1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to metropolitan government; requiring at least one member of the 
1.3 	Metropolitan Council to have an agriculture industry background;amending 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.123, subdivision 3.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.123, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 3.Membership; appointment; qualifications. (a) Sixteen members must be 
1.8 	appointed by the governor from districts defined by this section. Each council member 
1.9 	must reside in the council district represented. Each council district must be represented 
1.10 	by one member of the council.
1.11 	(b) In addition to the notice required by section 15.0597, subdivision 4, notice of 
1.12 	vacancies and expiration of terms must be published in newspapers of general circulation 
1.13 	in the metropolitan area and the appropriate districts. The governing bodies of the statutory 
1.14 	and home rule charter cities, counties, and towns having territory in the district for which 
1.15 	a member is to be appointed must be notified in writing. The notices must describe the 
1.16 	appointments process and invite participation and recommendations on the appointment.
1.17 	(c) The governor shall create a nominating committee, composed of seven 
1.18 	metropolitan citizens appointed by the governor, to nominate persons for appointment to 
1.19 	the council from districts. Three of the committee members must be local elected officials. 
1.20 	Following the submission of applications as provided under section 15.0597, subdivision 
1.21 	5, the nominating committee shall conduct public meetings, after appropriate notice, to 
1.22 	accept statements from or on behalf of persons who have applied or been nominated for 
1.23 	appointment and to allow consultation with and secure the advice of the public and local 
1.24 	elected officials. The committee shall hold the meeting on each appointment in the district 
2.1 	or in a reasonably convenient and accessible location in the part of the metropolitan area 
2.2 	in which the district is located. The committee may consolidate meetings. Following 
2.3 	the meetings, the committee shall submit to the governor a list of nominees for each 
2.4 	appointment. The governor is not required to appoint from the list.
2.5 	(d) Before making an appointment, the governor shall consult with all members of 
2.6 	the legislature from the council district for which the member is to be appointed.
2.7 	(e) Appointments to the council are subject to the advice and consent of the senate as 
2.8 	provided in section 15.066.
2.9 	(f) Members of the council must be appointed to reflect fairly the various 
2.10 	demographic, political, and other interests in the metropolitan area and the districts. At 
2.11 	least one member of the council must have a background and be employed in, or employ 
2.12 	others in, an agriculture-related industry.
2.13 	(g) Members of the council must be persons knowledgeable about urban and 
2.14 	metropolitan affairs.
2.15 	(h) Any vacancy in the office of a council member shall immediately be filled 
2.16 	for the unexpired term. In filling a vacancy, the governor may forgo the requirements 
2.17 	of paragraph (c) if the governor has made appointments in full compliance with the 
2.18 	requirements of this subdivision within the preceding 12 months.

2.19 	EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION. This section is effective the day following 
2.20 	final enactment and applies to appointments made on or after that date. This section applies 
2.21 	in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.