1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to courts; establishing alternative dispute 
  1.3             resolution programs in the third and fifth judicial 
  1.4             districts; appropriating money. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [DEVELOPMENT OF AND GRANTS FOR ALTERNATIVE 
  1.7   DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAMS.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [DEVELOPMENT; OPERATION; PURPOSE.] The 
  1.9   third and fifth judicial districts must develop, or continue the 
  1.10  operation of, alternative dispute resolution programs to provide 
  1.11  services in conciliation court cases and unlawful detainer 
  1.12  proceedings.  The purposes of the programs are to provide 
  1.13  increased efficiency of court proceedings, reduce court costs, 
  1.14  allow judges to provide added attention to cases on the regular 
  1.15  docket, improve the quality of justice, and improve collection 
  1.16  of judgments.  Volunteer community mediators must be trained to 
  1.17  conduct the mediations. 
  1.18     Subd. 2.  [CONTRACTS; GRANTS.] The third and fifth judicial 
  1.19  districts may contract with or provide grants to a person or 
  1.20  organization to develop and operate alternative dispute 
  1.21  resolution programs under this section.  Grants or contract 
  1.22  awards can be in amounts up to $40,000.  A person or 
  1.23  organization that develops or operates a program under this 
  1.24  section must provide matching funds from nonstate sources equal 
  1.25  to at least 50 percent of the grant or contract award. 
  2.1      Subd. 3.  [ELIGIBILITY.] An alternative dispute resolution 
  2.2   program developed or operated under this section must meet the 
  2.3   requirements for dispute resolution programs under Minnesota 
  2.4   Statutes, chapter 494. 
  2.5      Subd. 4.  [REPORTING.] By January 1, 2003, the district 
  2.6   court administrators from the third and fifth judicial districts 
  2.7   must jointly report to the legislature on the results of the 
  2.8   alternative dispute resolution programs developed or operated 
  2.9   under this section. 
  2.10     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.11     $80,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the third 
  2.12  judicial district and $80,000 is appropriated from the general 
  2.13  fund to the fifth judicial district for the purposes of section 
  2.14  1.  This is a one-time appropriation.  This appropriation is 
  2.15  available until expended.