1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; requiring certificate of good standing from state 
1.3 	committee of a political party prior to certain appointments;amending Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes 2014, section 15.0597, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 15.0597, is amended by adding a 
1.7 	subdivision to read:
1.8 		Subd. 6a.Partisan appointments. (a) When making an appointment to a vacant 
1.9 	agency position that requires the member to be associated with a particular political party, 
1.10 	the appointing authority shall request from the state committee of the potential member's 
1.11 	political party a certificate of good standing regarding the potential member's status with 
1.12 	the political party.
1.13 	(b) No appointing authority may appoint a person to a vacant agency position 
1.14 	that requires the member to be associated with a particular party unless the appointing 
1.15 	authority receives a certificate of good standing from the state committee of the potential 
1.16 	member's political party regarding the potential member's status with the political party.
1.17 	(c) For purposes of this subdivision, the terms defined in this paragraph have the 
1.18 	meanings given them.
1.19 	(1) "State committee" has the meaning given in section 10A.01, subdivision 36; and
1.20 	(2) "Certificate of good standing" means a document issued by the state committee 
1.21 	of a political party stating that a person being considered for appointment to a vacant 
1.22 	agency position (i) is in agreement with the principles of the party as stated in the party's 
1.23 	constitution, and (ii) intends to affiliate with the party at the next state general election or 
1.24 	affiliated with the party at the last state general election.