MN SF3965

Shifts authority to establish solid waste management districts from the state commissioner to counties, allowing two or more counties to voluntarily form multi-county districts through joint resolutions and transition plans filed with the secretary of state

Requires districts to be governed by boards of directors composed entirely of elected county commissioners, with at least five members and staggered terms of one to three years

Districts receive state funding equal to the combined amount that would have been distributed to individual member counties, and must meet the same recycling goals as their member counties (or metropolitan county goals if the district includes both metro and non-metro counties)

Grants districts the same solid waste management authority as counties, including powers to acquire property, issue revenue and general obligation bonds, establish rates and charges, designate resource recovery facilities, and contract with private vendors

Repeals existing commissioner-controlled procedures for establishing, altering, and terminating districts, replacing them with county-initiated processes that include public hearings, transition plans, and joint resolution requirements