1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education finance; adjusting school 
  1.3             district financial reporting dates; creating a 
  1.4             notification process for operating referenda and debt 
  1.5             elections; regulating school district elections for 
  1.6             obligations; amending Minnesota Statutes 2002, 
  1.7             sections 123B.77, subdivision 3; 205A.07, by adding a 
  1.8             subdivision; 475.58, by adding a subdivision. 
  1.9   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.10     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 123B.77, 
  1.11  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  1.12     Subd. 3.  [STATEMENT FOR COMPARISON AND CORRECTION.] By 
  1.13  November 30 October 1 of the calendar year of the submission of 
  1.14  the unaudited financial data, the district must provide to the 
  1.15  commissioner audited financial data for the preceding fiscal 
  1.16  year.  The audit must be conducted in compliance with generally 
  1.17  accepted governmental auditing standards, the federal Single 
  1.18  Audit Act, and the Minnesota legal compliance guide issued by 
  1.19  the office of the state auditor.  An audited financial statement 
  1.20  prepared in a form which will allow comparison with and 
  1.21  correction of material differences in the unaudited financial 
  1.22  data shall be submitted to the commissioner and the state 
  1.23  auditor by December 31.  The audited financial statement must 
  1.24  also provide a statement of assurance pertaining to uniform 
  1.25  financial accounting and reporting standards compliance and a 
  1.26  copy of the management letter submitted to the district by the 
  1.27  school district's auditor. 
  2.1      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 205A.07, is 
  2.2   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.3      Subd. 3a.  [NOTICE TO COMMISSIONER OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, 
  2.4   AND LEARNING.] At least 49 days prior to every school district 
  2.5   election, under section 123B.62, 123B.63, 126C.17, 126C.69, or 
  2.6   475.58, the school district clerk shall provide a written notice 
  2.7   to the commissioner of children, families, and learning.  The 
  2.8   notice must include the date of the election and the title and 
  2.9   language for each ballot question to be voted on at the 
  2.10  election.  The certified vote totals for each ballot question 
  2.11  shall be provided in a written notice to the commissioner in a 
  2.12  timely manner. 
  2.13     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 475.58, is 
  2.14  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.15     Subd. 1b.  [SCHOOL DISTRICTS.] A school district election 
  2.16  under this section held on a day other than the first Tuesday 
  2.17  after the first Monday in November must be conducted by mail in 
  2.18  accordance with section 204B.46.