1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to taxation; establishing a legislative task 
  1.3             force to study the property tax and local government 
  1.4             aid systems; requiring a report to the legislature; 
  1.5             providing for appointments. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE TO STUDY LOCAL 
  1.8   GOVERNMENT FINANCE.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [CREATION; MEMBERSHIP.] (a) A legislative 
  1.10  task force is established to study local government and 
  1.11  education financing, including both the property tax system and 
  1.12  programs of state aid to local governments, and to make 
  1.13  recommendations to the 1997 legislature.  The study shall be 
  1.14  completed and findings reported to the legislature by February 
  1.15  1, 1997. 
  1.16     (b) The advisory council consists of 17 members who serve 
  1.17  at the pleasure of the appointing authority as follows: 
  1.18     (1) ten legislators:  five members of the senate, including 
  1.19  two members of the minority party, appointed by the subcommittee 
  1.20  on committees of the committee on rules and administration and 
  1.21  five members of the house of representatives, including two 
  1.22  members of the minority party, appointed by the speaker of the 
  1.23  house; 
  1.24     (2) the commissioner of revenue or the commissioner's 
  1.25  designee; and 
  2.1      (3) six members of the public, two appointed by the 
  2.2   subcommittee on committees of the committee on rules and 
  2.3   administration of the senate, two appointed by the speaker of 
  2.4   the house, and two appointed by the governor.  At least one 
  2.5   member of the public that is appointed by each entity must 
  2.6   represent a class of property owners rather than local 
  2.7   governments.  The appointing entities must, to the extent 
  2.8   possible, coordinate their appointments of public members so 
  2.9   that they represent different classes of property owners. 
  2.10     Subd. 2.  [SCOPE OF STUDY.] The purpose of the task force 
  2.11  is to study the impact of the current property tax system and 
  2.12  programs of local government aids, and to recommend changes in 
  2.13  that system and those programs that will result in a more 
  2.14  equitable distribution of burdens and benefits among communities 
  2.15  and individuals, based on their ability to pay, and that will 
  2.16  work to encourage frugal, responsible levels of local government 
  2.17  spending.  The task force's report to the legislature must 
  2.18  include its recommended changes in the form of draft legislation.
  2.19     Subd. 3.  [STAFF.] The department of revenue and 
  2.20  legislative staff shall provide administrative and staff 
  2.21  assistance when requested by the task force.