Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5447
STATE OF MINNESOTA
EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION - 2009
_____________________
FIFTY-SECOND DAY
Saint Paul, Minnesota, Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The House of Representatives convened at
9:30 a.m. and was called to order by Al Juhnke, Speaker pro tempore.
Prayer was offered by the Reverend Ilene
Blanche, Rivers of Living Waters Christian Center, Lake City, Minnesota.
The members of the House gave the pledge
of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
The roll was called and the following
members were present:
Abeler
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Beard
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Buesgens
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Cornish
Davids
Davnie
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Eken
Emmer
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Greiling
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Holberg
Hoppe
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Kohls
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Peppin
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scalze
Scott
Seifert
Sertich
Severson
Shimanski
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Zellers
Spk. Kelliher
A quorum was present.
The Speaker assumed the chair.
Solberg was excused.
Benson was excused until 11:45 a.m. Clark was excused until 1:40 p.m.
The Chief Clerk proceeded to read the
Journal of the preceding day. Peppin
moved that further reading of the Journal be dispensed with and that the
Journal be approved as corrected by the Chief Clerk. The motion prevailed.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5448
REPORTS OF CHIEF CLERK
S. F. No. 80
and H. F. No. 1206, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk
for comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain
exceptions.
SUSPENSION OF RULES
Simon moved that
the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 80 be substituted
for H. F. No. 1206 and that the House File be indefinitely
postponed. The motion prevailed.
S. F. No. 203
and H. F. No. 120, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk
for comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain
exceptions.
SUSPENSION OF RULES
Hosch moved that
the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 203 be substituted
for H. F. No. 120 and that the House File be indefinitely
postponed. The motion prevailed.
S. F. No. 548
and H. F. No. 695, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk
for comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain
exceptions.
SUSPENSION OF RULES
Hilstrom moved that
the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 548 be substituted
for H. F. No. 695 and that the House File be indefinitely
postponed. The motion prevailed.
S. F. No. 722
and H. F. No. 954, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk
for comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain
exceptions.
SUSPENSION OF RULES
Lesch moved that
the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 722 be substituted
for H. F. No. 954 and that the House File be indefinitely postponed. The motion prevailed.
S. F. No. 848
and H. F. No. 729, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk
for comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain
exceptions.
SUSPENSION OF RULES
Poppe moved that
the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 848 be substituted
for H. F. No. 729 and that the House File be indefinitely
postponed. The motion prevailed.
S. F. No. 1436
and H. F. No. 1639, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk for
comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain exceptions.
SUSPENSION OF RULES
Morrow moved that
the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 1436 be substituted
for H. F. No. 1639 and that the House File be indefinitely
postponed. The motion prevailed.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5449
S. F. No. 1890
and H. F. No. 1322, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk
for comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain
exceptions.
SUSPENSION OF RULES
Thissen moved that
the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 1890 be substituted
for H. F. No. 1322 and that the House File be indefinitely
postponed. The motion prevailed.
SECOND READING OF SENATE BILLS
S. F. Nos. 80, 203, 548, 722, 848, 1436
and 1890 were read for the second time.
Sertich moved that the House recess
subject to the call of the Chair. The
motion prevailed.
RECESS
RECONVENED
The House reconvened and was called to
order by Speaker pro tempore Hortman.
There being no objection, the order of
business reverted to Reports of Standing Committees and Divisions.
REPORTS OF STANDING
COMMITTEES AND DIVISIONS
Carlson from the Committee on Finance
to which was referred:
H. F. No. 354, A bill for an act
relating to real property; providing for mediation prior to commencement of
mortgage foreclosure proceedings on homestead property; creating a homestead-lender
mediation account; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 357.18,
subdivision 1; 508.82, subdivision 1; 508A.82, subdivision 1; 580.021; 580.022,
subdivision 1; 580.23, by adding a subdivision; 582.30, subdivision 2;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 583.
Reported the same back with the
following amendments:
Page 9, line 12, delete everything
after "REQUIRED" and insert a period
Page 9, delete line 13
Page 9, delete subdivision 3 and
insert:
"Subd. 3. Creditor's
bad faith. If the mediator
finds that the creditor has not participated in the mediation in good faith,
and the creditor continues with the foreclosure proceeding, then the debtor
shall be a allowed a six-month redemption period."
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5450
Page 10, delete subdivision 4 and
insert:
"Subd. 4. Debtor's
lack of good faith. If the
mediator finds that the debtor has not participated in the mediation in good
faith, and the creditor continues with the foreclosure proceeding, then the
debtor shall execute a deed in lieu of foreclosure within 90 days of the filing
of the mediator's affidavit containing the finding of bad faith."
Page 10, delete subdivision 5
Page 12, line 26, delete "December
31, 2014" and insert "July 1, 2012"
Page 12, line 27, delete "$50"
and insert "$49"
Page 12, line 29, delete "$4"
and insert "$3"
Page 14, line 11, delete "December
31, 2014" and insert "July 1, 2012"
Page 14, line 12, delete "$50"
and insert "$49"
Page 14, line 17, delete "$4"
and insert "$3"
Page 14, line 26, delete "December
31, 2014" and insert "July 1, 2012"
Page 14, line 28, delete "$50"
and insert "$49"
Page 14, line 33, delete "$4"
and insert "$3"
Page 15, line 6, delete "December
31, 2014" and insert "July 1, 2012" and delete "$50"
and insert "$49"
Page 15, line 13, delete "$4"
and insert "$3"
Page 18, line 3, delete "December
31, 2014" and insert "July 1, 2012" and delete "$50"
and insert "$49"
Page 18, line 9, delete "$4"
and insert "$3"
Page 18, line 18, delete "December
31, 2014" and insert "July 1, 2012"
Page 18, line 20, delete "$50"
and insert "$49"
Page 18, line 25, delete "$4"
and insert "$3"
Page 18, line 35, delete "December
31, 2014" and insert "July 1, 2012" and delete "$50"
and insert "$49"
Page 19, line 7, delete "$4"
and insert "$3"
Page 21, line 11, delete "a
special revenue" and insert "an" and delete "general"
and insert "special revenue"
Amend the title as follows:
Page 1, line 4, after the semicolon,
insert "appropriating money;"
With the recommendation that when so
amended the bill pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
The
report was adopted.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5451
Carlson from the Committee on Finance to which was
referred:
H. F. No. 723, A bill for an act relating to
retirement; various retirement plans; making various statutory changes needed
to accommodate the dissolution of the Minnesota Post Retirement Investment
Fund; redefining the value of pension plan assets for actuarial reporting
purposes; revising various disability benefit provisions of the general state
employees retirement plan, the correctional state employees retirement plan,
and the State Patrol retirement plan; making various administrative provision
changes; establishing a voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter
retirement plan administered by the Public Employees Retirement Association;
revising various volunteer firefighters' relief association provisions;
correcting 2008 drafting errors related to the Minneapolis Employees Retirement
Fund and other drafting errors; granting special retirement benefit authority
in certain cases; revising the special transportation pilots retirement plan of
the Minnesota State Retirement System; expanding the membership of the state
correctional employees retirement plan; extending the amortization target date
for the Fairmont Police Relief Association; modifying the number of board of
trustees members of the Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association; increasing
state education aid to offset teacher retirement plan employer contribution
increases; increasing teacher retirement plan member and employer
contributions; revising the normal retirement age and providing prospective
benefit accrual rate increases for teacher retirement plans; permitting the
Brimson Volunteer Firefighters' Relief Association to implement a different
board of trustees composition; permitting employees of the Minneapolis
Firefighters Relief Association and the Minneapolis Police Relief Association
to become members of the general employee retirement plan of the Public
Employees Retirement Association; creating a two-year demonstration
postretirement adjustment mechanism for the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund
Association; creating a temporary postretirement option program for employees
covered by the general employee retirement plan of the Public Employees
Retirement Association; setting a statute of limitations for erroneous receipts
of the general employee retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement
Association; permitting the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System
board to create an early separation incentive program; permitting certain
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System faculty members to make a
second chance retirement coverage election upon achieving tenure; including the
Weiner Memorial Medical Center, Inc., in the Public Employees Retirement
Association privatization law; extending the approval deadline date for the
inclusion of the Clearwater County Hospital in the Public Employees Retirement
Association privatization law; requiring a report; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections
3A.02, subdivision 3, by adding a subdivision; 3A.03, by adding a subdivision;
3A.04, by adding a subdivision; 3A.115; 11A.08, subdivision 1; 11A.17,
subdivisions 1, 2; 11A.23, subdivisions 1, 2; 43A.34, subdivision 4; 43A.346,
subdivisions 2, 6; 69.011, subdivisions 1, 2, 4; 69.021, subdivisions 7, 9;
69.031, subdivisions 1, 5; 69.77, subdivision 4; 69.771, subdivision 3; 69.772,
subdivisions 4, 6; 69.773, subdivision 6; 127A.50, subdivision 1; 299A.465,
subdivision 1; 352.01, subdivision 2b, by adding subdivisions; 352.021, by
adding a subdivision; 352.04, subdivisions 1, 12; 352.061; 352.113, subdivision
4, by adding a subdivision; 352.115, by adding a subdivision; 352.12, by adding
a subdivision; 352.75, subdivisions 3, 4; 352.86, subdivisions 1, 1a, 2;
352.91, subdivision 3d; 352.911, subdivisions 3, 5; 352.93, by adding a
subdivision; 352.931, by adding a subdivision; 352.95, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, by adding a subdivision; 352B.02, subdivisions 1, 1a, 1c, 1d; 352B.08, by
adding a subdivision; 352B.10, subdivisions 1, 2, 5, by adding subdivisions;
352B.11, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision; 352C.10; 352D.06, subdivision
1; 352D.065, by adding a subdivision; 352D.075, by adding a subdivision;
353.01, subdivisions 2, 2a, 6, 11b, 16, 16b; 353.0161, subdivision 1; 353.03,
subdivision 3a; 353.06; 353.27, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 7, 7b; 353.29, by adding
a subdivision; 353.31, subdivision 1b, by adding a subdivision; 353.33,
subdivisions 1, 3b, 7, 11, 12, by adding subdivisions; 353.65, subdivisions 2,
3; 353.651, by adding a subdivision; 353.656, subdivision 5a, by adding a
subdivision; 353.657, subdivision 3a, by adding a subdivision; 353.665,
subdivision 3; 353A.02, subdivisions 14, 23; 353A.05, subdivisions 1, 2;
353A.08, subdivisions 1, 3, 6a; 353A.081, subdivision 2; 353A.09, subdivision
1; 353A.10, subdivisions 2, 3; 353E.01, subdivisions 3, 5; 353E.04, by adding a
subdivision; 353E.06, by adding a subdivision; 353E.07, by adding a
subdivision; 353F.02, subdivision 4; 354.05, subdivision 38, by adding a
subdivision; 354.07, subdivision 4; 354.33, subdivision 5; 354.35, by adding a
subdivision; 354.42, subdivisions 1a, 2, 3, by adding subdivisions; 354.44,
subdivisions 4, 5, 6, by adding a subdivision; 354.46, by adding a subdivision;
354.47, subdivision 1; 354.48, subdivisions 4, 6, by adding a subdivision;
354.49, subdivision 2; 354.52, subdivisions 2a, 4b; 354.55, subdivisions 11,
13; 354.66, subdivision 6; 354.70, subdivisions 5, 6; 354A.011, subdivision
15a; 354A.096; 354A.12,
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5452
subdivisions 1, 2a, by adding subdivisions; 354A.29,
subdivision 3; 354A.31, subdivisions 4, 4a, 7; 354A.36, subdivision 6; 354B.21,
subdivision 2; 356.20, subdivision 2; 356.215, subdivisions 1, 11; 356.219,
subdivision 3; 356.315, by adding a subdivision; 356.32, subdivision 2;
356.351, subdivision 2; 356.401, subdivisions 2, 3; 356.465, subdivision 1, by
adding a subdivision; 356.611, subdivisions 3, 4; 356.635, subdivisions 6, 7;
356.96, subdivisions 1, 5; 422A.06, subdivision 8; 422A.08, subdivision 5;
423C.03, subdivision 1; 424A.001, subdivisions 1, 1a, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10,
by adding subdivisions; 424A.01; 424A.02, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 3a, 7, 8, 9,
9a, 9b, 10, 12, 13; 424A.021; 424A.03; 424A.04; 424A.05, subdivisions 1, 2, 3,
4; 424A.06; 424A.07; 424A.08; 424A.10, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 424B.10,
subdivision 2, by adding subdivisions; 424B.21; 490.123, subdivisions 1, 3;
490.124, by adding a subdivision; Laws 1989, chapter 319, article 11, section
13; Laws 2006, chapter 271, article 5, section 5, as amended; Laws 2008,
chapter 349, article 14, section 13; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapters 136F; 352B; 353; 354; 356; 420; 424A; 424B; proposing coding
for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 353G; repealing Minnesota Statutes
2008, sections 11A.041; 11A.18; 11A.181; 352.119, subdivisions 2, 3, 4; 352.86,
subdivision 3; 352B.01, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 3b, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11; 352B.26,
subdivisions 1, 3; 353.271; 353A.02, subdivision 20; 353A.09, subdivisions 2,
3; 354.05, subdivision 26; 354.06, subdivision 6; 354.55, subdivision 14;
354.63; 354A.29, subdivisions 2, 4, 5; 356.2165; 356.41; 356.431, subdivision
2; 422A.01, subdivision 13; 422A.06, subdivision 4; 422A.08, subdivision 5a; 424A.001,
subdivision 7; 424A.02, subdivisions 4, 6, 8a, 8b, 9b; 424A.09; 424B.10,
subdivision 1; 490.123, subdivisions 1c, 1e.
Reported the same back with the following amendments:
Delete everything after the enacting clause and
insert:
"ARTICLE 1
MINNESOTA POSTRETIREMENT INVESTMENT FUND DISSOLUTION
ACCOMMODATION
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3A.02, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Appropriation. The amounts required for payment of
retirement allowances provided by this section are appropriated annually to the
director from the participation of the legislators retirement plan in
the Minnesota postretirement investment fund or from the general fund as
provided in section 3A.115. The
retirement allowance must be paid is payable monthly to the
recipients entitled to those retirement allowances.
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3A.02, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 6. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
retirement allowance under this section is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3A.03, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 3. Legislators
retirement fund. (a) The
legislators retirement fund, a special retirement fund, is created within the
state treasury and must be credited with assets equal to the participation of
the legislators retirement plan in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund
as of June 30, 2009, and any investment proceeds on those assets.
(b) The payment of annuities under section 3A.115,
paragraph (b), is appropriated from the legislators retirement fund.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3A.04, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 2a. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
survivor benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments
under section 356.415.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5453
Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3A.115, is
amended to read:
3A.115 RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE APPROPRIATION; POSTRETIREMENT
ADJUSTMENT.
(a) The amount necessary to fund the
retirement allowance granted under this chapter to a former legislator upon
retirement retiring after June 30, 2003, is appropriated from the
general fund to the director to pay pension obligations due to the retiree.
(b) The
amount necessary to fund the retirement allowance granted under this chapter to
a former legislator retiring before July 1, 2003, must be paid from the
legislators retirement fund created under section 3A.03, subdivision 3, until
the assets of the fund are exhausted and at that time, the amount necessary to
fund the retirement allowances under this paragraph is appropriated from the
general fund to the director to pay pension obligations to the retiree.
(c) Retirement allowances payable to
retired legislators and their survivors under this chapter must be adjusted in
the same manner, at the same times, and in the same amounts as are benefits
payable from the Minnesota postretirement investment fund to retirees of a
participating public pension fund as provided in sections 3A.02,
subdivision 6, and 356.415.
Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 11A.08,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Membership. There is created an Investment Advisory
Council consisting of 17 members. Ten of
these members shall must be experienced in general investment
matters. They shall be appointed by
the state board The state board must appoint the ten members. The other seven members shall be
are: the commissioner of finance;
the executive director of the Minnesota State Retirement System; the executive
director of the Public Employees Retirement Association; the executive director
of the Teachers Retirement Association; a retiree currently receiving benefits
from the postretirement investment fund a statewide retirement plan;
and two public employees who are active members of funds whose assets are
invested by the state board. The governor
must appoint the retiree and the public employees shall be appointed by
the governor for four-year terms.
Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 11A.23,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Certification
of assets not needed for immediate use.
Each executive director administering a retirement fund or plan
enumerated in subdivision 4 shall, from time to time, certify to the state
board for investment those portions of the assets of the retirement fund or
plan which in the judgment of the executive director are not required for
immediate use. Assets of the fund or
plan required for participation in the Minnesota postretirement adjustment
fund, the combined investment fund, or the supplemental investment fund shall
be transferred to those funds as provided by sections 11A.01 to 11A.25.
Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 11A.23,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Investment. Retirement fund assets certified to the state
board pursuant to under subdivision 1 shall must be
invested by the state board subject to the provisions of section 11A.24. Retirement fund assets transferred to the
Minnesota postretirement investment fund, the combined investment fund or
the supplemental investment fund shall must be invested by the
state board as part of those funds.
Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.021, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 5.
Determining applicable law. An annuity under this chapter must be
computed under the law in effect as of the last day for which the employee
receives pay, or if on medical leave, the day that the leave terminates. However, if the employee has returned to
covered employment following a termination, the employee must have earned at
least six months of allowable service following a return to employment as a
state employee in order to qualify for improved benefits resulting from any law
change enacted subsequent to that termination.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5454
Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.04,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Fund
created. (a) There is created
a special fund to be known as the general state employees retirement fund. In that fund, employee contributions,
employer contributions, and other amounts authorized by law must be deposited.
(b) The general
state employees retirement plan of the Minnesota State Retirement System must
participate in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund. The amounts provided in section 352.119 must
be deposited in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund.
Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.04,
subdivision 12, is amended to read:
Subd. 12. Fund
disbursement restricted. The general
state employees retirement fund and the participation in the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund must be disbursed only for the purposes
provided by law. The expenses of the
system and any benefits provided by law, other than benefits payable from
the Minnesota postretirement investment fund, must be paid from the general
state employees retirement fund. The
retirement allowances, retirement annuities, and disability benefits, as well
as refunds of any sum remaining to the credit of a deceased retired employee or
a disabled employee must be paid only from the general state employees
retirement fund after the needs have been certified and the amounts
withdrawn from the participation in the Minnesota postretirement investment
fund under section 11A.18. The
amounts necessary to make the payments from the general state employees
retirement fund and the participation in the Minnesota postretirement
investment fund are annually appropriated from these funds that
fund for those purposes.
Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.061, is
amended to read:
352.061 INVESTMENT BOARD TO INVEST FUNDS.
The director shall,
from time to time, certify to the State Board of Investment any portions of the
state employees retirement fund that in the judgment of the director are not
required for immediate use. Assets
from the state employees retirement fund must be transferred to the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund as provided in section 11A.18. The State Board of Investment shall
invest and reinvest sums so transferred, or certified, in
securities that are duly authorized legal investments under section
11A.24.
Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.113, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 13.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A disability
benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.115, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 14.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A retirement
annuity under this section and section 352.116 is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.12, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 2c.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A survivor
benefit under subdivision 2, 2a, or 2b is eligible for postretirement adjustments
under section 356.415.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5455
Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.75,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Existing
retired members and benefit recipients.
As of July 1, 1978, the liability for all retirement annuities,
disability benefits, survivorship annuities, and survivor of deceased active
employee benefits paid or payable by the former Metropolitan Transit
Commission-Transit Operating Division employees retirement fund is transferred
to the Minnesota State Retirement System, and is no longer the liability of the
former Metropolitan Transit Commission-Transit Operating Division employees
retirement fund. The required
reserves for retirement annuities, disability benefits, and optional joint and
survivor annuities in effect on June 30, 1978, and the required reserves for
the increase in annuities and benefits provided under subdivision 6 must be
determined using a five percent interest assumption and the applicable
Minnesota State Retirement System mortality table and shall be transferred by
the Minnesota State Retirement System to the Minnesota postretirement
investment fund on July 1, 1978, but shall be considered transferred as of June
30, 1978. The annuity or benefit amount
in effect on July 1, 1978, including the increase granted under subdivision 6,
must be used for adjustments made under section 11A.18. For persons receiving benefits as
survivors of deceased former retirement annuitants, the benefits must be
considered as having commenced on the date on which the retirement annuitant
began receiving the retirement annuity.
Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.75,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Existing
deferred retirees. Any former member
of the former Metropolitan Transit Commission-Transit Operating Division
employees retirement fund is entitled to a retirement annuity from the Minnesota
State Retirement System if the employee:
(1) is not an
active employee of the Transit Operating Division of the former Metropolitan
Transit Commission on July 1, 1978; (2) has at least ten years of active
continuous service with the Transit Operating Division of the former
Metropolitan Transit Commission as defined by the former Metropolitan Transit
Commission-Transit Operating Division employees retirement plan document in
effect on December 31, 1977; (3) has not received a refund of contributions;
(4) has not retired or begun receiving an annuity or benefit from the former
Metropolitan Transit Commission-Transit Operating Division employees retirement
fund; (5) is at least 55 years old; and (6) submits a valid application for a
retirement annuity to the executive director of the Minnesota State Retirement
System.
The person is
entitled to a retirement annuity in an amount equal to the normal old age
retirement allowance calculated under the former Metropolitan Transit
Commission-Transit Operating Division employees retirement fund plan document
in effect on December 31, 1977, subject to an early retirement reduction or
adjustment in amount on account of retirement before the normal retirement age
specified in that former Metropolitan Transit Commission-Transit Operating
Division employees retirement fund plan document.
The deferred
retirement annuity of any person to whom this subdivision applies must be
augmented. The required reserves
applicable to the deferred retirement annuity, determined as of the date the
allowance begins to accrue using an appropriate mortality table and an interest
assumption of five percent, must be augmented by interest at the rate of five
percent per year compounded annually from January 1, 1978, to January 1, 1981,
and three percent per year compounded annually from January 1, 1981, to the
first day of the month in which the annuity begins to accrue. Upon After the commencement of
the retirement annuity, the required reserves for the annuity must be
transferred to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund in accordance with
subdivision 2 and section 352.119 is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
On applying for a retirement annuity under this subdivision, the person
is entitled to elect a joint and survivor optional annuity under section
352.116, subdivision 3.
Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.911,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Investment. The correctional employees retirement fund
shall participate in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund and in that
fund there shall be deposited the amounts provided in section 352.119. The balance of any assets of the
fund shall must be deposited in the Minnesota combined investment
funds as provided in section 11A.14, if applicable, or otherwise under section
11A.23.
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Sec. 19.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.911, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Fund disbursement restricted. The correctional employees retirement fund and
its share of participation in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund
shall must be disbursed only for the purposes provided for in the
applicable provisions in this chapter.
The proportional share of the expenses of the system and any benefits
provided in sections section 352.90 to 352.951, other than
benefits payable from the Minnesota postretirement investment fund, shall must
be paid from the correctional employees retirement fund. The retirement allowances, retirement
annuities, the disability benefits, the survivorship benefits, and any refunds
of accumulated deductions shall must be paid only from the
correctional employees retirement fund after those needs have been certified
by the executive director and the amounts withdrawn from the share of
participation in the Minnesota postretirement fund under section 11A.18. The amounts necessary to make the payments
from the correctional employees retirement fund and the participation in the
Minnesota postretirement investment fund are annually appropriated from those
funds that fund for those purposes.
Sec. 20.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.93, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 7. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
retirement annuity under this section is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 21.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.931, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 6. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
survivor benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments
under section 356.415.
Sec. 22.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.95, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 8. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
disability benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 23.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.02, subdivision 1d, is amended to
read:
Subd. 1d. Fund revenue and expenses. The amounts provided for in this section must
be credited to the State Patrol retirement fund. All money received must be deposited by the
commissioner of finance in the State Patrol retirement fund. The fund must be used to pay the
administrative expenses of the retirement fund, and the benefits and annuities
provided in this chapter. Appropriate
amounts shall be transferred to or withdrawn from the Minnesota postretirement
investment fund as provided in section 352B.26.
Sec. 24.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.08, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 4. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
retirement annuity under this section is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 25.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.10, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 6. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
disability benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments
under section 356.415.
Sec. 26.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.11, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 2e. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
survivor benefit under subdivision 2, 2b, or 2c is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
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Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352C.10, is
amended to read:
352C.10 BENEFIT ADJUSTMENTS.
Retirement
allowances payable to retired constitutional officers and surviving spouse
benefits payable must be adjusted in the same manner, at the same times and
in the same amounts as are benefits payable from the Minnesota postretirement
investment fund to retirees of a participating public pension fund under
section 356.415.
Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352D.06,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Annuity;
reserves. When a participant attains
at least age 55, terminates from covered service, and applies for a retirement
annuity, the cash value of the participant's shares shall must be
transferred to the Minnesota postretirement investment general state
employees retirement fund and must be used to provide an annuity for
the retired employee based upon the participant's age when the benefit begins
to accrue according to the reserve basis used by the general state employees
retirement plan in determining pensions and reserves. The annuity under this subdivision is
eligible for postretirement adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352D.065, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 3a.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A disability
benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352D.075, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 2b.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A survivor
benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.06, is
amended to read:
353.06 STATE BOARD OF INVESTMENT TO INVEST FUNDS.
The executive
director shall from time to time certify to the State Board of Investment for
investment such portions of the retirement fund as in its judgment may not be
required for immediate use. Assets
from the public employees retirement fund shall be transferred to the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund as provided in section 11A.18. The State Board of Investment shall
thereupon invest and reinvest the sum so certified, or transferred, in such
securities as are duly authorized as legal investments for state employees
retirement fund and shall have authority to sell, convey, and exchange such
securities and invest and reinvest the securities when it deems it desirable to
do so and shall sell securities upon request of the board of trustees when such
funds are needed for its purposes. All
of the provisions regarding accounting procedures and restrictions and
conditions for the purchase and sale of securities for the state employees
retirement fund shall under chapter 11A must apply to the
accounting, purchase and sale of securities for the public employees retirement
fund.
Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.27,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Income;
disbursements. There is a special
fund known as the "public employees retirement fund," the
"retirement fund," or the "fund," which shall
must include all the assets of the association. This fund shall must be
credited with all contributions, all interest and all other income authorized
by law. From this fund there is
appropriated the payments authorized by this chapter in the amounts and at such
time provided herein, including the expenses of administering the fund, and
including the proper share of the Minnesota postretirement investment fund.
Sec. 33. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.29, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 9.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. An annuity under
this section or section 353.30 is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
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Sec. 34.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.31, subdivision 1b, is amended to
read:
Subd. 1b. Joint and survivor option. (a) Prior to payment of a surviving spouse
benefit under subdivision 1, the surviving spouse may elect to receive the 100
percent joint and survivor optional annuity under section 353.32, subdivision
1a, rather than a surviving spouse benefit.
(b) If there is a dependent child or children, and the
100 percent joint and survivor optional annuity for the surviving spouse, when
added to the dependent children's benefit under subdivisions 1 and 1a, exceeds
an amount equal to 70 percent of the member's specified average monthly salary,
the 100 percent joint and survivor annuity under section 353.32, subdivision
1a, must be reduced by the amount necessary so that the total family benefit
does not exceed the 70 percent maximum family benefit amount under subdivision
1a.
(c) The 100 percent joint and survivor optional
annuity must be restored to the surviving spouse, plus applicable
postretirement fund adjustments under Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
356.41, through January 1, 2009, and thereafter under section 356.415,
as the dependent child or children become no longer dependent under section
353.01, subdivision 15.
Sec. 35.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.31, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 12. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
survivor benefit under subdivision 1 or 1b or section 353.32, subdivision 1a,
1b, or 1c is eligible for postretirement adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 36.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.33, subdivision 3b, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3b. Optional annuity election. A disabled member may elect to receive the
normal disability benefit or an optional annuity under section 353.30,
subdivision 3. The election of an
optional annuity must be made prior to the commencement of payment of the
disability benefit. The optional annuity
must begin to accrue on the same date as provided for the disability benefit.
(1) If a person who is not the spouse of a member is
named as beneficiary of the joint and survivor optional annuity, the person is
eligible to receive the annuity only if the spouse, on the disability
application form prescribed by the executive director, permanently waives the
surviving spouse benefits under sections 353.31, subdivision 1, and 353.32,
subdivision 1a. If the spouse of the
member refuses to permanently waive the surviving spouse coverage, the
selection of a person other than the spouse of the member as a joint annuitant
is invalid.
(2) If the spouse of the member permanently waives
survivor coverage, the dependent children, if any, continue to be eligible for
survivor benefits under section 353.31, subdivision 1, including the minimum
benefit in section 353.31, subdivision 1a.
The designated optional annuity beneficiary may draw the monthly
benefit; however, the amount payable to the dependent child or children and
joint annuitant must not exceed the 70 percent maximum family benefit under
section 353.31, subdivision 1a. If the
maximum is exceeded, the benefit of the joint annuitant must be reduced to the
amount necessary so that the total family benefit does not exceed the 70
percent maximum family benefit amount.
(3) If the spouse is named as the beneficiary of the
joint and survivor optional annuity, the spouse may draw the monthly benefits;
however, the amount payable to the dependent child or children and the joint
annuitant must not exceed the 70 percent maximum family benefit under section
353.31, subdivision 1a. If the maximum
is exceeded, each dependent child will receive ten percent of the member's
specified average monthly salary, and the benefit to the joint annuitant must
be reduced to the amount necessary so that the total family benefit does not
exceed the 70 percent maximum family benefit amount. The joint and survivor optional annuity must
be restored to the surviving spouse, plus applicable postretirement adjustments
under Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.41 or section 356.415,
as the dependent child or children become no longer dependent under section
353.01, subdivision 15.
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Sec. 37. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.33,
subdivision 7, is amended to read:
Subd. 7. Partial
reemployment. If, following a work
or non-work-related injury or illness, a disabled person who remains totally
and permanently disabled as defined in section 353.01, subdivision 19, has
income from employment that is not substantial gainful activity and the rate of
earnings from that employment are less than the salary rate at the date of
disability or the salary rate currently paid for positions similar to the
employment position held by the disabled person immediately before becoming
disabled, whichever is greater, the executive director shall continue the
disability benefit in an amount that, when added to the earnings and any
workers' compensation benefit, does not exceed the salary rate at the date of
disability or the salary currently paid for positions similar to the employment
position held by the disabled person immediately before becoming disabled,
whichever is higher. The disability
benefit under this subdivision may not exceed the disability benefit originally
allowed, plus any postretirement adjustments payable after December 31, 1988,
in accordance with Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 11A.18, subdivision
10, or Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.41, through January 1, 2009, and
thereafter as provided in section 356.415.
No deductions for the retirement fund may be taken from the salary of a
disabled person who is receiving a disability benefit as provided in this
subdivision.
Sec. 38. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.33, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 13.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A disability
benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 39. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.651, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 5.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. An annuity under
this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 40. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.656,
subdivision 5a, is amended to read:
Subd. 5a. Cessation
of disability benefit. (a) The
association shall cease the payment of any disability benefit the first of the
month following the reinstatement of a member to full time or less than
full-time service in a position covered by the police and fire fund.
(b) A disability
benefit paid to a disabled member of the police and fire plan, that was granted
under laws in effect after June 30, 2007, terminates at the end of the month in
which the member:
(1) reaches normal
retirement age;
(2) if the
disability benefit is payable for a 60-month period as determined under
subdivisions 1 and 3, as applicable, the first of the month following the
expiration of the 60-month period; or
(3) if the
disabled member so chooses, the end of the month in which the member has
elected to convert to an early retirement annuity under section 353.651,
subdivision 4.
(c) If the
police and fire plan member continues to be disabled when the disability
benefit terminates under this subdivision, the member is deemed to be
retired. The individual is entitled to
receive a normal retirement annuity or an early retirement annuity under
section 353.651, whichever is applicable, as further specified in paragraph (d)
or (e). If the individual did not
previously elect an optional annuity under subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), the
individual may elect an optional annuity under subdivision 1a, paragraph (b).
(d) A member of
the police and fire plan who is receiving a disability benefit under this section
may, upon application, elect to receive an early retirement annuity under
section 353.651, subdivision 4, at any time after attaining age 50, but must
convert to a retirement annuity no later than the end of the month in which the
disabled
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member attains
normal retirement age. An early
retirement annuity elected under this subdivision must be calculated on the
disabled member's accrued years of service and average salary as defined in
section 353.01, subdivision 17a, and when elected, the member is deemed to be
retired.
(e) When an
individual's benefit is recalculated as a retirement annuity under this
section, the annuity must be based on clause (1) or clause (2), whichever
provides the greater amount:
(1) the benefit
amount at the time of reclassification, including all prior adjustments
provided under Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 11A.18, through
January 1, 2009, and thereafter as provided in section 356.415; or
(2) a benefit
amount computed on the member's actual years of accrued allowable service
credit and the law in effect at the time the disability benefit first accrued,
plus any increases that would have applied since that date under section Minnesota
Statutes 2008, 11A.18, through January 1, 2009, and thereafter as
provided in section 356.415.
Sec. 41. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.656, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 14.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A disability
benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 42. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.657,
subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
Subd. 3a. Maximum
and minimum family benefits. (a) The
maximum monthly benefit per family must not exceed the following percentages of
the member's average monthly salary as specified in subdivision 3:
(1) 80 percent,
if the member's death was a line of duty death; or
(2) 70 percent,
if the member's death was not a line of duty death or occurred while the member
was receiving a disability benefit that accrued before July 1, 2007.
(b) The minimum
monthly benefit per family, including the joint and survivor optional annuity
under subdivision 2a, and section 353.656, subdivision 1a, must not be less
than the following percentage of the member's average monthly salary as
specified in subdivision 3:
(1) 60 percent,
if the death was a line of duty death; or
(2) 50 percent,
if the death was not a line of duty death or occurred while the member was
receiving a disability benefit that accrued before July 1, 2007.
(c) If the
maximum under paragraph (a) is exceeded, the monthly benefit of the joint
annuitant must be reduced to the amount necessary so that the total family
benefit does not exceed the applicable maximum.
The joint and survivor optional annuity must be restored, plus
applicable postretirement adjustments under Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
356.41 or section 356.415, as the dependent child or children become no
longer dependent under section 353.01, subdivision 15.
Sec. 43. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.657, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 5.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A survivor
benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 44. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.665,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Transfer
of assets. Unless the municipality
has elected to retain the consolidation account under subdivision 1, paragraph
(b), the assets of the former local police or fire consolidation account must
be transferred and upon transfer, the actuarial value of the assets of a former
local police or fire consolidation account less an
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amount equal to
the residual assets as determined under subdivision 7, paragraph (f), are the
assets of the public employees police and fire fund as of July 1, 1999. The participation of a consolidation
account in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund becomes part of the
participation of the public employees police and fire fund in the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund. The remaining
assets, excluding the amounts for distribution under subdivision 7, paragraph
(f), become an asset of the public employees police and fire fund. The public employees police and fire fund
also must be credited as an asset with the amount of receivable assets under
subdivision 7, paragraph (e).
Sec. 45. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.02,
subdivision 14, is amended to read:
Subd. 14. Ineligible
investments. "Ineligible
investments" means any investment security or other asset held by the
relief association at or after the initiation of the consolidation procedure
which does not comply with the applicable requirements or limitations of
sections 11A.09, 11A.18, 11A.23, and 11A.24.
Sec. 46. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.02,
subdivision 23, is amended to read:
Subd. 23. Postretirement
adjustment. "Postretirement
adjustment" means any periodic or regular procedure for modifying the
amount of a retirement annuity, service pension, disability benefit, or
survivor benefit after the start of that annuity, pension, or benefit,
including but not limited to modifications of amounts from the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund under section 11A.18, subdivision 9
356.415, or any benefit escalation or benefit amount modification based on
changes in the salaries payable to active police officers or salaried
firefighters or changes in a cost-of-living index as provided for in the
existing relief association benefit plan.
Sec. 47. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.05,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Commission
actions. (a) Upon initiation of consolidation
as provided in section 353A.04, the executive director of the commission shall
direct the actuary retained under section 356.214 to undertake the preparation
of the actuarial calculations necessary to complete the consolidation.
(b) These actuarial
calculations shall include for each active member, each deferred former member,
each retired member, and each current beneficiary the computation of the
present value of future benefits, the future normal costs, if any, and the
actuarial accrued liability on the basis of the existing relief association
benefit plan and on the basis of the public employees police and fire fund
benefit plan. These actuarial
calculations shall also include for the total active, deferred, retired, and
benefit recipient membership the sum of the present value of future benefits,
the future normal costs, if any, and the actuarial accrued liability on the
basis of the existing relief association benefit plan, on the basis of the
public employees police and fire fund benefit plan, and on the basis of the
benefit plan which produced the largest present value of future benefits for
each person. The actuarial calculations
shall be prepared using the entry age actuarial cost method for all components
of the benefit plan and using the actuarial assumptions applicable to the fund
for the most recent actuarial valuation prepared under section 356.215, except
that the actuarial calculations on the basis of the existing relief association
benefit plan shall be prepared using an interest rate actuarial assumption
during the postretirement period which is in the same amount as the interest
rate actuarial assumption applicable to the preretirement period. The actuarial calculations shall include the
computation of the present value of the initial postretirement adjustment
anticipated by the executive director of the state board as payable after the
effective date of the consolidation from the Minnesota postretirement
investment fund under section 11A.18 356.415.
(c) The chief
administrative officer of the relief association shall, upon request, provide
in a timely manner to the executive director of the commission and to the
actuary retained under section 356.214 the most current available information
or documents, whichever applies, regarding the demographics of the active,
deferred, retired, and benefit recipient membership of the relief association,
the financial condition of the relief association, and the existing benefit
plan of the relief association.
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(d) Upon completion of the actuarial calculations
required by this subdivision, the actuary retained under section 356.214 shall
issue a report in the form of an appropriate summary of the actuarial
calculations and shall provide a copy of that report to the executive director
of the commission, the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement
Association, the chief administrative officer of the relief association, the
chief administrative officer of the municipality in which the relief
association is located, and the state auditor.
Sec. 48.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.05, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. State board actions. (a) Upon approval of consolidation by the
membership as provided in section 353A.04, the executive director of the state
board shall review the existing investment portfolio of the relief association
for compliance with the requirements and limitations set forth in sections
11A.09, 11A.14, 11A.18, 11A.23, and 11A.24 and for appropriateness for
retention in the light of the established investment objectives of the state
board. The executive director of the
state board, using any reporting service retained by the state board, shall
determine the approximate market value of the existing assets of the relief
association upon the effective date of consolidation and the transfer of assets
from the relief association to the individual relief association consolidation
accounts at market value.
(b) The state board may require that the relief
association liquidate any investment security or other item of value which is
determined to be ineligible or inappropriate for retention by the state
board. The liquidation shall occur
before the effective date of consolidation and transfer of assets.
(c) If requested to do so by the chief administrative
officer of the relief association or of the municipality, the state board shall
provide advice on the means and procedures available to liquidate investment
securities and other assets determined to be ineligible or inappropriate.
Sec. 49.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.08, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Election of coverage by current retirees. (a) A person who is receiving a service
pension, disability benefit, or survivor benefit is eligible to elect benefit
coverage provided under the relevant provisions of the public employees police
and fire fund benefit plan or to retain benefit coverage provided under the
relief association benefit plan in effect on the effective date of the
consolidation. The relevant provisions
of the public employees police and fire fund benefit plan for the person
electing that benefit coverage are limited to participation in the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund for any future postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415 based on the amount of the benefit or pension payable on
December 31, if December 31 is the effective date of consolidation, or on the
December 1 following the effective date of the consolidation, if other than
December 31. The survivor benefit
payable on behalf of any service pension or disability benefit recipient who elects
benefit coverage under the public employees police and fire fund benefit plan
must be calculated under the relief association benefit plan and is subject to participation
in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund for any future
postretirement adjustments under section 356.415 based on the amount of
the survivor benefit payable.
(b) A survivor benefit calculated under the relief
association benefit plan which is first payable after June 30, 1997, to the
surviving spouse of a retired member of a consolidation account who, before
July 1, 1997, chose to participate in the Minnesota postretirement investment
fund adjustments as provided under this subdivision section
356.415 must be increased on the effective date of the survivor benefit on
an actuarial equivalent basis to reflect the change in the postretirement
interest rate actuarial assumption under section 356.215, subdivision 8, from
five percent to six percent under a calculation procedure and tables adopted by
the board and approved by the actuary retained under section 356.214.
(c) By electing the public employees police and fire
fund benefit plan, a current service pension or disability benefit recipient
who, as of the first January 1 occurring after the effective date of
consolidation, has been receiving the pension or benefit for at least seven
months, or any survivor benefit recipient who, as of the first January 1
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occurring after the effective date of consolidation,
has been receiving the benefit on the person's own behalf or in combination
with a prior applicable service pension or disability benefit for at least
seven months is eligible to receive a partial adjustment payable from the
Minnesota postretirement investment fund under section 11A.18,
subdivision 9 356.415.
(d) The election by any pension or benefit recipient
must be made on or before the deadline established by the board of the Public
Employees Retirement Association in a manner that recognizes the number of
persons eligible to make the election and the anticipated time required to
conduct any required benefit counseling.
Sec. 50.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.08, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Election of coverage by active members. (a) A person who is an active member of a
police or fire relief association, other than a volunteer firefighter, has the
option to elect benefit coverage under the relevant provisions of the public
employees police and fire fund or to retain benefit coverage provided by the
relief association benefit plan in effect on the effective date of
consolidation. The relevant provisions
of the public employee police and fire fund benefit plan for the person
electing that benefit coverage are the relevant provisions of the public
employee police and fire fund benefit plan applicable to retirement annuities,
disability benefits, and survivor benefits, including participation in the
Minnesota postretirement investment fund adjustments under
section 356.415, but excluding any provisions governing the purchase of
credit for prior service or making payments in lieu of member contribution
deductions applicable to any period which occurred before the effective date of
consolidation.
(b) An active member is eligible to make an election
at one of the following times:
(1) within six months of the effective date of
consolidation;
(2) between the date on which the active member attains
the age of 49 years and six months and the date on which the active member
attains the age of 50 years; or
(3) on the date on which the active member terminates
active employment for purposes of receiving a service pension or disability
benefits, or within 90 days of the date the member terminates active employment
and defers receipt of a service pension, whichever applies.
Sec. 51.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.081, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Election of coverage. (a) Individuals eligible under subdivision 1
may elect, on a form prescribed by the executive director of the Public
Employees Retirement Association, to have survivor benefits calculated under
the relevant provisions of the public employees police and fire fund benefit
plan or to have survivor benefits calculated under the relief association
benefit plan. The relevant provisions of
the public employee police and fire fund benefit plan for the person electing
that benefit coverage are the relevant provisions of the public employee police
and fire fund benefit plan applicable to survivor benefits, including participation
in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund adjustments under
section 356.415.
(b) If the election results in an increased benefit
amount to the surviving spouse eligible under subdivision 1, or to eligible
children if there is no surviving spouse, the increased benefit accrues as of
the date on which the survivor benefits payable to the survivors from the
consolidation account were first paid. The back payment of any increase in prior
benefit amounts, plus any postretirement adjustments payable under section 356.41
356.415, or any increase payable under the local relief association bylaws
is payable as soon as practicable after the effective date of the election.
Sec. 52.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.09, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
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Subdivision 1. Establishment of consolidation accounts. (a) The board of trustees of the Public
Employees Retirement Association shall establish a separate consolidation
account for each local relief association of a municipality that consolidates
with the Public Employees Retirement Association. The association shall credit to the
consolidation account the assets of the individual consolidating local relief
association upon transfer, member contributions received after consolidation
under subdivision 4, municipal contributions received after consolidation under
subdivision 5, and a proportionate share of any investment income earned after
consolidation. From the consolidation
account, the association shall pay for the transfer of any required reserves
to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund on account of persons electing
the type of benefit coverage provided by the public employees police and fire
fund under subdivisions 2 and 3 and section 353.271, subdivision 2, the
pension and benefit amounts on account of persons electing coverage by the
relief association benefit plan under section 353A.08, the benefit amounts not
payable from the Minnesota postretirement investment fund on account of
persons electing the type of benefit coverage provided by the public employees
police and fire fund under section 353A.08, and any direct administrative
expenses related to the consolidation account, and the proportional share of
the general administrative expenses of the association.
(b) Except as otherwise provided for in this section,
the liabilities and the assets of a consolidation account must be considered
for all purposes to be separate from the balance of the public employees police
and fire fund. The consolidation account
must be subject to separate accounting, a separate actuarial valuation, and
must be reported as a separate exhibit in any annual financial report or
actuarial valuation report of the public employees police and fire
consolidation fund, whichever applies.
The executive director of the public employees retirement association
shall maintain separate accounting records and balances for each consolidation
account.
Sec. 53.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.10, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Collection of late contributions. In the event of a refusal by a municipality
in which was located a local police or firefighters relief association which
has consolidated with the fund to pay to the fund any amount or amounts due
under section 353A.09, subdivisions 2 4 to 6, the executive
director of the public employees retirement association may notify the
Department of Revenue, the Department of Finance, and the state auditor of the
refusal and commence the necessary procedure to collect the amount or amounts
due from the amount of any state aid under sections 69.011 to 69.051,
amortization state aid under section 423A.02, or supplemental amortization
state aid under Laws 1984, chapter 564, section 48, as amended by Laws 1986,
chapter 359, section 20, which is payable to the municipality or to certify the
amount or amounts due to the county auditor for inclusion in the next tax levy
of the municipality or for collection from other revenue available to the
municipality, or both.
Sec. 54.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.10, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Levy and bonding authority. A municipality in which was located a local
police or firefighters relief association that has consolidated with the fund
may issue general obligation bonds of the municipality to defray all or a
portion of the principal amounts specified in section 353A.09, subdivisions 2
4 to 6, or certify to the county auditor a levy in the amount necessary to
defray all or a portion of the principal amount specified in section 353A.09,
subdivisions 2 4 to 6, or the annual amount specified in section
353A.09, subdivisions 2 4 to 6.
The municipality may pledge the full faith, credit, and taxing power of
the municipality for the payment of the principal of and interest on the general
obligation bonds. Any municipal bond may
be issued without an election under section 475.58 and may not be included in
the net debt of the municipality for purposes of any charter or statutory debt
limitation, nor may any tax levy for the payment of bond principal or interest
be subject to any limitation concerning rate or amount established by charter
or law.
Sec. 55.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353E.01, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Investment. (a) The public employees local government
correctional service retirement fund participates in the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund.
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2009 - Top of Page 5465
(b) The amounts provided in section 353.271 must be
deposited in that fund.
(c) The balance of any Assets of the public employees local government
correctional service retirement fund must be deposited in the Minnesota
combined investment fund as provided in section 11A.14, if applicable, or
otherwise invested under section 11A.23.
Sec. 56.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353E.01, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Fund disbursement restricted. (a) The public employees local government
correctional service retirement fund and its share of participation in the
Minnesota postretirement investment fund may be disbursed only for the
purposes provided for in this chapter.
(b) The proportional share of the necessary and
reasonable administrative expenses of the association and any benefits provided
in this chapter, other than benefits payable from the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund, must be paid from the public employees
local government correctional service retirement fund. Retirement annuities, disability benefits,
survivorship benefits, and any refunds of accumulated deductions may be paid
only from the correctional service retirement fund after those needs have been
certified by the executive director and any applicable amounts withdrawn
from the share of participation in the Minnesota postretirement fund under
section 11A.18.
(c) The amounts necessary to make the payments from
the public employees local government correctional service retirement fund and
its participation in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund are
annually appropriated from those funds for those purposes.
Sec. 57.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353E.04, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 7. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. An
annuity under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 58.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353E.06, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 9. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
disability benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 59.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353E.07, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 8. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
survivor benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments
under section 356.415.
Sec. 60.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.07, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Certification of funds to State Board of
Investment. It shall be is
the duty of the board from time to time to certify to the State Board of
Investment for investment as much of the funds in its hands as shall not be
needed for current purposes. Such
funds that are certified as to investment in the postretirement investment fund
shall include the amount as required for the total reserves needed for the
purposes described in section 354.63. The
State Board of Investment shall thereupon transfer such assets to the
appropriate fund provided herein, in accordance with the procedure set forth in
section 354.63, or invest and reinvest an amount equal to the sum so
certified in such securities as are now or may hereafter be duly authorized
legal investments for state employees retirement fund and all such securities
so transferred or purchased shall must be deposited with the
commissioner of finance. All interest
from these investments shall must be credited to the appropriate
funds teachers retirement fund and used for current purposes or
investments, except as hereinafter provided.
The State Board of Investment shall have has authority to
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sell, convey, and exchange such securities and invest
and reinvest the funds when it deems it desirable to do so, and shall
must sell securities upon request of the officers of the association when
such officers determine funds are needed for its purposes. All of the provisions regarding accounting
procedures and restrictions and conditions for the purchase and sale of
securities for the state employees retirement fund shall under
chapter 11A must apply to the accounting, purchase and sale of securities
for the Teachers' Retirement Association.
Sec. 61.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.33, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Retirees not eligible for federal benefits. When any person retires after July 1, 1973,
who (1) has ten or more years of allowable service, and (2) does not have any
retroactive Social Security coverage by reason of the person's position in the
retirement system, and (3) does not qualify for federal old age and survivor
primary benefits at the time of retirement, the annuity must be computed under
section 354.44, subdivision 2, of the law in effect on June 30, 1969, except
that accumulations after June 30, 1957, must be calculated using the same
most recent mortality table approved under section 356.215,
subdivision 18, and interest assumption as are used to transfer the
required reserves to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund using
the applicable postretirement interest rate assumption specified in section
356.215, subdivision 8.
Sec. 62.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.35, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 3. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. An
annuity under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 63.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.42, subdivision 1a, is amended to
read:
Subd. 1a. Teachers retirement fund. (a) Within the Teachers Retirement
Association and the state treasury is created a special retirement fund, which
must include all the assets of the Teachers Retirement Association and all
revenue of the association. The fund is
the continuation of the fund established under Laws 1931, chapter 406, section
2, notwithstanding the repeal of Minnesota Statutes 1973, section 354.42, subdivision
1, by Laws 1974, chapter 289, section 59.
(b) The teachers retirement fund must be credited with
all employee and employer contributions, all investment revenue and gains, and
all other income authorized by law.
(c) From the teachers retirement fund is appropriated
the payments of annuities and benefits authorized by this chapter, the
transfers to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund, and the
reasonable and necessary expenses of administering the fund and the
association.
Sec. 64. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 354.44, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 7a. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. (a) A
retirement annuity under subdivision 2 or 6 is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
(b) Retirement annuities payable from the teachers
retirement plan must not be in an amount less than the amount originally
determined on the date of retirement and as adjusted on each succeeding January
1 under Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 11A.18, before January 1, 2010, and
under section 356.415 after December 31, 2009.
Sec. 65.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.46, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 7. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
survivor benefit under subdivision 1, 2, 2a, or 2b, is eligible for
postretirement adjustments under section 356.415.
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Sec. 66. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.48, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 11.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A disability
benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 67. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.55,
subdivision 13, is amended to read:
Subd. 13. Pre-1969
law retirements. Any person who
ceased teaching service prior to July 1, 1968, who has ten years or more of
allowable service and left accumulated deductions in the fund for the purpose
of receiving when eligible a retirement annuity, and retires shall
must have the annuity computed in accordance with the law in effect on June
30, 1969, except that the portion of the annuity based on accumulations after
June 30, 1957, under Minnesota Statutes 1967, section 354.44, subdivision 2,
and accumulations under Minnesota Statutes 1967, section 354.33, subdivision 1,
shall must be calculated using the mortality table established by
the board under section 354.07, subdivision 1, and approved under section
356.215, subdivision 18, and the postretirement interest rate
assumption specified in section 356.215, to transfer the required reserves
to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund subdivision 8.
Sec. 68. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.70,
subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Transfer
of assets. (a) On or before June 30,
2006, the chief administrative officer of the Minneapolis Teachers Retirement
Fund Association shall transfer to the Teachers Retirement Association the
entire assets of the special retirement fund of the Minneapolis Teachers
Retirement Fund Association. The
transfer of the assets of the Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association
special retirement fund must include any accounts receivable that are
determined by the executive director of the State Board of Investment as
reasonably capable of being collected.
Legal title to account receivables that are determined by the executive director
of the State Board of Investment as not reasonably capable of being collected
transfers to Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, as of the date of the
determination of the executive director of the State Board of Investment. If the account receivables transferred to
Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, are subsequently recovered by the
school district, the superintendent of Special School District No. 1,
Minneapolis, shall transfer the recovered amount to the executive director of
the Teachers Retirement Association, in cash, for deposit in the teachers
retirement fund, less the reasonable expenses of the school district related to
the recovery.
(b) As of June
30, 2006, assets of the special retirement fund of the Minneapolis Teachers
Retirement Fund Association are assets of the Teachers Retirement Association
to be invested by the State Board of Investment pursuant to the provisions of
section 354.07, subdivision 4. The
Teachers Retirement Association is the successor in interest to all claims
which the Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association may have or may
assert against any person and is the successor in interest to all claims which
could have been asserted against the former Minneapolis Teachers Retirement
Fund Association, subject to the following exceptions and qualifications:
(1) the
Teachers Retirement Association is not liable for any claim against the
Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association, its former board or board
members, which is founded upon a claim of breach of fiduciary duty, where the act
or acts constituting the claimed breach were not done in good faith;
(2) the
Teachers Retirement Association may assert any applicable defense to any claim
in any judicial or administrative proceeding that the former Minneapolis
Teachers Retirement Fund Association or its board would otherwise have been
entitled to assert;
(3) the
Teachers Retirement Association may assert any applicable defense that the
Teachers Retirement Association may assert in its capacity as a statewide
agency; and
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(4) the Teachers Retirement Association shall
indemnify any former fiduciary of the Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund
Association consistent with the provisions of the Public Pension Fiduciary
Responsibility Act, in section 356A.11.
(c) From the assets of the former Minneapolis Teachers
Retirement Fund Association transferred to the Teachers Retirement Association,
an amount equal to the percentage figure that represents the ratio between the
market value of the Minnesota postretirement investment fund as of June 30,
2006, and the required reserves of the Minnesota postretirement investment fund
as of June 30, 2006, applied to the present value of future benefits payable to
annuitants of the former Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association as of
June 30, 2006, including any postretirement adjustment from the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund expected to be payable on January 1, 2007, must
be transferred to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund. The executive director of the State Board of
Investment shall estimate this ratio at the time of the transfer. By January 1, 2007, after all necessary financial
information becomes available to determine the actual funded ratio of the
Minnesota postretirement investment fund, the postretirement investment fund
must refund to the Teachers Retirement Association any excess assets or the
Teachers Retirement Association must contribute any deficiency to the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund with interest under Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
11A.18, subdivision 6. The balance of
the assets of the former Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association after
the transfer to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund must be credited
to the Teachers Retirement Association.
(d) If the assets transferred by the Minneapolis
Teachers Retirement Fund Association to the Teachers Retirement Association are
insufficient to meet its obligation to the Minnesota postretirement investment
fund, additional assets must be transferred by the executive director of the
Teachers Retirement Association to meet the amount required.
Sec. 69.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.70, subdivision 6, is amended to
read:
Subd. 6. Benefit calculation. (a) For every deferred, inactive, disabled,
and retired member of the Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association
transferred under subdivision 1, and the survivors of these members, annuities
or benefits earned before the date of the transfer, other than future
postretirement adjustments, must be calculated and paid by the Teachers
Retirement Association under the laws, articles of incorporation, and bylaws of
the former Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association that were in effect
relative to the person on the date of the person's termination of active
service covered by the former Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association.
(b) Former Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund
Association members who retired before July 1, 2006, must receive
postretirement adjustments after December 31, 2006, only as provided in Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 11A.18 or section 356.415. All other benefit recipients of the former
Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association must receive postretirement
adjustments after December 31, 2006, only as provided in section 356.41
356.415.
(c) This consolidation does not impair or diminish
benefits for an active, deferred, or retired member or a survivor of an active,
deferred, or retired member under the former Minneapolis Teachers Retirement
Fund Association in existence at the time of the consolidation, except that any
future guaranteed or investment-related postretirement adjustments must be paid
after July 1, 2006, in accordance with paragraph (b), and all benefits based on
service on or after July 1, 2006, must be determined only by laws governing the
Teachers Retirement Association.
Sec. 70.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.215, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of sections 3.85 and
356.20 to 356.23, each of the terms in the following paragraphs has the meaning
given.
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2009 - Top of Page 5469
(b) "Actuarial valuation" means a set of
calculations prepared by an actuary retained under section 356.214 if so
required under section 3.85, or otherwise, by an approved actuary, to determine
the normal cost and the accrued actuarial liabilities of a benefit plan,
according to the entry age actuarial cost method and based upon stated
assumptions including, but not limited to rates of interest, mortality, salary
increase, disability, withdrawal, and retirement and to determine the payment
necessary to amortize over a stated period any unfunded accrued actuarial
liability disclosed as a result of the actuarial valuation of the benefit plan.
(c) "Approved actuary" means a person who is
regularly engaged in the business of providing actuarial services and who is a
fellow in the Society of Actuaries.
(d) "Entry age actuarial cost method" means
an actuarial cost method under which the actuarial present value of the
projected benefits of each individual currently covered by the benefit plan and
included in the actuarial valuation is allocated on a level basis over the
service of the individual, if the benefit plan is governed by section 69.773,
or over the earnings of the individual, if the benefit plan is governed by any
other law, between the entry age and the assumed exit age, with the portion of
the actuarial present value which is allocated to the valuation year to be the
normal cost and the portion of the actuarial present value not provided for at
the valuation date by the actuarial present value of future normal costs to be
the actuarial accrued liability, with aggregation in the calculation process to
be the sum of the calculated result for each covered individual and with
recognition given to any different benefit formulas which may apply to various
periods of service.
(e) "Experience study" means a report
providing experience data and an actuarial analysis of the adequacy of the
actuarial assumptions on which actuarial valuations are based.
(f) "Actuarial value of assets" means:
(1) For the July 1, 2009, actuarial valuation, the market value of all assets as of the preceding
June 30, 2009, reduced by:
(1) (i) 20
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between the
June 30 that occurred three years earlier, 2006, and the
June 30 that occurred four years earlier, 2005, and the computed
increase in the market value of assets other than the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund over that fiscal year period if the assets
had increased at the percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used
in the actuarial valuation for the July 1 that occurred four years earlier
earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual percentage preretirement
interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for July 1, 2005;
(2) (ii) 40 percent of the difference between the actual net
change in the market value of assets other than the Minnesota postretirement
investment fund between the June 30 that occurred two years
earlier, 2007, and the June 30 that occurred three years
earlier, 2006, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that
fiscal year period if the assets had increased at the percentage
preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for the
July 1 that occurred three years earlier earned a rate of return on
assets equal to the annual percentage preretirement interest rate assumption
used in the actuarial valuation for July 1, 2006;
(3) (iii) 60 percent of the difference between the actual net
change in the market value of assets other than the Minnesota postretirement
investment fund between the June 30 that occurred one year
earlier, 2008, and the June 30 that occurred two years
earlier, 2007, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that
fiscal year period if the assets had increased at the percentage
preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for the
July 1 that occurred two years earlier earned a rate of return on assets
equal to the annual percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in
the actuarial valuation for July 1, 2007; and
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(4) (iv) 80 percent of the difference between
the actual net change in the market value of assets other than the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund between the immediately prior June 30,
2009, and the June 30 that occurred one year earlier,
2008, and the computed increase in the market value of assets other than
the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that fiscal year period
if the assets had increased at the percentage preretirement interest rate
assumption used in the actuarial valuation for the July 1 that occurred one
year earlier. earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual
percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for July 1, 2008; and
(v) if
applicable, 80 percent of the difference between the actual net change in the
market value of the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2009, and June 30, 2008, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets over that fiscal year period if the assets had increased at 8.5 percent
annually.
(2) For the
July 1, 2010, actuarial valuation, the market value of all assets as of June
30, 2010, reduced by:
(i) 20
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2007, and June 30, 2006, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that fiscal
year period if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the
annual percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for July 1, 2006;
(ii) 40
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2008, and June 30, 2007, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that fiscal
year period if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the
annual percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for July 1, 2007;
(iii) 60
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2009, and June 30, 2008, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that fiscal
year period if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the
annual percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for July 1, 2008;
(iv) 80
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
total assets between June 30, 2010, and June 30, 2009, and the computed
increase in the market value of total assets over that fiscal year period if
the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual percentage
preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for July
1, 2009; and
(v) if
applicable, 60 percent of the difference between the actual net change in the
market value of the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30, 2009,
and June 30, 2008, and the computed increase in the market value of assets over
that fiscal year period if the assets had increased at 8.5 percent annually.
(3) For the
July 1, 2011, actuarial valuation, the market value of all assets as of June
30, 2011, reduced by:
(i) 20
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2008, and June 30, 2007, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that fiscal
year period if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the
annual percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for July 1, 2007;
(ii) 40
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2009, and June 30, 2008, and the computed increase in the market value of assets
other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that fiscal year
period if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual
percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for July 1, 2008;
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(iii) 60
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
the total assets between June 30, 2010, and June 30, 2009, and the computed
increase in the market value of the total assets over that fiscal year period
if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual
percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for July 1, 2009;
(iv) 80
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
total assets between June 30, 2011, and June 30, 2010, and the computed
increase in the market value of total assets over that fiscal year period if
the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual percentage
preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for July
1, 2010; and
(v) if
applicable, 40 percent of the difference between the actual net change in the
market value of the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2009, and June 30, 2008, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets over that fiscal year period if the assets had increased at 8.5 percent
annually.
(4) For the
July 1, 2012, actuarial valuation, the market value of all assets as of June 30,
2012, reduced by:
(i) 20
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2009, and June 30, 2008, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that fiscal
year period if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the
annual percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for July 1, 2008;
(ii) 40
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
total assets between June 30, 2010, and June 30, 2009, and the computed
increase in the market value of total assets over that fiscal year period if
the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual percentage
preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for July
1, 2009;
(iii) 60
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of total
assets between June 30, 2011, and June 30, 2010, and the computed increase in
the market value of total assets over that fiscal year period if the assets had
earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual percentage preretirement
interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for July 1, 2010;
(iv) 80
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
total assets between June 30, 2012, and June 30, 2011, and the computed
increase in the market value of total assets over that fiscal year period if
the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual percentage
preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for July
1, 2011; and
(v) if
applicable, 20 percent of the difference between the actual net change in the
market value of the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2009, and June 30, 2008, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets over that fiscal year period if the assets had increased at 8.5 percent
annually.
(5) For the
July 1, 2013, and following actuarial valuations, the market value of all
assets as of the preceding June 30, reduced by:
(i) 20
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
total assets between the June 30 that occurred three years earlier and the June
30 that occurred four years earlier and the computed increase in the market
value of total assets over that fiscal year period if the assets had earned a
rate of return on assets equal to the annual percentage preretirement interest
rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for the July 1 that occurred
four years earlier;
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(ii) 40 percent of the difference between the actual
net change in the market value of total assets between the June 30 that
occurred two years earlier and the June 30 that occurred three years earlier
and the computed increase in the market value of total assets over that fiscal
year period if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the
annual percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for the July 1 that occurred three years earlier;
(iii) 60 percent of the difference between the actual
net change in the market value of total assets between the June 30 that
occurred one year earlier and the June 30 that occurred two years earlier and
the computed increase in the market value of total assets over that fiscal year
period if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual
percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for the July 1 that occurred two years earlier; and
(iv) 80 percent of the difference between the actual
net change in the market value of total assets between the most recent June 30
and the June 30 that occurred one year earlier and the computed increase in the
market value of total assets over that fiscal year period if the assets had
earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual percentage preretirement
interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for the July 1 that
occurred one year earlier.
(g) "Unfunded actuarial accrued liability"
means the total current and expected future benefit obligations, reduced by the
sum of the actuarial value of assets and the present value of future normal
costs.
(h) "Pension benefit obligation" means the
actuarial present value of credited projected benefits, determined as the
actuarial present value of benefits estimated to be payable in the future as a
result of employee service attributing an equal benefit amount, including the
effect of projected salary increases and any step rate benefit accrual rate
differences, to each year of credited and expected future employee service.
Sec. 71.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.215, subdivision 11, is amended to
read:
Subd. 11. Amortization contributions. (a) In addition to the exhibit indicating the
level normal cost, the actuarial valuation of the retirement plan must contain
an exhibit for financial reporting purposes indicating the additional annual
contribution sufficient to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability
and must contain an exhibit for contribution determination purposes indicating
the additional contribution sufficient to amortize the unfunded actuarial
accrued liability. For the retirement
plans listed in subdivision 8, paragraph (c), the additional contribution must
be calculated on a level percentage of covered payroll basis by the established
date for full funding in effect when the valuation is prepared, assuming annual
payroll growth at the applicable percentage rate set forth in subdivision 8, paragraph
(c). For all other retirement plans, the
additional annual contribution must be calculated on a level annual dollar
amount basis.
(b) For any retirement plan other than the Minneapolis
Employees Retirement Fund, the general employees retirement plan of the Public
Employees Retirement Association, and the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund
Association, if there has not been a change in the actuarial assumptions used
for calculating the actuarial accrued liability of the fund, a change in the benefit
plan governing annuities and benefits payable from the fund, a change in the
actuarial cost method used in calculating the actuarial accrued liability of
all or a portion of the fund, or a combination of the three, which change or
changes by itself or by themselves without inclusion of any other items of
increase or decrease produce a net increase in the unfunded actuarial accrued
liability of the fund, the established date for full funding is the first
actuarial valuation date occurring after June 1, 2020.
(c) For any retirement plan other than the Minneapolis
Employees Retirement Fund and the general employees retirement plan of the
Public Employees Retirement Association, if there has been a change in any or
all of the actuarial assumptions used for calculating the actuarial accrued
liability of the fund, a change in the benefit plan governing annuities and
benefits payable from the fund, a change in the actuarial cost method used in
calculating the
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actuarial accrued liability of all or a portion of the
fund, or a combination of the three, and the change or changes, by itself or by
themselves and without inclusion of any other items of increase or decrease,
produce a net increase in the unfunded actuarial accrued liability in the fund,
the established date for full funding must be determined using the following
procedure:
(i) the
unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the fund must be determined in
accordance with the plan provisions governing annuities and retirement benefits
and the actuarial assumptions in effect before an applicable change;
(ii) the level
annual dollar contribution or level percentage, whichever is applicable, needed
to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability amount determined under
item (i) by the established date for full funding in effect before the change
must be calculated using the interest assumption specified in subdivision 8 in
effect before the change;
(iii) the
unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the fund must be determined in
accordance with any new plan provisions governing annuities and benefits
payable from the fund and any new actuarial assumptions and the remaining plan
provisions governing annuities and benefits payable from the fund and actuarial
assumptions in effect before the change;
(iv) the level
annual dollar contribution or level percentage, whichever is applicable, needed
to amortize the difference between the unfunded actuarial accrued liability
amount calculated under item (i) and the unfunded actuarial accrued liability
amount calculated under item (iii) over a period of 30 years from the end of
the plan year in which the applicable change is effective must be calculated
using the applicable interest assumption specified in subdivision 8 in effect
after any applicable change;
(v) the level
annual dollar or level percentage amortization contribution under item (iv)
must be added to the level annual dollar amortization contribution or level
percentage calculated under item (ii);
(vi) the period
in which the unfunded actuarial accrued liability amount determined in item
(iii) is amortized by the total level annual dollar or level percentage amortization
contribution computed under item (v) must be calculated using the interest
assumption specified in subdivision 8 in effect after any applicable change,
rounded to the nearest integral number of years, but not to exceed 30 years
from the end of the plan year in which the determination of the established
date for full funding using the procedure set forth in this clause is made and
not to be less than the period of years beginning in the plan year in which the
determination of the established date for full funding using the procedure set
forth in this clause is made and ending by the date for full funding in effect
before the change; and
(vii) the
period determined under item (vi) must be added to the date as of which the
actuarial valuation was prepared and the date obtained is the new established
date for full funding.
(d) For the
Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund, the established date for full funding is
June 30, 2020.
(e) For the general
employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association, the
established date for full funding is June 30, 2031.
(f) For the
Teachers Retirement Association, the established date for full funding is June
30, 2037.
(g) For the correctional
state employees retirement plan of the Minnesota State Retirement System, the
established date for full funding is June 30, 2038.
(h) For the
judges retirement plan, the established date for full funding is June 30, 2038.
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(i) For the public employees police and fire
retirement plan, the established date for full funding is
June 30, 2038.
(j) For the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund
Association, the established date for full funding is June 30 of the 25th year
from the valuation date. In addition to
other requirements of this chapter, the annual actuarial valuation shall
contain an exhibit indicating the funded ratio and the deficiency or
sufficiency in annual contributions when comparing liabilities to the market
value of the assets of the fund as of the close of the most recent fiscal year.
(k) For the retirement plans for which the annual
actuarial valuation indicates an excess of valuation assets over the actuarial
accrued liability, the valuation assets in excess of the actuarial accrued
liability must be recognized as a reduction in the current contribution
requirements by an amount equal to the amortization of the excess expressed as
a level percentage of pay over a 30-year period beginning anew with each annual
actuarial valuation of the plan.
(l) In addition to calculating the unfunded actuarial
accrued liability of the retirement plan for financial reporting purposes under
paragraphs (a) to (j), the actuarial valuation of the retirement plan must also
include a calculation of the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the
retirement plan for purposes of determining the amortization contribution
sufficient to amortize the unfunded actuarial liability of the Minnesota Post
Retirement Investment Fund. For this
exhibit, the calculation must be the unfunded actuarial accrued liability net
of the postretirement adjustment liability funded from the investment
performance of the Minnesota Post Retirement Investment Fund or the retirement
benefit fund.
Sec. 72.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.351, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Incentive. (a) For an employee eligible under
subdivision 1, if approved under paragraph (b), the employer may provide an
amount up to $17,000, to an employee who terminates service, to be used:
(1) unless the appointing authority has designated the
use under clause (2) or the use under clause (3) for the initial retirement
incentive applicable to that employing entity under Laws 2007, chapter 134,
after May 26, 2007, for deposit in the employee's account in the health care
savings plan established by section 352.98;
(2) notwithstanding section 352.01, subdivision 11, or
354.05, subdivision 13, whichever applies, if the appointing authority has
designated the use under this clause for the initial retirement incentive
applicable to that employing entity under Laws 2007, chapter 134, after May 26,
2007, for purchase of service credit for unperformed service sufficient to
enable the employee to retire under section 352.116, subdivision 1, paragraph
(b); 353.30; 354.44, subdivision 6, paragraph (b), or 354A.31, subdivision 6,
paragraph (b), whichever applies; or
(3) if the appointing authority has designated the use
under this clause for the initial retirement incentive applicable to the
employing entity under Laws 2007, chapter 134, after May 26, 2007, for purchase
of a lifetime annuity or an annuity for a specific number of years from the
applicable retirement plan to provide additional benefits, as provided in
paragraph (d).
(b) Approval to provide the incentive must be obtained
from the commissioner of finance if the eligible employee is a state employee
and must be obtained from the applicable governing board with respect to any
other employing entity. An employee is
eligible for the payment under paragraph (a), clause (2), if the employee uses
money from a deferred compensation account that, combined with the payment
under paragraph (a), clause (2), would be sufficient to purchase enough service
credit to qualify for retirement under section 352.116, subdivision 1,
paragraph (b); 353.30, subdivision 1a; 354.44, subdivision 6, paragraph (b), or
354A.31, subdivision 6, paragraph (b), whichever applies.
(c) The cost to purchase service credit under
paragraph (a), clause (2), must be made in accordance with
section 356.551.
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(d) The annuity
purchase under paragraph (a), clause (3), must be made using annuity factors,
as determined by the actuary retained under section 356.214, derived from
the applicable factors used by the applicable retirement plan to transfer
amounts to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund and to calculate
optional annuity forms. The purchased
annuity must be the actuarial equivalent of the incentive amount.
Sec. 73. [356.415]
POSTRETIREMENT ADJUSTMENTS; STATEWIDE RETIREMENT PLANS.
Subdivision
1. Annual
postretirement adjustments. (a)
Retirement annuity, disability benefit, or survivor benefit recipients of a
covered retirement plan are entitled to a postretirement adjustment annually on
January 1, as follows:
(1) a
postretirement increase of 2.5 percent must be applied each year, effective
January 1, to the monthly annuity or benefit of each annuitant or benefit
recipient who has been receiving an annuity or a benefit for at least 12 full
months prior to the January 1 increase; and
(2) for each
annuitant or benefit recipient who has been receiving an annuity or a benefit
for at least one full month, an annual postretirement increase of 1/12 of 2.5
percent for each month the person has been receiving an annuity or benefit must
be applied, effective January 1 following the year in which the person has been
retired for less than 12 months.
(b) The
increases provided by this section commence on January 1, 2010.
(c) An
increase in annuity or benefit payments under this section must be made
automatically unless written notice is filed by the annuitant or benefit
recipient with the executive director of the covered retirement plan requesting
that the increase not be made.
(d) The
retirement annuity payable to a person who retires before becoming eligible for
Social Security benefits and who has elected the optional payment as provided
in section 353.29, subdivision 6, or 354.35 must be treated as the sum of a
period certain retirement annuity and a life retirement annuity for the
purposes of any postretirement adjustment.
The period certain retirement annuity plus the life retirement annuity
must be the annuity amount payable until age 62 for section 353.29, subdivision
6, or age 62, 65, or normal retirement age, as selected by the member at
retirement, for an annuity amount payable under section 354.35. A postretirement adjustment granted on the
period certain retirement annuity must terminate when the period certain
retirement annuity terminates.
Subd. 2.
Covered retirement plans. The provisions of this section apply to
the following retirement plans:
(1) the
legislators retirement plan established under chapter 3A;
(2) the
correctional state employees retirement plan of the Minnesota State Retirement
System established under chapter 352;
(3) the
general state employees retirement plan of the Minnesota State Retirement
System established under chapter 352;
(4) the
State Patrol retirement plan established under chapter 352B;
(5) the
elective state officers retirement plan established under chapter 352C;
(6) the
general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement
Association established under chapter 353;
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(7) the public employees police and fire retirement
plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association established under chapter
353;
(8) the local government correctional employees
retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association established
under chapter 353E;
(9) the teachers retirement plan established under
chapter 354; and
(10) the judges retirement plan established under
chapter 490.
Sec. 74.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 490.123, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Fund creation; revenue and authorized
disbursements. (a) There is created
a special fund to be known as the "judges' retirement fund."
(b) The judges' retirement fund must be credited with
all contributions; all interest, dividends, and other investment proceeds; and
all other income authorized by this chapter or other applicable law.
(c) From this fund there are appropriated the payments
authorized by this chapter, in the amounts and at the times provided, including
the necessary and reasonable expenses of the Minnesota State Retirement System
in administering the fund and the transfers to the Minnesota postretirement
investment fund.
Sec. 75.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 490.123, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Investment. (a) The executive director of the Minnesota
State Retirement System shall, from time to time, certify to the State Board of
Investment such portions of the judges' retirement fund as in the director's
judgment may not be required for immediate use.
(b) Assets from the judges' retirement fund must be
transferred to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund for retirement and
disability benefits as provided in sections 11A.18 and 352.119.
(c) (b) The
State Board of Investment shall thereupon invest and reinvest sums so transferred,
or certified, in such securities as are duly authorized legal
investments for such purposes under section 11A.24 in compliance with sections
356A.04 and 356A.06.
Sec. 76.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 490.124, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 14. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
retirement annuity under subdivision 1, 3, or 5, a disability benefit under
subdivision 4, and a survivor's annuity under subdivision 9 or 11 are eligible
for postretirement adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 77. REPEALER.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 11A.041; 11A.18;
11A.181; 352.119, subdivisions 2, 3, and 4; 352B.26, subdivisions 1 and 3;
353.271; 353A.02, subdivision 20; 353A.09, subdivisions 2 and 3; 354.05,
subdivision 26; 354.55, subdivision 14; 354.63; 356.41; 356.431, subdivision 2;
422A.01, subdivision 13; 422A.06, subdivision 4; and 490.123, subdivisions 1c
and 1e, are repealed.
Sec. 78. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Sections 1 to 77 are effective July 1, 2009.
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ARTICLE 2
DISABILITY BENEFIT PROVISION CHANGES
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.34, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Officers exempted. Notwithstanding any provision to the
contrary, (a) conservation officers and crime bureau officers who were first
employed on or after July 1, 1973, and who are members of the State Patrol
retirement fund by reason of their employment, and members of the Minnesota
State Patrol Division and Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division of the
Department of Public Safety who are members of the State Patrol Retirement
Association by reason of their employment, shall may not continue
employment after attaining the age of 60 years, except for a fractional portion
of one year that will enable the employee to complete the employee's next full
year of allowable service as defined pursuant to section 352B.01 352B.011,
subdivision 3; and (b) conservation officers and crime bureau officers who were
first employed and are members of the State Patrol retirement fund by reason of
their employment before July 1, 1973, shall may not continue
employment after attaining the age of 70 years.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 299A.465, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Officer or firefighter disabled in line of
duty. (a) This subdivision applies
to any peace officer or firefighter:
(1) who the Public Employees Retirement Association or
the Minnesota State Retirement System determines is eligible to receive a
duty disability benefit pursuant to section 353.656 or 352B.10, subdivision
1, respectively; or
(2) who (i) does not qualify to receive disability
benefits by operation of the eligibility requirements set forth in section
353.656, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), (ii) retires pursuant to section
353.651, subdivision 4, or (iii) is a member of a local police or salaried
firefighters relief association and qualifies for a duty disability benefit
under the terms of plans of the relief associations, and the peace officer or
firefighter described in item (i), (ii), or (iii) has discontinued public
service as a peace officer or firefighter as a result of a disabling injury and
has been determined, by the Public Employees Retirement Association, to have
otherwise met the duty disability criteria set forth in section 353.01,
subdivision 41.
(b) A determination made on behalf of a peace officer
or firefighter described in paragraph (a), clause (2), must be at the request
of the peace officer or firefighter made for the purposes of this section. Determinations made in accordance with
paragraph (a) are binding on the peace officer or firefighter, employer, and
state. The determination must be made by
the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association or by
the executive director of the Minnesota State Retirement System, whichever
applies, and is not subject to section 356.96, subdivision 2. Upon making a determination, the executive
director shall provide written notice to the peace officer or firefighter and
the employer. This notice must include:
(1) a written statement of the reasons for the
determination;
(2) a notice that the person may petition for a review
of the determination by requesting that a contested case be initiated before
the Office of Administrative Hearings, the cost of which must be borne by the
peace officer or firefighter and the employer; and
(3) a statement that any person who does not petition
for a review within 60 days is precluded from contesting issues determined by
the executive director in any other administrative review or court procedure.
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2009 - Top of Page 5478
If, prior to the contested case hearing, additional
information is provided to support the claim for duty disability as defined in
section 353.01, subdivision 41, or 352B.011, subdivision 7, whichever
applies, the executive director may reverse the determination without the
requested hearing. If a hearing is held
before the Office of Administrative Hearings, the determination rendered by the
judge conducting the fact-finding hearing is a final decision and order under section
14.62, subdivision 2a, and is binding on the applicable executive
director, the peace officer or firefighter, employer, and state. Review of a final determination made by the
Office of Administrative Hearings under this section may only be obtained by
writ of certiorari to the Minnesota Court of Appeals under sections 14.63 to
14.68. Only the peace officer or
firefighter, employer, and state have standing to participate in a judicial
review of the decision of the Office of Administrative Hearings.
(c) The officer's or firefighter's employer shall
continue to provide health coverage for:
(1) the officer or firefighter; and
(2) the officer's or firefighter's dependents if the
officer or firefighter was receiving dependent coverage at the time of the
injury under the employer's group health plan.
(d) The employer is responsible for the continued
payment of the employer's contribution for coverage of the officer or
firefighter and, if applicable, the officer's or firefighter's dependents. Coverage must continue for the officer or
firefighter and, if applicable, the officer's or firefighter's dependents until
the officer or firefighter reaches or, if deceased, would have reached the age
of 65. However, coverage for dependents
does not have to be continued after the person is no longer a dependent.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment and also applies to any member of the State Patrol
retirement plan who was awarded a duty disability benefit on or after July 1, 2008.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.01, subdivision 2b, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2b. Excluded employees. "State employee" does not include:
(1) students employed by the University of Minnesota,
or the state colleges and universities, unless approved for coverage by the
Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota or the Board of Trustees of the
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, whichever is applicable;
(2) employees who are eligible for membership in the
state Teachers Retirement Association, except employees of the Department of
Education who have chosen or may choose to be covered by the general state
employees retirement plan of the Minnesota State Retirement System instead of
the Teachers Retirement Association;
(3) employees of the University of Minnesota who are
excluded from coverage by action of the Board of Regents;
(4) officers and enlisted personnel in the National
Guard and the naval militia who are assigned to permanent peacetime duty and
who under federal law are or are required to be members of a federal retirement
system;
(5) election officers;
(6) persons who are engaged in public work for the
state but who are employed by contractors when the performance of the contract
is authorized by the legislature or other competent authority;
(7) officers and employees of the senate, or of the
house of representatives, or of a legislative committee or commission who are
temporarily employed;
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(8) receivers,
jurors, notaries public, and court employees who are not in the judicial branch
as defined in section 43A.02, subdivision 25, except referees and adjusters
employed by the Department of Labor and Industry;
(9) patient and
inmate help in state charitable, penal, and correctional institutions including
the Minnesota Veterans Home;
(10) persons
who are employed for professional services where the service is incidental to
their regular professional duties and whose compensation is paid on a per diem
basis;
(11) employees
of the Sibley House Association;
(12) the
members of any state board or commission who serve the state intermittently and
are paid on a per diem basis; the secretary, secretary-treasurer, and treasurer
of those boards if their compensation is $5,000 or less per year, or, if they
are legally prohibited from serving more than three years; and the board of
managers of the State Agricultural Society and its treasurer unless the
treasurer is also its full-time secretary;
(13) state
troopers and persons who are described in section 352B.01, subdivision 2
352B.011, subdivision 10, clauses (2) to (6) (8);
(14) temporary
employees of the Minnesota State Fair who are employed on or after July 1 for a
period not to extend beyond October 15 of that year; and persons who are
employed at any time by the state fair administration for special events held
on the fairgrounds;
(15) emergency
employees who are in the classified service; except that if an emergency
employee, within the same pay period, becomes a provisional or probationary
employee on other than a temporary basis, the employee shall must
be considered a "state employee" retroactively to the beginning of
the pay period;
(16) temporary
employees in the classified service, and temporary employees in the
unclassified service who are appointed for a definite period of not more than
six months and who are employed less than six months in any one-year period;
(17) interns
hired for six months or less and trainee employees, except those listed in
subdivision 2a, clause (8);
(18) persons
whose compensation is paid on a fee basis or as an independent contractor;
(19) state
employees who are employed by the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities in unclassified positions enumerated in section
43A.08, subdivision 1, clause (9);
(20) state
employees who in any year have credit for 12 months service as teachers in the
public schools of the state and as teachers are members of the Teachers
Retirement Association or a retirement system in St. Paul, Minneapolis, or
Duluth, except for incidental employment as a state employee that is not
covered by one of the teacher retirement associations or systems;
(21) employees
of the adjutant general who are employed on an unlimited intermittent or
temporary basis in the classified or unclassified service for the support of
Army and Air National Guard training facilities;
(22) chaplains
and nuns who are excluded from coverage under the federal Old Age, Survivors,
Disability, and Health Insurance Program for the performance of service as
specified in United States Code, title 42, section 410(a)(8)(A), as amended, if
no irrevocable election of coverage has been made under section 3121(r) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 1992;
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(23)
examination monitors who are employed by departments, agencies, commissions,
and boards to conduct examinations required by law;
(24) persons
who are appointed to serve as members of fact-finding commissions or adjustment
panels, arbitrators, or labor referees under chapter 179;
(25) temporary
employees who are employed for limited periods under any state or federal
program for training or rehabilitation, including persons who are employed for
limited periods from areas of economic distress, but not including skilled and
supervisory personnel and persons having civil service status covered by the
system;
(26) full-time
students who are employed by the Minnesota Historical Society intermittently
during part of the year and full-time during the summer months;
(27) temporary
employees who are appointed for not more than six months, of the Metropolitan
Council and of any of its statutory boards, if the board members are appointed
by the Metropolitan Council;
(28) persons
who are employed in positions designated by the Department of Finance as
student workers;
(29) members of
trades who are employed by the successor to the Metropolitan Waste Control
Commission, who have trade union pension plan coverage under a collective
bargaining agreement, and who are first employed after June 1, 1977;
(30) off-duty
peace officers while employed by the Metropolitan Council;
(31) persons
who are employed as full-time police officers by the Metropolitan Council and
as police officers are members of the public employees police and fire fund;
(32) persons
who are employed as full-time firefighters by the Department of Military
Affairs and as firefighters are members of the public employees police and fire
fund;
(33) foreign
citizens with a work permit of less than three years, or an H-1b/JV visa valid
for less than three years of employment, unless notice of extension is supplied
which allows them to work for three or more years as of the date the extension
is granted, in which case they are eligible for coverage from the date
extended; and
(34) persons
who are employed by the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities and who elected to remain members of the Public Employees
Retirement Association or the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund, whichever
applies, under Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 136C.75.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.01, is amended
by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 17a.
Occupational disability. "Occupational disability," for
purposes of determining eligibility for disability benefits for a correctional
employee, means a disabling condition that is expected to prevent the
correctional employee, for a period of not less than 12 months, from performing
the normal duties of the position held by the correctional employee.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
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Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.01, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 17b.
Duty disability, physical or
psychological. "Duty
disability, physical or psychological," for a correctional employee, means
an occupational disability that is the direct result of an injury incurred
during, or a disease arising out of, the performance of normal duties or the
performance of less frequent duties either of which are specific to the
correctional employee.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.01, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 17c.
Regular disability, physical
or psychological. "Regular
disability, physical or psychological," for a correctional employee, means
an occupational disability resulting from a disease or an injury that arises
from any activities while not at work or from activities while at work
performing normal or less frequent duties that do not present inherent dangers
specific to covered correctional positions.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.01, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 17d.
Normal duties. "Normal duties" means specific
tasks designated in the applicant's job description and which the applicant
performs on a day-to-day basis, but do not include less frequent duties which may
be requested to be done by the employer from time to time.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.01, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 17e.
Less frequent duties. "Less frequent duties" means
tasks designated in the applicant's job description as either required from
time to time or as assigned, but which are not carried out as part of the
normal routine of the applicant's job.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.113,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Medical
or psychological examinations; authorization for payment of benefit. (a) An applicant shall provide medical,
chiropractic, or psychological evidence to support an application for total and
permanent disability.
(b) The director
shall have the employee examined by at least one additional licensed
chiropractor, physician, or psychologist designated by the medical
adviser. The chiropractors, physicians,
or psychologists shall make written reports to the director concerning the
employee's disability including expert opinions as to whether the employee is
permanently and totally disabled within the meaning of section 352.01,
subdivision 17.
(c) The director
shall also obtain written certification from the employer stating whether the
employment has ceased or whether the employee is on sick leave of absence
because of a disability that will prevent further service to the employer and
as a consequence the employee is not entitled to compensation from the
employer.
(d) The medical
adviser shall consider the reports of the physicians, psychologists, and
chiropractors and any other evidence supplied by the employee or other
interested parties. If the medical
adviser finds the employee totally and permanently disabled, the adviser shall
make appropriate recommendation to the director in writing
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together with
the date from which the employee has been totally disabled. The director shall then determine if the
disability occurred within 180 days 18 months of filing the
application, while still in the employment of the state, and the propriety of
authorizing payment of a disability benefit as provided in this section.
(e) A terminated
employee may apply for a disability benefit within 180 days 18 months
of termination as long as the disability occurred while in the employment of
the state. The fact that an employee is
placed on leave of absence without compensation because of disability does not
bar that employee from receiving a disability benefit.
(f) Unless the
payment of a disability benefit has terminated because the employee is no
longer totally disabled, or because the employee has reached normal retirement
age as provided in this section, the disability benefit must cease with the
last payment received by the disabled employee or which had accrued during the
lifetime of the employee unless there is a spouse surviving. In that event, the surviving spouse is
entitled to the disability benefit for the calendar month in which the disabled
employee died.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009, and applies to disability
benefit applicants whose last day of public employment was after June 30, 2009.
Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.95,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Job-related
disability Duty disability; computation of benefit. A covered correctional employee who becomes
disabled and who is expected to be physically or mentally unfit to perform the duties
of the position for at least one year as a direct result of an injury,
sickness, or other disability that incurred in or arose out of any act of duty
that makes the employee physically or mentally unable to perform the duties
is determined to have a duty disability, physical or psychological, as defined
under section 352.01, subdivision 17b, is entitled to a duty disability
benefit. The duty disability
benefit may must be based on covered correctional service
only. The duty disability benefit
amount is 50 percent of the average salary defined in section 352.93, plus an
additional percent equal to that specified in section 356.315, subdivision 5,
for each year of covered correctional service in excess of 20 years, ten
months, prorated for completed months.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.95,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Non-job-related
Regular disability; computation of benefit. A covered correctional employee who was
hired before July 1, 2009, after rendering at least one year of covered
correctional service, or a covered correctional employee who was first hired
after June 30, 2009, after rendering at least three years of covered
correctional plan service, becomes disabled and who is expected to be
physically or mentally unfit to perform the duties of the position for at least
one year because of sickness or injury that occurred while not engaged in
covered employment and who is determined to have a regular disability,
physical or psychological, as defined under section 352.01, subdivision 17c,
is entitled to a regular disability benefit. The regular disability benefit must be
based on covered correctional service only.
The regular disability benefit must be computed as provided in
section 352.93, subdivisions 1 and 2, and. The regular disability benefit of a covered
correctional employee who was first hired before July 1, 2009, and who is
determined to have a regular disability, physical or psychological, under this
subdivision must be computed as though the employee had at least 15 years
of covered correctional service.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.95,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Applying
for benefits; accrual. No
application for disability benefits shall may be made until after
the last day physically on the job. The
disability benefit shall begin begins to accrue the day following
the last day for which the employee is paid sick leave or annual leave,
but not earlier than 180 days before the date the application is filed. A terminated employee must file a written
application within the time frame specified under section 352.113, subdivision
4, paragraph (e).
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EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009,
and applies to disability benefit applicants whose last day of public
employment was after June 30, 2009.
Sec. 13.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.95, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Medical or psychological evidence. (a) An applicant shall provide medical,
chiropractic, or psychological evidence to support an application for
disability benefits. The director shall
have the employee examined by at least one additional licensed physician,
chiropractor, or psychologist who is designated by the medical adviser. The physicians, chiropractors, or
psychologists with respect to a mental impairment, shall make written reports
to the director concerning the question of the employee's disability, including
their expert opinions as to whether the employee is disabled has an
occupational disability within the meaning of this section
352.01, subdivision 17a, and whether the employee has a duty disability,
physical or psychological, under section 352.01, subdivision 17b, or has a
regular disability, physical or psychological, under section 352.01,
subdivision 17c. The director shall
also obtain written certification from the employer stating whether or not the
employee is on sick leave of absence because of a disability that will prevent
further service to the employer performing normal duties as defined in
section 352.01, subdivision 17d, or performing less frequent duties as defined
in section 352.01, subdivision 17e, and as a consequence, the employee is
not entitled to compensation from the employer.
(b) If, on considering the reports by the physicians,
chiropractors, or psychologists and any other evidence supplied by the employee
or others, the medical adviser finds that the employee disabled has
an occupational disability within the meaning of this section
352.01, subdivision 17a, the advisor shall make the appropriate
recommendation to the director, in writing, together with the date from which
the employee has been disabled. The
director shall then determine the propriety of authorizing payment of a duty
disability benefit or a regular disability benefit as provided in
this section.
(c) Unless the payment of a disability benefit has
terminated because the employee is no longer disabled has an
occupational disability, or because the employee has reached either age 65
55 or the five-year anniversary of the effective date of the disability
benefit, whichever is later, the disability benefit must cease with the last
payment which was received by the disabled employee or which had accrued during
the employee's lifetime. While
disability benefits are paid, the director has the right, at reasonable times,
to require the disabled employee to submit proof of the continuance of the
an occupational disability claimed. If any examination indicates to the medical
adviser that the employee is no longer disabled has an
occupational disability, the disability payment must be discontinued upon
the person's reinstatement to state service or within 60 days of the finding,
whichever is sooner.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009,
and applies to disability benefit applicants whose last day of public
employment was after June 30, 2009.
Sec. 14.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.95, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Retirement status at normal retirement age. The disability benefit paid to a disabled
correctional employee under this section shall terminate terminates
at the end of the month in which the employee reaches age 65 55,
or the five-year anniversary of the effective date of the disability benefit,
whichever is later. If the disabled
correctional employee is still disabled when the employee reaches age 65
55, or the five-year anniversary of the effective date of the disability
benefit, whichever is later, the employee shall must be deemed to
be a retired employee. If the employee
had elected an optional annuity under subdivision 1a, the employee shall
receive an annuity in accordance with the terms of the optional annuity
previously elected. If the employee had
not elected an optional annuity under subdivision 1a, the employee may within
90 days of attaining age 65 55 or reaching the five-year
anniversary of the effective date of the disability benefit, whichever is
later, either elect to receive a normal retirement annuity computed in the
manner provided in section 352.93 or elect to receive an optional annuity as
provided in section 352.116, subdivision 3, based on the same length of service
as used in the calculation of the disability benefit. Election of an optional annuity must be made
within 90 days before attaining age 65 55 or
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reaching the five-year anniversary of the effective
date of the disability benefit, whichever is later. If an optional annuity is elected, the
optional annuity shall begin begins to accrue on the first of the
month following the month in which the employee reaches age 65 55
or the five-year anniversary of the effective date of the disability benefit,
whichever is later.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009, and applies to disability benefit
applicants whose last day of public employment was after June 30, 2009.
Sec. 15. [352B.011]
DEFINITIONS.
Subdivision
1. Scope. For the purposes of this chapter, the
terms defined in this section have the meanings given them.
Subd. 2.
Accumulated deductions. "Accumulated deductions" means
the total sums deducted from the salary of a member and the total amount of
assessments paid by a member in place of deductions and credited to the
member's individual account as permitted by law without interest.
Subd. 3.
Allowable service. (a) "Allowable service" means:
(1) service
in a month during which a member is paid a salary from which a member
contribution is deducted, deposited, and credited in the State Patrol
retirement fund;
(2) for members
defined in subdivision 10, clause (1), service in any month for which payments
have been made to the State Patrol retirement fund under law; and
(3) for
members defined in subdivision 10, clauses (2) and (3), service for which
payments have been made to the State Patrol retirement fund under law, service
for which payments were made to the State Police officers retirement fund under
law after June 30, 1961, and all prior service which was credited to a member
for service on or before June 30, 1961.
(b)
Allowable service also includes any period of absence from duty by a member
who, by reason of injury incurred in the performance of duty, is temporarily
disabled and for which disability the state is liable under the workers'
compensation law, until the date authorized by the executive director for
commencement of payment of a disability benefit or until the date of a return
to employment.
Subd. 4.
Average monthly salary. (a) Subject to the limitations of section
356.611, "average monthly salary" means the average of the highest
monthly salaries for five years of service as a member upon which contributions
were deducted from pay under section 352B.02, or upon which appropriate
contributions or payments were made to the fund to receive allowable service
and salary credit as specified under the applicable law. Average monthly salary must be based upon all
allowable service if this service is less than five years.
(b) The
salary used for the calculation of "average monthly salary" means the
salary of the member as defined in section 352.01, subdivision 13. The salary used for the calculation of
"average monthly salary" does not include any lump-sum annual leave
payments and overtime payments made at the time of separation from state
service, any amounts of severance pay, or any reduced salary paid during the
period the person is entitled to workers' compensation benefit payments for
temporary disability.
Subd. 5.
Department head. "Department head" means the head
of any department, institution, or branch of the state service that directly
pays salaries from state funds to a member who prepares, approves, and submits
salary abstracts of employees to the commissioner of Minnesota Management and
Budget.
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Subd. 6.
Dependent child. "Dependent child" means a
natural or adopted unmarried child of a deceased member under the age of 18
years, including any child of the member conceived during the lifetime of the
member and born after the death of the member.
Subd. 7.
Duty disability. "Duty disability" means a
physical or psychological condition that is expected to prevent a member, for a
period of not less than 12 months, from performing the normal duties of the
position held by the person as a member of the State Patrol retirement fund,
and that is the direct result of any injury incurred during, or a disease
arising out of, the performance of normal duties or the actual performance of
less frequent duties, either of which are specific to protecting the property
and personal safety of others and that present inherent dangers that are
specific to the positions covered by the State Patrol retirement fund.
Subd. 8.
Fund. "Fund" means the State Patrol
retirement fund.
Subd. 9.
Less frequent duties. "Less frequent duties" means
tasks which are designated in the member's job description as either required from
time to time or as assigned, but which are not carried out as part of the
normal routine of the member's position.
Subd. 10.
Member. "Member" means:
(1) a State
Patrol member currently employed under section 299D.03 by the state, who is a
peace officer under section 626.84, and whose salary or compensation is paid
out of state funds;
(2) a
conservation officer employed under section 97A.201, currently employed by the
state, whose salary or compensation is paid out of state funds;
(3) a crime
bureau officer who was employed by the crime bureau and was a member of the
Highway Patrolmen's retirement fund on July 1, 1978, whether or not that person
has the power of arrest by warrant after that date, or who is employed as
police personnel, with powers of arrest by warrant under section 299C.04, and
who is currently employed by the state, and whose salary or compensation is
paid out of state funds;
(4) a person
who is employed by the state in the Department of Public Safety in a data
processing management position with salary or compensation paid from state
funds, who was a crime bureau officer covered by the State Patrol retirement
plan on August 15, 1987, and who was initially hired in the data processing
management position within the department during September 1987, or January
1988, with membership continuing for the duration of the person's employment in
that position, whether or not the person has the power of arrest by warrant
after August 15, 1987;
(5) a public
safety employee who is a peace officer under section 626.84, subdivision 1,
paragraph (c), and who is employed by the Division of Alcohol and Gambling
Enforcement under section 299L.01;
(6) a
Fugitive Apprehension Unit officer after October 31, 2000, who is employed by
the Office of Special Investigations of the Department of Corrections and who
is a peace officer under section 626.84;
(7) an
employee of the Department of Commerce defined as a peace officer in section
626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), who is employed by the Division of
Insurance Fraud Prevention under section 45.0135 after January 1, 2005,
and who has not attained the mandatory retirement age specified in section
43A.34, subdivision 4; and
(8) an
employee of the Department of Public Safety, who is a licensed peace officer
under section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), and is employed as the
statewide coordinator of the Gang and Drug Oversight Council.
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Subd. 11.
Normal duties. "Normal duties" means specific
tasks which are designated in the member's job description and which the
applicant performs on a day-to-day basis, but do not include less frequent
duties which may be requested to be done by the employer from time to time.
Subd. 12.
Regular disability. "Regular disability" means a
physical or psychological condition that is expected to prevent a member, for a
period of not less than 12 months, from performing the normal duties of the
position held by a person who is a member of the State Patrol retirement plan,
and which results from a disease or an injury that arises from any activities
while not at work, or while at work and performing those normal or less
frequent duties that do not present inherent dangers that are specific to the
occupations covered by the State Patrol retirement plan.
Subd. 13.
Surviving spouse. "Surviving spouse" means a
member's or former member's legally married spouse who resided with the member
or former member at the time of death and was married to the member or former
member, for a period of at least one year, during or before the time of
membership.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), this section is effective
July 1, 2009.
(b)
Subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (1), is effective retroactively from July
1, 1969, and allowable service on the records of the State Patrol retirement
plan credit consistent with that provision is validated.
Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.02,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Fund
created; membership. A State Patrol
retirement fund is established. Its
membership consists of all persons defined in section 352B.01, subdivision 2
352B.011, subdivision 10.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 17. [352B.085]
SERVICE CREDIT FOR CERTAIN DISABILITY LEAVES OF ABSENCE.
A member on
leave of absence receiving temporary workers' compensation payments and a
reduced salary or no salary from the employer who is entitled to allowable
service credit for the period of absence under section 352B.011, subdivision 3,
paragraph (b), may make payment to the fund for the difference between salary
received, if any, and the salary that the member would normally receive if the
member was not on leave of absence during the period. The member shall pay an amount equal to the
member and employer contribution rate under section 352B.02, subdivisions 1b
and 1c, on the differential salary amount for the period of the leave of
absence. The employing department, at
its option, may pay the employer amount on behalf of the member. Payment made under this subdivision must
include interest at the rate of 8.5 percent per year, and must be completed
within one year of the member's return from the leave of absence.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 18. [352B.086]
SERVICE CREDIT FOR UNIFORMED SERVICE.
(a) A member
who is absent from employment by reason of service in the uniformed services,
as defined in United States Code, title 38, section 4303(13), and who returns
to state employment in a position covered by the plan upon discharge from
service in the uniformed services within the time frame required in United
States Code, title 38, section 4312(e), may obtain service credit for the
period of the uniformed service, provided that the member did not separate from
uniformed service with a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge or under other
than honorable conditions.
(b) The
member may obtain credit by paying into the fund an equivalent member
contribution based on the member contribution rate or rates in effect at the
time that the uniformed service was performed multiplied by the full and
fractional years being purchased and applied to the annual salary rate. The annual salary rate is the average
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annual salary
during the purchase period that the member would have received if the member
had continued to provide employment services to the state rather than to
provide uniformed service, or if the determination of that rate is not
reasonably certain, the annual salary rate is the member's average salary rate
during the 12-month period of covered employment rendered immediately preceding
the purchase period.
(c) The
equivalent employer contribution and, if applicable, the equivalent employer
additional contribution, must be paid by the employing unit, using the employer
and employer additional contribution rate or rates in effect at the time that
the uniformed service was performed, applied to the same annual salary rate or
rates used to compute the equivalent member contribution.
(d) If the
member equivalent contributions provided for in this subdivision are not paid
in full, the member's allowable service credit must be prorated by multiplying
the full and fractional number of years of uniformed service eligible for
purchase by the ratio obtained by dividing the total member contributions
received by the total member contributions otherwise required under this
subdivision.
(e) To
receive allowable service credit under this subdivision, the contributions
specified in this section must be transmitted to the fund during the period
which begins with the date on which the individual returns to state employment
covered by the plan and which has a duration of three times the length of the
uniformed service period, but not to exceed five years. If the determined payment period is
calculated to be less than one year, the contributions required under this
subdivision to receive service credit must be transmitted to the fund within
one year from the discharge date.
(f) The
amount of allowable service credit obtainable under this section may not exceed
five years, unless a longer purchase period is required under United States
Code, title 38, section 4312.
(g) The
employing unit shall pay interest on all equivalent member and employer
contribution amounts payable under this section. Interest must be computed at a rate of 8.5
percent compounded annually from the end of each fiscal year of the leave or
break in service to the end of the month in which payment is received.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.10,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Injuries;
payment amounts Duty disability.
A member who becomes disabled and who is expected to be physically or
mentally unfit to perform duties for at least one year as a direct result of an
injury, sickness, or other disability that incurred in or arose out of any act
of duty is determined to qualify for duty disability as defined in
section 352B.011, subdivision 7, is entitled to receive a duty
disability benefits benefit while disabled. The benefits must be paid in monthly installments. The duty disability benefit is an
amount equal to the member's average monthly salary multiplied by 60 percent,
plus an additional percent equal to that specified in section 356.315,
subdivision 6, for each year and pro rata for completed months of service in
excess of 20 years, if any.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.10,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Disabled
while not on duty Regular disability benefit. If A member with at least one year of
service becomes disabled and is expected to be physically or mentally unfit
to perform the duties of the position for at least one year because of sickness
or injury that occurred while not engaged in covered employment, the individual
who qualifies for a regular disability benefit as defined in section 352B.011,
subdivision 12, is entitled to a regular disability benefits benefit. The regular disability benefit must be
computed as if the individual were 55 years old at the date of disability and as
if the annuity was payable under section 352B.08. If a regular disability under this
subdivision occurs after one year of service but before 15 years of service,
the regular disability benefit must be computed as though the individual
had credit for 15 years of service.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
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Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.10, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 2a. Applying
for benefits; accrual. No
application for disability benefits shall be made until after the last day
physically on the job. The disability
benefit begins to accrue the day following the last day for which the employee
is paid sick leave or annual leave but not earlier than 180 days before the
date the application is filed. A member
who is terminated must file a written application within the time frame
specified under section 352.113, subdivision 4, paragraph (e).
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009, and applies to disability
benefit applicants whose last day of public employment was after June 30, 2009.
Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.10,
subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Optional
annuity. A disabilitant may elect,
in lieu of spousal survivorship coverage under section 352B.11, subdivisions 2b
and 2c, the normal disability benefit or an optional annuity as provided in
section 352B.08, subdivision 3. The choice
of an optional annuity must be made in writing, on a form prescribed by the
executive director, and must be made before the commencement of the payment of
the disability benefit, or within 90 days before reaching age 65 55
or before reaching the five-year anniversary of the effective date of the
disability benefit, whichever is later.
The optional annuity is effective on the date on which the disability
benefit begins to accrue, or the month following the attainment of age 65
55 or following the five-year anniversary of the effective date of the
disability benefit, whichever is later.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009, and applies to disability
benefit applicants whose last day of public employment was after June 30, 2009.
Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.11,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Death;
payment to dependent children; family maximums. (a) Each dependent child, as defined
in section 352B.01, subdivision 10 352B.011, subdivision 6, is
entitled to receive a monthly annuity equal to ten percent of the average
monthly salary of the deceased member.
(b) A dependent child over 18 and under
23 years of age also may receive the monthly benefit provided in this section if
the child is continuously attending an accredited school as a full-time student
during the normal school year as determined by the director. If the child does not continuously attend
school, but separates from full-time attendance during any part of a school
year, the annuity must cease at the end of the month of separation.
(c) In addition, a payment of $20 per
month must be prorated equally to the surviving dependent children when the
former member is survived by more than one dependent child.
(d) Payments for the benefit of any
dependent child must be made to the surviving spouse, or if there is none, to
the legal guardian of the child.
(e) The monthly benefit for any one
family, including a surviving spouse benefit, if applicable, must not be less
than 50 percent nor exceed 70 percent of the average monthly salary of the
deceased member.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 24. REPEALER.
Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 352B.01, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 3b, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, and
11, are repealed.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
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ARTICLE 3
STATE CORRECTIONAL RETIREMENT PLAN
MEMBERSHIP CHANGES
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.91, subdivision 3d, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3d. Other correctional personnel. (a) "Covered correctional service"
means service by a state employee in one of the employment positions at a
correctional facility or at the Minnesota Security Hospital specified in
paragraph (b) if at least 75 percent of the employee's working time is spent in
direct contact with inmates or patients and the fact of this direct contact is
certified to the executive director by the appropriate commissioner.
(b) The employment positions are:
(1) automotive mechanic;
(2) baker;
(2) (3) central
services administrative specialist, intermediate;
(3) (4) central
services administrative specialist, principal;
(4) (5) chaplain;
(5) (6) chief
cook;
(6) (7) cook;
(7) (8) cook
coordinator;
(8) (9) corrections
program therapist 1;
(9) (10) corrections
program therapist 2;
(10) (11)
corrections program therapist 3;
(11) (12)
corrections program therapist 4;
(12) (13)
corrections inmate program coordinator;
(13) (14)
corrections transitions program coordinator;
(14) (15)
corrections security caseworker;
(15) (16)
corrections security caseworker career;
(16) (17)
corrections teaching assistant;
(17) (18)
delivery van driver;
(18) (19)
dentist;
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(19) (20) electrician supervisor;
(20) (21) general maintenance
worker lead;
(21) (22) general repair worker;
(22) (23) library/information
research services specialist;
(23) (24) library/information
research services specialist senior;
(24) (25) library technician;
(25) (26) painter lead;
(26) (27) plant maintenance
engineer lead;
(27) (28) plumber supervisor;
(28) (29) psychologist 1;
(29) (30) psychologist 3;
(30) (31) recreation therapist;
(31) (32) recreation therapist
coordinator;
(32) (33) recreation program assistant;
(33) (34) recreation therapist
senior;
(34) (35) sports medicine
specialist;
(35) (36) work therapy assistant;
(36) (37) work therapy program
coordinator; and
(37) (38) work therapy technician.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective retroactively from May 29, 2007.
Sec. 2. MSRS-CORRECTIONAL;
ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN POSITION FROM COVERAGE.
Notwithstanding
any provision of Minnesota Statutes, section 352.91, to the contrary, including
Minnesota Statutes, section 352.91, subdivision 2, "covered correctional
service" does not mean service rendered by a state employee as an
automotive mechanic lead.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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ARTICLE 4
ADMINISTRATIVE
PROVISIONS
Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.346,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Eligibility. (a) This section applies to a terminated
state employee who:
(1) for at
least the five years immediately preceding separation under clause (2), was
regularly scheduled to work 1,044 or more hours per year in a position covered
by a pension plan administered by the Minnesota State Retirement System or the
Public Employees Retirement Association;
(2) terminated
state or Metropolitan Council employment;
(3) at the time
of termination under clause (2), met the age and service requirements necessary
to receive an unreduced retirement annuity from the plan and satisfied requirements
for the commencement of the retirement annuity or, for a terminated employee
under the unclassified employees retirement plan, met the age and service
requirements necessary to receive an unreduced retirement annuity from the plan
and satisfied requirements for the commencement of the retirement annuity or
elected a lump-sum payment; and
(4) agrees to
accept a postretirement option position with the same or a different appointing
authority, working a reduced schedule that is both (i) a reduction of at least
25 percent from the employee's number of previously regularly scheduled work
hours; and (ii) 1,044 hours or less in state or Metropolitan Council service.
(b) For
purposes of this section, an unreduced retirement annuity includes a retirement
annuity computed under a provision of law which permits retirement, without
application of an earlier retirement reduction factor, whenever age plus years
of allowable service total at least 90.
(c) For
purposes of this section, as it applies to staff state employees who
are members of the Public Employees Retirement Association who are at least
age 62, the length of separation requirement and termination of service
requirement prohibiting return to work agreements under section 353.01,
subdivisions 11a and 28, are not applicable.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.346,
subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6. Duration. Postretirement option employment shall be
is for an initial period not to exceed one year. During that period, the appointing authority
may not modify the conditions specified in the written offer without the
person's consent, except as required by law or by the collective bargaining
agreement or compensation plan applicable to the person. At the end of the initial period, the
appointing authority has sole discretion to determine if the offer of a
postretirement option position will be renewed, renewed with modifications, or
terminated. If the person is under
age 62, an offer of renewal and any related verbal offer or agreement must not
be made until at least 30 days after termination of the person's previous
postretirement option employment. Postretirement
option employment may be renewed for periods of up to one year, not to exceed a
total duration of five years. No person shall
may be employed in one or a combination of postretirement option positions
under this section for a total of more than five years.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.02,
subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
Subd. 1a. Member
contributions. (a) Each The
member shall pay a sum equal to the following contribution is
10.40 percent of the member's salary, which constitutes the member contribution
to the fund:.
before
July 1, 2007 8.40
from
July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008 9.10
from
July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009 9.80
from
July 1, 2009, and thereafter 10.40.
(b)
These contributions must be made by deduction from salary as provided in
section 352.04, subdivision 4.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
352B.02, subdivision 1c, is amended to read:
Subd.
1c. Employer
contributions. (a) In addition to
member contributions, department heads shall pay a sum equal to the
following 15.60 percent of the salary upon which deductions were
made, which shall constitute constitutes the employer
contribution to the fund:.
before
July 1, 2007 12.60
from
July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008 13.60
from
July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009 14.60
from
July 1, 2009, and thereafter 15.60.
(b)
Department contributions must be paid out of money appropriated to departments
for this purpose.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
353.01, subdivision 16, is amended to read:
Subd.
16. Allowable
service; limits and computation. (a)
"Allowable service" means:
(1)
service during years of actual membership in the course of which employee deductions
were withheld from salary and contributions were made, at the
applicable rates under section 353.27, 353.65, or 353E.03;
(2)
periods of service
covered by payments in lieu of salary deductions under section sections
353.27, subdivision 12, and 353.35;
(2) (3) service in years during
which the public employee was not a member but for which the member later
elected, while a member, to obtain credit by making payments to the fund as
permitted by any law then in effect;
(3) (4) a period of authorized
leave of absence with pay from which deductions for employee contributions are
made, deposited, and credited to the fund;
(4) (5) a period of authorized
personal, parental, or medical leave of absence without pay, including a leave
of absence covered under the federal Family Medical Leave Act, that does not
exceed one year, and for which a member obtained service credit for each month
in the leave period by payment under section 353.0161 to the fund made in place
of salary deductions. An employee must
return to public service and render a minimum of three months of allowable
service in order to be eligible to make payment under section 353.0161 for a
subsequent authorized leave of absence without pay. Upon payment, the employee must be granted
allowable service credit for the purchased period;
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(5) (6) a periodic, repetitive
leave that is offered to all employees of a governmental subdivision. The leave program may not exceed 208 hours
per annual normal work cycle as certified to the association by the employer. A participating member obtains service credit
by making employee contributions in an amount or amounts based on the member's
average salary that would have been paid if the leave had not been taken. The employer shall pay the employer and
additional employer contributions on behalf of the participating member. The employee and the employer are responsible
to pay interest on their respective shares at the rate of 8.5 percent a year,
compounded annually, from the end of the normal cycle until full payment is
made. An employer shall also make the
employer and additional employer contributions, plus 8.5 percent interest,
compounded annually, on behalf of an employee who makes employee contributions
but terminates public service. The
employee contributions must be made within one year after the end of the annual
normal working cycle or within 20 30 days after termination of
public service, whichever is sooner. The
executive director shall prescribe the manner and forms to be used by a
governmental subdivision in administering a periodic, repetitive leave. Upon payment, the member must be granted
allowable service credit for the purchased period;
(6) (7) an authorized temporary or
seasonal layoff under subdivision 12, limited to three months allowable service
per authorized temporary or seasonal layoff in one calendar year. An employee who has received the maximum
service credit allowed for an authorized temporary or seasonal layoff must
return to public service and must obtain a minimum of three months of allowable
service subsequent to the layoff in order to receive allowable service for a
subsequent authorized temporary or seasonal layoff; or
(7) (8) a period during which a
member is absent from employment by a governmental subdivision by reason of service
in the uniformed services, as defined in United States Code, title 38, section
4303(13), if the member returns to public service with the same governmental
subdivision upon discharge from service in the uniformed service within the
time frames required under United States Code, title 38, section 4312(e),
provided that the member did not separate from uniformed service with a
dishonorable or bad conduct discharge or under other than honorable
conditions. The service is credited if
the member pays into the fund equivalent employee contributions based upon the
contribution rate or rates in effect at the time that the uniformed service was
performed multiplied by the full and fractional years being purchased and
applied to the annual salary rate. The annual
salary rate is the average annual salary during the purchase period that the
member would have received if the member had continued to be employed in
covered employment rather than to provide uniformed service, or, if the
determination of that rate is not reasonably certain, the annual salary rate is
the member's average salary rate during the 12-month period of covered
employment rendered immediately preceding the period of the uniformed
service. Payment of the member
equivalent contributions must be made during a period that begins with the date
on which the individual returns to public employment and that is three times
the length of the military leave period, or within five years of the date of
discharge from the military service, whichever is less. If the determined payment period is less than
one year, the contributions required under this clause to receive service
credit may be made within one year of the discharge date. Payment may not be accepted following 20
30 days after termination of public service under subdivision 11a. If the member equivalent contributions
provided for in this clause are not paid in full, the member's allowable
service credit must be prorated by multiplying the full and fractional number
of years of uniformed service eligible for purchase by the ratio obtained by
dividing the total member contributions received by the total member
contributions otherwise required under this clause. The equivalent employer contribution, and, if
applicable, the equivalent additional employer contribution must be paid by the
governmental subdivision employing the member if the member makes the
equivalent employee contributions. The
employer payments must be made from funds available to the employing unit,
using the employer and additional employer contribution rate or rates in effect
at the time that the uniformed service was performed, applied to the same
annual salary rate or rates used to compute the equivalent member
contribution. The governmental
subdivision involved may appropriate money for those payments. The amount of service credit obtainable under
this section may not exceed five years unless a longer purchase period is
required under United States Code, title 38, section 4312. The employing unit shall pay interest on all
equivalent member and employer contribution amounts payable under this
clause. Interest must be computed at a
rate of 8.5 percent compounded annually from the end of each fiscal year of the
leave or the break in service to the end of the month in which the payment is
received. Upon payment, the employee
must be granted allowable service credit for the purchased period.;
or
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(9)
a period specified under subdivision 40.
(b)
For calculating benefits under sections 353.30, 353.31, 353.32, and 353.33 for
state officers and employees displaced by the Community Corrections Act,
chapter 401, and transferred into county service under section 401.04,
"allowable service" means the combined years of allowable service as
defined in paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (6), and section 352.01, subdivision
11.
(c)
For a public employee who has prior service covered by a local police or
firefighters relief association that has consolidated with the Public Employees
Retirement Association or to which section 353.665 applies, and who has elected
the type of benefit coverage provided by the public employees police and fire
fund either under section 353A.08 following the consolidation or under section
353.665, subdivision 4, "applicable service" is a period of service
credited by the local police or firefighters relief association as of the
effective date of the consolidation based on law and on bylaw provisions
governing the relief association on the date of the initiation of the
consolidation procedure.
(d)
No member may receive more than 12 months of allowable service credit in a year
either for vesting purposes or for benefit calculation purposes.
(e)
MS 2002 [Expired]
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec.
6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
353.01, subdivision 16b, is amended to read:
Subd.
16b. Uncredited military service credit purchase. (a) A public employee who has at least three
years of allowable service with the Public Employees Retirement Association or
the public employees police and fire plan and who performed service in the
United States armed forces before becoming a public employee, or who failed to
obtain service credit for a military leave of absence under subdivision 16,
paragraph (h) (a), clause 7, is entitled to purchase allowable
service credit for the initial period of enlistment, induction, or call to
active duty without any voluntary extension by making payment under section
356.551. This authority is voided
if the public employee has not purchased service credit from any other
Minnesota defined benefit public employee pension plan, other than a
volunteer fire plan, for the same period of service, or if the
separation from the United States armed forces was under less than honorable
conditions.
(b)
A public employee who desires to purchase service credit under paragraph (a)
must apply with the executive director to make the purchase. The application must include all necessary
documentation of the public employee's qualifications to make the purchase,
signed written permission to allow the executive director to request and
receive necessary verification of applicable facts and eligibility
requirements, and any other relevant information that the executive director
may require.
(c)
Allowable service credit for the purchase period must be granted by the Public
Employees Retirement Association or the public employees police and fire plan,
whichever applies, to the purchasing public employee upon receipt of the
purchase payment amount. Payment must be
made before the effective date of retirement of the public employee
employee's termination of public service or termination of membership,
whichever is earlier.
(d)
This subdivision is repealed July 1, 2013.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day after final enactment.
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Sec.
7. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
353.0161, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Application. This section applies to employees covered by
any plan specified in this chapter or chapter 353E for any period of authorized
leave of absence specified in section 353.01, subdivision 16, paragraph (a),
clause (4) (5), for which the employee obtains credit for
allowable service by making payment as specified in this section to the
applicable fund.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec.
8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
353.03, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
Subd.
3a. Executive
director. (a) Appointment. The board shall
appoint an executive director on the basis of education, experience in the
retirement field, and leadership ability. The executive director must have had at least
five years' experience in an executive level management position, which has
included responsibility for pensions, deferred compensation, or employee
benefits. The executive director serves
at the pleasure of the board. The salary
of the executive director is as provided by section 15A.0815.
(b)
Duties.
The management of the association is vested in the executive
director who shall be the executive and administrative head of the
association. The executive director
shall act as adviser to the board on all matters pertaining to the association
and shall also act as the secretary of the board. The executive director shall:
(1)
attend all meetings of the board;
(2)
prepare and recommend to the board appropriate rules to carry out the
provisions of this chapter;
(3)
establish and maintain an adequate system of records and accounts following
recognized accounting principles and controls;
(4)
designate, with the approval of the board, up to two persons who may serve in
the unclassified service and whose salaries are set in accordance with section
43A.18, subdivision 3, appoint a confidential secretary in the unclassified
service, and appoint employees to carry out this chapter, who are subject to
chapters 43A and 179A in the same manner as are executive branch employees;
(5)
organize the work of the association as the director deems necessary to fulfill
the functions of the association, and define the duties of its employees and
delegate to them any powers or duties, subject to the control of, and under
such conditions as, the executive director may prescribe;
(6)
with the approval of the board, contract for the services of an approved
actuary, professional management services, and any other consulting services as
necessary to fulfill the purposes of this chapter. All contracts are subject to chapter
16C. The commissioner of administration
shall not approve, and the association shall not enter into, any contract to
provide lobbying services or legislative advocacy of any kind. Any approved actuary retained by the
executive director shall function as the actuarial advisor of the board and the
executive director and may perform actuarial valuations and experience
studies to supplement those performed by the actuary retained . In addition to filing requirements under
section 356.214., any supplemental actuarial valuations or
experience studies shall be filed with the executive director of the Legislative
Commission on Pensions and Retirement.
Copies of professional management survey reports shall be transmitted to
the secretary of the senate, the chief clerk of the house of representatives,
and the Legislative Reference Library as provided by section 3.195, and to the
executive director of the commission at the same time as reports are furnished
to the board. Only management firms
experienced in conducting management surveys of federal, state, or local public
retirement systems shall be qualified to contract with the director hereunder;
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(7)
with the approval of the board provide in-service training for the employees of
the association;
(8)
make refunds of accumulated contributions to former members and to the
designated beneficiary, surviving spouse, legal representative or next of kin
of deceased members or deceased former members, as provided in this chapter;
(9)
determine the amount of the annuities and disability benefits of members
covered by the association and authorize payment of the annuities and benefits
beginning as of the dates on which the annuities and benefits begin to accrue,
in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;
(10)
pay annuities, refunds, survivor benefits, salaries, and necessary operating
expenses of the association;
(11)
prepare and submit to the board and the legislature an annual financial report
covering the operation of the association, as required by section 356.20;
(12)
prepare and submit biennial and annual budgets to the board for its approval
and submit the approved budgets to the Department of Finance for approval by
the commissioner;
(13)
reduce all or part of the accrued interest payable under section 353.27,
subdivisions 12, 12a, and 12b, or 353.28, subdivision 5, upon receipt of proof
by the association of an unreasonable processing delay or other extenuating
circumstances of the employing unit; and notwithstanding section 353.27,
subdivision 7, may waive the payment of accrued interest to the member if a
credit has been taken by the employer to correct an employee deduction taken in
error and if the accrued interest is $10 or less. The executive director shall prescribe and
submit for approval by the board the conditions under which such interest may
be reduced; and
(14)
with the approval of the board, perform such other duties as may be required for
the administration of the association and the other provisions of this chapter
and for the transaction of its business.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day after final enactment.
Sec.
9. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
353.27, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd.
2. Employee
contribution. (a) For a basic
member, the employee contribution is the following applicable percentage
of the total 9.10 percent of salary amount for a "basic
member" and. For a "coordinated
member": coordinated member,
the employee contribution is six percent of salary plus any contribution rate
adjustment under subdivision 3b.
Basic
Program Coordinated
Program
Effective
before January 1, 2006 9.10 5.10
Effective
January 1, 2006 9.10 5.50
Effective
January 1, 2007 9.10 5.75
Effective
January 1, 2008 9.10 6.00
plus any contribution rate
adjustment
under subdivision 3b
(b) These contributions must be made
by deduction from salary as defined in section 353.01, subdivision 10, in the
manner provided in subdivision 4. If any
portion of a member's salary is paid from other than public funds, the member's
employee contribution must be based on the total salary received by the member
from all sources.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.27,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Employer
contribution. (a) For a basic
member, the employer contribution is the following applicable percentage
of the total 9.10 percent of salary amount for "basic
members" and. For "coordinated
members": a coordinated
member, the employer contribution is six percent of salary plus any
contribution rate adjustment under subdivision 3b.
Basic
Program Coordinated
Program
Effective
before January 1, 2006 9.10 5.10
Effective
January 1, 2006 9.10 5.50
Effective
January 1, 2007 9.10 5.75
Effective
January 1, 2008 9.10 6.00
plus any contribution rate
adjustment
under subdivision 3b
(b) This contribution must be made from
funds available to the employing subdivision by the means and in the manner
provided in section 353.28.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.27,
subdivision 7, is amended to read:
Subd. 7. Adjustment
for erroneous receipts or disbursements.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), erroneous employee deductions
and erroneous employer contributions and additional employer contributions for
a person, who otherwise does not qualify for membership under this chapter, are
considered:
(1) valid if the initial erroneous
deduction began before January 1, 1990.
Upon determination of the error by the association, the person may
continue membership in the association while employed in the same position for
which erroneous deductions were taken, or file a written election to terminate
membership and apply for a refund upon termination of public service or defer
an annuity under section 353.34; or
(2) invalid, if the initial erroneous
employee deduction began on or after January 1, 1990. Upon determination of the error, the
association shall refund all erroneous employee deductions and all erroneous
employer contributions as specified in paragraph (d) (e). No person may claim a right to continued or
past membership in the association based on erroneous deductions which began on
or after January 1, 1990.
(b) Erroneous deductions taken from
the salary of a person who did not qualify for membership in the association by
virtue of concurrent employment before July 1, 1978, which required
contributions to another retirement fund or relief association established for
the benefit of officers and employees of a governmental subdivision, are
invalid. Upon discovery of the error, the
association shall remove all invalid service and, upon termination of public
service, the association shall refund all erroneous employee deductions to the
person, with interest as determined under section 353.34, subdivision 2,
and all erroneous employer contributions without interest to the
employer. This paragraph has both
retroactive and prospective application.
(c) Adjustments to correct employer
contributions and employee deductions taken in error from amounts which are not
salary under section 353.01, subdivision 10, are invalid upon discovery by
the association and must be refunded made as specified in
paragraph (d) (e). The period
of adjustment must be limited to the fiscal year in which the error is
discovered by the association and the immediate two preceding fiscal years.
(d) If there is evidence of fraud or
other misconduct on the part of the employee or the employer, the board of
trustees may authorize adjustments to the account of a member or former member
to correct erroneous employee deductions and employer contributions on invalid
salary and the recovery of any overpayments for a period longer than provided
for under paragraph (c).
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(d) (e) Upon discovery of the receipt of erroneous employee
deductions and employer contributions under paragraph (a), clause
(2), or paragraph (c), the association must require the employer to discontinue
the erroneous employee deductions and erroneous employer contributions
reported on behalf of a member. Upon
discontinuation, the association either must refund :
(1) for a member, provide a refund or
credit to the employer in the amount of the invalid employee deductions to the person without
interest and with interest on the invalid employee deductions at the
rate specified under section 353.34, subdivision 2, from the received date of
each invalid salary transaction through the date the credit or refund is made;
and the employer must pay the refunded employee deductions plus interest to the
member;
(2) for a former member who:
(i) is not receiving a retirement
annuity or benefit, return the erroneous employee deductions to the former
member through a refund with interest at the rate specified under section
353.34, subdivision 2, from the received date of each invalid salary
transaction through the date the credit or refund is made; or
(ii) is receiving a retirement annuity
or disability benefit, or a person who is receiving an optional annuity or
survivor benefit, for whom it has been determined an overpayment must be
recovered, adjust the payment amount and recover the overpayments as provided
under this section; and
(3) return the invalid employer contributions reported
on behalf of a member or former member to the employer or provide by
providing a credit against future contributions payable by the employer for
the amount of all erroneous deductions and contributions. If the employing unit receives a credit under
this paragraph, the employing unit is responsible for refunding to the
applicable employee any amount that had been erroneously deducted from the person's
salary. In the event that a retirement
annuity or disability benefit has been computed using invalid service or
salary, the association must adjust the annuity or benefit and recover any
overpayment under subdivision 7b.
(e) (f) In the event that a salary warrant or check
from which a deduction for the retirement fund was taken has been canceled or
the amount of the warrant or check returned to the funds of the department
making the payment, a refund of the sum deducted, or any portion of it that is
required to adjust the deductions, must be made to the department or
institution.
(f) Any refund to a member under this
subdivision that is reasonably determined to cause the plan to fail to be a
qualified plan under section 401(a) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, as
amended, may not be refunded and instead must be credited against future
contributions payable by the employer.
The employer receiving the credit is responsible for refunding to the
applicable employee any amount that had been erroneously deducted from the
person's salary.
(g) If the accrual date of any
retirement annuity, survivor benefit, or disability benefit is within the
limitation period specified in paragraph (c), and an overpayment has resulted
by using invalid service or salary, or due to any erroneous calculation
procedure, the association must recalculate the annuity or benefit payable and
recover any overpayment as provided under subdivision 7b.
(h) Notwithstanding the provisions of
this subdivision, the association may apply the Revenue Procedures defined in the
federal Internal Revenue Service Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System
and not issue a refund of erroneous employee deductions and employer
contributions or not recover a small overpayment of benefits if the cost to
correct the error would exceed the amount of the member refund or overpayment.
(i) Any fees or penalties assessed by
the federal Internal Revenue Service for any failure by an employer to follow
the statutory requirements for reporting eligible members and salary must be
paid by the employer.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) This section is effective the day following enactment.
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(b) The interest required on
deductions in error as provided in paragraph (e) must be applied to any refunds
paid on or after June 1, 2009.
Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.27,
subdivision 7b, is amended to read:
Subd. 7b. Recovery
of overpayments to members.
(a) In the event of an overpayment to a member, retiree,
beneficiary, or other person, the executive director shall recover the
overpayment by suspending or reducing the payment of a retirement annuity,
refund, disability benefit, survivor benefit, or optional annuity payable to
the applicable person or the person's estate, whichever applies, under this
chapter until all outstanding money has been recovered determines that
an overpaid annuity or benefit that is the result of invalid salary included in
the average salary used to calculate the payment amount must be recovered, the
association must determine the amount of the employee deductions taken in error
on the invalid salary, with interest determined in the manner provided for a former
member under subdivision 7, paragraph (e), clause (2), item (i), and must
subtract that amount from the total annuity or benefit overpayment, and the
remaining balance of the overpaid annuity or benefit, if any, must be recovered.
(b) If the invalid employee deductions
plus interest exceed the amount of the overpaid benefits, the balance must be
refunded to the person to whom the benefit or annuity is being paid.
(c) Any invalid employer contributions
reported on the invalid salary must be credited to the employer as provided in
subdivision 7, paragraph (e).
(d) If a member or former member, who
is receiving a retirement annuity or disability benefit for which an
overpayment is being recovered, dies before recovery of the overpayment is
completed and a joint and survivor optional annuity is payable, the remaining
balance of the overpaid annuity or benefit must continue to be recovered from
the payment to the optional annuity beneficiary.
(e) If the association finds that a
refund has been overpaid to a former member, beneficiary or other person, the
amount of the overpayment must be recovered.
(f) The board of trustees shall adopt
policies directing the period of time and manner for the collection of any
overpaid retirement or optional annuity, and survivor or disability benefit, or
a refund that the executive director determines must be recovered as provided
under this section.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.33,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Age,
service, and salary requirements. A
coordinated or basic member who has at least three years of allowable
service and becomes totally and permanently disabled before normal retirement
age, and a basic member who has at least three years of allowable service
and who becomes totally and permanently disabled, upon application as
defined under section 353.031, is entitled to a disability benefit in an amount
determined under subdivision 3. If the disabled
person's public service has terminated at any time, at least two of the
required three years of allowable service must have been rendered after last
becoming an active member.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.33, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 1a.
Benefit restriction. No person is entitled to receive
disability benefits and a retirement annuity at the same time.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.33,
subdivision 11, is amended to read:
Subd. 11. Coordinated
member disabilitant transfer to retirement status. No person is entitled to receive
disability benefits and a retirement annuity at the same time. The disability benefits paid to a coordinated
member must terminate when the person reaches normal retirement age. If the coordinated member is still totally
and permanently disabled upon attaining normal retirement age, the coordinated
member is deemed to be on retirement status.
If an optional annuity is elected under subdivision 3a, the coordinated
member shall receive an annuity under the terms of the optional annuity
previously elected, or, if an optional annuity is not elected under subdivision
3a, the coordinated member may elect to receive a normal retirement annuity
under section 353.29 or an annuity equal to the disability benefit paid before
the coordinated member reaches normal retirement age, whichever amount is
greater, or elect to receive an optional annuity under section 353.30, subdivision
3. The annuity of a disabled coordinated
member who attains normal retirement age must be computed under the law in
effect upon attainment of normal retirement age. Election of an optional annuity must be made
before the coordinated member attains normal retirement age. If an optional annuity is elected, the
election is effective on the date on which the person attains normal retirement
age and the optional annuity begins to accrue on the first day of the month
next following the month in which the person attains that age.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.33,
subdivision 12, is amended to read:
Subd. 12. Basic disability
disabilitant transfer to retirement status; survivor benefits. (a) If a basic member who is receiving
a disability benefit under subdivision 3:
(1) dies before attaining age 65 or within five years of
the effective date of the disability, whichever is later, the surviving spouse
is entitled to receive a survivor benefit under section 353.31, unless and
any dependent child or children are entitled to dependent child benefits under
section 353.31, subdivision 1b, paragraph (b).
If there are no dependent children, in lieu of the survivor benefit
specified under section 353.31, the surviving spouse elected may
elect to receive a refund under section 353.32, subdivision 1;.
(2) (b) If a basic member who is receiving a
disability benefit under subdivision 3 is living at age 65 or five years
after the effective date of the disability, whichever is later, the basic
member may continue to receive a normal retirement annuity equal to
the disability benefit previously received, adjusted for the amount no
longer payable under subdivision 3, paragraph (b), or the person may elect
a joint and survivor optional annuity under section 353.31, subdivision
1b. The election of the joint and
survivor optional annuity must occur within 90 days of attaining age 65 or of
reaching the five-year anniversary of the effective date of the disability
benefit, whichever is later. The
optional annuity takes effect on the first day of the month following the month
in which the person attains age 65 or reaches the five-year anniversary of the
effective date of the disability benefit, whichever is later; or.
(3) if there is a dependent child or
children under clause (1) or (2), the dependent child is entitled to a
dependent child benefit under section 353.31, subdivision 1b, paragraph (b).
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.65,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Employee
contribution rate. (a)
The employee contribution is an amount equal to the 9.4 percent
of the total salary of the member specified in paragraph (b). This contribution must be made by deduction
from salary in the manner provided in subdivision 4. Where any portion of a member's salary is
paid from other than public funds, the member's employee contribution is based
on the total salary received from all sources.
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(b) For calendar year 2006, the employee contribution
rate is 7.0 percent. For calendar year
2007, the employee contribution rate is 7.8 percent. For calendar year 2008, the employee contribution
rate is 8.6 percent. For calendar year
2009 and thereafter, the employee contribution rate is 9.4 percent.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 18.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.65, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Employer contribution rate. (a) The employer contribution shall
be an amount equal to the is 14.1 percent of the total salary
of every the member as specified in paragraph (b). This contribution shall must be
made from funds available to the employing subdivision by the means and in the
manner provided in section 353.28.
(b) For calendar year 2006, the employer contribution
rate is 10.5 percent. For calendar year
2007, the employer contribution rate is 11.7 percent. For calendar year 2008, the employer
contribution rate is 12.9 percent. For
calendar year 2009 and thereafter, the employer contribution rate is 14.1
percent.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 19.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.08, subdivision 6a, is amended to
read:
Subd. 6a. Military service contribution and refund. A person who was an active member of a local
police or firefighters relief association upon its consolidation with the
public employees retirement association, and who was otherwise eligible for
automatic service credit for military service under Minnesota Statutes 2000,
section 423.57, and who has not elected the type of benefit coverage provided
by the public employees police and fire fund at the time of consolidation, must
make employee contributions under section 353.01, subdivision 16, paragraph (h)
(a), clause (8), to receive allowable service credit from the association
for a military service leave after the effective date of the
consolidation. A person who later
elects, under subdivision 3, to retain benefit coverage under the bylaws of the
local relief association is eligible for a refund from the association at the
time of retirement. The association
shall refund the employee contributions plus interest at the rate of six
percent, compounded quarterly, from the date on which contributions were made
until the first day of the month in which the refund is paid. The employer shall receive a refund of the
employer contributions. The association
shall not pay a refund to a person who later elects, under subdivision 3, the
type of benefit coverage provided by the public employees police and fire fund
or to the person's employer.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 20.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353F.02, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Medical facility. "Medical facility" means:
(1) Bridges Medical Services;
(2) the City of Cannon Falls Hospital;
(3) Clearwater County Memorial Hospital doing business
as Clearwater Health Services in Bagley;
(4) the Dassel Lakeside Community Home;
(5) the Fair Oaks Lodge, Wadena;
(6) the Glencoe Area Health Center;
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(7) Hutchinson Area Health Care;
(8) the Lakefield Nursing Home;
(9) the Lakeview Nursing Home in
Gaylord;
(10) the Luverne Public Hospital;
(11) the Oakland Park Nursing Home;
(12) the RenVilla Nursing Home;
(13) the Rice Memorial Hospital in
Willmar, with respect to the Department of Radiology and the Department of
Radiation/Oncology;
(14) the St. Peter Community Health
Care Center;
(15) the Waconia-Ridgeview Medical
Center; and
(16) the Weiner Memorial Medical
Center, Inc.; and
(17) the Worthington Regional Hospital.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective upon compliance with Minnesota Statutes,
section 353F.02, subdivision 3.
Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.05, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 42.
Fiscal year. The fiscal year of the association begins
on July 1 of each calendar year and ends on June 30 of the following calendar
year.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.42,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Employee
contribution. (a) For a basic
member, the employee contribution to the fund is an amount equal to the
following percentage 9.0 percent of the member's salary of
a member:. For a coordinated
member, the employee contribution is 5.5 percent of the member's salary.
(1) after July 1, 2006, for a teacher
employed by Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, 5.5 percent if the
teacher is a coordinated member, and 9.0 percent if the teacher is a basic
member;
(2) for every other teacher, after
July 1, 2006, 5.5 percent if the teacher is a coordinated member and 9.0
percent if the teacher is a basic member.
(b) This contribution must be made by
deduction from salary. Where any portion
of a member's salary is paid from other than public funds, the member's
employee contribution must be based on the entire salary received.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.44,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Retirement
annuity accrual date. (a) An annuity
payment begins to accrue, provided that the age and service requirements under
subdivision 1 are satisfied, after the termination of teaching service, or
after the application for retirement has been filed with the board,
whichever is later executive director, as follows:
(1) on the 16th day of after
the month of termination or filing if the termination or filing occurs
on or before the 15th day of the month of teaching service;
(2) on the first day of the month
following the month of termination or filing if the termination or filing
occurs on or after the 16th day of the month day of receipt of
application if the application is filed with the executive director after the
six-month period that occurs immediately following the termination of teaching
service;
(3) on July 1 for all school
principals and other administrators who receive a full annual contract salary
during the fiscal year for performance of a full year's contract duties; or
(4) a later date to be either the
first or the 16th day of a month occurring within the six-month period
immediately following the termination of teaching service as specified under
paragraph (b) by the member.
(b) (4) if an application for retirement is filed
with the board executive director during the six-month period
that occurs immediately following the termination of teaching service, the
annuity may begin to accrue as if the application for retirement had been filed
with the board on the date teaching service terminated or a later date under
paragraph (a), clause (4).
(b) A member, or a person authorized
to act on behalf of the member, may specify a different date of retirement from
that determined in paragraph (a), as follows:
(1) if the application is filed on or
before the date of termination of teaching service, the accrual date may be a
date no earlier than the day after the termination of teaching service and no
later than six months after the termination date; or
(2) if the application is filed
during the six-month period that occurs immediately following the termination
of teaching service, the accrual date may begin to accrue retroactively, but no
earlier than the day after teaching service terminated and no later than six
months after the termination date.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective January 1, 2010.
Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.44,
subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Resumption
of teaching service after retirement.
(a) Any person who retired under the provisions of this chapter and has
thereafter resumed teaching in any employer unit to which this chapter applies
is eligible to continue to receive payments in accordance with the annuity
except that all or a portion of the annuity payments must be deferred during
the calendar year immediately following any calendar the fiscal year
in which the person's salary from the teaching service is in an amount greater
than $46,000. The amount of the annuity
deferral is one-half of the salary amount in excess of $46,000 and must be
deducted from the annuity payable for the calendar year immediately following
the calendar fiscal year in which the excess amount was earned.
(b) If the person is retired for only
a fractional part of the calendar fiscal year during the initial
year of retirement, the maximum reemployment salary exempt from triggering a
deferral as specified in this subdivision must be prorated for that calendar
fiscal year.
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(c) After a person has reached the
Social Security normal retirement age, no deferral requirement is applicable
regardless of the amount of salary.
(d) The amount of the retirement
annuity deferral must be handled or disposed of as provided in section 356.47.
(e) For the purpose of this
subdivision, salary from teaching service includes, but is not limited to:
(1) all income for services performed
as a consultant or an independent contractor for an employer unit covered by
the provisions of this chapter; and
(2) the greater of either the income
received or an amount based on the rate paid with respect to an administrative
position, consultant, or independent contractor in an employer unit with
approximately the same number of pupils and at the same level as the position
occupied by the person who resumes teaching service.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective January 1, 2010.
Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.47,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Death
before retirement. (a) If a member
dies before retirement and is covered under section 354.44, subdivision 2, and
neither an optional annuity, nor a reversionary annuity, nor a benefit under
section 354.46, subdivision 1, is payable to the survivors if the member was a
basic member, then the surviving spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse,
the designated beneficiary is entitled to an amount equal to the member's
accumulated deductions with interest credited to the account of the member to
the date of death of the member. If the
designated beneficiary is a minor, interest must be credited to the date the
beneficiary reaches legal age, or the date of receipt, whichever is earlier.
(b) If a member dies before
retirement and is covered under section 354.44, subdivision 6, and neither an
optional annuity, nor reversionary annuity, nor the benefit described in
section 354.46, subdivision 1, is payable to the survivors if the member was a
basic member, then the surviving spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse,
the designated beneficiary is entitled to an amount equal to the member's
accumulated deductions credited to the account of the member as of June 30,
1957, and from July 1, 1957, to the date of death of the member, the member's
accumulated deductions plus six percent interest compounded annually.
(c) If the designated beneficiary
under paragraph (b) is a minor, any interest credited under that paragraph must
be credited to the date the beneficiary reaches legal age, or the date of
receipt, whichever is earlier.
(d) The amount of any refund payable
under this subdivision must be reduced by any permanent disability payment
under section 354.48 received by the member.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.48,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Determination
by executive director. (a) The
executive director shall have the member examined by at least two licensed physicians,
licensed chiropractors, or licensed psychologists selected by the medical
adviser.
(b) These physicians, chiropractors,
or psychologists with respect to a mental impairment, shall make written
reports to the executive director concerning the member's disability, including
expert opinions as to whether or not the member is permanently and totally
disabled within the meaning of section 354.05, subdivision 14.
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(c) The executive director shall also
obtain written certification from the last employer stating whether or not the
member was separated from service because of a disability which would reasonably
prevent further service to the employer and as a consequence the member is not
entitled to compensation from the employer.
(d) If, upon the consideration of the
reports of the physicians, chiropractors, or psychologists and any other
evidence presented by the member or by others interested therein, the executive
director finds that the member is totally and permanently disabled, the
executive director shall grant the member a disability benefit.
(e) An employee who is placed on leave
of absence without compensation because of disability is not barred from
receiving a disability benefit.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.48,
subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6. Regular
physical examinations. At least once
each year during the first five years following the allowance of a disability
benefit to any member, and at least once in every three-year period thereafter,
the executive director shall may require the disability beneficiary
recipient to undergo an expert examination by a physician or physicians,
by a chiropractor or chiropractors, or by one or more psychologists with
respect to a mental impairment, engaged by the executive director. If an examination indicates that the member
is no longer permanently and totally disabled or that the member is engaged or
is able to engage in a substantial gainful occupation, payments of the
disability benefit by the association must be discontinued. The payments must be discontinued as soon as
the member is reinstated to the payroll following sick leave, but payment may
not be made for more than 60 days after the physicians, the chiropractors, or
the psychologists engaged by the executive director find that the person is no
longer permanently and totally disabled.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.49,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Calculation. (a) Except as provided in section
354.44, subdivision 1, any person who ceases to be a member by reason of
termination of teaching service, shall is entitled to receive a
refund in an amount equal to the accumulated deductions credited to the account
as of June 30, 1957, and after July 1, 1957, the accumulated deductions with
interest at the rate of six percent per annum compounded annually. For the purpose of this subdivision, interest
shall must be computed on fiscal year end balances to the first
day of the month in which the refund is issued.
(b) If the person has received
permanent disability payments under section 354.48, the refund amount must be
reduced by the amount of those payments.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.52,
subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
Subd. 2a. Annual
Postretirement income reports reporting. On or before each February 15, a
representative authorized by an Each employing unit must report to
the executive director the amount of income earned during the previous calendar
fiscal year by each retiree for teaching service performed after
retirement. This annual report must
be shall be done through the payroll reporting system and is based
on reemployment income as defined in section 354.44, subdivision 5, and it
must be made on a form provided by the executive director. Signing Submitting the report
salary data through payroll reporting has the force and effect of an
oath as to the correctness of the amount of postretirement reemployment income
earned.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective January 1, 2010.
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Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.52,
subdivision 4b, is amended to read:
Subd. 4b. Payroll
cycle reporting requirements. An
employing unit shall provide the following data to the association for payroll
warrants on an ongoing basis within 14 calendar days after the date of the
payroll warrant in a format prescribed by the executive director:
(1) association member number;
(2) employer-assigned employee number;
(3) Social Security number;
(4) amount of each salary deduction;
(5) amount of salary as defined in
section 354.05, subdivision 35, from which each deduction was made;
(6) reason for payment;
(7) service credit;
(8) the beginning and ending dates of
the payroll period covered and the date of actual payment;
(9) fiscal year of salary earnings;
(10) total remittance amount including
employee, employer, and additional employer contributions; and
(11) reemployed annuitant salary under
section 354.44, subdivision 5; and
(11) (12) other information as may be required by
the executive director.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective January 1, 2010.
Sec. 31. [354.543]
PRIOR OR UNCREDITED MILITARY SERVICE CREDIT PURCHASE.
Subdivision 1.
Service credit purchase
authorized. (a) If paragraph
(b) does not apply, a teacher who has at least three years of allowable service
credit with the Teachers Retirement Association and who performed service in
the United States armed forces before becoming a teacher as defined in section
354.05, subdivision 2, or who failed to obtain service credit for a military
leave of absence under the provisions of section 354.53, is entitled to
purchase allowable and formula service credit for the initial period of
enlistment, induction, or call to active duty without any voluntary extension
by making payment under section 356.551.
(b) A service credit purchase is
prohibited if:
(1) the teacher separated from service
with the United States armed forces with a dishonorable or bad conduct
discharge or under other than honorable conditions; or
(2) the teacher has purchased or
otherwise received service credit from any Minnesota defined benefit public
employee pension plan, other than a volunteer fire plan, for the same period of
service.
Subd. 2.
Application and documentation. A teacher who desires to purchase service
credit under subdivision 1 must apply with the executive director to make
the purchase. The application must
include all necessary documentation of the teacher's qualifications to make the
purchase, signed written permission to allow the executive director to request
and receive necessary verification of applicable facts and eligibility
requirements, and any other relevant information that the executive director
may require.
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Subd. 3.
Service credit grant. Allowable and formula service credit for
the purchase period must be granted by the Teachers Retirement Association to
the purchasing teacher upon receipt of the purchase payment amount. Payment must be made before the teacher's
termination of teaching service.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.55,
subdivision 11, is amended to read:
Subd. 11. Deferred
annuity; augmentation. (a) Any
person covered under section 354.44, subdivision 6, who ceases to render
teaching service, may leave the person's accumulated deductions in the fund for
the purpose of receiving a deferred annuity at retirement. Eligibility for an annuity under this
subdivision is governed pursuant to section 354.44, subdivision 1, or 354.60.
(b) The amount of the deferred
retirement annuity is determined by section 354.44, subdivision 6, and augmented
as provided in this subdivision. The
required reserves related to that portion of for the annuity
which had accrued when the member ceased to render teaching service must be
augmented, as further specified in this subdivision, by interest compounded
annually from the first day of the month following the month during which the
member ceased to render teaching service to the effective date of retirement.
(c) There shall be No augmentation is not
creditable if this the deferral period is less than three
months or if this period commences prior to deferral commenced before
July 1, 1971. The rates of
interest used for this purpose must be five percent compounded annually
commencing July 1, 1971, until January 1, 1981, and three percent compounded
annually thereafter until January 1 of the year following the year in which the
former member attains age 55 and from that date to the effective date of
retirement, the rate is five percent compounded annually if the employee became
an employee before July 1, 2006, and at 2.5 percent compounded annually if the
employee becomes an employee after June 30, 2006.
(d) For persons who became covered
employees before July 1, 2006, with a deferral period commencing after June 30,
1971, the annuity must be augmented using five percent interest compounded
annually until January 1, 1981, and three percent interest compounded annually
thereafter until January 1 of the year following the year in which the deferred
annuitant attains age 55. From that date
to the effective date of retirement, the rate is five percent compounded
annually.
(e) For persons who become covered
employees after June 30, 2006, the interest rate used to augment the deferred
annuity is 2.5 percent interest compounded annually.
(f) If a person has more than one period of uninterrupted
service, a separate average salary determined under section 354.44, subdivision
6, must be used for each period and the required reserves related to each
period must be augmented by interest pursuant to as specified in this
subdivision. The sum of the augmented
required reserves so determined shall be the basis for purchasing is
the present value of the deferred annuity. For the purposes of this subdivision,
"period of uninterrupted service" means a period of covered teaching
service during which the member has not been separated from active service for
more than one fiscal year.
(g) If a person repays a refund, the service restored by
the repayment must be considered as continuous with the next period of service
for which the person has allowable service credit with this fund
in the Teachers Retirement Association.
(h) If a person does not render teaching service in any
one fiscal year or more consecutive fiscal years and then resumes teaching
service, the formula percentages used from the date of the resumption of
teaching service must be those applicable to new members.
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(i) The mortality table and interest assumption used to
compute the annuity must be the applicable mortality table established by the
board under section 354.07, subdivision 1, and the interest rate assumption
under section 356.215 in effect when the member retires. A period of uninterrupted service for the
purposes of this subdivision means a period of covered teaching service during
which the member has not been separated from active service for more than one
fiscal year.
(c) (j) In no case shall may the
annuity payable under this subdivision be less than the amount of annuity
payable pursuant to under section 354.44, subdivision 6.
(d) (k) The requirements and provisions for retirement
before normal retirement age contained in section 354.44, subdivision 6, clause
(3) or (5), shall also apply to an employee fulfilling the requirements
with a combination of service as provided in section 354.60.
(e) (l) The augmentation provided by this
subdivision applies to the benefit provided in section 354.46, subdivision 2.
(f) (m) The augmentation provided by this
subdivision shall does not apply to any period in which a person
is on an approved leave of absence from an employer unit covered by the
provisions of this chapter.
(g) (n) The retirement annuity or disability
benefit of, or the survivor benefit payable on behalf of, a former teacher who
terminated service before July 1, 1997, which is not first payable until after
June 30, 1997, must be increased on an actuarial equivalent basis to reflect
the change in the postretirement interest rate actuarial assumption under
section 356.215, subdivision 8, from five percent to six percent under a
calculation procedure and tables adopted by the board as recommended by an
approved actuary and approved by the actuary retained under section 356.214.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 33. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354A.096, is
amended to read:
354A.096 MEDICAL LEAVE.
Any teacher in the coordinated
program of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association or the new law
coordinated program of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association who is
on an authorized medical leave of absence and subsequently returns to teaching
service is entitled to receive allowable service credit, not to exceed one
year, for the period of leave, upon making the prescribed payment to the
fund. This payment must include the
required employee and employer contributions at the rates specified in section
354A.12, subdivisions 1 and 2 2a, as applied to the member's
average full-time monthly salary rate on the date the leave of absence
commenced plus annual interest at the rate of 8.5 percent per year from the end
of the fiscal year during which the leave terminates to the end of the month
during which payment is made. The member
must pay the total amount required unless the employing unit, at its option,
pays the employer contributions. The
total amount required must be paid by the end of the fiscal year following the
fiscal year in which the leave of absence terminated or before the member
retires, whichever is earlier. Payment
must be accompanied by a copy of the resolution or action of the employing authority
granting the leave and the employing authority, upon granting the leave, must
certify the leave to the association in a manner specified by the executive
director. A member may not receive more
than one year of allowable service credit during any fiscal year by making
payment under this section. A member may
not receive disability benefits under section 354A.36 and receive allowable
service credit under this section for the same period of time.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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Sec. 34. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354A.12,
subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
Subd. 2a. Employer
regular and additional contribution rates contributions. (a) The employing units shall make the
following employer contributions to teachers retirement fund associations:
(1) for any coordinated member of a
teachers retirement fund association in a city of the first class, the
employing unit shall pay the employer Social Security taxes;
(2) for any coordinated member of one of the following
teachers retirement fund associations in a city of the first class, the
employing unit shall make a regular employer contribution to the respective
retirement fund association in an amount equal to the designated percentage of
the salary of the coordinated member as provided below:
Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association 4.50 percent
St.
Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association 4.50 percent
(3) (2) for
any basic member of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, the
employing unit shall make a regular employer contribution to the respective
retirement fund in an amount equal to 8.00 percent of the salary of the basic
member;
(4) (3) for
a basic member of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, the
employing unit shall make an additional employer contribution to the respective
fund in an amount equal to 3.64 percent of the salary of the basic member;
(5) (4) for
a coordinated member of a teachers retirement fund association in a city of the
first class, the employing unit shall make an additional employer contribution
to the respective fund in an amount equal to the applicable percentage of the
coordinated member's salary, as provided below:
Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund
Association 1.29
percent
St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund
Association 3.84
percent
July 1, 1993 - June 30, 1994 0.50
percent
July 1, 1994 - June 30, 1995 1.50
percent
July 1, 1997, and thereafter 3.84
percent
(b) The regular and additional employer contributions must be remitted
directly to the respective teachers retirement fund association at least once
each month. Delinquent amounts are
payable with interest under the procedure in subdivision 1a.
(c) Payments of regular and additional employer contributions for school
district or technical college employees who are paid from normal operating
funds must be made from the appropriate fund of the district or technical
college.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 35. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.12, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 6. Adjustment
for erroneous receipts. (a)
Adjustments to correct employer contributions and employee deductions taken in
error from amounts which are not salary under section 354A.011, subdivision 24,
must be made as specified in this section.
(b) Upon discovery of the receipt of erroneous employee deductions and
employer contributions under paragraph (a), the executive director must require
the employer to discontinue the erroneous employee deductions and erroneous
employer contributions reported on behalf of an active member. Upon discontinuation, the executive
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director must provide for a refund or credit to the employer in the amount
of the invalid employee deductions with interest on the employee deductions at
the rate specified in section 354A.37, subdivision 3, from the received date of
each invalid salary transaction to the first day of the month in which the credit
or refund is made. The employer must pay
the refunded employee deductions plus interest to the active member.
(c) If the individual is a former member who is not receiving a
retirement annuity or benefit and has not received a refund under section 354A.37,
subdivision 3, related to the applicable service, the executive director must
return the erroneous employee deductions to the former member through a refund
with interest at the rate specified in section 354A.37, subdivision 3, from the
received date of each invalid salary transaction to the first day of the month
in which the credit or refund is made.
(d) The executive director must return the invalid employer contributions
reported on behalf of a member or former member to the employer by providing a
credit against future contributions payable by the employer.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day after final enactment.
Sec. 36. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.12, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 7. Recovery
of benefit overpayments. (a)
If the executive director discovers, within the time period specified in
subdivision 8 following the payment of a refund or the accrual date of any
retirement annuity, survivor benefit, or disability benefit, that benefit overpayment
has occurred due to using invalid service or salary, or due to any erroneous
calculation procedure, the executive director must recalculate the annuity or
benefit payable and recover any overpayment.
The executive director shall recover the overpayment by requiring direct
repayment or by suspending or reducing the payment of a retirement annuity or
other benefit payable under this chapter to the applicable person or the
person's estate, whichever applies, until all outstanding amounts have been recovered.
(b) In the event the executive director determines that an overpaid
annuity or benefit that is the result of invalid salary included in the average
salary used to calculate the payment amount must be recovered, the executive
director must determine the amount of the employee deductions taken in error on
the invalid salary, with interest as determined under 354A.37, subdivision 3,
and must subtract that amount from the total annuity or benefit overpayment,
and the remaining balance of the overpaid annuity or benefit, if any, must be
recovered.
(c) If the invalid employee deductions plus interest exceed the amount of
the overpaid benefits, the balance must be refunded to the person to whom the
benefit or annuity is being paid.
(d) Any invalid employer contributions reported on the invalid salary
must be credited against future contributions payable by the employer.
(e) If a member or former member, who is receiving a retirement annuity or
disability benefit for which an overpayment is being recovered, dies before
recovery of the overpayment is completed and an optional annuity or refund is
payable, the remaining balance of the overpaid annuity or benefit must continue
to be recovered from the payment to the optional annuity beneficiary or refund
recipient.
(f) The board of trustees shall adopt policies directing the period of
time and manner for the collection of any overpaid retirement or optional
annuity, and survivor or disability benefit, or a refund that the executive
director determines must be recovered as provided under this section.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day after final enactment.
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Sec. 37. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.12, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 8. Additional
procedures. (a) If paragraph (b)
does not apply, the period of adjustment under subdivisions 6 and 7 is limited
to the fiscal year in which the error is discovered by the executive director
and the immediate two preceding fiscal years.
(b) If there is evidence of fraud or other misconduct on the part of the
employee or the employer, the board of trustees may authorize adjustments to
the account of a member or former member to correct erroneous employee
deductions and employer contributions on invalid salary and the recovery of any
overpayments for a period longer than specified under paragraph (a).
(c) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, the executive
director may apply the Revenue Procedures defined in the Internal Revenue
Service Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System and not issue a refund of
erroneous employee deductions and employer contributions or not recover a small
overpayment of benefits if the cost to correct the error would exceed the
amount of the refund or overpayment.
(d) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, interest of $10 or
less shall not be payable to a member or former member.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day after final enactment.
Sec. 38. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.12, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 9. Employer
responsibility for fees, penalties.
Any fees or penalties assessed by the Internal Revenue Service for
any failure by an employer to follow the statutory requirements for reporting
eligible members and salary must be paid by the employer.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day after final enactment.
Sec. 39. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.36, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6. Requirement for regular physical examinations. At least once each year during the first five
years following the granting of a disability benefit to a coordinated member by
the board and at least once in every three year period thereafter, the board shall
may require the disability benefit recipient to undergo an expert
examination as a condition for continued entitlement of the benefit recipient
to receive a disability benefit. If
the board requires an examination, the expert examination must be made at
the place of residence of the disability benefit recipient or at any other
place mutually agreeable to the disability benefit recipient and the
board. The expert examination must be
made by a physician or physicians, by a chiropractor or chiropractors, or by
one or more psychologists engaged by the board.
The physician or physicians, the chiropractor or chiropractors, or the
psychologist or psychologists with respect to a mental impairment, conducting
the expert examination shall make a written report to the board concerning the
disability benefit recipient and the recipient's disability, including a
statement of the expert opinion of the physician, chiropractor, or psychologist
as to whether or not the member remains permanently and totally disabled within
the meaning of section 354A.011, subdivision 14. If the board determines from consideration of
the written expert examination report of the physician, of the chiropractor, or
of the psychologist, with respect to a mental impairment, that the disability
benefit recipient is no longer permanently and totally disabled or if the board
determines that the benefit recipient is engaged or is able to engage in a
gainful occupation, unless the disability benefit recipient is partially
employed under subdivision 7, then further disability benefit payments from the
fund must be discontinued. The
discontinuation of disability benefits must occur immediately if the disability
recipient is
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reinstated to the district payroll following sick leave and within 60
days of the determination by the board following the expert examination and
report of the physician or physicians, chiropractor or chiropractors, or psychologist
or psychologists engaged by the board that the disability benefit recipient is
no longer permanently and totally disabled within the meaning of section
354A.011, subdivision 14.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 40. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 356.401, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Automatic deposits. (a) The
chief administrative officer of a covered retirement plan may remit, through an
automatic deposit system, annuity, benefit, or refund payments only to a
financial institution associated with the National Automated Clearinghouse
Association or a comparable successor organization that is trustee for a person
who is eligible to receive the annuity, benefit, or refund.
(b) Upon the request of a retiree, disabilitant, survivor, or former
member, the chief administrative officer of a covered retirement plan may remit
the annuity, benefit, or refund check payment to the applicable
financial institution for deposit in the person's individual account or the
person's joint account. If an
overpayment of benefits is paid after the death of the annuitant or benefit
recipient, the chief administrative officer of the pension plan is authorized
to issue an administrative subpoena consistent with the requirements of section
13A.02, requiring the applicable financial institution to disclose the names of
all joint and co-owners of the account and a description of all deposits to,
and withdrawals from, the account which take place on or after the death of the
annuitant or benefit recipient. An
overpayment to a joint account after the death of the annuitant or benefit
recipient must be repaid to the fund of the applicable covered retirement plan
by the joint tenant if the overpayment is not repaid to that fund by the
financial institution associated with the National Automated Clearinghouse
Association or its successor. The
governing board of the covered retirement plan may prescribe the conditions
under which these payments may be made.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 41. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 356.465, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Inclusion as recipient. Notwithstanding
any provision to the contrary of the laws, articles of incorporation, or bylaws
governing a covered retirement plan specified in subdivision 3, A retiring
member may designate a qualified supplemental needs trust under subdivision 2
as the remainder recipient on an optional retirement annuity form for a period
not to exceed the lifetime of the beneficiary of the supplemental needs trust.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 42. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 356.465, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 4. Expanded
eligibility. (a)
Notwithstanding subdivision 1, for a retirement plan specified in paragraph
(b), a designation under subdivision 1 may be made by an active, disabled,
deferred, or retiring member.
(b) The applicable plan is the Teachers Retirement Association established
under chapter 354.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 43. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
356.611, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Maximum benefit limitations.
A member's annual benefit, if necessary, must be reduced to the extent
required by section 415(b) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, as
adjusted by the United States secretary of the treasury under section 415(d) of
the Internal Revenue Code for any applicable increases in the cost of living
after the
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member's termination of employment. For purposes of
section 415 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, the limitation year of
a pension plan covered by this section must be the fiscal year or calendar year
of that plan, whichever is applicable. The
accrued benefit limitation described in section 415(e) of the Internal Revenue
Code must cease to be effective for limitation years beginning after December
31, 1999.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 44.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.611, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Compensation. (a) For purposes of this section,
compensation means a member's compensation actually paid or made available for
any limitation year determined as provided by including items
described in federal treasury regulation section 1.415-2(d)(10)
1.415(c)-2(b) and excluding items described in federal treasury regulation
section 1.415(c)-2(c).
(b) Compensation for any period includes:
(1) any elective deferral as defined in section
402(g)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code;
(2) any elective amounts that are not includable in a
member's gross income by reason of sections 125 or 457 of the federal
Internal Revenue Code; and
(3) any elective amounts that are not includable in a
member's gross income by reason of section 132(f)(4) of the federal
Internal Revenue Code.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 45.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.635, subdivision 6, is amended to
read:
Subd. 6. Eligible retirement plan. (a) An "eligible retirement plan"
is:
(1) an individual retirement account under section
408(a) of the federal Internal Revenue Code;
(2) an individual retirement annuity plan under
section 408(b) of the federal Internal Revenue Code;
(3) an annuity plan under section 403(a) of the federal
Internal Revenue Code;
(4) a qualified trust plan under section 401(a) of the
federal Internal Revenue Code that accepts the distributee's eligible
rollover distribution;
(5) an annuity contract under section 403(b) of the federal
Internal Revenue Code; or
(6) an eligible deferred compensation plan under
section 457(b) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, which is maintained
by a state or local government and which agrees to separately account for the
amounts transferred into the plan; or
(7) in the case of an eligible rollover distribution
to a nonspousal beneficiary, an individual account or annuity treated as an
inherited individual retirement account under section 402(c)(11) of the federal
Internal Revenue Code.
(b) For distributions of after-tax contributions which
are not includable in gross income, the after-tax portion may be transferred
only to an individual retirement account or annuity described in section 408(a)
or (b) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, or to a qualified defined
contribution plan described in either section 401(a) or
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403(a) of the federal Internal Revenue Code,
that agrees to separately account for the amounts transferred, including
separately accounting for the portion of the distribution which is includable
in gross income and the portion of the distribution which is not includable.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 46.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.635, subdivision 7, is amended to
read:
Subd. 7. Distributee. A "distributee" is:
(1) an employee or a former employee;
(2) the surviving spouse of an employee or former
employee; or
(3) the former spouse of the employee or former
employee who is the alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order
as defined in section 414(p) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, or
who is a recipient of a court-ordered equitable distribution of marital
property, as provided in section 518.58.; or
(4) a nonspousal beneficiary of an employee or former
employee who qualifies for a distribution under the plan and is a designated
beneficiary as defined in section 401(a)(9)(E) of the federal Internal Revenue
Code.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 47.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.96, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Petition for review. (a) A person who claims a right under
subdivision 2 may petition for a review of that decision by the governing board
of the covered pension plan.
(b) A petition under this section must be sent to the
chief administrative officer by mail and must be postmarked no later than 60
days after the person received the notice required by subdivision 3. The petition must include the person's
statement of the reason or reasons that the person believes the decision of the
chief administrative officer should be reversed or modified. The petition may include all documentation
and written materials that the petitioner deems to be relevant. In developing a record for review by the
board when a decision is appealed, the executive director may direct that the
applicant participate in a fact-finding session conducted by an administrative
law judge assigned by the Office of Administrative Hearings and, as applicable,
participate in a vocational assessment conducted by a qualified rehabilitation
counselor on contract with the applicable retirement system.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 48. Laws
2006, chapter 271, article 5, section 5, as amended by Laws 2008, chapter 349,
article 5, section 36, is amended to read:
Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) Sections 1, 3, and 4 are effective the day
following final enactment and section 3 has effect retroactively from July 25,
2005.
(b) Section 2 with respect to the Cannon Falls
Hospital District is effective upon the latter of:
(1) the day after the governing body of the Cannon
Falls Hospital District and its chief clerical officer meet the requirements
under Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3; and
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(2) the first day of the month following certification to the Cannon Falls
Hospital District by the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement
Association that the actuarial accrued liability of the special benefit
coverage proposed for extension to the privatized City of Cannon Falls Hospital
employees under section 1 does not exceed the actuarial gain otherwise to be
accrued by the Public Employees Retirement Association, as calculated by the
consulting actuary retained under Minnesota Statutes, section 356.214. The cost of the actuarial calculations must
be borne by the current employer or by the entity which is the employer
following the privatization.
(c) Section 2, with respect to Clearwater County Memorial Hospital, is
effective upon the latter of:
(1) the day after the governing body of Clearwater County and its chief
clerical officer meet the requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section
645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3, except that the certificate of approval must be
filed before January 1, 2009 2010; and
(2) the first day of the month following certification to Clearwater
County by the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association
that the actuarial accrued liability of the special benefit coverage proposed
for extension to the privatized Clearwater Health Services employees under
section 2 does not exceed the actuarial gain otherwise to be accrued by the
Public Employees Retirement Association, as calculated by the consulting
actuary retained under Minnesota Statutes, section 356.214. The cost of the actuarial calculations must
be borne by the current employer or by the entity which is the employer
following the privatization.
(d) Section 2 with respect to the Dassel Lakeside Community Home is
effective upon the latter of:
(1) the day after the governing body of the city of Dassel and its chief
clerical officer timely complete compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section
645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3; and
(2) the first day of the month next following certification to the Dassel
City Council by the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement
Association that the actuarial accrued liability of the special benefit
coverage proposed for extension to the privatized Dassel Lakeside Community
Home employees under section 2 does not exceed the actuarial gain otherwise to
be accrued by the Public Employees Retirement Association, as calculated by the
consulting actuary retained under Minnesota Statutes, section 356.214. The cost of the actuarial calculations must
be borne by the city of Dassel or by the entity which is the employer following
the privatization.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 49. CITY OF DULUTH AND DULUTH AIRPORT AUTHORITY; CORRECTING ERRONEOUS
EMPLOYEE DEDUCTIONS, EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS AND ADJUSTING OVERPAID BENEFITS.
Subdivision 1. Application. Notwithstanding any provisions of
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.27, subdivisions 7 and 7b, or Minnesota Statutes
2008, chapters 353 and 356, to the contrary, this section establishes the
procedures by which the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement
Association shall adjust erroneous employee deductions and employer
contributions paid on behalf of active employees and former members by the city
of Duluth and by the Duluth Airport Authority on amounts determined by the
executive director to be invalid salary under Minnesota Statutes, section
353.01, subdivision 10, reported between January 1, 1997, and October 23, 2008,
and for adjusting benefits that were paid to former members and their
beneficiaries based upon invalid salary amounts.
Subd. 2. Refunds
of employee deductions. (a)
The executive director shall refund to active employees or former members who
are not receiving retirement annuities or benefits all erroneous employee
deductions identified by the city of Duluth or by the Duluth Airport Authority
as deductions taken from amounts determined to be invalid salary. The refunds must include interest at the rate
specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 353.34, subdivision 2, from the date
each invalid employee deduction was received through the date each refund is
paid.
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(b) The refund payment for active employees must be sent to the applicable
governmental subdivision which must pay the refunded employee deductions plus
interest to the active members who are employees of the city of Duluth or who
are employees of the Duluth Airport Authority, as applicable.
(c) Refunds to former members must be mailed by the executive director of
the Public Employees Retirement Association to the former member's last known
address.
Subd. 3. Benefit
adjustments. (a) For a former
member who is receiving a retirement annuity or disability benefit, or for a
person receiving an optional annuity or survivor benefit, the executive
director must:
(1) adjust the annuity or benefit payment to the correct monthly benefit
amount payable by reducing the average salary under Minnesota Statutes, section
353.01, subdivision 17a, by the invalid salary amounts;
(2) determine the amount of the overpaid benefits paid from the effective
date of the annuity or benefit payment to the first of the month in which the
monthly benefit amount is corrected;
(3) calculate the amount of employee deductions taken in error on invalid salary,
including interest at the rate specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 353.34,
subdivision 2, from the date each invalid employee deduction was received
through the date the annuity or benefit is adjusted as provided under clause
(1); and
(4) determine the net amount of overpaid benefits by reducing the amount
of the overpaid annuity or benefit as determined in clause (2) by the amount of
the erroneous employee deductions with interest determined in clause (3).
(b) If a former member's erroneous employee deductions plus interest
determined under this section exceeds the amount of the person's overpaid
benefits, the balance must be refunded to the person to whom the annuity or
benefit is being paid.
(c) The executive director shall recover the net amount of all overpaid
annuities or benefits as provided under subdivision 4.
Subd. 4. Employer
credits and obligations. (a)
The executive director shall provide a credit without interest to the city of
Duluth and to the Duluth Airport Authority for the amount of that governmental
subdivision's erroneous employer contributions.
The credit must first be used to offset the net amount of the overpaid
retirement annuities and the disability and survivor benefits that remains
after applying the amount of erroneous employee deductions with interest as
provided under subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (4). The remaining erroneous employer
contributions, if any, must be credited against future employer contributions
required to be paid by the applicable governmental subdivision. If the overpaid benefits exceed the employer
contribution credit, the balance of the overpaid benefits is the obligation of
the city of Duluth or the Duluth Airport Authority, whichever is applicable.
(b) The Public Employees Retirement Association board of trustees shall
determine the period of time and manner for the collection of overpaid
retirement annuities and benefits, if any, from the city of Duluth and the
Duluth Airport Authority.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) This section is effective for the city of Duluth the day after
the Duluth city council and the chief clerical officer of the city of Duluth
timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021,
subdivisions 2 and 3, for members who are, and former members who were,
employees of the city of Duluth.
(b) This section is effective for the Duluth Airport Authority the day
after the Duluth Airport Authority and the chief clerical officer of the Duluth
Airport Authority timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes,
section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3, for members who are, and former members
who were, employees of the Duluth Airport Authority.
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Sec. 50. APPLICATION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION ERRONEOUS
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS PROVISION; ELECTION.
(a) If adjustments under Minnesota Statutes, section 353.27, subdivision
7, due to invalid salary amounts are in process as of the effective date of
this section for employees or former employees of a governmental subdivision,
the governing body of the governmental subdivision may elect to have the
statute of limitations under Minnesota Statutes, section 353.27, subdivision 7,
paragraphs (c) and (g), apply to adjustments or corrections in process as of
the effective date of Minnesota Statutes, section 353.27, subdivision 7, by a
resolution of the governing body transmitted to the Public Employees Retirement
Association executive director within 90 days after the effective date of this
section.
(b) If the governing body of the governmental subdivision declines the
treatment permitted under paragraph (a) or fails to submit a resolution in a
timely manner, the statute of limitations does not apply to adjustments or
corrections in process as of the effective date.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day after final enactment.
Sec. 51. REPEALER.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 354.06, subdivision 6; and 354.55,
subdivision 14, are repealed.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
ARTICLE 5
LOCAL GOVERNMENT POSTRETIREMENT OPTION PROGRAM
Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 353.01, subdivision 11b, is amended to read:
Subd. 11b. Termination of membership.
(a) "Termination of membership" means the conclusion of
membership in the association for a person who has not terminated public
service under subdivision 11a and occurs:
(1) when a person files a written election with the association to
discontinue employee deductions under section 353.27, subdivision 7, paragraph
(a), clause (1);
(2) when a city manager files a written election with the association to
discontinue employee deductions under section 353.028, subdivision 2; or
(3) when a member transfers to a temporary position and becomes excluded
from membership under subdivision 2b, clause (4).; or
(4) when a member is approved to participate in the postretirement option
authorized under section 353.371.
(b) The termination of membership under clause clauses (3) and
(4) must be reported to the association by the governmental subdivision.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 2. [353.371] POSTRETIREMENT OPTION.
Subdivision 1. Eligibility. (a) This section applies to a basic or
coordinated member of the general employees retirement plan of the Public
Employees Retirement Association who:
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(1) for at least the five years immediately preceding separation under
clause (2), was regularly scheduled to work 1,044 or more hours per year in a
position covered by the general employees retirement plan of the Public
Employees Retirement Association;
(2) terminates membership as defined under section 353.01, subdivision
11b;
(3) at the time of termination under clause (2), was at least age 62 and
met the age and service requirements necessary to receive a retirement annuity
from the plan and satisfied requirements for the commencement of the retirement
annuity;
(4) agrees to accept a postretirement option position with the same or a
different governmental subdivision, working a reduced schedule that is both:
(i) a reduction of at least 25 percent from the employee's number of
previously regularly scheduled work hours; and
(ii) 1,044 hours or less in public; and
(5) is not eligible for participation in the state employee
postretirement option program under section 43A.346.
(b) For purposes of this section, the length of separation requirement and
termination of service requirement prohibiting return to work agreements under
section 353.01, subdivisions 11a and 28, are not applicable.
Subd. 2. Annuity
reduction not applicable. Notwithstanding
any law to the contrary, the provisions of section 353.37 governing annuities
of reemployed annuitants do not apply for the duration of a terminated member's
employment in a postretirement option position.
Subd. 3. Governing
body discretion. The
governing body of the governmental subdivision has sole discretion to determine
if and the extent to which a postretirement option position under this section
is available to a terminated member. Any
offer of such a position must be made in writing to the person by the governing
body's designee in a manner prescribed by the executive director.
Subd. 4. Duration. Postretirement option employment shall be
for an initial period not to exceed one year.
At the end of the initial period, the governing body has sole discretion
to determine if the offer of a postretirement option position will be renewed,
renewed with modifications, or terminated.
Postretirement option employment may be renewed annually, but may not be
renewed after the individual attains retirement age as defined in United States
Code, title 42, section 416(l).
Subd. 5. Copy
to fund. The appointing
authority shall provide the Public Employees Retirement Association with
documentation, as prescribed by the executive director, of the terms of any agreement
entered into with a member who accepts continuing employment with the
appointing authority under the terms of this section, and any subsequent
renewal agreement.
Subd. 6. No
service credit. Notwithstanding
any law to the contrary, a person may not earn service credit in the general
employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association for
employment covered under this section, and employer contributions and payroll
deductions for the retirement fund must not be made based on earnings of a
person working under an agreement covered by this section. No change may be made to a monthly annuity or
retirement allowance based on employment under this section.
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Subd. 7. Subsequent
employment. If a person has
been in a postretirement option position and accepts any other position in
public service beyond the period of time for which the person participated in
the postretirement option provided under this section, the person may not earn
service credit in the general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees
Retirement Association, no employer contributions or payroll deductions for the
retirement fund may be made, and the provisions of section 353.37 apply.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment and
expires on June 30, 2011. Individuals
must not be appointed to a postretirement option position after that date.
ARTICLE 6
TEACHER RETIREMENT BENEFIT AND FUNDING CHANGES
Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 127A.50, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Aid adjustment. Beginning in
fiscal year 1998 and each year thereafter, the commissioner of education shall
adjust state aid payments to school operating funds for Independent School
District No. 625 and Independent School District No. 709 by the net amount of
clauses (1) and, (2), and (5), for Special School District
No. 1 by the net amount of clauses (1), (2), and (4), and (5),
and for all other districts, including charter schools, but excluding any
education organizations that are prohibited from receiving direct state aids
under section 123A.26 or 125A.75, subdivision 7, by the net amount of clauses
(1), (2), (3), and (4), and (5):
(1) a decrease equal to each district's share of the fiscal year 1997
adjustment effected under Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2139;
(2) an increase equal to one percent of the salaries paid to members of
the general plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association in fiscal year
1997, multiplied by 0.35 for fiscal year 1998 and 0.70 each year thereafter;
(3) a decrease equal to 2.34 percent of the salaries paid to members of
the Teachers Retirement Association in fiscal year 1997; and
(4) an increase equal to 0.5 percent of the salaries paid to members of
the Teachers Retirement Association in fiscal year 2007.; and
(5) an increase equal to the specified percentage of the salaries paid to
coordinated program members of the Teachers Retirement Association, to
coordinated program members of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund
Association, and to members of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association
in fiscal year 2012 as follows:
fiscal
year 2012 0.5
percent
fiscal
year 2013 0.5
percent
fiscal
year 2014 0.5
percent
fiscal
year 2015 0.5
percent
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec.
2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354.05, subdivision 38, is amended to read:
Subd.
38. Normal
retirement age. "Normal
retirement age" means age 65 for a person who first became a member of
the association or a member of a pension fund listed in section 356.30,
subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989. For
a person who first becomes a member of the association after June 30, 1989,
normal retirement age means the higher of age 65 or "retirement age,"
as defined in United States Code, title 42, section 416(l), as amended, but not
to exceed age 66. For a person
with 30 years of service, normal retirement age means age 62.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5520
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.42, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Employee. (a) The employee contribution to the fund is
an amount equal to the following percentage of the salary of a member:
(1) after July 1, 2006, for a teacher employed by
Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, 5.5 percent if the teacher is a
coordinated member, and 9.0 percent if the teacher is a basic member;
(2) for every other teacher, after July 1, 2006, 5.5
percent if the teacher is a coordinated member and 9.0 percent if the teacher
is a basic member.
Period Coordinated
Member Basic
Member
(1) before July 1, 2011 5.5
percent 9
percent
(2) after June 30, 2011, and before
July 1, 2012 6
percent 9
percent
(3) after June 30, 2012, and before
July 1, 2013 6.5
percent 9
percent
(4) unless paragraph (c) applies, after
June 30, 2013, and before July 1, 2014 7
percent 9
percent
(5) unless paragraph (c) applies, after
June 30, 2014 7.5
percent 9
percent
(b) When an employee contribution rate changes for a
fiscal year, the new contribution rate is effective for the entire salary paid
for each employer unit with the first payroll cycle reported.
(c) After July 1, 2012, a scheduled contribution
increase under paragraph (a), clause (4) or (5), is suspended if the most
recent actuarial valuation prepared under section 356.215 indicates that there
is no contribution deficiency when the total employee contributions, employer
contributions under subdivision 3, and direct state aid under section 354A.12
and chapter 422A are compared to the actuarial required contributions of the
retirement plan.
(b) (d) This contribution must be made by deduction from
salary. Where any portion of a member's
salary is paid from other than public funds, the member's employee contribution
must be based on the entire salary received.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.42, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Employer. (a) The regular employer contribution to the
fund by Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, after July 1, 2006, and
before July 1, 2007, is an amount equal to 5.0 percent of the salary of each of
its teachers who is a coordinated member and 9.0 percent of the salary of each
of its teachers who is a basic member.
After July 1, 2007, and before July 1, 2011, the regular employer
contribution to the fund by Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, is an
amount equal to 5.5 percent of salary of each coordinated member and 9.5
percent of salary of each basic member.
The additional employer contribution to the fund by Special School District
No. 1, Minneapolis, after July 1, 2006, is an amount equal to 3.64 percent of
the salary of each teacher who is a coordinated member or is a basic
member. The regular employer
contribution to the fund by Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, is an
amount equal to the following percentage of the salary of each teacher:
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5521
Period Coordinated
Member Basic
Member
(1)
before July 1, 2011 5.5
percent 9.5
percent
(2)
after June 30, 2011, and before
July
1, 2012 6
percent 9.5
percent
(3)
after June 30, 2012, and before
July
1, 2013 6.5
percent 9.5
percent
(4)
unless paragraph (d) applies, after
June
30, 2013, and before July 1, 2014 7
percent 9.5
percent
(5)
unless paragraph (d) applies, after
June
30, 2014 7.5
percent 9.5
percent
(b)
When an employer contribution rate changes for a fiscal year, the new
contribution rate is effective for the entire salary paid for each employer
unit with the first payroll cycle reported.
(b) (c) The employer contribution to the fund for every other employer
is an amount equal to 5.0 percent of the salary of each coordinated member and
9.0 percent of the salary of each basic member before July 1, 2007, and 5.5
percent of the salary of each coordinated member and 9.5 percent of the salary
of each basic member after June 30, 2007., and before July
1, 2011. The regular employer
contribution to the fund by every other employer is an amount equal to the
following percentage of the salary of each teacher:
Period Coordinated
Member Basic
Member
(1) after June 30, 2011, and before
July
1, 2012 6
percent 9.5
percent
(2)
after June 30, 2012, and before
July
1, 2013 6.5
percent 9.5
percent
(3)
unless paragraph (d) applies, after
June
30, 2013, and before July 1, 2014 7
percent 9.5
percent
(4)
unless paragraph (d) applies, after
June
30, 2014 7.5
percent 9.5
percent
(d)
After July 1, 2012, a scheduled contribution increase under paragraph (a),
clause (4) or (5), and paragraph (c), clause (3) or (4), is suspended if the
most recent actuarial valuation prepared under section 356.215 indicates that
there is no contribution deficiency when the total employee contributions,
employer contributions under subdivision 3, and direct state aid under section
354A.12 and chapter 422A are compared to the actuarial required contributions
of the retirement plan.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec.
5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354.42, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd.
4b. Determination. (a) For purposes of this section, a
contribution sufficiency exists if the total of the employee contributions, the
employer contributions, and any additional employer contributions, if
applicable, exceeds the total of the normal cost, the administrative expenses,
and the amortization contribution of the retirement
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5522
plan
as reported in the most recent actuarial valuation of the retirement plan
prepared by the actuary retained under section 356.214 and prepared under
section 356.215 and the standards for actuarial work of the Legislative
Commission on Pensions and Retirement.
(b)
For purposes of this section, a contribution deficiency exists if the total
employee contributions, the employer contributions, and any additional employer
contributions are less than the total of the normal cost, the administrative
expenses, and the amortization contribution of the retirement plan as reported
in the most recent actuarial valuation of the retirement plan prepared by the
actuary retained under section 356.214 and prepared under section 356.215 and
the standards for actuarial work of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and
Retirement.
Sec.
6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354.42, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd.
4c. Contribution
rate revision. Notwithstanding
the contribution rate provisions stated in plan law, the employee and employer
contribution rates must be adjusted:
(1)
if after July 1, 2014, the regular actuarial valuations of the plan under
section 356.215 indicate that there is a contribution sufficiency under
subdivision 2 equal to or greater than 0.5 percent of covered payroll for two consecutive
years, the employee and employer contribution rates for the plan must be
decreased as determined under subdivision 4 to a level such that the
sufficiency equals no more than 0.25 percent of covered payroll based on the
most recent actuarial valuation; or
(2)
if after July 1, 2014, the regular actuarial valuations of the plan under
section 356.215 indicate that there is a deficiency equal to or greater than
0.5 percent of covered payroll for two consecutive years, the employee and
employer contribution rates for the plan must be increased as determined under
subdivision 4 to a level such that no deficiency exists based on the most
recent actuarial valuation.
Sec.
7. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354.42, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd.
4d. Reporting,
commission review. (a) The
contribution rate increase or decrease must be determined by the executive
director of the Teachers Retirement Association, must be reported to the chair
and the executive director of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and
Retirement on or before the next February 1, and, if the Legislative Commission
on Pensions and Retirement does not recommend against the rate change or does
not recommend a modification in the rate change, is effective on the next July
1 following the determination by the executive director that a contribution
deficiency or sufficiency has existed for two consecutive fiscal years based on
the most recent actuarial valuations under section 356.215. If the actuarially required contribution
exceeds or is less than the total support provided by the combined employee and
employer contribution rates for the applicable plan by more than 0.5 percent of
covered payroll, the plan employee and employer contribution rates must be
adjusted incrementally over one or more years to a level such that there
remains a contribution sufficiency of no more than 0.25 percent of covered
payroll.
(b)
No incremental adjustment may exceed 0.25 percent of payroll for either the employee
or employer contribution rates per year in which any adjustment is
implemented. A contribution rate
adjustment under this section must not be made until at least two years have
passed since fully implementing a previous adjustment under this section.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec.
8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354.44, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd.
6. Computation
of formula program retirement annuity.
(a) The formula retirement annuity must be computed in accordance with
the applicable provisions of the formulas stated in paragraph (b) or (d) on the
basis of each member's average salary under section 354.05, subdivision 13a,
for the period of the member's formula service credit.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5523
(b) This paragraph, in conjunction with paragraph (c),
applies to a person who first became a member of the association or a member of
a pension fund listed in section 356.30, subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989,
unless paragraph (d), in conjunction with paragraph (e), produces a higher
annuity amount, in which case paragraph (d) applies. The average salary as defined in section
354.05, subdivision 13a, multiplied by the following percentages per year of
formula service credit shall determine determines the amount of
the annuity to which the member qualifying therefor is entitled for service
rendered before July 1, 2006:
Coordinated
Member Basic
Member
Each year of service during first ten the percent specified in the percent
specified
section
356.315, subdivision 1, in
section 356.315,
per
year
subdivision 3, per year
Each year of service thereafter the percent specified in the percent
specified
section
356.315, subdivision 2, in
section 356.315,
per
year subdivision
4, per year
For service rendered on or after July 1, 2006, the
average salary as defined in section 354.05, subdivision 13a, multiplied by the
following percentages per year of service credit, determines the amount the
annuity to which the member qualifying therefor is entitled:
Coordinated
Member Basic
Member
Each year of service during first ten the percent specified in the percent
specified
section
356.315, subdivision 1a, in
section 356.315,
per
year subdivision
3, per year
Each year of service after ten years the percent specified in the percent
specified
of service section
356.315, subdivision 2b, in
section 356.315,
per
year subdivision
4, per year
(c)(i) This paragraph applies only to a person who
first became a member of the association or a member of a pension fund listed
in section 356.30, subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989, and whose annuity is
higher when calculated under paragraph (b), in conjunction with this paragraph
than when calculated under paragraph (d), in conjunction with paragraph (e).
(ii) Where any member retires prior to normal
retirement age under a formula annuity, the member shall must be
paid a retirement annuity in an amount equal to the normal annuity provided in
paragraph (b) reduced by one-quarter of one percent for each month that the
member is under normal retirement age at the time of retirement except that for
any member who has 30 or more years of allowable service credit, the reduction shall
must be applied only for each month that the member is under age 62.
(iii) Any member whose attained age plus credited
allowable service totals 90 years is entitled, upon application, to a
retirement annuity in an amount equal to the normal annuity provided in
paragraph (b), without any reduction by reason of early retirement.
(d) This paragraph applies to a member who has become
at least 55 years old and first became a member of the association after June
30, 1989, and to any other member who has become at least 55 years old and
whose annuity amount when calculated under this paragraph and in conjunction
with paragraph (e), is higher than it is when calculated under paragraph (b),
in conjunction with paragraph (c). For a
basic member, the average salary, as defined in section 354.05, subdivision
13a, multiplied by the percent specified by section 356.315, subdivision 4, for
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5524
each year of service for a basic member shall
determine determines the amount of the retirement annuity to which
the basic member is entitled. The
annuity of a basic member who was a member of the former Minneapolis Teachers
Retirement Fund Association as of June 30, 2006, must be determined according
to the annuity formula under the articles of incorporation of the former
Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association in effect as of that date. For a coordinated member, the average salary,
as defined in section 354.05, subdivision 13a, multiplied by the percent
specified in section 356.315, subdivision 2, for each year of service rendered
before July 1, 2006, and by the percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision 2b, for each year of service rendered on or after
July 1, 2006, and before July 1, 2011, and by the percent
specified in section 356.315, subdivision 2c, for each year of service rendered
after June 30, 2011, determines the amount of the retirement annuity to
which the coordinated member is entitled.
For a member who has 30 or more years of allowable service credit,
the person's normal retirement age is age 62 and the age 55 minimum early
reduced benefit retirement age does not apply to the person.
(e) This paragraph applies to a person who has become at
least 55 years old and first becomes a member of the association after June 30,
1989, and to any other member who has become at least 55 years old and whose
annuity is higher when calculated under paragraph (d) in conjunction with this
paragraph than when calculated under paragraph (b), in conjunction with
paragraph (c). An employee who retires
under the formula annuity before the normal retirement age shall as
defined by section 354.05, subdivision 38, must be paid the normal annuity
provided in paragraph (d) reduced so that the reduced annuity is the actuarial
equivalent of the annuity that would be payable to the employee if the employee
deferred receipt of the annuity and the annuity amount were augmented at an
annual rate of three percent compounded annually from the day the annuity
begins to accrue until the normal retirement age if the employee became an
employee before July 1, 2006, and at 2.5 percent compounded annually if the
employee becomes an employee after June 30, 2006. For a member who has 30 or more years of
allowable service credit, the person's normal retirement age is age 62 and the
age 55 minimum early reduced benefit retirement age does not apply to the
person.
(f) No retirement annuity is payable to a former employee
with a salary that exceeds 95 percent of the governor's salary unless and until
the salary figures used in computing the highest five successive years average
salary under paragraph (a) have been audited by the Teachers Retirement
Association and determined by the executive director to comply with the
requirements and limitations of section 354.05, subdivisions 35 and 35a.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec. 9. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 354A.011, subdivision 15a, is amended to read:
Subd. 15a. Normal retirement age. "Normal retirement age" means age
65 for a person who first became a member of the coordinated program of the
St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association or the new law coordinated
program of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association or a member of a
pension fund listed in section 356.30, subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989. For a person who first became a member of the
coordinated program of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association or the
new law coordinated program of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association
after June 30, 1989, normal retirement age means the higher of age 65 or
retirement age, as defined in United States Code, title 42, section 416(l), as
amended, but not to exceed age 66. For
a person with 30 years of service, normal retirement age means age 62. For a person who is a member of the basic
program of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association or the old law
coordinated program of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association, normal
retirement age means the age at which a teacher becomes eligible for a normal
retirement annuity computed upon meeting the age and service requirements
specified in the applicable provisions of the articles of incorporation or
bylaws of the respective teachers retirement fund association.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5525
Sec. 10. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 354A.12, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Employee contributions. (a) The contribution required to be paid
by each member of a teachers retirement fund association shall must
not be less than the percentage of total salary specified below for the
applicable association and program:
Association and Program Percentage
of Total Salary
Duluth
Teachers Retirement Fund Association
old law and new law
coordinated programs 5.5
percent
(1) before July 1, 2011 5.5
percent
(2) after June 30,
2011, and before July 1, 2012 6
percent
(3) after June 30,
2012, and before July 1, 2013 6.5
percent
(4) unless paragraph
(b) applies, after June 30, 2013, and before July 1, 2014 7 percent
(5) unless paragraph
(b) applies, after June 30, 2014 7.5
percent
St.
Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association
basic program 8
percent
coordinated program 5.5
percent
(6) before July 1, 2011 5.5
percent
(7) after June 30,
2011, and before July 1, 2012 6
percent
(8) after June 30,
2012, and before July 1, 2013 6.5
percent
(9) unless paragraph
(b) applies, after June 30, 2013, and before July 1, 2014 7 percent
(10) unless paragraph
(b) applies, after June 30, 2014 7.5
percent
(b)
When an employee contribution rate changes for a fiscal year, the new
contribution rate is effective for the entire salary paid for each employer
unit with the first payroll cycle reported.
(c)
After July 1, 2012, a scheduled contribution increase under paragraph (a),
clause (4), (5), (9), or (10), is suspended if the most recent actuarial
valuation prepared under section 356.215 indicates that there is no
contribution deficiency when the total employee contributions, employer
contributions under subdivision 3, and direct state aid are compared to the
actuarial required contributions of the retirement plan.
(d)
Contributions shall
must be made by deduction from salary and must be remitted directly to the
respective teachers retirement fund association at least once each month.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5526
Sec.
11. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354A.12, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
Subd.
2a. Employer
regular and additional contribution rates.
(a) The employing units shall make the following employer contributions
to teachers retirement fund associations:
(1)
for any coordinated member of a teachers retirement fund association in a city
of the first class, the employing unit shall pay the employer Social Security
taxes;
(2)
for any coordinated member of one of the following teachers retirement fund
associations in a city of the first class, the employing unit shall make a
regular employer contribution to the respective retirement fund association in
an amount equal to the designated percentage of the salary of the coordinated
member as provided below:
Duluth
Teachers Retirement Fund Association 4.50
percent
(A) before July 1, 2011 4.5
percent
(B) after June 30, 2011,
and before July 1, 2012 5
percent
(C) after June 30, 2012,
and before July 1, 2013 5.5
percent
(D) unless clause (3)
applies, after June 30, 2013, and before July 1, 2014 6 percent
(E) unless clause (3)
applies, after June 30, 2014 6.5
percent
St. Paul
Teachers Retirement Fund Association 4.50
percent
(F) before July 1, 2011 4.5
percent
(G) after June 30, 2011,
and before July 1, 2012 5
percent
(H) after June 30, 2012,
and before July 1, 2013 5.5
percent
(I) unless clause (3)
applies, after June 30, 2013, and before July 1, 2014 6 percent
(J) unless clause (3) applies,
after June 30, 2014 6.5
percent
(3) After July 1, 2012, a scheduled contribution increase under
paragraph (a), clause (2), item (D), (E), (I), or (J), is suspended if the most
recent actuarial valuation prepared under section 356.215 indicates that there
is no contribution deficiency when the total employee contributions, employer
contributions under subdivision 3, and direct state aid are compared to the
actuarial required contributions of the retirement plan;
(4) for any
basic member of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, the
employing unit shall make a regular employer contribution to the respective
retirement fund in an amount equal to 8.00 percent of the salary of the basic
member;
(4) (5) for a basic member of the St. Paul
Teachers Retirement Fund Association, the employing unit shall make an
additional employer contribution to the respective fund in an amount equal to
3.64 percent of the salary of the basic member;
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5527
(5) (6) for a coordinated member of a
teachers retirement fund association in a city of the first class, the
employing unit shall make an additional employer contribution to the respective
fund in an amount equal to the applicable percentage of the coordinated
member's salary, as provided below:
Duluth Teachers
Retirement Fund Association 1.29
percent
St. Paul Teachers
Retirement Fund Association
July 1, 1993 -
June 30, 1994 0.50
percent
July 1, 1994 -
June 30, 1995 1.50
percent
July 1, 1997, and
thereafter 3.84
percent
(b) When an employer contribution rate changes for a fiscal year, the
new contribution rate is effective for the entire salary paid for each employer
unit with the first payroll cycle reported.
(c) The
regular and additional employer contributions must be remitted directly to the
respective teachers retirement fund association at least once each month. Delinquent amounts are payable with interest
under the procedure in subdivision 1a.
(c) (d) Payments of regular and additional
employer contributions for school district or technical college employees who
are paid from normal operating funds must be made from the appropriate fund of
the district or technical college.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.12, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 4a. Determination. (a) For purposes of this section, a
contribution sufficiency exists if, for purposes of the applicable plan, the
total of the employee contributions, the employer contributions, and any
additional employer contributions, if applicable, exceeds the total of the
normal cost, the administrative expenses, and the amortization contribution of
the retirement plan as reported in the most recent actuarial valuation of the
retirement plan prepared by the actuary retained under section 356.214 and
prepared under section 356.215 and the standards for actuarial work of the
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement.
(b) For purposes of this section, a contribution deficiency exists if,
for the applicable plan, the total employee contributions, employer
contributions, and any additional employer contributions are less than the
total of the normal cost, the administrative expenses, and the amortization
contribution of the retirement plan as reported in the most recent actuarial
valuation of the retirement plan prepared by the actuary retained under section
356.214 and prepared under section 356.215 and the standards for actuarial work
of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.12, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 4b. Contribution
rate revision. Notwithstanding
the contribution rate provisions stated in plan law, the employee and employer
contribution rates must be adjusted:
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5528
(1) if after July 1, 2014, the regular actuarial valuations of the
applicable plan under section 356.215 indicate that there is a contribution sufficiency
under subdivision 2 equal to or greater than 0.5 percent of covered payroll for
two consecutive years, the employee and employer contribution rates for the
applicable plan must be decreased as determined under subdivision 4 to a level
such that the sufficiency equals no more than 0.25 percent of covered payroll
based on the most recent actuarial valuation; or
(2) if after July 1, 2014, the regular actuarial valuations of the
applicable plan under section 356.215 indicate that there is a deficiency equal
to or greater than 0.5 percent of covered payroll for two consecutive years,
the employee and employer contribution rates for the applicable plan must be
increased as determined under subdivision 4 to a level such that no deficiency
exists based on the most recent actuarial valuation.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.12, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 4c. Reporting,
commission review. (a) The contribution
rate increase or decrease must be determined by the executive director of the
Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association or the St. Paul Teachers Retirement
Fund Association, and must be reported to the chair and the executive director
of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement on or before the next
February 1, and, if the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement does
not recommend against the rate change or does not recommend a modification in
the rate change, is effective on the next July 1 following the determination by
the executive director that a contribution deficiency or sufficiency has
existed for two consecutive fiscal years based on the most recent actuarial
valuations under section 356.215. If the
actuarially required contribution exceeds or is less than the total support
provided by the combined employee and employer contribution rates for the
applicable plan by more than 0.5 percent of covered payroll, the applicable
plan employee and employer contribution rates must be adjusted incrementally
over one or more years to a level such that there remains a contribution
sufficiency of no more than 0.25 percent of covered payroll.
(b) No incremental adjustment may exceed 0.25 percent of payroll for
either the employee or employer contribution rates per year in which any
adjustment is implemented. For an
applicable plan, a contribution rate adjustment under this section must not be
made until at least two years have passed since fully implementing a previous
adjustment under this section.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.31, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Computation of normal coordinated retirement annuity; St. Paul fund. (a) This subdivision applies to the
coordinated program of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association.
(b) The normal coordinated retirement annuity is an amount equal to a
retiring coordinated member's average salary under section 354A.011,
subdivision 7a, multiplied by the retirement annuity formula percentage.
(c) This paragraph, in conjunction with subdivision 6, applies to a
person who first became a member or a member in a pension fund listed in
section 356.30, subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989, unless paragraph (d), in
conjunction with subdivision 7, produces a higher annuity amount, in which case
paragraph (d) will apply. The
retirement annuity formula percentage for purposes of this paragraph is the
percent specified in section 356.315, subdivision 1, per year for each year of
coordinated service for the first ten years and the percent specified in
section 356.315, subdivision 2, for each year of coordinated service
thereafter. The average salary multiplied by the following retirement
annuity formula percentage per year of allowable service determines the amount
of the annuity to which the member qualifying therefor is entitled for service
rendered before July 1, 2011:
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5529
Each
year of service during first ten years the
percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision
1, per year
Each
year of service thereafter the
percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision
2, per year
For
service rendered on or after July 1, 2011, the average salary multiplied by the
following retirement annuity formula percentage per year of allowable service determines
the amount of the annuity to which the member qualifying therefor is entitled:
Each
year of service during first ten years the
percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision
1a, per year
Each
year of service thereafter the
percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision
2b, per year
(d) This
paragraph applies to a person who has become at least 55 years old and who
first becomes a member after June 30, 1989, and to any other member who has
become at least 55 years old and whose annuity amount, when calculated under
this paragraph and in conjunction with subdivision 7 is higher than it is when
calculated under paragraph (c), in conjunction with the provisions of
subdivision 6. The retirement annuity
formula percentage for purposes of this paragraph is the percent specified in
section 356.315, subdivision 2, for each year of coordinated service before
July 1, 2011, and by the percent specified in section 356.315, subdivision 2c,
for each year of service rendered after June 30, 2011. For a member who has 30 or more years of
allowable service credit, the person's normal retirement age is age 62 and the
age 55 minimum early reduced benefit retirement age does not apply to
the person.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec.
16. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354A.31, subdivision 4a, is amended to read:
Subd.
4a. Computation
of normal coordinated retirement annuity; Duluth fund. (a) This subdivision applies to the new law
coordinated program of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association.
(b) The
normal coordinated retirement annuity is an amount equal to a retiring
coordinated member's average salary under section 354A.011, subdivision 7a,
multiplied by the retirement annuity formula percentage.
(c) This
paragraph, in conjunction with subdivision 6, applies to a person who first
became a member or a member in a pension fund listed in section 356.30,
subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989, unless paragraph (d), in conjunction with
subdivision 7, produces a higher annuity amount, in which case paragraph (d)
applies. The retirement annuity
formula percentage for purposes of this paragraph is the percent specified in
section 356.315, subdivision 1, per year for each year of coordinated service
for the first ten years and the percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision 2, for each subsequent year of coordinated service. The
average salary multiplied by the following retirement annuity formula
percentage per year of allowable service determines the amount of the annuity
to which the member qualifying therefor is entitled for service rendered before
July 1, 2011:
Each
year of service during first ten years the
percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision
1, per year
Each
year of service thereafter the
percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision
2, per year
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For
service rendered on or after July 1, 2011, the average salary multiplied by the
following retirement annuity formula percentage per year of allowable service
determines the amount of the annuity to which the member qualifying therefor is
entitled:
Each
year of service during first ten years the
percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision
1a, per year
Each
year of service thereafter the
percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision
2b, per year
(d) This
paragraph applies to a person who is at least 55 years old and who first becomes
a member after June 30, 1989, and to any other member who is at least 55
years old and whose annuity amount, when calculated under this paragraph and in
conjunction with subdivision 7, is higher than it is when calculated under
paragraph (c) in conjunction with subdivision 6. The retirement annuity formula percentage for
purposes of this paragraph is the percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision 2, for each year of coordinated service before July 1, 2011, and
by the percent specified in section 356.315, subdivision 2c, for each year of
service rendered after June 30, 2011.
For a member who has 30 or more years of allowable service credit, the
person's normal retirement age is age 62 and the age 55 minimum early reduced
benefit retirement age does not apply to the person.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec.
17. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354A.31, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
Subd.
7. Actuarial
reduction for early retirement. This
subdivision applies to a person who has become at least 55 years old and first
becomes a coordinated member after June 30, 1989, and to any other coordinated
member who has become at least 55 years old and whose annuity is higher when
calculated using the retirement annuity formula percentage in subdivision 4,
paragraph (d), and subdivision 4a, paragraph (d), in conjunction with this
subdivision than when calculated under subdivision 4, paragraph (c), or
subdivision 4a, paragraph (c), in conjunction with subdivision 6. A coordinated member who retires before the
full benefit age shall as defined by section 354A.011, subdivision
15a, must be paid the retirement annuity calculated using the retirement
annuity formula percentage in subdivision 4, paragraph (d), or subdivision 4a,
paragraph (d), reduced so that the reduced annuity is the actuarial equivalent
of the annuity that would be payable to the member if the member deferred
receipt of the annuity and the annuity amount were augmented at an annual rate
of three percent compounded annually from the day the annuity begins to accrue
until the normal retirement age if the employee became an employee before July
1, 2006, and at 2.5 percent compounded annually from the day the annuity begins
to accrue until the normal retirement age if the person initially becomes a
teacher after June 30, 2006. For a
member who has 30 or more years of allowable service credit, the person's
normal retirement age is age 62 and the age 55 minimum early reduced benefit
retirement age does not apply to the person.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec.
18. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
356.315, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd.
2c. Certain
coordinated members. The
applicable benefit accrual rate is 2.1 percent.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
ARTICLE 7
MNSCU
RELATED RETIREMENT PROVISIONS
Section
1. [136F.481]
EARLY SEPARATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
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(a)
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Board of Trustees of
the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities may offer a targeted early separation
incentive program for its employees.
(b)
The early separation incentive program may include one or both of the
following:
(1)
cash incentives, not to exceed one year of base salary; or
(2) employer
contributions to the postretirement healthcare savings plan established under
section 352.98.
(c) To
be eligible to receive an incentive, an employee must be at least age 55 and
must have at least five years of employment by the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities System. The board of
trustees shall establish the eligibility requirements for system employees to
receive an incentive. The board of
trustees shall file a copy of its proposed eligibility requirements with the
chairs and ranking members of the Senate Committee on Higher Education and the
Higher Education Budget and Policy Division of the Senate Committee on Finance
and with the chair and ranking members of the Higher Education and Workforce
Development Finance and Policy Division of the Finance Committee of the House
of Representatives at least 30 days before their final adoption by the board of
trustees, shall post the same document on the system website at the same time,
and shall hold a public hearing on the proposed eligibility requirements. The type and any additional amount of the
incentive to be offered may vary by employee classification, as specified by
the board.
(d)
The president of a college or university, consistent with paragraphs (b) and
(c), may designate:
(1) specific
departments or programs at the college or university whose employees are
eligible to be offered the incentive program; or
(2)
positions at the college or university eligible to be offered the incentive
program.
(e)
The chancellor, consistent with paragraphs (b) and (c), may designate:
(1)
system office divisions whose employees are eligible to be offered the
incentive program; or
(2)
positions at the system office eligible to be offered the incentive program.
(f)
Acceptance of the offered incentive must be voluntary on the part of the
employee and must be in writing. The
incentive may only be offered at the sole discretion of the president of the
applicable college or university.
(g) A
decision by the president of a college or university or by the chancellor not
to offer an incentive may not be challenged.
(h)
The cost of the incentive is payable by the college or university on whose
behalf the president offered the incentive or from the system office budget if
the chancellor offered the incentive. If
a college or university is merged, the remaining cost of any early separation
incentive must be borne by the successor institution. If a college or university is closed, the
remaining cost of any early separation incentive must be borne by the board of
trustees.
(i)
Annually, the chancellor and the president of each college or university must
report on the number and types of early separation incentives which were
offered and utilized under this section.
The report must be filed annually with the board of trustees and with
the Legislative Reference Library on or before September 1.
EFFECTIVE DATE; SUNSET.
This section is effective the day following final enactment and
expires June 30, 2014.
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Sec.
2. [136F.482]
APPLICATION OF OTHER LAWS.
Unilateral
implementation of section 136F.481 by the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota
State Colleges and Universities, by the chancellor, or by a president of a
college or university is not an unfair labor practice under chapter 179A.
EFFECTIVE DATE; SUNSET.
This section is effective the day following final enactment and
expires June 30, 2014.
Sec.
3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354B.21, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd.
2. Coverage;
election. (a) For Eligible
persons who were employed by the former state university system or the former
community college system before May 1, 1995, the person has the retirement
coverage that the person had for employment immediately before May 1, 1995.
(b)
For all other eligible persons (a) Eligible persons who were employed by the Minnesota
State Colleges and Universities System on or after June 30, 2009, unless otherwise specified in this
section, the eligible person is are authorized to elect
prospective Teachers Retirement Association plan coverage rather than coverage
by the plan established by this chapter.
The election of prospective Teachers Retirement Association plan
coverage shall must be made within one year of commencing
eligible Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system employment. If an election is not made within the
specified election period due to a termination of Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities system employment, an election may be made within 90 days of
returning to eligible Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system
employment. All elections are
irrevocable. Prior to Before making
an election, the eligible person shall be is covered by
the plan indicated as default coverage under subdivision 3.
(b)
Except as provided in paragraph (c), a purchase of service credit in the Teachers Retirement
Association plan for any period or periods of Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities system employment occurring prior to before the
election under paragraph (b) (a) is prohibited.
(c)
Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b), a faculty member who is a member of the
individual retirement account plan who first achieves tenure or its equivalent
at a Minnesota state college or university after June 30, 2009, may
elect to transfer retirement coverage under the teachers retirement plan within
one year of the faculty member achieving tenure or its equivalent at a
Minnesota state college or university.
The faculty member electing Teachers Retirement Association coverage
under this paragraph must purchase service credit in the Teachers Retirement
Association for the entire period of time covered under the individual
retirement account plan and the purchase payment amount must be determined
under section 356.551. The Teachers
Retirement Association may charge a faculty member transferring coverage a reasonable
fee to cover the costs associated with computing the actuarial cost of
purchasing service credit and making the transfer. A faculty member transferring from the
individual retirement account plan to the Teachers Retirement Association may
use any balances to the credit of the faculty member in the individual
retirement account plan, any balances to the credit of the faculty member in
the higher education supplemental retirement plan established under chapter
354C, or any source specified in section 356.441, subdivision 1, to purchase
the service credit in the Teachers Retirement Association. If the total amount of payments under this
paragraph are less than the total purchase payment amount under section 356.551,
the payment amounts must be refunded to the applicable source. The retirement coverage transfer and service
credit purchase authority under this paragraph expires with respect to any
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System faculty initially hired after
June 30, 2014.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
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ARTICLE 8
ST. PAUL
TEACHERS RETIREMENT FUND ASSOCIATION
POSTRETIREMENT
ADJUSTMENTS
Section
1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354A.29, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd.
3. Postretirement
adjustment. (a) The postretirement
adjustment described in the articles and bylaws of the St. Paul Teachers
Retirement Fund Association this section must be determined by the executive
director of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association and approved by
the board annually after June 30 using the procedures under this section.
(b) On
January 1, each eligible person who has been receiving an annuity or
benefit under the articles of incorporation, the bylaws, or this chapter for at
least 12 three calendar months as of the end of the fiscal
last day of the previous calendar year is eligible to receive a
postretirement adjustment of 2.0 percent that is payable each January 1
increase as further specified in this subdivision.
(c) A
percentage adjustment must be computed and paid under this subdivision to
eligible persons under paragraph (b).
This adjustment is determined by reference to the Consumer Price Index
for urban wage earners and clerical workers all items index as reported by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics within the United States Department of Labor each
year as part of the determination of annual cost-of-living adjustments to
recipients of federal old-age, survivors, and disability insurance. For calculations of the cost-of-living
adjustment under paragraph (d), the term "average third quarter Consumer
Price Index value" means the sum of the monthly index values as initially
reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the months of July, August, and
September, divided by 3.
(d)
Before January 1 of each year, the executive director must calculate the amount
of the cost-of-living adjustment by dividing the most recent average third
quarter index value by the same average third quarter index value from the
previous year, subtract one from the resulting quotient, and express the result
as a percentage amount, which must be rounded to the nearest one-tenth of one
percent.
(e) The
amount calculated under paragraph (d) is the full cost-of-living adjustment to
be applied as a permanent increase to the regular payment of each eligible
member on January 1 of the next calendar year.
For any eligible member whose effective date of benefit commencement
occurred during the calendar year before the cost-of-living adjustment is
applied, the full increase amount must be prorated on the basis of whole
calendar quarters in benefit payment status in the calendar year prior to the
January 1 on which the cost-of-living adjustment is applied, calculated to the
third decimal place.
(f) The
adjustment may not be less than zero, nor greater than five percent.
Sec.
2. BYLAW
REVISION AUTHORIZATION.
Consistent
with Minnesota Statutes, section 354A.12, subdivision 4, the board of the St.
Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association shall revise the bylaws or articles of
incorporation of the teachers retirement fund association to conform with
section 1.
Sec.
3. REPEALER.
Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 354A.29, subdivisions 2, 4, and 5, are repealed.
Sec.
4. EFFECTIVE
DATE.
Sections
1 to 3 are effective January 1, 2010, and expire June 30, 2011.
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ARTICLE 9
LOCAL
POLICE AND PAID FIRE RELIEF
ASSOCIATION
CHANGES
Section
1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
69.77, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd.
4. Relief
association financial requirements; minimum municipal obligation. (a) The officers of the relief association
shall determine the financial requirements of the relief association and
minimum obligation of the municipality for the following calendar year in
accordance with the requirements of this subdivision. The financial requirements of the relief
association and the minimum obligation of the municipality must be determined
on or before the submission date established by the municipality under
subdivision 5.
(b) The financial
requirements of the relief association for the following calendar year must be
based on the most recent actuarial valuation or survey of the special fund of
the association if more than one fund is maintained by the association, or of
the association, if only one fund is maintained, prepared in accordance with
sections 356.215, subdivisions 4 to 15, and 356.216, as required under
subdivision 10. If an actuarial estimate
is prepared by the actuary of the relief association as part of obtaining a modification
of the benefit plan of the relief association and the modification is
implemented, the actuarial estimate must be used in calculating the subsequent
financial requirements of the relief association.
(c) If
the relief association has an unfunded actuarial accrued liability as reported
in the most recent actuarial valuation or survey, the total of the amounts
calculated under clauses (1), (2), and (3), constitute the financial
requirements of the relief association for the following year. If the relief association does not have an
unfunded actuarial accrued liability as reported in the most recent actuarial
valuation or survey, the amount calculated under clauses (1) and (2) constitute
the financial requirements of the relief association for the following
year. The financial requirement elements
are:
(1) the
normal level cost requirement for the following year, expressed as a dollar
amount, which must be determined by applying the normal level cost of the
relief association as reported in the actuarial valuation or survey and
expressed as a percentage of covered payroll to the estimated covered payroll
of the active membership of the relief association, including any projected
change in the active membership, for the following year;
(2) for
the Bloomington Fire Department Relief Association, the Fairmont Police Relief
Association, and the Virginia Fire Department Relief Association, to the dollar
amount of normal cost determined under clause (1) must be added an amount equal
to the dollar amount of the administrative expenses of the special fund of the
association if more than one fund is maintained by the association, or of the
association if only one fund is maintained, for the most recent year,
multiplied by the factor of 1.035. The
administrative expenses are those authorized under section 69.80. No amount of administrative expenses under
this clause are to be included in the financial requirements of the Minneapolis
Firefighters Relief Association or the Minneapolis Police Relief Association;
and
(3) to
the dollar amount of normal cost and expenses determined under clauses (1) and
(2) must be added an amount equal to the level annual dollar amount which is
sufficient to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability by December
31, 2010, the Fairmont Police Relief Association, the Minneapolis Firefighters
Relief Association, and the Virginia Fire Department Relief Association, by the
date determined under section 356.216, paragraph (a), clause (2), for the
Bloomington Fire Department Relief Association, and by December 31, 2020, for
the Minneapolis Police Relief Association, as determined from the actuarial
valuation or survey of the fund, using an interest assumption set at the
applicable rate specified in section 356.215, subdivision 8. The, by that fund's amortization
date as specified in this clause applies to all local police or
salaried firefighters' relief associations and that date supersedes any
amortization date specified in any applicable special law paragraph (d).
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(d) The Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association
special fund amortization date is determined under section 423C.15, subdivisions
3 and 4. The Virginia Fire Department
Relief Association special fund amortization date is December 31, 2010. The Minneapolis Police Relief Association
special fund and the Fairmont Police Relief Association special fund
amortization date is December 31, 2020.
The Bloomington Fire Department Relief Association special fund
amortization date is determined under section 356.216, paragraph (a), clause
(2). The amortization date specified in
this paragraph supersedes any amortization date specified in any applicable
special law.
(d) (e) The minimum obligation of the municipality is an
amount equal to the financial requirements of the relief association reduced by
the estimated amount of member contributions from covered salary anticipated
for the following calendar year and the estimated amounts anticipated for the
following calendar year from the applicable state aid program established under
sections 69.011 to 69.051 receivable by the relief association after any
allocation made under section 69.031, subdivision 5, paragraph (b), clause (2),
or 423A.01, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (6), from the local
police and salaried firefighters' relief association amortization aid program
established under section 423A.02, subdivision 1, from the supplementary
amortization state-aid program established under section 423A.02, subdivision
1a, and from the additional amortization state aid under section 423A.02,
subdivision 1b.
EFFECTIVE
DATE; LOCAL APPROVAL. This section is effective the day after the
Fairmont City Council and the chief clerical officer of the city of Fairmont
timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021,
subdivisions 2 and 3.
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 423A.02, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Amortization state aid. (a) A municipality in which is located a
local police or salaried firefighters' relief association to which the
provisions of section 69.77, apply, that had an unfunded actuarial accrued
liability in the most recent relief association actuarial valuation, is
entitled, upon application as required by the commissioner of revenue, to
receive local police and salaried firefighters' relief association amortization
state aid if the municipality and the appropriate relief association both
comply with the applicable provisions of sections 69.031, subdivision 5,
69.051, subdivisions 1 and 3, and 69.77.
If a municipality loses entitlement for amortization state aid in any
year because its local relief association no longer has an unfunded actuarial
accrued liability, the municipality is not entitled to amortization state aid
in any subsequent year.
(b) The total amount of amortization state aid to all
entitled municipalities must not exceed $5,055,000.
(c) Subject to the adjustment for the city of
Minneapolis provided in this paragraph, the amount of amortization state aid to
which a municipality is entitled annually is an amount equal to the level
annual dollar amount required to amortize, by December 31, 2010, the unfunded
actuarial accrued liability of the special fund of the appropriate relief
association as reported in the December 31, 1978, actuarial valuation of the
relief association prepared under sections 356.215 and 356.216, reduced by the
dollar amount required to pay the interest on the unfunded actuarial accrued
liability of the special fund of the relief association for calendar year 1981
set at the rate specified in Minnesota Statutes 1978, section 356.215,
subdivision 8. For the city of Minneapolis,
the amortization state aid amount thus determined must be reduced by $747,232
on account of the Minneapolis Police Relief Association and by $772,768 on
account of the Minneapolis Fire Department Relief Association. If the amortization state aid amounts
determined under this paragraph exceed the amount appropriated for this
purpose, the amortization state aid for actual allocation must be reduced pro
rata.
(d) Payment of amortization state aid to
municipalities must be made directly to the municipalities involved in three
equal installments on July 15, September 15, and November 15 annually. Upon receipt of amortization state aid, the
municipal treasurer shall transmit the aid amount to the treasurer of the local
relief association for immediate deposit in the special fund of the relief
association.
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(e) The
commissioner of revenue shall prescribe and periodically revise the form for
and content of the application for the amortization state aid.
Sec.
3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
423A.02, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd.
3. Reallocation
of amortization or supplementary amortization state aid. (a) Seventy percent of the difference between
$5,720,000 and the current year amortization aid or supplemental amortization
aid distributed under subdivisions 1 and 1a that is not distributed for any
reason to a municipality for use by a local police or salaried fire relief
association must be distributed by the commissioner of revenue according to
this paragraph. The commissioner shall
distribute 70 50 percent of the amounts derived under this
paragraph to the Teachers Retirement Association, ten percent to the Duluth
Teachers Retirement Fund Association, and 30 40 percent to
the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association to fund the unfunded
actuarial accrued liabilities of the respective funds. These payments shall be made on or before
June 30 each fiscal year. The amount
required under this paragraph is appropriated annually from the general fund to
the commissioner of revenue. If the St.
Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association becomes fully funded, its eligibility
for this aid ceases. Amounts remaining
in the undistributed balance account at the end of the biennium if aid
eligibility ceases cancel to the general fund.
(b) In
order to receive amortization and supplementary amortization aid under
paragraph (a), Independent School District No. 625, St. Paul, must make
contributions to the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association in
accordance with the following schedule:
Fiscal
Year Amount
1996 $0
1997 $0
1998 $200,000
1999 $400,000
2000 $600,000
2001
and thereafter $800,000
(c) Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, and the
city of Minneapolis must each make contributions to the Teachers Retirement
Association in accordance with the following schedule:
Fiscal
Year City
amount School
district amount
1996 $0 $0
1997 $0 $0
1998 $250,000 $250,000
1999 $400,000 $400,000
2000 $550,000 $550,000
2001 $700,000 $700,000
2002 $850,000 $850,000
2003 and
thereafter $1,000,000 $1,000,000
(d) Money contributed under paragraph (a)
and either paragraph (b) or (c), as applicable, must be credited to a separate
account in the applicable teachers retirement fund and may not be used in
determining any benefit increases. The
separate account terminates for a fund when the aid payments to the fund under
paragraph (a) cease.
(e) Thirty percent of the difference
between $5,720,000 and the current year amortization aid or supplemental
amortization aid under subdivisions 1 and 1a that is not distributed for any
reason to a municipality for use by a local police or salaried firefighter
relief association must be distributed under section 69.021, subdivision 7,
paragraph (d), as additional funding to support a minimum fire state aid amount
for volunteer firefighter relief associations.
The amount required under this paragraph is appropriated annually to the
commissioner of revenue.
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Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 423C.03,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Board
composition and elections. The board
shall consist of two persons appointed by the city and ten the number
of other members specified in the association bylaws, but not to exceed
ten, who must be selected by the members.
Elections for active and retired positions on the board shall be
conducted pursuant to the association's bylaws.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective the day following final enactment.
ARTICLE 10
VOLUNTARY STATEWIDE LUMP SUM VOLUNTEER
FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT PLAN
Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 11A.17,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Purpose;
accounts; continuation. (a) The
purpose of the supplemental investment fund is to provide an investment vehicle
for the assets of various public retirement plans and funds.
(b) The fund consists of seven eight investment
accounts: an income share account, a
growth share account, an international share account, a money market account, a
fixed interest account, a bond market account, and a common stock index
account, and a volunteer firefighter account.
(c) The supplemental investment fund is a continuation of
the supplemental retirement fund in existence on January 1, 1980.
Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 11A.17,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Assets. (a) The assets of the supplemental
investment fund shall consist of the money certified and transmitted to
the state board from the participating public retirement plans and funds or
from the board of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities under section
136F.45 and from the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter
retirement plan under section 353G.08.
(b) With the exception of the assets
of the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement fund, the assets must be used to purchase
investment shares in the investment accounts as specified by the plan or
fund. The assets of the voluntary
statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement fund must be invested in
the volunteer firefighter account.
(c) These accounts must be valued at least on a monthly
basis but may be valued more frequently as determined by the State Board of
Investment.
Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 69.011,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Definitions. Unless the language or context clearly indicates
that a different meaning is intended, the following words and terms shall,
for the purposes of this chapter and chapters 423, 423A, 424 and 424A,
have the meanings ascribed to them:
(a) "Commissioner" means the
commissioner of revenue.
(b) "Municipality" means:
(1) a home rule charter or statutory
city;
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(2) an organized town;
(3) a park district subject to chapter 398;
(4) the University of Minnesota;
(5) for purposes of the fire state aid program only,
an American Indian tribal government entity located within a federally
recognized American Indian reservation;
(6) for purposes of the police state aid program only,
an American Indian tribal government with a tribal police department which
exercises state arrest powers under section 626.90, 626.91, 626.92, or 626.93;
(7) for purposes of the police state aid program only,
the Metropolitan Airports Commission with respect to peace officers covered
under chapter 422A; and
(8) for purposes of the police state aid program only,
the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Public Safety with
respect to peace officers covered under chapter 352B.
(c) "Minnesota Firetown Premium Report"
means a form prescribed by the commissioner containing space for reporting by
insurers of fire, lightning, sprinkler leakage and extended coverage premiums
received upon risks located or to be performed in this state less return
premiums and dividends.
(d) "Firetown" means the area serviced by
any municipality having a qualified fire department or a qualified incorporated
fire department having a subsidiary volunteer firefighters' relief association.
(e) "Market value" means latest available
market value of all property in a taxing jurisdiction, whether the property is
subject to taxation, or exempt from ad valorem taxation obtained from information
which appears on abstracts filed with the commissioner of revenue or equalized
by the State Board of Equalization.
(f) "Minnesota Aid to Police Premium Report"
means a form prescribed by the commissioner for reporting by each fire and
casualty insurer of all premiums received upon direct business received by it
in this state, or by its agents for it, in cash or otherwise, during the
preceding calendar year, with reference to insurance written for insuring
against the perils contained in auto insurance coverages as reported in the
Minnesota business schedule of the annual financial statement which each
insurer is required to file with the commissioner in accordance with the
governing laws or rules less return premiums and dividends.
(g) "Peace officer" means any person:
(1) whose primary source of income derived from wages
is from direct employment by a municipality or county as a law enforcement
officer on a full-time basis of not less than 30 hours per week;
(2) who has been employed for a minimum of six months
prior to December 31 preceding the date of the current year's certification
under subdivision 2, clause (b);
(3) who is sworn to enforce the general criminal laws
of the state and local ordinances;
(4) who is licensed by the Peace Officers Standards
and Training Board and is authorized to arrest with a warrant; and
(5) who is a member of a local police relief
association to which section 69.77 applies, the State Patrol retirement plan,
the public employees police and fire fund, or the Minneapolis Employees
Retirement Fund.
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(h) "Full-time equivalent number
of peace officers providing contract service" means the integral or
fractional number of peace officers which would be necessary to provide the contract
service if all peace officers providing service were employed on a full-time
basis as defined by the employing unit and the municipality receiving the
contract service.
(i) "Retirement benefits other
than a service pension" means any disbursement authorized under section
424A.05, subdivision 3, clauses (2) and (3).
(j) "Municipal clerk, municipal
clerk-treasurer, or county auditor" means the person who was elected or
appointed to the specified position or, in the absence of the person, another person
who is designated by the applicable governing body. In a park district, the clerk is the
secretary of the board of park district commissioners. In the case of the University of Minnesota,
the clerk is that official designated by the Board of Regents. For the Metropolitan Airports Commission, the
clerk is the person designated by the commission. For the Department of Natural Resources or
the Department of Public Safety, the clerk is the respective commissioner. For a tribal police department which
exercises state arrest powers under section 626.90, 626.91, 626.92, or 626.93,
the clerk is the person designated by the applicable American Indian tribal
government.
(k) "Voluntary statewide lump-sum
volunteer firefighter retirement plan" means the retirement plan
established by chapter 353G.
Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 69.011,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Qualification
for fire or police state aid. (a) Unless
retirement coverage is provided by the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer
firefighter retirement plan, in order to qualify to receive fire state aid,
on or before March 15 annually, in conjunction with the financial report
required pursuant to section 69.051, the clerk of each municipality having a
duly organized fire department as provided in subdivision 4, or the secretary
of each independent nonprofit firefighting corporation having a subsidiary
incorporated firefighters' relief association whichever is applicable, and the
fire chief, shall jointly certify the existence of the municipal fire
department or of the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation, whichever
is applicable, which meets the minimum qualification requirements set forth in
this subdivision, and the fire personnel and equipment of the municipal fire
department or the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation as of the
preceding December 31.
(b) Where retirement coverage is
provided by the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement
plan, the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association
shall certify the existence of that coverage for each municipality and the
municipal clerk or independent nonprofit firefighting corporation secretary,
whichever applies, and the applicable fire chief shall certify the fire
personnel and fire department equipment as of the preceding December 31.
(c) Certification shall must be made to the
commissioner on a form prescribed by the commissioner and shall include any
other facts the commissioner may require.
The certification shall must be made to the commissioner
in duplicate. Each copy of the
certificate shall must be duly executed and is deemed to
be an original. The commissioner
shall forward one copy to the auditor of the county wherein the fire department
is located and shall retain one copy.
(b) (d) On or before March 15 annually the clerk of each
municipality having a duly organized police department and having a duly
incorporated relief association shall certify that fact to the county auditor
of the county where the police department is located and to the commissioner on
a form prescribed by the commissioner together with the other facts the
commissioner or auditor may require.
(e) Except as provided in subdivision 2b, on or before
March 15 annually, the clerk of each municipality and the auditor of each
county employing one or more peace officers as defined in subdivision 1, clause
(g), shall certify the number of such peace officers to the commissioner on
forms prescribed by the commissioner.
Credit for officers
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employed less than a full year shall
must be apportioned. Each full month
of employment of a qualifying officer during the calendar year shall entitle
entitles the employing municipality or county to credit for 1/12 of the
payment for employment of a peace officer for the entire year. For purposes of sections 69.011 to 69.051,
employment of a peace officer shall commence commences when the
peace officer is entered on the payroll of the respective municipal police
department or county sheriff's department.
No peace officer shall may be included in the
certification of the number of peace officers by more than one municipality or
county for the same month.
Sec. 5.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 69.011, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Qualification for state aid. Any municipality in this state having for more
than one year an organized fire department and officially established by the
governing body of the municipality or an independent nonprofit fire fighting
corporation created under the nonprofit corporation act of this state and
operating exclusively for fire fighting purposes and providing retirement and
relief benefits to its members or, having a separate subsidiary
incorporated firefighter's relief and pension association providing retirement
and relief benefits, or participating in the voluntary statewide lump-sum
volunteer firefighter retirement plan, may qualify to receive state aid if
it meets the following minimum requirements or equivalent as determined by the
state fire marshal by July 1, 1972:
(a) ten paid or volunteer firefighters including a
fire chief and assistant fire chief, and
(b) regular scheduled meetings and frequent drills
including instructions in fire fighting tactics and in the use, care, and
operation of all fire apparatus and equipment, and
(c) a motorized fire truck equipped with a motorized
pump, 250 gallon or larger water tank, 300 feet of one inch or larger fire hose
in two lines with combination spray and straight stream nozzles, five-gallon
hand pumps--tank extinguisher or equivalent, dry chemical extinguisher or equivalent,
ladders, extension ladders, pike poles, crow bars, axes, lanterns, fire coats,
helmets, boots, and
(d) apparatus suitably housed in a building of good
construction with facilities for care of hose and equipment, and
(e) a reliable and adequate method of receiving fire
alarms by telephone or with electric siren and suitable means of sounding an
alarm, and
(f) if response is to be provided outside the
corporate limits of the municipality wherein the fire department is located,
the municipality has another piece of motorized apparatus to make the response,
and
(g) other requirements the commissioner establishes by
rule.
Sec. 6.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 69.021, subdivision 7, is amended to
read:
Subd. 7. Apportionment of fire state aid to municipalities
and relief associations. (a) The
commissioner shall apportion the fire state aid relative to the premiums
reported on the Minnesota Firetown Premium Reports filed under this chapter to
each municipality and/or firefighters relief association.
(b) The commissioner shall calculate an initial fire
state aid allocation amount for each municipality or fire department under
paragraph (c) and a minimum fire state aid allocation amount for each
municipality or fire department under paragraph (d). The municipality or fire department must
receive the larger fire state aid amount.
(c) The initial fire state aid allocation amount is
the amount available for apportionment as fire state aid under subdivision 5,
without inclusion of any additional funding amount to support a minimum fire
state aid amount under section 423A.02, subdivision 3, allocated one-half in
proportion to the population as shown in the last official
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statewide federal census for each fire town and
one-half in proportion to the market value of each fire town, including (1) the
market value of tax exempt property and (2) the market value of natural
resources lands receiving in lieu payments under sections 477A.11 to 477A.14,
but excluding the market value of minerals.
In the case of incorporated or municipal fire departments furnishing
fire protection to other cities, towns, or townships as evidenced by valid fire
service contracts filed with the commissioner, the distribution must be
adjusted proportionately to take into consideration the crossover fire
protection service. Necessary
adjustments shall must be made to subsequent apportionments. In the case of municipalities or independent
fire departments qualifying for the aid, the commissioner shall calculate the
state aid for the municipality or relief association on the basis of the
population and the market value of the area furnished fire protection service
by the fire department as evidenced by duly executed and valid fire service
agreements filed with the commissioner.
If one or more fire departments are furnishing contracted fire service
to a city, town, or township, only the population and market value of the area
served by each fire department may be considered in calculating the state aid
and the fire departments furnishing service shall enter into an agreement
apportioning among themselves the percent of the population and the market
value of each service area. The
agreement must be in writing and must be filed with the commissioner.
(d) The minimum fire state aid
allocation amount is the amount in addition to the initial fire state allocation
amount that is derived from any additional funding amount to support a minimum
fire state aid amount under section 423A.02, subdivision 3, and allocated to
municipalities with volunteer firefighters relief associations or covered by
the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan based
on the number of active volunteer firefighters who are members of the relief
association as reported in the annual financial reporting for the calendar year
1993 to the Office of the State Auditor, but not to exceed 30 active volunteer
firefighters, so that all municipalities or fire departments with volunteer
firefighters relief associations receive in total at least a minimum fire state
aid amount per 1993 active volunteer firefighter to a maximum of 30
firefighters. If a relief association is
established after calendar year 1993 and before calendar year 2000, the number
of active volunteer firefighters who are members of the relief association as
reported in the annual financial reporting for calendar year 1998 to the Office
of the State Auditor, but not to exceed 30 active volunteer firefighters, shall
be used in this determination. If a
relief association is established after calendar year 1999, the number of
active volunteer firefighters who are members of the relief association as
reported in the first annual financial reporting submitted to the Office of the
State Auditor, but not to exceed 20 active volunteer firefighters, must be used
in this determination. If a relief
association is terminated as a result of providing retirement coverage for
volunteer firefighters by the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer
firefighter retirement plan under chapter 353G, the number of active volunteer
firefighters of the municipality covered by the statewide plan as certified by
the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association to the
commissioner and the state auditor, but not to exceed 30 active firefighters,
must be used in this determination.
(e) Unless the firefighters of the
applicable fire department are members of the voluntary statewide lump-sum
volunteer firefighter retirement plan, the fire state aid must be paid to
the treasurer of the municipality where the fire department is located and the
treasurer of the municipality shall, within 30 days of receipt of the fire
state aid, transmit the aid to the relief association if the relief association
has filed a financial report with the treasurer of the municipality and has met
all other statutory provisions pertaining to the aid apportionment. If the firefighters of the applicable fire
department are members of the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer
firefighter retirement plan, the fire state aid must be paid to the executive
director of the Public Employees Retirement Association and deposited in the
voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement fund.
(f) The commissioner may make rules
to permit the administration of the provisions of this section.
(g) Any adjustments needed to correct
prior misallocations must be made to subsequent apportionments.
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Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 69.021, subdivision
9, is amended to read:
Subd. 9. Appeal. In the event that any a municipality,
a county, a fire relief association, or a police
relief association, or the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer
firefighter retirement plan, feels itself to be aggrieved, it may request
the commissioner to review and adjust the apportionment of funds within the
county in the case of police state aid, or within the state in the case of fire
state aid. The decision of the commissioner
is subject to appeal, review, and adjustment by the district court in the
county in which the applicable municipality, fire department, or
police department is located.
Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 69.031,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Commissioner
of finance's warrant. (a) The
commissioner of finance shall issue to the Public Employees Retirement
Association on behalf of a municipality or independent nonprofit firefighting
corporation that is a member of the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter
retirement plan under chapter 353G or to the county, municipality, or
independent nonprofit firefighting corporation certified to the commissioner of
finance by the commissioner a warrant for an amount equal to the amount of fire
state aid or police state aid, whichever applies, certified for the applicable
state aid recipient by the commissioner under section 69.021.
(b) The amount of state aid due and not paid by October 1
accrues interest at the rate of one percent for each month or part of a month
the amount remains unpaid, beginning the preceding July 1.
Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 69.031,
subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Deposit
of state aid. (a) If the
municipality or the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation is covered
by the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan under
chapter 353G, the executive director shall credit the fire state aid against
future municipal contribution requirements under section 353G.08 and shall notify
the municipality or independent nonprofit firefighting corporation of the fire
state aid so credited at least annually.
If the municipality or the independent nonprofit firefighting
corporation is not covered by the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer
firefighter retirement plan, the municipal treasurer shall, within 30 days
after receipt, transmit the fire state aid to the treasurer of the duly
incorporated firefighters' relief association if there is one organized and the
association has filed a financial report with the municipality. If the relief association has not filed a
financial report with the municipality, the municipal treasurer shall delay
transmission of the fire state aid to the relief association until the complete
financial report is filed. If the
municipality or independent nonprofit firefighting corporation is not covered
by the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan, if there
is no relief association organized, or if the association has dissolved,
or has been removed as trustees of state aid, then the treasurer of the
municipality shall deposit the money in the municipal treasury as provided for
in section 424A.08 and the money may be disbursed only for the purposes and in
the manner set forth in that section.
(b) The municipal treasurer, upon
receipt of the police state aid, shall disburse the police state aid in the
following manner:
(1) For a municipality in which a
local police relief association exists and all peace officers are members of
the association, the total state aid must be transmitted to the treasurer of
the relief association within 30 days of the date of receipt, and the treasurer
of the relief association shall immediately deposit the total state aid in the
special fund of the relief association;
(2) For a municipality in which
police retirement coverage is provided by the public employees police and fire
fund and all peace officers are members of the fund, including municipalities
covered by section 353.665, the total state aid must be applied toward the
municipality's employer contribution to the public employees police and fire
fund under sections 353.65, subdivision 3, and 353.665, subdivision 8,
paragraph (b), if applicable; or
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(3) For a municipality other than a
city of the first class with a population of more than 300,000 in which both a police
relief association exists and police retirement coverage is provided in part by
the public employees police and fire fund, the municipality may elect at its
option to transmit the total state aid to the treasurer of the relief
association as provided in clause (1), to use the total state aid to apply
toward the municipality's employer contribution to the public employees police
and fire fund subject to all the provisions set forth in clause (2), or to
allot the total state aid proportionately to be transmitted to the police
relief association as provided in this subdivision and to apply toward the
municipality's employer contribution to the public employees police and fire
fund subject to the provisions of clause (2) on the basis of the respective number
of active full-time peace officers, as defined in section 69.011, subdivision
1, clause (g).
For a city of the first class with a
population of more than 300,000, in addition, the city may elect to allot the appropriate
portion of the total police state aid to apply toward the employer contribution
of the city to the public employees police and fire fund based on the covered
salary of police officers covered by the fund each payroll period and to
transmit the balance to the police relief association; or
(4) For a municipality in which
police retirement coverage is provided in part by the public employees police
and fire fund and in part by a local police consolidation account governed by
chapter 353A and established before March 2, 1999, for which the municipality
declined merger under section 353.665, subdivision 1, or established after
March 1, 1999, the total police state aid must be applied towards the
municipality's total employer contribution to the public employees police and
fire fund and to the local police consolidation account under sections 353.65,
subdivision 3, and 353A.09, subdivision 5.
(c) The county treasurer, upon
receipt of the police state aid for the county, shall apply the total state aid
toward the county's employer contribution to the public employees police and
fire fund under section 353.65, subdivision 3.
(d) The designated Metropolitan
Airports Commission official, upon receipt of the police state aid for the
Metropolitan Airports Commission, shall apply the total police state aid first
toward the commission's employer contribution for police officers to the
Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund under section 422A.101,
subdivision 2a, and, if there is any amount of police state aid remaining,
shall apply that remainder toward the commission's employer contribution for
police officers to the public employees police and fire plan under section
353.65, subdivision 3.
(e) The police state aid apportioned
to the Departments of Public Safety and Natural Resources under section 69.021,
subdivision 7a, is appropriated to the commissioner of finance for transfer to
the funds and accounts from which the salaries of peace officers certified
under section 69.011, subdivision 2a, are paid.
The commissioner of revenue shall certify to the commissioners of public
safety, natural resources, and finance the amounts to be transferred from the
appropriation for police state aid. The
commissioners of public safety and natural resources shall certify to the
commissioner of finance the amounts to be credited to each of the funds and
accounts from which the peace officers employed by their respective departments
are paid. Each commissioner must
shall allocate the police state aid first for employer contributions for
employees funded from the general fund and then for employer contributions for
employees funded from other funds. For
peace officers whose salaries are paid from the general fund, the amounts
transferred from the appropriation for police state aid must be canceled to the
general fund.
Sec. 10. [353G.01]
DEFINITIONS.
Subdivision 1.
Scope. For the purposes of this chapter, the
words or terms defined in this section have the meanings given to them unless
the context of the word or term clearly indicates otherwise.
Subd. 2.
Advisory board. "Advisory board" means the board
established by section 353G.03.
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Subd. 3.
Board. "Board" means the board of
trustees of the Public Employees Retirement Association operating under section
353.03.
Subd. 4.
Commissioner of finance. "Commissioner of finance" means the
state official appointed and qualified under section 16A.01.
Subd. 5.
Executive director; director. "Executive director" or
"director" means the person appointed under section 353.03,
subdivision 3a.
Subd. 6.
Fund. "Fund" means the voluntary statewide
lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement fund established under section
353G.02, subdivision 3.
Subd. 7.
Good time service credit. "Good time service credit" means
the length of service credit for an active firefighter that is reported by the
applicable fire chief based on the minimum firefighter activity standards of
the fire department. The credit may be
recognized on an annual or monthly basis.
Subd. 8.
Member. "Member" means a volunteer
firefighter who provides active service to a municipal fire department or an
independent nonprofit firefighting corporation where the applicable
municipality or corporation has elected coverage by the retirement plan under
section 353G.05, and which service is covered by the retirement plan.
Subd. 9.
Municipality. "Municipality" means a
governmental entity specified in section 69.011, subdivision 1, paragraph (b),
clauses (1), (2), and (5).
Subd. 10.
Plan. "Plan" means the retirement plan
established by this chapter.
Subd. 11.
Retirement fund. "Retirement fund" means the
voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement fund established
under section 353G.02, subdivision 3.
Subd. 12.
Retirement plan. "Retirement plan" means the
retirement plan established by this chapter.
Subd. 13.
Standards for actuarial work. "Standards for actuarial work"
means the standards adopted by the Legislative Commission on Pensions and
Retirement under section 3.85, subdivision 10.
Subd. 14.
State Board of Investment. "State Board of Investment" means
the board created by article XI, section 8, of the Minnesota Constitution and
governed by chapter 11A.
Subd. 15.
Volunteer firefighter. "Volunteer firefighter" means a
person who is an active member of a municipal fire department or independent
nonprofit firefighting corporation and who, in that capacity, engages in fire
suppression activities, provides emergency response services, or delivers fire
education or prevention services on an on-call basis.
Sec. 11. [353G.02]
PLAN AND FUND CREATION.
Subdivision 1.
Retirement plan. The voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer
firefighter retirement plan is created.
Subd. 2.
Administration. The policy-making, management, and
administrative functions related to the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer
firefighter retirement plan and fund are vested in the board of trustees and
the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association. Their duties, authority, and responsibilities
are as provided in section 353.03.
Fiduciary activities of the plan and fund must be undertaken in a manner
consistent with chapter 356A.
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Subd. 3. Retirement
fund. (a) The voluntary
statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement fund is created. The fund contains the assets attributable to
the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan.
(b) The State Board of Investment shall invest those
portions of the retirement fund not required for immediate purposes in the
voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan in the
statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter account of the Minnesota supplemental
investment fund under section 11A.17.
(c) The commissioner of finance is the ex officio
treasurer of the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement
fund. The commissioner of finance's
general bond to the state covers all liability for actions taken as the treasurer
of the retirement fund.
(d) The revenues of the retirement plan beyond
investment returns are governed by section 353G.08 and must be deposited in the
retirement fund. The disbursements of
the retirement plan are governed by section 353G.08. The commissioner of finance shall transmit a
detailed statement showing all credits to and disbursements from the retirement
fund to the executive director monthly.
Subd. 4. Audit;
actuarial valuation. (a) The
legislative auditor shall periodically audit the voluntary statewide lump-sum
volunteer firefighter retirement fund.
(b) An actuarial valuation of the voluntary statewide
lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan may be performed periodically as
determined to be appropriate or useful by the board. An actuarial valuation must be performed by
the approved actuary retained under section 356.214 and must conform with
section 356.215 and the standards for actuarial work. An actuarial valuation must contain
sufficient detail for each participating employing entity to ascertain the
actuarial condition of its account in the fund and the contribution requirement
towards its account.
Subd. 5. Legal
advisor; attorney general. (a)
The legal advisor of the board and the executive director with respect to the
voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan is the
attorney general.
(b) The board may sue, petition, be sued, or be
petitioned under this chapter with respect to the plan or the fund in the name
of the board.
(c) The attorney general shall represent the board in
all actions by the board or against the board with respect to the plan or the
fund.
(d) Venue of all actions related to the plan or fund
is in the court for the first judicial district unless the action is an appeal
to the Court of Appeals under section 356.96.
Sec. 12. [353G.03] VOLUNTARY STATEWIDE LUMP-SUM
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT PLAN ADVISORY BOARD.
Subdivision 1. Establishment. A Voluntary Statewide Lump-Sum Volunteer
Firefighter Retirement Plan Advisory Board is created.
Subd. 2. Function;
purpose. The advisory board
shall provide advice to the board of trustees of the Public Employees
Retirement Association about the retirement coverage needs of volunteer
firefighters who are members of the plan and about the legislative and
administrative changes that would assist the retirement plan in accommodating
volunteer firefighters who are not members of the plan.
Subd. 3. Composition. (a) The advisory board consists of seven
members.
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(b) The advisory board members are:
(1) one representative of Minnesota townships,
appointed by the Minnesota Association of Townships;
(2) two representatives of Minnesota cities, appointed
by the League of Minnesota Cities;
(3) one representative of Minnesota fire chiefs, who
is a fire chief, appointed by the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association;
(4) two representatives of Minnesota volunteer
firefighters, who are active volunteer firefighters, appointed by the Minnesota
State Fire Departments Association; and
(5) one representative of the Office of the State
Auditor, designated by the state auditor.
Subd. 4. Term. (a) The initial terms on the advisory
board for the Minnesota townships representative and the Minnesota fire chiefs
representative are one year. The initial
terms on the advisory board for one of the Minnesota cities representatives and
one of the Minnesota active volunteer firefighter representatives are two
years. The initial terms on the advisory
board for the other Minnesota cities representative and the other Minnesota
active volunteer firefighter representative are three years. The term for the Office of the State Auditor
representative is determined by the state auditor.
(b) Subsequent terms on the advisory board other than
the Office of the State Auditor representative are three years.
Subd. 5. Compensation
of advisory board. The
compensation of members of the advisory board other than the Office of the
State Auditor representative is governed by section 15.0575, subdivision 3.
Sec. 13. [353G.04] INFORMATION FROM MUNICIPALITIES
AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
The chief executive officers of municipalities and
fire departments with volunteer firefighters covered by the voluntary lump-sum
volunteer firefighter retirement plan shall provide all relevant information
and records requested by the board, the executive director, and the State Board
of Investment as required to perform their duties.
Sec. 14. [353G.05] PLAN COVERAGE ELECTION.
Subdivision 1. Coverage. Any municipality or independent nonprofit
firefighting corporation may elect to have its volunteer firefighters covered
by the retirement plan.
Subd. 2. Election
of coverage. (a) The process
for electing coverage of volunteer firefighters by the retirement plan is
initiated by a request to the executive director for a cost analysis of the
prospective retirement coverage.
(b) If the volunteer firefighters are currently
covered by a volunteer firefighters' relief association governed by chapter
424A, the cost analysis of the prospective retirement coverage must be requested
jointly by the secretary of the volunteer firefighters' relief association,
following approval of the request by the board of the volunteer firefighters'
relief association, and the chief administrative officer of the entity
associated with the relief association, following approval of the request by
the governing body of the entity associated with the relief association. If the relief association is associated with
more than one entity, the chief administrative officer of each associated
entity must execute the request. If the
volunteer firefighters are not currently covered by a volunteer firefighters'
relief association, the cost analysis of the prospective retirement coverage
must be requested by the chief administrative officer of the entity operating
the fire department. The request must be
made in writing and must be made on a form prescribed by the executive
director.
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(c) The cost analysis of the
prospective retirement coverage by the statewide retirement plan must be based
on the service pension amount under section 353G.11 closest to the service
pension amount provided by the volunteer firefighters' relief association, if
there is one, or to the lowest service pension amount under section 353G.11 if
there is no volunteer firefighters' relief association, rounded up, and any
other service pension amount designated by the requester or requesters. The cost analysis must be prepared using a
mathematical procedure certified as accurate by an approved actuary retained by
the Public Employees Retirement Association.
(d) If a cost analysis is requested and
a volunteer firefighters' relief association exists that has filed the
information required under section 69.051 in a timely fashion, upon request by
the executive director, the state auditor shall provide the most recent data
available on the financial condition of the volunteer firefighters' relief
association, the most recent firefighter demographic data available, and a copy
of the current relief association bylaws.
If a cost analysis is requested, but no volunteer firefighters' relief
association exists, the chief administrative officer of the entity operating
the fire department shall provide the demographic information on the volunteer
firefighters serving as members of the fire department requested by the
executive director.
(e) If a cost analysis is requested,
the executive director of the State Board of Investment shall review the
investment portfolio of the relief association, if applicable, for compliance
with the applicable provisions of chapter 11A and for appropriateness for
retention under the established investment objectives and investment policies
of the State Board of Investment. If the
prospective retirement coverage change is approved under paragraph (f), the
State Board of Investment may require that the relief association liquidate any
investment security or other asset which the executive director of the State
Board of Investment has determined to be an ineligible or inappropriate
investment for retention by the State Board of Investment. The security or asset liquidation must occur
before the effective date of the transfer of retirement plan coverage. If requested to do so by the chief
administrative officer of the relief association, the executive director of the
State Board of Investment shall provide advice about the best means to conduct
the liquidation.
(f) Upon receipt of the cost analysis,
the governing body of the municipality or independent nonprofit firefighting
corporation associated with the fire department shall approve or disapprove the
retirement coverage change within 90 days.
If the retirement coverage change is not acted upon within 90 days, it
is deemed to be disapproved. If the
retirement coverage change is approved by the applicable governing body,
coverage by the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement
plan is effective on the next following January 1.
Sec. 15. [353G.06]
DISESTABLISHMENT OF PRIOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' RELIEF ASSOCIATION SPECIAL
FUND UPON RETIREMENT COVERAGE CHANGE.
Subdivision 1.
Special fund disestablishment. (a) On the date immediately prior to the
effective date of the coverage change, the special fund of the applicable
volunteer firefighters' relief association, if one exists, ceases to exist as a
pension fund of the association and legal title to the assets of the special
fund transfers to the State Board of Investment, with the beneficial title to
the assets of the special fund remaining in the applicable volunteer
firefighters.
(b) If the market value of the special
fund of the volunteer firefighters' relief association for which retirement
coverage changed under this chapter declines in the interval between the date
of the most recent financial report or statement, and the special fund
disestablishment date, the applicable municipality shall transfer an additional
amount to the State Board of Investment equal to that decline. If more than one municipality is responsible
for the direct management of the fire department, the municipalities shall
allocate the additional transfer amount among the various applicable
municipalities one-half in proportion to the population of each municipality
and one-half in proportion to the market value of each municipality.
Subd. 2.
Other relief association
changes. In addition to the
transfer and disestablishment of the special fund under subdivision 1,
notwithstanding any provisions of chapter 424A or 424B to the contrary, upon
the effective date of the change in volunteer firefighter retirement coverage,
if the relief association membership elects to retain the relief association
after the benefit coverage election, the following changes must be implemented
with respect to the applicable volunteer firefighters' relief association:
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- Top of Page 5548
(1) the relief association board of trustees
membership is reduced to five, comprised of the fire chief of the fire
department and four trustees elected by and from the relief association
membership;
(2) the relief association may only maintain a general
fund, which continues to be governed by section 424A.06;
(3) the relief association is not authorized to
receive the proceeds of any state aid or to receive any municipal funds; and
(4) the relief association may not pay any service
pension or benefit that was not authorized as a general fund disbursement under
the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the relief association in effect
prior to the plan coverage election process.
Subd. 3. Successor
in interest. Upon the
disestablishment of the special fund of the volunteer firefighters' relief
association under this section, the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer
firefighter retirement plan is the successor in interest of the special fund of
the volunteer firefighters' relief association for all claims against the
special fund other than a claim against the special fund, the volunteer
firefighters' relief association, the municipality, the fire department, or any
person connected with the volunteer firefighters' relief association in a
fiduciary capacity under chapter 356A or common law that was based on any act
or acts which were not performed in good faith and which constituted a breach
of a fiduciary obligation. As the
successor in interest of the special fund of the volunteer firefighters' relief
association, the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement
plan may assert any applicable defense in any judicial proceeding which the
board of trustees of the volunteer firefighters' relief association or the
municipality would have been entitled to assert.
Sec. 16. [353G.07] CERTIFICATION OF GOOD TIME
SERVICE CREDIT.
(a) Annually, by March 31, the fire chief of the fire
department with firefighters who are active members of the retirement plan
shall certify to the executive director the good time service credit for the
previous calendar year of each firefighter rendering active service with the
fire department.
(b) The fire chief shall provide to each firefighter
rendering active service with the fire department notification of the amount of
good time service credit rendered by the firefighter for the calendar
year. The good time service credit
notification must be provided to the firefighter 60 days before its
certification to the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement
Association, along with an indication of the process for the firefighter to
challenge the fire chief's determination of good time service credit. If the good time service credit amount is
challenged in a timely fashion, the fire chief shall hold a hearing on the
challenge, accept and consider any additional pertinent information, and make a
final determination of good time service credit. The final determination of good time service
credit by the fire chief is not reviewable by the executive director of the
Public Employees Retirement Association or by the board of trustees of the
Public Employees Retirement Association.
(c) The good time service credit certification is an
official public document. If a false
good time service credit certification is filed or if false information
regarding good time service credits is provided, section 353.19 applies.
(d) The good time service credit certification must be
expressed as a percentage of a full year of service during which an active
firefighter rendered at least the minimum level and quantity of fire
suppression, emergency response, fire prevention, or fire education duties
required by the fire department under the rules and regulations applicable to
the fire department. No more than one
year of good time service credit may be certified for a calendar year.
(e) If a firefighter covered by the retirement plan
leaves active firefighting service to render active military service that is
required to be covered by the federal Uniformed Services Employment and
Reemployment Rights Act, as amended, the person must be certified as providing
a full year of good time service credit in each year of the
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5549
military service, up to the applicable limit of the
federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. If the firefighter does not return from the
military service in compliance with the federal Uniformed Services Employment
and Reemployment Rights Act, the good time service credits applicable to that
military service credit period are forfeited and cancel at the end of the
calendar year in which the federal law time limit occurs.
Sec. 17. [353G.08] RETIREMENT PLAN FUNDING;
DISBURSEMENTS.
(a) Annually, the executive director shall determine
the funding requirements of each account in the voluntary statewide lump-sum
volunteer firefighter retirement plan on or before August 1. The funding requirements as directed under
this section, must be determined using a mathematical procedure developed and
certified as accurate by an approved actuary retained by the Public Employees
Retirement Association and based on present value factors using a six percent
interest rate, without any decrement assumptions. The funding requirements must be certified to
the entity or entities associated with the fire department whose active
firefighters are covered by the retirement plan.
(b) The overall funding balance of each account for
the current calendar year must be determined in the following manner:
(1) The total accrued liability for all active and
deferred members of the account as of December 31 of the current year must be
calculated based on the good time service credit of active and deferred members
as of that date.
(2) The total present assets of the account projected
to December 31 of the current year, including receipts by and disbursements
from the account anticipated to occur on or before December 31, must be
calculated. To the extent possible, the
market value of assets must be utilized in making this calculation.
(3) The amount of the total present assets calculated
under clause (2) must be subtracted from the amount of the total accrued
liability calculated under clause (1).
If the amount of total present assets exceeds the amount of the total
accrued liability, then the account is considered to have a surplus over full
funding. If the amount of the total
present assets is less than the amount of the total accrued liability, then the
account is considered to have a deficit from full funding. If the amount of total present assets is
equal to the amount of the total accrued liability, then the special fund is
considered to be fully funded.
(c) The financial requirements of each account for the
following calendar year must be determined in the following manner:
(1) The total accrued liability for all active and
deferred members of the account as of December 31 of the calendar year next
following the current calendar year must be calculated based on the good time
service used in the calculation under paragraph (b), clause (1), increased by
one year.
(2) The increase in the total accrued liability of the
account for the following calendar year over the total accrued liability of the
account for the current year must be calculated.
(3) The amount of anticipated future administrative
expenses of the account must be calculated by multiplying the dollar amount of
the administrative expenses for the most recent prior calendar year by the
factor of 1.035.
(4) If the account is fully funded, the financial
requirement of the account for the following calendar year is the total of the
amounts calculated under clauses (2) and (3).
(5) If the account has a deficit from full funding,
the financial requirement of the account for the following calendar year is the
total of the amounts calculated under clauses (2) and (3) plus an amount equal
to one-tenth of the amount of the deficit from full funding of the account.
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(6) If the account has a surplus over
full funding, the financial requirement of the account for the following
calendar year is the financial requirement of the account calculated as though
the account was fully funded under clause (4) and, if the account has also had
a surplus over full funding during the prior two years, additionally reduced by
an amount equal to one-tenth of the amount of the surplus over full funding of
the account.
(d) The required contribution of the entity
or entities associated with the fire department whose active firefighters are
covered by the retirement plan is the annual financial requirements of the
account of the retirement plan under paragraph (c) reduced by the amount of any
fire state aid payable under sections 69.011 to 69.051 reasonably anticipated
to be received by the retirement plan attributable to the entity or entities
during the following calendar year, and an amount of interest on the assets
projected to be received during the following calendar year calculated at the
rate of six percent per annum. The
required contribution must be allocated between the entities if more than one
entity is involved. A reasonable amount
of anticipated fire state aid is an amount that does not exceed the fire state
aid actually received in the prior year multiplied by the factor 1.035.
(e) The required contribution
calculated in paragraph (d) must be paid to the retirement plan on or before
December 31 of the year for which it was calculated. If the contribution is not received by the
retirement plan by December 31, it is payable with interest at an annual
compound rate of six percent from the date due until the date payment is
received by the retirement plan. If the
entity does not pay the full amount of the required contribution, the executive
director shall collect the unpaid amount under section 353.28, subdivision 6.
(f) The assets of the retirement fund
may only be disbursed for:
(1) the administrative expenses of the
retirement plan;
(2) the investment expenses of the
retirement fund;
(3) the service pensions payable under
section 353G.10, 353G.11, 353G.14, or 353G.15; and
(4) the survivor benefits payable
under section 353G.12.
Sec. 18. [353G.09]
RETIREMENT BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY.
Subdivision 1.
Entitlement. Except as provided in subdivision 3, an
active member of the retirement plan is entitled to a lump-sum service pension
from the retirement plan if the person:
(1) has separated from active service
with the fire department for at least 30 days;
(2) has attained the age of at least
50 years;
(3) has completed at least five years
of good time service credit as a member of the retirement plan; and
(4) applies in a manner prescribed by
the executive director for the service pension.
Subd. 2.
Vesting schedule;
nonforfeitable portion of service pension. If an active member has completed less
than 20 years of good time service credit, the person's entitlement is to the nonforfeitable
percentage of the applicable service pension amount, as follows:
Completed
years of good Nonforfeitable
percentage
time
service credit of
the service pension
5 40
percent
6 44
percent
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7 48
percent
8 52
percent
9 56
percent
10 60
percent
11 64
percent
12 68
percent
13 72
percent
14 76
percent
15 80
percent
16 84
percent
17 88
percent
18 92
percent
19 96
percent
20
and thereafter 100
percent
Subd. 3.
Alternative pension
eligibility and computation. (a)
An active member of the retirement plan is entitled to an alternative lump-sum
service pension from the retirement plan if the person:
(1) has separated from active service
with the fire department for at least 30 days;
(2) has attained the age of at least 50
years or the age for receipt of a service pension under the benefit plan of the
applicable former volunteer firefighters' relief association as of the date
immediately prior to the election of the retirement coverage change, whichever
is later;
(3) has completed at least five years
of active service with the fire department and at least five years in total as
a member of the applicable former volunteer firefighters' relief association or
of the retirement plan, but has not rendered at least five years of good time
service credit as a member of the retirement plan; and
(4) applies in a manner prescribed by
the executive director for the service pension.
(b) The alternative lump-sum service
pension is the service pension amount specified in the bylaws of the applicable
former volunteer firefighters' relief association either as of the date
immediately prior to the election of the retirement coverage change or as of
the date immediately before the termination of firefighting services, whichever
is earlier, multiplied by the total number of years of service as a member of
that volunteer firefighters' relief association and as a member of the
retirement plan.
Sec. 19. [353G.10] DEFERRED SERVICE PENSION
AMOUNT.
A person who was an active member of a
fire department covered by the retirement plan who has separated from active
firefighting service for at least 30 days and who has completed at least five
years of good time service credit, but has not attained the age of 50 years, is
entitled to a deferred service pension on or after attaining the age of 50
years and applying in a manner specified by the executive director for the
service pension. The service pension
payable is the nonforfeitable percentage of the service pension under section
353G.09, subdivision 2, and is payable without any interest over the period of
deferral.
Sec. 20. [353G.11] SERVICE PENSION LEVELS.
Subdivision 1.
Levels. The retirement plan provides the following
levels of service pension amounts to be selected at the election of coverage,
or, if fully funded, thereafter:
Level
A $500
per year of good time service credit
Level
B $750
per year of good time service credit
Level
C $1,000
per year of good time service credit
Level
D $1,500
per year of good time service credit
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Level
E $2,000
per year of good time service credit
Level
F $2,500
per year of good time service credit
Level
G $3,000
per year of good time service credit
Level
H $3,500
per year of good time service credit
Level
I $4,000
per year of good time service credit
Level
J $4,500
per year of good time service credit
Level
K $5,000
per year of good time service credit
Level
L $5,500
per year of good time service credit
Level
M $6,000
per year of good time service credit
Level
N $6,500
per year of good time service credit
Level
O $7,000
per year of good time service credit
Level
P $7,500
per year of good time service credit
Subd.
2. Level
selection. At the time of the
election to transfer retirement coverage, or on April 30 thereafter, the
governing body or bodies of the entity or entities operating the fire
department whose firefighters are covered by the retirement plan may request a
cost estimate from the executive director of an increase in the service pension
level applicable to the active firefighters of the fire department. Within 90 days of the receipt of the cost
estimate prepared by the executive director using a procedure certified as
accurate by the approved actuary retained by the Public Employees Retirement
Association, the governing body or bodies may approve the service pension level
change, effective for the following calendar year. If not approved in a timely fashion, the
service pension level change is considered to have been disapproved.
Subd.
3. Supplemental
benefit. The retirement plan
also shall pay a supplemental benefit as provided for in section 424A.10.
Subd.
4. Ancillary
benefits. No disability,
death, funeral, or other ancillary benefit beyond a service pension or a
survivor benefit is payable from the retirement plan.
Sec.
21. [353G.12]
SURVIVOR BENEFIT.
Subdivision
1. Entitlement. (a) A survivor of a deceased active member
of the retirement plan or a deceased deferred member of the retirement plan,
upon application as prescribed by the executive director, is entitled to
receive a survivor benefit.
(b)
A survivor is the spouse of the member, or if none, the minor child or children
of the member, or if none, the estate of the member.
Subd.
2. Survivor
benefit amount. The amount of
the survivor benefit is the amount of the service pension that would have been
payable to the member of the retirement plan on the date of death if the member
had been age 50 or older on that date.
Sec.
22. [353G.13]
PORTABILITY.
Subdivision
1. Eligibility. An active firefighter who is a member of
the retirement plan who also renders firefighting service and has good time
service credit in the retirement plan from another fire department, if the good
time service credit in the plan from a combination of periods totals at least
five years, is eligible, upon complying with the other requirements of section
353G.09, to receive a service pension upon filing an application in the manner
prescribed by the executive director, computed as provided in subdivision 2.
Subd.
2. Combined
service pension computation. The
service pension payable to a firefighter who qualifies under subdivision 1 is
the per year of good time service credit service pension amount in effect for
each account in which the firefighter has good time service credit as of the
date on which the firefighter terminated active service with the fire department
associated with the applicable account, multiplied by the number of years of
good time service credit that the firefighter has in the applicable account.
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2009 - Top of Page 5553
Subd. 3. Payment. A service pension under this section must
be paid in a single payment, with the applicable portion of the total service
pension payment amount deducted from each account.
Sec. 23. [353G.14] PURCHASE OF ANNUITY CONTRACTS.
The executive director may purchase an annuity
contract on behalf of a retiring firefighter with a total premium payment in an
amount equal to the lump-sum service pension payable under section 353G.09 if
the purchase was requested by the retiring firefighter in a manner prescribed
by the executive director. The annuity
contract must be purchased from an insurance carrier that is licensed to do
business in this state. If purchased,
the annuity contract is in lieu of any service pension or other benefit from
the retirement plan. The annuity contract
may be purchased at any time after the volunteer firefighter discontinues
active service, but the annuity contract must stipulate that no annuity amounts
are payable before the former volunteer firefighter attains the age of 50.
Sec. 24. [353G.15] INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT
TRANSFER.
Upon receipt of a determination that the retirement
plan is a qualified pension plan under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code, as amended, the executive director, upon request, shall transfer the
service pension amount under sections 353G.08 and 353G.11 of a former volunteer
firefighter who has terminated active firefighting services covered by the plan
and who has attained the age of at least 50 years to the person's individual
retirement account under section 408(a) of the federal Internal Revenue Code,
as amended. The transfer request must be
in a manner prescribed by the executive director and must be filed by the
former volunteer firefighter who has sufficient service credit to be entitled
to a service pension or, following the death of a participating active
firefighter, must be filed by the deceased firefighter's surviving spouse.
Sec. 25. [353G.16] EXEMPTION FROM PROCESS.
The provisions of section 356.401 apply to the
retirement plan.
Sec. 26.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.20, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Covered public pension plans and funds. This section applies to the following public
pension plans:
(1) the general state employees retirement plan of the
Minnesota State Retirement System;
(2) the general employees retirement plan of the
Public Employees Retirement Association;
(3) the Teachers Retirement Association;
(4) the State Patrol retirement plan;
(5) the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association;
(6) the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association;
(7) the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund;
(8) the University of Minnesota faculty retirement
plan;
(9) the University of Minnesota faculty supplemental
retirement plan;
(10) the judges retirement fund;
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5554
(11) a police or firefighter's relief association
specified or described in section 69.77, subdivision 1a;
(12) a volunteer firefighter relief association
governed by section 69.771, subdivision 1;
(13) the public employees police and fire plan of the
Public Employees Retirement Association;
(14) the correctional state employees retirement plan
of the Minnesota State Retirement System; and
(15) the local government correctional service
retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association; and
(16) the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer
firefighter retirement plan.
Sec. 27.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.401, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Covered retirement plans. The provisions of this section apply to the
following retirement plans:
(1) the legislators retirement plan, established by
chapter 3A;
(2) the general state employees retirement plan of the
Minnesota State Retirement System, established by chapter 352;
(3) the correctional state employees retirement plan
of the Minnesota State Retirement System, established by chapter 352;
(4) the State Patrol retirement plan, established by
chapter 352B;
(5) the elective state officers retirement plan,
established by chapter 352C;
(6) the unclassified state employees retirement
program, established by chapter 352D;
(7) the general employees retirement plan of the
Public Employees Retirement Association, established by chapter 353;
(8) the public employees police and fire plan of the
Public Employees Retirement Association, established by chapter 353;
(9) the public employees defined contribution plan,
established by chapter 353D;
(10) the local government correctional service
retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association, established by
chapter 353E;
(11) the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer
firefighter retirement plan, established by chapter 353G;
(12) the
Teachers Retirement Association, established by chapter 354;
(12) (13)
the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association, established by chapter
354A;
(13) the Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund
Association, established by chapter 354A;
(14) the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund
Association, established by chapter 354A;
Journal of the
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(15)
the individual retirement account plan, established by chapter 354B;
(16)
the higher education supplemental retirement plan, established by chapter 354C;
(17)
the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund, established by chapter 422A;
(18)
the Minneapolis Police Relief Association, established by chapter 423B;
(19)
the Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association, established by chapter 423C;
and
(20)
the judges retirement fund, established by chapter 490.
Sec.
28. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
356.96, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Definitions. (a) Unless the language or context clearly
indicates that a different meaning is intended, for the purpose of this
section, the terms in paragraphs (b) to (e) have the meanings given them.
(b)
"Chief administrative officer" means the executive director of a
covered pension plan or the executive director's designee or representative.
(c)
"Covered pension plan" means a plan enumerated in section 356.20,
subdivision 2, clauses (1) to (4), (10), and (13) to (15) (16),
but does not mean the deferred compensation plan administered under sections
352.965 and 352.97 or to the postretirement health care savings plan
administered under section 352.98.
(d)
"Governing board" means the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees
Retirement Association, the Board of Trustees of the Teachers Retirement
Association, or the Board of Directors of the Minnesota State Retirement
System.
(e)
"Person" includes an active, retired, deferred, or nonvested inactive
participant in a covered pension plan or a beneficiary of a participant, or an
individual who has applied to be a participant or who is or may be a survivor
of a participant, or a state agency or other governmental unit that employs
active participants in a covered pension plan.
Sec.
29. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
424A.10, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Definitions. For purposes of this section:
(1)
"qualified recipient" means an individual who receives a lump-sum
distribution of pension or retirement benefits from a firefighters' relief
association or from the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter
retirement plan for service that the individual has performed as a
volunteer firefighter;
(2)
"survivor of a deceased active or deferred volunteer firefighter"
means the legally married spouse of a deceased volunteer firefighter, or, if
none, the surviving minor child or minor children of a deceased volunteer
firefighter;
(3)
"active volunteer firefighter" means a person who regularly renders
fire suppression service for a municipal fire department or an independent
nonprofit firefighting corporation, who has met the statutory and other
requirements for relief association membership, and who has been a fully
qualified member of the relief association or from the voluntary statewide
lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan for at least one month; and
(4)
"deferred volunteer firefighter" means a former active volunteer firefighter
who terminated active firefighting service, has sufficient service credit from
the applicable relief association or from the voluntary statewide lump-sum
volunteer firefighter retirement plan to be entitled to a service pension,
but has not applied for or has not received the service pension.
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Sec. 30.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.10, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Payment of supplemental benefit. (a) Upon the payment by a firefighters'
relief association or by the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer
firefighter retirement plan of a lump-sum distribution to a qualified
recipient, the association must pay a supplemental benefit to the qualified
recipient. Notwithstanding any law to
the contrary, the relief association must pay the supplemental benefit out of
its special fund and the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter
retirement plan must pay the supplemental benefit out of the voluntary
statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan. The amount of this benefit equals ten percent
of the regular lump-sum distribution that is paid on the basis of the
recipient's service as a volunteer firefighter.
In no case may the amount of the supplemental benefit exceed
$1,000. A supplemental benefit under
this paragraph may not be paid to a survivor of a deceased active or deferred
volunteer firefighter in that capacity.
(b) Upon the payment by a relief association or the
retirement plan of a lump-sum survivor benefit or funeral benefit to
a survivor of a deceased active volunteer firefighter or of a deceased deferred
volunteer firefighter, the association may pay a supplemental survivor benefit
to the survivor of the deceased active or deferred volunteer firefighter from
the special fund of the relief association if its articles of incorporation or
bylaws so provide and the retirement plan may pay a supplemental survivor
benefit to the survivor of the deceased active or deferred volunteer
firefighter from the retirement fund if chapter 353G so provides. The amount of the supplemental survivor
benefit is 20 percent of the survivor benefit or funeral benefit, but
not to exceed $2,000.
(c) An individual may receive a supplemental benefit
under paragraph (a) or under paragraph (b), but not under both paragraphs with
respect to one lump-sum volunteer firefighter benefit.
Sec. 31. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 424A.10, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. State reimbursement. (a) Each year, to be eligible for state
reimbursement of the amount of supplemental benefits paid under subdivision 2
during the preceding calendar year, the relief association must or
the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan shall
apply to the commissioner of revenue by February 15. By March 15, the commissioner shall reimburse
the relief association for the amount of the supplemental benefits paid to
qualified recipients and to survivors of deceased active or deferred volunteer
firefighters.
(b) The commissioner of revenue shall prescribe the
form of and supporting information that must be supplied as part of the application
for state reimbursement. The
commissioner of revenue shall reimburse the relief association by paying the
reimbursement amount to the treasurer of the municipality where the association
is located and shall reimburse the retirement plan by paying the
reimbursement amount to the executive director of the Public Employees
Retirement Association. Within 30
days after receipt, the municipal treasurer shall transmit the state
reimbursement to the treasurer of the association if the association has filed a
financial report with the municipality.
If the relief association has not filed a financial report with the
municipality, the municipal treasurer shall delay transmission of the
reimbursement payment to the association until the complete financial report is
filed. If the association has dissolved
or has been removed as a trustee of state aid, the treasurer shall deposit the
money in a special account in the municipal treasury, and the money may be
disbursed only for the purposes and in the manner provided in section
424A.08. When paid to the association,
the reimbursement payment must be deposited in the special fund of the relief
association and when paid to the retirement plan, the reimbursement payment
must be deposited in the retirement fund of the plan.
(c) A sum sufficient to make the payments is
appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of revenue.
Sec. 32. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Sections 1 to 31 are effective August 1, 2009.
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ARTICLE 11
VOLUNTEER FIRE RELIEF ASSOCIATION CHANGES
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 69.031, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Deposit of state aid. (a) The municipal treasurer shall, within 30
days after receipt, transmit the fire state aid to the treasurer of the duly
incorporated firefighters' relief association if there is one organized and the
association has filed a financial report with the municipality. If the relief association has not filed a
financial report with the municipality, the municipal treasurer shall delay
transmission of the fire state aid to the relief association until the complete
financial report is filed. If there is
no relief association organized, or if the association has dissolved, or has
been removed as trustees of state aid, then the treasurer of the municipality
shall deposit the money in the municipal treasury as provided for in section
424A.08 and the money may be disbursed only for the purposes and in the
manner set forth in that section 424A.08 or for the payment of the
employer contribution requirement with respect to firefighters covered by the public
employees police and fire retirement plan under section 353.65, subdivision 3.
(b) The municipal treasurer, upon receipt of the
police state aid, shall disburse the police state aid in the following manner:
(1) For a municipality in which a local police relief
association exists and all peace officers are members of the association, the
total state aid must be transmitted to the treasurer of the relief association
within 30 days of the date of receipt, and the treasurer of the relief
association shall immediately deposit the total state aid in the special fund
of the relief association;
(2) For a municipality in which police retirement
coverage is provided by the public employees police and fire fund and all peace
officers are members of the fund, including municipalities covered by section
353.665, the total state aid must be applied toward the municipality's employer
contribution to the public employees police and fire fund under sections
353.65, subdivision 3, and 353.665, subdivision 8, paragraph (b), if
applicable; or
(3) For a municipality other than a city of the first
class with a population of more than 300,000 in which both a police relief
association exists and police retirement coverage is provided in part by the
public employees police and fire fund, the municipality may elect at its option
to transmit the total state aid to the treasurer of the relief association as
provided in clause (1), to use the total state aid to apply toward the
municipality's employer contribution to the public employees police and fire
fund subject to all the provisions set forth in clause (2), or to allot the
total state aid proportionately to be transmitted to the police relief
association as provided in this subdivision and to apply toward the
municipality's employer contribution to the public employees police and fire
fund subject to the provisions of clause (2) on the basis of the respective
number of active full-time peace officers, as defined in section 69.011,
subdivision 1, clause (g).
For a city of the first class with a population of
more than 300,000, in addition, the city may elect to allot the appropriate
portion of the total police state aid to apply toward the employer contribution
of the city to the public employees police and fire fund based on the covered
salary of police officers covered by the fund each payroll period and to
transmit the balance to the police relief association; or
(4) For a municipality in which police retirement
coverage is provided in part by the public employees police and fire fund and
in part by a local police consolidation account governed by chapter 353A and
established before March 2, 1999, for which the municipality declined merger
under section 353.665, subdivision 1, or established after March 1, 1999, the
total police state aid must be applied towards the municipality's total
employer contribution to the public employees police and fire fund and to the
local police consolidation account under sections 353.65, subdivision 3, and
353A.09, subdivision 5.
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(c)
The county treasurer, upon receipt of the police state aid for the county,
shall apply the total state aid toward the county's employer contribution to
the public employees police and fire fund under section 353.65, subdivision 3.
(d)
The designated Metropolitan Airports Commission official, upon receipt of the
police state aid for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, shall apply the
total police state aid first toward the commission's employer contribution for
police officers to the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund under section
422A.101, subdivision 2a, and, if there is any amount of police state aid
remaining, shall apply that remainder toward the commission's employer
contribution for police officers to the public employees police and fire plan
under section 353.65, subdivision 3.
(e)
The police state aid apportioned to the Departments of Public Safety and
Natural Resources under section 69.021, subdivision 7a, is appropriated to the
commissioner of finance for transfer to the funds and accounts from which the
salaries of peace officers certified under section 69.011, subdivision 2a, are
paid. The commissioner of revenue shall
certify to the commissioners of public safety, natural resources, and finance
the amounts to be transferred from the appropriation for police state aid. The commissioners of public safety and
natural resources shall certify to the commissioner of finance the amounts to
be credited to each of the funds and accounts from which the peace officers
employed by their respective departments are paid. Each commissioner must shall
allocate the police state aid first for employer contributions for employees
funded from the general fund and then for employer contributions for employees
funded from other funds. For peace
officers whose salaries are paid from the general fund, the amounts transferred
from the appropriation for police state aid must be canceled to the general
fund.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
69.771, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd.
3. Remedy
for noncompliance; determination.
(a) A municipality in which there exists a firefighters' relief
association as specified in subdivision 1 which does not comply with the
applicable provisions of sections 69.771 to 69.776 or the provisions of any
applicable special law relating to the funding or financing of the association
does not qualify initially to receive, and is not entitled subsequently to
retain, fire state aid under sections 69.011 to 69.051 until the reason for the
disqualification specified by the state auditor is remedied, whereupon the municipality
or relief association, if otherwise qualified, is entitled to again receive
fire state aid for the year occurring immediately subsequent to the year in
which the disqualification is remedied.
(b)
The state auditor shall determine if a municipality to which a firefighters'
relief association is directly associated or a firefighters' relief association
fails to comply with the provisions of sections 69.771 to 69.776 or the funding
or financing provisions of any applicable special law based upon the information
contained in the annual financial report of the firefighters' relief
association required under section 69.051, the actuarial valuation of the
relief association, if applicable, the relief association officers' financial
requirements of the relief association and minimum municipal obligation
determination documentation under section 69.772, subdivisions 3 and 4; 69.773,
subdivisions 4 and 5; or 69.774, subdivision 2, if requested to be filed by the
state auditor, the applicable municipal or nonprofit firefighting corporation
budget, if requested to be filed by the state auditor, and any other relevant
documents or reports obtained by the state auditor.
(c)
The municipality or nonprofit firefighting corporation and the associated
relief association are not eligible to receive or to retain fire state aid if:
(1)
the relief association fails to prepare or to file the financial report or
financial statement under section 69.051;
(2)
the relief association treasurer is not bonded in the manner and in the amount
required by section 69.051, subdivision 2;
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(3)
the relief association officers fail to determine or improperly determine the accrued
liability and the annual accruing liability of the relief association under
section 69.772, subdivisions 2, 2a, and 3, paragraph (c), clause (2), if
applicable;
(4)
if applicable, the relief association officers fail to obtain and file a
required actuarial valuation or the officers file an actuarial valuation that
does not contain the special fund actuarial liability calculated under the
entry age normal actuarial cost method, the special fund current assets, the
special fund unfunded actuarial accrued liability, the special fund normal cost
under the entry age normal actuarial cost method, the amortization requirement
for the special fund unfunded actuarial accrued liability by the applicable
target date, a summary of the applicable benefit plan, a summary of the
membership of the relief association, a summary of the actuarial assumptions
used in preparing the valuation, and a signed statement by the actuary
attesting to its results and certifying to the qualifications of the actuary as
an approved actuary under section 356.215, subdivision 1, paragraph (c);
(5)
the municipality failed to provide a municipal contribution, or the nonprofit
firefighting corporation failed to provide a corporate contribution, in the
amount equal to the minimum municipal obligation if the relief association is
governed under section 69.772, or the amount necessary, when added to the fire
state aid actually received in the plan year in question, to at least equal in
total the calculated annual financial requirements of the special fund of the
relief association if the relief association is governed under section 69.773,
and, if the municipal or corporate contribution is deficient, the municipality
failed to include the minimum municipal obligation certified under section 69.772,
subdivision 3, or 69.773, subdivision 5, in its budget and tax levy or the
nonprofit firefighting corporation failed to include the minimum corporate
obligation certified under section 69.774, subdivision 2, in the corporate
budget;
(6)
the defined benefit relief association did not receive municipal
ratification for the most recent plan amendment when municipal ratification was
required under section 69.772, subdivision 6; 69.773, subdivision 6; or
424A.02, subdivision 10;
(7)
the relief association invested special fund assets in an investment security
that is not authorized under section 69.775;
(8)
the relief association had an administrative expense that is not authorized
under section 69.80 or 424A.05, subdivision 3, or the municipality had an
expenditure that is not authorized under section 424A.08;
(9)
the relief association officers fail to provide a complete and accurate public
pension plan investment portfolio and performance disclosure under section
356.219;
(10)
the relief association fails to obtain the acknowledgment from a broker of the
statement of investment restrictions under section 356A.06, subdivision 8b;
(11)
the relief association officers permitted to occur a prohibited transaction
under section 356A.06, subdivision 9, or 424A.001 424A.04,
subdivision 7 2a, or failed to undertake correction of a
prohibited transaction that did occur; or
(12)
the relief association pays a defined benefit service pension in an amount that
is in excess of the applicable service pension maximum under section 424A.02,
subdivision 3.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
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Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 69.772, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Certification of financial requirements and
minimum municipal obligation; levy.
(a) The officers of the relief association shall certify the financial
requirements of the special fund of the relief association and the minimum
obligation of the municipality with respect to the special fund of the relief
association as determined under subdivision 3 to the governing body of the
municipality on or before August 1 of each year. The financial requirements of the relief
association and the minimum municipal obligation must be included in the
financial report or financial statement under section 69.051. The schedule forms related to the
determination of the financial requirements must be filed with the state
auditor by March 31, annually, if the relief association is required to file a
financial statement under section 69.051, subdivision 1a, or by June 30,
annually, if the relief association is required to file a financial report and
audit under section 69.051, subdivision 1.
(b) The municipality shall provide for at least the
minimum obligation of the municipality with respect to the special fund of the
relief association by tax levy or from any other source of public revenue.
(c) The municipality may levy taxes for the payment of
the minimum municipal obligation without any limitation as to rate or amount
and irrespective of any limitations imposed by other provisions of law upon the
rate or amount of taxation until the balance of the special fund or any fund of
the relief association has attained a specified level. In addition, any taxes levied under this
section must not cause the amount or rate of any other taxes levied in that
year or to be levied in a subsequent year by the municipality which are subject
to a limitation as to rate or amount to be reduced.
(d) If the municipality does not include the full
amount of the minimum municipal obligations in its levy for any year, the
officers of the relief association shall certify that amount to the county
auditor, who shall spread a levy in the amount of the certified minimum
municipal obligation on the taxable property of the municipality.
(e) If the state auditor determines that a municipal
contribution actually made in a plan year was insufficient under section
69.771, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), clause (5), the state auditor may request
a copy of the certifications under this subdivision from the relief association
or from the city. The relief association
or the city, whichever applies, must provide the certifications within 14 days
of the date of the request from the state auditor.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 69.772, subdivision 6, is amended to
read:
Subd. 6. Municipal ratification for plan amendments. If the special fund of the relief association
does not have a surplus over full funding pursuant to subdivision 3, clause
(2), subclause (e), or if the municipality is required to provide financial
support to the special fund of the relief association pursuant to this section,
the adoption of or any amendment to the articles of incorporation or bylaws of
a relief association which increases or otherwise affects the retirement
coverage provided by or the service pensions or retirement benefits payable
from the special fund of any relief association to which this section applies shall
is not be effective until it is ratified by the governing body of
the municipality in which the relief association is located and the officers of
a relief association shall not seek municipal ratification prior to preparing
and certifying an estimate of the expected increase in the accrued liability
and annual accruing liability of the relief association attributable to the
amendment. If the special fund of the
relief association has a surplus over full funding pursuant to subdivision 3,
clause (2), subclause (e), and if the municipality is not required to provide
financial support to the special fund of the relief association pursuant to
this section, the relief association may adopt or amend its articles of incorporation
or bylaws which increase or otherwise affect the retirement coverage provided
by or the service pensions or retirement benefits payable from the special fund
of the relief association which shall be are effective without
municipal ratification so long as this does not cause the amount of the
resulting increase in the accrued liability of the special fund of the relief
association to exceed 90 percent of the amount of the prior surplus over
full funding reported in the prior year and this does not
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2009 - Top of Page 5561
result in the financial requirements of the special
fund of the relief association exceeding the expected amount of the future fire
state aid to be received by the relief association as determined by the board
of trustees following the preparation of an estimate of the expected increase
in the accrued liability and annual accruing liability of the relief
association attributable to the change.
If a relief association adopts or amends its articles of incorporation
or bylaws without municipal ratification pursuant to this subdivision, and,
subsequent to the amendment or adoption, the financial requirements of the
special fund of the relief association pursuant to this section are such so as
to require financial support from the municipality, the provision which was
implemented without municipal ratification shall is no longer be
effective without municipal ratification and any service pensions or retirement
benefits payable after that date shall may be paid only in
accordance with the articles of incorporation or bylaws as amended or adopted
with municipal ratification.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
69.773, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd.
6. Municipal
ratification for plan amendments. If
the special fund of the relief association does not have a surplus over full
funding pursuant to subdivision 4, or if the municipality is required to
provide financial support to the special fund of the relief association
pursuant to this section, the adoption of or any amendment to the articles of
incorporation or bylaws of a relief association which increases or otherwise
affects the retirement coverage provided by or the service pensions or
retirement benefits payable from the special fund of any relief association to
which this section applies shall is not be effective until
it is ratified by the governing body of the municipality in which the relief
association is located. If the special fund
of the relief association has a surplus over full funding pursuant to
subdivision 4, and if the municipality is not required to provide financial
support to the special fund of the relief association pursuant to this section,
the relief association may adopt or amend its articles of incorporation or
bylaws which increase or otherwise affect the retirement coverage provided by
or the service pensions or retirement benefits payable from the special fund of
the relief association which shall be are effective without
municipal ratification so long as this does not cause the amount of the
resulting increase in the accrued liability of the special fund of the relief
association to exceed 90 percent of the amount of the prior surplus over
full funding reported in the prior year and this does not result in the
financial requirements of the special fund of the relief association exceeding
the expected amount of the future fire state aid to be received by the relief
association as determined by the board of trustees following the preparation of
an updated actuarial valuation including the proposed change or an estimate of
the expected actuarial impact of the proposed change prepared by the actuary of
the relief association. If a relief
association adopts or amends its articles of incorporation or bylaws without
municipal ratification pursuant to this subdivision, and, subsequent to the
amendment or adoption, the financial requirements of the special fund of the
relief association pursuant to this section are such so as to require financial
support from the municipality, the provision which was implemented without
municipal ratification shall is no longer be effective
without municipal ratification and any service pensions or retirement benefits
payable after that date shall be may paid only in accordance with
the articles of incorporation or bylaws as amended or adopted with municipal
ratification.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
356.219, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd.
3. Content
of reports. (a) The report required
by subdivision 1 must include a written statement of the investment
policy. Following that initial report,
subsequent reports must include investment policy changes and the effective
date of each policy change rather than a complete statement of investment
policy, unless the state auditor requests submission of a complete current
statement. The report must also include
the information required by the following paragraphs, as applicable.
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2009 - Top of Page 5562
(b) If, after four years of reporting under this
paragraph, the total portfolio time weighted rate of return, net of all
investment related costs and fees, provided by the public pension plan differs
by no more than 0.1 percent from the comparable return for the plan calculated
by the Office of the State Auditor, and if a public pension plan has a total
market value of $25,000,000 or more as of the beginning of the calendar year,
and if the public pension plan's annual audit is performed by the state auditor
or by the legislative auditor, the report required by subdivision 1 must
include the market value of the total portfolio and the market value of each
asset class included in the pension fund as of the beginning of the calendar
year and as of the end of the calendar year.
At the discretion of the state auditor, the public pension plan may be
required to submit the market value of the total portfolio and the market value
of each investment account, investment portfolio, or asset class included in
the pension fund for each month, and the amount and date of each injection and
withdrawal to the total portfolio and to each investment account, investment
portfolio, or asset class. If the market
value of a public pension plan's fund drops below $25,000,000 in a subsequent
year, it must continue reporting under this paragraph for any subsequent year
in which the public pension plan is not fully invested as specified in
subdivision 1, paragraph (b), except that if the public pension plan's annual
audit is not performed by the state auditor or legislative auditor, paragraph
(c) applies.
(c) If paragraph (b) would apply if the annual audit
were provided by the state auditor or legislative auditor, the report required
by subdivision 1 must include the market value of the total portfolio and the
market value of each asset class included in the pension fund as of the
beginning of the calendar year and for each month, and the amount and date of
each injection and withdrawal to the total portfolio and to each investment
account, investment portfolio, or asset class.
(d) For public pension plans to which paragraph (b) or
(c) applies, the report required by subdivision 1 must also include a
calculation of the total time-weighted rate of return available from
index-matching investments assuming the asset class performance targets and
target asset mix indicated in the written statement of investment policy. The provided information must include a
description of indices used in the analyses and an explanation of why those
indices are appropriate. This paragraph
does not apply to any fully invested plan, as defined by subdivision 1,
paragraph (b). Reporting by the State
Board of Investment under this paragraph is limited to information on the
Minnesota public pension plans required to be invested by the State Board of
Investment under section 11A.23.
(e) If a public pension plan has a total market value
of less than $25,000,000 as of the beginning of the calendar year and was never
required to file under paragraph (b) or (c), the report required by subdivision
1 must include the amount and date of each total portfolio injection and
withdrawal. In addition, the report must
include the market value of the total portfolio as of the beginning of the
calendar year and for each quarter.
(f) Any public pension plan reporting under paragraph
(b) or (c) must include computed time-weighted rates of return with the report,
in addition to all other required information, as applicable. The chief administrative officer of the
public pension plan submitting the returns must certify, on a form prescribed
by the state auditor, that the returns have been computed by the pension plan's
investment performance consultant or custodial bank. The chief administrative officer of the
public pension plan submitting the returns also must certify that the returns
are net of all costs and fees, including investment management fees, and that
the procedures used to compute the returns are consistent with Bank
Administration Institute studies of investment performance measurement and
presentation standards set by the Certified Financial Analyst CFA Institute. If the certifications required under this
paragraph are not provided, the reporting requirements of paragraph (c) apply.
(g) For public pension plans reporting under paragraph
(e), the public pension plan must retain supporting information specifying the
date and amount of each injection and withdrawal to each investment account and
investment portfolio. The public pension
plan must also retain the market value of each investment account and
investment portfolio at the beginning of the calendar year and for each
quarter. Information that is required to
be collected and retained for any given year or years under this paragraph must
be submitted to the Office of the State Auditor if the Office of the State
Auditor requests in writing that the information be submitted by a public
pension plan or plans, or be submitted by the State Board of Investment for any
plan or plans for which the State Board of
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2009 - Top of Page 5563
Investment is the investment authority under this
section. If the state auditor requests
information under this subdivision, and the public plan fails to comply, the
pension plan is subject to penalties under subdivision 5, unless penalties are
waived by the state auditor under that subdivision.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
7. [420.20]
PROHIBITION OF SERVICE BY MINORS AS VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS.
It
is unlawful for any municipality or independent nonprofit firefighting
corporation to employ a minor to serve as a firefighter or to permit a minor to
serve in any capacity performing any firefighting duties with a fire
department, except for members of a youth, civic, or educational organization
or program who participate with uninterrupted adult supervision, as allowed by
federal law and by section 181A.04. Such
organizations or programs include, but are not limited to, Boy Scout Explorer
programs or firefighting degree programs.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
424A.001, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Terms
defined. Unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise, as used in this chapter, the terms defined in
this section have the meanings given.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
9. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
424A.001, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
Subd.
1a. Ancillary
benefit. "Ancillary
benefit" means a benefit payable from the special fund of the relief
association other than a service pension that is permitted by law and that
is provided for in the relief association bylaws.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
10. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
424A.001, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd.
1b. Defined
benefit relief association. "Defined
benefit relief association" means a volunteer firefighters' relief
association that provides a lump-sum service pension, provides a monthly
benefit service pension, or provides a lump-sum service pension as an
alternative to the monthly benefit service pension.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
11. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
424A.001, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd.
1c. Defined
contribution relief association.
"Defined contribution relief association" means a volunteer
firefighters' relief association that provides a service pension based solely
on an individual account balance rather than a specified annual lump-sum or
monthly benefit service pension amount.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
12. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.001,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd.
2. Fire
department. "Fire
department" includes a municipal fire department and or
an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
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Sec.
13. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
424A.001, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd.
3. Municipality. "Municipality" means a municipality
which has established a fire department with which the relief association
is directly associated, or the municipalities which have entered into a contract
with the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation of which the relief
association is a subsidiary.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
14. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
424A.001, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd.
4. Relief
association. "Relief
association" means (a)
(1)
a volunteer
firefighters' relief association or a volunteer firefighters' division
or account of a partially salaried and partially volunteer firefighters' relief
association that is organized and incorporated under chapter 317A and
any laws of the state, is governed by this chapter and chapter 69, and is
directly associated with a fire department established by municipal
ordinance; or
(b) (2) any separate separately
incorporated volunteer firefighters' relief association that is subsidiary
to and providing that provides service pension and retirement benefit
coverage for members of an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation that
is organized under the provisions of chapter 317A, is governed by
this chapter, and operating operates exclusively for firefighting
purposes. A relief association is a governmental
entity that receives and manages public money to provide retirement benefits
for individuals providing the governmental services of firefighting and
emergency first response.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
15. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
424A.001, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd.
5. Special
fund. "Special fund" means
the special fund of a volunteer firefighters' relief association or the
account for volunteer firefighters within the special fund of a partially
salaried and partially volunteer firefighters' relief association.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
16. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
424A.001, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd.
6. Surviving
spouse. For purposes of this
chapter, and the governing bylaws of any governing a relief
association to which this chapter applies, the term "surviving
spouse" means the spouse of a deceased member who was legally married to
the member at the time of the member's death.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
17. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
424A.001, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
Subd.
8. Firefighting
service. "Firefighting
service," if the applicable municipality approves for a fire department
that is a municipal department, or if the applicable contracting
municipality or municipalities approve for a fire department that is an
independent nonprofit firefighting corporation, includes fire department service
rendered by fire prevention personnel.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
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Sec.
18. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
424A.001, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
Subd.
9. Separate
from active service. "Separate
from active service" means to that a firefighter permanently
cease ceases to perform fire suppression duties with a particular
volunteer fire department, to permanently cease ceases to
perform fire prevention duties, to permanently cease ceases to
supervise fire suppression duties, and to permanently cease ceases
to supervise fire prevention duties.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
19. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
424A.001, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
Subd.
10. Volunteer
firefighter. "Volunteer
firefighter" means a person who either:
(1)
was a member of the applicable fire department or the independent nonprofit firefighting
corporation and a member of the relief association on July 1, 2006; or
(2)
became a member of the applicable fire department or the independent
nonprofit firefighting corporation and is eligible for membership in the
applicable relief association after June 30, 2006, and
(i)
is engaged in providing emergency response services or delivering fire
education or prevention services as a member of a municipal fire department, a
joint powers entity fire department, or an independent nonprofit firefighting
corporation;
(ii)
is trained in or is qualified to provide fire suppression duties or to provide
fire prevention duties under subdivision 8; and
(iii)
meets any other minimum firefighter and service standards established by the
fire department or the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation or
specified in the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the relief association.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
20. [424A.002]
AUTHORIZATION OF NEW OR CONTINUING VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS.
Subdivision
1. Authorization. A municipal fire department or an
independent nonprofit firefighting corporation, with approval by the applicable
municipality or municipalities, may establish a new volunteer firefighters'
relief association or may retain an existing volunteer firefighters' relief
association.
Subd.
2. Defined
benefit or defined contribution relief association. The articles of incorporation or the
bylaws of the volunteer firefighters' relief association must specify that the
relief association is either a defined benefit relief association subject to
sections 69.771 to 69.774, 424A.015, and 424A.02 or is a defined contribution
relief association subject to sections 424A.015 and 424A.016.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
21. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
424A.01, is amended to read:
424A.01 MEMBERSHIP IN A VOLUNTEER
FIREFIGHTERS' RELIEF ASSOCIATION.
Subdivision
1. Minors. It is unlawful for any (a) No
volunteer firefighters' relief association associated with a municipality
or an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation to employ may
include as a relief association member a minor serving as a volunteer
firefighter or to permit a minor to serve in any capacity performing any
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firefighting
duties with a volunteer fire department, except for members of a youth, civic, or educational organization
or program who participate with uninterrupted adult supervision, as allowed by
federal law and by section 181A.04. Such
organizations or programs include, but are not limited to, Boy Scout Explorer
programs or firefighting degree programs.
(b)
No volunteer firefighters' relief association associated with a municipality or
an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation may include as a relief
association member a minor serving as a volunteer firefighter.
Subd.
2. Status
of substitute volunteer firefighters.
No person who is serving as a substitute volunteer firefighter shall
be deemed may be considered to be a firefighter for purposes of
chapter 69 or this chapter nor shall be and no substitute volunteer
firefighter is authorized to be a member of any volunteer firefighters'
relief association governed by chapter 69 or this chapter.
Subd.
3. Status
of nonmember volunteer firefighters.
No person who is serving as a firefighter in a fire department but who
is not a member of the applicable firefighters' relief association shall be
is entitled to any service pension or ancillary benefits from the relief
association.
Subd.
4. Exclusion
of persons constituting an unwarranted health risk. The board of trustees of every relief
association may exclude from membership in the relief association all
applicants who, due to some medically determinable physical or mental
impairment or condition, would is determined to constitute a
predictable and unwarranted risk of imposing liability for an ancillary benefit
at any age earlier than the minimum age specified for receipt of a service
pension. Notwithstanding any provision
of section 363A.25, it shall be is a good and valid defense to a
complaint or action brought under chapter 363A that the board of trustees of
the relief association made a good faith determination that the applicant
suffers from an impairment or condition constituting a predictable and
unwarranted risk for the relief association if the determination was made following
consideration of: (a) (1) the person's medical history; and (b)
(2) the report of the physician completing a physical examination of the
applicant completed undertaken at the expense of the relief
association.
Subd.
5. Fire
prevention personnel. (a) If the
fire department is a municipal department and the applicable municipality
approves, or if the fire department is an independent nonprofit firefighting
corporation and the contracting municipality or municipalities approve, the
fire department may employ or otherwise utilize the services of persons as
volunteer firefighters to perform fire prevention duties and to supervise fire
prevention activities.
(b)
Personnel serving in fire prevention positions are eligible to be members of
the applicable volunteer firefighter relief association and to qualify for
service pension or other benefit coverage of the relief association on the same
basis as fire department personnel who perform fire suppression duties.
(c)
Personnel serving in fire prevention positions also are eligible to receive any
other benefits under the applicable law or practice for services on the same
basis as personnel who are employed to perform fire suppression duties.
Subd.
6. Return
to active firefighting after break in service. (a) If a former active firefighter who has
ceased to perform or supervise fire suppression and fire prevention duties for
at least 60 days resumes performing active firefighting with the fire
department associated with the relief association, if the bylaws of the relief
association so permit, the person may again become an active member of the
relief association.
(b)
A firefighter who returns to active relief association membership under
paragraph (a) may qualify for the receipt of a service pension from the relief
association for the resumption service period if the firefighter meets a
minimum period of resumption service specified in the relief association
bylaws.
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(c) A firefighter who returns to active lump-sum
relief association membership and who qualifies for a service pension under
paragraph (b) must have, upon a subsequent cessation of duties, any service
pension for the resumption service period calculated as a separate
benefit. If a lump-sum service pension
had been paid to the firefighter upon the firefighter's previous cessation of
duties, a second lump-sum service pension for the resumption service period
must be calculated to apply the service pension amount in effect on the date of
the firefighter's termination of the resumption service for all years of the resumption
service. No firefighter may be paid a
service pension twice for the same period of service. If a lump-sum service pension had not been
paid to the firefighter upon the firefighter's previous cessation of duties and
the firefighter meets the minimum service requirement of section 424A.02,
subdivision 2, a service pension must be calculated to apply the service
pension amount in effect on the date of the firefighter's termination of the
resumption service for all years of service credit.
(d) A firefighter who had not been paid a lump-sum
service pension returns to active relief association membership under paragraph
(a), who does not qualify for a service pension under paragraph (b), but who
does meet the minimum service requirement of section 424A.02, subdivision 2,
based on the firefighter's previous years of active service, must have, upon a
subsequent cessation of duties, a service pension calculated for the previous
years of service based on the service pension amount in effect on the date of
the firefighter's termination of the resumption service, or, if the bylaws so
provide, based on the service pension amount in effect on the date of the
firefighter's previous cessation of duties.
(e) If a firefighter receiving a monthly benefit
service pension returns to active monthly benefit relief association membership
under paragraph (a), any monthly benefit service pension payable to the
firefighter is suspended as of the first day of the month next following the
date on which the firefighter returns to active membership. If the firefighter was receiving a monthly
benefit service pension, and qualifies for a service pension under paragraph
(b), the firefighter is entitled to an additional monthly benefit service
pension upon a subsequent cessation of duties calculated based on the
resumption service credit and the service pension accrual amount in effect on
the date of the termination of the resumption service. The suspended initial service pension resumes
as of the first of the month next following the termination of the resumption
service. If the firefighter was not
receiving a monthly benefit service pension and meets the minimum service
requirement of section 424A.02, subdivision 2, a service pension must be
calculated to apply the service pension amount in effect on the date of the
firefighter's termination of the resumption service for all years of service
credit.
(f) A firefighter who was not receiving a monthly
benefit service pension returns to active relief association membership under
paragraph (a), who does not qualify for a service pension under paragraph (b),
but who does meet the minimum service requirement of section 424A.02,
subdivision 2, based on the firefighter's previous years of active service,
must have, upon a subsequent cessation of duties, a service pension calculated
for the previous years of service based on the service pension amount in effect
on the date of the firefighter's termination of the resumption service, or, if
the bylaws so provide, based on the service pension amount in effect on the
date of the firefighter's previous cessation of duties.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 22. [424A.015] GENERALLY APPLICABLE
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' RELIEF ASSOCIATION PENSION PLAN REGULATION.
Subdivision 1. Separation
from active service; exception. (a)
No service pension is payable to a person while the person remains an active
member of the respective fire department, and a person who is receiving a
service pension is not entitled to receive any other benefits from the special
fund of the relief association.
(b) No relief association as defined in section
424A.001, subdivision 4, may pay a service pension or disability benefit to a
former member of the relief association if that person has not separated from
active service with the fire department to which the relief association is
directly associated, unless:
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(1) the person is employed subsequent to retirement by
the municipality or the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation,
whichever applies, to perform duties within the municipal fire department or
corporation on a full‑time basis;
(2) the governing body of the municipality or of the
corporation has filed its determination with the board of trustees of the
relief association that the person's experience with and service to the fire
department in that person's full-time capacity would be difficult to replace;
and
(3) the bylaws of the relief association were amended
to provide for the payment of a service pension or disability benefit for such
full-time employees.
Subd. 2. No
assignment or garnishment. A
service pension or ancillary benefits paid or payable from the special fund of
a relief association to any person receiving or entitled to receive a service
pension or ancillary benefits is not subject to garnishment, judgment,
execution, or other legal process, except as provided in section 518.58,
518.581, or 518A.53. No person entitled
to a service pension or ancillary benefits from the special fund of a relief
association may assign any service pension or ancillary benefit payments, and
the association does not have the authority to recognize any assignment or pay
over any sum which has been assigned.
Subd. 3. Purchase
of annuity contract. A relief
association that provides a service pension in a single payment, if the
governing articles of incorporation or bylaws so provide, may purchase an
annuity contract on behalf of a retiring member in an amount equal to the
service pension otherwise payable at the request of the person and in place of
a direct payment to the person. The
annuity contract must be purchased from an insurance carrier licensed to do
business in this state.
Subd. 4. Transfer
to individual retirement account.
A relief association that is a qualified pension plan under section
401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and that provides a single
payment service pension, at the written request of the applicable retiring
member or, following the death of the active member, at the written request of
the deceased member's surviving spouse, may directly transfer on an
institution-to-institution basis the eligible member's lump-sum pension or the
death or survivor benefit attributable to the member, whichever applies, to the
requesting person's individual retirement account under section 408(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code, as amended.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 23. [424A.016] DEFINED CONTRIBUTION
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' RELIEF ASSOCIATION SPECIFIC REGULATION.
Subdivision 1. Defined
contribution relief association authorization. If the articles of incorporation or the
bylaws governing the volunteer firefighters' relief association so provide
exclusively, the relief association may pay a defined contribution lump-sum
service pension instead of a defined benefit service pension governed by
section 424A.02.
Subd. 2. Defined
contribution service pension eligibility. (a) A relief association, when its
articles of incorporation or bylaws so provide, may pay out of the assets of
its special fund a defined contribution service pension to each of its members
who:
(1) separates from active service with the fire
department;
(2) reaches age 50;
(3) completes at least five years of active service as
an active member of the municipal fire department to which the relief association
is associated;
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(4)
completes at least five years of active membership with the relief association
before separation from active service; and
(5)
complies with any additional conditions as to age, service, and membership that
are prescribed by the bylaws of the relief association.
(b)
In the case of a member who has completed at least five years of active service
as an active member of the fire department to which the relief association is
associated on the date that the relief association is established and
incorporated, the requirement that the member complete at least five years of
active membership with the relief association before separation from active
service may be waived by the board of trustees of the relief association if the
member completes at least five years of inactive membership with the relief
association before the date of the payment of the service pension. During the period of inactive membership, the
member is not entitled to receive any disability benefit coverage, is not
entitled to receive additional individual account allocation of fire state aid
or municipal contribution towards a service pension, and is considered to have
the status of a person entitled to a deferred service pension.
(c)
The service pension earned by a volunteer under this chapter and the articles
of incorporation and bylaws of the relief association may be paid whether or
not the municipality or nonprofit firefighting corporation to which the relief
association is associated qualifies for the receipt of fire state aid under
chapter 69.
Subd.
3. Reduced
vesting schedule. If the
articles of incorporation or bylaws of a defined contribution relief
association so provide, a relief association may pay a reduced service pension not
to exceed the nonforfeitable percentage of the account balance to a retiring
member who has completed fewer than 20 years of service. The reduced service pension may be paid when
the retiring member meets the minimum age and service requirements of subdivision
2. The nonforfeitable percentage of
pension amounts are as follows:
Completed Years
of Service Nonforfeitable
Percentage of Pension Amount
5 40
percent
6 52
percent
7 64
percent
8 76
percent
9 88
percent
10
and thereafter 100
percent
Subd. 4. Individual accounts. (a)
An individual account must be established for each firefighter who is a member
of the relief association.
(b) To each individual active member account must be
credited an equal share of:
(1) any amounts of fire state aid received by the
relief association;
(2) any amounts of municipal contributions to the
relief association raised from levies on real estate or from other available
municipal revenue sources exclusive of fire state aid; and
(3) any amounts equal to the share of the assets of
the special fund to the credit of:
(i) any former member who terminated active service
with the fire department to which the relief association is associated before
meeting the minimum service requirement provided for in subdivision 2,
paragraph (b), and has not returned to active service with the fire department
for a period no shorter than five years; or
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(ii) any retired member who retired before obtaining a
full nonforfeitable interest in the amounts credited to the individual member
account under subdivision 2, paragraph (b), and any applicable provision of the
bylaws of the relief association. In
addition, any investment return on the assets of the special fund must be
credited in proportion to the share of the assets of the special fund to the
credit of each individual active member account. Administrative expenses of the relief association
payable from the special fund may be deducted from individual accounts in a
manner specified in the bylaws of the relief association.
(c) Amounts to be credited to individual accounts must
be allocated uniformly for all years of active service and allocations must be
made for all years of service, except for caps on service credit if so provided
in the bylaws of the relief association.
The allocation method may utilize monthly proration for fractional years
of service, as the bylaws or articles of incorporation of the relief
association so provide. The bylaws or
articles of incorporation may define a "month," but the definition
must require a calendar month to have at least 16 days of active service. If the bylaws or articles of incorporation do
not define a "month," a "month" is a completed calendar
month of active service measured from the member's date of entry to the same
date in the subsequent month.
(d) At the time of retirement under subdivision 2 and any
applicable provision of the bylaws of the relief association, a retiring member
is entitled to that portion of the assets of the special fund to the credit of
the member in the individual member account which is nonforfeitable under
subdivision 3 and any applicable provision of the bylaws of the relief
association based on the number of years of service to the credit of the
retiring member.
(e) Annually, the secretary of the relief association
shall certify the individual account allocations to the state auditor at the
same time that the annual financial statement or financial report and audit of
the relief association, whichever applies, is due under section 69.051.
Subd. 5. Service
pension installment payments. A
defined contribution relief association, if the governing bylaws so provide,
may pay, at the option of the retiring member and in lieu of a single payment
of a service pension, the service pension in installments. The election of installment payments is
irrevocable and must be made by the retiring member in writing and filed with
the secretary of the relief association no later than 30 days before the
commencement of payment of the service pension.
The amount of the installment payments must be the fractional portion of
the remaining account balance equal to one divided by the number of remaining
annual installment payments.
Subd. 6. Deferred
service pensions. (a) A
member of a relief association is entitled to a deferred service pension if the
member:
(1) has completed the lesser of the minimum period of
active service with the fire department specified in the bylaws or 20 years of
active service with the fire department;
(2) has completed at least five years of active
membership in the relief association; and
(3) separates from active service and membership
before reaching age 50 or the minimum age for retirement and commencement of a
service pension specified in the bylaws governing the relief association if
that age is greater than age 50.
(b) The deferred service pension is payable when the
former member reaches age 50, or the minimum age specified in the bylaws
governing the relief association if that age is greater than age 50, and when
the former member makes a valid written application.
(c) A defined contribution relief association may, if
its governing bylaws so provide, credit interest or additional investment
performance on the deferred lump-sum service pension during the period of
deferral. If provided for in the bylaws,
the interest must be paid:
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2009 - Top of Page 5571
(1) at the investment performance rate actually earned
on that portion of the assets if the deferred benefit amount is invested by the
relief association in a separate account established and maintained by the
relief association or if the deferred benefit amount is invested in a separate
investment vehicle held by the relief association; or
(2) the investment return on the assets of the special
fund of the defined contribution volunteer firefighter relief association in
proportion to the share of the assets of the special fund to the credit of each
individual deferred member account through the date on which the investment
return is recognized by and credited to the special fund.
(d) The deferred service pension is governed by and
must be calculated under the general statute, special law, relief association articles
of incorporation, and relief association bylaw provisions applicable on the
date on which the member separated from active service with the fire department
and active membership in the relief association.
Subd. 7. Limitation
on ancillary benefits. (a) A
defined contribution relief association may only pay an ancillary benefit which
would constitute an authorized disbursement as specified in section
424A.05. The ancillary benefit for
active members must equal the vested or nonvested amount of the individual
account of the member.
(b) For deferred members, the ancillary benefit must
equal the vested amount of the individual account of the member. For the recipient of installment payments of
a service pension, the ancillary benefit must equal the remaining balance in
the individual account of the recipient.
Subd. 8. Filing
of bylaw amendments. Each
relief association to which this section applies must file a revised copy of
its governing bylaws with the state auditor upon the adoption of any amendment
to its governing bylaws by the relief association. Failure of the relief association to file a
copy of the bylaws or any bylaw amendments with the state auditor disqualifies
the municipality from the distribution of any future fire state aid until this
filing requirement has been completed.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 24.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.02, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Authorization. (a) A defined benefit relief association,
when its articles of incorporation or bylaws so provide, may pay out of the
assets of its special fund a defined benefit service pension to each of
its members who: (1) separates from active service with the fire department;
(2) reaches age 50; (3) completes at least five years of active service as an
active member of the municipal fire department to which the relief association
is associated; (4) completes at least five years of active membership with the
relief association before separation from active service; and (5) complies with
any additional conditions as to age, service, and membership that are
prescribed by the bylaws of the relief association. A service pension computed under this section
may be prorated monthly for fractional years of service, if as the
bylaws or articles of incorporation of the relief association so provide. The bylaws or articles of incorporation
may define a "month," but the definition must require a calendar
month to have at least 16 days of active service. If the bylaws or articles of incorporation do
not define a "month," a "month" is a completed calendar
month of active service measured from the member's date of entry to the same
date in the subsequent month. The
service pension earned by a volunteer firefighter under this chapter and the
articles of incorporation and bylaws of the volunteer firefighters' relief
association may be paid whether or not the municipality or nonprofit
firefighting corporation to which the relief association is associated
qualifies for the receipt of fire state aid under chapter 69.
(b) In the case of a member who has completed at least
five years of active service as an active member of the fire department to
which the relief association is associated on the date that the relief association
is established and incorporated, the requirement that the member complete at
least five years of active membership with the relief association before
separation from active service may be waived by the board of trustees of the
relief association if the member completes at least five years of inactive
membership with the relief association before the date of the
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2009 - Top of Page 5572
payment of the service pension. During the period of inactive membership, the
member is not entitled to receive disability benefit coverage, is not entitled
to receive additional service credit towards computation of a service pension,
and is considered to have the status of a person entitled to a deferred service
pension under subdivision 7.
(c) No municipality or nonprofit firefighting
corporation may delegate the power to take final action in setting a service
pension or ancillary benefit amount or level to the board of trustees of the
relief association or to approve in advance a service pension or ancillary
benefit amount or level equal to the maximum amount or level that this chapter
would allow rather than a specific dollar amount or level.
(d) No relief association as defined in section
424A.001, subdivision 4, may pay a defined benefit service pension or
disability benefit to a former member of the relief association if that person
has not separated from active service with the fire department to which the
relief association is directly associated, unless:
(1) the person is employed subsequent to retirement by
the municipality or the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation,
whichever applies, to perform duties within the municipal fire department or
corporation on a full‑time basis;
(2) the governing body of the municipality or of the
corporation has filed its determination with the board of trustees of the relief
association that the person's experience with and service to the fire
department in that person's full-time capacity would be difficult to replace;
and
(3) the bylaws of the relief association were amended
to provide for the payment of a service pension or disability benefit for such
full-time employees.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 25.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.02, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Nonforfeitable portion of service pension. (a) If the articles of incorporation or
bylaws of a defined benefit relief association so provide, a the
relief association may pay a reduced service pension to a retiring member
who has completed fewer than 20 years of service. The reduced service pension may be paid when
the retiring member meets the minimum age and service requirements of
subdivision 1.
(b) The amount of the reduced service pension may not
exceed the amount calculated by multiplying the service pension appropriate for
the completed years of service as specified in the bylaws times multiplied
by the applicable nonforfeitable percentage of pension.
(c) For a defined benefit volunteer firefighter
relief association that pays a lump-sum service pension, a monthly benefit
service pension, or a lump-sum service pension or a monthly benefit service
pension as alternative benefit forms, the nonforfeitable percentage of pension
amounts are as follows:
Completed
Years of Service Nonforfeitable
Percentage
of
Pension Amount
5 40
percent
6 44
percent
7 48
percent
8 52
percent
9 56
percent
10 60
percent
11 64
percent
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12 68
percent
13 72
percent
14 76
percent
15 80
percent
16 84
percent
17 88
percent
18 92
percent
19 96
percent
20
and thereafter 100
percent
(d) For a volunteer firefighter relief association that pays a
defined contribution service pension, the nonforfeitable percentage of pension
amounts are as follows:
Completed
Years of Service Nonforfeitable
Percentage
of Pension Amount
5 40
percent
6 52
percent
7 64
percent
8 76
percent
9 88
percent
10
and thereafter 100
percent
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.02,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Flexible
service pension maximums. (a)
Annually on or before August 1 as part of the certification of the financial
requirements and minimum municipal obligation determined under section 69.772,
subdivision 4, or 69.773, subdivision 5, as applicable, the secretary or some
other official of the relief association designated in the bylaws of each defined
benefit relief association shall calculate and certify to the governing
body of the applicable qualified municipality the average amount of available
financing per active covered firefighter for the most recent three-year
period. The amount of available
financing shall include includes any amounts of fire state aid
received or receivable by the relief association, any amounts of municipal
contributions to the relief association raised from levies on real estate or
from other available revenue sources exclusive of fire state aid, and one-tenth
of the amount of assets in excess of the accrued liabilities of the relief
association calculated under section 69.772, subdivision 2; 69.773,
subdivisions 2 and 4; or 69.774, subdivision 2, if any.
(b) The maximum service pension which
the defined benefit relief association has authority to provide for in
its bylaws for payment to a member retiring after the calculation date when the
minimum age and service requirements specified in subdivision 1 are met must be
determined using the table in paragraph (c) or (d), whichever applies.
(c) For a defined benefit relief
association where the governing bylaws provide for a monthly service pension to
a retiring member, the maximum monthly service pension amount per month for
each year of service credited that may be provided for in the bylaws is the
greater of the service pension amount provided for in the bylaws on the date of
the calculation of the average amount of the available financing per active
covered firefighter or the maximum service pension figure corresponding to the
average amount of available financing per active covered firefighter:
Minimum
Average Amount Maximum
Service Pension
of
Available Amount Payable per
Financing
per Firefighter Month
for Each Year of Service
$
... $
.25
41 .50
81 1.00
122 1.50
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2009 - Top of Page 5574
162 2.00
203 2.50
243 3.00
284 3.50
324 4.00
365 4.50
405 5.00
486 6.00
567 7.00
648 8.00
729 9.00
810 10.00
891 11.00
972 12.00
1053 13.00
1134 14.00
1215 15.00
1296 16.00
1377 17.00
1458 18.00
1539 19.00
1620 20.00
1701 21.00
1782 22.00
1823 22.50
1863 23.00
1944 24.00
2025 25.00
2106 26.00
2187 27.00
2268 28.00
2349 29.00
2430 30.00
2511 31.00
2592 32.00
2673 33.00
2754 34.00
2834 35.00
2916 36.00
2997 37.00
3078 38.00
3159 39.00
3240 40.00
3321 41.00
3402 42.00
3483 43.00
3564 44.00
3645 45.00
3726 46.00
3807 47.00
3888 48.00
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2009 - Top of Page 5575
3969 49.00
4050 50.00
4131 51.00
4212 52.00
4293 53.00
4374 54.00
4455 55.00
4536 56.00
Effective beginning December 31, 2008
4617 57.00
4698 58.00
4779 59.00
4860 60.00
4941 61.00
5022 62.00
5103 63.00
5184 64.00
5265 65.00
Effective beginning December 31, 2009
5346 66.00
5427 67.00
5508 68.00
5589 69.00
5670 70.00
5751 71.00
5832 72.00
5913 73.00
5994 74.00
Effective beginning December 31, 2010
6075 75.00
6156 76.00
6237 77.00
6318 78.00
6399 79.00
6480 80.00
6561 81.00
6642 82.00
6723 83.00
Effective beginning December 31, 2011
6804 84.00
6885 85.00
6966 86.00
7047 87.00
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House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5576
7128 88.00
7209 89.00
7290 90.00
7371 91.00
7452 92.00
Effective
beginning December 31, 2012
7533 93.00
7614 94.00
7695 95.00
7776 96.00
7857 97.00
7938 98.00
8019 99.00
8100 100.00
any amount in excess of 8100 100.00
(d) For a defined benefit relief association in
which the governing bylaws provide for a lump-sum service pension to a retiring
member, the maximum lump-sum service pension amount for each year of service
credited that may be provided for in the bylaws is the greater of the service
pension amount provided for in the bylaws on the date of the calculation of the
average amount of the available financing per active covered firefighter or the
maximum service pension figure corresponding to the average amount of available
financing per active covered firefighter for the applicable specified period:
Minimum
Average Amount Maximum
Lump-Sum
of
Available Financing Service
Pension Amount
per
Firefighter Payable
for Each Year of Service
$
... $
10
11 20
16 30
23 40
27 50
32 60
43 80
54 100
65 120
77 140
86 160
97 180
108 200
131 240
151 280
173 320
194 360
216 400
239 440
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5577
259 480
281 520
302 560
324 600
347 640
367 680
389 720
410 760
432 800
486 900
540 1000
594 1100
648 1200
702 1300
756 1400
810 1500
864 1600
918 1700
972 1800
1026 1900
1080 2000
1134 2100
1188 2200
1242 2300
1296 2400
1350 2500
1404 2600
1458 2700
1512 2800
1566 2900
1620 3000
1672 3100
1726 3200
1753 3250
1780 3300
1820 3375
1834 3400
1888 3500
1942 3600
1996 3700
2023 3750
2050 3800
2104 3900
2158 4000
2212 4100
2265 4200
2319 4300
2373 4400
2427 4500
2481 4600
2535 4700
Journal of the
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2589 4800
2643 4900
2697 5000
2751 5100
2805 5200
2859 5300
2913 5400
2967 5500
3021 5600
3075 5700
3129 5800
3183 5900
3237 6000
3291 6100
3345 6200
3399 6300
3453 6400
3507 6500
3561 6600
3615 6700
3669 6800
3723 6900
3777 7000
3831 7100
3885 7200
3939 7300
3993 7400
4047 7500
Effective
beginning December 31, 2008
4101 7600
4155 7700
4209 7800
4263 7900
4317 8000
4371 8100
4425 8200
4479 8300
Effective beginning December 31, 2009
4533 8400
4587 8500
4641 8600
4695 8700
4749 8800
4803 8900
4857 9000
4911 9100
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5579
Effective
beginning December 31, 2010
4965 9200
5019 9300
5073 9400
5127 9500
5181 9600
5235 9700
5289 9800
5343 9900
5397 10,000
any amount in excess of 5397 10,000
(e) For a defined benefit relief association in
which the governing bylaws provide for a monthly benefit service pension as an
alternative form of service pension payment to a lump-sum service pension, the
maximum service pension amount for each pension payment type must be determined
using the applicable table contained in this subdivision.
(f) If a defined benefit relief association
establishes a service pension in compliance with the applicable maximum
contained in paragraph (c) or (d) and the minimum average amount of available
financing per active covered firefighter is subsequently reduced because of a
reduction in fire state aid or because of an increase in the number of active
firefighters, the relief association may continue to provide the prior service
pension amount specified in its bylaws, but may not increase the service
pension amount until the minimum average amount of available financing per
firefighter under the table in paragraph (c) or (d), whichever applies,
permits.
(g) No defined benefit relief association is
authorized to provide a service pension in an amount greater than the largest
applicable flexible service pension maximum amount even if the amount of
available financing per firefighter is greater than the financing amount
associated with the largest applicable flexible service pension maximum.
(h) The method of calculating service
pensions must be applied uniformly for all years of active service. Credit must be given for all years of active
service except for caps on service credit if so provided in the bylaws of the
relief association.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 27.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.02, subdivision 3a, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3a. Penalty for paying pension greater than
applicable maximum. (a) If a defined
benefit relief association pays a service pension greater than the maximum service
pension associated with the applicable average amount of available financing
per active covered firefighter under the table in subdivision 3, paragraph (c)
or (d), whichever applies, the maximum service pension under subdivision 3,
paragraph (f), or the applicable maximum service pension amount specified in
subdivision 3, paragraph (g), whichever is less, the state auditor shall:
(1) disqualify the municipality or the nonprofit
firefighting corporation associated with the relief association from receiving
fire state aid by making the appropriate notification to the municipality and
the commissioner of revenue, with the disqualification applicable for the next
apportionment and payment of fire state aid; and
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(2) order the treasurer of the applicable relief
association to recover the amount of the overpaid service pension or
pensions from any retired firefighter who received an overpayment.
(b) Fire state aid amounts from disqualified
municipalities for the period of disqualifications under paragraph (a), clause
(1), must be credited to the amount of fire insurance premium tax proceeds
available for the next subsequent fire state aid apportionment.
(c) The amount of any overpaid service pension
recovered under paragraph (a), clause (2), must be credited to the amount of
fire insurance premium tax proceeds available for the next subsequent fire
state aid apportionment.
(d) The determination of the state auditor that a
relief association has paid a service pension greater than the applicable
maximum must be made on the basis of the information filed by the relief
association and the municipality with the state auditor under sections 69.011,
subdivision 2, and 69.051, subdivision 1 or 1a, whichever applies, and any
other relevant information that comes to the attention of the state
auditor. The determination of the state
auditor is final. An aggrieved municipality,
relief association, or person may appeal the determination under section
480A.06.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 28.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.02, subdivision 7, is amended to
read:
Subd. 7. Deferred service pensions. (a) A member of a defined benefit relief
association is entitled to a deferred service pension if the member:
(1) has completed the lesser of either the
minimum period of active service with the fire department specified in the
bylaws or 20 years of active service with the fire department;
(2) has completed at least five years of active
membership in the relief association; and
(3) separates from active service and membership before
reaching age 50 or the minimum age for retirement and commencement of a service
pension specified in the bylaws governing the relief association if that age is
greater than age 50.
(b) The deferred service pension is payable when the
former member reaches age 50, or the minimum age specified in the bylaws
governing the relief association if that age is greater than age 50, and when
the former member makes a valid written application.
(c) A defined benefit relief association that
provides a lump-sum service pension governed by subdivision 3 may, when its
governing bylaws so provide, pay interest on the deferred lump-sum service
pension during the period of deferral.
If provided for in the bylaws, interest must be paid in one of the
following manners:
(1) at the investment performance rate actually earned
on that portion of the assets if the deferred benefit amount is invested by the
relief association in a separate account established and maintained by the
relief association or if the deferred benefit amount is invested in a separate
investment vehicle held by the relief association; or
(2) at an interest rate of up to five percent,
compounded annually, as set by the board of directors and approved as provided
in subdivision 10.
(d) Interest under paragraph (c), clause (2), is
payable following the date on which the municipality has approved the deferred
service pension interest rate established by the board of trustees.
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(e) A relief association that provides
a defined contribution service pension may, if its governing bylaws so provide,
credit interest or additional investment performance on the deferred lump-sum
service pension during the period of deferral.
If provided for in the bylaws, the interest must be paid in one of the
manners specified in paragraph (c) or alternatively the relief association may
credit any investment return on the assets of the special fund of the defined
contribution volunteer firefighter relief association in proportion to the
share of the assets of the special fund to the credit of each individual
deferred member account through the date on which the investment return is recognized
by and credited to the special fund.
(f) (e) For a deferred service pension that is
transferred to a separate account established and maintained by the relief
association or separate investment vehicle held by the relief association, the
deferred member bears the full investment risk subsequent to transfer and in
calculating the accrued liability of the volunteer firefighters relief
association that pays a lump-sum service pension, the accrued liability for
deferred service pensions is equal to the separate relief association account
balance or the fair market value of the separate investment vehicle held by the
relief association.
(g) (f) The deferred service pension is governed by
and must be calculated under the general statute, special law, relief
association articles of incorporation, and relief association bylaw provisions
applicable on the date on which the member separated from active service with
the fire department and active membership in the relief association.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 29.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.02, subdivision 8, is amended to
read:
Subd. 8. Lump-sum service pensions; installment
payments. (a) Any A
defined benefit relief association, if the governing bylaws so provide, may
pay, at the option of the retiring member intended recipient and
in lieu of a single payment of a lump-sum service pension or survivor
benefit, a lump-sum service pension or survivor benefit in installments.
(b) The election of installment payments shall be
is irrevocable and shall must be made by the retiring
member intended recipient in writing and filed with the secretary of
the relief association no later than 30 days prior to before the
commencement of payment of the service pension or survivor benefit. The amount of the installment payments shall
must be determined so that the present value of the aggregate
installment payments computed at an interest rate of five percent, compounded
annually, is equal to the amount of the single lump-sum payment which would
have been made had the installment payments option not been elected. The payment of each installment shall include
interest at the rate of five percent, compounded annually on the reserve
supporting the remaining installment payments as of the date on which the
previous installment payment was paid and computed from the date on which the
previous installment payment was paid to the date of payment for the current
installment payment in any reasonable manner provided for in the
governing bylaws, but the total amount of installment payments may not exceed
the single payment service pension amount plus interest at an annual rate of
five percent on the amount of delayed payments for the period during which
payment was delayed.
(c) To the extent that the
commissioner of commerce deems it to be necessary or practical, the
commissioner may specify and issue procedures, forms or mathematical tables for
use in performing the calculations required pursuant to this subdivision.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 30.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.02, subdivision 9, is amended to
read:
Subd. 9. Limitation on ancillary benefits. Any A defined benefit relief
association, including any volunteer firefighters relief association governed
by section 69.77 or any volunteer firefighters division of a relief association
governed by chapter 424, may only pay ancillary benefits which would constitute
an authorized disbursement as specified in section 424A.05 subject to the
following requirements or limitations:
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(1) with respect to a defined benefit relief
association in which governing bylaws provide for a lump-sum service pension to
a retiring member, no ancillary benefit may be paid to any former member or
paid to any person on behalf of any former member after the former member (i)
terminates active service with the fire department and active membership in the
relief association; and (ii) commences receipt of a service pension as
authorized under this section; and
(2) with respect to any defined benefit relief
association, no ancillary benefit paid or payable to any member, to any former
member, or to any person on behalf of any member or former member, may exceed
in amount the total earned service pension of the member or former member. The total earned service pension must be
calculated by multiplying the service pension amount specified in the bylaws of
the relief association at the time of death or disability, whichever applies,
by the years of service credited to the member or former member. The years of service must be determined as of
(i) the date the member or former member became entitled to the ancillary
benefit; or (ii) the date the member or former member died entitling a survivor
or the estate of the member or former member to an ancillary benefit. The ancillary benefit must be calculated
without regard to whether the member had attained the minimum amount of service
and membership credit specified in the governing bylaws. For active members, the amount of a permanent
disability benefit or a survivor benefit must be equal to the member's total
earned service pension except that the bylaws of any a defined
benefit relief association may provide for the payment of a survivor
benefit in an amount not to exceed five times the yearly service pension amount
specified in the bylaws on behalf of any member who dies before having
performed five years of active service in the fire department with which the
relief association is affiliated.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 31. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 424A.02, subdivision 9a, is amended to read:
Subd. 9a. Postretirement increases. Notwithstanding any provision of general or
special law to the contrary, a defined benefit relief association paying
a monthly service pension may provide a postretirement increase to retired
members and ancillary benefit recipients of the relief association if (1) the
relief association adopts an appropriate bylaw amendment; and (2) the bylaw
amendment is approved by the municipality pursuant to subdivision 10 and
section 69.773, subdivision 6. The
postretirement increase shall be is applicable only to retired
members and ancillary benefit recipients receiving a service pension or ancillary
benefit as of the effective date of the bylaw amendment. The authority to provide a postretirement
increase to retired members and ancillary benefit recipients of a relief
association contained in this subdivision shall supersede supersedes any
prior special law authorization relating to the provision of postretirement
increases.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 32.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.02, subdivision 9b, is amended to
read:
Subd. 9b. Repayment of service pension in certain
instances. If a retired volunteer
firefighter does not permanently separate from active firefighting service as
required by subdivision 1 and section 424A.001, subdivision 9, by resuming
active service as a firefighter in the same volunteer fire department or as a
person in charge of firefighters in the same volunteer fire department, no
additional service pension amount is payable to the person, no additional
service is creditable to the person, and the person shall must repay
to the defined benefit relief association any previously received
service pension.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 33.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.02, subdivision 10, is amended to
read:
Subd. 10. Local approval of bylaw amendments; filing
requirements. (a) Each defined
benefit relief association to which this section applies shall must
file a revised copy of its governing bylaws with the state auditor upon the
adoption of any amendment to its governing bylaws by the relief association or
upon the approval of any
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amendment to its governing bylaws granted by the governing
body of each municipality served by the fire department to which the relief
association is directly associated.
Failure of the relief association to file a copy of the bylaws or any
bylaw amendments with the state auditor shall disqualify disqualifies
the municipality from the distribution of any future fire state aid until
this filing requirement has been completed.
(b) If the special fund of the relief association does
not have a surplus over full funding pursuant to under section
69.772, subdivision 3, clause (2), subclause (e), or 69.773, subdivision 4, and
if the municipality is required to provide financial support to the special
fund of the relief association pursuant to under section 69.772
or 69.773, no bylaw amendment which would affect the amount of, the manner of
payment of, or the conditions for qualification for service pensions or
ancillary benefits or disbursements other than administrative expenses
authorized pursuant to under section 69.80 payable from the
special fund of the relief association shall be is effective
until it has been ratified by the governing body or bodies of the appropriate
municipalities. If the municipality is
not required to provide financial support to the special fund pursuant to
under this section, the relief association may adopt or amend without
municipal ratification its articles of incorporation or bylaws which increase
or otherwise affect the service pensions or ancillary benefits payable from the
special fund so long as the changes do not cause the amount of the resulting
increase in the accrued liability of the special fund to exceed 90 percent of
the amount of the prior surplus over full funding reported in the
prior year and the changes do not result in the financial requirements of
the special fund exceeding the expected amount of the future subsequent
calendar year's fire state aid to be received by the relief association.
(c) If the relief association pays only a lump-sum
pension, the financial requirements are to be determined by the board of trustees
following the preparation of an estimate of the expected increase in the
accrued liability and annual accruing liability of the relief association
attributable to the change. If the
relief association pays a monthly benefit service pension, the financial
requirements are to be determined by the board of trustees following either an
updated actuarial valuation including the proposed change or an estimate of the
expected actuarial impact of the proposed change prepared by the actuary of the
relief association. If a relief
association adopts or amends its articles of incorporation or bylaws without
municipal ratification pursuant to under this subdivision, and,
subsequent to the amendment or adoption, the financial requirements of the
special fund pursuant to under this section are such so as to
require financial support from the municipality, the provision which was
implemented without municipal ratification shall is no longer be
effective without municipal ratification, and any service pensions or ancillary
benefits payable after that date shall must be paid only in
accordance with the articles of incorporation or bylaws as amended or adopted
with municipal ratification.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 34.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.02, subdivision 12, is amended to
read:
Subd. 12. Transfer of service credit to new district. Notwithstanding the requirements of
subdivision 1 or any other law, a member of a fire department which is
disbanded upon formation of a fire district to serve substantially the same
geographic area, who serves as an active firefighter with the new district fire
department, and is a member of the district firefighters' defined benefit relief
association shall be is entitled to a nonforfeitable service
pension from the new relief association upon completion of a combined total of
20 years active service in the disbanded and the new departments. The amount of the service pension shall be
is based upon years of service in the new department only, and shall
must be in an amount equal to the accrued liability for the appropriate
years of service calculated in accordance with section 69.772, subdivision 2.
Sec. 35. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 424A.02, subdivision 13, is amended to read:
Subd. 13. Combined service pensions. (a) If the articles of incorporation or
bylaws of the defined benefit relief associations so provide, a
volunteer firefighter with credit for service as an active firefighter in more
than one defined benefit volunteer firefighters relief association is
entitled, when the applicable requirements of paragraph (b) are met and when
otherwise qualified, to a prorated service credit from each relief association.
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(b) A volunteer firefighter receiving a prorated
service pension under this subdivision must have a total amount of service
credit of ten years or more, if the bylaws of every affected relief
association does do not require specify only a
five-year service vesting requirement, or five years or more, if the bylaws
of every affected relief association requires require only a
five-year service vesting requirement, as a member of two or more relief
associations otherwise qualified. The
member must have one year or more of service credit in each relief association. The prorated service pension must be based on
the service pension amount in effect for the relief association on the date on
which active volunteer firefighting services covered by that relief association
terminate. To receive a service pension
under this subdivision, the firefighter must become a member of the second or
succeeding association and must give notice of membership to the prior
association within two years of the date of termination of active service with
the prior association. The notice must
be attested to by the second or subsequent relief association secretary.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 36.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.021, is amended to read:
424A.021 CREDIT FOR
BREAK IN SERVICE TO PROVIDE UNIFORMED SERVICE.
Subdivision 1. Authorization. Subject to restrictions stated in this
section, a volunteer firefighter who is absent from firefighting service due to
service in the uniformed services, as defined in United States Code, title 38,
section 4303(13), may obtain service credit if the relief association is a
defined benefit plan or an allocation of any fire state aid, any municipal
contributions, and any investment return received by the relief association
as though the person was an active member if the relief association is a
defined contribution plan for the period of the uniformed service, not to
exceed five years, unless a longer period is required under United States Code,
title 38, section 4312.
Subd. 2. Limitations. (a) To be eligible for service credit or an investment
return allocation as though an active member under this section, the
volunteer firefighter must return to firefighting service with coverage by the
same relief association or by the successor to that relief association upon
discharge from service in the uniformed service within the time frame required
in United States Code, title 38, section 4312(e).
(b) Service credit or an investment return
allocation as though an active member is not authorized if the
firefighter separates from uniformed service with a dishonorable or bad conduct
discharge or under other than honorable conditions.
(c) Service credit or an investment return
allocation as though an active member is not authorized if the
firefighter fails to provide notice to the fire department that the individual
is leaving to provide service in the uniformed service, unless it is not
feasible to provide that notice due to the emergency nature of the situation.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 37.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.03, is amended to read:
424A.03 UNIFORMITY OF
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER SERVICE PENSION AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
Subdivision 1. Limitation on nonuniformity of pensions. Every partially salaried and partially
volunteer firefighters' relief association shall must provide
service pensions to volunteer firefighter members based on the years of service
of the members not on the compensation paid to the members for firefighting
services. Each relief association shall
must provide service pensions to salaried members as set forth in
chapter 424 and applicable special laws.
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2009 - Top of Page 5585
Subd. 2. Penalties for violations. Any A municipality which has a
fire department to which associated with a relief association
which violates the provisions of subdivision 1 is directly associated or which
contracts with an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation of which
associated with a relief association which violates the provisions of
subdivision 1 is a subsidiary shall may not be included in the
apportionment of fire state aid by the commissioner of commerce to the
applicable county auditor pursuant to under section 69.021,
subdivision 6, and shall may not be included in the apportionment
of fire state aid by the county auditor to the various municipalities pursuant
to under section 69.021, subdivision 7.
Subd. 3. Exception to application of limitation and
penalty. The limitation provided for
in subdivision 1 shall does not apply to any relief association
which prior to before January 1, 1957, had established a definite
service pension formula for members of the partially salaried and partially volunteer
firefighters' relief association who are regularly employed firefighters.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 38.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.04, is amended to read:
424A.04
VOLUNTEER RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS; BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
Subdivision 1. Membership. (a) A relief association that is directly
associated with a municipal fire department must be managed by a board of
trustees consisting of nine members. Six
trustees must be elected from the membership of the relief association and
three trustees must be drawn from the officials of the municipalities served by
the fire department to which the relief association is directly
associated. The bylaws of a relief association
which provides a monthly benefit service pension may provide that one of the
six trustees elected from the relief association membership may be a retired
member receiving a monthly pension who is elected by the membership of the
relief association. The three municipal
trustees must be one elected municipal official and one elected or appointed
municipal official who are designated as municipal representatives by the
municipal governing board annually and the chief of the municipal fire
department.
(b) A relief association that is a subsidiary of an
independent nonprofit firefighting corporation must be managed by a board of
trustees consisting of nine members. Six
trustees must be elected from the membership of the relief association, two
trustees must be drawn from the officials of the municipalities served by the
fire department to which the relief association is directly associated, and one
trustee shall must be the fire chief serving with the independent
nonprofit firefighting corporation. The
bylaws of a relief association may provide that one of the six trustees elected
from the relief association membership may be a retired member receiving a
monthly pension who is elected by the membership of the relief
association. The two municipal trustees
must be elected or appointed municipal officials, selected as follows:
(1) if only one municipality contracts with the
independent nonprofit firefighting corporation, the municipal trustees must be
two officials of the contracting municipality who are designated annually by
the governing body of the municipality; or
(2) if two or more municipalities contract with the
independent nonprofit corporation, the municipal trustees must be one official
from each of the two largest municipalities in population who are designated
annually by the governing bodies of the applicable municipalities.
(c) The municipal trustees for a relief association
that is directly associated with a fire department operated as or by a joint
powers entity must be the fire chief of the fire department and two trustees
designated annually by the joint powers board. The municipal trustees for a relief
association that is directly associated with a fire department service area
township must be the fire chief of the fire department and two trustees designated
by the township board.
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(d) If a relief association lacks the municipal board
members provided for in paragraph (a), (b), or (c) because the fire department
is not located in or associated with an organized municipality, joint powers
entity, or township, the municipal board members must be the fire chief of
the fire department and two board members appointed from the fire department
service area by the board of commissioners of the applicable county.
(e) The term of these the appointed
municipal board members is one year or until the person's successor is
qualified, whichever is later.
(f) A municipal trustee under paragraph (a), (b), (c),
or (d) has all the rights and duties accorded to any other trustee, except the
right to be an officer of the relief association board of trustees.
(g) A board must have at least three officers, who are
a president, a secretary and a treasurer.
These officers must be elected from among the elected trustees by either
the full board of trustees or by the relief association membership, as
specified in the bylaws. In no event may
any trustee hold more than one officer position at any one time. The terms of the elected trustees and of the
officers of the board must be specified in the bylaws of the relief
association, but may not exceed three years.
If the term of the elected trustees exceeds one year, the election of
the various trustees elected from the membership must be staggered on as equal
a basis as is practicable.
Subd. 2. Fiduciary duty. The board of trustees of a relief
association shall undertake their activities consistent with chapter 356A.
Subd. 2a.
Fiduciary responsibility. In the discharge of their respective
duties, the officers and trustees shall be held to the standard of care
specified in section 11A.09. In
addition, the trustees shall act in accordance with chapter 356A. Each member of the board is a fiduciary and
shall undertake all fiduciary activities in accordance with the standard of
care of section 11A.09, and in a manner consistent with chapter 356A. No fiduciary of a relief association shall
cause a relief association to engage in a transaction if the fiduciary knows or
should know that the transaction constitutes one of the following direct or
indirect transactions:
(1) sale or exchange or leasing of
any real property between the relief association and a board member;
(2) lending of money or other
extension of credit between the relief association and a board member or member
of the relief association;
(3) furnishing of goods, services, or
facilities between the relief association and a board member; or
(4) transfer to a board member, or
use by or for the benefit of a board member, of any assets of the relief
association. A transfer of assets does
not mean the payment of relief association benefits or administrative expenses
permitted by law.
Subd. 3. Conditions on relief association
consultants. (a) If a volunteer
firefighter relief association hires employs or contracts with a
consultant to provide legal or financial advice, the secretary of the relief
association shall obtain and the consultant shall provide to the
secretary of the relief association a copy of the consultant's certificate
of insurance.
(b) A consultant is any person who is employed under
contract to provide legal or financial advice and who is or who represents to
the volunteer firefighter relief association that the person is:
(1) an actuary;
(2) a licensed public accountant or a certified public
accountant;
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(3) an attorney;
(4) an investment advisor or manager, or an investment
counselor;
(5) an investment advisor or manager selection
consultant;
(6) a pension benefit design advisor or consultant; or
(7) any other financial consultant.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 39.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.05, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Establishment of special fund. Every volunteer firefighters' relief
association shall establish and maintain a special fund within the relief
association.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 40.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.05, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Special fund assets and revenues. The special fund shall must be
credited with all fire state aid moneys received pursuant to under sections
69.011 to 69.051, all taxes levied by or other revenues received from the
municipality pursuant to under sections 69.771 to 69.776 or any
applicable special law requiring municipal support for the relief association,
any moneys or property donated, given, granted or devised by any person which
is specified for use for the support of the special fund and any interest or
investment return earned upon the assets of the special fund. The treasurer of the relief association shall
be is the custodian of the assets of the special fund and shall
must be the recipient on behalf of the special fund of all revenues
payable to the special fund. The
treasurer shall maintain adequate records documenting any transaction involving
the assets or the revenues of the special fund.
These records and the bylaws of the relief association shall be are
public and shall must be open for inspection by any member of
the relief association, any officer or employee of the state or of the
municipality, or any member of the public, at reasonable times and places.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 41.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.05, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Authorized disbursements from the special
fund. (a) Disbursements from the
special fund are may not permitted to be made for any
purpose other than one of the following:
(1) for the payment of service pensions to retired
members of the relief association if authorized and paid under law and the
bylaws governing the relief association;
(2) for the payment of temporary or permanent
disability benefits to disabled members of the relief association if authorized
and paid pursuant to under law and specified in amount in the
bylaws governing the relief association;
(3) for the payment of survivor benefits to surviving
spouses and surviving children, or if none, to designated beneficiaries, of
deceased members of the relief association, and if no survivors and if
no designated beneficiary, for the payment of a death benefit to the estate of
the deceased active or deferred firefighter, if authorized by and paid pursuant
to under law and specified in amount in the bylaws governing the
relief association;
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(4) for the payment of the fees, dues and assessments to
the Minnesota State Fire Department Association, and to the
Minnesota Area Relief Association Coalition, and to the state Volunteer
Firefighters Benefit Association in order to entitle relief association
members to membership in and the benefits of these associations or
organizations; and
(5) for the payment of insurance premiums to the state
Volunteer Firefighters Benefit Association, or an insurance company licensed by
the state of Minnesota offering casualty insurance, in order to entitle relief
association members to membership in and the benefits of the association or
organization; and
(5) (6) for
the payment of administrative expenses of the relief association as authorized
under section 69.80.
(b) For purposes of this chapter, for a monthly benefit
volunteer fire relief association or for a combination lump-sum and monthly
benefit volunteer fire relief association where a monthly benefit service
pension has been elected by or a monthly benefit is payable with respect to a
firefighter, a designated beneficiary must be a natural person. For purposes of this chapter, for a
defined contribution volunteer fire relief association, for a lump-sum
volunteer fire relief association, or for a combination lump-sum and monthly
benefit volunteer fire relief association where a lump-sum service pension has
been elected by or a lump-sum benefit is payable with respect to a firefighter,
a designated beneficiary may be a trust created under chapter 501B.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 42.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.05, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Investments of assets of the special fund. The assets of the special fund shall must
be invested only in securities authorized by section 69.775.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 43.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.06, is amended to read:
424A.06
RELIEF ASSOCIATION GENERAL FUND.
Subdivision 1. Establishment of general fund. Any A volunteer firefighters'
relief association may establish and maintain a general fund within the relief
association.
Subd. 2. General fund assets and revenues. To the general fund, if established, shall
must be credited all moneys received from dues, fines, initiation fees,
entertainment revenues and any moneys or property donated, given, granted or
devised by any person, for unspecified uses.
The treasurer of the relief association shall be is the
custodian of the assets of the general fund and shall must be the
recipient on behalf of the general fund of all revenues payable to the general
fund. The treasurer shall maintain
adequate records documenting any transaction involving the assets or the
revenues of the general fund. These
records shall must be open for inspection by any member of the
relief association at reasonable times and places.
Subd. 3. Authorized disbursements from the general
fund. Disbursements from the general
fund may be made for any purpose that is authorized by either the
articles of incorporation or bylaws of the relief association.
Subd. 4. Investment of assets of the general fund. The assets of the general fund may be
invested in any securities that are authorized by the bylaws of the
relief association and may be certified for investment by the State Board of
Investment in fixed income pools or in a separately managed account at the
discretion of the State Board of Investment as provided in section 11A.14.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
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Sec. 44.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.07, is amended to read:
424A.07 NONPROFIT
FIREFIGHTING CORPORATIONS; ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS.
Prior to Before paying any service
pensions or retirement benefits pursuant to under section 424A.02
or before becoming entitled to receive any amounts of fire state aid
upon transmittal from a contracting municipality pursuant to under section
69.031, subdivision 5, a nonprofit firefighting corporation shall establish a volunteer
firefighters' relief association governed by this chapter.
Sec. 45.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.08, is amended to read:
424A.08 MUNICIPALITY
WITHOUT RELIEF ASSOCIATION; AUTHORIZED DISBURSEMENTS.
(a) Any qualified municipality which is
entitled to receive fire state aid but which has no volunteer firefighters'
relief association directly associated with its fire department and which
has no full-time firefighters with retirement coverage by the public employees
police and fire retirement plan shall deposit the fire state aid in a
special account established for that purpose in the municipal
treasury. Disbursement from the special
account shall may not be made for any purpose except:
(1) payment of the fees, dues and assessments to the
Minnesota State Fire Department Association and to the state Volunteer
Firefighters' Benefit Association in order to entitle its firefighters to
membership in and the benefits of these state associations;
(2) payment of the cost of purchasing and maintaining
needed equipment for the fire department; and
(3) payment of the cost for of construction,
acquisition, repair and, or maintenance of buildings or other
premises to house the equipment of the fire department.
(b) A qualified municipality which is
entitled to receive fire state aid, which has no volunteer firefighters' relief
association directly associated with its fire department and which has
full-time firefighters with retirement coverage by the public employees police
and fire retirement plan may disburse the fire state aid as provided in
paragraph (a), for the payment of the employer contribution requirement with
respect to firefighters covered by the public employees police and fire
retirement plan under section 353.65, subdivision 3, or for a combination of
the two types of disbursements.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 46.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.10, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Definitions. For purposes of this section:
(1) "qualified recipient" means an
individual who receives a lump-sum distribution of pension or retirement
benefits from a volunteer firefighters' relief association for service
that the individual has performed as a volunteer firefighter;
(2) "survivor of a deceased active or deferred
volunteer firefighter" means the legally married surviving spouse
of a deceased active or deferred volunteer firefighter under section
424A.001, subdivision 6, or, if none, the surviving minor child or minor
children of a deceased active or deferred volunteer firefighter;
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(3) "active volunteer firefighter" means a
person who regularly renders fire suppression service for a municipal fire
department or an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation, who has met
the statutory and other requirements for relief association membership, and who
has been is deemed by the relief association under law and its bylaws
to be a fully qualified member of the relief association for at least one
month; and
(4) "deferred volunteer firefighter" means a
former active volunteer firefighter who terminated active firefighting service,
has sufficient service credit from the applicable relief association to be
entitled to a service pension under the bylaws of the relief association,
but has not applied for or has not received the service pension.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 47.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.10, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Payment of supplemental benefit. (a) Upon the payment by a volunteer firefighters'
relief association of a lump-sum distribution to a qualified recipient, the
association must pay a supplemental benefit to the qualified recipient. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the
relief association must pay the supplemental benefit out of its special
fund. The amount of This benefit equals
is an amount equal to ten percent of the regular lump-sum distribution
that is paid on the basis of the recipient's service as a volunteer
firefighter. In no case may the amount
of the supplemental benefit exceed $1,000.
A supplemental benefit under this paragraph may not be paid to a
survivor of a deceased active or deferred volunteer firefighter in that
capacity.
(b) Upon the payment by a relief association of a
lump-sum survivor benefit or funeral benefit to a survivor of a deceased
active volunteer firefighter or of a deceased deferred volunteer firefighter,
the association may pay a supplemental survivor benefit to the survivor of the
deceased active or deferred volunteer firefighter from the special fund of the
relief association if its articles of incorporation or bylaws so provide. The amount of the supplemental survivor
benefit is 20 percent of the survivor benefit or funeral benefit,
but not to exceed $2,000.
(c) An individual may receive a supplemental benefit
under paragraph (a) or under paragraph (b), but not under both paragraphs with
respect to one lump-sum volunteer firefighter benefit.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 48.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.10, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. State reimbursement. (a) Each year, to be eligible for state
reimbursement of the amount of supplemental benefits paid under subdivision 2
during the preceding calendar year, the volunteer firefighters' relief
association must shall apply to the commissioner of revenue by
February 15. By March 15, the commissioner
shall reimburse the relief association for the amount of the supplemental
benefits paid by the relief association to qualified recipients and to
survivors of deceased active or deferred volunteer firefighters.
(b) The commissioner of revenue shall prescribe the
form of and supporting information that must be supplied as part of the
application for state reimbursement. The
commissioner of revenue shall reimburse the relief association by paying the
reimbursement amount to the treasurer of the municipality where the association
is located. Within 30 days after
receipt, the municipal treasurer shall transmit the state reimbursement to the
treasurer of the association if the association has filed a financial report
with the municipality. If the relief
association has not filed a financial report with the municipality, the
municipal treasurer shall delay transmission of the reimbursement payment to
the association until the complete financial report is filed. If the association has dissolved or has been
removed as a trustee of state aid, the treasurer shall deposit the money in a
special account in the municipal treasury, and the money may be disbursed only
for the purposes and in the manner provided in section 424A.08. When paid to the association, the
reimbursement payment must be deposited in the special fund of the relief
association.
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(c) A sum sufficient to make the payments is
appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of revenue.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 49.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.10, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. In lieu of income tax exclusion. (a) The supplemental benefit provided by this
section is in lieu of the state income tax exclusion for lump-sum distributions
of retirement benefits paid to volunteer firefighters.
(b) If the law is modified to exclude or exempt
volunteer firefighters' lump-sum distributions from state income taxation, the
supplemental benefits under this section may are no longer be
paid payable, beginning with the first calendar year in which the
exclusion or exemption is effective.
This subdivision does not apply to exemption of all or part of a
lump-sum distribution under section 290.032 or 290.0802.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 50.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.10, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Retroactive reimbursement in certain
instances. A supplemental survivor or
funeral benefit may be paid by a relief association for the death of an
active volunteer firefighter or of a deferred volunteer firefighter that
occurred on or after August 1, 2005, if the relief association articles of
incorporation or bylaws so provide for a supplemental survivor benefit
and provide for retroactivity.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 51.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424B.10, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 1a.
Applicability. This section applies when all of the
volunteer firefighters' relief associations involved in the consolidation are defined
benefit relief associations as defined in section 424A.001, subdivision 1b.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 52.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424B.10, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 1b.
Benefits. (a) The successor relief association
following the consolidation of two or more defined benefit relief associations
must be a defined benefit relief association.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of
section 424A.02, subdivision 3, to the contrary, the initial service pension
amount of the subsequent defined benefit relief association as of the effective
date of consolidation is either the service pension amount specified in clause
(1) or the service pension amounts specified in clause (2), as provided for in
the consolidated relief association's articles of incorporation or bylaws:
(1) the highest dollar amount service
pension amount of any prior volunteer firefighters relief association in effect
immediately before the consolidation initiation if the pension amount was
implemented consistent with section 424A.02; or
(2) for service rendered by each
individual volunteer firefighter before consolidation, the service pension
amount under the consolidating volunteer firefighters relief association that the
firefighter belonged to immediately before the consolidation if the pension
amount was implemented consistent with section 424A.02 and for service rendered
after the effective date of the consolidation, the highest dollar amount
service pension of any of the consolidating volunteer firefighters relief
associations in effect immediately before the consolidation if the pension
amount was implemented consistent with section 424A.02.
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(c) Any increase in the service
pension amount beyond the amount implemented under paragraph (a) must conform
with the requirements and limitations of sections 69.771 to 69.775 and section
424A.02.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 53.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424B.10, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Funding. (a) Unless the applicable municipalities
agree in writing to allocate the minimum municipal obligation in a different
manner, the minimum municipal obligation under section 69.772 or 69.773,
whichever applies, must be allocated between the applicable municipalities in
proportion to their fire state aid.
(b) If any applicable municipality fails to meet its
portion of the minimum municipal obligation to the subsequent relief
association, all other applicable municipalities are jointly obligated to
provide the required funding upon certification by the relief association
secretary. An applicable municipality
that pays the minimum municipal obligation amount for another applicable
municipality, the municipality may collect the that payment
amount, plus a 25 percent surcharge, from the responsible applicable
municipality by any available means, including a deduction from any
state aid or payment amount payable to the responsible municipality upon
certification of the necessary information to the commissioner of finance.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 54. [424B.11] CONSOLIDATING DEFINED
CONTRIBUTION RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS; INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS; FUNDING.
Subdivision 1.
Applicability. This section applies when all of the
volunteer firefighters' relief associations involved in the consolidation are
defined contribution relief associations as defined in section 424A.001,
subdivision 1c.
Subd. 2.
Individual accounts. The successor relief association following
the consolidation of two or more defined contribution relief associations must
be a defined contribution relief association and the successor relief
association board shall establish individual accounts for every active member,
inactive member, deferred member, or retired member receiving installment
payments with that status as of the consolidation date. To each individual account the successor
relief association must credit the amount to the credit of each person by a
predecessor relief association as of the date of consolidation plus a
proportional share, based on account value, of any subsequent net revenue
during the consolidation process.
Subd. 3.
Funding. Unless the articles of incorporation or
bylaws of the successor relief association specify that municipal contributions
are wholly voluntary or unless the municipalities associated with the
consolidating defined contribution relief associations agree in writing to a
different municipal support arrangement, each municipality must continue to
provide the same amount of municipal support to the successor relief association
as the municipality provided to the applicable predecessor relief association
in the calendar year immediately prior to the calendar year in which the
consolidation occurs.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 55. [424B.12] MIXED CONSOLIDATING RELIEF
ASSOCIATIONS; BENEFIT PLAN; FUNDING.
Subdivision 1.
Applicability. This section applies where one or more of
the volunteer firefighters' relief associations involved in the consolidation are
defined benefit relief associations as defined in section 424A.001, subdivision
1b, and one or more of the volunteer firefighters' relief associations involved
in the consolidation are defined contribution relief associations as defined in
section 424A.001, subdivision 1c.
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Subd. 2.
Benefit plan. The articles of incorporation or bylaws of
the successor relief association must specify whether the relief association is
a defined benefit relief association or whether the relief association is a
defined contribution relief association.
If the successor relief association is a defined benefit relief
association, the relief association benefits must comply with sections 424A.02
and 424B.11, subdivision 1a. If the
successor relief association is a defined contribution relief association, the
relief association must comply with sections 424A.016 and 424B.12, subdivision
2.
Subd. 3.
Funding. If the successor relief association is a
defined benefit relief association, the relief association funding is governed
by section 424B.11, subdivision 2. If the
successor relief association is a defined contribution relief association, the
relief association funding is governed by section 424B.12, subdivision 3.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 56.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424B.21, is amended to read:
424B.21 ANNUITY
PURCHASES UPON DISSOLUTION.
The board of trustees of a volunteer firefighters
relief association that is scheduled for dissolution may purchase annuity
contracts under section 424A.02 424A.015, subdivision 8a
3, instead of transferring special fund assets to a municipal trust fund
under section 424B.20, subdivision 4.
Payment of an annuity for which a contract is purchased may not commence
before the retirement age specified in the relief association bylaws and in
compliance with section 424A.016, subdivision 2, or 424A.02, subdivision
1. Legal title to the annuity contract
transfers to the municipal trust fund under section 424B.20, subdivision 4.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009, if article 1 is also enacted.
Sec. 57. BRIMSON FIREFIGHTERS RELIEF ASSOCIATION;
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBERSHIP.
Notwithstanding any provisions of
Minnesota Statutes, section 424A.04, or other law to the contrary, the Brimson
Firefighters Relief Association must be managed by a board of trustees
consisting of ten members, with six trustees elected from the membership of the
relief association, one trustee drawn from the officials of each municipality
served by the fire department to which the relief association is directly
associated, and one trustee who is the fire chief serving with the independent
nonprofit firefighting corporation.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day after the governing body of the
Fairbanks Township and its chief clerical officer timely comply with Minnesota
Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3.
Sec. 58. REPEALER.
Subdivision 1.
Repealed for recodification. Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections
424A.001, subdivision 7; 424A.02, subdivisions 4, 6, 8a, and 8b; and 424B.10,
subdivision 1, are repealed.
Subd. 2.
Repealed as obsolete. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.09,
is repealed.
Subd. 3.
Substantive repeal. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 424A.02,
subdivision 9b, is repealed.
ARTICLE 12
CORRECTION OF PRIOR DRAFTING ERRORS
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.66, subdivision 6, is amended to
read:
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Subd. 6. Insurance. A board of an employing district entering
into an agreement authorized by this section shall take all steps necessary to
assure continuance of any insurance programs furnished or authorized a full-time
teacher on an identical basis and with identical sharing of costs for a
part-time teacher pursuant to this section, provided, however, that the
requirements of this sentence may be modified by a collective bargaining
agreement between a board and an exclusive representative pursuant to chapter 179
179A. Teachers as defined in section
136F.43 employed on a less than 75 percent time basis pursuant to this section
shall be eligible for state paid insurance benefits as if the teachers were
employed full time.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.32, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Covered retirement plans. The provisions of this section apply to the
following retirement plans:
(1) the general state employees retirement plan of the
Minnesota State Retirement System, established under chapter 352;
(2) the correctional state employees retirement plan
of the Minnesota State Retirement System, established under chapter 352;
(3) the State Patrol retirement plan, established
under chapter 352B;
(4) the general employees retirement plan of the
Public Employees Retirement Association, established under chapter 353;
(5) the public employees police and fire plan of the
Public Employees Retirement Association, established under chapter 353;
(6) the Teachers Retirement Association, established
under chapter 354;
(7) the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund,
established under chapter 422A;
(8) the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association,
established under chapter 354A; and
(9) the Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund
Association, established under chapter 354A; and
(10) (9) the
St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, established under chapter 354A.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 422A.06, subdivision 8, is amended to
read:
Subd. 8. Retirement benefit fund. (a) The retirement benefit fund consists of
amounts held for payment of retirement allowances for members retired under
this chapter, including any transfer amount payable under subdivision 3,
paragraph (c).
(b) Unless subdivision 3, paragraph (c), applies,
assets equal to the required reserves for retirement allowances under this
chapter determined in accordance with the appropriate mortality table adopted
by the board of trustees based on the experience of the fund as recommended by
the actuary retained under section 356.214 must be transferred from the deposit
accumulation fund to the retirement benefit fund as of the last business day of
the month in which the retirement allowance begins. The income from investments of these assets
must be allocated to this
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fund and any interest charge under subdivision 3,
paragraph (c), must be credited to the fund.
There must be paid from this fund the retirement annuities authorized by
law. A required reserve calculation for
the retirement benefit fund must be made by the actuary retained under section
356.214 and must be certified to the retirement board by the actuary retained
under section 356.214.
(c) There is established a deferred yield adjustment
account which must be increased by the sale or disposition of any debt
securities at less than book value and must be decreased by the sale or
disposition of debt securities at more than book value. At the end of each fiscal year, a portion of
the balance of this account must be offset against the investment income for
that year. The annual portion of the
balance to be offset must be proportional to the reciprocal of the average
remaining life of the bonds sold, unless the amounts are offset by gains on the
future sales of these securities. The
amount of this account must be included in the recognized value of assets other
than corporate stocks and all other equity investments. In any fiscal year in which the gains on the
sales of debt securities exceed the discounts realized on the sales of such
securities, the excess must be used to reduce the balance of the account. If the realized capital gains are sufficient
to reduce the balance of the account to zero, any excess gains must be
available for the calculation of postretirement adjustments.
(d)(1) Annually, following June 30, the board shall
use the procedures in clauses (2), (3), and (4), to determine whether a
postretirement adjustment is payable and to determine the amount of any
postretirement adjustment.
(2) If the Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners
and clerical workers all items index published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the United States Department of Labor increases from June 30 of
the preceding year to June 30 of the current year, the board shall certify the
percentage increase. The amount
certified must not exceed the lesser of the difference between the
preretirement interest assumption and postretirement interest assumption in
section 356.215, subdivision 8, paragraph (a), or 3.5 percent.
(3) In addition to any percentage increase certified
under paragraph (b), the board shall use the following procedures to determine
if a postretirement adjustment is payable under this paragraph:
(i) the board shall determine the market value of the
fund on June 30 of that year;
(ii) the amount of reserves required as of the current
June 30 for the annuity or benefit payable to an annuitant and benefit
recipient must be determined by the actuary retained under section
356.214. An annuitant or benefit
recipient who has been receiving an annuity or benefit for at least 12 full
months as of the current June 30 is eligible to receive a full postretirement
adjustment. An annuitant or benefit
recipient who has been receiving an annuity or benefit for at least one full
month, but less than 12 full months as of the current June 30, is eligible to
receive a partial postretirement adjustment.
The amount of the reserves for those annuitants and benefit recipients
who are eligible to receive a full postretirement benefit adjustment is known
as "eligible reserves." The amount of the reserves for those
annuitants and benefit recipients who are not eligible to receive a
postretirement adjustment is known as "noneligible reserves." For an
annuitant or benefit recipient who is eligible to receive a partial
postretirement adjustment, additional "eligible reserves" is an
amount that bears the same ratio to the total reserves required for the
annuitant or benefit recipient as the number of full months of annuity or
benefit receipt as of the current June 30 bears to 12 full months. The remainder of the annuitant's or benefit
recipient's reserves are "noneligible reserves";
(iii) the board shall determine the percentage
increase certified under clause (2) multiplied by the eligible required
reserves, as adjusted for mortality gains and losses, determined under item
(ii);
(iv) the board shall add the amount of reserves
required for the annuities or benefits payable to annuitants and benefit
recipients of the participating public pension plans or funds as of the current
June 30 to the amount determined under item (iii);
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(v) the board shall subtract the amount determined
under item (iv) from the market value of the fund determined under item (i);
(vi) the board shall adjust the amount determined under
item (v) by the cumulative current balance determined under item (viii) and any
negative balance carried forward under item (ix);
(vii) a positive amount resulting from the calculations
in items (i) to (vi) is the excess market value. A negative amount is the negative balance;
(viii) the board shall allocate one-fifth of the excess
market value or one-fifth of the negative balance to each of five consecutive
years, beginning with the fiscal year ending the current June 30; and
(ix) to calculate the postretirement adjustment under
this paragraph based on investment performance for a fiscal year, the board
shall add together all excess market value allocated to that year and subtract
from the sum all negative balances allocated to that year. If this calculation results in a negative number,
the entire negative balance must be carried forward and allocated to the next
year. If the resulting amount is
positive, a postretirement adjustment is payable under this paragraph. The board shall express a positive amount as
a percentage of the total eligible required reserves certified to the board
under item (ii).
(4) The board shall determine the amount of any
postretirement adjustment which is payable using the following procedure:
(i) the total "eligible" required reserves as
of the first of January next following the end of the fiscal year for the
annuitants and benefit recipients eligible to receive a full or partial
postretirement adjustment as determined by item (ii) must be certified to the
board by the actuary retained under section 356.214. The total "eligible" required reserves
must be determined by the actuary retained under section 356.214 on the
assumption that all annuitants and benefit recipients eligible to receive a
full or partial postretirement adjustment will be alive on the January 1 in
question; and
(ii) the board shall add the percentage certified under
clause (2) to any positive percentage calculated under clause (3). The board shall not subtract from the
percentage certified under paragraph (b) any negative amount calculated under
clause (3). The sum of these percentages
must be carried to five decimal places and must be certified as the full
postretirement adjustment percentage.
(e) The board shall determine the amount of the
postretirement adjustment payable to each eligible annuitant and benefit
recipient. The dollar amount of the
postretirement adjustment must be calculated by applying the certified
postretirement adjustment percentage to the amount of the monthly annuity or
benefit payable to each eligible annuitant or benefit recipient eligible for a
full adjustment.
The dollar amount of the partial postretirement
adjustment payable to each annuitant or benefit recipient eligible for a
partial adjustment must be calculated by first determining a partial percentage
amount that bears the same ratio to the certified full adjustment percentage
amount as the number of full months of annuity or benefit receipt as of the
current June 30 bears to 12 full months.
The partial percentage amount determined must then be applied to the
amount of the monthly annuity or benefit payable to each annuitant or benefit
recipient eligible to receive a partial postretirement adjustment. The postretirement adjustments are payable on
January 1 following the calculations required under this section and must
thereafter be included in the monthly annuity or benefit paid to the
recipient. Any adjustments under this
section must be paid automatically unless the intended recipient files a
written notice with the applicable participating public pension fund or plan
requesting that the adjustment not be paid.
(f) As of June 30 annually, the actuary retained under
section 356.214 shall calculate the amount of required reserves representing
any mortality gains and any mortality losses incurred during the fiscal year
and report the results of those calculations to the plan. The actuary shall report separately the
amount of the reserves for annuitants and benefit recipients who are eligible
for a postretirement benefit adjustment and the amount of reserves for
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annuitants and benefit recipients who are not eligible
for a postretirement benefit adjustment.
If the net amount of required reserves represents a mortality gain, the
board shall sell sufficient securities or transfer sufficient available cash to
equal the amount. If the amount of
required reserves represents a mortality loss, the plan shall transfer an
amount equal to the amount of the net mortality loss. The amount of the transfers must be
determined before any postretirement benefit adjustments have been made. All transfers resulting from mortality
adjustments must be completed annually by December 31 for the preceding June
30. Interest is payable on any transfers
after December 31 based upon the preretirement interest assumption for the
participating plan or fund as specified in section 356.215, subdivision 8,
stated as a monthly rate. Book values of
the assets of the fund must be determined only after all adjustments for
mortality gains and losses for the fiscal year have been made.
(g) All money necessary to meet the requirements of the
certification of withdrawals and all money necessary to pay postretirement
adjustments under this section are hereby and from time to time appropriated
from the postretirement investment fund to the board.
(h) Annually, following the calculation of any
postretirement adjustment payable from the retirement benefit fund, the board
of trustees shall submit a report to the executive director of the Legislative
Commission on Pensions and Retirement and to the commissioner of finance
indicating the amount of any postretirement adjustment and the underlying
calculations on which that postretirement adjustment amount is based, including
the amount of dividends, the amount of interest, and the amount of net realized
capital gains or losses utilized in the calculations.
(i) With respect to a former contributing member who
began receiving a retirement annuity or disability benefit under section
422A.151, paragraph (a), clause (2), after June 30, 1997, or with respect to a
survivor of a former contributing member who began receiving a survivor benefit
under section 422A.151, paragraph (a), clause (2), after June 30, 1997, the
reserves attributable to the one percent lower amount of the cost-of-living
adjustment payable to those annuity or benefit recipients annually must be
transferred back to the deposit accumulation fund to the credit of the
Metropolitan Airports Commission. The
calculation of this annual reduced cost-of-living adjustment reserve transfer
must be reviewed by the actuary retained under section 356.214.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective retroactively from June 30, 2008.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 422A.08, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Service credit purchase. Any contributor who prior to entering the service
of the city was an employee of a public corporation, is authorized, using the
procedure in subdivision 5a section 356.551, to purchase
allowable service credit in the retirement fund for employment by the public
corporation in the same manner as though the service had been rendered to the
city, providing that the individual has not received service credit and is not
eligible to receive service credit for this period under any other plan or fund
listed in section 356.30, subdivision 3.
Before receiving credit for service rendered to a public corporation as
herein set forth, the contributing employee shall make application therefor in
writing to the retirement board, and shall contribute to the retirement fund
the amount specified in subdivision 5a section 356.551.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 5. Laws
1989, chapter 319, article 11, section 13, is amended to read:
Sec. 13. REPEALER.
Laws 1967, chapter 815; Laws 1978, chapter 683; and
Laws 1981, chapter 224, sections 2 and 5 section 245, are
repealed.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment and
applies retroactively from June 2, 1989.
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Sec. 6. Laws
2008, chapter 349, article 14, section 13, is amended to read:
Sec. 13. REPEALER OF PRIOR INCONSISTENT SPECIAL
VOLUNTEER FIRE RELIEF ASSOCIATION ANCILLARY BENEFIT LEGISLATION.
Subdivision 1. Anoka.
Laws 1969, chapter 352 252, section 1, subdivisions 3, 4,
5, and 6, are repealed.
Subd. 2. Butterfield. Laws 1975, chapter 185, section 1, is
repealed.
Subd. 3. Coon Rapids. Laws 1973, chapter 304, section 1,
subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, are repealed.
Subd. 4. Edina.
(1) Laws 1965, chapter 592, section 3, as amended added by
Laws 1969, chapter 644, section 2, and amended by Laws 1975,
chapter 229, section 2; (2) Laws 1965, chapter 592, section 4, as amended
added by Laws 1969, chapter 644, section 2, and amended by Laws
1975, chapter 229, section 3, Laws 1985, chapter 261, section 37, and Laws
1991, chapter 125, section 1; (3) Laws 1985, chapter 261, section 37, as
amended by Laws 1991, chapter 125, section 1; and (4) Laws 1991, chapter 125,
section 1, are repealed.
Subd. 5. Fairmont. Laws 1967, chapter 575, sections 2, as
amended by Laws 1979, chapter 201, section 23; 3; and 4, are repealed.
Subd. 6. Falcon Heights. Laws 1969, chapter 526, sections 3; 4; 5, as
amended by Laws 1974, chapter 208, section 2; and 7, as amended by Laws 1974,
chapter 208, section 3, are repealed.
Subd. 7. Golden Valley. Laws 1971, chapter 140, sections 2, as
amended by Laws 1973, chapter 30, section 2; 3, as amended by Laws 1973,
chapter 30, section 3; 4, as amended by Laws 1973, chapter 30, section 4; and
5, as amended by Laws 1973, chapter 30, section 5; and Laws 1993, chapter 244,
article 4, section 1, are repealed.
Subd. 8. Wayzata. Laws 1973, chapter 472, section 1, as amended
by Laws 1976, chapter 272, section 1, and Laws 1979, chapter 201, section 33,
is repealed.
Subd. 9. White Bear Lake. Laws 1971, chapter 214, section 1, subdivisions
sections 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, are repealed.
EFFECTIVE DATE; LOCAL
APPROVAL. (a) Subdivision 1 is effective the day after
the governing body of Anoka and its chief clerical officer timely complete
their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and
3, after June 30, 2009.
(b) Subdivision 2 is effective the day after the
governing body of Butterfield and its chief clerical officer timely complete
their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and
3, after June 30, 2009.
(c) Subdivision 3 is effective the day after the
governing body of Coon Rapids and its chief clerical officer timely complete
their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and
3, after June 30, 2009.
(d) Subdivision 4 is effective the day after the
governing body of Edina and its chief clerical officer timely complete their
compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3,
after June 30, 2009.
(e) Subdivision 5 is effective the day after the
governing body of Fairmont and its chief clerical officer timely complete their
compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3,
after June 30, 2009.
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(f) Subdivision 6 is effective the day after the
governing body of Falcon Heights and its chief clerical officer timely complete
their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and
3, after June 30, 2009.
(g) Subdivision 7 is effective the day after the
governing body of Golden Valley and its chief clerical officer timely complete
their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and
3, after June 30, 2009.
(h) Subdivision 8 is effective the day after the
governing body of Wayzata and its chief clerical officer timely complete their
compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3,
after June 30, 2009.
(i) Subdivision 9 is effective the day after the
governing body of White Bear Lake and its chief clerical officer timely
complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021,
subdivisions 2 and 3, after June 30, 2009.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 7. REPEALER.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 356.2165; and
422A.08, subdivision 5a, are repealed.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
ARTICLE 13
ONE PERSON AND SMALL GROUP RETIREMENT PROVISIONS
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.86, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Eligibility; retirement annuity. A person who is employed by This
section applies to any employee of the Department of Transportation in the
civil service employment classification of aircraft pilot or chief pilot,
who is covered for that employment by the general employee retirement
plan of the system under section 352.01, subdivision 23, and who elects
this elected before June 1, 2008, special retirement coverage under subdivision
3, who is prohibited from performing the duties of aircraft pilot or chief
pilot after reaching age 65 by a policy adopted by the commissioner of
transportation, and this section by an irrevocable election on forms
provided by the executive director.
Subd. 2. Retirement
annuity. An eligible person
under subdivision 1 who terminates employment as a state employee on or
after age 62 but prior to normal retirement age is entitled, upon application,
to a retirement annuity computed under section 352.115, subdivisions 2 and 3,
without any reduction for early retirement under section 352.116, subdivision
1.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.86, subdivision 1a, is amended to
read:
Subd. 1a 3. Disability
benefits. An employee described in
subdivision 1, who is less than 62 years of age and who becomes disabled
and physically or mentally unfit to perform occupational duties due to injury,
sickness, or other disability, and who is found disqualified for retention as
chief pilot or pilot as a result of a physical examination required by
applicable federal laws or regulations, is entitled upon application to
disability benefits for a maximum of five years in the amount of may
submit an application for disability benefits calculated under section
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352.113, subdivision 3. In considering the disability benefit
application, the executive director must use the disability standard specified in
this subdivision rather than the total and permanent standard specified in
section 352.113, subdivision 1. If
disability benefits commence under section 352.113, subdivision 3, the
appointing authority shall also provide payments from the state airports fund,
totaling 75 percent of current
monthly salary, to be paid by the appointing authority less the
amount payable under section 352.113, subdivision 3. Payments from the state airports fund
must be made for five years or until normal retirement age, whichever is
earlier. Disability benefits must
not continue after the employee reaches age 62.
These benefits are in lieu of all other state benefits for the
disability, including, but not limited to, workers' compensation benefits.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.86, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2 4. Additional
contributions. The special
retirement annuity authorized by subdivision 1 shall be financed by An
employee covered by this section must pay an additional employee contribution
from the covered aircraft pilot or chief pilot of 1.6 percent and an
employer contribution from of salary.
The Department of Transportation must pay an additional employer
contribution of of 1.6 percent of salary. These contributions are in addition to the
contributions required by section 352.04, subdivisions 2 and 3. They must be made in the manner provided for
in section 352.04, subdivisions 4, 5, and 6.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.01, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Public employee. "Public employee" means a
governmental employee performing personal services for a governmental
subdivision defined in subdivision 6, whose salary is paid, in whole or in
part, from revenue derived from taxation, fees, assessments, or from other
sources. The term includes the classes of
persons described or listed in subdivision 2a.
The term also includes persons who elect association membership under
subdivision 2d, paragraph (a), and persons for whom the applicable governmental
subdivision had elected association membership under subdivision 2d, paragraph
(b). The term also includes full-time
employees of the Dakota County Agricultural Society. The term excludes the classes of persons
listed in subdivision 2b for purposes of membership in the association.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the first day of the first full payroll
period commencing after final enactment.
Sec. 5.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.01, subdivision 2a, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2a. Included employees. (a) Public employees whose salary from
employment in one or more positions within one governmental subdivision exceeds
$425 in any month shall participate as members of the association. If the salary is less than $425 in a
subsequent month, the employee retains membership eligibility. Eligible public employees shall participate as
members of the association with retirement coverage by the public employees
retirement plan or the public employees police and fire retirement plan under
this chapter, or the local government correctional employees retirement plan
under chapter 353E, whichever applies, as a condition of their employment on
the first day of employment unless they:
(1) are specifically excluded under subdivision 2b;
(2) do not exercise their option to elect retirement coverage
in the association as provided in subdivision 2d, paragraph (a); or
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(3) are employees of the governmental subdivisions
listed in subdivision 2d, paragraph (b), where the governmental subdivision has
not elected to participate as a governmental subdivision covered by the
association.
(b) A public employee who was a member of the
association on June 30, 2002, based on employment that qualified for membership
coverage by the public employees retirement plan or the public employees police
and fire plan under this chapter, or the local government correctional
employees retirement plan under chapter 353E as of June 30, 2002, retains that
membership for the duration of the person's employment in that position or
incumbency in elected office. Except as
provided in subdivision 28, the person shall participate as a member until the
employee or elected official terminates public employment under subdivision 11a
or terminates membership under subdivision 11b.
(c) Public employees under paragraph (a) include:
(1) physicians under section 353D.01, subdivision 2, who
do not elect public employees defined contribution plan coverage under section
353D.02, subdivision 2.;
(2) full-time employees of the Dakota
County Agricultural Society; and
(3) employees of the Minneapolis
Firefighters Relief Association or Minneapolis Police Relief Association who
are not excluded employees under subdivision 2b due to coverage by the relief
association pension plan and who elect Public Employee Retirement Association
general plan coverage under section 5.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the first day of the first full payroll
period commencing after final enactment.
Sec. 6.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.01, subdivision 6, is amended to
read:
Subd. 6. Governmental subdivision. (a) "Governmental subdivision"
means a county, city, town, school district within this state, or a department,
unit or instrumentality of state or local government, or any public body
established under state or local authority that has a governmental purpose, is
under public control, is responsible for the employment and payment of the salaries
of employees of the entity, and receives a major portion of its revenues from
taxation, fees, assessments or from other public sources.
(b) Governmental subdivision also means the Public
Employees Retirement Association, the League of Minnesota Cities, the
Association of Metropolitan Municipalities, charter schools formed under
section 124D.10, service cooperatives exercising retirement plan participation
under section 123A.21, subdivision 5, joint powers boards organized under
section 471.59, subdivision 11, paragraph (a), family service collaboratives
and children's mental health collaboratives organized under section 471.59,
subdivision 11, paragraph (b) or (c), provided that the entities creating the
collaboratives are governmental units that otherwise qualify for retirement
plan membership, public hospitals owned or operated by, or an integral part of,
a governmental subdivision or governmental subdivisions, the Association of
Minnesota Counties, the Minnesota Inter-county Association, the Minnesota
Municipal Utilities Association, the Metropolitan Airports Commission, the
University of Minnesota with respect to police officers covered by the public
employees police and fire retirement plan, the Minneapolis Employees Retirement
Fund for employment initially commenced after June 30, 1979, the Range
Association of Municipalities and Schools, soil and water conservation
districts, economic development authorities created or operating under sections
469.090 to 469.108, the Port Authority of the city of St. Paul, the Spring Lake
Park Fire Department, incorporated, the Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department,
incorporated, the Red Wing Environmental Learning Center, the Dakota County
Agricultural Society, and Hennepin Healthcare System, Inc., and the Minneapolis
Firefighters Relief Association and Minneapolis Police Relief Association with
respect to staff covered by the Public Employees Retirement Association general
plan.
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(c) Governmental subdivision does not mean any
municipal housing and redevelopment authority organized under the provisions of
sections 469.001 to 469.047; or any port authority organized under sections
469.048 to 469.089 other than the Port Authority of the city of St. Paul; or
any hospital district organized or reorganized prior to July 1, 1975, under
sections 447.31 to 447.37 or the successor of the district; or the board of a
family service collaborative or children's mental health collaborative
organized under sections 124D.23, 245.491 to 245.495, or 471.59, if that board
is not controlled by representatives of governmental units.
(d) A nonprofit corporation governed by chapter 317A or
organized under Internal Revenue Code, section 501(c)(3), which is not covered
by paragraph (a) or (b), is not a governmental subdivision unless the entity
has obtained a written advisory opinion from the United States Department of
Labor or a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service declaring the entity to be
an instrumentality of the state so as to provide that any future contributions
by the entity on behalf of its employees are contributions to a governmental
plan within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code, section 414(d).
(e) A public body created by state or local authority
may request membership on behalf of its employees by providing sufficient
evidence that it meets the requirements in paragraph (a).
(f) An entity determined to be a governmental
subdivision is subject to the reporting requirements of this chapter upon
receipt of a written notice of eligibility from the association.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the first day of the first full payroll
period commencing after final enactment.
Sec. 7. PRIOR PENSION PLAN TERMINATION.
As of the effective date of this
section, contributions to the defined contribution or defined benefit pension
plan or plans which previously provided primary pension coverage for any
individual who elects coverage by the general employees retirement plan of the
Public Employee Retirement Association under section 5 must terminate and must
not be resumed.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the first day of the first full payroll
period commencing after final enactment.
Sec. 8. PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION;
SERVICE CREDIT PURCHASE AUTHORIZATION.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 353, to the contrary, unless the period to be
purchased is credited as allowable service by another retirement plan covered
by Minnesota Statutes, section 356.30, or would be ineligible for credit as
allowable service under Minnesota Statutes, section 353.01, subdivision 16, if
the service had been performed after the effective date of this section, an
eligible person described in paragraph (b) may purchase allowable service
credit under Minnesota Statutes, section 353.01, subdivision 16, from the general
employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association for
the period specified in paragraph (c), by making the payment required under
paragraph (d).
(b) An eligible person is a person who
began employment as staff to the Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association or
the Minneapolis Police Relief Association prior to the effective date of this
section, and due to that employment became a member of the general employees
retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association on the effective
date of this section.
(c) The period of prior service credit
available for purchase is the period of employment with the Minneapolis
Firefighters Relief Association or the Minneapolis Police Relief Association,
whichever is applicable, which would be includable service under the Public
Employees Retirement Association general plan if that service had been
performed after the effective date rather than before.
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(d) Except as otherwise stated under
this section, Minnesota Statutes, section 356.551, applies to this purchase.
(e) An eligible person may purchase
allowable service credit for a portion of the eligible period, resulting in
prorated service credit.
(f) The election to purchase prior
service credit under this section must be made in writing and must be filed
with the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association.
(g) This section expires one year
after the effective date of this section.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the first day of the first full payroll
period commencing after final enactment.
Sec. 9. ELECTION OF COVERAGE.
(a) An individual who is an employee
of the Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association or the Minneapolis Police
Relief Association on the effective date of this section, and who is not
excluded under section 353.01, subdivision 2b, due to coverage by the relief
association pension plan, may elect prospective coverage by the general
employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association under
an election as specified in this section.
(b) An eligible individual under paragraph
(a) may elect coverage by the general employees retirement plan of the Public
Employees Retirement Association by making an election on a form provided by
the Public Employees Retirement Association executive director. For an election to be valid, it must be made
within 90 days of the effective date of this section and is irrevocable.
(c) The Public Employees Retirement
Association must provide eligible individuals with information and counseling regarding
the general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement
Association and the implications of electing that coverage.
(d) If an eligible individual elects
not to be covered by the general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees
Retirement Association, or if no election is made, the prior coverage, if any,
remains unchanged.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the first day of the first full payroll
period commencing after final enactment.
Sec. 10. PERA-GENERAL; PURCHASE OF CREDIT FOR
OMITTED CONTRIBUTION PERIOD.
(a) An eligible person described in
paragraph (b) is entitled, upon written application filed with the executive
director of the Public Employees Retirement Association, to purchase service
credit for the period of omitted contributions specified in paragraph (c) by
paying the amount determined under paragraph (d). The employer of the eligible person shall pay
the amount determined under paragraph (e) within 30 days of being notified by
the Public Employees Retirement Association executive director that the
eligible person made the person's payment.
(b) An eligible person is a person
who:
(1) was born on December 16, 1946;
(2) was first employed by the city of
Elizabeth, Minnesota, municipal liquor store on July 23, 2004;
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(3) was first eligible for coverage by
the general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement
Association in September 2004;
(4) was not reported as a general
employees retirement plan member by the city of Elizabeth, Minnesota, to the
Public Employees Retirement Association until January 2005; and
(5) did not receive service credit
under Minnesota Statutes, section 353.27, subdivision 12, paragraph (e), in a
timely fashion.
(c) The period of purchasable service
credit is that portion of the period September 1, 2004, until January 1, 2005,
during which the eligible person was an included employee under Minnesota
Statutes, section 353.01, subdivision 2a, and during which the required
deductions from the compensation of the eligible employee were not made under
Minnesota Statutes, section 353.27, subdivision 2.
(d) The member purchase amount is the
amount of the omitted member contributions during the period of purchasable
service credit, plus compound annual interest at the rate of 8.5 percent from
October 15, 2004, to the date on which payment is made.
(e) The employer purchase amount is
either the balance of the full actuarial value purchase payment amount
determined under Minnesota Statutes, section 356.551, remaining after
subtracting the amount under paragraph (d) or the amount of the employer and
employer additional contributions under Minnesota Statutes, section 353.27,
subdivisions 3 and 3a, plus compound annual interest at the rate of 8.5 percent
from October 15, 2004, to the date on which payment is made, whichever is
larger. If the employer fails to pay the
employer purchase amount in a timely fashion, the executive director of the
Public Employees Retirement Association shall certify the unpaid amount, plus
monthly compound interest at the rate of 0.71 percent for the period, to the
commissioners of finance and revenue, who shall deduct the unpaid amount from
any state aid or state transfers that the employing unit is eligible to receive
and shall transmit the amount to the Public Employees Retirement Association.
(f) Purchase authority under this
section expires on July 1, 2010.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 11. PERA-GENERAL AND TRA; ANNUITY
APPLICATION REVOCATION.
(a) An eligible person specified in
paragraph (b) may elect to revoke retirement annuity applications as provided
in paragraph (c). The election must be
made in writing and must be filed with the executive director of the applicable
retirement plan.
(b) An eligible person is a person
who:
(1) was born in 1943;
(2) was employed as publications
editor for St. Cloud State University for twenty years, ending in 1998, and was
covered by virtue of that employment by the general state employees retirement
plan of the Minnesota State Retirement System;
(3) retired from the general state
employees retirement plan of the Minnesota State Retirement System in 2007;
(4) was employed by the Underwood,
Minnesota, municipal liquor store in early 2008, terminated that employment on
April 18, 2008, applied for a retirement annuity from the general employee
retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association and from the
Teachers Retirement Association under Minnesota Statutes, section 356.30, in
April or May 2008, and was subsequently reemployed by the municipal liquor
store on or about May 20, 2008; and
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(5) was informed by the Public
Employees Retirement Association of a retirement annuity overpayment of $349.65
on July 22, 2008.
(c) If elected, the eligible person
may revoke the person's application for a retirement annuity from the general
employee retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association, or
revoke the person's application for a retirement annuity from the Teachers
Retirement Association, or revoke the person's application for a retirement annuity
from both retirement plans. If a
retirement application is revoked, the person's retirement annuity ends, the
entitlement of the person to a future retirement annuity is restored, and that
future retirement annuity amount must be adjusted by subtracting the total
value of the retirement annuity amounts received from that retirement plan from
the actuarial present value of the eligible person's future annuity without
adjustment, calculated based on the mortality table for retired lives of the
applicable retirement plan and 8.5 percent interest rate assumption, and
determining the adjusted annuity amount from the remaining actuarial present
value amount using the same interest and mortality assumption.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 12. MSRS-GENERAL AND PERA-GENERAL; PLAN
MEMBERSHIP EXCLUSION AND DEFERRED ANNUITY AUGMENTATION.
(a) A qualified person described in
paragraph (b) may, upon written application filed with the executive director
of the Public Employees Retirement Association, elect retroactive exclusion
from coverage by the general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees
Retirement Association for any period of teacher assistant service for
Independent School District No. 623, Roseville, and qualification for deferred
annuities augmentation for the retroactively excluded period.
(b) A qualified person is a person
who:
(1) was born on January 17, 1951;
(2) was employed by Ramsey County from
January 20, 1975, to June 22, 1999;
(3) was employed by the state of
Minnesota from June 22, 1999, to April 4, 2006; and
(4) was employed by Independent School
District No. 623, Roseville, as a teacher assistant following terminating state
employment from December 13, 2007, to June 6, 2008.
(c) If the retroactive exclusion is
elected, all member and employer contributions to the general employees
retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association made with
respect to Independent School District No. 623, Roseville, teacher assistant
employment must be refunded with interest under Minnesota Statutes, section
353.27, subdivision 7, and the qualified person is entitled, if otherwise
eligible, for deferred annuities augmentation from the general employees
retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association and from the
general state employees retirement plan of the Minnesota State Retirement
System for the period of retroactive exclusion.
(d) Authority to make the election
under this section expires September 1, 2009.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 13. MSRS-GENERAL; EXCEPTION TO DISABILITY
BENEFIT APPLICATION DEADLINE.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of
Minnesota Statutes, section 352.113, subdivision 4, paragraph (e), to the
contrary, an eligible person described in paragraph (b) is entitled to file a
disability benefit application with the general state employees retirement plan
of the Minnesota State Retirement System and, if otherwise qualified under
Minnesota Statutes, section 352.113, receive a disability benefit from the
retirement plan.
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5606
(b) An eligible person is a person
who:
(1) was born on March 8, 1966;
(2) was an employee of the Minnesota
Veterans Home at Silver Bay, Minnesota;
(3) terminated state employment on
July 25, 2007;
(4) attempted to apply for a
disability benefit in February 2008;
(5) had a request to apply for a
disability benefit denied by the executive director of the Minnesota State
Retirement System on April 3, 2008;
(6) appealed the executive director's
decision to the Minnesota State Retirement System board of directors on April 24,
2008; and
(7) had the appeal to the Minnesota
State Retirement System board of directors denied on August 4, 2008.
(c) This section expires on June 1,
2010.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 14. MSRS-GENERAL; ALLOWABLE SERVICE CREDIT
REVISION FOR JOB-SHARE EMPLOYEES.
(a) An eligible person as described
in paragraph (b) is entitled to have any partial month allowable service credit
in the general state employees retirement plan of the Minnesota State
Retirement System for part-time employment as a job-share employee revised to
be identical to allowable service credit for part-time state employment under
Minnesota Statutes, section 352.01, subdivision 11, that was not rendered as a
job-share employee.
(b) An eligible person:
(1) is an active member of the
general state employees retirement plan or a retired member of the general
state employees retirement plan;
(2) was employed in the demonstration
job-sharing project under Laws 1980, chapter 572, or in the job-sharing program
under Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 43A.41 to 43A.46;
(3) was employed in the demonstration
job-sharing project or in the job-sharing program for one-half of full time;
and
(4) received partial month allowable
service credit under Minnesota Statutes, section 352.01, subdivision 11.
(c) To have allowable service credit
revised under this section, an eligible person shall provide the executive
director of the Minnesota State Retirement System any relevant documentation
that the executive director requests.
(d) If the eligible person is a
retired member of the general state employees retirement plan, the person's
retirement annuity must be recomputed based on the revised service credit under
this section and the recomputed retirement annuity is payable on the first day
of the month next following the effective date of this section.
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5607
(e) Nothing in this section may be
interpreted to authorize the crediting of more than one year of allowable
service during any 12-month period or to authorize the payment of any
retroactive recomputed retirement annuity amounts.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 15. HENNEPIN COUNTY EMPLOYEE WAIVER OF
SERVICE REQUIREMENT TO APPLY FOR DISABILITY.
(a) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes,
section 353.33, subdivision 1, an eligible person specified in
paragraph (b) is authorized to submit an application for disability
benefits from the general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees
Retirement Association.
(b) An eligible person is a person
who:
(1) was born May 6, 1972;
(2) was employed by Independent School
District No. 11, Anoka-Hennepin, from September 11, 1995, to August 6, 1996;
(3) was employed by Hennepin County
from July 31, 2000, to December 30, 2004;
(4) was again employed by Hennepin
County starting April 2, 2007, with the most recent employment position being a
principal child support officer;
(5) has service credit with the Public
Employees Retirement Association due to the employment under clauses (2), (3),
and (4); and
(6) has had several leaves from
Hennepin County employment of a medical-related nature.
(c) If an eligible person under
paragraph (b) files a valid application, the executive director of the Public
Employees Retirement Association shall determine whether that eligible person
qualifies to receive a disability benefit under the laws and procedures
applicable to the general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees
Retirement Association.
(d) This section expires one year
after the effective date of this section.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 16. REPEALER.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
352.86, subdivision 3, is repealed.
ARTICLE 14
PENSION COMMISSION
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3.85, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Membership. The commission consists of five
seven members of the senate appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of
the Committee on Rules and Administration and five seven members
of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker. No more than five members from each
chamber may be from the majority caucus in that chamber. Members shall be appointed at the
commencement of each regular session of the
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5608
legislature for a two-year term beginning January 16 of
the first year of the regular session. Members continue to serve until their
successors are appointed. Vacancies that
occur while the legislature is in session shall be filled like regular
appointments. If the legislature is not
in session, senate vacancies shall be filled by the last Subcommittee on
Committees of the senate Committee on Rules and Administration or other
appointing authority designated by the senate rules, and house of
representatives vacancies shall be filled by the last speaker of the house, or
if the speaker is not available, by the last chair of the house of
representatives Rules Committee.
Sec. 2. COMMISSION STUDY; PENSION FUND
CONSOLIDATION ASSISTANCE FUND.
(a) The Legislative Commission on Pensions and
Retirement shall study the policy advantages and disadvantages of creating a
state pension relief fund and, if deemed sufficiently advantageous, shall
recommend in the form of draft proposed legislation the details of a state
pension relief fund.
(b) The state pension relief fund is intended to be an
account in the state treasury to which ongoing appropriations would be made or
a revenue source would be dedicated and could provide financial support to
offset some or all of the costs of smaller public retirement plans to
consolidate, subject to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 353A, as applicable, into
one of the three largest statewide public retirement plans.
(c) The commission shall consider provisions for
relief funds established in other states, the potential revenue sources for a
state pension relief fund, the appropriate fund administration, the appropriate
investment vehicle or vehicles for the fund, the eligibility criteria for
determining when fund assets could be disbursed to assist in plan funding and
the amount of any fund disbursements, the appropriate level of ongoing funding
that is required with respect to a consolidating retirement plan, and the
extent of state and local responsibility for local retirement plan funding
deficiencies.
(d) The commission shall file the results of this
study on or before February 15, 2010, with the chair and the ranking minority
member of the State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology, and
Elections Committee of the house of representatives, the chair and ranking
minority member of the Finance Committee of the house of representatives, the
chair and ranking minority member of the State and Local Government Operations
and Oversight Committee of the senate, and the chair and ranking minority member
of the Finance Committee of the senate.
(e) Nothing in this section alters the provisions of
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 353A."
Delete the title and insert:
"A bill for an act relating to retirement;
various retirement plans; making various statutory changes needed to
accommodate the dissolution of the Minnesota Post Retirement Investment Fund;
redefining the value of pension plan assets for actuarial reporting purposes;
revising various disability benefit provisions of the general state employees retirement
plan, the correctional state employees retirement plan, and the State Patrol
retirement plan; making various administrative provision changes; establishing
a voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan
administered by the Public Employees Retirement Association; revising various
volunteer firefighters' relief association provisions; correcting 2008 drafting
errors related to the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund and other drafting
errors; granting special retirement benefit authority in certain cases;
revising the special transportation pilots retirement plan of the Minnesota
State Retirement System; expanding the membership of the state correctional
employees retirement plan; adjusting reallocation of amortization state aid;
extending the amortization target date for the Fairmont Police Relief
Association; modifying the number of board of trustees members of the
Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association; increasing state education aid to
offset teacher retirement plan employer contribution increases; increasing
teacher retirement plan member and employer contributions; revising the normal
retirement age and providing prospective benefit accrual rate increases for
teacher retirement plans; permitting the Brimson Volunteer Firefighters' Relief
Association to implement a different board
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5609
of trustees composition; permitting employees of the
Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association and the Minneapolis Police Relief
Association to become members of the general employee retirement plan of the
Public Employees Retirement Association; creating a two-year demonstration
postretirement adjustment mechanism for the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund
Association; creating a temporary postretirement option program for employees
covered by the general employee retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement
Association; setting a statute of limitations for erroneous receipts of the
general employee retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement
Association; permitting the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System
board to create an early separation incentive program; permitting certain
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System faculty members to make a
second chance retirement coverage election upon achieving tenure; including the
Weiner Memorial Medical Center, Inc., in the Public Employees Retirement
Association privatization law; increasing pension commission membership;
extending the approval deadline date for the inclusion of the Clearwater County
Hospital in the Public Employees Retirement Association privatization law;
requiring a report; requiring a study; appropriating money; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2008, sections 3.85, subdivision 3; 3A.02, subdivision 3, by adding a
subdivision; 3A.03, by adding a subdivision; 3A.04, by adding a subdivision;
3A.115; 11A.08, subdivision 1; 11A.17, subdivisions 1, 2; 11A.23, subdivisions
1, 2; 43A.34, subdivision 4; 43A.346, subdivisions 2, 6; 69.011, subdivisions
1, 2, 4; 69.021, subdivisions 7, 9; 69.031, subdivisions 1, 5; 69.77,
subdivision 4; 69.771, subdivision 3; 69.772, subdivisions 4, 6; 69.773,
subdivision 6; 127A.50, subdivision 1; 299A.465, subdivision 1; 352.01,
subdivision 2b, by adding subdivisions; 352.021, by adding a subdivision;
352.04, subdivisions 1, 12; 352.061; 352.113, subdivision 4, by adding a
subdivision; 352.115, by adding a subdivision; 352.12, by adding a subdivision;
352.75, subdivisions 3, 4; 352.86, subdivisions 1, 1a, 2; 352.91, subdivision
3d; 352.911, subdivisions 3, 5; 352.93, by adding a subdivision; 352.931, by
adding a subdivision; 352.95, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, by adding a
subdivision; 352B.02, subdivisions 1, 1a, 1c, 1d; 352B.08, by adding a
subdivision; 352B.10, subdivisions 1, 2, 5, by adding subdivisions; 352B.11,
subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision; 352C.10; 352D.06, subdivision 1; 352D.065,
by adding a subdivision; 352D.075, by adding a subdivision; 353.01,
subdivisions 2, 2a, 6, 11b, 16, 16b; 353.0161, subdivision 1; 353.03,
subdivision 3a; 353.06; 353.27, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 7, 7b; 353.29, by adding
a subdivision; 353.31, subdivision 1b, by adding a subdivision; 353.33,
subdivisions 1, 3b, 7, 11, 12, by adding subdivisions; 353.65, subdivisions 2,
3; 353.651, by adding a subdivision; 353.656, subdivision 5a, by adding a
subdivision; 353.657, subdivision 3a, by adding a subdivision; 353.665,
subdivision 3; 353A.02, subdivisions 14, 23; 353A.05, subdivisions 1, 2;
353A.08, subdivisions 1, 3, 6a; 353A.081, subdivision 2; 353A.09, subdivision
1; 353A.10, subdivisions 2, 3; 353E.01, subdivisions 3, 5; 353E.04, by adding a
subdivision; 353E.06, by adding a subdivision; 353E.07, by adding a
subdivision; 353F.02, subdivision 4; 354.05, subdivision 38, by adding a
subdivision; 354.07, subdivision 4; 354.33, subdivision 5; 354.35, by adding a
subdivision; 354.42, subdivisions 1a, 2, 3, by adding subdivisions; 354.44,
subdivisions 4, 5, 6, by adding a subdivision; 354.46, by adding a subdivision;
354.47, subdivision 1; 354.48, subdivisions 4, 6, by adding a subdivision;
354.49, subdivision 2; 354.52, subdivisions 2a, 4b; 354.55, subdivisions 11, 13;
354.66, subdivision 6; 354.70, subdivisions 5, 6; 354A.011, subdivision 15a;
354A.096; 354A.12, subdivisions 1, 2a, by adding subdivisions; 354A.29,
subdivision 3; 354A.31, subdivisions 4, 4a, 7; 354A.36, subdivision 6; 354B.21,
subdivision 2; 356.20, subdivision 2; 356.215, subdivisions 1, 11; 356.219,
subdivision 3; 356.315, by adding a subdivision; 356.32, subdivision 2;
356.351, subdivision 2; 356.401, subdivisions 2, 3; 356.465, subdivision 1, by
adding a subdivision; 356.611, subdivisions 3, 4; 356.635, subdivisions 6, 7;
356.96, subdivisions 1, 5; 422A.06, subdivision 8; 422A.08, subdivision 5;
423A.02, subdivisions 1, 3; 423C.03, subdivision 1; 424A.001, subdivisions 1,
1a, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, by adding subdivisions; 424A.01; 424A.02, subdivisions
1, 2, 3, 3a, 7, 8, 9, 9a, 9b, 10, 12, 13; 424A.021; 424A.03; 424A.04; 424A.05,
subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4; 424A.06; 424A.07; 424A.08; 424A.10, subdivisions 1, 2,
3, 4, 5; 424B.10, subdivision 2, by adding subdivisions; 424B.21; 490.123,
subdivisions 1, 3; 490.124, by adding a subdivision; Laws 1989, chapter 319,
article 11, section 13; Laws 2006, chapter 271, article 5, section 5, as
amended; Laws 2008, chapter 349, article 14, section 13; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 136F; 352B; 353; 354; 356; 420; 424A;
424B; proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 353G;
repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 11A.041; 11A.18; 11A.181; 352.119,
subdivisions 2, 3, 4; 352.86, subdivision 3; 352B.01, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 3b,
4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11; 352B.26, subdivisions 1, 3; 353.271; 353A.02, subdivision
20; 353A.09, subdivisions 2, 3; 354.05, subdivision 26; 354.06, subdivision 6;
354.55, subdivision 14; 354.63; 354A.29, subdivisions 2, 4, 5;
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5610
356.2165; 356.41; 356.431, subdivision 2; 422A.01,
subdivision 13; 422A.06, subdivision 4; 422A.08, subdivision 5a; 424A.001,
subdivision 7; 424A.02, subdivisions 4, 6, 8a, 8b, 9b; 424A.09; 424B.10,
subdivision 1; 490.123, subdivisions 1c, 1e."
With the recommendation that when so amended the bill
pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
The report
was adopted.
Carlson from the Committee on Finance to which was
referred:
H. F. No. 796, A bill for an act relating to capital
investment; authorizing the sale of Minnesota First bonds; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 16A.
Reported the same back with the following amendments:
Page 1, line 9, delete "zero coupon form and
in"
Page 1, line 15, delete "$500" and
insert "$1,000"
Page 1, line 17, delete "For purposes of this
section" and insert "If a zero coupon bond is sold"
Page 2, delete subdivision 5
With the recommendation that when so amended the bill
pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
The report
was adopted.
Carlson from the Committee on Finance to which was referred:
H. F. No. 1053, A bill for an act relating to
elections; requiring certain public officials to provide additional data to the
secretary of state for use in maintaining the voter registration system;
providing for automatic voter registration of applicants for a driver's
license, instruction permit, or identification card; changing certain notice
requirements; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 201.121, subdivision
2; 201.13, by adding a subdivision; 201.14; 201.15, subdivisions 1, 2; 201.155;
201.161; 204C.08, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 201.
Reported the same back with the following amendments:
Page 2, line 11, delete ", and, if available,
the"
Page 2, line 12, delete "last four digits of
the individual's Social Security number"
Page 2, line 28, delete ", and the last four
digits of the"
Page 2, line 29, delete "individual's Social
Security number"
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5611
Page 3, line
13, delete ", and the last four"
Page 3, line
14, delete "digits of the individual's Social Security number"
Page 3, line
27, delete "and, if available, the last four digits of the individual's
Social Security number,"
Page 4, line
10, delete ", and the last four digits of the individual's Social
Security number"
Page 6, line
30, delete "table"
With the
recommendation that when so amended the bill pass and be re-referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means.
The
report was adopted.
Carlson from
the Committee on Finance to which was referred:
H. F. No. 1219,
A bill for an act relating to state employees; requiring that health insurance
benefits be made available to domestic partners of state employees if they are
also made available to spouses; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections
43A.02, by adding a subdivision; 43A.24, subdivision 1.
Reported the
same back with the following amendments:
Page 2, after
line 5, insert:
"Sec.
3. EFFECTIVE
DATE.
Sections 1
and 2 are effective January 1, 2012."
With the
recommendation that when so amended the bill pass and be re-referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means.
The
report was adopted.
Carlson from
the Committee on Finance to which was referred:
H. F. No. 1708,
A bill for an act relating to human services; amending mental health
provisions; changing medical assistance reimbursement and eligibility; changing
provider qualification and training requirements; amending mental health
behavioral aide services; adding an excluded service; changing special
contracts with bordering states; requiring a new rate setting methodology;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 148C.11, subdivision 1; 245.4885,
subdivision 1; 245.50, subdivision 5; 256B.0615, subdivisions 1, 3; 256B.0622,
subdivision 8; 256B.0623, subdivision 5; 256B.0624, subdivision 8; 256B.0625,
subdivision 49; 256B.0943, subdivisions 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9; 256B.0944,
subdivision 5.
Reported the
same back with the following amendments:
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5612
Delete
everything after the enacting clause and insert:
"Section
1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 148C.11,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Other
professionals. (a) Nothing in this
chapter prevents members of other professions or occupations from performing
functions for which they are qualified or licensed. This exception includes, but is not limited
to: licensed physicians; registered
nurses; licensed practical nurses; licensed psychological practitioners;
members of the clergy; American Indian medicine men and women; licensed
attorneys; probation officers; licensed marriage and family therapists;
licensed social workers; social workers employed by city, county, or state
agencies; licensed professional counselors; licensed school counselors;
registered occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants; city,
county, or state employees when providing assessments or case management under
Minnesota Rules, chapter 9530; and until July 1, 2009, individuals
providing integrated dual-diagnosis treatment in adult mental health
rehabilitative programs certified by the Department of Human Services under
section 256B.0622 or 256B.0623.
(b) Nothing in
this chapter prohibits technicians and resident managers in programs licensed
by the Department of Human Services from discharging their duties as provided
in Minnesota Rules, chapter 9530.
(c) Any person
who is exempt under this subdivision but who elects to obtain a license under
this chapter is subject to this chapter to the same extent as other
licensees. The board shall issue a
license without examination to an applicant who is licensed or registered in a
profession identified in paragraph (a) if the applicant:
(1) shows
evidence of current licensure or registration; and
(2) has
submitted to the board a plan for supervision during the first 2,000 hours of
professional practice or has submitted proof of supervised professional
practice that is acceptable to the board.
(d) Any person
who is exempt from licensure under this section must not use a title
incorporating the words "alcohol and drug counselor" or
"licensed alcohol and drug counselor" or otherwise hold themselves
out to the public by any title or description stating or implying that they are
engaged in the practice of alcohol and drug counseling, or that they are licensed
to engage in the practice of alcohol and drug counseling unless that person is
also licensed as an alcohol and drug counselor.
Persons engaged in the practice of alcohol and drug counseling are not
exempt from the board's jurisdiction solely by the use of one of the above
titles.
Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245.4871,
subdivision 26, is amended to read:
Subd. 26. Mental
health practitioner. "Mental
health practitioner" means a person providing services to children with
emotional disturbances. A mental health
practitioner must have training and experience in working with children. A mental health practitioner must be
qualified in at least one of the following ways:
(1) holds a
bachelor's degree in one of the behavioral sciences or related fields from an
accredited college or university and:
(i) has at
least 2,000 hours of supervised experience in the delivery of mental health
services to children with emotional disturbances; or
(ii) is fluent
in the non-English language of the ethnic group to which at least 50 percent of
the practitioner's clients belong, completes 40 hours of training in the
delivery of services to children with emotional disturbances, and receives
clinical supervision from a mental health professional at least once a week
until the requirement of 2,000 hours of supervised experience is met;
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5613
(2) has at least 6,000 hours of supervised experience
in the delivery of mental health services to children with emotional
disturbances; hours worked as a mental health behavioral aide I or II under
section 256B.0943, subdivision 7, may be included in the 6,000 hours of
experience;
(3) is a graduate student in one of the behavioral
sciences or related fields and is formally assigned by an accredited college or
university to an agency or facility for clinical training; or
(4) holds a master's or other graduate degree in one
of the behavioral sciences or related fields from an accredited college or
university and has less than 4,000 hours post-master's experience in the
treatment of emotional disturbance.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245.4885, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Admission criteria. The county board shall, prior to admission,
except in the case of emergency admission, determine the needed level of care
for all children referred for treatment of severe emotional disturbance in a
treatment foster care setting, residential treatment facility, or informally
admitted to a regional treatment center if public funds are used to pay for the
services. The county board shall also
determine the needed level of care for all children admitted to an acute care
hospital for treatment of severe emotional disturbance if public funds other
than reimbursement under chapters 256B and 256D are used to pay for the
services. The level of care
determination shall determine whether the proposed treatment:
(1) is necessary;
(2) is appropriate to the child's individual treatment
needs;
(3) cannot be effectively provided in the child's
home; and
(4) provides a length of stay as short as possible
consistent with the individual child's need.
When a level of care determination is conducted, the
county board may not determine that referral or admission to a treatment foster
care setting, or residential treatment facility, or acute care
hospital is not appropriate solely because services were not first provided
to the child in a less restrictive setting and the child failed to make
progress toward or meet treatment goals in the less restrictive setting. The level of care determination must be based
on a diagnostic assessment that includes a functional assessment which
evaluates family, school, and community living situations; and an assessment of
the child's need for care out of the home using a validated tool which assesses
a child's functional status and assigns an appropriate level of care. The validated tool must be approved by the
commissioner of human services. If a
diagnostic assessment including a functional assessment has been completed by a
mental health professional within the past 180 days, a new diagnostic
assessment need not be completed unless in the opinion of the current treating
mental health professional the child's mental health status has changed
markedly since the assessment was completed.
The child's parent shall be notified if an assessment will not be
completed and of the reasons. A copy of
the notice shall be placed in the child's file.
Recommendations developed as part of the level of care determination
process shall include specific community services needed by the child and, if
appropriate, the child's family, and shall indicate whether or not these
services are available and accessible to the child and family.
During the level of care determination process, the
child, child's family, or child's legal representative, as appropriate, must be
informed of the child's eligibility for case management services and family
community support services and that an individual family community support plan
is being developed by the case manager, if assigned.
The level of care determination shall comply with
section 260C.212. Wherever possible, the
parent shall be consulted in the process, unless clinically inappropriate.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5614
The level of care determination, and placement
decision, and recommendations for mental health services must be documented in
the child's record.
An alternate review process may be approved by the
commissioner if the county board demonstrates that an alternate review process
has been established by the county board and the times of review, persons
responsible for the review, and review criteria are comparable to the standards
in clauses (1) to (4).
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245.50, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Special contracts; bordering states. (a) An individual who is detained, committed,
or placed on an involuntary basis under chapter 253B may be confined or treated
in a bordering state pursuant to a contract under this section. An individual who is detained, committed, or
placed on an involuntary basis under the civil law of a bordering state may be
confined or treated in Minnesota pursuant to a contract under this
section. A peace or health officer who
is acting under the authority of the sending state may transport an individual
to a receiving agency that provides services pursuant to a contract under this
section and may transport the individual back to the sending state under the
laws of the sending state. Court orders
valid under the law of the sending state are granted recognition and
reciprocity in the receiving state for individuals covered by a contract under
this section to the extent that the court orders relate to confinement for
treatment or care of mental illness or chemical dependency. Such treatment or care may address other
conditions that may be co-occurring with the mental illness or chemical
dependency. These court orders are not
subject to legal challenge in the courts of the receiving state. Individuals who are detained, committed, or
placed under the law of a sending state and who are transferred to a receiving
state under this section continue to be in the legal custody of the authority
responsible for them under the law of the sending state. Except in emergencies, those individuals may
not be transferred, removed, or furloughed from a receiving agency without the
specific approval of the authority responsible for them under the law of the
sending state.
(b) While in the receiving state pursuant to a contract
under this section, an individual shall be subject to the sending state's laws
and rules relating to length of confinement, reexaminations, and extensions of
confinement. No individual may be sent
to another state pursuant to a contract under this section until the receiving
state has enacted a law recognizing the validity and applicability of this
section.
(c) If an individual receiving services pursuant to a
contract under this section leaves the receiving agency without permission and
the individual is subject to involuntary confinement under the law of the
sending state, the receiving agency shall use all reasonable means to return
the individual to the receiving agency.
The receiving agency shall immediately report the absence to the sending
agency. The receiving state has the
primary responsibility for, and the authority to direct, the return of these
individuals within its borders and is liable for the cost of the action to the
extent that it would be liable for costs of its own resident.
(d) Responsibility for payment for the cost of care
remains with the sending agency.
(e) This subdivision also applies to county contracts
under subdivision 2 which include emergency care and treatment provided to a
county resident in a bordering state.
(f) If a Minnesota resident is admitted to a facility
in a bordering state under this chapter, a physician, licensed psychologist who
has a doctoral degree in psychology, or an advance practice registered nurse
certified in mental health, who is licensed in the bordering state, may act as
an examiner under sections 253B.07, 253B.08, 253B.092, 253B.12, and 253B.17
subject to the same requirements and limitations in section 253B.02,
subdivision 7. The examiner may
initiate an emergency hold under section 253B.05 on a Minnesota resident who is
in a hospital under contract with a Minnesota governmental entity under this
section providing the patient, in the professional opinion of the examiner,
meets the criteria in section 253B.05.
Sec. 5.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0615, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
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Subdivision
1. Scope. Medical assistance covers mental health
certified peers specialists services, as established in subdivision 2, subject
to federal approval, if provided to recipients who are eligible for services
under sections 256B.0622 and, 256B.0623, and 256B.0624 and
are provided by a certified peer specialist who has completed the training
under subdivision 5.
Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0615,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Eligibility. Peer support services may be made available
to consumers of (1) the intensive rehabilitative mental health services
under section 256B.0622; and (2) adult rehabilitative
mental health services under section 256B.0623; and (3) crisis stabilization
services under section 256B.0624.
Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0622,
subdivision 8, is amended to read:
Subd. 8. Medical
assistance payment for intensive rehabilitative mental health services. (a) Payment for residential and
nonresidential services in this section shall be based on one daily rate per
provider inclusive of the following services received by an eligible recipient
in a given calendar day: all
rehabilitative services under this section, staff travel time to provide
rehabilitative services under this section, and nonresidential crisis stabilization
services under section 256B.0624.
(b) Except as
indicated in paragraph (c), payment will not be made to more than one entity
for each recipient for services provided under this section on a given
day. If services under this section are
provided by a team that includes staff from more than one entity, the team must
determine how to distribute the payment among the members.
(c) The host
county shall recommend to the commissioner one rate for each entity that will
bill medical assistance for residential services under this section and two
rates one rate for each nonresidential provider. The first nonresidential rate is for
recipients who are not receiving residential services. The second nonresidential rate is for
recipients who are temporarily receiving residential services and need
continued contact with the nonresidential team to assure timely discharge from
residential services. In developing
these rates, the host county shall consider and document:
(1) the cost for
similar services in the local trade area;
(2) actual
costs incurred by entities providing the services;
(3) the
intensity and frequency of services to be provided to each recipient,
including the proposed overall number of units of service to be delivered;
(4) the degree
to which recipients will receive services other than services under this
section;
(5) the costs
of other services that will be separately reimbursed; and
(6) input from
the local planning process authorized by the adult mental health initiative
under section 245.4661, regarding recipients' service needs.
(d) The rate
for intensive rehabilitative mental health services must exclude room and
board, as defined in section 256I.03, subdivision 6, and services not covered
under this section, such as partial hospitalization, home care, and inpatient
services. Physician services that are
not separately billed may be included in the rate to the extent that a
psychiatrist is a member of the treatment team.
The county's recommendation shall specify the period for which the rate
will be applicable, not to exceed two years.
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(e) When
services under this section are provided by an assertive community team, case
management functions must be an integral part of the team.
(f) The rate for
a provider must not exceed the rate charged by that provider for the same
service to other payors.
(g) The
commissioner shall approve or reject the county's rate recommendation, based on
the commissioner's own analysis of the criteria in paragraph (c).
Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0623,
subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Qualifications
of provider staff. Adult
rehabilitative mental health services must be provided by qualified individual
provider staff of a certified provider entity.
Individual provider staff must be qualified under one of the following
criteria:
(1) a mental
health professional as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 18, clauses (1)
to (5). If the recipient has a current
diagnostic assessment by a licensed mental health professional as defined in
section 245.462, subdivision 18, clauses (1) to (5), recommending receipt of
adult mental health rehabilitative services, the definition of mental health
professional for purposes of this section includes a person who is qualified
under section 245.462, subdivision 18, clause (6), and who holds a current and
valid national certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor or
certified psychosocial rehabilitation practitioner;
(2) a mental
health practitioner as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 17. The mental health practitioner must work
under the clinical supervision of a mental health professional;
(3) a certified
peer specialist under section 256B.0615.
The certified peer specialist must work under the clinical supervision
of a mental health professional; or
(4) a mental
health rehabilitation worker. A mental
health rehabilitation worker means a staff person working under the direction
of a mental health practitioner or mental health professional and under the
clinical supervision of a mental health professional in the implementation of
rehabilitative mental health services as identified in the recipient's
individual treatment plan who:
(i) is at least
21 years of age;
(ii) has a high
school diploma or equivalent;
(iii) has
successfully completed 30 hours of training during the past two years immediately
prior to the date of hire, or before provision of direct services, in all
of the following areas: recipient
rights, recipient-centered individual treatment planning, behavioral
terminology, mental illness, co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse,
psychotropic medications and side effects, functional assessment, local
community resources, adult vulnerability, recipient confidentiality; and
(iv) meets the qualifications
in subitem (A) or (B):
(A) has an
associate of arts degree or two years full-time postsecondary education in
one of the behavioral sciences or human services, or; is a
registered nurse without a bachelor's degree,; or who within the
previous ten years has:
(1) three years
of personal life experience with serious and persistent mental illness;
(2) three years
of life experience as a primary caregiver to an adult with a serious mental
illness or traumatic brain injury; or
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(3) 4,000 hours
of supervised paid work experience in the delivery of mental health services to
adults with a serious mental illness or traumatic brain injury; or
(B)(1) is fluent
in the non-English language or competent in the culture of the ethnic group to
which at least 20 percent of the mental health rehabilitation worker's clients
belong;
(2) receives
during the first 2,000 hours of work, monthly documented individual clinical
supervision by a mental health professional;
(3) has 18 hours
of documented field supervision by a mental health professional or practitioner
during the first 160 hours of contact work with recipients, and at least six
hours of field supervision quarterly during the following year;
(4) has review
and cosignature of charting of recipient contacts during field supervision by a
mental health professional or practitioner; and
(5) has 40
15 hours of additional continuing education on mental health topics during
the first year of employment and 15 hours during every additional year of
employment.
Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0624,
subdivision 8, is amended to read:
Subd. 8. Adult crisis
stabilization staff qualifications.
(a) Adult mental health crisis stabilization services must be provided
by qualified individual staff of a qualified provider entity. Individual provider staff must have the following
qualifications:
(1) be a mental
health professional as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 18, clauses (1)
to (5);
(2) be a mental
health practitioner as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 17. The mental health practitioner must work
under the clinical supervision of a mental health professional; or
(3) be a
certified peer specialist under section 256B.0615. The certified peer specialist must work under
the clinical supervision of a mental health professional; or
(4) be a mental health rehabilitation
worker who meets the criteria in section 256B.0623, subdivision 5, clause (3)
(4); works under the direction of a mental health practitioner as defined
in section 245.462, subdivision 17, or under direction of a mental health
professional; and works under the clinical supervision of a mental health
professional.
(b) Mental
health practitioners and mental health rehabilitation workers must have
completed at least 30 hours of training in crisis intervention and
stabilization during the past two years.
Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0625,
subdivision 49, is amended to read:
Subd. 49. Community
health worker. (a) Medical
assistance covers the care coordination and patient education services provided
by a community health worker if the community health worker has:
(1) received a
certificate from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System approved
community health worker curriculum; or
(2) at least
five years of supervised experience with an enrolled physician, registered
nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, mental health professional as
defined in section 245.462, subdivision 18, clauses (1) to (5), and section
245.4871, subdivision 27, clauses (1) to (5), or dentist, or at least five
years of supervised experience by a certified public health nurse operating
under the direct authority of an enrolled unit of government.
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Community health workers eligible for
payment under clause (2) must complete the certification program by January 1,
2010, to continue to be eligible for payment.
(b) Community
health workers must work under the supervision of a medical assistance enrolled
physician, registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, mental
health professional as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 18, clauses (1)
to (5), and section 245.4871, subdivision 27, clauses (1) to (5), or
dentist, or work under the supervision of a certified public health nurse
operating under the direct authority of an enrolled unit of government.
(c) Care
coordination and patient education services covered under this subdivision
include, but are not limited to, services relating to oral health and dental
care.
Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following
terms have the meanings given them.
(a)
"Children's therapeutic services and supports" means the flexible
package of mental health services for children who require varying therapeutic
and rehabilitative levels of intervention.
The services are time-limited interventions that are delivered using
various treatment modalities and combinations of services designed to reach
treatment outcomes identified in the individual treatment plan.
(b)
"Clinical supervision" means the overall responsibility of the mental
health professional for the control and direction of individualized treatment
planning, service delivery, and treatment review for each client. A mental health professional who is an
enrolled Minnesota health care program provider accepts full professional
responsibility for a supervisee's actions and decisions, instructs the
supervisee in the supervisee's work, and oversees or directs the supervisee's
work.
(c)
"County board" means the county board of commissioners or board
established under sections 402.01 to 402.10 or 471.59.
(d)
"Crisis assistance" has the meaning given in section 245.4871,
subdivision 9a.
(e)
"Culturally competent provider" means a provider who understands and
can utilize to a client's benefit the client's culture when providing services
to the client. A provider may be
culturally competent because the provider is of the same cultural or ethnic
group as the client or the provider has developed the knowledge and skills
through training and experience to provide services to culturally diverse
clients.
(f) "Day
treatment program" for children means a site-based structured program
consisting of group psychotherapy for more than three individuals and other
intensive therapeutic services provided by a multidisciplinary team, under the
clinical supervision of a mental health professional.
(g) "Diagnostic
assessment" has the meaning given in section 245.4871, subdivision
11.
(h)
"Direct service time" means the time that a mental health
professional, mental health practitioner, or mental health behavioral aide
spends face-to-face with a client and the client's family. Direct service time includes time in which
the provider obtains a client's history or provides service components of
children's therapeutic services and supports.
Direct service time does not include time doing work before and after providing
direct services, including scheduling, maintaining clinical records, consulting
with others about the client's mental health status, preparing reports,
receiving clinical supervision directly related to the client's
psychotherapy session, and revising the client's individual treatment plan.
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2009 - Top of Page 5619
(i) "Direction of mental health behavioral
aide" means the activities of a mental health professional or mental
health practitioner in guiding the mental health behavioral aide in providing
services to a client. The direction of a
mental health behavioral aide must be based on the client's individualized
treatment plan and meet the requirements in subdivision 6, paragraph (b),
clause (5).
(j) "Emotional disturbance" has the meaning
given in section 245.4871, subdivision 15.
For persons at least age 18 but under age 21, mental illness has the
meaning given in section 245.462, subdivision 20, paragraph (a).
(k) "Individual behavioral plan" means a
plan of intervention, treatment, and services for a child written by a mental
health professional or mental health practitioner, under the clinical
supervision of a mental health professional, to guide the work of the mental
health behavioral aide.
(l) "Individual treatment plan" has the
meaning given in section 245.4871, subdivision 21.
(m) "Mental health behavioral aide services"
means medically necessary one-on-one activities performed by a trained
paraprofessional to assist a child retain or generalize psychosocial skills as
taught by a mental health professional or mental health practitioner and as
described in the child's individual treatment plan and individual behavior
plan. Activities involve working
directly with the child or child's family as provided in subdivision 9, paragraph
(b), clause (4).
(m) (n) "Mental
health professional" means an individual as defined in section 245.4871,
subdivision 27, clauses (1) to (5), or tribal vendor as defined in section
256B.02, subdivision 7, paragraph (b).
(n) (o) "Preschool
program" means a day program licensed under Minnesota Rules, parts
9503.0005 to 9503.0175, and enrolled as a children's therapeutic services and
supports provider to provide a structured treatment program to a child who is
at least 33 months old but who has not yet attended the first day of kindergarten.
(o) (p) "Skills
training" means individual, family, or group training, delivered by or
under the direction of a mental health professional, designed to improve
the basic functioning of the child with emotional disturbance and the child's
family in the activities of daily living and community living, and to improve
the social functioning of the child and the child's family in areas important
to the child's maintaining or reestablishing residency in the community. Individual, family, and group skills training
must:
(1) consist of activities designed to promote skill
development of the child and the child's family in the use of age-appropriate
daily living skills, interpersonal and family relationships, and leisure and
recreational services;
(2) consist of activities that will assist the
family's understanding of normal child development and to use parenting skills
that will help the child with emotional disturbance achieve the goals outlined
in the child's individual treatment plan; and
(3) promote family preservation and unification,
promote the family's integration with the community, and reduce the use of
unnecessary out-of-home placement or institutionalization of children with
emotional disturbance. facilitate
the acquisition of psychosocial skills that are medically necessary to
rehabilitate the child to an age-appropriate developmental trajectory
heretofore disrupted by a psychiatric illness or to self-monitor, compensate
for, cope with, counteract, or replace skills deficits or maladaptive skills
acquired over the course of a psychiatric illness. Skills training is subject to the following
requirements:
(1) a mental health professional or a mental health
practitioner must provide skills training;
(2) the child must always be present during skills
training; however, a brief absence of the child for no more than ten percent of
the session unit may be allowed to redirect or instruct family members;
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(3) skills
training delivered to children or their families must be targeted to the
specific deficits or maladaptations of the child's mental health disorder and
must be prescribed in the child's individual treatment plan;
(4) skills
training delivered to the child's family must teach skills needed by parents to
enhance the child's skill development and to help the child use in daily life
the skills previously taught by a mental health professional or mental health
practitioner and to develop or maintain a home environment that supports the
child's progressive use skills;
(5) group
skills training may be provided to multiple recipients who, because of the
nature of their emotional, behavioral, or social dysfunction, can derive mutual
benefit from interaction in a group setting, which must be staffed as follows:
(i) one
mental health professional or one mental health practitioner under supervision
of a licensed mental health professional must work with a group of four to
eight clients; or
(ii) two
mental health professionals or two mental health practitioners under
supervision of a licensed mental health professional, or one professional plus
one practitioner must work with a group of nine to 12 clients.
Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Covered
service components of children's therapeutic services and supports. (a) Subject to federal approval, medical
assistance covers medically necessary children's therapeutic services and
supports as defined in this section that an eligible provider entity certified
under subdivisions subdivision 4 and 5 provides to a
client eligible under subdivision 3.
(b) The service
components of children's therapeutic services and supports are:
(1) individual,
family, and group psychotherapy;
(2) individual,
family, or group skills training provided by a mental health professional or
mental health practitioner;
(3) crisis
assistance;
(4) mental
health behavioral aide services; and
(5) direction of
a mental health behavioral aide.
(c) Service
components in paragraph (b) may be combined to constitute therapeutic programs,
including day treatment programs and therapeutic preschool
programs. Although day treatment and
preschool programs have specific client and provider eligibility requirements,
medical assistance only pays for the service components listed in paragraph
(b).
Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Provider
entity certification. (a) Effective
July 1, 2003, the commissioner shall establish an initial provider entity application
and certification process and recertification process to determine whether a
provider entity has an administrative and clinical infrastructure that meets
the requirements in subdivisions 5 and 6.
The commissioner shall recertify a provider entity at least every three
years. The commissioner shall establish
a process for decertification of a provider entity that no longer meets the
requirements in this section. The
county, tribe, and the commissioner shall be mutually responsible and accountable
for the county's, tribe's, and state's part of the certification,
recertification, and decertification processes.
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(b) For purposes of this section, a provider entity
must be:
(1) an Indian health services facility or a facility
owned and operated by a tribe or tribal organization operating as a 638
facility under Public Law 93-638 certified by the state;
(2) a county-operated entity certified by the state;
or
(3) a noncounty entity recommended for
certification by the provider's host county and certified by the state.
Sec. 14.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Provider entity administrative
infrastructure requirements. (a) To
be an eligible provider entity under this section, a provider entity must have
an administrative infrastructure that establishes authority and accountability
for decision making and oversight of functions, including finance, personnel,
system management, clinical practice, and performance measurement. The provider must have written policies and
procedures that it reviews and updates every three years and distributes to
staff initially and upon each subsequent update.
(b) The administrative infrastructure written policies
and procedures must include:
(1) personnel procedures, including a process for: (i)
recruiting, hiring, training, and retention of culturally and linguistically
competent providers; (ii) conducting a criminal background check on all direct
service providers and volunteers; (iii) investigating, reporting, and acting on
violations of ethical conduct standards; (iv) investigating, reporting, and
acting on violations of data privacy policies that are compliant with federal
and state laws; (v) utilizing volunteers, including screening applicants,
training and supervising volunteers, and providing liability coverage for
volunteers; and (vi) documenting that each mental health professional, mental
health practitioner, or mental health behavioral aide meets the applicable
provider qualification criteria, training criteria under subdivision 8,
and clinical supervision or direction of a mental health behavioral aide
requirements under subdivision 6;
(2) fiscal procedures, including internal fiscal
control practices and a process for collecting revenue that is compliant with
federal and state laws;
(3) if a client is receiving services from a case
manager or other provider entity, a service coordination process that ensures
services are provided in the most appropriate manner to achieve maximum benefit
to the client. The provider entity must
ensure coordination and nonduplication of services consistent with county board
coordination procedures established under section 245.4881, subdivision 5;
(4) (3) a performance measurement system, including
monitoring to determine cultural appropriateness of services identified in the
individual treatment plan, as determined by the client's culture, beliefs,
values, and language, and family-driven services; and
(5) (4) a process to establish and maintain individual client
records. The client's records must
include:
(i) the client's personal information;
(ii) forms applicable to data privacy;
(iii) the client's diagnostic assessment, updates,
results of tests, individual treatment plan, and individual behavior plan, if
necessary;
(iv) documentation of service delivery as specified
under subdivision 6;
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(v) telephone
contacts;
(vi) discharge
plan; and
(vii) if applicable,
insurance information.
(c) A provider
entity that uses a restrictive procedure with a client must meet the
requirements of section 245.8261.
Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943,
subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6. Provider
entity clinical infrastructure requirements. (a) To be an eligible provider entity under
this section, a provider entity must have a clinical infrastructure that
utilizes diagnostic assessment, an individualized treatment plan
plans, service delivery, and individual treatment plan review that are
culturally competent, child-centered, and family-driven to achieve maximum
benefit for the client. The provider
entity must review, and update as necessary, the clinical
policies and procedures every three years and must distribute the policies and
procedures to staff initially and upon each subsequent update.
(b) The
clinical infrastructure written policies and procedures must include policies
and procedures for:
(1) providing
or obtaining a client's diagnostic assessment that identifies acute and chronic
clinical disorders, co-occurring medical conditions, sources of psychological
and environmental problems, and including a functional
assessment. The functional assessment
must clearly summarize the client's individual strengths and needs;
(2) developing
an individual treatment plan that is:
(i) is based
on the information in the client's diagnostic assessment;
(ii)
identified goals and objectives of treatment, treatment strategy, schedule for
accomplishing treatment goals and objectives, and the individuals responsible
for providing treatment services and supports;
(ii) (iii) is developed no later than the end
of the first psychotherapy session after the after completion of the
client's diagnostic assessment by the a mental health
professional who provides the client's psychotherapy and before the
provision of children's therapeutic services and supports;
(iii) (iv) is developed through a child-centered,
family-driven, culturally appropriate planning process that
identifies service needs and individualized, planned, and culturally
appropriate interventions that contain specific treatment goals and objectives
for the client and the client's family or foster family;
(iv) (v) is reviewed at least once every 90 days
and revised, if necessary; and
(v) (vi) is signed by the clinical supervisor
and by the client or, if appropriate, by the client's parent or
other person authorized by statute to consent to mental health services for the
client;
(3) developing
an individual behavior plan that documents services treatment
strategies to be provided by the mental health behavioral aide. The individual behavior plan must include:
(i) detailed
instructions on the service treatment strategies to be provided;
(ii) time
allocated to each service treatment strategy;
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(iii) methods of documenting the child's behavior;
(iv) methods of monitoring the child's progress in
reaching objectives; and
(v) goals to increase or decrease targeted behavior as
identified in the individual treatment plan;
(4) providing clinical supervision of the
mental health practitioner and mental health behavioral aide. A mental health professional must document
the clinical supervision the professional provides by cosigning individual
treatment plans and making entries in the client's record on supervisory
activities. Clinical supervision does
not include the authority to make or terminate court-ordered placements of the
child. A clinical supervisor must be
available for urgent consultation as required by the individual client's needs
or the situation. Clinical supervision
may occur individually or in a small group to discuss treatment and review
progress toward goals. The focus of
clinical supervision must be the client's treatment needs and progress and the
mental health practitioner's or behavioral aide's ability to provide services;
(4a) CTSS certified provider entities providing
meeting day treatment and therapeutic preschool programs must
meet the conditions in items (i) to (iii):
(i) the supervisor must be present and available on
the premises more than 50 percent of the time in a five-working-day period
during which the supervisee is providing a mental health service;
(ii) the diagnosis and the client's individual
treatment plan or a change in the diagnosis or individual treatment plan must
be made by or reviewed, approved, and signed by the supervisor; and
(iii) every 30 days, the supervisor must review and
sign the record of indicating the supervisor has reviewed the
client's care for all activities in the preceding 30-day period;
(4b) meeting the clinical supervision standards in
items (i) to (iii) for all other services provided under CTSS, clinical
supervision standards provided in items (i) to (iii) must be used:
(i) medical assistance shall reimburse for services
provided by a mental health practitioner who maintains a consulting
relationship with a mental health professional who accepts full professional
responsibility and is present on site for at least one observation during
the first 12 hours in which the mental health practitioner provides the
individual, family, or group skills training to the child or the child's family;
(ii) medical assistance shall reimburse for services
provided by a mental health behavioral aide who maintains a consulting
relationship with a mental health professional who accepts full professional
responsibility and has an approved plan for clinical supervision of the
behavioral aide. Plans will be approved
in accordance with supervision standards promulgated by the commissioner of
human services;
(ii) thereafter, (iii) the mental health
professional is required to be present on site for observation as clinically
appropriate when the mental health practitioner or mental health behavioral
aide is providing individual, family, or group skills training to the
child or the child's family CTSS services; and
(iii)
(iv) when conducted, the observation
must be a minimum of one clinical unit.
The on-site presence of the mental health professional must be
documented in the child's record and signed by the mental health professional
who accepts full professional responsibility;
(5) providing direction to a mental health behavioral
aide. For entities that employ mental
health behavioral aides, the clinical supervisor must be employed by the
provider entity or other certified children's therapeutic supports and services
provider entity to ensure necessary and appropriate oversight for the client's
treatment and
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5624
continuity of care.
The mental health professional or mental health practitioner giving
direction must begin with the goals on the individualized treatment plan, and
instruct the mental health behavioral aide on how to construct therapeutic
activities and interventions that will lead to goal attainment. The professional or practitioner giving
direction must also instruct the mental health behavioral aide about the
client's diagnosis, functional status, and other characteristics that are
likely to affect service delivery.
Direction must also include determining that the mental health
behavioral aide has the skills to interact with the client and the client's
family in ways that convey personal and cultural respect and that the aide
actively solicits information relevant to treatment from the family. The aide must be able to clearly explain the
activities the aide is doing with the client and the activities' relationship
to treatment goals. Direction is more
didactic than is supervision and requires the professional or practitioner
providing it to continuously evaluate the mental health behavioral aide's
ability to carry out the activities of the individualized treatment plan and
the individualized behavior plan. When
providing direction, the professional or practitioner must:
(i) review
progress notes prepared by the mental health behavioral aide for accuracy and
consistency with diagnostic assessment, treatment plan, and behavior goals and
the professional or practitioner must approve and sign the progress notes;
(ii) identify
changes in treatment strategies, revise the individual behavior plan, and
communicate treatment instructions and methodologies as appropriate to ensure
that treatment is implemented correctly;
(iii)
demonstrate family-friendly behaviors that support healthy collaboration among
the child, the child's family, and providers as treatment is planned and
implemented;
(iv) ensure that
the mental health behavioral aide is able to effectively communicate with the
child, the child's family, and the provider; and
(v) record the
results of any evaluation and corrective actions taken to modify the work of
the mental health behavioral aide;
(6) providing
service delivery that implements the individual treatment plan and meets the
requirements under subdivision 9; and
(7) individual
treatment plan review. The review must
determine the extent to which the services have met the goals and objectives in
the previous treatment plan. The review
must assess the client's progress and ensure that services and treatment goals
continue to be necessary and appropriate to the client and the client's family
or foster family. Revision of the
individual treatment plan does not require a new diagnostic assessment unless
the client's mental health status has changed markedly. The updated treatment plan must be signed by
the clinical supervisor and by the client, if appropriate, and by the
client's parent or other person authorized by statute to give consent to the
mental health services for the child.
Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943,
subdivision 7, is amended to read:
Subd. 7. Qualifications
of individual and team providers.
(a) An individual or team provider working within the scope of the
provider's practice or qualifications may provide service components of
children's therapeutic services and supports that are identified as medically
necessary in a client's individual treatment plan.
(b) An
individual provider must be qualified as:
(1) a mental
health professional as defined in subdivision 1, paragraph (m); or
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5625
(2) a mental
health practitioner as defined in section 245.4871, subdivision 26. The mental health practitioner must work
under the clinical supervision of a mental health professional; or
(3) a mental
health behavioral aide working under the direction clinical
supervision of a mental health professional to implement the rehabilitative
mental health services identified in the client's individual treatment plan
and individual behavior plan.
(A) A level I
mental health behavioral aide must:
(i) be at least
18 years old;
(ii) have a
high school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED) or two years of
experience as a primary caregiver to a child with severe emotional disturbance
within the previous ten years; and
(iii) meet
preservice and continuing education requirements under subdivision 8.
(B) A level II
mental health behavioral aide must:
(i) be at least
18 years old;
(ii) have an
associate or bachelor's degree or 4,000 hours of experience in delivering clinical
services in the treatment of mental illness concerning children or adolescents. Hours worked as a mental health behavioral
aide I may be included in the 4,000 hours of experience; and
(iii) meet
preservice and continuing education requirements in subdivision 8.
(c) A preschool
program multidisciplinary team must include at least one mental health
professional and one or more of the following individuals under the clinical
supervision of a mental health professional:
(i) a mental
health practitioner; or
(ii) a program
person, including a teacher, assistant teacher, or aide, who meets the
qualifications and training standards of a level I mental health behavioral
aide.
(d) A day
treatment multidisciplinary team must include at least one mental health
professional and one mental health practitioner.
Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943,
subdivision 9, is amended to read:
Subd. 9. Service
delivery criteria. (a) In delivering
services under this section, a certified provider entity must ensure that:
(1) each
individual provider's caseload size permits the provider to deliver services to
both clients with severe, complex needs and clients with less intensive
needs. The provider's caseload size should
reasonably enable the provider to play an active role in service planning,
monitoring, and delivering services to meet the client's and client's family's
needs, as specified in each client's individual treatment plan;
(2) site-based
programs, including day treatment and preschool programs, provide staffing and
facilities to ensure the client's health, safety, and protection of rights, and
that the programs are able to implement each client's individual treatment
plan;
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5626
(3) a day
treatment program is provided to a group of clients by a multidisciplinary team
under the clinical supervision of a mental health professional. The day treatment program must be provided in
and by: (i) an outpatient hospital accredited by the Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Health Organizations and licensed under sections 144.50 to 144.55;
(ii) a community mental health center under section 245.62; and or (iii)
an entity that is under contract with the county board to operate a program
that meets the requirements of sections 245.4712, subdivision 2, and or
245.4884, subdivision 2, and Minnesota Rules, parts 9505.0170 to 9505.0475. The day treatment program must stabilize the
client's mental health status while developing and improving the client's
independent living and socialization skills.
The goal of the day treatment program must be to reduce or relieve the
effects of mental illness and provide training to enable the client to live in
the community. The program must be
available at least one day a week for a three-hour two-hour time
block. The three-hour two-hour
time block must include at least one hour, but no more than two hours,
of individual or group psychotherapy. The
remainder of the three-hour time block may include recreation therapy,
socialization therapy, or independent living skills therapy, but only if the
therapies are included in the client's individual treatment plan. The
remainder of the structured treatment program may include individual or group
psychotherapy and individual or group skills training, if included in the
client's individual treatment plan. Day
treatment programs are not part of inpatient or residential treatment services. A day treatment program may provide fewer
than the minimally required hours for a particular child during a billing
period in which the child is transitioning into, or out of, the program;
and
(4) a therapeutic
preschool program is a structured treatment program offered to a child who
is at least 33 months old, but who has not yet reached the first day of
kindergarten, by a preschool multidisciplinary team in a day program licensed
under Minnesota Rules, parts 9503.0005 to 9503.0175. The program must be available at least one
day a week for a minimum two-hour time block two hours per day, five
days per week, and 12 months of each calendar year. The structured treatment program may include
individual or group psychotherapy and recreation therapy, socialization
therapy, or independent living skills therapy individual or group skills
training, if included in the client's individual treatment plan. A therapeutic preschool program may
provide fewer than the minimally required hours for a particular child during a
billing period in which the child is transitioning into, or out of, the
program.
(b) A provider
entity must deliver the service components of children's therapeutic services
and supports in compliance with the following requirements:
(1) individual,
family, and group psychotherapy must be delivered as specified in Minnesota
Rules, part 9505.0323;
(2) individual,
family, or group skills training must be provided by a mental health
professional or a mental health practitioner who has a consulting relationship
with a mental health professional who accepts full professional responsibility
for the training;
(3) crisis
assistance must be time-limited and designed to resolve or stabilize crisis
through arrangements for direct intervention and support services to the child
and the child's family. Crisis
assistance must utilize resources designed to address abrupt or substantial
changes in the functioning of the child or the child's family as evidenced by a
sudden change in behavior with negative consequences for well being, a loss of
usual coping mechanisms, or the presentation of danger to self or others;
(4) mental
health behavioral aide services must be medically necessary services
that are provided by a mental health behavioral aide must be treatment
services, identified in the child's individual treatment plan and individual
behavior plan, which are performed minimally by a paraprofessional qualified
according to subdivision 7, paragraph (b), clause (3), and which are designed
to improve the functioning of the child and support the family in activities
of daily and community living. in the progressive use of developmentally
appropriate psychosocial skills.
Activities involve working directly with the child, child-peer
groupings, or child-family groupings to practice, repeat, reintroduce, and
master the skills defined in subdivision 1, paragraph (p), as previously taught
by a mental health professional or mental health practitioner including:
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5627
(i)
providing cues or prompts in skill-building peer-to-peer or parent-child
interactions so that the child progressively recognizes and responds to the
cues independently;
(ii)
performing as a practice partner or role-play partner;
(iii)
reinforcing the child's accomplishments;
(iv)
generalizing skill-building activities in the child's multiple natural
settings;
(v)
assigning further practice activities; and
(vi)
intervening as necessary to redirect the child's target behavior and to
de-escalate behavior that puts the child or other person at risk of injury.
A mental health behavioral aide must
document the delivery of services in written progress notes. The mental health behavioral aide must
implement goals in the treatment plan for the child's emotional disturbance
that allow the child to acquire developmentally and therapeutically appropriate
daily living skills, social skills, and leisure and recreational skills through
targeted activities. These activities may
include:
(i)
assisting a child as needed with skills development in dressing, eating, and
toileting;
(ii)
assisting, monitoring, and guiding the child to complete tasks, including
facilitating the child's participation in medical appointments;
(iii) observing
the child and intervening to redirect the child's inappropriate behavior;
(iv)
assisting the child in using age-appropriate self-management skills as related
to the child's emotional disorder or mental illness, including problem solving,
decision making, communication, conflict resolution, anger management, social
skills, and recreational skills;
(v)
implementing deescalation techniques as recommended by the mental health
professional;
(vi) implementing
any other mental health service that the mental health professional has
approved as being within the scope of the behavioral aide's duties; or
(vii)
assisting the parents to develop and use parenting skills that help the child
achieve the goals outlined in the child's individual treatment plan or
individual behavioral plan. Parenting
skills must be directed exclusively to the child's treatment treatment strategies in the
individual treatment plan and the individual behavior plan. The mental health behavioral aide must
document the delivery of services in written progress notes. Progress notes must reflect implementation of
the treatment strategies, as performed by the mental health behavioral aide and
the child's responses to the treatment strategies; and
(5) direction
of a mental health behavioral aide must include the following:
(i) a total of
one hour of on-site observation by a mental health professional during the
first 12 hours of service provided to a child;
(ii) ongoing
on-site observation by a mental health professional or mental health
practitioner for at least a total of one hour during every 40 hours of service
provided to a child; and
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5628
(iii) immediate
accessibility of the mental health professional or mental health practitioner
to the mental health behavioral aide during service provision.
Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0944,
subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Mobile
crisis intervention staff qualifications.
(a) To provide children's mental health mobile crisis intervention
services, a mobile crisis intervention team must include:
(1) at least two
mental health professionals as defined in section 256B.0943, subdivision 1,
paragraph (m) (n); or
(2) a
combination of at least one mental health professional and one mental health
practitioner as defined in section 245.4871, subdivision 26, with the required mental
health crisis training and under the clinical supervision of a mental health
professional on the team.
(b) The team
must have at least two people with at least one member providing on-site crisis
intervention services when needed. Team members
must be experienced in mental health assessment, crisis intervention
techniques, and clinical decision making under emergency conditions and have
knowledge of local services and resources.
The team must recommend and coordinate the team's services with
appropriate local resources, including the county social services agency,
mental health service providers, and local law enforcement, if necessary.
Sec. 19. RATE
SETTING.
The
commissioner shall implement a new statewide rate setting methodology for
intensive residential and nonresidential mental health services starting
January 1, 2010. The new rate setting
methodology shall be fiscally neutral and consistent with federal and state
Medicaid rules, regulations, procedures, and practices.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective for services provided on or after January
1, 2010, and does not change contracts or agreements relating to services
provided before January 1, 2010."
Delete the title
and insert:
"A bill for
an act relating to human services; amending mental health provisions; changing
medical assistance reimbursement and eligibility; changing provider
qualification and training requirements; amending mental health behavioral aide
services; providing coverage of mental health behavioral aide services;
changing special contracts with bordering states; requiring a new rate setting
methodology; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 148C.11, subdivision 1;
245.4871, subdivision 26; 245.4885, subdivision 1; 245.50, subdivision 5; 256B.0615,
subdivisions 1, 3; 256B.0622, subdivision 8; 256B.0623, subdivision 5;
256B.0624, subdivision 8; 256B.0625, subdivision 49; 256B.0943, subdivisions 1,
2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9; 256B.0944, subdivision 5."
With the
recommendation that when so amended the bill pass.
The
report was adopted.
Atkins from the
Committee on Commerce and Labor to which was referred:
H. F. No. 2112,
A resolution memorializing the Congress of the United States to oppose
enactment of legislation of the substance and tenor of S. 40/H.R. 3200 -- the
National Insurance Act of 2007 -- proposed optional federal charter
legislation.
Reported the
same back with the recommendation that the bill pass and be re-referred to the
Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration.
The
report was adopted.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5629
Faust from the
Committee on Ways and Means to which was referred:
S. F. No. 97, A
bill for an act relating to health; providing for the medical use of marijuana;
providing civil and criminal penalties; appropriating money; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 13.3806, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 152.
Reported the
same back with the following amendments to the first unofficial engrossment:
Page 15, line
16, delete "This is a onetime appropriation."
With the
recommendation that when so amended the bill pass.
The
report was adopted.
Carlson from
the Committee on Finance to which was referred:
S. F. No. 727,
A bill for an act relating to human services; establishing a self-advocacy
program for persons with developmental disabilities; transferring money
appropriated to the commissioner of administration; amending Minnesota Statutes
2008, section 256B.092, by adding a subdivision.
Reported the
same back with the following amendments:
Delete
everything after the enacting clause and insert:
"Section
1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.092,
is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 11.
Self-advocacy activities. Within the limits of appropriations
specifically for this purpose, Advocating Change Together, in cooperation with
the network of self-advocacy groups called Self-Advocates Minnesota, shall
conduct self-advocacy activities for persons with developmental
disabilities. These activities shall
include, but not be limited to, training on individual rights, decision making,
self determination, prevention of abuse, and participation in quality assurance
monitoring. The commissioner shall seek
to obtain federal financial participation for eligible activity by Advocating
Change Together and Self-Advocates Minnesota.
These organizations shall maintain and transmit to the commissioner
documentation that is necessary in order to obtain federal funds.
Sec. 2. TRANSFER;
APPROPRIATION.
Any general
fund appropriation to the commissioner of administration for a grant to
Advocating Change Together for the purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section
256B.092, subdivision 11, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2009, is
transferred to the commissioner of human services and becomes part of base
level funding for the commissioner of human services for the biennium beginning
July 1, 2011."
With the
recommendation that when so amended the bill pass and be re-referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means.
The
report was adopted.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5630
Carlson from the Committee on Finance to which was
referred:
S. F. No. 915, A bill for an act relating to
insurance; requiring school districts to obtain employee health coverage
through the public employees insurance program; appropriating money; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 43A.316, subdivisions 9, 10, by adding
subdivisions; 62E.02, subdivision 23; 62E.10, subdivision 1; 62E.11,
subdivision 5; 297I.05, subdivision 5; 297I.15, subdivision 3.
Reported the same back with the following amendments:
Delete everything after the enacting clause and
insert:
"Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.316, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 3a. Health
improvement programs. The
commissioner, with the approval of the school employee insurance committee, is
authorized to plan, develop, purchase, administer, and evaluate disease
management and other programs, strategies, and incentives to improve the health
and health outcomes of members.
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.316, subdivision 9, is amended to
read:
Subd. 9. Insurance trust fund. (a) The insurance trust fund in the
state treasury consists of deposits of the premiums received from employers
participating in the program and transfers before July 1, 1994, from the excess
contributions holding account established by section 353.65, subdivision
7. All money in the fund is appropriated
to the commissioner to pay insurance premiums, approved claims, refunds, administrative
costs, and other related service costs, including costs incurred
under chapters 62E and 297I in connection with the school employee insurance
program. Premiums paid by employers
to the fund are exempt from the taxes imposed by chapter 297I, except as
described in paragraph (b). The
commissioner shall reserve an amount of money to cover the estimated costs of
claims incurred but unpaid. The State
Board of Investment shall invest the money according to
section 11A.24. Investment income
and losses attributable to the fund must be credited to the fund.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), premium revenues
collected from the school employee insurance program, described in subdivisions
12 and 13, are not exempt from the taxes imposed under section 297I.05,
subdivision 5, paragraph (b).
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.316, subdivision 10, is amended to
read:
Subd. 10. Exemption. (a) The public employee insurance
program and, where applicable, the employers participating in it are exempt
from chapters 60A, 62A, 62C, 62D, 62E, and 62H, section 471.617, subdivisions 2
and 3, and the bidding requirements of section 471.6161.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the school employee
insurance program, described in subdivisions 12 and 13, is a contributing
member of the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association and must pay
assessments made by the association on the premium revenue attributed to the
school employee insurance program, prorated as provided in section 62E.11,
subdivision 5, paragraph (b).
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.316, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 11. Definitions. (a) For purposes of subdivisions 11 to 16,
the terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings given.
(b) "Eligible employee" means an employee of
a school employer, a dependent of such an employee, a retiree, or other person,
who is eligible for health insurance coverage under the school employer's plan.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5631
(c) "School Employee Insurance Committee"
means the committee created in subdivision 14.
(d) "School employer" means a school
district as defined in section 120A.05, service cooperative as defined in
section 123A.21, intermediate district as defined in section 136D.01,
Cooperative Center for Vocational Education as defined in section 123A.22,
regional management information center as defined in section 123A.23, or an
education unit organized under a joint powers agreement under section 471.59.
Sec. 5.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.316, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 12. School
employee insurance program. The
commissioner shall develop and administer within the public employees insurance
program a separately rated and administered program for eligible employees of
school employers, to be called the school employee insurance program. The initial offerings shall be the PEIP Advantage,
Advantage Value, and Advantage HSA plans offered by the public employee
insurance program. Health coverage
offered through the school employee insurance program shall be made available
beginning January 1, 2011.
Sec. 6.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.316, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 13. Enrollment;
school employee insurance program.
(a) A school employer that provides health coverage to eligible
employees or contributes money to pay for all or part of the cost of health
coverage for eligible employees, must purchase such coverage through the school
employee insurance program under subdivision 12. School employers described in paragraph (b)
may opt out as described in paragraphs (b) to (e).
(b) Each exclusive representative of employees of a
school employer which, on January 1, 2010, was individually self-insured or
self-insured as a group shall determine whether the employees it represents
will participate in the school employee insurance program, in the same manner
described in subdivision 5, paragraph (b).
Paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) below apply only to school employees of the
school employers described in this paragraph.
(c) School employees not represented by an exclusive
representative may enter the school employee insurance program in the same
manner described in subdivision 5, paragraph (c).
(d) School employees who do not enter the program upon
first becoming eligible for participation are ineligible to participate for
four years and must be pooled and rated separately from the other enrollees in
the school employee insurance program for the first four years after entering
the program. This paragraph does not
apply to a school employee upon later becoming a member of a school employee
group that has not declined participation.
(e) The decision of an exclusive representative of
school employees or, in the case of unorganized employees, the decision of a
school district, to enter into the school employee insurance program is
irrevocable and applies to all future years.
(f) Health coverage provided under the school employee
insurance program to a retired employee of a school district, or to a dependent
of the retired employee, must not be reduced as compared to the coverage to
which the retired employee or dependent was entitled prior to enrollment in the
school employee insurance program.
Sec. 7.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.316, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 14. School
Employee Insurance Committee. (a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all plan design decisions,
including all pilot or demonstration programs in which school employees
participate, must first be developed by the School Employee Insurance Committee
in consultation with the commissioner or the commissioner's designee and other
consultants as the committee sees fit.
This paragraph does not apply to the initial offerings specified in
subdivision 12.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5632
(b) The committee must be composed of 14 members who
represent school district employees and employers in equal number. The employee representatives shall be
appointed as follows: four shall be
appointed by Education Minnesota, one shall be appointed by the Service
Employees International Union, one shall be appointed by the American
Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, and one shall be
appointed by the Minnesota School Employees Association. The seven school employer representatives who
serve on the School Employee Insurance Committee must be appointed by the
Minnesota School Boards Association.
Members of the committee shall be appointed no later than August 1,
2009, and shall serve at the will of the appointing organization.
(c) The School Employee Insurance Committee members
are eligible for compensation and expense reimbursement under section 15.0575,
subdivision 3. In addition, the actual
salary lost by a committee member or cost charged by an employer of a committee
member for time missed while performing the duties of a committee member must
be reimbursed to the committee member.
Sec. 8.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.316, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 15. Reinsurance. The commissioner may, on behalf of the
program, participate in an insured or self-insured reinsurance pool.
Sec. 9.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.316, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 16. Nonidentifiable
aggregate claims data from past coverage. Upon request by the commissioner, entities
that are providing or have provided coverage to eligible employees of school
employers within two years before the effective date of this section, shall
provide to the commissioner at no charge nonidentifiable aggregate claims data
for that coverage. The information must
include data relating to employee group benefit sets, demographics, and claims
experience. Notwithstanding section
13.203, Minnesota service cooperatives must comply with this subdivision.
Sec. 10.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 62E.02, subdivision 23, is amended to
read:
Subd. 23. Contributing member. "Contributing member" means those
companies regulated under chapter 62A and offering, selling, issuing, or
renewing policies or contracts of accident and health insurance; health
maintenance organizations regulated under chapter 62D; nonprofit health service
plan corporations regulated under chapter 62C; community integrated service
networks regulated under chapter 62N; fraternal benefit societies regulated
under chapter 64B; the Minnesota employees insurance program established in
section 43A.317, effective July 1, 1993; and joint self-insurance plans
regulated under chapter 62H; and the school employee insurance program
created under section 43A.316. For
the purposes of determining liability of contributing members pursuant to
section 62E.11 payments received from or on behalf of Minnesota residents for
coverage by a health maintenance organization or, a community
integrated service network, or the school employee insurance program
shall be considered to be accident and health insurance premiums.
Sec. 11.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 62E.10, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Creation and membership; tax
exemption. (a) There is
established a Comprehensive Health Association to promote the public health and
welfare of the state of Minnesota with membership consisting of all insurers;
self-insurers; fraternals; joint self-insurance plans regulated under chapter
62H; the Minnesota employees insurance program established in section 43A.317,
effective July 1, 1993; the school employee insurance program created under
section 43A.316, subdivision 12; health maintenance organizations; and
community integrated service networks licensed or authorized to do business in
this state.
(b) The
Comprehensive Health Association is exempt from the taxes imposed under chapter
297I and any other laws of this state and all property owned by the association
is exempt from taxation.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5633
Sec. 12.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 62E.11, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Allocation of losses. (a) Each contributing member of the
association shall share the losses due to claims expenses of the comprehensive
health insurance plan for plans issued or approved for issuance by the
association, and shall share in the operating and administrative expenses
incurred or estimated to be incurred by the association incident to the conduct
of its affairs. Claims expenses of the
state plan which exceed the premium payments allocated to the payment of
benefits shall be the liability of the contributing members. Contributing members shall share in the
claims expense of the state plan and operating and administrative expenses of
the association in an amount equal to the ratio of the contributing member's
total accident and health insurance premium, received from or on behalf of
Minnesota residents as divided by the total accident and health insurance
premium, received by all contributing members from or on behalf of Minnesota
residents, as determined by the commissioner.
Payments made by the state to a contributing member for medical
assistance, MinnesotaCare, or general assistance medical care services according
to chapters 256, 256B, and 256D shall be excluded when determining a
contributing member's total premium.
(b) In making the allocation of losses provided in
paragraph (a) in each future year, the association's assessment against the
school employee insurance program must be based on premiums received by the
school employee insurance program in that future year from the school employers
that, on May 1, 2009, were receiving health care coverage from a contributing
member of the association. The association
shall assess the premiums paid in each future year by those employers at the
same rate as premiums paid to other members of the association. For purposes of this calculation, premiums of
the program used must be net of rate credits and retroactive rate refunds on
the same basis as the premiums of other association members.
Sec. 13.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 297I.05, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Health maintenance organizations, nonprofit
health service plan corporations, and community integrated service
networks, and the school employee insurance program. (a) A tax is imposed on health maintenance
organizations, community integrated service networks, and nonprofit health care
service plan corporations. The rate of
tax is equal to one percent of gross premiums less return premiums on all
direct business received by the organization, network, or corporation or its
agents in Minnesota, in cash or otherwise, in the calendar year.
(b) A tax is imposed on the school employee insurance
program created under section 43A.316, subdivision 12. The rate of tax imposed for each year shall
be the rate specified in paragraph (a) and shall be assessed upon gross
premiums less return premiums received by the school employee insurance program
in that calendar year from school employers that, on May 1, 2009, were
receiving health care coverage from an entity that is required to pay the tax
under paragraph (a). The commissioner
shall assess the premiums paid in each year by those employers at the same rate
as premiums paid by entities taxed under paragraph (a).
(c) The
commissioner shall deposit all revenues, including penalties and interest,
collected under this chapter from health maintenance organizations, community
integrated service networks, and nonprofit health service plan
corporations, and the school employee insurance program in the health
care access fund. Refunds of
overpayments of tax imposed by this subdivision must be paid from the health
care access fund. There is annually appropriated
from the health care access fund to the commissioner the amount necessary to
make any refunds of the tax imposed under this subdivision.
Sec. 14.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 297I.15, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Public employees insurance program. Premiums paid to the public employees
insurance program under section 43A.316 are exempt from the taxes imposed under
this chapter, except for premiums paid to the school employee insurance
program as provided in section 297I.05, subdivision 5, paragraph (b).
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5634
Sec. 15. APPROPRIATION.
(a) $425,000 is appropriated from the insurance trust
fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 43A.316, subdivision 9, to the
commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget for fiscal year 2010 and
$541,000 for fiscal year 2011 for the administrative responsibilities created
in this act.
(b) The commissioner of management and budget shall
impose an enrollment fee upon the premium charged for the first three months of
coverage under the school employee insurance program created in this act in the
amount of $106,000 to cover the costs incurred by the commissioner under
paragraph (a). The commissioner shall
deposit the enrollment fees in the insurance trust fund.
Sec. 16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Sections 1 to 15 are effective for coverage to begin
January 1, 2011."
Delete the title and insert:
"A bill for an act relating to insurance;
requiring school districts to obtain employee health coverage through the
public employees insurance program; appropriating money; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2008, sections 43A.316, subdivisions 9, 10, by adding subdivisions;
62E.02, subdivision 23; 62E.10, subdivision 1; 62E.11, subdivision 5; 297I.05,
subdivision 5; 297I.15, subdivision 3."
With the recommendation that when so amended the bill
pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Taxes.
The report
was adopted.
Faust from the Committee on Ways and Means to which
was referred:
S. F. No. 1012, A bill for an act relating to state
government; appropriating money for environment and natural resources.
Reported the same back with the recommendation that
the first unofficial engrossment pass.
The report
was adopted.
Carlson from the Committee on Finance to which was
referred:
S. F. No. 1331, A bill for an act relating to
elections; moving the state primary from September to June and making
conforming changes; updating certain ballot and voting system requirements;
changing certain election administration provisions; authorizing early voting;
expanding requirements and authorizations for postsecondary institutions to
report resident student information to the secretary of state for voter
registration purposes; changing certain absentee ballot requirements and
provisions; requiring a special election for certain vacancies in nomination;
changing the special election requirements for vacancies in Congressional
offices; requiring an affidavit of candidacy to state the candidate's residence
address and telephone number; changing municipal precinct and ward boundary
requirements for certain cities; imposing additional requirements on polling
place challengers; changing certain caucus and campaign provisions; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 10A.31, subdivision 6; 10A.321; 10A.322,
subdivision 1; 10A.323; 103C.305, subdivisions 1, 3; 135A.17, subdivision 2;
201.016, subdivisions 1a, 2; 201.022, subdivision 1; 201.056; 201.061,
subdivisions 1, 3; 201.071, subdivision 1; 201.091, by
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5635
adding a subdivision; 201.11; 201.12; 201.13; 202A.14,
subdivision 3; 203B.001; 203B.01, by adding a subdivision; 203B.02, subdivision
3; 203B.03, subdivision 1; 203B.04, subdivisions 1, 6; 203B.05; 203B.06,
subdivisions 3, 5; 203B.07, subdivisions 2, 3; 203B.08, subdivisions 2, 3, by
adding a subdivision; 203B.081; 203B.085; 203B.11, subdivision 1; 203B.12;
203B.125; 203B.16, subdivision 2; 203B.17, subdivision 1; 203B.19; 203B.21,
subdivision 2; 203B.22; 203B.225, subdivision 1; 203B.227; 203B.23, subdivision
2; 203B.24, subdivision 1; 203B.26; 204B.04, subdivisions 2, 3; 204B.06, by
adding a subdivision; 204B.07, subdivision 1; 204B.09, subdivisions 1, 3;
204B.11, subdivision 2; 204B.13, subdivisions 1, 2, by adding subdivisions;
204B.135, subdivisions 1, 3, 4; 204B.14, subdivisions 2, 3, 4, by adding a
subdivision; 204B.16, subdivision 1; 204B.18; 204B.21, subdivision 1; 204B.22,
subdivisions 1, 2; 204B.24; 204B.27, subdivisions 2, 3; 204B.28, subdivision 2;
204B.33; 204B.35, subdivision 4; 204B.44; 204B.45, subdivision 2; 204B.46;
204C.02; 204C.04, subdivision 1; 204C.06, subdivision 1; 204C.07, subdivisions
3a, 4; 204C.08; 204C.10; 204C.12, subdivision 2; 204C.13, subdivisions 2, 3, 5,
6; 204C.17; 204C.19, subdivision 2; 204C.20, subdivisions 1, 2; 204C.21;
204C.22, subdivisions 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 13; 204C.24, subdivision 1; 204C.25;
204C.26; 204C.27; 204C.28, subdivision 3; 204C.30, by adding subdivisions;
204C.33, subdivisions 1, 3; 204C.35, subdivisions 1, 2, by adding a
subdivision; 204C.36, subdivisions 1, 3, 4; 204C.37; 204D.03, subdivisions 1,
3; 204D.04, subdivision 2; 204D.05, subdivision 3; 204D.07; 204D.08; 204D.09,
subdivision 2; 204D.10, subdivisions 1, 3; 204D.11, subdivision 1; 204D.12;
204D.13; 204D.16; 204D.165; 204D.17; 204D.19; 204D.20, subdivision 1; 204D.25,
subdivision 1; 205.065, subdivisions 1, 2; 205.07, by adding a subdivision;
205.075, subdivision 1; 205.13, subdivisions 1, 1a, 2; 205.16, subdivisions 2,
3, 4; 205.17, subdivisions 1, 3, 4, 5; 205.185, subdivision 3, by adding a
subdivision; 205.84, subdivisions 1, 2; 205A.03, subdivisions 1, 2; 205A.05,
subdivisions 1, 2; 205A.06, subdivision 1a; 205A.07, subdivisions 2, 3;
205A.08, subdivisions 1, 3, 4; 205A.10, subdivisions 2, 3, by adding a
subdivision; 205A.11, subdivision 3; 206.56, subdivision 3; 206.57, subdivision
6; 206.82, subdivision 2; 206.83; 206.84, subdivision 3; 206.86, subdivision 6;
206.89, subdivisions 2, 3; 206.90, subdivisions 9, 10; 208.03; 208.04;
211B.045; 211B.11, by adding a subdivision; 211B.20, subdivisions 1, 2; 412.02,
subdivision 2a; 414.02, subdivision 4; 414.031, subdivision 6; 414.0325,
subdivisions 1, 4; 414.033, subdivision 7; 447.32, subdivision 4; Laws 2005,
chapter 162, section 34, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapters 202A; 203B; 204B; 204C; 204D; 205; 205A; repealing Minnesota
Statutes 2008, sections 3.22; 201.096; 203B.04, subdivision 5; 203B.10;
203B.11, subdivision 2; 203B.13, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4; 203B.25; 204B.12,
subdivision 2a; 204B.13, subdivisions 4, 5, 6; 204B.22, subdivision 3; 204B.36;
204B.37; 204B.38; 204B.39; 204B.41; 204B.42; 204C.07, subdivision 3; 204C.13,
subdivision 4; 204C.20, subdivision 3; 204C.23; 204D.05, subdivisions 1, 2;
204D.10, subdivision 2; 204D.11, subdivisions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; 204D.14,
subdivisions 1, 3; 204D.15, subdivisions 1, 3; 204D.169; 204D.28; 205.17,
subdivision 2; 206.56, subdivision 5; 206.57, subdivision 7; 206.61,
subdivisions 1, 3, 4, 5; 206.62; 206.805, subdivision 2; 206.84, subdivisions
1, 6, 7; 206.86, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 206.90, subdivisions 3, 5, 6, 7,
8; 206.91; Minnesota Rules, part 8230.4365, subpart 5.
Reported the
same back with the following amendments:
Delete
everything after the enacting clause and insert:
"ARTICLE 1
ABSENTEE AND
EARLY VOTING
Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 13.607,
subdivision 7, is amended to read:
Subd. 7. Absentee
ballots. Disclosure of names of
voters submitting absentee ballots is governed by section 203B.12,
subdivision 7 203B.121, subdivision 2.
Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 201.022,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5636
Subdivision
1. Establishment. The secretary of state shall maintain a
statewide voter registration system to facilitate voter registration and to
provide a central database containing voter registration information from
around the state. The system must be
accessible to the county auditor of each county in the state. The system must also:
(1) provide for
voters to submit their voter registration applications to any county auditor,
the secretary of state, or the Department of Public Safety;
(2) provide for
the definition, establishment, and maintenance of a central database for all
voter registration information;
(3) provide for
entering data into the statewide registration system;
(4) provide for
electronic transfer of completed voter registration applications from the
Department of Public Safety to the secretary of state or the county auditor;
(5) assign a
unique identifier to each legally registered voter in the state;
(6) provide for
the acceptance of the Minnesota driver's license number, Minnesota state
identification number, and last four digits of the Social Security number for
each voter record;
(7) coordinate
with other agency databases within the state;
(8) allow county
auditors and the secretary of state to add or modify information in the system
to provide for accurate and up-to-date records;
(9) allow county
auditors, municipal and school district clerks, and the secretary of state to
have electronic access to the statewide registration system for review and
search capabilities;
(10) provide
security and protection of all information in the statewide registration system
and ensure that unauthorized access is not allowed;
(11) provide
access to municipal clerks to use the system;
(12) provide a system
for each county to identify the precinct to which a voter should be assigned
for voting purposes;
(13) provide
daily reports accessible by county auditors on the driver's license numbers,
state identification numbers, or last four digits of the Social Security
numbers submitted on voter registration applications that have been verified as
accurate by the secretary of state; and
(14) provide
reports on the number of absentee ballots transmitted to and returned and cast
by voters under section 203B.16; and
(15) provide
rosters, master lists, and other reports necessary for early voting.
The appropriate
state or local official shall provide security measures to prevent unauthorized
access to the computerized list established under section 201.021.
Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.001, is
amended to read:
203B.001 ELECTION LAW APPLICABILITY.
The Minnesota
Election Law is applicable to voting by absentee ballot and early voting unless
otherwise provided in this chapter.
Journal of the
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Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.01, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 5.
Early voting. "Early voting" means voting in
person before election day at the office of the county auditor or any other
location authorized in this chapter within the time period provided in section
203B.31.
Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.03,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Violation. No individual shall intentionally:
(a) make or
sign any false certificate required by this chapter;
(b) make any
false or untrue statement in any application for absentee ballots;
(c) apply for absentee
ballots more than once in any election with the intent to cast an illegal
ballot;
(d) exhibit a
ballot marked by that individual to any other individual;
(e) do any act
in violation of the provisions of this chapter for the purpose of casting an
illegal vote in any precinct or for the purpose of aiding another to cast an
illegal vote;
(f) use
information from absentee ballot or early voting materials or records
for purposes unrelated to elections, political activities, or law enforcement;
(g) provide
assistance to an absentee or early voter except in the manner provided
by section 204C.15, subdivision 1;
(h) solicit the
vote of an absentee or early voter while in the immediate presence of
the voter during the time the individual knows the absentee or early
voter is voting; or
(i) alter an
absentee ballot application after it has been signed by the voter, except by an
election official for administrative purposes.
Before
inspecting information from absentee ballot or early voting materials or
records, an individual shall provide identification to the public official
having custody of the material or information.
Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.04,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Application
procedures. Except as otherwise
allowed by subdivision 2 or by section 203B.11, subdivision 4, an application
for absentee ballots for any election may be submitted at any time not less
than one day before the day of that election.
The county auditor shall prepare absentee ballot application forms in
the format provided by the secretary of state, notwithstanding rules on
absentee ballot forms, and shall furnish them to any person on request. By January 1 of each even-numbered year, the
secretary of state shall make the forms to be used available to auditors
through electronic means. An application
submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be in writing and shall be
submitted to:
(a) (1) the county auditor of the
county where the applicant maintains residence; or
(b) (2) the municipal clerk of
the municipality, or school district if applicable, where the applicant
maintains residence.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5638
An application shall be approved if it is timely
received, signed and dated by the applicant, contains the applicant's name and
residence and mailing addresses, and states that the applicant is eligible to
vote by absentee ballot for one of the reasons specified in section
203B.02. The application may must
contain a request for the voter's applicant's date of birth, which
the applicant's Minnesota driver's license or state identification card
number, and the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security number, if
the applicant has these numbers, an oath that the information contained on the
form is accurate, that the applicant is applying on the applicant's own behalf,
and that the applicant is signing the form under penalty of perjury. An applicant's full date of birth, driver's
license or state identification number, and the last four digits of the
applicant's Social Security number must not be made available for public
inspection. An application may be
submitted to the county auditor or municipal clerk by an electronic facsimile
device. An application mailed or
returned in person to the county auditor or municipal clerk on behalf of a
voter by a person other than the voter must be deposited in the mail or
returned in person to the county auditor or municipal clerk within ten days
after it has been dated by the voter and no later than six days before the
election. The absentee ballot
applications or a list of persons applying for an absentee ballot may not be
made available for public inspection until the close of voting on election day.
An application under this subdivision may contain an
application under subdivision 5 6 to automatically receive an
absentee ballot application.
Sec. 7.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.04, subdivision 6, is amended to
read:
Subd. 6. Ongoing absentee status; termination. (a) An eligible voter may apply to a county
auditor or municipal clerk for status as an ongoing absentee voter who
reasonably expects to meet the requirements of section 203B.02, subdivision
1. The voter may decline to receive
an absentee ballot for one or more elections if that request is received by the
county auditor or municipal clerk at least five days before the deadline in
section 204B.35 for delivering ballots for the election to which it
applies. Sixty days before each state
primary, the county auditor must send each voter with ongoing absentee ballot
status a nonforwardable postcard to notify the voter when the voter can expect
to receive the ballots. Each
applicant must automatically be provided with an absentee ballot application
for each ensuing election other than an election by mail conducted under
section 204B.45, or as otherwise requested by the voter, and must have
the status of ongoing absentee voter indicated on the voter's registration
record.
(b) Ongoing absentee voter status ends on:
(1) the voter's written request;
(2) the voter's death;
(3) return of an ongoing absentee ballot as
undeliverable;
(4) a change in the voter's status so that the voter
is not eligible to vote under section 201.15 or 201.155; or
(5) placement of the voter's registration on inactive
status under section 201.171.
By May 1, 2010, each county auditor shall mail an
explanation of the changes to the ongoing absentee balloting process and an
updated ongoing absentee voter application to every voter with ongoing absentee
ballot status in their county. A voter
must return the application to maintain the voter's status as an ongoing
absentee voter. Upon receipt of a
completed application, the county auditor shall scan an image of the
application and update the voter's record with any new or changed information.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is not effective until the
secretary of state has certified that the statewide voter registration system
has been tested and shown to properly allow for the issuance of ballots to
ongoing absentee voters.
Journal of the
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Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.05, is
amended to read:
203B.05 DESIGNATION OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS TO ADMINISTER
EARLY AND ABSENTEE VOTING LAWS.
Subdivision
1. Generally. The full-time clerk of any city or town shall
administer the provisions of sections 203B.04 to 203B.15 and 203B.30 to
203B.35 if:
(a) (1) the county auditor of that county has designated the
clerk to administer them; or
(b) (2) the clerk has given the county auditor of that county
notice of intention to administer them.
A clerk may
only administer the provisions of sections 203B.04 to 203B.15 and 203B.30 to
203B.35 if the clerk has technical capacity to access the statewide voter
registration system in the secure manner prescribed by the secretary of
state. The secretary of state must
identify hardware, software, security, or other technical prerequisites
necessary to ensure the security, access controls, and performance of the
statewide voter registration system. A
clerk must receive training approved by the secretary of state on the use of
the statewide voter registration system before administering this section. A clerk may not use the statewide voter
registration system until the clerk has received the required training.
Subd. 2. City,
school district, and town elections.
For city, town, and school district elections not held on the same day
as a statewide election, applications for absentee ballots shall be filed with
the city, school district, or town clerk and the duties prescribed by this
chapter for the county auditor shall be performed by the city, school district,
or town clerk unless the county auditor agrees to perform those duties on
behalf of the city, school district, or town clerk. The costs incurred to provide absentee
ballots and perform the duties prescribed by this subdivision shall be paid by
the city, town, or school district holding the election.
Notwithstanding
any other law, this chapter applies to school district elections held on the
same day as a statewide election or an election for a county or municipality
wholly or partially within the school district.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is not effective until the secretary of state has
certified that the statewide voter registration system has been tested, shown
to properly allow municipal clerks to update absentee voting records, and to be
able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.06,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Delivery
of ballots. (a) If an application
for absentee ballots is accepted at a time when absentee ballots are not yet
available for distribution, the county auditor, or municipal clerk accepting
the application shall file it and as soon as absentee ballots are available for
distribution shall mail them to the address specified in the application. If an application for absentee ballots is
accepted when absentee ballots are available for distribution, the county
auditor or municipal clerk accepting the application shall promptly:
(1) mail the
ballots to the voter whose signature appears on the application if the
application is submitted by mail and does not request commercial shipping under
clause (2);
(2) ship the
ballots to the voter using a commercial shipper requested by the voter at the
voter's expense;
(3) deliver the
absentee ballots directly to the voter if the application is submitted in person;
or
(4) deliver the
absentee ballots in a sealed transmittal envelope to an agent who has been
designated to bring the ballots, as provided in section 203B.11, subdivision 4,
to a voter who would have difficulty getting to the polls because of incapacitating
health reasons, or who is disabled, or who is a patient in a health care
facility, a resident of
Journal of the
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a facility
providing assisted living services governed by chapter 144G, a participant in a
residential program for adults licensed under section 245A.02, subdivision 14,
or a resident of a shelter for battered women as defined in section 611A.37,
subdivision 4.
(b) If an
application does not indicate the election for which absentee ballots are
sought, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall mail or deliver only the
ballots for the next election occurring after receipt of the application. Only one set of ballots may be mailed,
shipped, or delivered to an applicant for any election, except as provided in
section 203B.13 203B.121, subdivision 2, or when a replacement
ballot has been requested by the voter for a ballot that has been spoiled or
lost in transit.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is not effective until the secretary of state has
certified that the statewide voter registration system has been tested, shown
to properly allow municipal clerks to update absentee voting records, and to be
able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 10. [203B.065]
RECORDING APPLICATIONS.
Upon
accepting an application for a state primary or state general election, the county
auditor or municipal clerk shall record in the statewide registration system
the voter's name, address of residence in Minnesota, mailing address, Minnesota
driver's license or state identification number, or the last four digits of the
voter's Social Security number, if provided by the voter, that an absentee
ballot has been transmitted to the voter, the method of transmission, and the
date of transmission.
Upon receipt
of a returned absentee ballot for a state primary or state general election, the
county auditor or municipal clerk shall record in the statewide voter
registration system that the voter has returned the ballot.
Upon receipt
of notice that the ballot board has accepted or rejected the absentee ballot
for a state primary or state general election, the county auditor or municipal
clerk shall record in the statewide voter registration system whether the
ballot was accepted or rejected, and if rejected, the reason for
rejection. If a replacement ballot is
transmitted to the voter, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall record
this in the statewide voter registration system.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is not effective until the secretary of state has
certified that the statewide voter registration system has been tested, shown
to properly allow municipal clerks to update absentee voting records, and to be
able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.07,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Design
of envelopes. The return envelope
shall be of sufficient size to conveniently enclose and contain the ballot
envelope and a folded voter registration application. The return envelope shall be designed to open
on the left-hand end. If the voter
was not previously registered, The return envelope must be designed in one
of the following ways:
(1) it must be
of sufficient size to contain an additional envelope that when sealed, conceals
the signature, identification, and other information; or
(2) it must
provide an additional flap that when sealed, conceals the signature,
identification, and other information.
Election
officials may open the flap or the additional envelope at any time after
receiving the returned ballot to inspect the returned certificate for
completeness or to ascertain other information.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5641
Sec. 12.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.07, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Eligibility certificate. A certificate of eligibility to vote by
absentee ballot shall be printed on the back of the return envelope. The certificate shall contain space for
the voter's Minnesota driver's license, state identification number, or the
last four digits of the voter's Social Security number or to indicate that they
do not have one, and a statement to be signed and sworn by the voter
indicating that the voter meets all of the requirements established by law for
voting by absentee ballot, that the ballots were unmarked when received by
the voter, and that the voter personally marked the ballots without showing how
they were marked, or, if the voter was physically unable to mark them, that the
voter directed another individual to mark them. If the voter was not previously registered
at that address, the certificate shall also contain space for a
statement signed by a person who is registered to vote in Minnesota or by a
notary public or other individual authorized to administer oaths a
United States citizen stating that:
(1) the ballots were displayed to that individual
unmarked;
(2) the voter marked the ballots in that individual's
presence without showing how they were marked, or, if the voter was physically
unable to mark them, that the voter directed another individual to mark them;
and
(3) if the voter was not previously registered, the voter has provided proof of residence as required
by section 201.061, subdivision 3.
Sec. 13.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.08, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Address on return envelopes. The county auditor or municipal clerk shall
address return envelopes to allow direct mailing of the absentee ballots to:
(a) the
county auditor or municipal clerk who sent the ballots to the voter; has
the responsibility to accept and reject the absentee ballots.
(b) the clerk of the town or city in which the absent
voter is eligible to vote; or
(c) the appropriate election judges.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is not effective until the
secretary of state has certified that the statewide voter registration system
has been tested, shown to properly allow municipal clerks to update absentee
voting records, and to be able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 14.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.08, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Procedures on receipt of ballots. When absentee ballots are returned to a
county auditor or municipal clerk, that official shall stamp or initial and
date the return envelope and place it in a secure location with other return
envelopes received by that office. Within
five days of receipt, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall deliver
to the appropriate election judges on election day all ballots received
before or with the last mail delivery by the United States Postal Service on
election day. A town clerk may request
the United States Postal Service to deliver absentee ballots to the polling
place on election day instead of to the official address of the town clerk.
ballot board all ballots received, except that during the 14 days immediately
preceding an election, the county auditor or municipal clerk shall deliver all
ballots received to the ballot board within three days.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is not effective until the
secretary of state has certified that the statewide voter registration system
has been tested, shown to properly allow municipal clerks to update absentee
voting records, and to be able to handle the expected volume of use.
Journal of the
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Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.081, is
amended to read:
203B.081 LOCATIONS FOR ABSENTEE VOTING IN PERSON.
An eligible
voter may vote by absentee ballot during the 30 days before the election up
until the third day before the election in the office of the county auditor
and at any other polling place designated by the county auditor, except that
an eligible voter may not vote by absentee ballot in person during the period
for early voting, as provided in section 203B.31. On the day before the election, voters who
had planned on voting in person in the polling place and only learned of
circumstances in the last four days that will prevent them from doing so may
vote by absentee ballot. The county
auditor shall make such polling place designations under this
section at least 90 days before the election. At least one voting booth in each polling
place must be made available by the county auditor for this purpose. The county auditor must also make available
at least one electronic ballot marker in each polling place that has
implemented a voting system that is accessible for individuals with
disabilities pursuant to section 206.57, subdivision 5.
Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.085, is
amended to read:
203B.085 COUNTY AUDITOR'S AND MUNICIPAL CLERK'S OFFICES
TO REMAIN OPEN DURING CERTAIN HOURS PRECEDING ELECTION.
The county
auditor's office in each county and the clerk's office in each city or town
authorized under section 203B.05 to administer absentee balloting must be open
for acceptance of absentee ballot applications and casting of absentee ballots from
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and until 5:00 p.m. noon
on the day immediately Saturday preceding a primary, special, or
general election unless that day falls on a Saturday or Sunday. On the day before the election, the office
must be open for acceptance of absentee ballot applications and casting of
absentee ballots for voters who additionally certify that they had planned on
voting in person in the polling place and only learned of circumstances in the
last four days that will prevent them from doing so. Town clerks' offices must be open for
absentee voting from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on the Saturday before a town
general election held in March. The
school district clerk, when performing the county auditor's election duties,
need not comply with this section.
Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.11,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Generally. Each full-time municipal clerk or school
district clerk who has authority under section 203B.05 to administer absentee and
early voting laws shall designate election judges to deliver absentee
ballots in accordance with this section.
The county auditor must also designate election judges to perform the
duties in this section. A ballot may be
delivered only to an eligible voter who is a temporary or permanent resident or
patient in a health care facility or hospital located in the municipality in
which the voter maintains residence. The
ballots shall be delivered by two election judges, each of whom is affiliated
with a different major political party.
When the election judges deliver or return ballots as provided in this
section, they shall travel together in the same vehicle. The election judges must bring a ballot
box. Both election judges shall be
present when an applicant completes the certificate of eligibility
signs the certification required by section 204C.10, paragraph (b), and
marks the absentee ballots, and may assist an applicant as provided in
section 204C.15. Voters must insert
their ballots into the ballot box. The
election judges shall deposit the return envelopes containing the marked
absentee ballots remove the ballots from the ballot box, place them
in a sealed container and return them to the clerk on the same day that they
are delivered and marked.
Election
judges may bring an electronic ballot counter to serve as the ballot box. Election judges may bring an electronic
ballot marker.
Sec. 18. [203B.121]
BALLOT BOARDS.
Subdivision
1. Establishment;
applicable laws. (a) The
governing body of each county, municipality, and school district with
responsibility to accept and reject absentee ballots or administer early voting
must, by ordinance or resolution, establish a ballot board. The board must consist of a sufficient number
of election judges appointed as
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provided in
sections 204B.19 to 204B.22. The board
may consist of staff trained as election judges, in which case the board is
exempt from sections 204B.19, subdivision 5, and 204C.15, relating to party balance
in the appointment of judges, and is also exempt from the duties otherwise
required to be performed by ballot board members or election judges of two
different major political parties.
(b) Each
jurisdiction must pay a reasonable compensation to each member of that
jurisdiction's ballot board for services rendered during an election.
(c) Except
as otherwise provided by this section, all provisions of the Minnesota Election
Law apply to a ballot board.
Subd. 2.
Duties of ballot board;
absentee ballots. (a) The
members of the ballot board shall take possession of all return envelopes
delivered to them in accordance with section 203B.08. Upon receipt from the county auditor,
municipal clerk, or school district clerk, two or more members of the ballot
board of different major political parties shall examine each return envelope
and shall mark it accepted or rejected in the manner provided in this
subdivision.
(b) The
members of the ballot board shall mark the return envelope "accepted"
and initial or sign the return envelope below the word "accepted" if
a majority of the members of the ballot board are satisfied that:
(1) the
voter's name and address on the return envelope are the same as the information
provided on the absentee ballot application;
(2) the
voter signed the certification on the envelope;
(3) the
voter's Minnesota driver's license, state identification number, or the last
four digits of the voter's Social Security number are the same as the number
provided on the voter's application for ballots. If the number does not match the number as
submitted on the application, or if a number was not submitted on the
application, the election judges must make a reasonable effort to determine
through other information provided by the applicant that the ballots were
returned by the same person to whom the ballots were transmitted;
(4) the
voter is registered and eligible to vote in the precinct or has included a
properly completed voter registration application in the return envelope; and
(5) the
voter has not already voted at that election, either in person or by absentee
ballot.
The return
envelope from accepted ballots must be preserved and returned to the county
auditor.
The ballots
from return envelopes marked "accepted" shall be opened, duplicated
as needed in the manner provided in section 206.86, subdivision 5, initialed by
the members of the ballot board, and deposited in the appropriate ballot
box. These duties must be performed by
ballot board members of two different major political parties. If more than one ballot is enclosed in the
ballot envelope, none of the ballots shall be counted but all ballots of that
kind shall be returned in the manner provided by section 204C.25 for return of
spoiled ballots.
(c) (1) If a
majority of the members of the ballot board examining a return envelope find
that an absentee voter has failed to meet one of the requirements provided in
paragraph (b), they shall mark the return envelope "rejected,"
initial or sign it below the word "rejected," list the reason for the
rejection on the envelope, and return it to the county auditor. There is no other reason for rejecting an
absentee ballot beyond those permitted by this section. Failure to place the ballot within the
security envelope before placing it in the outer white envelope is not a reason
to reject an absentee ballot.
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(2) If an
envelope has been rejected at least five days before the election, the envelope
must remain sealed and the official in charge of the ballot board shall provide
the voter with a replacement absentee ballot and return envelope in place of
the rejected ballot. Notwithstanding any
rule to the contrary, the official in charge of the election is not required to
write "replacement" on the replacement ballot.
(3) If an
envelope is rejected within five days of the election, the envelope must remain
sealed and the official in charge of the ballot board must attempt to contact
the voter by telephone or electronic mail to notify the voter that the voter's
ballot has been rejected. The official
must document the attempts made to contact the voter.
(d) The names
of voters who have submitted an absentee ballot return envelope to the county
auditor or municipal clerk that has not been accepted by a ballot board may not
be made available for public inspection until the close of voting on election
day.
Subd. 3.
Duties of ballot board; early
voting. The members of the
ballot board shall administer the process of early voting as prescribed in
section 203B.35, and shall make a record of voters who cast ballots early and
count those ballots as provided in subdivisions 4 and 5.
Subd. 4.
Record of voting. (a) The county auditor or municipal clerk
must immediately record that a voter's absentee ballot has been accepted or
that the voter has cast a ballot pursuant to the early voting procedures
provided in this chapter, in order to prevent the voter from casting more than
one ballot at an election. After a
voter's record has been marked, the individual must not be allowed to vote
again at that election. In a state
primary, state general, or state special election, the auditor or clerk must
also record in the statewide voter registration system that the voter has cast
a ballot.
(b) The
roster must be marked, or a supplemental report created, no later than the
start of voting on election day to indicate the voters that have already cast a
ballot at the election. The roster may
be marked either:
(1) by the
municipal clerk before election day;
(2) by the
ballot board before election day; or
(3) by the
election judges at the polling place on election day.
The record of
a voter who cast an absentee ballot in person on the day prior to the election,
or whose absentee ballot arrived by mail on the day of, or the day prior to the
election, is not required to be marked on the roster or contained in a
supplemental report as required by this paragraph.
Subd. 5.
Storage and counting of
absentee and early voting ballots.
(a) On a day on which early voting or absentee ballots are inserted
into a ballot box, two members of the ballot board of different major political
parties must:
(1) remove
the ballots from the ballot box at the end of the day;
(2) without
inspecting the ballots, ensure that the number of ballots removed from the
ballot box is equal to the combined number of voters who voted in person and
voters whose absentee ballots were accepted that day; and
(3) seal and
secure all voted and unvoted ballots present in that location at the end of the
day.
(b) After the
polls have closed on election day, two members of the ballot board of different
major political parties must count the ballots, tabulating the vote in a manner
that indicates each vote of the voter and the total votes cast for each
candidate or question. In state primary
and state general elections, the results must indicate the total votes cast for
each candidate or question in each precinct and report the vote totals
tabulated for each precinct. The count
shall be public. No vote totals from
ballots may be made public before the close of voting on election day.
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In state
primary and state general elections, these vote totals shall be added to the
vote totals on the summary statements of the returns for the appropriate precinct. In other elections, these vote totals may be
added to the vote totals on the summary statement of returns for the
appropriate precinct or may be reported as a separate total.
(c) In
addition to the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b), if the task has not
been completed previously, the members of the ballot board must verify within
48 hours after election day that voters whose absentee ballots arrived after
the rosters were marked or supplemental reports were generated and whose
ballots were accepted did not vote in person on election day. This task must be completed before the
members of the ballot board take any additional steps to process and count
these ballots.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
The provisions of this section related to absentee voting are effective
when the secretary of state has certified that the statewide voter registration
system has been tested, shown to properly allow municipal clerks to update
absentee voting records, and to be able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.125, is
amended to read:
203B.125 SECRETARY OF STATE TO MAKE RULES.
The secretary of
state shall adopt rules establishing methods and procedures for issuing ballot cards
and related absentee forms to be used as provided in section 203B.08,
subdivision 1a, and for the reconciliation of voters and ballot cards before
tabulation under section 203B.12 204C.20, subdivision 1.
Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.23,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Establishment. The county auditor must establish an absentee
ballot board for ballots issued under sections 203B.16 to 203B.27. The board may consist of staff trained and
certified as election judges, in which case, the board is exempt from sections
204B.19, subdivision 5, and 204C.15, relating to party balance in appointment
of judges and to duties to be performed by judges or members of the ballot
board of different major political parties.
Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.23,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Duties. The absentee ballot board must examine all
returned absentee ballot envelopes for ballots issued under sections 203B.16 to
203B.27 and accept or reject the absentee ballots in the manner provided in
section 203B.24. If the certificate of
voter eligibility is not printed on the return or administrative envelope, the
certificate must be attached to the ballot secrecy envelope.
The absentee
ballot board must immediately examine the return envelopes and mark them
"accepted" or "rejected" during the 30 days before the
election. If an envelope has been
rejected at least five days before the election, the ballots in the envelope
must be considered spoiled ballots and the official in charge of the absentee
ballot board must provide the voter with a replacement absentee ballot and
return envelope in place of the spoiled ballot.
Except for
federal write-in absentee ballots, the ballots from return envelopes marked
"Accepted" must be opened, duplicated as needed in the manner
provided by section 206.86, subdivision 5, initialed by the members of the
ballot board, and deposited in the appropriate ballot box. These duties must be performed by two members
of the ballot board of different major political parties.
Federal
write-in absentee ballots marked "Accepted" must be opened,
duplicated as needed in the manner provided by section 206.86, subdivision 5,
initialed by the members of the ballot board, and deposited in the appropriate
ballot box after 5:00 p.m. on the fourth day before the election, unless the
voter has submitted another absentee ballot with a later postmark which has
been accepted by the board.
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In all other
respects, the provisions of the Minnesota Election Law governing deposit and
counting of ballots apply.
No vote
totals from absentee ballots may be made public before the close of voting on
election day.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is not effective until the secretary of state has
certified that the statewide voter registration system has been tested, shown
to properly allow municipal clerks to update absentee voting records, and to be
able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.24,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Check
of voter eligibility; proper execution of certificate. Upon receipt of an absentee ballot returned
as provided in sections 203B.16 to 203B.27, the election judges members
of the ballot board shall compare the voter's name with the names recorded
under section 203B.19 in the statewide registration system to insure that the
ballot is from a voter eligible to cast an absentee ballot under sections
203B.16 to 203B.27. The election
judges Two members of the ballot board of different major political
parties shall mark the return envelope "Accepted" and initial or sign
the return envelope below the word "Accepted" if the election
judges a majority of the members of the ballot board are satisfied
that:
(1) the voter's
name on the return envelope appears in substantially the same form as on the
application records provided to the election judges by the county auditor;
(2) the voter
has signed the federal oath prescribed pursuant to section 705(b)(2) of the
Help America Vote Act, Public Law 107-252;
(3) the voter
has set forth the same voter's passport number, or Minnesota driver's license
or state identification card number, or the last four digits of the voter's
Social Security number as submitted on the application, if the voter has one of
these documents; and
(4) the
voter is not known to have died; and
(5) the voter has not already voted at
that election, either in person or by absentee ballot.
If the
identification number described in clause (3) does not match the number as
submitted on the application, the election judges members of the
ballot board must make a reasonable effort to satisfy themselves through
other information provided by the applicant, or by an individual authorized to
apply on behalf of the voter, that the ballots were returned by the same person
to whom the ballots were transmitted.
An absentee
ballot cast pursuant to sections 203B.16 to 203B.27 may only be rejected for
the lack of one of clauses (1) to (4) (5). In particular, failure to place the ballot
within the security envelope before placing it in the outer white envelope is
not a reason to reject an absentee ballot.
Election
judges Members of
the ballot board must note the reason for rejection on the back of the
envelope in the space provided for that purpose.
Failure to
return unused ballots shall not invalidate a marked ballot, but a ballot shall
not be counted if the certificate on the return envelope is not properly
executed. In all other respects the
provisions of the Minnesota Election Law governing deposit and counting of
ballots shall apply. Notwithstanding
other provisions of this section, the counting of the absentee ballot of a
deceased voter does not invalidate the election.
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EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is not effective until the secretary of state has
certified that the statewide voter registration system has been tested, shown
to properly allow municipal clerks to update absentee voting records, and to be
able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.26, is
amended to read:
203B.26 SEPARATE RECORD.
A separate
record of the ballots of absent voters cast under sections 203B.16 to 203B.27
must be generated from the statewide registration system for each precinct and provided
to the election judges in the polling place on election day, along with the
returned envelopes marked "accepted" by the absentee ballot
board. The content of the record must be
in a form prescribed by the secretary of state.
The election judges in the polling place must note on the record any
envelopes that had been marked "accepted" by the absentee ballot
board but were not counted. The election
judges must preserve the record and return it to the county auditor or
municipal clerk with the election day retained with the other election materials.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is not effective until the secretary of state has
certified that the statewide voter registration system has been tested, shown
to properly allow municipal clerks to update absentee voting records, and to be
able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 24. [203B.30]
EARLY VOTING.
Any eligible
voter may vote in person before election day in the manner provided in sections
203B.31 to 203B.35.
Sec. 25. [203B.31]
TIME PERIOD FOR EARLY VOTING.
Early voting
must be available to any eligible voter as provided in section 203B.32 for
every primary, general, and special election from 15 days before the election
through 5:00 p.m. on the fourth day before the election. All voters in line at 5:00 p.m. on the fourth
day before the election must be allowed to vote.
Sec. 26. [203B.32]
HOURS FOR EARLY VOTING.
Early voting
must be available between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on each weekday
during the time period provided in section 203B.31; from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
on at least one of those days; and from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the second
Saturday before the election.
Sec. 27. [203B.33]
LOCATIONS FOR EARLY VOTING.
(a) Early
voting must be made available at a polling place designated in the county
auditor's office, at the municipal clerk's office in every municipality that
has been delegated the responsibility to administer absentee voting as provided
in section 203B.05, and at any other location designated by the county auditor
or municipal clerk at least 90 days before the election. At least one voting station and one ballot
marking device for disabled voters must be made available in each polling place.
(b) The
county auditor must make at least one ballot box available in each polling
place. As soon as practicable following
the public accuracy test, the county auditor must make an electronic ballot
counter available.
Sec. 28. [203B.34]
NOTICE TO VOTERS.
The county
auditor must prepare a notice to the voters of the days, times, and locations
for early voting. This notice must be
posted on the county's Web site and the Web site for each municipality in the
county where an early voting location is designated for the election at least
14 days before the first day for early voting.
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Sec. 29. [203B.35]
PROCEDURES FOR EARLY VOTING.
Subdivision
1. Voting
procedure. Each voter shall
sign an early voting roster that includes the certification provided in section
204C.10. An individual who is not registered
to vote must register in the manner provided in section 201.061, subdivision
3. After the voter has signed a roster,
a member of the ballot board must provide a ballot to the voter. Ballots must be prepared and distributed by
members of the ballot board in the manner provided in section 204C.09. The voter must mark the ballot and deposit it
in either a precinct voting system or a sealed ballot box. A voter may not leave the polling place with
the ballot.
Subd. 2.
Processing of ballots. Ballots cast pursuant to sections 203B.30
to 203B.35 must be processed and counted by a ballot board, and a record that
voters who cast a ballot early have voted at the election must be created, as
required in section 203B.121.
Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.45,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Procedure. Notice of the election and the special mail
procedure must be given at least six weeks prior to the election. Not more than 30 days nor later than 14 days
prior to the election, the auditor shall mail ballots by nonforwardable mail to
all voters registered in the town or unorganized territory. No later than 14 days before the election,
the auditor must make a subsequent mailing of ballots to those voters who
register to vote after the initial mailing but before the 20th day before the
election. Eligible voters not registered
at the time the ballots are mailed may apply for ballots as provided in chapter
203B. Ballot return envelopes, with
return postage provided, must be preaddressed to the auditor or clerk and the
voter may return the ballot by mail or in person to the office of the auditor
or clerk. The auditor or clerk may
must appoint election judges a ballot board to examine the
return envelopes and mark them "accepted" or "rejected" during
the 30 days before the election. within three days of receipt if there
are 14 or fewer days before election day, or within five days of receipt if
there are more than 14 days before election day. The board may consist of staff trained as
election judges, in which case, the board is exempt from sections 204B.19,
subdivision 5, and 204C.15, relating to party balance in appointment of judges
and to duties to be performed by judges or members of a ballot board of
different major political parties. If
an envelope has been rejected at least five days before the election, the
ballots in the envelope must be considered spoiled ballots remain
sealed and the auditor or clerk shall provide the voter with a replacement
ballot and return envelope in place of the spoiled ballot. If the ballot is rejected within five days
of the election, the envelope must remain sealed and the official in charge of
the ballot board must attempt to contact the voter by telephone or e-mail to
notify the voter that the voter's ballot has been rejected. The official must document the attempts made
to contact the voter.
Notwithstanding
any rule to the contrary, the ballots from return envelopes marked
"Accepted" must be promptly opened, duplicated as needed in the manner
provided by section 206.86, subdivision 5, initialed by the members of the
ballot board, and deposited in the ballot box.
These duties must be performed by two members of the ballot board of
different major political parties.
In all other
respects, the provisions of the Minnesota Election Law governing deposit and
counting of ballots apply.
No vote
totals from mail or absentee ballots may be made public before the close of
voting on election day.
The costs of the
mailing shall be paid by the election jurisdiction in which the voter
resides. Any ballot received by 8:00
p.m. on the day of the election must be counted.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is not effective until the secretary of state has
certified that the statewide voter registration system has been tested, shown
to properly allow municipal clerks to update absentee voting records, and to be
able to handle the expected volume of use.
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Sec. 31.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.46, is amended to read:
204B.46 MAIL
ELECTIONS; QUESTIONS.
A county, municipality, or school district submitting
questions to the voters at a special election may conduct an election by mail
with no polling place other than the office of the auditor or clerk. No more than two questions may be submitted
at a mail election and no offices may be voted on. Notice of the election must be given to the
county auditor at least 53 days prior to the election. This notice shall also fulfill the
requirements of Minnesota Rules, part 8210.3000. The special mail ballot procedures must be
posted at least six weeks prior to the election. No earlier than 20 or 30 nor later
than 14 days prior to the election, the auditor or clerk shall mail ballots by
nonforwardable mail to all voters registered in the county, municipality, or
school district. No later than 14
days before the election, the auditor or clerk must make a subsequent mailing
of ballots to those voters who register to vote after the initial mailing but
before the 20th day before the election.
Eligible voters not registered at the time the ballots are mailed
may apply for ballots pursuant to chapter 203B.
The auditor or clerk must appoint a ballot board to examine the
return envelopes and mark them "Accepted" or "Rejected"
within three days of receipt if there are 14 or fewer days before election day,
or within five days of receipt if there are more than 14 days before election
day. The board may consist of staff
trained as election judges, in which case, the board is exempt from sections
204B.19, subdivision 5, and 204C.15, relating to party balance in appointment
of judges and to duties to be performed by judges or members of a ballot board
of different major political parties. If
an envelope has been rejected at least five days before the election, the
ballots in the envelope must remain sealed and the auditor or clerk must provide
the voter with a replacement ballot and return envelope in place of the spoiled
ballot. If the ballot is rejected within
five days of the election, the envelope must remain sealed and the official in
charge of the ballot board must attempt to contact the voter by telephone or
e-mail to notify the voter that the voter's ballot has been rejected. The official must document the attempts made
to contact the voter.
Notwithstanding any rule to the contrary, the ballots
from return envelopes marked "Accepted" must be promptly opened,
duplicated as needed in the manner provided by section 206.86, subdivision 5,
initialed by the ballot board, and deposited in the appropriate ballot
box. These duties must be performed by
two members of the ballot board of different major political parties.
In all other respects, the provisions of the Minnesota
Election Law governing deposit and counting of ballots apply.
No vote totals from mail ballots may be made public
before the close of voting on election day.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is not effective until the
secretary of state has certified that the statewide voter registration system
has been tested, shown to properly allow municipal clerks to update absentee
voting records, and to be able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 32.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.10, is amended to read:
204C.10
PERMANENT REGISTRATION; VERIFICATION OF REGISTRATION.
(a) An individual seeking to vote shall sign a polling
place roster which states that the individual is at least 18 years of age, a
citizen of the United States, has resided in Minnesota for 20 days immediately
preceding the election, maintains residence at the address shown, is not under
a guardianship in which the court order revokes the individual's right to vote,
has not been found by a court of law to be legally incompetent to vote or has
the right to vote because, if the individual was convicted of a felony, the
felony sentence has expired or been completed or the individual has been
discharged from the sentence, is registered and has not already voted in the
election. The roster must also state:
". The polling place roster
must state: "I certify that I have not already voted in this
election. I certify that I am at least
18 years of age and a citizen of the United States; that I reside at the
address shown and
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have resided in Minnesota for 20 days immediately
preceding this election; that I am not under guardianship of the person in
which the court order revokes my right to vote, have not been found by a court
to be legally incompetent to vote, and that if convicted of a felony, my felony
sentence has expired (been completed) or I have been discharged from my
sentence; and that I am registered and will be voting only in this
precinct. I understand that deliberately providing false
information is a felony punishable by not more than five years imprisonment and
a fine of not more than $10,000, or both." The words "I have not
already voted in this election" and "I understand that deliberately
providing false information is a felony" must be in bold type.
(b) An individual voting early under sections
203B.30 to 203B.35 must sign a roster that meets the additional requirements of
this paragraph. In addition to the
content required under paragraph (a), the roster must also state in bold type:
"I understand that after I have cast my ballot today, I cannot vote again
in this election."
(c) A judge
may, before the applicant signs the roster, confirm the applicant's name,
address, and date of birth. If the
ballot board has not marked the roster in accordance with section 203B.121, the
election judge must review the supplemental list of those who have already
voted to ensure that the voter's name is not on the list. If a voter's name is on the list, the voter
must not be allowed to sign the roster or to vote on election day.
(c) (d) After the applicant signs the roster, the judge shall
give the applicant a voter's receipt.
The voter shall deliver the voter's receipt to the judge in charge of
ballots as proof of the voter's right to vote, and thereupon the judge shall
hand to the voter the ballot. The
voters' receipts must be maintained during the time for notice of filing an
election contest.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is not effective until the
secretary of state has certified that the statewide voter registration system has
been tested, shown to properly allow municipal clerks to update absentee voting
records, and to be able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 33.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.13, subdivision 6, is amended to
read:
Subd. 6. Challenge of voter; time limits;
disposition of ballots. At any time
before the ballots of any voter are deposited in the ballot boxes, the election
judges or any individual who was not present at the time the voter procured the
ballots, but not otherwise, may challenge the eligibility of that voter and
the deposit of any received absentee ballots in the ballot boxes. The election judges shall determine the
eligibility of any voter who is present in the polling place in the manner
provided in section 204C.12, and if the voter is found to be not eligible to
vote, shall place the ballots of that voter unopened among the spoiled
ballots. The election judges shall
determine whether to receive or reject the ballots of an absent voter and
whether to deposit received absentee ballots in the ballot boxes in the manner
provided in sections 203B.12, 203B.24, and 203B.25, and shall dispose of any
absentee ballots not received or deposited in the manner provided in section
203B.12. A violation of this
subdivision by an election judge is a gross misdemeanor.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is not effective until the
secretary of state has certified that the statewide voter registration system
has been tested, shown to properly allow municipal clerks to update absentee
voting records, and to be able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 34.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.13, subdivision 6, is amended to
read:
Subd. 6. Challenge of voter; time limits;
disposition of ballots. At any time
before the ballots of any voter are deposited in the ballot boxes, the election
judges or any individual who was not present at the time the voter procured the
ballots, but not otherwise, may challenge the eligibility of that voter and the
deposit of any received absentee ballots in the ballot boxes. The election judges shall determine the
eligibility of any voter who is present in the polling place in the manner
provided in section 204C.12, and if the voter is found to be not eligible to
vote, shall place the ballots of that voter unopened among the spoiled
ballots. The election judges shall
determine whether to
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receive or reject the ballots of an absent voter and
whether to deposit received absentee ballots in the ballot boxes in the manner
provided in sections 203B.12 203B.121, 203B.24, and 203B.25, and
shall dispose of any absentee ballots not received or deposited in the manner
provided in section 203B.12 203B.121. A violation of this subdivision by an
election judge is a gross misdemeanor.
Sec. 35.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.27, is amended to read:
204C.27
DELIVERY OF RETURNS TO COUNTY AUDITORS.
Subdivision 1. Election
supplies. One or more of the
election judges in each precinct shall deliver two sets of summary statements;
all spoiled white, pink, canary, and gray ballots; and the envelopes containing
the white, pink, canary, and gray ballots either directly to the municipal
clerk for transmittal to the county auditor's office or directly to the county
auditor's office as soon as possible after the vote counting is completed but
no later than 24 hours after the end of the hours for voting. One or more election judges shall deliver the
remaining set of summary statements and returns, all unused and spoiled
municipal and school district ballots, the envelopes containing municipal and
school district ballots, and all other things furnished by the municipal or
school district clerk, to the municipal or school district clerk's office
within 24 hours after the end of the hours for voting. The municipal or school district clerk shall
return all polling place rosters and completed voter registration cards to the
county auditor within 48 hours after the end of the hours for voting.
Subd. 2. Rejected
absentee ballots. All
absentee ballots that were rejected and their accompanying absentee ballot
applications must be delivered to the county auditor within 48 hours after the
end of the hours for voting.
Sec. 36.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.30, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 3. Review
of rejected absentee ballots. Prior
to the meeting of the county canvassing board to canvass the results of the
state general election, the county auditor must review any absentee ballots
that were marked rejected to determine whether any were rejected in error. If the county canvassing board agrees that
any ballots were rejected in error, the board must publicly open the return and
ballot envelopes and initial and count the ballots to include the votes in all
races in the results canvassed by the board.
The county canvassing board must protect the privacy of voters' choices
to the extent practicable. Except as
provided in this subdivision, a rejected absentee ballot may not be reviewed
outside of an election contest under chapter 209.
Sec. 37.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.33, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. County canvass. The county canvassing board shall meet at the
county auditor's office on or before the seventh day between the
third and tenth days following the state general election. After taking the oath of office, the board
shall promptly and publicly canvass the general election returns delivered to
the county auditor. Upon completion of
the canvass, the board shall promptly prepare and file with the county auditor
a report which states:
(a) the number of individuals voting at the election
in the county and in each precinct;
(b) the number of individuals registering to vote on
election day and the number of individuals registered before election day in
each precinct;
(c) the names of the candidates for each office and
the number of votes received by each candidate in the county and in each
precinct, including write-in candidates for state and federal office who have
requested under section 204B.09 that votes for those candidates be tallied;
(d) the number of votes counted for and against a
proposed change of county lines or county seat; and
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(e) the number
of votes counted for and against a constitutional amendment or other question
in the county and in each precinct.
The result of
write-in votes cast on the general election ballots must be compiled by the
county auditor before the county canvass, except that write-in votes for a
candidate for state or federal office must not be counted unless the candidate
has timely filed a request under section 204B.09, subdivision 3. The county auditor shall arrange for each
municipality to provide an adequate number of election judges to perform this
duty or the county auditor may appoint additional election judges for this
purpose. The county auditor may open the
envelopes or containers in which the voted ballots have been sealed in order to
count and record the write-in votes and must reseal the voted ballots at the
conclusion of this process.
Upon completion
of the canvass, the county canvassing board shall declare the candidate duly
elected who received the highest number of votes for each county and state
office voted for only within the county.
The county auditor shall transmit one of the certified copies of the
county canvassing board report for state and federal offices to the secretary
of state by express mail or similar service immediately upon conclusion of the
county canvass.
Sec. 38. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.33,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. State
canvass. The State Canvassing Board
shall meet at the secretary of state's office on the second third Tuesday
following the state general election to canvass the certified copies of the
county canvassing board reports received from the county auditors and shall
prepare a report that states:
(a) the number
of individuals voting in the state and in each county;
(b) the number
of votes received by each of the candidates, specifying the counties in which
they were cast; and
(c) the number
of votes counted for and against each constitutional amendment, specifying the
counties in which they were cast.
All members of
the State Canvassing Board shall sign the report and certify its
correctness. The State Canvassing Board
shall declare the result within three days after completing the canvass.
Sec. 39. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205.185,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Canvass
of returns, certificate of election, ballots, disposition. (a) Within seven Between 11 and 17 days
after an election, a state general election, and within 17 days after
any other election, the governing body of a city conducting any election
including a special municipal election, or the governing body of a town
conducting the general election in November shall act as the canvassing board,
canvass the returns, and declare the results of the election. The governing body of a town conducting the
general election in March shall act as the canvassing board, canvass the
returns, and declare the results of the election within two days after an
election.
(b) After the
time for contesting elections has passed, the municipal clerk shall issue a
certificate of election to each successful candidate. In case of a contest, the certificate shall
not be issued until the outcome of the contest has been determined by the
proper court.
(c) In case of a
tie vote, the canvassing board having jurisdiction over the municipality shall
determine the result by lot. The clerk
of the canvassing board shall certify the results of the election to the county
auditor, and the clerk shall be the final custodian of the ballots and the
returns of the election.
Sec. 40. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205.185, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 5.
Review of rejected absentee
ballots. Prior to an election
not held in conjunction with a state election, a clerk may arrange to have a
certified election administrator from a county or another city review all
ballots that were marked rejected to determine whether any were rejected in
error. These arrangements must be made
at least seven days before the date of the election. If no arrangements are made, rejected
absentee ballots must not be
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reviewed
outside of an election contest under chapter 209. If the certified election administrator
determines that any were rejected in error, the canvassing board must publicly
open the return and ballot envelopes and initial and count the ballots to
include the votes in all races in the results canvassed by the board. The canvassing board must protect the privacy
of the voters' choices to the extent practicable. If the number of rejected absentee ballots
could not possibly change the outcome in any of the elections or questions on
the ballot, the clerk may cancel the review of the rejected absentee ballots.
Sec. 41. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205A.10,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Election,
conduct. A school district election
must be by secret ballot and must be held and the returns made in the manner
provided for the state general election, as far as practicable. The vote totals from an absentee a
ballot board established pursuant to section 203B.13 203B.121 may
be tabulated and reported by the school district as a whole rather than by
precinct. For school district elections
not held in conjunction with a statewide election, the school board shall
appoint election judges as provided in section 204B.21, subdivision 2. The provisions of sections 204B.19,
subdivision 5; 204B.21, subdivision 2; 204C.15; 204C.19; 206.83; and 206.86,
subdivision 2, relating to party balance in appointment of judges and to duties
to be performed by judges of different major political parties do not apply to
school district elections not held in conjunction with a statewide election.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is not effective until the secretary of state has
certified that the statewide voter registration system has been tested, shown
to properly allow municipal clerks to update absentee voting records, and to be
able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 42. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205A.10,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Canvass
of returns, certificate of election, ballots, disposition. Within seven Between 11 and 17 days
after a school district election held concurrently with a state general
election, and within seven days after a school district election held on any
other date, other than a recount of a special election conducted under
section 126C.17, subdivision 9, or 475.59, the school board shall canvass the
returns and declare the results of the election. After the time for contesting elections has
passed, the school district clerk shall issue a certificate of election to each
successful candidate. If there is a
contest, the certificate of election to that office must not be issued until
the outcome of the contest has been determined by the proper court. If there is a tie vote, the school board
shall determine the result by lot. The
clerk shall deliver the certificate of election to the successful candidate by
personal service or certified mail. The
successful candidate shall file an acceptance and oath of office in writing
with the clerk within 30 days of the date of mailing or personal service. A person who fails to qualify prior to the
time specified shall be deemed to have refused to serve, but that filing may be
made at any time before action to fill the vacancy has been taken. The school district clerk shall certify the
results of the election to the county auditor, and the clerk shall be the final
custodian of the ballots and the returns of the election.
A school
district canvassing board shall perform the duties of the school board
according to the requirements of this subdivision for a recount of a special
election conducted under section 126C.17, subdivision 9, or 475.59.
Sec. 43. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205A.10, is amended
by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 6.
Review of rejected absentee
ballots. Prior to an election
not held in conjunction with a state election, a clerk may arrange to have a
certified election administrator from a county or another city review all
ballots that were marked rejected to determine whether any were rejected in
error. These arrangements must be made
at least seven days before the date of the election. If no arrangements are made, rejected
absentee ballots must not be reviewed outside of an election contest under
chapter 209. If the certified election
administrator determines that any were rejected in error, the canvassing board
must publicly open the return and ballot envelopes and initial and count the
ballots to include the votes in all races in the results canvassed by the
board. The canvassing board must protect
the privacy of the voters' choices to the extent practicable. If the number of rejected absentee ballots
could not possibly change the outcome in any of the elections or questions on
the ballot, the clerk may cancel the review of the rejected absentee ballots.
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Sec. 44. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 206.83, is
amended to read:
206.83 TESTING OF VOTING SYSTEMS.
Within 14
days before election day, The official in charge of elections shall have the voting system tested
to ascertain that the system will correctly mark ballots using all methods
supported by the system, including through assistive technology, and count the
votes cast for all candidates and on all questions. Public notice of the time and place of the
test must be given at least two days in advance by publication once in official
newspapers. The test must be observed by
at least two election judges, who are not of the same major political party,
and must be open to representatives of the political parties, candidates, the
press, and the public. The test must be
conducted by (1) processing a preaudited group of ballots punched or marked to
record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on each
question, and must include for each office one or more ballot cards which have
votes in excess of the number allowed by law in order to test the ability of
the voting system tabulator and electronic ballot marker to reject those votes;
and (2) processing an additional test deck of ballots marked using the
electronic ballot marker for the precinct, including ballots marked using the
electronic ballot display, audio ballot reader, and any assistive voting
technology used with the electronic ballot marker. If any error is detected, the cause must be
ascertained and corrected and an errorless count must be made before the voting
system may be used in the election.
After the completion of the test, the programs used and ballot cards
must be sealed, retained, and disposed of as provided for paper ballots.
Testing of
equipment used for early voting must be conducted as soon as practicable after
the equipment has been programmed.
Testing of equipment used on the day of the election must be conducted
within the 14 days before election day.
Sec. 45. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 206.89,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Selection
for review; notice. At the canvass
of the state primary, the county canvassing board in each county must set the
date, time, and place for the postelection review of the state general election
to be held under this section.
At the canvass
of the state general election, the county canvassing boards must select the
precincts to be reviewed by lot. Ballots
counted centrally by a ballot board shall be considered one precinct eligible
to be selected for purposes of this subdivision. The county canvassing board of a county
with fewer than 50,000 registered voters must conduct a postelection review of
a total of at least two precincts. The
county canvassing board of a county with between 50,000 and 100,000 registered
voters must conduct a review of a total of at least three precincts. The county canvassing board of a county with
over 100,000 registered voters must conduct a review of a total of at least
four precincts, or three percent of the total number of precincts in the
county, whichever is greater. At least
one precinct selected in each county must have had more than 150 votes cast at
the general election.
The county
auditor must notify the secretary of state of the precincts that have been
chosen for review and the time and place the postelection review for that
county will be conducted, as soon as the decisions are made. If the selection of precincts has not
resulted in the selection of at least four precincts in each congressional
district, the secretary of state may require counties to select by lot
additional precincts to meet the congressional district requirement. The secretary of state must post this
information on the office Web site.
Sec. 46. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 208.05, is
amended to read:
208.05 STATE CANVASSING BOARD.
The State
Canvassing Board at its meeting on the second Tuesday after each state
general election date provided in section 204C.33 shall open and canvass
the returns made to the secretary of state for presidential electors and
alternates, prepare a statement of the number of votes cast for the persons
receiving votes for these offices, and
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declare the
person or persons receiving the highest number of votes for each office duly
elected. When it appears that more than
the number of persons to be elected as presidential electors or alternates have
the highest and an equal number of votes, the secretary of state, in the
presence of the board shall decide by lot which of the persons shall be
declared elected. The governor shall
transmit to each person declared elected a certificate of election, signed by
the governor, sealed with the state seal, and countersigned by the secretary of
state.
Sec. 47. REPEALER.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 203B.04, subdivision
5; 203B.10; 203B.11, subdivision 2; 203B.12; 203B.13; and 203B.25, are
repealed.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is not effective until the
secretary of state has certified that the statewide voter registration system
has been tested, shown to properly allow municipal clerks to update absentee voting
records, and to be able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 48. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICABILITY.
The provisions of this article related to early voting
are effective when the secretary of state has certified that:
(1) the statewide voter registration system has been
tested, shown to properly allow for the tracking of the information required to
conduct early voting, and can handle the expected volume of use; and
(2) voting equipment that can tabulate at least 30
different ballot styles has been certified for use in this state. Upon certification pursuant to this
paragraph, the provisions of this article related to early voting apply to all
federal, state, county, and city elections held on September 1, 2010, and
thereafter, and to all other elections held on January 1, 2014, and
thereafter. A jurisdiction may implement
the requirements of this chapter prior to the date provided in this paragraph,
if the secretary of state has made the required certifications at least 90 days
prior to the date of the election at which early voting will be used.
ARTICLE 2
ELECTION ADMINISTRATION
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 201.016, subdivision 1a, is amended to
read:
Subd. 1a. Violations; penalty. (a) The county auditor shall mail a violation
notice to any voter who the county auditor can determine has voted:
(1) provided the address at which the voter maintains residence, but was
allowed to vote in a precinct other than the precinct in which the voter
maintains residence; and (2) not voted in the wrong precinct previously. The notice must be in the form provided by
the secretary of state.
(b) The county auditor shall mail a violation notice
to any voter who otherwise voted in a precinct in which the voter did not
maintain residence on election day. The county auditor shall also change the status of the
voter in the statewide registration system to "challenged" and the
voter shall be required to provide proof of residence to either the county auditor
or to the election judges in the voter's precinct before voting in the next
election. Any of the forms authorized by
section 201.061 for registration at the polling place may be used for this
purpose.
(b) (c) A voter who votes in a precinct other than the
precinct in which the voter maintains residence after receiving an initial
violation notice as provided in this subdivision is guilty of a petty
misdemeanor.
(c) (d) A voter who votes in a precinct other than the
precinct in which the voter maintains residence after having been found to have
committed a petty misdemeanor under paragraph (b) is guilty of a misdemeanor.
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(d) (e) Reliance by the voter on inaccurate information
regarding the location of the voter's polling place provided by the state,
county, or municipality is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this
subdivision.
Sec. 2. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 201.016, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Duration of residence. The governing body of any city by resolution
may require an eligible voter to maintain residence in a precinct for a period
of 30 days prior to voting on any question affecting only that precinct or
voting to elect public officials representing only that precinct. The governing body of any town by resolution
may require an eligible voter to maintain residence in that town for a period
of 30 days prior to voting in a town election.
The school board of any school district by resolution may require an
eligible voter to maintain residence in that school district for a period of 30
days prior to voting in a school district election. If a political boundary, including a
precinct, municipal, or school district boundary, is redrawn within the 30 days
prior to an election in a manner that places an eligible voter in a new
jurisdiction and the eligible voter has not changed residence during the 30
days prior to the election, the eligible voter meets any residency requirement
imposed under this subdivision.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 201.056, is amended to read:
201.056
SIGNATURE OF REGISTERED VOTER; MARKS ALLOWED.
An individual who is unable to write the individual's
name shall be required to sign a registration application in the manner
provided by section 645.44, subdivision 14.
If the individual registers in person and signs by making a mark, the
clerk or election judge accepting the registration shall certify the mark by
signing the individual's name. If the
individual registers by mail and signs by making a mark, the mark shall be
certified by having a voter registered in the individual's precinct sign the
individual's name and the voter's own name and give the voter's own
address. An individual who has power
of attorney for another person may not sign election-related documents for that
person, except as provided by this section.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 201.061, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Prior to election day. At any time except during the 20 days
immediately preceding any regularly scheduled election, an eligible voter or
any individual who will be an eligible voter at the time of the next election
may register to vote in the precinct in which the voter maintains residence by
completing a voter registration application as described in section 201.071,
subdivision 1, and submitting it in person or by mail to the county auditor of
that county or to the Secretary of State's Office. A registration that is received no later than
5:00 p.m. on the 21st day preceding any election shall be accepted. An improperly addressed or delivered
registration application shall be forwarded within two working days after
receipt to the county auditor of the county where the voter maintains
residence. A state or local agency or an
individual that accepts completed voter registration applications from a voter
must submit the completed applications to the secretary of state or the
appropriate county auditor within ten business days after the
applications are dated by the voter.
For purposes of this section, mail registration is
defined as a voter registration application delivered to the secretary of state,
county auditor, or municipal clerk by the United States Postal Service or a
commercial carrier.
Sec. 5.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 201.11, is amended to read:
201.11
PRECINCT BOUNDARIES; HOUSE NUMBER; STREET ADDRESS CHANGED, CHANGE OF
FILES.
Subdivision 1. Precinct
boundaries changed. When the
boundaries of a precinct are changed, the county auditor shall immediately
update the voter records for that precinct in the statewide voter registration
system to accurately reflect those changes.
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Subd. 2.
House number or street address
changed. If a municipality
administratively changes the number or name of a street address of an existing
residence, the municipal clerk shall promptly notify the county auditor and the
county auditor shall immediately update the voter records of registered voters
in the statewide voter registration system to accurately reflect that
change. A municipality must not make a
change to the number or name of a street address of an existing residence
effective during the 45 days prior to any election in a jurisdiction which
includes the affected residence.
Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 201.12, is
amended to read:
201.12 PROPER REGISTRATION; VERIFICATION BY MAIL;
CHALLENGES.
Subdivision
1. Notice
of registration. To prevent
fraudulent voting and to eliminate excess names, the county auditor may mail to
any registered voter a notice stating the voter's name and address as they
appear in the registration files. The
notice shall request the voter to notify the county auditor if there is any
mistake in the information.
Subd. 2. Moved
within state. If any nonforwardable
mailing from an election official is returned as undeliverable but with a
permanent forwarding address in this state, the county auditor may change the
voter's status to "inactive" in the statewide registration system and
shall notify transmit a copy of the mailing to the auditor of the
county in which the new address is located.
Upon receipt of the notice, If an election is scheduled to
occur in the precinct in which the voter resides in the next 47 days, the
county auditor shall promptly update the voter's address in the
statewide voter registration system and. If there is not an election scheduled, the
auditor may wait to update the voter's address until after the next list of
address changes is received from the secretary of state. Once updated, the county auditor shall
mail to the voter a notice stating the voter's name, address, precinct, and
polling place. The notice must advise
the voter that the voter's voting address has been changed and that the voter
must notify the county auditor within 21 days if the new address is not the
voter's address of residence. The notice
must state that it must be returned if it is not deliverable to the voter at
the named address.
Subd. 3. Moved
out of state. If any nonforwardable
mailing from an election official is returned as undeliverable but with a
permanent forwarding address outside this state, the county auditor shall
promptly mail to the voter at the voter's new address a notice advising the
voter that the voter's status in the statewide voter registration system
will be changed to "inactive" unless the voter notifies the county
auditor within 21 days that the voter is retaining the former address as the
voter's address of residence. If the
notice is not received by the deadline, the county auditor shall change
the voter's status shall be changed to "inactive" in the
statewide voter registration system.
Subd. 4. Challenges. If any nonforwardable mailing from an
election official is returned as undeliverable but with no forwarding address,
the county auditor shall change the registrant's status to
"challenged" in the statewide voter registration system. An individual challenged in accordance with
this subdivision shall comply with the provisions of section 204C.12, before
being allowed to vote. If a notice
mailed at least 60 days after the return of the first nonforwardable mailing is
also returned by the postal service, the county auditor shall change the
registrant's status to "inactive" in the statewide voter registration
system.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 201.13, is
amended to read:
201.13 REPORT OF DECEASED VOTERS; CHANGES TO VOTER
RECORDS.
Subdivision
1. Commissioner
of health; reports of deceased residents.
Pursuant to the Help America Vote Act of 2002, Public Law 107-252, the
commissioner of health shall report monthly by electronic means to the
secretary of state the name, address, date of birth, and county of residence of
each individual 18 years of age or older
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who has died
while maintaining residence in Minnesota since the last previous report. The secretary of state shall determine if any
of the persons listed in the report are registered to vote and shall prepare a
list of those registrants for each county auditor. Within 60 days after receiving the list from
the secretary of state, the county auditor shall change the status of those
registrants to "deceased" in the statewide voter registration
system.
Subd. 2. Deceased nonresidents. After receiving notice of death of a voter
who has died outside the county, the county auditor shall change the voter's
status to "deceased." Notice must be in the form of a printed
obituary or a written statement signed by a registered voter of the county.
Subd. 3. Use of change of address system. (a) At least once each month the secretary of
state shall obtain a list of individuals registered to vote in this state who
have filed with the United States Postal Service a change of their permanent
address. However, the secretary of
state shall not obtain this list within the 47 days before the state primary or
47 days before a November general election.
(b) If the
address is changed to another address in this state, the secretary of state
shall locate the precinct in which the voter resides, if possible. If the secretary of state is able to locate
the precinct in which the voter resides, the secretary must transmit the
information about the changed address by electronic means to the county auditor
of the county in which the new address is located. As long as the voter has not voted or
submitted a voter registration application since the address change, upon
receipt of the information, the county auditor shall update the voter's address
in the statewide voter registration system and. The county auditor shall mail to the
voter a notice stating the voter's name, address, precinct, and polling place,
unless the voter's record is challenged due to a felony conviction,
noncitizenship, name change, incompetence, or a court's revocation of voting
rights of individuals under guardianship, in which case a notice shall not be
mailed. The notice must advise the
voter that the voter's voting address has been changed and that the voter must
notify the county auditor within 21 days if the new address is not the voter's
address of residence. The notice must
state that it must be returned if it is not deliverable to the voter at the
named address.
(b) (c) If the change of permanent address is to an address
outside this state, the secretary of state shall notify by electronic means the
auditor of the county where the voter formerly resided that the voter has moved
to another state. As long as the
voter has not voted or submitted a voter registration application since the
address change, the county auditor shall promptly mail to the voter at the
voter's new address a notice advising the voter that the voter's status in the
statewide voter registration system will be changed to
"inactive" unless the voter notifies the county auditor within 21
days that the voter is retaining the former address as the voter's address of
residence, except that if the voter's record is challenged due to a felony
conviction, noncitizenship, name change, incompetence, or a court's revocation
of voting rights of individuals under guardianship, a notice must not be mailed. If the notice is not received by the
deadline, the county auditor shall change the voter's status to
"inactive" in the statewide voter registration system.
Subd. 4. Request for removal of voter record. If a voter makes a written request for
removal of the voter's record, the county auditor shall remove the record of
the voter from the statewide voter registration system.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 8. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 202A.14, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Notice.
The county or legislative district chair shall give at least six days'
published notice of the holding of the precinct caucus, stating the place,
date, and time for holding the caucus, and. The state party chair shall deliver the
same information to the municipal clerk and county auditor secretary
of state in an electronic format designated by the secretary of state at
least 20 30 days before the precinct caucus. The county auditor secretary of
state shall make this information available in electronic format via the
secretary of state Web site at least ten days before the date of the
caucuses to persons who request it.
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Sec. 9.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.09, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Write-in candidates. (a) A candidate for county, state, or federal
office who wants write-in votes for the candidate to be counted must file a
written request with the filing office for the office sought no later than the
seventh day before the general election.
The filing officer shall provide copies of the form to make the request.
(b) A candidate for president of the United States who
files a request under this subdivision must include the name of a candidate for
vice-president of the United States. The
request must also include the name of at least one candidate for presidential
elector. The total number of names of
candidates for presidential elector on the request may not exceed the total
number of electoral votes to be cast by Minnesota in the presidential election.
(c) A candidate for governor who files a request under
this subdivision must include the name of a candidate for lieutenant governor.
(d) A candidate who files a request under this
subdivision must also pay the filing fee for that office or submit a petition
in place of a filing fee, as provided in section 204B.11. The fee for a candidate for president of the
United States is equal to that of the office of senator in Congress.
Sec. 10.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.14, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Administrative boundary change
procedure. Any change in the
boundary of an election precinct shall must be adopted at least
90 days before the date of the next election and, for the state primary and
general election, no later than June 1 in the year of the state general
election. The precinct boundary change
shall not take effect until notice of the change has been posted in the office
of the municipal clerk or county auditor for at least 60 days.
The county auditor must publish a notice illustrating
or describing the congressional, legislative, and county commissioner district
boundaries in the county in one or more qualified newspapers in the county at
least 14 days prior to the first day to file affidavits of candidacy for the
state general election in the year ending in two.
Alternate dates for adopting changes in precinct
boundaries, posting notices of boundary changes, and notifying voters affected
by boundary changes pursuant to this subdivision, and procedures for
coordinating precinct boundary changes with reestablishing local government
election district boundaries may be established in the manner provided in the
rules of the secretary of state.
Sec. 11.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.14, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 4a. Municipal
boundary adjustment procedure. Any
change in the boundary of an election precinct that has occurred as a result of
a municipal boundary adjustment made pursuant to chapter 414 which is effective
more than 21 days preceding any regularly scheduled election shall take effect
at the scheduled election.
Any change in the boundary of an election precinct
that has occurred as a result of a municipal boundary adjustment made pursuant
to chapter 414 which is effective less than 21 days preceding any regularly
scheduled election shall not take effect until the day after the scheduled
election.
Sec. 12.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.16, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Authority; location. The governing body of each municipality and
of each county with precincts in unorganized territory shall designate by
ordinance or resolution a polling place for each election precinct. Polling places must be designated and ballots
must be distributed so that no one is required to go to more than one polling
place to vote in a school district and municipal election held on the same
day. The polling place for
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a precinct in a city or in a school district
located in whole or in part in the metropolitan area defined by section 200.02,
subdivision 24, shall be located within the boundaries of the precinct or
within one mile of one of those boundaries unless a single polling place is
designated for a city pursuant to section 204B.14, subdivision 2, or a school
district pursuant to section 205A.11.
The polling place for a precinct in unorganized territory may be located
outside the precinct at a place which is convenient to the voters of the
precinct. If no suitable place is
available within a town or within a school district located outside the
metropolitan area defined by section 200.02, subdivision 24, then the polling
place for a town or school district may be located outside the town or school
district within five miles of one of the boundaries of the town or school
district.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective June 1, 2010.
Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.18,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Booths;
voting stations. Each polling place
must contain a number of voting booths or voting stations in proportion to the
number of individuals eligible to vote in the precinct. Each booth or station must be at least six
feet high, three feet deep and two feet wide with a shelf at least two feet
long and one foot wide placed at a convenient height for writing. The booth or station shall permit the voter
to vote privately and independently.
Each polling place must have at least one accessible voting booth or
other accessible voting station and beginning with federal and state elections
held after December 31, 2005, and county, municipal, and school district elections
held after December 31, 2007, one voting system that conforms to section
301(a)(3)(B) of the Help America Vote Act, Public Law 107-252. Local officials must make accessible
voting stations purchased with funds provided from the Help America Vote Act
account available to other local jurisdictions holding stand-alone
elections. Local officials who purchased
the equipment may charge the other local jurisdictions for the costs of
programming the equipment, as well as a prorated cost of maintenance on the
equipment. Any funds received for use of
the accessible voting equipment must be treated as program income and deposited
into the jurisdiction's Help America Vote Act account. All booths or stations must be
constructed so that a voter is free from observation while marking
ballots. During the hours of voting, the
booths or stations must have instructions, a pencil, and other supplies needed
to mark the ballots. A chair must be
provided for elderly voters and voters with disabilities to use while voting or
waiting to vote. Stable flat writing
surfaces must also be made available to voters who are completing
election-related forms. All ballot
boxes, voting booths, voting stations, and election judges must be in open
public view in the polling place.
Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.27,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Election
law and instructions. The secretary
of state shall prepare and publish a volume containing all state general laws
relating to elections. The attorney
general shall provide annotations to the secretary of state for this
volume. On or before July
August 1 of every even-numbered odd-numbered year the
secretary of state shall furnish to the county auditors and municipal clerks enough
copies of this volume so that each county auditor and municipal clerk will have
at least one copy. On or before July
1 of every even-numbered year, the secretary of state shall prepare and make an
electronic copy available on the office's Web site. The secretary of state may prepare and
transmit to the county auditors and municipal clerks detailed written
instructions for complying with election laws relating to the conduct of
elections, conduct of voter registration and voting procedures.
Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.33, is
amended to read:
204B.33 NOTICE OF FILING.
(a) Between June
1 and July 1 in each even-numbered year, the secretary of state shall notify
each county auditor of the offices to be voted for in that county at the next
state general election for which candidates file with the secretary of
state. The notice shall include the time
and place of filing for those offices.
Within ten days after notification by the secretary of state, each
county auditor shall notify each municipal clerk in the county of all the
offices to be voted for in the county at that election and the time and place
for filing for those offices. The county
auditors and municipal clerks shall promptly post a copy of that notice in
their offices and post a notice of the offices that will be on the ballot on
their Web site, if one is available.
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(b) At least
two weeks before the first day to file an affidavit of candidacy, the county
auditor shall publish a notice stating the first and last dates on which
affidavits of candidacy may be filed in the county auditor's office and the
closing time for filing on the last day for filing. The county auditor shall post a similar
notice at least ten days before the first day to file affidavits of candidacy.
Sec. 16. [204B.335]
ELECTION RESULTS REPORTING SYSTEM; CANDIDATE FILING.
For state
primary and general elections, the county auditor must enter the offices and
questions to be voted on in the county and the list of candidates for each
office into the election results reporting system provided by the secretary of
state no later than 46 days prior to the election.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is not effective until the secretary of state has
certified that the election reporting system has been tested and shown to
properly allow for the entry of candidate names and for election results to be
uploaded, and to be able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.38, is
amended to read:
204B.38 NAMES ON BALLOTS; IDENTICAL DESCRIPTIVE WORDS.
When the similarity
of surnames of two or more candidates for the same office at the same election
may cause confusion to voters because the candidates also have similar first
names, up to three additional words may be printed on the ballot after each
surname to indicate the candidate's occupation, office, residence or any
combination of them if the candidate furnishes the identifying words to the
filing officer by the last day for withdrawal of candidacy.
Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.02, is
amended to read:
204C.02 APPLICATION.
This chapter
applies to all elections held in this state except as otherwise provided by
law.
An
individual who is unable to write the individual's name shall be required to
sign election-related documents in the manner provided by section 645.44,
subdivision 14. An individual who has
power of attorney for another person may not sign election-related documents
for that person, except as provided by this section.
Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.04, subdivision
1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Right
to be absent. Every employee who is
eligible to vote in an election has the right to be absent from work for the
purpose of voting during the morning of for the time necessary to appear
at the employee's polling place, cast a ballot, and return to work on the
day of that election, without penalty or deduction from salary or wages because
of the absence. An employer or other
person may not directly or indirectly refuse, abridge, or interfere with this right
or any other election right of an employee.
Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.06,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Lingering
near polling place. An individual
shall be allowed to go to and from the polling place for the purpose of voting
without unlawful interference. No one
except an election official or an individual who is waiting to register or to
vote or a representative of the press or an academic institution who is
conducting exit polling shall stand within 100 feet of the building in
which a polling place is located. "Exit polling" is defined as
approaching voters in a predetermined pattern as they leave the polling place
after they have voted and asking voters to fill out an anonymous questionnaire.
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Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.08,
subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
Subd. 1a. Voter's
Bill of Rights. The county auditor
shall prepare and provide to each polling place sufficient copies of a poster
setting forth the Voter's Bill of Rights as set forth in this section. Before the hours of voting are scheduled to
begin, the election judges shall post it in a conspicuous location or locations
in the polling place. The Voter's Bill
of Rights is as follows:
"VOTER'S
BILL OF RIGHTS
For all persons
residing in this state who meet federal voting eligibility requirements:
(1) You have
the right to be absent from work for the purpose of voting during the
morning of without reduction to your pay, personal leave, or vacation
time on election day.
(2) If you are
in line at your polling place any time between 7:00 a.m. and before
8:00 p.m., you have the right to vote.
(3) If you can
provide the required proof of residence, you have the right to register to vote
and to vote on election day.
(4) If you are
unable to sign your name, you have the right to orally confirm your identity
with an election judge and to direct another person to sign your name for you.
(5) You have
the right to request special assistance when voting.
(6) If you need
assistance, you may be accompanied into the voting booth by a person of your
choice, except by an agent of your employer or union or a candidate.
(7) You have
the right to bring your minor children into the polling place and into the
voting booth with you.
(8) If you have
been convicted of a felony but your felony sentence has expired (been
completed) or you have been discharged from your sentence, you have the right
to vote.
(9) If you are
under a guardianship, you have the right to vote, unless the court order
revokes your right to vote.
(10) You have the
right to vote without anyone in the polling place trying to influence your
vote.
(11) If you
make a mistake or spoil your ballot before it is submitted, you have the right
to receive a replacement ballot and vote.
(12) You have
the right to file a written complaint at your polling place if you are
dissatisfied with the way an election is being run.
(13) You have
the right to take a sample ballot into the voting booth with you.
(14) You have
the right to take a copy of this Voter's Bill of Rights into the voting booth
with you."
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective for the state primary in 2010 and
thereafter.
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Sec. 22.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.08, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Locking of ballot boxes. Immediately before the time when voting is
scheduled to begin, one of the election judges shall open the ballot boxes in
the presence of the individuals assembled at the polling place, turn the boxes
upside down to empty them, lock them, and deliver the key to another election
judge. Except as provided by this
subdivision, the boxes shall not be reopened except to count the ballots
until after the hours for voting have ended and all voting has been
concluded. The boxes shall be kept in
public view at all times during voting hours.
After locking the ballot boxes, the election judges shall proclaim that
voting may begin, and shall post outside the polling place conspicuous written
or printed notices of the time when voting is scheduled to end.
Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 8230.4365,
subpart 5, two election judges of different major political parties may open
the ballot boxes as needed to straighten the ballots or remove voted ballots to
prevent the boxes from becoming overfull.
The election judges shall not count or inspect the ballots.
If removing the ballots from the box, the election judges
shall put the ballots into containers and seal them. The judges shall put any ballots taken from
the ballot box's write-in compartment into containers separate from the other
ballots and seal them. The judges shall
label the ballot containers and secure them.
The judges shall note on the incident report that the
ballot box was opened, the time the box was opened, and, if ballots were
removed, the number of any seals used to seal the ballot containers.
Sec. 23. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 204C.13, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Voting booths. One of the election judges shall explain to
the voter the proper method of marking and folding the ballots and, during a
primary election, the effect of attempting to vote in more than one party's
primary. Except as otherwise provided in
section 204C.15, the voter shall retire alone to an unoccupied voting booth and
or, at the voter's discretion, the voter may choose to use another writing
surface. The voter shall mark the
ballots without undue delay. The voter
may take sample ballots into the booth to assist in voting. The election judges may adopt and enforce
reasonable rules governing the amount of time a voter may spend in the voting
booth marking ballots.
Sec. 24.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.15, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Voting lines. In all polling places two election judges
shall assist a disabled voter to enter the polling place and go through the
registration and voting lines. The
election judges must inform voters that a chair is available for use by an
elderly or disabled voter while voting or waiting in a voting line, and that an
elderly or disabled voter may request to be moved to the front of the line, or be
provided other assistance as appropriate, in the event waiting in the voting
line would cause unreasonable physical strain on the voter. The voter may also request the assistance
of election judges or any other individual in marking ballots, as provided in
subdivision 1.
Sec. 25.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.17, is amended to read:
204C.17
VOTING; SECRECY.
Except as authorized by section 204C.15, a voter shall
not reveal to anyone in the polling place the name of any candidate for whom the
voter intends to vote or has voted. A
voter shall not ask for or receive assistance in the marking of a ballot from
anyone within the polling place except as authorized by section 204C.15. If a voter, after marking a ballot, shows it
to anyone except as authorized by law or takes a picture of the voter's
ballot, the election judges shall refuse to deposit the ballot in any
ballot box and shall place it among the spoiled ballots. Unless the showing of the ballot was clearly
intentional, the voter shall receive another ballot as provided in section
204C.13, subdivision 3, clause paragraph (d).
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Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.30, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 3.
Election results reporting;
state primary and general elections.
For state primary and general elections, the county auditor shall
enter the votes in each precinct for the questions and offices voted on into
the election results reporting system provided by the secretary of state.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is not effective until the secretary of state has
certified that the election reporting system has been tested and shown to
properly allow for the entry of candidate names and for election results to be
uploaded, and to be able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.33,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. County
canvass. The county canvassing board
shall meet at the county auditor's office on or before the seventh day
following the state general election.
After taking the oath of office, the board shall promptly and publicly
canvass the general election returns delivered to the county auditor. Upon completion of the canvass, the board
shall promptly prepare and file with the county auditor a report which states:
(a) the number
of individuals voting at the election in the county and in each precinct;
(b) the number
of individuals registering to vote on election day and the number of
individuals registered before election day in each precinct;
(c) the names of
the candidates for each office and the number of votes received by each
candidate in the county and in each precinct, including write-in candidates
for state and federal office who have requested under section 204B.09 that
votes for those candidates be tallied;
(d) the number
of votes counted for and against a proposed change of county lines or county
seat; and
(e) the number
of votes counted for and against a constitutional amendment or other question
in the county and in each precinct.
The result of
write-in votes cast on the general election ballots must be compiled by the
county auditor before the county canvass, except that write-in votes for a
candidate for federal, state, or federal county
office must not be counted unless the candidate has timely filed a request
under section 204B.09, subdivision 3.
The county auditor shall arrange for each municipality to provide an
adequate number of election judges to perform this duty or the county auditor
may appoint additional election judges for this purpose. The county auditor may open the envelopes or
containers in which the voted ballots have been sealed in order to count and
record the write-in votes and must reseal the voted ballots at the conclusion
of this process. The county auditor
must prepare a separate report of votes received by precinct for write-in
candidates for federal, state, and county offices who have requested under
section 204B.09 that votes for those candidates be tallied.
Upon completion
of the canvass, the county canvassing board shall declare the candidate duly
elected who received the highest number of votes for each county and state
office voted for only within the county.
The county auditor shall transmit one of the a certified copies
copy of the county canvassing board report for state and federal offices to
the secretary of state by messenger, express mail, or similar
service immediately upon conclusion of the county canvass.
Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204C.37, is
amended to read:
204C.37 COUNTY CANVASS; RETURN OF REPORTS TO SECRETARY
OF STATE.
Two copies A copy of the reports report
required by sections 204C.32, subdivision 1, and 204C.33, subdivision 1,
shall be certified under the official seal of the county auditor. Each The copy shall be enclosed
in an envelope addressed to the secretary of state, with the county auditor's
name and official address and the words
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"Election
Returns" endorsed on the envelope. The
copy of the canvassing board report not sent by express mail and the
precinct summary statements must be mailed sent by express mail
or delivered to the secretary of state.
If neither the copy is not received by the
secretary of state within ten days following the applicable election, the
secretary of state shall immediately notify the county auditor, who shall
deliver another copy to the secretary of state by special messenger.
Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204D.04,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Instructions
to printer; printer's bond. (a) The
official charged with the preparation and distribution of the ballots shall
prepare instructions to the printer for rotation of the names of candidates and
for layout of the ballot.
(b) Except as
provided in paragraph (c), the instructions shall be approved by the legal
advisor of the official before delivery to the printer.
(c) The legal
advisor of a town official is not required to approve instructions regarding
the rotation of the names of candidates on the ballot or the layout of the
ballot.
(d) Before a
contract exceeding $1,000 is awarded for printing ballots, the printer shall
furnish, if requested by the official, a sufficient bond, letter of
credit, or certified check, acceptable to the official responsible for printing
the ballots, conditioned on printing the ballots in conformity with the
Minnesota Election Law and the instructions delivered. The official responsible for printing the
ballots shall set the amount of the bond, letter of credit, or certified check
in an amount equal to the value of the purchase.
Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204D.09,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Sample
ballot. At least two weeks before
the state primary the county auditor shall prepare a sample state partisan
primary ballot and a sample state and county nonpartisan primary ballot for
public inspection. The names of all of
the candidates to be voted for in the county shall be placed on the sample
ballots, with the names of the candidates for each office arranged alphabetically
according to the surname in the base rotation as determined by section
206.61, subdivision 5. Only one
sample state partisan primary ballot and one sample state and county
nonpartisan ballot shall be prepared for any county. The county auditor shall post the sample
ballots in a conspicuous place in the auditor's office and shall cause them to
be published at least one week before the state primary in at least one
newspaper of general circulation in the county.
Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204D.28,
subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Regular
state primary. "Regular state
primary" means:
(a) the state
primary at which candidates are nominated for offices elected at the state
general election; or
(b) a primary
held four weeks before on the first Tuesday after the first
second Monday in November September of odd-numbered years.
Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204D.28,
subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6. Special
election required; exception; when held.
Every vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the term by a special
election held pursuant to this subdivision; except that no special election
shall be held in the year before the term expires.
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The special election shall be held at the next
November election if the vacancy occurs at least six nine weeks
before the regular state primary preceding that election. If the vacancy occurs less than six
nine weeks before the regular state primary preceding the next November
election, the special election shall be held at the second November election
after the vacancy occurs.
Sec. 33.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204D.28, subdivision 8, is amended to
read:
Subd. 8. Notice of special election. The secretary of state shall issue an
official notice of any special election required to be held pursuant to this
section not later than ten 12 weeks before the special primary,
except that if the vacancy occurs ten 12 weeks or less before the
special primary, the secretary of state shall issue the notice no later than
two days after the vacancy occurs. The
notice shall state the office to be filled, the opening and closing dates for
filing of candidacy and the dates of the special primary and special
election. For the purposes of those
provisions of sections 204D.17 to 204D.27 that apply generally to special
elections, this notice shall be used in place of the writ of the governor.
Sec. 34.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204D.28, subdivision 9, is amended to
read:
Subd. 9. Filing by candidates. The time for filing of affidavits and nominating
petitions for candidates to fill a vacancy at a special election shall open six
ten weeks before the special primary or on the day the secretary of state
issues notice of the special election, whichever occurs later. Filings shall close four eight
weeks before the special primary.
Sec. 35. [204D.29] CONTINUITY OF CONGRESS.
Subdivision 1. In
general. (a) If the speaker
of the United States House of Representatives announces that vacancies in the
representation from the states in the House of Representatives exceed 100 and
one of those vacancies is in this state, the governor shall issue a writ of
election to fill such vacancy by special election.
(b) As used in this section, "speaker" means
the speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
Subd. 2. Timing
of special election. A
special election held under this section to fill a vacancy shall take place not
later than 49 days after the speaker announces that the vacancy exists, unless,
during the 75-day period which begins on the date of the announcement of the
vacancy:
(1) a regularly scheduled general election for the
office involved is to be held; or
(2) another special election for the office involved
is to be held, pursuant to a writ for a special election issued by the governor
prior to the date of the announcement of the vacancy by the speaker.
Subd. 3. Nominations
by parties. If a special
election is to be held under this section, the chairs of the political parties
of the state shall, not later than ten days after the speaker announces that
the vacancy exists, certify to the secretary of state the name of the person
nominated to fill this vacancy.
Subd. 4. Nominating
petitions. Other candidates
must file an affidavit of candidacy and a nominating petition under section
204B.07 not later than ten days after the speaker announces that the vacancy
exists.
Subd. 5. Protecting
ability of absent military and overseas voters to participate in special
elections. (a) Deadline for transmittal of absentee
ballots. In conducting a special
election held under this section to fill a vacancy in its representation, the
state shall ensure to the greatest extent practicable that absentee ballots for
the election are transmitted to voters who vote under the procedure outlined in
sections 203B.16 to 203B.27 not later than 15 days after the speaker announces
that the vacancy exists.
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(b) Period for ballot transit time. Notwithstanding the other deadlines in
this section, in the case of voters who vote under the procedure outlined in
sections 203B.16 to 203B.27, any otherwise valid ballot or other election
material must be processed and accepted so long as the ballot or other material
is received by the county auditor not later than 45 days after the ballot or
other material was transmitted to the voter.
Sec. 36.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205.065, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Resolution or ordinance. The governing body of a city may, by
ordinance or resolution adopted at least three months before the next
municipal general election by June 1 of a municipal general election
year, elect to choose nominees for municipal offices by a primary as
provided in this section. The resolution
or ordinance, when adopted, is effective for all ensuing municipal elections
until it is revoked. The municipal clerk
shall notify the secretary of state and the county auditor within 30 days after
the adoption of the resolution or ordinance.
Sec. 37.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205.13, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Affidavit of candidacy. An individual who is eligible and desires to
become a candidate for an office to be voted for at the municipal general
election shall file an affidavit of candidacy with the municipal clerk. Candidates for a special election to fill
a vacancy held as provided in section 412.02, subdivision 2a, must file an
affidavit of candidacy for the specific office to fill the unexpired portion of
the term. Subject to the approval of
the county auditor, the town clerk may authorize candidates for township
offices to file affidavits of candidacy with the county auditor. The affidavit shall be in substantially the
same form as that in section 204B.06, subdivision 1. The municipal clerk shall also accept an
application signed by not less than five voters and filed on behalf of an
eligible voter in the municipality whom they desire to be a candidate, if
service of a copy of the application has been made on the candidate and proof
of service is endorsed on the application being filed. Upon receipt of the proper filing fee, the
clerk shall place the name of the candidate on the official ballot without
partisan designation.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 38.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205.13, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Notice of filing dates. At least two weeks before the first day to
file affidavits of candidacy, the municipal clerk shall publish a notice
stating the first and last dates on which affidavits of candidacy may be filed
in the clerk's office and the closing time for filing on the last day for
filing. The clerk shall post a similar
notice at least ten days before the first day to file affidavits of
candidacy. The notice must separately
list any office for which affidavits of candidacy may be filed to fill the
unexpired portion of a term when a special election is being held to fill a
vacancy as provided in section 412.02, subdivision 2a.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 39. [205.135] ELECTION RESULTS REPORTING
SYSTEM; CANDIDATE FILING.
Subdivision 1. Even-numbered
year. For regularly scheduled
municipal elections held in an even-numbered year, the municipal clerk must
provide the offices and questions to be voted on in the municipality and the
list of candidates for each office to the county auditor for entry into the
election results reporting system provided by the secretary of state no later
than 46 days prior to the election. Upon
mutual agreement, the county auditor may delegate the duty to enter the
information into the system to the municipal clerk.
Subd. 2. Odd-numbered
year. For regularly scheduled
municipal elections held in an odd-numbered year, the county auditor and
municipal clerk may mutually decide to use the election reporting system for
the election. If so, the county auditor
must notify the secretary of state of the intent to use the election reporting
system at least 90 days before the election, of who will be entering the data,
and, if the municipal clerk will be entering the data, that the
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office of the municipal clerk has the technological
capacity to enter the data. The county
auditor, or, by mutual agreement, the municipal clerk, must enter the offices
and questions to be voted on in the municipality and the list of candidates for
each office into the election results reporting system no later than 46 days
prior to the election.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is not effective until the secretary of state has
certified that the election reporting system has been tested and shown to
properly allow for the entry of candidate names and for election results to be
uploaded, and to be able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 40. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205.16,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Sample
ballot, publication. For every
municipal election, the municipal clerk shall, at least one week two
weeks before the election, publish a sample ballot in the official
newspaper of the municipality, except that the governing body of a fourth class
city or a town not located within a metropolitan county as defined in section
473.121 may dispense with publication.
Sec. 41. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205.16,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Sample
ballot, posting. For every municipal
election, the municipal clerk shall at least four days two weeks
before the election post prepare a sample ballot for the
municipality, make them available for public inspection in the clerk's
office for public inspection, and post a sample ballot in each polling
place on election day.
Sec. 42. [205.187]
ELECTION RESULTS REPORTING SYSTEM; PRECINCT VOTES.
For regularly
scheduled municipal elections held in November of an even-numbered year, the
county auditor shall enter the votes in each precinct for the questions and
offices voted on in the municipal election into the election results reporting
system provided by the secretary of state.
If a county
auditor has notified the secretary of state of intent to use the election
results reporting system for a municipal election pursuant to section 205.135,
subdivision 2, the county auditor, or by mutual agreement, the municipal clerk,
must enter the votes in each precinct for the offices and questions voted on in
the municipality into the election results reporting system.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is not effective until the secretary of state has
certified that the election reporting system has been tested and shown to
properly allow for the entry of candidate names and for election results to be
uploaded, and to be able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 43. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205A.03,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Resolution
requiring primary in certain circumstances.
The school board of a school district may, by resolution adopted by June
1 of any year, decide to choose nominees for school board by a primary as
provided in this section. The
resolution, when adopted, is effective for all ensuing elections of board
members in that school district until it is revoked. If the board decides to choose nominees by
primary and if there are more than two candidates for a specified school board
position or more than twice as many school board candidates as there are
at-large school board positions available, the school district must hold a
primary. When a number equal to or
less than twice the number of individuals to be elected to a school board
office file for nomination for the office, the names of the candidates shall be
placed upon the general election ballot.
Sec. 44. [205A.045]
SCHOOL DISTRICT TRANSITIONS.
Subdivision
1. Odd
year to even. (a) The governing
body of a school district may change from an odd-numbered year election to an
even-numbered year election by adopting a resolution that contains an orderly
plan for the transition. The resolution
may include a onetime, one-year extension of the term of each board member.
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(b) The
governing body of the school district must adopt the resolution permitted by
paragraph (a) no later than 30 days before the first day to file an affidavit
of candidacy for the election at which the change will take effect.
Subd. 2.
Even year to odd. (a) The governing body of a school
district may change from an even-numbered year election to an odd-numbered year
election by adopting a resolution that contains an orderly plan for the
transition. The resolution may include a
onetime, one-year extension of the term of each board member.
(b) The
governing body of the school district must adopt the resolution permitted by
paragraph (a) no later than 30 days before the first day to file an affidavit
of candidacy for the election at which the change will take effect.
Sec. 45. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205A.05, subdivision
1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Questions. Special elections must be held for a school
district on a question on which the voters are authorized by law to pass
judgment. The school board may on its
own motion call a special election to vote on any matter requiring approval of
the voters of a district. Upon petition
of 50 or more voters of the school district or five percent of the number of
voters voting at the preceding school district general election, whichever is
greater, the school board shall by resolution call a special election to vote
on any matter requiring approval of the voters of a district. A question is carried only with the majority
in its favor required by law. The
election officials for a special election are the same as for the most recent
school district general election unless changed according to law. Otherwise, special elections must be
conducted and the returns made in the manner provided for the school district
general election. A special election may
not be held during the 30 45 days before and the 30 45
days after the state primary, during the 30 45 days before and
the 40 days after the state general election.
In addition, a special election may not be held during the 20 days
before and the 20 days after any regularly scheduled March election or
within 45 days before and the 30 days after any regularly scheduled November
election of a municipality wholly or partially within the school
district. Notwithstanding any other law
to the contrary, the time period in which a special election must be conducted
under any other law may be extended by the school board to conform with the
requirements of this subdivision.
Sec. 46. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205A.05,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Vacancies
in school district offices. Special
elections shall be held in school districts in conjunction with school district
primary and general elections to fill vacancies in elective school district
offices. When filling multiple
at-large vacancies at the same election, the candidates shall file for the
multiple seats of the same office, voters will be instructed to "Vote for
up to..." and the candidates receiving the most votes up to the number to
be elected will be elected to fill the vacancies.
Sec. 47. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205A.07,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Sample
ballot, posting. For every school
district primary, general, or special election, the school district clerk shall
at least four days two weeks before the primary, general, or
special election, post a sample ballot in the administrative offices of the
school district for public inspection, and shall post a sample ballot in each
polling place on election day.
Sec. 48. [205A.075]
ELECTION RESULTS REPORTING SYSTEM; CANDIDATE FILING.
Subdivision
1. Even-numbered
year. For regularly scheduled
school district elections held in an even-numbered year, the school district
clerk must provide the offices and questions to be voted on in the school
district and the list of candidates for each office to the county auditor for
entry into the election results reporting system provided by the secretary of
state no later than 46 days prior to the election.
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Subd. 2.
Odd-numbered year. For regularly scheduled school district
elections held in an odd-numbered year, the county auditor and school district
clerk may mutually decide to use the election reporting system for the
election. If so, the county auditor must
notify the secretary of state of intent to use the election reporting system at
least 90 days before the election. The
county auditor must enter the offices and questions to be voted on in the
school district and the list of candidates for each office into the election
results reporting system no later than 46 days prior to the election.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is not effective until the secretary of state has
certified that the election reporting system has been tested and shown to
properly allow for the entry of candidate names and for election results to be
uploaded, and to be able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 49. [205A.076]
ELECTION RESULTS REPORTING SYSTEM; PRECINCT VOTES.
For
regularly scheduled school district elections held in an even-numbered year,
the county auditor shall enter the votes in each precinct for the questions and
offices voted on in the school district election into the election results
reporting system provided by the secretary of state.
If a county
auditor has notified the secretary of state of intent to use the election
results reporting system for a school district election pursuant to section
205A.075, subdivision 2, the county auditor must enter the votes in each
precinct for the offices and questions voted on in the school district into the
election results reporting system.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is not effective until the secretary of state has
certified that the election reporting system has been tested and shown to
properly allow for the entry of candidate names and for election results to be
uploaded, and to be able to handle the expected volume of use.
Sec. 50. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 206.57,
subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6. Required
certification. In addition to the
requirements in subdivision 1, a voting system must be certified by an
independent testing authority approved accredited by the secretary
of state and conform to current standards for voting equipment Election
Assistance Commission at the time of submission of the application required by
subdivision 1 to be in conformity with voluntary voting system guidelines
issued by the Federal Election Commission or its successor, the Election
Assistance Commission. The
application must be accompanied by the certification report of the voting
systems test laboratory. A certification
under this section from an independent testing authority accredited by the
Election Assistance Commission meets the requirement of Minnesota Rules, part
8220.0350, item L. A vendor must provide a copy of the source code for the
voting system to the secretary of state.
A chair of a major political party or the secretary of state may select,
in consultation with the vendor, an independent third-party evaluator to
examine the source code to ensure that it functions as represented by the
vendor and that the code is free from defects.
A major political party that elects to have the source code examined
must pay for the examination. Except as
provided by this subdivision, a source code that is trade secret information
must be treated as nonpublic information, according to section 13.37. A third-party evaluator must not disclose the
source code to anyone else.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 51. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 206.61,
subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Alternation. The provisions of the election laws requiring
the alternation of names of candidates must be observed as far as practicable
by changing the order of the names on an electronic voting system in the
various precincts so that each name appears on the machines or marking devices
used in a municipality substantially an
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equal number of
times in the first, last, and in each intermediate place in the list or group
in which they belong. However, the
arrangement of candidates' names must be the same on all voting systems used in
the same precinct. If the number of
names to be alternated exceeds the number of precincts For state primary
and state general elections, the election official responsible for
providing the ballots, in accordance with subdivision 1, shall determine by
lot the alternation of names the base rotation of candidate names by
assigning the initial order of the candidates' names by random generation using
the statewide election reporting system.
If an electronic ballot marker is used with a paper
ballot that is not an optical scan ballot card, the manner of alternation of
candidate names on the paper ballot must be as prescribed for optical scan
ballots in this subdivision.
Sec. 52.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 211A.02, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Information required. The report to be filed by a candidate or committee
must include:
(1) the name of the candidate or ballot question;
(2) the printed name, address, telephone number,
signature, and e-mail address, if available, of the person responsible for
filing the report;
(3) the total cash on hand;
(4) the
total amount of receipts and expenditures for the period from the last previous
report to five days before the current report is due;
(4) (5) the amount, date, and purpose for each expenditure;
and
(5) (6) the name, address, and employer, or occupation if
self-employed, of any individual or committee that during the year has made one
or more contributions that in the aggregate exceed $100, and the amount and
date of each contribution. The filing
officer must restrict public access to the address of any individual who has
made a contribution that exceeds $100 and who has filed with the filing officer
a written statement signed by the individual that withholding the individual's
address from the financial report is required for the safety of the individual
or the individual's family.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective June 1, 2010.
Sec. 53.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 211A.05, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Notice of failure to file. If a candidate or committee has filed an
initial report, but fails to file a subsequent report on the date it
is due, the filing officer shall immediately notify the candidate or committee
of the failure to file. If a report is
not filed within ten days after the notification is mailed, the filing officer
shall file a complaint under section 211B.32.
Sec. 54.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 412.02, subdivision 2a, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2a. Vacancy. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision
2b, a vacancy in an office shall be filled by council appointment until an
election is held as provided in this subdivision. In case of a tie vote in the council, the
mayor shall make the appointment.
(1) If the
vacancy occurs before the first day to file affidavits of candidacy for the
next regular city election and more than two years remain in the unexpired
term, a special election shall be held at or before the next regular city
election and the appointed person shall serve until the qualification of a
successor elected at a special election to fill
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the unexpired portion of the term. The council must specify by ordinance
under what circumstances it will hold a special election to fill a vacancy
other than a special election held at the same time as the regular city
election. If, because of a vacancy, more
than one council member is to be chosen at the same election, candidates for
council member shall file for either a two-year or a four-year term. If more than one candidate is to be elected
for the same length term, the ballot must instruct voters to "Vote for up
to ..." up to the number of candidates to be elected for the two-year or
four-year term.
(2) If the vacancy occurs on or after the
first day to file affidavits of candidacy for the regular city election or when
less than two years remain in the unexpired term, there need not be a special
election to fill the vacancy and the appointed person shall serve until the
qualification of a successor. The
council must specify by ordinance under what circumstances it will hold a
special election to fill a vacancy other than a special election held at the
same time as the regular city election.
Sec. 55. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 414.02,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Effective
date of incorporation. The
incorporation shall be effective upon the election and qualification of new
municipal officers or on such later date as is fixed by the director's
order. The effective date must not
fall within the 21 days before a regularly scheduled election. Failure to comply with the provisions of this
subdivision with respect to regularly scheduled elections, or to set the right
effective date in relation to regularly scheduled elections, does not
invalidate the annexation.
Sec. 56. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 414.031,
subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6. Effective
date of annexation. The annexation
shall be effective as of the date fixed in the annexation order or on a later
date fixed in the annexation order. The
effective date must not fall within the 21 days before a regularly scheduled
election. Failure to comply with the
provisions of this subdivision with respect to regularly scheduled elections,
or to set the right effective date in relation to regularly scheduled
elections, does not invalidate the annexation.
Sec. 57. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 414.0325,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Initiating
the proceeding. (a) One or more
townships and one or more municipalities, by joint resolution, may designate an
unincorporated area as in need of orderly annexation. One or more municipalities, by joint
resolution with the county, may designate an unincorporated area in which there
is no organized township government as in need of orderly annexation.
(b) A designated
area is any area which the signatories to a joint resolution for orderly
annexation have identified as being appropriate for annexation, either
currently or at some point in the future, pursuant to the negotiated terms and
conditions set forth in the joint resolution.
Land described as a designated area is not, by virtue of being so
described, considered also to be annexed for purposes of this chapter.
(c) The joint
resolution will confer jurisdiction on the chief administrative law judge over
annexations in the designated area and over the various provisions in said
agreement by submission of said joint resolution to the chief administrative
law judge.
(d) The
resolution shall include a description of the designated area and the reasons
for designation.
(e) Thereafter,
an annexation of any part of the designated area may be initiated by:
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(1) submitting
to the chief administrative law judge a resolution of any signatory to the
joint resolution; or
(2) the chief
administrative law judge.
(f) Whenever a
state agency, other than the pollution control agency, orders a municipality to
extend a municipal service to an area, the order confers jurisdiction on the
chief administrative law judge to consider designation of the area for orderly
annexation.
(g) If a joint
resolution designates an area as in need of orderly annexation and states that
no alteration of its stated boundaries is appropriate, the chief administrative
law judge may review and comment, but may not alter the boundaries.
(h) If a joint
resolution designates an area as in need of orderly annexation, provides for
the conditions for its annexation, and states that no consideration by the
chief administrative law judge is necessary, the chief administrative law judge
may review and comment, but shall, within 30 days, order the annexation in
accordance with the terms of the resolution. A joint resolution filed within the 51 days
before a regularly scheduled election must provide in the conditions for its
annexation that the annexation will not be effective until the day after the
regularly scheduled election. Failure to
comply with the provisions of this subdivision with respect to regularly scheduled
elections, or to set the right effective date in relation to regularly
scheduled elections, does not invalidate the annexation.
Sec. 58. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 414.0325,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Effective
date of annexation. The chief
administrative law judge's order shall be effective upon the issuance of the
order or at such later time as is provided in the order. The effective date must not fall within
the 21 days before a regularly scheduled election. Failure to comply with the provisions of this
subdivision with respect to regularly scheduled elections, or to set the right
effective date in relation to regularly scheduled elections, does not
invalidate the annexation.
Sec. 59. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 414.033,
subdivision 7, is amended to read:
Subd. 7. Filing;
effective date; copy to auditors.
Any annexation ordinance provided for in this section must be filed with
the chief administrative law judge, the township, the county auditor and the
secretary of state and is final on the date the ordinance is approved by the
chief administrative law judge, except that an ordinance approved within the
21 days before a regularly scheduled election is not effective until the day
after the regularly scheduled election.
A copy of the annexation ordinance must be delivered immediately by the
governing body of the municipality to the appropriate county auditors. Failure to comply with the provisions of
this subdivision with respect to regularly scheduled elections, or to set the
right effective date in relation to regularly scheduled elections, does not
invalidate the annexation.
Sec. 60. REPEALER.
Minnesota
Statutes 2008, sections 201.096; and 206.805, subdivision 2, are repealed.
ARTICLE 3
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 135A.17,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Residential
housing list. All postsecondary
institutions that enroll students accepting state or federal financial aid may
(a) Institutions within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system
must prepare a current list of students enrolled in the institution and
residing in the institution's housing or within ten miles of the
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institution's
campus Minnesota.
The list shall must include each student's name and current
address as permitted by applicable privacy laws. The list shall must be
certified and sent to the appropriate county auditor or auditors
secretary of state no earlier than 30 and no later than 25 days prior to the
November general election, in an electronic format specified by the secretary
of state, for use in election day registration as provided under section
201.061, subdivision 3. The
certification must be dated and signed by the chief officer or designee of the
postsecondary educational institution, or for institutions within the Minnesota
State Colleges and Universities system, by the chancellor, and must state that
the list is current and accurate and includes only the names of currently
enrolled students residing in Minnesota as of the date of certification. The secretary of state must combine the data received
from each postsecondary educational institution under this subdivision and must
process the data to locate the precinct in which the address provided for each
student is located. If the data
submitted by the postsecondary educational institution is insufficient for the
secretary of state to locate the proper precinct, the associated student name
must not appear in any list forwarded to a county auditor under this
subdivision.
At least 14
days prior to the November general election, the secretary of state must
forward to the appropriate county auditor lists of students containing the
students' names and addresses for which precinct determinations have been made
along with their postsecondary educational institutions. The list must be sorted by precinct and
student last name and must be forwarded in an electronic format specified by
the secretary of state or other mutually agreed upon medium, if a written
agreement specifying the medium is signed by the secretary of state and the
county auditor at least 90 days before the November general election. A written agreement is effective for all
elections until rescinded by either the secretary of state or the county
auditor.
(b) Other
postsecondary institutions may provide lists as provided by this subdivision or
as provided by the rules of the secretary of state. The University of Minnesota is requested to
comply with this subdivision.
(c) A residential housing list provided
under this subdivision may not be used or disseminated by a county auditor or
the secretary of state for any other purpose.
Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 201.061,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Prior
to election day. At any time except
during the 20 days immediately preceding any regularly scheduled election, an eligible
voter or any individual who will be an eligible voter at the time of the next
election may register to vote in the precinct in which the voter maintains
residence by completing a voter registration application as described in
section 201.071, subdivision 1, and submitting it in person or by mail to the
county auditor of that county or to the Secretary of State's Office. If the Web site maintained by the secretary of
state provides a process for it, an individual who has a Minnesota driver's
license, identification card, or learner's permit may register online. A registration that is received no later
than 5:00 p.m. on the 21st day preceding any election shall be accepted. An improperly addressed or delivered
registration application shall be forwarded within two working days after
receipt to the county auditor of the county where the voter maintains
residence. A state or local agency or an
individual that accepts completed voter registration applications from a voter
must submit the completed applications to the secretary of state or the
appropriate county auditor within ten days after the applications are dated by
the voter.
For purposes of
this section, mail registration is defined as a voter registration application
delivered to the secretary of state, county auditor, or municipal clerk by the
United States Postal Service or a commercial carrier.
Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 201.061,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Election
day registration. (a) An individual
who is eligible to vote may register on election day by appearing in person at
the polling place for the precinct in which the individual maintains residence,
by completing a registration application, making an oath in the form prescribed
by the secretary of state and providing proof of residence. An individual may prove residence for
purposes of registering by:
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(1) presenting
a driver's license or Minnesota identification card issued pursuant to section
171.07;
(2) presenting
any document approved by the secretary of state as proper identification;
(3) presenting
one of the following:
(i) a current
valid student identification card from a postsecondary educational institution
in Minnesota, if a list of students from that institution has been prepared
under section 135A.17 and certified to the county auditor or in
the manner provided in rules of the secretary of state; or
(ii) a current
student fee statement that contains the student's valid address in the precinct
together with a picture identification card; or
(4) having a
voter who is registered to vote in the precinct, or who is an employee employed
by and working in a residential facility in the precinct and vouching for a
resident in the facility, sign an oath in the presence of the election judge
vouching that the voter or employee personally knows that the individual is a
resident of the precinct. A voter who
has been vouched for on election day may not sign a proof of residence oath
vouching for any other individual on that election day. A voter who is registered to vote in the
precinct may sign up to 15 proof-of-residence oaths on any election day. This limitation does not apply to an employee
of a residential facility described in this clause. The secretary of state shall provide a form
for election judges to use in recording the number of individuals for whom a
voter signs proof-of-residence oaths on election day. The form must include space for the maximum
number of individuals for whom a voter may sign proof-of-residence oaths. For each proof-of-residence oath, the form
must include a statement that the voter is registered to vote in the precinct,
personally knows that the individual is a resident of the precinct, and is
making the statement on oath. The form
must include a space for the voter's printed name, signature, telephone number,
and address.
The oath required
by this subdivision and Minnesota Rules, part 8200.9939, must be attached to
the voter registration application.
(b) The
operator of a residential facility shall prepare a list of the names of its
employees currently working in the residential facility and the address of the
residential facility. The operator shall
certify the list and provide it to the appropriate county auditor no less than
20 days before each election for use in election day registration.
(c)
"Residential facility" means transitional housing as defined in
section 256E.33, subdivision 1; a supervised living facility licensed by the
commissioner of health under section 144.50, subdivision 6; a nursing home as
defined in section 144A.01, subdivision 5; a residence registered with the
commissioner of health as a housing with services establishment as defined in
section 144D.01, subdivision 4; a veterans home operated by the board of
directors of the Minnesota Veterans Homes under chapter 198; a residence
licensed by the commissioner of human services to provide a residential program
as defined in section 245A.02, subdivision 14; a residential facility for
persons with a developmental disability licensed by the commissioner of human
services under section 252.28; group residential housing as defined in section
256I.03, subdivision 3; a shelter for battered women as defined in section
611A.37, subdivision 4; or a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter
or dwelling designed to provide temporary living accommodations for the homeless.
(d) For tribal
band members, an individual may prove residence for purposes of registering by:
(1) presenting
an identification card issued by the tribal government of a tribe recognized by
the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Department of the Interior, that
contains the name, address, signature, and picture of the individual; or
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(2) presenting
an identification card issued by the tribal government of a tribe recognized by
the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Department of the Interior, that
contains the name, signature, and picture of the individual and also presenting
one of the documents listed in Minnesota Rules, part 8200.5100, subpart 2, item
B.
(e) A county,
school district, or municipality may require that an election judge responsible
for election day registration initial each completed registration application.
Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 201.071,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Form. A voter registration application must be
of suitable size and weight for mailing and contain spaces for the
following required information: voter's
first name, middle name, and last name; voter's previous name, if any; voter's
current address; voter's previous address, if any; voter's date of birth;
voter's municipality and county of residence; voter's telephone number, if
provided by the voter; date of registration; current and valid Minnesota
driver's license number or Minnesota state identification number, or if the
voter has no current and valid Minnesota driver's license or Minnesota state
identification, and the last four digits of the voter's Social Security
number; and voter's signature.
The registration application may include the voter's e-mail address, if
provided by the voter, and the voter's interest in serving as an election
judge, if indicated by the voter. The
application must also contain the following certification of voter eligibility:
"I certify
that I:
(1) will be at
least 18 years old on election day;
(2) am a citizen
of the United States;
(3) will have
resided in Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding election day;
(4) maintain
residence at the address given on the registration form;
(5) am not under
court-ordered guardianship in which the court order revokes my right to vote;
(6) have not
been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote;
(7) have the
right to vote because, if I have been convicted of a felony, my felony sentence
has expired (been completed) or I have been discharged from my sentence; and
(8) have read
and understand the following statement:
that giving false information is a felony punishable by not more than
five years imprisonment or a fine of not more than $10,000, or both."
The
certification must include boxes for the voter to respond to the following
questions:
"(1) Are
you a citizen of the United States?" and
"(2) Will
you be 18 years old on or before election day?"
And the
instruction:
"If you
checked 'no' to either of these questions, do not complete this form."
The form of the
voter registration application and the certification of voter eligibility must
be as provided in this subdivision and approved by the secretary of state. Voter registration forms authorized by the
National Voter Registration Act must also be accepted as valid. The federal postcard application form must
also be accepted as valid if it is not deficient and the voter is eligible to
register in Minnesota.
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An individual
may use a voter registration application to apply to register to vote in
Minnesota or to change information on an existing registration.
A paper
voter registration application must include space for the voter's
signature. Paper voter registration
applications, other than those used for election day registration, must be of suitable
size and weight for mailing.
Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 201.091, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 5a.
Registration confirmation to
registered voter. The
secretary of state must ensure that the secretary of state's Web site is
capable of providing voter registration confirmation to a registered
voter. An individual requesting
registration confirmation must provide the individual's name, address, and date
of birth. If the information provided by
the individual completely matches an active voter record in the statewide voter
registration system, the Web site must inform the individual that the
individual is a registered voter and must provide the individual with the
individual's polling place location. If
the information provided by the individual does not completely match an active
voter record in the statewide voter registration system, the Web site must
inform the individual that a voter record with that name and date of birth at
the address provided cannot be confirmed and the Web site must advise the
individual to contact the county auditor for further information.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is not effective until the secretary of state has
certified that the Web site has been tested, has been shown to properly
retrieve information from the correct voter's record, and can handle the
expected volume of use.
Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 203B.12,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Examination
of return envelopes. Two or more
election judges shall examine each return envelope and shall mark it accepted
or rejected in the manner provided in this subdivision. If a ballot has been prepared under
section 204B.12, subdivision 2a, or 204B.41, the election judges shall not
begin removing ballot envelopes from the return envelopes until 8:00 p.m. on
election day, either in the polling place or at an absentee ballot board
established under section 203B.13.
The election
judges shall mark the return envelope "Accepted" and initial or sign
the return envelope below the word "Accepted" if the election judges
or a majority of them are satisfied that:
(1) the voter's
name and address on the return envelope are the same as the information
provided on the absentee ballot application;
(2) the voter's
signature on the return envelope is the genuine signature of the individual who
made the application for ballots and the certificate has been completed as
prescribed in the directions for casting an absentee ballot, except that if a
person other than the voter applied for the absentee ballot under applicable
Minnesota Rules, the signature is not required to match;
(3) the voter
is registered and eligible to vote in the precinct or has included a properly completed
voter registration application in the return envelope; and
(4) the voter
has not already voted at that election, either in person or by absentee ballot.
There is no
other reason for rejecting an absentee ballot.
In particular, failure to place the ballot within the security envelope
before placing it in the outer white envelope is not a reason to reject an
absentee ballot.
The return
envelope from accepted ballots must be preserved and returned to the county
auditor.
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If all or a
majority of the election judges examining return envelopes find that an absent
voter has failed to meet one of the requirements prescribed in clauses (1) to
(4), they shall mark the return envelope "Rejected," initial or sign
it below the word "Rejected," and return it to the county auditor.
Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.04,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Candidates
seeking nomination by primary. No
individual who seeks nomination for any partisan or nonpartisan office at a
primary shall be nominated for the same office by nominating petition, except
as otherwise provided for partisan offices in section 204D.10, subdivision 2,
and for nonpartisan offices in section 204B.13, subdivision 4.
Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.04,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Nomination
for nonpartisan office. No
individual shall be nominated by nominating petition for any nonpartisan office
except in the event of a vacancy in nomination as provided in section
204B.13.
Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.07,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Form
of petition. A nominating petition
may consist of one or more separate pages each of which shall state:
(a) the office
sought;
(b) the
candidate's name and residence address, including street and number if any; and
(c) the candidate's
political party or political principle expressed in not more than three
words. No candidate who files for a
partisan office by nominating petition shall use the term
"nonpartisan" as a statement of political principle or the name of
the candidate's political party. No part
of the name of a major political party may be used to designate the political
party or principle of a candidate who files for a partisan office by nominating
petition, except that the word "independent" may be used to designate
the party or principle. A candidate
who files by nominating petition to fill a vacancy in nomination for a
nonpartisan office pursuant to section 204B.13, shall not state any political
principle or the name of any political party on the petition.
Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.09,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Candidates
in state and county general elections.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this subdivision, affidavits of
candidacy and nominating petitions for county, state, and federal offices
filled at the state general election shall be filed not more than 70 days nor
less than 56 days before the state primary.
The affidavit may be prepared and signed at any time between 60 days
before the filing period opens and the last day of the filing period.
(b)
Notwithstanding other law to the contrary, the affidavit of candidacy must be
signed in the presence of a notarial officer or an individual authorized to
administer oaths under section 358.10.
(c) This provision
does not apply to candidates for presidential elector nominated by major
political parties. Major party
candidates for presidential elector are certified under section 208.03. Other candidates for presidential electors
may file petitions on or before the state primary day pursuant to section
204B.07. Nominating petitions to fill
vacancies in nominations shall be filed as provided in section 204B.13. No affidavit or petition shall be
accepted later than 5:00 p.m. on the last day for filing.
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2009 - Top of Page 5679
(d) Affidavits and petitions for county offices must
be filed with the county auditor of that county. Affidavits and petitions for federal offices
must be filed with the secretary of state.
Affidavits and petitions for state offices must be filed with the
secretary of state or with the county auditor of the county in which the
candidate resides.
(e) Affidavits other than those filed pursuant to
subdivision 1a must be submitted by mail or by hand, notwithstanding chapter
325L, or any other law to the contrary and must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the
last day for filing.
Sec. 11.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.11, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Petition in place of filing fee. At the time of filing an affidavit of
candidacy, a candidate may present a petition in place of the filing fee. The petition may be signed by any individual
eligible to vote for the candidate. A
nominating petition filed pursuant to section 204B.07 or 204B.13,
subdivision 4, is effective as a petition in place of a filing fee if the
nominating petition includes a prominent statement informing the signers of the
petition that it will be used for that purpose.
The number of signatures on a petition in place of a
filing fee shall be as follows:
(a) for a state office voted on statewide, or for
president of the United States, or United States senator, 2,000;
(b) for a congressional office, 1,000;
(c) for a county or legislative office, or for the
office of district judge, 500; and
(d) for any other office which requires a filing fee
as prescribed by law, municipal charter, or ordinance, the lesser of 500 signatures
or five percent of the total number of votes cast in the municipality, ward, or
other election district at the preceding general election at which that office
was on the ballot.
An official with whom petitions are filed shall make
sample forms for petitions in place of filing fees available upon request.
Sec. 12.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.13, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Death or withdrawal. A vacancy in nomination may be filled in the
manner provided by this section. A
vacancy in nomination exists when:
(a) (1) a
major political party candidate or nonpartisan candidate who was
nominated at a primary dies or files an affidavit of withdrawal as provided
in section 204B.12, subdivision 2a; or
(b) a candidate for a nonpartisan office, for which
one or two candidates filed, dies or files an affidavit of withdrawal as
provided in section 204B.12, subdivision 1. (2) a major political party candidate for state
constitutional office or the candidate's legal guardian files an affidavit of
vacancy at least one day prior to the general election with the same official
who received the affidavit of candidacy that states that:
(i) the candidate has a catastrophic illness that was
diagnosed after the deadline for withdrawal; and
(ii) the candidate's illness will permanently and
continuously incapacitate the candidate and prevent the candidate from
performing the duties of the office sought.
The affidavit must be accompanied by a certificate
verifying that the candidate's illness meets the requirements of this clause,
signed by at least two licensed physicians.
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Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.13,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Partisan
office; nomination by party.
(a) A vacancy in nomination for partisan office shall be
filled as provided in this subdivision effectively remove that office
from the ballot. Votes cast at the
general election for that office are invalid and the office must be filled in a
special election held in accordance with section 204D.17, except as provided by
this section.
Except for
the vacancy in nomination, all other candidates whose names would have appeared
on the general election ballot for this race must appear on the special
election ballot for this race. There
must not be a primary to fill the vacancy in nomination.
A major
political party has the authority to fill a vacancy in nomination of that
party's candidate by filing a nomination certificate with the same official who
received the affidavits of candidacy for that office.
(b) A major
political party may provide in its governing rules a procedure, including
designation of an appropriate committee, to fill vacancies in nomination for
all federal and state offices elected statewide. The nomination certificate shall be prepared
under the direction of and executed by the chair and secretary of the political
party and filed within seven days after the vacancy in nomination occurs or
before the 14th day before the general election, whichever is sooner. If the vacancy in nomination occurs through
the candidate's death or catastrophic illness, the nomination certificate must
be filed within seven days after the vacancy in nomination occurs but no later
than four days before the general election.
The chair and secretary when filing the certificate shall attach an affidavit
stating that the newly nominated candidate has been selected under the rules of
the party and that the individuals signing the certificate and making the
affidavit are the chair and secretary of the party.
Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.13, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 7.
Date of special election. The special election must be held on the
second Tuesday in December.
Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.13, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 8.
Absentee voters. All applicants for absentee ballots for
the general election must be sent ballots for the special election, without
submission of a new absentee ballot application.
Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 204B.13, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 9.
Subsequent vacancy in
nomination. (a) A vacancy in
nomination that occurs prior to a special election scheduled as a result of an
earlier vacancy in nomination must be filled in the same manner as provided in
this section, except that the previously scheduled special election must be
canceled and a new special election held.
(b) A
special election required by this subdivision must be held on the second
Tuesday of the month following the month during which the prior special
election was scheduled to be held, provided that if the new special election
date falls on a federal holiday, the special election must be held on the next
following Tuesday after the holiday.
Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205.075,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Date
of election. The general election in
a town must be held on the second Tuesday in March, except as provided in
subdivision 2 or when moved for bad weather as provided in section 365.51,
subdivision 1.
Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 205.075, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5681
Subd. 2a. Return
to March election. The town
board of a town that has adopted the alternative November election date under
subdivision 2 may, after having conducted at least two elections on the
alternative date, adopt a resolution designating the second Tuesday in March as
the date of the town general election.
The resolution must be adopted by a unanimous vote of the town
supervisors and must include a plan to shorten or lengthen the terms of office
to provide an orderly transition to the March election schedule. The resolution becomes effective upon an
affirmative vote of the electors at the next town general election.
Sec. 19.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 367.03, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Officers; November election. Except as provided in subdivision 4a, supervisors
and other town officers in towns that hold the town general election in
November shall be elected for terms of four years commencing on the first
Monday in January and until their successors are elected and qualified. The clerk and treasurer shall be elected in
alternate years.
Sec. 20.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 367.03, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 4a. Optional
six-year terms. The
resolution required under section 205.075, subdivision 2, to adopt the
alternative November date for town general election may include the proposal
and corresponding transition plan to provide for a six-year term for town
supervisors. A town that has adopted the
alternative November date for general town elections using the four-year terms
provided under subdivision 4 may adopt a resolution establishing six-year terms
for supervisors as provided under this subdivision. The resolution must include a plan to provide
an orderly transition to six-year terms.
The resolution adopting the six-year term for town supervisors may be
proposed by the town board or by a resolution of the electors adopted at the
annual town meeting and is effective upon an affirmative vote of the electors
at the next town general election.
Sec. 21. REPEALER.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 204B.12, subdivision
2a; 204B.13, subdivisions 4, 5, and 6; 204B.41; and 204D.169, are repealed.
Sec. 22. EXPIRATION.
Sections 6 to 16 and 21 expire on June 30, 2013."
Delete the title and insert:
"A bill for an act relating to elections;
changing certain procedures and requirements; establishing new election
procedures; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 13.607, subdivision 7;
135A.17, subdivision 2; 201.016, subdivisions 1a, 2; 201.022, subdivision 1;
201.056; 201.061, subdivisions 1, 3; 201.071, subdivision 1; 201.091, by adding
a subdivision; 201.11; 201.12; 201.13; 202A.14, subdivision 3; 203B.001;
203B.01, by adding a subdivision; 203B.03, subdivision 1; 203B.04, subdivisions
1, 6; 203B.05; 203B.06, subdivision 3; 203B.07, subdivisions 2, 3; 203B.08,
subdivisions 2, 3; 203B.081; 203B.085; 203B.11, subdivision 1; 203B.12,
subdivision 2; 203B.125; 203B.23, subdivisions 1, 2; 203B.24, subdivision 1;
203B.26; 204B.04, subdivisions 2, 3; 204B.07, subdivision 1; 204B.09,
subdivisions 1, 3; 204B.11, subdivision 2; 204B.13, subdivisions 1, 2, by
adding subdivisions; 204B.14, subdivision 4, by adding a subdivision; 204B.16,
subdivision 1; 204B.18, subdivision 1; 204B.27, subdivision 2; 204B.33;
204B.38; 204B.45, subdivision 2; 204B.46; 204C.02; 204C.04, subdivision 1;
204C.06, subdivision 1; 204C.08, subdivisions 1a, 3; 204C.10; 204C.13,
subdivisions 2, 6; 204C.15, subdivision 3; 204C.17; 204C.27; 204C.30, by adding
a subdivision; 204C.33, subdivisions 1, 3; 204C.37; 204D.04, subdivision 2;
204D.09, subdivision 2; 204D.28, subdivisions 5, 6, 8, 9; 205.065, subdivision
2; 205.075, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 205.13, subdivisions 1, 2;
205.16, subdivisions 2, 3; 205.185, subdivision 3, by adding a subdivision;
205A.03, subdivision 1; 205A.05, subdivisions 1, 2; 205A.07, subdivision 2;
205A.10, subdivisions 2, 3, by adding
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5682
a subdivision; 206.57, subdivision 6; 206.61,
subdivision 5; 206.83; 206.89, subdivision 2; 208.05; 211A.02, subdivision 2;
211A.05, subdivision 2; 367.03, subdivision 4, by adding a subdivision; 412.02,
subdivision 2a; 414.02, subdivision 4; 414.031, subdivision 6; 414.0325,
subdivisions 1, 4; 414.033, subdivision 7; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapters 203B; 204B; 204D; 205; 205A; repealing Minnesota
Statutes 2008, sections 201.096; 203B.04, subdivision 5; 203B.10; 203B.11,
subdivision 2; 203B.12; 203B.13; 203B.25; 204B.12, subdivision 2a; 204B.13,
subdivisions 4, 5, 6; 204B.41; 204D.169; 206.805, subdivision 2."
With the
recommendation that when so amended the bill pass and be re-referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means.
The
report was adopted.
SECOND READING OF HOUSE
BILLS
H. F. No. 1708
was read for the second time.
SECOND READING OF SENATE
BILLS
S.
F. Nos. 97 and 1012 were read for the second time.
MESSAGES
FROM THE SENATE
The following
messages were received from the Senate:
Madam Speaker:
I hereby announce
that the Senate has concurred in and adopted the report of the Conference
Committee on:
H. F. No. 1362, A bill for an act relating to state
government; establishing the health and human services budget; making changes
to licensing; Minnesota family investment program, children, and adult
supports; child support; the Department of Health; health care programs; making
technical changes; chemical and mental health; continuing care programs;
establishing the State-County Results, Accountability, and Service Delivery
Redesign; public health; health-related fees; making forecast adjustments; creating
work groups and pilot projects; requiring reports; decreasing provider
reimbursements; increasing fees; appropriating money to various state agencies
for health and human services provisions; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008,
sections 62J.495; 62J.496; 62J.497, subdivisions 1, 2, by adding subdivisions;
62J.692, subdivision 7; 103I.208, subdivision 2; 125A.744, subdivision 3;
144.0724, subdivisions 2, 4, 8, by adding subdivisions; 144.121, subdivisions
1a, 1b; 144.122; 144.1222, subdivision 1a; 144.125, subdivision 1; 144.226,
subdivision 4; 144.72, subdivisions 1, 3; 144.9501, subdivisions 22b, 26a, by
adding subdivisions; 144.9505, subdivisions 1g, 4; 144.9508, subdivisions 2, 3,
4; 144.9512, subdivision 2; 144.966, by adding a subdivision; 144.97, subdivisions
2, 4, 6, by adding subdivisions; 144.98, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, by adding
subdivisions; 144.99, subdivision 1; 144A.073, by adding a subdivision;
144A.44, subdivision 2; 144A.46, subdivision 1; 148.108; 148.6445, by adding a
subdivision; 148D.180, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 5; 148E.180,
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5683
subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 5; 153A.17; 156.015; 157.15, by
adding a subdivision; 157.16; 157.22; 176.011, subdivision 9; 245.462,
subdivision 18; 245.470, subdivision 1; 245.4871, subdivision 27; 245.488,
subdivision 1; 245.4885, subdivision 1; 245A.03, by adding a subdivision;
245A.10, subdivisions 2, 3, 4, 5, by adding subdivisions; 245A.11, subdivision
2a, by adding a subdivision; 245A.16, subdivisions 1, 3; 245C.03, subdivision
2; 245C.04, subdivisions 1, 3; 245C.05, subdivision 4; 245C.08, subdivision 2;
245C.10, subdivision 3, by adding subdivisions; 245C.17, by adding a
subdivision; 245C.20; 245C.21, subdivision 1a; 245C.23, subdivision 2; 246.50,
subdivision 5, by adding subdivisions; 246.51, by adding subdivisions; 246.511;
246.52; 246B.01, by adding subdivisions; 252.46, by adding a subdivision;
252.50, subdivision 1; 254A.02, by adding a subdivision; 254A.16, by adding a
subdivision; 254B.03, subdivisions 1, 3, by adding a subdivision; 254B.05,
subdivision 1; 254B.09, subdivision 2; 256.01, subdivision 2b, by adding
subdivisions; 256.045, subdivision 3; 256.476, subdivisions 5, 11; 256.962,
subdivisions 2, 6; 256.963, by adding a subdivision; 256.969, subdivision 3a;
256.975, subdivision 7; 256.983, subdivision 1; 256B.04, subdivision 16;
256B.055, subdivisions 7, 12; 256B.056, subdivisions 3, 3b, 3c, by adding a
subdivision; 256B.057, subdivisions 3, 9, by adding a subdivision; 256B.0575;
256B.0595, subdivisions 1, 2; 256B.06, subdivisions 4, 5; 256B.0621,
subdivision 2; 256B.0622, subdivision 2; 256B.0623, subdivision 5; 256B.0624,
subdivisions 5, 8; 256B.0625, subdivisions 3c, 7, 8, 8a, 9, 13e, 17, 19a, 19c,
26, 41, 42, 47; 256B.0631, subdivision 1; 256B.0641, subdivision 3; 256B.0651;
256B.0652; 256B.0653; 256B.0654; 256B.0655, subdivisions 1b, 4; 256B.0657,
subdivisions 2, 6, 8, by adding a subdivision; 256B.08, by adding a
subdivision; 256B.0911, subdivisions 1, 1a, 3, 3a, 4a, 5, 6, 7, by adding
subdivisions; 256B.0913, subdivision 4; 256B.0915, subdivisions 3e, 3h, 5, by
adding a subdivision; 256B.0916, subdivision 2; 256B.0917, by adding a
subdivision; 256B.092, subdivision 8a, by adding subdivisions; 256B.0943,
subdivision 1; 256B.0944, by adding a subdivision; 256B.0945, subdivision 4;
256B.0947, subdivision 1; 256B.15, subdivisions 1, 1a, 1h, 2, by adding
subdivisions; 256B.37, subdivisions 1, 5; 256B.434, by adding a subdivision;
256B.437, subdivision 6; 256B.441, subdivisions 48, 55, by adding subdivisions;
256B.49, subdivisions 12, 13, 14, 17, by adding subdivisions; 256B.501,
subdivision 4a; 256B.5011, subdivision 2; 256B.5012, by adding a subdivision;
256B.5013, subdivision 1; 256B.69, subdivisions 5a, 5c, 5f; 256B.76,
subdivisions 1, 4, by adding a subdivision; 256B.761; 256D.024, by adding a
subdivision; 256D.03, subdivision 4; 256D.051, subdivision 2a; 256D.0515;
256D.06, subdivision 2; 256D.09, subdivision 6; 256D.44, subdivision 5;
256D.49, subdivision 3; 256G.02, subdivision 6; 256I.03, subdivision 7;
256I.05, subdivisions 1a, 7c; 256J.08, subdivision 73a; 256J.20, subdivision 3;
256J.24, subdivisions 5a, 10; 256J.26, by adding a subdivision; 256J.37,
subdivision 3a, by adding a subdivision; 256J.38, subdivision 1; 256J.45,
subdivision 3; 256J.49, subdivision 13; 256J.575, subdivisions 3, 6, 7;
256J.621; 256J.626, subdivision 6; 256J.751, by adding a subdivision; 256J.95,
subdivision 12; 256L.04, subdivision 10a, by adding a subdivision; 256L.05,
subdivision 1, by adding subdivisions; 256L.11, subdivisions 1, 7; 256L.12,
subdivision 9; 256L.17, subdivision 3; 259.67, by adding a subdivision;
270A.09, by adding a subdivision; 295.52, by adding a subdivision; 327.14, by
adding a subdivision; 327.15; 327.16; 327.20, subdivision 1, by adding a
subdivision; 393.07, subdivision 10; 501B.89, by adding a subdivision; 518A.53,
subdivisions 1, 4, 10; 519.05; 604A.33, subdivision 1; 609.232, subdivision 11;
626.556, subdivision 3c; 626.5572, subdivisions 6, 13, 21; Laws 2003, First
Special Session chapter 14, article 13C, section 2, subdivision 1, as amended;
Laws 2007, chapter 147, article 19, section 3, subdivision 4, as amended;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 62A; 62Q; 156; 246B;
254B; 256; 256B; proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter
402A; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 62U.08; 103I.112; 144.9501,
subdivision 17b; 148D.180, subdivision 8; 246.51, subdivision 1; 246.53,
subdivision 3; 256.962, subdivision 7; 256B.0655, subdivisions 1, 1a, 1c, 1d,
1e, 1f, 1g, 1h, 1i, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13; 256B.071, subdivisions
1, 2, 3, 4; 256B.092, subdivision 5a; 256B.19, subdivision 1d; 256B.431,
subdivision 23; 256D.46; 256I.06, subdivision 9; 256J.626, subdivision 7;
327.14, subdivisions 5, 6; Laws 1988, chapter 689, section 251; Minnesota
Rules, parts 4626.2015, subpart 9; 9100.0400, subparts 1, 3; 9100.0500;
9100.0600; 9500.1243, subpart 3; 9500.1261, subparts 3, 4, 5, 6; 9555.6125,
subpart 4, item B.
The Senate has
repassed said bill in accordance with the recommendation and report of the
Conference Committee. Said House File is
herewith returned to the House.
Colleen J. Pacheco, First
Assistant Secretary of the Senate
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5684
Madam Speaker:
I hereby announce
that the Senate accedes to the request of the house for the appointment of a
Conference Committee on the amendments adopted by the Senate to the following
House File:
H. F. No. 928, A bill for an act relating to transportation;
modifying various provisions related to transportation or public safety;
prohibiting certain acts; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 161.14,
subdivision 62, as added, by adding subdivisions; 168.33, subdivision 2;
169.011, by adding a subdivision; 169.045; 169.15; 169.306; 169.71, subdivision
1; 171.12, subdivision 6; 174.86, subdivision 5; 221.012, subdivision 38, by
adding a subdivision; 221.0252, by adding a subdivision; 473.167, subdivision
2a; Laws 2008, chapter 287, article 1, section 122; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 160; 171; 174; 299C.
The Senate has appointed as such committee:
Senators Murphy, Dibble, Day, Doll and Sieben.
Said House File is herewith returned to the House.
Colleen J. Pacheco, First
Assistant Secretary of the Senate
Madam Speaker:
I hereby announce
that the Senate accedes to the request of the house for the appointment of a
Conference Committee on the amendments adopted by the Senate to the following
House File:
H. F. No. 1231, A bill for an act relating to state
government; appropriating money from constitutionally dedicated funds and
providing for policy and governance of outdoor heritage, clean water, parks and
trails, and arts and cultural heritage purposes; establishing and modifying
grants and funding programs; providing for advisory groups; providing appointments;
requiring reports; requiring rulemaking; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008,
sections 3.303, by adding a subdivision; 3.971, by adding a subdivision;
17.117, subdivision 11a; 18G.11, by adding a subdivision; 84.02, by adding
subdivisions; 85.53; 97A.056, subdivisions 2, 3, 6, 7, by adding subdivisions;
103F.515, subdivisions 2, 4; 114D.50; 116G.15; 116P.05, subdivision 2; 129D.17;
477A.12, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapters 3; 84; 84C; 85; 116; 129D; 138; 477A.
The Senate has appointed as such committee:
Senators Cohen, Anderson, Saxhaug, Chaudhary and Frederickson.
Said House File is herewith returned to the House.
Colleen J. Pacheco, First
Assistant Secretary of the Senate
Madam Speaker:
I hereby announce
that the Senate accedes to the request of the house for the appointment of a
Conference Committee on the amendments adopted by the Senate to the following
House File:
H. F. No. 1988, A bill for an act relating to human
services; requiring managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans to
report provider payment rate data; requiring the commissioner to analyze the
plans' data; requiring a report; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
256B.69, subdivision 9b.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5685
The Senate has appointed as such committee:
Senators Berglin, Lourey, Sheran, Rosen and Prettner
Solon.
Said House File is herewith returned to the House.
Colleen J. Pacheco, First
Assistant Secretary of the Senate
Madam Speaker:
I hereby announce
that the Senate has concurred in and adopted the report of the Conference
Committee on:
S. F. No. 802.
The Senate has repassed said bill in accordance with
the recommendation and report of the Conference Committee. Said Senate File is herewith transmitted to
the House.
Colleen J. Pacheco, First
Assistant Secretary of the Senate
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT ON S. F. NO. 802
A bill for an act relating to public
safety; appropriating money for public safety, corrections, and other criminal
justice agencies; requiring annual appropriation of money in Bureau of Criminal
Apprehension account to commissioner of public safety; repealing the mandatory
minimum sentences for predatory offender registration offenses and subsequent
controlled substances offenses; providing a 90-day cap on incarceration for
certain first-time supervised release violations; eliminating the requirement
that judges impose a minimum sentence on felony DWI offenders; requesting the
Sentencing Guidelines Commission to rerank the felony DWI offense; providing
for supervised release of offenders; expanding the challenge incarceration
program; requiring the Sentencing Guidelines Commission and the Departments of
Corrections and Public Safety to review its reports; requiring Department of
Corrections to annually report on felony DWI offenders; requiring that reports
to the legislature by criminal justice agencies be submitted electronically;
modifying and expanding the conditional release program for nonviolent drug
offenders; including an advisory board for consultation with the commissioner
of corrections for the conditional release program; repealing the conditional
release program's sunset; authorizing correctional facilities to forward
surcharges from offender wages to court or other entity collecting the
surcharge; repealing reports on out-of-state juvenile placement; implementing
the legislative auditor's recommendations relating to MINNCOR; requiring the
licensure of firefighters; expanding the stay of adjudication provision for
low-level controlled substance offenders; imposing criminal penalties;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 3.195,
subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 152.021, subdivision 3; 152.022,
subdivision 3; 152.023, subdivision 3; 152.024, subdivision 3; 152.025,
subdivision 3; 152.18, subdivision 1; 169A.275, subdivisions 3, 4, 5; 169A.276,
subdivisions 1, 2; 171.29, subdivision 2; 241.27, subdivision 1a, by adding
subdivisions; 243.166, subdivision 5; 244.055, subdivisions 2, 3, 5, 7, by
adding subdivisions; 244.17; 244.172, subdivision 1; 299N.02, subdivision 3;
357.021, subdivision 6; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapters 244; 299N; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 152.026;
244.055, subdivisions 6, 11; 260B.199, subdivision 2; 260B.201, subdivision 3;
325E.22.
May 11, 2009
The Honorable James P. Metzen
President of the Senate
The Honorable Margaret Anderson
Kelliher
Speaker of the House of
Representatives
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5686
We, the
undersigned conferees for S. F. No. 802 report that we have agreed upon the
items in dispute and recommend as follows:
That the
House recede from its amendments and that S. F. No. 802 be further amended as
follows:
Delete
everything after the enacting clause and insert:
"ARTICLE
1
APPROPRIATIONS
Section 1.
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS.
The amounts shown in this section summarize direct
appropriations, by fund, made in this article.
2010 2011 Total
General $886,898,000 $927,148,000 $1,814,046,000
Federal 38,000,000 0 38,000,000
State Government Special Revenue 66,573,000 70,336,000 136,909,000
Environmental 69,000 69,000 138,000
Special Revenue 14,534,000 14,534,000 29,068,000
Trunk Highway 1,941,000 1,941,000 3,882,000
Total $1,008,015,000 $1,014,028,000 $2,022,043,000
Sec. 2. PUBLIC SAFETY APPROPRIATIONS.
The sums shown in the columns marked
"Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies and for the
purposes specified in this article. The
appropriations are from the general fund, or another named fund, and are
available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose. The figures "2010" and
"2011" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under
them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, or June 30, 2011,
respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2010. "The second
year" is fiscal year 2011. "The biennium" is fiscal years 2010
and 2011. Appropriations for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 2009, are effective the day following final enactment.
APPROPRIATIONS
Available for the Year
Ending June 30
2010 2011
Sec. 3. SUPREME
COURT
Subdivision
1. Total Appropriation $43,476,000 $43,475,000
The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following subdivisions.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5687
Subd. 2. Supreme
Court Operations 31,376,000 31,375,000
(a) Contingent Account. $5,000 each year is for a contingent
account for expenses necessary for the normal operation of the court for which
no other reimbursement is provided.
(b) Criminal Justice Forum. The chief justice is requested to continue
the criminal justice forum to evaluate and examine criminal justice
efficiencies and costs savings, and may submit a report of the findings and
recommendations to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of
representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over public safety
policy and finance by February 15, 2010.
(c) Civil Justice Forum. The chief justice is requested to convene
a civil justice forum to evaluate and examine civil justice efficiencies and
cost savings and may submit a report of the findings and recommendations to the
chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate
committees with jurisdiction over public safety policy and finance by February
15, 2010.
(d) Federal Stimulus Funds. The Supreme Court is encouraged to apply
for all available grants for federal stimulus funds to: (1) continue drug court
programs that lose state funding; and (2) make technological improvements
within the judicial system.
(e) Judicial and Referee Vacancies. The Supreme Court shall not certify a
judicial or referee vacancy under Minnesota Statutes, section 2.722, until it
has examined alternative options, such as temporarily suspending certification
of the vacant position or assigning a retired judge to temporarily fill the
position.
Subd. 3. Civil
Legal Services 12,100,000 12,100,000
Legal
Services to Low-Income Clients in Family Law Matters. Of this appropriation, $877,000 each year is to improve the access of
low-income clients to legal representation in family law matters. This appropriation must be distributed under
Minnesota Statutes, section 480.242, to the qualified legal services programs
described in Minnesota Statutes, section 480.242, subdivision 2, paragraph
(a). Any unencumbered balance remaining
in the first year does not cancel and is available in the second year.
Sec. 4. COURT OF APPEALS $10,285,000 $10,285,000
Sec. 5. TRIAL COURTS $250,116,000 $250,116,000
Sec. 6. TAX COURT $818,000 $818,000
Sec. 7. UNIFORM LAWS COMMISSION $51,000 $51,000
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5688
Sec. 8. BOARD
ON JUDICIAL STANDARDS $456,000 $456,000
$125,000 each year is for special
investigative and hearing costs for major disciplinary actions undertaken by
the board. This appropriation does not
cancel. Any encumbered and unspent
balances remain available for these expenditures in subsequent fiscal years.
Sec. 9. BOARD
OF PUBLIC DEFENSE $66,028,000 $66,028,000
Sec. 10. PUBLIC
SAFETY
Subdivision
1. Total Appropriation $158,678,000 $162,441,000
Appropriations by Fund
2010 2011
General 80,463,000 80,463,000
Special Revenue 9,632,000 9,632,000
State Government
Special Revenue 66,573,000 70,336,000
Environmental 69,000 69,000
Trunk Highway 1,941,000 1,941,000
The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following subdivisions.
(a) Car Fleet. By January 1, 2010, the commissioner shall
reduce the department's fleet of cars that are not used for investigations
by at least five percent when compared to the fleet's status on January 1,
2009. This paragraph shall not apply to
State Patrol vehicles purchased or maintained using trunk highway funds.
(b) Prohibition
on Use of Appropriation. No
portion of this appropriation may be used for the purchase of motor vehicles or
out-of-state travel that is not directly connected with and necessary to carry
out the core functions of the department.
Subd.
2. Emergency Management 2,583,000 2,583,000
Appropriations by Fund
General 1,910,000 1,910,000
Special Revenue 604,000 604,000
Environmental 69,000 69,000
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5689
Hazmat and Chemical
Assessment Teams. $604,000 each year is appropriated from
the fire safety account in the special revenue fund. These amounts must be used to fund the
hazardous materials and chemical assessment teams.
Subd.
3. Criminal Apprehension 43,368,000 43,368,000
Appropriations by Fund
General 41,420,000 41,420,000
State Government
Special Revenue 7,000 7,000
Trunk Highway 1,941,000 1,941,000
DWI Lab Analysis;
Trunk Highway Fund. Notwithstanding Minnesota
Statutes, section 161.20, subdivision 3, $1,941,000 each year is appropriated from
the trunk highway fund for laboratory analysis related to driving while
impaired cases.
Subd. 4.
Fire Marshal 8,125,000 8,125,000
This appropriation is from the fire
safety account in the special revenue fund.
Of this amount, $5,857,000 each year
is for activities under Minnesota Statutes, section 299F.012, and $2,268,000
each year is for transfer to the general fund under Minnesota Statutes, section
297I.06, subdivision 3.
Subd. 5.
Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement
2,538,000 2,538,000
Appropriations by Fund
General 1,635,000 1,635,000
Special Revenue 903,000 903,000
This appropriation is from the alcohol
enforcement account in the special revenue fund. Of this appropriation, $750,000 each year
shall be transferred to the general fund.
The transfer amount for fiscal year 2012 and fiscal year 2013 shall be
$500,000 per year.
Subd.
6. Office of Justice Programs 35,594,000 35,594,000
Appropriations by Fund
General 35,498,000 35,498,000
State Government
Special Revenue 96,000 96,000
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5690
(a) Federal
Stimulus Money. The Office of
Justice programs shall give priority to awarding grants for federal stimulus
money to the following activities and programs:
(1) organizations that provide
mentoring grants for children of incarcerated parents;
(2) youth intervention programs, as
defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 299A.73, with an emphasis on those
programs that provide early intervention youth services to children in their
communities;
(3) re-entry programs for offenders,
with a priority on continuing to fund the nonprofit organization selected to
administer the demonstration project for high risk adults under Laws 2007,
chapter 54, article 1, section 19;
(4) trafficking victim programs,
including legal advocacy clinics, training programs, public awareness
initiatives, and victim services hotlines;
(5) nonprofit organizations dedicated
to providing immediate and long-term emotional support and practical help for
families and friends of persons who have died traumatically;
(6) programs that seek to develop and
increase juvenile detention alternatives;
(7) restorative justice programs, as
defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 611A.775, except that a program that
receives federal funds shall not use the funds for cases involving domestic
assault; and
(8) judicial branch efficiency
programs, including e-citation and fine management and collection program
improvements.
For purposes of this subdivision,
"federal stimulus money" means money provided to the state under the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
(b) Crime Victim
and Youth Intervention Programs.
For the biennium ending June 30, 2011, funding for the following
programs must not be reduced by more than three percent from the level of state
base funding provided for the biennium ending June 30, 2009: (1) crime victim
reparations; (2) battered women's shelters and domestic violence programs; (3)
general crime victim programs; (4) sexual assault victim programs; and (5)
youth intervention programs.
(c) Administration Costs. Up to
2.5 percent of the grant money appropriated in this subdivision may be used to
administer the grant program.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5691
Subd.
7. Emergency Communication Networks 66,470,000 70,233,000
This appropriation is from the state government
special revenue fund for 911 emergency telecommunications services.
(a) Public
Safety Answering Points. $13,664,000
each year is to be distributed as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section
403.113, subdivision 2.
(b) Medical Resource Communication
Centers. $683,000 each year is for grants to the
Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board for the Metro East and
Metro West Medical Resource Communication Centers that were in operation before
January 1, 2000.
(c) ARMER Debt
Service. $17,557,000 the
first year and $23,261,000 the second year are to the commissioner of finance
to pay debt service on revenue bonds issued under Minnesota Statutes, section
403.275.
Any portion of this appropriation not needed
to pay debt service in a fiscal year may be used by the commissioner of public
safety to pay cash for any of the capital improvements for which bond proceeds
were appropriated by Laws 2005, chapter 136, article 1, section 9, subdivision
8, or Laws 2007, chapter 54, article 1, section 10, subdivision 8.
(d) Metropolitan
Council Debt Service. $1,410,000
each year is to the commissioner of finance for payment to the Metropolitan
Council for debt service on bonds issued under Minnesota Statutes, section
403.27.
(e) ARMER State
Backbone Operating Costs. $5,060,000
each year is to the commissioner of transportation for costs of maintaining and
operating the statewide radio system backbone.
(f) ARMER
Improvements. $1,000,000 each
year is for the Statewide Radio Board for costs of design, construction,
maintenance of, and improvements to those elements of the statewide public
safety radio and communication system that support mutual aid communications
and emergency medical services or provide enhancement of public safety
communication interoperability.
(g) Next Generation 911. $3,431,000 the first year and $6,490,000 the second year are to replace the
current system with the Next Generation Internet Protocol (IP) based
network. The base level of funding for
fiscal year 2012 shall be $2,965,000.
(h) Grants to
Local Government. $5,000,000
the first year is for grants to local units of government to assist with the
transition to the ARMER system. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2012.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5692
Sec. 11. PEACE
OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING BOARD (POST) $4,012,000 $4,012,000
(a) Excess Amounts
Transferred. This
appropriation is from the peace officer training account in the special revenue
fund. Any new receipts credited to that
account in the first year in excess of $4,012,000 must be transferred and
credited to the general fund. Any new
receipts credited to that account in the second year in excess of $4,012,000
must be transferred and credited to the general fund.
(b) Peace
Officer Training Reimbursements.
$2,859,000 each year is for reimbursements to local governments for
peace officer training costs.
(c) Prohibition
on Use of Appropriation. No
portion of this appropriation may be used for the purchase of motor vehicles or
out-of-state travel that is not directly connected with and necessary to carry
out the core functions of the board.
Sec. 12. PRIVATE
DETECTIVE BOARD $123,000 $123,000
Prohibition on Use of Appropriation.
No portion of this appropriation may be used for the purchase of
motor vehicles or out-of-state travel that is not directly connected with and
necessary to carry out the core functions of the board.
Sec. 13. HUMAN
RIGHTS $3,524,000 $3,524,000
Prohibition on Use of Appropriation.
No portion of this appropriation may be used for the purchase of
motor vehicles or out-of-state travel that is not directly connected with and
necessary to carry out the core functions of the department.
Sec. 14. DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS
Subdivision 1.
Total Appropriation $469,844,000 $472,095,000
Appropriations by Fund
2010 2011
General 430,954,000 471,205,000
Special Revenue 890,000 890,000
Federal 38,000,000 0
The amounts that may be spent for
each purpose are specified in the following subdivisions.
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5693
(a) Car Fleet. By January 1, 2010, the commissioner must
reduce the department's fleet of cars by 20 percent.
(b) Prohibition
on Use of Appropriation. No portion
of this appropriation may be used for the purchase of motor vehicles or
out-of-state travel that is not directly connected with and necessary to carry
out the core functions of the department.
Subd.
2. Correctional Institutions 334,341,000 338,199,000
Appropriations by Fund
General 295,761,000 337,619,000
Special Revenue 580,000 580,000
Federal 38,000,000 0
$38,000,000 the first year is from
the fiscal stabilization account in the federal fund. This is a onetime appropriation.
The general fund base for this
program shall be $326,085,000 in fiscal year 2012 and $330,430,000 in fiscal
year 2013.
(a) Treatment
Alternatives; Report. By
December 15, 2009, the commissioner must submit an electronic report to the
chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate
committees with jurisdiction over public safety policy and finance concerning
alternative chemical dependency treatment opportunities. The report must identify alternatives that
represent best practices in chemical dependency treatment of offenders. The report must contain suggestions for
reducing the length of time between offender commitment to the custody of the
commissioner and graduation from chemical dependency treatment. To the extent possible, the report shall
identify options that will (1) reduce the cost of treatment; (2) expand the
number of treatment beds; (3) improve treatment outcomes; and (4) lower the
rate of substance abuse relapse and criminal recidivism.
(b) Challenge
Incarceration; Maximum Occupancy.
The commissioner shall work to fill all available challenge
incarceration beds for both male and female offenders. If the commissioner fails to fill at least 90
percent of the available challenge incarceration beds by December 1, 2009, the
commissioner must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of
the house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over
public safety policy and finance by January 15, 2010, explaining what steps the
commissioner has taken to fill the beds and why those steps failed to reach the
goal established by the legislature.
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5694
(c) Institutional
Efficiencies. The
commissioner shall strive for institutional efficiencies and must reduce the
fiscal year 2008 average adult facility per diem of $89.77 by one percent. The base is cut by $2,850,000 in the first
year and $2,850,000 in the second year to reflect a one percent reduction in
the projected adult facility per diem.
In reducing the projected adult facility per diem, the commissioner must
consider the following:
(1) cooperating with the state of
Wisconsin to obtain economies of scale;
(2) increasing the bed capacity of
the challenge incarceration program;
(3) increasing the number of
nonviolent drug offenders who are granted conditional release under Minnesota
Statutes, section 244.055;
(4) increasing the use of compassionate
release or less costly detention alternatives for elderly and infirm offenders;
(5) discontinuing the department's
practice of annually assigning a warden to serve as a legislative liaison
during the legislative session;
(6) consolidating staff from
correctional institutions in geographical proximity to each other to achieve
efficiencies and cost savings, including wardens, deputy wardens, and human
resources, technology, and employee development personnel;
(7) consolidating the department's
human resources, technology, and employee development functions in a
centralized location;
(8) implementing corrections best
practices; and
(9) implementing cost-saving measures
used by other states and the federal government.
The commissioner must not eliminate
correctional officer positions or implement any other measure that will
jeopardize public safety to achieve the mandated cost savings. The commissioner also must not eliminate
treatment beds to achieve the mandated cost savings.
(d) Per Diem Reduction. If the commissioner fails to reduce the
per diem by one percent, the commissioner must:
(1) reduce the funding for operations
support by the amount of unrealized savings; and
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5695
(2)
submit a report by February 15, 2010, to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction
over public safety policy and finance that contains descriptions of what
efforts the commissioner made to reduce the per diem, explanations for why
those steps failed to reduce the per diem by one percent, proposed legislative
options that would assist the commissioner in reducing the adult facility per
diem, and descriptions of the specific actions the commissioner took to reduce
funding in operations support.
If
the commissioner reduces the per diem by more than one percent, the
commissioner must use the savings to provide treatment to offenders.
(e) Reductions
to Certain Programming Prohibited.
When allocating reductions in services and programming under this
appropriation, the commissioner may not make reductions to inmate educational
programs, chemical dependency programs, or reentry programs.
(f) Drug Court
Bed Savings. The commissioner
must consider the bed impact savings of drug courts in formulating its prison
bed projections.
(g) Transfer. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes,
section 241.27, the commissioner of finance shall transfer $1,000,000 the first
year and $1,000,000 the second year from the Minnesota Correctional Industries
revolving fund to the general fund.
Subd. 3. Community
Services 114,144,000 112,537,000
Appropriations
by Fund
General 114,044,000 112,437,000
Special
Revenue 100,000 100,000
Short-Term Offenders. $1,607,000
the first year is for costs associated with the housing and care of short-term offenders
sentenced prior to June 30, 2009, and housed in local jails. The commissioner may use up to ten percent of
the total amount of the appropriation for inpatient medical care for short-term
offenders with less than six months to serve as affected by the changes made to
Minnesota Statutes, section 609.105, by Laws 2003, First Special Session
chapter 2, article 5, sections 7 to 9.
All funds not expended for inpatient medical care shall be added to and
distributed with the housing funds.
These funds shall be distributed proportionately based on the total
number of days short-term offenders are placed locally, not to exceed the
fiscal year 2009 per diem. All funds
remaining after reimbursements are made shall be transferred to the
department's institution base
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5696
budget
to offset the costs of housing short-term offenders who are sentenced on or
after July 1, 2009, and incarcerated in state correctional facilities. Short-term offenders sentenced before
July 1, 2009, may be housed in a state correctional facility at the
discretion of the commissioner.
This
does not preclude the commissioner from contracting with local jails to house
offenders committed to the custody of the commissioner.
The
Department of Corrections is exempt from the state contracting process for the
purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section 609.105, as amended by Laws 2003, First
Special Session chapter 2, article 5, sections 7 to 9.
Subd. 4. Operations
Support 21,359,000 21,359,000
Appropriations
by Fund
General 21,149,000 21,149,000
Special
Revenue 210,000 210,000
Sec. 15. SENTENCING GUIDELINES $604,000 $604,000
Prohibition
on Use of Appropriation. No portion of this appropriation may be used
for the purchase of motor vehicles or out-of-state travel that is not directly
connected with and necessary to carry out the core functions of the commission.
ARTICLE 2
COURTS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS
Section 1. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 2.722, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Determination of a judicial vacancy. (a) When a judge of the district court dies,
resigns, retires, or is removed from office, the Supreme Court, in consultation
with judges and attorneys in the affected district, shall determine within
90 days of after receiving notice of a vacancy from the governor
whether the vacant office is necessary for effective judicial administration or
is necessary for adequate access to the courts.
In determining whether the position is necessary for adequate access to
the courts, the Supreme Court shall consider whether abolition or transfer of
the position would result in a county having no chambered judge. The Supreme Court may continue the position,
may order the position abolished, or may transfer the position to a judicial
district where need for additional judges exists, designating the position as
either a county, county/municipal or district court judgeship. The Supreme Court shall certify any vacancy
to the governor, who shall fill it in the manner provided by law.
(b) If a judge of district court fails to timely file
an affidavit of candidacy and filing fee or petition in lieu of a fee, the
official with whom the affidavits of candidacy are required to be filed shall
notify the Supreme Court that the incumbent judge is not seeking
reelection. Within five days of receipt
of the notice, the Supreme Court shall determine whether the judicial position
is necessary for effective judicial administration or adequate access to the
courts and notify the official responsible for certifying the election results
of its determination. In determining
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5697
whether the position is necessary for adequate access
to the courts, the Supreme Court shall consider whether abolition or transfer
of the position would result in a county having no chambered judge. The Supreme Court may continue the position,
may order the position abolished, or may transfer the position to a judicial
district where the need for additional judgeships exists. If the position is abolished or transferred,
the election may not be held. If the
position is transferred, the court shall also notify the governor of the
transfer. Upon transfer, the position is
vacant and the governor shall fill it in the manner provided by law. An order abolishing or transferring a
position is effective the first Monday in the next January.
Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 2.722,
subdivision 4a, is amended to read:
Subd. 4a. Referee
vacancy; conversion to judgeship.
When a referee of the district court dies, resigns, retires, or is
voluntarily removed from the position, the chief judge of the district shall
notify the Supreme Court and may petition to request that the position be
converted to a judgeship. The Supreme
Court shall determine within 90 days of the petition whether to order
the position abolished or convert the position to a judgeship in the affected
or another judicial district. The
Supreme Court shall certify any judicial vacancy to the governor, who shall
fill it in the manner provided by law.
The conversion of a referee position to a judgeship under this
subdivision shall not reduce the total number of judges and referees hearing
cases in the family and juvenile courts.
Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 2.724,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Procedure. To promote and secure more efficient
administration of justice, the chief justice of the Supreme Court of the state
shall supervise and coordinate the work of the courts of the state. The Supreme Court may provide by rule that
the chief justice not be required to write opinions as a member of the Supreme
Court. Its rules may further provide for
it to hear and consider cases in divisions.
It may by rule assign temporarily any retired justice of the Supreme
Court or one judge of the Court of Appeals or district court judge at a time to
act as a justice of the Supreme Court or any number of justices or retired
justices of the Supreme Court to act as judges of the Court of Appeals. Upon the assignment of a Court of Appeals judge
or a district court judge to act as a justice of the Supreme Court, a judge
previously acting as a justice may complete unfinished duties of that
position. Any number of justices may
disqualify themselves from hearing and considering a case, in which event the
Supreme Court may assign temporarily a retired justice of the Supreme Court, a
Court of Appeals judge, or a district court judge to hear and consider the case
in place of each disqualified justice. A
retired justice who is acting as a justice of the Supreme Court or judge of the
Court of Appeals under this section shall receive, in addition to retirement
pay, out of the general fund of the state, an amount to make the retired
justice's total compensation equal to the same salary as a justice or judge of
the court on which the justice is acting.
Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 2.724,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Retired
justices and judges. (a) The chief
justice of the Supreme Court may assign a retired justice of the Supreme Court to
act as a justice of the Supreme Court pursuant to subdivision 2 or as a judge
of any other court. The chief justice
may assign a retired judge of any court to act as a judge of any court except
the Supreme Court. The chief justice of
the Supreme Court shall determine the pay and expenses to be received by a
justice or judge acting pursuant to this paragraph.
(b) A judge who has been elected to
office and who has retired as a judge in good standing and is not practicing
law may also be appointed to serve as judge of any court except the Supreme
Court. A retired judge acting under this
paragraph will receive pay and expenses in the amount established by the
Supreme Court.
Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 86B.705,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Fines
and bail money. (a) All fines,
installment payments, and forfeited bail money collected from persons convicted
of violations of this chapter or rules adopted thereunder, or of a violation of
section 169A.20 involving a motorboat, shall be paid to the county treasurer
of the county where the violation occurred by the court administrator or other
person collecting the money within 15 days after the last day of the month the
money was collected deposited in the state treasury.
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(b) One-half of the receipts shall be credited to the
general revenue fund of the county.
The other one-half of the receipts shall be transmitted by the county
treasurer to the commissioner of natural resources to be deposited in
the state treasury and credited to the water recreation account for the
purpose of boat and water safety.
Sec. 6.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 134A.09, subdivision 2a, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2a. Petty misdemeanor cases and criminal
convictions; fee assessment. In
Hennepin County and Ramsey County, the district court administrator or a
designee may, upon the recommendation of the board of trustees and by standing
order of the judges of the district court, include in the costs or
disbursements assessed against a defendant convicted in the district court of
the violation of a statute or municipal ordinance, a county law library fee. This fee may be collected in all petty
misdemeanor cases and criminal prosecutions in which, upon conviction, the
defendant may be subject to the payment of the costs or disbursements in
addition to a fine or other penalty. When
a defendant is convicted of more than one offense in a case, the county law
library fee shall be imposed only once in that case.
Sec. 7.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 134A.10, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Petty misdemeanor cases and criminal
convictions; fee assessment. The
judge of district court may, upon the recommendation of the board of trustees
and by standing order, include in the costs or disbursements assessed against a
defendant convicted in the district court of the violation of any statute or
municipal ordinance, in all petty misdemeanor cases and criminal prosecutions
in which, upon conviction, the defendant may be subject to the payment of the
costs or disbursements in addition to a fine or other penalty a county law
library fee. When a defendant is
convicted of more than one offense in a case, the county law library fee shall
be imposed only once in that case.
The item of costs or disbursements may not be assessed for any offense
committed prior to the establishment of the county law library.
Sec. 8.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 152.0262, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Possession of precursors. (a) A person is guilty of a crime if
the person possesses any chemical reagents or precursors with the intent to
manufacture methamphetamine and if convicted may be sentenced to
imprisonment for not more than ten years or to payment of a fine of not more
than $20,000, or both.
(b) A person is guilty of a crime if the person
possesses any chemical reagents or precursors with the intent to manufacture
methamphetamine and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 15 years
or to payment of a fine of not more than $30,000, or both, if the conviction is
for a subsequent controlled substance conviction.
As used in this section and section 152.021,
"chemical reagents or precursors" includes any of the following
substances, or any similar substances that can be used to manufacture
methamphetamine, or the salts, isomers, and salts of isomers of a listed or
similar substance:
(1) ephedrine;
(2) pseudoephedrine;
(3) phenyl-2-propanone;
(4) phenylacetone;
(5) anhydrous ammonia;
(6) organic solvents;
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(7) hydrochloric acid;
(8) lithium metal;
(9) sodium metal;
(10) ether;
(11) sulfuric acid;
(12) red phosphorus;
(13) iodine;
(14) sodium hydroxide;
(15) benzaldehyde;
(16) benzyl methyl ketone;
(17) benzyl cyanide;
(18) nitroethane;
(19) methylamine;
(20) phenylacetic acid;
(21) hydriodic acid; or
(22) hydriotic acid.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective July 1, 2009, and applies to crimes committed on or after
that date.
Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169A.20,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Driving
while impaired crime; motor vehicle.
It is a crime for any person to drive, operate, or be in physical
control of any motor vehicle, as defined in section 169A.03, subdivision 15,
except for motorboats in operation and off-road recreational vehicles,
within this state or on any boundary water of this state when:
(1) when the person is under
the influence of alcohol;
(2) when the person is under
the influence of a controlled substance;
(3) when the person is
knowingly under the influence of a hazardous substance that affects the nervous
system, brain, or muscles of the person so as to substantially impair the
person's ability to drive or operate the motor vehicle;
(4) when the person is under
the influence of a combination of any two or more of the elements named in
clauses (1), (2), and to (3);
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(5) when the person's alcohol
concentration at the time, or as measured within two hours of the time, of
driving, operating, or being in physical control of the motor vehicle is 0.08
or more;
(6) when the vehicle is a
commercial motor vehicle and the person's alcohol concentration at the time, or
as measured within two hours of the time, of driving, operating, or being in
physical control of the commercial motor vehicle is 0.04 or more; or
(7) when the person's body contains
any amount of a controlled substance listed in schedule I or II, or its
metabolite, other than marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinols.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective July 1, 2009, and applies to crimes committed on or after
that date.
Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169A.20, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 1a.
Driving while impaired crime;
motorboat in operation. It is
a crime for any person to operate or be in physical control of a motorboat in
operation on any waters or boundary water of this state when:
(1) the person is under the influence
of alcohol;
(2) the person is under the influence
of a controlled substance;
(3) the person is knowingly under the
influence of a hazardous substance that affects the nervous system, brain, or
muscles of the person so as to substantially impair the person's ability to
drive or operate the motorboat;
(4) the person is under the influence
of a combination of any two or more of the elements named in
clauses (1) to (3);
(5) the person's alcohol
concentration at the time, or as measured within two hours of the time, of
driving, operating, or being in physical control of the motorboat is 0.08 or
more; or
(6) the person's body contains any
amount of a controlled substance listed in schedule I or II, or its metabolite,
other than marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinols.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective July 1, 2009, and applies to crimes committed on or after
that date.
Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169A.20, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 1b.
Driving while impaired crime;
snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle.
It is a crime for any person to operate or be in physical control of
a snowmobile as defined in section 84.81, subdivision 3, or all-terrain vehicle
as defined in section 84.92, subdivision 8, anywhere in this state or on the
ice of any boundary water of this state when:
(1) the person is under the influence
of alcohol;
(2) the person is under the influence
of a controlled substance;
(3) the person is knowingly under the
influence of a hazardous substance that affects the nervous system, brain, or
muscles of the person so as to substantially impair the person's ability to
drive or operate the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle;
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(4) the person is under the influence
of a combination of any two or more of the elements named in
clauses (1) to (3);
(5) the person's alcohol
concentration at the time, or as measured within two hours of the time, of
driving, operating, or being in physical control of the snowmobile or
all-terrain vehicle is 0.08 or more; or
(6) the person's body contains any
amount of a controlled substance listed in schedule I or II, or its metabolite,
other than marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinols.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective July 1, 2009, and applies to crimes committed on or after that date.
Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169A.20, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 1c.
Driving while impaired crime;
off-highway motorcycle and off-road vehicle. It is a crime for any person to operate or
be in physical control of any off-highway motorcycle as defined in section
84.787, subdivision 7, or any off-road vehicle as defined in section 84.797,
subdivision 7, anywhere in this state or on the ice of any boundary water of
this state when:
(1) the person is under the influence
of alcohol;
(2) the person is under the influence
of a controlled substance;
(3) the person is knowingly under the
influence of a hazardous substance that affects the nervous system, brain, or
muscles of the person so as to substantially impair the person's ability to
drive or operate the off-highway motorcycle or off-road vehicle;
(4) the person is under the influence
of a combination of any two or more of the elements named in
clauses (1) to (3);
(5) the person's alcohol concentration
at the time, or as measured within two hours of the time, of driving,
operating, or being in physical control of the off-highway motorcycle or
off-road vehicle is 0.08 or more; or
(6) the person's body contains any
amount of a controlled substance listed in schedule I or II, or its metabolite,
other than marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinols.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective July 1, 2009, and applies to crimes committed on or after
that date.
Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169A.25,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Degree
described. (a) A person who violates
section 169A.20, subdivision 1, 1a, 1b, or 1c (driving while impaired
crime), is guilty of second-degree driving while impaired if two or more aggravating
factors were present when the violation was committed.
(b) A person who violates section
169A.20, subdivision 2 (refusal to submit to chemical test crime), is guilty of
second-degree driving while impaired if one aggravating factor was present when
the violation was committed.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective July 1, 2009, and applies to crimes committed on or after
that date.
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Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169A.26,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Degree
described. (a) A person who violates
section 169A.20, subdivision 1, 1a, 1b, or 1c (driving while impaired
crime), is guilty of third-degree driving while impaired if one aggravating
factor was present when the violation was committed.
(b) A person who violates section
169A.20, subdivision 2 (refusal to submit to chemical test crime), is guilty of
third-degree driving while impaired.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective July 1, 2009, and applies to crimes committed on or after
that date.
Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169A.27,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Degree
described. A person who violates
section 169A.20, subdivision 1, 1a, 1b, or 1c (driving while impaired
crime), is guilty of fourth-degree driving while impaired.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective July 1, 2009, and applies to crimes committed on or after
that date.
Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169A.28,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Permissive
consecutive sentences; multiple offenses.
(a) When a person is being sentenced for a violation of a provision
listed in paragraph (e), the court may sentence the person to a consecutive
term of imprisonment for a violation of any other provision listed in paragraph
(e), notwithstanding the fact that the offenses arose out of the same course of
conduct, subject to the limitation on consecutive sentences contained in
section 609.15, subdivision 2, and except as provided in paragraphs (b) and
(c).
(b) When a person is being sentenced
for a violation of section 171.09 (violation of condition of restricted
license), 171.20 (operation after revocation, suspension, cancellation, or
disqualification), 171.24 (driving without valid license), or 171.30 (violation
of condition of limited license), the court may not impose a consecutive
sentence for another violation of a provision in chapter 171 (drivers' licenses
and training schools).
(c) When a person is being sentenced
for a violation of section 169.791 (failure to provide proof of insurance) or
169.797 (failure to provide vehicle insurance), the court may not impose a
consecutive sentence for another violation of a provision of sections 169.79 to
169.7995.
(d) This subdivision does not limit
the authority of the court to impose consecutive sentences for crimes arising
on different dates or to impose a consecutive sentence when a person is being
sentenced for a crime and is also in violation of the conditions of a stayed or
otherwise deferred sentence under section 609.135 (stay of imposition or
execution of sentence).
(e) This subdivision applies to
misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor violations of the following if the offender
has two or more prior impaired driving convictions within the past ten years:
(1) section 169A.20, subdivision 1,
1a, 1b, or 1c (driving while impaired; impaired driving offenses);
(2) section 169A.20, subdivision 2
(driving while impaired; test refusal offense);
(3) section 169.791;
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(4) section 169.797;
(5) section 171.09 (violation of
condition of restricted license);
(6) section 171.20, subdivision 2
(operation after revocation, suspension, cancellation, or disqualification);
(7) section 171.24; and
(8) section 171.30.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective July 1, 2009, and applies to crimes committed on or after
that date.
Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169A.284, is
amended to read:
169A.284 CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY ASSESSMENT CHARGE; SURCHARGE.
Subdivision 1. When
required. (a) When a court sentences
a person convicted of an offense enumerated in section 169A.70, subdivision 2
(chemical use assessment; requirement; form), it shall order the person to pay
the cost of the assessment directly to the entity conducting the assessment or
providing the assessment services in an amount determined by the entity
conducting or providing the service and shall impose a chemical dependency
assessment charge of $125 $25.
The court may waive the $25 assessment charge, but may not waive the
cost for the assessment paid directly to the entity conducting the assessment
or providing assessment services. A
person shall pay an additional surcharge of $5 if the person is convicted of a
violation of section 169A.20 (driving while impaired) within five years of a
prior impaired driving conviction or a prior conviction for an offense arising
out of an arrest for a violation of section 169A.20 or Minnesota Statutes 1998,
section 169.121 (driver under influence of alcohol or controlled substance) or
169.129 (aggravated DWI-related violations; penalty). This section applies when the sentence is
executed, stayed, or suspended. The
court may not waive payment or authorize payment of the assessment charge and
surcharge in installments unless it makes written findings on the record that
the convicted person is indigent or that the assessment charge and surcharge
would create undue hardship for the convicted person or that person's immediate
family.
(b) The chemical dependency assessment
charge and surcharge required under this section are in addition to the
surcharge required by section 357.021, subdivision 6 (surcharges on criminal
and traffic offenders).
Subd. 2. Distribution
of money. The county court
administrator shall collect and forward to the commissioner of finance
$25 of the chemical dependency assessment charge and the $5 surcharge, if
any, within 60 days after sentencing or explain to the commissioner in
writing why the money was not forwarded within this time period. The commissioner shall credit the money
to the commissioner of finance to be deposited in the state treasury and
credited to the general fund. The
county shall collect and keep $100 of the chemical dependency assessment
charge.
Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169A.46,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Impairment
occurred after driving ceased. If
proven by a preponderance of the evidence, it is an affirmative defense to a violation
of section 169A.20, subdivision 1, clause (5); 1a, clause (5); 1b, clause
(5); or 1c, clause (5) (driving while impaired, alcohol concentration
within two hours of driving), or 169A.20 by a person having an alcohol
concentration of 0.20 or more as measured at the time, or within two hours of
the time, of the offense, that the defendant consumed a sufficient quantity of
alcohol after the time of the violation and before the administration of the
evidentiary test to cause the defendant's alcohol concentration to exceed the
level specified in the applicable clause.
Evidence that the defendant consumed alcohol after the time of the
violation may not be admitted in defense to any alleged violation of section
169A.20, unless notice is given to the prosecution prior to the omnibus or
pretrial hearing in the matter.
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EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009,
and applies to crimes committed on or after that date.
Sec. 19.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169A.54, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Revocation periods for DWI convictions. Except as provided in subdivision 7, the commissioner
shall revoke the driver's license of a person convicted of violating section
169A.20 (driving while impaired) or an ordinance in conformity with it, as
follows:
(1) for an offense under section 169A.20, subdivision
1 (driving while impaired crime): not
less than 30 days;
(2) for an offense under section 169A.20, subdivision
2 (refusal to submit to chemical test crime):
not less than 90 days;
(3) for an offense occurring within ten years of a
qualified prior impaired driving incident:
(i) if the current conviction is for a violation of
section 169A.20, subdivision 1, 1a, 1b, or 1c, not less than 180 days
and until the court has certified that treatment or rehabilitation has been
successfully completed where prescribed in accordance with section 169A.70
(chemical use assessments); or
(ii) if the current conviction is for a violation of
section 169A.20, subdivision 2, not less than one year and until the court has
certified that treatment or rehabilitation has been successfully completed where
prescribed in accordance with section 169A.70;
(4) for an offense occurring within ten years of the
first of two qualified prior impaired driving incidents: not less than one year, together with denial under
section 171.04, subdivision 1, clause (10), until rehabilitation is established
in accordance with standards established by the commissioner; or
(5) for an offense occurring within ten years of the
first of three or more qualified prior impaired driving incidents: not less than two years, together with denial
under section 171.04, subdivision 1, clause (10), until rehabilitation is
established in accordance with standards established by the commissioner.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009,
and applies to crimes committed on or after that date.
Sec. 20.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 299D.03, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Traffic fines and forfeited bail money. (a) All fines and forfeited bail money, from
traffic and motor vehicle law violations, collected from persons
apprehended or arrested by officers of the State Patrol, shall be paid
transmitted by the person or officer collecting the fines, forfeited bail
money, or installments thereof, on or before the tenth day after the last day
of the month in which these moneys were collected, to the county treasurer
of the county where the violation occurred. commissioner of
finance. Except where a different
disposition is required in this paragraph, paragraph (b), section 387.213, or
otherwise provided by law, three-eighths of these receipts shall be
credited to the general revenue fund of the county, except that in a county in
a judicial district under section 480.181, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), this
three-eighths share must be transmitted to the commissioner of finance
for deposit deposited in the state treasury and credited to the
state general fund. The other
five-eighths of these receipts shall be transmitted by that officer to the
commissioner of finance and must be deposited in the state treasury and
credited as follows: (1) the first $600,000 in each fiscal year must be
credited to the Minnesota grade crossing safety account in the special revenue
fund, and (2) remaining receipts must be credited to the state trunk
highway fund. If, however, the violation
occurs within a municipality and the city attorney prosecutes the offense, and
a plea of not guilty is entered, one-third of the receipts shall be
deposited in the state treasury and credited to the
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state general
revenue fund of the county, one-third of the receipts shall be
paid to the municipality prosecuting the offense, and one-third shall be transmitted
to the commissioner of finance as provided in this subdivision.
deposited in the state treasury and credited to the Minnesota grade crossing
safety account or the state trunk highway fund as provided in this
paragraph. When section 387.213 also is
applicable to the fine, section 387.213 shall be applied before this paragraph
is applied. All costs of
participation in a nationwide police communication system chargeable to the
state of Minnesota shall be paid from appropriations for that purpose.
(b) Notwithstanding any other
provisions of law, all fines and forfeited bail money from violations of
statutes governing the maximum weight of motor vehicles, collected from persons
apprehended or arrested by employees of the state of Minnesota, by means of
stationary or portable scales operated by these employees, shall be paid
transmitted by the person or officer collecting the fines or forfeited bail
money, on or before the tenth day after the last day of the month in which the
collections were made, to the county treasurer of the county where the
violation occurred commissioner of finance. Five-eighths of these receipts shall be transmitted
by that officer to the commissioner of finance and shall be deposited in
the state treasury and credited to the state highway user tax
distribution fund. Three-eighths of
these receipts shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to
the state general revenue fund of the county, except that in a county
in a judicial district under section 480.181, subdivision 1, paragraph (b),
this three-eighths share must be transmitted to the commissioner of finance for
deposit in the state treasury and credited to the general fund.
Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 357.021,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Fee
amounts. The fees to be charged and
collected by the court administrator shall be as follows:
(1) In every civil action or
proceeding in said court, including any case arising under the tax laws of the
state that could be transferred or appealed to the Tax Court, the plaintiff,
petitioner, or other moving party shall pay, when the first paper is filed for
that party in said action, a fee of $240 $310, except in marriage
dissolution actions the fee is $270 $340.
The defendant or other adverse or intervening
party, or any one or more of several defendants or other adverse or intervening
parties appearing separately from the others, shall pay, when the first paper
is filed for that party in said action, a fee of $240 $310,
except in marriage dissolution actions the fee is $270 $340.
The party requesting a trial by jury
shall pay $75 $100.
The fees above stated shall be the
full trial fee chargeable to said parties irrespective of whether trial be to
the court alone, to the court and jury, or disposed of without trial, and shall
include the entry of judgment in the action, but does not include copies or
certified copies of any papers so filed or proceedings under chapter 103E,
except the provisions therein as to appeals.
(2) Certified copy of any instrument
from a civil or criminal proceeding, $10 $14, and $5 $8
for an uncertified copy.
(3) Issuing a subpoena, $12 $16
for each name.
(4) Filing a motion or response to a
motion in civil, family, excluding child support, and guardianship cases, $55 $100.
(5) Issuing an execution and filing
the return thereof; issuing a writ of attachment, injunction, habeas corpus,
mandamus, quo warranto, certiorari, or other writs not specifically mentioned, $40
$55.
(6) Issuing a transcript of judgment,
or for filing and docketing a transcript of judgment from another court, $30 $40.
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(7) Filing and entering a satisfaction
of judgment, partial satisfaction, or assignment of judgment, $5.
(8) Certificate as to existence or
nonexistence of judgments docketed, $5 for each name certified to.
(9) Filing and indexing trade name; or
recording basic science certificate; or recording certificate of physicians,
osteopaths, chiropractors, veterinarians, or optometrists, $5.
(10) For the filing of each partial,
final, or annual account in all trusteeships, $40 $55.
(11) For the deposit of a will, $20
$27.
(12) For recording notary commission,
$100, of which, notwithstanding subdivision 1a, paragraph (b), $80 must be
forwarded to the commissioner of finance to be deposited in the state treasury
and credited to the general fund.
(13) Filing a motion or response to a
motion for modification of child support, a fee of $55 $100.
(14) All other services required by
law for which no fee is provided, such fee as compares favorably with those
herein provided, or such as may be fixed by rule or order of the court.
(15) In addition to any other filing
fees under this chapter, a surcharge in the amount of $75 must be assessed in
accordance with section 259.52, subdivision 14, for each adoption petition
filed in district court to fund the fathers' adoption registry under section
259.52.
The fees in clauses (3) and (5) need
not be paid by a public authority or the party the public authority represents.
Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 357.021,
subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6. Surcharges
on criminal and traffic offenders.
(a) Except as provided in this paragraph, the court shall impose and the
court administrator shall collect a $75 surcharge on every person convicted of
any felony, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor, or petty misdemeanor offense, other
than a violation of a law or ordinance relating to vehicle parking, for which
there shall be a $4 $12 surcharge. When a defendant is convicted of more than
one offense in a case, the surcharge shall be imposed only once in that
case. In the Second Judicial
District, the court shall impose, and the court administrator shall collect, an
additional $1 surcharge on every person convicted of any felony, gross
misdemeanor, misdemeanor, or petty misdemeanor offense, including a violation
of a law or ordinance relating to vehicle parking, if the Ramsey County Board
of Commissioners authorizes the $1 surcharge.
The surcharge shall be imposed whether or not the person is sentenced to
imprisonment or the sentence is stayed.
The surcharge shall not be imposed when a person is convicted of a petty
misdemeanor for which no fine is imposed.
(b) If the court fails to impose a
surcharge as required by this subdivision, the court administrator shall show
the imposition of the surcharge, collect the surcharge, and correct the record.
(c) The court may not waive payment of
the surcharge required under this subdivision.
Upon a showing of indigency or undue hardship upon the convicted person
or the convicted person's immediate family, the sentencing court may authorize
payment of the surcharge in installments.
(d) The court administrator or other
entity collecting a surcharge shall forward it to the commissioner of finance.
(e) If the convicted person is
sentenced to imprisonment and has not paid the surcharge before the term of
imprisonment begins, the chief executive officer of the correctional facility
in which the convicted person is incarcerated shall collect the surcharge from
any earnings the inmate accrues from work performed in the facility or while on
conditional release. The chief executive
officer shall forward the amount collected to the commissioner of finance
court administrator or other entity collecting the surcharge imposed by the
court.
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(f) A person who successfully
completes a diversion or similar program for a violation of chapter 169 must
pay the surcharge described in this subdivision.
Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 357.021,
subdivision 7, is amended to read:
Subd. 7. Disbursement
of surcharges by commissioner of finance.
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d), the
commissioner of finance shall disburse surcharges received under subdivision 6
and section 97A.065, subdivision 2, as follows:
(1) one percent shall be credited to
the game and fish fund to provide peace officer training for employees of the
Department of Natural Resources who are licensed under sections 626.84 to
626.863, and who possess peace officer authority for the purpose of enforcing
game and fish laws;
(2) 39 percent shall be credited to
the peace officers training account in the special revenue fund; and
(3) 60 percent shall be credited to
the general fund.
(b) The commissioner of finance shall
credit $3 of each surcharge received under subdivision 6 and section 97A.065,
subdivision 2, to the general fund.
(c) In addition to any amounts
credited under paragraph (a), the commissioner of finance shall credit $47 of
each surcharge received under subdivision 6 and section 97A.065, subdivision 2,
and the $4 $12 parking surcharge, to the general fund.
(d) If the Ramsey County Board of
Commissioners authorizes imposition of the additional $1 surcharge provided for
in subdivision 6, paragraph (a), the court administrator in the Second Judicial
District shall transmit the surcharge to the commissioner of finance. The $1 special surcharge is deposited in a
Ramsey County surcharge account in the special revenue fund and amounts in the
account are appropriated to the trial courts for the administration of the
petty misdemeanor diversion program operated by the Second Judicial District
Ramsey County Violations Bureau.
Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 357.022, is
amended to read:
357.022 CONCILIATION COURT FEE.
The court administrator in every
county shall charge and collect a filing fee of $50 $65 from
every plaintiff and from every defendant when the first paper for that party is
filed in any conciliation court action. This
section does not apply to conciliation court actions filed by the state. The court administrator shall transmit the
fees monthly to the commissioner of finance for deposit in the state treasury
and credit to the general fund.
Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 357.08, is
amended to read:
357.08 PAID BY APPELLANT IN APPEAL.
There shall be paid to the clerk of
the appellate courts by the appellant, or moving party or person requiring the
service, in all cases of appeal, certiorari, habeas corpus, mandamus,
injunction, prohibition, or other original proceeding, when initially filed
with the clerk of the appellate courts, the sum of $500 $550 to
the clerk of the appellate courts. An
additional filing fee of $100 shall be required for a petition for accelerated
review by the Supreme Court. A filing
fee of $500 $550 shall be paid to the clerk of the appellate
courts upon the filing of a petition for review from a decision of the Court of
Appeals. A filing fee of $500 $550
shall be paid to the clerk of the appellate courts upon the filing of a
petition for permission to appeal. A
filing fee of $100 shall be paid to the clerk of the appellate courts upon the
filing by a respondent of a notice of review.
The clerk shall transmit the fees to the commissioner of finance for
deposit in the state treasury and credit to the general fund.
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The clerk shall not file any paper, issue any writ or
certificate, or perform any service enumerated herein, until the payment has
been made for it. The clerk shall pay
the sum into the state treasury as provided for by section 15A.01.
The charges provided for shall not apply to disbarment
proceedings, nor to an action or proceeding by the state taken solely in the
public interest, where the state is the appellant or moving party, nor to
copies of the opinions of the court furnished by the clerk to the parties
before judgment, or furnished to the district judge whose decision is under
review, or to such law library associations in counties having a population
exceeding 50,000, as the court may direct.
Sec. 26. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 364.08, is amended to read:
364.08
PRACTICE OF LAW; EXCEPTION.
This chapter shall not apply to the practice of law
or judicial branch employment; but nothing in this section shall be
construed to preclude the Supreme Court, in its discretion, from adopting the
policies set forth in this chapter.
Sec. 27.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 375.14, is amended to read:
375.14
OFFICES AND SUPPLIES FURNISHED FOR COUNTY OFFICERS.
The county board shall provide offices at the county
seat for the auditor, treasurer, county recorder, sheriff, court administrator
of the district court, and an office for the county engineer at a site
determined by the county board, with suitable furniture and safes and vaults
for the security and preservation of the books and papers of the offices, and
provide heating, lighting, and maintenance of the offices. The board shall furnish all county officers
with all books, stationery, letterheads, envelopes, postage, telephone service,
office equipment, electronic technology, and supplies necessary to the
discharge of their respective duties and make like provision for the judges
of the district court as necessary to the discharge of their duties within the
county or concerning matters arising in it.
The board is not required to furnish any county officer with
professional or technical books or instruments except when the board deems them
directly necessary to the discharge of official duties as part of the permanent
equipment of the office.
Sec. 28.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 480.15, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 10c. Uniform
collections policies and procedures for courts. (a) The state court administrator under
the direction of the Judicial Council may promulgate uniform collections
policies and procedures for the courts and may contract with credit bureaus,
public and private collection agencies, the Department of Revenue, and other
public or private entities providing collection services as necessary for the
collection of court debts. The court
collection process and procedures are not subject to section 16A.1285. Court debts referred to the Department of
Revenue for collection are not subject to section 16D.07.
(b) Court debt means an amount owed to the state directly
or through the judicial branch on account of a fee, duty, rent, service,
overpayment, fine, assessment, surcharge, court cost, penalty, restitution,
damages, interest, bail bond, forfeiture, reimbursement, liability owed, an
assignment to the judicial branch, recovery of costs incurred by the judicial
branch, or any other source of indebtedness to the judicial branch as well as
amounts owed to other public or private entities for which the judicial branch
acts in providing collection services, or any other amount owed to the judicial
branch.
(c) The courts must pay for the collection services of
public or private collection entities as well as the cost of one or more court
employees to provide collection interface services between the Department of Revenue,
the courts, and one or more collection entities from the money collected. The portion of the money collected which
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must be paid to the collection entity as collection
fees and costs and the portion of the money collected which must be paid to the
courts or Department of Revenue for collection services are appropriated from
the fund to which the collected money is due.
(d) As determined by the state court
administrator, collection costs shall be added to the debts referred to a
public or private collection entity for collection.
Collection costs shall include the
fees of the collection entity, and may include, if separately provided, skip
tracing fees, credit bureau reporting charges, fees assessed by any public
entity for obtaining information necessary for debt collection, or other
collection-related costs. Collection
costs shall also include the costs of one or more court employees employed by
the state court administrator to provide a collection interface between the
collection entity, the Department of Revenue, and the courts.
If the collection entity collects an
amount less than the total due, the payment is applied proportionally to
collection costs and the underlying debt.
Collection costs in excess of collection agency fees and court employee
collection interface costs must be deposited in the general fund as
nondedicated receipts.
Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 484.85, is
amended to read:
484.85 DISPOSITION OF FINES, FEES, AND OTHER MONEY; ACCOUNTS; RAMSEY
COUNTY DISTRICT COURT.
(a) In the event the Ramsey County
District Court takes jurisdiction of a prosecution for the violation of a
statute or ordinance by the state or a governmental subdivision other than a
city or town in Ramsey County, all fines, penalties, and forfeitures collected
shall be paid over to the county treasurer except where a different disposition
is provided by law, and the following fees shall be taxed to the state or
governmental subdivision other than a city or town within Ramsey County which
would be entitled to payment of the fines, forfeitures, or penalties in any
case, and shall be paid to the administrator of the court for disposal of the
matter. The administrator shall deduct
the fees from any fine collected for the state of Minnesota or a governmental
subdivision other than a city or town within Ramsey County and transmit the
balance in accordance with the law, and the deduction of the total of the fees
each month from the total of all the fines collected is hereby expressly made
an appropriation of funds for payment of the fees:
(1) in all cases where the defendant
is brought into court and pleads guilty and is sentenced, or the matter is
otherwise disposed of without a trial, $5;
(2) in arraignments where the
defendant waives a preliminary examination, $10;
(3) in all other cases where the
defendant stands trial or has a preliminary examination by the court, $15; and
(4) the court shall have the
authority to waive the collection of fees in any particular case.
(b) On or before the last day of each
month, the county treasurer shall pay over to the treasurer of the city of St.
Paul two-thirds of all fines, penalties, and forfeitures collected and to the
treasurer of each other municipality or subdivision of government in Ramsey
County one-half of all fines or penalties collected during the previous month
from those imposed for offenses committed within the treasurer's municipality
or subdivision of government in violation of a statute; an ordinance; or a
charter provision, rule, or regulation of a city. All other fines and forfeitures and all fees
and costs collected by the district court shall be paid to the treasurer of
Ramsey County, who shall dispense the same as provided by law.
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(a) In all cases prosecuted in Ramsey
County District Court by an attorney for a municipality or subdivision of
government within Ramsey County for violation of a statute; an ordinance; or a
charter provision, rule, or regulation of a city; all fines, penalties, and
forfeitures collected by the court administrator shall be deposited in the
state treasury and distributed according to this paragraph. Except where a different disposition is
provided by section 299D.03, subdivision 5, or other law, on or before the last
day of each month, the court shall pay over all fines, penalties, and
forfeitures collected by the court administrator during the previous month as
follows:
(1) for offenses committed within the
city of St. Paul, two-thirds paid to the treasurer of the city of St. Paul and
one-third credited to the state general fund; and
(2) for offenses committed within any
other municipality or subdivision of government within Ramsey County, one-half to
the treasurer of the municipality or subdivision of government and one-half
credited to the state general fund.
All other fines, penalties, and
forfeitures collected by the district court shall be distributed by the courts
as provided by law.
(b) Fines, penalties, and forfeitures
shall be distributed as provided in paragraph (a) when:
(1) a city contracts with the county
attorney for prosecutorial services under section 484.87, subdivision 3; or
(2) the attorney general provides
assistance to the city attorney under section 484.87, subdivision 5.
Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 484.90,
subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6. Allocation.
The court administrator shall
provide the county treasurer with the name of the municipality or other
subdivision of government where the offense was committed which employed or
provided by contract the arresting or apprehending officer and the name of the
municipality or other subdivision of government which employed the prosecuting
attorney or otherwise provided for prosecution of the offense for each fine or
penalty and the total amount of fines or penalties collected for each
municipality or other subdivision of government. On or before the last day of each month, the
county treasurer shall pay over to the treasurer of each municipality or
subdivision of government within the county all fines or penalties for parking
violations for which complaints and warrants have not been issued and one-third
of all fines or penalties collected during the previous month for offenses
committed within the municipality or subdivision of government from persons
arrested or issued citations by officers employed by the municipality or
subdivision or provided by the municipality or subdivision by contract. An additional one-third of all fines or
penalties shall be paid to the municipality or subdivision of government
providing prosecution of offenses of the type for which the fine or penalty is
collected occurring within the municipality or subdivision, imposed for violations
of state statute or of an ordinance, charter provision, rule, or regulation of
a city whether or not a guilty plea is entered or bail is forfeited. Except as provided in section 299D.03,
subdivision 5, or as otherwise provided by law, all other fines and forfeitures
and all fees and statutory court costs collected by the court administrator
shall be paid to the county treasurer of the county in which the funds were
collected who shall dispense them as provided by law. In a county in a judicial district under
section 480.181, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), all other fines, forfeitures,
fees, and statutory court costs must be paid to the commissioner of finance for
deposit in the state treasury and credited to the general fund. (a) In
all cases prosecuted in district court by an attorney for a municipality or
other subdivision of government within the county for violations of state
statute, or of an ordinance; or charter provision, rule, or regulation of a
city; all fines, penalties, and forfeitures collected shall be deposited in the
state treasury and distributed according to this paragraph. Except where a different disposition is
provided by section 299D.03, subdivision 5, 484.841, 484.85, or other law, on
or before the last day of each month, the courts shall pay over all fines,
penalties, and forfeitures collected by the court administrator during the
previous month as follows:
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(1) 100 percent of all fines or
penalties for parking violations for which complaints and warrants have not
been issued to the treasurer of the city or town in which the offense was
committed; and
(2) two-thirds of all other fines to
the treasurer of the city or town in which the offense was committed and
one-third credited to the state general fund.
All other fines, penalties, and
forfeitures collected by the court administrator shall be distributed by the courts
as provided by law.
(b) Fines, penalties, and forfeitures
shall be distributed as provided in paragraph (a) when:
(1) a city contracts with the county
attorney for prosecutorial services under section 484.87, subdivision 3;
(2) a city has a population of 600 or
less and has given the duty to prosecute cases to the county attorney under
section 487.87; or
(3) the attorney general provides
assistance to the county attorney as permitted by law.
Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 484.91, subdivision
1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Establishment. Misdemeanor violations bureaus in the
Fourth Judicial District shall be established in Minneapolis, a southern
suburb location, and at any other northern and western suburban locations dispersed
throughout the county as may be designated by a majority of the judges of
the court.
Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 491A.02,
subdivision 9, is amended to read:
Subd. 9. Judgment
debtor disclosure. Notwithstanding
any contrary provision in rule 518 of the Conciliation Court Rules, unless the
parties have otherwise agreed, if a conciliation court judgment or a judgment
of district court on removal from conciliation court has been docketed in
district court, the judgment creditor's attorney as an officer of the court
may or the district court in the county in which the judgment originated
shall, upon request of the judgment creditor, order the judgment debtor to mail
to the judgment creditor information as to the nature, amount, identity, and
locations of all the debtor's assets, liabilities, and personal earning. The information must be provided on a form
prescribed by the Supreme Court, and the information shall be sufficiently
detailed to enable the judgment creditor to obtain satisfaction of the judgment
by way of execution on nonexempt assets and earnings of the judgment
debtor. The order must contain a notice
that failure to complete the form and mail it to the judgment creditor within
ten days after service of the order may result in a citation for civil contempt
of court. Cash bail posted as a result
of being cited for civil contempt of court order under this section may be
ordered payable to the creditor to satisfy the judgment, either partially or
fully.
Sec. 33. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 491A.03,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Judges;
referees. The judges of district
court shall may serve as judges of conciliation court. In the Second and Fourth Judicial
Districts, A majority of the judges The chief judge of the district
may appoint one or more suitable persons to act as referees in conciliation
court; a majority of the judges the chief judge of the district
shall establish qualifications for the office, specify the duties and length of
service of referees, and fix their compensation not to exceed an amount per
day determined by the chief judge of the judicial district.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective the day following final enactment.
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Sec. 34.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 525.091, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Original documents. The court administrator of any county upon
order of the judge exercising probate jurisdiction may destroy all the original
documents in any probate proceeding of record in the office five years
after the file in such proceeding has been closed provided the original or a
Minnesota state archives commission approved photographic, photostatic,
microphotographic, microfilmed, or similarly reproduced copy of the original of
the following enumerated documents in the proceeding are on file in the office.
Enumerated original documents:
(a) In estates, the jurisdictional petition and proof
of publication of the notice of hearing thereof; will and certificate of
probate; letters; inventory and appraisal; orders directing and confirming
sale, mortgage, lease, or for conveyance of real estate; order setting apart
statutory selection; receipts for federal estate taxes and state estate taxes;
orders of distribution and general protection; decrees of distribution; federal
estate tax closing letter, consent to discharge by commissioner of revenue and
order discharging representative; and any amendment of the listed documents.
When an estate is deemed closed as provided in clause
(d) of this subdivision, the enumerated documents shall include all claims of
creditors.
(b) In guardianships or conservatorships, the
jurisdictional petition and order for hearing thereof with proof of service;
letters; orders directing and confirming sale, mortgage, lease or for
conveyance of real estate; order for restoration to capacity and order
discharging guardian; and any amendment of the listed documents.
(c) In mental, inebriety, and indigent matters, the
jurisdictional petition; report of examination; warrant of commitment; notice
of discharge from institution, or notice of death and order for restoration to
capacity; and any amendment of the listed documents.
(d) Except for the enumerated documents described in
this subdivision, the court administrator may destroy all other original
documents in any probate proceeding without retaining any reproduction of the
document. For the purpose of this
subdivision, a proceeding is deemed closed if no document has been filed in the
proceeding for a period of 15 years, except in the cases of wills filed for
safekeeping and those containing wills of decedents not adjudicated upon.
Sec. 35.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 549.09, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. When owed; rate. (a) When a judgment or award is for the
recovery of money, including a judgment for the recovery of taxes, interest
from the time of the verdict, award, or report until judgment is finally
entered shall be computed by the court administrator or arbitrator as provided
in paragraph (c) and added to the judgment or award.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by contract or
allowed by law, preverdict, preaward, or prereport interest on pecuniary
damages shall be computed as provided in paragraph (c) from the time of the
commencement of the action or a demand for arbitration, or the time of a written
notice of claim, whichever occurs first, except as provided herein. The action must be commenced within two years
of a written notice of claim for interest to begin to accrue from the time of
the notice of claim. If either party
serves a written offer of settlement, the other party may serve a written
acceptance or a written counteroffer within 30 days. After that time, interest on the judgment or
award shall be calculated by the judge or arbitrator in the following
manner. The prevailing party shall
receive interest on any judgment or award from the time of commencement of the
action or a demand for arbitration, or the time of a written notice of claim,
or as to special damages from the time when special damages were incurred, if
later, until the time of verdict, award, or report only if the amount of its
offer is closer to the judgment or award than the
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amount of the opposing party's offer. If the amount of the losing party's offer was
closer to the judgment or award than the prevailing party's offer, the
prevailing party shall receive interest only on the amount of the settlement
offer or the judgment or award, whichever is less, and only from the time of
commencement of the action or a demand for arbitration, or the time of a
written notice of claim, or as to special damages from when the special damages
were incurred, if later, until the time the settlement offer was made. Subsequent offers and counteroffers supersede
the legal effect of earlier offers and counteroffers. For the purposes of clause (2), the amount of
settlement offer must be allocated between past and future damages in the same
proportion as determined by the trier of fact.
Except as otherwise provided by contract or allowed by law, preverdict,
preaward, or prereport interest shall not be awarded on the following:
(1) judgments, awards, or benefits in
workers' compensation cases, but not including third-party actions;
(2) judgments or awards for future
damages;
(3) punitive damages, fines, or other
damages that are noncompensatory in nature;
(4) judgments or awards not in excess
of the amount specified in section 491A.01; and
(5) that portion of any verdict,
award, or report which is founded upon interest, or costs, disbursements,
attorney fees, or other similar items added by the court or arbitrator.
(c)(1) For a judgment or award of
$50,000 or less, the interest shall be computed as simple interest per
annum. The rate of interest shall be
based on the secondary market yield of one year United States Treasury bills,
calculated on a bank discount basis as provided in this section.
On or before the 20th day of December
of each year the state court administrator shall determine the rate from the
one-year constant maturity treasury yield for the most recent calendar month,
reported on a monthly basis in the latest statistical release of the board of governors
of the Federal Reserve System. This
yield, rounded to the nearest one percent, or four percent, whichever is
greater, shall be the annual interest rate during the succeeding calendar year. The state court administrator shall
communicate the interest rates to the court administrators and sheriffs for use
in computing the interest on verdicts and shall make the interest rates
available to arbitrators.
(2) For a judgment or award over
$50,000, the interest rate shall be ten percent per year until paid.
(3) When a judgment creditor, or the
judgment creditor's attorney or agent, has received a payment after entry of
judgment, whether the payment is made voluntarily by or on behalf of the
judgment debtor, or is collected by legal process other than execution levy
where a proper return has been filed with the court administrator, the judgment
creditor, or the judgment creditor's attorney, before applying to the court
administrator for an execution shall file with the court administrator an
affidavit of partial satisfaction. The
affidavit must state the dates and amounts of payments made upon the judgment
after the most recent affidavit of partial satisfaction filed, if any; the part
of each payment that is applied to taxable disbursements and to accrued
interest and to the unpaid principal balance of the judgment; and the accrued,
but the unpaid interest owing, if any, after application of each payment.
(d) This section does not apply to
arbitrations between employers and employees under chapter 179 or 179A. An arbitrator is neither required to nor
prohibited from awarding interest under chapter 179 or under section 179A.16
for essential employees.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective August 1, 2009, and applies to judgments and awards finally entered
on or after that date.
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Sec. 36. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 550.011, is
amended to read:
550.011 JUDGMENT DEBTOR DISCLOSURE.
Unless the parties have otherwise
agreed, if a judgment has been docketed in district court for at least 30 days,
and the judgment is not satisfied, the judgment creditor's attorney as an
officer of the court may or the district court in the county in which the
judgment originated shall, upon request of the judgment creditor, order the
judgment debtor to mail by certified mail to the judgment creditor information
as to the nature, amount, identity, and locations of all the debtor's assets,
liabilities, and personal earnings. The
information must be provided on a form prescribed by the Supreme Court, and the
information shall be sufficiently detailed to enable the judgment creditor to
obtain satisfaction of the judgment by way of execution on nonexempt assets and
earnings of the judgment debtor. The
order must contain a notice that failure to complete the form and mail it to
the judgment creditor within ten days after service of the order may result in
a citation for civil contempt of court.
Cash bail posted as a result of being cited for civil contempt of court
order under this section may be ordered payable to the creditor to satisfy the
judgment, either partially or fully.
Sec. 37. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 609.035,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Consecutive
sentences. (a) When a person is
being sentenced for a violation of a provision listed in paragraph (e), the
court may sentence the person to a consecutive term of imprisonment for a
violation of any other provision listed in paragraph (e), notwithstanding the
fact that the offenses arose out of the same course of conduct, subject to the
limitation on consecutive sentences contained in section 609.15, subdivision 2,
and except as provided in paragraphs (b), (c), and (f) of this subdivision.
(b) When a person is being sentenced
for a violation of section 171.09, 171.20, 171.24, or 171.30, the court may not
impose a consecutive sentence for another violation of a provision in chapter
171.
(c) When a person is being sentenced
for a violation of section 169.791 or 169.797, the court may not impose a
consecutive sentence for another violation of a provision of sections 169.79 to
169.7995.
(d) This subdivision does not limit
the authority of the court to impose consecutive sentences for crimes arising
on different dates or to impose a consecutive sentence when a person is being
sentenced for a crime and is also in violation of the conditions of a stayed or
otherwise deferred sentence under section 609.135.
(e) This subdivision applies to
misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor violations of the following if the offender
has two or more prior impaired driving convictions as defined in section
169A.03 within the past ten years:
(1) section 169A.20, subdivision 1,
1a, 1b, or 1c , driving while impaired;
(2) section 169A.20, subdivision 2,
test refusal;
(3) section 169.791, failure to provide
proof of insurance;
(4) section 169.797, failure to
provide vehicle insurance;
(5) section 171.09, violation of
condition of restricted license;
(6) section 171.20, subdivision 2,
operation after revocation, suspension, cancellation, or disqualification;
(7) section 171.24, driving without
valid license; and
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(8) section 171.30, violation of condition
of limited license.
(f) When a court is sentencing an
offender for a violation of section 169A.20 and a violation of an offense
listed in paragraph (e), and the offender has five or more qualified prior
impaired driving incidents, as defined in section 169A.03, within the past ten
years, the court shall sentence the offender to serve consecutive sentences for
the offenses, notwithstanding the fact that the offenses arose out of the same
course of conduct.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective July 1, 2009, and applies to crimes committed on or after
that date.
Sec. 38. [609.092]
JUVENILE PETTY OFFENDERS; USE OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.
Subdivision 1.
First-time juvenile petty
offenders; applicability; procedure.
(a) This subdivision applies to a child alleged to be a juvenile
petty offender who:
(1) has not been previously
adjudicated delinquent or as a petty offender;
(2) has not previously participated in
or completed a diversion program for an offense;
(3) has not previously been placed on
probation without an adjudication for an offense or received a continuance
under section 260B.198, subdivision 7; and
(4) agrees to successfully complete a
restorative justice program under this section.
(b) Subject to subdivision 6, the
prosecutor shall refer a child described in paragraph (a) to a restorative
justice program or provider that has been included on the approved provider
list described in subdivision 4. The
program or provider shall arrange an appropriate outcome for the matter using
restorative justice concepts. The
program or provider shall involve the victim of the offense in the
proceedings. If the victim is unwilling
or unable to proceed, or if there is no identifiable victim, the program or
provider shall ensure that someone serves as a proxy for the victim. The program or provider and child, along with
other participants, shall agree in writing to an appropriate sanction for the
child. The sanction may include any of
the dispositions authorized in section 260B.235, if appropriate, along with any
other sanctions agreed to.
Subd. 2.
Failure to comply. If a person fails to comply with the
settlement agreement, the person shall be referred back to the court for
further proceedings.
Subd. 3.
Dismissal of charge. Upon the successful completion by a person
of the sanctions agreed to in the settlement agreement, the program or provider
shall notify the court and the court shall dismiss the charge against the
person.
Subd. 4.
Approved list. The prosecutor shall maintain a list of
approved restorative justice programs and providers to which persons may be
referred under this section.
Subd. 5.
Preference for culturally
specific programs. If a
restorative justice program or provider that is tailored in a more culturally
specific manner to the person is on the list of approved providers under
subdivision 4, and the prosecutor is referring the person to a restorative
justice program or provider under this section, the prosecutor shall refer the
person to the more appropriate program or provider.
Subd. 6.
Exceptions; availability of
programs; diversion alternatives; domestic abuse. This section applies only in jurisdictions
where suitable restorative justice programs and providers are available and are
able to accept the referral. This
section does not apply if a prosecutor has determined that a nonrestorative
justice diversion program is more appropriate for the person. In addition, this section does not apply to
cases involving domestic violence or domestic assault.
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Subd. 7. Definition. As used in this section, "restorative
justice" has the meaning given in section 611A.775. The term also includes Native American
sentencing circles.
Sec. 39.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 609.10, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Sentences available. (a) Upon conviction of a felony and
compliance with the other provisions of this chapter the court, if it imposes
sentence, may sentence the defendant to the extent authorized by law
as follows:
(1) to life imprisonment; or
(2) to imprisonment for a fixed term of years set by
the court; or
(3) to both imprisonment for a fixed term of years and
payment of a fine; or
(4) to payment of a fine without imprisonment or to
imprisonment for a fixed term of years if the fine is not paid or as an
intermediate sanction on a stayed sentence; or
(5) to payment of court-ordered restitution in
addition to either imprisonment or payment of a fine, or both; or
(6) to payment of a local correctional fee as
authorized under section 609.102 in addition to any other sentence imposed by
the court.
(b) If the court imposes a fine or orders restitution
under paragraph (a), payment is due on the date imposed unless the court
otherwise establishes a due date or a payment plan.
Sec. 40.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 609.101, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Controlled substance offenses; minimum
fines. (a) Notwithstanding any other
law, when a court sentences a person convicted of a controlled substance crime
under sections 152.021 to 152.025 and 152.0262, it must impose a fine of not
less than 30 percent of the maximum fine authorized by law nor more than the
maximum fine authorized by law.
(b) The minimum fine required by this subdivision is
in addition to the surcharge or assessment required by section 357.021,
subdivision 6, and is in addition to any sentence of imprisonment or
restitution imposed or ordered by the court.
(c) The court shall collect the fine mandated by this
subdivision and forward 70 percent of it to a local drug abuse prevention or
intervention program existing or being implemented in the county in which
the crime was committed. The court shall
forward the remaining 30 percent to the commissioner of finance to be credited
to the general fund. If more than one drug
abuse prevention or intervention program serves the county in which the
crime was committed, the court may designate on a case-by-case basis which
program will receive the fine proceeds, giving consideration to the community
in which the crime was committed, the funding needs of the program, the number
of peace officers in each community certified to teach the program, and the
number of children served by the program in each community. If no drug abuse prevention or
intervention program serves communities in that county, the court shall
forward 100 percent of the fine proceeds to the commissioner of finance to be
credited to the general fund.
(d) The minimum fines required by this subdivision
shall be collected as are other fines. Fine
proceeds received by a local drug abuse prevention or intervention
program must be used to support that program, and may be used for salaries of
program staff or peace officers certified to teach the program. The drug abuse resistance education
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program must report receipt and use of money generated
under this subdivision as prescribed by the Drug Abuse Resistance Education
Advisory Council to the state court administrator by January 15 of each
year. The state court administrator must
make this information available upon request.
(e) As used in this subdivision,
"drug abuse prevention or intervention program" and
"program" include:
(1) the drug abuse resistance
education program described in section 299A.33; and
(2) any similar a drug
abuse education and prevention program that includes the following components:
(i) instruction for students enrolled
in kindergarten through grade six that is designed to teach students to
recognize and resist pressures to experiment with controlled substances and
alcohol;
(ii) provisions for parental
involvement;
(iii) classroom instruction by
uniformed law enforcement personnel;
(iv) the use of positive student
leaders to influence younger students not to use drugs; and
(v) an emphasis on activity-oriented
techniques designed to encourage student-generated responses to problem-solving
situations; and
(3) a juvenile court program that:
(i) provides intervention strategies
to reduce drug abuse and criminal behavior in juvenile offenders; and
(ii) promotes local drug abuse
prevention efforts within the community.
Sec. 41. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 609.101,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Minimum
fines; other crimes. Notwithstanding
any other law:
(1) when a court sentences a person
convicted of a felony that is not listed in subdivision 2 or 3, it must impose
a fine of not less than 30 percent of the maximum fine authorized by law nor
more than the maximum fine authorized by law; and
(2) when a court sentences a person
convicted of a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor that is not listed in
subdivision 2, it must impose a fine of not less than 30 percent of the maximum
fine authorized by law nor more than the maximum fine authorized by law, unless
the fine is set at a lower amount on a uniform fine schedule established by the
Judicial Council in consultation with affected state and local agencies. This schedule shall be promulgated not later
than September 1 of each year and shall become effective on January 1 of the
next year unless the legislature, by law, provides otherwise.
The minimum fine required by this
subdivision is in addition to the surcharge or assessment required by section
357.021, subdivision 6, and is in addition to any sentence of imprisonment or
restitution imposed or ordered by the court.
The court shall collect the fines
mandated in this subdivision and, except for fines for traffic and motor
vehicle violations governed by section 169.871 and section 299D.03 and fish and
game violations governed by section 97A.065, forward 20 percent of the revenues
to the commissioner of finance for deposit in the general fund.
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Sec. 42. [609.104]
FINE AND SURCHARGE COLLECTION.
Subdivision 1.
Failure to pay restitution or
fine. (a) Any portion of a
fine, surcharge, court cost, restitution, or fee that the defendant fails to
pay by the due date may be referred for collection under section 480.15,
subdivision 10c. If the defendant
has agreed to a payment plan but fails to pay an installment when due, the
entire amount remaining becomes due and payable and may be referred for
collection under section 480.15, subdivision 10c.
(b) The defendant may contest the
referral for collection based on inability to pay by requesting a hearing no
later than the due date. The defendant
shall be notified in writing at sentencing that under section 480.15,
subdivision 10c, the court may refer the case for collection for nonpayment,
and collection costs may be added to the amount due. The defendant shall also be notified in
writing of the right to contest a referral for collection. The state court administrator shall develop
the notice language.
Subd. 2.
Fine and surcharge collection. (a) A defendant's obligation to pay court-ordered
fines, surcharges, court costs, restitution, and fees shall survive after the
due date for a period set by the Judicial Council.
(b) Any change in the collection
period established by the Judicial Council shall be effective on court-ordered fines,
surcharges, court costs, restitution, and fees imposed on or after the
effective date of this section.
(c) The period relating to a
defendant's obligation to pay restitution under paragraph (a) does not limit
the victim's right to collect restitution through other means such as a civil
judgment.
(d) Nothing in this subdivision
extends the period of a defendant's stay of sentence imposition or execution.
Sec. 43. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 609.125,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Sentences
available. (a) Upon
conviction of a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor the court, if sentence is
imposed, may, to the extent authorized by law, sentence the defendant:
(1) to imprisonment for a definite
term; or
(2) to payment of a fine, or to
imprisonment for a specified term if the fine is not paid without
imprisonment or as an intermediate sanction on a stayed sentence; or
(3) to both imprisonment for a
definite term and payment of a fine; or
(4) to payment of court-ordered
restitution in addition to either imprisonment or payment of a fine, or both;
or
(5) to payment of a local correctional
fee as authorized under section 609.102 in addition to any other sentence
imposed by the court; or
(6) to perform work service in a restorative
justice program in addition to any other sentence imposed by the court.
(b) If the court imposes a fine or
orders restitution under paragraph (a), payment is due on the date imposed
unless the court otherwise establishes a due date or a payment plan.
Sec. 44. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 609.135,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Terms
and conditions. (a) Except when a
sentence of life imprisonment is required by law, or when a mandatory minimum
sentence is required by section 609.11, any court may stay imposition or
execution of sentence and:
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(1) may order intermediate sanctions without placing
the defendant on probation; or
(2) may place the defendant on probation with or
without supervision and on the terms the court prescribes, including
intermediate sanctions when practicable.
The court may order the supervision to be under the probation officer of
the court, or, if there is none and the conviction is for a felony or gross
misdemeanor, by the commissioner of corrections, or in any case by some other
suitable and consenting person. Unless
the court directs otherwise, state parole and probation agents and probation
officers may impose community work service or probation violation sanctions,
consistent with section 243.05, subdivision 1; sections 244.196 to 244.199; or
401.02, subdivision 5.
No intermediate sanction may be ordered performed at a
location that fails to observe applicable requirements or standards of chapter
181A or 182, or any rule promulgated under them.
(b) For purposes of this subdivision, subdivision 6,
and section 609.14, the term "intermediate sanctions" includes but is
not limited to incarceration in a local jail or workhouse, home detention,
electronic monitoring, intensive probation, sentencing to service, reporting to
a day reporting center, chemical dependency or mental health treatment or
counseling, restitution, fines, day-fines, community work service, work service
in a restorative justice program, work in lieu of or to work off fines and,
with the victim's consent, work in lieu of or to work off restitution.
(c) A court may not stay the revocation of the
driver's license of a person convicted of violating the provisions of section
169A.20.
(d) If the court orders a fine, day-fine, or
restitution as an intermediate sanction, payment is due on the date imposed
unless the court otherwise establishes a due date or a payment plan.
Sec. 45.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 609.135, subdivision 1a, is amended to
read:
Subd. 1a. Failure to pay restitution or fine. If the court orders payment of restitution or
a fine as a condition of probation and if the defendant fails to pay the
restitution or a fine in accordance with the payment schedule or
structure established by the court or the probation officer, the prosecutor or
the defendant's probation officer may, on the prosecutor's or the officer's own
motion or at the request of the victim, ask the court to hold a hearing to
determine whether or not the conditions of probation should be changed or
probation should be revoked. The defendant's
probation officer shall ask for the hearing if the restitution or fine
ordered has not been paid prior to 60 days before the term of probation
expires. The court shall schedule and
hold this hearing and take appropriate action, including action under
subdivision 2, paragraph (g), before the defendant's term of probation expires.
Nothing in this subdivision limits the court's ability
to refer the case to collections under section 609.104 when a defendant fails
to pay court-ordered restitution.
Sec. 46.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 609.135, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Stay of sentence maximum periods. (a) If the conviction is for a felony other
than section 609.21, subdivision 1a, paragraph (b) or (c), the stay shall be
for not more than four years or the maximum period for which the sentence of
imprisonment might have been imposed, whichever is longer.
(b) If the conviction is for a gross misdemeanor
violation of section 169A.20 or 609.21, subdivision 1a, paragraph (d), or for a
felony described in section 609.21, subdivision 1a, paragraph (b) or (c), the
stay shall be for not more than six years.
The court shall provide for unsupervised probation for the last year of
the stay unless the court finds that the defendant needs supervised probation
for all or part of the last year.
(c) If the conviction is for a gross misdemeanor not
specified in paragraph (b), the stay shall be for not more than two years.
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(d) If the conviction is for any
misdemeanor under section 169A.20; 609.746, subdivision 1; 609.79; or 617.23;
or for a misdemeanor under section 609.2242 or 609.224, subdivision 1, in which
the victim of the crime was a family or household member as defined in section
518B.01, the stay shall be for not more than two years. The court shall provide for unsupervised
probation for the second year of the stay unless the court finds that the
defendant needs supervised probation for all or part of the second year.
(e) If the conviction is for a
misdemeanor not specified in paragraph (d), the stay shall be for not more than
one year.
(f) The defendant shall be discharged
six months after the term of the stay expires, unless the stay has been revoked
or extended under paragraph (g), or the defendant has already been discharged.
(g) Notwithstanding the maximum
periods specified for stays of sentences under paragraphs (a) to (f), a court may
extend a defendant's term of probation for up to one year if it finds, at a
hearing conducted under subdivision 1a, that:
(1) the defendant has not paid
court-ordered restitution or a fine in accordance with the payment
schedule or structure; and
(2) the defendant is likely to not
pay the restitution or fine the defendant owes before the term of
probation expires.
This one-year extension of probation
for failure to pay restitution or a fine may be extended by the court
for up to one additional year if the court finds, at another hearing conducted
under subdivision 1a, that the defendant still has not paid the court-ordered
restitution or fine that the defendant owes.
Nothing in this subdivision limits
the court's ability to refer the case to collections under section 609.104.
(h) Notwithstanding the maximum
periods specified for stays of sentences under paragraphs (a) to (f), a court
may extend a defendant's term of probation for up to three years if it finds,
at a hearing conducted under subdivision 1c, that:
(1) the defendant has failed to
complete court-ordered treatment successfully; and
(2) the defendant is likely not to
complete court-ordered treatment before the term of probation expires.
Sec. 47. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 611.17, is
amended to read:
611.17 FINANCIAL INQUIRY; STATEMENTS; CO-PAYMENT; STANDARDS FOR DISTRICT
PUBLIC DEFENSE ELIGIBILITY.
(a) Each judicial district must
screen requests for representation by the district public defender. A defendant is financially unable to obtain
counsel if:
(1) the defendant, or any dependent
of the defendant who resides in the same household as the defendant, receives
means-tested governmental benefits; or
(2) the defendant, through any combination
of liquid assets and current income, would be unable to pay the reasonable
costs charged by private counsel in that judicial district for a defense of the
same matter.
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(b) Upon a request for the appointment of counsel, the
court shall make appropriate inquiry into the financial circumstances of the
applicant, who shall submit a financial statement under oath or affirmation
setting forth the applicant's assets and liabilities, including the value of
any real property owned by the applicant, whether homestead or otherwise, less
the amount of any encumbrances on the real property, the source or sources of
income, and any other information required by the court. The applicant shall be under a continuing
duty while represented by a public defender to disclose any changes in the
applicant's financial circumstances that might be relevant to the applicant's
eligibility for a public defender. The
state public defender shall furnish appropriate forms for the financial
statements. The forms must contain
conspicuous notice of the applicant's continuing duty to disclose to the court
changes in the applicant's financial circumstances. The forms must also contain conspicuous
notice of the applicant's obligation to make a co-payment for the services of
the district public defender, as specified under paragraph (c). The information contained in the statement shall
be confidential and for the exclusive use of the court and the public defender
appointed by the court to represent the applicant except for any prosecution
under section 609.48. A refusal to
execute the financial statement or produce financial records constitutes a
waiver of the right to the appointment of a public defender. The court shall not appoint a district public
defender to a defendant who is financially able to retain private counsel but
refuses to do so.
An inquiry to determine financial eligibility of a
defendant for the appointment of the district public defender shall be made
whenever possible prior to the court appearance and by such persons as the
court may direct. This inquiry may be
combined with the prerelease investigation provided for in Minnesota Rule of
Criminal Procedure 6.02, subdivision 3.
In no case shall the district public defender be required to perform
this inquiry or investigate the defendant's assets or eligibility. The court has the sole duty to conduct a
financial inquiry. The inquiry must
include the following:
(1) the liquidity of real estate assets, including the
defendant's homestead;
(2) any assets that can be readily converted to cash
or used to secure a debt;
(3) the determination of whether the transfer of an
asset is voidable as a fraudulent conveyance; and
(4) the value of all property transfers occurring on
or after the date of the alleged offense.
The burden is on the accused to show that he or she is financially
unable to afford counsel. Defendants who
fail to provide information necessary to determine eligibility shall be deemed
ineligible. The court must not appoint
the district public defender as advisory counsel.
(c) Upon disposition of the case, an individual who
has received public defender services shall pay to the court a $28 $75
co-payment for representation provided by a public defender, unless the
co-payment is, or has been, waived by the court.
The co-payment must be credited to the general
fund. If a term of probation is imposed
as a part of an offender's sentence, the co-payment required by this section
must not be made a condition of probation.
The co-payment required by this section is a civil obligation and must
not be made a condition of a criminal sentence.
Sec. 48.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 631.48, is amended to read:
631.48
SENTENCE; COSTS OF PROSECUTION.
In a criminal action, upon conviction of the
defendant, the court may order as part of the sentence that defendant shall pay
the whole or any part of the disbursements of the prosecution, including
disbursements made to extradite a defendant.
The court may order this payment in addition to any other penalty
authorized by law which it may impose.
The payment of the disbursements of prosecution may be enforced in the
same manner as the sentence, or by execution against property. When collected, the disbursements must be
paid into the treasury of the county of
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conviction, but of ordered prosecution costs shall be paid to the municipality or
subdivision of government which employed the prosecuting attorney or otherwise
provided for prosecution of the case. This payment may not interfere with the
payment of officers', witnesses', or jurors' fees.
Sec. 49. PUBLIC DEFENDER FEE.
Subdivision 1. Authorization. (a) The Supreme Court, through the lawyer
registration office, may assess a public defender fee on each licensed attorney
in the state. If imposed, the fee must
not be more than $75 or less than the civil legal services fee established by
the Supreme Court in 1997 that licensed attorneys are required to pay pursuant
to the rules of the supreme court on lawyer registration.
(b) The fee described in paragraph (a) may apply only
to attorneys actively engaged in the practice of law.
Subd. 2. Creation
of account. The public
defender fee account is created in the special revenue fund. The state court administrator shall forward
fees collected under subdivision 1 to the commissioner of finance who shall
deposit them in the state treasury and credit them to this account. Money in the account is appropriated to the
Board of Public Defense.
Sec. 50. REPEALER.
(a) Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 152.0262,
subdivision 2, is repealed effective July 1, 2009, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.
(b) Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 383B.65,
subdivision 2; 484.90, subdivisions 1, 2, and 3; 487.08, subdivisions 1, 2, 3,
and 5; and 609.135, subdivision 8, are repealed.
ARTICLE 3
PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3.195, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Distribution of reports. (a) Except as provided in subdivision 4, a
report to the legislature required of a department or agency shall be made,
unless otherwise specifically required by law, by filing one copy with the
secretary of the senate, one copy with the chief clerk of the house of
representatives, and six copies with the Legislative Reference Library. The same distribution procedure shall be
followed for other reports and publications unless otherwise requested by a
legislator or the Legislative Reference Library.
(b) A public entity as defined in section 16B.122,
shall not distribute a report or publication to a member or employee of the
legislature, except the secretary of the senate, the chief clerk of the house
of representatives, and the Legislative Reference Library, unless the entity
has determined that the member or employee wants the reports or publications
published by that entity or the member or employee has requested the report or
publication. This prohibition applies to
both mandatory and voluntary reports and publications. A report or publication may be summarized in
an executive summary and distributed as the entity chooses. Distribution of a report to legislative
committee or commission members during a committee or commission hearing is not
prohibited by this section.
(c) A report or publication produced by a public
entity may not be sent to both the home address and the office address of a
representative or senator unless mailing to both addresses is requested by the
representative or senator.
(d) Reports, publications, periodicals, and summaries
under this subdivision must be printed in a manner consistent with section
16B.122.
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Sec. 2. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 3.195, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 4. Reports
of criminal justice agencies; electronic versions only. (a) As used in this subdivision,
"criminal justice agency" means the Departments of Corrections, Public
Safety, and Human Rights; the Boards of Public Defense, Peace Officer Standards
and Training, Private Detective and Protective Agent Services, and Judicial
Standards; the Sentencing Guidelines and Uniform Laws Commissions; and the
courts.
(b) A criminal justice agency that submits a report to
the legislature under this section shall do so by submitting an electronic
version rather than a printed one.
Notwithstanding subdivision 1, paragraph (a), and section 15.18, the
agency need submit only one electronic copy to the Legislative Reference
Library, the State Library, and the Minnesota Historical Society. In addition, the agency shall submit one
printed copy to the Legislative Reference Library.
Sec. 3. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 152.025, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Sale crimes. (a) A person is guilty of controlled
substance crime in the fifth degree and if convicted may be sentenced to
imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more
than $10,000, or both if:
(1) the person unlawfully sells one or more mixtures
containing marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinols, except a small amount of
marijuana for no remuneration; or
(2) the person unlawfully sells one or more mixtures
containing a controlled substance classified in schedule IV.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), if a person
is guilty of controlled substance crime in the fifth degree and the conviction
is a subsequent controlled substance conviction, the person convicted shall be
committed to the commissioner of corrections or to a local correctional
authority for not less than six months nor more than ten years and, in
addition, may be sentenced to payment of a fine of not more than $20,000 if:
(1) the person unlawfully sells one or more mixtures
containing marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinols, except a small amount of
marijuana for no remuneration; or
(2) the person unlawfully sells one or more mixtures
containing a controlled substance classified in schedule IV.
(c) Prior to the time of sentencing, the prosecutor
may file a motion to have the person sentenced without regard to the mandatory
minimum sentence established by paragraph (b).
The motion must be accompanied by a statement on the record of the
reasons for it. When presented with the
motion, or on its own motion, the court may sentence the person without regard
to the mandatory minimum sentence if the court finds, on the record,
substantial and compelling reasons to do so.
Sentencing a person in this manner is a departure from the sentencing
guidelines.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009,
and applies to crimes committed on or after that date.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 152.025, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Possession and other crimes. (a) A person is guilty of controlled
substance crime in the fifth degree and if convicted may be sentenced to
imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more
than $10,000, or both if:
(1) the person unlawfully possesses one or more
mixtures containing a controlled substance classified in schedule I, II, III,
or IV, except a small amount of marijuana; or
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(2) the person procures, attempts to procure,
possesses, or has control over a controlled substance by any of the following
means:
(i) fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or subterfuge;
(ii) using a false name or giving false credit; or
(iii) falsely assuming the title of, or falsely
representing any person to be, a manufacturer, wholesaler, pharmacist,
physician, doctor of osteopathy licensed to practice medicine, dentist,
podiatrist, veterinarian, or other authorized person for the purpose of
obtaining a controlled substance.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), if a person
is guilty of controlled substance crime in the fifth degree and the conviction
is a subsequent controlled substance conviction, the person convicted shall be
committed to the commissioner of corrections or to a local correctional
authority for not less than six months nor more than ten years and, in
addition, may be sentenced to payment of a fine of not more than $20,000 if:
(1) the person unlawfully possesses one or more
mixtures containing a controlled substance classified in schedule I, II, III,
or IV, except a small amount of marijuana; or
(2) the person procures, attempts to procure, possesses,
or has control over a controlled substance by any of the following means:
(i) fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or subterfuge;
(ii) using a false name or giving false credit; or
(iii) falsely assuming the title of, or falsely
representing any person to be, a manufacturer, wholesaler, pharmacist,
physician, doctor of osteopathy licensed to practice medicine, dentist,
podiatrist, veterinarian, or other authorized person for the purpose of
obtaining a controlled substance.
(c) Prior to the time of sentencing, the prosecutor
may file a motion to have the person sentenced without regard to the mandatory
minimum sentence established by paragraph (b).
The motion must be accompanied by a statement on the record of the
reasons for it. When presented with the
motion, or on its own motion, the court may sentence the person without regard
to the mandatory minimum sentence if the court finds, on the record,
substantial and compelling reasons to do so.
Sentencing a person in this manner is a departure from the sentencing
guidelines.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009,
and applies to crimes committed on or after that date.
Sec. 5.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 171.29, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Reinstatement fees and surcharges allocated
and appropriated. (a) An individual
whose driver's license has been revoked as provided in subdivision 1, except
under section 169A.52, 169A.54, or 609.21, must pay a $30 fee before the
driver's license is reinstated.
(b) A person whose driver's license has been revoked
as provided in subdivision 1 under section 169A.52, 169A.54, or 609.21, must
pay a $250 fee plus a $430 surcharge before the driver's license is reinstated,
except as provided in paragraph (f). The
$250 fee is to be credited as follows:
(1) Twenty percent must be credited to the driver
services operating account in the special revenue fund as specified in section
299A.705.
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(2) Sixty-seven percent must be credited to the
general fund.
(3) Eight percent must be credited to a separate
account to be known as the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension account. Money in this account may be is
annually appropriated to the commissioner of public safety and the
appropriated amount must be apportioned 80 percent for laboratory costs and 20
percent for carrying out the provisions of section 299C.065.
(4) Five percent must be credited to a separate
account to be known as the vehicle forfeiture account, which is created in the
special revenue fund. The money in the
account is annually appropriated to the commissioner for costs of handling
vehicle forfeitures.
(c) The revenue from $50 of the surcharge must be
credited to a separate account to be known as the traumatic brain injury and
spinal cord injury account. The revenue
from $50 of the surcharge on a reinstatement under paragraph (f) is credited
from the first installment payment to the traumatic brain injury and spinal
cord injury account. The money in the
account is annually appropriated to the commissioner of health to be used as
follows: 83 percent for contracts with a
qualified community-based organization to provide information, resources, and
support to assist persons with traumatic brain injury and their families to
access services, and 17 percent to maintain the traumatic brain injury and
spinal cord injury registry created in section 144.662. For the purposes of this paragraph, a
"qualified community-based organization" is a private, not-for-profit
organization of consumers of traumatic brain injury services and their family
members. The organization must be registered
with the United States Internal Revenue Service under section 501(c)(3) as a
tax-exempt organization and must have as its purposes:
(1) the promotion of public, family, survivor, and
professional awareness of the incidence and consequences of traumatic brain
injury;
(2) the provision of a network of support for persons
with traumatic brain injury, their families, and friends;
(3) the development and support of programs and
services to prevent traumatic brain injury;
(4) the establishment of education programs for
persons with traumatic brain injury; and
(5) the empowerment of persons with traumatic brain
injury through participation in its governance.
A patient's name, identifying information, or
identifiable medical data must not be disclosed to the organization without the
informed voluntary written consent of the patient or patient's guardian or, if
the patient is a minor, of the parent or guardian of the patient.
(d) The remainder of the surcharge must be credited to
a separate account to be known as the remote electronic alcohol-monitoring
program account. The commissioner shall
transfer the balance of this account to the commissioner of finance on a
monthly basis for deposit in the general fund.
(e) When these fees are collected by a licensing
agent, appointed under section 171.061, a handling charge is imposed in the
amount specified under section 171.061, subdivision 4. The reinstatement fees and surcharge must be
deposited in an approved depository as directed under section 171.061, subdivision
4.
(f) A person whose driver's license has been revoked
as provided in subdivision 1 under section 169A.52 or 169A.54 and who the court
certifies as being financially eligible for a public defender under section
611.17, may choose to pay 50 percent and an additional $25 of the total amount
of the surcharge and 50 percent of the fee required under paragraph (b) to
reinstate the person's driver's license, provided the person meets all other
requirements of reinstatement. If a
person chooses to pay 50 percent of the total and an additional $25, the
driver's license must expire after two years.
The person must pay an additional 50 percent less $25 of the total to
extend the
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5726
license for an additional two years, provided the
person is otherwise still eligible for the license. After this final payment of the surcharge and
fee, the license may be renewed on a standard schedule, as provided under
section 171.27. A handling charge may be
imposed for each installment payment.
Revenue from the handling charge is credited to the driver services
operating account in the special revenue fund and is appropriated to the
commissioner.
(g) Any person making installment
payments under paragraph (f), whose driver's license subsequently expires, or
is canceled, revoked, or suspended before payment of 100 percent of the
surcharge and fee, must pay the outstanding balance due for the initial
reinstatement before the driver's license is subsequently reinstated. Upon payment of the outstanding balance due
for the initial reinstatement, the person may pay any new surcharge and fee
imposed under paragraph (b) in installment payments as provided under paragraph
(f).
Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 241.016,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Biennial
report. (a) The Department of
Corrections shall submit a performance report to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the senate and house of representatives committees and
divisions having jurisdiction over criminal justice funding by January 15,
2005, and every other of each odd-numbered year thereafter. The issuance and content of the report must
include the following:
(1) department strategic mission,
goals, and objectives;
(2) the department-wide per diem,
adult facility-specific per diems, and an average per diem, reported in a standard
calculated method as outlined in the departmental policies and procedures;
(3) department annual statistics as
outlined in the departmental policies and procedures; and
(4) information about prison-based
mental health programs, including, but not limited to, the availability of
these programs, participation rates, and completion rates.
(b) The department shall maintain
recidivism rates for adult facilities on an annual basis. In addition, each year the department shall,
on an alternating basis, complete a recidivism analysis of adult facilities,
juvenile services, and the community services divisions and include a
three-year recidivism analysis in the report described in
paragraph (a). The recidivism
analysis must: (1) assess education programs, vocational programs, treatment
programs, including mental health programs, industry, and employment; and (2)
assess statewide re-entry policies and funding, including postrelease
treatment, education, training, and supervision. In addition, when reporting recidivism for
the department's adult and juvenile facilities, the department shall report on
the extent to which offenders it has assessed as chemically dependent commit
new offenses, with separate recidivism rates reported for persons completing and
not completing the department's treatment programs.
(c) By August 31 of each odd-numbered
year, the commissioner must present to the individuals identified in paragraph
(a) a report that lists and describes the performance measures and targets the
department will include in the biennial performance report. The measures and targets must include a
budget target for the next two years and a history of the department's
performance for the previous five years.
At a minimum, the report must include measures and targets for the data
and information identified in paragraphs (a) and (b) regarding per diem,
statistics, inmate programming, and recidivism, and the following:
(1) average statutory per diem for
adult offenders, female offenders, and juvenile offenders;
(2) the Department of Corrections
field services;
(3) staffing and salaries for both
department divisions and institutions;
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5727
(4) the use of private and local
institutions to house persons committed to the commissioner;
(5) the cost of inmate health and
dental care;
(6) implementation and use of
corrections best practices; and
(7) the challenge incarceration
program.
Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 241.27,
subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
Subd. 1a. Marketing
plan. The commissioner of
corrections, in consultation with the commissioner of employment and
economic development, shall develop, implement, and maintain a formal
marketing plan to attract private sector businesses and industries and state
and local government agencies to employ inmate services
incarcerated offenders through MINNCOR industries. The plan shall be reviewed and updated
annually by the commissioner of corrections.
Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 241.27, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 6.
Reports and financial
statements. MINNCOR shall
include its full costs for inmate wages and the money it receives from the
department for inmate confinement costs in its annual financial statements and
reports. In addition, MINNCOR shall
disclose in its annual report how the money it receives from the department for
inmate confinement costs affects its profitability.
Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 241.27, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 7.
Interactions with private
businesses. (a) MINNCOR shall
use revenue contracts or purchase orders on forms approved by the Department of
Administration whenever it allows private businesses to use inmate labor. MINNCOR shall determine whether to use a
revenue contract or a purchase order according to criteria that the Department
of Corrections has approved having taken into account the recommendations of
the legislative auditor contained in its 2009 report on MINNCOR.
(b) MINNCOR shall develop a uniform
method to report sales and expenditure data related to individual labor
arrangements with private businesses. MINNCOR
shall review the data annually to assess how the arrangements, both
individually and collectively, affect MINNCOR's achieving its goals of high
inmate participation in industry and profitability.
Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 241.27, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 8.
Contracts or purchase orders;
work on projects before and after.
MINNCOR may not begin work on a project until a contract or purchase
order has been signed and may not continue work on a project after a contract
or purchase order has expired.
Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 244.055,
subdivision 11, is amended to read:
Subd. 11. Sunset. This section expires July 1, 2009
2011.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective
the day following final enactment.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5728
Sec. 12. [244.085]
FELONY DWI REPORT.
By January 15 of each year, the
commissioner shall report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
house of representatives and senate committees having jurisdiction over
criminal justice policy and funding on the implementation and effects of the
felony level driving while impaired offense.
The report must include the following information on felony level
driving while impaired offenses involving offenders committed to the
commissioner's custody:
(1) the number of persons committed;
(2) the county of conviction;
(3) the offenders' ages and gender;
(4) the offenders' prior impaired
driving histories and prior criminal histories;
(5) the number of offenders:
(i) given an executed prison sentence
upon conviction and the length of the sentence;
(ii) given an executed prison
sentence upon revocation of probation, the reasons for revocation, and the
length of sentence;
(iii) who successfully complete
treatment in prison;
(iv) placed on intensive supervision
following release from incarceration;
(v) placed in the challenge
incarceration program, the number of offenders released from prison under this
program, and the number of these offenders who violate their release conditions
and the consequences imposed; and
(vi) who violate supervised release
and the consequences imposed;
(6) per diem costs, including
treatment costs, for offenders incarcerated under the felony sentence
provisions; and
(7) any other information the
commissioner deems relevant to estimating future costs.
Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 244.17, is
amended to read:
244.17 CHALLENGE INCARCERATION PROGRAM.
Subdivision 1. Generally. The commissioner may shall
select offenders who meet the eligibility requirements of subdivisions 2 and 3
to participate in a challenge incarceration program described in sections
244.171 and 244.172 for all or part of the offender's sentence if the offender
agrees to participate in the program and signs a written contract with the
commissioner agreeing to comply with the program's requirements.
Subd. 2. Eligibility. (a) Unless a person is ineligible under
subdivision 3, the commissioner must limit offer a bed in the
challenge incarceration program to the following persons:
(1) offenders who are committed to
the commissioner's custody following revocation of a stayed sentence; and
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5729
(2) offenders who are committed to the commissioner's
custody, who have 48 months or less in or remaining in their term of
imprisonment, and who did not receive a dispositional departure under the
Sentencing Guidelines.
(b) If there is insufficient space for an eligible
person, the commissioner shall place the person's name on a waiting list and
offer the person the chance to participate when space becomes available if the
person is still eligible under this section.
Subd. 3. Offenders not eligible. (a) The following offenders are not
eligible to be placed in the challenge incarceration program:
(1) offenders who are committed to the commissioner's
custody following a conviction for murder, manslaughter, criminal sexual
conduct, assault, kidnapping, robbery, arson, or any other offense involving
death or intentional personal injury; and
(2) offenders who were convicted within the preceding
ten years of an offense described in clause (1) and were committed to the custody
of the commissioner.;
(3) offenders who have been convicted or adjudicated
delinquent within the past five years for a violation of section 609.485;
(4) offenders who are committed to the commissioner's
custody for an offense that requires registration under section 243.166;
(5) offenders who are the subject of a current arrest
warrant or detainer;
(6) offenders who have fewer than 180 days remaining
until their supervised release date;
(7) offenders who have had disciplinary confinement
time added to their sentence or who have been placed in segregation, unless 90
days have elapsed from the imposition of the additional disciplinary
confinement time or the last day of segregation;
(8) offenders who have received a suspended formal
disciplinary sanction, unless the suspension has expired;
(9) offenders whose governing sentence is for an
offense from another state or the United States; and
(10) offenders who have a medical condition included
on the list of ineligible conditions described in paragraph (b).
(b) The commissioner of corrections shall develop a
list of medical conditions that will disqualify an offender from participating
in the challenge incarceration program.
The commissioner shall submit the list and any changes to it to the chairs
and ranking minority members of the senate and house committees having
jurisdiction over criminal justice policy and funding.
Sec. 14.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 244.172, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Phase I. Phase I of the program lasts at least six
months. The offender must be confined in
a state correctional facility designated by the commissioner at the
Minnesota Correctional Facility - Willow River/Moose Lake or the Minnesota
Correctional Facility - Togo and must successfully participate in all
intensive treatment, education and work programs required by the
commissioner. The offender must also
submit on demand to random drug and alcohol testing at time intervals set by
the commissioner. Throughout phase I,
the commissioner must severely restrict the offender's telephone and visitor
privileges.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5730
Sec. 15. [244.30]
CAP ON INCARCERATION FOR FIRST-TIME SUPERVISED RELEASE VIOLATIONS; EXCEPTION
FOR SEX OFFENDERS.
(a) If the commissioner revokes the
supervised release of a person whose release on the current offense has not
previously been revoked, the commissioner may order the person to be
incarcerated for no more than 90 days or until the expiration of the person's
sentence, whichever is less.
(b) This section does not apply to
offenders on supervised release for a violation of section 609.342, 609.343,
609.344, 609.345, 609.3451, or 609.3453.
(c) The commissioner may order a
person described in this section to be incarcerated for more than 90 days if
the commissioner determines that substantial and compelling reasons exist to
believe that the longer incarceration period is necessary to protect the
public.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective the day following final enactment and applies to persons whose
supervised release is revoked on or after that date.
Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 299A.01, subdivision
1a, is amended to read:
Subd. 1a. Mission;
efficiency. It is part of the
department's mission that within the department's resources the commissioner
shall endeavor to:
(1) prevent the waste or unnecessary
spending of public money;
(2) use innovative fiscal and human
resource practices to manage the state's resources and operate the department
as efficiently as possible;
(3) coordinate the department's
activities wherever appropriate with the activities of other governmental
agencies;
(4) use technology where appropriate
to increase agency productivity, improve customer service, increase public
access to information about government, and increase public participation in
the business of government;
(5) utilize constructive and cooperative
labor-management practices to the extent otherwise required by chapters 43A and
179A; and
(6) report to the legislature on the
performance of agency operations and the accomplishment of agency goals in the
agency's biennial budget according to section 16A.10, subdivision 1; and
(7) (6) recommend to the legislature
appropriate changes in law necessary to carry out the mission and improve the
performance of the department.
Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 299A.01, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 1c.
Performance report;
performance measures and targets.
(a) The commissioner, as part of the department's mission and within
the department's resources, shall report to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the senate and house of representatives committees having
jurisdiction over criminal justice policy and funding on the performance of
agency operations and the accomplishment of agency goals in the agency's
biennial budget according to paragraph (b) and section 16A.10, subdivision
1. The purpose of the report is to
determine the extent to which each program is accomplishing the program's
mission, goals, and objectives.
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5731
The report may address:
(1) factors that limited or delayed
achievement of objectives or goals;
(2) resources used or saved and
efficiencies achieved in reaching program objectives and goals;
(3) information from customers and
partners of the agency regarding the quality of service and effectiveness of
the agency and the agency's programs;
(4) recommendations on elimination of
unnecessary or obsolete mandated reports; and
(5) major cases, events, or
circumstances that required an agency response.
(b) By August 1 of each odd-numbered
year, the commissioner must present to the individuals identified in paragraph
(a) a report that states the mission, goals, and objectives of each program and
lists and describes the performance measures and targets the department will
include in the performance report required under paragraph (a). The report must include information on how
program goals and objectives were created and who participated in formulating
them. The measures and targets must
include a history of the department's performance for the previous five
years. At a minimum, the report must
include measures and targets for the following:
(1) staffing and salaries for
divisions within the agency;
(2) caseloads and responsibilities of
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents;
(3) development and funding of the
Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER);
(4) grant programs administered under
the Office of Justice Programs and Homeland Security and Emergency Management;
(5) receipt and expenditure of federal
grant funds;
(6) expenditure of the fire safety
insurance surcharge;
(7) emergency preparedness;
(8) crime lab operations; and
(9) assistance provided to crime
victims.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective June 1, 2009.
Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 299C.65,
subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
Subd. 3a. Report. The policy group, with the assistance of the
task force, shall file an annual a biennial report with the
governor, Supreme Court, and chairs and ranking minority members of the senate
and house of representatives committees and divisions with jurisdiction over
criminal justice funding and policy by January 15 of in each
odd-numbered year. The report must
provide the following:
(1) status and review of current
integration efforts and projects;
(2) recommendations concerning any
legislative changes or appropriations that are needed to ensure that the
criminal justice information systems operate accurately and efficiently; and
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5732
(3) summary of the activities of the
policy group and task force.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 609.105,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Sentence
to less than 180 days more than one year. In A felony sentence to imprisonment,
when the remaining term of imprisonment is for 180 days or less, the
defendant more than one year shall be committed commit the
defendant to the custody of the commissioner of corrections and must
serve the remaining term of imprisonment at a workhouse, work farm, county
jail, or other place authorized by law.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective July 1, 2009, and applies to offenders sentenced on or after
that date.
Sec. 20. REPORT
ON MINNCOR MARKETING PLAN.
By September 15, 2009, the
commissioner of corrections shall report to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the senate and house committees and divisions having jurisdiction
over criminal justice policy and funding on the marketing plan required in Minnesota
Statutes, section 241.27, subdivision 1a.
Sec. 21. REVIEW
OF REPORTS.
The Sentencing Guidelines Commission
and the Departments of Corrections and Public Safety shall each review its
reports for consolidation and may consider consolidating any reports with other
reports to achieve administrative convenience or fiscal savings or to reduce
the burden of reporting requirements.
The commission and departments may not eliminate a legislatively
mandated reporting requirement without prior legislative approval.
Sec. 22. COUNTY-BASED
REVOCATION CENTER PILOT PROJECT; REPORT.
(a) Dodge, Fillmore, and Olmsted
Counties; Tri-County Community Corrections; Hennepin County; Ramsey County; and
any other county or community corrections department that wishes to participate
may develop a proposal for a pilot project for a secure residential center for
the supervision of persons facing revocation of their supervised release or
execution of a stayed prison sentence.
The proposal must address the care, custody, and programming for
offenders assigned to the facility as an intermediate sanction prior to
revocation or execution of a stayed prison sentence.
(b) The counties must consider the
following factors in developing the proposal:
(1) type and length of programming
for offenders, including supervision, mental health and chemical dependency
treatment options, and educational and employment readiness opportunities;
(2) medical care;
(3) the transporting of offenders to
and from any facility;
(4) detailed current and future costs
and per diems associated with the facility;
(5) admission and release procedures
of the facility;
(6) intended outcomes of the pilot
project; and
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5733
(7) other factors deemed appropriate
for consideration by the counties.
(c) By December 1, 2009, any county
that develops a pilot project shall report by electronic means the pilot
project proposal to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and
house of representatives committees having jurisdiction over public safety
policy and funding. A written copy must
be made available upon request.
Sec. 23. CORRECTIONS
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS ADVISORY TASK FORCE.
Subdivision 1.
Establishment; duties. A task force is established to advise the
governor and the legislature on management and operations strategies that will
improve efficiency in corrections and reduce the inmate per diem for the
Department of Corrections. The task
force must provide an assessment that identifies strategies and makes recommendations,
including any proposals for legislative changes, to improve efficiency in (1)
the delivery of state corrections services; (2) construction, maintenance, and
operation of state prisons; and (3) coordination between state and local
corrections agencies. In developing its
assessment, the task force shall consider best practices in business
management; best practices in corrections management and operations; efficiency
concepts in academic, business, or other environments; and how requirements
under law affect corrections efficiency.
The assessment provided by the task force should include, but is not
limited to, analysis of the staffing and administration of prisons; central
office and administrative services staffing and operations; the impact of
decisions on other agency budgets; offender treatment and programming; field
services; employee pension plans; housing short-term offenders and probation
violators; offender healthcare; juvenile services; and the conditional release
and challenge incarceration programs.
Subd. 2.
Membership. The advisory task force consists of the
following members:
(1) the commissioner of corrections,
or the commissioner's designee;
(2) one person appointed by the
governor who serves as a sheriff in this state;
(3) three persons appointed by the governor
from a postsecondary academic institution who have expertise in applied
economics, organizational efficiency, or business management;
(4) three persons appointed by the
governor from the private sector who have expertise in management or corporate
efficiency but would not qualify for membership under clause (3);
(5) one member appointed by the
governor who is a community corrections act department director or a community
probation office department director;
(6) two persons appointed by the speaker
of the house of representatives, one of whom must be a member of organized
labor and possess knowledge of corrections;
(7) one person appointed by the
minority leader of the house of representatives;
(8) two persons appointed by the
senate majority leader, one of whom must be a member of organized labor and
possess knowledge of corrections; and
(9) one person appointed by the
minority leader of the senate.
Subd. 3.
Appointment of members. The appointments and designations
authorized by this section must be completed by August 1, 2009.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5734
Subd. 4. Staffing
support. Upon request of the
task force, the commissioner of administration must provide meeting space and
administrative services. The
commissioner of corrections shall provide information and other assistance as
requested by the task force.
Subd. 5. Administrative
provisions. (a) The commissioner
of corrections, or the commissioner's designee, must convene the initial
meeting of the task force. The members
of the task force must elect a chair or co-chairs at the initial meeting.
(b) Public members of the task force serve without
compensation or payment of expenses.
(c) The task force may apply for, solicit, and accept
gifts and grants and is encouraged to seek technical assistance from subject
matter experts affiliated with the National Institute of Corrections. Funds received under this paragraph are
accepted on behalf of the state and constitute donations to the state and are
appropriated to the commissioner of administration for purposes of the task
force.
(d) The task force expires June 30, 2010.
Subd. 6. Report. By February 15, 2010, the task force shall
submit a report on corrections management and operations efficiency strategies
to the governor and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of
representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over public safety
policy and finance.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 24. REPEALER.
(a) Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 260B.199,
subdivision 2; 260B.201, subdivision 3; and 325E.22, are repealed effective the
day following final enactment.
(b) Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 152.025,
subdivision 3, is repealed effective July 1, 2009, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.
(c) Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 609.105,
subdivisions 1a and 1b, are repealed effective July 1, 2009, and apply to
offenders sentenced on or after that date."
Delete the title and insert:
"A bill for an act relating to public safety;
providing for the courts and public defenders including court vacancies,
referees, fines and fees, surcharges, collection policies and procedures,
driving while impaired, judgments, and restorative justice for juvenile petty
offenders; providing for public safety and corrections including reports,
controlled substance crimes, sentencing, MINNCOR, challenge incarceration
program, supervised release violations, and county-based revocation center
pilot project; authorizing a task force and forum; providing for penalties;
appropriating money for the courts, public defenders, public safety,
corrections, certain other criminal justice agencies, boards, and commissions;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 2.722, subdivisions 4, 4a; 2.724,
subdivisions 2, 3; 3.195, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 86B.705,
subdivision 2; 134A.09, subdivision 2a; 134A.10, subdivision 3; 152.025,
subdivisions 1, 2; 152.0262, subdivision 1; 169A.20, subdivision 1, by adding
subdivisions; 169A.25, subdivision 1; 169A.26, subdivision 1; 169A.27,
subdivision 1; 169A.28, subdivision 2; 169A.284; 169A.46, subdivision 1;
169A.54, subdivision 1; 171.29, subdivision 2; 241.016, subdivision 1; 241.27,
subdivision 1a, by adding subdivisions; 244.055, subdivision 11; 244.17;
244.172, subdivision 1; 299A.01, subdivision 1a, by adding a subdivision; 299C.65,
subdivision 3a; 299D.03, subdivision 5; 357.021, subdivisions 2, 6, 7; 357.022;
357.08; 364.08; 375.14; 480.15, by adding a subdivision; 484.85; 484.90,
subdivision 6; 484.91, subdivision 1; 491A.02, subdivision 9; 491A.03,
subdivision 1; 525.091, subdivision 1;
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5735
549.09, subdivision 1; 550.011; 609.035, subdivision
2; 609.10, subdivision 1; 609.101, subdivisions 3, 4; 609.105, subdivision 1;
609.125, subdivision 1; 609.135, subdivisions 1, 1a, 2; 611.17; 631.48;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 244; 609;
repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 152.025, subdivision 3; 152.0262,
subdivision 2; 260B.199, subdivision 2; 260B.201, subdivision 3; 325E.22;
383B.65, subdivision 2; 484.90, subdivisions 1, 2, 3; 487.08, subdivisions 1,
2, 3, 5; 609.105, subdivisions 1a, 1b; 609.135, subdivision 8."
We request the adoption of this report and repassage of the bill.
Senate Conferees: Linda Higgins, Leo Foley and Mary Olson.
House Conferees: Michael Paymar, Debra Hilstrom, Tina Liebling and John Lesch.
Paymar moved that the report of the
Conference Committee on S. F. No. 802 be adopted and that the
bill be repassed as amended by the Conference Committee.
Seifert moved that the House refuse to
adopt the Conference Committee report on S. F. No. 802 and that the bill be
returned to the Conference Committee for further consideration.
A roll call was requested and properly
seconded.
CALL OF THE HOUSE
On
the motion of Seifert and on the demand of 10 members, a call of the House was
ordered. The following members answered
to their names:
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Atkins
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Buesgens
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Cornish
Davids
Davnie
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Eken
Emmer
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Greiling
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Hausman
Haws
Hilstrom
Hilty
Holberg
Hoppe
Hornstein
Hortman
Howes
Jackson
Kahn
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Kohls
Laine
Lanning
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Peppin
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scott
Seifert
Sertich
Severson
Shimanski
Simon
Slawik
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Zellers
Spk. Kelliher
Sertich
moved that further proceedings of the roll call be suspended and that the Sergeant
at Arms be instructed to bring in the absentees. The motion prevailed and it was so ordered.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5736
The
question recurred on the Seifert motion and the roll was called. There were 48 yeas and 84 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative
were:
Abeler
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Beard
Brod
Buesgens
Cornish
Davids
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Doepke
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Emmer
Falk
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Holberg
Hoppe
Howes
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Kohls
Lanning
Loon
Mack
Magnus
McFarlane
McNamara
Murdock
Nornes
Peppin
Sanders
Scott
Seifert
Severson
Shimanski
Smith
Torkelson
Urdahl
Westrom
Zellers
Those
who voted in the negative were:
Anzelc
Atkins
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brown
Brynaert
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Davnie
Dill
Dittrich
Doty
Eken
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Greiling
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Knuth
Koenen
Laine
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Scalze
Sertich
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Winkler
Spk. Kelliher
The motion did not prevail.
The question recurred on the Paymar motion
that the report of the Conference Committee on S. F. No. 802 be
adopted and that the bill be repassed as amended by the Conference
Committee. The motion prevailed.
S. F. No. 802, A bill for an act relating
to public safety; appropriating money for public safety, corrections, and other
criminal justice agencies; requiring annual appropriation of money in Bureau of
Criminal Apprehension account to commissioner of public safety; repealing the
mandatory minimum sentences for predatory offender registration offenses and
subsequent controlled substances offenses; providing a 90-day cap on
incarceration for certain first-time supervised release violations; eliminating
the requirement that judges impose a minimum sentence on felony DWI offenders;
requesting the Sentencing Guidelines Commission to rerank the felony DWI
offense; providing for supervised release of offenders; expanding the challenge
incarceration program; requiring the Sentencing Guidelines Commission and the
Departments of Corrections and Public Safety to review its reports; requiring
Department of Corrections to annually report on felony DWI offenders; requiring
that reports to the legislature by criminal justice agencies be submitted
electronically; modifying and expanding the conditional release program for
nonviolent drug offenders; including an advisory board for consultation with
the commissioner of corrections for the conditional release program; repealing
the conditional release program's sunset; authorizing correctional facilities
to forward surcharges from offender wages to court or other entity collecting
the surcharge; repealing reports on out-of-state juvenile placement;
implementing the legislative auditor's recommendations relating to MINNCOR;
requiring the licensure of firefighters; expanding the stay of adjudication
provision for low-level controlled substance offenders; imposing criminal
penalties; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 3.195,
subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 152.021, subdivision 3; 152.022,
subdivision 3; 152.023, subdivision 3; 152.024, subdivision 3; 152.025,
subdivision 3; 152.18, subdivision 1; 169A.275, subdivisions 3, 4, 5; 169A.276,
subdivisions 1, 2; 171.29, subdivision 2; 241.27, subdivision 1a, by adding
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5737
subdivisions;
243.166, subdivision 5; 244.055, subdivisions 2, 3, 5, 7, by adding
subdivisions; 244.17; 244.172, subdivision 1; 299N.02, subdivision 3; 357.021,
subdivision 6; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters
244; 299N; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 152.026; 244.055,
subdivisions 6, 11; 260B.199, subdivision 2; 260B.201, subdivision 3; 325E.22.
The bill was read for the third time, as
amended by Conference, and placed upon its repassage.
The
question was taken on the repassage of the bill and the roll was called. There were 87 yeas and 45 nays as follows:
Those
who voted in the affirmative were:
Anzelc
Atkins
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brown
Brynaert
Buesgens
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Cornish
Davnie
Dittrich
Doty
Downey
Eken
Emmer
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Greiling
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Knuth
Koenen
Laine
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Rosenthal
Ruud
Sailer
Scalze
Sertich
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Winkler
Spk. Kelliher
Those
who voted in the negative were:
Abeler
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Beard
Brod
Davids
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Doepke
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Falk
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Holberg
Hoppe
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Kohls
Lanning
Mack
Magnus
McFarlane
McNamara
Murdock
Nornes
Peppin
Reinert
Rukavina
Sanders
Scott
Seifert
Severson
Shimanski
Smith
Torkelson
Urdahl
Westrom
Zellers
The bill was repassed, as amended by
Conference, and its title agreed to.
CALL OF THE HOUSE LIFTED
Sertich moved that the call of the House
be lifted. The motion prevailed and it
was so ordered.
CALENDAR FOR
THE DAY
S. F. No. 910
was reported to the House.
Johnson
moved to amend S. F. No. 910 as follows:
Page 1, after
line 7, insert:
"Sec.
1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
176.041, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5738
Subdivision 1. Employments
excluded. This chapter does not
apply to any of the following:
(1) a person employed by a
common carrier by railroad engaged in interstate or foreign commerce and who is
covered by the Federal Employers' Liability Act, United States Code, title 45,
sections 51 to 60, or other comparable federal law;
(2) a person employed by a
family farm as defined by section 176.011, subdivision 11a;
(3) the spouse, parent, and
child, regardless of age, of a farmer-employer working for the farmer-employer;
(4) a sole proprietor, or
the spouse, parent, and child, regardless of age, of a sole proprietor;
(5) a partner engaged in a
farm operation or a partner engaged in a business and the spouse, parent, and
child, regardless of age, of a partner in the farm operation or business;
(6) an executive officer of
a family farm corporation;
(7) an executive officer of
a closely held corporation having less than 22,880 hours of payroll in the
preceding calendar year, if that executive officer owns at least 25 percent of
the stock of the corporation;
(8) a spouse, parent, or
child, regardless of age, of an executive officer of a family farm corporation
as defined in section 500.24, subdivision 2, and employed by that family farm
corporation;
(9) a spouse, parent, or
child, regardless of age, of an executive officer of a closely held corporation
who is referred to in clause (7);
(10) another farmer or a
member of the other farmer's family exchanging work with the farmer-employer or
family farm corporation operator in the same community;
(11) a person whose
employment at the time of the injury is casual and not in the usual course of
the trade, business, profession, or occupation of the employer;
(12) persons who are
independent contractors as defined by section 181.723, section 176.043,
and any rules adopted by the commissioner pursuant to section 176.83 except
that these exclusions do not apply to an employee of an independent contractor;
(13) an officer or a member
of a veterans' organization whose employment relationship arises solely by
virtue of attending meetings or conventions of the veterans' organization,
unless the veterans' organization elects by resolution to provide coverage
under this chapter for the officer or member;
(14) a person employed as a
household worker in, for, or about a private home or household who earns less
than $1,000 in cash in a three-month period from a single private home or
household provided that a household worker who has earned $1,000 or more from
the household worker's present employer in a three-month period within the
previous year is covered by this chapter regardless of whether or not the
household worker has earned $1,000 in the present quarter;
(15) persons employed by a
closely held corporation who are related by blood or marriage, within the third
degree of kindred according to the rules of civil law, to an officer of the
corporation, who is referred to in clause (7), if the corporation files a written
election with the commissioner to exclude such individuals. A written election is not required for a
person who is otherwise excluded from this chapter by this section;
(16) a nonprofit association
which does not pay more than $1,000 in salary or wages in a year;
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5739
(17) persons covered under
the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as amended, United States Code,
title 42, sections 5011, et seq.;
(18) a manager of a limited
liability company having ten or fewer members and having less than 22,880 hours
of payroll in the preceding calendar year, if that manager owns at least a 25
percent membership interest in the limited liability company;
(19) a spouse, parent, or
child, regardless of age, of a manager of a limited liability company described
in clause (18);
(20) persons employed by a
limited liability company having ten or fewer members and having less than
22,880 hours of payroll in the preceding calendar year who are related by blood
or marriage, within the third degree of kindred according to the rules of civil
law, to a manager of a limited liability company described in clause (18), if
the company files a written election with the commissioner to exclude these persons. A written election is not required for a
person who is otherwise excluded from this chapter by this section; or
(21) members of limited
liability companies who satisfy the requirements of clause (12)."
Renumber the sections in
sequence and correct the internal references
Amend the title accordingly
The motion prevailed and the amendment was adopted.
S. F. No. 910, A bill for an act relating to employment;
regulating the employment status of certain truckers for the purpose of
unemployment compensation and workers' compensation; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 268.035, subdivision 25b; proposing coding for new law
in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 176; repealing Minnesota Rules, parts 5224.0290;
5224.0291; 5224.0292.
The bill was read for the third time, as amended, and placed
upon its final passage.
The question was taken on the passage of the bill and the roll
was called. There were 132 yeas and 0
nays as follows:
Those who
voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Beard
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Buesgens
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Cornish
Davids
Davnie
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Eken
Emmer
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Greiling
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Holberg
Hoppe
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Kohls
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5740
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Peppin
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scalze
Scott
Seifert
Sertich
Severson
Shimanski
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Zellers
Spk. Kelliher
The bill was passed, as amended, and its title agreed to.
H. F. No. 1853 was reported to the House.
Atkins moved to amend H. F. No. 1853, the first
engrossment, as follows:
Page 1, line 26, delete
"subdivisions 7 and 23," and insert "subdivision 7, paragraph
(a), clause (23);"
Page 3, line 24, after
"nonpublic" insert "data"
Page 3, line 27, after
"nonpublic" insert "data"
Page 3, line 29, after
"nonpublic" insert "data"
Page 3, line 31 after "nonpublic"
insert "data"
Page 3, line 33, after
"nonpublic" insert "data"
Page 17, after line 35,
insert:
"Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 62A.17, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 5b. Notices
required by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). (a) An employer that maintains a group
health plan that is not described in Internal Revenue Code, section 6432(b)(1)
or (2), as added by section 3001(a)(12)(A) of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), must notify the health carrier of the termination
of, or the layoff from, employment of a covered employee, and the name and last
known address of the employee, within the later of ten days after the
termination or layoff event, or June 8, 2009.
(b) The health carrier for a
group health plan that is not described in Internal Revenue Code, section
6432(b)(1) or (2), as added by section 3001(a)(12)(A) of the ARRA, must provide
the notice of extended election rights which is required by subdivision 5a,
paragraph (a), as well as any other notice that is required by the ARRA
regarding the availability of premium reduction rights, to the individual
within 30 days after the employer notifies the health carrier as required by
paragraph (a).
(c) The notice
responsibilities set forth in this subdivision end when the premium reduction
provisions under ARRA expire.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment."
The motion prevailed and the amendment was adopted.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5741
Atkins and
Zellers moved to amend H. F. No. 1853, the first engrossment, as amended, as
follows:
Page 31,
delete section 34 and insert:
"Sec.
34. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
65B.133, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd.
2. Disclosure
to applicants. Before accepting the
initial premium payment, an insurer or its agent shall provide a surcharge
disclosure statement to any person who applies for a policy which is effective
on or after January 1, 1983. If the
insurer provides the surcharge disclosure statement on the insurer's website,
the insurer or agent may notify the applicant orally or in writing of its
availability for review on the insurer's website prior to accepting the initial
payment, in lieu of providing a disclosure statement to the applicant in
writing, if the insurer so notifies the applicant of the availability of a
written version of this statement upon the applicant's request. The insurer shall provide the surcharge
disclosure statement in writing if requested by the applicant. An oral notice shall be presumed delivered if
the agent or insurer makes a contemporaneous notation in the applicant's record
of the notice having been delivered or if the insurer or agent retains an audio
recording of the notification provided to the applicant.
Sec.
35. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
65B.133, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd.
3. Disclosure
to policyholders. An insurer or its
agent shall mail or deliver a surcharge disclosure statement or written
notice of the statement's availability on the insurer's website to the named
insured either before or with the first notice to renew a policy on or after
January 1, 1983. If a surcharge
disclosure statement or written website notice has been provided
pursuant to subdivision 2, no surcharge disclosure statement is required to be
mailed or delivered to the same named insured pursuant to subdivision 3.
Sec.
36. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
65B.133, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd.
4. Notification
of change. No insurer may change its
surcharge plan unless a surcharge disclosure statement or written website
notice is mailed or delivered to the named insured before the change is
made. A surcharge disclosure statement
disclosing a change applicable on the renewal of a policy, may be mailed with
an offer to renew the policy. Surcharges
cannot be applied to accidents or traffic violations that occurred prior to a
change in a surcharge plan except to the extent provided under the prior
plan."
Renumber
the sections in sequence and correct the internal references
Amend the
title accordingly
The motion prevailed and the amendment was
adopted.
Davnie
moved to amend H. F. No. 1853, the first engrossment, as amended, as follows:
Page 42,
after line 8, insert:
"Sec.
53. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
332A.02, subdivision 13, as amended by Laws 2009, chapter 37, article 4,
section 12, is amended to read:
Subd.
13. Debt
settlement services provider.
"Debt settlement services provider" has the meaning given in
section 332B.02, subdivision 11 13.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5742
Sec.
54. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
332A.14, as amended by Laws 2009, chapter 37, article 4, section 17, is amended
to read:
332A.14 PROHIBITIONS.
No debt
management services provider shall:
(1)
purchase from a creditor any obligation of a debtor;
(2) use,
threaten to use, seek to have used, or seek to have threatened the use of any legal
process, including but not limited to garnishment and repossession of personal
property, against any debtor while the debt management services agreement
between the registrant and the debtor remains executory;
(3) advise,
counsel, or encourage a debtor to stop paying a creditor, or imply, infer,
encourage, or in any other way indicate, that it is advisable to stop paying a
creditor;
(4)
sanction or condone the act by a debtor of ceasing payments to a creditor
or imply, infer, or in any manner indicate that the act of ceasing payments
to a creditor is advisable or beneficial to the debtor;
(5) require
as a condition of performing debt management services the purchase of any
services, stock, insurance, commodity, or other property or any interest therein
either by the debtor or the registrant;
(6)
compromise any debts unless the prior written or contractual approval of the
debtor has been obtained to such compromise and unless such compromise inures
solely to the benefit of the debtor;
(7) receive
from any debtor as security or in payment of any fee a promissory note or other
promise to pay or any mortgage or other security, whether as to real or
personal property;
(8) lend
money or provide credit to any debtor if any interest or fee is charged, or directly
or indirectly collect any fee for referring, advising, procuring, arranging, or
assisting a consumer in obtaining any extension of credit or other debtor
service from a lender or debt management services provider;
(9)
structure a debt management services agreement that would result in negative
amortization of any debt in the plan;
(10) engage
in any unfair, deceptive, or unconscionable act or practice in connection with
any service provided to any debtor;
(11) offer,
pay, or give any material cash fee, gift, bonus, premium, reward, or other
compensation to any person for referring any prospective customer to the
registrant or for enrolling a debtor in a debt management services plan, or
provide any other incentives for employees or agents of the debt management
services provider to induce debtors to enter into a debt management services
plan;
(12)
receive any cash, fee, gift, bonus, premium, reward, or other compensation from
any person other than the debtor or a person on the debtor's behalf in connection
with activities as a registrant, provided that this paragraph does not apply to
a registrant which is a bona fide nonprofit corporation duly organized under
chapter 317A or under the similar laws of another state;
(13) enter
into a contract with a debtor unless a thorough written budget analysis
indicates that the debtor can reasonably meet the requirements of the financial
adjustment plan and will be benefited by the plan;
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5743
(14) in any way charge or
purport to charge or provide any debtor credit insurance in conjunction with
any contract or agreement involved in the debt management services plan;
(15) operate or employ a
person who is an employee or owner of a collection agency or process-serving
business; or
(16) solicit, demand,
collect, require, or attempt to require payment of a sum that the registrant
states, discloses, or advertises to be a voluntary contribution to a debt
management services provider or designee from the debtor."
Page 42, after line 27,
insert:
"Sec. 55. Laws 2009, chapter 37, article 4, section 19,
subdivision 13, is amended to read:
Subd. 13. Debt
settlement services provider.
"Debt settlement services provider" means any person offering
or providing debt settlement services to a debtor domiciled in this state,
regardless of whether or not a fee is charged for the services and regardless
of whether the person maintains a physical presence in the state. The term includes any person to whom debt
settlement duties services are delegated. The term shall not include persons listed in
section 332A.02, subdivision 8, clauses (1) to (10), or a debt management
services provider.
Sec. 56. Laws 2009, chapter 37, article 4, section 20,
is amended to read:
Sec. 20. 332B.03
REQUIREMENT OF REGISTRATION.
On or after August 1, 2009,
it is unlawful for any person, whether or not located in this state, to operate
as a debt settlement services provider or provide debt settlement services
including, but not limited to, offering, advertising, or executing or causing
to be executed any debt settlement services or debt settlement services
agreement, except as authorized by law, without first becoming registered as
provided in this chapter. Debt
settlement services providers may continue to provide debt settlement services
without complying with this chapter to those debtors who entered into a
contract to participate in a debt settlement services plan prior to August 1,
2009, but may not enter into a debt settlement services agreement with a debt
debtor on or after August 1, 2009, without complying with this chapter.
Sec. 57. Laws 2009, chapter 37, article 4, section 23,
is amended to read:
Sec. 23. 332B.06
WRITTEN DEBT SETTLEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT; DISCLOSURES; TRUST ACCOUNT.
Subdivision 1. Written
agreement required. (a) A debt settlement
services provider may not perform, or impose any charges or receive any payment
for, any debt settlement services until the provider and the debtor have
executed a debt settlement services agreement that contains all terms of the
agreement between the debt settlement services provider and the debtor, and the provider complies with all the
applicable requirements of this chapter.
(b) A debt settlement
services agreement must:
(1) be in writing, dated,
and signed by the debt settlement services provider and the debtor;
(2) conspicuously indicate
whether or not the debt settlement services provider is registered with the
Minnesota Department of Commerce and include any registration number; and
(3) be written in the
debtor's primary language if the debt settlement services provider advertises
in that language.
(c) The registrant must
furnish the debtor with a copy of the signed contract upon execution.
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5744
Subd. 2. Actions
prior to executing a written agreement.
No person may provide debt settlement services for a debtor or execute a
debt settlement services agreement unless the person first has:
(1) informed the debtor, in
writing, that debt settlement is not appropriate for all debtors and that there
are other ways to deal with debt, including using credit counseling or debt
management services, or filing bankruptcy;
(2) prepared in writing and
provided to the debtor, in a form the debtor may keep, an individualized
financial analysis of the debtor's financial circumstances, including income
and liabilities, and made a determination supported by the individualized
financial analysis that:
(i) the debt settlement plan
proposed for addressing the debt is suitable for the individual debtor;
(ii) the debtor can
reasonably meet the requirements of the proposed debt settlement services plan;
and
(iii) based on the totality
of the circumstances, there is a net tangible benefit to the debtor of entering
into the proposed debt settlement services plan; and
(3) provided, on a document
separate from any other document, the total amount and an itemization of fees,
including any origination fees, monthly fees, and settlement fees reasonably
anticipated to be paid by the debtor over the term of the agreement.
Subd. 3. Determination
concerning creditor participation.
(a) Before executing a debt settlement services agreement or providing
any services, a debt settlement services provider must make a determination,
supported by sufficient bases, which creditors listed by the debtor are
reasonably likely, and which are not reasonably likely, to participate in the
debt settlement services plan set forth in the debt settlement services
agreement.
(b) A debt settlement
services provider has a defense against a claim that no sufficient basis
existed to make a determination that a creditor was likely to participate if
the debt settlement services provider can produce:
(1) written confirmation
from the creditor that, at the time the determination was made, the creditor
and the debt settlement services provider were engaged in negotiations to
settle a debt for another debtor; or
(2) evidence that the
provider and the creditor had entered into a settlement of a debt for
another debtor within the six months prior to the date of the
determination.
(c) The debt settlement
services provider must notify the debtor as soon as practicable after the
provider has made a determination of the likelihood of participation or
nonparticipation of all the creditors listed for inclusion in the debt
settlement services agreement or debt settlement services plan. If not all creditors listed in the debt
settlement services agreement are reasonably likely to participate in the debt
settlement services plan, the debt settlement services provider must obtain the
written authorization from the debtor to proceed with the debt settlement
services agreement without the likely participation of all listed creditors.
Subd. 4. Disclosures. (a) A person offering to provide or providing
debt settlement services must disclose both orally and in writing whether or
not the person is registered with the Minnesota Department of Commerce and any
registration number.
(b) No person may provide
debt settlement services unless the person first has provided, both orally and
in writing, on a single sheet of paper, separate from any other document or
writing, the following verbatim notice:
CAUTION
We CANNOT GUARANTEE that you
will successfully reduce or eliminate your debt.
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5745
If you stop paying your
creditors, there is a strong likelihood some or all of the following may
happen:
• YOUR WAGES OR BANK ACCOUNT
MAY STILL BE GARNISHED.
• YOU MAY STILL BE CONTACTED
BY CREDITORS.
• YOU MAY STILL BE SUED BY
CREDITORS for the money you owe.
• FEES, INTEREST, AND OTHER
CHARGES WILL CONTINUE TO MOUNT UP DURING THE (INSERT NUMBER) MONTHS THIS PLAN
IS IN EFFECT.
Even if we do settle your
debt, YOU MAY STILL HAVE TO PAY TAXES on the amount forgiven.
Your credit rating may be
adversely affected.
(c) The heading,
"CAUTION," must be in bold, underlined, 28-point type, and the
remaining text must be in 14-point type, with a double space between each
statement.
(d) The disclosures and
notices required under this subdivision must be provided in the debtor's
primary language if the debt settlement services provider advertises in that
language.
Subd. 5. Required
terms. (a) Each debt settlement
services agreement must contain on the front page of the agreement, segregated
by bold lines from all other information on the page and disclosed prominently
and clearly in bold print, the total amount and an itemization of fees,
including any origination fees, monthly fees, and settlement fees reasonably
anticipated to be paid by the debtor over the term of the agreement.
(b) Each debt settlement
services agreement must also contain the following:
(1) a prominent statement
describing the terms upon which the debtor may cancel the contract as set forth
in section 332B.07;
(2) a detailed description
of all services to be performed by the debt settlement services provider for
the debtor;
(3) the debt settlement
services provider's refund policy;
(4) the debt settlement
services provider's principal business address, which must not be a post office
box, and the name and address of its agent in this state authorized to receive
service of process; and
(5) the name of each
creditor the debtor has listed and the aggregate debt owed to each creditor
that will be the subject of settlement.
Subd. 6. Prohibited
terms. A debt settlement services
agreement may not contain any of the terms prohibited under section 332A.10,
subdivision 4.
Subd. 7. New debt
settlement services agreements; modifications of existing agreements. (a) Separate and additional debt settlement
services agreements that comply with this chapter may be entered into by the
debt settlement services provider and the debtor, provided that no additional
origination fee may be charged by the debt settlement services provider.
(b) Any modification of an
existing debt settlement services agreement, including any increase in the
number or amount of debts included in the debt settlement services agreement,
must be in writing and signed by both parties.
No fee may be charged to modify an existing agreement.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5746
Subd.
8. Funds
held in trust. Debtor funds may be
held in trust for the purpose of writing exchange checks for no longer than 42
days. If the registrant holds debtor
funds, the registrant must maintain a separate trust account, except that the
registrant may commingle debtor funds with the registrant's own funds, in the
form of an imprest fund, to the extent necessary to ensure maintenance of a
minimum balance, if the financial institution at which the trust account is
held requires a minimum balance to avoid the assessment of fees or penalties
for failure to maintain a minimum balance.
Sec.
58. Laws 2009, chapter 37, article 4,
section 26, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd.
2. Fees
as a percentage of debt. (a) The
total amount of the fees claimed, demanded, charged, collected, or received
under this subdivision shall be calculated as 15 percent of the aggregate
debt. A debt settlement services
provider that calculates fees as a percentage of debt may:
(1) charge
an origination fee, which may be designated by the debt settlement services
provider as nonrefundable, of:
(i) $200 on
aggregate debt of less than $20,000; or
(ii) $400
on aggregate debt of $20,000 or more;
(2) charge
a monthly fee of:
(i) no
greater than $50 per month on aggregate debt of less than $40,000; and
(ii) no
greater than $60 per month on aggregate debt of $40,000 or more; and
(3) charge
a settlement fee for the remainder of the allowable fees, which may be demanded
and collected no earlier than upon delivery to the debt settlement services
provider by a creditor of a bona fide written settlement offer consistent with
the terms of the debt settlement services agreement. A settlement fee may be assessed for each
debt settled, but the sum total of the origination fee, the monthly fee, and
the settlement fee may not exceed 15 percent of the aggregate debt.
(b) When
a settlement offer is obtained by a debt settlement services provider from a
creditor, the collection of any monthly fees shall cease beginning the month
following the month in which the settlement offer was obtained by the debt
settlement services provider The collection of monthly fees shall cease
under this subdivision when the total monthly fees and the origination fee
equals 40 percent of the total fees allowable under this subdivision.
(c) In no
event may more than 40 percent of the total amount of fees allowable be
claimed, demanded, charged, collected, or received by a debt settlement
services provider any earlier than upon delivery to the debt settlement
services provider by a creditor of a bona fide written settlement offer
consistent with the terms of the debt settlement services agreement."
Renumber
the sections in sequence and correct the internal references
Amend the
title accordingly
The motion prevailed and the amendment was
adopted.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5747
Morrow moved
to amend H. F. No. 1853, the first engrossment, as amended, as follows:
Page 42,
after line 5, insert:
"Sec.
50. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
325E.27, is amended to read:
325E.27 USE OF PRERECORDED OR SYNTHESIZED VOICE
MESSAGES.
A caller shall
not use or connect to a telephone line an automatic dialing-announcing device
unless: (1) the subscriber has knowingly or voluntarily requested, consented
to, permitted, or authorized receipt of the message; or (2) the message is
immediately preceded by a live operator who obtains the subscriber's consent
before the message is delivered. This
section and section 325E.30 do not apply to (1) messages from school districts
to students, parents, or employees, (2) messages to subscribers with whom the
caller has a current business or personal relationship, or (3) messages
advising employees of work schedules. This
section does not apply to messages from a nonprofit tax-exempt charitable
organization sent solely for the purpose of soliciting voluntary donations of
clothing to benefit disabled United States military veterans and containing no
request for monetary donations or other solicitations of any kind."
Renumber the
sections in sequence and correct the internal references
Amend the
title accordingly
The motion prevailed and the amendment was
adopted.
Lillie moved
to amend H. F. No. 1853, the first engrossment, as amended, as follows:
Page 17,
after line 35, insert:
"Sec.
23. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
62A.29, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 13. Notice
of possible cancellation. A
written notice must be provided to all applicants for homeowners' insurance, at
the time the application is submitted, containing the following language in
bold print: "THE INSURER MAY ELECT TO CANCEL COVERAGE AT ANY TIME DURING
THE FIRST 60 DAYS FOLLOWING ISSUANCE OF THE COVERAGE FOR ANY REASON WHICH IS
NOT SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED BY STATUTE.""
Renumber the
sections in sequence and correct the internal references
Amend the
title accordingly
The motion prevailed and the amendment was
adopted.
Davids moved
to amend H. F. No. 1853, the first engrossment, as amended, as follows:
Page 3,
after line 33, insert:
"Sec.
7. [60A.1755]
AGENT ERRORS AND OMISSIONS INSURANCE; CHOICE OF SOURCE.
An insurance
company shall not require an insurance agent to maintain insurance coverage for
the agent's errors and omissions from a specific insurance company. This section does not apply if the insurance
producer is a captive producer or employee of the insurance company imposing
the requirement, or if that insurance company or affiliated
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5748
broker-dealer
pays for or contributes to the premiums for the errors and omissions
coverage. For purposes of this section,
"captive producer" means a producer that writes 80 percent or more of
the producer's gross annual insurance business for that insurance company or any
or all of its subsidiaries."
Page 37, after line 2,
insert:
"Sec. 45. [80A.91]
AGENT ERRORS AND OMISSIONS INSURANCE; CHOICE OF SOURCE.
A broker-dealer shall not
require an agent to maintain insurance coverage for the agent's errors and
omissions from a specific insurance company.
This section does not apply if the agent is an employee or an agent
exclusively for that broker-dealer, or if the broker-dealer or affiliated
insurance company contributes to the premiums for the errors and omissions
coverage."
Renumber the sections in
sequence and correct the internal references
Amend the title accordingly
The motion prevailed and the amendment was adopted.
Abeler, Davids, Gunther and
Atkins moved to amend H. F. No. 1853, the first engrossment, as amended, as
follows:
Page 9, after line 22,
insert:
"(6) Claims processing practices. No entity administering a
self-insurance or insurance plan shall:
(a) require a patient to pay
for care provided by an in-network provider an amount that exceeds the fee
negotiated between the entity and that provider for the covered service
provided;
(b) attempt to recoup from
the provider a payment owed to the provider by the patient for deductibles,
co-pays, coinsurance, or other enrollee cost-sharing required under the plan,
unless the administrator has confirmed with the provider that the patient has
paid the cost-sharing amounts in full; or
(c) limit the time period
for a provider to submit a claim, which may not be less than 90 days through
contract except when otherwise required by state or federal law or regulation,
unless the health care provider knew or was informed of the correct name and
address of the responsible health plan company or third-party
administrator. For purposes of this
paragraph, presentation of the health coverage identification card by the
patient is deemed sufficient notification of the correct information.
EFFECTIVE DATE. Paragraph 6, clause (c) is effective
August 1, 2009, and applies to patient care provided on or after that
date. Paragraph 6, clauses (a) and (b),
are effective the day following final enactment."
Page 31, after line 14,
insert:
"Sec. 33. [62Q.7375]
HEALTH CARE CLEARINGHOUSES.
Subdivision 1. Definition. For the purposes of this section,
"health care clearinghouse" or "clearinghouse" means a
public or private entity, including a billing service, repricing company,
community health management information system or community health information
system, and "value-added" networks and switches, that does either of
the following functions:
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5749
(1)
processes or facilitates the processing of health information received from
another entity in a nonstandard format or containing nonstandard data content
into standard data elements or a standard transaction; or
(2) receives
a standard transaction from another entity and processes or facilitates the
processing of health information into nonstandard format or nonstandard data
content for the receiving entity.
Subd. 2. Claims
submission deadlines and careful handling. (a) A health plan or third-party
administrator must not have or enforce a deadline for submission of claims that
is shorter than the period provided in section 60A.23, subdivision 8, paragraph
(6), clause (c).
(b) A claim
submitted to a health plan or third-party administrator through a health care
clearinghouse or clearinghouse within the time permitted under paragraph (a)
must be treated as timely by the health plan or third-party administrator. This paragraph does not apply if the provider
submitted the claim to a clearinghouse that does not have the ability or
authority to transmit the claim to the relevant health plan company.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2009,
and applies to claims transmitted to a clearinghouse on or after that date."
Page 42,
after line 5, insert:
"Sec.
50. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
319B.02, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 21a. Surviving
spouse. "Surviving spouse" means a surviving
spouse of a deceased professional as an individual, as the personal
representative of the estate of the decedent, as the trustee of an inter vivos
or testamentary trust created by the decedent, or as the sole heir or
beneficiary of an estate or trust of which the personal representative or trustee
is a bank or other institution that has trust powers.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment and applies to surviving spouses of professionals who
die on or after that date.
Sec.
51. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
319B.07, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Ownership
of interests restricted. Ownership
interests in a professional firm may not be owned or held, either directly or
indirectly, except by any of the following:
(1)
professionals who, with respect to at least one category of the pertinent
professional services, are licensed and not disqualified;
(2) general
partnerships, other than limited liability partnerships, authorized to furnish
at least one category of the professional firm's pertinent professional
services;
(3) other
professional firms authorized to furnish at least one category of the
professional firm's pertinent professional services;
(4) a voting
trust established with respect to some or all of the ownership interests in the
professional firm, if (i) the professional firm's generally applicable
governing law permits the establishment of voting trusts, and (ii) all the
voting trustees and all the holders of beneficial interests in the trust are
professionals licensed to furnish at least one category of the pertinent
professional services; and
(5) an
employee stock ownership plan as defined in section 4975(e)(7) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, if (i) all the voting trustees of the plan
are professionals licensed to furnish at least one category of the pertinent
professional services, and (ii) the ownership interests are not directly issued
to anyone other than professionals licensed to furnish at least one category of
the pertinent professional services; and
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5750
(6) sole
ownership by a surviving spouse of a deceased professional who was the sole
owner of the professional firm at the time of the professional's death, but
only during the period of time ending one year after the death of the
professional.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment and applies to surviving spouses of professionals who
die on or after that date.
Sec.
52. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
319B.08, is amended to read:
319B.08 EFFECT OF DEATH OR DISQUALIFICATION OF OWNER.
Subdivision
1. Acquisition
of interests or automatic loss of professional firm status. (a) If an owner dies or becomes disqualified
to practice all the pertinent professional services, then either:
(1) within
90 days after the death or the beginning of the disqualification, all of that
owner's ownership interest must be acquired by the professional firm, by
persons permitted by section 319B.07 to own the ownership interest, or by some
combination; or
(2) at the
end of the 90-day period, the firm's election under section 319B.03, subdivision
2, or 319B.04, subdivision 2, is automatically rescinded, the firm loses its
status as a professional firm, and the authority created by that election and
status terminates.
An acquisition
satisfies clause (1) if all right and title to the deceased or disqualified
owner's interest are acquired before the end of the 90-day period, even if some
or all of the consideration is paid after the end of the 90-day period. However, payment cannot be secured in any way
that violates sections 319B.01 to 319B.12.
(b) If
automatic rescission does occur under paragraph (a), the firm must immediately
and accordingly update its organizational document, certificate of authority,
or statement of foreign qualification.
Even without that updating, however, the rescission, loss of status, and
termination of authority provided by paragraph (a) occur automatically at the
end of the 90-day period.
Subd.
2. Terms
of acquisition. (a) If:
(1) an
owner dies or becomes disqualified to practice all the pertinent professional
services;
(2) the
professional firm has in effect a mechanism, valid according to the
professional firm's generally applicable governing law, to effect a purchase of
the deceased or disqualified owner's ownership interest so as to satisfy
subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (1); and
(3) the
professional firm does not agree with the disqualified owner or the
representative of the deceased owner to set aside the mechanism,
then that mechanism
applies.
(b) If:
(1) an
owner dies or becomes disqualified to practice all the pertinent professional
services;
(2) the
professional firm has in effect no mechanism as described in paragraph (a), or
has agreed as mentioned in paragraph (a), clause (3), to set aside that
mechanism; and
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5751
(3)
consistent with its generally applicable governing law, the professional firm
agrees with the disqualified owner or the representative of the deceased owner,
before the end of the 90-day period, to an arrangement to effect a purchase of
the deceased or disqualified owner's ownership interest so as to satisfy subdivision
1, paragraph (a), clause (1),
then that
arrangement applies.
(c) If:
(1) an owner
of a Minnesota professional firm dies or becomes disqualified to practice all
the pertinent professional services;
(2) the Minnesota
professional firm does not have in effect a mechanism as described in paragraph
(a);
(3) the
Minnesota professional firm does not make an arrangement as described in
paragraph (b); and
(4) no
provision or tenet of the Minnesota professional firm's generally applicable
governing law and no provision of any document or agreement authorized by the
Minnesota professional firm's generally applicable governing law expressly
precludes an acquisition under this paragraph,
then the
firm may acquire the deceased or disqualified owner's ownership interest as
stated in this paragraph. To act under
this paragraph, the Minnesota professional firm must within 90 days after the
death or beginning of the disqualification tender to the representative of the
deceased owner's estate or to the disqualified owner the fair value of the
owner's ownership interest, as determined by the Minnesota professional firm's
governance authority. That price must be
at least the book value, as determined in accordance with the Minnesota
professional firm's regular method of accounting, as of the end of the month
immediately preceding the death or loss of license. The tender must be unconditional and may not
attempt to have the recipient waive any rights provided in this section. If the Minnesota professional firm tenders a
price under this paragraph within the 90-day period, the deceased or
disqualified owner's ownership interest immediately transfers to the Minnesota
professional firm regardless of any dispute as to the fairness of the
price. A disqualified owner or
representative of the deceased owner's estate who disputes the fairness of the
tendered price may take the tendered price and bring suit in district court
seeking additional payment. The suit
must be commenced within one year after the payment is tendered. A Minnesota professional firm may agree with
a disqualified owner or the representative of a deceased owner's estate to
delay all or part of the payment due under this paragraph, but all right and
title to the owner's ownership interests must be acquired before the end of the
90-day period and payment may not be secured in any way that violates sections
319B.01 to 319B.12.
Subd.
3. Expiration
of firm-issued option on death or disqualification of holder. If the holder of an option issued under
section 319B.07, subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (1), dies or becomes
disqualified, the option automatically expires.
Subd. 4. One-year
period for surviving spouse of sole owner. For purposes of this section, each mention
of "90 days," "90-day period," or similar term shall be
interpreted as one year after the death of a professional who was the sole
owner of the professional firm if the surviving spouse of the deceased
professional owns and controls the firm after the death.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment and applies to surviving spouses of professionals who
die on or after that date.
Sec.
53. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
319B.09, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Governance
authority. (a) Except as stated in
paragraph (b), a professional firm's governance authority must rest with:
(1) one or more
professionals, each of whom is licensed to furnish at least one category of the
pertinent professional services; or
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5752
(2) a
surviving spouse of a deceased professional who was the sole owner of the
professional firm, while the surviving spouse owns and controls the firm, but
only during the period of time ending one year after the death of the
professional.
(b) In a
Minnesota professional firm organized under chapter 317A and in a foreign
professional firm organized under the nonprofit corporation statute of another
state, at least one individual possessing governance authority must be a
professional licensed to furnish at least one category of the pertinent
professional services.
(c)
Individuals who possess governance authority within a professional firm may
delegate administrative and operational matters to others. No decision entailing the exercise of
professional judgment may be delegated or assigned to anyone who is not a
professional licensed to practice the professional services involved in the
decision.
(d) An
individual whose license to practice any pertinent professional services is
revoked or suspended may not, during the time the revocation or suspension is
in effect, possess or exercise governance authority, hold a position with
governance authority, or take part in any decision or other action constituting
an exercise of governance authority.
Nothing in this chapter prevents a board from further terminating,
restricting, limiting, qualifying, or imposing conditions on an individual's
governance role as board disciplinary action.
(e) A
professional firm owned and controlled by a surviving spouse must comply with
all requirements of this chapter, except those clearly inapplicable to a firm
owned and governed by a surviving spouse who is not a professional of the same
type as the surviving spouse's decedent.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment and applies to surviving spouses of professionals who
die on or after that date."
Renumber the
sections in sequence and correct the internal references
Amend the
title accordingly
The motion prevailed and the amendment was
adopted.
H. F. No. 1853, A bill for an act relating
to commerce; regulating various licenses, forms, coverages, disclosures,
notices, marketing practices, and records; classifying certain data; removing
certain state regulation of telephone solicitations; regulating the use of
prerecorded or synthesized voice messages; regulating debt management services
providers; permitting a deceased professional's surviving spouse to retain
ownership of a professional firm under certain circumstances; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 13.716, by adding a subdivision; 45.011,
subdivision 1; 45.0135, subdivision 7; 58.02, subdivision 17; 59B.01; 60A.08,
by adding a subdivision; 60A.198, subdivisions 1, 3; 60A.201, subdivision 3;
60A.205, subdivision 1; 60A.2085, subdivisions 1, 3, 7, 8; 60A.23, subdivision
8; 60A.235; 60A.32; 61B.19, subdivision 4; 61B.28, subdivisions 4, 8; 62A.011,
subdivision 3; 62A.136; 62A.17, by adding a subdivision; 62A.29, by adding a
subdivision; 62A.3099, subdivision 18; 62A.31, subdivision 1, by adding a
subdivision; 62A.315; 62A.316; 62L.02, subdivision 26; 62M.05, subdivision 3a;
65A.27, subdivision 1; 65B.133, subdivisions 2, 3, 4; 67A.191, subdivision 2;
72A.20, subdivisions 15, 26; 79A.04, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision;
79A.06, by adding a subdivision; 79A.24, subdivision 1, by adding a
subdivision; 82.31, subdivision 4; 82B.08, by adding a subdivision; 82B.20,
subdivision 2; 319B.02, by adding a subdivision; 319B.07, subdivision 1; 319B.08;
319B.09, subdivision 1; 325E.27; 332A.02, subdivision 13, as amended; 332A.14,
as amended; 471.98, subdivision 2; 471.982, subdivision 3; Laws 2009, chapter
37, article 4, sections 19, subdivision 13; 20; 23; 26, subdivision 2;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 60A; 62A; 62Q;
72A; 80A; 82B; 325E; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 60A.201,
subdivision 4; 61B.19, subdivision 6; 70A.07; 79.56, subdivision 4.
The bill was read for the third time, as amended,
and placed upon its final passage.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5753
The question was taken on the passage of
the bill and the roll was called. There
were 132 yeas and 0 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Beard
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Buesgens
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Cornish
Davids
Davnie
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Eken
Emmer
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Greiling
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Holberg
Hoppe
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Kohls
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Peppin
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scalze
Scott
Seifert
Sertich
Severson
Shimanski
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Zellers
Spk. Kelliher
The bill was passed, as amended, and its
title agreed to.
S. F. No. 477
was reported to the House.
Sailer moved to amend
S. F. No. 477, the second engrossment, as follows:
Delete everything
after the enacting clause and insert the following language of H. F. No. 569,
as introduced:
"Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 13.7411, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Pollution Control Agency. (a) Information held by the
commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency that is trade secret or sales
information is governed by section 115A.06, subdivision 13.
(b) Data submitted to the commissioner
by paint manufacturers or their representative organization under section
115A.1333 are classified under that section.
Sec. 2. [115A.1331] PAINT STEWARDSHIP PILOT
PROGRAM.
Subdivision 1. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to allow manufacturers
to pilot an environmentally sound and cost-effective paint stewardship program,
undertaking responsibility for the development and implementation of strategies
to reduce the generation of postconsumer paint; promote the reuse of
postconsumer paint; and collect, transport, and process postconsumer paint for
end-of-life management.
Subd. 2. Definitions. (a) For purposes of sections 115A.1331 to
115A.1333, the following terms have the meanings given.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5754
(b) "Architectural paint"
means interior and exterior architectural coatings, including paints and stains
purchased for commercial or homeowner use, but does not include architectural
coatings purchased for industrial or original equipment manufacturer use.
(c) "Distributor" means a
company that has a contractual relationship with one or more manufacturers to
market and sell architectural paint to retailers.
(d) "Manufacturer" means a
manufacturer of architectural paint.
(e) "Paint stewardship
assessment" means the amount included in the purchase price of
architectural paint sold in Minnesota to implement the paint stewardship pilot
program described in subdivision 3.
(f) "Postconsumer paint"
means architectural paint not used by the purchaser.
(g) "Representative
organization" means the nonprofit organization created by the
manufacturers to implement the paint stewardship pilot program described in
subdivision 3.
(h) "Retailer" means a
person who sells architectural paint at retail.
Subd. 3. Pilot
program. (a) Beginning
September 1, 2009, manufacturers of architectural paint sold at retail must, through
a representative organization, implement a statewide paint stewardship pilot
program for the development and implementation of strategies to reduce the
generation of postconsumer paint; promote the reuse and recycling of
postconsumer paint; and undertake the responsibility of negotiating and
executing agreements to collect, transport, and process postconsumer paint for
end-of-life management in an environmentally sound fashion. The pilot program must include a funding
mechanism whereby each architectural paint manufacturer remits to the
representative organization payment of the paint stewardship assessment for
each container of architectural paint it sells in this state. The paint stewardship assessment must be
included in the cost of all architectural
paint sold to Minnesota retailers and distributors, and each Minnesota retailer
or distributor must include the assessment in the purchase price of all
architectural paint sold in this state.
(b) To ensure that the funding
mechanism is equitable and sustainable, a uniform paint stewardship assessment
must be established for all architectural paint sold. The paint stewardship assessment must be
approved by the commissioner and must be sufficient to recover, but not exceed,
the costs of the paint stewardship pilot program.
(c) Paint manufacturers or their
representative organization shall provide Minnesota consumers with educational
materials regarding the paint stewardship assessment and the paint stewardship
pilot program in a manner designed to ensure that consumers are made aware that
a provision for the operation of a paint stewardship program is included in the
purchase price of all architectural paint sold in the state.
Sec. 3. [115A.1332] CONDUCT AUTHORIZED.
A manufacturer or organization of
manufacturers that organizes collection, transport, and processing of
postconsumer paint under section 115A.1331 may engage in anticompetitive
conduct only to the extent necessary to plan and implement its chosen organized
collection or recycling system and is immune from liability for the conduct
under state laws relating to antitrust, restraint of trade, unfair trade
practices, and other regulation of trade or commerce.
Sec. 4. [115A.1333] REPORTS.
(a) On October 15, 2010,
manufacturers of architectural paint sold at retail in this state must, through
a representative organization, submit a report to the commissioner describing
the paint stewardship pilot program. At
a minimum, the report must contain:
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5755
(1) a description of the methods
used to collect, transport, and process postconsumer paint in all regions of
Minnesota;
(2) the volume of postconsumer paint
collected in all regions of Minnesota;
(3) the volume of postconsumer paint
collected in Minnesota by method of disposition, including reuse, recycling,
and other methods of processing;
(4) the total cost of implementing the
pilot program as determined by an independent financial audit funded from the
paint stewardship assessment;
(5) an evaluation of the operation
of the program's funding mechanism;
(6) samples of educational materials
provided to consumers of architectural paint and an evaluation of the methods
used to disseminate those materials; and
(7) an analysis of the environmental
costs and benefits of collecting and recycling latex paint.
(b) Data reported to the
commissioner by a manufacturer or the representative organization of
manufacturers is classified as nonpublic data, as defined in section 13.02,
subdivision 9, except that the commissioner may release the data in summary
form in which individual manufacturers, distributors, or retailers are not
identified and from which neither their identities nor any other
characteristics that could uniquely identify an individual manufacturer or
retailer are ascertainable.
(c) By January 15, 2011, the
commissioner shall submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members
of the committees in the senate and house of representatives that have primary
jurisdiction over solid waste policy describing the results of the paint
stewardship pilot program and recommending whether it should be made permanent
and any modifications to improve its functioning and efficiency. The report must include an estimate of the
potential costs of collecting and disposing of architectural paint avoided by
state and local units of government as a result of the program.
Sec. 5. [115A.1334] EXPIRATION.
Sections 115A.1331 to 115A.1334
expire June 30, 2012.
Sec. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Sections 1 to 5 are effective the
day following final enactment."
The motion
prevailed and the amendment was adopted.
McNamara, Cornish, Howes, Sailer, Gunther and Murdock moved to
amend S. F. No. 477, the second engrossment, as amended, as follows:
Page 1, line 18, after the period, insert "The
ultimate purpose of this section is to minimize public sector involvement in
the management of postconsumer paint."
Page 2, line 18, after the period, insert "In
developing the pilot program, manufacturers of architectural paint must consult
with and consider the views of representatives of the Solid Waste Management
Coordinating Board, the Association of Minnesota Counties, the Solid Waste
Administrators Association, and household hazardous waste programs administered
in rural and metropolitan counties."
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5756
Page 2, after
line 33, insert:
"(d)
Paint retailers may participate in the pilot program as paint collection points
on a voluntary basis."
Page 3, line 33,
after the period, insert "In preparing the report, the commissioner
must consult with representatives of the Solid Waste Management Coordinating
Board, the Association of Minnesota Counties, the Solid Waste Administrators
Association, and household hazardous waste programs administered in rural and
metropolitan counties, and must include their views in the report."
Page 3, line 35,
after "government" insert "and taxpayer savings"
The motion prevailed and the amendment was
adopted.
Severson moved to amend S.
F. No. 477, the second engrossment, as amended, as follows:
Page 2, after line 33,
insert:
"(d) Until the
expiration date of this section, no political subdivision of the state shall
implement or operate a paint recycling program."
A roll call was requested and properly seconded.
The question was taken on the Severson amendment and the roll
was called. There were 45 yeas and 87
nays as follows:
Those who
voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Beard
Brod
Brown
Buesgens
Cornish
Davids
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Doepke
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Emmer
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Holberg
Hoppe
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Kohls
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Nornes
Peppin
Sanders
Scott
Seifert
Severson
Shimanski
Smith
Torkelson
Urdahl
Welti
Westrom
Zellers
Those who
voted in the negative were:
Anzelc
Atkins
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brynaert
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Davnie
Dill
Dittrich
Doty
Eken
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Greiling
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Knuth
Koenen
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Persell
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5757
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Scalze
Sertich
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Wagenius
Ward
Winkler
Spk. Kelliher
The motion did not prevail and the
amendment was not adopted.
Gottwalt
moved to amend S. F. No. 477, the second engrossment, as amended, as follows:
Page 2,
after line 33, insert:
"Subd.
4. Exemption. Upon
presentation to a retailer or distributor of documentation showing
participation in any of the following relief programs, an individual is not
subject to the consumer paint stewardship assessment:
(1) MFIP and
diversionary work program;
(2) medical
assistance, general assistance, or general assistance medical care;
(3)
emergency general assistance;
(4)
Minnesota supplemental aid (MSA);
(5)
MSA-emergency assistance;
(6)
MinnesotaCare;
(7)
Supplemental Security Income;
(8) energy
assistance;
(9)
emergency assistance;
(10) Food
Stamps;
(11) earned
income tax credit; or
(12) Minnesota
working family tax credit."
Amend the
title accordingly
A roll call was requested and properly
seconded.
The question was taken on the Gottwalt
amendment and the roll was called. There
were 41 yeas and 92 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Beard
Brod
Buesgens
Davids
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Emmer
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Gunther
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5758
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Holberg
Hoppe
Kath
Kiffmeyer
Kohls
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Nornes
Peppin
Sanders
Scott
Seifert
Severson
Shimanski
Smith
Torkelson
Urdahl
Ward
Westrom
Zellers
Those who voted in the negative were:
Abeler
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brown
Brynaert
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Clark
Cornish
Davnie
Dill
Dittrich
Eken
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Greiling
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kelly
Knuth
Koenen
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Scalze
Sertich
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Wagenius
Welti
Winkler
Spk. Kelliher
The motion did not prevail and the
amendment was not adopted.
Demmer
moved to amend S. F. No. 477, the second engrossment, as amended, as follows:
Page 2, after
line 33, insert:
"Subd.
4. Exemption. Architectural
paint purchased by a public or private educational institution, for painting a
building used primarily for educational or related administrative activities,
is exempt from the paint stewardship assessment established under this
section. The educational institution
shall provide documentation, as required by the commissioner, as to the use of
the paint. Retailers and distributors
shall retain the documentation of the amount of paint sold that is exempt under
this subdivision, and the exempt paint must be excluded from calculating the
assessment and remittances."
Amend the
title accordingly
The motion did not prevail and the
amendment was not adopted.
Gottwalt
moved to amend S. F. No. 477, the second engrossment, as amended, as follows:
Page 2,
line 18, after the period, insert "The retailer or distributor must
affix a label to each container of architectural paint sold that lists in
14-point type the dollar amount of the architectural paint stewardship
assessment that has been included in the purchase price of the paint."
A roll call was requested and properly
seconded.
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5759
The question was taken on the Gottwalt amendment and the roll
was called. There were 32 yeas and 101
nays as follows:
Those who
voted in the affirmative were:
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Beard
Buesgens
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Emmer
Gottwalt
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Holberg
Hoppe
Kiffmeyer
Kohls
Mack
Magnus
Nornes
Peppin
Sanders
Seifert
Severson
Shimanski
Smith
Torkelson
Urdahl
Westrom
Zellers
Those who
voted in the negative were:
Abeler
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Clark
Cornish
Davids
Davnie
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Eken
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Greiling
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kelly
Knuth
Koenen
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Scalze
Scott
Sertich
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Winkler
Spk. Kelliher
The motion did not prevail and the amendment was not adopted.
S. F. No. 477, A bill for an act relating to solid waste;
requiring a pilot program to be implemented by paint manufacturers to recycle
paint; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 13.7411, subdivision 3;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 115A.
The bill was read for the third time, as amended, and placed
upon its final passage.
The question was taken on the passage of the bill and the roll
was called. There were 93 yeas and 40
nays as follows:
Those who
voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, P.
Anzelc
Atkins
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brown
Brynaert
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Clark
Cornish
Davids
Davnie
Dill
Doepke
Doty
Eken
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Greiling
Gunther
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Knuth
Koenen
Laine
Lenczewski
Lesch
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5760
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Persell
Peterson
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Scalze
Sertich
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Wagenius
Ward
Winkler
Spk. Kelliher
Those who
voted in the negative were:
Anderson, B.
Anderson, S.
Beard
Brod
Buesgens
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Dittrich
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Emmer
Gottwalt
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Holberg
Hoppe
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Kohls
Lanning
Mack
Magnus
Nornes
Pelowski
Peppin
Poppe
Sanders
Scott
Seifert
Severson
Shimanski
Smith
Torkelson
Urdahl
Welti
Westrom
Zellers
The bill was passed, as amended, and its title agreed to.
Sertich moved that the House recess subject to the call of the
Chair. The motion prevailed.
RECESS
RECONVENED
The House reconvened and was called to order by the Speaker.
Clark was excused between the hours of 6:40 p.m. and 8:40 p.m.
REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON
RULES AND
LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATION
Sertich from the Committee on Rules and Legislative
Administration, pursuant to rule 1.21, designated the following bills to be
placed on the Supplemental Calendar for the Day for Tuesday, May 12, 2009:
H. F. No. 1132; S. F. Nos. 203,
1288 and 284; H. F. No. 1565; S. F. No. 666;
H. F. No. 1511; S. F. No. 567;
H. F. Nos. 1276 and 1529; S. F. Nos. 1890 and
1887; H. F. Nos. 1825 and 108; and S. F. No. 863.
CALENDAR FOR THE DAY, Continued
S. F. No. 1096, A bill for an act relating to legislation;
correcting erroneous, ambiguous, and omitted text and obsolete references;
eliminating redundant, conflicting, and superseded provisions; making
miscellaneous technical corrections to laws and statutes; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections
2.031, subdivision 2; 3.7393,
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5761
subdivision 10; 6.67;
13.202, subdivision 3; 13.4967, by adding subdivisions; 13.681, by adding a
subdivision; 13.871, subdivision 6; 16A.152, subdivision 2; 16A.19, subdivision
1; 16B.284; 16B.85, subdivision 1; 17.4986, subdivision 2; 58.05, subdivision
3; 62S.01, subdivision 24; 62S.292, subdivision 4; 66A.07, subdivision 4;
116V.01, subdivision 3; 122A.31, subdivision 1; 125A.63, subdivision 5;
128B.03, subdivision 7; 144.6501, subdivision 6; 144.966, subdivision 2;
148.01, subdivision 1a; 148.71, subdivision 2; 148.725, subdivision 5; 148C.11,
subdivision 3; 160.80, subdivision 1a; 161.125, subdivision 1; 168.09,
subdivision 3; 168.27, subdivision 1; 169.18, subdivision 5; 181.985, subdivision
1; 201.081; 206.82, subdivision 2; 216B.241, subdivision 9; 216C.19,
subdivision 17; 216H.07, subdivision 1; 221.84, subdivision 4; 243.166,
subdivisions 1b, 6, 9; 244.052, subdivision 3a; 244.18, subdivision 1;
245.8261, subdivisions 3, 6, 7; 253B.08, subdivision 1; 256B.0571, subdivision
8; 260.105; 260C.446; 270.45; 270.47; 270.80, subdivision 1; 273.05,
subdivision 1; 273.061, subdivision 2; 275.065, subdivision 6c; 289A.08,
subdivision 16; 289A.40, subdivision 6; 298.34, subdivision 2; 309.745; 325E.317,
subdivision 5; 326B.082, subdivision 8; 326B.121, subdivision 3; 327B.041;
336.10-105; 347.542, subdivision 1; 349.31, subdivision 1; 352.017, subdivision
1; 357.18, subdivision 1; 360.0426, subdivision 5; 365A.08, subdivision 2;
401.025, subdivision 3; 414.02, subdivision 4; 423A.01, subdivision 2; 473.167,
subdivision 2; 473.384, subdivision 6; 473.388, subdivision 2; 507.24,
subdivision 2; 508.82, subdivision 1; 508A.82, subdivision 1; 524.3-303;
524.3-308; 524.8-103; 541.023, subdivision 6; 600.24; 609.75, subdivision 1;
609.76, subdivision 1; 609.762, subdivision 1; 624.731, subdivision 3; 626.556,
subdivision 2; Laws 2001, First Special Session chapter 5, article 3, section
50; Laws 2008, chapter 344, section 56; repealing Laws 2003, chapter 26; Laws
2005, chapter 152, article 1, section 18; Laws 2005, chapter 163, section 2;
Laws 2006, chapter 260, article 5, section 11; Laws 2008, chapter 204, section
41; Laws 2008, chapter 281, sections 6; 12; Laws 2008, chapter 287, article 1,
section 21; Laws 2008, chapter 366, article 9, section 7; article 12, section
2.
The bill was read for the third time and
placed upon its final passage.
The question was taken on the passage of
the bill and the roll was called. There were
131 yeas and 1 nay as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Beard
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Cornish
Davids
Davnie
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Eken
Emmer
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Greiling
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Holberg
Hoppe
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Kohls
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Peppin
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scalze
Scott
Seifert
Sertich
Severson
Shimanski
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Zellers
Spk. Kelliher
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5762
Those who
voted in the negative were:
Buesgens
The bill was passed and its title agreed
to.
H. F. No. 1193, A bill for an act relating
to claims against the state; providing for settlement of various claims;
appropriating money.
The bill was read for the third time and
placed upon its final passage.
The question was taken on the passage of
the bill and the roll was called. There
were 118 yeas and 14 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Beard
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Cornish
Davnie
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Eastlund
Eken
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Greiling
Gunther
Hamilton
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Holberg
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scalze
Sertich
Severson
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Spk. Kelliher
Those who voted in the negative were:
Buesgens
Davids
Drazkowski
Emmer
Hackbarth
Hoppe
Kohls
Peppin
Reinert
Scott
Seifert
Shimanski
Smith
Zellers
The bill was passed and its title agreed
to.
The Speaker called Juhnke to the Chair.
S. F. No. 1036, A bill for an act relating
to state government; ratifying state labor contracts.
The bill was read for the third time and
placed upon its final passage.
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5763
The question was taken on the passage of the bill and the roll
was called. There were 103 yeas and 29
nays as follows:
Those who
voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, P.
Anzelc
Atkins
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brown
Brynaert
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Cornish
Davnie
Demmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Eastlund
Eken
Falk
Fritz
Gardner
Greiling
Hamilton
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Holberg
Hoppe
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Knuth
Koenen
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Scalze
Sertich
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Winkler
Spk. Kelliher
Those who
voted in the negative were:
Anderson, B.
Anderson, S.
Beard
Brod
Buesgens
Davids
Dean
Dettmer
Downey
Drazkowski
Emmer
Faust
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Gunther
Hackbarth
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Kohls
Mack
Nornes
Peppin
Sanders
Scott
Seifert
Severson
Shimanski
Westrom
Zellers
The bill was passed and its title agreed to.
S. F. No. 1794, A bill for an act relating to veterans;
clarifying the circumstances under which pay differential applies for deployed
National Guard and reserve members who are teachers; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 471.975.
The bill was read for the third time and placed upon its final
passage.
The question was taken on the passage of the bill and the roll
was called. There were 132 yeas and 0
nays as follows:
Those who
voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Beard
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Buesgens
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Cornish
Davids
Davnie
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Eken
Emmer
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Greiling
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5764
Holberg
Hoppe
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Kohls
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Peppin
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scalze
Scott
Seifert
Sertich
Severson
Shimanski
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Zellers
Spk. Kelliher
The bill was passed and its title agreed
to.
S. F. No. 489 was reported
to the House.
Davnie moved to amend S. F. No. 489, the
third engrossment, as follows:
Delete everything after the enacting clause
and insert the following language of H. F. No. 528, the second engrossment:
"Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 47.58, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the terms
defined in this subdivision have the meanings given them.
(a) "Reverse mortgage loan" means a loan:
(1) Made to a borrower wherein the committed principal amount
is paid to the borrower in equal or unequal installments over a period of
months or years, interest is assessed, and authorized closing costs are
incurred as specified in the loan agreement;
(2) Which is secured by a mortgage on residential property
owned solely by the borrower; and
(3) Which is due when the committed principal amount has
been fully paid to the borrower, or upon sale of the property securing the
loan, or upon the death of the last surviving borrower, or upon the borrower
terminating use of the property as principal residence so as to disqualify the
property from the homestead credit given in chapter 290A.
(b) "Lender" means any bank subject to chapter 48,
credit union subject to chapter 52, savings bank organized and operated
pursuant to chapter 50, savings association subject to chapter 51A, or any
insurance company as defined in section 60A.02, subdivision 4.
"Lender" also includes any federally chartered bank supervised by the
comptroller of the currency or federally chartered savings association
supervised by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board or federally chartered credit union
supervised by the National Credit Union Administration, to the extent permitted
by federal law.
(c) "Borrower" includes any natural person holding
an interest in severalty or as joint tenant or tenant-in-common in the property
securing a reverse mortgage loan.
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5765
(d) "Outstanding loan
balance" means the current net amount of money owed by the borrower to the
lender whether or not that sum is suspended pursuant to the terms of the
reverse mortgage loan agreement or is immediately due and payable. The outstanding loan balance is calculated by
adding the current totals of the items described in clauses (1) to (5) and subtracting
the current totals of the item described in clause (6):
(1) The sum of all payments
made by the lender which are necessary to clear the property securing the loan
of any outstanding mortgage encumbrance or mechanics or material supplier's
lien.
(2) The total disbursements
made by the lender to date pursuant to the loan agreement as formulated in
accordance with subdivision 3.
(3) All taxes, assessments,
insurance premiums and other similar charges paid to date by the lender
pursuant to subdivision 6, which charges were not reimbursed by the borrower
within 60 days.
(4) All actual closing costs
which the borrower has deferred, if a deferral provision is contained in the
loan agreement as authorized by subdivision 7.
(5) The total accrued interest
to date, as authorized by subdivision 5.
(6) All payments made by the
borrower pursuant to subdivision 4.
(e) "Actual closing
costs" mean reasonable charges or sums ordinarily paid at the time of
closing for the following, whether or not retained by the lender:
(1) Any insurance premiums
on policies covering the mortgaged property including but not limited to
premiums for title insurance, fire and extended coverage insurance, flood
insurance, and private mortgage insurance.
(2) Abstracting, title examination
and search, and examination of public records related to the mortgaged
property.
(3) The preparation and
recording of any or all documents required by law or custom for closing a
reverse mortgage loan agreement.
(4) Appraisal and survey of
real property securing a reverse mortgage loan.
(5) A single service charge,
which service charge shall include any consideration, not otherwise specified
in this section as an "actual closing cost," paid by the borrower to
the lender for or in relation to the acquisition, making, refinancing or
modification of a reverse mortgage loan, and shall also include any
consideration received by the lender for making a commitment for a reverse
mortgage loan, whether or not an actual loan follows the commitment. The service charge shall not exceed one
percent of the bona fide committed principal amount of the reverse mortgage
loan.
(6) Charges and fees
necessary for or related to the transfer of real property securing a reverse
mortgage loan or the closing of a reverse mortgage loan agreement paid by the
borrower and received by any party other than the lender.
Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 47.58,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Payment;
repayment; amount. The committed
principal amount of a reverse mortgage loan shall be paid to the borrower over
the period of months or years as specified in the loan agreement. The borrower and lender may, by written
agreement, amend the loan agreement from time to time. Pursuant to the terms of the contract the
borrower shall make repayment to the lender:
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5766
(a) upon payment to the
borrower of the final installment unless, by written agreement between the
borrower and lender whereunder the borrower agrees to periodically pay the
lender interest accruing on the outstanding loan balance, repayment of the
outstanding loan balance is postponed until default in payment of interest or
until the occurrence of any of the events specified in clauses (b)
(1) to (e) (4);
(b) (1) upon sale of the property
securing the loan;
(c) (2) upon the death of the last
surviving borrower;
(d) (3) upon the borrower
terminating use of the property as principal residence so as to disqualify the
property from homestead classification under section 273.13; or
(e) (4) upon renegotiation of the
terms of the reverse mortgage loan agreement, unless the parties agree in
writing to postpone repayment.
Except as otherwise provided
in this subdivision, the outstanding loan balance as projected by the lender to
the anticipated time of payment to the borrower of the final installment of
committed principal shall not exceed 80 percent of the appraised value of the
property at inception of the loan. If
upon reappraisal of the property made at any time during the term of the loan,
the projected outstanding loan balance does not exceed 70 percent of the
reappraised value of the property, the schedule of the lender's installment
payments may be extended and the amount of the committed principal amount
increased, provided the revised outstanding loan balance at payment of the
lender's final installment of committed principal does not exceed 80 percent of
the reappraised value of the property.
Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 47.58,
subdivision 8, is amended to read:
Subd. 8. Counseling;
requirement; penalty. A lender,
mortgage banking company, or other mortgage lender not related to the mortgagor
must keep a certificate on file documenting that the borrower, prior to
entering into the reverse mortgage loan, received counseling as defined in this
subdivision from an organization that meets the requirements of section
462A.209 and is a Prior to accepting a final and complete application
for a reverse mortgage loan or assessing any fees, a lender must:
(1) refer the prospective
borrower to an independent housing counseling agency approved by the United States Department
of Housing and Urban Development. The
certificate must for reverse mortgage counseling. The lender shall provide the prospective
borrower with a list of at least three independent housing counseling agencies
approved by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The lender shall positively promote the
benefits of reverse mortgage counseling to the potential borrower; and
(2) receive a certification
from the applicant or the applicant's authorized representative that the
applicant has received counseling as defined in this subdivision from an
independent counseling agency as described in clause (1). The certification must be signed by the mortgagor
applicant and the counselor from the independent agency and must include
the date of the counseling, and the name, address, and telephone number
of both the mortgagor and the organization providing counseling.
counselor from the independent agency and the applicant. The lender shall maintain the certification
in an accurate, reproducible, and accessible format for the term of the reverse
mortgage. A failure by the lender to
comply with this subdivision results in a $1,000 civil penalty payable to the mortgagor
borrower. For the purposes of this
subdivision, "counseling" means that during a session, which must
be no less than 60 minutes, the following services are provided to the
borrower:
(1) (i) a review of the advantages
and disadvantages of reverse mortgage programs;
(2) an explanation of how
the reverse mortgage affects the borrower's estate and public benefits;
(3) an explanation of the
lending process;
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5767
(4) a discussion of the
borrower's supplemental income needs; and
(5) an opportunity to ask
questions of the counselor.
(ii) a discussion of the
borrower's finances, assets, liabilities, expenses, and income needs and a
review of options other than a reverse mortgage loan that are available to the
borrower, including other housing, social services, health, and financial
options;
(iii) a review of other home
equity conversion or other loan options that are or may become available to the
borrower;
(iv) an explanation of the
financial implication of entering into a reverse mortgage loan, including the
costs of the loan;
(v) an explanation that a
reverse mortgage loan may have tax consequences, affect eligibility for
assistance under federal and state programs, and have an impact on the estate
and heirs of the borrower;
(vi) an explanation of the
lending process; and
(vii) an opportunity for the
borrower to ask questions of the counselor.
Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 47.58, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 9. Lender
default; forfeiture. A lender
with respect to a mortgage that is not federally insured who fails to make loan
advances as required in the loan documents, and fails to cure an actual default
after notice as specified in the loan documents, shall forfeit any right to
repayment of the outstanding loan balance.
Any mortgage that is not federally insured securing a reverse mortgage
agreement in which a forfeiture has occurred pursuant to this subdivision may
be declared null and void by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 47.58, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 10. Lender
responsibility. When a
reverse mortgage is sold to a subsequent purchaser, the subsequent purchaser is
responsible and liable for the acts of the originator.
Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 47.58, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 11. Right
of rescission. (a) The
borrower may rescind any reverse mortgage within ten days of execution by
providing written notice to the lender.
Any mortgage filed in connection with a reverse mortgage loan is null
and void upon rescission. The effects of
a rescission shall be the same as provided in Regulation Z, Code of Federal
Regulations, title 12, section 226.23.
Within ten days of receipt of the written notice of rescission, the
lender shall provide the borrower a written notice of acknowledgment that such
mortgage is null and void and a satisfaction of mortgage.
(b) The lender shall provide
the borrower with the following notice, which must be on a separate piece of
paper and in at least ten-point type, between 24 to 72 hours prior to execution
of the reverse mortgage:
"You are entitled to
rescind (cancel) this reverse mortgage transaction for any reason within ten
days from the day you execute the reverse mortgage documents. The rescission must be in writing and sent by
certified mail to the lender at the address stated in this document."
(c) Notice of recission, is
effective when the borrower deposits a certified letter properly addressed and
postage prepaid in the mailbox.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5768
(d) A notice of rescission given by the borrower need not take
a particular form and is sufficient if it indicates by any form of written
expression the intention of the borrower not to be bound by the reverse
mortgage transaction.
(e) No act of the borrower is effective to waive the right to
rescind as provided in this section.
Sec. 7. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 47.58, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 12. Suitability. In recommending the purchase of any
reverse mortgage loan to a borrower, a lender must have reasonable grounds for
believing that the recommendation is suitable for the borrower and must make
reasonable inquiries to determine suitability.
The suitability of a recommended purchase of a reverse mortgage loan
will be determined by reference to the totality of the particular borrower's
circumstances, including but not limited to, the borrower's income, age,
assets, need for a reverse mortgage, and the values, benefits, and costs of the
recommended reverse mortgage loan, when compared to the values, benefits, and
costs of other loan options that may be available to the borrower.
Sec. 8. [58.19] REVERSE MORTGAGE LOANS
COORDINATION WITH CHAPTER 47.
No person acting as a residential mortgage originator or
servicer, including a person required to be licensed under this chapter, and no
person exempt from the licensing requirements of this chapter under section
58.04, shall make, provide, or arrange for a reverse mortgage as defined in chapter
47 without complying with that chapter and verifying that the reverse mortgage
is suitable for the borrower.
Sec. 9. [60K.57] CROSS-SELLING LIMITATIONS ON
REVERSE MORTGAGE PROCEEDS.
No producer shall sell or encourage the purchase of an annuity,
life insurance, or long-term care insurance product where the producer knows or
should know that the purchase will be made using proceeds from a reverse
mortgage.
Sec. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Sections 1 to 9 are effective the day following final enactment."
Delete the title and insert:
"A bill for an act relating to
reverse mortgages; eliminating the requirement that a reverse mortgage becomes
due when committed principal has been fully paid; mandating counseling by an
independent housing agency; regulating lender default; imposing liability on a
subsequent purchaser of a reverse mortgage; providing for a right of recission;
defining suitability; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 47.58,
subdivisions 1, 3, 8, by adding subdivisions; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapters 58; 60K."
The motion prevailed and the amendment was
adopted.
Davnie moved
to amend S. F. No. 489, the third engrossment, as amended, as follows:
Page 5,
delete section 5
Renumber the
sections in sequence and correct the internal references
Amend the
title accordingly
The motion prevailed and the amendment was
adopted.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5769
S. F. No. 489, A bill for an act relating
to reverse mortgages; eliminating the requirement that a reverse mortgage
becomes due when committed principal has been fully paid; mandating counseling
by an independent housing agency; regulating lender default; imposing liability
on a subsequent purchaser of a reverse mortgage; providing for a right of
recission; defining suitability; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
47.58, subdivisions 1, 3, 8, by adding subdivisions; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 58; 60A; 60K.
The bill was read for the third time, as
amended, and placed upon its final passage.
The question was taken on the passage of
the bill and the roll was called. There were
106 yeas and 26 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Beard
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Cornish
Davnie
Dean
Demmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Eastlund
Eken
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Greiling
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Kohls
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mack
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Scalze
Sertich
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Spk. Kelliher
Those who voted in the negative were:
Anderson, B.
Buesgens
Davids
Dettmer
Downey
Drazkowski
Emmer
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Holberg
Hoppe
Kelly
Magnus
Peppin
Reinert
Sanders
Scott
Seifert
Severson
Shimanski
Smith
Torkelson
Zellers
The bill was passed, as amended, and its
title agreed to.
H. F. No. 1250 was reported
to the House.
Hornstein
moved to amend H. F. No. 1250, the third engrossment, as follows:
Delete
everything after the enacting clause and insert:
"Section
1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
16C.137, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Goals
and actions. (a) Using 2005 as a
baseline, the state of Minnesota shall reduce the use of gasoline by on-road
vehicles owned by state departments by 25 percent by 2010 and by 50 percent by 2015,
and the use of petroleum-based diesel fuel in diesel-fueled vehicles by ten
percent by 2010 and 25 percent by 2015.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5770
(b) To meet
the goals established in paragraph (a), each state department must, whenever
legally, technically, and economically feasible, subject to the specific needs
of the department and responsible management of agency finances:
(1) ensure
that all new on-road vehicles purchased, excluding emergency and law
enforcement vehicles:
(i) use
"cleaner fuels" as that term is defined in section 16C.135,
subdivision 1, clauses (1), (3), and (4); or
(ii) have
fuel efficiency ratings that exceed 30 miles per gallon for city usage or 35
miles per gallon for highway usage, including but not limited to hybrid
electric cars and hydrogen-powered vehicles; or
(iii) are
powered solely by electricity;
(2) increase
its use of renewable transportation fuels, including ethanol, biodiesel, and
hydrogen from agricultural products; and
(3) increase
its use of Web-based Internet applications and other electronic information
technologies to enhance the access to and delivery of government information
and services to the public, and reduce the reliance on the department's fleet
for the delivery of such information and services.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.011, is amended
by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 26a. Electric
vehicle. (a) "Electric
vehicle" means a motor vehicle that is able to be powered by an electric
motor drawing current from rechargeable storage batteries, fuel cells, or other
portable sources of electrical current, and meets or exceeds applicable
regulations in Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, part 571, and successor
requirements.
(b)
"Electric vehicle" includes:
(1) a
neighborhood electric vehicle;
(2) a
medium-speed electric vehicle; and
(3) a
plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.011, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 54a. Plug-in
hybrid electric vehicle. "Plug-in
hybrid electric vehicle" means an electric vehicle that (1) contains an
internal combustion engine, and also allows power to be delivered to the drive
wheels by a battery-powered electric motor; (2) when connected to the
electrical grid via an electrical outlet, is able to recharge its battery; and
(3) has the ability to travel at least 20 miles powered substantially by
electricity.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 216B.02,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd.
4. Public
utility. "Public utility"
means persons, corporations, or other legal entities, their lessees, trustees,
and receivers, now or hereafter operating, maintaining, or controlling in this
state equipment or facilities for furnishing at retail natural, manufactured,
or mixed gas or electric service to or for the public or engaged in the
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5771
production
and retail sale thereof but does not include (1) a municipality or a
cooperative electric association, organized under the provisions of chapter
308A, producing or furnishing natural, manufactured, or mixed gas or electric
service or; (2) a retail seller of compressed natural gas used as
a vehicular fuel which purchases the gas from a public utility; or (3) a
retail seller of electricity used to recharge a battery that powers an electric
vehicle, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 26a, and that is not
otherwise a public utility under this chapter. Except as otherwise provided, the provisions
of this chapter shall not be applicable to any sale of natural, manufactured,
or mixed gas or electricity by a public utility to another public utility for
resale. In addition, the provisions of
this chapter shall not apply to a public utility whose total natural gas
business consists of supplying natural, manufactured, or mixed gas to not more
than 650 customers within a city pursuant to a franchise granted by the city,
provided a resolution of the city council requesting exemption from regulation
is filed with the commission. The city
council may rescind the resolution requesting exemption at any time, and, upon
the filing of the rescinding resolution with the commission, the provisions of
this chapter shall apply to the public utility.
No person shall be deemed to be a public utility if it furnishes its
services only to tenants or cooperative or condominium owners in buildings
owned, leased, or operated by such person.
No person shall be deemed to be a public utility if it furnishes service
to occupants of a manufactured home or trailer park owned, leased, or operated
by such person. No person shall be
deemed to be a public utility if it produces or furnishes service to less than
25 persons.
Sec.
5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
216B.241, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
Subd.
9. Building
performance standards; Sustainable Building 2030. (a) The purpose of this subdivision is to
establish cost-effective energy-efficiency performance standards for new and
substantially reconstructed commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings
that can significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions by lowering energy use
in new and substantially reconstructed buildings. For the purposes of this subdivision, the
establishment of these standards may be referred to as Sustainable Building
2030.
(b) The commissioner
shall contract with the Center for Sustainable Building Research at the
University of Minnesota to coordinate development and implementation of
energy-efficiency performance standards, strategic planning, research, data
analysis, technology transfer, training, and other activities related to the
purpose of Sustainable Building 2030.
The commissioner and the Center for Sustainable Building Research shall,
in consultation with utilities, builders, developers, building operators, and
experts in building design and technology, develop a Sustainable Building 2030
implementation plan that must address, at a minimum, the following issues:
(1)
training architects to incorporate the performance standards in building
design;
(2)
incorporating the performance standards in utility conservation improvement
programs; and
(3)
developing procedures for ongoing monitoring of energy use in buildings that
have adopted the performance standards.
The plan
must be submitted to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and
house of representatives committees with primary jurisdiction over energy
policy by July 1, 2009.
(c)
Sustainable Building 2030 energy-efficiency performance standards must be firm,
quantitative measures of total building energy use and associated carbon
dioxide emissions per square foot for different building types and uses, that
allow for accurate determinations of a building's conformance with a
performance standard. Performance
standards must address energy use by electric vehicle charging infrastructure
in or adjacent to buildings as that infrastructure begins to be made widely
available. The energy-efficiency
performance standards must be updated every three or five years to incorporate
all cost-effective measures. The performance
standards must reflect the reductions in carbon dioxide emissions per square
foot resulting from actions taken by utilities to comply with the renewable
energy standards in section 216B.1691.
The performance standards should be designed to achieve reductions
equivalent to the following reduction schedule, measured against energy
consumption by an average building in each applicable building sector in 2003:
(1) 60 percent in 2010; (2) 70 percent in 2015; (3) 80 percent in
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5772
2020; and
(4) 90 percent in 2025. A performance
standard must not be established or increased absent a conclusive engineering
analysis that it is cost-effective based upon established practices used in
evaluating utility conservation improvement programs.
(d) The
annual amount of the contract with the Center for Sustainable Building Research
is up to $500,000. The Center for
Sustainable Building Research shall expend no more than $150,000 of this amount
each year on administration, coordination, and oversight activities related to
Sustainable Building 2030. The balance
of contract funds must be spent for subcontracts with not-for-profit energy
organizations, architecture and engineering firms, and other qualified entities
to undertake technical projects and activities in support of Sustainable
Building 2030. The primary work to be
accomplished each year by qualified technical experts under subcontracts is the
development and thorough justification of recommendations for specific
energy-efficiency performance standards.
Additional work may include:
(1)
research, development, and demonstration of new energy-efficiency technologies
and techniques suitable for commercial, industrial, and institutional
buildings;
(2)
analysis and evaluation of practices in building design, construction,
commissioning and operations, and analysis and evaluation of energy use in the commercial,
industrial, and institutional sectors;
(3)
analysis and evaluation of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of
Sustainable Building 2030 performance standards, conservation improvement
programs, and building energy codes;
(4)
development and delivery of training programs for architects, engineers,
commissioning agents, technicians, contractors, equipment suppliers,
developers, and others in the building industries; and
(5) analyze
and evaluate the effect of building operations on energy use.
(e) The
commissioner shall require utilities to develop and implement conservation
improvement programs that are expressly designed to achieve energy efficiency
goals consistent with the Sustainable Building 2030 performance standards. These programs must include offerings of
design assistance and modeling, financial incentives, and the verification of
the proper installation of energy-efficient design components in new and
substantially reconstructed buildings. A
utility making an expenditure under its conservation improvement program that
results in a building meeting the Sustainable Building 2030 performance
standards may claim the energy savings toward its energy-savings goal
established in subdivision 1c.
(f) The
commissioner shall report to the legislature every three years, beginning
January 15, 2010, on the cost-effectiveness and progress of implementing the
Sustainable Building 2030 performance standards and shall make recommendations
on the need to continue the program as described in this section.
Sec.
6. [325F.185]
ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE.
Any
electric vehicle infrastructure installed in this state must without
significant upgrading of the electric vehicle infrastructure:
(1) allow
for utilization of the electric vehicle infrastructure by any make, model, or
type of electric vehicle capable of being charged via a 40-amp, 240-volt
electrical charging circuit; and
(2) be
capable of providing bidirectional charging, once electrical utilities achieve
a cost-effective capability to draw electricity from electric vehicles
connected to the utility grid.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5773
Sec. 7. Laws 2006, chapter 245, section 1, is amended
to read:
Section 1. STATE
PURCHASING OF ELECTRIC AND PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
Subdivision 1. Definition. (a) As used in sections 2 and 3 this
section, "plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)" means a vehicle
containing an internal combustion engine that also allows power to be delivered
to the drive wheels by a battery-powered electric motor and that meets
applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards. When connected to the electrical grid via an
electrical outlet, the vehicle must be able to recharge its battery. The vehicle must have the ability to travel at
least 20 miles, powered substantially by electricity.
(b) As used in this section,
"neighborhood electric vehicle" means an electrically powered motor
vehicle that has four wheels and has a speed attainable in one mile of at least
20 miles per hour but not more than 25 miles per hour on a paved level surface.
(c) As used in this section,
"electric vehicle" has the meaning given in section 169.011,
subdivision 26a.
Subd. 2. Notice
of state procurement policy in bid documents. All solicitation documents for the purchase
of a passenger automobile, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 168.011,
subdivision 7; pickup truck, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 168.011,
subdivision 29; or van, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 168.011,
subdivision 28, issued under the jurisdiction of the Department of
Administration after June 30, 2006, must contain the following language:
"It is the intention of the state of Minnesota to begin purchasing electric
vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and neighborhood electric
vehicles as soon as they become commercially available, meet the state's
performance specifications, and are priced no more than ten percent above the
price for comparable gasoline-powered vehicles.
It is the intention of the state to purchase electric vehicles,
plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and neighborhood electric vehicles whenever
practicable after these conditions have been met and as fleet needs dictate for
at least five years after these conditions have been met."
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the
day following final enactment.
Sec. 8. REVISOR'S
INSTRUCTION.
The revisor shall codify
Laws 2006, chapter 245, section 1, in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 16C."
Amend the title accordingly
The motion prevailed and the amendment was adopted.
Holberg and Hornstein moved
to amend H. F. No. 1250, the third engrossment, as amended, as follows:
Page 6, after line 21,
insert:
"Sec. 8. Laws 2008, chapter 287, article 1, section
118, is amended to read:
Sec. 118. STUDY
OF TRANSPORTATION LONG-RANGE SOLUTIONS.
(a) The commissioner of
transportation shall conduct a study in consultation with other state agencies
and key stakeholders to evaluate the current and long-range needs of the
state's transportation system, and investigate possible strategies to meet
these needs.
(b) The study must include,
but is not limited to:
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5774
(1)
evaluation of the current needs of the state's highway systems, bridges, and
transit;
(2)
analysis and quantification of the needs for the next 20 years of the state's
highway systems, bridges, and transit;
(3)
comparison of estimates of revenues raised by current transportation funding
sources, with long-term needs of the state's transportation system;
(4)
identification of options for maintenance and improvement of the state's
transportation system with specific reference to the effects of potential
increases in vehicle fuel economy, availability of alternative modes of
transportation, and extreme fuel price volatility on future transportation
revenues;
(5)
analysis of alternative pricing options utilized in other states and countries,
and their potential for use, public acceptance, alleviation of congestion, and
revenue generation in this state; and
(6)
identification of options for road-use pricing, other alternative financing
mechanisms with particular consideration of key environmental impacts such as
air quality, water quality, and greenhouse gas emissions, and estimates of
implementation costs, user costs, and revenue.; and
(7)
evaluation of the impact of the use of electric vehicles, as defined in
Minnesota Statutes, section 169.011, subdivision 26a, and plug-in hybrid
vehicles, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 169.011, subdivision 54a,
on the current funding mechanisms for the state's roadways and an analysis of
methods to mitigate the impact.
(c) The
commissioner shall report the results of the study to the legislature no later than
November 1, 2009."
Renumber
the sections in sequence and correct the internal references
Amend the
title accordingly
The motion prevailed and the amendment was
adopted.
Westrom
moved to amend H. F. No. 1250, the third engrossment, as amended, as follows:
Page 5,
line 23, after "circuit" insert "and a 110-volt
charging circuit designed for a magnetic drive electric vehicle"
The motion prevailed and the amendment was
adopted.
H. F. No. 1250, A bill for an act relating
to transportation; regulating electric vehicle infrastructure; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 16C.137, subdivision 1; 169.011, by adding
subdivisions; 216B.02, subdivision 4; 216B.241, subdivision 9; Laws 2006,
chapter 245, section 1; Laws 2008, chapter 287, article 1, section 118;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 325F.
The bill was read for the third time, as
amended, and placed upon its final passage.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5775
The question was taken on the passage of
the bill and the roll was called. There
were 114 yeas and 17 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Beard
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Cornish
Davnie
Demmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Eken
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Greiling
Gunther
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Holberg
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scalze
Seifert
Sertich
Severson
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Spk. Kelliher
Those who voted in the negative were:
Anderson, B.
Buesgens
Davids
Dean
Dettmer
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Emmer
Gottwalt
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Hoppe
Kohls
Peppin
Scott
Shimanski
Zellers
The bill was passed, as amended, and its
title agreed to.
H. F. No. 1880 was reported
to the House.
Severson
moved to amend H. F. No. 1880, the first engrossment, as follows:
Page 1, line
16, after "must be" insert "considered for the
position. The top five recently
separated veterans must be"
Page 1, line
23, delete "appointments made" and insert "vacancies
posted"
The motion prevailed and the amendment was
adopted.
H. F. No. 1880, A bill for an act relating
to veterans; requiring an interview for veterans listed as meeting minimum
qualifications and claiming veterans preference for positions of state
government employment; applying to state civil service certain removal
provisions in current local government law; requiring a report of certain state
employment statistics pertaining to veterans; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008,
sections 43A.11, subdivision 7; 197.455, subdivision 1.
The bill was read for the third time, as
amended, and placed upon its final passage.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5776
The question was taken on the passage of
the bill and the roll was called. There
were 131 yeas and 0 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Beard
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Buesgens
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Cornish
Davids
Davnie
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Eken
Emmer
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Greiling
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Holberg
Hoppe
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Kohls
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Peppin
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scalze
Scott
Seifert
Sertich
Severson
Shimanski
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Zellers
Spk.
Kelliher
The bill was passed, as amended, and its
title agreed to.
H. F. No. 705, A bill for an act relating
to health; promoting preventive health care by requiring high deductible health
plans used with a health savings account to cover preventive care with no
deductible as permitted by federal law; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 62Q.65.
The bill was read for the third time and
placed upon its final passage.
The question was taken on the passage of
the bill and the roll was called. There were
71 yeas and 62 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anzelc
Atkins
Benson
Bly
Brown
Brynaert
Carlson
Champion
Clark
Davnie
Dill
Doty
Eken
Falk
Fritz
Gardner
Greiling
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Kahn
Kalin
Knuth
Koenen
Laine
Lenczewski
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
Morrow
Mullery
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Obermueller
Otremba
Persell
Peterson
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Scalze
Sertich
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Wagenius
Ward
Winkler
Spk. Kelliher
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5777
Those who
voted in the negative were:
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Beard
Bigham
Brod
Buesgens
Bunn
Cornish
Davids
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Dittrich
Doepke
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Emmer
Faust
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Holberg
Hoppe
Howes
Juhnke
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Kohls
Lanning
Lesch
Loon
Mack
Magnus
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Murdock
Nornes
Norton
Olin
Paymar
Pelowski
Peppin
Poppe
Sanders
Scott
Seifert
Severson
Shimanski
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Torkelson
Urdahl
Welti
Westrom
Zellers
The bill was passed and its title agreed
to.
H. F. No. 1745 was reported
to the House.
Ruud moved
to amend H. F. No. 1745, the first engrossment, as follows:
Page 9, after
line 3, insert:
"Sec.
15. REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.
The revisor
of statutes shall renumber Minnesota Statutes, section 43A.312, as 62J.63 and
make any cross-reference changes in Minnesota Statutes."
Page 9, line
4, delete "15" and insert "16"
The motion prevailed and the amendment was
adopted.
Murphy, E.,
moved to amend H. F. No. 1745, the first engrossment, as amended, as follows:
Page 1,
after line 22, insert:
"Section
2. [145.987]
HEALTHY CHILDREN THROUGH IMMUNIZATION.
Pharmacies
and pharmacists providing immunizations to children under private insurance or
fee-for-service arrangements prior to June 1, 2009, that are not enrolled in
the pediatric vaccine administration program under section 13631 of the
federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, Public Law 103-66, must
discontinue immunization services to children under private insurance or
fee-for-service arrangements after December 31, 2009."
Page 7,
after line 9, insert:
"Sec.
11. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
151.01, subdivision 27, is amended to read:
Subd.
27. Practice of pharmacy.
"Practice of pharmacy" means:
(1)
interpretation and evaluation of prescription drug orders;
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5778
(2)
compounding, labeling, and dispensing drugs and devices (except labeling by a
manufacturer or packager of nonprescription drugs or commercially packaged
legend drugs and devices);
(3)
participation in clinical interpretations and monitoring of drug therapy for
assurance of safe and effective use of drugs;
(4)
participation in drug and therapeutic device selection; drug administration for
first dosage and medical emergencies; drug regimen reviews; and drug or
drug-related research;
(5)
participation in administration of influenza vaccines to all eligible
individuals over ten years of age and older and all other
vaccines to patients 18 years of age and older under standing orders from a
physician licensed under chapter 147 or by written protocol with a physician
provided that:
(i) the
pharmacist is trained in a program approved by the American Council of Pharmaceutical
Education for the administration of immunizations or graduated from a college
of pharmacy in 2001 or thereafter; and
(ii) the
pharmacist reports the administration of the immunization to the patient's
primary physician or clinic;
(6) participation
in the practice of managing drug therapy and modifying drug therapy, according
to section 151.21, subdivision 1, according to a written protocol between the
specific pharmacist and the individual dentist, optometrist, physician,
podiatrist, or veterinarian who is responsible for the patient's care and
authorized to independently prescribe drugs.
Any significant changes in drug therapy must be reported by the
pharmacist to the patient's medical record;
(7)
participation in the storage of drugs and the maintenance of records;
(8)
responsibility for participation in patient counseling on therapeutic values,
content, hazards, and uses of drugs and devices; and
(9) offering
or performing those acts, services, operations, or transactions necessary in the
conduct, operation, management, and control of a pharmacy."
Renumber the
sections in sequence and correct the internal references
Amend the
title accordingly
The motion prevailed and the amendment was
adopted.
H. F. No. 1745, A bill for an act relating
to health; requiring the commissioner of health to enroll pharmacies or
pharmacists in the pediatric vaccine administration program; changing the age
requirement for pharmacists administering influenza vaccines; changing certain
requirements; modifying provisions in health occupations for speech language
pathologists and occupational therapists; expanding definition of licensed
health care professional; changing provisions for food, beverage, and lodging
establishments; requiring the Department of Health to use rules and guidelines
from the federal government to implement the minimum data set for resident
reimbursement classification; establishing fees; amending Minnesota Statutes
2008, sections 148.512, subdivision 13; 148.5193, subdivision 6a; 148.5194,
subdivisions 2, 3, 7; 148.6402, subdivisions 13, 22a; 148.6405; 148.6440,
subdivision 2; 151.01, subdivision 27; 157.16, subdivisions 2, 4; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 145; repealing Minnesota
Rules, parts 4610.0420; 4610.0500, subparts 1, 2, 3, 5; 4610.0600, subparts 1,
3, 4; 4610.0650.
The bill was read for the third time, as
amended, and placed upon its final passage.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5779
The question was taken on the passage of
the bill and the roll was called. There
were 115 yeas and 18 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Beard
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brown
Brynaert
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Clark
Cornish
Davnie
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Eken
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Greiling
Gunther
Hamilton
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scalze
Scott
Sertich
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Spk. Kelliher
Those who voted in the negative were:
Anderson, B.
Brod
Buesgens
Davids
Dean
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Emmer
Hackbarth
Holberg
Hoppe
Kohls
Mack
Peppin
Seifert
Severson
Shimanski
Zellers
The bill was passed, as amended, and its
title agreed to.
H. F. No. 1237 was reported
to the House.
Dettmer, Buesgens,
Shimanski, Howes, Drazkowski and Anderson, B., moved to amend H. F. No. 1237,
the third engrossment, as follows:
Page 12,
after line 9, insert:
"Section
26. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
103D.351, is amended to read:
103D.351 ANNUAL REPORT.
(a) The
managers must prepare a yearly report of the financial conditions of the
watershed district, the status of all projects, the business transacted by the
watershed district, other matters affecting the interests of the watershed
district, and a discussion of the managers' plans for the succeeding year.
(b) Copies
of the report must be transmitted to the Board of Water and Soil Resources, the
commissioner, and the director, and the county board of each county
in the watershed within a reasonable time.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5780
Sec.
27. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
103D.911, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd.
2. Adoption;
approval of county. (a) On
or before September 15 August 15 of each year, the managers shall
adopt a budget for the next year and, decide on a revenue
plan, which includes the total amount necessary to be raised from ad
valorem tax levies, fees, or other assessments to meet the watershed
district's budget, and submit a copy of the budget and revenue plan to the county
board of each county in the watershed district for review.
(b) The
county board of each county in the watershed district must approve the
watershed district's revenue plan. When
a watershed district is located in more than one county, the following process
for granting approval of a revenue plan applies:
(1) when
there is an odd number of counties, a majority of the counties must approve,
with each county having a vote as determined under paragraph (c); or
(2) when
there is an even number of counties, a majority of the county board members
from all of the counties must approve, with each county board member having a
vote as determined under paragraph (c).
(c) When a
county is located entirely within a watershed district, the county or board
member shall get a vote equal to one.
When a portion of the county is located within a watershed district, the
county or board member shall get a vote equal to .75, .5, or .25, to be
determined by the Board of Water and Soil Resources based upon the percentage of
the county's land within the watershed district.
(d) Failure
of a county to approve or disapprove the revenue plan in writing within 30 days
of receiving the plan is deemed to be approval.
(e) County
approval is not required under this subdivision for counties whose boards do
not require approval of the revenue plan or budget plan according to section
103B.211, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clauses (5) and (6).
Sec.
28. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
103D.915, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Certification
to auditor. After adoption of the
budget and approval of the revenue plan by the county, and no later than
September 15, the secretary of the watershed district shall certify to the
auditor of each county within the watershed district the county's share of the
tax, which shall be an amount bearing the same proportion to the total levy as
the net tax capacity of the area of the county within the watershed bears to
the net tax capacity of the entire watershed district. The maximum amount of a levy may not exceed
the amount provided in section 103D.905."
Renumber the
sections in sequence and correct the internal references
Correct the
title numbers accordingly
A roll call was requested and properly
seconded.
The question was taken on the Dettmer et
al amendment and the roll was called.
There were 44 yeas and 88 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Anderson, B.
Anderson, S.
Bigham
Brod
Brown
Buesgens
Bunn
Cornish
Davids
Dean
Dettmer
Dittrich
Doepke
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Emmer
Garofalo
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5781
Gottwalt
Gunther
Hackbarth
Holberg
Hosch
Howes
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Kohls
Loon
Mack
McNamara
Norton
Peppin
Peterson
Rosenthal
Ruud
Sanders
Scalze
Scott
Seifert
Severson
Shimanski
Smith
Swails
Zellers
Those who voted in the negative were:
Abeler
Anderson, P.
Anzelc
Atkins
Benson
Bly
Brynaert
Carlson
Champion
Clark
Davnie
Demmer
Dill
Doty
Eken
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Greiling
Hamilton
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Hoppe
Hornstein
Hortman
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Knuth
Koenen
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Persell
Poppe
Reinert
Rukavina
Sailer
Sertich
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Sterner
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Spk. Kelliher
The motion did not prevail and the
amendment was not adopted.
H. F. No. 1237, A bill for an act relating
to natural resources; modifying wild rice season and harvest authority; modifying
certain definitions; modifying state park permit requirements; modifying
authority to establish secondary units; eliminating liquor service at John A.
Latsch State Park; providing for establishment of boater waysides; modifying
watercraft and off-highway motorcycle operation requirements; expanding
snowmobile grant-in-aid program; modifying state trails; modifying Water Law;
providing for appeals and enforcement of certain civil penalties; providing for
taking wild animals to protect public safety; modifying Board of Water and Soil
Resources membership; modifying local water program; modifying Reinvest in
Minnesota Resources Law; modifying certain easement authority; providing for
notice of changes to public waters inventory; modifying critical habitat plate
eligibility; modifying cost-share program; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008,
sections 84.105; 84.66, subdivision 2; 84.793, subdivision 1; 84.83,
subdivision 3; 84.92, subdivision 8; 85.015, subdivisions 13, 14; 85.053,
subdivision 3; 85.054, by adding subdivisions; 86A.05, by adding a subdivision;
86A.08, subdivision 1; 86A.09, subdivision 1; 86B.311, by adding a subdivision;
97A.321; 103B.101, subdivisions 1, 2; 103B.3355; 103B.3369, subdivision 5;
103C.501, subdivisions 2, 4, 5, 6; 103F.505; 103F.511, subdivisions 5, 8a, by
adding a subdivision; 103F.515, subdivisions 1, 2, 4, 5, 6; 103F.521,
subdivision 1; 103F.525; 103F.526; 103F.531; 103F.535, subdivision 5; 103G.201;
168.1296, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 97B; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 85.0505, subdivision
2; 103B.101, subdivision 11; 103F.511, subdivision 4; 103F.521, subdivision 2;
Minnesota Rules, parts 8400.3130; 8400.3160; 8400.3200; 8400.3230; 8400.3330;
8400.3360; 8400.3390; 8400.3500; 8400.3530, subparts 1, 2, 2a; 8400.3560.
The bill was read for the third time and
placed upon its final passage.
The question was taken on the passage of
the bill and the roll was called. There
were 133 yeas and 0 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Beard
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Buesgens
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Clark
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5782
Cornish
Davids
Davnie
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Eken
Emmer
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Greiling
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Holberg
Hoppe
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Kohls
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Peppin
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scalze
Scott
Seifert
Sertich
Severson
Shimanski
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Zellers
Spk. Kelliher
The bill was passed and its title agreed
to.
There being no objection, the order of
business reverted to Reports of Standing Committees and Divisions.
REPORTS OF STANDING
COMMITTEES AND DIVISIONS
Faust from the Committee on Ways and
Means to which was referred:
H. F. No. 354, A bill for an act
relating to real property; providing for mediation prior to commencement of
mortgage foreclosure proceedings on homestead property; creating a
homestead-lender mediation account; appropriating money; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2008, sections 357.18, subdivision 1; 508.82, subdivision 1; 508A.82,
subdivision 1; 580.021; 580.022, subdivision 1; 580.23, by adding a
subdivision; 582.30, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 583.
Reported the same back with the
following amendments:
Page 21, line 10, delete "Appropriation
and reimbursement" and insert "Transfer" and delete
"(a) The amount of fees imposed"
Page 21, delete lines 11 and 12
Page 21, line 13, delete "(b)"
and insert "(a)"
Page 21, line 16, delete "(c)"
and insert "(b)"
Amend the title as follows:
Page 1, line 4, delete
"appropriating money;"
With the recommendation that when so
amended the bill pass.
The
report was adopted.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5783
Faust from the Committee on Ways and Means to which
was referred:
H. F. No. 723, A bill for an act relating to
retirement; various retirement plans; making various statutory changes needed
to accommodate the dissolution of the Minnesota Post Retirement Investment
Fund; redefining the value of pension plan assets for actuarial reporting
purposes; revising various disability benefit provisions of the general state
employees retirement plan, the correctional state employees retirement plan,
and the State Patrol retirement plan; making various administrative provision
changes; establishing a voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter
retirement plan administered by the Public Employees Retirement Association;
revising various volunteer firefighters' relief association provisions;
correcting 2008 drafting errors related to the Minneapolis Employees Retirement
Fund and other drafting errors; granting special retirement benefit authority
in certain cases; revising the special transportation pilots retirement plan of
the Minnesota State Retirement System; expanding the membership of the state
correctional employees retirement plan; adjusting reallocation of amortization
state aid; extending the amortization target date for the Fairmont Police
Relief Association; modifying the number of board of trustees members of the
Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association; increasing state education aid to
offset teacher retirement plan employer contribution increases; increasing
teacher retirement plan member and employer contributions; revising the normal
retirement age and providing prospective benefit accrual rate increases for
teacher retirement plans; permitting the Brimson Volunteer Firefighters' Relief
Association to implement a different board of trustees composition; permitting
employees of the Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association and the
Minneapolis Police Relief Association to become members of the general employee
retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association; creating a
two-year demonstration postretirement adjustment mechanism for the St. Paul
Teachers Retirement Fund Association; creating a temporary postretirement
option program for employees covered by the general employee retirement plan of
the Public Employees Retirement Association; setting a statute of limitations
for erroneous receipts of the general employee retirement plan of the Public
Employees Retirement Association; permitting the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities System board to create an early separation incentive program;
permitting certain Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System faculty
members to make a second chance retirement coverage election upon achieving
tenure; including the Weiner Memorial Medical Center, Inc., in the Public
Employees Retirement Association privatization law; increasing pension
commission membership; extending the approval deadline date for the inclusion
of the Clearwater County Hospital in the Public Employees Retirement
Association privatization law; requiring a report; requiring a study;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 3.85,
subdivision 3; 3A.02, subdivision 3, by adding a subdivision; 3A.03, by adding
a subdivision; 3A.04, by adding a subdivision; 3A.115; 11A.08, subdivision 1;
11A.17, subdivisions 1, 2; 11A.23, subdivisions 1, 2; 43A.34, subdivision 4;
43A.346, subdivisions 2, 6; 69.011, subdivisions 1, 2, 4; 69.021, subdivisions
7, 9; 69.031, subdivisions 1, 5; 69.77, subdivision 4; 69.771, subdivision 3;
69.772, subdivisions 4, 6; 69.773, subdivision 6; 127A.50, subdivision 1;
299A.465, subdivision 1; 352.01, subdivision 2b, by adding subdivisions;
352.021, by adding a subdivision; 352.04, subdivisions 1, 12; 352.061; 352.113,
subdivision 4, by adding a subdivision; 352.115, by adding a subdivision;
352.12, by adding a subdivision; 352.75, subdivisions 3, 4; 352.86, subdivisions
1, 1a, 2; 352.91, subdivision 3d; 352.911, subdivisions 3, 5; 352.93, by adding
a subdivision; 352.931, by adding a subdivision; 352.95, subdivisions 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, by adding a subdivision; 352B.02, subdivisions 1, 1a, 1c, 1d; 352B.08, by
adding a subdivision; 352B.10, subdivisions 1, 2, 5, by adding subdivisions;
352B.11, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision; 352C.10; 352D.06, subdivision
1; 352D.065, by adding a subdivision; 352D.075, by adding a subdivision;
353.01, subdivisions 2, 2a, 6, 11b, 16, 16b; 353.0161, subdivision 1; 353.03,
subdivision 3a; 353.06; 353.27, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 7, 7b; 353.29, by adding
a subdivision; 353.31, subdivision 1b, by adding a subdivision; 353.33,
subdivisions 1, 3b, 7, 11, 12, by adding subdivisions; 353.65, subdivisions 2,
3; 353.651, by adding a subdivision; 353.656, subdivision 5a, by adding a
subdivision; 353.657, subdivision 3a, by adding a subdivision; 353.665,
subdivision 3; 353A.02, subdivisions 14, 23; 353A.05, subdivisions 1, 2;
353A.08, subdivisions 1, 3, 6a; 353A.081, subdivision 2; 353A.09, subdivision
1; 353A.10, subdivisions 2, 3; 353E.01, subdivisions 3, 5; 353E.04, by adding a
subdivision; 353E.06, by adding a subdivision; 353E.07, by adding a
subdivision; 353F.02, subdivision 4; 354.05, subdivision 38, by adding a
subdivision; 354.07, subdivision 4; 354.33, subdivision 5; 354.35, by adding a
subdivision; 354.42, subdivisions 1a, 2, 3, by adding subdivisions; 354.44,
subdivisions 4, 5, 6, by adding a subdivision; 354.46, by adding a subdivision;
354.47, subdivision 1; 354.48, subdivisions 4, 6, by adding a subdivision;
354.49, subdivision 2; 354.52, subdivisions 2a, 4b; 354.55, subdivisions 11,
13; 354.66, subdivision 6; 354.70, subdivisions 5, 6; 354A.011,
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5784
subdivision 15a; 354A.096; 354A.12, subdivisions 1,
2a, by adding subdivisions; 354A.29, subdivision 3; 354A.31, subdivisions 4,
4a, 7; 354A.36, subdivision 6; 354B.21, subdivision 2; 356.20, subdivision 2;
356.215, subdivisions 1, 11; 356.219, subdivision 3; 356.315, by adding a
subdivision; 356.32, subdivision 2; 356.351, subdivision 2; 356.401,
subdivisions 2, 3; 356.465, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 356.611,
subdivisions 3, 4; 356.635, subdivisions 6, 7; 356.96, subdivisions 1, 5;
422A.06, subdivision 8; 422A.08, subdivision 5; 423A.02, subdivisions 1, 3;
423C.03, subdivision 1; 424A.001, subdivisions 1, 1a, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10,
by adding subdivisions; 424A.01; 424A.02, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 3a, 7, 8, 9,
9a, 9b, 10, 12, 13; 424A.021; 424A.03; 424A.04; 424A.05, subdivisions 1, 2, 3,
4; 424A.06; 424A.07; 424A.08; 424A.10, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 424B.10,
subdivision 2, by adding subdivisions; 424B.21; 490.123, subdivisions 1, 3;
490.124, by adding a subdivision; Laws 1989, chapter 319, article 11, section
13; Laws 2006, chapter 271, article 5, section 5, as amended; Laws 2008,
chapter 349, article 14, section 13; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapters 136F; 352B; 353; 354; 356; 420; 424A; 424B; proposing coding
for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 353G; repealing Minnesota Statutes
2008, sections 11A.041; 11A.18; 11A.181; 352.119, subdivisions 2, 3, 4; 352.86,
subdivision 3; 352B.01, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 3b, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11; 352B.26,
subdivisions 1, 3; 353.271; 353A.02, subdivision 20; 353A.09, subdivisions 2,
3; 354.05, subdivision 26; 354.06, subdivision 6; 354.55, subdivision 14;
354.63; 354A.29, subdivisions 2, 4, 5; 356.2165; 356.41; 356.431, subdivision
2; 422A.01, subdivision 13; 422A.06, subdivision 4; 422A.08, subdivision 5a;
424A.001, subdivision 7; 424A.02, subdivisions 4, 6, 8a, 8b, 9b; 424A.09;
424B.10, subdivision 1; 490.123, subdivisions 1c, 1e.
Reported the
same back with the recommendation that the bill pass.
The
report was adopted.
Faust from the
Committee on Ways and Means to which was referred:
H. F. No. 796,
A bill for an act relating to capital investment; authorizing the sale of
Minnesota First bonds; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 16A.
Reported the
same back with the recommendation that the bill pass.
The
report was adopted.
Faust from the
Committee on Ways and Means to which was referred:
H. F. No. 1053,
A bill for an act relating to elections; requiring certain public officials to
provide additional data to the secretary of state for use in maintaining the
voter registration system; providing for automatic voter registration of
applicants for a driver's license, instruction permit, or identification card;
changing certain notice requirements; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008,
sections 201.121, subdivision 2; 201.13, by adding a subdivision; 201.14;
201.15, subdivisions 1, 2; 201.155; 201.161; 204C.08, by adding a subdivision;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 201.
Reported the
same back with the recommendation that the bill pass.
The
report was adopted.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5785
Faust from the Committee on Ways and Means to which
was referred:
H. F. No. 1219, A bill for an act relating to state
employees; requiring that health insurance benefits be made available to
domestic partners of state employees if they are also made available to
spouses; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 43A.02, by adding a
subdivision; 43A.24, subdivision 1.
Reported the same back with the recommendation that
the bill pass.
The report
was adopted.
Faust from the Committee on Ways and Means to which
was referred:
H. F. No. 1805, A bill for an act relating to
occupations and professions; creating licensing standards for full-time
firefighters; establishing fees; appropriating money; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 299N.02, subdivision 3; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 299N.
Reported the same back with the recommendation that
the bill pass.
The report
was adopted.
Faust from the Committee on Ways and Means to which
was referred:
S. F. No. 727, A bill for an act relating to human
services; establishing a self-advocacy program for persons with developmental
disabilities; transferring money appropriated to the commissioner of
administration; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.092, by adding a
subdivision.
Reported the same back with the recommendation that
the first unofficial engrossment pass.
The report
was adopted.
Faust from the Committee on Ways and Means to which
was referred:
S. F. No. 1331, A bill for an act relating to
elections; moving the state primary from September to June and making
conforming changes; updating certain ballot and voting system requirements;
changing certain election administration provisions; authorizing early voting;
expanding requirements and authorizations for postsecondary institutions to
report resident student information to the secretary of state for voter
registration purposes; changing certain absentee ballot requirements and
provisions; requiring a special election for certain vacancies in nomination;
changing the special election requirements for vacancies in Congressional
offices; requiring an affidavit of candidacy to state the candidate's residence
address and telephone number; changing municipal precinct and ward boundary
requirements for certain cities; imposing additional requirements on polling
place challengers; changing certain caucus and campaign provisions; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 10A.31, subdivision 6; 10A.321; 10A.322,
subdivision 1; 10A.323; 103C.305, subdivisions 1, 3; 135A.17, subdivision 2;
201.016, subdivisions 1a, 2; 201.022, subdivision 1; 201.056; 201.061,
subdivisions 1, 3; 201.071, subdivision 1; 201.091, by adding a subdivision;
201.11; 201.12; 201.13; 202A.14, subdivision 3; 203B.001; 203B.01, by adding a
subdivision; 203B.02, subdivision 3; 203B.03, subdivision 1; 203B.04,
subdivisions 1, 6; 203B.05; 203B.06, subdivisions 3, 5; 203B.07, subdivisions
2, 3; 203B.08, subdivisions 2, 3, by adding a subdivision; 203B.081; 203B.085;
203B.11, subdivision 1; 203B.12; 203B.125; 203B.16, subdivision 2; 203B.17,
subdivision 1; 203B.19; 203B.21, subdivision 2; 203B.22; 203B.225, subdivision
1; 203B.227; 203B.23, subdivision 2; 203B.24, subdivision 1; 203B.26; 204B.04,
subdivisions 2, 3; 204B.06, by adding a subdivision; 204B.07, subdivision 1;
204B.09, subdivisions 1, 3;
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5786
204B.11, subdivision 2; 204B.13, subdivisions 1, 2, by
adding subdivisions; 204B.135, subdivisions 1, 3, 4; 204B.14, subdivisions 2,
3, 4, by adding a subdivision; 204B.16, subdivision 1; 204B.18; 204B.21,
subdivision 1; 204B.22, subdivisions 1, 2; 204B.24; 204B.27, subdivisions 2, 3;
204B.28, subdivision 2; 204B.33; 204B.35, subdivision 4; 204B.44; 204B.45,
subdivision 2; 204B.46; 204C.02; 204C.04, subdivision 1; 204C.06, subdivision
1; 204C.07, subdivisions 3a, 4; 204C.08; 204C.10; 204C.12, subdivision 2;
204C.13, subdivisions 2, 3, 5, 6; 204C.17; 204C.19, subdivision 2; 204C.20,
subdivisions 1, 2; 204C.21; 204C.22, subdivisions 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 13; 204C.24,
subdivision 1; 204C.25; 204C.26; 204C.27; 204C.28, subdivision 3; 204C.30, by
adding subdivisions; 204C.33, subdivisions 1, 3; 204C.35, subdivisions 1, 2, by
adding a subdivision; 204C.36, subdivisions 1, 3, 4; 204C.37; 204D.03,
subdivisions 1, 3; 204D.04, subdivision 2; 204D.05, subdivision 3; 204D.07;
204D.08; 204D.09, subdivision 2; 204D.10, subdivisions 1, 3; 204D.11,
subdivision 1; 204D.12; 204D.13; 204D.16; 204D.165; 204D.17; 204D.19; 204D.20,
subdivision 1; 204D.25, subdivision 1; 205.065, subdivisions 1, 2; 205.07, by
adding a subdivision; 205.075, subdivision 1; 205.13, subdivisions 1, 1a, 2;
205.16, subdivisions 2, 3, 4; 205.17, subdivisions 1, 3, 4, 5; 205.185,
subdivision 3, by adding a subdivision; 205.84, subdivisions 1, 2; 205A.03,
subdivisions 1, 2; 205A.05, subdivisions 1, 2; 205A.06, subdivision 1a;
205A.07, subdivisions 2, 3; 205A.08, subdivisions 1, 3, 4; 205A.10,
subdivisions 2, 3, by adding a subdivision; 205A.11, subdivision 3; 206.56,
subdivision 3; 206.57, subdivision 6; 206.82, subdivision 2; 206.83; 206.84,
subdivision 3; 206.86, subdivision 6; 206.89, subdivisions 2, 3; 206.90,
subdivisions 9, 10; 208.03; 208.04; 211B.045; 211B.11, by adding a subdivision;
211B.20, subdivisions 1, 2; 412.02, subdivision 2a; 414.02, subdivision 4;
414.031, subdivision 6; 414.0325, subdivisions 1, 4; 414.033, subdivision 7;
447.32, subdivision 4; Laws 2005, chapter 162, section 34, subdivision 2;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 202A; 203B; 204B;
204C; 204D; 205; 205A; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 3.22;
201.096; 203B.04, subdivision 5; 203B.10; 203B.11, subdivision 2; 203B.13,
subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4; 203B.25; 204B.12, subdivision 2a; 204B.13,
subdivisions 4, 5, 6; 204B.22, subdivision 3; 204B.36; 204B.37; 204B.38;
204B.39; 204B.41; 204B.42; 204C.07, subdivision 3; 204C.13, subdivision 4;
204C.20, subdivision 3; 204C.23; 204D.05, subdivisions 1, 2; 204D.10,
subdivision 2; 204D.11, subdivisions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; 204D.14, subdivisions 1, 3;
204D.15, subdivisions 1, 3; 204D.169; 204D.28; 205.17, subdivision 2; 206.56,
subdivision 5; 206.57, subdivision 7; 206.61, subdivisions 1, 3, 4, 5; 206.62;
206.805, subdivision 2; 206.84, subdivisions 1, 6, 7; 206.86, subdivisions 1,
2, 3, 4, 5; 206.90, subdivisions 3, 5, 6, 7, 8; 206.91; Minnesota Rules, part
8230.4365, subpart 5.
Reported the
same back with the recommendation that the first unofficial engrossment pass.
The
report was adopted.
Carlson from the
Committee on Finance to which was referred:
S. F. No. 1504, A
bill for an act relating to human services; amending mental health provisions;
changing medical assistance reimbursement and eligibility; changing provider
qualification and training requirements; amending mental health behavioral aide
services; adding an excluded service; changing special contracts with bordering
states; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 148C.11, subdivision 1;
245.4835, subdivisions 1, 2; 245.4885, subdivision 1; 245.50, subdivision 5;
256B.0615, subdivisions 1, 3; 256B.0622, subdivision 8, by adding a
subdivision; 256B.0623, subdivision 5; 256B.0624, subdivision 8; 256B.0625,
subdivision 49; 256B.0943, subdivisions 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9; 256B.0944,
subdivision 5.
Reported the
same back with the following amendments:
Delete everything
after the enacting clause and insert:
"Section
1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
148C.11, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Other
professionals. (a) Nothing in this
chapter prevents members of other professions or occupations from performing
functions for which they are qualified or licensed. This exception includes, but is not limited
to: licensed physicians; registered
nurses; licensed practical nurses; licensed psychological practitioners;
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5787
members of the
clergy; American Indian medicine men and women; licensed attorneys; probation officers;
licensed marriage and family therapists; licensed social workers; social
workers employed by city, county, or state agencies; licensed professional
counselors; licensed school counselors; registered occupational therapists or
occupational therapy assistants; city, county, or state employees when
providing assessments or case management under Minnesota Rules, chapter 9530;
and until July 1, 2009, individuals providing integrated dual-diagnosis
treatment in adult mental health rehabilitative programs certified by the
Department of Human Services under section 256B.0622 or 256B.0623.
(b) Nothing in
this chapter prohibits technicians and resident managers in programs licensed by
the Department of Human Services from discharging their duties as provided in
Minnesota Rules, chapter 9530.
(c) Any person
who is exempt under this subdivision but who elects to obtain a license under
this chapter is subject to this chapter to the same extent as other
licensees. The board shall issue a
license without examination to an applicant who is licensed or registered in a
profession identified in paragraph (a) if the applicant:
(1) shows
evidence of current licensure or registration; and
(2) has
submitted to the board a plan for supervision during the first 2,000 hours of
professional practice or has submitted proof of supervised professional
practice that is acceptable to the board.
(d) Any person
who is exempt from licensure under this section must not use a title
incorporating the words "alcohol and drug counselor" or
"licensed alcohol and drug counselor" or otherwise hold themselves
out to the public by any title or description stating or implying that they are
engaged in the practice of alcohol and drug counseling, or that they are
licensed to engage in the practice of alcohol and drug counseling unless that
person is also licensed as an alcohol and drug counselor. Persons engaged in the practice of alcohol
and drug counseling are not exempt from the board's jurisdiction solely by the
use of one of the above titles.
Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245.4871,
subdivision 26, is amended to read:
Subd. 26. Mental
health practitioner. "Mental
health practitioner" means a person providing services to children with
emotional disturbances. A mental health
practitioner must have training and experience in working with children. A mental health practitioner must be
qualified in at least one of the following ways:
(1) holds a
bachelor's degree in one of the behavioral sciences or related fields from an
accredited college or university and:
(i) has at
least 2,000 hours of supervised experience in the delivery of mental health
services to children with emotional disturbances; or
(ii) is fluent
in the non-English language of the ethnic group to which at least 50 percent of
the practitioner's clients belong, completes 40 hours of training in the
delivery of services to children with emotional disturbances, and receives
clinical supervision from a mental health professional at least once a week
until the requirement of 2,000 hours of supervised experience is met;
(2) has at
least 6,000 hours of supervised experience in the delivery of mental health
services to children with emotional disturbances; hours worked as a mental
health behavioral aide I or II under section 256B.0943, subdivision 7, may be
included in the 6,000 hours of experience;
(3) is a
graduate student in one of the behavioral sciences or related fields and is
formally assigned by an accredited college or university to an agency or
facility for clinical training; or
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5788
(4) holds a
master's or other graduate degree in one of the behavioral sciences or related
fields from an accredited college or university and has less than 4,000 hours
post-master's experience in the treatment of emotional disturbance.
Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245.4885,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Admission
criteria. The county board shall,
prior to admission, except in the case of emergency admission, determine the
needed level of care for all children referred for treatment of severe
emotional disturbance in a treatment foster care setting, residential treatment
facility, or informally admitted to a regional treatment center if public funds
are used to pay for the services. The
county board shall also determine the needed level of care for all children
admitted to an acute care hospital for treatment of severe emotional
disturbance if public funds other than reimbursement under chapters 256B and
256D are used to pay for the services. The
level of care determination shall determine whether the proposed treatment:
(1) is
necessary;
(2) is
appropriate to the child's individual treatment needs;
(3) cannot be
effectively provided in the child's home; and
(4) provides a
length of stay as short as possible consistent with the individual child's
need.
When a level of
care determination is conducted, the county board may not determine that
referral or admission to a treatment foster care setting, or
residential treatment facility, or acute care hospital is not
appropriate solely because services were not first provided to the child in a
less restrictive setting and the child failed to make progress toward or meet
treatment goals in the less restrictive setting. The level of care determination must be based
on a diagnostic assessment that includes a functional assessment which
evaluates family, school, and community living situations; and an assessment of
the child's need for care out of the home using a validated tool which assesses
a child's functional status and assigns an appropriate level of care. The validated tool must be approved by the
commissioner of human services. If a
diagnostic assessment including a functional assessment has been completed by a
mental health professional within the past 180 days, a new diagnostic assessment
need not be completed unless in the opinion of the current treating mental
health professional the child's mental health status has changed markedly since
the assessment was completed. The
child's parent shall be notified if an assessment will not be completed and of
the reasons. A copy of the notice shall
be placed in the child's file.
Recommendations developed as part of the level of care determination
process shall include specific community services needed by the child and, if
appropriate, the child's family, and shall indicate whether or not these
services are available and accessible to the child and family.
During the
level of care determination process, the child, child's family, or child's
legal representative, as appropriate, must be informed of the child's
eligibility for case management services and family community support services
and that an individual family community support plan is being developed by the
case manager, if assigned.
The level of
care determination shall comply with section 260C.212. Wherever possible, the parent shall be
consulted in the process, unless clinically inappropriate.
The level of
care determination, and placement decision, and recommendations for mental
health services must be documented in the child's record.
An alternate
review process may be approved by the commissioner if the county board
demonstrates that an alternate review process has been established by the
county board and the times of review, persons responsible for the review, and
review criteria are comparable to the standards in clauses (1) to (4).
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Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245.50,
subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Special
contracts; bordering states. (a) An
individual who is detained, committed, or placed on an involuntary basis under
chapter 253B may be confined or treated in a bordering state pursuant to a
contract under this section. An
individual who is detained, committed, or placed on an involuntary basis under
the civil law of a bordering state may be confined or treated in Minnesota
pursuant to a contract under this section.
A peace or health officer who is acting under the authority of the
sending state may transport an individual to a receiving agency that provides
services pursuant to a contract under this section and may transport the
individual back to the sending state under the laws of the sending state. Court orders valid under the law of the
sending state are granted recognition and reciprocity in the receiving state
for individuals covered by a contract under this section to the extent that the
court orders relate to confinement for treatment or care of mental illness or
chemical dependency. Such treatment or
care may address other conditions that may be co-occurring with the mental
illness or chemical dependency. These
court orders are not subject to legal challenge in the courts of the receiving
state. Individuals who are detained,
committed, or placed under the law of a sending state and who are transferred
to a receiving state under this section continue to be in the legal custody of
the authority responsible for them under the law of the sending state. Except in emergencies, those individuals may
not be transferred, removed, or furloughed from a receiving agency without the
specific approval of the authority responsible for them under the law of the
sending state.
(b) While in
the receiving state pursuant to a contract under this section, an individual
shall be subject to the sending state's laws and rules relating to length of
confinement, reexaminations, and extensions of confinement. No individual may be sent to another state
pursuant to a contract under this section until the receiving state has enacted
a law recognizing the validity and applicability of this section.
(c) If an
individual receiving services pursuant to a contract under this section leaves
the receiving agency without permission and the individual is subject to
involuntary confinement under the law of the sending state, the receiving
agency shall use all reasonable means to return the individual to the receiving
agency. The receiving agency shall
immediately report the absence to the sending agency. The receiving state has the primary
responsibility for, and the authority to direct, the return of these
individuals within its borders and is liable for the cost of the action to the
extent that it would be liable for costs of its own resident.
(d)
Responsibility for payment for the cost of care remains with the sending
agency.
(e) This
subdivision also applies to county contracts under subdivision 2 which include
emergency care and treatment provided to a county resident in a bordering
state.
(f) If a
Minnesota resident is admitted to a facility in a bordering state under this
chapter, a physician, licensed psychologist who has a doctoral degree in
psychology, or an advance practice registered nurse certified in mental health,
who is licensed in the bordering state, may act as an examiner under sections
253B.07, 253B.08, 253B.092, 253B.12, and 253B.17 subject to the same
requirements and limitations in section 253B.02, subdivision 7. The examiner may initiate an emergency
hold under section 253B.05 on a Minnesota resident who is in a hospital under
contract with a Minnesota governmental entity under this section providing the
patient, in the professional opinion of the examiner, meets the criteria in
section 253B.05.
Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0615,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Scope. Medical assistance covers mental health
certified peers specialists services, as established in subdivision 2, subject
to federal approval, if provided to recipients who are eligible for services
under sections 256B.0622 and, 256B.0623, and 256B.0624 and
are provided by a certified peer specialist who has completed the training
under subdivision 5.
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Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0615,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Eligibility. Peer support services may be made available
to consumers of (1) the intensive rehabilitative mental health services
under section 256B.0622; and (2) adult rehabilitative
mental health services under section 256B.0623; and (3) crisis stabilization
services under section 256B.0624.
Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0622,
subdivision 8, is amended to read:
Subd. 8. Medical
assistance payment for intensive rehabilitative mental health services. (a) Payment for residential and
nonresidential services in this section shall be based on one daily rate per
provider inclusive of the following services received by an eligible recipient
in a given calendar day: all
rehabilitative services under this section, staff travel time to provide
rehabilitative services under this section, and nonresidential crisis
stabilization services under section 256B.0624.
(b) Except as
indicated in paragraph (c), payment will not be made to more than one entity
for each recipient for services provided under this section on a given
day. If services under this section are
provided by a team that includes staff from more than one entity, the team must
determine how to distribute the payment among the members.
(c) The host county
shall recommend to the commissioner one rate for each entity that will bill
medical assistance for residential services under this section and two rates
one rate for each nonresidential provider.
The first nonresidential rate is for recipients who are not receiving
residential services. The second
nonresidential rate is for recipients who are temporarily receiving residential
services and need continued contact with the nonresidential team to assure
timely discharge from residential services.
In developing these rates, the host county shall consider and
document:
(1) the cost for
similar services in the local trade area;
(2) actual costs
incurred by entities providing the services;
(3) the
intensity and frequency of services to be provided to each recipient,
including the proposed overall number of units of service to be delivered;
(4) the degree
to which recipients will receive services other than services under this
section;
(5) the costs of
other services that will be separately reimbursed; and
(6) input from
the local planning process authorized by the adult mental health initiative
under section 245.4661, regarding recipients' service needs.
(d) The rate for
intensive rehabilitative mental health services must exclude room and board, as
defined in section 256I.03, subdivision 6, and services not covered under this
section, such as partial hospitalization, home care, and inpatient
services. Physician services that are
not separately billed may be included in the rate to the extent that a psychiatrist
is a member of the treatment team. The
county's recommendation shall specify the period for which the rate will be
applicable, not to exceed two years.
(e) When
services under this section are provided by an assertive community team, case
management functions must be an integral part of the team.
(f) The rate for
a provider must not exceed the rate charged by that provider for the same
service to other payors.
(g) The commissioner
shall approve or reject the county's rate recommendation, based on the
commissioner's own analysis of the criteria in paragraph (c).
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Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0623,
subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Qualifications
of provider staff. Adult
rehabilitative mental health services must be provided by qualified individual
provider staff of a certified provider entity.
Individual provider staff must be qualified under one of the following
criteria:
(1) a mental
health professional as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 18, clauses (1)
to (5). If the recipient has a current
diagnostic assessment by a licensed mental health professional as defined in
section 245.462, subdivision 18, clauses (1) to (5), recommending receipt of
adult mental health rehabilitative services, the definition of mental health
professional for purposes of this section includes a person who is qualified
under section 245.462, subdivision 18, clause (6), and who holds a current and
valid national certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor or
certified psychosocial rehabilitation practitioner;
(2) a mental
health practitioner as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 17. The mental health practitioner must work
under the clinical supervision of a mental health professional;
(3) a certified
peer specialist under section 256B.0615.
The certified peer specialist must work under the clinical supervision
of a mental health professional; or
(4) a mental
health rehabilitation worker. A mental
health rehabilitation worker means a staff person working under the direction
of a mental health practitioner or mental health professional and under the
clinical supervision of a mental health professional in the implementation of
rehabilitative mental health services as identified in the recipient's
individual treatment plan who:
(i) is at least
21 years of age;
(ii) has a high
school diploma or equivalent;
(iii) has
successfully completed 30 hours of training during the past two years immediately
prior to the date of hire, or before provision of direct services, in all
of the following areas: recipient
rights, recipient-centered individual treatment planning, behavioral
terminology, mental illness, co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse,
psychotropic medications and side effects, functional assessment, local
community resources, adult vulnerability, recipient confidentiality; and
(iv) meets the
qualifications in subitem (A) or (B):
(A) has an
associate of arts degree or two years full-time postsecondary education in
one of the behavioral sciences or human services, or; is a registered
nurse without a bachelor's degree,; or who within the previous
ten years has:
(1) three years
of personal life experience with serious and persistent mental illness;
(2) three years
of life experience as a primary caregiver to an adult with a serious mental
illness or traumatic brain injury; or
(3) 4,000 hours
of supervised paid work experience in the delivery of mental health services to
adults with a serious mental illness or traumatic brain injury; or
(B)(1) is
fluent in the non-English language or competent in the culture of the ethnic
group to which at least 20 percent of the mental health rehabilitation worker's
clients belong;
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(2) receives
during the first 2,000 hours of work, monthly documented individual clinical
supervision by a mental health professional;
(3) has 18
hours of documented field supervision by a mental health professional or
practitioner during the first 160 hours of contact work with recipients, and at
least six hours of field supervision quarterly during the following year;
(4) has review
and cosignature of charting of recipient contacts during field supervision by a
mental health professional or practitioner; and
(5) has 40
15 hours of additional continuing education on mental health topics during
the first year of employment and 15 hours during every additional year of
employment.
Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0624,
subdivision 8, is amended to read:
Subd. 8. Adult
crisis stabilization staff qualifications.
(a) Adult mental health crisis stabilization services must be provided
by qualified individual staff of a qualified provider entity. Individual provider staff must have the
following qualifications:
(1) be a mental
health professional as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 18, clauses (1)
to (5);
(2) be a mental
health practitioner as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 17. The mental health practitioner must work
under the clinical supervision of a mental health professional; or
(3) be a
certified peer specialist under section 256B.0615. The certified peer specialist must work under
the clinical supervision of a mental health professional; or
(4) be a mental health rehabilitation
worker who meets the criteria in section 256B.0623, subdivision 5, clause (3)
(4); works under the direction of a mental health practitioner as defined
in section 245.462, subdivision 17, or under direction of a mental health
professional; and works under the clinical supervision of a mental health
professional.
(b) Mental
health practitioners and mental health rehabilitation workers must have
completed at least 30 hours of training in crisis intervention and
stabilization during the past two years.
Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0625,
subdivision 49, is amended to read:
Subd. 49. Community
health worker. (a) Medical
assistance covers the care coordination and patient education services provided
by a community health worker if the community health worker has:
(1) received a
certificate from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System approved
community health worker curriculum; or
(2) at least
five years of supervised experience with an enrolled physician, registered
nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, mental health professional as
defined in section 245.462, subdivision 18, clauses (1) to (5), and section
245.4871, subdivision 27, clauses (1) to (5), or dentist, or at least five
years of supervised experience by a certified public health nurse operating
under the direct authority of an enrolled unit of government.
Community health workers eligible for
payment under clause (2) must complete the certification program by January 1,
2010, to continue to be eligible for payment.
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2009 - Top of Page 5793
(b) Community health workers must work under the
supervision of a medical assistance enrolled physician, registered nurse,
advanced practice registered nurse, mental health professional as defined in
section 245.462, subdivision 18, clauses (1) to (5), and section 245.4871,
subdivision 27, clauses (1) to (5), or dentist, or work under the
supervision of a certified public health nurse operating under the direct
authority of an enrolled unit of government.
(c) Care coordination and patient education services
covered under this subdivision include, but are not limited to, services
relating to oral health and dental care.
Sec. 11.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following
terms have the meanings given them.
(a) "Children's therapeutic services and
supports" means the flexible package of mental health services for
children who require varying therapeutic and rehabilitative levels of intervention. The services are time-limited interventions
that are delivered using various treatment modalities and combinations of
services designed to reach treatment outcomes identified in the individual
treatment plan.
(b) "Clinical supervision" means the overall
responsibility of the mental health professional for the control and direction
of individualized treatment planning, service delivery, and treatment review
for each client. A mental health
professional who is an enrolled Minnesota health care program provider accepts
full professional responsibility for a supervisee's actions and decisions,
instructs the supervisee in the supervisee's work, and oversees or directs the
supervisee's work.
(c) "County board" means the county board of
commissioners or board established under sections 402.01 to 402.10 or
471.59.
(d) "Crisis assistance" has the meaning
given in section 245.4871, subdivision 9a.
(e) "Culturally competent provider" means a
provider who understands and can utilize to a client's benefit the client's
culture when providing services to the client.
A provider may be culturally competent because the provider is of the
same cultural or ethnic group as the client or the provider has developed the
knowledge and skills through training and experience to provide services to
culturally diverse clients.
(f) "Day treatment program" for children
means a site-based structured program consisting of group psychotherapy for
more than three individuals and other intensive therapeutic services provided
by a multidisciplinary team, under the clinical supervision of a mental health
professional.
(g) "Diagnostic assessment" has the meaning
given in section 245.4871, subdivision 11.
(h) "Direct service time" means the time
that a mental health professional, mental health practitioner, or mental health
behavioral aide spends face-to-face with a client and the client's family. Direct service time includes time in which
the provider obtains a client's history or provides service components of
children's therapeutic services and supports.
Direct service time does not include time doing work before and after
providing direct services, including scheduling, maintaining clinical records,
consulting with others about the client's mental health status, preparing
reports, receiving clinical supervision directly related to the client's
psychotherapy session, and revising the client's individual treatment plan.
(i) "Direction of mental health behavioral
aide" means the activities of a mental health professional or mental
health practitioner in guiding the mental health behavioral aide in providing
services to a client. The direction of a
mental health behavioral aide must be based on the client's individualized
treatment plan and meet the requirements in subdivision 6, paragraph (b),
clause (5).
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(j)
"Emotional disturbance" has the meaning given in section 245.4871,
subdivision 15. For persons at least
age 18 but under age 21, mental illness has the meaning given in section
245.462, subdivision 20, paragraph (a).
(k)
"Individual behavioral plan" means a plan of intervention, treatment,
and services for a child written by a mental health professional or mental
health practitioner, under the clinical supervision of a mental health
professional, to guide the work of the mental health behavioral aide.
(l)
"Individual treatment plan" has the meaning given in section
245.4871, subdivision 21.
(m)
"Mental health behavioral aide services" means medically necessary
one-on-one activities performed by a trained paraprofessional to assist a child
retain or generalize psychosocial skills as taught by a mental health
professional or mental health practitioner and as described in the child's
individual treatment plan and individual behavior plan. Activities involve working directly with the
child or child's family as provided in subdivision 9, paragraph (b), clause
(4).
(m) (n) "Mental health
professional" means an individual as defined in section 245.4871,
subdivision 27, clauses (1) to (5), or tribal vendor as defined in section
256B.02, subdivision 7, paragraph (b).
(n) (o) "Preschool
program" means a day program licensed under Minnesota Rules, parts
9503.0005 to 9503.0175, and enrolled as a children's therapeutic services and
supports provider to provide a structured treatment program to a child who is
at least 33 months old but who has not yet attended the first day of
kindergarten.
(o) (p) "Skills
training" means individual, family, or group training, delivered by or
under the direction of a mental health professional, designed to improve
the basic functioning of the child with emotional disturbance and the child's
family in the activities of daily living and community living, and to improve
the social functioning of the child and the child's family in areas important
to the child's maintaining or reestablishing residency in the community. Individual, family, and group skills training
must:
(1) consist
of activities designed to promote skill development of the child and the
child's family in the use of age-appropriate daily living skills, interpersonal
and family relationships, and leisure and recreational services;
(2) consist
of activities that will assist the family's understanding of normal child
development and to use parenting skills that will help the child with emotional
disturbance achieve the goals outlined in the child's individual treatment
plan; and
(3) promote
family preservation and unification, promote the family's integration with the
community, and reduce the use of unnecessary out-of-home placement or
institutionalization of children with emotional disturbance. facilitate the acquisition of
psychosocial skills that are medically necessary to rehabilitate the child to
an age-appropriate developmental trajectory heretofore disrupted by a psychiatric
illness or to self-monitor, compensate for, cope with, counteract, or replace
skills deficits or maladaptive skills acquired over the course of a psychiatric
illness. Skills training is subject to
the following requirements:
(1) a mental
health professional or a mental health practitioner must provide skills
training;
(2) the child
must always be present during skills training; however, a brief absence of the
child for no more than ten percent of the session unit may be allowed to
redirect or instruct family members;
(3) skills
training delivered to children or their families must be targeted to the
specific deficits or maladaptations of the child's mental health disorder and
must be prescribed in the child's individual treatment plan;
(4) skills training
delivered to the child's family must teach skills needed by parents to enhance
the child's skill development and to help the child use in daily life the
skills previously taught by a mental health professional or mental health
practitioner and to develop or maintain a home environment that supports the
child's progressive use skills;
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(5) group
skills training may be provided to multiple recipients who, because of the
nature of their emotional, behavioral, or social dysfunction, can derive mutual
benefit from interaction in a group setting, which must be staffed as follows:
(i) one
mental health professional or one mental health practitioner under supervision
of a licensed mental health professional must work with a group of four to
eight clients; or
(ii) two
mental health professionals or two mental health practitioners under
supervision of a licensed mental health professional, or one professional plus
one practitioner must work with a group of nine to 12 clients.
Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Covered
service components of children's therapeutic services and supports. (a) Subject to federal approval, medical
assistance covers medically necessary children's therapeutic services and
supports as defined in this section that an eligible provider entity certified
under subdivisions subdivision 4 and 5 provides to a
client eligible under subdivision 3.
(b) The service
components of children's therapeutic services and supports are:
(1) individual,
family, and group psychotherapy;
(2) individual,
family, or group skills training provided by a mental health professional or
mental health practitioner;
(3) crisis
assistance;
(4) mental
health behavioral aide services; and
(5) direction
of a mental health behavioral aide.
(c) Service
components in paragraph (b) may be combined to constitute therapeutic
programs, including day treatment programs and therapeutic preschool
programs. Although day treatment and
preschool programs have specific client and provider eligibility requirements,
medical assistance only pays for the service components listed in paragraph
(b).
Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Provider
entity certification. (a) Effective
July 1, 2003, the commissioner shall establish an initial provider entity
application and certification process and recertification process to determine
whether a provider entity has an administrative and clinical infrastructure
that meets the requirements in subdivisions 5 and 6. The commissioner shall recertify a provider
entity at least every three years. The
commissioner shall establish a process for decertification of a provider entity
that no longer meets the requirements in this section. The county, tribe, and the commissioner
shall be mutually responsible and accountable for the county's, tribe's, and
state's part of the certification, recertification, and decertification
processes.
(b) For
purposes of this section, a provider entity must be:
(1) an Indian
health services facility or a facility owned and operated by a tribe or tribal
organization operating as a 638 facility under Public Law 93-638 certified by
the state;
(2) a
county-operated entity certified by the state; or
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(3) a noncounty entity recommended for
certification by the provider's host county and certified by the state.
Sec. 14.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Provider entity administrative
infrastructure requirements. (a) To
be an eligible provider entity under this section, a provider entity must have
an administrative infrastructure that establishes authority and accountability
for decision making and oversight of functions, including finance, personnel,
system management, clinical practice, and performance measurement. The provider must have written policies and
procedures that it reviews and updates every three years and distributes to
staff initially and upon each subsequent update.
(b) The administrative infrastructure written policies
and procedures must include:
(1) personnel procedures, including a process for: (i)
recruiting, hiring, training, and retention of culturally and linguistically
competent providers; (ii) conducting a criminal background check on all direct
service providers and volunteers; (iii) investigating, reporting, and acting on
violations of ethical conduct standards; (iv) investigating, reporting, and
acting on violations of data privacy policies that are compliant with federal
and state laws; (v) utilizing volunteers, including screening applicants,
training and supervising volunteers, and providing liability coverage for
volunteers; and (vi) documenting that each mental health professional, mental
health practitioner, or mental health behavioral aide meets the applicable
provider qualification criteria, training criteria under subdivision 8, and
clinical supervision or direction of a mental health behavioral aide
requirements under subdivision 6;
(2) fiscal procedures, including internal fiscal
control practices and a process for collecting revenue that is compliant with
federal and state laws;
(3) if a client is receiving services from a case
manager or other provider entity, a service coordination process that ensures
services are provided in the most appropriate manner to achieve maximum benefit
to the client. The provider entity must ensure
coordination and nonduplication of services consistent with county board
coordination procedures established under section 245.4881, subdivision 5;
(4) (3) a performance measurement system, including
monitoring to determine cultural appropriateness of services identified in the
individual treatment plan, as determined by the client's culture, beliefs,
values, and language, and family-driven services; and
(5) (4) a process to establish and maintain individual client
records. The client's records must
include:
(i) the client's personal information;
(ii) forms applicable to data privacy;
(iii) the client's diagnostic assessment, updates,
results of tests, individual treatment plan, and individual behavior plan, if
necessary;
(iv) documentation of service delivery as specified
under subdivision 6;
(v) telephone contacts;
(vi) discharge plan; and
(vii) if applicable, insurance information.
(c) A provider entity that uses a restrictive
procedure with a client must meet the requirements of section 245.8261.
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Sec. 15.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943, subdivision 6, is amended to
read:
Subd. 6. Provider entity clinical infrastructure
requirements. (a) To be an eligible
provider entity under this section, a provider entity must have a clinical
infrastructure that utilizes diagnostic assessment, an individualized
treatment plan plans, service delivery, and individual treatment
plan review that are culturally competent, child-centered, and family-driven to
achieve maximum benefit for the client.
The provider entity must review, and update as necessary, the
clinical policies and procedures every three years and must distribute the
policies and procedures to staff initially and upon each subsequent update.
(b) The clinical infrastructure written policies and
procedures must include policies and procedures for:
(1) providing or obtaining a client's diagnostic
assessment that identifies acute and chronic clinical disorders, co-occurring
medical conditions, sources of psychological and environmental problems, and
including a functional assessment.
The functional assessment must clearly summarize the client's individual
strengths and needs;
(2) developing an individual treatment plan that is:
(i) is based on the information in the client's
diagnostic assessment;
(ii) identified goals and objectives of treatment,
treatment strategy, schedule for accomplishing treatment goals and objectives,
and the individuals responsible for providing treatment services and supports;
(ii)
(iii) is developed no later than
the end of the first psychotherapy session after the after
completion of the client's diagnostic assessment by the a mental
health professional who provides the client's psychotherapy and
before the provision of children's therapeutic services and supports;
(iii)
(iv) is developed through a
child-centered, family-driven, culturally appropriate planning process that
identifies service needs and individualized, planned, and culturally
appropriate interventions that contain specific treatment goals and objectives
for the client and the client's family or foster family;
(iv) (v)
is reviewed at least once every 90
days and revised, if necessary; and
(v) (vi)
is signed by the clinical
supervisor and by the client or, if appropriate, by the client's
parent or other person authorized by statute to consent to mental health
services for the client;
(3) developing an individual behavior plan that
documents services treatment strategies to be provided by the
mental health behavioral aide. The
individual behavior plan must include:
(i) detailed instructions on the service
treatment strategies to be provided;
(ii) time allocated to each service
treatment strategy;
(iii) methods of documenting the child's behavior;
(iv) methods of monitoring the child's progress in
reaching objectives; and
(v) goals to increase or decrease targeted behavior as
identified in the individual treatment plan;
(4) providing clinical supervision of the
mental health practitioner and mental health behavioral aide. A mental health professional must document
the clinical supervision the professional provides by cosigning individual
treatment plans and making entries in the client's record on supervisory
activities. Clinical supervision does
not include the authority to make or terminate court-ordered placements of the
child. A clinical supervisor must be
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available for urgent consultation as required by the
individual client's needs or the situation.
Clinical supervision may occur individually or in a small group to
discuss treatment and review progress toward goals. The focus of clinical supervision must be the
client's treatment needs and progress and the mental health practitioner's or
behavioral aide's ability to provide services;
(4a) CTSS
certified provider entities providing meeting day treatment and
therapeutic preschool programs must meet the conditions in items (i)
to (iii):
(i) the
supervisor must be present and available on the premises more than 50 percent
of the time in a five-working-day period during which the supervisee is
providing a mental health service;
(ii) the
diagnosis and the client's individual treatment plan or a change in the
diagnosis or individual treatment plan must be made by or reviewed, approved,
and signed by the supervisor; and
(iii) every 30
days, the supervisor must review and sign the record of indicating
the supervisor has reviewed the client's care for all activities in the
preceding 30-day period;
(4b) meeting the
clinical supervision standards in items (i) to (iii) for all other services
provided under CTSS, clinical supervision standards provided in items (i) to
(iii) must be used:
(i) medical
assistance shall reimburse for services provided by a mental health
practitioner who maintains a consulting relationship with a mental health
professional who accepts full professional responsibility and is present on
site for at least one observation during the first 12 hours in which the mental
health practitioner provides the individual, family, or group skills training
to the child or the child's family;
(ii) medical
assistance shall reimburse for services provided by a mental health behavioral
aide who maintains a consulting relationship with a mental health professional
who accepts full professional responsibility and has an approved plan for
clinical supervision of the behavioral aide.
Plans will be approved in accordance with supervision standards
promulgated by the commissioner of human services;
(ii)
thereafter, (iii) the mental health professional is
required to be present on site for observation as clinically appropriate when
the mental health practitioner or mental health behavioral aide is
providing individual, family, or group skills training to the child or the
child's family CTSS services; and
(iii) (iv) when conducted, the observation must be a minimum
of one clinical unit. The on-site
presence of the mental health professional must be documented in the child's
record and signed by the mental health professional who accepts full
professional responsibility;
(5) providing
direction to a mental health behavioral aide.
For entities that employ mental health behavioral aides, the clinical
supervisor must be employed by the provider entity or other certified
children's therapeutic supports and services provider entity to ensure
necessary and appropriate oversight for the client's treatment and continuity
of care. The mental health professional
or mental health practitioner giving direction must begin with the goals on the
individualized treatment plan, and instruct the mental health behavioral aide
on how to construct therapeutic activities and interventions that will lead to
goal attainment. The professional or
practitioner giving direction must also instruct the mental health behavioral
aide about the client's diagnosis, functional status, and other characteristics
that are likely to affect service delivery.
Direction must also include determining that the mental health
behavioral aide has the skills to interact with the client and the client's
family in ways that convey personal and cultural respect and that the aide
actively solicits information relevant to treatment from the family. The aide must be able to clearly explain the
activities the aide is doing with the client and the activities' relationship
to treatment goals. Direction is more
didactic than is supervision and requires the professional or practitioner
providing it to continuously evaluate the mental health behavioral aide's
ability to carry out the activities of the individualized treatment plan and
the individualized behavior plan. When
providing direction, the professional or practitioner must:
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5799
(i) review progress notes prepared by the mental
health behavioral aide for accuracy and consistency with diagnostic assessment,
treatment plan, and behavior goals and the professional or practitioner must
approve and sign the progress notes;
(ii) identify changes in treatment strategies, revise
the individual behavior plan, and communicate treatment instructions and
methodologies as appropriate to ensure that treatment is implemented correctly;
(iii) demonstrate family-friendly behaviors that
support healthy collaboration among the child, the child's family, and
providers as treatment is planned and implemented;
(iv) ensure that the mental health behavioral aide is
able to effectively communicate with the child, the child's family, and the
provider; and
(v) record the results of any evaluation and
corrective actions taken to modify the work of the mental health behavioral
aide;
(6) providing service delivery that implements the
individual treatment plan and meets the requirements under subdivision 9; and
(7) individual treatment plan review. The review must determine the extent to which
the services have met the goals and objectives in the previous treatment
plan. The review must assess the
client's progress and ensure that services and treatment goals continue to be
necessary and appropriate to the client and the client's family or foster
family. Revision of the individual
treatment plan does not require a new diagnostic assessment unless the client's
mental health status has changed markedly.
The updated treatment plan must be signed by the clinical supervisor
and by the client, if appropriate, and by the client's parent or other
person authorized by statute to give consent to the mental health services for
the child.
Sec. 16.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943, subdivision 7, is amended to
read:
Subd. 7. Qualifications of individual and team providers. (a) An individual or team provider working
within the scope of the provider's practice or qualifications may provide
service components of children's therapeutic services and supports that are
identified as medically necessary in a client's individual treatment plan.
(b) An individual provider must be qualified as:
(1) a mental health professional as defined in
subdivision 1, paragraph (m); or
(2) a mental health practitioner as defined in section
245.4871, subdivision 26. The mental
health practitioner must work under the clinical supervision of a mental health
professional; or
(3) a mental health behavioral aide working under the direction
clinical supervision of a mental health professional to implement the
rehabilitative mental health services identified in the client's individual
treatment plan and individual behavior plan.
(A) A level I mental health behavioral aide must:
(i) be at least 18 years old;
(ii) have a high school diploma or general equivalency
diploma (GED) or two years of experience as a primary caregiver to a child with
severe emotional disturbance within the previous ten years; and
(iii) meet preservice and continuing education
requirements under subdivision 8.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5800
(B) A level II mental health behavioral aide must:
(i) be at least 18 years old;
(ii) have an associate or bachelor's degree or 4,000
hours of experience in delivering clinical services in the treatment of mental
illness concerning children or adolescents.
Hours worked as a mental health behavioral aide I may be included in the
4,000 hours of experience; and
(iii) meet preservice and continuing education
requirements in subdivision 8.
(c) A preschool program multidisciplinary team must
include at least one mental health professional and one or more of the
following individuals under the clinical supervision of a mental health
professional:
(i) a mental health practitioner; or
(ii) a program person, including a teacher, assistant
teacher, or aide, who meets the qualifications and training standards of a
level I mental health behavioral aide.
(d) A day treatment multidisciplinary team must
include at least one mental health professional and one mental health
practitioner.
Sec. 17.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943, subdivision 9, is amended to
read:
Subd. 9. Service delivery criteria. (a) In delivering services under this
section, a certified provider entity must ensure that:
(1) each individual provider's caseload size permits
the provider to deliver services to both clients with severe, complex needs and
clients with less intensive needs. The
provider's caseload size should reasonably enable the provider to play an
active role in service planning, monitoring, and delivering services to meet
the client's and client's family's needs, as specified in each client's
individual treatment plan;
(2) site-based programs, including day treatment and
preschool programs, provide staffing and facilities to ensure the client's
health, safety, and protection of rights, and that the programs are able to
implement each client's individual treatment plan;
(3) a day treatment program is provided to a group of
clients by a multidisciplinary team under the clinical supervision of a mental
health professional. The day treatment
program must be provided in and by: (i) an outpatient hospital accredited by
the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Organizations and licensed
under sections 144.50 to 144.55; (ii) a community mental health center under
section 245.62; and or (iii) an entity that is under contract
with the county board to operate a program that meets the requirements of
sections 245.4712, subdivision 2, and or 245.4884, subdivision 2,
and Minnesota Rules, parts 9505.0170 to 9505.0475. The day treatment program must stabilize the
client's mental health status while developing and improving the client's
independent living and socialization skills.
The goal of the day treatment program must be to reduce or relieve the
effects of mental illness and provide training to enable the client to live in
the community. The program must be
available at least one day a week for a three-hour two-hour time
block. The three-hour two-hour
time block must include at least one hour, but no more than two hours,
of individual or group psychotherapy. The
remainder of the three-hour time block may include recreation therapy,
socialization therapy, or independent living skills therapy, but only if the
therapies are included in the client's individual treatment plan. The remainder of the structured treatment
program may include individual or group psychotherapy and individual or group
skills training, if included in the client's individual treatment plan. Day treatment programs are not part of
inpatient or residential treatment services.
A day treatment program may provide fewer than the minimally required
hours for a particular child during a billing period in which the child is
transitioning into, or out of, the program; and
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5801
(4) a therapeutic
preschool program is a structured treatment program offered to a child who
is at least 33 months old, but who has not yet reached the first day of
kindergarten, by a preschool multidisciplinary team in a day program licensed
under Minnesota Rules, parts 9503.0005 to 9503.0175. The program must be available at least one
day a week for a minimum two-hour time block two hours per day, five
days per week, and 12 months of each calendar year. The structured treatment program may include
individual or group psychotherapy and recreation therapy, socialization
therapy, or independent living skills therapy individual or group skills
training, if included in the client's individual treatment plan. A therapeutic preschool program may
provide fewer than the minimally required hours for a particular child during a
billing period in which the child is transitioning into, or out of, the
program.
(b) A provider
entity must deliver the service components of children's therapeutic services
and supports in compliance with the following requirements:
(1) individual,
family, and group psychotherapy must be delivered as specified in Minnesota
Rules, part 9505.0323;
(2) individual,
family, or group skills training must be provided by a mental health
professional or a mental health practitioner who has a consulting relationship
with a mental health professional who accepts full professional responsibility
for the training;
(3) crisis
assistance must be time-limited and designed to resolve or stabilize crisis
through arrangements for direct intervention and support services to the child
and the child's family. Crisis
assistance must utilize resources designed to address abrupt or substantial
changes in the functioning of the child or the child's family as evidenced by a
sudden change in behavior with negative consequences for well being, a loss of
usual coping mechanisms, or the presentation of danger to self or others;
(4) mental
health behavioral aide services must be medically necessary services
that are provided by a mental health behavioral aide must be treatment
services, identified in the child's individual treatment plan and individual
behavior plan, which are performed minimally by a paraprofessional qualified
according to subdivision 7, paragraph (b), clause (3), and which are designed
to improve the functioning of the child and support the family in activities
of daily and community living. in the progressive use of developmentally
appropriate psychosocial skills. Activities
involve working directly with the child, child-peer groupings, or child-family
groupings to practice, repeat, reintroduce, and master the skills defined in
subdivision 1, paragraph (p), as previously taught by a mental health
professional or mental health practitioner including:
(i) providing
cues or prompts in skill-building peer-to-peer or parent-child interactions so
that the child progressively recognizes and responds to the cues independently;
(ii)
performing as a practice partner or role-play partner;
(iii)
reinforcing the child's accomplishments;
(iv)
generalizing skill-building activities in the child's multiple natural
settings;
(v) assigning
further practice activities; and
(vi) intervening
as necessary to redirect the child's target behavior and to de-escalate
behavior that puts the child or other person at risk of injury.
A mental health behavioral aide must
document the delivery of services in written progress notes. The mental health behavioral aide must
implement goals in the treatment plan for the child's emotional disturbance
that allow the child to acquire developmentally and therapeutically appropriate
daily living skills, social skills, and leisure and recreational skills through
targeted activities. These activities
may include:
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5802
(i)
assisting a child as needed with skills development in dressing, eating, and
toileting;
(ii)
assisting, monitoring, and guiding the child to complete tasks, including
facilitating the child's participation in medical appointments;
(iii)
observing the child and intervening to redirect the child's inappropriate
behavior;
(iv)
assisting the child in using age-appropriate self-management skills as related
to the child's emotional disorder or mental illness, including problem solving,
decision making, communication, conflict resolution, anger management, social
skills, and recreational skills;
(v)
implementing deescalation techniques as recommended by the mental health
professional;
(vi)
implementing any other mental health service that the mental health
professional has approved as being within the scope of the behavioral aide's
duties; or
(vii)
assisting the parents to develop and use parenting skills that help the child
achieve the goals outlined in the child's individual treatment plan or
individual behavioral plan. Parenting
skills must be directed exclusively to the child's treatment treatment strategies in the
individual treatment plan and the individual behavior plan. The mental health behavioral aide must
document the delivery of services in written progress notes. Progress notes must reflect implementation of
the treatment strategies, as performed by the mental health behavioral aide and
the child's responses to the treatment strategies; and
(5) direction
of a mental health behavioral aide must include the following:
(i) a total of
one hour of on-site observation by a mental health professional during the
first 12 hours of service provided to a child;
(ii) ongoing
on-site observation by a mental health professional or mental health
practitioner for at least a total of one hour during every 40 hours of service
provided to a child; and
(iii) immediate
accessibility of the mental health professional or mental health practitioner
to the mental health behavioral aide during service provision.
Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0944,
subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Mobile
crisis intervention staff qualifications.
(a) To provide children's mental health mobile crisis intervention
services, a mobile crisis intervention team must include:
(1) at least
two mental health professionals as defined in section 256B.0943, subdivision 1,
paragraph (m) (n); or
(2) a
combination of at least one mental health professional and one mental health
practitioner as defined in section 245.4871, subdivision 26, with the required
mental health crisis training and under the clinical supervision of a mental
health professional on the team.
(b) The team
must have at least two people with at least one member providing on-site crisis
intervention services when needed. Team
members must be experienced in mental health assessment, crisis intervention
techniques, and clinical decision making under emergency conditions and have
knowledge of local services and resources.
The team must recommend and coordinate the team's services with
appropriate local resources, including the county social services agency,
mental health service providers, and local law enforcement, if necessary.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5803
Sec. 19. RATE
SETTING.
The
commissioner shall implement a new statewide rate setting methodology for
intensive residential and nonresidential mental health services starting
January 1, 2010. The new rate setting
methodology shall be fiscally neutral and consistent with federal and state
Medicaid rules, regulations, procedures, and practices.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective for services provided on or after January
1, 2010, and does not change contracts or agreements relating to services
provided before January 1, 2010."
Delete the title
and insert:
"A bill for
an act relating to human services; amending mental health provisions; changing medical
assistance reimbursement and eligibility; changing provider qualification and
training requirements; amending mental health behavioral aide services;
providing coverage of mental health behavioral aide services; changing special
contracts with bordering states; requiring a new rate setting methodology;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 148C.11, subdivision 1; 245.4871,
subdivision 26; 245.4885, subdivision 1; 245.50, subdivision 5; 256B.0615,
subdivisions 1, 3; 256B.0622, subdivision 8; 256B.0623, subdivision 5;
256B.0624, subdivision 8; 256B.0625, subdivision 49; 256B.0943, subdivisions 1,
2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9; 256B.0944, subdivision 5."
With the
recommendation that when so amended the bill pass.
The
report was adopted.
Sertich from the
Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration to which was referred:
S. F. No. 2141,
A bill for an act relating to finance; appropriating money to continue
operations of a state agency if the major appropriation bill to fund that
agency has not been enacted by July 1, 2009.
Reported the
same back with the following amendments:
Delete
everything after the enacting clause and insert:
"Section
1. CONTINUING
APPROPRIATIONS.
Subdivision
1. Appropriations. If a major appropriation bill to fund a
given state agency for the biennium beginning July 1, 2009, has not been
enacted by that date, amounts sufficient to continue operation of that agency
and the programs administered by that agency through the fiscal year ending
June 30, 2010, at the base level for that fiscal year, as determined and
adjusted according to Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.11, subdivision 3, and
previous appropriation acts, are appropriated to the agency from the
appropriate funds and accounts in the state treasury. The base level for an appropriation that was
designated as onetime or was onetime in nature is zero.
Subd. 2.
Legislative advisory
commission. (a) The
appropriations under subdivision 1 must not be reduced below the base level, except
as required to balance expenditures with revenue and after consultation with
the Legislative Advisory Commission as required by Minnesota Statutes, section
16A.152, subdivision 4.
(b) Federal
fiscal stabilization money received by the state under title XIV of the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5, division A,
must not be spent except pursuant to a direct appropriation by law. Other federal money received under Public Law
111-5 that has not been appropriated by a law enacted by the 86th Legislature
and for which further review was requested under Minnesota Statutes,
section 3.3005, subdivision 2a, may not be allotted for expenditure except
in accordance with the procedure for review by the Legislative Advisory Commission
under Minnesota Statutes, section 3.3005, subdivision 5.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5804
Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Section 1 is effective the day following final
enactment."
With the recommendation that when so amended the bill
pass.
Joint Rule 2.03 has been waived for any subsequent
committee action on this bill.
The report
was adopted.
SECOND READING OF HOUSE BILLS
H. F. Nos.
354, 723, 796, 1053, 1219 and 1805 were read for the second time.
SECOND READING OF SENATE BILLS
S. F. Nos.
727, 1331, 1504 and 2141 were read for the second time.
CALENDAR FOR THE DAY
H. F. No. 2073, A bill for an act relating to education finance;
removing an obsolete reference; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
126C.10, subdivision 1.
The bill was read for the third time and placed upon its final
passage.
The question was taken on the passage of the bill and the roll
was called. There were 122 yeas and 11
nays as follows:
Those who
voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Beard
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Clark
Cornish
Davids
Davnie
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Eken
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Greiling
Gunther
Hamilton
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Kohls
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Peppin
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5805
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scalze
Scott
Seifert
Sertich
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Spk.
Kelliher
Those who voted in the negative were:
Anderson, B.
Buesgens
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Emmer
Hackbarth
Holberg
Hoppe
Severson
Shimanski
Zellers
The bill was passed and its title agreed
to.
S.
F. No. 237, A bill for an act relating to state government; designating the first
Sunday in October as Minnesota Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 10.
The bill was read for the third time and
placed upon its final passage.
The question was taken on the passage of
the bill and the roll was called. There
were 133 yeas and 0 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Beard
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Buesgens
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Clark
Cornish
Davids
Davnie
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Eken
Emmer
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Greiling
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Holberg
Hoppe
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Kohls
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Peppin
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scalze
Scott
Seifert
Sertich
Severson
Shimanski
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Zellers
Spk. Kelliher
The bill was passed and its title agreed
to.
S. F. No. 1447
was reported to the House.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5806
Abeler moved to
amend S. F. No. 1447, the third engrossment, as follows:
Delete everything
after the enacting clause and insert the following language of H. F. No. 1750,
the second engrossment:
"Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 157.16, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 5. Exemption
for certain establishments. This
section does not apply to group residential facilities of ten or fewer beds
licensed by the commissioner of human services under Minnesota Rules, chapter
2960, provided the facility employs or contracts with a certified food manager
under Minnesota Rules, part 4626.2015.
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245.4871, subdivision 10, is amended to
read:
Subd. 10. Day treatment services. "Day treatment," "day
treatment services," or "day treatment program" means a
structured program of treatment and care provided to a child in:
(1) an outpatient hospital accredited by the Joint
Commission on Accreditation of Health Organizations and licensed under sections
144.50 to 144.55;
(2) a community mental health center under section
245.62;
(3) an entity that is under contract with the county
board to operate a program that meets the requirements of section 245.4884, subdivision
2, and Minnesota Rules, parts 9505.0170 to 9505.0475; or
(4) an entity that operates a program that meets the
requirements of section 245.4884, subdivision 2, and Minnesota Rules, parts
9505.0170 to 9505.0475, that is under contract with an entity that is under
contract with a county board.
Day treatment consists of group psychotherapy and other
intensive therapeutic services that are provided for a minimum three-hour
two-hour time block by a multidisciplinary staff under the clinical supervision
of a mental health professional. Day
treatment may include education and consultation provided to families and other
individuals as an extension of the treatment process. The services are aimed at stabilizing the
child's mental health status, and developing and improving the child's daily
independent living and socialization skills.
Day treatment services are distinguished from day care by their
structured therapeutic program of psychotherapy services. Day treatment services are not a part of inpatient
hospital or residential treatment services.
Day treatment services for a child are an integrated set of
education, therapy, and family interventions.
A day treatment service must be available to a child at
least five days up to 15 hours a week throughout the year and must
be coordinated with, integrated with, or part of an education program offered
by the child's school.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245A.03, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Exclusion from licensure. (a) This chapter does not apply to:
(1) residential or nonresidential programs that are
provided to a person by an individual who is related unless the residential
program is a child foster care placement made by a local social services agency
or a licensed child-placing agency, except as provided in subdivision 2a;
(2) nonresidential programs that are provided by an
unrelated individual to persons from a single related family;
(3) residential or nonresidential programs that are
provided to adults who do not abuse chemicals or who do not have a chemical
dependency, a mental illness, a developmental disability, a functional
impairment, or a physical disability;
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5807
(4) sheltered workshops or work activity programs that
are certified by the commissioner of economic security;
(5) programs operated by a public school for children
33 months or older;
(6) nonresidential programs primarily for children
that provide care or supervision for periods of less than three hours a day
while the child's parent or legal guardian is in the same building as the
nonresidential program or present within another building that is directly
contiguous to the building in which the nonresidential program is located;
(7) nursing homes or hospitals licensed by the
commissioner of health except as specified under section 245A.02;
(8) board and lodge facilities licensed by the
commissioner of health that provide services for five or more persons whose
primary diagnosis is mental illness that do not provide intensive residential
treatment;
(9) homes providing programs for persons placed by a county
or a licensed agency for legal adoption, unless the adoption is not completed
within two years;
(10) programs licensed by the commissioner of
corrections;
(11) recreation programs for children or adults that
are operated or approved by a park and recreation board whose primary purpose
is to provide social and recreational activities;
(12) programs operated by a school as defined in
section 120A.22, subdivision 4,; YMCA as defined in section 315.44;
YWCA as defined in section 315.44; or JCC as defined in section 315.51,
whose primary purpose is to provide child care to school-age children;
(13) Head Start nonresidential programs which operate
for less than 45 days in each calendar year;
(14) noncertified boarding care homes unless they
provide services for five or more persons whose primary diagnosis is mental
illness or a developmental disability;
(15) programs for children such as scouting, boys
clubs, girls clubs, and sports and art programs, and nonresidential programs
for children provided for a cumulative total of less than 30 days in any
12-month period;
(16) residential programs for persons with mental
illness, that are located in hospitals;
(17) the religious instruction of school-age children;
Sabbath or Sunday schools; or the congregate care of children by a church,
congregation, or religious society during the period used by the church,
congregation, or religious society for its regular worship;
(18) camps licensed by the commissioner of health
under Minnesota Rules, chapter 4630;
(19) mental health outpatient services for adults with
mental illness or children with emotional disturbance;
(20) residential programs serving school-age children
whose sole purpose is cultural or educational exchange, until the commissioner
adopts appropriate rules;
(21) unrelated individuals who provide out-of-home
respite care services to persons with developmental disabilities from a single
related family for no more than 90 days in a 12-month period and the respite
care services are for the temporary relief of the person's family or legal
representative;
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5808
(22) respite care services provided as a home and
community-based service to a person with a developmental disability, in the
person's primary residence;
(23) community support services programs as defined in
section 245.462, subdivision 6, and family community support services as
defined in section 245.4871, subdivision 17;
(24) the placement of a child by a birth parent or
legal guardian in a preadoptive home for purposes of adoption as authorized by
section 259.47;
(25) settings registered under chapter 144D which
provide home care services licensed by the commissioner of health to fewer than
seven adults; or
(26) chemical dependency or substance abuse
treatment activities of licensed professionals in private practice as defined
in Minnesota Rules, part 9530.6405, subpart 15, when the treatment activities
are not paid for by the consolidated chemical dependency treatment fund;
(27) consumer-directed
community support service funded under the Medicaid waiver for persons with
developmental disabilities when the individual who provided the service is:
(i) the same individual who is the direct payee of
these specific waiver funds or paid by a fiscal agent, fiscal intermediary, or
employer of record; and
(ii) not otherwise under the control of a residential
or nonresidential program that is required to be licensed under this chapter
when providing the service.; or
(28) a program serving only children
who are age 33 months or older, that is operated by a nonpublic school, for no
more than four hours per day per child, with no more than 20 children at any
one time, and that is accredited by:
(i) an accrediting agency that is
formally recognized by the commissioner of education as a nonpublic school
accrediting organization; or
(ii) an accrediting agency that
requires background studies and that receives and investigates complaints about
the services provided.
A program that asserts its exemption
from licensure under item (ii) shall, upon request from the commissioner, provide
the commissioner with documentation from the accrediting agency that verifies:
that the accreditation is current; that the accrediting agency investigates
complaints about services; and that the accrediting agency's standards require
background studies on all people providing direct contact services.
(b) For purposes of paragraph (a), clause (6), a
building is directly contiguous to a building in which a nonresidential program
is located if it shares a common wall with the building in which the
nonresidential program is located or is attached to that building by skyway,
tunnel, atrium, or common roof.
(c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to
require licensure for any services provided and funded according to an approved
federal waiver plan where licensure is specifically identified as not being a
condition for the services and funding.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245A.03, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 7. Excluded
providers seeking licensure. Nothing
in this section shall prohibit a program that is excluded from licensure under
subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (28), from seeking licensure. The commissioner shall ensure that any application
received from such an excluded provider is processed in the same manner as all
other applications for child care center licensure.
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Sec. 5.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245A.04, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Commissioner's right of access. When the commissioner is exercising the
powers conferred by this chapter and section sections 245.69, 626.556,
and 626.557, the commissioner must be given access to the physical plant
and grounds where the program is provided, documents and records, including
records maintained in electronic format, persons served by the program, and
staff whenever the program is in operation and the information is relevant to
inspections or investigations conducted by the commissioner. The commissioner must be given access without
prior notice and as often as the commissioner considers necessary if the
commissioner is conducting an investigation of allegations of maltreatment or
other violation of applicable laws or rules.
In conducting inspections, the commissioner may request and shall
receive assistance from other state, county, and municipal governmental agencies
and departments. The applicant or
license holder shall allow the commissioner to photocopy, photograph, and make
audio and video tape recordings during the inspection of the program at the
commissioner's expense. The commissioner
shall obtain a court order or the consent of the subject of the records or the
parents or legal guardian of the subject before photocopying hospital medical
records.
Persons served by the program have the right to refuse
to consent to be interviewed, photographed, or audio or videotaped. Failure or refusal of an applicant or license
holder to fully comply with this subdivision is reasonable cause for the
commissioner to deny the application or immediately suspend or revoke the license.
Sec. 6.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245A.04, subdivision 7, is amended to
read:
Subd. 7. Grant of license; license extension. (a) If the commissioner determines that the
program complies with all applicable rules and laws, the commissioner shall
issue a license. At minimum, the license
shall state:
(1) the name of the license holder;
(2) the address of the program;
(3) the effective date and expiration date of the
license;
(4) the type of license;
(5) the maximum number and ages of persons that may receive
services from the program; and
(6) any special conditions of licensure.
(b) The commissioner may issue an initial license for a
period not to exceed two years if:
(1) the commissioner is unable to conduct the
evaluation or observation required by subdivision 4, paragraph (a), clauses (3)
and (4), because the program is not yet operational;
(2) certain records and documents are not available
because persons are not yet receiving services from the program; and
(3) the applicant complies with applicable laws and
rules in all other respects.
(c) A decision by the commissioner to issue a license
does not guarantee that any person or persons will be placed or cared for in
the licensed program. A license shall
not be transferable to another individual, corporation, partnership, voluntary
association, other organization, or controlling individual or to another
location.
(d) A license holder must notify the commissioner and
obtain the commissioner's approval before making any changes that would alter the
license information listed under paragraph (a).
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of Page 5810
(e) The commissioner shall not issue or reissue a
license if the applicant, license holder, or controlling individual has:
(1) been disqualified and the disqualification was not
set aside and no variance has been granted;
(2) has been denied a license within the past two
years; or
(3) had a license revoked within the past five years;
or
(4) has an outstanding debt related
to a license fee, licensing fine, or settlement agreement for which payment is
delinquent.
When a license is revoked under
clause (1) or (3), the license holder and controlling individual may not hold
any license under chapter 245A or 245B for five years following the revocation,
and other licenses held by the applicant, license holder, or controlling
individual shall also be revoked.
(f) The commissioner shall not issue a license if an
individual living in the household where the licensed services will be provided
as specified under section 245C.03, subdivision 1, has been disqualified and
the disqualification has not been set aside and no variance has been granted.
(g) For purposes of reimbursement for meals only,
under the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Code of Federal Regulations, title
7, subtitle B, chapter II, subchapter A, part 226, relocation within the same
county by a licensed family day care provider, shall be considered an extension
of the license for a period of no more than 30 calendar days or until the new
license is issued, whichever occurs first, provided the county agency has
determined the family day care provider meets licensure requirements at the new
location.
(h) Unless otherwise specified by statute, all
licenses expire at 12:01 a.m. on the day after the expiration date stated on
the license. A license holder must apply
for and be granted a new license to operate the program or the program must not
be operated after the expiration date.
Sec. 7.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245A.05, is amended to read:
245A.05
DENIAL OF APPLICATION.
(a) The
commissioner may deny a license if an applicant or controlling individual:
(1) fails to comply with applicable laws or rules, or; (2)
knowingly withholds relevant information from or gives false or misleading
information to the commissioner in connection with an application for a license
or during an investigation; (3) has a disqualification which has not been
set aside under section 245C.22 and no variance has been granted; or (4) has an
individual required to have a background study under section 245C.03,
subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (2) or (6), that has a disqualification
which has not been set aside under section 245C.22 and no variance has been
granted.
(b) An
applicant whose application has been denied by the commissioner must be given
notice of the denial. Notice must be
given by certified mail or personal service.
The notice must state the reasons the application was denied and must
inform the applicant of the right to a contested case hearing under chapter 14
and Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612. The applicant may appeal the denial by
notifying the commissioner in writing by certified mail or personal service within
20 calendar days after receiving notice that the application was denied. If mailed, the appeal must be postmarked
and sent to the commissioner within 20 calendar days after the applicant
received the notice of denial. If an
appeal request is made by personal service, it must be received by the
commissioner within 20 calendar days after the applicant received the notice of
denial. Section 245A.08 applies to
hearings held to appeal the commissioner's denial of an application.
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Sec.
8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245A.07, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Sanctions;
appeals; license. (a) In addition to
making a license conditional under section 245A.06, the commissioner may propose
to suspend or revoke the license, impose a fine, or secure an injunction
against the continuing operation of the program of a license holder who does
not comply with applicable law or rule.
When applying sanctions authorized under this section, the commissioner
shall consider the nature, chronicity, or severity of the violation of law or
rule and the effect of the violation on the health, safety, or rights of
persons served by the program.
(b)
If a license holder appeals the suspension or revocation of a license and the
license holder continues to operate the program pending a final order on the
appeal, and the license expires during this time period, the commissioner shall
issue the license holder a temporary provisional license. The temporary provisional license is
effective on the date issued and expires on the date that a final order is
issued. Unless otherwise specified by
the commissioner, variances in effect on the date of the license sanction under
appeal continue under the temporary provisional license. If a license holder fails to comply with
applicable law or rule while operating under a temporary provisional license,
the commissioner may impose sanctions under this section and section 245A.06,
and may terminate any prior variance. If
the license holder prevails on the appeal and the effective period of the
previous license has expired, a new license shall be issued to the license
holder upon payment of any fee required under section 245A.10. The effective date of the new license shall
be retroactive to the date the license would have shown had no sanction been
initiated. The expiration date shall be
the expiration date of that license had no license sanction been initiated.
(c)
If a license holder is under investigation and the license is due to expire
before completion of the investigation, the program shall be issued a new
license upon completion of the reapplication requirements. Upon completion of the investigation, a
licensing sanction may be imposed against the new license under this section,
section 245A.06, or 245A.08.
(d)
Failure to reapply or closure of a license by the license holder prior to the
completion of any investigation shall not preclude the commissioner from
issuing a licensing sanction under this section, section 245A.06, or 245A.08 at
the conclusion of the investigation.
Sec.
9. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245A.07, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd.
3. License
suspension, revocation, or fine. (a)
The commissioner may suspend or revoke a license, or impose a fine if a license
holder fails to comply fully with applicable laws or rules, if a license
holder, a controlling individual, or an individual living in the household
where the licensed services are provided or is otherwise subject to a background
study has a disqualification which has not been set aside under section
245C.22, or if a license holder knowingly withholds relevant information from
or gives false or misleading information to the commissioner in connection with
an application for a license, in connection with the background study status of
an individual, during an investigation, or regarding compliance with applicable
laws or rules. A license holder who has
had a license suspended, revoked, or has been ordered to pay a fine must be
given notice of the action by certified mail or personal service. If mailed, the notice must be mailed to the
address shown on the application or the last known address of the license
holder. The notice must state the
reasons the license was suspended, revoked, or a fine was ordered.
(b)
If the license was suspended or revoked, the notice must inform the license
holder of the right to a contested case hearing under chapter 14 and Minnesota
Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612. The
license holder may appeal an order suspending or revoking a license. The appeal of an order suspending or revoking
a license must be made in writing by certified mail or personal service. If mailed, the appeal must be postmarked and
sent to the commissioner within ten calendar days after the license holder
receives notice that the license has been suspended or revoked. If a request is made by personal service, it
must be received by the commissioner within ten calendar days after the
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license
holder received the order. Except as
provided in subdivision 2a, paragraph (c), if a license holder submits a
timely appeal of an order suspending or revoking a license shall stay the
suspension or revocation, the license holder may continue to operate
until the commissioner issues a final order on the suspension or revocation.
(c)(1) If the license holder was ordered to pay a
fine, the notice must inform the license holder of the responsibility for
payment of fines and the right to a contested case hearing under chapter 14 and
Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612.
The appeal of an order to pay a fine must be made in writing by certified
mail or personal service. If mailed, the
appeal must be postmarked and sent to the commissioner within ten calendar days
after the license holder receives notice that the fine has been ordered. If a request is made by personal service, it
must be received by the commissioner within ten calendar days after the license
holder received the order.
(2) The license holder shall pay the fines assessed on
or before the payment date specified. If
the license holder fails to fully comply with the order, the commissioner may
issue a second fine or suspend the license until the license holder
complies. If the license holder receives
state funds, the state, county, or municipal agencies or departments
responsible for administering the funds shall withhold payments and recover any
payments made while the license is suspended for failure to pay a fine. A timely appeal shall stay payment of the
fine until the commissioner issues a final order.
(3) A license holder shall promptly notify the
commissioner of human services, in writing, when a violation specified in the
order to forfeit a fine is corrected. If
upon reinspection the commissioner determines that a violation has not been
corrected as indicated by the order to forfeit a fine, the commissioner may
issue a second fine. The commissioner
shall notify the license holder by certified mail or personal service that a
second fine has been assessed. The
license holder may appeal the second fine as provided under this subdivision.
(4) Fines shall be assessed as follows: the license
holder shall forfeit $1,000 for each determination of maltreatment of a child
under section 626.556 or the maltreatment of a vulnerable adult under section
626.557 for which the license holder is determined responsible for the
maltreatment under section 626.556, subdivision 10e, paragraph (i), or 626.557,
subdivision 9c, paragraph (c); the license holder shall forfeit $200 for each
occurrence of a violation of law or rule governing matters of health, safety,
or supervision, including but not limited to the provision of adequate
staff-to-child or adult ratios, and failure to submit a comply with
background study requirements under chapter 245C; and the license holder
shall forfeit $100 for each occurrence of a violation of law or rule other than
those subject to a $1,000 or $200 fine above.
For purposes of this section, "occurrence" means each
violation identified in the commissioner's fine order. Fines assessed against a license holder that
holds a license to provide the residential-based habilitation services, as
defined under section 245B.02, subdivision 20, and a license to provide foster
care, may be assessed against both licenses for the same occurrence, but the
combined amount of the fines shall not exceed the amount specified in this
clause for that occurrence.
(5) When a fine has been assessed, the license holder
may not avoid payment by closing, selling, or otherwise transferring the
licensed program to a third party. In
such an event, the license holder will be personally liable for payment. In the case of a corporation, each
controlling individual is personally and jointly liable for payment.
Sec. 10.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245A.11, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 8. Alternate
overnight supervision; adult foster care license. (a) The commissioner may grant an
applicant or license holder an adult foster care license for a residence that
does not have a caregiver in residence during normal sleeping hours as required
under Minnesota Rules, part 9555.5105, subpart 37, item B, but uses monitoring
technology to alert the license holder when an incident occurs that may
jeopardize the health, safety, or rights of a foster care recipient. The applicant or license holder must comply
with all other requirements under Minnesota Rules, parts 9555.5105 to
9555.6265, and the requirements under this subdivision. The license printed by the commissioner must
state in bold and large font:
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(1)
that staff are not present on site overnight; and
(2)
the telephone number of the county's common entry point for making reports of
suspected maltreatment of vulnerable adults under section 626.557, subdivision
9.
(b)
Before a license is issued by the commissioner, and for the duration of the
license, the applicant or license holder must establish, maintain, and document
the implementation of written policies and procedures addressing the
requirements in paragraphs (c) to (f).
(c)
The applicant or license holder must have policies and procedures that:
(1)
establish characteristics of target populations that must be admitted into the
home, and characteristics of populations that must not be accepted into the
home;
(2)
explain the discharge process when a foster care recipient requires overnight
supervision or other services that cannot be provided by the license holder due
to the limited hours of on-site staff;
(3)
describe the types of events to which the program must respond with a physical
presence when those events occur in the home during time when staff are not on
site, and how the license holder's response plan meets the requirements in
paragraph (d), clause (1) or (2);
(4)
establish a process for documenting a review of the implementation and
effectiveness of the response protocol for the response required under paragraph
(d), clause (1) or (2). The
documentation must include:
(i)
a description of the triggering incident;
(ii)
the date and time of the triggering incident;
(iii)
the time of the response or responses under paragraph (d), clause (1) or (2);
(iv)
whether the response met the resident's needs;
(v)
whether the existing policies and response protocols were followed; and
(vi)
whether the existing policies and protocols are adequate or need modification.
When
no physical presence response is completed for a three-month period, the
license holder's written policies and procedures must require a physical
presence response drill be conducted for which the effectiveness of the
response protocol under paragraph (d), clause (1) or (2), must be reviewed and
documented as required under this clause; and
(5)
establish that emergency and nonemergency phone numbers are posted in a
prominent location in a common area of the home where they can be easily
observed by a person responding to an incident who is not otherwise affiliated
with the home.
(d)
The license holder must document and include in the license application which
method under clause (1) or (2) is in place for responding to situations that
present a serious risk to the health, safety, or rights of people receiving
foster care services in the home:
(1)
no more than ten minutes must pass before the license holder or the license
holder's staff person must be physically present on site to respond to the
situation; or
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of Page 5814
(2) more than ten minutes must pass
before the license holder or the license holder's staff person is present on
site to respond to the situation, and all of the following conditions are met:
(i) each foster care recipient's
individualized plan of care, individual service plan under section 256B.092,
subdivision 1b, if required, or individual resident placement agreement under
Minnesota Rules, part 9555.5105, subpart 19, if required, identifies the
maximum response time, greater than ten minutes, for a caretaker to be on site
for that foster care recipient;
(ii) the license holder has a
written description of the interactive technological applications that will
assist a remote caretaker in communicating with and assessing the needs related
to care, health, and life safety of the foster care recipients;
(iii) the license holder documents
how the remote care attendants are qualified and capable of meeting the needs
of the foster care recipients and assessing foster care recipients' needs under
item (ii) during the absence of the license holder or license holder's staff
person on site;
(iv) the license holder maintains
written procedures to dispatch emergency response personnel to the site in the
event of an observed emergency.
(e) All placement agreements,
individual service agreements, and plans applicable to the foster care
recipient must clearly state that the adult foster care license category is a
program without the presence of a caregiver in the residence during normal
sleeping hours; the protocols in place for responding to situations that
present a serious risk to health, safety, or rights of foster care recipients
under paragraph (d), clause (1) or (2); and a signed informed consent from each
foster care recipient or the person's legal representative documenting the
person's or legal representative's agreement with placement in the
program. If electronic monitoring
technology is used in the home, the informed consent form must also explain the
following:
(1) how any electronic monitoring
is incorporated into the alternative supervision system;
(2) the backup system for any
electronic monitoring in times of electrical outages or other equipment
malfunctions;
(3) how staff are trained on the
use of the technology;
(4) the event types and staff
response times established under paragraph (d);
(5) how the license holder protects
the foster care recipient's privacy related to electronic monitoring and related
to any electronically recorded data generated by the monitoring system. The consent form must explain where and how
the electronically recorded data is stored, with whom it will be shared, and
how long it is retained; and
(6) the risks and benefits of the
alternative overnight supervision system.
The written explanations under
clauses (1) to (6) may be accomplished through cross-references to other
policies and procedures as long as they are explained to the person giving consent,
and the person giving consent is offered a copy.
(f) The license holder's lead
county contract under section 256.0112 must clearly specify that this foster
care service does not have on-site overnight human supervision present.
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of Page 5815
Sec. 11.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245A.1435, is amended to read:
245A.1435
REDUCTION OF RISK OF SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME IN LICENSED PROGRAMS.
(a) When a
license holder is placing an infant to sleep, the license holder must place the
infant on the infant's back, unless the license holder has documentation from
the infant's parent directing an alternative sleeping position for the infant,
and. The parent directive
must be on a form approved by the commissioner and must include a statement
that the parent or legal guardian has read the information provided by the
Minnesota Sudden Infant Death Center, related to the risk of SIDS and the
importance of placing an infant or child on the back to sleep to reduce the
risk of SIDS.
(b) The license holder must place
the infant in a crib with directly on a firm mattress with a fitted crib sheet
that fits tightly on the mattress and overlaps the mattress so it cannot be
dislodged by pulling on the corner of the sheet. The license holder must not place pillows,
quilts, comforters, sheepskin, pillow-like stuffed toys, or other soft products
in the crib with the infant. The requirements
of this section apply to license holders serving infants up to and including 12
months of age. Licensed child care
providers must meet the crib requirements under section 245A.146.
Sec. 12.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245A.144, is amended to read:
245A.144
SUDDEN INFANT DEATH AND SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME FOR CHILD FOSTER CARE PROVIDERS.
(a) Licensed child foster care providers that care for
infants or children through five years of age must document that before
staff persons and caregivers assist in the care of infants or children
through five years of age, they are instructed on the standards in section
245A.1435 and receive training on reducing the risk of sudden infant death
syndrome and shaken baby syndrome for infants and young children. This section does not apply to emergency
relative foster care under section 245A.035.
The training on reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and
shaken baby syndrome may be provided as:
(1) orientation training to child foster care providers,
who care for infants or children through five years of age, under
Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070, subpart 1; or
(2) in-service training to child foster care providers,
who care for infants or children through five years of age, under
Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070, subpart 2.
(b) Training required under this section must be at
least one hour in length and must be completed at least once every five
years. At a minimum, the training must address
the risk factors related to sudden infant death syndrome and shaken baby
syndrome, means of reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and shaken
baby syndrome, and license holder communication with parents regarding reducing
the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and shaken baby syndrome.
(c) Training for child foster care providers must be
approved by the county licensing agency and fulfills, in part, training
required under Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070.
Sec. 13.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245A.1444, is amended to read:
245A.1444
TRAINING ON RISK OF SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME AND SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME BY
OTHER PROGRAMS.
A licensed chemical dependency treatment program that
serves clients with infants or children through five years of age who
sleep at the program and a licensed children's residential facility that serves
infants or children through five years of age must document that before
program staff persons or volunteers assist in the care of infants or
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of Page 5816
children through five years of age, they are
instructed on the standards in section 245A.1435 and receive training on reducing
the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and shaken baby syndrome. The training conducted under this section may
be used to fulfill training requirements under Minnesota Rules, parts
2960.0100, subpart 3; and 9530.6490, subpart 4, item B.
This
section does not apply to child care centers or family child care programs
governed by sections 245A.40 and 245A.50.
Sec.
14. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245A.16, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Delegation
of authority to agencies. (a) County
agencies and private agencies that have been designated or licensed by the
commissioner to perform licensing functions and activities under section
245A.04 background studies for adult foster care, family adult day services,
and family child care, under chapter 245C; to recommend denial of applicants
under section 245A.05; to issue correction orders, to issue variances, and
recommend a conditional license under section 245A.06, or to recommend
suspending or revoking a license or issuing a fine under section 245A.07, shall
comply with rules and directives of the commissioner governing those functions
and with this section. The following
variances are excluded from the delegation of variance authority and may be
issued only by the commissioner:
(1)
dual licensure of family child care and child foster care, dual licensure of
child and adult foster care, and adult foster care and family child care;
(2)
adult foster care maximum capacity;
(3)
adult foster care minimum age requirement;
(4)
child foster care maximum age requirement;
(5)
variances regarding disqualified individuals except that county agencies may
issue variances under section 245C.30 regarding disqualified individuals when
the county is responsible for conducting a consolidated reconsideration
according to sections 245C.25 and 245C.27, subdivision 2, clauses (a) and (b),
of a county maltreatment determination and a disqualification based on serious
or recurring maltreatment; and
(6)
the required presence of a caregiver in the adult foster care residence during
normal sleeping hours.
Except as
provided in section 245A.14, subdivision 4, paragraph (e), a county agency must
not grant a license holder a variance to exceed the maximum allowable family
child care license capacity of 14 children.
(b)
County agencies must report information about disqualification reconsiderations
under sections 245C.25 and 245C.27, subdivision 2, paragraphs (a) and (b), and
variances granted under paragraph (a), clause (5), to the commissioner at least
monthly in a format prescribed by the commissioner.
(c)
For family day care programs, the commissioner may authorize licensing reviews
every two years after a licensee has had at least one annual review.
(d)
For family adult day services programs, the commissioner may authorize
licensing reviews every two years after a licensee has had at least one annual
review.
(e)
A license issued under this section may be issued for up to two years.
Sec.
15. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245A.40, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
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of Page 5817
Subd. 5. Sudden infant death syndrome and shaken
baby syndrome training. (a) License
holders must document that before staff persons care for infants, they are
instructed on the standards in section 245A.1435 and receive training on
reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and. In addition, license holders must document
that before staff persons care for infants or children under school age, they
receive training on the risk of shaken baby syndrome. The training in this subdivision may be
provided as orientation training under subdivision 1 and in-service training
under subdivision 7.
(b) Sudden infant death syndrome reduction training
required under this subdivision must be at least one one-half
hour in length and must be completed at least once every five years. At a minimum, the training must address the
risk factors related to sudden infant death syndrome and shaken baby
syndrome, means of reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and
shaken baby syndrome in child care, and license holder communication with
parents regarding reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and shaken
baby syndrome.
(c) Shaken baby syndrome training
under this subdivision must be at least one-half hour in length, and must be
completed at least once every five years.
At a minimum, the training must address the risk factors related to
shaken baby syndrome for infants and young children, means to reduce the risk
of shaken baby syndrome in child care, and license holder communication with
parents regarding reducing the risk of shaken baby syndrome.
(c) (d) The
commissioner shall make available for viewing a video presentation on the
dangers associated with shaking infants and young children. The video presentation must be part of the
orientation and annual in-service training of licensed child care centers
center staff persons caring for children under school age. The commissioner shall provide to child care
providers and interested individuals, at cost, copies of a video approved by
the commissioner of health under section 144.574 on the dangers associated with
shaking infants and young children.
Sec. 16.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245A.50, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Sudden infant death syndrome and shaken
baby syndrome training. (a) License
holders must document that before staff persons, caregivers, and helpers assist
in the care of infants, they are instructed on the standards in section
245A.1435 and receive training on reducing the risk of sudden infant death
syndrome and. In addition,
license holders must document that before staff persons, caregivers, and
helpers assist in the care of infants and children under school age, they
receive training on reducing the risk of
shaken baby syndrome. The
training in this subdivision may be provided as initial training under
subdivision 1 or ongoing training under subdivision 7.
(b) Sudden infant death syndrome reduction
training required under this subdivision must be at least one one-half hour in length and must be completed at least
once every five years. At a minimum, the
training must address the risk factors related to sudden infant death syndrome and
shaken baby syndrome, means of reducing the risk of sudden infant death
syndrome and shaken baby syndrome in child care, and license holder
communication with parents regarding reducing the risk of sudden infant death
syndrome and shaken baby syndrome.
(c) Shaken baby syndrome training required under
this subdivision must be at least one-half hour in length and must be completed
at least once every five years. At a
minimum, the training must address the risk factors related to shaken baby
syndrome, means of reducing the risk of shaken baby syndrome in child care, and
license holder communication with parents regarding reducing the risk of shaken
baby syndrome.
(d) Training
for family and group family child care providers must be approved by the county
licensing agency.
(d) (e) The commissioner shall make available for
viewing by all licensed child care providers a video presentation on the
dangers associated with shaking infants and young children. The video presentation shall be part of the
initial and ongoing annual training of licensed child care providers caring
for children under school age. The
commissioner shall provide to child care providers and interested individuals,
at cost, copies of a video approved by the commissioner of health under section
144.574 on the dangers associated with shaking infants and young children.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5818
Sec. 17.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245C.03, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Licensed programs. (a) The commissioner shall conduct a
background study on:
(1) the person or persons applying for a license;
(2) an individual age 13 and over living in the
household where the licensed program will be provided;
(3) current or prospective employees or contractors of
the applicant who will have direct contact with persons served by the facility,
agency, or program;
(4) volunteers or student volunteers who will have
direct contact with persons served by the program to provide program services
if the contact is not under the continuous, direct supervision by an individual
listed in clause (1) or (3);
(5) an individual age ten to 12 living in the
household where the licensed services will be provided when the commissioner
has reasonable cause;
(6) an individual who, without providing direct
contact services at a licensed program, may have unsupervised access to
children or vulnerable adults receiving services from a program, when the
commissioner has reasonable cause; and
(7) all managerial officials as defined under section
245A.02, subdivision 5a.
(b) For family child foster care settings, a
short-term substitute caregiver providing direct contact services for a child
for less than 72 hours of continuous care is not required to receive a
background study under this chapter.
Sec. 18.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245C.04, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Licensed programs. (a) The commissioner shall conduct a
background study of an individual required to be studied under section 245C.03,
subdivision 1, at least upon application for initial license for all
license types.
(b) The commissioner shall conduct a background study
of an individual required to be studied under section 245C.03, subdivision 1,
at reapplication for a license for adult foster care, family adult day
services, and family child care.
(c) The commissioner is not required to conduct a
study of an individual at the time of reapplication for a license if the
individual's background study was completed by the commissioner of human
services for an adult foster care license holder that is also:
(1) registered under chapter 144D; or
(2) licensed to provide home and community-based
services to people with disabilities at the foster care location and the
license holder does not reside in the foster care residence; and
(3) the following conditions are met:
(i) a study of the individual was conducted either at
the time of initial licensure or when the individual became affiliated with the
license holder;
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5819
(ii) the individual has been continuously affiliated
with the license holder since the last study was conducted; and
(iii) the last study of the individual was conducted
on or after October 1, 1995.
(d) From July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2009, the
commissioner of human services shall conduct a study of an individual required
to be studied under section 245C.03, at the time of reapplication for a child
foster care license. The county or
private agency shall collect and forward to the commissioner the information
required under section 245C.05, subdivisions 1, paragraphs (a) and (b), and 5,
paragraphs (a) and (b). The background
study conducted by the commissioner of human services under this paragraph must
include a review of the information required under section 245C.08,
subdivisions 1, paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (5), 3, and 4.
(e) The commissioner of human services shall conduct a
background study of an individual specified under section 245C.03, subdivision
1, paragraph (a), clauses (2) to (6), who is newly affiliated with a child
foster care license holder. The county
or private agency shall collect and forward to the commissioner the information
required under section 245C.05, subdivisions 1 and 5. The background study conducted by the
commissioner of human services under this paragraph must include a review of
the information required under section 245C.08, subdivisions 1, 3, and 4.
(f) Applicants for licensure, license holders, and
other entities as provided in this chapter must submit completed background
study forms to the commissioner before individuals specified in section
245C.03, subdivision 1, begin positions allowing direct contact in any licensed
program.
(g) For purposes of this section, a physician licensed
under chapter 147 is considered to be continuously affiliated upon the license
holder's receipt from the commissioner of health or human services of the
physician's background study results.
(h) A license holder must provide
the commissioner notice through the commissioner's online background study
system or through a letter mailed to the commissioner when:
(1) an individual returns to a
position requiring a background study following an absence of 45 or more
consecutive days; or
(2) a program, which discontinued
providing licensed direct contact services for 45 or more consecutive days,
again begins to provide direct contact licensed services.
The license holder shall maintain a
copy of the notification provided to the commissioner under this paragraph in
the program's files.
Sec. 19.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245C.07, is amended to read:
245C.07
STUDY SUBJECT AFFILIATED WITH MULTIPLE FACILITIES.
(a) When a license holder, applicant, or other entity
owns multiple programs or services that are licensed by the Department of Human
Services, Department of Health, or Department of Corrections, only one
background study is required for an individual who provides direct contact
services in one or more of the licensed programs or services if:
(1) the license holder designates one individual with
one address and telephone number as the person to receive sensitive background
study information for the multiple licensed programs or services that depend on
the same background study; and
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of Page 5820
(2) the individual designated to receive the sensitive
background study information is capable of determining, upon request of the
department, whether a background study subject is providing direct contact
services in one or more of the license holder's programs or services and, if
so, at which location or locations.
(b) When a license holder maintains
background study compliance for multiple licensed programs according to
paragraph (a), and one or more of the licensed programs closes, the license
holder shall immediately notify the commissioner which staff must be
transferred to an active license so that the background studies can be
electronically paired with the license holder's active program.
(b) (c) When a
background study is being initiated by a licensed program or service or a
foster care provider that is also registered under chapter 144D, a study
subject affiliated with multiple licensed programs or services may attach to
the background study form a cover letter indicating the additional names of the
programs or services, addresses, and background study identification numbers.
When the commissioner receives a notice, the
commissioner shall notify each program or service identified by the background
study subject of the study results.
The background study notice the commissioner sends to
the subsequent agencies shall satisfy those programs' or services'
responsibilities for initiating a background study on that individual.
Sec. 20.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245C.13, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Direct contact pending completion of
background study. The subject of a
background study may not perform any activity requiring a background study
under paragraph (b) until the commissioner has issued one of the notices under
paragraph (a).
(a) Notices from the commissioner required prior to
activity under paragraph (b) include:
(1) a notice of the study results under section
245C.17 stating that:
(i) the individual is not disqualified; or
(ii) more time is needed to complete the study but the
individual is not required to be removed from direct contact or access to
people receiving services prior to completion of the study as provided under
section 245C.17, subdivision 1, paragraph (b) or (c). The notice that more time is needed to
complete the study must also indicate whether the individual is required to be
under continuous direct supervision prior to completion of the
background study;
(2) a notice that a disqualification has been set
aside under section 245C.23; or
(3) a notice that a variance has been granted related
to the individual under section 245C.30.
(b) Activities prohibited prior to receipt of notice
under paragraph (a) include:
(1) being issued a license;
(2) living in the household where the licensed program
will be provided;
(3) providing direct contact services to persons
served by a program unless the subject is under continuous direct supervision;
or
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5821
(4) having access to persons receiving services if the
background study was completed under section 144.057, subdivision 1, or
245C.03, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (2), (5), or (6), unless the subject
is under continuous direct supervision.
Sec. 21.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245C.15, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Permanent disqualification. (a) An individual is disqualified under
section 245C.14 if: (1) regardless of how much time has passed since the
discharge of the sentence imposed, if any, for the offense; and (2) unless
otherwise specified, regardless of the level of the offense, the individual has
committed any of the following offenses: sections 243.166 (violation of
predatory offender registration law); 609.185 (murder in the first degree);
609.19 (murder in the second degree); 609.195 (murder in the third degree);
609.20 (manslaughter in the first degree); 609.205 (manslaughter in the second
degree); a felony offense under 609.221 or 609.222 (assault in the first or
second degree); a felony offense under sections 609.2242 and 609.2243 (domestic
assault), spousal abuse, child abuse or neglect, or a crime against children;
609.2247 (domestic assault by strangulation); 609.228 (great bodily harm caused
by distribution of drugs); 609.245 (aggravated robbery); 609.25 (kidnapping);
609.2661 (murder of an unborn child in the first degree); 609.2662 (murder of
an unborn child in the second degree); 609.2663 (murder of an unborn child in
the third degree); 609.322 (solicitation, inducement, and promotion of
prostitution); 609.324, subdivision 1 (other prohibited acts); 609.342
(criminal sexual conduct in the first degree); 609.343 (criminal sexual conduct
in the second degree); 609.344 (criminal sexual conduct in the third degree);
609.345 (criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree); 609.3451 (criminal
sexual conduct in the fifth degree); 609.3453 (criminal sexual predatory
conduct); 609.352 (solicitation of children to engage in sexual conduct);
609.365 (incest); a felony offense under 609.377 (malicious punishment of a
child); a felony offense under 609.378 (neglect or endangerment of a child);
609.561 (arson in the first degree); 609.66, subdivision 1e (drive-by shooting);
609.749, subdivision 3, 4, or 5 (felony-level harassment; stalking); 609.855,
subdivision 5 (shooting at or in a public transit vehicle or facility); 617.23,
subdivision 2, clause (1), or subdivision 3, clause (1) (indecent exposure
involving a minor); 617.246 (use of minors in sexual performance prohibited);
or 617.247 (possession of pictorial representations of minors). An individual also is disqualified under
section 245C.14 regardless of how much time has passed since the involuntary
termination of the individual's parental rights under section 260C.301.
(b) An individual's aiding and abetting, attempt, or
conspiracy to commit any of the offenses listed in paragraph (a), as each of
these offenses is defined in Minnesota Statutes, permanently disqualifies the
individual under section 245C.14.
(c) An individual's offense in any other state or
country, where the elements of the offense are substantially similar to any of
the offenses listed in paragraph (a), permanently disqualifies the individual
under section 245C.14.
(d) When a disqualification is based on a judicial
determination other than a conviction, the disqualification period begins from
the date of the court order. When a
disqualification is based on an admission, the disqualification period begins
from the date of an admission in court. When
a disqualification is based on an Alford Plea, the disqualification period
begins from the date the Alford Plea is entered in court. When a disqualification is based on a
preponderance of evidence of a disqualifying act, the disqualification date
begins from the date of the dismissal, the date of discharge of the sentence
imposed for a conviction for a disqualifying crime of similar elements, or the
date of the incident, whichever occurs last.
(e) If the individual studied commits one of the
offenses listed in paragraph (a) that is specified as a felony-level only
offense, but the sentence or level of offense is a gross misdemeanor or
misdemeanor, the individual is disqualified, but the disqualification look-back
period for the offense is the period applicable to gross misdemeanor or
misdemeanor offenses.
Sec. 22.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245C.15, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5822
Subd. 2. 15-year disqualification. (a) An individual is disqualified under
section 245C.14 if: (1) less than 15 years have passed since the discharge of
the sentence imposed, if any, for the offense; and (2) the individual has
committed a felony-level violation of any of the following offenses: sections
256.98 (wrongfully obtaining assistance); 268.182 (false representation;
concealment of facts); 393.07, subdivision 10, paragraph (c) (federal Food
Stamp Program fraud); 609.165 (felon ineligible to possess firearm); 609.21
(criminal vehicular homicide and injury); 609.215 (suicide); 609.223 or
609.2231 (assault in the third or fourth degree); repeat offenses under 609.224
(assault in the fifth degree); 609.229 (crimes committed for benefit of a
gang); 609.2325 (criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult); 609.2335 (financial
exploitation of a vulnerable adult); 609.235 (use of drugs to injure or
facilitate crime); 609.24 (simple robbery); 609.255 (false imprisonment);
609.2664 (manslaughter of an unborn child in the first degree); 609.2665
(manslaughter of an unborn child in the second degree); 609.267 (assault of an
unborn child in the first degree); 609.2671 (assault of an unborn child in the
second degree); 609.268 (injury or death of an unborn child in the commission
of a crime); 609.27 (coercion); 609.275 (attempt to coerce); 609.466 (medical
assistance fraud); 609.495 (aiding an offender); 609.498, subdivision 1
or 1b (aggravated first-degree or first-degree tampering with a witness);
609.52 (theft); 609.521 (possession of shoplifting gear); 609.525 (bringing
stolen goods into Minnesota); 609.527 (identity theft); 609.53 (receiving
stolen property); 609.535 (issuance of dishonored checks); 609.562 (arson in
the second degree); 609.563 (arson in the third degree); 609.582 (burglary);
609.59 (possession of burglary tools); 609.611 (insurance fraud); 609.625
(aggravated forgery); 609.63 (forgery); 609.631 (check forgery; offering a
forged check); 609.635 (obtaining signature by false pretense); 609.66
(dangerous weapons); 609.67 (machine guns and short-barreled shotguns); 609.687
(adulteration); 609.71 (riot); 609.713 (terroristic threats); 609.82 (fraud in
obtaining credit); 609.821 (financial transaction card fraud); 617.23 (indecent
exposure), not involving a minor; repeat offenses under 617.241 (obscene
materials and performances; distribution and exhibition prohibited; penalty);
624.713 (certain persons not to possess firearms); chapter 152 (drugs;
controlled substance); or a felony-level conviction involving alcohol or drug
use.
(b) An individual is disqualified under section 245C.14
if less than 15 years has passed since the individual's aiding and abetting,
attempt, or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses listed in paragraph (a),
as each of these offenses is defined in Minnesota Statutes.
(c) For foster care and family child care an individual
is disqualified under section 245C.14 if less than 15 years has passed since
the individual's voluntary termination of the individual's parental rights
under section 260C.301, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), or 260C.301, subdivision
3.
(d) An individual is disqualified under section 245C.14
if less than 15 years has passed since the discharge of the sentence imposed
for an offense in any other state or country, the elements of which are
substantially similar to the elements of the offenses listed in paragraph (a).
(e) If the individual studied commits one of the
offenses listed in paragraph (a), but the sentence or level of offense is a
gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor, the individual is disqualified but the
disqualification look-back period for the offense is the period applicable to
the gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor disposition.
(f) When a disqualification is based on a judicial
determination other than a conviction, the disqualification period begins from
the date of the court order. When a
disqualification is based on an admission, the disqualification period begins
from the date of an admission in court. When
a disqualification is based on an Alford Plea, the disqualification period
begins from the date the Alford Plea is entered in court. When a disqualification is based on a
preponderance of evidence of a disqualifying act, the disqualification date
begins from the date of the dismissal, the date of discharge of the sentence
imposed for a conviction for a disqualifying crime of similar elements, or the
date of the incident, whichever occurs last.
Sec. 23.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245C.15, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Ten-year disqualification. (a) An individual is disqualified under
section 245C.14 if: (1) less than ten years have passed since the discharge of
the sentence imposed, if any, for the offense; and (2) the individual has
committed a gross misdemeanor-level violation of any of the following offenses:
sections 256.98 (wrongfully obtaining assistance); 268.182 (false
representation; concealment of facts); 393.07, subdivision 10, paragraph (c)
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5823
(federal Food Stamp Program fraud); 609.21 (criminal
vehicular homicide and injury); 609.221 or 609.222 (assault in the first or
second degree); 609.223 or 609.2231 (assault in the third or fourth degree);
609.224 (assault in the fifth degree); 609.224, subdivision 2, paragraph (c)
(assault in the fifth degree by a caregiver against a vulnerable adult);
609.2242 and 609.2243 (domestic assault); 609.23 (mistreatment of persons
confined); 609.231 (mistreatment of residents or patients); 609.2325 (criminal
abuse of a vulnerable adult); 609.233 (criminal neglect of a vulnerable adult);
609.2335 (financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult); 609.234 (failure to
report maltreatment of a vulnerable adult); 609.265 (abduction); 609.275
(attempt to coerce); 609.324, subdivision 1a (other prohibited acts; minor
engaged in prostitution); 609.33 (disorderly house); 609.377 (malicious
punishment of a child); 609.378 (neglect or endangerment of a child); 609.466
(medical assistance fraud); 609.52 (theft); 609.525 (bringing stolen goods into
Minnesota); 609.527 (identity theft); 609.53 (receiving stolen property);
609.535 (issuance of dishonored checks); 609.582 (burglary); 609.59 (possession
of burglary tools); 609.611 (insurance fraud); 609.631 (check forgery; offering
a forged check); 609.66 (dangerous weapons); 609.71 (riot); 609.72, subdivision
3 (disorderly conduct against a vulnerable adult); repeat offenses under
609.746 (interference with privacy); 609.749, subdivision 2 (harassment;
stalking); 609.82 (fraud in obtaining credit); 609.821 (financial transaction
card fraud); 617.23 (indecent exposure), not involving a minor; 617.241
(obscene materials and performances); 617.243 (indecent literature,
distribution); 617.293 (harmful materials; dissemination and display to minors
prohibited); or violation of an order for protection under section 518B.01,
subdivision 14.
(b)
An individual is disqualified under section 245C.14 if less than ten years has
passed since the individual's aiding and abetting, attempt, or conspiracy to
commit any of the offenses listed in paragraph (a), as each of these offenses
is defined in Minnesota Statutes.
(c)
An individual is disqualified under section 245C.14 if less than ten years has
passed since the discharge of the sentence imposed for an offense in any other
state or country, the elements of which are substantially similar to the
elements of any of the offenses listed in paragraph (a).
(d)
If the individual studied commits one of the offenses listed in paragraph (a),
but the sentence or level of offense is a misdemeanor disposition, the
individual is disqualified but the disqualification lookback period for the
offense is the period applicable to misdemeanors.
(e)
When a disqualification is based on a judicial determination other than a
conviction, the disqualification period begins from the date of the court
order. When a disqualification is based
on an admission, the disqualification period begins from the date of an admission
in court. When a disqualification is
based on an Alford Plea, the disqualification period begins from the date the
Alford Plea is entered in court. When
a disqualification is based on a preponderance of evidence of a disqualifying
act, the disqualification date begins from the date of the dismissal, the date
of discharge of the sentence imposed for a conviction for a disqualifying crime
of similar elements, or the date of the incident, whichever occurs last.
Sec.
24. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245C.15, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd.
4. Seven-year
disqualification. (a) An individual
is disqualified under section 245C.14 if: (1) less than seven years has passed
since the discharge of the sentence imposed, if any, for the offense; and (2)
the individual has committed a misdemeanor-level violation of any of the
following offenses: sections 256.98 (wrongfully obtaining assistance); 268.182
(false representation; concealment of facts); 393.07, subdivision 10, paragraph
(c) (federal Food Stamp Program fraud); 609.21 (criminal vehicular homicide and
injury); 609.221 (assault in the first degree); 609.222 (assault in the second
degree); 609.223 (assault in the third degree); 609.2231 (assault in the fourth
degree); 609.224 (assault in the fifth degree); 609.2242 (domestic assault);
609.2335 (financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult); 609.234 (failure to
report maltreatment of a vulnerable adult); 609.2672 (assault of an unborn
child in the third degree); 609.27 (coercion); violation of an order for
protection under 609.3232 (protective order authorized; procedures; penalties);
609.466 (medical assistance fraud); 609.52 (theft); 609.525 (bringing stolen
goods into Minnesota); 609.527 (identity theft); 609.53 (receiving stolen
property); 609.535 (issuance of dishonored checks); 609.611 (insurance fraud);
609.66 (dangerous weapons); 609.665 (spring guns); 609.746 (interference with
privacy);
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Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5824
609.79
(obscene or harassing telephone calls); 609.795 (letter, telegram, or package;
opening; harassment); 609.82 (fraud in obtaining credit); 609.821 (financial
transaction card fraud); 617.23 (indecent exposure), not involving a minor;
617.293 (harmful materials; dissemination and display to minors prohibited); or
violation of an order for protection under section 518B.01 (Domestic Abuse
Act).
(b) An individual is disqualified under section
245C.14 if less than seven years has passed since a determination or
disposition of the individual's:
(1) failure to make required reports under section
626.556, subdivision 3, or 626.557, subdivision 3, for incidents in which: (i)
the final disposition under section 626.556 or 626.557 was substantiated
maltreatment, and (ii) the maltreatment was recurring or serious; or
(2) substantiated serious or recurring maltreatment of
a minor under section 626.556, a vulnerable adult under section 626.557, or
serious or recurring maltreatment in any other state, the elements of which are
substantially similar to the elements of maltreatment under section 626.556 or
626.557 for which: (i) there is a preponderance of evidence that the
maltreatment occurred, and (ii) the subject was responsible for the
maltreatment.
(c) An individual is disqualified under section
245C.14 if less than seven years has passed since the individual's aiding and
abetting, attempt, or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses listed in
paragraphs (a) and (b), as each of these offenses is defined in Minnesota
Statutes.
(d) An individual is disqualified under section
245C.14 if less than seven years has passed since the discharge of the sentence
imposed for an offense in any other state or country, the elements of which are
substantially similar to the elements of any of the offenses listed in
paragraphs (a) and (b).
(e) When a disqualification is based on a judicial
determination other than a conviction, the disqualification period begins from
the date of the court order. When a
disqualification is based on an admission, the disqualification period begins
from the date of an admission in court. When
a disqualification is based on an Alford Plea, the disqualification period
begins from the date the Alford Plea is entered in court. When a disqualification is based on a
preponderance of evidence of a disqualifying act, the disqualification date
begins from the date of the dismissal, the date of discharge of the sentence
imposed for a conviction for a disqualifying crime of similar elements, or the
date of the incident, whichever occurs last.
(f) An individual is disqualified under section
245C.14 if less than seven years has passed since the individual was
disqualified under section 256.98, subdivision 8.
Sec. 25. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 245C.24, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Permanent bar to set aside a
disqualification. (a) Except as
provided in paragraph (b), the commissioner may not set aside the
disqualification of any individual disqualified pursuant to this chapter,
regardless of how much time has passed, if the individual was disqualified for
a crime or conduct listed in section 245C.15, subdivision 1.
(b) For an individual in the chemical dependency or
corrections field who was disqualified for a crime or conduct listed under
section 245C.15, subdivision 1, and whose disqualification was set aside prior
to July 1, 2005, the commissioner must consider granting a variance pursuant to
section 245C.30 for the license holder for a program dealing primarily with
adults. A request for reconsideration
evaluated under this paragraph must include a letter of recommendation from the
license holder that was subject to the prior set-aside decision addressing the
individual's quality of care to children or vulnerable adults and the
circumstances of the individual's departure from that service.
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5825
(c)
When a licensed foster care provider adopts an individual who had received
foster care services from the provider for over six months, and the adopted
individual is required to receive a background study under section 245C.03,
subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (2) or (6), the commissioner may grant a
variance to the license holder under section 245C.30 to permit the adopted
individual with a permanent disqualification to remain affiliated with the
license holder under the conditions of the variance when the variance is
recommended by the county of responsibility for each of the remaining
individuals in placement in the home and the licensing agency for the home.
Sec.
26. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245C.24, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd.
3. Ten-year
bar to set aside disqualification.
(a) The commissioner may not set aside the disqualification of an
individual in connection with a license to provide family child care for
children, foster care for children in the provider's home, or foster care or
day care services for adults in the provider's home if: (1) less than ten years
has passed since the discharge of the sentence imposed, if any, for the
offense; or (2) when disqualified based on a preponderance of evidence
determination under section 245C.14, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (2),
or an admission under section 245C.14, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause
(1), and less than ten years has passed since the individual committed the act
or admitted to committing the act, whichever is later; and (3) the individual
has committed a violation of any of the following offenses: sections 609.165
(felon ineligible to possess firearm); criminal vehicular homicide or
criminal vehicular operation causing death under 609.21 (criminal vehicular
homicide and injury); 609.215 (aiding suicide or aiding attempted suicide);
felony violations under 609.223 or 609.2231 (assault in the third or fourth
degree); 609.229 (crimes committed for benefit of a gang); 609.713 (terroristic
threats); 609.235 (use of drugs to injure or to facilitate crime); 609.24
(simple robbery); 609.255 (false imprisonment); 609.562 (arson in the second
degree); 609.71 (riot); 609.498, subdivision 1 or 1b (aggravated first-degree
or first-degree tampering with a witness); burglary in the first or second
degree under 609.582 (burglary); 609.66 (dangerous weapon); 609.665 (spring
guns); 609.67 (machine guns and short-barreled shotguns); 609.749, subdivision
2 (gross misdemeanor harassment; stalking); 152.021 or 152.022 (controlled substance
crime in the first or second degree); 152.023, subdivision 1, clause (3) or (4)
or subdivision 2, clause (4) (controlled substance crime in the third degree);
152.024, subdivision 1, clause (2), (3), or (4) (controlled substance crime in
the fourth degree); 609.224, subdivision 2, paragraph (c) (fifth-degree assault
by a caregiver against a vulnerable adult); 609.23 (mistreatment of persons
confined); 609.231 (mistreatment of residents or patients); 609.2325 (criminal
abuse of a vulnerable adult); 609.233 (criminal neglect of a vulnerable adult);
609.2335 (financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult); 609.234 (failure to
report); 609.265 (abduction); 609.2664 to 609.2665 (manslaughter of an unborn
child in the first or second degree); 609.267 to 609.2672 (assault of an unborn
child in the first, second, or third degree); 609.268 (injury or death of an
unborn child in the commission of a crime); repeat offenses under 617.23
(indecent exposure); 617.293 (disseminating or displaying harmful material to minors);
a felony-level conviction involving alcohol or drug use, a gross misdemeanor
offense under 609.324, subdivision 1 (other prohibited acts); a gross
misdemeanor offense under 609.378 (neglect or endangerment of a child); a gross
misdemeanor offense under 609.377 (malicious punishment of a child); 609.72,
subdivision 3 (disorderly conduct against a vulnerable adult); or 624.713
(certain persons not to possess firearms).
(b)
The commissioner may not set aside the disqualification of an individual if
less than ten years have passed since the individual's aiding and abetting,
attempt, or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses listed in
paragraph (a) as each of these offenses is defined in Minnesota Statutes.
(c)
The commissioner may not set aside the disqualification of an individual if
less than ten years have passed since the discharge of the sentence imposed for
an offense in any other state or country, the elements of which are
substantially similar to the elements of any of the offenses listed in paragraph
(a).
Sec.
27. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245C.25, is amended to read:
245C.25 CONSOLIDATED
RECONSIDERATION OF MALTREATMENT DETERMINATION AND DISQUALIFICATION.
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(a)
If an individual is disqualified on the basis of a determination of
maltreatment under section 626.556 or 626.557, which was serious or recurring,
and the individual requests reconsideration of the maltreatment determination
under section 626.556, subdivision 10i, or 626.557, subdivision 9d, and also
requests reconsideration of the disqualification under section 245C.21, the commissioner
shall consolidate the reconsideration of the maltreatment determination and the
disqualification into a single reconsideration.
(b)
For maltreatment and disqualification determinations made by county agencies,
the county agency shall conduct the consolidated reconsideration. If the county agency has disqualified an
individual on multiple bases, one of which is a county maltreatment
determination for which the individual has a right to request reconsideration,
the county shall conduct the reconsideration of all disqualifications.
(c)
If the county has previously conducted a consolidated reconsideration under
paragraph (b) of a maltreatment determination and a disqualification based on
serious or recurring maltreatment, and the county subsequently disqualifies the
individual based on that determination, the county shall conduct the
reconsideration of the subsequent disqualification. The scope of the subsequent disqualification
shall be limited to whether the individual poses a risk of harm in accordance
with section 245C.22, subdivision 4. If
the commissioner subsequently disqualifies the individual in connection with a
child foster care license based on the county's previous maltreatment
determination, the commissioner shall conduct the reconsideration of the
subsequent disqualification.
Sec.
28. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245C.27, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Fair
hearing when disqualification is not set aside. (a) If the commissioner does not set aside a
disqualification of an individual under section 245C.22 who is disqualified on
the basis of a preponderance of evidence that the individual committed an act
or acts that meet the definition of any of the crimes listed in section
245C.15; for a determination under section 626.556 or 626.557 of substantiated
maltreatment that was serious or recurring under section 245C.15; or for
failure to make required reports under section 626.556, subdivision 3; or
626.557, subdivision 3, pursuant to section 245C.15, subdivision 4, paragraph
(b), clause (1), the individual may request a fair hearing under section
256.045, unless the disqualification is deemed conclusive under section
245C.29.
(b)
The fair hearing is the only administrative appeal of the final agency
determination for purposes of appeal by the disqualified individual. The disqualified individual does not have the
right to challenge the accuracy and completeness of data under section 13.04.
(c)
Except as provided under paragraph (e), if the individual was disqualified
based on a conviction or of, admission to, or Alford Plea to
any crimes listed in section 245C.15, subdivisions 1 to 4, or for a
disqualification under section 256.98, subdivision 8, the reconsideration
decision under section 245C.22 is the final agency determination for purposes
of appeal by the disqualified individual and is not subject to a hearing under
section 256.045. If the individual was
disqualified based on a judicial determination, that determination is treated
the same as a conviction for purposes of appeal.
(d)
This subdivision does not apply to a public employee's appeal of a
disqualification under section 245C.28, subdivision 3.
(e)
Notwithstanding paragraph (c), if the commissioner does not set aside a
disqualification of an individual who was disqualified based on both a
preponderance of evidence and a conviction or admission, the individual may
request a fair hearing under section 256.045, unless the disqualifications are
deemed conclusive under section 245C.29.
The scope of the hearing conducted under section 256.045 with regard to
the disqualification based on a conviction or admission shall be limited solely
to whether the individual poses a risk of harm, according to section 256.045,
subdivision 3b. In this case, the
reconsideration decision under section 245C.22 is not the final agency decision
for purposes of appeal by the disqualified individual.
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Sec.
29. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
256.045, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd.
3. State
agency hearings. (a) State agency
hearings are available for the following:
(1)
any person applying for, receiving or having received public assistance,
medical care, or a program of social services granted by the state agency or a
county agency or the federal Food Stamp Act whose application for assistance is
denied, not acted upon with reasonable promptness, or whose assistance is suspended,
reduced, terminated, or claimed to have been incorrectly paid;
(2)
any patient or relative aggrieved by an order of the commissioner under section
252.27;
(3)
a party aggrieved by a ruling of a prepaid health plan;
(4)
except as provided under chapter 245C, any individual or facility determined by
a lead agency to have maltreated a vulnerable adult under section 626.557 after
they have exercised their right to administrative reconsideration under section
626.557;
(5)
any person whose claim for foster care payment according to a placement of the
child resulting from a child protection assessment under section 626.556 is
denied or not acted upon with reasonable promptness, regardless of funding
source;
(6)
any person to whom a right of appeal according to this section is given by
other provision of law;
(7)
an applicant aggrieved by an adverse decision to an application for a hardship
waiver under section 256B.15;
(8)
an applicant aggrieved by an adverse decision to an application or
redetermination for a Medicare Part D prescription drug subsidy under section
256B.04, subdivision 4a;
(9)
except as provided under chapter 245A, an individual or facility determined to
have maltreated a minor under section 626.556, after the individual or facility
has exercised the right to administrative reconsideration under section
626.556; or
(10)
except as provided under chapter 245C, an individual disqualified under
sections 245C.14 and 245C.15, which has not been set aside under sections
245C.22 and 245C.23, on the basis of serious or recurring maltreatment; a
preponderance of the evidence that the individual has committed an act or acts
that meet the definition of any of the crimes listed in section 245C.15,
subdivisions 1 to 4; or for failing to make reports required under section
626.556, subdivision 3, or 626.557, subdivision 3. Hearings regarding a maltreatment
determination under clause (4) or (9) and a disqualification under this clause
in which the basis for a disqualification is serious or recurring maltreatment,
which has not been set aside under sections 245C.22 and 245C.23, shall be
consolidated into a single fair hearing.
In such cases, the scope of review by the human services referee shall
include both the maltreatment determination and the disqualification. The failure to exercise the right to an
administrative reconsideration shall not be a bar to a hearing under this
section if federal law provides an individual the right to a hearing to dispute
a finding of maltreatment. Individuals
and organizations specified in this section may contest the specified action,
decision, or final disposition before the state agency by submitting a written
request for a hearing to the state agency within 30 days after receiving written
notice of the action, decision, or final disposition, or within 90 days of such
written notice if the applicant, recipient, patient, or relative shows good
cause why the request was not submitted within the 30-day time limit.
(b)
The hearing for an individual or facility under paragraph (a), clause (4), (9),
or (10), is the only administrative appeal to the final agency determination
specifically, including a challenge to the accuracy and completeness of data
under section 13.04. Hearings requested
under paragraph (a), clause (4), apply only to
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incidents
of maltreatment that occur on or after October 1, 1995. Hearings requested by nursing assistants in
nursing homes alleged to have maltreated a resident prior to October 1, 1995,
shall be held as a contested case proceeding under the provisions of chapter
14. Hearings requested under paragraph
(a), clause (9), apply only to incidents of maltreatment that occur on or after
July 1, 1997. A hearing for an
individual or facility under paragraph (a), clause (9), is only available when
there is no juvenile court or adult criminal action pending. If such action is filed in either court while
an administrative review is pending, the administrative review must be
suspended until the judicial actions are completed. If the juvenile court action or criminal
charge is dismissed or the criminal action overturned, the matter may be
considered in an administrative hearing.
(c)
For purposes of this section, bargaining unit grievance procedures are not an
administrative appeal.
(d)
The scope of hearings involving claims to foster care payments under paragraph
(a), clause (5), shall be limited to the issue of whether the county is legally
responsible for a child's placement under court order or voluntary placement
agreement and, if so, the correct amount of foster care payment to be made on
the child's behalf and shall not include review of the propriety of the
county's child protection determination or child placement decision.
(e)
A vendor of medical care as defined in section 256B.02, subdivision 7, or a
vendor under contract with a county agency to provide social services is not a
party and may not request a hearing under this section, except if assisting a
recipient as provided in subdivision 4.
(f)
An applicant or recipient is not entitled to receive social services beyond the
services prescribed under chapter 256M or other social services the person is
eligible for under state law.
(g)
The commissioner may summarily affirm the county or state agency's proposed
action without a hearing when the sole issue is an automatic change due to a
change in state or federal law.
Sec.
30. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
256.045, subdivision 3b, is amended to read:
Subd.
3b. Standard
of evidence for maltreatment and disqualification hearings. (a) The state human services referee shall
determine that maltreatment has occurred if a preponderance of evidence exists
to support the final disposition under sections 626.556 and 626.557. For purposes of hearings regarding
disqualification, the state human services referee shall affirm the proposed
disqualification in an appeal under subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (9),
if a preponderance of the evidence shows the individual has:
(1)
committed maltreatment under section 626.556 or 626.557, which is serious or
recurring;
(2)
committed an act or acts meeting the definition of any of the crimes listed in
section 245C.15, subdivisions 1 to 4; or
(3)
failed to make required reports under section 626.556 or 626.557, for incidents
in which the final disposition under section 626.556 or 626.557 was
substantiated maltreatment that was serious or recurring.
(b)
If the disqualification is affirmed, the state human services referee shall
determine whether the individual poses a risk of harm in accordance with the
requirements of section 245C.16 245C.22, and whether the
disqualification should be set aside or not set aside. In determining whether the disqualification
should be set aside, the human services referee shall consider all of the
characteristics that cause the individual to be disqualified, including those
characteristics that were not subject to review under paragraph (a), in order
to determine whether the individual poses a risk of harm. A decision to set aside a disqualification
that is the subject of the hearing constitutes a determination that the
individual does not pose a risk of harm and that the individual may provide
direct contact services in the individual program specified in the set
aside. If a determination that the
information
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relied
upon to disqualify an individual was correct and is conclusive under section
245C.29, and the individual is subsequently disqualified under section 245C.14,
the individual has a right to again request reconsideration on the risk of harm
under section 245C.21. Subsequent
determinations regarding risk of harm are not subject to another hearing under
this section.
(c) The state human services referee shall recommend an
order to the commissioner of health, education, or human services, as
applicable, who shall issue a final order.
The commissioner shall affirm, reverse, or modify the final
disposition. Any order of the
commissioner issued in accordance with this subdivision is conclusive upon the
parties unless appeal is taken in the manner provided in subdivision 7. In any licensing appeal under chapters 245A
and 245C and sections 144.50 to 144.58 and 144A.02 to 144A.46, the
commissioner's determination as to maltreatment is conclusive, as provided
under section 245C.29.
Sec. 31. [256.364] LICENSE; PERMIT.
Notwithstanding any law to the
contrary, a municipality shall not require a massage therapist to obtain a
license or permit when the therapist is working for or an employee of a medical
professional licensed under chapter 147 or 148.
Sec. 32.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Provider entity certification. (a) Effective July 1, 2003, the commissioner
shall establish an initial provider entity application and certification
process and recertification process to determine whether a provider entity has
an administrative and clinical infrastructure that meets the requirements in
subdivisions 5 and 6. The commissioner
shall recertify a provider entity at least every three years. The commissioner shall establish a process
for decertification of a provider entity that no longer meets the requirements
in this section. The county, tribe, and
the commissioner shall be mutually responsible and accountable for the
county's, tribe's, and state's part of the certification, recertification, and
decertification processes.
(b) For purposes of this section, a provider entity
must be:
(1) an Indian health services facility or a facility
owned and operated by a tribe or tribal organization operating as a 638
facility under Public Law 93-638 certified by the state;
(2) a county-operated entity certified by the state; or
(3) a noncounty entity recommended for certification
by the provider's host county and certified by the state.
Sec. 33.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943, subdivision 6, is amended to
read:
Subd. 6. Provider entity clinical infrastructure
requirements. (a) To be an eligible
provider entity under this section, a provider entity must have a clinical
infrastructure that utilizes diagnostic assessment, an individualized treatment
plan, service delivery, and individual treatment plan review that are
culturally competent, child-centered, and family-driven to achieve maximum
benefit for the client. The provider
entity must review, and update as necessary, the clinical
policies and procedures every three years and must distribute the policies and
procedures to staff initially and upon each subsequent update.
(b) The clinical infrastructure written policies and
procedures must include policies and procedures for:
(1) providing or obtaining a client's diagnostic
assessment that identifies acute and chronic clinical disorders, co-occurring
medical conditions, sources of psychological and environmental problems, and
including a functional assessment.
The functional assessment component must clearly summarize the
client's individual strengths and needs;
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of Page 5830
(2) developing an individual treatment plan that is:
(i) based on the information in the client's diagnostic
assessment;
(ii) developed no later than the end of the first
psychotherapy session after the completion of the client's diagnostic
assessment by the mental health professional who provides the client's
psychotherapy;
(iii) developed through a child-centered, family-driven
planning process that identifies service needs and individualized, planned, and
culturally appropriate interventions that contain specific treatment goals and
objectives for the client and the client's family or foster family;
(iv) reviewed at least once every 90 days and revised,
if necessary; and
(v) signed by the client or, if appropriate, by the
client's parent or other person authorized by statute to consent to mental
health services for the client;
(3) developing an individual behavior plan that
documents services to be provided by the mental health behavioral aide. The individual behavior plan must include:
(i) detailed instructions on the service to be
provided;
(ii) time allocated to each service;
(iii) methods of documenting the child's behavior;
(iv) methods of monitoring the child's progress in
reaching objectives; and
(v) goals to increase or decrease targeted behavior as
identified in the individual treatment plan;
(4) clinical supervision of the mental health
practitioner and mental health behavioral aide.
A mental health professional must document the clinical supervision the
professional provides by cosigning individual treatment plans and making
entries in the client's record on supervisory activities. Clinical supervision does not include the
authority to make or terminate court-ordered placements of the child. A clinical supervisor must be available for
urgent consultation as required by the individual client's needs or the
situation. Clinical supervision may
occur individually or in a small group to discuss treatment and review progress
toward goals. The focus of clinical
supervision must be the client's treatment needs and progress and the mental
health practitioner's or behavioral aide's ability to provide services;
(4a) CTSS certified provider entities providing day
treatment programs must meet the conditions in
items (i) to (iii):
(i) the supervisor must be present and available on the
premises more than 50 percent of the time in a five-working-day period during
which the supervisee is providing a mental health service;
(ii) the diagnosis and the client's individual
treatment plan or a change in the diagnosis or individual treatment plan must
be made by or reviewed, approved, and signed by the supervisor; and
(iii) every 30 days, the supervisor must review and
sign the record of indicating the supervisor has reviewed the
client's care for all activities in the preceding 30-day period;
(4b) for all other services provided under CTSS,
clinical supervision standards provided in items (i) to (iii) must be used:
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(i)
medical assistance shall reimburse a mental health practitioner who maintains a
consulting relationship with a mental health professional who accepts full
professional responsibility and is present on site for at least one
observation during the first 12 hours in which the mental health practitioner
provides the individual, family, or group skills training to the child or the
child's family;
(ii)
thereafter, the mental health professional is required to be present on
site for observation as clinically appropriate when the mental health
practitioner is providing individual, family, or group skills training to the
child or the child's family; and
(iii)
when conducted, the observation must be a minimum of one clinical
unit. The on-site presence of the mental
health professional must be documented in the child's record and signed by the
mental health professional who accepts full professional responsibility;
(5)
providing direction to a mental health behavioral aide. For entities that employ mental health
behavioral aides, the clinical supervisor must be employed by the provider
entity or other certified children's therapeutic supports and services provider
entity to ensure necessary and appropriate oversight for the client's treatment
and continuity of care. The mental
health professional or mental health practitioner giving direction must begin
with the goals on the individualized treatment plan, and instruct the mental
health behavioral aide on how to construct therapeutic activities and
interventions that will lead to goal attainment. The professional or practitioner giving
direction must also instruct the mental health behavioral aide about the
client's diagnosis, functional status, and other characteristics that are
likely to affect service delivery.
Direction must also include determining that the mental health
behavioral aide has the skills to interact with the client and the client's
family in ways that convey personal and cultural respect and that the aide
actively solicits information relevant to treatment from the family. The aide must be able to clearly explain the
activities the aide is doing with the client and the activities' relationship
to treatment goals. Direction is more
didactic than is supervision and requires the professional or practitioner
providing it to continuously evaluate the mental health behavioral aide's
ability to carry out the activities of the individualized treatment plan and
the individualized behavior plan. When
providing direction, the professional or practitioner must:
(i)
review progress notes prepared by the mental health behavioral aide for
accuracy and consistency with diagnostic assessment, treatment plan, and
behavior goals and the professional or practitioner must approve and sign the
progress notes;
(ii)
identify changes in treatment strategies, revise the individual behavior plan,
and communicate treatment instructions and methodologies as appropriate to
ensure that treatment is implemented correctly;
(iii)
demonstrate family-friendly behaviors that support healthy collaboration among
the child, the child's family, and providers as treatment is planned and
implemented;
(iv)
ensure that the mental health behavioral aide is able to effectively
communicate with the child, the child's family, and the provider; and
(v)
record the results of any evaluation and corrective actions taken to modify the
work of the mental health behavioral aide;
(6)
providing service delivery that implements the individual treatment plan and
meets the requirements under subdivision 9; and
(7)
individual treatment plan review. The
review must determine the extent to which the services have met the goals and
objectives in the previous treatment plan.
The review must assess the client's progress and ensure that services
and treatment goals continue to be necessary and appropriate to the client and
the client's family or foster
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family. Revision of the individual treatment plan
does not require a new diagnostic assessment unless the client's mental health
status has changed markedly. The updated
treatment plan must be signed by the client, if appropriate, and by the
client's parent or other person authorized by statute to give consent to the
mental health services for the child.
Sec. 34.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0943, subdivision 9, is amended to
read:
Subd. 9. Service delivery criteria. (a) In delivering services under this section,
a certified provider entity must ensure that:
(1) each individual provider's caseload size permits
the provider to deliver services to both clients with severe, complex needs and
clients with less intensive needs. The
provider's caseload size should reasonably enable the provider to play an
active role in service planning, monitoring, and delivering services to meet
the client's and client's family's needs, as specified in each client's
individual treatment plan;
(2) site-based programs, including day treatment and
preschool programs, provide staffing and facilities to ensure the client's
health, safety, and protection of rights, and that the programs are able to
implement each client's individual treatment plan;
(3) a day treatment program is provided to a group of
clients by a multidisciplinary team under the clinical supervision of a mental
health professional. The day treatment
program must be provided in and by: (i) an outpatient hospital accredited by
the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Organizations and licensed
under sections 144.50 to 144.55; (ii) a community mental health center under
section 245.62; and (iii) an entity that is under contract with the county
board to operate a program that meets the requirements of sections 245.4712,
subdivision 2, and 245.4884, subdivision 2, and Minnesota Rules, parts
9505.0170 to 9505.0475. The day
treatment program must stabilize the client's mental health status while
developing and improving the client's independent living and socialization
skills. The goal of the day treatment
program must be to reduce or relieve the effects of mental illness and provide
training to enable the client to live in the community. The program must be available at least one day
a week for a three-hour two-hour time block. The three-hour two-hour time
block must include at least one hour, but no more than two hours, of
individual or group psychotherapy. The
remainder of the three-hour time block may include recreation therapy,
socialization therapy, or independent living skills therapy, but only if the
therapies are included in the client's individual treatment plan The
structured treatment program may include individual or group psychotherapy and
recreation therapy, socialization therapy, or independent living skills
therapy, if included in the client's individual treatment plan. Day treatment programs are not part of
inpatient or residential treatment services; and
(4) a preschool program is a structured treatment
program offered to a child who is at least 33 months old, but who has not yet
reached the first day of kindergarten, by a preschool multidisciplinary team in
a day program licensed under Minnesota Rules, parts 9503.0005 to 9503.0175. The program must be available at least one
day a week for a minimum two-hour time block.
The structured treatment program may include individual or group
psychotherapy and recreation therapy, socialization therapy, or independent
living skills therapy, if included in the client's individual treatment plan.
(b) A provider entity must deliver the service
components of children's therapeutic services and supports in compliance with
the following requirements:
(1) individual, family, and group psychotherapy must be
delivered as specified in Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0323;
(2) individual, family, or group skills training must
be provided by a mental health professional or a mental health practitioner who
has a consulting relationship with a mental health professional who accepts
full professional responsibility for the training;
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of Page 5833
(3) crisis assistance must be time-limited and designed
to resolve or stabilize crisis through arrangements for direct intervention and
support services to the child and the child's family. Crisis assistance must utilize resources
designed to address abrupt or substantial changes in the functioning of the
child or the child's family as evidenced by a sudden change in behavior with
negative consequences for well being, a loss of usual coping mechanisms, or the
presentation of danger to self or others;
(4) medically necessary services that are provided by a
mental health behavioral aide must be designed to improve the functioning of
the child and support the family in activities of daily and community
living. A mental health behavioral aide
must document the delivery of services in written progress notes. The mental health behavioral aide must
implement goals in the treatment plan for the child's emotional disturbance
that allow the child to acquire developmentally and therapeutically appropriate
daily living skills, social skills, and leisure and recreational skills through
targeted activities. These activities
may include:
(i) assisting a child as needed with skills development
in dressing, eating, and toileting;
(ii) assisting, monitoring, and guiding the child to
complete tasks, including facilitating the child's participation in medical
appointments;
(iii) observing the child and intervening to redirect
the child's inappropriate behavior;
(iv) assisting the child in using age-appropriate
self-management skills as related to the child's emotional disorder or mental
illness, including problem solving, decision making, communication, conflict
resolution, anger management, social skills, and recreational skills;
(v) implementing deescalation techniques as recommended
by the mental health professional;
(vi) implementing any other mental health service that
the mental health professional has approved as being within the scope of the
behavioral aide's duties; or
(vii) assisting the parents to develop and use
parenting skills that help the child achieve the goals outlined in the child's
individual treatment plan or individual behavioral plan. Parenting skills must be directed exclusively
to the child's treatment; and
(5) direction of a mental health behavioral aide must
include the following:
(i) a total of one hour of on-site observation by a
mental health professional during the first 12 hours of service provided to a
child;
(ii) ongoing on-site observation by a mental health
professional or mental health practitioner for at least a total of one hour during
every 40 hours of service provided to a child; and
(iii) immediate accessibility of the mental health
professional or mental health practitioner to the mental health behavioral aide
during service provision.
Sec. 35.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 626.556, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms
have the meanings given them unless the specific content indicates otherwise:
(a) "Family assessment" means a comprehensive
assessment of child safety, risk of subsequent child maltreatment, and family
strengths and needs that is applied to a child maltreatment report that does
not allege substantial child endangerment.
Family assessment does not include a determination as to whether child maltreatment
occurred but does determine the need for services to address the safety of
family members and the risk of subsequent maltreatment.
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of Page 5834
(b) "Investigation" means fact gathering
related to the current safety of a child and the risk of subsequent
maltreatment that determines whether child maltreatment occurred and whether
child protective services are needed. An
investigation must be used when reports involve substantial child endangerment,
and for reports of maltreatment in facilities required to be licensed under
chapter 245A or 245B; under sections 144.50 to 144.58 and 241.021; in a school
as defined in sections 120A.05, subdivisions 9, 11, and 13, and 124D.10; or in
a nonlicensed personal care provider association as defined in sections
256B.04, subdivision 16, and 256B.0625, subdivision 19a.
(c) "Substantial child endangerment" means a
person responsible for a child's care, and in the case of sexual abuse includes
a person who has a significant relationship to the child as defined in section
609.341, or a person in a position of authority as defined in section 609.341,
who by act or omission commits or attempts to commit an act against a child
under their care that constitutes any of the following:
(1) egregious harm as defined in section 260C.007,
subdivision 14;
(2) sexual abuse as defined in paragraph (d);
(3) abandonment under section 260C.301, subdivision 2;
(4) neglect as defined in paragraph (f), clause (2),
that substantially endangers the child's physical or mental health, including a
growth delay, which may be referred to as failure to thrive, that has been
diagnosed by a physician and is due to parental neglect;
(5) murder in the first, second, or third degree under
section 609.185, 609.19, or 609.195;
(6) manslaughter in the first or second degree under
section 609.20 or 609.205;
(7) assault in the first, second, or third degree
under section 609.221, 609.222, or 609.223;
(8) solicitation, inducement, and promotion of
prostitution under section 609.322;
(9) criminal sexual conduct under sections 609.342 to
609.3451;
(10) solicitation of children to engage in sexual conduct
under section 609.352;
(11) malicious punishment or neglect or endangerment
of a child under section 609.377 or 609.378;
(12) use of a minor in sexual performance under
section 617.246; or
(13) parental behavior, status, or condition which mandates
that the county attorney file a termination of parental rights petition under
section 260C.301, subdivision 3, paragraph (a).
(d) "Sexual abuse" means the subjection of a
child by a person responsible for the child's care, by a person who has a significant
relationship to the child, as defined in section 609.341, or by a person in a
position of authority, as defined in section 609.341, subdivision 10, to any
act which constitutes a violation of section 609.342 (criminal sexual conduct
in the first degree), 609.343 (criminal sexual conduct in the second degree),
609.344 (criminal sexual conduct in the third degree), 609.345 (criminal sexual
conduct in the fourth degree), or 609.3451 (criminal sexual conduct in the
fifth degree). Sexual abuse also includes
any act which involves a minor which constitutes a violation of prostitution
offenses under sections 609.321 to 609.324 or 617.246. Sexual abuse includes threatened sexual
abuse.
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of Page 5835
(e) "Person responsible for the child's care"
means (1) an individual functioning within the family unit and having
responsibilities for the care of the child such as a parent, guardian, or other
person having similar care responsibilities, or (2) an individual functioning
outside the family unit and having responsibilities for the care of the child
such as a teacher, school administrator, other school employees or agents, or other
lawful custodian of a child having either full-time or short-term care
responsibilities including, but not limited to, day care, babysitting whether
paid or unpaid, counseling, teaching, and coaching.
(f) "Neglect" means the commission or
omission of any of the acts specified under clauses (1) to (9), other than by
accidental means:
(1) failure by a person responsible for a child's care
to supply a child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, health, medical, or
other care required for the child's physical or mental health when reasonably
able to do so;
(2) failure to protect a child from conditions or
actions that seriously endanger the child's physical or mental health when
reasonably able to do so, including a growth delay, which may be referred to as
a failure to thrive, that has been diagnosed by a physician and is due to
parental neglect;
(3) failure to provide for necessary supervision or
child care arrangements appropriate for a child after considering factors as
the child's age, mental ability, physical condition, length of absence, or
environment, when the child is unable to care for the child's own basic needs
or safety, or the basic needs or safety of another child in their care;
(4) failure to ensure that the child is educated as
defined in sections 120A.22 and 260C.163, subdivision 11, which does not
include a parent's refusal to provide the parent's child with sympathomimetic
medications, consistent with section 125A.091, subdivision 5;
(5) nothing in this section shall be construed to mean
that a child is neglected solely because the child's parent, guardian, or other
person responsible for the child's care in good faith selects and depends upon
spiritual means or prayer for treatment or care of disease or remedial care of
the child in lieu of medical care; except that a parent, guardian, or
caretaker, or a person mandated to report pursuant to subdivision 3, has a duty
to report if a lack of medical care may cause serious danger to the child's
health. This section does not impose upon
persons, not otherwise legally responsible for providing a child with necessary
food, clothing, shelter, education, or medical care, a duty to provide that
care;
(6) prenatal exposure to a controlled substance, as
defined in section 253B.02, subdivision 2, used by the mother for a nonmedical
purpose, as evidenced by withdrawal symptoms in the child at birth, results of
a toxicology test performed on the mother at delivery or the child at birth, or
medical effects or developmental delays during the child's first year of life
that medically indicate prenatal exposure to a controlled substance;
(7) "medical neglect" as defined in section
260C.007, subdivision 6, clause (5);
(8) chronic and severe use of alcohol or a controlled substance
by a parent or person responsible for the care of the child that adversely
affects the child's basic needs and safety; or
(9) emotional harm from a pattern of behavior which
contributes to impaired emotional functioning of the child which may be
demonstrated by a substantial and observable effect in the child's behavior,
emotional response, or cognition that is not within the normal range for the
child's age and stage of development, with due regard to the child's culture.
(g) "Physical abuse" means any physical
injury, mental injury, or threatened injury, inflicted by a person responsible
for the child's care on a child other than by accidental means, or any physical
or mental injury that cannot reasonably be explained by the child's history of injuries,
or any aversive or deprivation procedures, or regulated interventions, that
have not been authorized under section 121A.67 or 245.825.
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5836
Abuse
does not include reasonable and moderate physical discipline of a child
administered by a parent or legal guardian which does not result in an
injury. Abuse does not include the use
of reasonable force by a teacher, principal, or school employee as allowed by
section 121A.582. Actions which are not
reasonable and moderate include, but are not limited to, any of the following
that are done in anger or without regard to the safety of the child:
(1)
throwing, kicking, burning, biting, or cutting a child;
(2)
striking a child with a closed fist;
(3)
shaking a child under age three;
(4)
striking or other actions which result in any nonaccidental injury to a child
under 18 months of age;
(5)
unreasonable interference with a child's breathing;
(6)
threatening a child with a weapon, as defined in section 609.02, subdivision 6;
(7)
striking a child under age one on the face or head;
(8)
purposely giving a child poison, alcohol, or dangerous, harmful, or controlled
substances which were not prescribed for the child by a practitioner, in order
to control or punish the child; or other substances that substantially affect
the child's behavior, motor coordination, or judgment or that results in
sickness or internal injury, or subjects the child to medical procedures that
would be unnecessary if the child were not exposed to the substances;
(9)
unreasonable physical confinement or restraint not permitted under section
609.379, including but not limited to tying, caging, or chaining; or
(10)
in a school facility or school zone, an act by a person responsible for the
child's care that is a violation under section 121A.58.
(h)
"Report" means any report received by the local welfare agency, police
department, county sheriff, or agency responsible for assessing or
investigating maltreatment pursuant to this section.
(i)
"Facility" means:
(1)
a licensed or unlicensed day care facility, residential facility, agency,
hospital, sanitarium, or other facility or institution required to be licensed
under sections 144.50 to 144.58, 241.021, or 245A.01 to 245A.16, or
chapter 245B;
(2)
a school as defined in sections 120A.05, subdivisions 9, 11, and 13; and
124D.10; or
(3)
a nonlicensed personal care provider organization as defined in sections
256B.04, subdivision 16, and 256B.0625, subdivision 19a.
(j)
"Operator" means an operator or agency as defined in section 245A.02.
(k)
"Commissioner" means the commissioner of human services.
(l)
"Practice of social services," for the purposes of subdivision 3,
includes but is not limited to employee assistance counseling and the provision
of guardian ad litem and parenting time expeditor services.
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5837
(m)
"Mental injury" means an injury to the psychological capacity or
emotional stability of a child as evidenced by an observable or substantial
impairment in the child's ability to function within a normal range of
performance and behavior with due regard to the child's culture.
(n)
"Threatened injury" means a statement, overt act, condition, or
status that represents a substantial risk of physical or sexual abuse or mental
injury. Threatened injury includes, but
is not limited to, exposing a child to a person responsible for the child's
care, as defined in paragraph (e), clause (1), who has:
(1)
subjected a child to, or failed to protect a child from, an overt act or
condition that constitutes egregious harm, as defined in section 260C.007,
subdivision 14, or a similar law of another jurisdiction;
(2)
been found to be palpably unfit under section 260C.301, paragraph (b), clause
(4), or a similar law of another jurisdiction;
(3)
committed an act that has resulted in an involuntary termination of parental
rights under section 260C.301, or a similar law of another jurisdiction; or
(4)
committed an act that has resulted in the involuntary transfer of permanent
legal and physical custody of a child to a relative under section 260C.201,
subdivision 11, paragraph (d), clause (1), or a similar law of another
jurisdiction.
(o)
Persons who conduct assessments or investigations under this section shall take
into account accepted child-rearing practices of the culture in which a child
participates and accepted teacher discipline practices, which are not injurious
to the child's health, welfare, and safety.
(p)
"Accidental" means a sudden, not reasonably foreseeable, and
unexpected occurrence or event which:
(1)
is not likely to occur and could not have been prevented by exercise of due
care; and
(2)
if occurring while a child is receiving services from a facility, happens when
the facility and the employee or person providing services in the facility are
in compliance with the laws and rules relevant to the occurrence of event.
Sec.
36. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
626.556, subdivision 10e, is amended to read:
Subd.
10e. Determinations. (a) The local
welfare agency shall conclude the family assessment or the investigation within
45 days of the receipt of a report. The
conclusion of the assessment or investigation may be extended to permit the
completion of a criminal investigation or the receipt of expert information
requested within 45 days of the receipt of the report.
(b)
After conducting a family assessment, the local welfare agency shall determine
whether services are needed to address the safety of the child and other family
members and the risk of subsequent maltreatment.
(c)
After conducting an investigation, the local welfare agency shall make two
determinations: first, whether maltreatment has occurred; and second, whether
child protective services are needed.
(d)
If the commissioner of education conducts an assessment or investigation, the
commissioner shall determine whether maltreatment occurred and what corrective
or protective action was taken by the school facility. If a determination is made that maltreatment
has occurred, the commissioner shall report to the employer, the school board,
and any appropriate licensing entity the determination that maltreatment
occurred and what corrective or protective action was taken by the school
facility. In all other cases, the
commissioner shall inform the school board
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5838
or
employer that a report was received, the subject of the report, the date of the
initial report, the category of maltreatment alleged as defined in paragraph
(f), the fact that maltreatment was not determined, and a summary of the
specific reasons for the determination.
(e) When maltreatment is determined in an
investigation involving a facility, the investigating agency shall also
determine whether the facility or individual was responsible, or whether both
the facility and the individual were responsible for the maltreatment using the
mitigating factors in paragraph (i).
Determinations under this subdivision must be made based on a
preponderance of the evidence and are private data on individuals or nonpublic
data as maintained by the commissioner of education.
(f) For the purposes of this subdivision,
"maltreatment" means any of the following acts or omissions:
(1) physical abuse as defined in subdivision 2,
paragraph (g);
(2) neglect as defined in subdivision 2, paragraph
(f);
(3) sexual abuse as defined in subdivision 2,
paragraph (d);
(4) mental injury as defined in subdivision 2,
paragraph (m); or
(5) maltreatment of a child in a facility as defined
in subdivision 2, paragraph (i).
(g) For the purposes of this subdivision, a
determination that child protective services are needed means that the local
welfare agency has documented conditions during the assessment or investigation
sufficient to cause a child protection worker, as defined in section 626.559, subdivision
1, to conclude that a child is at significant risk of maltreatment if
protective intervention is not provided and that the individuals responsible
for the child's care have not taken or are not likely to take actions to
protect the child from maltreatment or risk of maltreatment.
(h) This subdivision does not mean that maltreatment
has occurred solely because the child's parent, guardian, or other person
responsible for the child's care in good faith selects and depends upon
spiritual means or prayer for treatment or care of disease or remedial care of
the child, in lieu of medical care.
However, if lack of medical care may result in serious danger to the
child's health, the local welfare agency may ensure that necessary medical
services are provided to the child.
(i) When determining whether the facility or
individual is the responsible party, or whether both the facility and the
individual are responsible for determined maltreatment in a facility, the
investigating agency shall consider at least the following mitigating factors:
(1) whether the actions of the facility or the
individual caregivers were according to, and followed the terms of, an
erroneous physician order, prescription, individual care plan, or directive; however,
this is not a mitigating factor when the facility or caregiver was responsible
for the issuance of the erroneous order, prescription, individual care plan, or
directive or knew or should have known of the errors and took no reasonable
measures to correct the defect before administering care;
(2) comparative responsibility between the facility,
other caregivers, and requirements placed upon an employee, including the
facility's compliance with related regulatory standards and the adequacy of
facility policies and procedures, facility training, an individual's
participation in the training, the caregiver's supervision, and facility
staffing levels and the scope of the individual employee's authority and
discretion; and
(3) whether the facility or individual followed
professional standards in exercising professional judgment.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5839
(j) Notwithstanding paragraph (i), when
maltreatment is determined to have been committed by an individual who is also
the facility license holder, both the individual and the facility must be
determined responsible for the maltreatment, and both the background study
disqualification standards under section 245C.15, subdivision 4, and the
licensing actions under sections 245A.06 or 245A.07 apply.
(k) Individual
counties may implement more detailed definitions or criteria that indicate
which allegations to investigate, as long as a county's policies are consistent
with the definitions in the statutes and rules and are approved by the county
board. Each local welfare agency shall
periodically inform mandated reporters under subdivision 3 who work in the
county of the definitions of maltreatment in the statutes and rules and any
additional definitions or criteria that have been approved by the county board.
Sec. 37.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 626.556, subdivision 10f, is amended to
read:
Subd. 10f. Notice of determinations. Within ten working days of the conclusion of
a family assessment, the local welfare agency shall notify the parent or
guardian of the child of the need for services to address child safety concerns
or significant risk of subsequent child maltreatment. The local welfare agency and the family may
also jointly agree that family support and family preservation services are
needed. Within ten working days of the
conclusion of an investigation, the local welfare agency or agency responsible
for assessing or investigating the report shall notify the parent or guardian
of the child, the person determined to be maltreating the child, and if
applicable, the director of the facility, of the determination and a summary of
the specific reasons for the determination.
When the investigation involves a child foster care setting that is
monitored by a private licensing agency under section 245A.16, the local
welfare agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report shall
notify the private licensing agency of the determination and shall provide a
summary of the specific reasons for the determination. The notice to the private licensing agency
must include identifying private data, but not the identity of the reporter of
maltreatment. The notice must also
include a certification that the information collection procedures under
subdivision 10, paragraphs (h), (i), and (j), were followed and a notice of the
right of a data subject to obtain access to other private data on the subject
collected, created, or maintained under this section. In addition, the notice shall include the
length of time that the records will be kept under subdivision 11c. The investigating agency shall notify the
parent or guardian of the child who is the subject of the report, and any
person or facility determined to have maltreated a child, of their appeal or
review rights under this section or section 256.022. The notice must also state that a finding of
maltreatment may result in denial of a license application or background study
disqualification under chapter 245C related to employment or services that are
licensed by the Department of Human Services under chapter 245A, the Department
of Health under chapter 144 or 144A, the Department of Corrections under
section 241.021, and from providing services related to an unlicensed personal
care provider organization under chapter 256B.
Sec. 38.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 626.557, subdivision 9c, is amended to
read:
Subd. 9c. Lead agency; notifications, dispositions,
determinations. (a) Upon request of
the reporter, the lead agency shall notify the reporter that it has received
the report, and provide information on the initial disposition of the report
within five business days of receipt of the report, provided that the
notification will not endanger the vulnerable adult or hamper the
investigation.
(b) Upon conclusion of every investigation it
conducts, the lead agency shall make a final disposition as defined in section
626.5572, subdivision 8.
(c) When determining whether the facility or
individual is the responsible party for substantiated maltreatment or whether
both the facility and the individual are responsible for substantiated
maltreatment, the lead agency shall consider at least the following mitigating
factors:
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5840
(1) whether the actions of the facility or the
individual caregivers were in accordance with, and followed the terms of, an
erroneous physician order, prescription, resident care plan, or directive. This is not a mitigating factor when the
facility or caregiver is responsible for the issuance of the erroneous order,
prescription, plan, or directive or knows or should have known of the errors
and took no reasonable measures to correct the defect before administering
care;
(2) the comparative responsibility between the
facility, other caregivers, and requirements placed upon the employee,
including but not limited to, the facility's compliance with related regulatory
standards and factors such as the adequacy of facility policies and procedures,
the adequacy of facility training, the adequacy of an individual's
participation in the training, the adequacy of caregiver supervision, the
adequacy of facility staffing levels, and a consideration of the scope of the
individual employee's authority; and
(3) whether the facility or individual followed
professional standards in exercising professional judgment.
(d) When substantiated maltreatment is determined
to have been committed by an individual who is also the facility license
holder, both the individual and the facility must be determined responsible for
the maltreatment, and both the background study disqualification standards
under section 245C.15, subdivision 4, and the licensing actions under section
245A.06 or 245A.06 apply.
(e) The lead
agency shall complete its final disposition within 60 calendar days. If the lead agency is unable to complete its
final disposition within 60 calendar days, the lead agency shall notify the
following persons provided that the notification will not endanger the
vulnerable adult or hamper the investigation: (1) the vulnerable adult or the
vulnerable adult's legal guardian, when known, if the lead agency knows them to
be aware of the investigation; and (2) the facility, where applicable. The notice shall contain the reason for the
delay and the projected completion date.
If the lead agency is unable to complete its final disposition by a
subsequent projected completion date, the lead agency shall again notify the
vulnerable adult or the vulnerable adult's legal guardian, when known if the
lead agency knows them to be aware of the investigation, and the facility,
where applicable, of the reason for the delay and the revised projected
completion date provided that the notification will not endanger the vulnerable
adult or hamper the investigation. A
lead agency's inability to complete the final disposition within 60 calendar
days or by any projected completion date does not invalidate the final
disposition.
(e) (f) Within ten
calendar days of completing the final disposition, the lead agency shall
provide a copy of the public investigation memorandum under subdivision 12b,
paragraph (b), clause (1), when required to be completed under this section, to
the following persons: (1) the vulnerable adult, or the vulnerable adult's
legal guardian, if known unless the lead agency knows that the notification
would endanger the well-being of the vulnerable adult; (2) the reporter, if the
reporter requested notification when making the report, provided this
notification would not endanger the well-being of the vulnerable adult; (3) the
alleged perpetrator, if known; (4) the facility; and (5) the ombudsman for
long-term care, or the ombudsman for mental health and developmental
disabilities, as appropriate.
(f) (g) The lead
agency shall notify the vulnerable adult who is the subject of the report or
the vulnerable adult's legal guardian, if known, and any person or facility
determined to have maltreated a vulnerable adult, of their appeal or review
rights under this section or section 256.021.
(g) (h) The lead
agency shall routinely provide investigation memoranda for substantiated
reports to the appropriate licensing boards.
These reports must include the names of substantiated perpetrators. The lead agency may not provide investigative
memoranda for inconclusive or false reports to the appropriate licensing boards
unless the lead agency's investigation gives reason to believe that there may
have been a violation of the applicable professional practice laws. If the investigation memorandum is provided
to a licensing board, the subject of the investigation memorandum shall be
notified and receive a summary of the investigative findings.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5841
(h) (i) In order to
avoid duplication, licensing boards shall consider the findings of the lead
agency in their investigations if they choose to investigate. This does not preclude licensing boards from
considering other information.
(i) (j) The lead
agency must provide to the commissioner of human services its final
dispositions, including the names of all substantiated perpetrators. The commissioner of human services shall
establish records to retain the names of substantiated perpetrators.
Sec. 39.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 626.5572, subdivision 13, is amended to
read:
Subd. 13. Lead agency. "Lead agency" is the primary
administrative agency responsible for investigating reports made under section
626.557.
(a) The Department of Health is the lead agency for
the facilities which are licensed or are required to be licensed as hospitals,
home care providers, nursing homes, residential care homes, or boarding
care homes, or residential facilities that are also federally certified as
intermediate care facilities that serve people with developmental disabilities.
(b) The Department of Human Services is the lead
agency for the programs licensed or required to be licensed as adult day care, adult
foster care, programs for people with developmental disabilities, mental health
programs, or chemical health programs, or personal care provider
organizations.
(c) The county social service agency or its designee
is the lead agency for all other reports.
Sec. 40. REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.
In Minnesota Statutes, the revisor
of statutes shall correct the internal cross-reference to "section
245C.03, subdivision 1, clauses (3) and (4)" in section 245C.03,
subdivision 4, by inserting "paragraph (a)," after
"subdivision 1,". The
revisor of statutes shall correct the internal cross-reference to "section
245C.03, subdivision 1, clauses (2), (5), and (6)" in section 245C.14,
subdivision 2, by inserting "paragraph (a)," after "subdivision
1,".
Sec. 41. REPEALER.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245C.10, subdivision 1, is repealed."
Delete the title
and insert:
"A bill for
an act relating to human services; making changes to licensing provisions;
modifying license disqualifications and background study requirements; making
other changes to programs and services licensed by the Department of Human
Services; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 157.16, by adding a
subdivision; 245.4871, subdivision 10; 245A.03, subdivision 2, by adding a
subdivision; 245A.04, subdivisions 5, 7; 245A.05; 245A.07, subdivisions 1, 3;
245A.11, by adding a subdivision; 245A.1435; 245A.144; 245A.1444; 245A.16,
subdivision 1; 245A.40, subdivision 5; 245A.50, subdivision 5; 245C.03,
subdivision 1; 245C.04, subdivision 1; 245C.07; 245C.13, subdivision 2;
245C.15, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4; 245C.24, subdivisions 2, 3; 245C.25; 245C.27,
subdivision 1; 256.045, subdivisions 3, 3b; 256B.0943, subdivisions 4, 6, 9;
626.556, subdivisions 2, 10e, 10f; 626.557, subdivision 9c; 626.5572,
subdivision 13; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
256; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245C.10, subdivision 1."
The motion
prevailed and the amendment was adopted.
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5842
Abeler and Thissen moved to
amend S .F. No. 1447, the third engrossment, as amended, as follows:
Page 17, after line 30,
insert:
"Sec. 17. [245B.031]
ACCREDITATION, ALTERNATIVE INSPECTION, AND DEEMED COMPLIANCE.
Subdivision 1. Day
training and habilitation or supported employment services programs;
alternative inspection status. (a)
A license holder providing day training and habilitation services or supported
employment services according to this chapter, with a three-year accreditation
from the Commission on Rehabilitation Facilities, that has had at least one
on-site inspection by the commissioner following issuance of the initial
license may request alternative inspection status under this section.
(b) The request for
alternative inspection status must be made in the manner prescribed by the
commissioner, and must include:
(1) a copy of the license holder's
application to the Commission on Rehabilitation Facilities for accreditation;
(2) the most recent
Commission on Rehabilitation Facilities accreditation survey report; and
(3) the most recent letter
confirming the three-year accreditation and approval of the license holder's
quality improvement plan.
Based on the request and the
accompanying materials, the commissioner may approve alternative
inspection status.
(c) Following approval of
alternative inspection status, the commissioner may terminate the alternative
inspection status or deny a subsequent alternative inspection status if the
commissioner determines that any of the following conditions have occurred
after approval of the alternative inspection process:
(1) the license holder has
not maintained full three-year accreditation;
(2) the commissioner has
substantiated maltreatment for which the license holder or facility is
determined to be responsible during the three-year accreditation period; and
(3) during the three-year
accreditation period, the license holder has been issued an order for
conditional license, a fine, suspension, or license revocation that has not
been reversed upon appeal.
(d) The commissioner's
decision that the conditions for approval for the alternative licensing
inspection status have not been met is final and not subject to appeal under
the provisions of chapter 14.
Subd. 2. Programs
with three-year accreditation, exempt from certain statutes. (a) A license holder approved for
alternative inspection status under this section is exempt from the
requirements under:
(1) section 245B.04;
(2) section 245B.05,
subdivisions 5 and 6;
(3) section 245B.06,
subdivisions 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6; and
(4) section 245B.07,
subdivisions 1, 4, and 6.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5843
(b) Upon
receipt of a complaint regarding a requirement under paragraph (a), the
commissioner shall refer the complaint to the Commission on Rehabilitation
Facilities for possible follow-up.
Subd. 3. Programs
with three-year accreditation, deemed to be in compliance with nonexempt
licensing requirements. (a) License
holders approved for alternative inspection status under this section are
required to maintain compliance with all licensing standards from which they
are not exempt under subdivision 2, paragraph (a).
(b) License
holders approved for alternative inspection status under this section shall be
deemed to be in compliance with all nonexempt statutes, and the commissioner
shall not perform routine licensing inspections.
(c) Upon
receipt of a complaint regarding the services of a license holder approved for
alternative inspection under this section that is not related to a licensing
requirement from which the license holder is exempt under subdivision 2, the
commissioner shall investigate the complaint and may take any action as
provided under section 245A.06 or 245A.07.
Subd. 4. Investigations
of alleged maltreatment of minors or vulnerable adults. Nothing in this section changes the
commissioner's responsibilities to investigate alleged or suspected
maltreatment of a minor under section 626.556 or vulnerable adult under section
626.557.
Subd. 5. Commissioner
request to the Commission on Rehabilitation Facilities to expand accreditation
survey. The commissioner
shall submit a request to the Commission on Rehabilitation Facilities to
routinely inspect for compliance with standards that are similar to the
following nonexempt licensing requirements:
(1) section
245A.54;
(2) section
245A.66;
(3) section
245B.05, subdivisions 1, 2, and 7;
(4) section
245B.055;
(5) section
245B.06, subdivisions 2, 7, 9, and 10;
(6) section
245B.07, subdivisions 2, 5, and 8, paragraph (a), clause (7);
(7) section
245C.04, subdivision 19.1 1, paragraph (f);
(8) section
245C.07;
(9) section
245C.13, subdivision 2;
(10)
section 245C.20; and
(11) Minnesota
Rules, parts 9525.2700 to 9525.2810."
The motion prevailed and the amendment was
adopted.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5844
Abeler,
Holberg and Thissen moved to amend S. F. No. 1447, the third engrossment, as
amended, as follows:
Page 11,
delete section 10 and insert:
"Sec.
10. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245A.11, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 7a. Alternate
overnight supervision technology; adult foster care license. (a) The commissioner may grant an
applicant or license holder an adult foster care license for a residence that
does not have a caregiver in the residence during normal sleeping hours as required
under Minnesota Rules, part 9555.5105, subpart 37, item B, but uses monitoring
technology to alert the license holder when an incident occurs that may
jeopardize the health, safety, or rights of a foster care recipient. The applicant or license holder must comply
with all other requirements under Minnesota Rules, parts 9555.5105 to
9555.6265, and the requirements under this subdivision and
subdivision 7b. The license printed
by the commissioner must state in bold and large font:
(1) that
the facility is under electronic monitoring; and
(2) the
telephone number of the county's common entry point for making reports of
suspected maltreatment of vulnerable adults under section 626.557, subdivision
9.
(b)
Applications for a license under this section must be submitted directly to the
Department of Human Services licensing division. The licensing division must immediately
notify the host county and lead county contract agency and the host county
licensing agency. The licensing division
must collaborate with the county licensing agency in the review of the
application and the licensing of the program.
(c) Before
a license is issued by the commissioner, and for the duration of the license, the
applicant or license holder must establish, maintain, and document the
implementation of written policies and procedures addressing the requirements
in paragraphs (d) through (f).
(d) The
applicant or license holder must have policies and procedures that:
(1)
establish characteristics of target populations that will be admitted into the
home, and characteristics of populations that will not be accepted into the
home;
(2) explain
the discharge process when a foster care recipient requires overnight supervision
or other services that cannot be provided by the license holder due to the
limited hours that the license holder is on-site;
(3)
describe the types of events to which the program will respond with a physical
presence when those events occur in the home during time when staff are not
on-site, and how the license holder's response plan meets the requirements in
paragraph (e), clause (1) or (2);
(4)
establish a process for documenting a review of the implementation and
effectiveness of the response protocol for the response required under
paragraph (e), clause (1) or (2). The
documentation must include:
(i) a
description of the triggering incident;
(ii) the
date and time of the triggering incident;
(iii) the
time of the response or responses under paragraph (e), clause (1) or (2);
(iv)
whether the response met the resident's needs;
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5845
(v) whether
the existing policies and response protocols were followed; and
(vi)
whether the existing policies and protocols are adequate or need modification.
When no physical
presence response is completed for a three-month period, the license holder's
written policies and procedures must require a physical presence response drill
to be conducted for which the effectiveness of the response protocol under
paragraph (e), clause (1) or (2), will be reviewed and documented as required
under this clause; and
(5)
establish that emergency and nonemergency phone numbers are posted in a
prominent location in a common area of the home where they can be easily
observed by a person responding to an incident who is not otherwise affiliated
with the home.
(e) The
license holder must document and include in the license application which
response alternative under clause (1) or (2) is in place for responding to
situations that present a serious risk to the health, safety, or rights of
people receiving foster care services in the home:
(1)
response alternative (1) requires only the technology to provide an electronic
notification or alert to the license holder that an event is underway that
requires a response. Under this
alternative, no more than ten minutes will pass before the license holder will
be physically present on-site to respond to the situation; or
(2)
response alternative (2) requires the electronic notification and alert system
under alternative (1), but more than ten minutes may pass before the license
holder is present on-site to respond to the situation. Under alternative (2), all of the following
conditions are met:
(i) the
license holder has a written description of the interactive technological
applications that will assist the license holder in communicating with and
assessing the needs related to care, health, and safety of the foster care
recipients. This interactive technology
must permit the license holder to remotely assess the well-being of the foster
care recipient without requiring the initiation of the foster care
recipient. Requiring the foster care
recipient to initiate a telephone call does not meet this requirement;
(ii) the
license holder documents how the remote license holder is qualified and capable
of meeting the needs of the foster care recipients and assessing foster care
recipients' needs under item (i) during the absence of the license holder
on-site;
(iii) the
license holder maintains written procedures to dispatch emergency response
personnel to the site in the event of an identified emergency; and
(iv) each
foster care recipient's individualized plan of care, individual service plan
under section 256B.092, subdivision 1b, if required, or individual resident
placement agreement under Minnesota Rules, part 9555.5105, subpart 19, if
required, identifies the maximum response time, which may be greater than ten
minutes, for the license holder to be on-site for that foster care recipient.
(f) All
placement agreements, individual service agreements, and plans applicable to
the foster care recipient must clearly state that the adult foster care license
category is a program without the presence of a caregiver in the residence
during normal sleeping hours; the protocols in place for responding to
situations that present a serious risk to health, safety, or rights of foster
care recipients under paragraph (e), clause (1) or (2); and a signed informed
consent from each foster care recipient or the person's legal representative
documenting the person's or legal representative's agreement with placement in
the program. If electronic monitoring
technology is used in the home, the informed consent form must also explain the
following:
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5846
(1) how any
electronic monitoring is incorporated into the alternative supervision system;
(2) the backup
system for any electronic monitoring in times of electrical outages or other
equipment malfunctions;
(3) how the
license holder is trained on the use of the technology;
(4) the
event types and license holder response times established under paragraph (e);
(5) how the
license holder protects the foster care recipient's privacy related to
electronic monitoring and related to any electronically recorded data generated
by the monitoring system. A foster care
recipient may not be removed from a program under this subdivision for failure
to consent to electronic monitoring. The
consent form must explain where and how the electronically recorded data is
stored, with whom it will be shared, and how long it is retained; and
(6) the
risks and benefits of the alternative overnight supervision system.
The written explanations under clauses (1) to (6) may be
accomplished through cross-references to other policies and procedures as long
as they are explained to the person giving consent, and the person giving
consent is offered a copy.
(g) Nothing
in this section requires the applicant or license holder to develop or maintain
separate or duplicative policies, procedures, documentation, consent forms, or
individual plans that may be required for other licensing standards, if the
requirements of this section are incorporated into those documents.
(h) The
commissioner may grant variances to the requirements of this section according
to section 245A.04, subdivision 9.
(i) For the
purposes of paragraphs (d) through (h), license holder has the meaning under
section 245A.2, subdivision 9, and additionally includes all staff, volunteers,
and contractors affiliated with the license holder.
(j) For the
purposes of paragraph (e), the terms "assess" and
"assessing" mean to remotely determine what action the license holder
needs to take to protect the well-being of the foster care recipient.
Sec.
11. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245A.11, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 7b. Adult
foster care data privacy and security.
(a) An adult foster care license holder who creates, collects,
records, maintains, stores, or discloses any individually identifiable
recipient data, whether in an electronic or any other format, must comply with
the privacy and security provisions of applicable privacy laws and regulations,
including:
(1) the
federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA),
Public Law 104-1; and the HIPAA Privacy Rule, Code of Federal Regulations,
title 45, part 160 and subparts A and E of part 164; and
(2) the
Minnesota Government Data Practices Act as codified in chapter 13.
(b) For
purposes of licensure, the license holder shall be monitored for compliance
with the following data privacy and security provisions:
(1) the
license holder must control access to data on foster care recipients according
to the definitions of public and private data on individuals under section
13.02; classification of the data on individuals as private under section
13.46, subdivision 2; and control over the collection, storage, use, access,
protection, and contracting related to data according to section 13.05, in
which the license holder is assigned the duties of a government entity;
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5847
(2) the
license holder must provide each foster care recipient with a notice that meets
the requirements under section 13.04, in which the license holder is assigned
the duties of the government entity, and that meets the requirements of Code of
Federal Regulations, title 45, part 164.52.
The notice shall describe the purpose for collection of the data, and to
whom and why it may be disclosed pursuant to law. The notice must inform the recipient that the
license holder uses electronic monitoring and, if applicable, that recording
technology is used;
(3) the
license holder must not install monitoring cameras in bathrooms;
(4)
electronic monitoring cameras must not be concealed from the foster care
recipients; and
(5)
electronic video and audio recordings of foster care recipients shall not be
stored by the license holder for more than five days.
(c) The
commissioner shall develop, and make available to license holders and county
licensing workers, a checklist of the data privacy provisions to be monitored
for purposes of licensure."
Renumber
the sections in sequence and correct the internal references
Amend the
title accordingly
The motion prevailed and the amendment was
adopted.
Thissen and
Abeler moved to amend S. F. No. 1447, the third engrossment, as amended, as
follows:
Page 11,
delete section 10 and insert:
"Section
10. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245A.10, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd.
2. County
fees for background studies and licensing inspections. (a) For purposes of family and group family
child care licensing under this chapter, a county agency may charge a fee to an
applicant or license holder to recover the actual cost of background studies,
but in any case not to exceed $100 annually.
A county agency may also charge a license fee to an applicant or license
holder not to exceed $50 for a one-year license or $100 for a two-year license.
(b) A county
agency may charge a fee to a legal nonlicensed child care provider or applicant
for authorization to recover the actual cost of background studies completed
under section 119B.125, but in any case not to exceed $100 annually.
(c)
Counties may elect to reduce or waive the fees in paragraph (a) or (b):
(1) in
cases of financial hardship;
(2) if the county has a shortage of providers in
the county's area;
(3) for new
providers; or
(4) for
providers who have attained at least 16 hours of training before seeking
initial licensure.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5848
(d) Counties
may allow providers to pay the applicant fees in paragraph (a) or (b) on an
installment basis for up to one year. If
the provider is receiving child care assistance payments from the state, the
provider may have the fees under paragraph (a) or (b) deducted from the child
care assistance payments for up to one year and the state shall reimburse the
county for the county fees collected in this manner.
(e) For
purposes of adult foster care and child foster care licensing under this
chapter, a county agency may charge a fee to a corporate applicant or corporate
license holder to recover the actual cost of background studies. A county agency may also charge a fee to a
corporate applicant or corporate license holder to recover the actual cost
of licensing inspections, not to exceed $500 annually.
(f)
Counties may elect to reduce or waive the fees in paragraph (e) under the
following circumstances:
(1) in
cases of financial hardship;
(2) if the
county has a shortage of providers in the county's area; or
(3) for new
providers.
Sec.
11. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245A.10, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd.
3. Application
fee for initial license or certification.
(a) For fees required under subdivision 1, an applicant for an initial
license or certification issued by the commissioner shall submit a $500
application fee with each new application required under this subdivision. The application fee shall not be prorated, is
nonrefundable, and is in lieu of the annual license or certification fee that
expires on December 31. The commissioner
shall not process an application until the application fee is paid.
(b) Except
as provided in clauses (1) to (3), an applicant shall apply for a license to
provide services at a specific location.
(1) For a
license to provide waivered residential-based habilitation
services to persons with developmental disabilities or related conditions
under chapter 245B, an applicant shall submit an application for each
county in which the waivered services will be provided. Upon licensure, the license holder may
provide services to persons in that county plus no more than three persons at
any one time in each of up to ten additional counties. A license holder in one county may not provide
services under the home and community-based waiver for persons with
developmental disabilities to more than three people in a second county without
holding a separate license for that second county. Applicants or licensees providing services
under this clause to not more than three persons remain subject to the
inspection fees established in section 245A.10, subdivision 2, for each
location. The license issued by the
commissioner must state the name of each additional county where services are
being provided to persons with developmental disabilities. A license holder must notify the commissioner
before making any changes that would alter the license information listed under
section 245A.04, subdivision 7, paragraph (a), including any additional
counties where persons with developmental disabilities are being served.
(2) For a
license to provide supported employment, crisis respite, or semi-independent
living services to persons with developmental disabilities or related
conditions under chapter 245B, an applicant shall submit a single
application to provide services statewide.
(3) For a
license to provide independent living assistance for youth under section
245A.22, an applicant shall submit a single application to provide services
statewide."
Page 15,
line 10, after "245A.04" insert "and" and strike
"adult"
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5849
Page 15,
line 11, strike everything before the second "family" and strike the
comma after "care"
Page 16,
after line 7, insert:
"Sec.
18. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245A.16, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd.
3. Recommendations
to commissioner. The county or
private agency shall not make recommendations to the commissioner regarding
licensure without first conducting an inspection, and for adult foster care,
family adult day services, and family child care, a background study of the
applicant under chapter 245C. The county
or private agency must forward its recommendation to the commissioner regarding
the appropriate licensing action within 20 working days of receipt of a
completed application."
Page 18,
line 22, strike "adult"
Page 18,
line 23, strike everything before the second "family"
Page 19,
after line 32, insert:
"(i)
From January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2012, unless otherwise specified in
paragraph (c), the commissioner shall conduct a study of an individual required
to be studied under section 245C.03 at the time of reapplication for an adult
foster care or family adult day services license:
(1) the
county shall collect and forward to the commissioner the information required
under section 245C.05, subdivision 1, paragraphs (a) and (b), and subdivision
5, paragraphs (a) and (b), for background studies conducted by the commissioner
for adult foster care and family adult day services when the license holder
resides in the adult foster care or family adult day services residence;
(2) the
license holder shall collect and forward to the commissioner the information
required under section 245C.05, subdivisions 1, paragraphs (a) and (b); and 5,
paragraphs (a) and (b), for background studies conducted by the commissioner
for adult foster care when the license holder does not reside in the adult
foster care residence; and
(3) the
background study conducted by the commissioner under this paragraph must
include a review of the information required under section 245C.08, subdivision
1, paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (5), and subdivisions 3 and 4.
(j) The
commissioner shall conduct a background study of an individual specified under
section 245C.03, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clauses (2) to (6), who is newly
affiliated with an adult foster care or family adult day services license
holder:
(1) the
county shall collect and forward to the commissioner the information required
under section 245C.05, subdivision 1, paragraphs (a) and (b), and subdivision 5,
paragraphs (a) and (b), for background studies conducted by the commissioner
for adult foster care and family adult day services when the license holder
resides in the adult foster care or family adult day services residence;
(2) the license
holder shall collect and forward to the commissioner the information required
under section 245C.05, subdivisions 1, paragraphs (a) and (b); and 5,
paragraphs (a) and (b), for background studies conducted by the commissioner
for adult foster care when the license holder does not reside in the adult
foster care residence; and
(3) the
background study conducted by the commissioner under this paragraph must
include a review of the information required under section 245C.08, subdivision
1, paragraph (a), and subdivisions 3 and 4."
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5850
Page 19,
after line 32, insert:
"Sec.
23. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245C.05,
is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 2b. County
agency to collect and forward information to the commissioner. For background studies related to adult
foster care and family adult day services when the license holder resides in
the adult foster care or family adult day services residence, the county agency
must collect the information required under subdivision 1 and forward it to the
commissioner.
Sec.
24. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245C.05, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd.
4. Electronic
transmission. For background studies
conducted by the Department of Human Services, the commissioner shall implement
a system for the electronic transmission of:
(1)
background study information to the commissioner;
(2) background
study results to the license holder; and
(3)
background study results to county and private agencies for background studies
conducted by the commissioner for child foster care; and
(4) background
study results to county agencies for background studies conducted by the
commissioner for adult foster care and family adult day services."
Page 20,
after line 26, insert:
"Sec.
26. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245C.08, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd.
2. Background
studies conducted by a county agency.
(a) For a background study conducted by a county agency for adult
foster care, family adult day services, and family child care services, the
commissioner shall review:
(1) information
from the county agency's record of substantiated maltreatment of adults and the
maltreatment of minors;
(2)
information from juvenile courts as required in subdivision 4 for individuals
listed in section 245C.03, subdivision 1, clauses (2), (5), and (6); and
(3)
information from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
(b) If the
individual has resided in the county for less than five years, the study shall
include the records specified under paragraph (a) for the previous county or
counties of residence for the past five years.
(c)
Notwithstanding expungement by a court, the county agency may consider
information obtained under paragraph (a), clause (3), unless the commissioner
received notice of the petition for expungement and the court order for expungement
is directed specifically to the commissioner.
Sec.
27. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245C.10, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 5. Adult
foster care services. The
commissioner shall recover the cost of background studies required under
section 245C.03, subdivision 1, for the purposes of adult foster care and
family adult day services licensing, through a fee of no more than $20 per
study charged to the license holder. The
fees collected under this subdivision are appropriated to the commissioner for
the purpose of conducting background studies."
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5851
Page 27, after
line 13, insert:
"Sec.
33. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245C.17, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 6. Notice
to county agency. For studies
on individuals related to a license to provide adult foster care and family
adult day services, the commissioner shall also provide a notice of the
background study results to the county agency that initiated the background
study.
Sec.
34. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245C.20, is amended to read:
245C.20 LICENSE HOLDER RECORD KEEPING.
A licensed
program shall document the date the program initiates a background study under
this chapter in the program's personnel files.
When a background study is completed under this chapter, a licensed
program shall maintain a notice that the study was undertaken and completed in
the program's personnel files. Except
when background studies are initiated through the commissioner's online system,
if a licensed program has not received a response from the commissioner
under section 245C.17 within 45 days of initiation of the background study
request, the licensed program must contact the commissioner human
services licensing division to inquire about the status of the study. If a license holder initiates a background
study under the commissioner's online system, but the background study
subject's name does not appear in the list of active or recent studies
initiated by that license holder, the license holder must either contact the
human services licensing division or resubmit the background study information
online for that individual.
Sec.
35. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245C.21, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
Subd.
1a. Submission
of reconsideration request to county or private agency. (a) For disqualifications related to studies
conducted by county agencies for family child care, and for
disqualifications related to studies conducted by the commissioner for child
foster care, adult foster care, and family adult day services, the
individual shall submit the request for reconsideration to the county or
private agency that initiated the background study.
(b) For
disqualifications related to studies conducted by the commissioner for child
foster care, the individual shall submit the request for reconsideration to the
private agency that initiated the background study.
(c) A
reconsideration request shall be submitted within 30 days of the individual's
receipt of the disqualification notice or the time frames specified in
subdivision 2, whichever time frame is shorter.
(c) (d) The county
or private agency shall forward the individual's request for reconsideration
and provide the commissioner with a recommendation whether to set aside the
individual's disqualification.
Sec.
36. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
245C.23, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd.
2. Commissioner's
notice of disqualification that is not set aside. (a) The commissioner shall notify the license
holder of the disqualification and order the license holder to immediately
remove the individual from any position allowing direct contact with persons
receiving services from the license holder if:
(1) the
individual studied does not submit a timely request for reconsideration under
section 245C.21;
(2) the individual
submits a timely request for reconsideration, but the commissioner does not set
aside the disqualification for that license holder under section 245C.22;
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5852
(3) an
individual who has a right to request a hearing under sections 245C.27 and
256.045, or 245C.28 and chapter 14 for a disqualification that has not been set
aside, does not request a hearing within the specified time; or
(4) an
individual submitted a timely request for a hearing under sections 245C.27 and
256.045, or 245C.28 and chapter 14, but the commissioner does not set aside the
disqualification under section 245A.08, subdivision 5, or 256.045.
(b) If the
commissioner does not set aside the disqualification under section 245C.22, and
the license holder was previously ordered under section 245C.17 to immediately
remove the disqualified individual from direct contact with persons receiving services
or to ensure that the individual is under continuous, direct supervision when
providing direct contact services, the order remains in effect pending the
outcome of a hearing under sections 245C.27 and 256.045, or 245C.28 and chapter
14.
(c) For background
studies related to child foster care, the commissioner shall also notify the
county or private agency that initiated the study of the results of the
reconsideration.
(d) For
background studies related to adult foster care and family adult day services,
the commissioner shall also notify the county that initiated the study of the
results of the reconsideration."
Page 40,
after line 13, insert:
"Sec.
47. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
256D.44, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd.
5. Special
needs. In addition to the state
standards of assistance established in subdivisions 1 to 4, payments are
allowed for the following special needs of recipients of Minnesota supplemental
aid who are not residents of a nursing home, a regional treatment center, or a
group residential housing facility.
(a) The
county agency shall pay a monthly allowance for medically prescribed diets if
the cost of those additional dietary needs cannot be met through some other
maintenance benefit. The need for
special diets or dietary items must be prescribed by a licensed physician. Costs for special diets shall be determined
as percentages of the allotment for a one-person household under the thrifty
food plan as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture. The types of diets and the percentages of the
thrifty food plan that are covered are as follows:
(1) high
protein diet, at least 80 grams daily, 25 percent of thrifty food plan;
(2) controlled
protein diet, 40 to 60 grams and requires special products, 100 percent of
thrifty food plan;
(3)
controlled protein diet, less than 40 grams and requires special products, 125
percent of thrifty food plan;
(4) low
cholesterol diet, 25 percent of thrifty food plan;
(5) high
residue diet, 20 percent of thrifty food plan;
(6)
pregnancy and lactation diet, 35 percent of thrifty food plan;
(7)
gluten-free diet, 25 percent of thrifty food plan;
(8)
lactose-free diet, 25 percent of thrifty food plan;
(9)
antidumping diet, 15 percent of thrifty food plan;
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5853
(10)
hypoglycemic diet, 15 percent of thrifty food plan; or
(11)
ketogenic diet, 25 percent of thrifty food plan.
(b) Payment
for nonrecurring special needs must be allowed for necessary home repairs or
necessary repairs or replacement of household furniture and appliances using
the payment standard of the AFDC program in effect on July 16, 1996, for these
expenses, as long as other funding sources are not available.
(c) A fee
for guardian or conservator service is allowed at a reasonable rate negotiated
by the county or approved by the court. This
rate shall not exceed five percent of the assistance unit's gross monthly
income up to a maximum of $100 per month.
If the guardian or conservator is a member of the county agency staff,
no fee is allowed.
(d) The
county agency shall continue to pay a monthly allowance of $68 for restaurant
meals for a person who was receiving a restaurant meal allowance on June 1,
1990, and who eats two or more meals in a restaurant daily. The allowance must continue until the person
has not received Minnesota supplemental aid for one full calendar month or
until the person's living arrangement changes and the person no longer meets
the criteria for the restaurant meal allowance, whichever occurs first.
(e) A fee
of ten percent of the recipient's gross income or $25, whichever is less, is
allowed for representative payee services provided by an agency that meets the
requirements under SSI regulations to charge a fee for representative payee
services. This special need is available
to all recipients of Minnesota supplemental aid regardless of their living
arrangement.
(f)(1)
Notwithstanding the language in this subdivision, an amount equal to the
maximum allotment authorized by the federal Food Stamp Program for a single
individual which is in effect on the first day of July of each year will be
added to the standards of assistance established in subdivisions 1 to 4 for
adults under the age of 65 who qualify as shelter needy and are: (i) relocating
from an institution, or an adult mental health residential treatment program
under section 256B.0622; (ii) eligible for the self-directed supports option as
defined under section 256B.0657, subdivision 2; or (iii) home and
community-based waiver recipients living in their own home or rented or leased
apartment which is not owned, operated, or controlled by a provider of service
not related by blood or marriage.
(2)
Notwithstanding subdivision 3, paragraph (c), an individual eligible for the
shelter needy benefit under this paragraph is considered a household of
one. An eligible individual who receives
this benefit prior to age 65 may continue to receive the benefit after the age
of 65.
(3)
"Shelter needy" means that the assistance unit incurs monthly shelter
costs that exceed 40 percent of the assistance unit's gross income before the
application of this special needs standard. "Gross income" for the
purposes of this section is the applicant's or recipient's income as defined in
section 256D.35, subdivision 10, or the standard specified in subdivision 3,
paragraph (a) or (b), whichever is greater.
A recipient of a federal or state housing subsidy, that limits shelter
costs to a percentage of gross income, shall not be considered shelter needy
for purposes of this paragraph.
(g)
Notwithstanding this subdivision, to access housing and services as provided in
paragraph (f), the recipient may choose housing that may or may not be owned,
operated, or controlled by the recipient's service provider if the housing is
located in a multifamily building of six or more units. The maximum number of units that may be used
by recipients of this program shall be 50 percent of the units in a
building. The department shall develop
an exception process to the 50 percent maximum.
This paragraph expires on June 30, 2011."
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5854
Page 50,
after line 25, insert:
"Sec.
53. COMMON
SERVICE MENU FOR HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED WAIVER PROGRAMS.
The
commissioner of human services shall confer with representatives of recipients,
advocacy groups, counties, providers, and health plans to develop and update a
common service menu for home and community-based waiver programs. The commissioner may consult with existing
stakeholder groups convened under the commissioner's authority to meet all or
some of the requirements of this section.
Sec.
54. INTERMEDIATE
CARE FACILITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES REPORT.
The commissioner
of human services shall consult with providers and advocates of intermediate
care facilities for persons with developmental disabilities to monitor
progress made in response to the commissioner's December 15, 2008, report to
the legislature regarding intermediate care facilities for persons with
developmental disabilities.
Sec.
55. HOUSING
OPTIONS.
The
commissioner of human services, in consultation with the commissioner of
administration and the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, and representatives of
counties, residents' advocacy groups, consumers of housing services, and
provider agencies shall explore ways to maximize the availability and
affordability of housing choices available to persons with disabilities or who
need care assistance due to other health challenges. A goal shall also be to minimize state
physical plant costs in order to serve more persons with appropriate program
and care support. Consideration shall be
given to:
(1)
improved access to rent subsidies;
(2) use of
cooperatives, land trusts, and other limited equity ownership models;
(3) whether
a public equity housing fund should be established that would maintain the
state's interest, to the extent paid from state funds, including group
residential housing and Minnesota supplemental aid shelter-needy funds in
provider-owned housing, so that when sold, the state would recover its share
for a public equity fund to be used for future public needs under this chapter;
(4) the
desirability of the state acquiring an ownership interest or promoting the use
of publicly owned housing;
(5)
promoting more choices in the market for accessible housing that meets the
needs of persons with physical challenges; and
(6) what
consumer ownership models, if any, are appropriate.
The commissioner
shall provide a written report on the findings of the evaluation of housing
options to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of
representatives and senate standing committees with jurisdiction over health
and human services policy and funding by December 15, 2010. This report shall replace the November 1,
2010, annual report by the commissioner required in Minnesota Statutes,
sections 256B.0916, subdivision 7, and 256B.49, subdivision 21."
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5855
Page 50,
after line 33, insert:
"(b)
Minnesota Rules, part 9555.6125, subpart 4, item B, is repealed."
Renumber the
sections in sequence and correct the internal references
Amend the
title accordingly
The motion prevailed and the amendment was
adopted.
S. F. No. 1447, A bill for an act relating
to human services; making changes to licensing provisions, including data
practices, disqualifications, and background study requirements; providing
alternate supervision technology for adult foster care licensing; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 13.46, subdivisions 3, 4; 147C.01; 147C.05;
147C.10; 147C.15; 147C.20; 147C.25; 147C.30; 147C.35; 147C.40; 245A.03,
subdivision 2; 245A.04, subdivisions 5, 7; 245A.05; 245A.06, subdivision 8;
245A.07, subdivisions 1, 3, 5; 245A.11, by adding a subdivision; 245A.1435;
245A.16, subdivision 1; 245A.50, subdivision 5; 245C.03, subdivision 4;
245C.04, subdivision 1; 245C.07; 245C.08; 245C.13, subdivision 2; 245C.14,
subdivision 2; 245C.15, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4; 245C.22, subdivision 7;
245C.24, subdivisions 2, 3; 245C.25; 245C.27, subdivision 1; 245C.301; 256.045,
subdivisions 3, 3b; 299C.61, subdivision 6; 299C.62, subdivisions 3, 4;
626.556, subdivisions 2, 10e, 10f; 626.557, subdivisions 9c, 12b; 626.5572,
subdivision 13; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245C.10, subdivision
1.
The bill was read for the third time, as
amended, and placed upon its final passage.
The question was taken on the passage of
the bill and the roll was called. There
were 120 yeas and 13 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Beard
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Clark
Cornish
Davids
Davnie
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Eken
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Gottwalt
Greiling
Gunther
Hamilton
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Kohls
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scalze
Scott
Seifert
Sertich
Severson
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Spk. Kelliher
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5856
Those who
voted in the negative were:
Anderson, B.
Buesgens
Dean
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Emmer
Garofalo
Hackbarth
Holberg
Hoppe
Peppin
Shimanski
Zellers
The bill was passed, as amended, and its
title agreed to.
Sertich moved that the remaining bills on
the Calendar for the Day be continued.
The motion prevailed.
There being no objection, the order of
business reverted to Messages from the Senate.
MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE
The following message was received from
the Senate:
Madam
Speaker:
I hereby announce the passage by the
Senate of the following House File, herewith returned, as amended by the
Senate, in which amendments the concurrence of the House is respectfully
requested:
H. F. No. 1298, A bill for an act relating
to public finance; providing terms and conditions relating to issuance of
obligations and financing of public improvements; modifying restrictions on
mail elections; providing tax credit and interest subsidy bonds; providing
emergency debt certificates; authorizing the issuance of local bonds;
authorizing the cities of Chisago City and Lindstrom to establish a joint
venture, issue debt for use outside of the jurisdiction, and share revenues;
providing for the additional financing of metropolitan area transit and
paratransit capital expenditures; authorizing the issuance of certain obligations;
authorizing counties to make joint purchases of energy and energy generation
projects; authorizing Mountain Iron economic development and Winona County
economic authorities to form limited liability companies; eliminating the
maximum limit on state agricultural society's bonded debt and the sunset on the
authority to issue bonds and modifying its authorized investments of debt
service funds; extending sunset for special service and housing improvement
districts; modifying authority of municipalities to issue bonds for certain
postemployment benefits; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008,
sections 37.31, subdivisions 1, 7; 37.33, subdivision 3; 37.34; 126C.55,
subdivision 4; 204B.46; 275.065, subdivision 6; 360.036, subdivision 2; 366.095,
subdivision 1; 373.01, subdivision 3; 373.40, subdivision 1; 373.47,
subdivision 1; 373.48, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 383B.117,
subdivision 2; 410.32; 412.301; 428A.03, subdivision 1; 428A.08; 428A.09;
428A.10; 428A.101; 428A.21; 446A.086, by adding a subdivision; 469.005,
subdivision 1; 469.034, subdivision 2; 469.153, subdivision 2; 471.191,
subdivision 1; 473.1293, by adding a subdivision; 473.39, by adding a
subdivision; 474A.02, subdivisions 2, 14; 475.51, subdivision 4; 475.52, subdivision
6; 475.58, subdivision 1; 475.67, subdivision 8; Laws 1971, chapter 773,
sections 1, subdivision 2, as amended; 4, as amended; Laws 2008, chapter 366,
article 6, section 46, subdivisions 1, 2; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapters 16A; 475; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 37.31, subdivision 8; Laws 1998, chapter 407, article 8, section 12,
subdivision 4.
Colleen J. Pacheco, First
Assistant Secretary of the Senate
CONCURRENCE
AND REPASSAGE
Lenczewski moved that the House concur in
the Senate amendments to H. F. No. 1298 and that the bill be
repassed as amended by the Senate. The
motion prevailed.
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5857
H. F. No. 1298, A bill for
an act relating to the financing and operation of state and local government;
making policy, technical, administrative, enforcement, clarifying, and other
changes to income, corporate franchise, estate, property; sales, use, gross
receipts, local, solid waste, gambling, mortgage, deed, petroleum, insurance,
minerals, production, and other taxes and tax-related provisions; providing
terms and conditions relating to issuance of obligations and financing of
public improvements; making changes to tax increment financing and local
government aid provisions, conforming to certain federal provisions; providing
clarification for eligibility for property tax exemption for institutions of
public charity; modifying truth in taxation, tax preparation services, police
and firefighter relief association amortization state-aid provisions; making
changes to local taxing authorities; providing emergency debt certificates;
authorizing the issuance of local bonds; providing temporary suspension of new
or increased maintenance of effort requirements; requiring studies;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 37.31,
subdivision 8; 123B.10, subdivision 1; 124D.4531, by adding a subdivision;
126C.41, subdivision 2; 126C.55, subdivision 4; 144F.01, subdivision 3;
204B.46; 270B.14, subdivision 16; 270C.12, by adding a subdivision; 270C.445;
270C.446, subdivisions 2, 5; 270C.56, subdivisions 1, 3; 272.02, subdivisions
7, 55, 86, by adding subdivisions; 272.029, subdivision 6; 273.11, subdivision
23; 273.111, subdivision 4, by adding a subdivision; 273.1115, subdivision 2;
273.113, subdivisions 1, 2; 273.1231, subdivision 8; 273.124, subdivisions 3,
3a, 21; 273.13, subdivisions 23, 25, 33; 273.33, subdivision 2; 273.37,
subdivision 2; 274.13, subdivision 2; 274.135, subdivision 3; 274.14; 274.175;
275.065, subdivisions 1, 3, 6; 275.07, by adding a subdivision; 275.70,
subdivision 5; 276.04, subdivision 2; 279.01, subdivision 1; 279.10; 282.08;
287.04; 287.05, by adding a subdivision; 287.08; 287.22; 287.25; 289A.02,
subdivision 7, as amended; 289A.08, subdivision 3; 289A.11, subdivision 1;
289A.12, by adding a subdivision; 289A.18, subdivision 1; 289A.19, subdivision
4; 289A.20, subdivision 4; 289A.31, subdivision 5; 289A.38, subdivision 7;
289A.41; 290.01, subdivisions 19, as amended, 19a, as amended, 19b, 19c, as
amended, 19d, as amended, 31, as amended; 290.06, subdivision 2c; 290.067,
subdivision 2a, as amended; 290.0671, subdivision 1; 290.0678, as added;
290.091, subdivision 2; 290A.03, subdivisions 3, as amended, 15, as amended;
290A.10; 290A.14; 290B.03, subdivision 1; 290C.06; 290C.07; 291.005,
subdivision 1, as amended; 295.56; 295.57, subdivision 5; 296A.21, subdivision
1; 297A.62, by adding a subdivision; 297A.64, subdivision 2; 297A.70,
subdivisions 2, 4; 297A.71, by adding a subdivision; 297A.75, subdivisions 1,
2; 297A.94; 297A.992, subdivision 2; 297A.993, subdivision 1; 297B.02,
subdivision 1; 297E.02, subdivision 4; 297E.06, subdivision 4, by adding a
subdivision; 297E.11, subdivision 1; 297F.09, subdivision 7; 297G.09,
subdivision 6; 297H.06, subdivision 1; 297I.30, by adding a subdivision;
297I.35, subdivision 2; 298.227; 298.28, subdivisions 2, 4, 11; 298.75,
subdivision 2; 309.53, subdivision 3; 349.1641; 349.19, subdivision 9; 360.036,
subdivision 2; 366.095, subdivision 1; 373.47, subdivision 1; 373.48,
subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 375.194, subdivision 5; 383A.75,
subdivision 3; 423A.02, subdivisions 1, 1b, 3, by adding a subdivision;
428A.03, subdivision 1; 428A.08; 428A.09; 428A.10; 428A.101; 428A.13, by adding
a subdivision; 428A.14, subdivision 1; 428A.21; 429.011, subdivision 2a;
446A.086, subdivision 8, by adding a subdivision; 465.719, subdivision 9; 469.005,
subdivision 1; 469.015, subdivisions 1, 2, 3; 469.034, subdivision 2; 469.040,
subdivisions 2, 4; 469.053, by adding a subdivision; 469.153, subdivision 2;
469.174, subdivision 22; 469.175, subdivisions 1, 6; 469.176, subdivisions 3,
6; 469.1763, subdivision 3; 469.178, subdivision 7; 469.312, subdivision 5;
471.191, subdivision 1; 473.13, subdivision 1; 473.39, by adding a subdivision;
473.843, subdivision 3; 474A.02, subdivisions 2, 14; 475.58, subdivision 1;
475.67, subdivision 8; 477A.011, subdivisions 34, 36, 42; 477A.013, subdivision
8; 645.44, subdivision 19; Laws 1971, chapter 773, section 4, as amended; Laws
1976, chapter 162, section 3, as amended; Laws 1986, chapter 396, section 4,
subdivision 3; by adding a subdivision; Laws 1986, chapter 400, section 44, as
amended; Laws 1991, chapter 291, article 8, section 27, subdivision 3, as
amended; Laws 1993, chapter 375, article 9, section 46, subdivision 2, as
amended, by adding a subdivision; Laws 1996, chapter 471, article 2, section
30; Laws 1998, chapter 389, article 8, section 37, subdivision 1; Laws 2001,
First Special Session chapter 5, article 3, section 8, as amended; Laws 2002,
chapter 377, article 3, section 25; Laws 2006, chapter 259, article 3, section
12, subdivision 3; Laws 2008, chapter 366, article 5, section 34; article 6,
sections 9; 10; 46, subdivisions 1, 2; article 7, sections 16, subdivision 3;
18, subdivisions 2, 3; Laws 2009, chapter 12, article 2, section 5, subdivision
2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 16A; 270C; 275;
469; 475; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 126C.21, subdivision 4;
275.065, subdivisions 5a, 6b, 6c, 8, 9, 10; 287.26; 287.27, subdivision 1;
297A.67, subdivision 24; 298.28, subdivisions 11a, 13; Laws 1993, chapter 375,
article 5, section 42, as amended; Laws 1998, chapter 407, article 8, section
12, subdivision 4; Laws 2009, chapter 37, article 1, section
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5858
31, subdivision 3; Minnesota
Rules, parts 8009.3000; 8115.0200; 8115.0300; 8115.0400; 8115.0500; 8115.0600;
8115.1000; 8115.1100; 8115.1200; 8115.1300; 8115.1400; 8115.1500; 8115.1600;
8115.1700; 8115.1800; 8115.1900; 8115.2000; 8115.2100; 8115.2200; 8115.2300;
8115.2400; 8115.2500; 8115.2600; 8115.2700; 8115.2800; 8115.2900; 8115.3000;
8115.4000; 8115.4100; 8115.4200; 8115.4300; 8115.4400; 8115.4500; 8115.4600;
8115.4700; 8115.4800; 8115.4900; 8115.5000; 8115.5100; 8115.5200; 8115.5300;
8115.5400; 8115.5500; 8115.5600; 8115.5700; 8115.5800; 8115.5900; 8115.6000;
8115.6100; 8115.6200; 8115.6300; 8115.6400; 8115.9900."
The bill was read for the third time, as
amended by the Senate, and placed upon its repassage.
The question was taken on the repassage of
the bill and the roll was called. There
were 125 yeas and 7 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Abeler
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Beard
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Clark
Cornish
Davids
Davnie
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Eken
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Greiling
Gunther
Hamilton
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Kohls
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scalze
Scott
Seifert
Sertich
Severson
Shimanski
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Zellers
Spk. Kelliher
Those who voted in the negative were:
Anderson, B.
Buesgens
Emmer
Hackbarth
Holberg
Hoppe
Peppin
The bill was repassed, as amended by the
Senate, and its title agreed to.
MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
Atkins moved that the name of Davids be
added as an author on H. F. No. 2112. The motion prevailed.
Emmer moved that the names of Davids and
Holberg be added as authors on H. F. No. 2376. The motion prevailed.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5859
Hayden, Davids, Gunther, Liebling and
Champion introduced:
House Resolution
No. 4, A House resolution recognizing May 12, 2009, as Deep Vein Thrombosis
Awareness Day.
The resolution was referred to the
Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration.
Huntley was excused for the remainder of
today's session.
A letter from the Governor relating to the
veto of H. F. No. 885, Chapter No. 77, was at the House Desk.
MOTION TO OVERRIDE VETO
Zellers moved that H. F. No. 885, Chapter
No. 77, be now reconsidered and repassed, the objections of the Governor
notwithstanding, pursuant to Article IV, Section 23, of the Constitution of the
State of Minnesota.
CALL OF THE HOUSE
On the motion of Zellers and on the demand
of 10 members, a call of the House was ordered.
The following members answered to their names:
Abeler
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Buesgens
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Clark
Cornish
Davids
Davnie
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Eken
Emmer
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Greiling
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Hansen
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Holberg
Hoppe
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Jackson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Kohls
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Peppin
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scott
Seifert
Sertich
Severson
Shimanski
Slawik
Slocum
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Zellers
Spk. Kelliher
Sertich moved that further proceedings of
the roll call be suspended and that the Sergeant at Arms be instructed to bring
in the absentees. The motion prevailed
and it was so ordered.
LAY ON THE TABLE
Sertich moved that the Zellers motion be
laid on the table.
A roll call was requested and properly
seconded.
Journal of the House - 52nd
Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5860
The question was taken on the Sertich motion and the roll was
called.
Sertich moved that those not voting be excused from
voting. The motion prevailed.
There
were 86 yeas and 44 nays as follows:
Those who
voted in the affirmative were:
Anzelc
Atkins
Benson
Bigham
Bly
Brown
Brynaert
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Clark
Davnie
Dill
Dittrich
Doty
Eken
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Greiling
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Knuth
Koenen
Laine
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Scalze
Sertich
Slawik
Slocum
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Winkler
Spk. Kelliher
Those who
voted in the negative were:
Abeler
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Beard
Brod
Buesgens
Cornish
Davids
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Doepke
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Emmer
Gottwalt
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Holberg
Hoppe
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Kohls
Lanning
Loon
Mack
Magnus
McFarlane
McNamara
Murdock
Nornes
Peppin
Sanders
Scott
Seifert
Severson
Shimanski
Smith
Torkelson
Urdahl
Westrom
Zellers
The motion prevailed and the Zellers motion was laid on the
table.
ADJOURNMENT
Sertich moved that when the House adjourns today it adjourn
until 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 13, 2009.
The motion prevailed.
Sertich moved that the House adjourn. The motion prevailed, and Speaker pro tempore
Juhnke declared the House stands adjourned until 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 13,
2009.
Albin
A. Mathiowetz,
Chief Clerk, House of Representatives