1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to Minnesota heritage; establishing a Minnesota State Anthem 
1.3 	Commission.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.
 1.6 	The legislature finds and declares that it is in the interest of the state of Minnesota 
1.7 	to adopt an official and unique state anthem. The current state song, "Hail Minnesota," 
1.8 	does not have statutory designation as the official state song and is not widely known by 
1.9 	the citizens of the state.

1.10 	Sec. 2. MINNESOTA STATE ANTHEM COMMISSION.
 1.11 	(a) A Minnesota State Anthem Commission is established to recommend an official 
1.12 	state anthem for adoption by the legislature. The commission shall consist of nine 
1.13 	members. Four members shall be appointed by the president of the Minnesota Music 
1.14 	Educators Association in consultation with that organization's board of directors; four 
1.15 	members shall be appointed by the executive director of the Minnesota Sesquicentennial 
1.16 	Commission in consultation with sesquicentennial commission members; and one member 
1.17 	shall be appointed by the governor. Members of the commission shall be appointed and 
1.18 	the commission must convene its first meeting within 30 days of enactment of this section. 
1.19 	Members of the commission serve without compensation.
1.20 	(b) The commission shall solicit musical compositions from the public. Only legal 
1.21 	residents of Minnesota are eligible to submit musical compositions for consideration 
1.22 	by the commission.
2.1 	(c) The commission must recommend a new state anthem to the chairs of the 
2.2 	standing committees of the House of Representatives and Senate having jurisdiction over 
2.3 	state governmental operations by December 31, 2008.
2.4 	(d) The state humanities commission shall provide meeting space and administrative 
2.5 	support to the Minnesota State Anthem Commission.
2.6 	(e) The Minnesota State Anthem Commission expires January 1, 2009.

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