SF 4415

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/13/2026 09:27 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to state government; establishing the Council on Central and Eastern
European Affairs; requiring reports; appropriating money; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 15.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [15.0148] COUNCIL ON CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN
AFFAIRS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Council established. new text end

new text begin The Council on Central and Eastern European
Affairs is established to provide representation for Minnesotans from Central and Eastern
Europe, some of whom have arrived in the United States as refugees or humanitarian parolees
due to war, displacement, or political upheaval. These communities face barriers to accessing
government programs and lack a specific community representative to connect citizen input
with policy makers.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin (a) Members of the Council on Central and Eastern European
Affairs includes public members with ethnic heritage from countries in Central and Eastern
Europe, including but not limited to Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kosovo,
Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and
Ukraine.
new text end

new text begin (b) The council shall have 15 voting members consisting of:
new text end

new text begin (1) 11 public members appointed by the governor who broadly represent Minnesota's
Central and Eastern European communities. The council shall include at least five public
members who are female. The governor shall ensure the demographic composition of the
public members reflects the Central and Eastern European population of Minnesota, including
recent immigrants; and
new text end

new text begin (2) four legislative members with one member appointed by the speaker of the house,
one member appointed by the house minority leader, and the Subcommittee on Committees
of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration shall appoint one member from the
majority caucus and one member from the minority caucus. The four legislators shall be
voting members.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Appointments; terms; removal. new text end

new text begin (a) In making appointments to the council,
the governor shall consider an appointee's proven dedication to the Central and Eastern
European community and any expertise beneficial to the council, including public policy,
legal affairs, social work, business, or management.
new text end

new text begin (b) Terms, compensation, and filling of vacancies are as provided in section 15.059.
Removal of members is governed by section 15.059, except: (1) a member who missed
more than half of the meetings in a 12-month period is automatically removed; and (2) a
member appointed by the governor may be removed by a vote of three of the four legislative
members of the council. Legislative members serve at the pleasure of their appointing
authority.
new text end

new text begin (c) A member appointed by the governor may serve no more than eight years. A legislator
may serve no more than eight consecutive or 12 nonconsecutive years.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Training; executive committee; meetings; support. new text end

new text begin (a) Members appointed
by the governor must attend orientation training within the first six months. The commissioner
of administration must arrange training on the legislative process, open meeting law, fiscal
management, and human resources. Members who fail to complete the training shall be
removed.
new text end

new text begin (b) The council shall annually elect a chair and other officers from among the governor's
appointees. These officers and one legislative member selected by the council shall serve
as the executive committee.
new text end

new text begin (c) Forty percent of voting members in attendance constitutes a quorum. A member may
not vote on any action if they have a conflict of interest under section 10A.07.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner of administration shall provide administrative support under
section 16B.371. The council may contract in its own name and apply for and expend grants
and gifts, but may not incur debt.
new text end

new text begin (e) The attorney general shall provide legal services to the council.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Executive director; staff. new text end

new text begin (a) The Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC)
shall appoint an executive director for the council who serves in the unclassified service at
the pleasure of the LCC.
new text end

new text begin (b) The LCC must establish a process for recruiting and selecting applicants in
consultation with the council.
new text end

new text begin (c) The executive director and the council shall work together on fulfilling duties.
new text end

new text begin (d) The LCC supervises the executive director. The executive director shall appoint and
supervise staff as necessary.
new text end

new text begin (e) The executive director shall submit the council's biennial budget request to the
commissioner of management and budget as provided under chapter 16A.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Duties of the council; duties of council members. new text end

new text begin (a) The council shall work
for the economic, social, legal, and political equality of Central and Eastern European
Minnesotans by:
new text end

new text begin (1) advising the governor and legislature on issues confronting Central and Eastern
European communities;
new text end

new text begin (2) recommending administrative or legislative changes;
new text end

new text begin (3) serving as a liaison between the state government and Central and Eastern European
organizations;
new text end

new text begin (4) performing or contracting studies on education, employment, health, housing, and
related issues; and
new text end

new text begin (5) collaborating with other ethnic councils on issues of shared concern.
new text end

new text begin (b) Council members shall attend meetings, maintain communication with their
communities, collaborate with the council and executive director, and participate in activities
advancing the council's duties.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Reports. new text end

new text begin The council shall report on measurable outcomes achieved in its
strategic plan along with objectives and outcome measures for the coming year. The report
shall be submitted by January 15 each year to the chairs and ranking minority members of
the legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over state government operations. The
biennial budget must be submitted to the LCC by February 1 in each odd-numbered year.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $700,000 in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the general fund to the Council on
Central and Eastern European Affairs for operations, staffing, and outreach. The general
fund base for this appropriation is $700,000 in fiscal year 2028.
new text end