2006 Minnesota Statutes

375A.13 COUNTY GOVERNMENT STUDY COMMISSION.
    Subdivision 1. Appointment by district judge. A county government study commission
hereinafter called "the commission" may be established in any county as provided in this section
to study the form and structure of county government in the county and other counties both
within and outside this state and, if deemed advisable by the commission, recommend to the
voters of the county the adoption of any of the optional forms of county government contained
in sections 375A.01 to 375A.13. The commission shall be established upon presentation of a
petition requesting such action signed by voters equal in number to five percent of the electors
voting at the last previous election for the office of governor or a resolution of the board of
county commissioners of the county requesting such action. Appointments to the commission
shall be made by order filed with the court administrator of the district court of the county and
shall be made by the senior judge having chambers in the county. If there be no judge having
chambers in the county, appointments shall be made by the chief judge of the judicial district. The
number on the study commission shall be set by the appointing judge but not to exceed 15. A
noncommissioner from each commissioner district shall be appointed to a study commission. In
addition three members shall be county commissioners and two shall be elected county officials.
An appointee who neglects to file with the court administrator within 15 days a written acceptance
shall be deemed to have declined the appointment and the place shall be filled as though the
appointee had resigned. Vacancies in the commission shall be filled as in the case of original
appointments. The county board, the commission, or the petitioners requesting the appointment of
the commission may submit to the appointing judge the names of eligible nominees which the
appointing judge may consider in making appointments to the commission.
    Subd. 2. Compensation; expenses. The members of the commission shall serve without
compensation but may be reimbursed their necessary expenses in carrying out the business of
the commission. The commission may employ and determine the compensation of such staff
as it deems necessary. The necessary expenses of the commission and the cost of printing the
commission's report and recommendations shall be paid by the county if so ordered by the
commission. The amount of reasonable and necessary commission expenses that shall be so paid
by the county shall not exceed in any one year the sum of $5,000 but the county board may
authorize additional commission expenses as it deems necessary. The county board may levy a tax
annually on the taxable property in the county to pay such expenses.
    Subd. 3. Duration. The commission's activity shall be limited to one year from the date
of the order of the appointing judge but the appointing judge may extend the duration of the
committee's activities for such period as the judge shall determine but not to exceed one year.
    Subd. 4. Commission reports. The commission shall file its final report not later than
one year after the commission is established unless its activity is extended by the appointing
judge, in which case the final report shall be filed on or before the last day of the extension. The
commission may file a partial report at any time. Commission reports shall be signed by not less
than a majority of the members of the commission and shall state the scope of its study and its
recommendations that a change is not necessary or desirable or that one or more of the options
provided in sections 375A.01 to 375A.13 be implemented but may include such other conclusions
or recommendations as the commission determines. If the report contains a recommendation that
a referendum be held on an option, the referendum shall be held as provided in section 375A.12.
    Subd. 5. Successive commissions authorized. After a study commission has filed its final
report a new study commission may be established but not before three years shall have expired
after the filing of the commission report unless the appointing judge concurs in the request for
the appointment of a new study commission.
History: 1973 c 542 s 13; 1986 c 444; 1Sp1986 c 3 art 1 s 82; 1994 c 505 art 2 s 5; 2006
c 260 art 5 s 9