1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to alternative dispute resolution; providing for a study and assessment of 
1.3 	alternative dispute resolution; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. STUDY OF ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Study. The state court administrator shall make a grant to a 
1.7 	mediation center for dispute resolution affiliated with a law school in this state for the 
1.8 	purpose of conducting the study under this section. The study must include a survey and 
1.9 	assessment of the current use of alternative dispute resolution in Minnesota in comparison 
1.10 	to other states and recommendations for the development and implementation of a plan 
1.11 	to advance the appropriate use of alternative dispute resolution in courts, as well as in 
1.12 	schools, neighborhoods, businesses, state and local government agencies, health care 
1.13 	settings, criminal and juvenile justice systems, and other areas of society.
1.14 		Subd. 2.Working group. The study under subdivision 1 must be conducted in 
1.15 	consultation with a statewide working group appointed by the mediation center consisting 
1.16 	of representatives from the courts, the legislature, state government agencies, business, 
1.17 	labor, community mediation programs, restorative justice groups, and private alternative 
1.18 	dispute resolution practitioners.
1.19 		Subd. 3.Report. The mediation center that receives the grant under this section 
1.20 	shall submit a report to the legislature by January 15, 2009, containing the results of 
1.21 	the survey and assessment and any recommendations regarding the use of alternative 
1.22 	dispute resolution.

1.23 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.1 	$....... is appropriated from the general fund to the Supreme Court for the purpose of 
2.2 	a grant under section 1.