1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; establishing the Minnesota Commission on New 
1.3 	Americans; providing appointments; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. MINNESOTA COMMISSION ON NEW AMERICANS.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Commission established. The Minnesota Commission on New 
1.7 	Americans is established to identify the strengths of the immigrant community in 
1.8 	Minnesota. The commission shall identify the underutilized resources within the 
1.9 	immigrant community and make recommendations to the legislature and state agencies 
1.10 	to facilitate the full participation of immigrants in social, cultural, and economic life in 
1.11 	this state.
1.12 		Subd. 2.Membership. (a) The Minnesota Commission on New Americans consists 
1.13 	of ten members. The governor shall appoint two public members; the Subcommittee on 
1.14 	Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the senate shall appoint 
1.15 	two public members and two senators, one from the majority party and one from the 
1.16 	minority party; and the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint two public 
1.17 	members and two members of the house of representatives, one from the majority party 
1.18 	and one from the minority party.
1.19 	(b) Public members must have experience in working with the immigrant 
1.20 	community, including training, special skills, and experience that would benefit the 
1.21 	commission, such as training and experience in business, management, economics, public 
1.22 	policy, legal affairs, and social work. The appointing authorities are encouraged to consult 
1.23 	with business and business trade organizations in the state and appoint public members 
1.24 	who include:
2.1 	(1) a business executive or employer with policy making or hiring authority, 
2.2 	including the owner, chief executive, or operating officer of a business in this state; or
2.3 	(2) a representative of a private business with employment opportunities that reflect 
2.4 	the employment opportunities available within the state.
2.5 	The appointing authorities shall seek to collaborate with each other and with the councils 
2.6 	established in Minnesota Statutes, sections 3.9223, 3.9225, and 3.9226, to ensure that the 
2.7 	public membership of the commission is ethnically and geographically diverse and is 
2.8 	reasonably balanced by gender.
2.9 	(c) Compensation and expenses for public members are as provided in Minnesota 
2.10 	Statutes, section 15.0575. 
2.11 	(d) The appointments required under this subdivision must be completed no later 
2.12 	than September 1, 2007.
2.13 		Subd. 3.Organization. As soon as possible after the appointments under 
2.14 	subdivision 2 have been completed, the executive director of the Legislative Coordinating 
2.15 	Commission shall convene the first meeting of the commission. The members of the 
2.16 	commission shall select their chairperson at the first meeting.
2.17 		Subd. 4.Assistance. The Legislative Coordinating Commission shall provide the 
2.18 	administrative and clerical support services necessary for the operation of the Minnesota 
2.19 	Commission on New Americans.
2.20 		Subd. 5.Duties. The Minnesota Commission on New Americans shall study and 
2.21 	consider opportunities to:
2.22 	(1) take steps to address the underutilization of the New American workforce in 
2.23 	the state's economy;
2.24 	(2) develop entrepreneurial and business opportunities to enhance and promote the 
2.25 	current and future economic endeavors of New Americans;
2.26 	(3) identify means to enhance and expand the state's trade relations with other 
2.27 	regions and countries through the relationship, language, and cultural assets of New 
2.28 	Americans; and
2.29 	(4) improve the economic and social condition of Minnesota's newest Americans 
2.30 	including, but not limited to, education for New American children and adults, access to 
2.31 	state and nonprofit programs and services, and integration into civic life in the state.
2.32 	By December 1, 2008, the commission shall report to the chairs of the legislative 
2.33 	committees and divisions with jurisdiction over issues affecting immigrants. The 
2.34 	report must include a discussion of the items listed in this subdivision together with 
2.35 	recommendations for state agencies and the legislature, including any proposed legislation 
2.36 	necessary to accomplish the recommendations. The executive director of the Legislative 
3.1 	Coordinating Commission shall ensure that copies of the report are available on the 
3.2 	Legislative Coordinating Commission's Web site.
3.3 		Subd. 6.Expiration. This section expires on June 30, 2009.

3.4 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; MINNESOTA COMMISSION ON NEW 
3.5 	AMERICANS.
 3.6 	$....... in fiscal year 2008 and $....... in fiscal year 2009 are appropriated from the 
3.7 	general fund to the Legislative Coordinating Commission for the Minnesota Commission 
3.8 	on New Americans established in section 1.