1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to metropolitan government; requiring studies of the merits of merging 
1.3 	the seven metropolitan counties into an elected Metropolitan Council, or of 
1.4 	transferring certain responsibilities from the counties to the council.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. STUDY OF METROPOLITAN GOVERNANCE.
 1.7 	The Metropolitan Council, in consultation and cooperation with the county boards 
1.8 	of the seven metropolitan counties, shall conduct a study on the feasibility and benefits of 
1.9 	merging the seven counties and the Metropolitan Council into a single elected metropolitan 
1.10 	government. The council must also study, as an alternative, the feasibility and benefits 
1.11 	of merging certain county responsibilities and programs, including, but not limited to, 
1.12 	county correctional facilities and county highways under an elected metropolitan council. 
1.13 	The council must report the results of the two studies to the committees of the house of 
1.14 	representatives and senate having jurisdiction over metropolitan legislation by December 
1.15 	15, 2009.