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Uniform Law Commission requests level biennial budget to support volunteer commissioners
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Summary
Minnesota's Uniform Law Commissioners asked the committee to approve a level budget of $115,000 per year ($230,000 biennium) to cover state dues and travel reimbursement for volunteer commissioners; commissioners emphasized the commission's long drafting process and Minnesota's active role in national uniform-law work.
Representatives of the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) appeared before the committee to describe their role and request a continuation of the commission's current budget level to cover state dues and travel for Minnesota's commissioners.
Kim Lowe, a Minnesota uniform law commissioner and practicing attorney, explained the commission's mission: prepare model/uniform laws on topics where interstate uniformity is valuable, using study and drafting committees and a multi-year nationwide process. Lowe noted Minnesota has enacted many uniform acts and is a historically active state within the ULC.
Michelle Timmons, a life member of the Minnesota delegation and former reviser of statutes, summarized the budget request. The ULC request in the upcoming biennium seeks the same level as the current appropriation: $115,000 per year ($230,000 per biennium). Timmons said the state dues portion is population-based (examples cited: $73,620 in year one and $77,300 in year two in the draft numbers discussed) and the remainder funds travel reimbursement for commissioners attending the weeklong annual meeting. She said commissioners volunteer their time and ULC does not pay salaries; reimbursements follow state travel rules and Minnesota Management and Budget reviews travel claims.
Timmons explained Minnesota's delegation size changed following the recent death of a long-serving governor-appointed commissioner (Mike Sullivan), and the net result was budgeting for travel for 11 commissioners instead of 12, which allows the commission to absorb dues and travel inflation and maintain a level budget.
Committee members asked about fiscal controls and reimbursement procedures; Lowe and Timmons said travel and per-diem claims follow the same state guidelines and MMB (Minnesota Management and Budget) reviews claims.
The ULC requested a level budget and provided context on the organization's process and volunteer structure; the committee did not take a roll-call vote on the request during the hearing.
