1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to agriculture; establishing a Minnesota Food Council; providing 
1.3 	appointments; requiring reports;proposing coding for new law as Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes, chapter 41E.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [41E.01] MINNESOTA FOOD COUNCIL.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Establishment; membership. The Minnesota Food Council is 
1.8 	established. The council is composed of 20 members as follows:
1.9 	(1) a representative of the commissioner of agriculture;
1.10 	(2) a representative of the commissioner of health;
1.11 	(3) a representative of the commissioner of natural resources;
1.12 	(4) three representatives of the University of Minnesota, one from each of the 
1.13 	following institutions: the Department of Applied Economics; University of Minnesota 
1.14 	Extension Service; and the Institute on the Environment;
1.15 	(5) ten stakeholder representatives, consisting of at least one representative of each 
1.16 	of the following groups as appointed by the governor: farmers, consumers, agricultural 
1.17 	advocates, environmental advocates, and public health advocates;
1.18 	(6) the chairs of the house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction 
1.19 	over agriculture finance; and
1.20 	(7) the ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate 
1.21 	committees with jurisdiction over agriculture finance.
1.22 		Subd. 2.Duties. The council must be a vehicle for networking, communication, 
1.23 	research, and reporting of policy recommendations to improve the food system in 
1.24 	Minnesota, particularly the development and expansion of secure, local, and sustainable 
2.1 	food production systems that promote economic viability, ecological soundness, and social 
2.2 	responsibility. The council must report at least annually to the governor and the legislative 
2.3 	committees with jurisdiction over agriculture policy and finance.
2.4 		Subd. 3.Terms and compensation of appointees; staff. (a) The council's 
2.5 	membership terms, compensation, filling of vacancies, and removal of members are as 
2.6 	provided in section 15.0575.
2.7 	(b) The council may employ an executive director, assistant director, and 
2.8 	administrative assistant to carry out its duties.