1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to government operations; requiring a study of the feasibility of 
1.3 	consolidating counties and rationalizing other internal boundaries; appropriating 
1.4 	money.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. STUDY ON CONSOLIDATING COUNTIES AND RATIONALIZING 
1.7 	OTHER INTERNAL BOUNDARIES.
 1.8 	The state auditor shall study the feasibility of consolidating counties in the state. As 
1.9 	part of the study, the state auditor shall consider conforming county boundaries to other 
1.10 	existing physical or organizational boundaries including, among others, state judicial, 
1.11 	watershed, and landscape districts, and shall consider the economic implications that 
1.12 	may result from the consolidation.
1.13 	The study shall also include a consideration of the rationalization of other internal 
1.14 	boundaries of the state such as highway maintenance and regional economic districts.
1.15 	The state auditor shall report on the study to the appropriate committees of the 
1.16 	legislature by January 1, 2012.

1.17 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 1.18 	$....... is appropriated for fiscal year 2012 from the general fund to the state auditor 
1.19 	for the purposes of section 1.