Bill Text: MN SF1935 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Legislative reforms on redistricting, legislative compensation council, continuing appropriations, unallotment and legislative integrity
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-20 - Referred to State Government Innovation and Veterans [SF1935 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2011-SF1935-Introduced.html
1.2relating to the legislature; enacting various reforms; establishing districting
1.3principles and providing for appointment of a commission to recommend
1.4boundaries of legislative and congressional districts; establishing a council to
1.5determine compensation for legislators; modifying the council that recommends
1.6compensation for executive and judicial officials; providing for funding for state
1.7government if a complete budget is not enacted by July 1 of an odd-numbered
1.8year; modifying authority of the executive branch to reduced unexpended
1.9allotments; prohibiting meetings at certain times; prohibiting officers of major
1.10political parties from being employed by the legislature; expanding economic
1.11disclosure requirements;amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 2.021;
1.123.055; 3.07; 3.18; 10A.09, subdivision 5; 15A.082, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4;
1.1316A.103, by adding a subdivision; 16A.152, subdivision 4; 204B.14, subdivision
1.141a; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 2; 15A; 16A.
1.15BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.18 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 2.021, is amended to read:
1.192.021 NUMBER OF MEMBERS.
1.20 Subdivision 1. Number of districts.For each legislature, until a new apportionment
1.21shall have been made, (a) The senate is composed of 67 members and the house of
1.22representatives is composed of 134 members. The membership is apportioned throughout
1.23the state in 67 senate districts and 134 house districts. Each senate district is entitled to
1.24elect one senator, and each house district is entitled to elect one representative.
1.25(b) A plan for congressional districts must have the number of districts apportioned
1.26to this state by the United States, each entitled to elect a single member.
2.1 Subd. 2. Nesting. A representative district may not be divided in the formation
2.2of a senate district.
2.3 Subd. 3. Equal population. (a) Legislative districts must be substantially equal
2.4in population. The population of a legislative district must not deviate from the ideal
2.5by more than two percent, plus or minus.
2.6 (b) Congressional districts must be as nearly equal in population as practicable.
2.7 Subd. 4. Contiguity; compactness. The districts must be composed of convenient
2.8contiguous territory structured into compact units. Contiguity by water is sufficient.
2.9Territory that touches only at a point is not contiguous, unless the territory is within the
2.10same city or town.
2.11 Subd. 5. Political competitiveness. The districts must be created to encourage
2.12political competitiveness, as defined by the commission established under section 2.025.
2.13 Subd. 6. Numbering. (a) The legislative districts must be numbered in a regular
2.14series, beginning with house district 1A in the northwest corner of the state and proceeding
2.15across the state from west to east, north to south, but bypassing the seven-county
2.16metropolitan area until the southeast corner has been reached; then to the seven-county
2.17metropolitan area outside the counties of Hennepin and Ramsey; then in Hennepin and
2.18finally in Ramsey.
2.19 (b) The congressional district numbers must begin with district one in the southeast
2.20corner of the state and end with the district with the highest number in the northeast
2.21corner of the state.
2.22 Subd. 7. Minority representation. The districts must not dilute the voting strength
2.23of racial or language minority populations. Where a concentration of a racial or language
2.24minority makes it possible, and it can be done in compliance with the other principles
2.25in this section, the districts must increase the probability that members of the minority
2.26will be elected.
2.27 Subd. 8. Preserving political subdivisions. A county, city, or town must not
2.28be divided into more than one district except as necessary to meet equal population
2.29requirements or to form districts that are composed of convenient, contiguous, and
2.30compact territory. When a county, city, or town must be divided into more than one
2.31district, it should be divided into as few districts as possible.
2.32 Subd. 9. Communities of interest. The districts should attempt to preserve
2.33communities of interest where that can be done in compliance with the preceding
2.34principles. For purposes of this principle, "communities of interest" include, but are
2.35not limited to, geographic areas where there are clearly recognizable similarities of
3.1social, political, cultural, ethnic, or economic interests, or that are linked by common
3.2transportation or communication.
3.3 Subd. 10. Incumbents. The districts must not be drawn for the purpose of
3.4protecting or defeating an incumbent.
3.5 Subd. 11. Priority. Where it is not possible to fully comply with the principles
3.6provided in subdivisions 1 to 10, a redistricting plan must give priority to those principles
3.7in the order in which the subdivisions are listed in this section, except to the extent that
3.8doing so would violate federal or state law.
3.9 Sec. 2. [2.025] REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.
3.10 Subdivision 1. Appointment. In each year ending in one a redistricting commission
3.11shall be established to draw the boundaries of legislative and congressional districts in
3.12accordance with the principles established in section 2.021. The commission consists of
3.13five retired judges of the appellate or district courts of this state who have not served in
3.14a party-designated or party-endorsed position, such as legislator, four of whom shall be
3.15appointed by the chief justice no later than March 1 of the year ending in one. The director
3.16of the Legislative Coordinating Commission shall convene a meeting of the four judges no
3.17later than March 15 of that year, at which meeting the four judges thus appointed shall,
3.18by a vote of at least three judges, appoint a fifth judge. The five judges shall select one
3.19of their number to serve as chair of the commission. In making appointments under this
3.20subdivision, consideration must be given to geographic balance among the members
3.21of the commission.
3.22 Subd. 2. Code of conduct. In performing their duties, the members of the
3.23commission shall abide by the Code of Judicial Conduct and are considered judicial
3.24officers within the meaning of section 609.415.
3.25 Subd. 3. Compensation and expenses. Members of the commission must be
3.26compensated for their commission activity as provided in section 15.0575, subdivision 3.
3.27 Subd. 4. Administrative support. The Legislative Coordinating Commission shall
3.28provide administrative support to the commission.
3.29 Subd. 5. Plans submitted to commission. The commission shall adopt a schedule
3.30for interested persons to submit proposed plans to the commission and to respond to
3.31plans proposed by others. The commission shall adopt standards to govern the format
3.32of plans submitted to it.
3.33 Subd. 6. Public hearings. The commission shall hold at least three public hearings
3.34in different geographical regions of the state before adopting any redistricting plans.
4.1 Subd. 7. Deadlines. (a) The commission shall submit to the legislature, by April
4.230 of the year ending in one, three proposed redistricting plans for legislative seats and
4.3three proposed plans for congressional seats. Any of these plans may be enacted or
4.4rejected by the legislature, but not modified. Each body of the legislature must vote on
4.5at least one legislative plan and one congressional plan proposed by the commission
4.6before adjustment in the year ending in one.
4.7(b) If the commission fails to submit a set of plans by the deadline, the legislature
4.8may proceed to enact a plan without waiting for the commission to submit its plans.
4.9 Subd. 8. Additional duties; litigation. In the event a plan for legislative or
4.10congressional districts is not enacted by the legislature, or a plan is enacted but challenged
4.11under federal or state law, the chief justice must give priority to members of the
4.12commission in making appointments to any panel that may be established to hear claims
4.13related to redistricting.
4.14 Subd. 9. Expiration. Except for duties required by subdivision 8, the commission
4.15expires when both legislative and congressional redistricting plans have been enacted into
4.16law or adopted by court order, or upon adjournment sine die of the legislature at its first
4.17regular session after each federal decennial census, whichever occurs first.
4.18 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 204B.14, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
4.19 Subd. 1a. Legislative policy. It is the intention of the legislature to complete
4.20congressional and legislative redistricting activities in time to permit counties and
4.21municipalities to begin the process of reestablishing precinct boundaries as soon as
4.22possible after the adoption of the congressional and legislative redistricting plans but in
4.23no case later than25 weeks before the state primary election in November 30 the year
4.24ending intwo one.
4.27 Section 1. [15A.0817] LEGISLATIVE COMPENSATION COUNCIL.
4.28Compensation for legislators must be determined by a council consisting of the
4.29following members: one person who is not a judge from each congressional district
4.30appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, and one member from each
4.31congressional district appointed by the governor. Half of the members appointed by
4.32the governor and half of the members appointed by the chief justice must belong to the
4.33political party that has the most members in the legislature. Half of the members appointed
4.34by the governor and half of the members appointed by the chief justice must belong
5.1to the political party that has the second-largest number of members in the legislature.
5.2None of the members of the council may be legislators. Members serve at the pleasure
5.3of the appointing authority, without compensation. The council must prescribe salaries
5.4and per diem by March 31 of each odd-numbered year and may prescribe other items of
5.5compensation. Any changes in compensation take effect on the first Monday in January in
5.6the following year.
5.7 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 15A.082, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
5.8 Subdivision 1. Creation.A An Executive and Judicial Compensation Council is
5.9created eacheven-numbered odd-numbered year to assist the legislature in establishing
5.10the compensation of constitutional officers,members of the legislature, justices of the
5.11Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals and district court, and the heads of state
5.12and metropolitan agencies included in section15A.0815 .
5.13 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 15A.082, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
5.14 Subd. 2. Membership. The Executive and Judicial Compensation Council consists
5.15of 16 members: two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of
5.16the house; two members of the senate appointed by the majority leader of the senate; one
5.17member of the house of representatives appointed by the minority leader of the house of
5.18representatives; one member of the senate appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
5.19two nonjudges appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court; and one member from
5.20each congressional district appointed by the governor, of whom no more than four may
5.21belong to the same political party. Appointments must be made byOctober 1 after the first
5.22Monday in January and before January 15. The compensation and removal of members
5.23appointed by the governor or the chief justice shall be as provided in section15.059,
5.24subdivisions 3 and 4 . The Legislative Coordinating Commission shall provide the council
5.25with administrative and support services.
5.26 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 15A.082, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
5.27 Subd. 3. Submission of recommendations. (a) ByMay 1 March 31 in each
5.28odd-numbered year, the Executive and Judicial Compensation Council shall submit to
5.29the speaker of the house and the president of the senate salary recommendations for
5.30constitutional officers,legislators, justices of the Supreme Court, and judges of the Court
5.31of Appeals and district court. The recommended salary for each office must take effect
5.32on the first Monday in January of the next odd-numbered year, with no more than one
5.33adjustment, to take effect on January 1 of the year after that. The salary recommendations
6.1forlegislators, judges, and constitutional officers take effect if an appropriation of money
6.2to pay the recommended salaries is enacted after the recommendations are submitted and
6.3before their effective date. Recommendations may be expressly modified or rejected.
6.4The salary recommendations for legislators are subject to additional terms that may be
6.5adopted according to section
3.099, subdivisions 1 and 3.
6.6(b) The council shall also submit to the speaker of the house and the president of
6.7the senate recommendations for the salary ranges of the heads of state and metropolitan
6.8agencies, to be effective retroactively from January 1 of that year if enacted into law. The
6.9recommendations shall include the appropriate group in section15A.0815 to which each
6.10agency head should be assigned and the appropriate limitation on the maximum range of
6.11the salaries of the agency heads in each group, expressed as a percentage of the salary of
6.12the governor.
6.13 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 15A.082, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
6.14 Subd. 4. Criteria. In making compensation recommendations, the Executive
6.15and Judicial Compensation Council shall consider the amount of compensation paid
6.16in government service and the private sector to persons with similar qualifications,
6.17the amount of compensation needed to attract and retain experienced and competent
6.18persons, and the ability of the state to pay the recommended compensation.In making
6.19recommendations for legislative compensation, the council shall also consider the
6.20average length of a legislative session, the amount of work required of legislators during
6.21interim periods, and opportunities to earn income from other sources without neglecting
6.22legislative duties.
6.25 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 16A.103, is amended by adding a
6.26subdivision to read:
6.27 Subd. 5. Continuing appropriations; statutory spending reductions and revenue
6.28increases. If the February forecast in an odd-numbered year predicts a budget deficit for
6.29the next budget biennium, the commissioner must include in the forecast report the size
6.30and scope of the expenditure cuts and income tax increases that would be required under
6.31section 16A.1175 if no major appropriation bills are enacted before July 1.
6.32 Sec. 2. [16A.117] CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS.
7.1 Subdivision 1. Appropriations continue at base level. If a major appropriation bill
7.2is not enacted before July 1 of an odd-numbered year, the existing appropriation amounts
7.3pertaining to that bill for the fiscal year ending that June 30 are in effect again at the
7.4base level for each fiscal year of the budget biennium beginning July 1. The base level
7.5is the amount appropriated for the fiscal year ending that June 30, except as otherwise
7.6provided by subdivision 2 or by other law. The amounts needed to implement this section
7.7are appropriated from each fund covered by this section. The house of representatives
7.8and the senate may adopt joint resolutions designating the major appropriations bills and
7.9specifying which appropriations pertain to each major appropriations bill for purposes
7.10of this section.
7.11 Subd. 2. Exceptions and adjustments. An appropriation remaining in effect under
7.12authority of subdivision 1 must be adjusted or discontinued as required by other law and
7.13in the following circumstances:
7.14 (1) in order to fully satisfy the fiscal obligations required by current law, the
7.15commissioner must adjust base spending levels for each forecasted program according to
7.16the forecast adjusted base spending level estimated by the commissioner in the February
7.17forecast;
7.18 (2) an appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30 of the odd-numbered year
7.19does not remain in effect for the fiscal year starting on July 1 if the legislature specifically
7.20designated the appropriation as a onetime appropriation, if the commissioner determines
7.21that the legislature clearly intended the appropriation to be onetime, or if the program for
7.22which the appropriation was made expires on or before July 1;
7.23 (3) if an appropriation remains in effect under authority of subdivision 1, but the
7.24program or activity that is the subject of the appropriation is scheduled to expire during a
7.25fiscal year, the commissioner must prorate the appropriation; or
7.26 (4) the commissioner may make technical adjustments to the amount of an
7.27appropriation to the extent the commissioner determines the technical adjustments are
7.28needed to accurately reflect the amount that constitutes the annual base level of the
7.29appropriation. The commissioner may make an adjustment under this paragraph only if
7.30one or more of the following conditions is met:
7.31 (i) the legislature previously appropriated money for a biennium, with the entire
7.32appropriation being allocated to one year of the biennium, and the commissioner
7.33determines an adjustment is necessary to accurately reflect the annual amount needed to
7.34maintain program operations at the same level;
8.1 (ii) laws or policies under which revenues and expenditures are accounted for have
8.2changed to eliminate or consolidate certain funds or accounts or to create new funds or
8.3accounts, and adjustments in appropriations are necessary to implement these changes;
8.4 (iii) duties have been transferred between agency programs, or between agencies,
8.5and adjustments in appropriations are necessary to reflect these transfers; or
8.6 (iv) a program, or changes to a program, were not fully operational in one fiscal year,
8.7but will be fully operational in the following year, and an adjustment to the appropriation
8.8is needed to accurately reflect the annual cost of the new or changed program.
8.9 The commissioner must give the chairs and lead minority caucus members of the
8.10senate Finance and house of representatives Ways and Means Committees written notice
8.11of any adjustments made under this subdivision.
8.12 Subd. 3. Allocation of surplus. If the commissioner anticipates that the
8.13appropriations required under subdivisions 1 and 2, plus any other appropriations enacted
8.14for the budget biennium beginning July 1 of the odd-numbered year, will leave a positive
8.15unrestricted budgetary general fund balance at the close of the biennium, the commissioner
8.16shall allocate this surplus as required by section 16A.152, subdivision 2.
8.17 Subd. 4. Effect of standard appropriations. If a major appropriation bill is
8.18enacted for the budget biennium beginning July 1 of an odd-numbered year, that bill
8.19shall supersede any continuing appropriations for that major appropriation bill under
8.20this section.
8.21 Subd. 5. Effect of a line-item veto. A line-item veto of the appropriation for a
8.22program within a major appropriation bill does not trigger a continuing appropriation at
8.23the base level for that program under this section.
8.24 Sec. 3. [16A.1175] FORECAST BUDGET DEFICIT; AUTOMATIC SPENDING
8.25CUTS AND TAX INCREASE.
8.26 Subdivision 1. Procedure. If the continuing appropriations required under section
8.2716A.117, plus any other appropriations enacted for the budget biennium beginning July
8.281 of the odd-numbered year, result in an anticipated budget deficit for the biennium
8.29beginning July 1, the commissioner shall eliminate 50 percent of the anticipated deficit by
8.30uniformly reducing all appropriations as provided in subdivision 2. The commissioner
8.31shall eliminate the remaining 50 percent by increasing income tax rates as provided in
8.32subdivision 3.
8.33 Subd. 2. Appropriations reduced uniformly. (a) Notwithstanding any other law,
8.34except as provided in paragraph (b), the commissioner shall apply the same percentage
8.35reduction to the base funding level or adjusted base funding level, when applicable, for
9.1each program that is to receive a continuing appropriation under section 16A.117. The
9.2commissioner shall apply the same percentage reduction to each appropriation otherwise
9.3enacted for the budget biennium beginning July 1 of the odd-numbered year.
9.4(b) The commissioner must ensure that sufficient funds are appropriated to satisfy all
9.5debt service obligations. The commissioner may not reduce funding for a program if the
9.6attorney general or a court of law issues a written legal opinion stating that the federal
9.7constitution, the state constitution, or another factor prohibits the state from reducing
9.8funding for the program in the same manner as other programs.
9.9 Subd. 3. Income tax rates increased uniformly. (a) The commissioner shall
9.10uniformly increase each of the income tax rates applicable to individuals, trusts, and
9.11estates under section290.06 , subdivision 2c, and the corporate franchise tax rate applicable
9.12to corporations under section290.06, subdivision 1 . The resulting rates apply to taxable
9.13years beginning after December 31 of the odd-numbered year. The commissioner shall
9.14notify the revisor of statutes of the increased rates, and the revisor shall publish the revised
9.15rates on the revisor's Web site and in the next edition of the Minnesota Statutes.
9.16 (b) The commissioner shall notify the commissioner of revenue of the increased
9.17rates. The commissioner of revenue shall prepare forms for taxable years beginning after
9.18December 31 of the odd-numbered year based on the modified tax rates and shall prepare
9.19and distribute new withholding tables for payroll periods beginning after December 31 of
9.20the odd-numbered year.
9.21 (c) For taxable years beginning during the odd-numbered year, no penalties or
9.22interest may be imposed on underpayments of estimated tax that result from an increase in
9.23tax rates imposed under this section.
9.26 Section 1. [16A.112] GENERAL FUND BALANCE ANALYSIS.
9.27After each legislative session that modifies general fund revenues or expenditures,
9.28the commissioner shall prepare a fund balance analysis showing forecast general fund
9.29revenues and expenditures for the current and next following bienniums, as modified by the
9.30laws enacted at that session. The fund balance analysis must be prepared in consultation
9.31with the chairs of the senate Finance Committee and house of representatives Finance
9.32Committee and Ways and Means Committee and legislative staff designated by the chairs.
9.33 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 16A.152, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
10.1 Subd. 4. Reduction. (a) If the commissioner determines that probable receipts
10.2for the general fund will be less than anticipated, and that the amount available for the
10.3remainder of the biennium will be less than needed, the commissioner shall, with the
10.4approval of the governor, and after consulting the LegislativeAdvisory Commission on
10.5Planning and Fiscal Policy, reduce the amount in the budget reserve account as needed to
10.6balance expenditures with revenue.
10.7(b) An additional deficit shall, with the approval of the governor, and after consulting
10.8the LegislativeAdvisory Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy, be made up by
10.9reducing unexpended allotments of any prior appropriation or transfer.
10.10(c) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the commissioner is empowered
10.11to defer or suspend prior statutorily created obligationswhich that would prevent effecting
10.12such the reductions. In reducing allotments for statutorily created obligations, the
10.13commissioner may reduce payments to all recipients in proportion to their payments or in
10.14proportion to the sum of their payments plus their other revenue, but must not otherwise
10.15modify formulas, eligibility standards, or similar statutory criteria.
10.16(d) The sum of reductions to general fund allotments during a biennium must not
10.17exceed two percent of the total general fund appropriations for the biennium. The sum of
10.18reductions to allotments of a single general fund appropriation must not exceed ten percent
10.19of the appropriation, and no program may be eliminated. Reductions to allotments include
10.20deferrals or suspensions of payments beyond the biennium.
10.21(c) (e) If the commissioner determines that probable receipts for any other fund,
10.22appropriation, or item will be less than anticipated, and that the amount available for the
10.23remainder of the term of the appropriation or for any allotment period will be less than
10.24needed, the commissioner shall notify the agency concerned and then reduce the amount
10.25allotted or to be allotted so as to prevent a deficit.
10.26(d) (f) In reducing allotments, the commissioner may consider other sources of
10.27revenue available to recipients of state appropriations and may apply allotment reductions
10.28based on all sources of revenue available.
10.29(e) (g) In like manner, the commissioner shall reduce allotments to an agency by the
10.30amount of any saving that can be made over previous spending plans through a reduction
10.31in prices or other cause.
11.3 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 3.055, is amended to read:
11.43.055 OPEN MEETINGS.
11.5 Subdivision 1. Meetings of the legislature to be open. Meetings of the legislature
11.6shall be open to the public, including sessions of the senate, sessions of the house of
11.7representatives, joint sessions of the senate and the house of representatives, and meetings
11.8of a standing committee, committee division, subcommittee, conference committee, or
11.9legislative commission, but not including a caucus of the members of any of those bodies
11.10from the same house and political party nor a delegation of legislators representing a
11.11geographic area or political subdivision. For purposes of thissection subdivision, a
11.12meeting occurs when a quorum is present and action is taken regarding a matter within the
11.13jurisdiction of the body. Each house shall provide by rule for posting notices of meetings,
11.14recording proceedings, and making the recordings and votes available to the public. A
11.15meeting may not be held between the hours of midnight and 7:00 a.m., or during any time
11.16that the Capitol Building or State Office Building is closed to the public.
11.17 Subd. 1a. Meetings by interactive TV. (a) A meeting governed bythis section
11.18subdivision 1 may be conducted by interactive television so long as:
11.19(1) all members of the body participating in the meeting, wherever their physical
11.20location, can hear and see one another and can hear and see all discussion and testimony
11.21presented at any location at which at least one member is present;
11.22(2) members of the public present at the regular meeting location of the body can
11.23hear and see all discussion and testimony and all votes of members of the body; and
11.24(3) at least one member of the body is physically present at the regular meeting
11.25location.
11.26(b) Each member of a body participating in a meeting by interactive television is
11.27considered present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum and participating
11.28in all proceedings.
11.29(c) If interactive television is used to conduct a meeting, to the extent practical, a
11.30body shall allow a person to monitor the meeting electronically from a remote location.
11.31The body may require the person making such a connection to pay for documented
11.32marginal costs that the body incurs as a result of the additional connection.
11.33(d) House of representatives and senate rules governing notice of meetings must
11.34provide for giving notice that interactive television will be used to conduct a meeting.
12.1 Sub. 1b. Meetings between legislative leaders and gubernatorial officials. (a)
12.2A meeting between a legislative leader and the governor or a member of the governor's
12.3cabinet to negotiate matters related to pending legislation or to discuss other official
12.4business of the state that may require legislative action must not be held at any time the
12.5capitol building or state office building is closed to the public.
12.6(b) For purposes of this subdivision, "legislative leader" includes the speaker of the
12.7house, the majority and minority leaders of the house of representatives, the majority and
12.8minority leaders of the senate, or the chair of a legislative standing committee, committee
12.9division, subcommittee, conference committee, or legislative commission with oversight
12.10over matters relating to the state budget or fiscal policy.
12.11 Subd. 2. Enforcement. The house of representatives and the senate shall adopt rules
12.12to implement this section. Remedies provided by rules of the house of representatives
12.13and senate are exclusive. No court or administrative agency has jurisdiction to enforce,
12.14enjoin, penalize, award damages, or otherwise act upon a violation or alleged violation of
12.15this section, to invalidate any provision of law because of a violation of this section, or to
12.16otherwise interpret this section.
12.17 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 3.07, is amended to read:
12.183.07 ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES.
12.19Each house, after its organization, may appoint and at pleasure remove the employees
12.20provided for by its permanent rules or recommended by its Committee on Rules. The
12.21house of representatives, the senate, or a joint legislative commission or joint legislative
12.22office may not employ a person who is an officer of the statewide organization of a major
12.23political party, as defined in section 200.02, subdivision 7. All officers and employees shall
12.24receive the compensation provided by the permanent rules of the electing or appointing
12.25body or recommended by its Committee on Rules. Unless otherwise expressly provided
12.26by law, no officer or employee shall receive any other compensation for services.
12.27 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 3.18, is amended to read:
12.283.18 OTHER RECORDS.
12.29(a) Each house may determine, by rule or resolution, the number of copies of its
12.30journal to be printed, and the form and contents of its other records, and shall adopt and
12.31post on its Web site a policy for records retention, including procedures for access to
12.32legislative records made available for public inspection as required by law.
13.1It (b) Each house may have printed, in an appendix to its journal, the documents
13.2it desires. If both houses order the same document to be so printed, it shall be inserted
13.3only in the appendix to the senate journal.
13.4 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 10A.09, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
13.5 Subd. 5. Form. A statement of economic interest required by this section must be
13.6on a form prescribed by the board. The individual filing must provide the following
13.7information regarding the individual and the individual's spouse:
13.8(1) name, address, occupation, and principal place of business;
13.9(2) the name of each associated business and the nature of that association;
13.10(3) a listing of all real property within the state, excluding homestead property, in
13.11which the individual or the individual's spouse holds: (i) a fee simple interest, a mortgage,
13.12a contract for deed as buyer or seller, or an option to buy, whether direct or indirect, if
13.13the interest is valued in excess of $2,500; or (ii) an option to buy, if the property has
13.14a fair market value of $50,000 or more;
13.15(4) a listing of all real property within the state in which a partnership of which
13.16the individual or the individual's spouse is a member holds: (i) a fee simple interest, a
13.17mortgage, a contract for deed as buyer or seller, or an option to buy, whether direct or
13.18indirect, if the individual's share of the partnership interest is valued in excess of $2,500;
13.19or (ii) an option to buy, if the property has a fair market value of $50,000 or more. A
13.20listing under clause (3) or (4) must indicate the street address and the municipality or the
13.21section, township, range and approximate acreage, whichever applies, and the county in
13.22which the property is located;and
13.23(5) a listing of any investments, ownership, or interests in property connected with
13.24pari-mutuel horse racing in the United States and Canada, including a racehorse, in which
13.25the individual directly or indirectly holds a partial or full interest or an immediate family
13.26member holds a partial or full interest; and
13.27(6) any contract or other agreement under which the individual or the individual's
13.28spouse will perform services for compensation as a consultant, employee, or independent
13.29contractor for a person or entity other than the state. Disclosure under this clause must
13.30include the person or entity for which services will be performed, the duration of the
13.31arrangement, and the compensation the individual or spouse will receive under the
13.32arrangement.
1.3principles and providing for appointment of a commission to recommend
1.4boundaries of legislative and congressional districts; establishing a council to
1.5determine compensation for legislators; modifying the council that recommends
1.6compensation for executive and judicial officials; providing for funding for state
1.7government if a complete budget is not enacted by July 1 of an odd-numbered
1.8year; modifying authority of the executive branch to reduced unexpended
1.9allotments; prohibiting meetings at certain times; prohibiting officers of major
1.10political parties from being employed by the legislature; expanding economic
1.11disclosure requirements;amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 2.021;
1.123.055; 3.07; 3.18; 10A.09, subdivision 5; 15A.082, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4;
1.1316A.103, by adding a subdivision; 16A.152, subdivision 4; 204B.14, subdivision
1.141a; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 2; 15A; 16A.
1.15BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.18 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 2.021, is amended to read:
1.192.021 NUMBER OF MEMBERS.
1.20 Subdivision 1. Number of districts.
1.21
1.22representatives is composed of 134 members. The membership is apportioned throughout
1.23the state in 67 senate districts and 134 house districts. Each senate district is entitled to
1.24elect one senator, and each house district is entitled to elect one representative.
1.25(b) A plan for congressional districts must have the number of districts apportioned
1.26to this state by the United States, each entitled to elect a single member.
2.1 Subd. 2. Nesting. A representative district may not be divided in the formation
2.2of a senate district.
2.3 Subd. 3. Equal population. (a) Legislative districts must be substantially equal
2.4in population. The population of a legislative district must not deviate from the ideal
2.5by more than two percent, plus or minus.
2.6 (b) Congressional districts must be as nearly equal in population as practicable.
2.7 Subd. 4. Contiguity; compactness. The districts must be composed of convenient
2.8contiguous territory structured into compact units. Contiguity by water is sufficient.
2.9Territory that touches only at a point is not contiguous, unless the territory is within the
2.10same city or town.
2.11 Subd. 5. Political competitiveness. The districts must be created to encourage
2.12political competitiveness, as defined by the commission established under section 2.025.
2.13 Subd. 6. Numbering. (a) The legislative districts must be numbered in a regular
2.14series, beginning with house district 1A in the northwest corner of the state and proceeding
2.15across the state from west to east, north to south, but bypassing the seven-county
2.16metropolitan area until the southeast corner has been reached; then to the seven-county
2.17metropolitan area outside the counties of Hennepin and Ramsey; then in Hennepin and
2.18finally in Ramsey.
2.19 (b) The congressional district numbers must begin with district one in the southeast
2.20corner of the state and end with the district with the highest number in the northeast
2.21corner of the state.
2.22 Subd. 7. Minority representation. The districts must not dilute the voting strength
2.23of racial or language minority populations. Where a concentration of a racial or language
2.24minority makes it possible, and it can be done in compliance with the other principles
2.25in this section, the districts must increase the probability that members of the minority
2.26will be elected.
2.27 Subd. 8. Preserving political subdivisions. A county, city, or town must not
2.28be divided into more than one district except as necessary to meet equal population
2.29requirements or to form districts that are composed of convenient, contiguous, and
2.30compact territory. When a county, city, or town must be divided into more than one
2.31district, it should be divided into as few districts as possible.
2.32 Subd. 9. Communities of interest. The districts should attempt to preserve
2.33communities of interest where that can be done in compliance with the preceding
2.34principles. For purposes of this principle, "communities of interest" include, but are
2.35not limited to, geographic areas where there are clearly recognizable similarities of
3.1social, political, cultural, ethnic, or economic interests, or that are linked by common
3.2transportation or communication.
3.3 Subd. 10. Incumbents. The districts must not be drawn for the purpose of
3.4protecting or defeating an incumbent.
3.5 Subd. 11. Priority. Where it is not possible to fully comply with the principles
3.6provided in subdivisions 1 to 10, a redistricting plan must give priority to those principles
3.7in the order in which the subdivisions are listed in this section, except to the extent that
3.8doing so would violate federal or state law.
3.9 Sec. 2. [2.025] REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.
3.10 Subdivision 1. Appointment. In each year ending in one a redistricting commission
3.11shall be established to draw the boundaries of legislative and congressional districts in
3.12accordance with the principles established in section 2.021. The commission consists of
3.13five retired judges of the appellate or district courts of this state who have not served in
3.14a party-designated or party-endorsed position, such as legislator, four of whom shall be
3.15appointed by the chief justice no later than March 1 of the year ending in one. The director
3.16of the Legislative Coordinating Commission shall convene a meeting of the four judges no
3.17later than March 15 of that year, at which meeting the four judges thus appointed shall,
3.18by a vote of at least three judges, appoint a fifth judge. The five judges shall select one
3.19of their number to serve as chair of the commission. In making appointments under this
3.20subdivision, consideration must be given to geographic balance among the members
3.21of the commission.
3.22 Subd. 2. Code of conduct. In performing their duties, the members of the
3.23commission shall abide by the Code of Judicial Conduct and are considered judicial
3.24officers within the meaning of section 609.415.
3.25 Subd. 3. Compensation and expenses. Members of the commission must be
3.26compensated for their commission activity as provided in section 15.0575, subdivision 3.
3.27 Subd. 4. Administrative support. The Legislative Coordinating Commission shall
3.28provide administrative support to the commission.
3.29 Subd. 5. Plans submitted to commission. The commission shall adopt a schedule
3.30for interested persons to submit proposed plans to the commission and to respond to
3.31plans proposed by others. The commission shall adopt standards to govern the format
3.32of plans submitted to it.
3.33 Subd. 6. Public hearings. The commission shall hold at least three public hearings
3.34in different geographical regions of the state before adopting any redistricting plans.
4.1 Subd. 7. Deadlines. (a) The commission shall submit to the legislature, by April
4.230 of the year ending in one, three proposed redistricting plans for legislative seats and
4.3three proposed plans for congressional seats. Any of these plans may be enacted or
4.4rejected by the legislature, but not modified. Each body of the legislature must vote on
4.5at least one legislative plan and one congressional plan proposed by the commission
4.6before adjustment in the year ending in one.
4.7(b) If the commission fails to submit a set of plans by the deadline, the legislature
4.8may proceed to enact a plan without waiting for the commission to submit its plans.
4.9 Subd. 8. Additional duties; litigation. In the event a plan for legislative or
4.10congressional districts is not enacted by the legislature, or a plan is enacted but challenged
4.11under federal or state law, the chief justice must give priority to members of the
4.12commission in making appointments to any panel that may be established to hear claims
4.13related to redistricting.
4.14 Subd. 9. Expiration. Except for duties required by subdivision 8, the commission
4.15expires when both legislative and congressional redistricting plans have been enacted into
4.16law or adopted by court order, or upon adjournment sine die of the legislature at its first
4.17regular session after each federal decennial census, whichever occurs first.
4.18 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 204B.14, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
4.19 Subd. 1a. Legislative policy. It is the intention of the legislature to complete
4.20congressional and legislative redistricting activities in time to permit counties and
4.21municipalities to begin the process of reestablishing precinct boundaries as soon as
4.22possible after the adoption of the congressional and legislative redistricting plans but in
4.23no case later than
4.24ending in
4.27 Section 1. [15A.0817] LEGISLATIVE COMPENSATION COUNCIL.
4.28Compensation for legislators must be determined by a council consisting of the
4.29following members: one person who is not a judge from each congressional district
4.30appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, and one member from each
4.31congressional district appointed by the governor. Half of the members appointed by
4.32the governor and half of the members appointed by the chief justice must belong to the
4.33political party that has the most members in the legislature. Half of the members appointed
4.34by the governor and half of the members appointed by the chief justice must belong
5.1to the political party that has the second-largest number of members in the legislature.
5.2None of the members of the council may be legislators. Members serve at the pleasure
5.3of the appointing authority, without compensation. The council must prescribe salaries
5.4and per diem by March 31 of each odd-numbered year and may prescribe other items of
5.5compensation. Any changes in compensation take effect on the first Monday in January in
5.6the following year.
5.7 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 15A.082, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
5.8 Subdivision 1. Creation.
5.9created each
5.10the compensation of constitutional officers,
5.11Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals and district court, and the heads of state
5.12and metropolitan agencies included in section
5.13 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 15A.082, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
5.14 Subd. 2. Membership. The Executive and Judicial Compensation Council consists
5.15of 16 members: two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of
5.16the house; two members of the senate appointed by the majority leader of the senate; one
5.17member of the house of representatives appointed by the minority leader of the house of
5.18representatives; one member of the senate appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
5.19two nonjudges appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court; and one member from
5.20each congressional district appointed by the governor, of whom no more than four may
5.21belong to the same political party. Appointments must be made by
5.22Monday in January and before January 15. The compensation and removal of members
5.23appointed by the governor or the chief justice shall be as provided in section
5.24subdivisions 3 and 4
5.25with administrative and support services.
5.26 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 15A.082, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
5.27 Subd. 3. Submission of recommendations. (a) By
5.28odd-numbered year, the Executive and Judicial Compensation Council shall submit to
5.29the speaker of the house and the president of the senate salary recommendations for
5.30constitutional officers,
5.31of Appeals and district court. The recommended salary for each office must take effect
5.32on the first Monday in January of the next odd-numbered year, with no more than one
5.33adjustment, to take effect on January 1 of the year after that. The salary recommendations
6.1for
6.2to pay the recommended salaries is enacted after the recommendations are submitted and
6.3before their effective date. Recommendations may be expressly modified or rejected.
6.4
6.5
6.6(b) The council shall also submit to the speaker of the house and the president of
6.7the senate recommendations for the salary ranges of the heads of state and metropolitan
6.8agencies, to be effective retroactively from January 1 of that year if enacted into law. The
6.9recommendations shall include the appropriate group in section
6.10agency head should be assigned and the appropriate limitation on the maximum range of
6.11the salaries of the agency heads in each group, expressed as a percentage of the salary of
6.12the governor.
6.13 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 15A.082, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
6.14 Subd. 4. Criteria. In making compensation recommendations, the Executive
6.15and Judicial Compensation Council shall consider the amount of compensation paid
6.16in government service and the private sector to persons with similar qualifications,
6.17the amount of compensation needed to attract and retain experienced and competent
6.18persons, and the ability of the state to pay the recommended compensation.
6.19
6.20
6.21
6.22
6.25 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 16A.103, is amended by adding a
6.26subdivision to read:
6.27 Subd. 5. Continuing appropriations; statutory spending reductions and revenue
6.28increases. If the February forecast in an odd-numbered year predicts a budget deficit for
6.29the next budget biennium, the commissioner must include in the forecast report the size
6.30and scope of the expenditure cuts and income tax increases that would be required under
6.31section 16A.1175 if no major appropriation bills are enacted before July 1.
6.32 Sec. 2. [16A.117] CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS.
7.1 Subdivision 1. Appropriations continue at base level. If a major appropriation bill
7.2is not enacted before July 1 of an odd-numbered year, the existing appropriation amounts
7.3pertaining to that bill for the fiscal year ending that June 30 are in effect again at the
7.4base level for each fiscal year of the budget biennium beginning July 1. The base level
7.5is the amount appropriated for the fiscal year ending that June 30, except as otherwise
7.6provided by subdivision 2 or by other law. The amounts needed to implement this section
7.7are appropriated from each fund covered by this section. The house of representatives
7.8and the senate may adopt joint resolutions designating the major appropriations bills and
7.9specifying which appropriations pertain to each major appropriations bill for purposes
7.10of this section.
7.11 Subd. 2. Exceptions and adjustments. An appropriation remaining in effect under
7.12authority of subdivision 1 must be adjusted or discontinued as required by other law and
7.13in the following circumstances:
7.14 (1) in order to fully satisfy the fiscal obligations required by current law, the
7.15commissioner must adjust base spending levels for each forecasted program according to
7.16the forecast adjusted base spending level estimated by the commissioner in the February
7.17forecast;
7.18 (2) an appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30 of the odd-numbered year
7.19does not remain in effect for the fiscal year starting on July 1 if the legislature specifically
7.20designated the appropriation as a onetime appropriation, if the commissioner determines
7.21that the legislature clearly intended the appropriation to be onetime, or if the program for
7.22which the appropriation was made expires on or before July 1;
7.23 (3) if an appropriation remains in effect under authority of subdivision 1, but the
7.24program or activity that is the subject of the appropriation is scheduled to expire during a
7.25fiscal year, the commissioner must prorate the appropriation; or
7.26 (4) the commissioner may make technical adjustments to the amount of an
7.27appropriation to the extent the commissioner determines the technical adjustments are
7.28needed to accurately reflect the amount that constitutes the annual base level of the
7.29appropriation. The commissioner may make an adjustment under this paragraph only if
7.30one or more of the following conditions is met:
7.31 (i) the legislature previously appropriated money for a biennium, with the entire
7.32appropriation being allocated to one year of the biennium, and the commissioner
7.33determines an adjustment is necessary to accurately reflect the annual amount needed to
7.34maintain program operations at the same level;
8.1 (ii) laws or policies under which revenues and expenditures are accounted for have
8.2changed to eliminate or consolidate certain funds or accounts or to create new funds or
8.3accounts, and adjustments in appropriations are necessary to implement these changes;
8.4 (iii) duties have been transferred between agency programs, or between agencies,
8.5and adjustments in appropriations are necessary to reflect these transfers; or
8.6 (iv) a program, or changes to a program, were not fully operational in one fiscal year,
8.7but will be fully operational in the following year, and an adjustment to the appropriation
8.8is needed to accurately reflect the annual cost of the new or changed program.
8.9 The commissioner must give the chairs and lead minority caucus members of the
8.10senate Finance and house of representatives Ways and Means Committees written notice
8.11of any adjustments made under this subdivision.
8.12 Subd. 3. Allocation of surplus. If the commissioner anticipates that the
8.13appropriations required under subdivisions 1 and 2, plus any other appropriations enacted
8.14for the budget biennium beginning July 1 of the odd-numbered year, will leave a positive
8.15unrestricted budgetary general fund balance at the close of the biennium, the commissioner
8.16shall allocate this surplus as required by section 16A.152, subdivision 2.
8.17 Subd. 4. Effect of standard appropriations. If a major appropriation bill is
8.18enacted for the budget biennium beginning July 1 of an odd-numbered year, that bill
8.19shall supersede any continuing appropriations for that major appropriation bill under
8.20this section.
8.21 Subd. 5. Effect of a line-item veto. A line-item veto of the appropriation for a
8.22program within a major appropriation bill does not trigger a continuing appropriation at
8.23the base level for that program under this section.
8.24 Sec. 3. [16A.1175] FORECAST BUDGET DEFICIT; AUTOMATIC SPENDING
8.25CUTS AND TAX INCREASE.
8.26 Subdivision 1. Procedure. If the continuing appropriations required under section
8.2716A.117, plus any other appropriations enacted for the budget biennium beginning July
8.281 of the odd-numbered year, result in an anticipated budget deficit for the biennium
8.29beginning July 1, the commissioner shall eliminate 50 percent of the anticipated deficit by
8.30uniformly reducing all appropriations as provided in subdivision 2. The commissioner
8.31shall eliminate the remaining 50 percent by increasing income tax rates as provided in
8.32subdivision 3.
8.33 Subd. 2. Appropriations reduced uniformly. (a) Notwithstanding any other law,
8.34except as provided in paragraph (b), the commissioner shall apply the same percentage
8.35reduction to the base funding level or adjusted base funding level, when applicable, for
9.1each program that is to receive a continuing appropriation under section 16A.117. The
9.2commissioner shall apply the same percentage reduction to each appropriation otherwise
9.3enacted for the budget biennium beginning July 1 of the odd-numbered year.
9.4(b) The commissioner must ensure that sufficient funds are appropriated to satisfy all
9.5debt service obligations. The commissioner may not reduce funding for a program if the
9.6attorney general or a court of law issues a written legal opinion stating that the federal
9.7constitution, the state constitution, or another factor prohibits the state from reducing
9.8funding for the program in the same manner as other programs.
9.9 Subd. 3. Income tax rates increased uniformly. (a) The commissioner shall
9.10uniformly increase each of the income tax rates applicable to individuals, trusts, and
9.11estates under section
9.12to corporations under section
9.13years beginning after December 31 of the odd-numbered year. The commissioner shall
9.14notify the revisor of statutes of the increased rates, and the revisor shall publish the revised
9.15rates on the revisor's Web site and in the next edition of the Minnesota Statutes.
9.16 (b) The commissioner shall notify the commissioner of revenue of the increased
9.17rates. The commissioner of revenue shall prepare forms for taxable years beginning after
9.18December 31 of the odd-numbered year based on the modified tax rates and shall prepare
9.19and distribute new withholding tables for payroll periods beginning after December 31 of
9.20the odd-numbered year.
9.21 (c) For taxable years beginning during the odd-numbered year, no penalties or
9.22interest may be imposed on underpayments of estimated tax that result from an increase in
9.23tax rates imposed under this section.
9.26 Section 1. [16A.112] GENERAL FUND BALANCE ANALYSIS.
9.27After each legislative session that modifies general fund revenues or expenditures,
9.28the commissioner shall prepare a fund balance analysis showing forecast general fund
9.29revenues and expenditures for the current and next following bienniums, as modified by the
9.30laws enacted at that session. The fund balance analysis must be prepared in consultation
9.31with the chairs of the senate Finance Committee and house of representatives Finance
9.32Committee and Ways and Means Committee and legislative staff designated by the chairs.
9.33 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 16A.152, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
10.1 Subd. 4. Reduction. (a) If the commissioner determines that probable receipts
10.2for the general fund will be less than anticipated, and that the amount available for the
10.3remainder of the biennium will be less than needed, the commissioner shall, with the
10.4approval of the governor, and after consulting the Legislative
10.5Planning and Fiscal Policy, reduce the amount in the budget reserve account as needed to
10.6balance expenditures with revenue.
10.7(b) An additional deficit shall, with the approval of the governor, and after consulting
10.8the Legislative
10.9reducing unexpended allotments of any prior appropriation or transfer.
10.10(c) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the commissioner is empowered
10.11to defer or suspend prior statutorily created obligations
10.12
10.13commissioner may reduce payments to all recipients in proportion to their payments or in
10.14proportion to the sum of their payments plus their other revenue, but must not otherwise
10.15modify formulas, eligibility standards, or similar statutory criteria.
10.16(d) The sum of reductions to general fund allotments during a biennium must not
10.17exceed two percent of the total general fund appropriations for the biennium. The sum of
10.18reductions to allotments of a single general fund appropriation must not exceed ten percent
10.19of the appropriation, and no program may be eliminated. Reductions to allotments include
10.20deferrals or suspensions of payments beyond the biennium.
10.21
10.22appropriation, or item will be less than anticipated, and that the amount available for the
10.23remainder of the term of the appropriation or for any allotment period will be less than
10.24needed, the commissioner shall notify the agency concerned and then reduce the amount
10.25allotted or to be allotted so as to prevent a deficit.
10.26
10.27revenue available to recipients of state appropriations and may apply allotment reductions
10.28based on all sources of revenue available.
10.29
10.30amount of any saving that can be made over previous spending plans through a reduction
10.31in prices or other cause.
11.3 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 3.055, is amended to read:
11.43.055 OPEN MEETINGS.
11.5 Subdivision 1. Meetings of the legislature to be open. Meetings of the legislature
11.6shall be open to the public, including sessions of the senate, sessions of the house of
11.7representatives, joint sessions of the senate and the house of representatives, and meetings
11.8of a standing committee, committee division, subcommittee, conference committee, or
11.9legislative commission, but not including a caucus of the members of any of those bodies
11.10from the same house and political party nor a delegation of legislators representing a
11.11geographic area or political subdivision. For purposes of this
11.12meeting occurs when a quorum is present and action is taken regarding a matter within the
11.13jurisdiction of the body. Each house shall provide by rule for posting notices of meetings,
11.14recording proceedings, and making the recordings and votes available to the public. A
11.15meeting may not be held between the hours of midnight and 7:00 a.m., or during any time
11.16that the Capitol Building or State Office Building is closed to the public.
11.17 Subd. 1a. Meetings by interactive TV. (a) A meeting governed by
11.18subdivision 1 may be conducted by interactive television so long as:
11.19(1) all members of the body participating in the meeting, wherever their physical
11.20location, can hear and see one another and can hear and see all discussion and testimony
11.21presented at any location at which at least one member is present;
11.22(2) members of the public present at the regular meeting location of the body can
11.23hear and see all discussion and testimony and all votes of members of the body; and
11.24(3) at least one member of the body is physically present at the regular meeting
11.25location.
11.26(b) Each member of a body participating in a meeting by interactive television is
11.27considered present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum and participating
11.28in all proceedings.
11.29(c) If interactive television is used to conduct a meeting, to the extent practical, a
11.30body shall allow a person to monitor the meeting electronically from a remote location.
11.31The body may require the person making such a connection to pay for documented
11.32marginal costs that the body incurs as a result of the additional connection.
11.33(d) House of representatives and senate rules governing notice of meetings must
11.34provide for giving notice that interactive television will be used to conduct a meeting.
12.1 Sub. 1b. Meetings between legislative leaders and gubernatorial officials. (a)
12.2A meeting between a legislative leader and the governor or a member of the governor's
12.3cabinet to negotiate matters related to pending legislation or to discuss other official
12.4business of the state that may require legislative action must not be held at any time the
12.5capitol building or state office building is closed to the public.
12.6(b) For purposes of this subdivision, "legislative leader" includes the speaker of the
12.7house, the majority and minority leaders of the house of representatives, the majority and
12.8minority leaders of the senate, or the chair of a legislative standing committee, committee
12.9division, subcommittee, conference committee, or legislative commission with oversight
12.10over matters relating to the state budget or fiscal policy.
12.11 Subd. 2. Enforcement. The house of representatives and the senate shall adopt rules
12.12to implement this section. Remedies provided by rules of the house of representatives
12.13and senate are exclusive. No court or administrative agency has jurisdiction to enforce,
12.14enjoin, penalize, award damages, or otherwise act upon a violation or alleged violation of
12.15this section, to invalidate any provision of law because of a violation of this section, or to
12.16otherwise interpret this section.
12.17 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 3.07, is amended to read:
12.183.07 ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES.
12.19Each house, after its organization, may appoint and at pleasure remove the employees
12.20provided for by its permanent rules or recommended by its Committee on Rules. The
12.21house of representatives, the senate, or a joint legislative commission or joint legislative
12.22office may not employ a person who is an officer of the statewide organization of a major
12.23political party, as defined in section 200.02, subdivision 7. All officers and employees shall
12.24receive the compensation provided by the permanent rules of the electing or appointing
12.25body or recommended by its Committee on Rules. Unless otherwise expressly provided
12.26by law, no officer or employee shall receive any other compensation for services.
12.27 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 3.18, is amended to read:
12.283.18 OTHER RECORDS.
12.29(a) Each house may determine, by rule or resolution, the number of copies of its
12.30journal to be printed, and the form and contents of its other records, and shall adopt and
12.31post on its Web site a policy for records retention, including procedures for access to
12.32legislative records made available for public inspection as required by law.
13.1
13.2it desires. If both houses order the same document to be so printed, it shall be inserted
13.3only in the appendix to the senate journal.
13.4 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 10A.09, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
13.5 Subd. 5. Form. A statement of economic interest required by this section must be
13.6on a form prescribed by the board. The individual filing must provide the following
13.7information regarding the individual and the individual's spouse:
13.8(1) name, address, occupation, and principal place of business;
13.9(2) the name of each associated business and the nature of that association;
13.10(3) a listing of all real property within the state, excluding homestead property, in
13.11which the individual or the individual's spouse holds: (i) a fee simple interest, a mortgage,
13.12a contract for deed as buyer or seller, or an option to buy, whether direct or indirect, if
13.13the interest is valued in excess of $2,500; or (ii) an option to buy, if the property has
13.14a fair market value of $50,000 or more;
13.15(4) a listing of all real property within the state in which a partnership of which
13.16the individual or the individual's spouse is a member holds: (i) a fee simple interest, a
13.17mortgage, a contract for deed as buyer or seller, or an option to buy, whether direct or
13.18indirect, if the individual's share of the partnership interest is valued in excess of $2,500;
13.19or (ii) an option to buy, if the property has a fair market value of $50,000 or more. A
13.20listing under clause (3) or (4) must indicate the street address and the municipality or the
13.21section, township, range and approximate acreage, whichever applies, and the county in
13.22which the property is located;
13.23(5) a listing of any investments, ownership, or interests in property connected with
13.24pari-mutuel horse racing in the United States and Canada, including a racehorse, in which
13.25the individual directly or indirectly holds a partial or full interest or an immediate family
13.26member holds a partial or full interest; and
13.27(6) any contract or other agreement under which the individual or the individual's
13.28spouse will perform services for compensation as a consultant, employee, or independent
13.29contractor for a person or entity other than the state. Disclosure under this clause must
13.30include the person or entity for which services will be performed, the duration of the
13.31arrangement, and the compensation the individual or spouse will receive under the
13.32arrangement.
