1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; creating a road-user charge working group to study 
1.3 	and report on issues concerning implementation of a road-user charge as an 
1.4 	alternative to motor fuels tax; appropriating money.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF ROAD-USER CHARGE WORKING GROUP.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Creation. The road-user charge working group is established to 
1.8 	study and report to the legislature concerning issues related to designing and implementing 
1.9 	a road-user charge in this state. The road-user charge working group consists of 15 
1.10 	members, as follows:
1.11 	(1) the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and 
1.12 	senate committees or divisions with jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance;
1.13 	(2) the commissioner of transportation or a designee; and
1.14 	(3) public members who have relevant expertise and interest, including members or 
1.15 	representatives of transportation user groups; the telecommunications industry; the data 
1.16 	security and privacy industry; privacy rights advocacy groups; and research and policy 
1.17 	making bodies. Of these members, five must be appointed by the speaker of the house of 
1.18 	representatives, and five must be appointed by the majority leader of the senate.
1.19 		Subd. 2.Duties. The working group shall identify and consider policy and technical 
1.20 	issues related to funding state transportation infrastructure through implementation of a 
1.21 	road-user charge as an alternative to the motor fuels tax. The working group shall study 
1.22 	and make recommendations concerning cost, privacy, jurisdictional issues, feasibility, 
1.23 	complexity, public acceptance, use of revenues, possible constitutional dedication, 
1.24 	security, compliance, data collection technology that includes privacy and user options, 
2.1 	implementation, and related issues. In considering relevant issues, the working group 
2.2 	shall consult and utilize recommendations and findings contained in, among other sources, 
2.3 	the December 2011 Report of Minnesota's Mileage-Based User Fee Policy Task Force, 
2.4 	prepared by the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. In 
2.5 	addition, the working group shall seek and facilitate collaboration with other states; review 
2.6 	pilot project and implementation results from other states and countries; and explore 
2.7 	federal funding opportunities.
2.8 		Subd. 3.Report. The working group shall report its findings, recommendations, and 
2.9 	proposed draft legislation concerning a road-user charge to the legislature, in compliance 
2.10 	with Minnesota Statutes, sections 3.195 and 3.197. The report must be submitted no 
2.11 	later than January 15, 2017.
2.12 		Subd. 4.Administrative provisions. (a) The commissioner of transportation or 
2.13 	the commissioner's designee shall convene the initial meeting of the working group no 
2.14 	later than September 1, 2015. Upon request of the working group, the commissioner shall 
2.15 	provide meeting space and administrative services for the group. The members of the 
2.16 	working group shall elect a chair or cochairs from the members of the working group at 
2.17 	the initial meeting.
2.18 	(b) Public members of the working group serve without compensation or payment of 
2.19 	expenses.
2.20 	(c) The working group expires May 1, 2017, or upon submission of the report 
2.21 	required under subdivision 3, whichever is earlier.
2.22 	(d) The working group may accept gifts and grants, which are accepted on behalf of 
2.23 	the state and constitute donations to the state. Funds received under this paragraph are 
2.24 	appropriated to the commissioner of transportation for purposes of the working group.
2.25 		Subd. 5.Deadline for appointments and designations. The appointments and 
2.26 	designations authorized by this section must be completed by August 1, 2015. 

2.27 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.28 	$300,000 is appropriated to the Legislative Coordinating Commission from the 
2.29 	general fund for the purposes of the working group established in section 1.

2.30 	Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.31 	Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final enactment.