1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; establishing the learning 
  1.3             network of Minnesota II; and developing activities. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LEARNING NETWORK OF 
  1.6   MINNESOTA II (LN II).] 
  1.7      The Learning Network of Minnesota II (LN II) is established 
  1.8   as a statewide education network to support the delivery of 
  1.9   education and information programs and services to the citizens 
  1.10  of Minnesota.  The network shall operate as a collaborative, 
  1.11  which includes elementary and secondary schools, libraries, 
  1.12  post-secondary institutions, the state of Minnesota, and related 
  1.13  entities. 
  1.14     Sec. 2.  [DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.] 
  1.15     The Minnesota education telecommunications council (METC), 
  1.16  under Laws 1993, First Special Session chapter 2, article 5, 
  1.17  section 2, as amended by Laws 1994, chapter 532, article 2, 
  1.18  section 13, and Laws 1995, First Special Session chapter 3, 
  1.19  article 12, section 7, in collaboration with the higher 
  1.20  education advisory council (HEAC), which includes the president 
  1.21  of the University of Minnesota, the chancellor of the Minnesota 
  1.22  state colleges and universities, the commissioner of the 
  1.23  department of children, families, and learning, and a 
  1.24  representative of the private college council, under Minnesota 
  2.1   Statutes, section 136A.031, subdivision 2, shall provide 
  2.2   statewide vision and leadership by creating a plan for 
  2.3   legislative action for the governance, financing, and 
  2.4   implementation of the LN II.  These collaborative planning 
  2.5   efforts will propose specific governance and operation 
  2.6   organization and procedures, including, but not limited to, 
  2.7   development of a statewide network architecture using common 
  2.8   protocols, operating procedures, and shared content and 
  2.9   development of budget strategies that incorporate local, state, 
  2.10  and federal funding, which might be available.  The legislature 
  2.11  will review these efforts by February 1, 2000, and determine, in 
  2.12  consultation with the METC and the HEAC, what legislative or 
  2.13  other steps are necessary to continue implementation of LN II.