1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; appropriating money for jobs and economic 
1.3 	development purposes; establishing and modifying certain programs; regulating 
1.4 	certain activities and practices; providing for accounts, assessments, and fees; 
1.5 	modifying provisions governing contractors; requiring studies; amending 
1.6 	Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 13.712, by adding a subdivision; 16B.61, 
1.7 	subdivision 1a; 16B.65, subdivisions 1, 5a; 16B.70, subdivision 2; 80A.28, 
1.8 	subdivision 1; 116J.551, subdivision 1; 116J.554, subdivision 2; 116J.555, 
1.9 	subdivision 1; 116J.575, subdivisions 1, 1a; 116J.966, subdivision 1; 116L.17, 
1.10 	subdivision 1; 116L.20, subdivision 1; 116M.18, subdivision 6a; 240.06, 
1.11 	subdivision 5a, by adding a subdivision; 240.13, subdivision 6; 240.135; 240.30, 
1.12 	subdivision 5; 268A.01, subdivision 13, by adding a subdivision; 268A.085, 
1.13 	subdivision 1; 268A.15, by adding a subdivision; 298.22, subdivision 2; 
1.14 	298.227; 326.242, subdivision 8, by adding a subdivision; 326.2441; 326.47, 
1.15 	subdivision 6; 326.975, subdivision 1; 326.992; 327.33, subdivisions 2, 6; 
1.16 	327B.04, subdivision 7; 462A.21, subdivision 8b; 462A.33, subdivision 3; 
1.17 	471.471, subdivision 4; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
1.18 	chapters 138; 177; 179; 182; 326; proposing coding for new law as Minnesota 
1.19 	Statutes, chapters 59C; 326B; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 
1.20 	16B.747, subdivision 4; 16C.18, subdivision 2; 183.375, subdivision 5; 183.545, 
1.21 	subdivision 9; 326.241, subdivision 3; 326.44; 326.52; 326.64; 326.975.
1.22 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.23 | Section 1.  SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS.
1.24 	The amounts shown in this section summarize direct appropriations, by fund, made 
1.25 	in this act.

1.26 | | | 2008 | | 2009 | | Total
1.27 | General | $ | 163,335,000 | $ | 164,618,000 | $ | 327,953,000
1.28 | Workforce Development | | 10,235,000 | | 10,251,000 | | 20,486,000
1.29 | Remediation | | 700,000 | | 700,000 | | 1,400,000
1.30 | Petroleum Tank Cleanup | | 1,084,000 | | 1,084,000 | | 2,168,000
1.31 | Workers' Compensation | | 23,114,000 | | 23,498,000 | | 46,612,000
1.32 | Total | $ | 198,468,000 | $ | 200,151,000 | $ | 398,619,000

2.1 | Sec. 2. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS.
2.2 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the 
2.3 	agencies and for the purposes specified in this act.  The appropriations are from the general 
2.4 	fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each 
2.5 	purpose.  The figures "2008" and "2009" used in this act mean that the appropriations 
2.6 	listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, or June 30, 2009, 
2.7 	respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2008. "The second year" is fiscal year 2009. 
2.8 	"The biennium" is fiscal years 2008 and 2009.  Appropriations for the fiscal year ending 
2.9 	June 30, 2007, are effective the day following final enactment.

2.10 | | | | APPROPRIATIONS
2.11 | | | | Available for the Year
2.12 | | | | Ending June 30
2.13 | | | | | 2008 | | 2009

2.14

2.15

Sec. 3. EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC 
DEVELOPMENT

2.16 | Subdivision 1. Total Appropriation | $ | 60,275,000 | $ | 60,593,000

2.17 | Appropriations by Fund
2.18 | | 2008 | 2009
2.19 | General | 50,105,000 | 50,423,000
2.20 | Remediation | 700,000 | 700,000
2.21

2.22

Workforce 
Development

9,470,000

9,470,000

2.23 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
2.24 	purpose are specified in the following 
2.25 	subdivisions.

2.26

2.27

Subd.  2.Business and Community 
Development

8,374,000

8,513,000

2.28 | Appropriations by Fund
2.29 | General | 7,674,000 | 7,813,000
2.30 | Remediation | 700,000 | 700,000
2.31 	$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the 
2.32 	second year are from the general fund 
2.33 	for a grant under Minnesota Statutes, 
2.34 	section 116J.421, to the Rural Policy and 
2.35 	Development Center at St. Peter, Minnesota. 
2.36 	The grant shall be used for research and 
3.1 	policy analysis on emerging economic and 
3.2 	social issues in rural Minnesota, to serve as 
3.3 	a policy resource center for rural Minnesota 
3.4 	communities, to encourage collaboration 
3.5 	across higher education institutions to 
3.6 	provide interdisciplinary team approaches 
3.7 	to research and problem-solving in rural 
3.8 	communities, and to administer overall 
3.9 	operations of the center.
3.10 	The grant shall be provided upon the 
3.11 	condition that each state-appropriated 
3.12 	dollar be matched with a nonstate dollar. 
3.13 	Acceptable matching funds are nonstate 
3.14 	contributions that the center has received and 
3.15 	have not been used to match previous state 
3.16 	grants. Any unencumbered balance in the 
3.17 	first year is available for the second year.
3.18 	$155,000 the first year and $155,000 the 
3.19 	second year are from the general fund 
3.20 	for a grant to the Metropolitan Economic 
3.21 	Development Association for continuing 
3.22 	minority business development programs in 
3.23 	the metropolitan area.
3.24 	$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the 
3.25 	second year are from the general fund for 
3.26 	a grant to WomenVenture for women's 
3.27 	business development programs.
3.28 	$100,000 the first year and $100,000 the 
3.29 	second year are to help small businesses 
3.30 	access federal funds through the federal 
3.31 	Small Business Innovation Research Program 
3.32 	and the federal Small Business Technology 
3.33 	Transfer Program. Department services 
3.34 	must include maintaining connections to 
3.35 	11 federal programs, assessment of specific 
4.1 	funding opportunities, review of funding 
4.2 	proposals, referral to specific consulting 
4.3 	services, and training workshops throughout 
4.4 	the state. Unless prohibited by federal law, 
4.5 	the department must implement fees for 
4.6 	services that help companies seek federal 
4.7 	Phase II Small Business Innovation Research 
4.8 	grants. The recommended fee schedule 
4.9 	must be reported to the chairs of the house 
4.10 	of representatives finance committee and 
4.11 	senate budget division with jurisdiction over 
4.12 	economic development by February 1, 2008.
4.13 	$85,000 the first year and $85,000 the second 
4.14 	year are for grants to the Minnesota Inventors 
4.15 	Congress. Of this amount, $10,000 each year 
4.16 	is for the Student Inventors Congress.
4.17 	$100,000 the first year and $100,000 the 
4.18 	second year are appropriated to the Public 
4.19 	Facilities Authority for the small community 
4.20 	wastewater treatment program under 
4.21 	Minnesota Statutes, chapter 446A.

4.22 | Subd.  3.Workforce Development | | 48,740,000 | | 48,882,000

4.23 | Appropriations by Fund
4.24 | General | 39,270,000 | 39,412,000
4.25

4.26

Workforce 
Development

9,470,000

9,470,000

4.27 	$6,785,000 the first year and $6,785,000 
4.28 	the second year are from the general fund 
4.29 	for the Minnesota job skills partnership 
4.30 	program under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
4.31 	116L.01 to 116L.17. If the appropriation for 
4.32 	either year is insufficient, the appropriation 
4.33 	for the other year is available for it. This 
4.34 	appropriation does not cancel.
5.1 	$455,000 the first year and $455,000 the 
5.2 	second year are from the general fund for 
5.3 	a grant under Minnesota Statutes, section 
5.4 	116J.8747, to Twin Cities RISE! to provide 
5.5 	training to hard-to-train individuals.
5.6 	$875,000 the first year and $875,000 
5.7 	the second year are from the workforce 
5.8 	development fund and $500,000 the first 
5.9 	year and $500,000 the second year are 
5.10 	from the general fund for opportunities 
5.11 	industrialization center programs. 
5.12 	$250,000 the first year and $250,000 
5.13 	the second year are from the workforce 
5.14 	development fund and $100,000 the first 
5.15 	year and $100,000 the second year are from 
5.16 	the general fund for a grant to Lifetrack 
5.17 	Resources for its immigrant and refugee 
5.18 	collaborative programs, including those 
5.19 	related to job-seeking skills and workplace 
5.20 	orientation, intensive job development, 
5.21 	functional work English, and on-site job 
5.22 	coaching.
5.23 	$300,000 the first year and $300,000 the 
5.24 	second year are from the general fund for 
5.25 	grants to Northern Connections in Perham 
5.26 	to implement and operate a pilot workforce 
5.27 	program that provides one-stop supportive 
5.28 	services to individuals as they transition into 
5.29 	the workforce.
5.30 	$200,000 the first year and $200,000 the 
5.31 	second year are from the general fund for 
5.32 	a grant to HIRED to operate its industry 
5.33 	sector training initiatives, which provide 
5.34 	employee training developed in collaboration 
6.1 	with employers in specific, high-demand 
6.2 	industries. 
6.3 	$2,500,000 the first year and $2,500,000 the 
6.4 	second year are from the general fund for the 
6.5 	Minnesota youth program under Minnesota 
6.6 	Statutes, sections 116L.56 and 116L.561.
6.7 	$1,250,000 the first year and $1,250,000 the 
6.8 	second year are from the general fund for 
6.9 	the youthbuild program under Minnesota 
6.10 	Statutes, sections 116L.361 to 116L.366. 
6.11 	This appropriation may be used for:
6.12 	(1) restoring the three youthbuild programs 
6.13 	that were eliminated due to budget reductions 
6.14 	and adding seven more youthbuild programs 
6.15 	statewide;
6.16 	(2) restoring funding levels for all youthbuild 
6.17 	programs plus an inflationary increase for 
6.18 	each program;
6.19 	(3) increasing the number of at-risk youth 
6.20 	served by the youthbuild programs from 260 
6.21 	youth per year to 500 youth per year; and
6.22 	(4) restoring the youthbuild focus on careers 
6.23 	in technology and adding a youthbuild focus 
6.24 	on careers in the medical field.
6.25 	$1,250,000 the first year and $1,250,000 
6.26 	the second year are from the workforce 
6.27 	development fund for grants to fund summer 
6.28 	youth employment in Minneapolis. The 
6.29 	grants shall be used to fund up to 500 jobs for 
6.30 	youth each summer. Of this appropriation, 
6.31 	$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the 
6.32 	second year are for a grant to the learn-to-earn 
6.33 	summer youth employment program. The 
6.34 	commissioner shall establish criteria for 
7.1 	awarding the grants. This appropriation is 
7.2 	available in either year of the biennium and 
7.3 	is available until spent.
7.4 	$500,000 the first year and $500,000 the 
7.5 	second year are from the general fund for a 
7.6 	grant to the city of St. Paul for grants to fund 
7.7 	summer youth employment in St. Paul. The 
7.8 	grants shall be used to fund up to 500 jobs 
7.9 	for youth each summer. The commissioner 
7.10 	shall establish criteria for awarding the 
7.11 	grants within the city of St. Paul. This 
7.12 	appropriation is available in either year of 
7.13 	the biennium and is available until spent.
7.14 	$1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000 the 
7.15 	second year are from the general fund for 
7.16 	a grant to the Minnesota Alliance of Boys 
7.17 	and Girls Clubs to administer a statewide 
7.18 	project of youth job skills development. This 
7.19 	project, which may have career guidance 
7.20 	components, including health and life skills, 
7.21 	is to encourage, train, and assist youth in 
7.22 	job-seeking skills, workplace orientation, 
7.23 	and job site knowledge through coaching. 
7.24 	This grant requires a 25 percent match from 
7.25 	nonstate resources.
7.26 	$5,371,000 the first year and $5,378,000 the 
7.27 	second year are from the general fund and 
7.28 	$6,920,000 the first year and $6,920,000 
7.29 	the second year are from the workforce 
7.30 	development fund for extended employment 
7.31 	services for persons with severe disabilities 
7.32 	or related conditions under Minnesota 
7.33 	Statutes, section 268A.15. 
7.34 	$2,690,000 the first year and $2,690,000 
7.35 	the second year are from the general 
8.1 	fund for grants under Minnesota Statutes, 
8.2 	section 268A.11, for the eight centers for 
8.3 	independent living. Money not expended the 
8.4 	first year is available the second year.
8.5 	The commissioner is directed to determine 
8.6 	a federally allowable methodology and to 
8.7 	use, whenever appropriate and possible, 
8.8 	state funds allocated for general operation 
8.9 	of centers for independent living under this 
8.10 	section to match available federal dollars. 
8.11 	Any additional federal dollars realized 
8.12 	through this match process may be used 
8.13 	by the centers for independent living for 
8.14 	general operating dollars. The state funds 
8.15 	used for match must remain intact for use 
8.16 	by the centers in their general operations. 
8.17 	An agreement to meet the federal matching 
8.18 	requirements will be documented through a 
8.19 	memorandum of understanding.
8.20 	$150,000 the first year and $150,000 the 
8.21 	second year are from the general fund 
8.22 	and $175,000 the first year and $175,000 
8.23 	the second year are from the workforce 
8.24 	development fund for grants under Minnesota 
8.25 	Statutes, section 268A.03, to Rise, Inc. 
8.26 	for the Minnesota Employment Center for 
8.27 	People Who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing. 
8.28 	Money not expended the first year is 
8.29 	available the second year. 
8.30 	$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the 
8.31 	second year are from the general fund 
8.32 	for grants to provide interpreters for a 
8.33 	regional transition program that specializes 
8.34 	in providing culturally appropriate transition 
8.35 	services leading to employment for 
9.1 	deaf, hard-of-hearing, and deaf-blind 
9.2 	students. This amount must be added to the 
9.3 	department's base.
9.4 	$1,400,000 the first year and $1,400,000 the 
9.5 	second year are from the general fund for 
9.6 	grants for programs that provide employment 
9.7 	support services to persons with mental 
9.8 	illness under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
9.9 	268A.13 and 268A.14. Up to $77,000 each 
9.10 	year may be used for administrative and 
9.11 	salary expenses. 
9.12 	$5,940,000 the first year and $5,940,000 the 
9.13 	second year are from the general fund for 
9.14 	state services for the blind activities.
9.15 	$9,021,000 the first year and $9,021,000 the 
9.16 	second year are from the general fund for the 
9.17 	state's vocational rehabilitation program for 
9.18 	people with significant disabilities to assist 
9.19 	with employment, under Minnesota Statutes, 
9.20 	chapter 268A.
9.21 	$150,000 the first year and $150,000 the 
9.22 	second year are for a grant to Advocating 
9.23 	Change Together for training, technical 
9.24 	assistance, and resources materials to persons 
9.25 	with developmental and mental illness 
9.26 	disabilities.

9.27 | Subd.  5.Administration | | 3,161,000 | | 3,198,000
9.28 	$150,000 the first year and $150,000 
9.29 	the second year are to fund the analysis, 
9.30 	production, and dissemination of labor 
9.31 	market information.
9.32 	The first $1,450,000 deposited in each 
9.33 	year of the biennium and in each year of 
9.34 	subsequent bienniums into the contingent 
10.1 	account created under Minnesota Statutes, 
10.2 	section 268.196, subdivision 3, shall be 
10.3 	transferred by June 30 of each fiscal year 
10.4 	to the workforce development fund created 
10.5 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 116L.20. 
10.6 	Deposits in excess of the $1,450,000 shall be 
10.7 	transferred by June 30 of each fiscal year to 
10.8 	the general fund.

10.9 | Sec. 4. EXPLORE MINNESOTA TOURISM | $ | 11,386,000 | $ | 11,499,000
10.10 	To develop maximum private sector 
10.11 	involvement in tourism, $4,000,000 the first 
10.12 	year and $4,000,000 the second year must 
10.13 	be matched by Explore Minnesota tourism 
10.14 	from nonstate sources. Up to one-half of 
10.15 	the total match requirement may include 
10.16 	in-kind contributions. Cash match is defined 
10.17 	as revenue to the state or documented case 
10.18 	expenditures directly expended to support 
10.19 	Explore Minnesota tourism programs.
10.20 	In the second year, for every dollar generated 
10.21 	from nonstate sources in the previous year 
10.22 	in excess of $4,000,000, an amount of up 
10.23 	to $1,000,000 is appropriated from the 
10.24 	general fund to Explore Minnesota tourism 
10.25 	for marketing purposes. This incentive is 
10.26 	ongoing. In order to maximize marketing 
10.27 	grant benefits, the director must give priority 
10.28 	for organizational partnership marketing 
10.29 	grants to organizations with year-round 
10.30 	sustained tourism activities. For programs 
10.31 	and projects submitted, the director must 
10.32 	give priority to those that encompass two 
10.33 	or more areas or that attract nonresident 
10.34 	travelers to the state.
11.1 	Funding for the marketing grants is available 
11.2 	either year of the biennium. Unexpended 
11.3 	grant funds from the first year are available 
11.4 	in the second year.
11.5 	The director may use grant dollars or the 
11.6 	value of in-kind services to provide the 
11.7 	state contribution for the partnership grant 
11.8 	program.
11.9 	Any unexpended money from the general 
11.10 	fund appropriations made under this section 
11.11 	does not cancel but must be placed in a 
11.12 	special marketing account for use by Explore 
11.13 	Minnesota tourism for additional marketing 
11.14 	activities.
11.15 	$325,000 the first year and $325,000 the 
11.16 	second year are for the Minnesota Film and 
11.17 	TV Board. The appropriation in each year 
11.18 	is available only upon receipt by the board 
11.19 	of $1 in matching contributions of money or 
11.20 	in-kind contributions from nonstate sources 
11.21 	for every $3 provided by this appropriation.
11.22 	$500,000 the first year and $500,000 the 
11.23 	second year are for a grant to the Minnesota 
11.24 	Film and TV Board for the snowbate 
11.25 	program. These amounts are added to the 
11.26 	agency budget base.

11.27 | Sec. 5. COMMERCE | | | |

11.28 | Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation | $ | 18,934,000 | $ | 19,391,000

11.29 | Appropriations by Fund
11.30 | | 2008 | 2009
11.31 | General | 17,015,000 | 17,472,000
11.32 | Petroleum Cleanup | 1,084,000 | 1,084,000
11.33

11.34

Workers' 
Compensation

835,000

835,000

12.1 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
12.2 	purpose are specified in the following 
12.3 	subdivisions.

12.4 | Subd.  2.Financial Examinations | | 6,380,000 | | 6,573,000

12.5

12.6

Subd.  3.Petroleum Tank Release Cleanup 
Board

1,084,000

1,084,000

12.7 	This appropriation is from the petroleum 
12.8 	tank release cleanup fund.

12.9 | Subd. 4.Administrative Services | | 4,516,000 | | 4,620,000

12.10 | Subd.  5.Market Assurance | | 6,954,000 | | 7,114,000

12.11 | Appropriations by Fund
12.12 | General | 6,119,000 | 6,279,000
12.13

12.14

Workers' 
Compensation

835,000

835,000

12.15 | Sec. 6. HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY | | | |

12.16 | Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation | $ | 44,938,000 | $ | 44,938,000
12.17 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
12.18 	purpose are specified in the following 
12.19 	subdivisions.
12.20 	This appropriation is for transfer to the 
12.21 	housing development fund for the programs 
12.22 	specified. Except as otherwise indicated, this 
12.23 	transfer is part of the agency's permanent 
12.24 	budget base.

12.25 | Subd.  2.Challenge Program | | 9,622,000 | | 9,622,000
12.26 	For the economic development and housing 
12.27 	challenge program under Minnesota Statutes, 
12.28 	section 462A.33, for housing that:
12.29 	(1) conserves energy and utilizes sustainable, 
12.30 	healthy building materials;
12.31 	(2) preserves sensitive natural areas and 
12.32 	open spaces and minimizes the need for new 
12.33 	infrastructure;
13.1 	(3) is accessible to jobs and services through 
13.2 	integration with transportation or transit 
13.3 	systems; and
13.4 	(4) expands the mix of housing choices in 
13.5 	a community by diversifying the levels of 
13.6 	housing affordability.
13.7 	The agency may fund demonstration projects 
13.8 	that have unique approaches to achieving the 
13.9 	housing described in clauses (1) to (4).

13.10 | Subd. 3.Urban Indian Housing Program | | 180,000 | | 180,000
13.11 	For the urban Indian housing program 
13.12 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.07, 
13.13 	subdivision 15.

13.14 | Subd. 4.Tribal Indian Housing Program | | 1,105,000 | | 1,105,000
13.15 	For the tribal Indian housing program 
13.16 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.07, 
13.17 	subdivision 14.

13.18 | Subd. 5.Housing Trust Fund | | 8,555,000 | | 8,555,000
13.19 	For deposit in the housing trust fund account 
13.20 	created under Minnesota Statutes, section 
13.21 	462A.201, and used for the purposes 
13.22 	provided in that section. 

13.23 | Subd. 6.Rental Assistance for Mentally Ill | | 2,638,000 | | 2,638,000
13.24 	For a rental housing assistance program for 
13.25 	persons with a mental illness or families with 
13.26 	an adult member with a mental illness under 
13.27 	Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.2097. The 
13.28 	agency must not reduce the funding under 
13.29 	this subdivision.

13.30 | Subd. 7.Family Homeless Prevention | | 7,465,000 | | 7,465,000
13.31 	For family homeless prevention and 
13.32 	assistance programs under Minnesota 
13.33 	Statutes, section 462A.204. Any balance in 
14.1 	the first year does not cancel but is available 
14.2 	in the second year.
14.3 	As provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 
14.4 	462A.20, subdivision 3, the agency may 
14.5 	transfer unencumbered balances from one 
14.6 	appropriated account to another as necessary 
14.7 	to implement the business plan of the 
14.8 	working group on long-term homelessness 
14.9 	established in Laws 2003, chapter 128, 
14.10 	article 15, section 9.

14.11 | Subd. 8.Home Ownership Assistance Fund | | 885,000 | | 885,000

14.12 | Subd. 9.Affordable Rental Investment Fund | | 8,996,000 | | 8,996,000
14.13 	For the affordable rental investment fund 
14.14 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
14.15 	462A.21, subdivision 8b.
14.16 	This appropriation is to finance the 
14.17 	acquisition, rehabilitation, and debt 
14.18 	restructuring of federally assisted rental 
14.19 	property and for making equity take-out 
14.20 	loans under Minnesota Statutes, section 
14.21 	462A.05, subdivision 39.
14.22 	The owner of the federally assisted rental 
14.23 	property must agree to participate in 
14.24 	the applicable federally assisted housing 
14.25 	program and to extend any existing 
14.26 	low-income affordability restrictions on the 
14.27 	housing for the maximum term permitted. 
14.28 	The owner must also enter into an agreement 
14.29 	that gives local units of government, 
14.30 	housing and redevelopment authorities, 
14.31 	and nonprofit housing organizations the 
14.32 	right of first refusal if the rental property 
14.33 	is offered for sale. Priority must be given 
14.34 	among comparable federally assisted rental 
14.35 	properties to properties with the longest 
15.1 	remaining term under an agreement for 
15.2 	federal rental assistance. Priority must also 
15.3 	be given among comparable rental housing 
15.4 	developments to developments that are or 
15.5 	will be owned by local government units, a 
15.6 	housing and redevelopment authority, or a 
15.7 	nonprofit housing organization.
15.8 	This appropriation also may be used to 
15.9 	finance the acquisition, rehabilitation, and 
15.10 	debt restructuring of existing supportive 
15.11 	housing properties. For purposes of this 
15.12 	subdivision, "supportive housing" means 
15.13 	affordable rental housing with links to 
15.14 	services necessary for individuals, youth, and 
15.15 	families with children to maintain housing 
15.16 	stability.

15.17

15.18

Subd. 10.Housing Rehabilitation and 
Accessibility

4,287,000

4,287,000

15.19 	For the housing rehabilitation and 
15.20 	accessibility program under Minnesota 
15.21 	Statutes, section 462A.05, subdivisions 14a 
15.22 	and 15a. 

15.23

15.24

Subd. 11.Home Ownership Education, 
Counseling, and Training

865,000

865,000

15.25 	For the home ownership education, 
15.26 	counseling, and training program under 
15.27 	Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.209.

15.28 | Subd. 12.Capacity Building Grants | | 340,000 | | 340,000
15.29 	For nonprofit capacity building grants 
15.30 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.21, 
15.31 	subdivision 3b.

15.32 | Sec. 7. LABOR AND INDUSTRY | | | |

15.33 | Subdivision 1. Total Appropriation | $ | 22,341,000 | $ | 22,711,000

16.1 | Appropriations by Fund
16.2 | | 2008 | 2009
16.3 | General | 960,000 | 977,000
16.4

16.5

Workers' 
Compensation

20,616,000

20,953,000

16.6

16.7

Workforce 
Development

765,000

781,000

16.8 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
16.9 	purpose are specified in the following 
16.10 	subdivisions.

16.11 | Subd.  2.Workers' Compensation | | 10,381,000 | | 10,659,000
16.12 	This appropriation is from the workers' 
16.13 	compensation fund.
16.14 	Up to $200,000 the first year and up to 
16.15 	$200,000 the second year are for grants 
16.16 	to the Vinland Center for rehabilitation 
16.17 	services. The grants shall be distributed as 
16.18 	the department refers injured workers to 
16.19 	the Vinland Center to receive rehabilitation 
16.20 	services.

16.21 | Subd. 3.Safety Codes and Services | | 4,192,000 | | 4,288,000
16.22 	This appropriation is from the workers' 
16.23 	compensation fund.

16.24 | Subd. 4.Labor Standards and Apprenticeship | | 1,725,000 | | 1,758,000

16.25 | Appropriations by Fund
16.26 | General | 960,000 | 977,000
16.27

16.28

Workforce 
Development

765,000

781,000

16.29 	$665,000 the first year and $681,000 the 
16.30 	second year from the workforce development 
16.31 	fund is for the apprenticeship program under 
16.32 	Minnesota Statutes, chapter 178.
16.33 	$100,000 the first year and $100,000 the 
16.34 	second year from the workforce development 
17.1 	fund are for labor education and advancement 
17.2 	program grants. 

17.3 | Subd. 5.General Support | | 6,043,000 | | 6,006,000
17.4 	This appropriation is from the workers' 
17.5 	compensation fund.

17.6

17.7

Sec. 8. BUREAU OF MEDIATION 
SERVICES

17.8 | Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation | $ | 1,866,000 | $ | 1,911,000
17.9 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
17.10 	purpose are specified in the following 
17.11 	subdivisions.

17.12 | Subd.  2.Mediation Services | | 1,716,000 | | 1,761,000

17.13

17.14

Subd.  3.Labor Management Cooperation 
Grants

150,000

150,000

17.15 	$150,000 the first year and $150,000 the 
17.16 	second year are for onetime grants to area 
17.17 	labor-management committees. Grants may 
17.18 	be awarded for a 12-month period beginning 
17.19 	July 1 of each year. Any unencumbered 
17.20 	balance remaining at the end of the first 
17.21 	year does not cancel but is available for the 
17.22 	second year.

17.23

17.24

Sec. 9. WORKERS' COMPENSATION 
COURT OF APPEALS

$

1,663,000

$

1,710,000

17.25 	This appropriation is from the workers' 
17.26 	compensation fund.

17.27

17.28

Sec. 10. MINNESOTA HISTORICAL 
SOCIETY

17.29 | Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation | $ | 24,187,000 | $ | 24,504,000
17.30 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
17.31 	purpose are specified in the following 
17.32 	subdivisions. Of the appropriations, 
17.33 	$500,000 the first year and $500,000 the 
18.1 	second year are for increased building lease 
18.2 	costs. These amounts are added to the 
18.3 	department's base.

18.4 | Subd. 2.Education and Outreach | | 13,645,000 | | 13,905,000

18.5 | Subd. 3.Preservation and Access | | 10,221,000 | | 10,429,000

18.6 | Subd.  4.Fiscal Agent | | | |

18.7 | (a) Minnesota International Center | | 43,000 | | 42,000

18.8 | (b) Minnesota Air National Guard Museum | | 16,000 | | -0-

18.9 | (c) Minnesota Military Museum | | 134,000 | | -0-

18.10 | (d) Farmamerica (MN AIC) | | 128,000 | | 128,000
18.11 	Notwithstanding any other law, this 
18.12 	appropriation may be used for operations.

18.13 | (e) Balances Forward | | | |
18.14 	Any unencumbered balance remaining in 
18.15 	this subdivision the first year does not cancel 
18.16 	but is available for the second year of the 
18.17 	biennium.

18.18 | Subd.  5.Fund Transfer | | | |
18.19 	The Minnesota Historical Society may 
18.20 	reallocate funds appropriated in and between 
18.21 	subdivisions 2 and 3 for any program 
18.22 	purposes.

18.23 | Sec. 11. BOARD OF THE ARTS | | | |

18.24 | Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation | $ | 10,612,000 | $ | 10,631,000
18.25 	If the appropriation for either year is 
18.26 	insufficient, the appropriation for the other 
18.27 	year is available.
18.28 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
18.29 	purpose are specified in the following 
18.30 	subdivisions.

18.31 | Subd.  2.Operations and Services | | 754,000 | | 767,000

19.1 | Subd. 3.Grants Program | | 6,901,000 | | 6,905,000

19.2 | Subd.  4.Regional Arts Councils | | 2,957,000 | | 2,959,000

19.3
19.4
19.5

19.6

Sec. 12. BOARD OF ARCHITECTURE, 
ENGINEERING, LAND SURVEYING, 
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, 
GEOSCIENCE, AND INTERIOR DESIGN

$

801,000

$

817,000

19.7 | Sec. 13. BOARD OF ACCOUNTING | $ | 496,000 | $ | 506,000

19.8

19.9

Sec. 14. BOARD OF BARBER AND 
COSMETOLOGISTS EXAMINERS

$

919,000

$

940,000

19.10

19.11

Sec. 15. MINNESOTA BOXING 
COMMISSION

$

50,000

$

-0-

19.12 | Sec. 16. Transfers | | | |
19.13 	The commissioner of labor and industry 
19.14 	shall transfer $1,600,000 by June 30, 2008, 
19.15 	and $1,500,000 by June 30, 2009, from the 
19.16 	construction code fund to the general fund. 
19.17 	Of the balance remaining in Laws 2005, First 
19.18 	Special Session chapter 1, article 3, section 
19.19 	2, subdivision 2, for the methamphetamine 
19.20 	laboratory cleanup revolving loan fund, 
19.21 	$100,000 is for transfer to the small 
19.22 	community wastewater treatment account 
19.23 	established in Minnesota Statutes, section 
19.24 	446A.075, subdivision 1.

19.25 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 13.712, is amended by adding a subdivision 
19.26 	to read:
19.27 		Subd. 3.Vehicle protection product warrantors. Financial information provided 
19.28 	to the commissioner of commerce by vehicle protection product warrantors is classified 
19.29 	under section 59C.05, subdivision 3.

19.30 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 16B.61, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
20.1 		Subd. 1a.Administration by commissioner. The commissioner shall administer 
20.2 	and enforce the State Building Code as a municipality with respect to public buildings and 
20.3 	state licensed facilities in the state. The commissioner shall establish appropriate permit, 
20.4 	plan review, ~~and~~ inspection fees, and surcharges for public buildings and state licensed 
20.5 	facilities. ~~Fees and surcharges for public buildings and state licensed facilities must be~~ 
20.6 	~~remitted to the commissioner, who shall deposit them in the state treasury for credit to~~ 
20.7 	~~the special revenue fund.~~
20.8 	Municipalities other than the state having an agreement with the commissioner 
20.9 	for code administration and enforcement service for public buildings and state licensed 
20.10 	facilities shall charge their customary fees, including surcharge, to be paid directly to the 
20.11 	jurisdiction by the applicant seeking authorization to construct a public building or a state 
20.12 	licensed facility. The commissioner shall sign an agreement with a municipality other than 
20.13 	the state for plan review, code administration, and code enforcement service for public 
20.14 	buildings and state licensed facilities in the jurisdiction if the building officials of the 
20.15 	municipality meet the requirements of section 16B.65 and wish to provide those services 
20.16 	and if the commissioner determines that the municipality has enough adequately trained 
20.17 	and qualified building inspectors to provide those services for the construction project. 
20.18 	The commissioner may direct the state building official to assist a community that 
20.19 	has been affected by a natural disaster with building evaluation and other activities related 
20.20 	to building codes.
20.21 	Administration and enforcement in a municipality under this section must apply 
20.22 	any optional provisions of the State Building Code adopted by the municipality. A 
20.23 	municipality adopting any optional code provision shall notify the state building official 
20.24 	within 30 days of its adoption.
20.25 	The commissioner shall administer and enforce the provisions of the code relating to 
20.26 	elevators statewide, except as provided for under section 16B.747, subdivision 3. 

20.27 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 16B.65, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
20.28 		Subdivision 1.Designation. ~~By January 1, 2002,~~ Each municipality shall designate 
20.29 	a building official to administer the code. A municipality may designate no more than one 
20.30 	building official responsible for code administration defined by each certification category 
20.31 	established in rule. Two or more municipalities may combine in the designation of a 
20.32 	building official for the purpose of administering the provisions of the code within their 
20.33 	communities. In those municipalities for which no building officials have been designated, 
20.34 	the state building official may use whichever state employees are necessary to perform 
20.35 	the duties of the building official until the municipality makes a temporary or permanent 
21.1 	designation. All costs incurred by virtue of these services rendered by state employees 
21.2 	must be borne by the involved municipality and receipts arising from these services must 
21.3 	be paid ~~into the state treasury and credited to the special revenue fund~~ to the commissioner.

21.4 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 16B.65, subdivision 5a, is amended to read:
21.5 		Subd. 5a.Administrative action and penalties. The commissioner shall, by rule, 
21.6 	establish a graduated schedule of administrative actions for violations of sections 16B.59
21.7 	to 16B.75 and rules adopted under those sections. The schedule must be based on and 
21.8 	reflect the culpability, frequency, and severity of the violator's actions. The commissioner 
21.9 	may impose a penalty from the schedule on a certification holder for a violation of sections 
21.10 	16B.59 to 16B.75 and rules adopted under those sections. The penalty is in addition to 
21.11 	any criminal penalty imposed for the same violation. ~~Administrative monetary penalties~~ 
21.12 	~~imposed by the commissioner must be paid to the special revenue fund.~~

21.13 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 16B.70, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
21.14 		Subd. 2.Collection and reports. All permit surcharges must be collected by each 
21.15 	municipality and a portion of them remitted to the state. Each municipality having a 
21.16 	population greater than 20,000 people shall prepare and submit to the commissioner once 
21.17 	a month a report of fees and surcharges on fees collected during the previous month 
21.18 	but shall retain the greater of two percent or that amount collected up to $25 to apply 
21.19 	against the administrative expenses the municipality incurs in collecting the surcharges. 
21.20 	All other municipalities shall submit the report and surcharges on fees once a quarter 
21.21 	but shall retain the greater of four percent or that amount collected up to $25 to apply 
21.22 	against the administrative expenses the municipalities incur in collecting the surcharges. 
21.23 	The report, which must be in a form prescribed by the commissioner, must be submitted 
21.24 	together with a remittance covering the surcharges collected by the 15th day following 
21.25 	the month or quarter in which the surcharges are collected. ~~All money collected by the~~ 
21.26 	~~commissioner through surcharges and other fees prescribed by sections 16B.59 to 16B.75~~
21.27 	~~shall be deposited in the state government special revenue fund and is appropriated to the~~ 
21.28 	~~commissioner for the purpose of administering and enforcing the State Building Code~~ 
21.29 	~~under sections 16B.59 to 16B.75.~~

21.30 	Sec. 22. [59C.01] SHORT TITLE.
21.31 	This chapter may be cited as the "Vehicle Protection Product Act."

21.32 	Sec. 23. [59C.02] DEFINITIONS.
22.1 		Subdivision 1.Terms. For purposes of this chapter, the terms defined in subdivisions 
22.2 	2 to 11 have the meanings given them.
22.3 		Subd. 2.Administrator. "Administrator" means a third party other than the 
22.4 	warrantor who is designated by the warrantor to be responsible for the administration 
22.5 	of vehicle protection product warranties.
22.6 		Subd. 3.Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce.
22.7 		Subd. 4.Department. "Department" means the Department of Commerce.
22.8 		Subd. 5.Incidental costs. "Incidental costs" means expenses specified in the 
22.9 	warranty incurred by the warranty holder related to the failure of the vehicle protection 
22.10 	product to perform as provided in the warranty. Incidental costs may include, without 
22.11 	limitation, insurance policy deductibles, rental vehicle charges, the difference between the 
22.12 	actual value of the stolen vehicle at the time of theft and the cost of a replacement vehicle, 
22.13 	sales taxes, registration fees, transaction fees, and mechanical inspection fees.
22.14 		Subd. 6.Service contract. "Service contract" means a contract or agreement as 
22.15 	regulated under chapter 59B.
22.16 		Subd. 7.Vehicle protection product. "Vehicle protection product" means a vehicle 
22.17 	protection device, system, or service that:
22.18 	(1) is installed on or applied to a vehicle;
22.19 	(2) is designed to prevent loss or damage to a vehicle from a specific cause; and
22.20 	(3) includes a written warranty. 
22.21 	For purposes of this section, vehicle protection product includes, without limitation, 
22.22 	alarm systems; body part marking products; steering locks; window etch products; pedal 
22.23 	and ignition locks; fuel and ignition kill switches; and electronic, radio, and satellite 
22.24 	tracking devices.
22.25 		Subd. 8.Vehicle protection product warranty or warranty. "Vehicle protection 
22.26 	product warranty" or "warranty" means, for the purposes of this chapter, a written 
22.27 	agreement by a warrantor that provides, if the vehicle protection product fails to prevent 
22.28 	loss or damage to a vehicle from a specific cause, that the warranty holder must be 
22.29 	paid specified incidental costs by the warrantor as a result of the failure of the vehicle 
22.30 	protection product to perform pursuant to the terms of the warranty.
22.31 		Subd. 9.Vehicle protection product warrantor or warrantor. "Vehicle protection 
22.32 	product warrantor" or "warrantor," for the purposes of this chapter, means a person who is 
22.33 	contractually obligated to the warranty holder under the terms of the vehicle protection 
22.34 	product warranty agreement. Warrantor does not include an authorized insurer providing a 
22.35 	warranty reimbursement insurance policy.
23.1 		Subd. 10.Warranty holder. "Warranty holder," for the purposes of this chapter, 
23.2 	means the person who purchases a vehicle protection product or who is a permitted 
23.3 	transferee.
23.4 		Subd. 11.Warranty reimbursement insurance policy. "Warranty reimbursement 
23.5 	insurance policy" means a policy of insurance that is issued to the vehicle protection 
23.6 	product warrantor to provide reimbursement to, or to pay on behalf of, the warrantor all 
23.7 	covered contractual obligations incurred by the warrantor under the terms and conditions 
23.8 	of the insured vehicle protection product warranties sold by the warrantor.

23.9 	Sec. 24. [59C.03] SCOPE AND EXEMPTIONS.
23.10 	(a) No vehicle protection product may be sold or offered for sale in this state unless 
23.11 	the seller, warrantor, and administrator, if any, comply with the provisions of this chapter.
23.12 	(b) Vehicle protection product warrantors and related vehicle protection product 
23.13 	sellers and warranty administrators complying with this chapter are not required to comply 
23.14 	with and are not subject to any other provision of chapters 59B to 72A, except that section 
23.15 	72A.20, subdivision 38, shall apply to vehicle protection product warranties in the same 
23.16 	manner it applies to service contracts.
23.17 	(c) Service contract providers who do not sell vehicle protection products are not 
23.18 	subject to the requirements of this chapter and sales of vehicle protection products are 
23.19 	exempt from the requirements of chapter 59B.
23.20 	(d) Warranties, indemnity agreements, and guarantees that are not provided as a part 
23.21 	of a vehicle protection product are not subject to the provisions of this chapter.

23.22 	Sec. 25. [59C.04] REGISTRATION AND FILING REQUIREMENTS OF 
23.23 	WARRANTORS.
23.24 		Subdivision 1.General requirement.   A person may not operate as a warrantor or 
23.25 	represent to the public that the person is a warrantor unless the person is registered with 
23.26 	the department on a form prescribed by the commissioner.
23.27 		Subd. 2.Registration records. A registrant shall file a warrantor registration 
23.28 	record annually and shall update it within 30 days of any change. A registration record 
23.29 	must contain the following information:
23.30 	(1) the warrantor's name, any fictitious names under which the warrantor does 
23.31 	business in the state, principal office address, and telephone number;
23.32 	(2) the name and address of the warrantor's agent for service of process in the state if 
23.33 	other than the warrantor;
24.1 	(3) the names of the warrantor's executive officer or officers directly responsible for 
24.2 	the warrantor's vehicle protection product business;
24.3 	(4) the name, address, and telephone number of any administrators designated by 
24.4 	the warrantor to be responsible for the administration of vehicle protection product 
24.5 	warranties in this state;
24.6 	(5) a copy of the warranty reimbursement insurance policy or policies or other 
24.7 	financial information required by section 59C.05;
24.8 	(6) a copy of each warranty the warrantor proposes to use in this state; and 
24.9 	(7) a statement indicating under which provision of section 59C.05 the warrantor 
24.10 	qualifies to do business in this state as a warrantor.
24.11 		Subd. 3.Registration fee. The commissioner may charge each registrant a 
24.12 	reasonable fee to offset the cost of processing the registration and maintaining the records 
24.13 	in an amount not to exceed $250 annually. The information in subdivision 2, clauses (1) 
24.14 	and (2), must be made available to the public.
24.15 		Subd. 4.Renewal. If a registrant fails to register by the renewal deadline, the 
24.16 	commissioner shall give them written notice of the failure and the registrant will have 30 
24.17 	days to complete the renewal of the registration before the commissioner suspends the 
24.18 	registration.
24.19 		Subd. 5.Exception.  An administrator or person who sells or solicits a sale of a 
24.20 	vehicle protection product but who is not a warrantor shall not be required to register as a 
24.21 	warrantor or be licensed under the insurance laws of this state to sell vehicle protection 
24.22 	products.

24.23 	Sec. 26. [59C.05] FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
24.24 		Subdivision 1.General requirements. No vehicle protection product may be sold 
24.25 	or offered for sale in this state unless the warrantor meets either the requirements of 
24.26 	subdivision 2 or 3 in order to ensure adequate performance under the warranty. No other 
24.27 	financial security requirements or financial standards for warrantors is required.
24.28 		Subd. 2.Warranty reimbursement insurance policy. The vehicle protection 
24.29 	product warrantor shall be insured under a warranty reimbursement insurance policy 
24.30 	issued by an insurer authorized to do business in this state which provides that:
24.31 	(1) the insurer will pay to, or on behalf of the warrantor, 100 percent of all sums 
24.32 	that the warrantor is legally obligated to pay according to the warrantor's contractual 
24.33 	obligations under the warrantor's vehicle protection product warranty;
24.34 	(2) a true and correct copy of the warranty reimbursement insurance policy has been 
24.35 	filed with the commissioner by the warrantor; and
25.1 	(3) the policy contains the provision required in section 59C.06.
25.2 		Subd. 3.Network or stockholder's equity. (1) The vehicle protection product 
25.3 	warrantor, or its parent company in accordance with clause (2), shall maintain a net worth 
25.4 	or stockholders' equity of $50,000,000; and
25.5 	(2) the warrantor shall provide the commissioner with a copy of the warrantor's or 
25.6 	the warrantor's parent company's most recent Form 10-K or Form 20-F filed with the 
25.7 	Securities and Exchange Commission within the last calendar year or, if the warrantor 
25.8 	does not file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, a copy of the warrantor or 
25.9 	the warrantor's parent company's audited financial statements that shows a net worth of 
25.10 	the warrantor or its parent company of at least $50,000,000. If the warrantor's parent 
25.11 	company's Form 10-K, Form 20-F, or audited financial statements are filed to meet 
25.12 	the warrantor's financial stability requirement, then the parent company shall agree to 
25.13 	guarantee the obligations of the warrantor relating to warranties issued by the warrantor in 
25.14 	this state. The financial information provided to the commissioner under this paragraph 
25.15 	is trade secret information for purposes of section 13.37.

25.16 	Sec. 27. [59C.06] WARRANTY REIMBURSEMENT POLICY 
25.17 	REQUIREMENTS.
25.18 	No warranty reimbursement insurance policy may be issued, sold, or offered for sale 
25.19 	in this state unless the policy meets the following conditions:
25.20 	(1) the policy states that the issuer of the policy will reimburse, or pay on behalf of 
25.21 	the vehicle protection product warrantor, all covered sums that the warrantor is legally 
25.22 	obligated to pay, or will provide all service that the warrantor is legally obligated to 
25.23 	perform according to the warrantor's contractual obligations under the provisions of the 
25.24 	insured warranties sold by the warrantor;
25.25 	(2) the policy states that in the event payment due under the terms of the warranty is 
25.26 	not provided by the warrantor within 60 days after proof of loss has been filed according 
25.27 	to the terms of the warranty by the warranty holder, the warranty holder may file directly 
25.28 	with the warranty reimbursement insurance company for reimbursement;
25.29 	(3) the policy provides that a warranty reimbursement insurance company that 
25.30 	insures a warranty is deemed to have received payment of the premium if the warranty 
25.31 	holder paid for the vehicle protection product and the insurer's liability under the policy 
25.32 	shall not be reduced or relieved by a failure of the warrantor, for any reason, to report the 
25.33 	issuance of a warranty to the insurer; and
25.34 	(4) the policy has the following provisions regarding cancellation of the policy:
26.1 	(i) the issuer of a reimbursement insurance policy shall not cancel the policy until a 
26.2 	notice of cancellation in writing has been mailed or delivered to the commissioner and 
26.3 	each insured warrantor;
26.4 	(ii) the cancellation of a reimbursement insurance policy shall not reduce the issuer's 
26.5 	responsibility for vehicle protection products sold prior to the date of cancellation; and
26.6 	(iii) in the event an insurer cancels a policy that a warrantor has filed with the 
26.7 	commissioner, the warrantor shall do either of the following:
26.8 	(A) file a copy of a new policy with the commissioner, before the termination of 
26.9 	the prior policy, providing no lapse in coverage following the termination of the prior 
26.10 	policy; or 
26.11 	(B) discontinue offering warranties as of the termination date of the policy until a 
26.12 	new policy becomes effective and is accepted by the commissioner.

26.13 	Sec. 28. [59C.07] DISCLOSURE TO WARRANTY HOLDER.
26.14 	A vehicle protection product warranty must not be sold or offered for sale in this 
26.15 	state unless the warranty:
26.16 	(1) states, "The obligations of the warrantor to the warranty holder are guaranteed 
26.17 	under a warranty reimbursement insurance policy" if the warrantor elects to meet its 
26.18 	financial responsibility obligations under section 59C.05, subdivision 2, or states "The 
26.19 	obligations of the warrantor under this warranty are backed by the full faith and credit 
26.20 	of the warrantor" if the warrantor elects to meet its financial responsibility obligations 
26.21 	under section 59C.05, subdivision 3;
26.22 	(2) states that in the event a warranty holder must make a claim against a party other 
26.23 	than the warranty reimbursement insurance policy issuer, the warranty holder is entitled to 
26.24 	make a direct claim against the insurer upon the failure of the warrantor to pay any claim 
26.25 	or meet any obligation under the terms of the warranty within 60 days after proof of loss 
26.26 	has been filed with the warrantor, if the warrantor elects to meet its financial responsibility 
26.27 	obligations under section 59C.05, subdivision 2;
26.28 	(3) states the name and address of the issuer of the warranty reimbursement 
26.29 	insurance policy, and this information need not be preprinted on the warranty form, but 
26.30 	may be added to or stamped on the warranty, if the warrantor elects to meet its financial 
26.31 	responsibility obligations under section 59C.05, subdivision 2;
26.32 	(4) identifies the warrantor, the seller, and the warranty holder;
26.33 	(5) sets forth the total purchase price and the terms under which it is to be paid, 
26.34 	however, the purchase price is not required to be preprinted on the vehicle protection 
26.35 	product warranty and may be negotiated with the consumer at the time of sale;
27.1 	(6) sets forth the procedure for making a claim, including a telephone number;
27.2 	(7) specifies the payments or performance to be provided under the warranty 
27.3 	including payments for incidental costs expressed as either a fixed amount specified in the 
27.4 	warranty or sales agreement or by the use of a formula itemizing specific incidental costs 
27.5 	incurred by the warranty holder, the manner of calculation or determination of payments 
27.6 	or performance, and any limitations, exceptions, or exclusions;
27.7 	(8) sets forth all of the obligations and duties of the warranty holder such as the duty 
27.8 	to protect against any further damage to the vehicle, the obligation to notify the warrantor 
27.9 	in advance of any repair, or other similar requirements, if any;
27.10 	(9) sets forth any terms, restrictions, or conditions governing transferability and 
27.11 	cancellation of the warranty, if any; and
27.12 	(10) contains a disclosure that reads substantially as follows: "This agreement is a 
27.13 	product warranty and is not insurance."

27.14 	Sec. 29. [59C.08] PROHIBITED ACTS.
27.15 	(a) Unless licensed as an insurance company, a vehicle protection product warrantor 
27.16 	shall not use in its name, contracts, or literature, any of the words "insurance," "casualty," 
27.17 	"surety," "mutual," or any other words descriptive of the insurance, casualty, or surety 
27.18 	business or deceptively similar to the name or description of any insurance or surety 
27.19 	corporation, or any other vehicle protection product warrantor. A warrantor may use the 
27.20 	term "guaranty" or similar word in the warrantor's name.
27.21 	(b) A vehicle protection product seller or warrantor may not require as a condition of 
27.22 	financing that a retail purchaser of a motor vehicle purchase a vehicle protection product.

27.23 	Sec. 30. [59C.09] RECORD KEEPING.
27.24 	(a) All vehicle protection product warrantors shall keep accurate accounts, books, 
27.25 	and records concerning transactions regulated under this chapter.
27.26 	(b) A vehicle protection product warrantor's accounts, books, and records must 
27.27 	include:
27.28 	(1) copies of all vehicle protection product warranties;
27.29 	(2) the name and address of each warranty holder; and
27.30 	(3) the dates, amounts, and descriptions of all receipts, claims, and expenditures.
27.31 	(c) A vehicle protection product warrantor shall retain all required accounts, books, 
27.32 	and records pertaining to each warranty holder for at least two years after the specified 
27.33 	period of coverage has expired. A warrantor discontinuing business in this state shall 
28.1 	maintain its records until it furnishes the commissioner satisfactory proof that it has 
28.2 	discharged all obligations to warranty holders in this state.

28.3 	Sec. 31. [59C.10] COMMISSIONER'S POWERS AND DUTIES.
28.4 		Subdivision 1.EXAMINATION AND COMPLIANCE POWERS. The 
28.5 	commissioner may conduct examinations of warrantors, administrators, or other persons 
28.6 	to enforce this chapter and protect warranty holders in this state. Upon request of the 
28.7 	commissioner, a warrantor shall make available to the commissioner all accounts, books, 
28.8 	and records concerning vehicle protection products sold by the warrantor and transactions 
28.9 	regulated under this chapter that are necessary to enable the commissioner to reasonably 
28.10 	determine compliance or noncompliance with this chapter.
28.11 		Subd. 2.Enforcement authority. The commissioner may take action that is 
28.12 	necessary or appropriate to enforce the provisions of this chapter and the commissioner's 
28.13 	rules and orders and to protect warranty holders in this state. The commissioner has the 
28.14 	enforcement authority in chapter 45 available to enforce the provisions of the chapter and 
28.15 	the rules adopted pursuant to it.

28.16 	Sec. 32. [59C.12] APPLICABILITY.
28.17 	This chapter applies to all vehicle protection products sold or offered for sale on 
28.18 	or after the effective date of this chapter. The failure of any person to comply with this 
28.19 	chapter before its effective date is not admissible in any court proceeding, administrative 
28.20 	proceeding, arbitration, or alternative dispute resolution proceeding and may not otherwise 
28.21 	be used to prove that the action of any person or the affected vehicle protection product 
28.22 	was unlawful or otherwise improper. The adoption of this chapter does not imply that 
28.23 	a vehicle protection product warranty was insurance before the effective date of this 
28.24 	chapter. Nothing in this section may be construed to require the application of the penalty 
28.25 	provisions where this section is not applicable.

28.26 	Sec. 33. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 80A.28, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
28.27 		Subdivision 1.Registration or notice filing fee. (a) There shall be a filing fee of 
28.28 	$100 for every application for registration or notice filing. There shall be an additional fee 
28.29 	of one-tenth of one percent of the maximum aggregate offering price at which the securities 
28.30 	are to be offered in this state, and the maximum combined fees shall not exceed $300.
28.31 	(b) When an application for registration is withdrawn before the effective date or a 
28.32 	preeffective stop order is entered under section 80A.13, subdivision 1, all but the $100 
29.1 	filing fee shall be returned. If an application to register securities is denied, the total of all 
29.2 	fees received shall be retained. 
29.3 	(c) Where a filing is made in connection with a federal covered security under 
29.4 	section 18(b)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, there is a fee of $100 for every initial filing. 
29.5 	If the filing is made in connection with redeemable securities issued by an open end 
29.6 	management company or unit investment trust, as defined in the Investment Company Act 
29.7 	of 1940, there is an additional annual fee of 1/20 of one percent of the maximum aggregate 
29.8 	offering price at which the securities are to be offered in this state during the notice filing 
29.9 	period. The fee must be paid at the time of the initial filing and thereafter in connection 
29.10 	with each renewal no later than July 1 of each year and must be sufficient to cover the 
29.11 	shares the issuer expects to sell in this state over the next 12 months. If during a current 
29.12 	notice filing the issuer determines it is likely to sell shares in excess of the shares for 
29.13 	which fees have been paid to the commissioner, the issuer shall submit an amended notice 
29.14 	filing to the commissioner under section 80A.122, subdivision 1, clause (3), together with 
29.15 	a fee of 1/20 of one percent of the maximum aggregate offering price of the additional 
29.16 	shares. Shares for which a fee has been paid, but which have not been sold at the time 
29.17 	of expiration of the notice filing, may not be sold unless an additional fee to cover the 
29.18 	shares has been paid to the commissioner as provided in this section and section 80A.122, 
29.19 	subdivision 4a. If the filing is made in connection with redeemable securities issued by 
29.20 	such a company or trust, there is no maximum fee for securities filings made according to 
29.21 	this paragraph. If the filing is made in connection with any other federal covered security 
29.22 	under Section 18(b)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, there is an additional fee of one-tenth 
29.23 	of one percent of the maximum aggregate offering price at which the securities are to be 
29.24 	offered in this state, and the combined fees shall not exceed $300. Beginning with fiscal 
29.25 	year 2001 and continuing each fiscal year thereafter, as of the last day of each fiscal year, 
29.26 	the commissioner shall determine the total amount of all fees that were collected under 
29.27 	this paragraph in connection with any filings made for that fiscal year for securities of an 
29.28 	open-end investment company on behalf of a security that is a federal covered security 
29.29 	pursuant to section 18(b)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933. ~~To the extent the total fees~~ 
29.30 	~~collected by the commissioner in connection with these filings exceed $25,000,000 in a~~ 
29.31 	~~fiscal year, the commissioner shall refund, on a pro rata basis, to all persons who paid any~~ 
29.32 	~~fees for that fiscal year, the amount of fees collected by the commissioner in excess of~~ 
29.33 	~~$25,000,000.~~ No individual refund is required of amounts of $100 or less for a fiscal year. 

29.34 	Sec. 34. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 116J.551, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
30.1 		Subdivision 1.Grant account. A contaminated site cleanup and development 
30.2 	grant account is created in the general fund. Money in the account may be used, as 
30.3 	appropriated by law, to make grants as provided in section 116J.554 and to pay for the 
30.4 	commissioner's costs in reviewing applications and making grants. Notwithstanding 
30.5 	section 16A.28, money appropriated to the account for this program from any source is 
30.6 	available ~~for four years~~ until spent.

30.7 	Sec. 35. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 116J.554, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
30.8 		Subd. 2.Qualifying sites. A site qualifies for a grant under this section, if the 
30.9 	following criteria are met:
30.10 	(1) the site is not scheduled for funding during the current or next fiscal year under 
30.11 	the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, United 
30.12 	States Code, title 42, section 9601, et seq. or under the Environmental Response, and 
30.13 	Liability Act under sections 115B.01 to 115B.20; 
30.14 	~~(2) the appraised value of the site after adjusting for the effect on the value of the~~ 
30.15 	~~presence or possible presence of contaminants using accepted appraisal methodology, or~~ 
30.16 	~~the current market value of the site as issued under section 273.121, separately taking into~~ 
30.17 	~~account the effect of the contaminants on the market value, (i) is less than 75 percent of~~ 
30.18 	~~the estimated project costs for the site or (ii) is less than or equal to the estimated cleanup~~ 
30.19 	~~costs for the site and the cleanup costs equal or exceed $3 per square foot for the site; and~~ 
30.20 	~~(3)~~ (2) if the proposed cleanup is completed, it is expected that the site will be 
30.21 	improved with buildings or other improvements and these improvements will provide a 
30.22 	substantial increase in the property tax base within a reasonable period of time or the site 
30.23 	will be used for an important publicly owned or tax-exempt facility.

30.24 	Sec. 36. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 116J.555, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
30.25 		Subdivision 1.Priorities. (a) The legislature expects that applications for grants 
30.26 	will exceed the available appropriations and the agency will be able to provide grants to 
30.27 	only some of the applicant development authorities.
30.28 	(b) If applications for grants for qualified sites exceed the available appropriations, 
30.29 	the agency shall make grants for sites that, in the commissioner's judgment, provide 
30.30 	the highest return in public benefits for the public costs incurred and that meet all the 
30.31 	requirements provided by law. In making this judgment, the commissioner shall consider 
30.32 	the following factors:
31.1 	(1) the recommendations or ranking of projects by the commissioner of the Pollution 
31.2 	Control Agency regarding the potential threat to public health and the environment that 
31.3 	would be reduced or eliminated by completion of each of the response action plans;
31.4 	(2) the potential increase in the property tax base of the local taxing jurisdictions, 
31.5 	considered relative to the fiscal needs of the jurisdictions, that will result from 
31.6 	developments that will occur because of completion of each of the response action plans;
31.7 	(3) the social value to the community of the cleanup and redevelopment of the site, 
31.8 	including the importance of development of the proposed public facilities on each of 
31.9 	the sites;
31.10 	(4) the probability that each site will be cleaned up without use of government 
31.11 	money in the reasonably foreseeable future by considering, but not limiting it to, the 
31.12 	current market value of the site versus the cleanup cost;
31.13 	(5) the amount of cleanup costs for each site; and
31.14 	(6) the amount of the commitment of municipal or other local resources to pay for 
31.15 	the cleanup costs.
31.16 	The factors are not listed in a rank order of priority; rather the commissioner may 
31.17 	weigh each factor, depending upon the facts and circumstances, as the commissioner 
31.18 	considers appropriate. The commissioner may consider other factors that affect the net 
31.19 	return of public benefits for completion of the response action plan. The commissioner, 
31.20 	notwithstanding the listing of priorities and the goal of maximizing the return of public 
31.21 	benefits, shall make grants that distribute available money to sites both within and outside 
31.22 	of the metropolitan area. The commissioner shall provide a written statement of the 
31.23 	supporting reasons for each grant. Unless sufficient applications are not received for 
31.24 	qualifying sites outside of the metropolitan area, at least 25 percent of the money provided 
31.25 	as grants must be made for sites located outside of the metropolitan area.

31.26 	Sec. 37. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 116J.575, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
31.27 		Subdivision 1.Commissioner discretion. The commissioner may make a grant for 
31.28 	up to 50 percent of the eligible costs of a project. The determination of whether to make a 
31.29 	grant for a site is within the discretion of the commissioner, subject to this section and 
31.30 	sections 116J.571 to 116J.574 and available unencumbered money in the redevelopment 
31.31 	account.  ~~If the commissioner determines that the applications for grants for projects in~~ 
31.32 	~~greater Minnesota are less than the amount of grant funds available, the commissioner~~ 
31.33 	~~may make grants for projects anywhere in Minnesota.~~ The commissioner's decisions and 
31.34 	application of the priorities under this section are not subject to judicial review, except 
31.35 	for abuse of discretion.

32.1 	Sec. 38. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 116J.575, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
32.2 		Subd. 1a.Priorities. (a) If applications for grants exceed the available 
32.3 	appropriations, grants shall be made for sites that, in the commissioner's judgment, provide 
32.4 	the highest return in public benefits for the public costs incurred. "Public benefits" include 
32.5 	job creation, bioscience development, environmental benefits to the state and region, 
32.6 	efficient use of public transportation, efficient use of existing infrastructure, provision of 
32.7 	affordable housing, multiuse development that constitutes community rebuilding rather 
32.8 	than single-use development, crime reduction, blight reduction, community stabilization, 
32.9 	and property tax base maintenance or improvement. In making this judgment, the 
32.10 	commissioner shall give priority to redevelopment projects with one or more of the 
32.11 	following characteristics:
32.12 	(1) the need for redevelopment in conjunction with contamination remediation needs;
32.13 	(2) the redevelopment project meets current tax increment financing requirements 
32.14 	for a redevelopment district and tax increments will contribute to the project;
32.15 	(3) the redevelopment potential within the municipality;
32.16 	(4) proximity to public transit if located in the metropolitan area; ~~and~~
32.17 	(5) redevelopment costs related to expansion of a bioscience business in Minnesota; 
32.18 	and
32.19 	~~(5)~~(6) multijurisdictional projects that take into account the need for affordable 
32.20 	housing, transportation, and environmental impact.
32.21 	(b) The factors in paragraph (a) are not listed in a rank order of priority; rather, the 
32.22 	commissioner may weigh each factor, depending upon the facts and circumstances, as 
32.23 	the commissioner considers appropriate. The commissioner may consider other factors 
32.24 	that affect the net return of public benefits for completion of the redevelopment plan. The 
32.25 	commissioner, notwithstanding the listing of priorities and the goal of maximizing the 
32.26 	return of public benefits, shall make grants that distribute available money to sites both 
32.27 	within and outside of the metropolitan area. Unless sufficient applications are not received 
32.28 	for qualifying sites outside of the metropolitan area, at least 50 percent of the money 
32.29 	provided as grants must be made for sites located outside of the metropolitan area.

32.30 	Sec. 39. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 116J.966, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
32.31 		Subdivision 1.Generally. (a) The commissioner shall promote, develop, and 
32.32 	facilitate trade and foreign investment in Minnesota. In furtherance of these goals, and in 
32.33 	addition to the powers granted by section 116J.035, the commissioner may: 
32.34 	(1) locate, develop, and promote international markets for Minnesota products 
32.35 	and services;
33.1 	(2) arrange and lead trade missions to countries with promising international markets 
33.2 	for Minnesota goods, technology, services, and agricultural products;
33.3 	(3) promote Minnesota products and services at domestic and international trade 
33.4 	shows;
33.5 	(4) organize, promote, and present domestic and international trade shows featuring 
33.6 	Minnesota products and services;
33.7 	(5) host trade delegations and assist foreign traders in contacting appropriate 
33.8 	Minnesota businesses and investments;
33.9 	(6) develop contacts with Minnesota businesses and gather and provide information 
33.10 	to assist them in locating and communicating with international trading or joint venture 
33.11 	counterparts;
33.12 	(7) provide information, education, and counseling services to Minnesota businesses 
33.13 	regarding the economic, commercial, legal, and cultural contexts of international trade;
33.14 	(8) provide Minnesota businesses with international trade leads and information 
33.15 	about the availability and sources of services relating to international trade, such as 
33.16 	export financing, licensing, freight forwarding, international advertising, translation, and 
33.17 	custom brokering;
33.18 	(9) locate, attract, and promote foreign direct investment and business development 
33.19 	in Minnesota to enhance employment opportunities in Minnesota;
33.20 	(10) provide foreign businesses and investors desiring to locate facilities in 
33.21 	Minnesota information regarding sources of governmental, legal, real estate, financial, and 
33.22 	business services;
33.23 	(11) enter into contracts or other agreements with private persons and public entities, 
33.24 	including agreements to establish and maintain offices and other types of representation in 
33.25 	foreign countries, to carry out the purposes of promoting international trade and attracting 
33.26 	investment from foreign countries to Minnesota and to carry out this section, without 
33.27 	regard to section 16C.06; and 
33.28 	(12) market trade-related materials to businesses and organizations, and the proceeds 
33.29 	of which must be placed in a special revolving account and are appropriated to the 
33.30 	commissioner to prepare and distribute trade-related materials.
33.31 	(b) The programs and activities of the commissioner of employment and economic 
33.32 	development and the Minnesota Trade Division may not duplicate programs and activities 
33.33 	of the commissioner of agriculture.
33.34 	(c) The commissioner shall notify the chairs of the senate Finance and house Ways 
33.35 	and Means Committees of each agreement under this subdivision to establish and maintain 
33.36 	an office or other type of representation in a foreign country.
34.1 	(d) The Minnesota Trade Office shall serve as the state's office of protocol providing 
34.2 	assistance to official visits by foreign government representatives and shall serve as liaison 
34.3 	to the foreign diplomatic corps in Minnesota.

34.4 	Sec. 40. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 116L.17, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
34.5 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms 
34.6 	have the meanings given them in this subdivision.
34.7 	(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic 
34.8 	development.
34.9 	(c) "Dislocated worker" means an individual who is a resident of Minnesota at the 
34.10 	time employment ceased or was working in the state at the time employment ceased and:
34.11 	(1) has been permanently separated or has received a notice of permanent separation 
34.12 	from public or private sector employment and is eligible for or has exhausted entitlement 
34.13 	to unemployment benefits, and is unlikely to return to the previous industry or occupation;
34.14 	(2) has been long-term unemployed and has limited opportunities for employment 
34.15 	or reemployment in the same or a similar occupation in the area in which the individual 
34.16 	resides, including older individuals who may have substantial barriers to employment by 
34.17 	reason of age;
34.18 	(3) has been terminated or has received a notice of termination of employment as a 
34.19 	result of a plant closing or a substantial layoff at a plant, facility, or enterprise;
34.20 	(4)  has been self-employed, including farmers and ranchers, and is unemployed as a 
34.21 	result of general economic conditions in the community in which the individual resides or 
34.22 	because of natural disasters; or
34.23 	~~(4)~~ (5) is a displaced homemaker. A "displaced homemaker" is an individual who 
34.24 	has spent a substantial number of years in the home providing homemaking service and 
34.25 	(i) has been dependent upon the financial support of another; and now due to divorce, 
34.26 	separation, death, or disability of that person, must find employment to self support; or (ii) 
34.27 	derived the substantial share of support from public assistance on account of dependents 
34.28 	in the home and no longer receives such support.
34.29 	To be eligible under this clause, the support must have ceased while the worker 
34.30 	resided in Minnesota.
34.31 	(d) "Eligible organization" means a state or local government unit, nonprofit 
34.32 	organization, community action agency, business organization or association, or labor 
34.33 	organization.
35.1 	(e) "Plant closing" means the announced or actual permanent shutdown of a single 
35.2 	site of employment, or one or more facilities or operating units within a single site of 
35.3 	employment.
35.4 	(f) "Substantial layoff" means a permanent reduction in the workforce, which is 
35.5 	not a result of a plant closing, and which results in an employment loss at a single site 
35.6 	of employment during any 30-day period for at least 50 employees excluding those 
35.7 	employees that work less than 20 hours per week.

35.8 	Sec. 41. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 116L.20, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
35.9 		Subdivision 1.Determination and collection of special assessment. (a) In addition 
35.10 	to amounts due from an employer under the Minnesota unemployment insurance program, 
35.11 	each employer, except an employer making reimbursements, is liable for a special 
35.12 	assessment levied at the rate of .10 percent per year ~~for calendar years 2006 and 2007~~ on 
35.13 	all taxable wages, as defined in section 268.035, subdivision 24. ~~Beginning January 1,~~ 
35.14 	~~2008, the special assessment shall be levied at a rate of .085 percent per year on all taxable~~ 
35.15 	~~wages~~. The assessment shall become due and be paid by each employer on the same 
35.16 	schedule and in the same manner as other amounts due from an employer under section 
35.17 	268.051, subdivision 1.
35.18 	(b) The special assessment levied under this section shall be subject to the same 
35.19 	requirements and collection procedures as any amounts due from an employer under the 
35.20 	Minnesota unemployment insurance program.

35.21 	Sec. 42. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 116M.18, subdivision 6a, is amended to read:
35.22 		Subd. 6a.Nonprofit corporation loans. The board may make loans to a nonprofit 
35.23 	corporation with which it has entered into an agreement under subdivision 1. These 
35.24 	loans must be used to support a new or expanding business. This support may include 
35.25 	such forms of financing as the sale of goods to the business on installment or deferred 
35.26 	payments, lease purchase agreements, or royalty investments in the business. The interest 
35.27 	rate charged by a nonprofit corporation for a loan under this subdivision must not exceed 
35.28 	the Wall Street Journal prime rate plus four percent. For a loan under this subdivision, the 
35.29 	nonprofit corporation may charge a loan origination fee equal to or less than one percent 
35.30 	of the loan value. The nonprofit corporation may retain the amount of the origination fee. 
35.31 	The nonprofit corporation must provide at least an equal match to the loan received by the 
35.32 	board. The maximum loan available to the nonprofit corporation under this subdivision is 
35.33 	$50,000. Loans made to the nonprofit corporation under this subdivision may be made 
36.1 	without interest. Repayments made by the nonprofit corporation must be deposited in the 
36.2 	revolving fund created for urban initiative grants.

36.3 	Sec. 43. [138.99] POET LAUREATE.
36.4 		Subdivision 1. Appointment.
 
36.5 | The Gov' shall appoint a state poet laureate,
36.6 | Who shall serve for a four-year term.
36.7 | Because this appointment will always be great,
36.8 | There's no need for the Senate to confirm.
36.9 | In appointing a poet for the public good,
36.10 | And to ensure there's no unjust omission,
36.11 | The governor shall consider, if he would
36.12 | Thoughts of the Humanities Commission.
36.13 		Subd. 2. Removal.
 
36.14 | The poet will be free to write rhyming lines,
36.15 | With removal only for cause,
36.16 | But we trust that the bard will promptly resign,
36.17 | If the verse reads as badly as laws.
36.18 		Subd. 3. Compensation.
 
36.19 | 'Twould be fair to provide some just recompense
36.20 | As reward for the poet's tribulations,
36.21 | But because at this time we haven't the cents
36.22 | We're afraid there is no compensation.
36.23 | But we ask as the poet travels the state,
36.24 | And the people their ears they lend,
36.25 | That our learned Commission take the position
36.26 | To provide the poor poet a stipend.
36.27 		Subd. 4. Gifts and grants.
 
36.28 | To provide the support that needs to come
36.29 | To support our new laureate,
36.30 | Gifts and grants received of a generous sum,
36.31 | We hereby appropriate.

36.32 	Sec. 44. [177.45] PRIVATE PARTY CIVIL ACTIONS.
36.33 		Subdivision 1.Civil action; damages. A person aggrieved by a violation of section 
36.34 	177.43, 177.435, or 177.44 may bring a civil action seeking redress directly to district 
36.35 	court. A contractor, subcontractor, or agent who is found to have violated any of those 
36.36 	sections is liable to the aggrieved party for compensatory damages in the amount of any 
37.1 	unpaid wages and benefits and for an additional equal amount as liquidated damages, in 
37.2 	addition to other appropriate relief, including, but not limited to, injunctive relief. An 
37.3 	action under this section may be maintained against any contractor, subcontractor, or agent 
37.4 	by any one or more employees for and in behalf of the employee and other employees 
37.5 	similarly situated. An agreement between the employee and employer to work for less 
37.6 	than the applicable wage is not a defense to the action.
37.7 		Subd. 2.District court jurisdiction. An action brought under subdivision 1 may be 
37.8 	filed in the district court of the county where a violation is alleged to have been committed, 
37.9 	where the contractor, subcontractor, or agent resides or has a principal place of business, 
37.10 	or any other court of competent jurisdiction.
37.11 		Subd. 3.Attorney fees and costs. In an action brought under subdivision 1, the 
37.12 	court shall order a contractor, subcontractor, or agent who is found to have committed 
37.13 	a violation to pay to the aggrieved party reasonable costs, disbursements, witness fees, 
37.14 	and attorney fees.

37.15 	Sec. 45. [179.86] PACKINGHOUSE WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS.
37.16 		Subdivision 1.Definition. For the purpose of this section, "employer" means an 
37.17 	employer in the meatpacking industry.
37.18 		Subd. 2.Right to adequate equipment. An employer must furnish its employees 
37.19 	with equipment required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act to safely perform 
37.20 	their jobs.
37.21 		Subd. 3.Information provided to employee by employer. (a) An employer 
37.22 	must provide an explanation in an employee's native language of the employee's rights 
37.23 	and duties as an employee either person to person or through written materials that, at a 
37.24 	minimum, include:
37.25 	(1) a complete description of the salary and benefits plans as they relate to the 
37.26 	employee;
37.27 	(2) a job description for the employee's position;
37.28 	(3) a description of leave policies;
37.29 	(4) a description of the work hours and work hours policy; and
37.30 	(5) a description of the occupational hazards known to exist for the position.
37.31 	(b) The explanation must also include information on the following employee rights 
37.32 	as protected by state or federal law and a description of where additional information 
37.33 	about those rights may be obtained:
37.34 	(1) the right to organize and bargain collectively and to refrain from organizing and 
37.35 	bargaining collectively;
38.1 	(2) the right to a safe workplace; and
38.2 	(3) the right to be free from discrimination.
38.3 		Subd. 4.Commissioner duties. The commissioner of labor and industry must 
38.4 	develop and implement a strategy to provide adequate notice and education to employees 
38.5 	of their rights under this section and education on how to assimilate into their local 
38.6 	community. The commissioner must consult with the commissioner of human rights in 
38.7 	the development of the strategy. The commissioner shall assign the duty to implement 
38.8 	the strategy to a specific identified position in the department. The position, along with 
38.9 	contact information, must be included on printed materials the department prepares and 
38.10 	distributes to carry out the commissioner's duties under this section.

38.11 	Sec. 46. [182.6551] CITATION.
38.12 	Sections 182.6551 to 182.6553 may be cited as the "Safe Patient Handling Act."

38.13 	Sec. 47. [182.6552] DEFINITIONS.
38.14 		Subdivision 1.Direct patient care worker. "Direct patient care worker" means an 
38.15 	individual doing the job of directly providing physical care to patients including nurses, as 
38.16 	defined by section 148.171, who provide physical care to patients.
38.17 		Subd. 2.Health care facility. "Health care facility" means a hospital as defined in 
38.18 	section 144.50, subdivision 2, a medical facility as defined in section 144.561, subdivision 
38.19 	1, paragraph (b), a nursing home as defined in section 144A.01, subdivision 5, an 
38.20 	outpatient clinic, or a physician's office.
38.21 		Subd. 3.Safe patient handling. "Safe patient handling" means a process, based on 
38.22 	scientific evidence on causes of injuries, that uses safe patient handling equipment rather 
38.23 	than people to transfer, move, and reposition patients in all health care facilities to reduce 
38.24 	workplace injuries. This process also reduces the risk of injury to patients.
38.25 		Subd. 4.Safe patient handling equipment. "Safe patient handling equipment" 
38.26 	means engineering controls, lifting and transfer aids, or mechanical assistive devices used 
38.27 	by nurses and other direct patient care workers instead of manual lifting to perform the 
38.28 	acts of lifting, transferring, and repositioning health care facility patients and residents.

38.29 	Sec. 48. [182.6553] SAFE PATIENT HANDLING PROGRAM.
38.30 		Subdivision 1.Safe patient handling program required. (a) By July 1, 2008, 
38.31 	every licensed health care facility in the state shall adopt a written safe patient handling 
38.32 	policy establishing the facility's plan to achieve by January 1, 2011, the goal of minimizing 
39.1 	manual lifting of patients by nurses and other direct patient care workers by utilizing 
39.2 	safe patient handling equipment.
39.3 	(b) The program shall address:
39.4 	(1) assessment of hazards with regard to patient handling;
39.5 	(2) the acquisition of an adequate supply of appropriate safe patient handling 
39.6 	equipment;
39.7 	(3) initial and ongoing training of nurses and other direct patient care workers on 
39.8 	the use of this equipment;
39.9 	(4) procedures to ensure that physical plant modifications and major construction 
39.10 	projects are consistent with program goals; and 
39.11 	(5) periodic evaluations of the safe patient handling program.
39.12 		Subd. 2.Safe patient handling committee. (a) By July 1, 2008, every licensed 
39.13 	health care facility in the state shall establish a safe patient handling committee either by 
39.14 	creating a new committee or assigning the functions of a safe patient handling committee 
39.15 	to an existing committee.
39.16 	(b) Membership of a safe patient handling committee or an existing committee must 
39.17 	meet the following requirements: 
39.18 	(1) at least half the members shall be nonmanagerial nurses and other direct patient 
39.19 	care workers; and 
39.20 	(2) in a health care facility where nurses and other direct patient care workers 
39.21 	are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the union shall select the committee 
39.22 	members proportionate to its representation of nonmanagement nurses and other direct 
39.23 	patient care workers.
39.24 	(c) A health care organization with more than one covered health care facility may 
39.25 	establish a committee at each facility or one committee to serve this function for all the 
39.26 	facilities. If the organization chooses to have one overall committee for multiple facilities, 
39.27 	at least half of the members of the overall committee must be nonmanagerial nurses and 
39.28 	other direct patient care workers and each facility must be represented on the committee.
39.29 	(d) Employees who serve on a safe patient handling committee must be compensated 
39.30 	by their employer for all hours spent on committee business.
39.31 		Subd. 3.Facilities with existing programs. A facility that has already adopted a 
39.32 	safe patient handling policy that satisfies the requirements of subdivision 1, and established 
39.33 	a safe patient handling committee by July 1, 2008, that satisfies the requirements of this 
39.34 	section is considered to be in compliance with those requirements. The committee must 
39.35 	continue to satisfy the requirements of subdivision 2, paragraph (b), on an ongoing basis. 
39.36 		Subd. 4.Committee duties. A safe patient handling committee shall:
40.1 	(1) complete a patient handling hazard assessment that: 
40.2 	(i) considers patient handling tasks, types of nursing units, patient populations, and 
40.3 	the physical environment of patient care areas; 
40.4 	(ii) identifies problems and solutions; 
40.5 	(iii) identifies areas of highest risk for lifting injuries; and 
40.6 	(iv) recommends a mechanism to report, track, and analyze injury trends;
40.7 	(2) make recommendations on the purchase, use, and maintenance of an adequate 
40.8 	supply of appropriate safe patient handling equipment;
40.9 	(3) make recommendations on training of nurses and other direct patient care 
40.10 	workers on use of safe patient handling equipment, initially when the equipment arrives at 
40.11 	the facility and periodically afterwards;
40.12 	(4) conduct annual evaluations of the safe patient handling implementation plan and 
40.13 	progress toward goals established in the safe patient handling plan; and
40.14 	(5) recommend procedures to ensure that, when remodeling of patient care areas 
40.15 	occurs, the plans incorporate safe patient handling equipment or the physical space and 
40.16 	construction design needed to accommodate safe patient handling equipment at a later date.
40.17 		Subd. 5.Training materials. The commissioner shall make training materials on 
40.18 	implementation of this section available to all health care facilities at no cost as part of the 
40.19 	training and education duties of the commissioner under section 182.673.
40.20 		Subd. 6.Enforcement. This section shall be enforced by the commissioner under 
40.21 	section 182.661. A violation of this section is subject to the penalties provided under 
40.22 	section 182.666.
40.23 		Subd. 7.Grant program. The commissioner may make grants to health care 
40.24 	facilities to acquire safe patient handling equipment and for training on safe patient 
40.25 	handling and safe patient handling equipment. Grants to any one facility may not exceed 
40.26 	$40,000. A grant must be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the grantee. The 
40.27 	commissioner shall establish a grant application process. The commissioner may give 
40.28 	priority for grants to facilities that demonstrate that acquiring safe patient handling 
40.29 	equipment will impose a financial hardship on the facility.

40.30 	Sec. 49. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 240.06, subdivision 5a, is amended to read:
40.31 		Subd. 5a.Additional license; metropolitan area. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 
40.32 	5, the commission may issue one additional class A license within the seven-county 
40.33 	metropolitan area, provided that the additional license may only be issued for a facility:
40.34 	(1) located more than 20 miles from any other racetrack in existence on January 
40.35 	1, 1987;
41.1 	(2) containing a track no larger than five-eighths of a mile in circumference;
41.2 	(3) ~~used exclusively for~~at which standardbred racing is the only form of live horse 
41.3 	racing conducted;
41.4 	(4) not owned or operated by a governmental entity or a nonprofit organization; and
41.5 	(5) that has a current road or highway system adequate to facilitate present and 
41.6 	future vehicular traffic expeditiously to and from the facility.
41.7 	The consideration of clause (5) shall prevail when two competing licensees are 
41.8 	relatively equal regarding other considerations mandated by law or rule.
41.9 	(b) An application for an additional class A license within the seven-county 
41.10 	metropolitan area may not delay or adversely affect an application for a class A license for 
41.11 	a facility to be located outside the seven-county metropolitan area.

41.12 	Sec. 50. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 240.06, is amended by adding a subdivision 
41.13 	to read:
41.14 		Subd. 5b.Sharing of purse set-aside and breeders fund revenue. Notwithstanding 
41.15 	subdivision 5, a class A licensed racetrack operating within the seven-county metropolitan 
41.16 	area may:
41.17 	(1) enter into an agreement with a horsepersons' organization that represents a breed 
41.18 	other than the breed racing at the licensee's racetrack under which the licensee agrees to 
41.19 	pay a percentage of simulcasting or card club revenues to the purse set-aside account of 
41.20 	another class A licensed racetrack operating within the seven-county metropolitan area. 
41.21 	The licensee may only enter into such an agreement with a horsepersons' organization 
41.22 	that represents a breed other than the breed racing at the licensee's racetrack. All amounts 
41.23 	contributed to a class A racetrack under such an agreement must go to purses for races 
41.24 	run at that racetrack; and
41.25 	(2) conduct simulcasting on all breeds of horses if it:
41.26 	(i) enters into an agreement with another class A licensed racetrack within the 
41.27 	seven-county metropolitan area regarding simulcasting of any breed of horses raced at 
41.28 	such other class A licensed racetrack that the class A racetrack elects to simulcast; and
41.29 	(ii) contributes to the purse set-aside account of another class A licensed racetrack 
41.30 	operating within the seven-county metropolitan area, and to the breeders fund, an amount 
41.31 	equal to the amount that would have been contributed to the set-aside account and the 
41.32 	breeders fund, as required by statute, if the simulcast had been conducted at such other 
41.33 	class A licensed racetrack. The percentages used to determine the amount of the simulcast 
41.34 	contribution to the purse set-aside account and the breeders fund will be the percentage 
41.35 	required under law. Contributions to the purse set-aside account shall be used by such 
42.1 	other class A licensed racetrack for purses for races conducted by that racetrack in the 
42.2 	same manner as if the simulcast had occurred at that racetrack.

42.3 	Sec. 51. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 240.13, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
42.4 		Subd. 6.Simulcasting. (a) The commission may permit an authorized licensee to 
42.5 	conduct simulcasting at the licensee's facility on any day authorized by the commission. 
42.6 	All simulcasts must comply with the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978, United States 
42.7 	Code, title 15, sections 3001 to 3007.
42.8 	(b) The commission may not authorize any day for simulcasting at a class A facility 
42.9 	during the racing season, and a licensee may not be allowed to transmit out-of-state 
42.10 	telecasts of races the licensee conducts, unless the licensee has obtained the approval of 
42.11 	the horsepersons' organization representing the majority of the horsepersons racing the 
42.12 	breed involved at the licensed racetrack during the preceding 12 months. In the case of 
42.13 	a class A facility licensed under section 240.06, subdivision 5a, the approval applicable 
42.14 	to the first year of the racetrack's operation may be obtained from the horsepersons' 
42.15 	organization that represents the majority of horsepersons who will race the breed involved 
42.16 	at the licensed racetrack during the first year of the racetrack's operation.
42.17 	(c) The licensee may pay fees and costs to an entity transmitting a telecast of a 
42.18 	race to the licensee for purposes of conducting pari-mutuel wagering on the race. The 
42.19 	licensee may deduct fees and costs related to the receipt of televised transmissions from a 
42.20 	pari-mutuel pool on the televised race, provided that one-half of any amount recouped in 
42.21 	this manner must be added to the amounts required to be set aside for purses.
42.22 	(d) With the approval of the commission and subject to the provisions of this 
42.23 	subdivision, a licensee may transmit telecasts of races it conducts, for wagering purposes, 
42.24 	to locations outside the state, and the commission may allow this to be done on a 
42.25 	commingled pool basis.
42.26 	(e) Except as otherwise provided in this section, simulcasting may be conducted 
42.27 	on a separate pool basis or, with the approval of the commission, on a commingled 
42.28 	pool basis. All provisions of law governing pari-mutuel betting apply to simulcasting 
42.29 	except as otherwise provided in this subdivision or in the commission's rules. If pools 
42.30 	are commingled, wagering at the licensed facility must be on equipment electronically 
42.31 	linked with the equipment at the licensee's class A facility or with the sending racetrack 
42.32 	via the totalizator computer at the licensee's class A facility. Subject to the approval of the 
42.33 	commission, the types of betting, takeout, and distribution of winnings on commingled 
42.34 	pari-mutuel pools are those in effect at the sending racetrack. Breakage for pari-mutuel 
42.35 	pools on a televised race must be calculated in accordance with the law or rules governing 
43.1 	the sending racetrack for these pools, and must be distributed in a manner agreed to 
43.2 	between the licensee and the sending racetrack. Notwithstanding subdivision 7 and 
43.3 	section 240.15, subdivision 5, the commission may approve procedures governing the 
43.4 	definition and disposition of unclaimed tickets that are consistent with the law and rules 
43.5 	governing unclaimed tickets at the sending racetrack. For the purposes of this section, 
43.6 	"sending racetrack" is either the racetrack outside of this state where the horse race is 
43.7 	conducted or, with the consent of the racetrack, an alternative facility that serves as the 
43.8 	racetrack for the purpose of commingling pools. 
43.9 	(f) Except as otherwise provided in section 240.06, subdivision 5b, paragraph (b), 
43.10 	if there is more than one class B licensee conducting racing within the seven-county 
43.11 	metropolitan area, simulcasting may be conducted only on races run by a breed that ran at 
43.12 	the licensee's class A facility within the 12 months preceding the event.

43.13 	Sec. 52. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 240.135, is amended to read:
43.14 	240.135 CARD CLUB REVENUE.
43.15 	(a) From the amounts received from charges authorized under section 240.30, 
43.16 	subdivision 4, the licensee shall set aside the amounts specified in this section to be 
43.17 	used for purse payments. These amounts are in addition to the breeders fund and purse 
43.18 	requirements set forth elsewhere in this chapter. 
43.19 	(1) For amounts between zero and $6,000,000, the licensee shall set aside ten 
43.20 	percent to be used as purses.
43.21 	(2) For amounts in excess of $6,000,000, the licensee shall set aside 14 percent to 
43.22 	be used as purses.
43.23 	(b) From all amounts set aside under paragraph (a), the licensee shall set aside ten 
43.24 	percent to be deposited in the breeders fund. 
43.25 	(c) The licensee and the horseperson's organization representing the majority of 
43.26 	horsepersons who have raced at the racetrack during the preceding 12 months, or, in the 
43.27 	case of a racetrack licensed under section 240.06, subdivision 5a, will race at the race 
43.28 	during the first year of the racetrack's operation, may negotiate percentages different 
43.29 	from those stated in this section if the agreement is in writing and filed with the Racing 
43.30 	Commission.
43.31 	~~(c)~~(d) It is the intent of the legislature that the proceeds of the card playing activities 
43.32 	authorized by this chapter be used to improve the horse racing industry by improving 
43.33 	purses. The commission shall annually review the financial details of card playing 
43.34 	activities and determine if the present use of card playing proceeds is consistent with the 
43.35 	policy established by this paragraph. If the commission determines that the use of the 
44.1 	proceeds does not comply with the policy set forth herein, then the commission shall direct 
44.2 	the parties to make the changes necessary to ensure compliance. If these changes require 
44.3 	legislation, the commission shall make the appropriate recommendations to the legislature.

44.4 	Sec. 53. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 240.30, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
44.5 		Subd. 5.Limitation. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), the commission 
44.6 	shall not authorize a licensee to operate a card club unless the licensee has conducted at 
44.7 	least 50 days of live racing at a class A facility within the past 12 months or during the 
44.8 	preceding calendar year.
44.9 	(b) In the case of a racetrack licensed under section 240.06, subdivision 5a, during 
44.10 	the first 12 months of the racetrack's operation, the commission may authorize the licensee 
44.11 	to operate a card club when the licensee has been assigned dates by the commission for at 
44.12 	least 50 days of live racing during those 12 months.

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

44.14 	Sec. 54. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 268A.01, subdivision 13, is amended to read:
44.15 		Subd. 13.Supported employment. (a) "Supported employment" means 
44.16 	employment of a person with a disability so severe that the person needs ongoing training 
44.17 	and support to get and keep a job in which:
44.18 	(1) the person engages in paid work in a position removed from the service vendor's 
44.19 	site where individuals without disabilities who do not require public subsidies also may 
44.20 	be employed;
44.21 	(2) public funds are necessary to provide ongoing training and support services 
44.22 	throughout the period of the person's employment; and
44.23 	(3) the person has the opportunity for social interaction with individuals who do not 
44.24 	have disabilities and who are not paid caregivers.
44.25 	(b) If the commissioner has certified a rehabilitation facility setting as integrated, 
44.26 	then employment at that site may be considered supported employment.

44.27 	Sec. 55. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 268A.01, is amended by adding a 
44.28 	subdivision to read:
44.29 		Subd. 14.Affirmative business enterprise employment. "Affirmative business 
44.30 	enterprise employment" means employment which provides paid work on the premises of 
44.31 	an affirmative business enterprise as certified by the commissioner.
44.32 	Affirmative business enterprise employment is considered community employment 
44.33 	for purposes of funding under Minnesota Rules, parts 3300.1000 to 3300.2055, provided 
45.1 	that the wages for individuals reported must be at or above customary wages for the 
45.2 	same employer. The employer must also provide one benefit package that is available to 
45.3 	all employees.

45.4 	Sec. 56. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 268A.085, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
45.5 		Subdivision 1.Appointment; membership. Every city, town, county, nonprofit 
45.6 	corporation, or combination thereof establishing a rehabilitation facility shall appoint a 
45.7 	rehabilitation facility board of no fewer than ~~nine~~seven voting members before becoming 
45.8 	eligible for the assistance provided by sections 268A.06 to 268A.15. When any city, 
45.9 	town, or county singly establishes such a rehabilitation facility, the board shall be 
45.10 	appointed by the chief executive officer of the city or the chair of the governing board 
45.11 	of the county or town. When any combination of cities, towns, counties, or nonprofit 
45.12 	corporations establishes a rehabilitation facility, the chief executive officers of the cities, 
45.13 	nonprofit corporations, and the chairs of the governing bodies of the counties or towns 
45.14 	shall appoint the board. If a nonprofit corporation singly establishes a rehabilitation 
45.15 	facility, the corporation shall appoint the board of directors. Membership on a board 
45.16 	shall be representative of the community served and shall include a person with a 
45.17 	disability. ~~One-third to one-half of the board shall be representative of industry or~~ 
45.18 	~~business. The remaining members should be representative of lay associations for persons~~ 
45.19 	~~with a disability, labor, the general public, and education, welfare, medical, and health~~ 
45.20 	~~professions. Nothing in sections 268A.06 to 268A.15 shall be construed to preclude~~ 
45.21 	~~the appointment of elected or appointed public officials or members of the board of~~ 
45.22 	~~directors of the sponsoring nonprofit corporation to the board, so long as the representation~~ 
45.23 	~~described above is preserved.~~ If a county establishes an extended employment program 
45.24 	and manages the program with county employees, the governing board shall be the county 
45.25 	board of commissioners, and other provisions of this chapter pertaining to membership on 
45.26 	the governing board do not apply. 

45.27 	Sec. 57. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 268A.15, is amended by adding a 
45.28 	subdivision to read:
45.29 		Subd. 9.Integrated setting. At the commissioner's discretion, paid work on the 
45.30 	premises of a rehabilitation facility may be certified as an integrated setting after a site 
45.31 	review by the department.

45.32 	Sec. 58. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 298.22, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
46.1 		Subd. 2.Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board. There is hereby 
46.2 	created the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board, consisting of ~~13~~ ten members, 
46.3 	five of whom are state senators appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the 
46.4 	Rules Committee of the senate, and five of whom are representatives, appointed by the 
46.5 	speaker of the house of representatives. ~~The remaining members shall be appointed one~~ 
46.6 	~~each by the senate majority leader, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the~~ 
46.7 	~~governor and must be nonlegislators who reside in a taconite assistance area as defined in~~ 
46.8 	~~section 273.1341.~~ The members shall be appointed in January of every odd-numbered 
46.9 	year~~, except that the initial nonlegislator members shall be appointed by July 1, 1999,~~ and 
46.10 	shall serve until January of the next odd-numbered year. Vacancies on the board shall be 
46.11 	filled in the same manner as the original members were chosen. At least a majority of 
46.12 	the legislative members of the board shall be elected from state senatorial or legislative 
46.13 	districts in which over 50 percent of the residents reside within a taconite assistance area 
46.14 	as defined in section 273.1341. All expenditures and projects made by the commissioner 
46.15 	of Iron Range resources and rehabilitation shall be consistent with the priorities 
46.16 	established in subdivision 8 and shall first be submitted to the Iron Range Resources and 
46.17 	Rehabilitation Board for approval by a majority of the board of expenditures and projects 
46.18 	for rehabilitation purposes as provided by this section, and the method, manner, and time 
46.19 	of payment of all funds proposed to be disbursed shall be first approved or disapproved by 
46.20 	the board. The board shall biennially make its report to the governor and the legislature on 
46.21 	or before November 15 of each even-numbered year. The expenses of the board shall be 
46.22 	paid by the state from the funds raised pursuant to this section. 

46.23 	Sec. 59. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 298.227, is amended to read:
46.24 	298.227 TACONITE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND.
46.25 	An amount equal to that distributed pursuant to each taconite producer's taxable 
46.26 	production and qualifying sales under section 298.28, subdivision 9a, shall be held by 
46.27 	the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board in a separate taconite economic 
46.28 	development fund for each taconite and direct reduced ore producer. Money from the 
46.29 	fund for each producer shall be released by the commissioner after review by a joint 
46.30 	committee consisting of an equal number of representatives of the salaried employees and 
46.31 	the nonsalaried production and maintenance employees of that producer. The District 11 
46.32 	director of the United States Steelworkers of America, on advice of each local employee 
46.33 	president, shall select the employee members. In nonorganized operations, the employee 
46.34 	committee shall be elected by the nonsalaried production and maintenance employees. 
46.35 	The review must be completed no later than six months after the producer presents a 
47.1 	proposal for expenditure of the funds to the committee. The funds held pursuant to this 
47.2 	section may be released only for acquisition of plant and stationary mining equipment and 
47.3 	facilities for the producer or for research and development in Minnesota on new mining, or 
47.4 	taconite, iron, or steel production technology, but only if the producer provides a matching 
47.5 	expenditure to be used for the same purpose of at least 50 percent of the distribution 
47.6 	based on 14.7 cents per ton beginning with distributions in 2002.  Effective for proposals 
47.7 	for expenditures of money from the fund approved beginning the day following final 
47.8 	enactment. The commissioner may release the funds only if the proposed expenditure is 
47.9 	approved by a majority of the members of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation 
47.10 	Board. If a producer uses money that has been released from the fund prior to the day 
47.11 	following final enactment to procure haulage trucks, mobile equipment, or mining shovels, 
47.12 	and the producer removes the piece of equipment from the taconite tax relief area defined 
47.13 	in section 273.134 within ten years from the date of receipt of the money from the fund, 
47.14 	a portion of the money granted from the fund must be repaid to the taconite economic 
47.15 	development fund. The portion of the money to be repaid is 100 percent of the grant if the 
47.16 	equipment is removed from the taconite tax relief area within 12 months after receipt of 
47.17 	the money from the fund, declining by ten percent for each of the subsequent nine years 
47.18 	during which the equipment remains within the taconite tax relief area. If a taconite 
47.19 	production facility is sold after operations at the facility had ceased, any money remaining 
47.20 	in the fund for the former producer may be released to the purchaser of the facility on 
47.21 	the terms otherwise applicable to the former producer under this section. If a producer 
47.22 	fails to provide matching funds for a proposed expenditure within six months after the 
47.23 	commissioner approves release of the funds, the funds are available for release to another 
47.24 	producer in proportion to the distribution provided and under the conditions of this section. 
47.25 	Any portion of the fund which is not released by the commissioner within two years of its 
47.26 	deposit in the fund shall be divided between the taconite environmental protection fund 
47.27 	created in section 298.223 and the Douglas J. Johnson economic protection trust fund 
47.28 	created in section 298.292 for placement in their respective special accounts. Two-thirds 
47.29 	of the unreleased funds shall be distributed to the taconite environmental protection fund 
47.30 	and one-third to the Douglas J. Johnson economic protection trust fund. 

47.31 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for proposals for expenditures of 
47.32 	money from the fund the day following final enactment.

47.33 	Sec. 60. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 326.242, is amended by adding a subdivision 
47.34 	to read:
48.1 		Subd. 5a.Registration of unlicensed individuals. Unlicensed individuals 
48.2 	performing electrical work for a contractor or employer shall register with the department 
48.3 	in the manner prescribed by the commissioner. Experience credit for electrical work 
48.4 	performed after January 1, 2008, by an applicant for a license identified in this section 
48.5 	shall not be granted where the applicant has not registered with or is not licensed by 
48.6 	the department.

48.7 	Sec. 61. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 326.242, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
48.8 		Subd. 8.License, registration, and renewal fees; expiration. ~~All licenses issued~~ 
48.9 	~~hereunder shall expire in a manner as provided by the board.~~ (a) Unless revoked or 
48.10 	suspended under this chapter, all licenses issued or renewed under this section expire on the 
48.11 	date specified in this subdivision. Master licenses expire March 1 of each odd-numbered 
48.12 	year after issuance or renewal. Electrical contractor licenses expire March 1 of each 
48.13 	even-numbered year after issuance or renewal. Technology system contractor licenses 
48.14 	expire August 1 of each even-numbered year after issuance or renewal. Journeyman, 
48.15 	installer, power limited technician, and special electrician licenses expire two years from 
48.16 	the date of original issuance and every two years thereafter. Registrations of unlicensed 
48.17 	individuals expire one year from the date of original issuance and every year thereafter.
48.18 	(b) Fees~~, as set by the board, shall be payable~~ for application and examination, and 
48.19 	for the original issuance and each subsequent renewal ~~of the following~~, are:
48.20 	(1) For each personal license application and examination: $35;
48.21 	~~Class A Master.~~
48.22 	~~Class B Master.~~
48.23 	~~Class A Journeyman, Class B Journeyman, Installer, Power Limited Technician, or~~ 
48.24 	~~Special Electrician.~~
48.25 	(2) For original issuance ~~of original license~~ and each subsequent renewal of:
48.26 	Class A Master~~.~~ or master special electrician, including master elevator constructor: 
48.27 	$40 per year;
48.28 	Class B Master~~.~~: $25 per year;
48.29 	Power Limited Technician~~.~~: $15 per year;
48.30 	Class A Journeyman, Class B Journeyman, Installer, or Special Electrician~~.~~ other 
48.31 	than master special electrician: $15 per year;
48.32 	~~Electrical~~ contractor: $100 per year.
48.33 	~~Technology Systems Contractor~~ Unlicensed individual registration: $15 per year.
48.34 	(c) If any new license is issued in accordance with this subdivision for less than two 
48.35 	years, the fee for the license shall be prorated on an annual basis. 
49.1 	(d) A license fee may not be refunded after a license is issued or renewed. However, 
49.2 	if the fee paid for a license was not prorated in accordance with this subdivision, the 
49.3 	amount of the overpayment shall be refunded.
49.4 	(e) Any contractor who seeks reissuance of a license after it has been revoked or 
49.5 	suspended under this chapter shall submit a reissuance fee of $100 before the license is 
49.6 	reinstated.
49.7 	(f) The fee for the issuance of each duplicate license is $15.
49.8 	~~(3)~~ (g) An individual or contractor who fails to renew a license before 30 days after 
49.9 	the expiration or registration of the license must submit a late fee equal to one year's 
49.10 	license fee in addition to the full renewal fee. Fees for renewed licenses or registrations 
49.11 	are not prorated. An individual or contractor that fails to renew a license or registration by 
49.12 	the expiration date is unlicensed until the license or registration is renewed.

49.13 	Sec. 62. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 326.2441, is amended to read:
49.14 	326.2441 INSPECTION FEE SCHEDULE.
49.15 		Subdivision 1.Schedule. State electrical inspection fees shall be ~~paid according~~ 
49.16 	~~to~~ calculated in accordance with subdivisions 2 to ~~13~~ 15.
49.17 		Subd. 2.Fee for each separate inspection. The minimum fee for each separate 
49.18 	inspection of an installation, replacement, alteration, or repair is ~~$20.~~ $35. Except as 
49.19 	otherwise provided in this section, the maximum number of separate inspections allowed 
49.20 	without payment of an additional fee is the whole number resulting from dividing by 
49.21 	35 the total fee calculated in accordance with this section. Where additional separate 
49.22 	inspections are necessary, additional fees are required to result in a value equal to the total 
49.23 	number of separate inspections multiplied by 35. The fee for any inspections needed after 
49.24 	a "final inspection" is performed shall be calculated without consideration of any fee 
49.25 	paid before the final inspection.
49.26 		Subd. 3.Fee for services, generators, other power supply sources, or feeders to 
49.27 	separate structures. The inspection fee for the installation, addition, alteration, or repair 
49.28 	of each service, change of service, temporary service, generator, other power supply 
49.29 	source, or feeder to a separate structure is:
49.30 	(1) 0 ampere to and including 400 ampere capacity, ~~$25~~ $35;
49.31 	(2) 401 ampere to and including 800 ampere capacity, ~~$50~~ $60; and
49.32 	(3) ampere capacity above 800, ~~$75~~ $100.
49.33 	Where multiple disconnects are grouped at a single location and are supplied by a 
49.34 	single set of supply conductors the cumulative rating of the overcurrent devices shall be 
49.35 	used to determine the supply ampere capacity.
50.1 		Subd. 4.Fee for circuits, feeders, feeder taps, or sets of transformer secondary 
50.2 	conductors. The inspection fee for the installation, addition, alteration, or repair of 
50.3 	each circuit, feeder, feeder tap, or set of transformer secondary conductors, including 
50.4 	the equipment served, is:
50.5 	(1) 0 ampere to and including 200 ampere capacity, ~~$5~~ $6; and
50.6 	(2) ampere capacity above 200, ~~$10~~ $15.
50.7 	Where existing feeders and circuits are reconnected to overcurrent devices installed 
50.8 	as part of the replacement of an existing disconnect, switchboard, motor control center, or 
50.9 	panelboard, the inspection fee for each circuit or feeder is $2.
50.10 		Subd. 5.~~Limitations to fees of subdivisions 3 and 4~~ Inspection fee for dwellings.
 50.11 	(a) The inspection fee for a one-family dwelling and each dwelling unit of a two-family 
50.12 	dwelling ~~with a supply of up to 500 amperes where a combination of ten or more sources~~ 
50.13 	~~of supply, feeders, or circuits are installed, added, altered, repaired, or extended is $80.~~ is 
50.14 	the following:
50.15 	(1) the fee for each service or other source of power as provided in subdivision 3;
50.16 	(2) $100 for up to 30 feeders and circuits; and
50.17 	(3) for each additional feeder or circuit, the fee as provided in subdivision 4.
50.18 	This fee applies to each separate installation for new dwellings and ~~additions, alterations,~~ 
50.19 	~~or repairs to existing dwellings and includes not more than two inspections.~~where 15 
50.20 	or more feeders or circuits are installed or extended in connection with any addition, 
50.21 	alteration, or repair to existing dwellings. Where existing feeders and circuits are 
50.22 	reconnected to overcurrent devices installed as part of the replacement of an existing 
50.23 	panelboard, the fee for each reconnected feeder or circuit is $2. The maximum number 
50.24 	of separate inspections shall be determined in accordance with subdivision 2. The 
50.25 	fee for additional inspections or other installations is that specified in subdivisions 2 
50.26 	~~to~~, 4, 6, and 8. The installer may submit fees for additional inspections when filing the 
50.27 	request for electrical inspection. The fee for each detached accessory structure directly 
50.28 	associated with a dwelling unit shall be calculated in accordance with subdivisions 3 and 
50.29 	4. When included on the same request for electrical inspection form, inspection fees for 
50.30 	detached accessory structures directly associated with the dwelling unit may be combined 
50.31 	with the dwelling unit fees to determine the maximum number of separate inspections in 
50.32 	accordance with subdivision 2.
50.33 	(b) The inspection fee for each dwelling unit of a multifamily dwelling with three 
50.34 	~~to 12~~ or more dwelling units is ~~$50 and the fee for each additional dwelling unit is $25.~~
50.35 	$70 for a combination of up to 20 feeders and circuits and $6 for each additional feeder 
50.36 	or circuit. This fee applies to each separate installation for each new dwelling unit and 
51.1 	where ten or more feeders or circuits are installed or extended in connection with any 
51.2 	addition, alteration, or repair to existing dwelling units. Where existing feeders or circuits 
51.3 	are reconnected to overcurrent devices installed as part of the replacement of an existing 
51.4 	panelboard, the fee for each reconnected feeder or circuit is $2. The maximum number 
51.5 	of separate inspections for each dwelling unit shall be determined in accordance with 
51.6 	subdivision 2. The fee for additional inspections or for inspection of other installations 
51.7 	is that specified in subdivisions 2, 4, 6, and 8. These fees include only inspection of the 
51.8 	wiring within individual dwelling units and the final feeder to that unit~~. This limitation is~~ 
51.9 	~~subject to the following conditions:~~
51.10 	~~(1)~~ where the multifamily dwelling is provided with common service equipment 
51.11 	and each dwelling unit is supplied by a separate feeder or feeders extended from common 
51.12 	service or distribution equipment. The fee for multifamily dwelling services or other 
51.13 	power source supplies and all other circuits is that specified in subdivisions 2 to 4~~; and~~.
51.14 	~~(2) this limitation applies only to new installations for multifamily dwellings where~~ 
51.15 	~~the majority of the individual dwelling units are available for inspection during each~~ 
51.16 	~~inspection trip.~~
51.17 	(c) A separate request for electrical inspection form must be filed for each dwelling 
51.18 	unit that is supplied with an individual set of service entrance conductors. These fees are 
51.19 	the one-family dwelling rate specified in paragraph (a).
51.20 		Subd. 6.Additions to fees of subdivisions 3 to 5. (a) The fee for the electrical 
51.21 	supply for each manufactured home park lot is ~~$25~~ $35. This fee includes the service or 
51.22 	feeder conductors up to and including the service equipment or disconnecting means. 
51.23 	The fee for feeders and circuits that extend from the service or disconnecting means is 
51.24 	that specified in subdivision 4.
51.25 	(b) The fee for each recreational vehicle site electrical supply equipment is ~~$5~~ $6 
51.26 	for each circuit originating within the equipment. The fee for recreational vehicle park 
51.27 	services, feeders, and circuits is that specified in subdivisions 3 and 4.
51.28 	(c) The fee for each street, parking lot, or outdoor area lighting standard ~~is $1,~~ and ~~the~~ 
51.29 	~~fee for~~ each traffic signal standard is $5. Circuits originating within the standard or traffic 
51.30 	signal controller shall not be used when ~~computing~~ calculating the fee for each standard.
51.31 	(d) The fee for transformers for light, heat, and power is ~~$10~~ $15 for transformers 
51.32 	rated up to ten kilovolt-amperes and ~~$20~~$30 for transformers rated in excess of ten 
51.33 	kilovolt-amperes. The previous sentence does not apply to Class 1 transformers or power 
51.34 	supplies for Class 1 power-limited circuits or to Class 2 or Class 3 transformers or power 
51.35 	supplies.
52.1 	(e) The fee for transformers and electronic power supplies for electric signs and 
52.2 	outline lighting is $5 per unit.
52.3 	(f) The fee for ~~alarm, communication, remote control, and signaling~~ technology 
52.4 	circuits or systems, and circuits of less than 50 volts, is ~~50~~ 75 cents for each system device 
52.5 	or apparatus.
52.6 	(g) The fee for each separate inspection of the bonding for a swimming pool, spa, 
52.7 	fountain, an equipotential plane for an agricultural confinement area, or similar installation 
52.8 	~~shall be $20~~ is $35. Bonding conductors and connections require an inspection before 
52.9 	being concealed.
52.10 	(h) The fee for all wiring installed on center pivot irrigation booms is ~~$40~~ $35 plus 
52.11 	$5 for each electrical drive unit.
52.12 	(i) The fee for retrofit modifications to existing lighting fixtures is 25 cents per 
52.13 	~~lighting fixture~~ luminaire.
52.14 	(j) When a separate inspection of a concrete-encased grounding electrode is 
52.15 	performed, the fee is $35.
52.16 	(k) The fees required by subdivisions 3 and 4 are doubled for installations over 
52.17 	600 volts.
52.18 		Subd. 7.Investigation fees: work without a request for electrical inspection.
 52.19 	(a) Whenever any work for which a request for electrical inspection is required ~~by the~~ 
52.20 	~~board~~ has begun without the request for electrical inspection form being filed with the 
52.21 	~~board~~ commissioner, a special investigation shall be made before a request for electrical 
52.22 	inspection form is accepted ~~by the board~~.
52.23 	(b) An investigation fee, in addition to the full fee required by subdivisions 1 
52.24 	to 6, shall be paid before an inspection is made. The investigation fee is two times the 
52.25 	~~hourly rate~~ minimum fee specified in subdivision ~~10~~ 2 or the inspection fee required 
52.26 	by subdivisions 1 to 6, whichever is greater, not to exceed $1,000. The payment of the 
52.27 	investigation fee does not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of 
52.28 	the ~~board~~ department rules or statutes nor from any penalty prescribed by law.
52.29 		Subd. 8.Reinspection fee. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions 2 and 5, 
52.30 	when reinspection is necessary to determine whether unsafe conditions identified during a 
52.31 	final inspection have been corrected and the conditions are not the subject of an appeal 
52.32 	pending before the ~~board~~ commissioner or any court, a reinspection fee of ~~$20 may~~ $35 
52.33 	shall be assessed in writing by the inspector.
52.34 		Subd. 9.Supplemental fee. When inspections scheduled by the installer are 
52.35 	preempted, obstructed, prevented, or otherwise not able to be completed as scheduled due 
53.1 	to circumstances beyond the control of the inspector, a supplemental inspection fee of 
53.2 	~~$20 may~~ $35 shall be assessed in writing by the inspector.
53.3 		Subd. 10.Special inspection. For inspections not covered in this section, or for 
53.4 	requested special inspections or services, the fee ~~shall be $30~~ is $80 per hour, including 
53.5 	travel time, plus ~~31 cents~~ the standard mileage rate per mile traveled, plus the reasonable 
53.6 	cost of equipment or material consumed. This provision is applicable to inspection 
53.7 	of empty conduits and other jobs as may be determined by the ~~board~~ commissioner. 
53.8 	This fee may also be assessed when installations are not accessible by roadway and 
53.9 	require alternate forms of transportation~~.~~ or are located in the Northwest Angle, or when 
53.10 	inspections are performed outside of Minnesota. For purposes of this subdivision, 
53.11 	the standard mileage rate is the standard mileage rate effective at the time of travel, 
53.12 	as established by the Internal Revenue Service for computing the deductible costs of 
53.13 	operating an automobile for business expense purposes.
53.14 		Subd. 11.Inspection of transitory projects. (a) For inspection of transitory 
53.15 	projects including, but not limited to, festivals, fairs, carnivals, circuses, shows, production 
53.16 	sites, and portable road construction plants, the inspection procedures and fees are as 
53.17 	specified in paragraphs (b) to (i).
53.18 	(b) The fee for inspection of each generator or other source of supply is that specified 
53.19 	in subdivision 3. A like fee is required at each engagement or setup.
53.20 	(c) In addition to the fee for generators or other sources of supply, there must be an 
53.21 	inspection of all installed feeders, circuits, and equipment at each engagement or setup at 
53.22 	the hourly rate specified in subdivision 10, with a ~~two-hour~~ one-hour minimum.
53.23 	(d) An owner, operator, or appointed representative of a transitory enterprise 
53.24 	including, but not limited to, festivals, fairs, carnivals, circuses, production companies, 
53.25 	shows, portable road construction plants, and similar enterprises shall notify the ~~board~~
53.26 	commissioner  of its itinerary or schedule and make application for initial inspection a 
53.27 	minimum of 14 days before its first engagement or setup. An owner, operator, or appointed 
53.28 	representative of a transitory enterprise who fails to notify the ~~board~~ commissioner 14 
53.29 	days before its first engagement or setup may be subject to the investigation fees specified 
53.30 	in subdivision 7. The owner, operator, or appointed representative shall request inspection 
53.31 	and pay the inspection fee for each subsequent engagement or setup at the time of the initial 
53.32 	inspection. For subsequent engagements or setups not listed on the itinerary or schedule 
53.33 	submitted to the ~~board~~ commissioner and where the ~~board~~ commissioner is not notified at 
53.34 	least 48 hours in advance, a charge of $100 may be made in addition to all required fees.
54.1 	(e) Amusement rides, devices, concessions, attractions, or other units must be 
54.2 	inspected at their first appearance of the year. The inspection fee is ~~$20~~ $35 per unit with a 
54.3 	supply of up to 60 amperes and ~~$30~~ $40 per unit with a supply above 60 amperes.
54.4 	(f) An additional fee at the hourly rate specified in subdivision 10 must be charged 
54.5 	for additional time spent by each inspector if equipment is not ready or available for 
54.6 	inspection at the time and date specified on the application for initial inspection or the 
54.7 	request for electrical inspection form.
54.8 	(g) In addition to the fees specified in paragraphs (a) and (b), a fee of ~~two hours~~ one 
54.9 	hour at the hourly rate specified in subdivision 10 must be charged for inspections required 
54.10 	to be performed on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or after regular business hours.
54.11 	(h) The fee for reinspection of corrections or supplemental inspections where an 
54.12 	additional trip is necessary may be assessed as specified in subdivision 8.
54.13 	(i) The ~~board may~~ commissioner shall retain the inspection fee when an owner, 
54.14 	operator, or appointed representative of a transitory enterprise fails to notify the ~~board~~
54.15 	commissioner at least 48 hours in advance of a scheduled inspection that is canceled.
54.16 		Subd. 11a.Negotiated fee. When the fee calculated in accordance with subdivisions 
54.17 	2 to 11 results in a total fee that unreasonably exceeds the cost of inspection, the 
54.18 	commissioner may negotiate a fee that more reasonably offsets the cost of inspection.
54.19 		Subd. 12.Handling fee. The handling fee to pay the cost of printing and handling 
54.20 	of the paper form requesting an electrical inspection is up to $1.
54.21 		Subd. 13.National Electrical Code used for interpretation of provisions. For 
54.22 	purposes of interpretation of this section and Minnesota Rules, chapter 3800, the most 
54.23 	recently adopted edition of the National Electrical Code shall be prima facie evidence of 
54.24 	the definitions, interpretations, and scope of words and terms used.

54.25 	Sec. 63. [326.372] PLUMBING BOARD.
54.26 		Subdivision 1.Composition. (a) The Plumbing Board shall consist of 11 voting 
54.27 	members who must be residents of the state, appointed by the governor, and confirmed 
54.28 	by the senate. The commissioner of labor and industry or the commissioner's designee 
54.29 	shall be a voting member. The first appointed board members shall serve an initial term 
54.30 	of four years, except where designated otherwise. The governor shall then reappoint the 
54.31 	current members or appoint replacement members, all or in part, to subsequent three-year 
54.32 	terms. Midterm vacancies shall be filled for the remaining portion of the term. Vacancies 
54.33 	occurring with less than six months time remaining in the term shall be filled for the 
54.34 	existing term and the following three-year term. Of the 11 appointed members, the 
54.35 	composition shall be as follows:
55.1 	(1) two members shall be municipal plumbing inspectors;
55.2 	(2) one member shall be a licensed mechanical engineer, who shall be a nonvoting 
55.3 	member;
55.4 	(3) two members serving an initial term of three years shall be plumbing contractors 
55.5 	or the representative of the contractor, engaged in a commercial scope of plumbing 
55.6 	contracting, one from the metropolitan area and one from greater Minnesota;
55.7 	(4) two members serving an initial term of three years shall be plumbing contractors 
55.8 	or their representatives, engaged in the residential scope of plumbing contracting, one 
55.9 	from the metropolitan area and one from greater Minnesota; 
55.10 	(5) two members serving an initial term of two years shall be plumbing 
55.11 	journeypersons engaged in a commercial scope of plumbing systems installation, one from 
55.12 	the metropolitan area and one from greater Minnesota; and
55.13 	(6) two members serving an initial term of two years shall be plumbing 
55.14 	journeypersons engaged in a residential scope of plumbing systems installation, one from 
55.15 	the metropolitan area and one from greater Minnesota.
55.16 	(b) Except for the licensed mechanical engineer, all persons appointed to the board 
55.17 	must possess a current Minnesota plumbing license and maintain the license for the 
55.18 	duration of their terms.
55.19 		Subd. 2.Powers. (a) The board shall have the power to:
55.20 	(1) elect its own officers;
55.21 	(2) specify the plumbing code that must be followed in this state;
55.22 	(3) maintain a review process to make determinations regarding any complaints, 
55.23 	code amendments, code compliance, and code clarifications filed with the board;
55.24 	(4) adopt rules necessary for the regulation and licensing of contractors, 
55.25 	journeypersons, apprentices, and other persons engaged in the design, installation, 
55.26 	alteration, and inspection of plumbing systems that would include the issuing, renewing, 
55.27 	revoking, refusing to renew, and suspending a plumbing license;
55.28 	(5) adopt rules necessary for continuing education for individuals regulated and 
55.29 	licensed under this section; and
55.30 	(6) pay expenses deemed necessary in the performance of board duties, including 
55.31 	rent, utilities, and supplies in the manner and amount specified in section 43A.18, 
55.32 	subdivision 2.
55.33 	(b) Requests under the review process in paragraph (a), clause (3), may originate 
55.34 	with the municipal inspectors, the plumbing contractors or their employees, and other 
55.35 	persons engaged in the design, installation, and alteration of plumbing systems. The board 
56.1 	shall make their findings known to all parties and the commissioner of labor and industry 
56.2 	within the time period specified by the board.
56.3 		Subd. 3.Fees and finances. The board shall submit an annual budget to the 
56.4 	commissioner of labor and industry. The commissioner shall collect fees necessary for 
56.5 	the operation and continuance of the board. The commissioner is responsible for the 
56.6 	enforcement of the codes and licensing requirements determined by the board. The board 
56.7 	shall set the fees for licenses and certification under this section. Fees collected under 
56.8 	section 326.42 shall be transferred to the board quarterly to meet the ongoing operation 
56.9 	needs of the board.

56.10 	Sec. 64. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 326.47, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
56.11 		Subd. 6.Filing and inspection fees. The Department of Labor and Industry 
56.12 	must charge a filing fee set by the ~~commissioner~~ board under section 16A.1285 for all 
56.13 	applications for permits to construct or install high pressure piping systems. The fee for 
56.14 	inspection of high pressure piping system construction or installation shall be set by the 
56.15 	~~commissioner~~ board under section 16A.1285. This subdivision does not apply where a 
56.16 	permit is issued by a municipality complying with subdivision 2. 

56.17 	Sec. 65. [326.471] BOARD OF HIGH PRESSURE PIPING SYSTEMS.
56.18 		Subdivision 1.Composition. (a) The Board of High Pressure Piping Systems shall 
56.19 	consist of 12 members who must be residents of the state, appointed by the governor, and 
56.20 	confirmed by the senate. The commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry or 
56.21 	the commissioner's designee shall be a voting member. The first appointed board members 
56.22 	shall serve an initial term of four years, except where designated otherwise. The governor 
56.23 	shall then reappoint the current members or appoint replacement members, all or in part, to 
56.24 	subsequent three-year terms. Midterm vacancies shall be filled for the remaining portion 
56.25 	of the term. Vacancies occurring with less than six months time remaining in the term 
56.26 	shall be filled for the existing term and the following three-year term. Of the 11 appointed 
56.27 	members, the composition shall be as follows:
56.28 	(1) one member shall be a high pressure piping inspector;
56.29 	(2) one member shall be a licensed mechanical engineer, who shall be a nonvoting 
56.30 	member;
56.31 	(3) one member shall be a representative of the piping industry;
56.32 	(4) four members shall be high pressure piping contractors or their representatives, 
56.33 	engaged in the scope of high pressure piping, two from the metropolitan area and two 
56.34 	from greater Minnesota;
57.1 	(5) two members shall be high pressure piping journeypersons engaged in the 
57.2 	scope of high pressure piping systems installation, one from the metropolitan area and 
57.3 	one from greater Minnesota; and
57.4 	(6) two members shall be representatives from utility companies in Minnesota 
57.5 	who shall serve an initial term of two years.
57.6 	(b) Except for the licensed mechanical engineer and the members from utilities 
57.7 	companies, all persons appointed to the board must possess a current license or 
57.8 	competency credential required for contractors and persons engaged in the design, 
57.9 	installation, alteration, and inspection of high pressure systems.
57.10 		Subd. 2.Powers. (a) The board shall have the power to:
57.11 	(1) elect its own officers;
57.12 	(2) specify the high pressure piping code that must be followed in Minnesota;
57.13 	(3) maintain an appeals committee to make determinations regarding any complaints, 
57.14 	code amendments, code compliance, and code clarifications filed with the board;
57.15 	(4) adopt rules necessary for the regulation and licensing of contractors, 
57.16 	journeypersons, trainees, and other persons engaged in the design, installation, alteration, 
57.17 	and inspection of high pressure piping systems;
57.18 	(5) adopt rules necessary for continuing education for individuals regulated and 
57.19 	licensed under this section; and
57.20 	(6) pay expenses deemed necessary in the performance of board duties, including 
57.21 	rent, utilities, and supplies in the manner and amount specified in section 43A.18, 
57.22 	subdivision 2.
57.23 	(b) Complaints filed under this section may originate with high pressure piping 
57.24 	inspectors, contractors, or their employees, or other persons engaged in the design, 
57.25 	installation, and alteration of a high pressure piping system. The board shall make their 
57.26 	findings known to all parties and the commissioner of the Department of Labor and 
57.27 	Industry within the time period specified by the board.
57.28 		Subd. 3.Fee and finances. The board shall submit an annual budget to the 
57.29 	commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry. The commissioner shall collect 
57.30 	fees necessary for the operation and continuance of the board. The commissioner is 
57.31 	responsible for the enforcement of the codes and licensing requirements determined by the 
57.32 	board. The board shall set the fees for licenses and certification under this section and for 
57.33 	all high pressure piping system permits and submit the fee structure to the commissioner 
57.34 	of labor and industry. Funds collected under section 326.50 shall be transferred to the 
57.35 	board quarterly to meet ongoing budgetary needs of the board.

58.1 	Sec. 66. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 326.975, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
58.2 		Subdivision 1.Generally. (a) In addition to any other fees, each applicant for a 
58.3 	license under sections 326.83 to 326.98 shall pay a fee to the contractor's recovery fund. 
58.4 	The contractor's recovery fund is created in the state treasury and must be administered 
58.5 	by the commissioner in the manner and subject to all the requirements and limitations 
58.6 	provided by section 82.43~~with the following exceptions:~~.
58.7 	~~(1) each licensee who renews a license shall pay in addition to the appropriate~~ 
58.8 	~~renewal fee an additional fee which shall be credited to the contractor's recovery fund. The~~ 
58.9 	~~amount of the fee shall be based on the licensee's gross annual receipts for the licensee's~~ 
58.10 	~~most recent fiscal year preceding the renewal, on the following scale:~~

58.11 | | ~~Fee~~ | ~~Gross Receipts~~
58.12 | | ~~$100~~ | ~~under $1,000,000~~
58.13 | | ~~$150~~ | ~~$1,000,000 to $5,000,000~~
58.14 | | ~~$200~~ | ~~over $5,000,000~~
58.15 	~~Any person who receives a new license shall pay a fee based on the same scale;~~
58.16 	~~(2)~~ (b) The purpose of this fund is:
58.17 	~~(i)~~(1) to compensate any aggrieved owner or lessee of residential property located 
58.18 	within this state who obtains a final judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction 
58.19 	against a licensee licensed under section 326.84, on grounds of fraudulent, deceptive, or 
58.20 	dishonest practices, conversion of funds, or failure of performance arising directly out 
58.21 	of any transaction when the judgment debtor was licensed and performed any of the 
58.22 	activities enumerated under section 326.83, subdivision 19, on the owner's residential 
58.23 	property or on residential property rented by the lessee, or on new residential construction 
58.24 	which was never occupied prior to purchase by the owner, or which was occupied by the 
58.25 	licensee for less than one year prior to purchase by the owner, and which cause of action 
58.26 	arose on or after April 1, 1994; and
58.27 	~~(ii)~~(2) to reimburse the Department of Commerce for all legal and administrative 
58.28 	expenses, including staffing costs, incurred in administering the fund~~;~~.
58.29 	~~(3)~~ Nothing may obligate the fund for more than $50,000 per claimant, nor more 
58.30 	than $75,000 per licensee~~; and~~.
58.31 	~~(4)~~ Nothing may obligate the fund for claims based on a cause of action that arose 
58.32 	before the licensee paid the recovery fund fee set in clause (1), or as provided in section 
58.33 	326.945, subdivision 3.
58.34 	~~(b)~~(c) Should the commissioner pay from the contractor's recovery fund any amount 
58.35 	in settlement of a claim or toward satisfaction of a judgment against a licensee, the 
58.36 	license shall be automatically suspended upon the effective date of an order by the court 
59.1 	authorizing payment from the fund. No licensee shall be granted reinstatement until the 
59.2 	licensee has repaid in full, plus interest at the rate of 12 percent a year, twice the amount 
59.3 	paid from the fund on the licensee's account, and has obtained a surety bond issued by an 
59.4 	insurer authorized to transact business in this state in the amount of at least $40,000.

59.5 	Sec. 67. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 326.992, is amended to read:
59.6 	326.992 BOND REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN CONTRACTORS.
59.7 	(a) A person contracting to do gas, heating, ventilation, cooling, air conditioning, 
59.8 	fuel burning, or refrigeration work must give bond to the state in the amount of 
59.9 	$25,000 for all work entered into within the state. The bond must be for the benefit of 
59.10 	persons suffering financial loss by reason of the contractor's failure to comply with the 
59.11 	requirements of the State Mechanical Code. A bond given to the state must be filed with 
59.12 	the commissioner of ~~administration~~labor and industry and is in lieu of all other bonds to 
59.13 	any political subdivision required for work covered by this section. The bond must be 
59.14 	written by a corporate surety licensed to do business in the state.
59.15 	(b) The commissioner of ~~administration~~labor and industry may charge each person 
59.16 	giving bond under this section an annual bond filing fee of $15. ~~The money must be~~ 
59.17 	~~deposited in a special revenue fund and is appropriated to the commissioner to cover the~~ 
59.18 	~~cost of administering the bond program.~~

59.19 	Sec. 68. [326B.04] DEPOSIT OF MONEY.
59.20 		Subdivision 1.Construction code fund. There is created in the state treasury 
59.21 	a construction code fund as a special revenue fund for the purpose of administering this 
59.22 	chapter, sections 327.31 to 327.36, and chapter 327B. All money collected under those 
59.23 	sections, except penalties, is credited to the construction code fund unless otherwise 
59.24 	specifically designated by law. Any interest or profit accruing from investment of these 
59.25 	sums is credited to the construction code fund. All money collected in the construction 
59.26 	code fund is appropriated to the commissioner of labor and industry to administer and 
59.27 	enforce the provisions of the laws identified in this section.
59.28 	Unless otherwise provided by law, all penalties assessed under this chapter, section 
59.29 	327.35, and chapter 327B are credited to the assigned risk safety account established 
59.30 	by section 79.253.
59.31 		Subd. 2.Deposits. All remaining balances as of June 30, 2007, in the state 
59.32 	government special revenue fund and special revenue fund accounts maintained for 
59.33 	the Building Codes and Standards Division, Board of Electricity, and plumbing and 
59.34 	engineering unit are transferred to the construction code fund. Unless otherwise 
60.1 	specifically designated by law: (1) all money collected under chapter 183 and sections 
60.2 	16B.59 to 16B.76; 144.122, paragraph (f); 326.241 to 326.248; 326.37 to 326.521; 326.57 
60.3 	to 326.65; 326.83 to 326.992; 327.31 to 327.36; and 327B.01 to 327B.12, except penalties, 
60.4 	is credited to the construction code fund; (2) all fees collected under section 45.23 in 
60.5 	connection with continuing education for residential contractors, residential remodelers, 
60.6 	and residential roofers are credited to the construction code fund; and (3) all penalties 
60.7 	assessed under the sections set forth in clauses (1) and (2) and all penalties assessed under 
60.8 	sections 144.99 to 144.993 in connection with any violation of sections 326.37 to 326.45 
60.9 	or 326.57 to 327.65 or the rules adopted under those sections are credited to the assigned 
60.10 	risk safety account established by section 79.253.

60.11 	Sec. 69. [326B.89] CONTRACTOR RECOVERY FUND.
60.12 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms 
60.13 	have the meanings given them.
60.14 	(b) "Gross annual receipts" means the total amount derived from residential 
60.15 	contracting or residential remodeling activities, regardless of where the activities are 
60.16 	performed, and must not be reduced by costs of goods sold, expenses, losses, or any 
60.17 	other amount.
60.18 	(c) "Licensee" means a person licensed as a residential contractor or residential 
60.19 	remodeler.
60.20 	(d) "Residential real estate" means a new or existing building constructed for 
60.21 	habitation by one to four families, and includes detached garages.
60.22 	(e) "Fund" means the contractor recovery fund.
60.23 		Subd. 2.Generally. The contractor recovery fund is created in the state treasury 
60.24 	and shall be administered by the commissioner for the purposes described in this section. 
60.25 	Any interest or profit accruing from investment of money in the fund shall be credited 
60.26 	to the contractor recovery fund.
60.27 		Subd. 3.Fund fees. In addition to any other fees, a person who applies for or 
60.28 	renews a license under sections 326.83 to 326.98 shall pay a fee to the fund. The person 
60.29 	shall pay, in addition to the appropriate application or renewal fee, the following additional 
60.30 	fee that shall be deposited in the fund. The amount of the fee shall be based on the person's 
60.31 	gross annual receipts for the person's most recent fiscal year preceding the application or 
60.32 	renewal, on the following scale:

60.33 | | Fee | Gross Annual Receipts |
60.34 | | $160 | under $1,000,000 |
61.1 | | $210 | $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 |
61.2 | | $260 | over $5,000,000 |
61.3 		Subd. 4.Purpose of fund. The purpose of this fund is to:
61.4 	(1) compensate owners or lessees of residential real estate who meet the requirements 
61.5 	of this section;
61.6 	(2) reimburse the department for all legal and administrative expenses, 
61.7 	disbursements, and costs, including staffing costs, incurred in administering and defending 
61.8 	the fund;
61.9 	(3) pay for educational or research projects in the field of residential contracting to 
61.10 	further the purposes of sections 326B.801 to 326B.825; and
61.11 	(4) provide information to the public on residential contracting issues.
61.12 		Subd. 5.Payment limitations. Except as otherwise provided in this section, 
61.13 	the commissioner shall not pay compensation from the fund to an owner or a lessee 
61.14 	in an amount greater than $75,000. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the 
61.15 	commissioner shall not pay compensation from the fund to owners and lessees in an 
61.16 	amount that totals more than $150,000 per licensee. The commissioner shall not pay 
61.17 	compensation from the fund for a final judgment based on a cause of action that arose 
61.18 	before the commissioner's receipt of the licensee's fee required by subdivision 3.
61.19 		Subd. 6.Verified application. To be eligible for compensation from the fund, an 
61.20 	owner or lessee shall serve on the commissioner a verified application for compensation 
61.21 	on a form approved by the commissioner. The application shall verify the following 
61.22 	information:
61.23 	(1) the specific grounds upon which the owner or lessee seeks to recover from 
61.24 	the fund:
61.25 	(2) that the owner or the lessee has obtained a final judgment in a court of competent 
61.26 	jurisdiction against a licensee licensed under section 326B.803;
61.27 	(3) that the final judgment was obtained against the licensee on the grounds of 
61.28 	fraudulent, deceptive, or dishonest practices, conversion of funds, or failure of performance 
61.29 	that arose directly out of a transaction that occurred when the licensee was licensed and 
61.30 	performing any of the special skills enumerated under section 326B.802, subdivision 19;
61.31 	(4) the amount of the owner's or the lessee's actual and direct out-of-pocket loss on 
61.32 	the owner's residential real estate, on residential real estate leased by the lessee, or on new 
61.33 	residential real estate that has never been occupied or that was occupied by the licensee 
61.34 	for less than one year prior to purchase by the owner;
61.35 	(5) that the residential real estate is located in Minnesota;
62.1 	(6) that the owner or the lessee is not the spouse of the licensee or the personal 
62.2 	representative of the licensee;
62.3 	(7) the amount of the final judgment, any amount paid in satisfaction of the final 
62.4 	judgment, and the amount owing on the final judgment as of the date of the verified 
62.5 	application; and
62.6 	(8) that the verified application is being served within two years after the judgment 
62.7 	became final.
62.8 	The owner's and the lessee's actual and direct out-of-pocket loss shall not include 
62.9 	attorney fees, interest on the loss, and interest on the final judgment obtained as a result of 
62.10 	the loss. An owner or lessee may serve a verified application regardless of whether the 
62.11 	final judgment has been discharged by a bankruptcy court. A judgment issued by a court is 
62.12 	final if all proceedings on the judgment have either been pursued and concluded or been 
62.13 	forgone, including all reviews and appeals. For purposes of this section, owners who are 
62.14 	joint tenants or tenants in common are deemed to be a single owner. For purposes of this 
62.15 	section, owners and lessees eligible for payment of compensation from the fund shall not 
62.16 	include government agencies, political subdivisions, financial institutions, and any other 
62.17 	entity that purchases, guarantees, or insures a loan secured by real estate.
62.18 		Subd. 7.Commissioner review. The commissioner shall within 120 days after 
62.19 	receipt of the verified application:
62.20 	(1) enter into an agreement with an owner or a lessee that resolves the verified 
62.21 	application for compensation from the fund; or
62.22 	(2) issue an order to the owner or the lessee accepting, modifying, or denying the 
62.23 	verified application for compensation from the fund.
62.24 	Upon receipt of an order issued under clause (2), the owner or the lessee shall have 
62.25 	30 days to serve upon the commissioner a written request for a hearing. If the owner or 
62.26 	the lessee does not serve upon the commissioner a timely written request for hearing, the 
62.27 	order issued under clause (2) shall become a final order of the commissioner that may not 
62.28 	be reviewed by any court or agency. The commissioner shall order compensation from 
62.29 	the fund only if the owner or the lessee has filed a verified application that complies with 
62.30 	subdivision 6 and if the commissioner determines based on review of the application that 
62.31 	compensation should be paid from the fund. The commissioner shall not be bound by any 
62.32 	prior settlement, compromise, or stipulation between the owner or the lessee and the 
62.33 	licensee.
62.34 		Subd. 8.Administrative hearing. If an owner or a lessee timely serves a request 
62.35 	for hearing under subdivision 7, the commissioner shall request that an administrative law 
62.36 	judge be assigned and that a hearing be conducted under the contested case provisions 
63.1 	of chapter 14 within 30 days after the service of the request for hearing upon the 
63.2 	commissioner. Upon petition of the commissioner, the administrative law judge shall 
63.3 	continue the hearing up to 60 days and upon a showing of good cause may continue the 
63.4 	hearing for such additional period as the administrative law judge deems appropriate. 
63.5 	At the hearing the owner or the lessee shall have the burden of proving by substantial 
63.6 	evidence under subdivision 6, clauses (1) to (8). The administrative law judge shall issue 
63.7 	findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order. If the administrative law judge finds that 
63.8 	compensation should be paid to the owner or the lessee, the administrative law judge 
63.9 	shall order the commissioner to make payment from the fund of the amount it finds to be 
63.10 	payable pursuant to the provisions of and in accordance with the limitations contained in 
63.11 	this section. The order of the administrative law judge shall constitute the final decision of 
63.12 	the agency in the contested case. Judicial review of the administrative law judge's findings 
63.13 	of fact, conclusions of law, and order shall be in accordance with sections 14.63 to 14.69.
63.14 		Subd. 9.Satisfaction of applications for compensation. The commissioner shall 
63.15 	pay compensation from the fund to an owner or a lessee pursuant to the terms of an 
63.16 	agreement that has been entered into under subdivision 7, clause (1), or pursuant to a final 
63.17 	order that has been issued under subdivision 7, clause (2), or subdivision 8 by December 1 
63.18 	of the fiscal year following the fiscal year during which the agreement was entered into or 
63.19 	during which the order became final, subject to the limitations of this section. At the end 
63.20 	of each fiscal year the commissioner shall calculate the amount of compensation to be 
63.21 	paid from the fund pursuant to agreements that have been entered into under subdivision 
63.22 	7, clause (1), and final orders that have been issued under subdivision 7, clause (2), or 
63.23 	subdivision 8. If the calculated amount exceeds the amount available for payment, then 
63.24 	the commissioner shall allocate the amount available among the owners and the lessees 
63.25 	in the ratio that the amount agreed to or ordered to be paid to each owner or lessee 
63.26 	bears to the amount calculated. The commissioner shall mail notice of the allocation to 
63.27 	all owners and lessees not less than 45 days following the end of the fiscal year. Any 
63.28 	compensation paid by the commissioner in accordance with this subdivision shall be 
63.29 	deemed to satisfy and extinguish any right to compensation from the fund based upon the 
63.30 	verified application of the owner or lessee.
63.31 		Subd. 10.Criminal penalty. It shall be unlawful for any person or the agent of any 
63.32 	person to knowingly file with the commissioner any application, notice, statement, or other 
63.33 	document required under the provisions of this section that is false or untrue or contains 
63.34 	any material misstatement of fact. Such conduct shall constitute a gross misdemeanor.
63.35 		Subd. 11.Right of subrogation. If the commissioner pays compensation from the 
63.36 	fund to an owner or a lessee pursuant to an agreement under subdivision 7, clause (1), or a 
64.1 	final order issued under subdivision 7, clause (2), or subdivision 8, then the commissioner 
64.2 	shall be subrogated to all of the rights, title, and interest in the owner's or lessee's final 
64.3 	judgment in the amount of compensation paid from the fund and the owner or the lessee 
64.4 	shall assign to the commissioner all rights, title, and interest in the final judgment in 
64.5 	the amount of compensation paid. The commissioner shall deposit in the fund money 
64.6 	recovered under this subdivision.
64.7 		Subd. 12.Effect of section on commissioner's authority. Nothing contained 
64.8 	in this section shall limit the authority of the commissioner to take disciplinary action 
64.9 	against a licensee under the provisions of this chapter. A licensee's repayment in full of 
64.10 	obligations to the fund shall not nullify or modify the effect of any other disciplinary 
64.11 	proceeding brought under the provisions of this chapter.
64.12 		Subd. 13.Limitation. Nothing may obligate the fund to compensate:
64.13 	(1) insurers or sureties under subrogation or similar theories; or
64.14 	(2) owner of residential property for final judgments against a prior owner of the 
64.15 	residential property unless the claim is brought and judgment is rendered for breach of the 
64.16 	statutory warranty set forth in chapter 327A.
64.17 		Subd. 14.Condominiums or townhouses. For purposes of this section, the owner 
64.18 	or the lessee of a condominium or townhouse is considered an owner or a lessee of 
64.19 	residential property regardless of the number of residential units per building.
64.20 		Subd. 15.Accelerated compensation. (a) Payments made from the fund to 
64.21 	compensate owners and lessees that do not exceed the jurisdiction limits for conciliation 
64.22 	court matters as specified in section 491A.01 may be paid on an accelerated basis if all of 
64.23 	the requirements in paragraphs (b) and (c) have been satisfied.
64.24 	(b) The owner or the lessee has served upon the commissioner a verified application 
64.25 	for compensation that complies with the requirements set out in subdivision 6 and the 
64.26 	commissioner determines based on review of the application that compensation should be 
64.27 	paid from the fund. The commissioner shall calculate the actual and direct out-of-pocket 
64.28 	loss in the transaction, minus attorney fees, interest on the loss and on the judgment 
64.29 	obtained as a result of the loss, and any satisfaction of the judgment, and make payment 
64.30 	to the owner or the lessee up to the conciliation court jurisdiction limits within 15 days 
64.31 	after the owner or lessee serves the verified application.
64.32 	(c) The commissioner may pay compensation to owners or lessees that totals not 
64.33 	more than $50,000 per licensee per fiscal year under this accelerated process. The 
64.34 	commissioner may prorate the amount of compensation paid to owners or lessees under 
64.35 	this subdivision if applications submitted by owners and lessees seek compensation in 
64.36 	excess of $50,000 against a licensee. Any unpaid portion of a verified application that 
65.1 	has been prorated under this subdivision shall be satisfied in the manner set forth in 
65.2 	subdivision 9.
65.3 		Subd. 16.Appropriation. Money in the fund is appropriated to the commissioner 
65.4 	for the purposes of this section.
65.5 		Subd. 17.Additional assessment. If the balance in the fund is at any time less than 
65.6 	the commissioner determines is necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, every 
65.7 	licensee, when renewing a license, shall pay, in addition to the annual renewal fee and 
65.8 	the fee set forth in subdivision 3 an assessment not to exceed $100. The commissioner 
65.9 	shall set the amount of assessment based on a reasonable determination of the amount 
65.10 	that is necessary to restore a balance in the fund that is adequate to carry out the purposes 
65.11 	of this section.

65.12 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective December 1, 2007, except that 
65.13 	subdivisions 1, 3, and 16 are effective July 1, 2007.

65.14 	Sec. 70. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 327.33, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
65.15 		Subd. 2.Fees. The commissioner shall by rule establish reasonable fees for seals, 
65.16 	installation seals and inspections which are sufficient to cover all costs incurred in the 
65.17 	administration of sections  327.31 to  327.35. The commissioner shall also establish by 
65.18 	rule a monitoring inspection fee in an amount that will comply with the secretary's fee 
65.19 	distribution program. This monitoring inspection fee shall be an amount paid by the 
65.20 	manufacturer for each manufactured home produced in Minnesota. The monitoring 
65.21 	inspection fee shall be paid by the manufacturer to the secretary. The rules of the 
65.22 	fee distribution program require the secretary to distribute the fees collected from all 
65.23 	manufactured home manufacturers among states approved and conditionally approved 
65.24 	based on the number of new manufactured homes whose first location after leaving the 
65.25 	manufacturer is on the premises of a distributor, dealer or purchaser in that state. ~~All~~ 
65.26 	~~money collected by the commissioner through fees prescribed by sections  327.31 to~~ 
65.27 	~~327.36 shall be deposited in the state government special revenue fund and is appropriated~~ 
65.28 	~~to the commissioner for the purpose of administering and enforcing the Manufactured~~ 
65.29 	~~Home Building Code under sections  327.31 to  327.36.~~

65.30 	Sec. 71. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 327.33, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
65.31 		Subd. 6.Authorization as agency. The commissioner shall apply to the secretary 
65.32 	for approval of the commissioner as the administrative agency for the regulation of 
65.33 	manufactured homes under the rules of the secretary. The commissioner may make 
65.34 	rules for the administration and enforcement of department responsibilities as a state 
66.1 	administrative agency including, but not limited to, rules for the handling of citizen's 
66.2 	complaints. All money received for services provided by the commissioner or the 
66.3 	department's authorized agents as a state administrative agency shall be deposited in 
66.4 	the ~~general~~ construction code fund. The commissioner is charged with the adoption, 
66.5 	administration, and enforcement of the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety 
66.6 	Standards, consistent with rules and regulations promulgated by the United States 
66.7 	Department of Housing and Urban Development. The commissioner may adopt the 
66.8 	rules, codes, and standards necessary to enforce the standards promulgated under this 
66.9 	section. The commissioner is authorized to conduct hearings and presentations of views 
66.10 	consistent with regulations adopted by the United States Department of Housing and 
66.11 	Urban Development and to adopt rules in order to carry out this function.

66.12 	Sec. 72. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 327B.04, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
66.13 		Subd. 7.Fees; licenses; when granted. Each application for a license or license 
66.14 	renewal must be accompanied by a fee in an amount established by the commissioner 
66.15 	by rule pursuant to section  327B.10. The fees shall be set in an amount which over 
66.16 	the fiscal biennium will produce revenues approximately equal to the expenses which 
66.17 	the commissioner expects to incur during that fiscal biennium while administering and 
66.18 	enforcing sections  327B.01 to  327B.12. ~~All money collected by the commissioner~~ 
66.19 	~~through fees prescribed in sections  327B.01 to  327B.12 shall be deposited in the state~~ 
66.20 	~~government special revenue fund and is appropriated to the commissioner for purposes of~~ 
66.21 	~~administering and enforcing the provisions of this chapter.~~ The commissioner shall grant 
66.22 	or deny a license application or a renewal application within 60 days of its filing. If the 
66.23 	license is granted, the commissioner shall license the applicant as a dealer or manufacturer 
66.24 	for the remainder of the calendar year. Upon application by the licensee, the commissioner 
66.25 	shall renew the license for a two year period, if: 
66.26 	(a) the renewal application satisfies the requirements of subdivisions 3 and 4;
66.27 	(b) the renewal applicant has made all listings, registrations, notices and reports 
66.28 	required by the commissioner during the preceding year; and
66.29 	(c) the renewal applicant has paid all fees owed pursuant to sections  327B.01 to  
66.30 	327B.12 and all taxes, arrearages, and penalties owed to the state. 

66.31 	Sec. 73. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 462A.21, subdivision 8b, is amended to read:
66.32 		Subd. 8b.Family rental housing. It may establish a family rental housing 
66.33 	assistance program to provide loans or direct rental subsidies for housing for families 
66.34 	with incomes of up to 80 percent of state median income, or to provide grants for the 
67.1 	operating cost of public housing. Priority must be given to those developments with 
67.2 	resident families with the lowest income. The development may be financed by the 
67.3 	agency or other public or private lenders. Direct rental subsidies must be administered by 
67.4 	the agency for the benefit of eligible families. Financial assistance provided under this 
67.5 	subdivision to recipients of aid to families with dependent children must be in the form 
67.6 	of vendor payments whenever possible. Loans, grants, and direct rental subsidies under 
67.7 	this subdivision may be made only with specific appropriations by the legislature. The 
67.8 	limitations on eligible mortgagors contained in section 462A.03, subdivision 13, do not 
67.9 	apply to loans for the rehabilitation of existing housing under this subdivision. 

67.10 	Sec. 74. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 462A.33, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
67.11 		Subd. 3.Contribution requirement. Fifty percent of the funds appropriated for 
67.12 	this section must be used for challenge grants or loans ~~which meet the requirements of this~~ 
67.13 	~~subdivision~~ for housing proposals with financial or in-kind contributions from nonstate 
67.14 	resources that reduce the need for deferred loan or grant funds from state resources. ~~These~~
67.15 	Challenge grants or loans must be used for economically viable homeownership or rental 
67.16 	housing proposals that~~:~~
67.17 	~~(1) include a financial or in-kind contribution from an area employer and either a unit~~ 
67.18 	~~of local government or a private philanthropic, religious, or charitable organization; and~~
67.19 	~~(2)~~ address the housing needs of the local work force. Among comparable 
67.20 	proposals, preference shall be given to proposals that include contributions from nonstate 
67.21 	resources for the greatest portion of the total development cost. Comparable proposals 
67.22 	with contributions from local units of government or private philanthropic, religious, or 
67.23 	charitable organizations shall be given preference in awarding grants or loans.
67.24 	For the purpose of this subdivision, ~~an employer~~ a contribution may consist partially 
67.25 	or wholly of the premium paid for federal housing tax credits.
67.26 	~~Preference for grants and loans shall also be given to comparable proposals that~~ 
67.27 	~~include a financial or in-kind contribution from a unit of local government, an area~~ 
67.28 	~~employer, and a private philanthropic, religious, or charitable organization.~~

67.29 	Sec. 75. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 471.471, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
67.30 		Subd. 4.Application process. A person seeking a waiver shall apply to the 
67.31 	~~Building Code and Standards Division of the~~ Department of ~~Administration~~ Labor and 
67.32 	Industry on a form prescribed by the board and pay a $70 fee to the construction code 
67.33 	fund. The division shall review the application to determine whether it appears to be 
67.34 	meritorious, using the standards set out in subdivision 3. The division shall forward 
68.1 	applications it considers meritorious to the board, along with a list and summary of 
68.2 	applications considered not to be meritorious. The board may require the division to 
68.3 	forward to it an application the division has considered not to be meritorious. The board 
68.4 	shall issue a decision on an application within 90 days of its receipt. A board decision 
68.5 	to approve an application must be unanimous. An application that contains false or 
68.6 	misleading information must be rejected.

68.7 	Sec. 76. HARNESS RACETRACK STUDY.
 68.8 	The commissioner of employment and economic development shall analyze the 
68.9 	economic impact of a harness racetrack and card club in the city of Columbus. The 
68.10 	analysis should include the financial impact if the current law requirement of 50 days of 
68.11 	racing was waived and if all-breed simulcasting was allowed. The study may incorporate 
68.12 	any previous studies or analyses that may have been conducted on the harness racetrack 
68.13 	and card club in the city of Columbus. By January 4, 2008, the commissioner shall present 
68.14 	a report to the senate and house of representatives committees that have jurisdiction over 
68.15 	economic development finance.

68.16 	Sec. 77. STUDY.
 68.17 	The commissioner of labor and industry shall study ways to require workers' 
68.18 	compensation insurers to recognize compliance with section 3 in the workers' 
68.19 	compensation premiums of health care and long-term care facilities. The commissioner 
68.20 	shall report by January 15, 2008, the results of the study to the chairs of the policy 
68.21 	committees of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over workers' compensation issues.

68.22 	Sec. 78. SECURITY FILING FEES.
 68.23 	The commissioner of commerce must not refund any fee collected under Minnesota 
68.24 	Statutes, section 80A.28, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), beginning with fiscal year 2007.

68.25 	Sec. 79.  REPEALER.
 68.26 	(a) Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 16B.747, subdivision 4; 16C.18, subdivision 
68.27 	2; 183.375, subdivision 5; 183.545, subdivision 9; 326.241, subdivision 3; 326.44; 326.52; 
68.28 	and 326.64, are repealed.
68.29 	(b) Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 326.975, is repealed effective December 
68.30 	1, 2007.

68.31 	Sec. 80. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 69.1 	Unless another effective date is expressly provided, this act is effective July 1, 2007.