1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to courts; establishing a business court 
  1.3             pilot project; appropriating money. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [BUSINESS COURT PILOT PROJECT.] 
  1.6      Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] A pilot project is 
  1.7   established for the purpose of creating a business court to 
  1.8   handle complex commercial litigation.  The supreme court is 
  1.9   requested to designate a judicial district to participate in the 
  1.10  pilot project. 
  1.11     Subd. 2.  [JUDGES; ASSIGNMENT OF CASES.] The chief judge of 
  1.12  the district court where the business court is established shall 
  1.13  assign one or more judges to the court.  The chief judge shall 
  1.14  establish standards and procedures for assigning cases to the 
  1.15  court.  Cases may include claims arising out of commercial 
  1.16  relationships that do not involve damages for personal injury.  
  1.17  Standards for assigning cases may include: 
  1.18     (1) the number and diverse interests of the parties; 
  1.19     (2) the complexity of the evidentiary and legal issues 
  1.20  involved; 
  1.21     (3) the amount and nature of anticipated pretrial 
  1.22  discovery; and 
  1.23     (4) whether the assignment will promote the efficient 
  1.24  resolution of the case and the administration of justice. 
  2.1      Subd. 3.  [CASE MANAGEMENT.] The district court may adopt 
  2.2   special rules to facilitate the resolution and management of 
  2.3   cases assigned to the business court. 
  2.4      Subd. 4.  [ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.] The business 
  2.5   court shall identify individuals with the appropriate expertise 
  2.6   and background to preside over any alternative dispute 
  2.7   resolution proceedings involving cases assigned to the business 
  2.8   court. 
  2.9      Subd. 5.  [EVALUATION; REPORT.] The state court 
  2.10  administrator, in consultation with the chief judge of the 
  2.11  district where the business court is established, shall 
  2.12  establish a procedure for evaluating the efficiency and 
  2.13  effectiveness of the business court in resolving commercial 
  2.14  litigation and improving the administration of justice.  The 
  2.15  state court administrator shall report findings and 
  2.16  recommendations to the legislature by January 15, 2000. 
  2.17     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.18     $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  2.19  supreme court for the purpose of establishing and operating the 
  2.20  business court under section 1, to be available until June 30, 
  2.21  1999.