HF 195

1st Committee Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/16/2015 04:34pm

1.1A bill for an act

1.2relating to transportation; governing transit finance; establishing certain
1.3legislative authorization requirements related to light rail transit; amending
1.4certain state appropriations and funding obligations; prohibiting the Metropolitan
1.5Council from certain indebtedness;amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections
1.6398A.04, by adding a subdivision; 473.39, by adding a subdivision; 473.399,
1.7by adding a subdivision; 473.4051, subdivision 2.
1.8BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.9    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 398A.04, is amended by adding a
1.10subdivision to read:
1.11    Subd. 2b. Legislative authorization. The powers conferred to a regional rail
1.12authority under this chapter are subject to the requirements under section 473.399,
1.13subdivision 6.
1.14EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

1.15    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 473.39, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.16to read:
1.17    Subd. 6. Limitations. The council may not issue certificates of indebtedness,
1.18bonds, or other obligations secured in part or in whole by a pledge of motor vehicle sales
1.19tax revenue received under sections 16A.88 and 297B.09, or by a pledge of any earnings
1.20from the council's investment of motor vehicle sales tax revenues.
1.21EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.This section is effective the day following
1.22final enactment, and applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey,
1.23Scott, and Washington.

2.1    Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 473.399, is amended by adding a subdivision
2.2to read:
2.3    Subd. 6. Light rail transit development; legislative authorization. (a) The
2.4commissioner of transportation and any political subdivision, including but not limited to
2.5the Metropolitan Council, a regional railroad authority, a county, and a statutory or home
2.6rule charter city, may not complete an alternatives analysis or select a locally preferred
2.7alternative for a light rail transit project unless (1) a law is enacted that specifically identifies
2.8and authorizes the project, or (2) state funds are appropriated specifically for the project.
2.9(b) The powers conferred under sections 473.399 to 473.3999 to a responsible
2.10authority, as defined in section 473.3993, subdivision 4, are subject to the requirements
2.11under this subdivision.
2.12EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment,
2.13and applies for any project not approved by the Federal Transit Administration for
2.14preliminary engineering or a subsequent project phase as of the effective date of this
2.15section. That portion of this section that relates to the Metropolitan Council applies in the
2.16counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.

2.17    Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 473.4051, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.18    Subd. 2. Operating costs. After operating revenue and federal money have been
2.19used to pay for light rail transit operations, 50 100 percent of the remaining operating and
2.20ongoing maintenance costs must be paid by the state from nonstate sources. For purposes
2.21of this subdivision, state sources include but are not limited to general fund appropriations
2.22and revenue from the motor vehicle sales tax under chapter 297B.
2.23EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2015, and applies in the
2.24counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.

2.25    Sec. 5. METROPOLITAN COUNCIL; BASE APPROPRIATIONS.
2.26Notwithstanding Laws 2013, chapter 117, article 1, section 4, and Laws 2014,
2.27chapter 312, article 9, section 9, the base appropriation from the general fund to the
2.28Metropolitan Council for transit system operations under Minnesota Statutes, sections
2.29473.371 to 473.449, in each fiscal year is the greater of zero or:
2.30(1) $76,626,000; less
2.31(2) funds available to the council in that fiscal year under Minnesota Statutes, section
2.3216A.88, attributable to motor vehicle sales tax revenue under Minnesota Statutes, section
3.1297B.09; less funds appropriated to the council in fiscal year 2015 under Minnesota
3.2Statutes, section 16A.88, attributable to motor vehicle sales tax revenue.
3.3EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.