Signed by Governor Mark Dayton

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with the Senate amendments and pass a bill that submits a constitutional amendment to the voters that establishes a Legislative Salary Council.

Highlights:

• Establishes a “Legislative Salary Council” to consist of the following members (Secs. 1 & 2):
• 1 individual from each congressional district, who is not a judge, appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court;
• 1 individual from each congressional district, appointed by the governor; and
• 2 at-large individuals to be appointed separately by the chief justice and the governor, if the state has an odd number of congressional districts.

• Requires the council to recommend salaries for legislators and submit a report to the governor and certain legislative leaders with their recommendations and their rationale by March 31 of each odd-numbered year (Secs. 1 & 2). 

• Prohibits certain individuals from being appointed to the council, including, but not limited to, the following individuals (Secs. 1 & 2):
• A current or former legislator;
• A current or former lobbyist;
• A current or former judge; and
• A spouse of a current legislator.

• Requires half of the governor’s appointees and half of the chief justice’s appointees to belong to the political party with the most members in the legislature, and requires the other halves to belong to the political party with the second most members in the legislature (Secs. 1 & 2).

• Requires this bill to be submitted to the voters at the 2016 general election in the form of the following question: “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to remove state lawmaker’s power to set their own salaries and instead establish an independent, citizens-only council to prescribe salaries of lawmakers?” (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that submits a constitutional amendment to the voters that establishes a Legislative Salary Council.

Highlights:

• Establishes a “Legislative Salary Council” to consist of the following members (Secs. 1 & 2):
• 1 individual from each congressional district, who is not a judge, appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court;
• 1 individual from each congressional district, appointed by the governor; and
• 2 at-large individuals to be appointed separately by the chief justice and the governor, if the state has an odd number of congressional districts.

• Requires the council to recommend salaries for legislators and submit a report to the governor and certain legislative leaders with their recommendations and their rationale by March 31 of each odd-numbered year (Secs. 1 & 2). 

• Prohibits certain individuals from being appointed to the council, including, but not limited to, the following individuals (Secs. 1 & 2):
• A current or former legislator;
• A current or former lobbyist;
• A current or former judge; and
• A spouse of a current legislator.

• Requires half of the governor’s appointees and half of the chief justice’s appointees to belong to the political party with the most members in the legislature, and requires the other halves to belong to the political party with the second most members in the legislature (Secs. 1 & 2).

• Requires this bill to be submitted to the voters at the 2016 general election in the form of the following question: “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to remove state lawmaker’s power to set their own salaries and instead establish an independent, citizens-only council to prescribe salaries of lawmakers?” (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text