1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to international relations and economic 
  1.3             development; establishing Minnesota international 
  1.4             council; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
  1.5             Statutes, chapter 116J. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [116J.976] [MINNESOTA INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] The Minnesota 
  1.9   international council is established to coordinate the 
  1.10  international activities of state government, to advance state 
  1.11  actions to deal with international issues and international 
  1.12  relations, and to promote mutual cooperation and understanding 
  1.13  between the citizens of Minnesota and the citizens of other 
  1.14  nations. 
  1.15     Subd. 2.  [APPOINTMENT.] The council shall consist of three 
  1.16  executive branch members and three citizen members appointed by 
  1.17  the governor, three members of the house of representatives 
  1.18  appointed by the speaker, and three senate members appointed by 
  1.19  the majority leader. 
  1.20     Subd. 3.  [STAFF.] The council shall be staffed with 
  1.21  existing executive branch and legislative staff. 
  1.22     Subd. 4.  [DUTIES.] (a) The council shall: 
  1.23     (1) inventory and monitor state programs and activities 
  1.24  that impact international competitiveness and understanding; 
  1.25     (2) conduct a broad-based assessment of Minnesota's 
  2.1   competitive position in the global economy focusing on 
  2.2   underlying factors including, but not limited to, international 
  2.3   education in the public school system and the state's ability to 
  2.4   attract and host foreign visitors; 
  2.5      (3) review and coordinate state initiatives to improve 
  2.6   international competitiveness and international relations 
  2.7   through education, research, information, and services for 
  2.8   official international visitors and information and services for 
  2.9   any Minnesotan traveling in an official capacity; 
  2.10     (4) propose measures to promote cultural and educational 
  2.11  exchanges between Minnesota and other countries; 
  2.12     (5) serve as a host to official foreign visitors, 
  2.13  international trade delegations, international trade missions, 
  2.14  and international cultural missions; and 
  2.15     (6) monitor federal issues such as immigration policies, 
  2.16  international agreements, and dispute resolutions to assess 
  2.17  their impact on Minnesota laws and programs. 
  2.18     (b) The activities of the council must not duplicate the 
  2.19  activities of the Minnesota trade division or the Minnesota 
  2.20  World Trade Center corporation. 
  2.21     Subd. 5.  [FUNDING.] The council may seek and receive 
  2.22  federal money and may accept gifts and grants of any type from 
  2.23  any source. 
  2.24     Subd. 6.  [STATE AGENCY ASSISTANCE.] The council may 
  2.25  request information from any state office or agency to assist in 
  2.26  carrying out the responsibilities assigned to the council under 
  2.27  this section.  The office or agency shall promptly provide 
  2.28  cooperation and data to the extent permitted by law.