1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to the Metropolitan Council; authorizing the removal of members of the
1.3 council for cause; providing for governor appointment of a vice-chair; specifying
1.4 council member salary and benefits; requiring annual reviews of the regional
1.5 administrator by the council; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 473.123,
1.6 subdivisions 2a, 4, by adding a subdivision; 473.125.
1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 473.123, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
1.9 Subd. 2a.Terms.Following each apportionment of council districts, as provided under
1.10subdivision 3a, council members must be appointed from newly drawn districts as provided
1.11in subdivision 3a. Each council member, other than the chair, must reside in the council
1.12district represented. Each council district must be represented by one member of the council.
1.13The terms of members end with the term of the governor, except that all terms expire on
1.14the effective date of the next apportionment. A member serves at the pleasure of the governor
1.15and can be removed for cause, after notice and hearing. A member shall continue to serve
1.16the member's district until a successor is appointed and qualified; except that, following
1.17each apportionment, the member shall continue to serve at large until the governor appoints
1.1816 council members, one from each of the newly drawn council districts as provided under
1.19subdivision 3a, to serve terms as provided under this section. The appointment to the council
1.20must be made by the first Monday in March of the year in which the term ends. An individual
1.21may serve no more than 12 years as a member of the council.
1.22 EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.This section is effective the day following
1.23final enactment and applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey,
1.24Scott, and Washington.
1Section 1.
REVISOR MS/DG 25-0129812/13/24
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 1317
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Hansen, R., and Lee, F.,02/20/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Elections Finance and Government Operations 2.1 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 473.123, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
2.2 Subd. 4.Chair; vice-chair; appointment, officers, selection; duties and
2.3compensation.(a) The chair of the Metropolitan Council shall be appointed by the governor
2.4as the 17th voting member thereof by and with the advice and consent of the senate to serve
2.5at the pleasure of the governor to represent the metropolitan area at large. Senate confirmation
2.6shall be as provided by section 15.066.
2.7 The chair of the Metropolitan Council shall, if present, preside at meetings of the council,
2.8have the primary responsibility for meeting with local elected officials, serve as the principal
2.9legislative liaison, present to the governor and the legislature, after council approval, the
2.10council's plans for regional governance and operations, serve as the principal spokesperson
2.11of the council, and perform other duties assigned by the council or by law.
2.12 (b) The vice-chair of the Metropolitan Council shall be appointed by the governor from
2.13the 16 members appointed under subdivision 3. The Metropolitan Council shall elect other
2.14officers as it deems necessary for the conduct of its affairs for a one-year term. A secretary
2.15and treasurer need not be members of the Metropolitan Council. Meeting times and places
2.16shall be fixed by the Metropolitan Council and special meetings may be called by a majority
2.17of the members of the Metropolitan Council or by the chair. The chair, vice chair, and each
2.18Metropolitan Council member shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses.
2.19 (c) Each member of the council shall attend and participate in council meetings and meet
2.20regularly with local elected officials and legislative members from the council member's
2.21district. Each council member shall serve on at least one division committee for
2.22transportation, environment, or community development.
2.23 (d) In the performance of its duties the Metropolitan Council may adopt policies and
2.24procedures governing its operation, establish committees, and, when specifically authorized
2.25by law, make appointments to other governmental agencies and districts.
2.26 EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.This section is effective the day following
2.27final enactment and applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey,
2.28Scott, and Washington.
2.29 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 473.123, is amended by adding a subdivision to
2.30read:
2.31 Subd. 9.Salary; benefits.Beginning January 1, 2026, each member of the council shall
2.32receive an annual salary of $40,000. The salary under this subdivision must be increased at
2.33the same percentage and time as legislator salaries, as prescribed by the Legislative Salary
2Sec. 3.
REVISOR MS/DG 25-0129812/13/24 3.1Council under section 15A.0825. Each member of the council must also be offered retirement
3.2and other employment benefits comparable to Metropolitan Council employees under section
3.3473.129, subdivision 2.
3.4 EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.This section is effective the day following
3.5final enactment and applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey,
3.6Scott, and Washington.
3.7 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 473.125, is amended to read:
3.8 473.125 REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR.
3.9 The Metropolitan Council shall appoint a regional administrator to serve at the council's
3.10pleasure as the principal administrative officer for the Metropolitan Council. The regional
3.11administrator shall organize the work of the council staff. The regional administrator shall
3.12appoint on the basis of merit and fitness, and discipline and discharge all employees in
3.13accordance with the council's personnel policy, except the general counsel, as provided in
3.14section 473.123, subdivision 8. The regional administrator must ensure that all policy
3.15decisions of the council are carried out. The regional administrator shall attend meetings of
3.16the council and may take part in discussions but may not vote. The regional administrator
3.17shall recommend to the council for adoption measures deemed necessary for efficient
3.18administration of the council, keep the council fully apprised of the financial condition of
3.19the council, and prepare and submit an annual budget to the council for approval. The
3.20regional administrator shall prepare and submit for approval by the council an administrative
3.21code organizing and codifying the policies of the council, and perform other duties as
3.22prescribed by the council. The regional administrator may be chosen from among the citizens
3.23of the nation at large, and shall be selected on the basis of training and experience in public
3.24administration. The regional administrator is subject to annual performance reviews by the
3.25council.
3.26 EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.This section is effective the day following
3.27final enactment and applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey,
3.28Scott, and Washington.
3Sec. 4.
REVISOR MS/DG 25-0129812/13/24