Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that any new rules or amendments to existing rules proposed by the commissioner of corrections, specifically those affecting jails, lockups, or workhouses in Minnesota, receive legislative approval before implementation, particularly if they impose significant compliance costs.

Main Provisions

• Legislative Approval Requirement: The bill requires the commissioner of corrections to obtain legislative approval for any new or amended rules if the cost of complying with these rules in the first year is estimated to exceed $25,000.
• Cost Determination: The commissioner must assess whether the compliance cost will exceed the $25,000 threshold before completing the hearing record or before submitting the record to an administrative law judge if no hearing is held.
• Administrative Law Judge Role: An administrative law judge must review the commissioner's determination regarding the compliance cost and either approve or disapprove it.
• Temporary Exemption: If the cost exceeds the threshold or if the judge disapproves of the agency’s cost determination, jails, lockups, or workhouses can file for a temporary exemption. This exemption remains until legislative approval is obtained for the rules.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill introduces a new requirement for legislative approval of costly new rules or amendments before they can be imposed on correctional facilities, providing these facilities an opportunity for exemption if the rules lead to significant financial burdens.

Relevant Terms

• Legislative approval
• Commissioner of corrections
• Compliance cost
• Administrative law judge
• Jail, lockup, workhouse
• Temporary exemption