HF 70

1st Engrossment - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 05/09/2019 04:16pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; creating the Task Force on Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women; requiring an annual report on issues related to violence against
indigenous women and girls; appropriating money for the Task Force on Missing
and Murdered Indigenous Women.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. TASK FORCE ON MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

Subdivision 1.

Creation and duties.

(a) By September 1, 2019, the commissioner, in
consultation with the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, shall appoint members to the Task
Force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women to advise the commissioner and report
to the legislature on recommendations to reduce and end violence against indigenous women
and girls in Minnesota, including members of the two spirit community. The task force may
also serve as a liaison between the commissioner and agencies and nongovernmental
organizations that provide services to victims, victims' families, and victims' communities.
Task force members may receive expense reimbursement as specified in Minnesota Statutes,
section 15.059, subdivision 6.

(b) The Task Force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women must examine and
report on the following:

(1) the systemic causes behind violence that indigenous women and girls experience,
including patterns and underlying factors that explain why disproportionately high levels
of violence occur against indigenous women and girls, including underlying historical,
social, economic, institutional, and cultural factors which may contribute to the violence;

(2) appropriate methods for tracking and collecting data on violence against indigenous
women and girls, including data on missing and murdered indigenous women and girls;

(3) policies and institutions such as policing, child welfare, coroner practices, and other
governmental practices that impact violence against indigenous women and girls and the
investigation and prosecution of crimes of gender violence against indigenous people;

(4) measures necessary to address and reduce violence against indigenous women and
girls; and

(5) measures to help victims, victims' families, and victims' communities prevent and
heal from violence that occurs against indigenous women and girls.

(c) For the purposes of this section, "commissioner" means the commissioner of public
safety and "nongovernmental organizations" means nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations
that provide legal, social, or other community services.

Subd. 2.

Membership.

(a) To the extent practicable, the Task Force on Missing and
Murdered Indigenous Women shall consist of the following individuals, or their designees,
who are knowledgeable in crime victims' rights or violence protection and, unless otherwise
specified, members shall be appointed by the commissioner:

(1) two members of the senate, one appointed by the majority leader and one appointed
by the minority leader;

(2) two members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the
house and one appointed by the minority leader;

(3) two representatives from among the following:

(i) the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association;

(ii) the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association;

(iii) the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension;

(iv) the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association; or

(v) a peace officer who works for and resides on a federally recognized American Indian
reservation in Minnesota;

(4) one or more representatives from among the following:

(i) the Minnesota County Attorneys Association;

(ii) the United States Attorney's Office; or

(iii) a judge or attorney working in juvenile court;

(5) a county coroner or a representative from a statewide coroner's association or a
representative of the Department of Health;

(6) one representative from each of the 11 federally recognized tribal governments, with
a preference for individuals who work with victims of violence or their families; and

(7) four or more representatives from among the following:

(i) a tribal, statewide, or local organization that provides legal services to indigenous
women and girls;

(ii) a tribal, statewide, or local organization that provides advocacy or counseling for
indigenous women and girls who have been victims of violence;

(iii) a tribal, statewide, or local organization that provides services to indigenous women
and girls;

(iv) the Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalition;

(v) Mending the Sacred Hoop;

(vi) an Indian health organization or agency; or

(vii) an indigenous woman who is a survivor of gender violence.

(b) Members of the task force serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority or until
the task force expires. Vacancies in commissioner appointed positions shall be filled by the
commissioner consistent with the qualifications of the vacating member required by this
subdivision.

Subd. 3.

Officers; meetings.

(a) The task force members shall annually elect a chair
and vice-chair from among the task force's members, and may elect other officers as
necessary. The task force shall meet at least quarterly, or upon the call of its chair, and may
hold meetings throughout the state. The task force shall meet sufficiently enough to
accomplish the tasks identified in this section. Meetings of the task force are subject to
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13D. The task force shall seek out and enlist the cooperation
and assistance of nongovernmental organizations, community and advocacy organizations
working with the American Indian community, and academic researchers and experts,
specifically those specializing in violence against indigenous women and girls, representing
diverse communities disproportionately affected by violence against women and girls, or
focusing on issues related to gender violence and violence against indigenous women and
girls.

(b) The commissioner shall convene the first meeting of the task force no later than
October 1, 2019, and shall provide meeting space and administrative assistance as necessary
for the task force to conduct its work.

Subd. 4.

Report.

The task force shall report to the chairs and ranking minority members
of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over public safety, human services, and state
government on the work of the task force, including but not limited to the issues to be
examined in subdivision 1, and shall include in the report institutional policies and practices
or proposed institutional policies and practices that are effective in reducing gender violence
and increasing the safety of indigenous women and girls. The report shall include
recommendations to reduce and end violence against indigenous women and girls and help
victims and communities heal from gender violence and violence against indigenous women
and girls. The report shall be submitted to the legislative committees by December 15, 2020.

Subd. 5.

Expiration.

Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, the task force
expires December 31, 2020.

Sec. 2. FUNDING FOR THE TASK FORCE ON MISSING AND MURDERED
INDIGENOUS WOMEN; APPROPRIATION.

$100,000 in fiscal year 2020 and $50,000 in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of public safety to implement section 1 relating to the
Task Force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.