NEWLAWS 2001 A COMPLETE SUMMARY OF THE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND SPECIAL SESSION Prepared by MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE 175 STATE OFFICE BUILDING 100 CONSTITUTION AVENUE ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA 55155-1298 (651) 296-2146 Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Office Director LeClair Lambert Editor Michelle Kibiger Assistant Editor Mike Cook Art & Production Coordinator Paul Battaglia Writers David Maeda Theresa Stahl Jonas M. Walker Mary Kay Watson Chief Photographer Tom Olmscheid Photographers Andrew Von Bank Sara Kirk Office Manager Nicole Wood Staff Assistants Christy Novak Michelle Sorvari Interns Jenny Dean Natalie Else Seth Kaplan New Laws 2001 was published by the Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Office as a service of the Minnesota Legislature. Staff members collected, wrote, verified, and coordinated the information to produce the publication. The 2001 edition is a culmination of effort involving many other individuals and departments: the House Research Depart- ment, the House Fiscal Analysis Department, the Office of the Chief Clerk, the Index Department, and the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Cover design by Paul Battaglia. Photograph by Tom Olmscheid. Introduction The 82nd Session of the Minnesota Legislature the regular and special sessions, 11 bills were vetoed convened on Jan. 3, 2001, and adjourned at midnight in full, and portions of five other bills were line-item May 21, 2001, the last day lawmakers could meet as vetoed. No vetoes were overridden during 2001. specified by the Minnesota Constitution. Overall, the list of accomplishments from the 2001 A total of 59 legislative days were used — one day session includes the double-digit tax cuts for all short of half the biennial allotment of 120 legislative property classes; extensions for some Minnesota Fam- days. (A legislative day is counted when a quorum of ily Investment Program recipients nearing the either the House or Senate is present to conduct 60-month limit for benefits; funding to provide more business as a body.) access to health insurance for children and adults; a However, the Legislature’s work was not finished. felony drunken driving penalty; a statewide anti- Only one omnibus bill conference committee was racial profiling plan; and elimination of the state- able to reach agreement before the constitutional determined general education levy. deadline. Both the House and Senate approved the New Laws 2001 is divided into five major parts: early childhood and family education funding bill First, the Highlights section beginning on page 9 is with just seconds to spare before midnight. written in an easy-to-read style for those who want a Gov. Jesse Ventura vetoed the bill, leaving all ma- quick overview of legislation approved in 2001. jor budgetary items unfinished. The governor called Second, the Vetoed Bills section lists all the bills the Legislature into special session June 11, 2001. It that were vetoed and line-item vetoed by the gover- was the first special session called during Ventura’s nor and synopses of his reasons for doing so. term as governor. Third, the Bills in Limbo section describes some of Leaders from both the House and Senate negoti- the bills discussed in 2001, but not passed by the ated with the governor’s office for two weeks during House and Senate. Because this is the first year of the the special session before reaching a final agreement. two-year spending cycle, these bills remain alive, or State officials began making preparations during June viable, for consideration next year. to handle a potential government shutdown that Fourth, the Summary section gives a technical would have occurred had the budget bills not been summary of each approved bill as it appeared on the approved prior to July 1, 2001. bill when it was sent to the governor. Also included is The Legislature adjourned the special session dur- a listing of all sections of Minnesota Statutes that the ing the early morning hours June 30, 2001. Gov. bill affects. Ventura signed all the bills that day, and Secretary of And fifth, the Index section provides a list of bills State Mary Kiffmeyer signed the last bill at 11:41 p.m. by Chapter number, House file number, Senate file — just moments before the start of the fiscal year. number, bill title, effective date, and finally, by key- The 2001 session was the third round of Minnesota’s words. Many indexes are included to make it as easy tripartisan government — with the state’s first Inde- as possible for people to find what they need. pendence Party governor, a DFL-led Senate, and a If you wish to obtain a copy of a bill, call the House Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Chief Clerk’s Office (651) 296-2314, or the Senate Though previous sessions had not required a special Information Office (651) 296-2343. Ask for the bill session, it is not unusual for some budgetary matters by Chapter number, or by the House or Senate file to be settled outside the constitutional bounds of the number. regular legislative session. There have been 40 special Bills are also available on the Legislature’s World sessions in the state’s history. Wide Web site (http://www.house.mn). In 2001, 2,565 bills were introduced in the House Both the House and Senate public information and 2,285 in the Senate. During the special session, offices have toll-free numbers for residents outside the House introduced another 35 bills and the Senate the metropolitan area. To reach the House, call introduced an additional 36. Of the 231 bills and 1-800-657-3550. To reach the Senate, call three resolutions sent to the governor during both 1-888-234-1112. Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3 Highlights ........................................................................................................................................ 9 Topics Agriculture .............................................................9 Health .................................................................... 45 Arts ......................................................................... 11 Higher Education .............................................. 50 Banking................................................................. 11 Housing ................................................................ 51 Bonding ................................................................ 12 Humanities .......................................................... 52 Budget .................................................................. 13 Human Services ................................................. 52 Business ................................................................ 13 Immigration ........................................................ 57 Children ................................................................ 15 Industry ................................................................ 57 Consumers .......................................................... 17 Insurance ............................................................. 59 Crime ..................................................................... 17 Law ......................................................................... 61 Development ..................................................... 20 Local Government ............................................ 64 Education............................................................. 23 Metro Affairs ....................................................... 67 Elections ............................................................... 28 Military .................................................................. 67 Employment ....................................................... 28 Recreation ........................................................... 67 Energy ................................................................... 30 Retirement .......................................................... 68 Environment ....................................................... 31 Safety..................................................................... 68 Ethics ..................................................................... 38 Taxes ...................................................................... 70 Family .................................................................... 38 Technology ......................................................... 74 Gambling ............................................................. 38 Tourism................................................................. 74 Game & Fish ........................................................ 39 Transportation ................................................... 74 Government ....................................................... 39 Veterans ............................................................... 80 Greater Minnesota............................................ 44 Selected fees adopted in 2001 .................... 82 Vetoed Bills....................................................................................................................................86 Bills in Limbo .................................................................................................................................91 Summary..................................................................................................................................... 108 Committees of