1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; creating a working group on violence against Asian 
1.3 	women and children; requiring a report with findings and recommendations to 
1.4 	the legislature; appropriating money for the working group on violence against 
1.5 	Asian women and children.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. WORKING GROUP ON VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIAN WOMEN 
1.8 	AND CHILDREN.
 1.9 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The commissioners of human services, health, 
1.10 	and public safety, and the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, in collaboration, shall 
1.11 	create a multidisciplinary working group to address violence against Asian women and 
1.12 	children by July 1, 2015.
1.13 		Subd. 2.The working group. The commissioners of human services, health, and 
1.14 	public safety, and the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, shall appoint 15 members 
1.15 	representing the following groups to participate in the working group:
1.16 	(1) advocates;
1.17 	(2) survivors;
1.18 	(3) service providers;
1.19 	(4) community leaders;
1.20 	(5) city and county attorneys;
1.21 	(6) city officials;
1.22 	(7) law enforcement; and
1.23 	(8) health professionals.
1.24 	At least eight of the members of the working group must be from the Asian-Pacific 
1.25 	Islander community.
2.1 		Subd. 3.Duties. The working group must:
2.2 	(1) study the nature, scope, and prevalence of violence against Asian women and 
2.3 	children in Minnesota, including domestic violence, trafficking, international abusive 
2.4 	marriage, stalking, sexual assault, and other violence;
2.5 	(2) review the criminal justice system's responses to violence against Asian women;
2.6 	(3) evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of existing support programs;
2.7 	(4) conduct a needs assessment of culturally and linguistically appropriate programs 
2.8 	and interventions;
2.9 	(5) identify barriers in delivering services to Asian women and children;
2.10 	(6) identify promising prevention and intervention strategies in addressing violence 
2.11 	against Asian women and children;
2.12 	(7) propose mechanisms to collect and monitor data on violence against Asian 
2.13 	women and children; and
2.14 	(8) provide expenditure estimates for the programs, where they are available.
2.15 		Subd. 4.Chair. The commissioner of human services shall designate one member 
2.16 	to serve as chair of the working group.
2.17 		Subd. 5.First meeting. The chair shall convene the first meeting by August 10, 2015.
2.18 		Subd. 6.Compensation; expense reimbursement. Members of the working group 
2.19 	will be compensated and reimbursed for expenses under Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.20 	15.059, subdivision 3.
2.21 		Subd. 7.Report. By January 1, 2017, the working group must submit its 
2.22 	recommendations and any draft legislation necessary to implement those recommendations 
2.23 	to the commissioners of human services, health, and public safety and the Council on 
2.24 	Asian-Pacific Minnesotans. The Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans shall submit a 
2.25 	report of findings and recommendations to the chair and ranking minority members of the 
2.26 	committees in the house of representatives and senate having jurisdiction over health and 
2.27 	human services and public safety by February 15, 2017.
2.28 		Subd. 8.Sunset. The working group on violence against Asian women and children 
2.29 	sunsets the day after the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans submits the report under 
2.30 	subdivision 7.

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

2.32 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.33 	$500,000 in fiscal year 2016 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
2.34 	commissioner of human services for the working group on violence against Asian women 
2.35 	and children.