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Legislative Reference Library Key Statutory Mandates

This page notes key sections of Minnesota Statutes regarding the Legislative Reference Library and its role in collecting materials. See a full list here.

Legislative Reference Library - Minnesota Statutes, section 3.302

  • This statute discusses the Legislative Reference Library's collection and purpose, the Library's status as a depository library, and the need for agencies to provide bibliographic information on documents. The Library is to receive all documents published by the state and considered to be of interest or value to the Library. The statute defines a document as "any publication issued by the state, constitutional officers, commissions, councils, bureaus, research centers, societies, task forces... or other agencies supported by state funds, or any publication prepared for the state by private individuals or organizations considered to be of interest or value to the library."

Reports to the Legislature - Minnesota Statutes, section 3.195

  • Subdivision 1 requires that one print copy and one electronic copy of reports be sent to the Legislative Reference Library. Subdivision 2 requires that items submitted to the Library contain "the information necessary to identify the document as required by section 3.302, subdivision 3a." This includes complete bibliographic information (author, title, publisher, date, place of publication). If the report is required by a specific law, the citation to the session law and section of statute must be included. Subdivision 3 requires that the Library provide a monthly checklist of state documents to legislators. The Library's Newly Acquired Minnesota State Government Reports fulfills the checklist requirement.

Biennial Reports; Submission - Minnesota Statutes, section 15.063

  • Biennial reports required to be submitted to the Legislature by various departments and agencies shall be submitted by November 15 of each even numbered year.

Professional and Technical Service Contracts

 Minnesota Statutes, section 3.225 (Applies to a contract for professional or technical services entered into by the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Legislative Coordinating Commission, or any group under the jurisdiction of the Legislative Coordinating Commission.)

  • Subdivision 6 states: "If the final product of the contract is a written report, a copy must be filed with the Legislative Reference Library."

 Minnesota Statutes, section 16C.08 (Applies to a contract for professional or technical services entered into by state agencies.)

  • Subdivision 6 states: "If the final product of the contract is a written report, a copy must be filed with the Legislative Reference Library."

Required Reports (Costs of Preparing) - Minnesota Statutes, section 3.197

  • Reports to the Legislature must contain a summary of the costs involved in preparation.

State Depository Libraries - Minnesota Statutes, section 15.18

  • This statute relating to the distribution of publications clarifies that "when any department, agency, or official of the state issues for public distribution any book, document, journal, map, pamphlet, or report copies thereof shall be delivered" to the libraries listed.

Government Data Practices - Minnesota Statutes, section 13.01 and Minnesota Statutes, section 13.02

  • These sections regulate the collection, creation, storage, maintenance, dissemination, and access to government data in government entities. They establish a presumption that government data are public and are accessible by the public for both inspection and copying unless there is federal law, a state statute, or a temporary classification of data that provides that certain data are not public. "Government data" means all data collected, created, received, maintained, or disseminated by any government entity regardless of its physical form, storage media, or conditions of use. "Government entity" means a state agency, statewide system, or political subdivision.

Effective Date and Time of Laws - Minnesota Statutes, section 645.02

  • This statute states: "Each act, except one making appropriations, enacted finally at any session of the legislature takes effect on August 1 next following its final enactment, unless a different date is specified in the act... An appropriation act or an act having appropriation items enacted finally at any session of the legislature takes effect at the beginning of the first day of July next following its final enactment, unless a different date is specified in the act."

Environmental Impact Statements - Minnesota Rules, part 4410.2600, subp. 3 and Minnesota Rules, part 4410.2700, subp. 3

  • Draft EIS reports, with appendixes, shall be provided to the Legislative Reference Library. Additionally, the responsible governmental unit shall provide copies of the final EIS to the Library.