Joint powers can include tribes (new law)

The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe was invited to participate in the Northern Lights Express Coalition, a joint powers agreement advocating a railroad project from the Twin Cities to Duluth. The band did so and paid $48,000 in dues, but discovered that because of an old law excluding tribes from such agreements it could not participate as a voting member.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed a new law March 24 that now allows the Mille Lacs Band and other federally recognized Indian tribes, as well as the Minnesota Historical Society, to enter into joint powers agreements. It is effective Aug. 1, 2010.

Rep. Bill Hilty (DFL-Finlayson) and Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope) sponsor the law, which Hilty said allows tribes to collaborate with other government entities on shared services such as education, transportation, emergency management, emergency response and economic development.

HF2797/ SF2259*/CH193