1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to school construction; establishing a task force on green school 
1.3 	construction; requiring a report; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. GREEN SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Definition. For purposes of this section, "green school" means a 
1.7 	school that is designed, constructed, and operated to:
1.8 	(1) reduce the environmental impact of the school's physical infrastructure and 
1.9 	operation;
1.10 	(2) protect the health of students and staff by minimizing their exposure to harmful 
1.11 	chemicals; and
1.12 	(3) expand student awareness of the workings of the natural environment through 
1.13 	the curriculum and the design and operation of the school campus.
1.14 		Subd. 2.Membership. (a) The commissioners of administration and education shall 
1.15 	jointly appoint members of the Green School Construction Advisory Task Force as follows:
1.16 	(1) one member each from the Departments of Education, Administration, Health, 
1.17 	and Commerce;
1.18 	(2) one member from the Center for Sustainable Building Research at the University 
1.19 	of Minnesota;
1.20 	(3) one member from the U.S. Green Building Council's Minnesota chapter;
1.21 	(4) one member from the American Institute of Architects Minnesota chapter's 
1.22 	Committee on the Environment;
1.23 	(5) one member with expertise regarding the availability and efficacy of green 
1.24 	building materials;
2.1 	(6) one member with experience in financing sustainable infrastructure; and
2.2 	(7) up to ....... additional members with expertise on issues relevant to green school 
2.3 	construction, as determined by the commissioners.
2.4 	(b) Members of the task force shall be compensated for task force activities as 
2.5 	specified under Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 3.
2.6 	(c) The commissioners of administration and education shall convene the task force 
2.7 	no later than July 15, 2016.
2.8 		Subd. 3.Charge. The task force shall evaluate options for the state to require or 
2.9 	provide incentives to promote the construction of green schools. The task force shall:
2.10 	(1) review and evaluate approaches other states have taken with respect to promoting 
2.11 	green schools, including the degree of flexibility given to schools to employ green 
2.12 	building techniques;
2.13 	(2) analyze the costs and benefits of:
2.14 	(i) pursuing official certification of new school buildings under Leadership in Energy 
2.15 	and Environmental Design (LEED), the Collaborative for High-Performance Schools 
2.16 	(CHPS) 2014 criteria, and similar certifications, including the monetary costs and the 
2.17 	length and complexity of the administrative process required to obtain certification; and
2.18 	(ii) developing Minnesota-based construction guidelines or requirements composed 
2.19 	of elements from LEED and CHPS and other existing certification organizations, and 
2.20 	other guidelines, including, but not limited to, the International Green Construction Code 
2.21 	and Greenguard Gold certified products; and
2.22 	(3) recommend options the state should consider to implement a program promoting 
2.23 	green school construction, including any legislation that would assist in implementation.
2.24 		Subd. 4.Staffing; activities. (a) The Department of Administration shall serve 
2.25 	as staff to the task force.
2.26 	(b) The task force may use funds appropriated under this section to contract for 
2.27 	services to complete the activities required under this section.
2.28 		Subd. 5.Report. By February 1, 2017, the task force shall submit a report 
2.29 	containing its findings and recommendations to the chairs and ranking minority members 
2.30 	of the senate and house of representatives committees with primary jurisdiction over 
2.31 	education and energy.
2.32 		Subd. 6.Appropriation.  $....... in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general 
2.33 	fund to the commissioner of administration for the purpose of completing the report 
2.34 	required under this section.