1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; modifying the Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind, and 
1.3 	Hard-of-Hearing Minnesotans; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 256C.28, 
1.4 	subdivisions 1, 2, 3a, 5, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 256C.28, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Membership. The Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard-of-Hearing 
1.8 	Minnesotans consists of seven members appointed at large and one member from each 
1.9 	advisory committee established under section 256C.24, subdivision 3. At least 50 percent 
1.10 	of the members must be deaf or deafblind or hard-of-hearing. Members shall include persons 
1.11 	who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing, parents of children who are deaf, deafblind, 
1.12 	and hard-of-hearing, and representatives of county and regional human services, including 
1.13 	representatives of private service providers. Commission members are appointed by the 
1.14 	governor for a three-year four-year term and until successors are appointed and qualify. 
1.15 	Commission members shall serve no more than two three consecutive terms, and no more 
1.16 	than 12 years in total. Annually, by January 31, the commission shall select one member 
1.17 	as chair and one member as vice-chair to serve until January 31 of the following year or 
1.18 	until the commission selects a new chair or vice-chair, whichever occurs later.

1.19 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2018.

2.1 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 256C.28, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
2.2 	read:
2.3 		Subd. 1a.Executive committee. The commission may establish an executive committee 
2.4 	and other committees of its members as it deems necessary or proper and may authorize 
2.5 	them to exercise any powers of the commission except those expressly required by law to 
2.6 	be exercised by the commission. The executive committee may enter into contracts not to 
2.7 	exceed $50,000 to provide necessary services and supplies to the commission.

2.8 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2018.

2.9 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 256C.28, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.10 		Subd. 2.Removal; vacancies. The compensation, removal of members, and filling of 
2.11 	vacancies on the commission are as provided in section 15.0575 15.059.

2.12 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2018.

2.13 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 256C.28, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
2.14 		Subd. 3a.Duties. The commission shall:
2.15 	(1) assist persons who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing and parents of students 
2.16 	who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing in advocating for equal access to services, 
2.17 	programs, and opportunities;
2.18 	(2) advise the governor, the legislature, the judicial branch, and the commissioners of 
2.19 	all state agencies on the development of policies, programs, and services affecting persons 
2.20 	who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing, and on the use of appropriate federal and state 
2.21 	money;
2.22 	(3) create a public awareness of the special needs and potential of persons who are deaf, 
2.23 	deafblind, and hard-of-hearing;
2.24 	(4) provide the governor, the legislature, and the commissioners of all state agencies 
2.25 	with a review of ongoing services, programs, and proposed legislation affecting persons 
2.26 	who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing;
2.27 	(5) advise the governor, the legislature, the judicial branch, and the commissioners of 
2.28 	all state agencies on statutes, rules, and policies necessary to ensure that persons who are 
2.29 	deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing have equal access to benefits and services provided to 
2.30 	individuals in Minnesota;
3.1 	(6) recommend to the governor, the legislature, the judicial branch, and the commissioners 
3.2 	of all state agencies legislation designed to improve the economic and social conditions of 
3.3 	persons who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing in Minnesota;
3.4 	(7) propose solutions to problems of persons who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing 
3.5 	in the areas of education, employment, human rights, human services, health, housing, and 
3.6 	other related programs;
3.7 	(8) recommend to the governor, the legislature, and the commissioners of all state 
3.8 	agencies any needed revisions in the state's affirmative action program and any other steps 
3.9 	necessary to eliminate the underemployment or unemployment of deaf, deafblind, and 
3.10 	hard-of-hearing persons in the state's work force;
3.11 	(9) work with other state and federal agencies and organizations to promote economic 
3.12 	development for Minnesotans who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing; and
3.13 	(10) coordinate its efforts with other state and local agencies serving persons who are 
3.14 	deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing.;
3.15 	(11) research, formulate, and advocate plans, programs, and policies that will serve the 
3.16 	needs of persons who are deaf, persons who are deafblind, and persons who are 
3.17 	hard-of-hearing; and
3.18 	(12) encourage and assist in the development of coordinated, interdepartmental goals 
3.19 	and objectives, and the coordination of programs, services, and facilities among all state 
3.20 	departments, political subdivisions, and private providers of service as they relate to persons 
3.21 	who are deaf, persons who are deafblind, and persons who are hard-of-hearing.

3.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2018.

3.23 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 256C.28, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
3.24 		Subd. 5.Powers. The commission may contract in its own name. Contracts must be 
3.25 	executed by the chair or the executive director. Contracts for more than $50,000 must be 
3.26 	approved by a majority of the members of the commission and executed by the chair and 
3.27 	the executive director. The commission may apply for, receive, and expend in its own name 
3.28 	grants and gifts of money consistent with the powers and duties specified in this section.

3.29 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2018.

4.1 	Sec. 6. TRANSITION OF THE TERMS OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION 
4.2 	OF DEAF, DEAFBLIND, AND HARD-OF-HEARING MINNESOTANS.
 4.3 	The governor shall designate three of the at-large members and four of the members 
4.4 	from the advisory committees under Minnesota Statutes, section 256C.24, subdivision 3, 
4.5 	to serve their current terms coterminous with the governor. The current terms of the remaining 
4.6 	members shall end the first Monday in January one year after the terms of the other members. 
4.7 	A partial term served as of August 1, 2018, constitutes one term for the purpose of counting 
4.8 	terms toward the three-term limit in Minnesota Statutes, section 256C.28.

4.9 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2018.