1.2relating to public safety; creating advisory task force to study fire protection
1.3and first responder services.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5    Section 1. FIRE PROTECTION AND FIRST RESPONDER SERVICES
1.6ADVISORY TASK FORCE.
1.7    Subdivision 1. Establishment and purpose. An advisory task force is established
1.8to study and make possible recommendations on best management practices and options
1.9for reducing service delivery costs related to fire protection and first responder services.
1.10Issues to be examined and discussed include, but are not limited to:
1.11(1) identification of required and desired fire protection and first responder service
1.12levels in different types of communities across the state;
1.13(2) identification of current cost factors for providing such services;
1.14(3) identification of options for reducing costs, including alternative service delivery
1.15and administrative options, as well as best practices suggestions for service delivery;
1.16(4) establishment of equitable cost-sharing formulas; and
1.17(5) effective and efficient use of special service districts.
1.18    Subd. 2. Membership. (a) The task force is comprised of the following members:
1.19(1) two members of the senate, including one from the majority party, appointed
1.20by the majority leader of the senate, and one from the minority party, appointed by the
1.21senate minority leader;
1.22(2) two members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the
1.23house and one appointed by the minority leader;
2.1(3) three representatives of city interests, at least one of whom must represent a
2.2city with a population under 5,000, another who must represent a city with a population
2.3under 1,000, and at least one who must be an elected city official, to be appointed by
2.4the League of Minnesota Cities;
2.5(4) three representatives of town interests, appointed by the Minnesota Association
2.6of Townships, at least one of whom must be a town supervisor;
2.7(5) two members of the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs' Association appointed by
2.8the association; and
2.9(6) two members of the Minnesota Ambulance Association appointed by the
2.10association.
2.11(b) Each appointing authority shall appoint its members no later than 45 days
2.12after the day following final enactment or July 1, 2009, whichever is earlier. In making
2.13appointments, each appointing authority shall consider geographic balance. Appointments
2.14must be reported to the senate majority leader. Members shall serve without compensation.
2.15    Subd. 3. Meetings. The senator appointed from the majority party shall convene
2.16the first meeting of the task force no later than August 1, 2009. At the first meeting,
2.17the members shall elect one of the nonlegislator members to be the chair. The chair is
2.18responsible for scheduling all subsequent meetings of the task force.
2.19    Subd. 4. Report. The task force shall report its findings and any recommendations,
2.20including draft legislation, to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over local
2.21government by February 1, 2010. The task force shall also provide copies of its report to
2.22the Legislative Reference Library pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 3.195.
2.23EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment
2.24and expires February 15, 2010, or the day following submission of the report required by
2.25subdivision 4, whichever is later.