1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to public employment; making technical and 
  1.3             administrative changes; amending Minnesota Statutes 
  1.4             1998, sections 13.43, subdivision 2; 43A.01, 
  1.5             subdivision 2; 43A.02, subdivision 33; 43A.06, 
  1.6             subdivision 8; 43A.07, subdivision 4; 43A.13, 
  1.7             subdivision 3; 43A.15, subdivision 6, and by adding a 
  1.8             subdivision; 43A.17, subdivision 8; 43A.18, 
  1.9             subdivision 1; 43A.19, subdivision 3; 43A.20; 43A.317, 
  1.10            subdivisions 3 and 4; 43A.38, subdivision 4; and 
  1.11            43A.421; Laws 1995, chapter 248, article 13, section 
  1.12            2, subdivisions 5, as amended, and 6, as amended; 
  1.13            repealing Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 43A.13, 
  1.14            subdivision 9; 43A.40; 43A.41; 43A.42; 43A.43, 
  1.15            subdivision 2; 43A.44; 43A.45; 43A.46; and 43A.465; 
  1.16            Minnesota Rules, parts 3910.0100; 3910.0200; 
  1.17            3910.0300; 3910.0400; 3910.0500; 3910.0600; 3910.0700; 
  1.18            3910.0800; 3910.0900; 3910.1000; 3910.1100; 3910.1200; 
  1.19            3910.1300; 3910.1400; 3910.1500; 3910.1600; and 
  1.20            3910.1700. 
  1.21  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.22     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 13.43, 
  1.23  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.24     Subd. 2.  [PUBLIC DATA.] (a) Except for employees described 
  1.25  in subdivision 5, the following personnel data on current and 
  1.26  former employees, volunteers, and independent contractors of a 
  1.27  state agency, statewide system, or political subdivision and 
  1.28  members of advisory boards or commissions is public: 
  1.29     (1) name; actual gross salary; salary range; contract fees; 
  1.30  actual gross pension; the value and nature of employer paid 
  1.31  fringe benefits; and the basis for and the amount of any added 
  1.32  remuneration, including expense reimbursement, in addition to 
  1.33  salary; 
  2.1      (2) job title and bargaining unit; job description; 
  2.2   education and training background; and previous work experience; 
  2.3      (3) date of first and last employment; 
  2.4      (4) the existence and status of any complaints or charges 
  2.5   against the employee, regardless of whether the complaint or 
  2.6   charge resulted in a disciplinary action; 
  2.7      (5) the final disposition of any disciplinary action 
  2.8   together with the specific reasons for the action and data 
  2.9   documenting the basis of the action, excluding data that would 
  2.10  identify confidential sources who are employees of the public 
  2.11  body; 
  2.12     (6) the terms of any agreement settling any dispute arising 
  2.13  out of an employment relationship, including a buyout agreement 
  2.14  as defined in section 123B.143, subdivision 2, paragraph (a); 
  2.15  except that the agreement must include specific reasons for the 
  2.16  agreement if it involves the payment of more than $10,000 of 
  2.17  public money; 
  2.18     (7) work location; a work telephone number; badge number; 
  2.19  and honors and awards received; and 
  2.20     (8) payroll time sheets or other comparable data that are 
  2.21  only used to account for employee's work time for payroll 
  2.22  purposes, except to the extent that release of time sheet data 
  2.23  would reveal the employee's reasons for the use of sick or other 
  2.24  medical leave or other not public data; and city and county of 
  2.25  residence. 
  2.26     (b) For purposes of this subdivision, a final disposition 
  2.27  occurs when the state agency, statewide system, or political 
  2.28  subdivision makes its final decision about the disciplinary 
  2.29  action, regardless of the possibility of any later proceedings 
  2.30  or court proceedings.  In the case of arbitration proceedings 
  2.31  arising under collective bargaining agreements, a final 
  2.32  disposition occurs at the conclusion of the arbitration 
  2.33  proceedings, or upon the failure of the employee to elect 
  2.34  arbitration within the time provided by the collective 
  2.35  bargaining agreement.  Final disposition includes a resignation 
  2.36  by an individual when the resignation occurs after the final 
  3.1   decision of the state agency, statewide system, political 
  3.2   subdivision, or arbitrator. 
  3.3      (c) The state agency, statewide system, or political 
  3.4   subdivision may display a photograph of a current or former 
  3.5   employee to a prospective witness as part of the state agency's, 
  3.6   statewide system's, or political subdivision's investigation of 
  3.7   any complaint or charge against the employee. 
  3.8      (d) A complainant has access to a statement provided by the 
  3.9   complainant to a state agency, statewide system, or political 
  3.10  subdivision in connection with a complaint or charge against an 
  3.11  employee. 
  3.12     (e) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), clause (5), upon 
  3.13  completion of an investigation of a complaint or charge against 
  3.14  a public official, or if a public official resigns or is 
  3.15  terminated from employment while the complaint or charge is 
  3.16  pending, all data relating to the complaint or charge are 
  3.17  public, unless access to the data would jeopardize an active 
  3.18  investigation or reveal confidential sources.  For purposes of 
  3.19  this paragraph, "public official" means: 
  3.20     (1) the head of a state agency and deputy and assistant 
  3.21  state agency heads; 
  3.22     (2) members of boards or commissions required by law to be 
  3.23  appointed by the governor or other elective officers; and 
  3.24     (3) executive or administrative heads of departments, 
  3.25  bureaus, divisions, or institutions. 
  3.26     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.01, 
  3.27  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  3.28     Subd. 2.  [PRECEDENCE OF MERIT PRINCIPLES AND 
  3.29  NONDISCRIMINATION.] It is the policy of this state to provide 
  3.30  for equal employment opportunity consistent with chapter 363 by 
  3.31  ensuring that all personnel actions be based on the ability to 
  3.32  perform the duties and responsibilities assigned to the position 
  3.33  without regard to age, race, creed or religion, color, 
  3.34  disability, creed, religion, national origin, sex, national 
  3.35  origin, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, 
  3.36  or political affiliation membership or activity in a local 
  4.1   commission, disability, sexual orientation, or age.  It is the 
  4.2   policy of this state that equal employment opportunity 
  4.3   consistent with chapter 363 shall be provided without regard to 
  4.4   political opinion or affiliation with regard to nonpolitical 
  4.5   civil service positions.  It is the policy of this state to take 
  4.6   affirmative action to eliminate the underutilization of 
  4.7   qualified members of protected groups in the civil service, 
  4.8   where such action is not in conflict with other provisions of 
  4.9   this chapter or chapter 179 179A, in order to correct imbalances 
  4.10  and eliminate the present effects of past discrimination.  
  4.11     No contract executed pursuant to chapter 179A shall modify, 
  4.12  waive or abridge this section and sections 43A.07 to 43A.13, 
  4.13  43A.15, and 43A.17 to 43A.21, except to the extent expressly 
  4.14  permitted in those sections.  
  4.15     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.02, 
  4.16  subdivision 33, is amended to read: 
  4.17     Subd. 33.  [PROTECTED GROUPS.] For affirmative action 
  4.18  purposes, "protected groups" means females; handicapped, persons 
  4.19  ; with disabilities, and members of the following minorities:  
  4.20  Black, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian 
  4.21  or Alaskan native; and, until 1989, veterans who served in the 
  4.22  military service of this country during the period from August 
  4.23  5, 1964 to May 7, 1975, and separated under honorable conditions 
  4.24  from any branch of the armed forces of the United States after 
  4.25  having served on active duty for 181 consecutive days or because 
  4.26  of disability incurred while serving on active duty and who are 
  4.27  permanent residents of the state of Minnesota.  
  4.28     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.06, 
  4.29  subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
  4.30     Subd. 8.  [UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE CHARGES.] The commissioner 
  4.31  shall direct investigations and shall have authority to decide 
  4.32  whether agencies in the executive branch shall settle unfair 
  4.33  labor practice charges filed against the employer, appointing 
  4.34  authorities or their agents pursuant to chapter 179 179A.  
  4.35     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.07, 
  4.36  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  5.1      Subd. 4.  [EFFECT OF RECLASSIFICATION.] Except as provided 
  5.2   in section 43A.17, subdivision 5, the incumbent of a position 
  5.3   which has been reclassified shall continue in the position only 
  5.4   if the employee is eligible for and is appointed to the position 
  5.5   of the new class in accordance with the provisions of this 
  5.6   chapter and the rules, administrative procedures or a collective 
  5.7   bargaining agreement entered into under sections 179A.01 to 
  5.8   179A.25 governing reallocation or change in allocation of 
  5.9   positions, promotion, transfer, and demotion.  If the incumbent 
  5.10  is ineligible to continue in the position and is not 
  5.11  transferred, promoted or demoted, the layoff provisions of this 
  5.12  chapter and plans pursuant to section 43A.18 or a collective 
  5.13  bargaining agreement entered into under sections 179A.01 to 
  5.14  179A.25 shall apply.  Personnel changes required by the 
  5.15  reclassification of positions shall be completed within a 
  5.16  reasonable period of time, as prescribed by the commissioner, 
  5.17  following the reclassification notice to an appointing 
  5.18  authority.  Any employee with permanent or probationary status 
  5.19  whose position is reallocated shall be considered eligible to 
  5.20  compete in any examination held to fill the reallocation 
  5.21  position, as provided in the rules or administrative procedures. 
  5.22     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.13, 
  5.23  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  5.24     Subd. 3.  [REEMPLOYMENT.] For positions to be filled by 
  5.25  reemployment of a former employee, The commissioner may certify 
  5.26  any eligible on the reemployment list for the class or approve 
  5.27  direct reinstatement of a former classified employee within four 
  5.28  years of separation. 
  5.29     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.15, 
  5.30  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
  5.31     Subd. 6.  [APPOINTMENTS THROUGH TRANSFER OR DEMOTION.] The 
  5.32  commissioner may authorize the transfer or demotion of an 
  5.33  employee in the classified service within an agency or between 
  5.34  agencies.  Prior to authorizing a transfer or demotion, the 
  5.35  commissioner shall determine that the employee to be transferred 
  5.36  or demoted is qualified for the new position.  An authorized 
  6.1   transfer may result in the movement of an employee 
  6.2   between different positions agencies in the same class or 
  6.3   between positions or within agencies in different classes 
  6.4   provided that the compensation for the classes is similar. 
  6.5      The commissioner may enter into arrangements with public 
  6.6   personnel agencies in other jurisdictions for the purpose of 
  6.7   effecting transfers or voluntary demotions of employees between 
  6.8   jurisdictions. 
  6.9      Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.15, is 
  6.10  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  6.11     Subd. 15.  [REINSTATEMENT.] An appointing authority may 
  6.12  directly reinstate a person who is a former permanent or 
  6.13  probationary employee of the job class, within four years of 
  6.14  separation from the class. 
  6.15     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.17, 
  6.16  subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
  6.17     Subd. 8.  [ACCUMULATED VACATION LEAVE.] The commissioner of 
  6.18  employee relations shall not agree to a collective bargaining 
  6.19  agreement or recommend a compensation plan pursuant to section 
  6.20  43A.18, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, and 4, nor shall an arbitrator 
  6.21  issue an award under sections 179A.01 to 179A.25, if the 
  6.22  compensation plan, agreement, or award permits an employee to 
  6.23  convert accumulated vacation leave into cash before separation 
  6.24  from state service.  
  6.25     This section does not prohibit the commissioner from 
  6.26  negotiating a collective bargaining agreement or recommending 
  6.27  approval of a compensation plan which:  (1) permits an employee 
  6.28  to receive payment for accumulated vacation leave upon beginning 
  6.29  an unpaid leave of absence approved for more than one year in 
  6.30  duration if the leave of absence is not for the purpose of 
  6.31  accepting an unclassified position in state civil service; or 
  6.32  (2) permits an employee to receive payment for accumulated 
  6.33  vacation leave upon layoff; or (3) permits an employee to 
  6.34  receive payment for accumulated vacation leave if a change in 
  6.35  employment results in the employee being ineligible to accrue 
  6.36  further vacation leave. 
  7.1      Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.18, 
  7.2   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  7.3      Subdivision 1.  [COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS.] Except 
  7.4   as provided in section 43A.01 and to the extent they are covered 
  7.5   by a collective bargaining agreement, the compensation, terms 
  7.6   and conditions of employment for all employees represented by an 
  7.7   exclusive representative certified pursuant to chapter 179 179A 
  7.8   shall be governed solely by the collective bargaining agreement 
  7.9   executed by the parties and approved by the legislature.  
  7.10     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.19, 
  7.11  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  7.12     Subd. 3.  [EXEMPTIONS.] Implementation of the provisions of 
  7.13  this section shall not be deemed a violation of other provisions 
  7.14  of Laws 1981, chapter 210 43A or 363.  
  7.15     Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.20, is 
  7.16  amended to read: 
  7.17     43A.20 [PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL AND PAY.] 
  7.18     The commissioner shall design and maintain a performance 
  7.19  appraisal system under which each employee in the civil service 
  7.20  in the executive branch shall be evaluated and counseled on work 
  7.21  performance at least once a year.  Individual pay increases for 
  7.22  all employees not represented by an exclusive representative 
  7.23  certified pursuant to chapter 179 179A shall be based on the 
  7.24  evaluation and other factors the commissioner includes in the 
  7.25  plans developed pursuant to section 43A.18.  Collective 
  7.26  bargaining agreements entered into pursuant to chapter 179 179A 
  7.27  may, and are encouraged to, provide for pay increases based on 
  7.28  employee work performance.  
  7.29     Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.317, 
  7.30  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  7.31     Subd. 3.  [ADMINISTRATION.] The commissioner may determine 
  7.32  when the program provided by this section is available.  When 
  7.33  the commissioner determines that the program is available, the 
  7.34  commissioner shall, consistent with the provisions of this 
  7.35  section, administer the program and determine its coverage 
  7.36  options, funding and premium arrangements, contractual 
  8.1   arrangements, and all other matters necessary to administer the 
  8.2   program.  The commissioner's contracting authority for the 
  8.3   program, including authority for competitive bidding and 
  8.4   negotiations, is governed by section 43A.23. 
  8.5      Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.317, 
  8.6   subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  8.7      Subd. 4.  [ADVISORY COMMITTEE.] When the commissioner 
  8.8   determines that the program is available, the commissioner shall 
  8.9   establish a ten-member advisory committee that includes five 
  8.10  members who represent eligible employers and five members who 
  8.11  represent eligible individuals.  The committee shall advise the 
  8.12  commissioner on issues related to administration of the 
  8.13  program.  The committee is governed by sections 15.014 and 
  8.14  15.059, and continues to exist while the program remains in 
  8.15  operation. 
  8.16     Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.38, 
  8.17  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  8.18     Subd. 4.  [USE OF STATE PROPERTY.] (a) An employee shall 
  8.19  not use or allow the use of state time, supplies or state-owned 
  8.20  or leased property and equipment for the employee's private 
  8.21  interests or any other use not in the interest of the state, 
  8.22  except as provided by law. 
  8.23     (b) An employee may use state time, property, or equipment 
  8.24  to communicate electronically with other persons including, but 
  8.25  not limited to, elected officials, the employer, or an exclusive 
  8.26  bargaining representative under chapter 179A, provided this use, 
  8.27  including the value of the time spent, results in no incremental 
  8.28  cost to the state or results in an incremental cost that is so 
  8.29  small as to make accounting for it unreasonable or 
  8.30  administratively impracticable complies with the statewide 
  8.31  policy adopted under paragraph (c). 
  8.32     (c) The commissioners of administration and employee 
  8.33  relations shall issue a statewide policy on the use of 
  8.34  electronic mail and other forms of electronic communications by 
  8.35  executive branch state employees.  The policy is not subject to 
  8.36  the provisions of chapter 14 or 179A.  Appointing authorities in 
  9.1   the legislative and judicial branches shall issue policies on 
  9.2   these issues for their employees.  The policies shall permit 
  9.3   state employees to make reasonable use of state time, property, 
  9.4   and equipment for personal communications and shall address 
  9.5   issues of privacy, content of communications, and the definition 
  9.6   of reasonable use as well as other issues the commissioners and 
  9.7   appointing authorities identify as necessary and relevant. 
  9.8      Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 43A.421, is 
  9.9   amended to read: 
  9.10     43A.421 [SUPPORTED WORK PROGRAM.] 
  9.11     A total of 50 additional full-time positions within 
  9.12  agencies of state government may be selected for inclusion for a 
  9.13  supported work program for persons with severe disabilities.  A 
  9.14  full-time position may be shared by up to three persons with 
  9.15  severe disabilities and their job coach.  The job coach is not a 
  9.16  state employee within the scope of section 43A.02, subdivision 
  9.17  21, or 179A.03, subdivision 14, unless the job coach holds 
  9.18  another position within the scope of section 43A.02, subdivision 
  9.19  21, or 179A.03, subdivision 14. 
  9.20     Sec. 17.  Laws 1995, chapter 248, article 13, section 2, 
  9.21  subdivision 5, as amended by Laws 1997, chapter 97, section 14, 
  9.22  is amended to read: 
  9.23     Subd. 5.  [PILOT PROJECT.] During the biennium ending June 
  9.24  30, 1999 2001, the department of employee relations in 
  9.25  conjunction with union representatives shall designate state job 
  9.26  classifications to be included in one or more pilot projects.  
  9.27  Under this pilot project:  (1) resumes of applicants for 
  9.28  positions to be filled through this process will be evaluated 
  9.29  through an objective computerized system that will identify 
  9.30  which applicants have the required skills; and (2) information 
  9.31  on applicants determined to have required skills will be 
  9.32  forwarded to the agency seeking to fill a vacancy, without 
  9.33  ranking these applicants, and without a limit on the number of 
  9.34  applicants that may be forwarded to the hiring agency.  This 
  9.35  process is in lieu of the procedures provided in Minnesota 
  9.36  Statutes, sections 43A.10 to 43A.13, and related rules and 
 10.1   procedures adopted under Minnesota Statutes, section 43A.04, 
 10.2   subdivision 4, except that applicants who are being referred and 
 10.3   who qualify for veterans preference under Minnesota Statutes, 
 10.4   section 43A.11, will be placed ahead of referrals who meet the 
 10.5   required skills of the vacant position and who do not qualify 
 10.6   for veterans preference.  Before designating a job 
 10.7   classification under this subdivision, the department must 
 10.8   assure that the hiring process for those job classifications 
 10.9   complies with the policies in subdivision 1.  
 10.10     Sec. 18.  Laws 1995, chapter 248, article 13, section 2, 
 10.11  subdivision 6, as amended by Laws 1997, chapter 97, section 15, 
 10.12  is amended to read: 
 10.13     Subd. 6.  [EVALUATION.] The commissioner of employee 
 10.14  relations, in consultation with union representatives, shall 
 10.15  design and implement a system for evaluating the success of the 
 10.16  pilot project in subdivision 5.  By October 1, 1997 1999, and 
 10.17  October 1, 1998 2000, the commissioner must report to the 
 10.18  legislature on the pilot project.  The report must:  
 10.19     (1) list job classifications subject to each pilot project, 
 10.20  and the number of positions filled in these job classes under 
 10.21  the pilot; 
 10.22     (2) evaluate the extent to which the project has been 
 10.23  successful in maintaining a merit-based system in the absence of 
 10.24  traditional civil service laws and rules; 
 10.25     (3) quantify time and money saved in the hiring process 
 10.26  under these pilot projects, as compared to hiring under the 
 10.27  traditional laws and rules; 
 10.28     (4) document the extent of complaints or problems arising 
 10.29  under the new system; and 
 10.30     (5) recommend any changes in laws or rules needed to make 
 10.31  permanent the successes of the pilot projects. 
 10.32     Sec. 19.  [REPEALER.] 
 10.33     Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 43A.13, subdivision 9; 
 10.34  43A.40; 43A.41; 43A.42; 43A.43, subdivision 2; 43A.44; 43A.45; 
 10.35  43A.46; and 43A.465, are repealed.  
 10.36     Minnesota Rules, parts 3910.0100; 3910.0200; 3910.0300; 
 11.1   3910.0400; 3910.0500; 3910.0600; 3910.0700; 3910.0800; 
 11.2   3910.0900; 3910.1000; 3910.1100; 3910.1200; 3910.1300; 
 11.3   3910.1400; 3910.1500; 3910.1600; and 3910.1700, are repealed. 
 11.4      Sec. 20.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
 11.5      Sections 1 to 19 are effective the day following final 
 11.6   enactment.