1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to economic development finance; directing a 
  1.3             study of state services for the blind; appropriating 
  1.4             money. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [STATE SERVICES FOR THE BLIND; STUDY.] 
  1.7      The commissioner of economic security shall ask the 
  1.8   legislative audit commission to perform a study under Minnesota 
  1.9   Statutes, section 3.971, subdivision 2, about the advisability 
  1.10  of removing services for the blind from the department of 
  1.11  economic security and creating a separate board for the blind, 
  1.12  governed by a board appointed by the governor.  The factors to 
  1.13  be considered include, but are not limited to, mission, 
  1.14  identity, visibility, service, accountability to blind citizens, 
  1.15  consumer involvement, administration, and finance.  The 
  1.16  legislative audit commission must consult with the 
  1.17  rehabilitation advisory council for the blind, as well as 
  1.18  consumer groups.  By January 1, 1998, the commissioner of 
  1.19  economic security shall report the findings of the study to the 
  1.20  chairs of the house economic development finance division and 
  1.21  the senate economic development budget committee. 
  1.22     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  1.23     $....... is appropriated for fiscal year 1998 from the 
  1.24  general fund to the commissioner of economic security to 
  1.25  complete the study and report.