Signed by Governor Tim Pawlenty

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that requires the Commissioner of Commerce and the Commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency to submit a report to relevant state Senate and House committees on the status of the development of a model rule establishing a cap and trade program under the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Accord by January 15, 2009.

Highlights:

- Specifies that any cap and trade agreements entered into are not effective in the state of Minnesota until enacted into law (Sec. 2). - Commissions studies related to the impact a cap and trade program will have on the economic, environmental, and public health, potential revenue, and governance options for determining expenditures of revenue (Secs. 2-4). - Specifies that up to $500,000 of the amount previously appropriated from the special revenue fund to the Commissioner of Commerce shall be used to fund the studies commissioned in this bill (Sec. 5). - Specifies that, in addition to the information on the status of the program, the report shall also cover (Sec. 2):

- Implementation mechanisms; - The potential for the program to allow the state to meet existing greenhouse gas reduction goals; - Enacted or pending legislation in Congress to implement a federal cap and trade program; - Economic, environmental, and public health impact study; and - The potential cap and trade revenue study.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that requires the Commissioner of Commerce and the Commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency to submit a report to relevant state Senate and House committees on the status of the development of a model rule establishing a cap and trade program under the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Accord by January 15, 2009.

Highlights:

- Specifies that any cap and trade agreements entered into are not effective in the state of Minnesota until enacted into law (Sec. 2). - Commissions studies related to the impact a cap and trade program will have on the economic, environmental, and public health, potential revenue, and governance options for determining expenditures of revenue (Secs. 2-4). - Specifies that up to $500,000 of the amount previously appropriated from the special revenue fund to the Commissioner of Commerce shall be used to fund the studies commissioned in this bill (Sec. 5). - Specifies that, in addition to the information on the status of the program, the report shall also cover (Sec. 2):

- Implementation mechanisms; - The potential for the program to allow the state to meet existing greenhouse gas reduction goals; - Enacted or pending legislation in Congress to implement a federal cap and trade program; - Economic, environmental, and public health impact study; and - The potential cap and trade revenue study.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the Commissioner of Commerce and the Commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency to submit a report to relevant state Senate and House committees on the status of the development of a model rule establishing a cap and trade program under the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Accord by February 15, 2009.

Highlights:

- Specifies that any cap and trade agreements entered into are not effective in the state of Minnesota until enacted into law (Sec. 2). - Commissions studies related to the impact a cap and trade program will have on the economic, environmental, and public health, potential revenue, and governance options for determining expenditures of revenue (Secs. 2-4). - Specifies that up to $500,000 of the amount previously appropriated from the special revenue fund to the Commissioner of Commerce shall be used to fund the studies commissioned in this bill (Sec. 5). - Specifies that, in addition to the information on the status of the program, the report shall also cover (Sec. 2):

- Implementation mechanisms; - The potential for the program to allow the state to meet existing greenhouse gas reduction goals; - Enacted or pending legislation in Congress to implement a federal cap and trade program; and - The economic, environmental, and public health impact study.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes guidelines for a future cap and trade program in participation with the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Accord to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Highlights:

- Requires the commissioner of commerce to submit to the legislature by January 15, 2009 a report on the development of a regional cap and trade system to help the state meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals [sec. 3 (a)]. - Requires all cap and trade agreements to be approved by the Minnesota legislature in order to take effect [sec. 3 (c)]. - Requires the Department of Commerce to conduct a study of the costs and benefits of the cap and trade system each year after its implementation (Sec. 4). - Requires the University of Minnesota to conduct a study on ways to manage the cap and trade system [sec. 5 (subd. 1)]. - Requires the Commissioner of Commerce to conduct a study the economic, environmental, and public health costs and benefits of a cap and trade program [sec. 5 (subd. 2)] - Appropriates $500,000 to conduct these studies (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text