Subd. 1. Policy.

It is declared to be the policy of the state and to be in the best public interest for the promotion of public safety, recreation, travel, trade, and the general welfare of the people to cooperate with the federal government and with the interstate Mississippi River Parkway Planning Commission. To carry out such policy and to aid in the promotion and securement of a scenic parkway and highway for the state of Minnesota and to aid in securing the location of federal parks within Minnesota a Mississippi River Parkway Commission is created. Such commission shall also work toward the planning, construction, maintenance, and improvement of the Great River Road or Mississippi River Parkway which is to follow generally the course of the Mississippi River and extend from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

Subd. 2. Members.

1. (a) The commission shall be composed of 15 members of whom:

   1. (1) one shall be appointed by the commissioner of transportation;
   2. (2) one shall be appointed by the commissioner of natural resources;
   3. (3) one shall be appointed by the commissioner of employment and economic development;
   4. (4) one shall be appointed by the commissioner of agriculture;
   5. (5) one shall be appointed by the director of the Minnesota Historical Society;
   6. (6) two shall be members of the senate to be appointed by the Committee on Committees;
   7. (7) two shall be members of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker;
   8. (8) one shall be the secretary appointed pursuant to subdivision 3; and

   9. (9) five shall be citizen members appointed by five citizen committees established by the members appointed under clauses (1) to (8), with each citizen committee established within and representing each of the following geographic segments along the Mississippi River:

      1. (i) Lake Itasca to but not including the city of Grand Rapids;
      2. (ii) Grand Rapids to but not including the city of Brainerd;
      3. (iii) Brainerd to but not including the city of Elk River;
      4. (iv) Elk River to but not including the city of Hastings; and

      5. (v) Hastings to the Iowa border.

         Each citizen committee member shall be a resident of the geographic segment that the committee and member represents.

2. (b) The members of the commission shall serve for a term expiring at the close of each regular session of the legislature and until their successors are appointed. Successor members shall be appointed by the same appointing authorities. Members may be reappointed. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. The commissioner of transportation, the commissioner of natural resources, and the director of the Minnesota Historical Society shall be ex officio members, and shall be in addition to the 15 members heretofore provided for. Immediately upon making the appointments to the commission the appointing authorities shall so notify the Mississippi River Parkway Commission, hereinafter called the National Commission, giving the names and addresses of the members so appointed.

Subd. 3. Investigatory powers; chair, vice-chair, and secretary.

The commission may hold meetings and hearings at such time and places as it may designate to accomplish the purposes set forth in this section and may subpoena witnesses and records. It shall select a chair, a vice-chair, and such other officers from its membership as it deems necessary. The commission shall appoint a secretary who shall also serve as a commission member.

Subd. 4. Compensation, supplies, staff.

Compensation of legislative members of the commission is as provided in section 3.101. Compensation of the remaining members is as provided in section 15.0575. The commission may purchase supplies, employ part-time or full-time employees, and do all things reasonably necessary and convenient in carrying out the purposes of this section.

Subd. 5. Staff from other agencies.

The commissioner of transportation shall designate one employee of the Department of Transportation who is an engineer or who has engineering experience and the commissioner of natural resources shall appoint one staff member who shall advise with and assist the commission in carrying out its functions and duties.

Subd. 6. National Commission.

The commission shall be an affiliate of the National Commission and as a member of the National Commission may pay an annual fee for its equal share of the planning program of the National Commission.

Subd. 7. Program review.

The commission may review the programs of the various interstate compacts, studies, planning groups and commissions involved in water and land use activities along the Mississippi River in Minnesota.

Subd. 8. Expiration.

The commission shall expire on June 30, 2003.

* NOTE: Laws 2003, chapter 128, article 10, section 2, *subdivision 5, was amended by adding the following provision: *"Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 161.1419, *subdivision 8, the commission expires on June 30, 2007." Laws *2003, First Special Session chapter 23, section 11.