Section 1. CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS.

Subdivision 1. Application. applies this new section of law to appropriations in a major finance or revenue bill and requires the House and Senate to adopt rules or resolutions that specify major finance or revenue bills. If the House and Senate fail to agree on this resolution, specifies that primary bills in certain areas are the major finance or revenue bills.

Subdivision 2. Certain appropriations continue. specifies that appropriations enacted in a major finance or revenue bill in an odd-numbered year remain in effect at the base level for future years, unless a law is enacted that eliminates or amends the appropriation. Provides that the base level is determined under Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.11, which generally defines the base level to be the amount appropriated for the second year of the biennium. Provides that this section does not apply to an appropriation if a law is enacted that appropriates money in that fiscal year for the purpose of the appropriation.

Subdivision 3. Exceptions and adjustments. provides that appropriations remain in effect as specified under subdivision 2, unless they are adjusted as follows:

• The appropriation must not be continued if the legislature designates the appropriation as onetime, the Commissioner of Finance determines the Legislature intended the appropriation to be onetime, or the program for which the appropriation was made expires.
• If the program receiving the appropriation is scheduled to expire during the fiscal year, the Commissioner of Finance must prorate the appropriation.
• The Commissioner of Finance may make technical adjustments to an appropriation if the commissioner deems the adjustment is necessary to accurately reflect the amount needed to maintain program operations.
• If the Commissioner of Finance makes any adjustments under the exceptions listed in this section, the commissioner must notify the chairs of the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees.

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