1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to local government; establishing the County Law Library Task Force; 
1.3 	requiring a report; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. COUNTY LAW LIBRARY TASK FORCE.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The County Law Library Task Force is established to 
1.7 	review the funding and operations of county law libraries and make recommendations to 
1.8 	the legislature regarding establishing a sustainable source of funding for county law libraries, 
1.9 	improving access to county law libraries, and improving the efficiency of county law 
1.10 	libraries.
1.11 		Subd. 2.Membership. (a) The task force consists of the following members:
1.12 	(1) two members from the senate, including one appointed by the senate majority leader 
1.13 	and one appointed by the senate minority leader;
1.14 	(2) two members from the house of representatives, including one appointed by the 
1.15 	speaker of the house and one appointed by the minority leader;
1.16 	(3) one appellate judge appointed by the chief justice;
1.17 	(4) two district court judges appointed by the chief justice, of whom one must be from 
1.18 	a metropolitan county as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 4, and 
1.19 	one from a county other than a metropolitan county;
1.20 	(5) one county law librarian appointed by the chief justice;
1.21 	(6) the state law librarian or designee;
2.1 	(7) the state court administrator or designee;
2.2 	(8) the state public defender or designee;
2.3 	(9) a county attorney or assistant county attorney appointed by the Minnesota County 
2.4 	Attorney's Association;
2.5 	(10) one county commissioner who serves on a law library board appointed by the 
2.6 	governor;
2.7 	(11) one member appointed by the governor representing a group that provides legal aid 
2.8 	to people with low incomes, including but not limited to Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, Southern 
2.9 	Minnesota Legal Services, and the Legal Rights Center; and
2.10 	(12) two members appointed by the Minnesota Bar Association representing small or 
2.11 	solo practices, of whom one must be from a metropolitan county as defined in Minnesota 
2.12 	Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 4, and one from a county other than a metropolitan 
2.13 	county.
2.14 	(b) Appointments must be made no later than August 15, 2023.
2.15 	(c) Members of the task force are eligible for compensation pursuant to Minnesota 
2.16 	Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 3.
2.17 	(d) Members of the task force serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority or until 
2.18 	the task force expires. A vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority consistent with 
2.19 	the qualifications of the vacating member required by this subdivision.
2.20 		Subd. 3.Officers; meetings. (a) The state law librarian or designee shall serve as chair. 
2.21 	The task force shall elect a vice-chair and may elect other officers as necessary.
2.22 	(b) The commissioner of administration shall convene the first meeting of the task force 
2.23 	no later than September 1, 2023, and shall provide meeting space and administrative 
2.24 	assistance as necessary for the task force to conduct its work.
2.25 	(c) The task force shall meet at least monthly or upon the call of the chair. The task force 
2.26 	shall hold sufficient meetings to accomplish the tasks identified in this section. Meetings 
2.27 	of the task force are subject to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13D.
2.28 		Subd. 4.Duties. The task force shall:
2.29 	(1) review existing methods of funding for county law libraries;
3.1 	(2) recommend changes that provide a sustainable source of funding that ensures free 
3.2 	and accessible law library services across the state and does not rely on fines or fees for 
3.3 	those involved in the criminal justice system; and
3.4 	(3) propose changes to improve access to county law libraries and the efficiency of 
3.5 	services provided by county law libraries that include but are not limited to the reduction 
3.6 	of redundancies and promotion of coordinated service delivery statewide.
3.7 		Subd. 5.Report. On or before February 15, 2024, the task force shall submit a report 
3.8 	to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with 
3.9 	jurisdiction over state and local government finance and policy and judiciary finance and 
3.10 	policy on the findings and recommendations of the task force, including any draft legislation 
3.11 	necessary to implement the recommendations.
3.12 		Subd. 6.Expiration. This section expires the day after the task force submits the report 
3.13 	required under subdivision 5.

3.14 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2023.

3.15 	Sec. 2. COUNTY LAW LIBRARY TASK FORCE; APPROPRIATION.
 3.16 	$....... in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
3.17 	administration for meeting space, administrative support, and other expenses related to the 
3.18 	County Law Library Task Force.