1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to child welfare; creating a Parent Representation in Child Protection 
1.3 	Proceedings Task Force.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. PARENT REPRESENTATION IN CHILD PROTECTION 
1.6 	PROCEEDINGS TASK FORCE.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Creation and duties. The Parent Representation in Child Protection 
1.8 	Proceedings Task Force is created to make recommendations for expanding the right to 
1.9 	court-appointed counsel to all eligible parents, guardians, and custodians in all child 
1.10 	protection proceedings where a child is at risk of imminent removal from the child's home 
1.11 	or has been removed from the child's home. The task force shall make recommendations 
1.12 	about the following issues:
1.13 	(1) program administration;
1.14 	(2) recruitment and retention of qualified and culturally competent attorneys to provide 
1.15 	parent representation;
1.16 	(3) the estimated costs for implementing and maintaining the new parent representation 
1.17 	requirements; and
1.18 	(4) the division of funding between the state and counties.
1.19 		Subd. 2.Membership. (a) The task force shall consist of the following members:
1.20 	(1) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house;
1.21 	(2) one member of the senate appointed by the president of the senate;
2.1 	(3) two members representing the Minnesota judicial branch, appointed by the chief 
2.2 	justice of the supreme court;
2.3 	(4) the commissioner of human services or a designee;
2.4 	(5) two members who represent parents in child welfare cases in Minnesota, one from 
2.5 	within the seven-county metropolitan area and one from outside the seven-county 
2.6 	metropolitan area, appointed by the Institute to Transform Child Protection;
2.7 	(6) two members representing county court administration, one from within the 
2.8 	seven-county metropolitan area and one from outside the seven-county metropolitan area, 
2.9 	appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court;
2.10 	(7) one member representing the Minnesota County Attorneys Association, appointed 
2.11 	by the Minnesota County Attorneys Association;
2.12 	(8) one member representing the Minnesota Association of County Social Service 
2.13 	Administrators, appointed by the Minnesota Association of County Social Services 
2.14 	Administrators;
2.15 	(9) one member active in and appointed by the state guardian ad litem program;
2.16 	(10) two public members who have had personal experience with Minnesota's child 
2.17 	welfare system, one from within the seven-county metropolitan area and one from outside 
2.18 	the seven-county metropolitan area, appointed by Minnesota One Stop for Families;
2.19 	(11) two members representing Indian tribes, appointed by the Indian Child Welfare 
2.20 	Act Law Center;
2.21 	(12) one member, appointed by the legislature, representing a national child welfare 
2.22 	advocacy foundation that supports reform efforts in Minnesota; and
2.23 	(13) one county administrator, appointed by the Association of Minnesota Counties.
2.24 	(b) The governor shall appoint members no later than July 15, 2020, and members shall 
2.25 	not receive compensation or reimbursement for expenses.
2.26 		Subd. 3.Officers; meetings; staff. (a) The commissioner of human services shall 
2.27 	convene the first meeting of the task force no later than August 15, 2020, and shall provide 
2.28 	staff assistance to support the work of the task force.
2.29 	(b) The task force must elect co-chairs from among its members.
2.30 	(c) The task force is subject to the Minnesota Open Meeting Law under Minnesota 
2.31 	Statutes, chapter 13D.
3.1 		Subd. 4.Report required. By February 1, 2021, the task force shall submit a report on 
3.2 	its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislative changes, to the chairs 
3.3 	and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction 
3.4 	over human services and judiciary policy and finance.
3.5 		Subd. 5.Expiration. The task force expires upon submission of the report required 
3.6 	under subdivision 4.

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