1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to public safety; creating advisory task force to study fire protection 
1.3 	and first responder services.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. FIRE PROTECTION AND FIRST RESPONDER SERVICES 
1.6 	ADVISORY TASK FORCE.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Establishment and purpose. An advisory task force is established 
1.8 	to study and make possible recommendations on best management practices and options 
1.9 	for reducing service delivery costs related to fire protection and first responder services. 
1.10 	Issues to be examined and discussed include, but are not limited to:
1.11 	(1) identification of required and desired fire protection and first responder service 
1.12 	levels in different types of communities across the state;
1.13 	(2) identification of current cost factors for providing such services;
1.14 	(3) identification of options for reducing costs, including alternative service delivery 
1.15 	and administrative options, as well as best practices suggestions for service delivery;
1.16 	(4) establishment of equitable cost-sharing formulas; and
1.17 	(5) effective and efficient use of special service districts.
1.18 		Subd. 2.Membership. (a) The task force is comprised of the following members:
1.19 	(1) two members of the senate, including one from the majority party, appointed 
1.20 	by the majority leader of the senate, and one from the minority party, appointed by the 
1.21 	senate minority leader;
1.22 	(2) two members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the 
1.23 	house and one appointed by the minority leader;
2.1 	(3) three representatives of city interests, at least one of whom must represent a 
2.2 	city with a population under 5,000, another who must represent a city with a population 
2.3 	under 1,000, and at least one who must be an elected city official, to be appointed by 
2.4 	the League of Minnesota Cities;
2.5 	(4) three representatives of town interests, appointed by the Minnesota Association 
2.6 	of Townships, at least one of whom must be a town supervisor;
2.7 	(5) two members of the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs' Association appointed by 
2.8 	the association; and
2.9 	(6) two members of the Minnesota Ambulance Association appointed by the 
2.10 	association.
2.11 	(b) Each appointing authority shall appoint its members no later than 45 days 
2.12 	after the day following final enactment or July 1, 2012, whichever is earlier. In making 
2.13 	appointments, each appointing authority shall consider geographic balance. Appointments 
2.14 	must be reported to the senate majority leader. Members shall serve without compensation.
2.15 		Subd. 3.Meetings. The senator appointed from the majority party shall convene 
2.16 	the first meeting of the task force no later than August 1, 2012. At the first meeting, 
2.17 	the members shall elect one of the nonlegislator members to be the chair. The chair is 
2.18 	responsible for scheduling all subsequent meetings of the task force.
2.19 		Subd. 4.Report. The task force shall report its findings and any recommendations, 
2.20 	including draft legislation, to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over local 
2.21 	government by February 1, 2013. The task force shall also provide copies of its report to 
2.22 	the Legislative Reference Library pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 3.195.

2.23 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment 
2.24 	and expires February 15, 2013, or the day following submission of the report required by 
2.25 	subdivision 4, whichever is later.