1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to economic development; providing for the development of a virtual 
1.3 	assistance network for Minnesota entrepreneurs;proposing coding for new law 
1.4 	in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116J.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [116J.6581] MINNESOTA ENTREPRENEUR RESOURCE VIRTUAL 
1.7 	NETWORK (MERVN).
1.8 	(a) The commissioner shall seek sufficient private sector funding for the Office of 
1.9 	Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (OESBD) to develop, maintain, and 
1.10 	market a virtual network to provide seamless access to statewide resources and expertise 
1.11 	for entrepreneurs and existing businesses using private sector funding. Private sector 
1.12 	funding must be for general support of the virtual network and must not be used to sponsor 
1.13 	specific portions of the network. The network must disclose the value of the donations and 
1.14 	names of private sector organizations providing funding for the network. The network 
1.15 	must connect Minnesota entrepreneurs to available state and nonstate supported services 
1.16 	and technical assistance. In developing and maintaining the network, OESBD must ensure 
1.17 	that all listed resources meet established standards. The goal of the network is to assist in 
1.18 	the creation of new Minnesota ventures, the growth of existing businesses, and the ability 
1.19 	of Minnesota entrepreneurs to compete globally. To the greatest extent possible, the 
1.20 	network should be built on and linked to existing resources designed to make business 
1.21 	assistance resources more accessible to Minnesota business.
1.22 	(b) Any portion of the network that involves state information systems or state 
1.23 	Web sites is subject to the authority of the Office of Enterprise Technology in chapter 
1.24 	16E, including, but not limited to:
2.1 	(1) evaluation and approval as specified in section 16E.03, subdivisions 3 and 4;
2.2 	(2) review to ensure compliance with security policies, guidelines, and standards as 
2.3 	specified in section 16E.03, subdivision 7; and
2.4 	(3) assurance of compliance with accessibility standards developed under section 
2.5 	16E.03, subdivision 9.

2.6 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.7 	Sec. 2. REPORT.
 2.8 	By September 30, 2010, the commissioner must report to the chairs and ranking 
2.9 	minority members of the senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction 
2.10 	over economic development and state government finance on the department's plans 
2.11 	and progress towards the development of the network under Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.12 	116J.6581.