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

                            CHAPTER 484-H.F.No. 2591 
                  An act relating to government; creating the 
                  Koochiching county economic development commission and 
                  changing the allocation of certain money to go to it; 
                  authorizing Yellow Medicine county to establish an 
                  economic development authority; changing economic 
                  development authority of certain nonmetropolitan 
                  counties; establishing a legislative commission on 
                  Minnesota-Ontario matters; appropriating money; 
                  amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 298.17; 
                  proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
                  chapters 3; and 469. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 

                                   ARTICLE 1 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 298.17, is 
        amended to read: 
           298.17 [OCCUPATION TAXES TO BE APPORTIONED.] 
           All occupation taxes paid by persons, copartnerships, 
        companies, joint stock companies, corporations, and 
        associations, however or for whatever purpose organized, engaged 
        in the business of mining or producing iron ore or other ores, 
        when collected shall be apportioned and distributed in 
        accordance with the Constitution of the state of Minnesota, 
        article X, section 3, in the manner following:  90 percent shall 
        be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the general 
        fund of which four-ninths shall be used for the support of 
        elementary and secondary schools; and ten percent of the 
        proceeds of the tax imposed by this section shall be deposited 
        in the state treasury and credited to the general fund for the 
        general support of the university.  Of the moneys apportioned to 
        the general fund by this section there is annually appropriated 
        and credited to the iron range resources and rehabilitation 
        board account in the special revenue fund an amount equal to 
        that which would have been generated by a 1.5 cent tax imposed 
        by section 298.24 on each taxable ton produced in the preceding 
        calendar year, to be expended for the purposes of section 
        298.22.  The money appropriated pursuant to this section shall 
        be used (1) to provide environmental development grants to local 
        governments located within any county in region 3 as defined in 
        governor's executive order number 60, issued on June 12, 1970, 
        which does not contain a municipality qualifying pursuant to 
        section 273.134 or (2) to provide economic development loans or 
        grants to businesses located within any such county, provided 
        that the county board or an advisory group appointed by the 
        county board to provide recommendations on economic development 
        shall make recommendations to the iron range resources and 
        rehabilitation board regarding the loans.  Payment to the iron 
        range resources and rehabilitation board account shall be made 
        by May 15 annually. 
           Of the money allocated to Koochiching county, one-third 
        must be paid to the small business development center/economic 
        development office currently located at the Rainy River 
        community college for its operations Koochiching county economic 
        development commission. 
           Sec. 2.  [ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [CREATION.] The Koochiching county economic 
        development commission consists of: 
           (1) two Koochiching county commissioners, appointed by the 
        chair of the commission; 
           (2) two members of the International Falls city council, 
        appointed by the mayor; 
           (3) two residents of Koochiching county, appointed by the 
        other members of the commission; 
           (4) one state legislator representing Koochiching county, 
        appointed by the other members of the board. 
           Members serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. 
           Subd. 2.  [DUTIES.] The commission shall: 
           (1) hire economic development staff; 
           (2) establish economic development priorities for 
        Koochiching county; and 
           (3) approve economic development projects for Koochiching 
        county. 
           Subd. 3.  [CLOSED MEETINGS; RECORDING.] The commission may, 
        by a majority vote in a public meeting, decide to hold a closed 
        meeting for purposes of discussing data described in subdivision 
        4 or security information, trade secret information, or labor 
        relations information, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 
        13.37, subdivision 1.  The time and place of the closed meeting 
        must be announced at the public meeting.  A written roll of 
        members present at the closed meeting must be made available to 
        the public after the closed meeting.  The proceedings of a 
        closed meeting must be tape recorded.  The data on the tape are 
        nonpublic data or private data on individuals as defined in 
        Minnesota Statutes, section 13.02, subdivision 9 or 12, 
        whichever is applicable. 
           Subd. 4.  [APPLICATION AND INVESTIGATIVE DATA.] Financial 
        data, statistics, and information furnished to the commission in 
        connection with assistance or proposed assistance, including 
        credit reports; financial statements; statements of net worth; 
        income tax returns, either personal or corporate; and any other 
        business and personal financial records, are private data with 
        regard to data on individuals under Minnesota Statutes, section 
        13.02, subdivision 12, or nonpublic data with regard to data not 
        on individuals under Minnesota Statutes, section 13.02, 
        subdivision 9. 
           Sec. 3.  [YELLOW MEDICINE COUNTY; ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 
        AUTHORITY; ESTABLISHMENT AND POWERS.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] The board of county 
        commissioners of Yellow Medicine county may establish an 
        economic development authority in the manner provided in 
        Minnesota Statutes, sections 469.090 to 469.1081, and may impose 
        limits on the authority enumerated in Minnesota Statutes, 
        section 469.092.  The economic development authority has all of 
        the powers and duties granted to or imposed upon economic 
        development authorities under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
        469.090 to 469.1081.  The county economic development authority 
        may create and define the boundaries of economic development 
        districts at any place or places within the county, provided 
        that a project as recommended by the county authority that is to 
        be located within the corporate limits of a city may not be 
        commenced without the approval of the governing body of the 
        city.  Minnesota Statutes, section 469.174, subdivision 10, and 
        the contiguity requirement specified under Minnesota Statutes, 
        section 469.101, subdivision 1, do not apply to limit the areas 
        that may be designated as county economic development districts. 
           Subd. 2.  [POWERS.] If an economic development authority is 
        established as provided in subdivision 1, the county may 
        exercise all of the powers relating to an economic development 
        authority granted to a city under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
        469.090 to 469.1081, or other law, including the power to levy a 
        tax to support the activities of the authority. 
           Sec. 4.  [469.1082] [COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICE 
        PROVIDER; NONMETRO ALTERNATIVE CREATION.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [AUTHORITY TO CREATE.] A county located 
        outside the metropolitan area may form a county economic 
        development authority or grant a housing and redevelopment 
        authority the powers specified in subdivision 4, clause (2), if 
        it receives a recommendation to do so from a committee formed 
        under subdivision 2.  An economic development authority 
        established under this section has all the powers and rights of 
        an authority under sections 469.090 to 469.1081, except the 
        authority granted under section 469.094 if so limited under 
        subdivision 4.  This section is in addition to any other 
        authority to create a county economic development authority or 
        service provider.  
           Subd. 2.  [LOCAL COMMITTEES.] Upon notice to all local 
        government units and development agencies within the county, a 
        county may adopt a resolution to create a committee to recommend 
        options for a county economic development service provider. 
           The committee shall consist of no fewer than 11 and no more 
        than 15 members appointed by the county board.  At least one 
        city official, at least one housing and redevelopment official, 
        and at least one township official from the county to be served 
        by the county economic service provider shall be included on the 
        committee.  Members may also represent school districts, 
        political subdivisions that currently provide services under 
        sections 469.001 to 469.047 and 469.090 to 469.1081, nonprofit 
        or for-profit housing and economic development organizations, 
        business, and labor organizations located within the county.  
        Political subdivision representatives must be selected by their 
        local governments and must constitute at least 50 percent of the 
        total committee membership.  The county may appoint no more than 
        two county commissioners.  The committee shall select a chair at 
        its initial meeting. 
           Subd. 3.  [COMMITTEE REPORT.] The committee shall issue its 
        report within 90 days of its initial meeting.  The committee may 
        request one 60-day extension from the county board.  The report 
        must contain the committee's recommendation for the preferred 
        organizational option for a county economic development service 
        provider, including the distance of the radius of the 
        extraterritorial parcel that may be controlled by each affected 
        city in subdivision 5.  This extraterritorial parcel may not 
        exceed two miles from the city boundary.  The report must 
        contain written findings on issues considered by the committee 
        including, but not limited to, the following: 
           (1) identification of the current level of economic 
        development, housing, and community development programs and 
        services provided by existing agencies, any existing gaps in 
        programs and services, and the capacity and ability of those 
        agencies to expand their activities; and 
           (2) the recommended organizational option for providing 
        needed economic development, housing, and community development 
        services in the most efficient, effective manner. 
           Subd. 4.  [ORGANIZATIONAL OPTIONS.] The committee may only 
        recommend: 
           (1) establishment of a county economic development 
        authority to operate under sections 469.090 to 469.1081, except 
        that the county shall not have the powers of section 469.094 
        without the consent of an existing county housing and 
        redevelopment authority operating within that county.  For the 
        purposes of a county economic development authority's operation, 
        the county is considered to be the city and the county board is 
        considered to be the city council; 
           (2) requiring an existing county housing and redevelopment 
        authority or multicounty housing and redevelopment authority to 
        operate under sections 469.090 to 469.1081; 
           (3) that the county pursue special legislation; or 
           (4) no change in the existing structure. 
           Subd. 5.  [AREA OF OPERATION.] The area of operation of a 
        county economic development service provider created under this 
        section shall include all cities within a county that have 
        adopted resolutions electing to participate.  A city may adopt a 
        resolution electing to withdraw participation.  The withdrawal 
        election may be made every fifth year following adoption of the 
        resolution electing participation.  The withdrawal election is 
        effective on the anniversary date of the original resolution 
        provided notice is given to the county economic development 
        authority not less than 90 nor more than 180 days prior to that 
        anniversary date.  The city electing to withdraw retains any 
        rights, obligations, and liabilities it obtained or incurred 
        during its participation.  Any city within the county shall have 
        the option to adopt a resolution to prohibit the county economic 
        development service provider created under this section from 
        operating within its boundaries and (1) within an agreed upon 
        urban service area, or (2) within the boundary approved in the 
        committee report referenced in subdivision 3.  If a city 
        prohibits a county economic development service provider created 
        under this section from operating within its boundaries, the 
        city's property taxpayers shall not be subject to the property 
        tax levied for the county economic development service provider. 
           Subd. 6.  [CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES.] If a 
        county economic development service provider has been 
        established under this section, existing city economic 
        development authorities shall continue to function and operate 
        under sections 469.090 to 469.1081.  Additional city economic 
        development authorities may be created within the area of 
        operation of the county economic development service provider 
        created under this section without the explicit concurrence of 
        the county economic development service provider. 
           Subd. 7.  [CONTINUATION OF EXISTING COUNTY AND MULTICOUNTY 
        HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES.] Existing county and 
        multicounty housing and redevelopment authorities shall continue 
        to function and operate under the provisions of sections 469.001 
        to 469.047. 
           Sec. 5.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           (a) Section 2 is effective upon approval of the Koochiching 
        county board and compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 
        645.021, subdivision 3. 
           (b) Section 3 is effective the day after the governing body 
        of Yellow Medicine county and its chief clerical officer timely 
        complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 
        645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3. 

                                   ARTICLE 2 
           Section 1.  [3.884] [LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON 
        MINNESOTA-ONTARIO MATTERS.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] A legislative advisory 
        commission on Minnesota-Ontario matters is established.  The 
        commission is made up of 12 Minnesota members appointed as 
        provided in subdivision 2, with the intent of meeting with a 
        like commission of Ontario citizens appointed as provided by the 
        appropriate government authority of Ontario for the purpose of 
        making recommendations regarding Minnesota-Ontario issues of 
        mutual interest involving natural resources, transportation, 
        economic development, and social matters.  A report and 
        appropriate recommendations must be made annually to the 
        appointing bodies. 
           Subd. 2.  [MINNESOTA APPOINTEES.] Six of the Minnesota 
        members must be appointed by the speaker of the house, three 
        from among the members of the house of representatives and three 
        from Minnesota citizens with interest in and knowledge of 
        Minnesota-Ontario issues; and six members appointed by the 
        subcommittee on committees of the committee on rules and 
        administration of the senate, three from among the members of 
        the senate and three from Minnesota citizens with an interest in 
        and knowledge of Minnesota-Ontario issues.  The most senior 
        house member shall convene the first meeting of the commission. 
           Subd. 3.  [TERMS.] Minnesota legislative members shall 
        serve for the term of the legislative office to which they were 
        elected.  The terms, compensation, and removal of the 
        nonlegislative members of the commission shall be as provided in 
        section 15.059.  Notwithstanding section 15.059, subdivision 5, 
        the commission shall continue to exist. 
           Subd. 4.  [OFFICERS.] (a) There must be cochairs of the 
        commission.  The Ontario section must have a chair and the 
        Minnesota section must have a chair.  The Ontario chair must 
        conduct meetings held in Canada and the Minnesota chair must 
        conduct meetings held in the United States. 
           (b) There must be vice-chairs of the respective sections.  
        There must be elected one secretary from the commission at large.
           (c) Officers shall be elected by the respective contingent. 
           (d) The Minnesota chair shall alternate every two years 
        between house and senate appointees. 
           Subd. 5.  [STAFF.] The commission may hire the staff 
        necessary to carry out its duties. 
           Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
           $100,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
        Minnesota contingent of the legislative commission on 
        Minnesota-Ontario matters established in section 1 for expenses 
        of the Minnesota members of the commission established in 
        section 1.  The money is available until expended.  
           Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE; CONTINGENCY.] 
           Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day after a like 
        commission is authorized by the appropriate authority of the 
        government of Ontario. 
           Presented to the governor May 11, 2000 
           Signed by the governor May 15, 2000, 10:28 a.m.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes