1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; requiring a study of the prospects for reorganizing 
1.3 	energy activities among state agencies; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS; STUDY.
 1.6 	(a) The commissioner of administration shall contract with the Management 
1.7 	Analysis and Development unit of the Department of Management and Budget for a 
1.8 	study to examine potential cost savings and program efficiencies that may result from 
1.9 	transferring certain functions and staff of the Division of Energy Resources in the 
1.10 	Department of Commerce to the Public Utilities Commission.
1.11 	(b) In conducting the study, the Management Analysis and Development unit must:
1.12 	(1) analyze the functions of the various offices of both the Division of Energy 
1.13 	Resources and the commission;
1.14 	(2) assess any duplicative functions of staff and redundant management positions;
1.15 	(3) assess whether transferring specific functions and staff would result in a clearer 
1.16 	and more functional link between authority and responsibility for accomplishing various 
1.17 	activities;
1.18 	(4) consider whether any such transfers would make governmental decisions 
1.19 	regarding energy more transparent to the public;
1.20 	(5) determine which specific positions, including administrative support, could be 
1.21 	eliminated as a result of the transfer without appreciably diminishing the quantity or 
1.22 	quality of work produced;
1.23 	(6) calculate the budgetary savings that could be realized as a result of transferring 
1.24 	functions and eliminating redundant positions;
2.1 	(7) estimate any cost savings that would accrue to regulated utilities as a result 
2.2 	of transferring functions;
2.3 	(8) assess the benefits and costs of various options with respect to transferring 
2.4 	functions and staff; and
2.5 	(9) assume that any transfer is subject to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, 
2.6 	section 15.039.
2.7 	(c) The study under this section must be submitted to the chairs and ranking minority 
2.8 	members of the senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over 
2.9 	energy policy and state government operations by January 1, 2016.

2.10 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.11 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.12 	$....... in fiscal year 2016 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
2.13 	of administration for the purpose of completing the study described in section 1.

2.14 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.