; 16C; 43A; 240A; and 325F; proposing 
                  coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 
                  604B; repealing Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 
                  4A.08; 4A.09; 4A.10; 15.90; 15.91; 15.92; 16A.103, 
                  subdivision 3; 16A.1285, subdivisions 4 and 5; 16E.11; 
                  16E.12; 16E.13; 207A.01; 207A.02; 207A.03; 207A.04; 
                  207A.06; 207A.07; 207A.08; 207A.09; and 207A.10; Laws 
                  1991, chapter 235, article 5, section 3, as amended; 
                  Minnesota Rules, part 8275.0045, subpart 2; and 1999 
                  S.F. No. 2223, if enacted. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
                                   ARTICLE 1 
                                 APPROPRIATIONS 
        Section 1.  [STATE GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS.] 
           The sums shown in the columns marked "APPROPRIATIONS" are 
        appropriated from the general fund, or another fund named, to 
        the agencies and for the purposes specified in this act, to be 
        available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose.  The 
        figures "1999," "2000," and "2001," where used in this act, mean 
        that the appropriation or appropriations listed under them are 
        available for the year ending June 30, 1999, June 30, 2000, or 
        June 30, 2001, respectively.  
                                SUMMARY BY FUND 
                                                             BIENNIAL
                                  2000          2001           TOTAL
        General              $349,954,000   $308,497,000   $658,451,000
        State 
        Government 
        Special Revenue        13,986,000     13,884,000     27,870,000 
        For 1999 - $465,000
        Health Care Access      1,842,000      1,871,000      3,713,000
        Environmental             236,000        242,000        478,000
        Solid Waste Fund          660,000        670,000      1,330,000
        Lottery Prize 
        Fund                      110,000        -0-            110,000
        Highway User
        Tax Distribution        2,129,000      2,173,000      4,302,000
        Trunk Highway              39,000         39,000         78,000 
        Workers'
        Compensation            7,024,000      6,959,000     13,983,000 
        TOTAL                $376,420,000   $334,854,000   $711,274,000
        For 1999 - $465,000
                                                   APPROPRIATIONS 
                                               Available for the Year 
                                                   Ending June 30 
                                                  2000         2001 
        Sec. 2.  LEGISLATURE 
        Subdivision 1.  Total  
        Appropriation                         58,340,000     63,117,000
                      Summary by Fund
        General              58,151,000    62,928,000
        Health Care Access      150,000       150,000
        Trunk Highway            39,000        39,000
        The amounts that may be spent from this 
        appropriation for each program are 
        specified in the following subdivisions.
        Subd. 2.  Senate                      19,138,000     20,523,000
        $40,000 the first year is for senate 
        media services to produce a videotape 
        on the legislative process and to 
        distribute it, along with a teachers' 
        guide, to all secondary schools in the 
        state, and for senate information 
        services to construct and maintain a 
        Worldwide Web site to publicize and 
        promote the videotape. 
        Subd. 3.  House of Representatives    25,361,000     27,670,000
        Subd. 4.  Legislative 
        Coordinating Commission               13,841,000     14,924,000
                      Summary by Fund
        General              13,652,000    14,735,000
        Health Care Access      150,000       150,000
        Trunk Highway            39,000        39,000
        $5,600,000 the first year and 
        $6,372,000 the second year are for the 
        office of the revisor of statutes. 
        $1,184,000 the first year and 
        $1,217,000 the second year are for the 
        legislative reference library. 
        $4,963,000 the first year and 
        $5,096,000 the second year are for the 
        office of the legislative auditor. 
        The legislative commission on pensions 
        and retirement shall study and report 
        to the legislature by January 15, 2000, 
        on the comparability of pension and 
        other postretirement benefits between 
        public sector and private sector 
        employees.  When comparing the 
        benefits, the commission shall select 
        comparable job classifications and 
        salary ranges.  The study must compare 
        pension portability, initial monthly 
        benefits, average annual benefit 
        increases, employer and employee 
        contribution rates, availability of 
        early retirement incentives, 
        administrative costs, and other factors 
        as necessary to compare benefits. 
        Sec. 3.  GOVERNOR AND 
        LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR                    4,052,000      4,171,000
        This appropriation is to fund the 
        offices of the governor and lieutenant 
        governor.  
        $19,000 the first year and $19,000 the 
        second year are for necessary expenses 
        in the normal performance of the 
        governor's and lieutenant governor's 
        duties for which no other reimbursement 
        is provided. 
        By September 1 of each year, the 
        commissioner of finance shall report to 
        the chairs of the senate governmental 
        operations budget division and the 
        house state government finance division 
        any personnel costs incurred by the 
        office of the governor and lieutenant 
        governor that were supported by 
        appropriations to other agencies during 
        the previous fiscal year.  The office 
        of the governor shall inform the chairs 
        of the divisions before initiating any 
        interagency agreements. 
        Not later than September 30, 1999, the 
        governor, in consultation with the 
        commissioners of agriculture and trade 
        and economic development, shall prepare 
        and submit an application for federal 
        permits as may be needed to authorize 
        the growing of experimental and 
        demonstration plots of industrial 
        hemp.  The governor shall also direct 
        the commissioner of agriculture, in 
        consultation with the commissioner of 
        public safety and other appropriate 
        commissioners, to establish standards 
        and forms for persons wishing to 
        register for growing experimental and 
        demonstration plots of industrial hemp. 
        Sec. 4.  STATE AUDITOR                 8,967,000      9,311,000
        Sec. 5.  STATE TREASURER               2,563,000      2,283,000
        $1,030,000 the first year and 
        $1,061,000 the second year are for the 
        treasurer to pay for banking services 
        by fees rather than by compensating 
        balances.  
        $75,000 the first year is a one-time 
        appropriation for a project to maximize 
        the use of electronic payments and 
        electronic receipts for state 
        transactions.  The state treasurer 
        shall report on the progress of this 
        project to the chairs of the 
        legislative committees responsible for 
        this budget item by January 15, 2000, 
        and 2001. 
        $278,000 the first year is to pay the 
        cost of clearing sales tax rebate 
        checks through commercial banks. 
        Sec. 6.  ATTORNEY GENERAL             27,853,000     28,177,000
                      Summary by Fund
        General              25,545,000    25,852,000
        State Government
        Special Revenue       1,713,000     1,717,000
        Environmental           135,000       138,000 
        Solid Waste             460,000       470,000 
        $991,000 the first year and $912,000 
        the second year are one-time 
        appropriations to improve information 
        technology.  The attorney general shall 
        report on the progress of this project 
        to the chairs of the legislative 
        committees responsible for this budget 
        item by January 15, 2000, and 2001.  
        The attorney general and commissioner 
        of finance shall continue to review the 
        funding mechanism for legal services.  
        By February 15, 2000, they shall submit 
        a joint report to the committees 
        responsible for funding the office of 
        the attorney general that details 
        further refinements to the legal 
        services funding mechanism. 
        The report should attempt to do the 
        following: 
        (1) identify criteria that 
        differentiate between a partner and a 
        pooled agency; 
        (2) clarify whose responsibility it is 
        to request funding for pooled 
        agencies:  the attorney general, the 
        agency, or both; 
        (3) determine what process the billing 
        rate should follow before 
        implementation; 
        (4) establish a mechanism to ensure 
        that legal service resources are 
        allocated as intended by the 
        legislature and a process to address 
        situations where demand exceeds 
        resources; 
        (5) determine if partner agencies 
        should continue to have general fund 
        dollars set aside in the attorney 
        general's base; and 
        (6) determine what method is used to 
        ascertain how much funding for legal 
        services the attorney general has in 
        its base for each agency. 
        Sec. 7.  SECRETARY OF STATE           11,844,000      6,160,000
        $5,803,000 the first year is a one-time 
        appropriation to upgrade the office's 
        computer systems by converting stored 
        data to digital images, by bringing the 
        systems into compliance with year 2000 
        requirements, and by completing phase 2 
        of the office computer system upgrade 
        project.  The secretary of state shall 
        report on the progress of this project 
        to the chairs of the legislative 
        committees responsible for this budget 
        item by January 15, 2000, and 2001. 
        Sec. 8.  CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND 
        PUBLIC DISCLOSURE BOARD                  712,000        707,000
        Sec. 9.  INVESTMENT BOARD              2,310,000      2,376,000
        Sec. 10.  ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS      7,064,000      6,859,000
                      Summary by Fund
        General                 400,000              
        Workers'
        Compensation          6,664,000     6,859,000
        The chief administrative law judge, in 
        cooperation with the state court 
        administrator, shall develop and 
        present to the legislature by January 
        15, 2000, a plan for funding the cost 
        of child support hearings out of 
        appropriations to the judicial branch 
        without increasing those appropriations.
        The appropriation from the workers' 
        compensation special compensation fund 
        is for considering workers' 
        compensation claims. 
        Sec. 11.  OFFICE OF STRATEGIC 
        AND LONG-RANGE PLANNING                6,891,000      4,417,000
        $100,000 the first year is to integrate 
        the office's information technology and 
        is available until June 30, 2003.  The 
        director shall report on the progress 
        of the unit to the chairs of the 
        legislative committees responsible for 
        this budget item by January 15, 2000, 
        2001, and 2002. 
        $1,600,000 the first year is for a 
        generic environmental impact statement 
        on animal agriculture. 
        $200,000 the first year is to perform 
        program evaluations of agencies in the 
        executive branch. 
        The program evaluation division will 
        report to the legislature by December 
        1, 2000, ways to reduce state 
        government expenditures by five to ten 
        percent. 
        $100,000 the first year is to provide 
        administrative support to 
        community-based planning efforts. 
        $150,000 the first year is for a grant 
        of $50,000 to the southwest regional 
        development commission for the 
        continuation of the pilot program and 
        two additional grants of $50,000 each 
        to regional development commissions or, 
        in regions not served by regional 
        development commissions, to regional 
        organizations selected by the director 
        of strategic and long-range planning, 
        to support planning work on behalf of 
        local units of government.  The 
        planning work shall include, but need 
        not be limited to:  
        (1) development of local zoning 
        ordinances; 
        (2) land use plans; 
        (3) community or economic development 
        plans; 
        (4) transportation and transit plans; 
        (5) solid waste management plans; 
        (6) wastewater management plans; 
        (7) workforce development plans; 
        (8) housing development plans and/or 
        market analysis; 
        (9) rural health service plans; 
        (10) natural resources management 
        plans; or 
        (11) development of geographical 
        information systems database to serve a 
        region's needs, including hardware and 
        software purchases and related labor 
        costs. 
        $200,000 the first year is to prepare 
        the generic environmental impact 
        statement on urban development required 
        by section 108.  Any unencumbered 
        balance remaining in the first year 
        does not cancel and is available for 
        the second year of the biennium. 
        $24,000 the first year is for the 
        southwest Minnesota wind monitoring 
        project. 
        Sec. 12.  ADMINISTRATION 
        Subdivision 1.  Total 
        Appropriation                         50,288,000     36,692,000
        For 1999 - $465,000
                      Summary by Fund
        General              38,155,000    24,925,000
        State Government 
        Special Revenue      11,873,000    11,767,000
        For 1999 - $465,000
        Workers'
        Compensation            260,000      -0-
        The amounts that may be spent from this 
        appropriation for each program are 
        specified in the following subdivisions.
        Subd. 2.  Operations Management 
             4,007,000      4,155,000
        Subd. 3.  Office of Technology
             5,499,000      2,707,000
        The commissioner of administration 
        shall develop and submit to the chairs 
        of the senate governmental operations 
        budget division and the house state 
        government finance committee by January 
        15, 2000, a long-range plan identifying 
        the mission and goals of the office of 
        technology.  The appropriation for the 
        second year is not available until the 
        plan has been approved by a law enacted 
        at the 2000 regular session. 
                      Summary by Fund
        General               5,071,000     2,707,000
        State Government 
        Special Revenue         168,000          -0- 
        Workers'
        Compensation            260,000          -0- 
        The amounts that may be spent from this 
        appropriation for each purpose are as 
        follows: 
        (a) Administrative Services
             2,871,000      2,707,000
        $468,000 the first year and $468,000 
        the second year are for ongoing costs 
        of the North Star II project under 
        Minnesota Statutes, section 16E.07. 
        $220,000 the first year is to continue 
        the intergovernmental information 
        systems advisory council for one more 
        year.* (The preceding text beginning 
        "$220,000 the first year" was vetoed by 
        the governor.) 
        (b) One-Stop Business Licensing
        $500,000 the first year is a one-time 
        appropriation for the one-stop business 
        licensing system project under 
        Minnesota Statutes, section 16E.08.  
        The commissioner shall report on the 
        progress of this project to the chairs 
        of the legislative committees 
        responsible for this budget item by 
        January 15, 2000, and 2001. Before the 
        system is put into operation, the 
        security information technology project 
        of the commissioner of administration 
        shall perform a security audit of the 
        system and submit a report on the audit 
        to the chairs of the governmental 
        operations budget division of the 
        senate and the state government finance 
        committee of the house of 
        representatives. 
        (c) Small Agency Infrastructure 
                      Summary by Fund
        General               1,700,000          -0-  
        State Government 
        Special Revenue         168,000          -0- 
        Workers'
        Compensation            260,000          -0- 
        This appropriation is for a one-time 
        transfer to eligible small agencies for 
        the small agency infrastructure 
        project.  The commissioner of 
        administration shall determine 
        priorities for which projects should be 
        funded, except that $323,000 is for the 
        public utilities commission.  An agency 
        whose strategic plan for information 
        technology was not approved before 
        April 1, 1999, may not receive money 
        from this appropriation.  This 
        appropriation is available until June 
        30, 2003.  The commissioner shall 
        report on the progress of this project 
        to the chairs of the legislative 
        committees responsible for this budget 
        item by January 15, 2000, 2001, and 
        2002. 
        Subd. 4.  Intertechnologies Group
            21,121,000     12,626,000
                      Summary by Fund
        General               9,416,000       859,000
        State Government 
        Special Revenue      11,705,000    11,767,000
        For 1999 - $465,000
        The appropriation from the special 
        revenue fund is for recurring costs of 
        911 emergency telephone service. 
        $2,075,000 the first year is a one-time 
        appropriation to create a directory 
        services infrastructure to support the 
        electronic delivery of government 
        services and is available until June 
        30, 2003.  The commissioner shall 
        report on the progress of this project 
        to the chairs of the legislative 
        committees responsible for this budget 
        item by January 15, 2000, 2001, and 
        2002. 
        $340,000 the first year is a one-time 
        appropriation to conduct coordinated 
        security impact analysis and planning 
        in state agencies to support the 
        electronic delivery of government 
        services.  The commissioner shall 
        report on the progress of this project 
        to the chairs of the legislative 
        committees responsible for this budget 
        item by January 15, 2000, and 2001. 
        $1,400,000 the first year is a one-time 
        appropriation to create the security 
        infrastructure for network-based 
        systems to enable the electronic 
        delivery of government services and is 
        available until June 30, 2003.  The 
        commissioner shall report on the 
        progress of this project to the chairs 
        of the legislative committees 
        responsible for this budget item by 
        January 15, 2000, 2001, and 2002. 
        $350,000 the first year is for costs 
        related to the operation of the year 
        2000 project office. 
        $2,150,000 the first year is a one-time 
        appropriation to modify state business 
        systems to address year 2000 changes.  
        Up to $150,000 of this appropriation 
        may be allocated for year 2000 project 
        office costs.  The appropriation is 
        available only upon approval of the 
        commissioner of finance after the 
        commissioner has determined that all 
        other money allocated for replacement 
        or enhancement of existing technology 
        for year 2000 compliance will be 
        expended.  Notwithstanding Minnesota 
        Statutes, section 16A.285, after notice 
        to the commissioner of finance, any 
        unexpended balance of this 
        appropriation remaining after all year 
        2000 problems have been addressed may 
        be transferred and added to any of the 
        appropriations in this act for 
        information technology projects that 
        are available until June 30, 2003.  A 
        transfer must be reported to the chairs 
        of the senate governmental operations 
        budget division and the house state 
        government finance committee.  
        $2,260,000 the first year is a one-time 
        appropriation to the department of 
        administration for the ongoing costs 
        incurred by the state agencies 
        participating in the state-county 
        collaboration project.  For the 
        biennium beginning July 1, 2001, and 
        thereafter, the base appropriations 
        attributable to agencies other than the 
        department of administration must be 
        included in the budgets of those other 
        state agencies. 
        Subd. 5.  Facilities Management 
             11,602,000     9,418,000
        $5,447,000 the first year and 
        $5,460,000 the second year are for 
        office space costs of the legislature 
        and veterans organizations, for 
        ceremonial space, and for statutorily 
        free space. 
        $1,672,000 the first year is to 
        demolish the capitol square building 
        and restructure the site as a temporary 
        parking lot. 
        $520,000 the first year is to rebuild 
        and upgrade electronic security systems 
        in the capitol complex.  The 
        commissioner shall report on the 
        progress of this project to the chairs 
        of the legislative committees 
        responsible for this budget item by 
        January 15, 2000. 
        The commissioner of administration 
        shall install on the automatically 
        operated landscape irrigation system in 
        the capitol area a device, commonly 
        known as a rain check, to prevent the 
        system from being activated when a 
        predetermined amount of precipitation 
        has accumulated. 
        $100,000 the first year is for grants 
        to places of public accommodation to 
        assist them in achieving compliance 
        with the bleacher safety requirements 
        of new Minnesota Statutes, section 
        16B.616.  The commissioner shall give 
        highest priority to grant requests from 
        political subdivisions for whom the 
        cost of achieving compliance is the 
        greatest financial hardship.  State 
        grants are available when the 
        commissioner has determined that 
        matching funds in an amount equal to 
        the grant have been committed.  Any 
        unencumbered balance remaining in the 
        first year does not cancel and is 
        available for the second year of the 
        biennium.* (The preceding text 
        beginning "$100,000 the first year" was 
        vetoed by the governor.) 
        Subd. 6.  Management Services
             3,622,000      3,670,000 
        $250,000 the first year and $200,000 
        the second year are for the information 
        policy training program under Minnesota 
        Statutes, section 13.073. 
        $150,000 the first year and $150,000 
        the second year are for a one-time 
        transfer to the Minnesota historical 
        society for the information policy 
        training program under Minnesota 
        Statutes, sections 13.073 and 138.17, 
        subdivisions 7 and 8. 
        $192,000 the first year and $196,000 
        the second year are for the office of 
        the state archaeologist. 
        Subd. 7.  Fiscal Agent
               994,000        786,000
        $72,000 the first year and $74,000 the 
        second year are for the developmental 
        disabilities council. 
        $660,000 the first year and $450,000 
        the second year are for the STAR 
        program. 
        $2,000 the first year and $2,000 the 
        second year are for the state 
        employees' band. 
        $260,000 the first year and $260,000 
        the second year are for a grant to the 
        Minnesota Children's Museum, of which 
        $100,000 the first year and $100,000 
        the second year are an appropriation 
        for administrative costs of Project 
        Greenstart. 
        Subd. 8.  Public Broadcasting 
             3,443,000      3,330,000
        $1,450,000 the first year and 
        $1,450,000 the second year are for 
        matching grants for public television.  
        $600,000 the first year and $600,000 
        the second year are for public 
        television equipment needs.  Equipment 
        grant allocations shall be made after 
        considering the recommendations of the 
        Minnesota public television association.
        $113,000 the first year is for grants 
        to noncommercial television stations to 
        assist with conversion to a digital 
        broadcast signal as mandated by the 
        federal government.  In order to 
        qualify for a grant, a station must 
        meet the criteria established for 
        grants in Minnesota Statutes, section 
        129D.12, subdivision 2.* (The preceding 
        text beginning "$113,000 the first 
        year" was vetoed by the governor.) 
        $441,000 the first year and $441,000 
        the second year are for grants for 
        public information television 
        transmission of legislative 
        activities.  At least one-half must go 
        for programming to be broadcast in 
        rural Minnesota. 
        $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the 
        second year are for grants to the Twin 
        Cities regional cable channel. 
        $320,000 the first year and $320,000 
        the second year are for community 
        service grants to public educational 
        radio stations, which must be allocated 
        after considering the recommendations 
        of the Association of Minnesota Public 
        Educational Radio Stations under 
        Minnesota Statutes, section 129D.14.  
        Of this appropriation, $30,000 the 
        first year and $30,000 the second year 
        are for station WTIP-FM in Grand 
        Marais, which need not meet the 
        requirements of Minnesota Statutes, 
        section 129D.14, until July 1, 2002.  
        $494,000 the first year and $494,000 
        the second year are for equipment 
        grants to public radio stations.  These 
        grants must be allocated after 
        considering the recommendations of the 
        Association of Minnesota Public 
        Educational Radio Stations and 
        Minnesota Public Radio, Inc. 
        If an appropriation for either year for 
        grants to public television or radio 
        stations is not sufficient, the 
        appropriation for the other year is 
        available for it. 
        Sec. 13.  CAPITOL AREA ARCHITECTURAL 
        AND PLANNING BOARD                       888,000        306,000
        $586,000 the first year is to design 
        and construct a memorial to Hubert H. 
        Humphrey; to make a grant to the 
        National World War II Memorial Fund, 
        2300 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 501, 
        Arlington, Virginia 22201, as a 
        contribution to a national World War II 
        memorial; and for the capitol area 
        architectural and planning board, in 
        cooperation with the Minnesota 
        historical society and the Philippine 
        study group of Minnesota, to install in 
        the capitol rotunda a plaque that 
        corrects inaccurate historical 
        information presented on the current 
        Spanish-American War commemorative 
        plaque. 
        Sec. 14.  FINANCE 
        Subdivision 1.  Total 
        Appropriation                         24,448,000     17,925,000
        The amounts that may be spent from this 
        appropriation for each program are 
        specified in the following subdivisions.
        Subd. 2.  State Financial Management 
             7,805,000      7,993,000
         Subd. 3.  Information and 
        Management Services 
            16,643,000      9,932,000
        $100,000 the first year is for a grant 
        to the city of Mankato to complete the 
        Mankato area growth management and 
        planning study, phase 2.  The 
        appropriation is available until June 
        30, 2002.  The appropriation must be 
        matched by an in-kind donation of 
        $100,000 in administrative, technical, 
        and higher educational internship 
        support and supervision.  The value of 
        the in-kind donations must be 
        determined by the commissioner of 
        finance. 
        The city shall serve as fiscal agent to 
        complete the study under the 1997 
        regional planning joint powers 
        agreement among the cities of Mankato, 
        North Mankato, and Eagle Lake; the 
        counties of Nicollet and Blue Earth; 
        and the towns of Mankato, South Bend, 
        Lime, Decoria, and Belgrade, without 
        limitation on the rights of the parties 
        to that agreement to add or remove 
        members.  The study is intended as an 
        alternative to community-based 
        planning.  The study is intended to 
        develop information and analysis to 
        provide guidance on such issues as: 
        (1) the development of joint planning 
        agreements to implement a unified 
        growth management strategy; 
        (2) joint service ventures, such as 
        planning or zoning administration in 
        urban fringe areas; 
        (3) orderly growth and annexation 
        agreements between cities and 
        townships; 
        (4) feedlot regulations in urban fringe 
        areas and future growth corridors; 
        (5) service strategies for unsewered 
        subdivisions; 
        (6) other joint ventures for city, 
        county, and township service delivery 
        in fringe areas; 
        (7) feasibility of a rural township 
        taxing district; and 
        (8) alternatives to the current 
        community-based planning legislation 
        that would add flexibility and improve 
        the planning process. 
        The city of Mankato shall report the 
        results of the study to the legislature 
        by January 15, 2002. 
        $6,839,000 the first year is a one-time 
        appropriation to upgrade the human 
        resources and payroll system and is 
        available until June 30, 2003.  The 
        commissioner shall report on the 
        progress of this project to the chairs 
        of the legislative committees 
        responsible for this budget item by 
        January 15, 2000, 2001, and 2002. 
        The commissioner of finance shall work 
        with the commissioners of employee 
        relations and administration and shall 
        develop as part of the human resource 
        and payroll systems upgrade, and submit 
        to the chairs of the senate 
        governmental operations budget division 
        and the house state government finance 
        committee by January 15, 2000, a 
        long-range plan for the statewide 
        business systems:  human resources, 
        payroll, accounting, and procurement.  
        The plan must detail each system's 
        original development costs, its 
        expected life cycle, the estimated cost 
        of upgrading software to newer versions 
        during its life cycle, its operating 
        costs to date, and the factors that are 
        expected to drive future operating 
        costs within the departments of 
        finance, administration, and employee 
        relations.  The plan must also include 
        an evaluation of and recommendations on 
        whether, for the statewide business 
        systems, the state should use software 
        that is developed and maintained in 
        house; proprietary software, either 
        modified or unmodified; a private 
        vendor; or a particular combination of 
        these options. 
        The commissioner of finance, in 
        consultation with senate and house 
        fiscal staff and the commissioner of 
        administration, shall develop 
        recommendations for inclusion in the 
        governor's fiscal year 2002-2003 budget 
        document on the presentation of 
        internal service funds.  The 
        commissioner of finance shall submit 
        the recommendations to the chairs of 
        the senate governmental operations 
        budget division and the house state 
        government finance committee by January 
        15, 2000. 
        Sec. 15.  EMPLOYEE RELATIONS 
        Subdivision 1.  Total 
        Appropriation                         10,530,000     10,398,000
        The amounts that may be spent from this 
        appropriation for each program are 
        specified in the following subdivisions.
        Subd. 2.  Employee Insurance
             2,755,000      2,446,000
        $310,000 the first year is to prepare 
        to implement an optional, 
        participant-paid, long-term care 
        insurance program to be available to 
        state employees and their spouses and 
        parents, as provided in new Minnesota 
        Statutes, section 43A.318. 
        $2,375,000 the first year and 
        $2,376,000 the second year are for 
        transfer to the state employees 
        insurance fund to self-insure all 
        medical coverage provided through the 
        state employees group insurance 
        program, including the University of 
        Minnesota. 
        During the biennium ending June 30, 
        2001, the amount necessary to pay 
        premiums for coverage by the workers' 
        compensation reinsurance association 
        under Minnesota Statutes, section 
        79.34, is appropriated from the general 
        fund to the commissioner. 
        Subd. 3.  Human Resources
        Management
             7,775,000      7,952,000
        $123,000 the first year and $115,000 
        the second year are for a grant to the 
        government training service, of which 
        $48,000 the first year and $40,000 the 
        second year are a one-time 
        appropriation for information 
        technology and $25,000 the first year 
        and $25,000 the second year are a 
        one-time appropriation to conduct 
        conferences. 
        Subd. 4.  Technology Budget Book
        The department shall prepare a separate 
        budget book for the biennium beginning 
        July 1, 2001, containing all of the 
        administration's technology 
        initiatives.  The book must also 
        include a complete inventory of 
        state-owned and leased technology, 
        along with a projected replacement 
        schedule.  The inventory must include 
        information on how the technology fits 
        into the state's master plan. 
        Sec. 16.  REVENUE 
        Subdivision 1.  Total  
        Appropriation                         99,988,000     89,515,000
                      Summary by Fund
        General              95,866,000    85,317,000
        Health Care Access    1,692,000     1,721,000
        Highway User 
        Tax Distribution      2,129,000     2,173,000
        Environmental           101,000       104,000
        Solid Waste             200,000       200,000
        The amounts that may be spent from this 
        appropriation for each program are 
        specified in the following subdivisions.
        Subd. 2.  Tax System Management
            97,942,000     87,477,000
                      Summary by Fund
         General             93,380,000    82,760,000
        Health Care Access    1,692,000     1,721,000
        Highway User 
        Tax Distribution      2,129,000     2,173,000
        Environmental           101,000       104,000
        Solid Waste             200,000       200,000
        $12,000,000 the first year is a 
        one-time appropriation for the income 
        tax reengineering initiative and is 
        available until June 30, 2003, if the 
        carryforward from one biennium to the 
        next is approved by the commissioner of 
        finance after receiving the 
        recommendation of the chairs of the 
        funding committees overseeing the 
        department and in accordance with the 
        department's technology plan approved 
        by the commissioner of administration.  
        Failure or refusal to make a 
        recommendation promptly is deemed a 
        negative recommendation.  The 
        commissioner of revenue shall report on 
        the progress of this project to the 
        chairs of the legislative committees 
        responsible for this budget item by 
        January 15, 2000, 2001, and 2002. 
        $400,000 the first year is a one-time 
        appropriation to administer the farm 
        relief program enacted by the 1999 
        legislature. 
        Subd. 3.  Accounts Receivable Management
             2,486,000      2,557,000
        Subd. 4.  Other Provisions
        The building located in the capitol 
        complex at 600 North Robert Street, St. 
        Paul, is designated and named the 
        Harold E. Stassen building. 
        Sec. 17.  MILITARY AFFAIRS  
        Subdivision 1.  Total 
        Appropriation                         10,896,000    11,041,000
        The amounts that may be spent from this 
        appropriation for each program are 
        specified in the following subdivisions.
        Subd. 2.  Maintenance of Training 
        Facilities 
              6,777,000     6,869,000
        $1,325,000 the first year and 
        $1,325,000 the second year are 
        appropriated for asset preservation and 
        facility repair.  This appropriation 
        may be transferred between programs, to 
        the extent it is used for the same 
        purpose.  The adjutant general may use 
        other available funding for this 
        purpose, to the extent it is not 
        inconsistent with any other law. 
        Subd. 3.  General Support
              1,690,000     1,742,000
        $35,000 the first year and $35,000 the 
        second year are a one-time 
        appropriation to assist in the 
        operation and staffing of the Minnesota 
        national guard youth camp at Camp 
        Ripley.  This appropriation is 
        available only as matched, dollar for 
        dollar, by money from nonstate sources. 
        Subd. 4.  Enlistment Incentives
             2,354,000      2,355,000 
        Obligations for the reenlistment bonus 
        program, suspended on December 31, 
        1991, shall be paid from the amounts 
        available within the enlistment 
        incentives program. 
        If appropriations for either year of 
        the biennium are insufficient, the 
        appropriation from the other year is 
        available.  The appropriations for 
        enlistment incentives are available 
        until expended. 
        Subd. 5.  Emergency Services 
                75,000         75,000
        These appropriations are for expenses 
        of military forces ordered to active 
        duty under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 
        192.  If the appropriation for either 
        year is insufficient, the appropriation 
        for the other year is available for it. 
        Sec. 18.  VETERANS AFFAIRS             5,885,000      4,369,000
        $1,544,000 the first year and 
        $1,544,000 the second year are for 
        emergency financial and medical needs 
        of veterans.  If the appropriation for 
        either year is insufficient, the 
        appropriation for the other year is 
        available for it.  
        $12,000 the first year and $13,000 the 
        second year are one-time funding to 
        provide grants to local veterans' 
        organizations that provide 
        transportation services for veterans to 
        veterans administration medical 
        facilities. 
        The commissioner of veterans affairs, 
        in cooperation with the board of 
        directors of the Minnesota veterans 
        homes and the United States Veterans 
        Administration, shall study the 
        feasibility and desirability of 
        supplementing the missions of the 
        veterans homes and the Veterans 
        Administration hospitals in Minnesota 
        by entering into agreements with health 
        care providers throughout the state to 
        provide free or reduced-cost 
        comprehensive health care to veterans 
        close to their places of residence as a 
        supplement to private health 
        insurance.  The commissioner shall 
        report the results of the study and any 
        recommendations to the legislature by 
        January 15, 2000. 
        With the approval of the commissioner 
        of finance, the commissioner of 
        veterans affairs may transfer the 
        unencumbered balance from the veterans 
        relief program to other department 
        programs during the fiscal year.  
        Before the transfer, the commissioner 
        of veterans affairs shall explain why 
        the unencumbered balance exists.  The 
        amounts transferred must be identified 
        to the chairs of the senate 
        governmental operations budget 
        committee and the house state 
        government finance committee. 
        $275,000 the first year and $275,000 
        the second year are for a grant to the 
        Vinland National Center. 
        $1,485,000 the first year is to make 
        bonus payments authorized under 
        Minnesota Statutes, section 197.79.  
        The appropriation may not be used for 
        administrative purposes.  The 
        appropriation does not expire until the 
        commissioner acts on all applications 
        submitted under Minnesota Statutes, 
        section 197.79. 
        $105,000 the first year is to 
        administer the bonus program 
        established under Minnesota Statutes, 
        section 197.79.  The appropriation does 
        not expire until the commissioner acts 
        on all the applications submitted under 
        Minnesota Statutes, section 197.79. 
        $233,000 the first year and $235,000 
        the second year are for grants to 
        county veterans offices for training of 
        county veterans service officers. 
        Sec. 19.  VETERANS OF FOREIGN 
        WARS                                      41,000         41,000
        For carrying out the provisions of Laws 
        1945, chapter 455. 
        Sec. 20.  MILITARY ORDER OF 
        THE PURPLE HEART                          20,000         20,000
        Sec. 21.  DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS      13,000         13,000
        For carrying out the provisions of Laws 
        1941, chapter 425. 
        Sec. 22.  GAMBLING CONTROL             2,183,000      2,241,000
        Sec. 23.  RACING COMMISSION              390,000        402,000
        Sec. 24.  STATE LOTTERY                  110,000 
        This appropriation is from the lottery 
        prize fund to the commissioner of human 
        services for a grant to Project 
        Turnabout in Granite Falls to provide 
        compulsive gambling treatment and 
        education.  The appropriation is 
        available until June 30, 2001, and must 
        not become part of the base 
        appropriation. 
        The director of the state lottery shall 
        reimburse the general fund $150,000 the 
        first year and $150,000 the second year 
        for lottery-related costs incurred by 
        the department of public safety. 
        Sec. 25.  AMATEUR SPORTS 
        COMMISSION                             6,619,000        639,000
        $4,000,000 the first year is for grants 
        for ice centers under Minnesota 
        Statutes, section 240A.09, as amended 
        by this act.  The prohibition in 
        Minnesota Statutes, section 240A.09, on 
        grants to colleges and universities 
        does not apply to the project at the 
        University of Minnesota-Duluth for 
        which a grant application was pending 
        on the effective date of the 
        amendment.  Up to $1,000,000 of this 
        amount may be used for renovation 
        grants for existing ice arenas, 
        including renovation of bleachers to 
        meet code requirements.  Any 
        unencumbered balance remaining in the 
        first year does not cancel and is 
        available for the second year of the 
        biennium.* (The preceding text 
        beginning "$4,000,000 the first year" 
        was vetoed by the governor.)  
        $2,000,000 the first year is for grants 
        for amateur athletic facilities and 
        programs under section 91 and to 
        prepare the plan for soccer facilities 
        required by this section.  $200,000 may 
        be used for special events or programs 
        and $30,000 may be used for the soccer 
        plan.  Any unencumbered balance 
        remaining in the first year does not 
        cancel and is available for the second 
        year of the biennium.* (The preceding 
        text beginning "$2,000,000 the first 
        year" was vetoed by the governor.) 
        The commission shall develop a plan to 
        stimulate the development of new 
        facilities primarily for soccer 
        throughout the state and to make grants 
        to assist with the development of these 
        facilities.  The plan shall include an 
        assessment of needs, development and 
        financing alternatives, geographic and 
        demographic considerations, management 
        and use policies, and standards for the 
        design and construction of soccer 
        fields.  Before adopting the plan, the 
        commission shall hold public meetings 
        in at least three locations throughout 
        the state to receive comment.  The plan 
        must cover a 20-year development period.
        Sec. 26.  BOARD OF THE ARTS        
        Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation   13,064,000     13,094,000
        Any unencumbered balance remaining in 
        this section the first year does not 
        cancel but is available for the second 
        year of the biennium. 
        Subd. 2.  Operations and Services 
               989,000      1,019,000 
        Subd. 3.  Grants Program 
             8,540,000      8,540,000 
        Subd. 4.  Regional Arts Councils 
             3,535,000      3,535,000 
        Sec. 27.  MINNESOTA HUMANITIES 
        COMMISSION                             1,397,000      1,409,000
        Any unencumbered balance remaining in 
        the first year does not cancel but is 
        available for the second year of the 
        biennium. 
        $500,000 the first year and $500,000 
        the second year are a one-time 
        appropriation for the 
        Motheread/Fatheread program.* (The 
        preceding text beginning "$500,000 the 
        first year" was vetoed by the governor.)
        Sec. 28.  GENERAL CONTINGENT 
        ACCOUNTS                                 600,000        600,000
                      Summary by Fund
        General                 100,000       100,000
        State Government 
        Special Revenue         400,000       400,000
        Workers' Compensation   100,000       100,000
        The appropriations in this section must 
        be spent with the approval of the 
        governor after consultation with the 
        legislative advisory commission under 
        Minnesota Statutes, section 3.30. 
        If an appropriation in this section for 
        either year is insufficient, the 
        appropriation for the other year is 
        available for it. 
        The special revenue appropriation is 
        available to be transferred to the 
        attorney general when the costs to 
        provide legal services to the health 
        boards exceed the biennial 
        appropriation to the attorney general 
        from the special revenue fund and for 
        transfer to the health boards if 
        required for unforeseen expenditures of 
        an emergency nature.  The boards 
        receiving the additional services or 
        supplemental appropriations shall set 
        their fees to cover the costs. 
        Sec. 29.  TORT CLAIMS                    275,000        275,000
        To be spent by the commissioner of 
        finance.  
        If the appropriation for either year is 
        insufficient, the appropriation for the 
        other year is available for it.  
        Sec. 30.  MINNESOTA STATE   
        RETIREMENT SYSTEM                      3,998,000      4,014,000
        The amounts estimated to be needed for 
        each program are as follows: 
        (a) Legislators 
             3,800,000      3,800,000
        Under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
        3A.03, subdivision 2; 3A.04, 
        subdivisions 3 and 4; and 3A.11. 
        (b) Constitutional Officers 
               198,000        214,000
        Under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
        352C.031, subdivision 5; 352C.04, 
        subdivision 3; and 352C.09, subdivision 
        2. 
        If an appropriation in this section for 
        either year is insufficient, the 
        appropriation for the other year is 
        available for it. 
        Sec. 31.  MINNEAPOLIS EMPLOYEES 
        RETIREMENT FUND                        6,442,000      6,442,000
        $5,892,000 the first year and 
        $5,892,000 the second year are to the 
        commissioner of finance for payment to 
        the Minneapolis employees retirement 
        fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 
        422A.101, subdivision 3.  Payment must 
        be made in four equal installments, 
        March 15, July 15, September 15, and 
        November 15 each year.  
        $550,000 the first year and $550,000 
        the second year are to the commissioner 
        of finance for payment to the 
        Minneapolis employees retirement fund 
        for the supplemental benefit for 
        pre-1973 retirees under Minnesota 
        Statutes, section 356.865. 
        Sec. 32.  POLICE AND FIRE   
        AMORTIZATION AID                       6,295,000      6,303,000
        $4,925,000 the first year and 
        $4,925,000 the second year are to the 
        commissioner of revenue for state aid 
        to amortize the unfunded liability of 
        local police and salaried firefighters 
        relief associations under Minnesota 
        Statutes, section 423A.02. 
        $1,000,000 the first year and 
        $1,000,000 the second year are to the 
        commissioner of revenue for 
        supplemental state aid to amortize the 
        unfunded liability of local police and 
        salaried firefighters relief 
        associations under Minnesota Statutes, 
        section 423A.02, subdivision 1a. 
        $370,000 the first year and $378,000 
        the second year are to the commissioner 
        of revenue to pay reimbursements to 
        relief associations for firefighter 
        supplemental benefits paid under 
        Minnesota Statutes, section 424A.10. 
        Sec. 33.  BOARD OF GOVERNMENT   
        INNOVATION AND COOPERATION                1,014,000    1,018,000
           Sec. 34.  [STATEWIDE SYSTEMS ACCOUNT.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [CONTINUATION.] The statewide systems 
        account is a separate account in the general fund.  All money 
        resulting from billings for statewide systems services must be 
        deposited in the account.  For the purposes of this section, 
        statewide systems includes the state accounting system, payroll 
        system, human resources system, procurement system, and related 
        information access systems. 
           Subd. 2.  [BILLING PROCEDURES.] The commissioner of finance 
        may bill up to $7,520,000 in fiscal year 2000 and $7,520,000 in 
        fiscal year 2001 for statewide systems services provided to 
        state agencies, judicial branch agencies, the University of 
        Minnesota, the Minnesota state colleges and universities, and 
        other entities.  Billing must be based only on usage of services 
        relating to statewide systems provided by the intertechnologies 
        division.  Each agency shall transfer from agency operating 
        appropriations to the statewide systems account the amount 
        billed by the commissioner.  Billing policies and procedures 
        related to statewide systems services must be developed by the 
        commissioner of finance in consultation with the commissioners 
        of employee relations and administration, the University of 
        Minnesota, and the Minnesota state colleges and universities. 
           Subd. 3.  [APPROPRIATION.] Money transferred into the 
        account is appropriated to the commissioner of finance to pay 
        for statewide systems services during fiscal years 2000 and 2001.
           Sec. 35.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 3.3005, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 3a.  [CHANGE IN PURPOSE.] If a request to spend 
        federal money is included in a governor's budget request and 
        approved according to subdivision 2a, but the purpose for which 
        the money is to be used changes from the time of the request and 
        approval, the amount may be allotted for expenditure after a 
        revised request is submitted according to subdivision 2 or the 
        requirements of subdivision 5 are met. 
           Sec. 36.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 3.17, is amended 
        to read: 
           3.17 [JOURNALS.] 
           A journal of the daily proceedings in each house shall be 
        printed and laid before each member at the beginning of the next 
        day's session.  After it has been publicly read and corrected, a 
        copy, kept by the secretary and chief clerk, respectively, and a 
        transcript as approved shall be certified by the secretary or 
        clerk to the printer, who shall print the corrected permanent 
        journal.  Executive messages, addresses, reports, 
        communications, and voluminous documents other than amendments 
        to the constitution or to bills and resolutions and the protests 
        of members submitted under the constitution, article 4, section 
        11, shall be omitted from the journals, unless otherwise ordered 
        by vote.  Before distributing journals and other publications to 
        members, legislative staff, and others, each house shall notify 
        prospective recipients of the cost of the publications and the 
        availability of the same information on the Internet. 
           Sec. 37.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 3C.12, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [FREE DISTRIBUTION.] The revisor shall distribute 
        without charge copies of each edition of Minnesota Statutes, 
        supplements to Minnesota Statutes, and Laws of Minnesota to the 
        persons or bodies listed in this subdivision.  Before 
        distributing the copies, the revisor shall ask inform these 
        persons or bodies of the cost of the publication and the 
        availability of statutes and session laws on the Internet, and 
        shall ask whether their work requires the full number of copies 
        authorized by this subdivision.  Unless a smaller number is 
        needed, the revisor shall distribute:  
           (a) 30 copies to the supreme court; 
           (b) 30 copies to the court of appeals; 
           (c) one copy to each judge of a district court; 
           (d) one copy to the court administrator of each district 
        court for use in each courtroom of the district court; 
           (e) one copy to each judge, district attorney, clerk of 
        court of the United States, and deputy clerk of each division of 
        the United States district court in Minnesota; 
           (f) 100 copies to the office of the attorney general; 
           (g) ten copies each to the governor's office, the 
        departments of agriculture, commerce, corrections, children, 
        families, and learning, finance, health, transportation, labor 
        and industry, economic security, natural resources, public 
        safety, public service, human services, revenue, and the 
        pollution control agency; 
           (h) two copies each to the lieutenant governor and the 
        state treasurer; 
           (i) 20 copies each to the department of administration, 
        state auditor, and legislative auditor; 
           (j) one copy each to other state departments, agencies, 
        boards, and commissions not specifically named in this 
        subdivision; 
           (k) one copy to each member of the legislature; 
           (l) 150 copies for the use of the senate and 200 copies for 
        the use of the house of representatives; 
           (m) 50 copies to the revisor of statutes from which the 
        revisor shall send the appropriate number to the Library of 
        Congress for copyright and depository purposes; 
           (n) four copies to the secretary of the senate; 
           (o) four copies to the chief clerk of the house of 
        representatives; 
           (p) 100 copies to the state law library; 
           (q) 100 copies to the law school of the University of 
        Minnesota; 
           (r) five copies each to the Minnesota historical society 
        and the secretary of state; 
           (s) one copy each to the public library of the largest 
        municipality of each county if the library is not otherwise 
        eligible to receive a free copy under this section or section 
        15.18; and 
           (t) one copy to each county library maintained pursuant to 
        chapter 134, except in counties containing cities of the first 
        class.  If a county has not established a county library 
        pursuant to chapter 134, the copy shall be provided to any 
        public library in the county. 
           Sec. 38.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 8.15, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [FEE SCHEDULES.] The attorney general in 
        consultation with the commissioner of finance shall develop a 
        fee schedule to be used by the attorney general in developing 
        the agreements authorized in subdivision 3.  The attorney 
        general must submit a billing rate for the next biennium to the 
        commissioner of finance by August 1 of each even-numbered year. 
           The attorney general may not assess a county any fee for 
        legal services rendered in connection with a commitment 
        proceeding under section 253B.185 for which the attorney general 
        assumes responsibility under section 8.01. 
           Sec. 39.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 8.15, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [BIENNIAL BUDGET REQUEST.] (a) The attorney 
        general in consultation with the commissioner of finance shall 
        designate which agencies will have their legal service requests 
        included in the budget request of the attorney general.  
           (b) All other agencies, in consultation with the attorney 
        general and the commissioner of finance, shall include a request 
        for legal services in their biennial budget requests.  
           (c) The budget request of the attorney general must include 
        a consolidated listing that shows on one page all the 
        appropriations that will be used to support the office of the 
        attorney general and the finance division from which they will 
        be requested. 
           Sec. 40.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 8.15, 
        subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [AGREEMENTS.] (a) To facilitate the delivery of 
        legal services, the attorney general may: 
           (1) enter into agreements with executive branch agencies, 
        political subdivisions, or quasi-state agencies to provide legal 
        services for the benefit of the citizens of Minnesota; and 
           (2) in addition to funds otherwise appropriated by the 
        legislature, accept and spend funds received under any agreement 
        authorized in clause (1) for the purpose set forth in clause 
        (1), subject to a report of receipts to the chairs of the senate 
        finance committee and the house ways and means committee by 
        October 15 each year. 
           (b) When entering into an agreement for legal services, the 
        attorney general must notify the committees responsible for 
        funding the office of the attorney general.  When the attorney 
        general enters into an agreement with a state agency, the 
        attorney general must also notify the committees responsible for 
        funding that agency. 
           Funds received under this subdivision must be deposited in 
        the general fund and are appropriated to the attorney general 
        for the purposes set forth in this subdivision. 
           Sec. 41.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 13.03, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [PROCEDURES.] (a) The responsible authority in 
        every state agency, political subdivision, and statewide system 
        shall establish procedures, consistent with this chapter, to 
        insure that requests for government data are received and 
        complied with in an appropriate and prompt manner. 
           (b) The responsible authority shall prepare public access 
        procedures in written form and update them no later than August 
        1 of each year as necessary to reflect any changes in personnel 
        or circumstances that might affect public access to government 
        data.  The responsible authority shall make copies of the 
        written public access procedures easily available to the public 
        by distributing free copies of the procedures to the public or 
        by posting a copy of the procedures in a conspicuous place 
        within the government entity that is easily accessible to the 
        public. 
           (c) Full convenience and comprehensive accessibility shall 
        be allowed to researchers including historians, genealogists and 
        other scholars to carry out extensive research and complete 
        copying of all records containing government data except as 
        otherwise expressly provided by law. 
           A responsible authority may designate one or more designees.
           Sec. 42.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 13.05, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 11.  [PRIVATIZATION.] (a) If a government entity 
        enters into a contract with a private person to perform any of 
        its functions, the government entity shall include in the 
        contract terms that make it clear that all of the data created, 
        collected, received, stored, used, maintained, or disseminated 
        by the private person in performing those functions is subject 
        to the requirements of this chapter and that the private person 
        must comply with those requirements as if it were a government 
        entity.  The remedies in section 13.08 apply to the private 
        person under this subdivision. 
           (b) This subdivision does not create a duty on the part of 
        the private person to provide access to public data to the 
        public if the public data are available from the government 
        entity, except as required by the terms of the contract. 
           Sec. 43.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 13.073, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 6.  [PREPARATION OF MODEL POLICIES AND 
        PROCEDURES.] The commissioner shall, in consultation with 
        affected government entities, prepare model policies and 
        procedures to assist government entities in complying with the 
        requirements of this chapter that relate to public access to 
        government data and rights of subjects of data.  Upon completion 
        of a model for a governmental level, the commissioner shall 
        offer that model for formal adoption by that level of government.
        Government entities may adopt or reject the model offered by the 
        commissioner.  A government entity that adopts the 
        commissioner's model shall notify the commissioner in a form 
        prescribed by the commissioner.  
           Sec. 44.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 15.50, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [CAPITOL AREA PLAN.] (a) The board shall prepare, 
        prescribe, and from time to time, after a public hearing, amend 
        a comprehensive use plan for the capitol area, called the area 
        in this subdivision, which consists of that portion of the city 
        of Saint Paul comprehended within the following boundaries:  
        Beginning at the point of intersection of the center line of the 
        Arch-Pennsylvania freeway and the center line of Marion Street, 
        thence southerly along the center line of Marion Street extended 
        to a point 50 feet south of the south line of Concordia Avenue, 
        thence southeasterly along a line extending 50 feet from the 
        south line of Concordia Avenue to a point 125 feet from the west 
        line of John Ireland Boulevard, thence southwesterly along a 
        line extending 125 feet from the west line of John Ireland 
        Boulevard to the south line of Dayton Avenue, thence 
        northeasterly from the south line of Dayton Avenue to the west 
        line of John Ireland Boulevard, thence northeasterly to the 
        center line of the intersection of Old Kellogg Boulevard and 
        Summit Avenue, thence northeasterly along the center line of 
        Summit Avenue to the center line of the new West Kellogg 
        Boulevard, thence southerly along the east line of the new West 
        Kellogg Boulevard, to the center line of West Seventh Street, 
        thence northeasterly along the center line of West Seventh 
        Street to the center line of the Fifth Street ramp, thence 
        northwesterly along the center line of the Fifth Street ramp to 
        the east line of the right-of-way of Interstate Highway 35-E, 
        thence northeasterly along the east line of the right-of-way of 
        Interstate Highway 35-E to the south line of the right-of-way of 
        Interstate Highway 94, thence easterly along the south line of 
        the right-of-way of Interstate Highway 94 to the west line of 
        St. Peter Street, thence southerly to the south line of Exchange 
        Street, thence easterly along the south line of Exchange Street 
        to the west line of Cedar Street, thence northerly along the 
        west line of Cedar Street to the center line of Tenth Street, 
        thence northeasterly along the center line of Tenth Street to 
        the center line of Minnesota Street, thence northwesterly along 
        the center line of Minnesota Street to the center line of 
        Eleventh Street, thence northeasterly along the center line of 
        Eleventh Street to the center line of Jackson Street, thence 
        northwesterly along the center line of Jackson Street to the 
        center line of the Arch-Pennsylvania freeway extended, thence 
        westerly along the center line of the Arch-Pennsylvania freeway 
        extended and Marion Street to the point of origin.  If 
        construction of the labor interpretive center does not commence 
        prior to December 31, 2000, at the site recommended by the 
        board, the boundaries of the capitol area revert to their 
        configuration as of 1992.  
           Under the comprehensive plan, or a portion of it, the board 
        may regulate, by means of zoning rules adopted under the 
        Administrative Procedure Act, the kind, character, height, and 
        location, of buildings and other structures constructed or used, 
        the size of yards and open spaces, the percentage of lots that 
        may be occupied, and the uses of land, buildings and other 
        structures, within the area.  To protect and enhance the 
        dignity, beauty, and architectural integrity of the capitol 
        area, the board is further empowered to include in its zoning 
        rules design review procedures and standards with respect to any 
        proposed construction activities in the capitol area 
        significantly affecting the dignity, beauty, and architectural 
        integrity of the area.  No person may undertake these 
        construction activities as defined in the board's rules in the 
        capitol area without first submitting construction plans to the 
        board, obtaining a zoning permit from the board, and receiving a 
        written certification from the board specifying that the person 
        has complied with all design review procedures and standards.  
        Violation of the zoning rules is a misdemeanor.  The board may, 
        at its option, proceed to abate any violation by injunction.  
        The board and the city of Saint Paul shall cooperate in assuring 
        that the area adjacent to the capitol area is developed in a 
        manner that is in keeping with the purpose of the board and the 
        provisions of the comprehensive plan.  
           (b) The commissioner of administration shall act as a 
        consultant to the board with regard to the physical structural 
        needs of the state.  The commissioner shall make studies and 
        report the results to the board when it requests reports for its 
        planning purpose.  
           (c) No public building, street, parking lot, or monument, 
        or other construction may be built or altered on any public 
        lands within the area unless the plans for the project conform 
        to the comprehensive use plan as specified in paragraph (d) and 
        to the requirement for competitive plans as specified in 
        paragraph (e).  No alteration substantially changing the 
        external appearance of any existing public building approved in 
        the comprehensive plan or the exterior or interior design of any 
        proposed new public building the plans for which were secured by 
        competition under paragraph (e) may be made without the prior 
        consent of the board.  The commissioner of administration shall 
        consult with the board regarding internal changes having the 
        effect of substantially altering the architecture of the 
        interior of any proposed building.  
           (d) The comprehensive plan must show the existing land uses 
        and recommend future uses including:  areas for public taking 
        and use; zoning for private land and criteria for development of 
        public land, including building areas, open spaces, monuments, 
        and other memorials; vehicular and pedestrian circulation; 
        utilities systems; vehicular storage; elements of landscape 
        architecture.  No substantial alteration or improvement may be 
        made to public lands or buildings in the area without the 
        written approval of the board.  
           (e) The board shall secure by competitions plans for any 
        new public building.  Plans for any comprehensive plan, 
        landscaping scheme, street plan, or property acquisition that 
        may be proposed, or for any proposed alteration of any existing 
        public building, landscaping scheme or street plan may be 
        secured by a similar competition.  A competition must be 
        conducted under rules prescribed by the board and may be of any 
        type which meets the competition standards of the American 
        Institute of Architects.  Designs selected become the property 
        of the state of Minnesota, and the board may award one or more 
        premiums in each competition and may pay the costs and fees that 
        may be required for its conduct.  At the option of the board, 
        plans for projects estimated to cost less than $1,000,000 may be 
        approved without competition provided the plans have been 
        considered by the advisory committee described in paragraph 
        (h).  Plans for projects estimated to cost less than $400,000 
        and for construction of streets need not be considered by the 
        advisory committee if in conformity with the comprehensive plan. 
           (f) Notwithstanding paragraph (e), an architectural 
        competition is not required for the design of any light rail 
        transit station and alignment within the capitol area.  The 
        board and its advisory committee shall select a preliminary 
        design for any transit station in the capitol area.  Each stage 
        of any station's design through working drawings must be 
        reviewed by the board's advisory committee and approved by the 
        board to ensure that the station's design is compatible with the 
        comprehensive plan for the capitol area and the board's design 
        criteria.  The guideway and track design of any light rail 
        transit alignment within the capitol area must also be reviewed 
        by the board's advisory committee and approved by the board. 
           (g) Of the amount available for the light rail transit 
        design, adequate funds must be available to the board for design 
        framework studies and review of preliminary plans for light rail 
        transit alignment and stations in the capitol area. 
           (h) The board may not adopt any plan under paragraph (e) 
        unless it first receives the comments and criticism of an 
        advisory committee of three persons, each of whom is either an 
        architect or a planner, who have been selected and appointed as 
        follows:  one by the board of the arts, one by the board, and 
        one by the Minnesota Society of the American Institute of 
        Architects.  Members of the committee may not be contestants 
        under paragraph (e).  The comments and criticism must be a 
        matter of public information.  The committee shall advise the 
        board on all architectural and planning matters.  For that 
        purpose, the committee must be kept currently informed 
        concerning, and have access to, all data, including all plans, 
        studies, reports and proposals, relating to the area as the data 
        are developed or in the process of preparation, whether by the 
        commissioner of administration, the commissioner of trade and 
        economic development, the metropolitan council, the city of 
        Saint Paul, or by any architect, planner, agency or 
        organization, public or private, retained by the board or not 
        retained and engaged in any work or planning relating to the 
        area, and a copy of any data prepared by any public employee or 
        agency must be filed with the board promptly upon completion.  
           The board may employ stenographic or technical help that 
        may be reasonable to assist the committee to perform its duties. 
           When so directed by the board, the committee may serve as, 
        and any member or members of the committee may serve on, the 
        jury or as professional advisor for any architectural 
        competition, and the board shall select the architectural 
        advisor and jurors for any competition with the advice of the 
        committee.  
           The city of Saint Paul shall advise the board.  
           (i) The comprehensive plan for the area must be developed 
        and maintained in close cooperation with the commissioner of 
        trade and economic development, the planning department and the 
        council for the city of Saint Paul, and the board of the arts, 
        and no plan or amendment of a plan may be effective without 90 
        days' notice to the planning department of the city of Saint 
        Paul and the board of the arts and without a public hearing with 
        opportunity for public testimony.  
           (j) The board and the commissioner of administration, 
        jointly, shall prepare, prescribe, and from time to time revise 
        standards and policies governing the repair, alteration, 
        furnishing, appearance, and cleanliness of the public and 
        ceremonial areas of the state capitol building.  The board shall 
        consult with and receive advice from the director of the 
        Minnesota state historical society regarding the historic 
        fidelity of plans for the capitol building.  The standards and 
        policies developed under this paragraph are binding upon the 
        commissioner of administration.  The provisions of chapter 14, 
        including section 14.386, do not apply to this paragraph.  
           (k) The board in consultation with the commissioner of 
        administration shall prepare and submit to the legislature and 
        the governor no later than October 1 of each even-numbered year 
        a report on the status of implementation of the comprehensive 
        plan together with a program for capital improvements and site 
        development, and the commissioner of administration shall 
        provide the necessary cost estimates for the program.  The board 
        shall report any changes to the comprehensive plan adopted by 
        the board to the committee on governmental operations and 
        gambling of the house of representatives and the committee on 
        governmental operations and reform of the senate and upon 
        request shall provide testimony concerning the changes.  The 
        board shall also provide testimony to the legislature on 
        proposals for memorials in the capitol area as to their 
        compatibility with the standards, policies, and objectives of 
        the comprehensive plan. 
           (l) The state shall, by the attorney general upon the 
        recommendation of the board and within appropriations available 
        for that purpose, acquire by gift, purchase, or eminent domain 
        proceedings any real property situated in the area described in 
        this section, and it may also acquire an interest less than a 
        fee simple interest in the property, if it finds that the 
        property is needed for future expansion or beautification of the 
        area.  
           (m) The board is the successor of the state veterans 
        service building commission, and as such may adopt rules and may 
        reenact the rules adopted by its predecessor under Laws 1945, 
        chapter 315, and amendments to it.  
           (n) The board shall meet at the call of the chair and at 
        such other times as it may prescribe.  
           (o) The commissioner of administration shall assign 
        quarters in the state veterans service building to (1) the 
        department of veterans affairs, of which a part that the 
        commissioner of administration and commissioner of veterans 
        affairs may mutually determine must be on the first floor above 
        the ground, and (2) the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign 
        Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of the Purple 
        Heart, United Spanish War Veterans, and Veterans of World War I, 
        and their auxiliaries, incorporated, or when incorporated, under 
        the laws of the state, and (3) as space becomes available, to 
        other state departments and agencies as the commissioner may 
        deem desirable. 
           Sec. 45.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16A.102, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION.] By the 
        fourth Monday Tuesday in January of each odd-numbered year, the 
        governor shall submit to the legislature a recommended revenue 
        target for the next two bienniums.  The recommended revenue 
        target must specify: 
           (1) the maximum share of Minnesota personal income to be 
        collected in taxes and other revenues to pay for state and local 
        government services; 
           (2) the division of the share between state and local 
        government revenues; and 
           (3) the mix and rates of income, sales, and other state and 
        local taxes including property taxes and other revenues.  
        The recommendations must be based on the November forecast 
        prepared under section 16A.103. 
           Sec. 46.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16A.103, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [STATE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES.] In 
        February and November each year, the commissioner shall prepare 
        a forecast of state revenue and expenditures.  The November 
        forecast must be delivered to the legislature and governor no 
        later than the end of the first week of December.  The February 
        forecast must be delivered to the legislature and governor by 
        the end of February.  Forecasts must be delivered to the 
        legislature and governor on the same day.  If requested by the 
        legislative commission on planning and fiscal policy, delivery 
        to the legislature must include a presentation to the 
        commission.  The forecast must assume the continuation of 
        current laws and reasonable estimates of projected growth in the 
        national and state economies and affected populations.  Revenue 
        must be estimated for all sources provided for in current law.  
        Expenditures must be estimated for all obligations imposed by 
        law and those projected to occur as a result of inflation and 
        variables outside the control of the legislature.  In 
        determining the rate of inflation, the application of inflation, 
        the amount of state bonding as it affects debt service, and the 
        other variables to be included in the expenditure part of the 
        forecast, the commissioner must consult with the chair of the 
        senate state government finance committee, the chair of the 
        house committee on ways and means, and house and senate fiscal 
        staff.  In addition, the commissioner shall forecast Minnesota 
        personal income for each of the years covered by the forecast 
        and include these estimates in the forecast documents.  A 
        forecast prepared during the first fiscal year of a biennium 
        must cover that biennium and the next biennium.  A forecast 
        prepared during the second fiscal year of a biennium must cover 
        that biennium and the next two bienniums. 
           Sec. 47.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16A.11, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 7.  [FEES.] The detailed operating budget for each 
        executive branch agency must include proposals for any new fees 
        or any increases in existing fees.  For purposes of this 
        section, "fees" has the meaning given in section 16A.1283, but 
        excludes charges listed in paragraph (b) of that section. 
           Sec. 48.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16A.126, 
        subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [REPAYMENT SCHEDULES.] The commissioner shall 
        make schedules for repayment to the general fund of the 
        transferred money.  A schedule to repay money used to buy 
        equipment may extend over the equipment's useful life. 
        Otherwise, a schedule may not extend beyond five years.  The 
        repayment must include interest at a rate comparable to the rate 
        earned by the state on invested treasurer's cash, as determined 
        monthly by the commissioner.  An amount necessary to pay the 
        interest is appropriated from the revolving fund to which the 
        transfer was made. 
           Sec. 49.  [16A.1283] [LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL REQUIRED.] 
           (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, an executive 
        branch state agency may not impose a new fee or increase an 
        existing fee unless the new fee or increase is approved by law.  
        For purposes of this section, a fee is any charge for goods, 
        services, regulation, or licensure, and, notwithstanding 
        paragraph (b), clause (3), includes charges for admission to or 
        for use of public facilities owned by the state. 
           (b) This section does not apply to: 
           (1) charges billed within or between state agencies, or 
        billed to federal agencies; 
           (2) the Minnesota state colleges and universities system; 
        or 
           (3) charges for goods and services provided for the direct 
        and primary use of a private individual, business, or other 
        entity. 
           (c) An executive branch agency may reduce a fee that was 
        set by rule before the effective date of this section without 
        legislative approval.  Chapter 14 does not apply to fee 
        reductions under this paragraph. 
           Sec. 50.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16A.129, 
        subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [CASH ADVANCES.] When the operations of any 
        nongeneral fund account would be impeded by projected cash 
        deficiencies resulting from delays in the receipt of grants, 
        dedicated income, or other similar receivables, and when the 
        deficiencies would be corrected within the budget period 
        involved, the commissioner of finance may use general fund cash 
        reserves to meet cash demands.  If funds are transferred from 
        the general fund to meet cash flow needs, the cash flow 
        transfers must be returned to the general fund as soon as 
        sufficient cash balances are available in the account to which 
        the transfer was made.  The fund to which general fund cash was 
        advanced must pay interest on the cash advance at a rate 
        comparable to the rate earned by the state on invested 
        treasurer's cash, as determined monthly by the commissioner.  An 
        amount necessary to pay the interest is appropriated from the 
        nongeneral fund to which the cash advance was made.  Any 
        interest earned on general fund cash flow transfers accrues to 
        the general fund and not to the accounts or funds to which the 
        transfer was made.  The commissioner may advance general fund 
        cash reserves to nongeneral fund accounts where the receipts 
        from other governmental units cannot be collected within the 
        budget period. 
           Sec. 51.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16A.45, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [CANCEL; CREDIT.] Once each fiscal year the 
        commissioner and the treasurer shall cancel upon their books all 
        outstanding unpaid commissioner's warrants, except warrants 
        issued for federal assistance programs, that have been issued 
        and delivered for more than six months prior to that date and 
        credit to the general fund the respective amounts of the 
        canceled warrants on or before June 30 of the preceding year and 
        credit state amounts subject to section 345.43 and federal 
        amounts to the appropriate account in the federal fund.  These 
        warrants are presumed abandoned under section 345.38 and are 
        subject to the provisions of sections 345.31 to 345.60.  The 
        commissioner and the treasurer shall cancel upon their books all 
        outstanding unpaid commissioner's warrants issued for federal 
        assistance programs that have been issued and delivered for more 
        than the period of time set pursuant to the federal program and 
        credit to the general fund and the appropriate account in the 
        federal fund, the amount of the canceled warrants. 
           Sec. 52.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16A.85, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [AUTHORIZATION.] The commissioner of 
        administration may determine, in conjunction with the 
        commissioner of finance, the personal property needs of the 
        various state departments, agencies, boards, commissions and the 
        legislature of the kinds of property identified in this 
        subdivision that may be economically funded through a master 
        lease program and request the commissioner of finance to execute 
        a master lease.  The master lease may be used only to finance 
        the following kinds of purchases: 
           (a) The master lease may be used to finance purchases by 
        the commissioner of administration with money from an internal 
        services fund. 
           (b) The master lease may be used to refinance a purchase of 
        equipment already purchased under a lease-purchase agreement. 
           (c) The master lease may be used to finance purchases of 
        large equipment with a capital value of more than $100,000 and a 
        useful life of more than ten years. 
           (d) The legislature may specifically authorize a particular 
        purchase to be financed using the master lease.  The legislature 
        anticipates that this authorization will be given only to 
        finance the purchase of major pieces of equipment with a capital 
        value of more than $10,000. 
           The commissioner of finance may authorize the sale and 
        issuance of certificates of participation relative to a master 
        lease in an amount sufficient to fund these personal property 
        needs.  The term of the certificates must be less than the 
        expected useful life of the equipment whose purchase is financed 
        by the certificates.  The commissioner of administration may use 
        the proceeds from the master lease or the sale of the 
        certificates of participation to acquire the personal property 
        through the appropriate procurement procedure in chapter 16C. 
        Money appropriated for the lease or acquisition of this personal 
        property is appropriated to the commissioner of finance to make 
        master lease payments. 
           Sec. 53.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16B.03, is 
        amended to read: 
           16B.03 [APPOINTMENTS.] 
           The commissioner is authorized to appoint staff, including 
        a deputy commissioner two deputy commissioners, in accordance 
        with chapter 43A.  
           Sec. 54.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16B.104, is 
        amended to read: 
           16B.104 [PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENTS.] 
           (a) The commissioner, in consultation with the office of 
        technology, shall develop nonvisual technology access 
        standards.  The standards must be included in all contracts for 
        the procurement of information technology by, or for the use of, 
        agencies, political subdivisions, and the Minnesota state 
        colleges and universities.  The University of Minnesota is 
        encouraged to consider similar standards.  
           (b) The nonvisual access standards must include the 
        following minimum specifications: 
           (1) that effective, interactive control and use of the 
        technology including the operating system, applications 
        programs, prompts, and format of the data presented, are readily 
        achievable by nonvisual means; 
           (2) that the nonvisual access technology must be compatible 
        with information technology used by other individuals with whom 
        the blind or visually impaired individual must interact; 
           (3) that nonvisual access technology must be integrated 
        into networks used to share communications among employees, 
        program participants, and the public; and 
           (4) that the nonvisual access technology must have the 
        capability of providing equivalent access by nonvisual means to 
        telecommunications or other interconnected network services used 
        by persons who are not blind or visually impaired. 
           (c) Nothing in this section requires the installation of 
        software or peripheral devices used for nonvisual access when 
        the information technology is being used by individuals who are 
        not blind or visually impaired. 
           Sec. 55.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16B.24, 
        subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 5.  [RENTING OUT STATE PROPERTY.] (a)  [AUTHORITY.] 
        The commissioner may rent out state property, real or personal, 
        that is not needed for public use, if the rental is not 
        otherwise provided for or prohibited by law.  The property may 
        not be rented out for more than five years at a time without the 
        approval of the state executive council and may never be rented 
        out for more than 25 years.  A rental agreement may provide that 
        the state will reimburse a tenant for a portion of capital 
        improvements that the tenant makes to state real property if the 
        state does not permit the tenant to renew the lease at the end 
        of the rental agreement. 
           (b)  [RESTRICTIONS.] Paragraph (a) does not apply to state 
        trust fund lands, other state lands under the jurisdiction of 
        the department of natural resources, lands forfeited for 
        delinquent taxes, lands acquired under section 298.22, or lands 
        acquired under section 41.56 which are under the jurisdiction of 
        the department of agriculture.  
           (c)  [FORT SNELLING CHAPEL; RENTAL.] The Fort Snelling 
        Chapel, located within the boundaries of Fort Snelling State 
        Park, is available for use only on payment of a rental fee.  The 
        commissioner shall establish rental fees for both public and 
        private use.  The rental fee for private use by an organization 
        or individual must reflect the reasonable value of equivalent 
        rental space.  Rental fees collected under this section must be 
        deposited in the general fund.  
           (d)  [RENTAL OF LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS.] The commissioner 
        shall establish rental rates for all living accommodations 
        provided by the state for its employees.  Money collected as 
        rent by state agencies pursuant to this paragraph must be 
        deposited in the state treasury and credited to the general fund.
           (e)  [LEASE OF SPACE IN CERTAIN STATE BUILDINGS TO STATE 
        AGENCIES.] The commissioner may lease portions of the 
        state-owned buildings in the capitol complex, the capitol square 
        building, the health building, the Duluth government center, and 
        the building at 1246 University Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota, to 
        state agencies and the court administrator on behalf of the 
        judicial branch of state government and charge rent on the basis 
        of space occupied.  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, all 
        money collected as rent pursuant to the terms of this section 
        shall be deposited in the state treasury.  Money collected as 
        rent to recover the depreciation and bond interest costs of a 
        building funded from the state bond proceeds fund shall be 
        credited to the general fund.  Money collected as rent to 
        recover the depreciation costs of a building funded from the 
        state bond proceeds fund and money collected as rent to recover 
        capital expenditures from capital asset preservation and 
        replacement appropriations and statewide building access 
        appropriations shall be credited to a segregated account in a 
        special revenue fund.  Money in the account is appropriated to 
        the commissioner to be expended for asset preservation projects 
        as determined by the commissioner.  Money collected as rent to 
        recover the depreciation and interest costs of a building built 
        with other state dedicated funds shall be credited to the 
        dedicated fund which funded the original acquisition or 
        construction.  All other money received shall be credited to the 
        general services revolving fund. 
           Sec. 56.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16B.31, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] Plans must be paid for out of 
        money appropriated for the purpose of improving or constructing 
        the building.  No part of the balance may be expended until the 
        commissioner has secured suitable plans and specifications, 
        prepared by a competent architect or engineer, and accompanied 
        by a detailed statement of the cost, quality, and description of 
        all material and labor required for the completion of the work.  
        No plan may be adopted, and no improvement made or building 
        constructed by the commissioner or any other agency to whom an 
        appropriation is made for a capital improvement, that 
        contemplates the expenditure for its completion of more money 
        than the appropriation for it, unless otherwise provided in this 
        section or the act making the appropriation.  The 
        commissioner or other agency may not direct or permit any 
        expenditure beyond that appropriated, and any agent of the 
        commissioner violating this provision is guilty of a gross 
        misdemeanor. 
           Sec. 57.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16B.32, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [ENERGY CONSERVATION GOALS; EFFICIENCY PROGRAM.] 
        (a) The commissioner of administration in consultation with the 
        department of public service, in cooperation with one or more 
        public utilities or comprehensive energy services providers, may 
        conduct a shared-savings program involving energy conservation 
        expenditures on state-owned buildings.  The public utility or 
        energy services provider shall contract with appropriate state 
        agencies to implement energy efficiency improvements in the 
        selected buildings.  A contract must require the public utility 
        or energy services provider to include all energy efficiency 
        improvements in selected buildings that are calculated to 
        achieve a cost payback within ten years.  The contract must 
        require that the public utility or energy services provider be 
        repaid solely from energy cost savings and only to the extent of 
        energy cost savings.  Repayments must be interest-free.  The 
        goal of the program in this paragraph is to demonstrate that 
        through effective energy conservation the total energy 
        consumption per square foot of state-owned and wholly 
        state-leased buildings could be reduced by at least 25 percent 
        from consumption in the base year of 1990.  All agencies 
        participating in the program must report to the commissioner of 
        administration their monthly energy usage, building schedules, 
        inventory of energy-consuming equipment, and other information 
        as needed by the commissioner to manage and evaluate the program.
           (b) The commissioner may exclude from the program of 
        paragraph (a) a building in which energy conservation measures 
        are carried out.  "Energy conservation measures" means measures 
        that are applied to a state building that improve energy 
        efficiency and have a simple return of investment in ten years 
        or within the remaining period of a lease, whichever time is 
        shorter, and involves energy conservation, conservation 
        facilities, renewable energy sources, improvements in operations 
        and maintenance efficiencies, or retrofit activities. 
           (c) This subdivision expires January 1, 2001. 
           Sec. 58.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16B.415, is 
        amended to read: 
           16B.415 [OPERATION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS.] 
           The commissioner, through a division of technology 
        management, is responsible for ongoing operations of state 
        agency information technology activities.  These include records 
        management, activities relating to the Government Data Practices 
        Act, arranging for operation of the state information 
        infrastructure, and activities necessary to make state 
        information systems year 2000 compliant. 
           Sec. 59.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16B.42, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [COMPOSITION.] The intergovernmental 
        information systems advisory council is composed of (1) two 
        members from each of the following groups:  counties outside of 
        the seven-county metropolitan area, cities of the second and 
        third class outside the metropolitan area, cities of the second 
        and third class within the metropolitan area, and cities of the 
        fourth class; (2) one member from each of the following groups:  
        the metropolitan council, an outstate regional body, counties 
        within the metropolitan area, cities of the first class, school 
        districts in the metropolitan area, school districts outside the 
        metropolitan area, and public libraries; (3) one member each 
        appointed by the state departments of children, families, and 
        learning, human services, revenue, and economic security, the 
        office of strategic and long-range planning, office of 
        technology, administration, and the legislative auditor; (4) one 
        member from the office of the state auditor, appointed by the 
        auditor; (5) one member appointed by each of the following 
        organizations:  League of Minnesota Cities, Association of 
        Minnesota Counties, Minnesota Association of Township Officers, 
        and Minnesota Association of School Administrators; and (6) one 
        member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker 
        and one member of the senate appointed by the subcommittee on 
        committees of the committee on rules and administration.  The 
        legislative members appointed under clause (6) are nonvoting 
        members.  The commissioner of administration shall appoint 
        members under clauses (1) and (2).  The terms, compensation, and 
        removal of the appointed members of the advisory council are as 
        provided in section 15.059, but the council does not expire 
        until June 30, 1999 2000.  
           Sec. 60.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16B.46, is 
        amended to read: 
           16B.46 [TELECOMMUNICATION; POWERS.] 
           The commissioner shall supervise and control all state 
        telecommunication facilities and services, including any 
        transmission, emission, or reception of signs, signals, writing, 
        images, and sounds or intelligence of any nature by wire, radio, 
        optical, or other electromagnetic systems.  Nothing in this 
        section or section 16B.465 modifies, amends, or abridges any 
        powers and duties presently vested in or imposed upon the 
        commissioner of transportation or the commissioner of public 
        safety relating to telecommunications facilities or the 
        commissioner of transportation relating only to radio air 
        navigation facilities or other air navigation facilities.  
           Sec. 61.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16B.465, is 
        amended to read: 
           16B.465 [STATE INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [POLICY.] (a) The state through its 
        departments and agencies shall seek ways to meet its 
        telecommunications needs in a manner that will help to promote 
        investment and growth of the private sector information 
        infrastructure throughout the state.  
           (b) The commissioner shall ensure that telecommunications 
        services are acquired in a manner that: 
           (1) promotes the availability of technologies with 
        statewide high-speed or advanced telecommunications capability 
        for both public and private customers in a reasonable and timely 
        fashion; 
           (2) enables the cost-effective provision of 
        telecommunications services to the entities identified in this 
        section; 
           (3) uses standards-based open, interoperable networks to 
        the extent practicable; 
           (4) promotes fair and open competition in the delivery of 
        telecommunications services; 
           (5) allows effective state information infrastructure 
        network management, responsiveness, and fault protection; 
           (6) provides networkwide security and confidentiality as 
        appropriate for promoting public safety, health, and welfare; 
        and 
           (7) meets performance standards that are reasonable and 
        necessary.  
           (c) The state may purchase, own, or lease customer premises 
        equipment.  Customer premises equipment consists of terminal and 
        associated equipment and inside wire located at an end user's 
        premises and connected with communication channels at the point 
        established in a building or a complex to separate customer 
        equipment from the network.  Customer premises equipment also 
        includes, but is not limited to, communications devices eligible 
        for distribution to communications impaired persons under 
        section 237.51, subdivision 1. 
           (d) This section does not prohibit the commissioner or 
        other governmental entity from owning, leasing, operating, and 
        staffing a network operation center that allows the commissioner 
        to test, troubleshoot, and maintain network operations.  
           Subd. 1a.  [CREATION.] Except as provided in subdivision 4, 
        the commissioner, through the state information 
        infrastructure provides, shall arrange for the provision of 
        voice, data, video, and other telecommunications transmission 
        services to state agencies;.  The state information 
        infrastructure may also serve educational institutions, 
        including public schools as defined in section 120A.05, 
        subdivisions 9, 11, 13, and 17, nonpublic, church or religious 
        organization schools that provide instruction in compliance with 
        sections 120A.22, 120A.24, and 124A.41, and private colleges; 
        public corporations; and state political subdivisions.  It is 
        not a telephone company for purposes of chapter 237.  It The 
        commissioner may purchase, own, or lease any telecommunications 
        network facilities or equipment after first seeking bids or 
        proposals and having determined that the private sector cannot, 
        will not, or is unable to provide these services, facilities, or 
        equipment as bid or proposed in a reasonable or timely fashion 
        consistent with policy set forth in this section.  The 
        commissioner shall not resell or sublease any services or 
        facilities to nonpublic entities except it may to serve private 
        schools and colleges.  The commissioner has the responsibility 
        for planning, development, and operations of the state 
        information infrastructure in order to provide cost-effective 
        telecommunications transmission services to state information 
        infrastructure users consistent with the policy set forth in 
        this section. 
           Subd. 3.  [DUTIES.] (a) The commissioner, after 
        consultation with the office of technology, shall: 
           (1) provide arrange for voice, data, video, and other 
        telecommunications transmission services to the state and to 
        political subdivisions through an account in the 
        intertechnologies revolving fund; 
           (2) manage vendor relationships, network function, and 
        capacity planning in order to be responsive to the needs of the 
        state information infrastructure users; 
           (3) set rates and fees for services; 
           (4) approve contracts for services, facilities, or 
        equipment relating to the system; 
           (5) in consultation with the office of technology, develop 
        the a system plan, including plans for the phasing of its 
        implementation and maintenance of the initial system, and the 
        annual program and fiscal plans for the system; and 
           (6) in consultation with the office of technology, 
        commissioner of children, families, and learning in regard to 
        schools, assist state agencies, political subdivisions of the 
        state, and higher education institutions, including private 
        colleges and public and private schools, to identify their 
        telecommunication needs, and develop a plan for interconnection 
        of the network with private colleges and public and private 
        schools in the state plans for interoperability of the network 
        consistent with the policies in subdivision 1, paragraphs (a) 
        and (b).  When requested, the commissioner may also assist in 
        identifying, purchasing, or leasing their customer premises 
        equipment. 
           (b) The commissioner may purchase, own, or lease any 
        telecommunications network facilities or equipment after first 
        seeking bids or proposals and having determined that the private 
        sector cannot, will not, or is unable to provide these services, 
        facilities, or equipment as bid or proposed in a reasonable and 
        timely fashion consistent with the policy set forth in this 
        section.  
           Subd. 4.  [PROGRAM PARTICIPATION.] (a) The commissioner may 
        require the participation of state agencies, the state board of 
        education, and the board of trustees of the Minnesota state 
        colleges and universities and may request the participation of 
        the board of regents of the University of Minnesota, in the 
        planning and implementation of the network to provide 
        interconnective technologies.  The board of trustees of the 
        Minnesota state colleges and universities may opt out of 
        participation as a subscriber on the network, in whole or in 
        part, if the board is able to secure telecommunications services 
        from another source that ensures it will achieve the policy 
        objectives set forth in subdivision 1 of this section.  
           Subd. 4a.  [ALTERNATIVE AGGREGATION.] The commissioner may, 
        but is not required to, approve community-based aggregation of 
        demand for telecommunications services for state agencies, 
        including Minnesota state colleges and universities.  To be 
        considered a community-based aggregation project: 
           (1) the project must aggregate telecommunications demands 
        of state agencies with that of the private sector in a community 
        or a group of communities in a geographic region to the extent 
        permitted by law; and 
           (2) the aggregation must result in telecommunications 
        infrastructure improvements that ensure the policy set forth in 
        subdivision 1, paragraphs (a) and (b). 
           Subd. 4b.  [RATES.] (a) The commissioner shall establish 
        reimbursement rates in cooperation with the commissioner of 
        finance to be billed to participating agencies and educational 
        institutions sufficient to cover the operating, maintenance, and 
        administrative costs of the system. 
           (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision 4, a direct 
        appropriation made to an educational institution for usage costs 
        associated with the state information infrastructure must only 
        be used by the educational institution for payment of usage 
        costs of the network as billed by the commissioner of 
        administration.  
           Subd. 6.  [APPROPRIATION.] Money appropriated for the state 
        information infrastructure and fees for telecommunications 
        services must be deposited in an account in the 
        intertechnologies fund.  Money in the account is appropriated 
        annually to the commissioner to operate telecommunications 
        services carry out the purposes of this section. 
           Subd. 7.  [EXEMPTION.] The system is exempt from the 
        five-year limitation on contracts set by sections 16C.05, 
        subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (5), 16C.08, subdivision 3, 
        clause (7), and 16C.09, clause (6). 
           Sec. 62.  [16B.616] [BLEACHER SAFETY.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITIONS.] (a) For purposes of this 
        section, the following terms have the meanings given. 
           (b) "Place of public accommodation" means a public or 
        privately owned sports or entertainment arena, gymnasium, 
        auditorium, stadium, hall, special event center in a public 
        park, or other facility for public assembly. 
           (c) "Bleacher" refers to any tiered or stepped seating 
        facility, whether temporary or permanent, used in a place of 
        public accommodation for the seating of its occupants. 
           Subd. 2.  [APPLICATION.] All places of public accommodation 
        must comply with the provisions of this section. 
           Subd. 3.  [SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.] In places of public 
        accommodation using bleacher seating, all bleachers or bleacher 
        open spaces over 30 inches above grade or the floor below, must 
        conform to the following safety requirements: 
           (1) the open space between bleacher footboards, seats, and 
        guardrails must not exceed four inches, unless approved safety 
        nets are installed; 
           (2) bleachers must have vertical perimeter guardrails with 
        no more than four-inch rail spacing between vertical rails or 
        other approved guardrails that address climbability and are 
        designed to prevent accidents; and 
           (3) the state building official shall determine whether the 
        safety nets and guardrail climbability meet the requirements of 
        the alternate design section of the State Building Code.  All 
        new bleachers manufactured, installed, sold, or distributed 
        after January 1, 2001, must comply with the State Building Code 
        in effect and clauses (1), (2), and (3). 
           Subd. 4.  [ENFORCEMENT.] (a) A statutory or home rule 
        charter city that is not covered by the code because of action 
        taken under section 16B.72 or 16B.73 is responsible for 
        enforcement in the city of the code's requirements for bleacher 
        safety.  In all other areas where the code does not apply 
        because of action taken under section 16B.72 or 16B.73, the 
        county is responsible for enforcement of those requirements. 
           (b) Municipalities that have not adopted the code may 
        enforce the code requirements for bleacher safety by either 
        entering into a joint powers agreement for enforcement with 
        another municipality that has adopted the code or contracting 
        for enforcement with a qualified and certified building official 
        or state licensed design professional to enforce the code. 
           (c) Municipalities, school districts, organizations, 
        individuals, and other persons operating or owning places of 
        public accommodation with bleachers shall provide a signed 
        certification of compliance to the commissioner by January 1, 
        2001.  The certification shall be prepared by a qualified and 
        certified building official or state licensed design 
        professional and shall certify that the bleachers have been 
        inspected and are in compliance with the requirements of this 
        section and are structurally sound. 
           Subd. 5.  [NONCOMPLYING BLEACHERS PROHIBITED.] The 
        commissioner, in addition to other remedies provided for 
        violations of this chapter, shall forbid use of bleachers not in 
        compliance with this section. 
           Subd. 6.  [PERIODIC INSPECTIONS.] Bleacher footboards and 
        guardrails must be reinspected at least every five years and a 
        structural inspection must be made at least every ten years.  
        Inspections may be completed in the same manner as provided in 
        subdivision 4.  This section does not preclude a municipal 
        authority from establishing additional reinspections under the 
        State Building Code.  
           Sec. 63.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16B.72, is 
        amended to read: 
           16B.72 [REFERENDA ON STATE BUILDING CODE IN NONMETROPOLITAN 
        COUNTIES.] 
           Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, 
        a county that is not a metropolitan county as defined by section 
        473.121, subdivision 4, may provide, by a vote of the majority 
        of its electors residing outside of municipalities that have 
        adopted the State Building Code before January 1, 1977, that no 
        part of the State Building Code except the building requirements 
        for handicapped persons, the requirements for bleacher safety, 
        and the requirements for elevator safety applies within its 
        jurisdiction.  
           The county board may submit to the voters at a regular or 
        special election the question of adopting the building code.  
        The county board shall submit the question to the voters if it 
        receives a petition for the question signed by a number of 
        voters equal to at least five percent of those voting in the 
        last general election.  The question on the ballot must be 
        stated substantially as follows:  
           "Shall the State Building Code be adopted in .......... 
        County?"  
           If the majority of the votes cast on the proposition is in 
        the negative, the State Building Code does not apply in the 
        subject county, outside home rule charter or statutory cities or 
        towns that adopted the building code before January 1, 1977, 
        except the building requirements for handicapped persons, the 
        requirements for bleacher safety, and the requirements for 
        elevator safety do apply.  
           Nothing in this section precludes a municipality or town 
        that has not adopted the State Building Code from adopting and 
        enforcing by ordinance or other legal means the State Building 
        Code within its jurisdiction.  
           Sec. 64.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16B.73, is 
        amended to read: 
           16B.73 [STATE BUILDING CODE IN MUNICIPALITIES UNDER 2,500; 
        LOCAL OPTION.] 
           The governing body of a municipality whose population is 
        less than 2,500 may provide that the State Building Code, except 
        the requirements for handicapped persons, the requirements for 
        bleacher safety, and the requirements for elevator safety, will 
        not apply within the jurisdiction of the municipality, if the 
        municipality is located in whole or in part within a county 
        exempted from its application under section 16B.72.  If more 
        than one municipality has jurisdiction over an area, the State 
        Building Code continues to apply unless all municipalities 
        having jurisdiction over the area have provided that the State 
        Building Code, except the requirements for handicapped persons, 
        the requirements for bleacher safety, and the requirements for 
        elevator safety, does not apply within their respective 
        jurisdictions.  Nothing in this section precludes a municipality 
        or town from adopting and enforcing by ordinance or other legal 
        means the State Building Code within its jurisdiction. 
           Sec. 65.  [16C.065] [COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS.] 
           (a) The commissioner or an agency official to whom the 
        commissioner has delegated duties under section 16C.03, 
        subdivision 16, may not approve a contract or purchase of goods 
        or services in an amount greater than $5,000,000 unless a 
        cost-benefit analysis has been completed and shows a positive 
        benefit to the public.  The management analysis division must 
        perform or direct the performance of the analysis.  A 
        cost-benefit analysis must be performed for a project if an 
        aggregation of contracts or purchases for a project exceeds 
        $5,000,000. 
           (b) All cost-benefit analysis documents under this section, 
        including preliminary drafts and notes, are public data. 
           (c) If a cost-benefit analysis does not show a positive 
        benefit to the public, the governor may approve a contract or 
        purchase of goods or services if a cost-effectiveness study had 
        been done that shows the proposed project is the most effective 
        way to provide a necessary public good. 
           (d) This section applies to contracts for goods or services 
        that are expected to have a useful life of more than three 
        years.  This section does not apply for purchase of goods or 
        services for response to a natural disaster if an emergency has 
        been declared by the governor. 
           Sec. 66.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16C.14, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [CONTRACT CONDITIONS.] The commissioner may 
        contract to purchase by installment payments capital or other 
        equipment or services intended to improve the energy efficiency 
        of a state building or facility if: 
           (1) the term of the contract does not exceed ten years, 
        with not more than a ten-year payback beginning at the 
        completion of the project; 
           (2) the entire cost of the contract is a percentage of the 
        resultant savings in energy costs only.  "Savings in energy cost"
        means a comparison of energy cost and energy usage under the 
        precontract conditions, including reasonable projections of 
        energy cost and usage if no change is made to the precontract 
        conditions, against energy cost and usage with the changes made 
        under the contract.  If it is impractical to directly measure 
        energy cost and/or energy usage, reasonable engineering 
        estimates may be substituted for measured results; 
           (3) the contract for purchase must be completed using a 
        solicitation; 
           (4) the commissioner has determined that the contract 
        vendor is a responsible vendor; 
           (5) the contract vendor can finance or obtain financing for 
        the performance of the contract without state assistance or 
        guarantee; and 
           (6) the state may unilaterally cancel the agreement if the 
        legislature fails to appropriate funds to continue the contract 
        or if the contractor at any time during the term of the contract 
        fails to perform its contractual obligations, including failure 
        to deliver or install equipment or materials, failure to replace 
        faulty equipment or materials in a timely fashion, and failure 
        to maintain the equipment as agreed in the contract. 
           Sec. 67.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16D.04, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [AGENCY PARTICIPATION.] (a) A state agency may, 
        at its option, refer debts to the commissioner for collection.  
        The ultimate responsibility for the debt, including the 
        reporting of the debt to the commissioner of finance and the 
        decision with regard to the continuing collection and 
        uncollectibility of the debt, remains with the referring state 
        agency. 
           (b) When a debt owed to a state agency becomes 121 days 
        past due, the state agency must refer the debt to the 
        commissioner for collection.  This requirement does not apply if 
        there is a dispute over the amount or validity of the debt, if 
        the debt is the subject of legal action or administrative 
        proceedings, or the agency determines that the debtor is 
        adhering to acceptable payment arrangements.  The commissioner, 
        in consultation with the commissioner of finance, may provide 
        that certain types of debt need not be referred to the 
        commissioner for collection under this paragraph.  Methods and 
        procedures for referral must follow internal guidelines prepared 
        by the commissioner of finance. 
           Sec. 68.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16E.01, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [PURPOSE.] The office of technology, 
        referred to in this chapter as the "office," is an agency in the 
        executive branch managed by an executive director appointed by 
        the governor under the supervision of the commissioner of 
        administration.  The office shall provide leadership and 
        direction for information and communications technology policy 
        in Minnesota.  The office shall coordinate strategic investments 
        in information and communications technology to encourage the 
        development of a technically literate society and to ensure 
        sufficient access to and efficient delivery of government 
        services.  
           Sec. 69.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16E.02, is 
        amended to read: 
           16E.02 [OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY STRUCTURE AND PERSONNEL.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [OFFICE MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE.] The 
        executive director commissioner of administration is the state's 
        chief information officer and technology advisor to the 
        governor.  The salary of the executive director may not exceed 
        85 percent of the governor's salary.  The executive director may 
        employ a deputy director, assistant directors, and other 
        employees that the executive director may consider necessary.  
        The executive director and the deputy and assistant directors 
        and one confidential secretary serve in the unclassified 
        service.  The staff of the office must include individuals 
        knowledgeable in information and communications technology.  The 
        executive director may appoint other personnel as necessary to 
        operate the office of technology in accordance with chapter 43A. 
           Subd. 2.  [INTERGOVERNMENTAL PARTICIPATION.] The executive 
        director commissioner of administration or the director's 
        commissioner's designee shall serve as a member of the Minnesota 
        education telecommunications council, the geographic information 
        systems council, the library planning task force, or their 
        respective successor organizations, and as a member of Minnesota 
        Technology, Inc., the Minnesota health data institute as a 
        nonvoting member, and the Minnesota world trade center 
        corporation. 
           Sec. 70.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16E.08, is 
        amended to read: 
           16E.08 [BUSINESS LICENSE INFORMATION.] 
           The office shall coordinate the design, establishment, 
        implementation, and maintenance of an electronic system to allow 
        the public to retrieve by computer information prepared by the 
        department of trade and economic development bureau of business 
        licenses on licenses and their requirements.  The office shall 
        establish the format and standards for retrieval consistent with 
        state information and data interchange policies.  The system 
        must also be designed to allow the public to apply for and 
        obtain business licenses and permits on line.  The office shall 
        integrate the system with the North Star online information 
        system.  The office shall work in collaboration with the 
        department of trade and economic development bureau of business 
        licenses.  The bureau is responsible for creating and operating 
        the system. 
           Sec. 71.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.047, is 
        amended to read: 
           43A.047 [CONTRACTED SERVICES.] 
           (a) Executive agencies, including the Minnesota state 
        colleges and universities system, must demonstrate that they 
        cannot use available staff before hiring outside consultants or 
        services.  If use of consultants is necessary, agencies are 
        encouraged to negotiate contracts that will involve permanent 
        staff, so as to upgrade and maximize training of state employees.
           (b) If agencies reduce operating budgets, agencies must 
        give priority to reducing spending on professional and technical 
        service contracts before laying off permanent employees. 
           (c) Agencies must report to the senate finance and house 
        ways and means committees commissioner of administration by 
        August November 1 each year on implementation of this section 
        during the previous fiscal year.  The reports must include 
        amounts spent on professional and technical service contracts 
        during the previous fiscal year.  The commissioner shall compile 
        the reports into a uniform format and forward them to the chairs 
        of the senate finance and house ways and means committees by 
        November 15. 
           Sec. 72.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.22, is 
        amended to read: 
           43A.22 [BENEFITS; INTENT.] 
           (a) It is the intent of the state to provide eligible 
        employees and other eligible persons with life insurance and 
        hospital, medical, and dental benefits coverage through provider 
        organizations, hereafter referred to as "carriers," authorized 
        to do business in the state.  
           (b) The commissioner may self-insure any hospital and 
        medical plan offered under sections 43A.22 to 43A.31 to promote 
        reasonably stable and predictable premiums for hospital and 
        medical benefits paid by the state and its employees and to 
        promote affordable, ongoing relationships between employees and 
        dependents and their medical providers.  The commissioner shall 
        consult with the commissioners of commerce and health and human 
        services regarding the development and reporting of quality of 
        care measures. 
           Sec. 73.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.23, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [GENERAL.] The commissioner is authorized 
        to request bids from carriers or to negotiate with carriers and 
        to enter into contracts with carriers which in the judgment of 
        the commissioner are best qualified to underwrite and service 
        the benefit plans.  Contracts entered into with carriers are not 
        subject to the requirements of sections 16C.16 to 16C.19.  The 
        commissioner may negotiate premium rates and coverage provisions 
        with all carriers licensed under chapters 62A, 62C, and 62D.  
        The commissioner may also negotiate reasonable restrictions to 
        be applied to all carriers under chapters 62A, 62C, and 62D.  
        Contracts to underwrite the benefit plans must be bid or 
        negotiated separately from contracts to service the benefit 
        plans, which may be awarded only on the basis of competitive 
        bids.  The commissioner shall consider the cost of the plans, 
        conversion options relating to the contracts, service 
        capabilities, character, financial position, and reputation of 
        the carriers, and any other factors which the commissioner deems 
        appropriate.  Each benefit contract must be for a uniform term 
        of at least one year, but may be made automatically renewable 
        from term to term in the absence of notice of termination by 
        either party.  The commissioner shall, to the extent feasible, 
        make hospital and medical benefits available from at least one 
        carrier licensed to do business pursuant to each of chapters 
        62A, 62C, and 62D.  The commissioner need not provide health 
        maintenance organization services to an employee who resides in 
        an area which is not served by a licensed health maintenance 
        organization.  The commissioner may refuse to allow a health 
        maintenance organization to continue as a carrier.  The 
        commissioner may elect not to offer all three types of carriers 
        if there are no bids or no acceptable bids by that type of 
        carrier or if the offering of additional carriers would result 
        in substantial additional administrative costs.  A carrier 
        licensed under chapter 62A is exempt from the tax imposed by 
        section 60A.15 on premiums paid to it by the state. 
           All self-insured hospital and medical service products must 
        comply with coverage mandates, data reporting, and consumer 
        protection requirements applicable to the licensed carrier 
        administering the product, had the product been insured, 
        including chapters 62J, 62M, and 62Q.  Any self-insured products 
        that limit coverage to a network of providers or provide 
        different levels of coverage between network and nonnetwork 
        providers shall comply with section 62D.123 and geographic 
        access standards for health maintenance organizations adopted by 
        the commissioner of health in rule under chapter 62D. 
           Sec. 74.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.23, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [CONTRACT TO CONTAIN STATEMENT OF BENEFITS.] (a) 
        Each contract under sections 43A.22 to 43A.30 shall contain a 
        detailed statement of benefits offered and shall include any 
        maximums, limitations, exclusions, and other definitions of 
        benefits the commissioner deems necessary or desirable.  Each 
        hospital and medical benefits contract shall provide benefits at 
        least equal to those required by section 62E.06, subdivision 2.  
           (b) All summaries of benefits describing the hospital and 
        medical service benefits offered to state employees must comply 
        with laws and rules for content and clarity applicable to the 
        licensed carrier administering the product.  Referral procedures 
        must be clearly described.  The commissioners of commerce and 
        health, as appropriate, shall review the summaries of benefits, 
        whether written or electronic, and advise the commissioner of 
        employee relations on any changes needed to ensure compliance. 
           Sec. 75.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.30, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 6.  [CONTINGENCY RESERVE.] The commissioner shall 
        maintain a contingency reserve within the employee insurance 
        trust fund.  The reserve must be used to increase the controls 
        over medical plan provisions and insurance costs for the state's 
        employee populations.  The reserve consists of appropriations 
        from the general fund, receipts from billings to agencies, and 
        credited investment gains and losses attributable to balances in 
        the account.  The state board of investment shall invest the 
        assets of the account according to section 11A.24. 
           Sec. 76.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.31, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [COMMISSIONER REPORTS.] The commissioner shall 
        transmit a report each biennium to the legislative commission on 
        employee relations concerning the operation of sections 43A.22 
        to 43A.30, including a study of local and statewide market 
        trends regarding provider concentration, costs, and other 
        factors as they may relate to the state's health benefits 
        purchasing strategy.  The commissioner shall consult with the 
        commissioners of commerce and health in the conduct of this 
        study.  The commissioner shall also report the number, type, and 
        disposition of complaints relating to the insurance programs 
        offered by the commissioner.  
           Sec. 77.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.31, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 5.  [CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE.] The commissioner shall 
        employ staff for the purposes of assisting state employees and 
        their dependents in: 
           (1) understanding their benefits and coverage levels; 
           (2) obtaining information and responses to questions 
        regarding issues of coverage, benefits, and service from 
        carriers and providers; and 
           (3) making use of all grievance, appeals, and complaint 
        resolution processes provided by law or contract. 
           Sec. 78.  [43A.318] [PUBLIC EMPLOYEES GROUP LONG-TERM CARE 
        INSURANCE PROGRAM.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITIONS.] (a) [SCOPE.] For the 
        purposes of this section, the terms defined have the meaning 
        given them. 
           (b) [ADVISORY COMMITTEE; COMMITTEE.] "Advisory committee" 
        or "committee" means the committee created under subdivision 3. 
           (c) [COMMITTEE MEMBER; MEMBER.] "Committee member" or 
        "member" means a person serving on the advisory committee 
        created under subdivision 3. 
           (d) [ELIGIBLE PERSON.] "Eligible person" means: 
           (1) an active member of a public pension plan of the state; 
           (2) an employee or elected official of the state who is not 
        eligible for participation in a public employee pension plan of 
        the state; or 
           (3) a spouse or parent of a person described in clause (1) 
        or (2), regardless of the enrollment status in the program of 
        the person described in clause (1) or (2). 
           (e) [PROGRAM.] "Program" means the statewide public 
        employees long-term care insurance program created under 
        subdivision 2. 
           (f) [PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PENSION PLAN.] "Public employee 
        pension plan" means any Minnesota public pension plan or fund 
        that provides pension or retirement coverage for state employees.
           (g) [QUALIFIED VENDOR.] "Qualified vendor" means an entity 
        licensed or authorized to underwrite, provide, or administer 
        group long-term care insurance benefits in this state.  
           Subd. 2.  [PROGRAM CREATION; GENERAL PROVISIONS.] (a) The 
        commissioner may administer a program to make long-term care 
        coverage available to eligible persons.  The commissioner may 
        determine the program's funding arrangements, request bids from 
        qualified vendors, and negotiate and enter into contracts with 
        qualified vendors.  Contracts are not subject to the 
        requirements of section 16C.16 or 16C.19.  Contracts must be for 
        a uniform term of at least one year, but may be made 
        automatically renewable from term to term in the absence of 
        notice of termination by either party.  The program may not be 
        self-insured until the commissioner has completed an actuarial 
        study of the program and reported the results of the study to 
        the legislature and self-insurance has been specifically 
        authorized by law. 
           (b) The program may provide coverage for home, community, 
        and institutional long-term care and any other benefits as 
        determined by the commissioner.  Coverage is optional.  The 
        enrolled eligible person must pay the full cost of the coverage. 
           (c) The commissioner shall promote activities that attempt 
        to raise awareness of the need for long-term care insurance 
        among residents of the state and encourage the increased 
        prevalence of long-term care coverage.  These activities must 
        include the sharing of knowledge gained in the development of 
        the program. 
           (d) The commissioner may employ and contract with persons 
        and other entities to perform the duties under this section and 
        may determine their duties and compensation consistent with this 
        chapter. 
           (e) The benefits provided under this section are not terms 
        and conditions of employment as defined under section 179A.03, 
        subdivision 19, and are not subject to collective bargaining. 
           (f) The commissioner shall establish underwriting criteria 
        for entry of all eligible persons into the program.  Eligible 
        persons who would be immediately eligible for benefits may not 
        enroll. 
           (g) Eligible persons who meet underwriting criteria may 
        enroll in the program upon hiring and at other times established 
        by the commissioner. 
           (h) An eligible person enrolled in the program may continue 
        to participate in the program even if an event, such as 
        termination of employment, changes the person's employment 
        status. 
           (i) Participating public employee pension plans and public 
        employers may provide automatic pension or payroll deduction for 
        payment of long-term care insurance premiums to qualified 
        vendors contracted with under this section. 
           (j) The premium charged to program enrollees must include 
        an administrative fee to cover all program expenses incurred in 
        addition to the cost of coverage.  All fees collected are 
        appropriated to the commissioner for the purpose of 
        administrating the program. 
           Subd. 3.  [ADVISORY COMMITTEE.] (a) The committee consists 
        of:  
           (1) the executive directors or designees of the Minnesota 
        state retirement system, the public employees retirement 
        association, and the teachers retirement association; 
           (2) one member of the investment advisory committee of the 
        state board of investment provided under section 11A.08 
        appointed by the board; 
           (3) one staff member of the department of human services 
        appointed by the commissioner of human services; 
           (4) one staff member of the department of commerce 
        appointed by the commissioner of commerce; 
           (5) one member of the medical community with clinical 
        knowledge of long-term care appointed by the commissioner of 
        employee relations; and 
           (6) six members representing the interests of eligible 
        persons, including exclusive representatives of employees as 
        defined by section 179A.03, subdivision 8, and unrepresented 
        employees appointed by the commissioner of employee relations. 
           (b) Appointment to and removal from the committee must be 
        in the manner provided in section 15.059. 
           (c) The members of the committee described in paragraph 
        (a), clauses (1) to (5), serve without term limits.  The terms 
        of members described in paragraph (a), clause (6), are governed 
        by section 15.059, subdivision 2. 
           (d) Members serve without compensation, but are eligible 
        for reimbursement of expenses in the same manner and amount as 
        authorized under section 43A.18, subdivision 2. 
           (e) The committee shall advise the commissioner on program 
        issues, including, but not limited to, benefits, coverage, 
        funding, eligibility, enrollment, underwriting, and marketing. 
           Subd. 4.  [LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE TRUST FUND.] (a) The 
        long-term care insurance trust fund in the state treasury 
        consists of deposits of the premiums received from persons 
        enrolled in the program.  All money in the fund is appropriated 
        to the commissioner to pay premiums, claims, refunds, 
        administrative costs, and other related service costs.  The 
        commissioner shall reserve an amount of money sufficient to 
        cover the actuarially estimated costs of claims incurred but 
        unpaid.  The trust fund must be used solely for the purpose of 
        the program. 
           (b) The state board of investment shall invest the money in 
        the fund according to section 11A.24.  Investment income and 
        losses attributable to the fund must be credited to or deducted 
        from the fund. 
           Subd. 5.  [PRIVATE SOURCES.] This section does not prohibit 
        or limit individuals or local governments from purchasing 
        long-term care insurance through other private sources. 
           Sec. 79.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 128C.02, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 3a.  [PARTICIPATION IN EXHIBITIONS.] Minnesota 
        amateur sports commission exhibitions in which high school 
        students participate individually or as members of a team do not 
        qualify as games, contests, or other extracurricular activities 
        for state high school league purposes under this chapter. 
           Sec. 80.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 138.17, 
        subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 7.  [RECORDS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.] A records 
        management program for the application of efficient and 
        economical management methods to the creation, utilization, 
        maintenance, retention, preservation, and disposal of official 
        records shall be administered by the commissioner of 
        administration with assistance from the director of the 
        historical society.  The state records center which stores and 
        services state records not in state archives shall be 
        administered by the commissioner of administration.  The 
        commissioner of administration is empowered to (1) establish 
        standards, procedures, and techniques for effective management 
        of government records, (2) make continuing surveys of paper work 
        operations, and (3) recommend improvements in current records 
        management practices including the use of space, equipment, and 
        supplies employed in creating, maintaining, preserving and 
        disposing of government records.  It shall be the duty of the 
        head of each state agency and the governing body of each county, 
        municipality, and other subdivision of government to cooperate 
        with the commissioner in conducting surveys and to establish and 
        maintain an active, continuing program for the economical and 
        efficient management of the records of each agency, county, 
        municipality, or other subdivision of government.  When 
        requested by the commissioner, public officials shall assist in 
        the preparation of an inclusive inventory of records in their 
        custody, to which shall be attached a schedule, approved by the 
        head of the governmental unit or agency having custody of the 
        records and the commissioner, establishing a time period for the 
        retention or disposal of each series of records.  When the 
        schedule is unanimously approved by the records disposition 
        panel, the head of the governmental unit or agency having 
        custody of the records may dispose of the type of records listed 
        in the schedule at a time and in a manner prescribed in the 
        schedule for particular records which were created after the 
        approval.  A list of records disposed of pursuant to this 
        subdivision shall be forwarded to the commissioner and the 
        archivist by the head of the governmental unit or agency.  The 
        archivist shall maintain a list of all records destroyed. 
           Sec. 81.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 138.17, 
        subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 8.  [EMERGENCY RECORDS PRESERVATION.] In light of the 
        danger of nuclear or natural disaster, the commissioner of 
        administration, with the assistance of the director of the 
        historical society, shall establish and maintain a program for 
        the selection and preservation of public records considered 
        essential to the operation of government and to the protection 
        of the rights and interests of persons, and shall make or cause 
        to be made preservation duplicates or designate as preservation 
        duplicates existing copies of such essential public records.  
        Preservation duplicates shall be durable, accurate, complete, 
        and clear, and such duplicates reproduced by photographic or 
        other process which accurately reproduces and forms a durable 
        medium for so reproducing the original shall have the same force 
        and effect for all purposes as the original record whether the 
        original record is in existence or not.  A transcript, 
        exemplification, or certified copy of such preservation 
        duplicate shall be deemed for all purposes to be a transcript, 
        exemplification, or certified copy of the original record.  Such 
        preservation duplicates shall be preserved in the place and 
        manner of safekeeping prescribed by the commissioner. 
           Every county, municipality, or other subdivision of 
        government may institute a program for the preservation of 
        necessary documents essential to the continuity of government.  
        Such a program shall first be submitted to the commissioner for 
        approval or disapproval and no such program shall be instituted 
        until such approval is obtained. 
           Sec. 82.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 192.49, 
        subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [ALLOWANCES FOR MILITARY EXPENSE.] (a) Allowances 
        for the necessary military expenses of all organizations, units, 
        or detachments of the military forces, including clerk hire, 
        office supplies, postage, and other actual outlay, shall may be 
        paid by the adjutant general out of the funds appropriated for 
        the maintenance of the military forces, such.  These allowances 
        annually may not to exceed:  
           (1) for the state headquarters and for the division 
        headquarters when located in this state $2,000 $2,500 each; 
           (2) $3,000 a year for the commanding general of troops; 
           (3) for any other organization commanded by a general 
        officer $1,000 plus $100 for each immediately and directly 
        subordinate organization or unit $2,200; 
           (4) for any brigade, group, battalion, squadron, or 
        equivalent organization $200 $500 plus $100 for each immediately 
        and directly subordinate organization or unit; and $300 
           (5) $600 for incidental expenses of each company, battery, 
        or detachment; and at the time of the annual encampment or 
        maneuvers, for each division or camp headquarters mess $200; for 
        each officers' mess of a regiment, group, or higher headquarters 
        $200; and for the officers' mess of each battalion or equivalent 
        headquarters $100. 
           (b) Allowances authorized under this section shall be 
        expended and accounted for as prescribed by the 
        commander-in-chief in orders or rules adjutant general. 
           Sec. 83.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 197.79, 
        subdivision 10, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 10.  [DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS.] The application 
        period for the bonus program established in this section shall 
        be November 1, 1997, to June 30, 1999 2001.  The department may 
        not receive or accept new applications after June 30, 1999 2001. 
           Sec. 84.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 202A.18, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 2a.  [PREFERENCE BALLOT.] Prior to the opening of 
        nominations for the election of permanent offices and delegates, 
        a ballot must be distributed to permit caucus participants to 
        indicate their preference for the offices of president of the 
        United States or governor.  The results of preference voting 
        must be reported to the secretary of state immediately upon 
        conclusion of the voting, in the manner provided by the 
        secretary of state.  The secretary of state shall provide the 
        appropriate forms to the party for reporting the results. 
           Sec. 85.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 202A.20, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [REPORTING CAUCUS RESULTS.] The secretary of 
        state may provide a method for the timely reporting of caucus 
        results to the public shall promptly report to the public the 
        results of preference balloting at the precinct caucuses. 
           Sec. 86.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 204B.25, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [RULES OF SECRETARY OF STATE.] The secretary of 
        state shall adopt rules establishing a program programs for the 
        training of county auditors, local election officials, and 
        election judges by county auditors as required by this section.  
           Sec. 87.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 204B.25, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 4.  [TRAINING FOR LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIALS.] At least 
        once every two years, the county auditor shall conduct training 
        sessions for the municipal and school district clerks in the 
        county.  The training sessions must be conducted in the manner 
        provided by the secretary of state.  No local election official 
        may administer an election without receiving training from the 
        county auditor. 
           Sec. 88.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 204B.27, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 10.  [TRAINING FOR COUNTY AUDITORS; TRAINING 
        MATERIALS.] The secretary of state shall develop a training 
        program in election administration for county auditors and shall 
        certify each county auditor who successfully completes the 
        training program.  The secretary of state shall provide each 
        county auditor with materials for use in training local election 
        officials and election judges. 
           Sec. 89.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 204B.28, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [TRAINING PROGRAM FOR MEETING WITH ELECTION 
        OFFICIALS.] At least 12 weeks before each state primary 
        regularly scheduled general election, each county auditor shall 
        conduct a training program for meeting with local election 
        officials to review the procedures for the election.  The county 
        auditor may require the municipal clerks and the chairs of the 
        election boards in the county to meet for this training program 
        before the election at a time and place set by the county 
        auditor.  The training program shall include instruction in 
        election procedures and the duties of municipal clerks and 
        election judges.  The chairs of the election boards shall be 
        compensated by the municipalities for the incidental expenses 
        incurred by them to attend a training program attend this 
        meeting. 
           Sec. 90.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 240A.09, is 
        amended to read: 
           240A.09 [PLAN DEVELOPMENT; CRITERIA.] 
           The Minnesota amateur sports commission shall develop a 
        plan to promote the development of proposals for new statewide 
        public ice facilities including proposals for ice centers and 
        matching grants based on the criteria in this section. 
           (a) For ice center proposals, the commission will give 
        priority to proposals that come from more than one local 
        government unit.  Institutions of higher education are not 
        eligible to receive a grant. 
           (b) In the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, 
        subdivision 2, the commission is encouraged to give priority to 
        the following proposals: 
           (1) proposals for construction of two or more ice sheets in 
        a single new facility; 
           (2) proposals for construction of an additional sheet of 
        ice at an existing ice center; 
           (3) proposals for construction of a new, single sheet of 
        ice as part of a sports complex with multiple sports facilities; 
        and 
           (4) proposals for construction of a new, single sheet of 
        ice that will be expanded to a two-sheet facility in the future. 
           (c) The commission shall administer a site selection 
        process for the ice centers.  The commission shall invite 
        proposals from cities or counties or consortia of cities.  A 
        proposal for an ice center must include matching contributions 
        including in-kind contributions of land, access roadways and 
        access roadway improvements, and necessary utility services, 
        landscaping, and parking. 
           (d) Proposals for ice centers and matching grants must 
        provide for meeting the demand for ice time for female groups by 
        offering up to 50 percent of prime ice time, as needed, to 
        female groups.  For purposes of this section, prime ice time 
        means the hours of 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 
        9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.  
           (e) The location for all proposed facilities must be in 
        areas of maximum demonstrated interest and must maximize 
        accessibility to an arterial highway. 
           (f) To the extent possible, all proposed facilities must be 
        dispersed equitably, must be located to maximize potential for 
        full utilization and profitable operation, and must accommodate 
        noncompetitive family and community skating for all ages. 
           (g) The commission may also use the funds money to upgrade 
        current facilities, purchase girls' ice time, or conduct amateur 
        women's hockey and other ice sport tournaments. 
           (h) To the extent possible, 50 percent of all grants must 
        be awarded to communities in greater Minnesota.  
           (i) To the extent possible, technical assistance shall be 
        provided to Minnesota communities by the commission on ice arena 
        planning, design, and operation, including the marketing of ice 
        time. 
           (j) A grant for new facilities may not exceed $250,000. 
           (k) The commission may use funds make grants for 
        rehabilitation and renovation grants.  A rehabilitation or 
        renovation grant may not exceed $100,000.  Priority must be 
        given to grant applications for indoor air quality improvements, 
        including zero emission ice resurfacing equipment. 
           (k) (l) Grant funds money may be used for ice centers 
        designed for sports other than hockey. 
           (m) Grant money may be used to upgrade existing facilities 
        to comply with the bleacher safety requirements of section 
        16B.616. 
           Sec. 91.  [240A.12] [GRANTS FOR ATHLETIC FACILITIES AND 
        PROGRAMS.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [GRANTS.] The commission may make matching 
        grants to political subdivisions of the state:  
           (1) to acquire and better public land and buildings and 
        other public improvements of a capital nature to be used for 
        community facilities and related infrastructure primarily for 
        amateur athletics; 
           (2) to renovate existing facilities used primarily for 
        amateur athletics; 
           (3) to support recreational programs for children and 
        adolescents; and 
           (4) to support special events involving amateur athletics. 
           Subd. 2.  [GEOGRAPHIC DISPERSAL.] To the extent possible, 
        over time, the commission shall disperse grants equally among 
        the state's congressional districts and award one-half of all 
        grants to communities or institutions outside the metropolitan 
        area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2. 
           Subd. 3.  [MAXIMUM GRANTS AND MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS.] Each 
        grant under this section must be matched by recipient 
        communities or institutions in accordance with this 
        subdivision.  A matching contribution may include an in-kind 
        contribution of land, access roadways and access roadway 
        improvements, and necessary utility services, landscaping, and 
        parking.  A grant for new facilities may not exceed $100,000 and 
        must be matched by the recipient at a rate of four times the 
        amount of the grant.  A grant for renovation of existing 
        facilities may not exceed $50,000 and must be matched equally by 
        the recipient.  A grant for recreational programs may not exceed 
        $20,000 and must be matched equally by the recipient.  A grant 
        for a special event or program may not exceed $100,000 and must 
        be matched equally by the recipient. 
           Sec. 92.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 297F.08, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 8a.  [REVOLVING ACCOUNT.] A heat-applied cigarette 
        tax stamp revolving account is created.  The commissioner shall 
        use the amounts in this fund to purchase heat-applied stamps for 
        resale.  The commissioner shall charge distributors for the tax 
        value of the stamps they receive along with the commissioner's 
        cost to purchase the stamps and ship them to the distributor.  
        The stamp purchase and shipping costs recovered must be credited 
        to the revolving account and are appropriated to the 
        commissioner for the further purchases and shipping costs.  The 
        revolving account is initially funded by a $40,000 transfer from 
        the department of revenue. 
           Sec. 93.  [325F.015] [UNSAFE BLEACHERS.] 
           A person shall not manufacture, sell, distribute, or 
        install bleachers within this state that do not comply with 
        section 16B.616.  For purposes of this section, "person" means 
        an individual, public or private entity, however organized, or a 
        unit of state or local government. 
           Sec. 94.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 325K.03, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 4.  [CERTIFICATION PRACTICE STATEMENT.] The secretary 
        in the role of licensed certification authority may adopt and 
        amend a certification practice statement without using the 
        provisions of chapter 14. 
           Sec. 95.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 325K.04, is 
        amended to read: 
           325K.04 [FEES.] 
           (a) The secretary may adopt rules establishing shall set 
        reasonable fees for all services rendered under this chapter, in 
        amounts sufficient to compensate for the costs of all 
        services provided by the secretary under this chapter.  All fees 
        recovered by the secretary must be deposited in the state 
        general fund.  Until July 1, 2001, the fees need not be set by 
        rule.  
           (b) The digital signature account is created in the special 
        revenue fund.  All fees recovered by the secretary must be 
        deposited in the digital signature account.  Money in the 
        digital signature account is appropriated to the secretary to 
        pay the costs of all services provided by the secretary. 
           Sec. 96.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 325K.05, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [LICENSE CONDITIONS.] To obtain or retain a 
        license, a certification authority must: 
           (1) be the subscriber of a certificate published in a 
        recognized repository; 
           (2) employ as operative personnel only persons who have not 
        been convicted within the past 15 years of a felony or a crime 
        involving fraud, false statement, or deception; 
           (3) employ as operative personnel only persons who have 
        demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in following the 
        requirements of this chapter; 
           (4) file with the secretary a suitable guaranty, unless the 
        certification authority is a department, office, or official of 
        a federal, state, city, or county governmental entity that is 
        self-insured; 
           (5) use a trustworthy system, including a secure means for 
        limiting access to its private key; 
           (6) present proof to the secretary of having working 
        capital reasonably sufficient, according to rules adopted by the 
        secretary, to enable the applicant to conduct business as a 
        certification authority; 
           (7) register its business organization with the secretary, 
        unless the applicant is a governmental entity or is otherwise 
        prohibited from registering; and 
           (8) require a potential subscriber to appear in person 
        before the certification authority, or an agent of the 
        certification authority, to prove the subscriber's identity 
        before a certificate is issued to the subscriber; and 
           (9) comply with all further licensing requirements 
        established by rule by the secretary. 
        The secretary may, by rule, establish standards by which the 
        in-person registration required in clause (8) may be waived. 
           Sec. 97.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 325K.09, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [ACCEPTANCE.] A recipient who accepts a digital 
        signature when the certificate was issued by a licensed 
        certification authority becomes a party to and accepts all of 
        the terms and conditions of the licensed certification 
        authority's certification practice statement. 
           Sec. 98.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 325K.10, 
        subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 5.  [ORDER OF SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION.] The 
        secretary may order the licensed certification authority to 
        suspend or revoke a certificate that the certification authority 
        issued if, after giving any required notice and opportunity for 
        the certification authority and subscriber to be heard in 
        accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 14, 
        the secretary determines that: 
           (1) the certificate was issued without substantial 
        compliance with this section; and 
           (2) the noncompliance poses a significant risk to persons 
        reasonably relying on the certificate. 
           Upon determining that an emergency requires an immediate 
        remedy, and in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, 
        chapter 14, the secretary may issue an order suspending a 
        certificate for a period not to exceed 48 96 hours. 
           Sec. 99.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 325K.14, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 9.  [ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.] For purposes of this 
        section, the provisions of chapter 14 do not apply when the 
        secretary acts as a licensed certification authority for 
        governmental entities. 
           Sec. 100.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 325K.15, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 8.  [ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.] For purposes of this 
        section, the provisions of chapter 14 do not apply when the 
        secretary acts as a licensed certification authority for 
        governmental entities. 
           Sec. 101.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 349.163, 
        subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 4.  [INSPECTION OF MANUFACTURERS.] Employees of the 
        board and the division of alcohol and gambling enforcement may 
        inspect the books, records, inventory, and business premises of 
        a licensed manufacturer without notice during the normal 
        business hours of the manufacturer.  The board may charge a 
        manufacturer for the actual cost of conducting scheduled or 
        unscheduled inspections of the manufacturer's facilities, where 
        the amount charged to the manufacturer for such inspections in 
        any year does not exceed $7,500.  The board shall deposit in a 
        separate account in the state treasury all money received as 
        reimbursement for the costs of inspections.  Until July 1, 1999, 
        Money in the account is appropriated to the board to pay the 
        costs of the inspections. 
           Sec. 102.  Laws 1993, chapter 192, section 16, is amended 
        to read: 
        Sec. 16.  CAPITOL AREA ARCHITECTURAL 
        AND PLANNING BOARD                       326,000        334,000
        Any unencumbered balance of the 
        appropriation for the first year does 
        not cancel and is available for use in 
        the second year. 
        $75,000 the first year and $82,000 the 
        second year are to create a memorial to 
        Hubert H. Humphrey in the capitol 
        area.  Of these amounts, up to $75,000 
        may be used by the board to select an 
        appropriate site for the memorial.  
        $82,000 is available only as matched, 
        one state dollar for three dollars, by 
        contributions from nonstate sources.  
        The board shall establish design 
        requirements, choose the design, and 
        oversee construction of the memorial.  
        In establishing the memorial, the board 
        may accept money from nonstate sources 
        and contract with other private or 
        public agencies.  The appropriation is 
        available until expended. 
           Sec. 103.  Laws 1994, chapter 643, section 69, subdivision 
        1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP.] An 18-member A 
        19-member planning task force for library and information 
        services shall be established and shall be composed of:  three 
        representatives appointed by the chancellor of the higher 
        education board, one of whom may be serving on the MINITEX 
        advisory committee; two representatives appointed by the 
        president of the University of Minnesota, one of whom may be 
        serving on the MINITEX advisory committee; one representative 
        appointed by the president of the Minnesota private college 
        council; the director of MINITEX; one representative appointed 
        by the commissioner of finance; one representative appointed by 
        the commissioner of administration; one representative appointed 
        by the executive director of the Minnesota higher education 
        coordinating board; the director of the office of library 
        development and services; five representatives of public 
        libraries appointed by the director of library development and 
        services; two representatives of elementary and secondary 
        schools appointed by the commissioner of education; and one 
        representative appointed by the governor.  The executive 
        director of the Minnesota higher education coordinating board 
        shall confer with the other appointing authorities to ensure 
        that at least one-half of the task force members are employed in 
        occupations unrelated to library science.  The executive 
        director of the Minnesota higher education coordinating board 
        shall convene the first meeting of the task force. 
           Sec. 104.  Laws 1995, First Special Session chapter 3, 
        article 12, section 7, subdivision 1, as amended by Laws 1997, 
        First Special Session chapter 4, article 9, section 2, and Laws 
        1998, chapter 270, section 4, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [STATE COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP.] The membership 
        of the Minnesota education telecommunications council 
        established in Laws 1993, First Special Session chapter 2, is 
        expanded to include representatives of elementary and secondary 
        education.  The membership shall consist of three 
        representatives from the University of Minnesota; three 
        representatives of the board of trustees for Minnesota state 
        colleges and universities; one representative of the higher 
        education services offices; one representative appointed by the 
        private college council; eight representatives selected by the 
        commissioner of children, families, and learning, at least one 
        of which must come from each of the six higher education 
        telecommunication regions; the director commissioner of the 
        office of technology administration; two members each from the 
        senate and the house of representatives selected by the 
        subcommittee on committees of the committee on rules and 
        administration of the senate and the speaker of the house, one 
        member from each body must be a member of the minority party; 
        and three representatives of libraries, one representing 
        regional public libraries, one representing multitype libraries, 
        and one representing community libraries, selected by the 
        governor.  The council shall: 
           (1) develop a statewide vision and plans for the use of 
        distance learning technologies and provide leadership in 
        implementing the use of such technologies; 
           (2) recommend to the commissioner and the legislature by 
        December 15, 1996, a plan for long-term governance and a 
        proposed structure for statewide and regional 
        telecommunications; 
           (3) recommend educational policy relating to 
        telecommunications; 
           (4) determine priorities for use; 
           (5) oversee coordination of networks for post-secondary 
        campuses, K-12 education, and regional and community libraries; 
           (6) review application for telecommunications access grants 
        under Minnesota Statutes, section 124C.74, and recommend to the 
        department grants for funding; 
           (7) determine priorities for grant funding proposals; and 
           (8) work with the office of technology to ensure 
        consistency of the operation of the learning network with 
        standards of an open system architecture. 
           The council shall consult with representatives of the 
        telecommunication industry in implementing this section. 
           Sec. 105.  Laws 1995, First Special Session chapter 3, 
        article 12, section 10, is amended to read: 
           Sec. 10.  [ELECTRONIC COST REDUCTION.] 
           The commissioner of education shall identify methods to 
        reduce the costs of Internet access for school districts.  The 
        commissioner shall work in conjunction with MNet the state 
        information infrastructure, the department of administration, 
        and the telecommunication industry to provide Internet access 
        and long distance phone service at a favorable group rate. 
           Sec. 106.  Laws 1997, chapter 202, article 2, section 61, 
        is amended to read: 
           Sec. 61.  [VOLUNTARY UNPAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE.] 
           Appointing authorities in state government shall encourage 
        may allow each employee to take an unpaid leave of absence for 
        up to 160 hours during the period ending June 30, 1999 2001.  
        Each appointing authority approving such a leave shall allow the 
        employee to continue accruing vacation and sick leave, be 
        eligible for paid holidays and insurance benefits, accrue 
        seniority, and accrue service credit in state retirement plans 
        permitting service credits for authorized leaves of absence as 
        if the employee had actually been employed during the time of 
        the leave.  If the leave of absence is for one full pay period 
        or longer, any holiday pay shall be included in the first 
        payroll warrant after return from the leave of absence.  The 
        appointing authority shall attempt to grant requests for unpaid 
        leaves of absence consistent with the need to continue efficient 
        operation of the agency.  However, each appointing authority 
        shall retain discretion to grant or refuse to grant requests for 
        leaves of absence and to schedule and cancel leaves, subject to 
        applicable provisions of collective bargaining agreements and 
        compensation plans.  
           Sec. 107.  Laws 1998, chapter 366, section 2, is amended to 
        read: 
        Sec. 2.  LEGISLATURE                                     25,000
        This appropriation is to the 
        legislative coordinating commission for 
        a grant to the Council of State 
        Governments to organize and fund a 
        series of meetings between members of 
        the Minnesota legislature and members 
        of the Manitoba and Ontario 
        parliaments.  Approximately Up to six 
        members of each body may attend the 
        meetings.  Meetings may involve all 
        three bodies or the legislature and one 
        of the parliaments.  The meetings shall 
        be at the capital cities of the state 
        or of the provinces.  This 
        appropriation is available until June 
        30, 2000. 
           Sec. 108.  [URBAN DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENTAL STEERING 
        COMMITTEE.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [COMMITTEE; DEFINITION.] (a) The 
        environmental quality board shall establish an urban development 
        environmental steering committee consisting of representatives 
        of developers, environmental interests, agricultural landowners, 
        and other stakeholders.  The urban development environmental 
        steering committee shall advise the environmental quality board 
        on the scope and content of the generic environmental impact 
        statement required in subdivision 2. 
           (b) Compensation of members and reimbursement of their 
        expenses is governed by Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059.  The 
        committee expires upon completion of the generic environmental 
        impact statement required in subdivision 2 and presentation of 
        the report to the legislature. 
           (c) For the purposes of this section, "urban development" 
        means development in: 
           (1) cities with more than 15,000 population; and 
           (2) areas with densities greater than 200 people per square 
        mile in proximity to cities with more than 15,000 population. 
           Subd. 2.  [GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.] A 
        generic environmental impact statement must be prepared under 
        the direction of the environmental quality board to examine the 
        long-term effects of urban development, past, present, and 
        future, upon the economy, environment, and way of life of the 
        residents of this state.  The study may address: 
           (1) the overall dimension of urban development in this 
        state, including the past and current trends of settlement and 
        population growth, the types and location of urban development, 
        and the relationship of past and current development patterns to 
        existing land use policies; 
           (2) environmental quality issues associated with urban 
        development such as the effects of urban development on air, 
        groundwater, surface water, and land, including the impact of 
        urban development on the loss of agricultural land in urbanizing 
        areas; 
           (3) economic issues such as the comparative economic impact 
        of alternative means of urban development, including the 
        economic efficiency of the alternatives; 
           (4) social issues such as the comparative social impact of 
        alternative means of urban development; and 
           (5) the roles of various units of government in regulating 
        various aspects of land use decisions. 
           Sec. 109.  [STATE TRAVEL OFFICE.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [STUDY.] The commissioner of administration 
        shall study the feasibility and potential advantages of 
        establishing a state travel office in the executive branch to 
        manage and oversee arrangements for air and surface travel by 
        state employees and officials.  In conducting the study, the 
        commissioner shall consider travel procedures currently used by 
        the state in comparison with those used by the federal 
        government, other states, and private businesses. 
           Subd. 2.  [ISSUES.] The study required by subdivision 1 
        must address, at a minimum: 
           (1) the relative merits of central versus decentralized 
        management and oversight of travel; 
           (2) current procedures used by the legislative, judicial, 
        and executive branches of the state as well as the Minnesota 
        state colleges and universities and the University of Minnesota; 
           (3) statutory and other authority necessary to manage and 
        oversee state travel; 
           (4) the relative merits of state operation of travel 
        services versus the provision of travel services by travel 
        agencies under contract; 
           (5) the use of one travel agency versus several preferred 
        agencies; 
           (6) the criteria used in selecting the preferred agencies; 
           (7) managing frequent-flier miles versus other options; and 
           (8) the use of Internet-based travel authorization and 
        booking versus traditional methods. 
           Subd. 3.  [REPORT.] The commissioner shall report to the 
        legislature on the conclusions of the study by January 15, 
        2000.  The report must include recommendations for any 
        legislation that might be necessary to implement the report's 
        conclusions. 
           Sec. 110.  [BUDGET PRINCIPLES; BUDGET REVIEW.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [PRINCIPLES.] The legislative commission on 
        planning and fiscal policy shall establish principles and 
        standards related to budgeting that simplify the process, 
        minimize the number of state funds and special accounts, and are 
        consistent with generally accepted accounting principles.  The 
        principles must define when it is appropriate to create special 
        or dedicated funds and accounts, when it is appropriate to 
        create open appropriations from the general fund and open 
        appropriations of dedicated receipts, and the appropriate level 
        of budgetary reserves.  
           Subd. 2.  [REVIEW OF PAST BUDGET ACTIONS.] With the 
        assistance of the commissioner of finance and staff of the house 
        and senate, the commission shall: 
           (1) review the biennial budget instructions issued by the 
        commissioner of finance for the 2000-2001 biennial budget, 
        specifically instructions on how to establish the budget base, 
        the inflation factors used, how to calculate caseload 
        adjustments, and related program requirements; 
           (2) review all statutory open and standing appropriations 
        and identify any that are inconsistent with the commission's 
        principles; 
           (3) review all reserve accounts and the level of reserves 
        and identify any that are inconsistent with the commission's 
        principles; and 
           (4) review other related issues as deemed appropriate by 
        the commission. 
           Subd. 3.  [PROCESS TO REVIEW FUTURE BUDGET ACTIONS.] The 
        commission, in consultation with the commissioner of finance, 
        shall develop and recommend to the legislature a process whereby 
        a bill that affects the budget may be reviewed to determine 
        whether the appropriations and accounts it creates are 
        consistent with the principles adopted by the commission.  The 
        commission shall consider how this review should be coordinated 
        or integrated with the process for creating fiscal notes and 
        whether the review should be done by staff of the executive 
        branch or by staff of the legislative branch. 
           Subd. 4.  [REPORT.] The commission shall report the 
        principles and standards it has established, the results of its 
        review of past budget actions, and its recommended process for 
        reviewing future budget actions to the legislature and the 
        governor by December 1, 1999. 
           Sec. 111.  [LOAN REPAYMENT.] 
           The loan made by the Minneapolis community development 
        agency to the Minneapolis park and recreation board in 1986 to 
        acquire property for the central riverfront regional park must 
        not be repaid by any funds from the state of Minnesota or funds 
        of political subdivisions of the state, including the 
        metropolitan council. 
           Sec. 112.  [EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; TRANSFER.] 
           Responsibility for the state employee assistance program 
        under Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.39, subdivision 2, is 
        transferred from the commissioner of administration to the 
        commissioner of employee relations under Minnesota Statutes, 
        section 15.039. 
           Sec. 113.  [OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY; TRANSFER.] 
           In accordance with Minnesota Statutes, sections 15.039 and 
        43A.045, the responsibilities of the executive director of the 
        office of technology under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 16E, and 
        otherwise, are transferred to the commissioner of administration.
           Sec. 114.  [INSTRUCTION TO REVISOR.] 
           (a) The revisor of statutes shall renumber Minnesota 
        Statutes, section 256.482, subdivision 5a, as Minnesota 
        Statutes, section 16B.055, subdivision 2, and renumber the 
        existing text of Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.055, as 
        subdivision 1. 
           (b) In the next edition of Minnesota Statutes, the revisor 
        of statutes shall change the term "executive director of the 
        office of technology" to "commissioner of administration" and 
        the term "executive director," wherever it refers to the 
        executive director of the office of technology, to 
        "commissioner." 
           (c) The revisor of statutes shall renumber Minnesota 
        Statutes, section 16B.39, subdivision 2, in chapter 43A. 
           Sec. 115.  [REPEALER.] 
           (a) Minnesota Rules, part 8275.0045, subpart 2, is repealed.
           (b) Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 15.90; 15.91; 15.92; 
        16A.103, subdivision 3; 16E.11; 16E.12; and 16E.13, are repealed.
           (c) Laws 1991, chapter 235, article 5, section 3, as 
        amended by Laws 1995, chapter 254, article 1, section 91, is 
        repealed. 
           (d) Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16A.1285, subdivisions 
        4 and 5, are repealed. 
           (e) Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 207A.01; 207A.02; 
        207A.03; 207A.04; 207A.06; 207A.07; 207A.08; 207A.09; and 
        207A.10, are repealed. 
           (f) S.F. No. 2223 of the 1999 regular session, if enacted, 
        is repealed. 
           (g) Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 4A.08; 4A.09; and 
        4A.10, are repealed. 
           Sec. 116.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           (a) Section 41 is effective January 1, 2001.  Section 43 is 
        effective July 1, 2000, with respect to preparation of the model 
        policies and procedures by the commissioner of administration, 
        and January 1, 2001, with respect to the other provisions of 
        section 43. 
           (b) Sections 62 to 64 and 93 are effective January 1, 2001. 
           (c) Sections 94 to 100 are effective the day following 
        final enactment. 
           (d) Sections 47, 49, 55, and 115, paragraphs (d) and (g), 
        are effective July 1, 2001. 
           (e) Section 61 is effective the day following final 
        enactment and applies only to contracts executed on or after 
        that date. 
           (f) The commissioner of employee relations may not 
        implement the long-term care insurance plan under section 78 
        until April 1, 2000. 
                                   ARTICLE 2 
                                   YEAR 2000 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 12.31, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [DECLARATION OF PEACETIME EMERGENCY.] The 
        governor may declare a peacetime emergency.  A peacetime 
        declaration of emergency may be declared only when an act of 
        nature, a technological failure or malfunction, a terrorist 
        incident, an industrial accident, a hazardous materials 
        accident, or a civil disturbance endangers life and property and 
        local government resources are inadequate to handle the 
        situation.  It must not be continued for more than five days 
        unless extended by resolution of the executive council up to 30 
        days.  An order, or proclamation declaring, continuing, or 
        terminating an emergency must be given prompt and general 
        publicity and filed with the secretary of state.  
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 12.37, is amended 
        to read: 
           12.37 [POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO 
        CONTRACTS.] 
           During an emergency or disaster, each political 
        subdivision, notwithstanding any statutory or charter provision 
        to the contrary, and through its governing body acting within or 
        without the corporate limits of the political subdivision, may: 
           (1) enter into contracts and incur obligations necessary to 
        combat the disaster by protecting the health and safety of 
        persons and property and by providing emergency assistance to 
        the victims of the disaster; and 
           (2) exercise the powers vested by this subdivision in the 
        light of the exigencies of the disaster without compliance with 
        time-consuming procedures and formalities prescribed by law 
        pertaining to: 
           (i) the performance of public work; 
           (ii) entering into contracts; 
           (iii) incurring of obligations; 
           (iv) employment of temporary workers; 
           (v) rental of equipment; 
           (vi) purchase of supplies and materials; 
           (vii) limitations upon tax levies; and 
           (viii) the appropriation and expenditure of public funds, 
        for example, but not limited to, publication of ordinances and 
        resolutions, publication of calls for bids, provisions of civil 
        service laws and rules, provisions relating to low bids, and 
        requirements for budgets.  
           The failure or malfunction of public infrastructure or 
        systems critical to the delivery of municipal services due to 
        year 2000 problems with computers and electronically controlled 
        devices shall constitute an emergency for the purposes of this 
        section. 
           Sec. 3.  [604B.04] [YEAR 2000 ACTIVITIES; IMMUNITY.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITIONS.] For the purpose of this 
        section, the terms defined in this section have the meanings 
        given them. 
           Subd. 2.  [ASSOCIATION.] "Association" means a trade, 
        professional, governmental, or similar organization the members 
        of which are individuals, enterprises, or governmental units 
        engaged in similar lines of business, services, or activity. 
           Subd. 3.  [STATE AGENCY.] "State agency" means the 
        University of Minnesota, Minnesota state colleges and 
        universities, and the departments, boards, agencies, and 
        commissions in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches.
           Subd. 4.  [YEAR 2000 SOLUTION INFORMATION.] "Year 2000 
        solution information" means information related to solutions 
        that address the inability of computer systems, software, or 
        electronically controlled devices to recognize certain dates in 
        1999 and after December 31, 1999.  That inability may cause 
        disruptions in electronic communications or the functioning of 
        electronically controlled equipment resulting or reasonably 
        anticipated to result from erroneous data that is or may be 
        supplied by electronic devices. 
           Subd. 5.  [ASSOCIATION AND RELATED IMMUNITY.] No cause of 
        action may be maintained against an association for damages or 
        harm resulting from the collection of year 2000 solution 
        information or the publication of that information or against 
        any person or entity for providing year 2000 solution 
        information to the association. 
           Subd. 6.  [STATE AGENCY IMMUNITY.] No cause of action may 
        be maintained against a state agency for damages or harm 
        resulting from the collection of year 2000 solution information 
        or the publication of that information. 
           Subd. 7.  [GOVERNMENTAL UNIT IMMUNITY.] No cause of action 
        may be maintained against a governmental unit as defined in 
        section 462.384, subdivision 2, including governmental units 
        acting jointly under section 471.59, for damages or harm 
        resulting from the collection, publication, or dissemination of 
        year 2000 solution information to other governmental units or to 
        the metropolitan council or agencies. 
           Subd. 8.  [EXCEPTION.] Subdivisions 5 to 7 do not apply if 
        the party against whom the claim is brought knew in fact that 
        the year 2000 solution information provided was materially false.
           Subd. 9.  [NO IMPLIED CAUSE OF ACTION CREATED.] No 
        liability on the part of any person or any public or private 
        entity is implied or created by this section by the absence of a 
        grant of immunity under this section. 
           Sec. 4.  [EMERGENCIES.] 
           (a) The governor may declare an emergency under this 
        section for purposes of Minnesota Statutes, sections 12.31, 
        12.36, and 12.37.  The governor may declare an emergency under 
        authority of this section only to the extent that actual or 
        potential failure of computers or electronically controlled 
        devices creates an actual or imminent serious threat to the 
        health or safety of persons or an actual or imminent threat of 
        catastrophic loss to property or the environment. 
           (b) A declaration for purposes of Minnesota Statutes, 
        section 12.31, must be made according to procedures in that 
        section. 
           (c) The governor may declare an emergency under this 
        section for purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section 12.36 or 
        12.37, without declaring a peacetime emergency under Minnesota 
        Statutes, section 12.31.  A declaration for purposes of 
        Minnesota Statutes, section 12.36 or 12.37, may specify that it 
        applies to all or certain units of state or local government, 
        must specify the time period for which it applies, and must be 
        filed with the secretary of state. 
           (d) This section is in addition to and does not limit 
        authority granted to the governor or local government officials 
        by Minnesota Statutes, chapter 12, or other law. 
           (e) After April 1, 2000, the governor may not use this 
        section as authority to declare an emergency. 
           (f) If an emergency is declared under authority of this 
        section, a unit of state or local government may omit compliance 
        with the procedures and law listed in Minnesota Statutes, 
        sections 12.36, paragraph (a), clause (2), and 12.37, clause 
        (2), only to the extent necessary to protect health and safety 
        of persons or avoid catastrophic loss to property or the 
        environment.  A unit of state or local government must report to 
        the year 2000 project office in the department of administration 
        on omitting compliance with procedures and laws.  The report 
        must be filed within 30 days of the action that did not comply 
        with the customary laws. 
           Sec. 5.  [YEAR 2000 PROBLEM REPORTS.] 
           All electric utilities, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, 
        section 216B.38, subdivision 5, and telephone companies, as 
        defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 237.01, subdivisions 2 
        and 3, must file status reports on year 2000 problems with the 
        public utilities commission and the department of public 
        service, with a copy to the division of emergency management of 
        the department of public safety, on July 1 and October 1, 1999.  
        The status report must include a statement of the percentage of 
        the assessment phase that has been completed to date, the 
        percentage of the remediation phase that has been completed to 
        date, and the percentage of the testing of corrective actions 
        phase that has been completed to date.  The foregoing questions, 
        along with others deemed appropriate, must be included in a Y2K 
        status report form that must be provided by the department of 
        public safety, division of emergency management.  If a report 
        indicates that all year 2000 problems have been remediated, an 
        entity need not file a subsequent report unless there has been a 
        change. 
           Sec. 6.  [YEAR 2000 PROBLEM EXEMPTION FROM UNIFORM 
        MUNICIPAL CONTRACTING LAW.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [MUNICIPAL CONTRACTS.] Minnesota Statutes, 
        section 471.345, does not apply to the purchase or rental of 
        supplies, materials, and equipment nor to the construction, 
        alteration, repair, and maintenance of real or personal property 
        if the governing body of a municipality determines that there is 
        an urgency due to the actual or potential failure or malfunction 
        of public infrastructure or systems critical to the delivery of 
        municipal services due to year 2000 problems with computers and 
        electronically controlled devices. 
           Subd. 2.  [SPECIAL PROCEDURE.] A contract exempted from 
        Minnesota Statutes, section 471.345, by subdivision 1 may, at 
        the discretion of the municipality, be made by direct 
        negotiation by obtaining two or more quotations or in the open 
        market.  All quotations shall be kept on file for a period of at 
        least one year after receipt.  
           Subd. 3.  [APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS.] This section 
        supersedes any inconsistent law. 
           Subd. 4.  [REPORTS.] A municipality must report to the year 
        2000 project office in the department of administration on each 
        instance in which it omitted compliance with the uniform 
        municipal contracting law under authority of this section. 
           Subd. 5.  [EXPIRATION.] This section applies only to a 
        contract entered into or goods or services purchased before 
        April 1, 2000. 
           Sec. 7.  [YEAR 2000 PROBLEM; LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEBT.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [SCOPE.] For the purpose of this section, 
        the terms defined in subdivisions 2 to 4 have the meanings given 
        them. 
           Subd. 2.  [YEAR 2000 PROBLEM.] "Year 2000 problem" means 
        disruptions in electronic communications or the functioning of 
        electronically controlled equipment resulting or reasonably 
        anticipated to result from erroneous data that is or may be 
        supplied by electronic devices in 1999 or on or after January 1, 
        2000. 
           Subd. 3.  [POLITICAL SUBDIVISION.] "Political subdivision" 
        means a home rule charter city, a statutory city, a school 
        district, a county, a town, the metropolitan council, or any 
        local governmental entity authorized by general or special law 
        or charter to own and operate electronically controlled 
        equipment. 
           Subd. 4.  [YEAR 2000 PROBLEM REMEDIATION COST.] "Year 2000 
        problem remediation cost" means a cost or expense of any nature 
        incurred by a political subdivision in planning for and taking 
        remedial or preventive action to prepare for or correct the year 
        2000 problem. 
           Subd. 5.  [AUTHORITY.] Any law or charter provision 
        authorizing a political subdivision to borrow money and incur 
        debt is deemed to include the authority to borrow money and 
        incur that debt for year 2000 problem remediation. 
           Debt incurred for year 2000 problem remediation is not 
        subject to debt limits and notwithstanding any contrary 
        provision of law or charter provision, need not be approved by 
        the voters of a political subdivision.  A political subdivision 
        not otherwise authorized to borrow money and incur debt may, 
        with approval of the appropriate governmental subdivision with 
        taxing authority, incur debt for year 2000 problem remediation 
        in the same manner and subject to the same limitations as 
        statutory cities.  A debt may not be incurred until the year 
        2000 project office in the department of administration 
        certifies to the commissioner of revenue that the proposed use 
        of the debt is related only to remediation of a year 2000 
        problem. 
           Subd. 6.  [SUNSET.] The authority to incur debt under this 
        section expires December 31, 2000, provided that debt incurred 
        under this section need not be repaid until December 31, 2005. 
           Subd. 7.  [INTERPRETATION.] This section is to be construed 
        liberally to achieve its purpose. 
           Sec. 8.  [DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; YEAR 2000 ACTIVITY.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SURVEY.] The 
        department of health must, by July 30, 1999, survey all 
        hospitals, nursing homes, nontransient noncommunity water 
        systems operated by a public entity, and community water supply 
        systems for year 2000 problems and solutions related to their 
        operations.  The department, upon request, must disseminate 
        information about those year 2000 problems and proposed 
        solutions to hospitals, nursing homes, and water supply system 
        operators in a prompt and reasonable manner. 
           Subd. 2.  [STATUS REPORTS.] All hospitals, nursing homes, 
        nontransient noncommunity water systems operated by a public 
        entity, and community water supply systems must file status 
        reports on year 2000 problems with the department of health, 
        with a copy to the division of emergency management of the 
        department of public safety, on July 1 and October 1, 1999.  The 
        status report must include a statement of the percentage of the 
        assessment phase that has been completed to date, the percentage 
        of the remediation phase that has been completed to date, and 
        the percentage of the testing of corrective actions phase that 
        has been completed to date.  The foregoing questions, along with 
        others deemed appropriate, must be included in a Y2K status 
        report form that must be provided by the department of public 
        safety, division of emergency management.  If there has been no 
        change since the previous report, the report may indicate only 
        that no change has occurred. 
           Sec. 9.  [DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES; YEAR 2000 
        ACTIVITY.] 
           If year 2000 computer problems create a failure or 
        malfunction in the infrastructure or systems used by the 
        department of human services for payment to health care 
        providers under state government programs or counties, the 
        commissioner of human services shall continue to pay all health 
        care providers paid under state government programs or counties 
        by manual warrant or other measures within the statutorily 
        required time period. 
           Sec. 10.  [STATUS REPORTS.] 
           (a) The recipients of the status reports required by 
        sections 5 and 8, subdivision 2, including the division of 
        emergency management, shall consult with those required to file 
        those reports concerning the form of the report. 
           (b) All reports provided under sections 5 and 8 shall be 
        considered Year 2000 Readiness Disclosures. 
           Sec. 11.  [USE OF STATUS REPORTS AS EVIDENCE PROHIBITED.] 
           The status reports required by sections 5 and 8, 
        subdivision 2, may not be used as evidence in any action seeking 
        damages or other relief because of a year 2000 problem. 
           Sec. 12.  [YEAR 2000 LOAN FUND.] 
           (a) $20,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund in 
        fiscal year 2000 to the commissioner of finance to capitalize a 
        fund, to be used to make loans to school districts; counties; 
        joint powers boards; home rule charter and statutory cities; and 
        towns to meet the costs they incur in addressing year 2000 
        problems. 
           (b) A loan may not be made until the year 2000 project 
        office of the department of administration certifies to the 
        commissioner of finance that: 
           (1) the proposed use of the loan is related only to 
        remediation of a year 2000 problem; 
           (2) the unit of local government has insufficient resources 
        available to address year 2000 problems; and 
           (3) the loan would be used to remediate problems that are 
        likely to affect public health and safety or cause catastrophic 
        loss to property or the environment.  
           (c) The local units of government that received the loans 
        must repay them by June 30, 2001.  Interest is payable on the 
        loan at the rate earned by the state on invested treasurer's 
        cash, as determined monthly by the commissioner of finance.  
        Repayments must be deposited in the general fund. 
           (d) A unit of local government receiving a loan under this 
        section must report to the year 2000 project office in the 
        department of administration within 60 days of receiving the 
        loan.  The report must state how the loan was used in accordance 
        with the criteria of paragraph (b). 
           (e) This appropriation cancels April 1, 2000. 
           Any canceled money must be deposited in the general fund. 
           Sec. 13.  [COMMISSIONER REVIEW.] 
           The commissioner of administration, through staff of the 
        Y2K project office, is responsible for reviewing use of 
        emergency authority and emergency funds under this act and shall 
        review reports from state agencies and political subdivisions 
        under sections 4, 5, 6, and 12.  If the commissioner determines 
        that funds obtained under section 12 were not used in a manner 
        consistent with the requirements of section 12, paragraph (b), 
        the political subdivision must pay interest on the loan at the 
        rate of 12 percent, compounded annually from the time the loan 
        was received. 
           Sec. 14.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           Section 3 is effective the day following final enactment 
        and does not affect or apply to any lawsuit pending on the 
        effective date.  Sections 1, 2, and 4 to 13 are effective the 
        day following final enactment. 
                                   ARTICLE 3 
                               CONFORMING CHANGES 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 14.131, is 
        amended to read: 
           14.131 [STATEMENT OF NEED AND REASONABLENESS.] 
           Before the agency orders the publication of a rulemaking 
        notice required by section 14.14, subdivision 1a, the agency 
        must prepare, review, and make available for public review a 
        statement of the need for and reasonableness of the rule.  The 
        statement of need and reasonableness must be prepared under 
        rules adopted by the chief administrative law judge and must 
        include the following to the extent the agency, through 
        reasonable effort, can ascertain this information: 
           (1) a description of the classes of persons who probably 
        will be affected by the proposed rule, including classes that 
        will bear the costs of the proposed rule and classes that will 
        benefit from the proposed rule; 
           (2) the probable costs to the agency and to any other 
        agency of the implementation and enforcement of the proposed 
        rule and any anticipated effect on state revenues; 
           (3) a determination of whether there are less costly 
        methods or less intrusive methods for achieving the purpose of 
        the proposed rule; 
           (4) a description of any alternative methods for achieving 
        the purpose of the proposed rule that were seriously considered 
        by the agency and the reasons why they were rejected in favor of 
        the proposed rule; 
           (5) the probable costs of complying with the proposed rule; 
        and 
           (6) an assessment of any differences between the proposed 
        rule and existing federal regulations and a specific analysis of 
        the need for and reasonableness of each difference.  
           For rules setting, adjusting, or establishing regulatory, 
        licensure, or other charges for goods and services, the 
        statement of need and reasonableness must include the comments 
        and recommendations of the commissioner of finance and must 
        address any fiscal and policy concerns raised during the review 
        process, as required by section 16A.1285.  
           The statement must describe how the agency, in developing 
        the rules, considered and implemented the legislative policy 
        supporting performance-based regulatory systems set forth in 
        section 14.002. 
           The statement must also describe the agency's efforts to 
        provide additional notification to persons or classes of persons 
        who may be affected by the proposed rule or must explain why 
        these efforts were not made. 
           The agency must send a copy of the statement of need and 
        reasonableness to the legislative reference library when it 
        becomes available for public review.  
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 14.23, is amended 
        to read: 
           14.23 [STATEMENT OF NEED AND REASONABLENESS.] 
           Before the date of the section 14.22 notice, the agency 
        shall prepare a statement of need and reasonableness, which must 
        be available to the public.  The statement of need and 
        reasonableness must include the analysis required in section 
        14.131 and the comments and recommendations of the commissioner 
        of finance, and must address any fiscal and policy concerns 
        raised during the review process, as required by section 
        16A.1285.  The statement must also describe the agency's efforts 
        to provide additional notification to persons or classes of 
        persons who may be affected by the proposed rules or must 
        explain why these efforts were not made.  For at least 30 days 
        following the notice, the agency shall afford the public an 
        opportunity to request a public hearing and to submit data and 
        views on the proposed rule in writing. 
           The agency shall send a copy of the statement of need and 
        reasonableness to the legislative reference library when it 
        becomes available to the public.  
           Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 16B.748, is 
        amended to read: 
           16B.748 [RULES.] 
           The commissioner may adopt rules for the following purposes:
           (1) to set a fee under section 16A.1285 for processing a 
        construction or installation permit or elevator contractor 
        license application; 
           (2) to set a fee under section 16A.1285 to cover the cost 
        of elevator inspections; 
           (3) to establish minimum qualifications for elevator 
        inspectors that must include possession of a current elevator 
        constructor electrician's license issued by the state board of 
        electricity and proof of successful completion of the national 
        elevator industry education program examination or equivalent 
        experience; 
           (4) (2) to establish criteria for the qualifications of 
        elevator contractors; 
           (5) (3) to establish elevator standards under sections 
        16B.61, subdivisions 1 and 2, and 16B.64; 
           (6) (4) to establish procedures for appeals of decisions of 
        the commissioner under chapter 14 and procedures allowing the 
        commissioner, before issuing a decision, to seek advice from the 
        elevator trade, building owners or managers, and others 
        knowledgeable in the installation, construction, and repair of 
        elevators; and 
           (7) (5) to establish requirements for the registration of 
        all elevators. 
           Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 18.54, is amended 
        to read: 
           18.54 [LOCAL SALES AND MISCELLANEOUS.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [SERVICES AND FEES.] The commissioner may 
        make small lot inspections or perform other necessary services 
        for which another charge is not specified.  For these services 
        the commissioner shall set a fee plus expenses that will recover 
        the cost of performing this service, as provided in section 
        16A.1285.  The commissioner may set an additional acreage fee 
        for inspection of seed production fields for exporters in order 
        to meet domestic and foreign plant quarantine requirements. 
           Subd. 2.  [VIRUS DISEASE-FREE CERTIFICATION.] The 
        commissioner shall have the authority to provide special 
        services such as virus disease-free certification and other 
        similar programs.  Participation by nursery stock growers shall 
        be voluntary.  Plants offered for sale as certified virus-free 
        must be grown according to certain procedures in a manner 
        defined by the commissioner for the purpose of eliminating 
        viruses and other injurious disease or insect pests.  The 
        commissioner shall collect reasonable fees from participating 
        nursery stock growers for services and materials that are 
        necessary to conduct this type of work, as provided in section 
        16A.1285.  
           Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 21.92, is amended 
        to read: 
           21.92 [SEED INSPECTION FUND.] 
           There is established in the state treasury an account known 
        as the seed inspection fund.  Fees and penalties collected by 
        the commissioner under sections 21.80 to 21.92 and interest 
        attributable to money in the account shall be deposited into 
        this account.  The rates at which the fees are charged may be 
        adjusted pursuant to section 16A.1285.  
           Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 60A.964, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [AMOUNT.] The licensing fee for a viatical 
        settlement provider license is $750 for initial licensure and 
        $250 for each annual renewal.  The commissioner may adjust the 
        fees as provided under section 16A.1285 to recover the costs of 
        administration and enforcement.  The fees must be limited to the 
        cost of license administration and enforcement and must be 
        deposited in the state treasury, credited to a special account, 
        and appropriated to the commissioner. 
           Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 60A.972, 
        subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [FEES.] The licensing fee for a viatical 
        settlement broker is $750 for initial licensure and $250 for 
        each annual renewal.  Failure to pay the renewal fee within the 
        time required by the commissioner results in an automatic 
        revocation of the license.  The commissioner may adjust the fees 
        as provided under section 16A.1285 to recover the costs of 
        administration and enforcement.  The fees must be limited to the 
        cost of license administration and enforcement and must be 
        deposited in the state treasury, credited to a special account, 
        and appropriated to the commissioner. 
           Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97B.025, is 
        amended to read: 
           97B.025 [ADVANCED HUNTER EDUCATION.] 
           The commissioner may establish advanced education courses 
        for hunters and trappers.  The commissioner, with the approval 
        of the commissioner of finance, may impose a fee not to exceed 
        $10 for each person attending an advanced education course.  The 
        commissioner shall establish the fee under section 16A.1285.  
           Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 103G.301, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [PERMIT APPLICATION FEES.] (a) An application for 
        a permit authorized under this chapter, and each request to 
        amend or transfer an existing permit, must be accompanied by a 
        permit application fee to defray the costs of receiving, 
        recording, and processing the application or request to amend or 
        transfer.  
           (b) The application fee for a permit to appropriate water, 
        a permit to construct or repair a dam that is subject to dam 
        safety inspection, a state general permit, or to apply for the 
        state water bank program is $75.  The application fee for a 
        permit to work in public waters or to divert waters for mining 
        must be at least $75, but not more than $500, in accordance with 
        a schedule of fees adopted under section 16A.1285.  
           Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 103I.525, 
        subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 9.  [INCOMPLETE OR LATE RENEWAL.] If a licensee fails 
        to submit all information required for renewal in subdivision 8 
        or submits the application and information after the required 
        renewal date: 
           (1) the licensee must include an additional late fee set by 
        the commissioner under section 16A.1285; and 
           (2) the licensee may not conduct activities authorized by 
        the well contractor's license until the renewal application, 
        renewal application fee, late fee, and all other information 
        required in subdivision 8 are submitted. 
           Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 103I.531, 
        subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 9.  [INCOMPLETE OR LATE RENEWAL.] If a licensee fails 
        to submit all information required for renewal in subdivision 8 
        or submits the application and information after the required 
        renewal date: 
           (1) the licensee must include an additional late fee set by 
        the commissioner under section 16A.1285; and 
           (2) the licensee may not conduct activities authorized by 
        the limited well contractor's license until the renewal 
        application, renewal application fee, and late fee, and all 
        other information required in subdivision 8 are submitted. 
           Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 103I.535, 
        subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 9.  [INCOMPLETE OR LATE RENEWAL.] If a licensee fails 
        to submit all information required for renewal in subdivision 8 
        or submits the application and information after the required 
        renewal date: 
           (1) the licensee must include an additional late fee set by 
        the commissioner under section 16A.1285; and 
           (2) the licensee may not conduct activities authorized by 
        the elevator shaft contractor's license until the renewal 
        application, renewal application fee, and late fee, and all 
        other information required in subdivision 8 are submitted. 
           Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 103I.541, 
        subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 5.  [INCOMPLETE OR LATE RENEWAL.] If a registered 
        person submits a renewal application after the required renewal 
        date: 
           (1) the registered person must include an additional late 
        fee set by the commissioner under section 16A.1285; and 
           (2) the registered person may not conduct activities 
        authorized by the monitoring well contractor's registration 
        until the renewal application, renewal application fee, late 
        fee, and all other information required in subdivision 4 are 
        submitted. 
           Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 115B.49, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [REVENUE SOURCES.] Revenue from the following 
        sources must be deposited in the state treasury and credited to 
        the account: 
           (1) the proceeds of the fees imposed by subdivision 4; 
           (2) interest attributable to investment of money in the 
        account; 
           (3) penalties and interest collected under subdivision 4, 
        paragraph (d) (c); and 
           (4) money received by the commissioner for deposit in the 
        account in the form of gifts, grants, and appropriations. 
           Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 115B.49, 
        subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 4.  [REGISTRATION; FEES.] (a) The owner or operator 
        of a drycleaning facility shall register on or before July 1 of 
        each year with the commissioner of revenue in a manner 
        prescribed by the commissioner of revenue and pay a registration 
        fee for the facility.  The amount of the fee is: 
           (1) $500, for facilities with a full-time equivalence of 
        fewer than five; 
           (2) $1,000, for facilities with a full-time equivalence of 
        five to ten; and 
           (3) $1,500, for facilities with a full-time equivalence of 
        more than ten. 
           (b) A person who sells drycleaning solvents for use by 
        drycleaning facilities in the state shall collect and remit to 
        the commissioner of revenue in a manner prescribed by the 
        commissioner of revenue, on or before the 20th day of the month 
        following the month in which the sales of drycleaning solvents 
        are made, a fee of: 
           (1) $3.50 for each gallon of perchloroethylene sold for use 
        by drycleaning facilities in the state; and 
           (2) 70 cents for each gallon of hydrocarbon-based 
        drycleaning solvent sold for use by drycleaning facilities in 
        the state. 
           (c) The commissioner shall, after a public hearing but 
        notwithstanding section 16A.1285, subdivision 4, annually adjust 
        the fees in this subdivision as necessary to maintain annual 
        income of at least: 
           (1) $600,000 beginning July 1, 1997; 
           (2) $700,000 beginning July 1, 1998; and 
           (3) $800,000 beginning July 1, 1999. 
        Any adjustment under this paragraph must be prorated among all 
        the fees in this subdivision.  After adjustment under this 
        paragraph, the fees in this subdivision must not be greater than 
        two times their original amount.  The commissioner shall notify 
        the commissioner of revenue of an adjustment under this 
        paragraph no later than March 1 of the year in which the 
        adjustment is to become effective.  The adjustment is effective 
        for sales of drycleaning solvents made, and annual registration 
        fees due, beginning on July 1 of the same year. 
           (d) To enforce this subdivision, the commissioner of 
        revenue may examine documents, assess and collect fees, conduct 
        investigations, issue subpoenas, grant extensions to file 
        returns and pay fees, impose penalties and interest on the 
        annual registration fee under paragraph (a) and the monthly fee 
        under paragraph (b), abate penalties and interest, and 
        administer appeals, in the manner provided in chapters 270 and 
        289A.  The penalties and interest imposed on taxes under chapter 
        297A apply to the fees imposed under this subdivision.  
        Disclosure of data collected by the commissioner of revenue 
        under this subdivision is governed by chapter 270B. 
           Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 115B.491, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [RETURN REQUIRED.] On or before the 20th of each 
        calendar month, every drycleaning facility that has purchased 
        drycleaning solvents for use in this state during the preceding 
        calendar month, upon which the fee imposed by section 115B.49, 
        subdivision 4, paragraph (b), has not been paid to the seller of 
        the drycleaning solvents, shall file a return with the 
        commissioner of revenue showing the quantity of solvents 
        purchased and a computation of the fee under section 115B.49, 
        subdivision 4, paragraph (d) (c).  The fee must accompany the 
        return.  The return must be made upon a form furnished and 
        prescribed by the commissioner of revenue and must contain such 
        other information as the commissioner of revenue may require. 
           Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 115B.491, 
        subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [APPLICABILITY.] All of the provisions of section 
        115B.49, subdivision 4, paragraph (d) (c), apply to this section.
           Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 116.07, 
        subdivision 4d, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 4d.  [PERMIT FEES.] (a) The agency may collect permit 
        fees in amounts not greater than those necessary to cover the 
        reasonable costs of reviewing and acting upon applications for 
        agency permits and implementing and enforcing the conditions of 
        the permits pursuant to agency rules.  Permit fees shall not 
        include the costs of litigation.  The agency shall adopt rules 
        under section 16A.1285 establishing a system for charging permit 
        fees collected under this subdivision.  The fee schedule must 
        reflect reasonable and routine permitting, implementation, and 
        enforcement costs.  The agency may impose an additional 
        enforcement fee to be collected for a period of up to two years 
        to cover the reasonable costs of implementing and enforcing the 
        conditions of a permit under the rules of the agency.  Any money 
        collected under this paragraph shall be deposited in the 
        environmental fund. 
           (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), and section 16A.1285, 
        subdivision 2, the agency shall collect an annual fee from the 
        owner or operator of all stationary sources, emission 
        facilities, emissions units, air contaminant treatment 
        facilities, treatment facilities, potential air contaminant 
        storage facilities, or storage facilities subject to the 
        requirement to obtain a permit under subchapter V of the federal 
        Clean Air Act, United States Code, title 42, section 7401 et 
        seq., or section 116.081.  The annual fee shall be used to pay 
        for all direct and indirect reasonable costs, including attorney 
        general costs, required to develop and administer the permit 
        program requirements of subchapter V of the federal Clean Air 
        Act, United States Code, title 42, section 7401 et seq., and 
        sections of this chapter and the rules adopted under this 
        chapter related to air contamination and noise.  Those costs 
        include the reasonable costs of reviewing and acting upon an 
        application for a permit; implementing and enforcing statutes, 
        rules, and the terms and conditions of a permit; emissions, 
        ambient, and deposition monitoring; preparing generally 
        applicable regulations; responding to federal guidance; 
        modeling, analyses, and demonstrations; preparing inventories 
        and tracking emissions; and providing information to the public 
        about these activities. 
           (c) The agency shall adopt fee rules in accordance with the 
        procedures in section 16A.1285, subdivision 5, set fees that: 
           (1) will result in the collection, in the aggregate, from 
        the sources listed in paragraph (b), of an amount not less than 
        $25 per ton of each volatile organic compound; pollutant 
        regulated under United States Code, title 42, section 7411 or 
        7412 (section 111 or 112 of the federal Clean Air Act); and each 
        pollutant, except carbon monoxide, for which a national primary 
        ambient air quality standard has been promulgated; 
           (2) may result in the collection, in the aggregate, from 
        the sources listed in paragraph (b), of an amount not less than 
        $25 per ton of each pollutant not listed in clause (1) that is 
        regulated under this chapter or air quality rules adopted under 
        this chapter; and 
           (3) shall collect, in the aggregate, from the sources 
        listed in paragraph (b), the amount needed to match grant funds 
        received by the state under United States Code, title 42, 
        section 7405 (section 105 of the federal Clean Air Act). 
        The agency must not include in the calculation of the aggregate 
        amount to be collected under clauses (1) and (2) any amount in 
        excess of 4,000 tons per year of each air pollutant from a 
        source.  The increase in air permit fees to match federal grant 
        funds shall be a surcharge on existing fees.  The commissioner 
        may not collect the surcharge after the grant funds become 
        unavailable.  In addition, the commissioner shall use nonfee 
        funds to the extent practical to match the grant funds so that 
        the fee surcharge is minimized. 
           (d) To cover the reasonable costs described in paragraph 
        (b), the agency shall provide in the rules promulgated under 
        paragraph (c) for an increase in the fee collected in each year 
        by the percentage, if any, by which the Consumer Price Index for 
        the most recent calendar year ending before the beginning of the 
        year the fee is collected exceeds the Consumer Price Index for 
        the calendar year 1989.  For purposes of this paragraph the 
        Consumer Price Index for any calendar year is the average of the 
        Consumer Price Index for all-urban consumers published by the 
        United States Department of Labor, as of the close of the 
        12-month period ending on August 31 of each calendar year.  The 
        revision of the Consumer Price Index that is most consistent 
        with the Consumer Price Index for calendar year 1989 shall be 
        used. 
           (e) Any money collected under paragraphs (b) to (d) must be 
        deposited in an air quality account in the environmental fund 
        and must be used solely for the activities listed in paragraph 
        (b).  
           (f) Persons who wish to construct or expand an air emission 
        facility may offer to reimburse the agency for the costs of 
        staff overtime or consultant services needed to expedite permit 
        review.  The reimbursement shall be in addition to fees imposed 
        by paragraphs (a) to (d).  When the agency determines that it 
        needs additional resources to review the permit application in 
        an expedited manner, and that expediting the review would not 
        disrupt air permitting program priorities, the agency may accept 
        the reimbursement.  Reimbursements accepted by the agency are 
        appropriated to the agency for the purpose of reviewing the 
        permit application.  Reimbursement by a permit applicant shall 
        precede and not be contingent upon issuance of a permit and 
        shall not affect the agency's decision on whether to issue or 
        deny a permit, what conditions are included in a permit, or the 
        application of state and federal statutes and rules governing 
        permit determinations. 
           Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 116.12, is 
        amended to read: 
           116.12 [HAZARDOUS WASTE ADMINISTRATION FEES.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [FEE SCHEDULES.] The agency shall establish 
        the fees provided in subdivisions 2 and 3 in the manner provided 
        in section 16A.1285 to cover expenditures of amounts 
        appropriated from the environmental fund to the agency for 
        permitting, monitoring, inspection, and enforcement expenses of 
        the hazardous waste activities of the agency.  
           Subd. 2.  [HAZARDOUS WASTE GENERATOR FEE.] (a) Each 
        generator of hazardous waste shall pay a fee on the hazardous 
        waste generated by that generator.  The agency shall adopt rules 
        in accordance with chapter 14 establishing a system for charging 
        fees to generators.  The rules must include the basis for 
        determining the amount of fees, and procedures and deadlines for 
        payment of fees.  The agency shall base the amount of fees on 
        the quantity of hazardous waste generated and may charge a 
        minimum fee for each generator not exempted by the agency.  In 
        adopting the fee rules, the agency shall consider: 
           (1) reducing the fees for generators using environmentally 
        beneficial hazardous waste management methods, including 
        recycling; 
           (2) the agency resources allocated to regulating the 
        various sizes or types of generators; 
           (3) adjusting fees for sizes or types of generators that 
        would bear a disproportionate share of the fees to be collected; 
        and 
           (4) whether implementing clauses (1) to (3) would require 
        excessive staff time compared to staff time available for 
        providing technical assistance to generators or would make the 
        fee system difficult for generators to understand. 
           (b) The agency may exempt generators of very small 
        quantities of hazardous wastes otherwise subject to the fee if 
        it finds that the cost of administering a fee on those 
        generators is excessive relative to the proceeds of the fee.  
           (c) The agency shall reduce fees charged to generators in 
        counties which also charge generator fees to reflect a lesser 
        level of activity by the agency in those counties.  The fees 
        charged by the agency in those counties shall be collected by 
        the counties in the manner in which and at the same time as 
        those counties collect their generator fees.  Counties shall 
        remit to the agency the amount of the fees charged by the agency 
        by the last day of the month following the month in which they 
        were collected.  If a county does not collect or remit generator 
        fees due to the agency, the agency may collect fees from 
        generators in that county according to rules adopted under 
        paragraph (a). 
           (d) The agency may not impose a volume-based fee under this 
        subdivision on material that is reused at the facility where the 
        material is generated in a manner that the facility owner or 
        operator can demonstrate does not increase the toxicity of, or 
        the level of hazardous substances or pollutants or contaminants 
        in, products that leave the facility.  The agency may impose a 
        flat annual fee on a facility that generates the type of 
        material described in the preceding sentence, provided that the 
        fee reflects the reasonable and necessary costs of inspections 
        of the facility. 
           Subd. 3.  [FACILITY FEES.] The agency shall charge 
        hazardous waste facility fees including, but not limited to, an 
        original permit fee, a reissuance fee, a major modification fee, 
        and an annual facility fee for any hazardous waste facility 
        regulated by the agency.  The agency shall adopt rules in 
        accordance with chapter 14 establishing a system for charging 
        hazardous waste facility fees.  The agency may exempt facilities 
        otherwise subject to the fee if regulatory oversight of those 
        facilities is minimal.  The agency may include reasonable and 
        necessary costs of any environmental review required under 
        chapter 116D in the original permit fee for any hazardous waste 
        facility. 
           Sec. 20.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 116C.834, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [COSTS.] All costs incurred by the state to 
        carry out its responsibilities under the compact and under 
        sections 116C.833 to 116C.843 shall be paid by generators of 
        low-level radioactive waste in this state through fees assessed 
        by the pollution control agency.  The agency shall assess the 
        fees in the manner provided in section 16A.1285.  Fees may be 
        reasonably assessed on the basis of volume or degree of hazard 
        of the waste produced by a generator.  Costs for which fees may 
        be assessed include, but are not limited to:  
           (1) the state contribution required to join the compact; 
           (2) the expenses of the Commission member and state agency 
        costs incurred to support the work of the Interstate Commission; 
        and 
           (3) regulatory costs. 
           Sec. 21.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 144.98, 
        subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [FEES.] (a) An application for certification 
        under subdivision 1 must be accompanied by the biennial fee 
        specified in this subdivision.  The fees are for: 
           (1) base certification fee, $500; and 
           (2) test category certification fees: 
        Test Category                                  Certification Fee
        Bacteriology                                              $200
        Inorganic chemistry, fewer than four constituents         $100
        Inorganic chemistry, four or more constituents            $300
        Chemistry metals, fewer than four constituents            $200
        Chemistry metals, four or more constituents               $500
        Volatile organic compounds                                $600
        Other organic compounds                                   $600
           (b) The total biennial certification fee is the base fee 
        plus the applicable test category fees.  The biennial 
        certification fee for a contract laboratory is 1.5 times the 
        total certification fee. 
           (c) Laboratories located outside of this state that require 
        an on-site survey will be assessed an additional $1,200 fee. 
           (d) The commissioner of health may adjust fees under 
        section 16A.1285 without rulemaking.  Fees must be set so that 
        the total fees support the laboratory certification program.  
        Direct costs of the certification service include program 
        administration, inspections, the agency's general support costs, 
        and attorney general costs attributable to the fee function. 
           Sec. 22.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 176.102, 
        subdivision 14, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 14.  [FEES.] The commissioner shall impose fees under 
        section 16A.1285 sufficient to cover the cost of approving and 
        monitoring qualified rehabilitation consultants, consultant 
        firms, and vendors of rehabilitation services.  These fees are 
        payable to the special compensation fund. 
           Sec. 23.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 183.375, 
        subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 5.  [FEES.] All fees collected by the division of 
        boiler inspection shall be paid into the state treasury in the 
        manner provided by law for fees received by other state 
        departments and credited to the general fund.  When fees are to 
        be set by the commissioner, they shall be set pursuant to 
        section 16A.1285.  
           Sec. 24.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 223.17, 
        subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [GRAIN BUYERS AND STORAGE FUND; FEES.] The 
        commissioner shall set the fees for inspections under sections 
        223.15 to 223.22 at levels necessary to pay the expenses of 
        administering and enforcing sections 223.15 to 223.22.  These 
        fees may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of section 
        16A.1285.  
           The fee for any license issued or renewed after June 30, 
        1997, shall be set according to the following schedule: 
           (a) $100 plus $50 for each additional location for grain 
        buyers whose gross annual purchases are less than $100,000; 
           (b) $200 plus $50 for each additional location for grain 
        buyers whose gross annual purchases are at least $100,000, but 
        not more than $750,000; 
           (c) $300 plus $100 for each additional location for grain 
        buyers whose gross annual purchases are more than $750,000 but 
        not more than $1,500,000; 
           (d) $400 plus $100 for each additional location for grain 
        buyers whose gross annual purchases are more than $1,500,000 but 
        not more than $3,000,000; and 
           (e) $500 plus $100 for each additional location for grain 
        buyers whose gross annual purchases are more than $3,000,000.  
           There is created in the state treasury the grain buyers and 
        storage fund.  Money collected pursuant to sections 223.15 to 
        223.19 shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the 
        grain buyers and storage fund and is appropriated to the 
        commissioner for the administration and enforcement of sections 
        223.15 to 223.22. 
           Sec. 25.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 239.101, 
        subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 4.  [SETTING WEIGHTS AND MEASURES FEES.] The 
        department shall review its schedule of inspection fees at the 
        end of each six months.  When a review indicates that the 
        schedule of inspection fees should be adjusted, the commissioner 
        shall fix the fees by rule, in accordance with section 16A.1285, 
        to ensure that the fees charged are sufficient to recover all 
        costs connected with the inspections. 
           Sec. 26.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 299M.04, is 
        amended to read: 
           299M.04 [RULES; FEES; ORDERS; PENALTIES.] 
           The commissioner shall adopt permanent rules for operation 
        of the council; regulation by municipalities; permit, filing, 
        inspection, certificate, and license fees; qualifications, 
        examination, and licensing of fire protection contractors; 
        certification of journeyman sprinkler fitters; registration of 
        apprentices; and the administration and enforcement of this 
        chapter.  Fees must be set under section 16A.1285.  Permit fees 
        must be a percentage of the total cost of the fire protection 
        work. 
           The commissioner may issue a cease and desist order to 
        cease an activity considered an immediate risk to public health 
        or public safety.  The commissioner shall adopt permanent rules 
        governing when an order may be issued; how long the order is 
        effective; notice requirements; and other procedures and 
        requirements necessary to implement, administer, and enforce the 
        provisions of this chapter.  
           The commissioner, in place of or in addition to licensing 
        sanctions allowed under this chapter, may impose a civil penalty 
        not greater than $1,000 for each violation of this chapter or 
        rule adopted under this chapter, for each day of violation.  The 
        commissioner shall adopt permanent rules governing and 
        establishing procedures for implementation, administration, and 
        enforcement of this paragraph.  
           Sec. 27.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 326.50, is 
        amended to read: 
           326.50 [APPLICATION; FEES.] 
           Application for an individual contracting pipefitter 
        competency or an individual journeyman pipefitter competency 
        license shall be made to the department of labor and industry, 
        with fees.  The applicant shall be licensed only after passing 
        an examination by the department of labor and industry.  Fees 
        and conditions for renewal of an individual contracting 
        pipefitter competency or an individual journeyman pipefitter 
        competency license shall be determined by the department by rule 
        under chapter 14 and section 16A.1285.  
           Sec. 28.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 326.86, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [LICENSING FEE.] The licensing fee for 
        persons licensed pursuant to sections 326.83 to 326.991 is $75 
        per year.  The commissioner may adjust the fees under section 
        16A.1285 to recover the costs of administration and 
        enforcement.  The fees must be limited to the cost of license 
        administration and enforcement and must be deposited in the 
        state treasury and credited to the general fund.  
           Sec. 29.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           This article is effective July 1, 2001. 
           Presented to the governor May 24, 1999 
           Signed by the governor May 25, 1999, 3:50 p.m.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes