HF 3311

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/14/2018 02:18pm

A bill for an act
relating to the legislature; establishing an advisory task force on sexual harassment
at the State Capitol; requiring a report.

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

Section 1. new text begin ADVISORY TASK FORCE ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT THE
STATE CAPITOL.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Task force established; membership. new text end

new text begin (a) The Legislative Task Force
on Sexual Harassment is established. The task force consists of eight members, appointed
as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) two members appointed by the speaker of the house;
new text end

new text begin (2) two members appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives;
new text end

new text begin (3) two members appointed by the majority leader of the senate; and
new text end

new text begin (4) two members appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
new text end

new text begin (b) Appointees must be chosen based on their demonstrated interest and expertise in
sexual harassment issues, human resources, public sector employment law, or
employee-focused employment law. Current members of the legislature, legislative staff,
and lobbyists are not eligible for appointment.
new text end

new text begin (c) Members of the task force may be compensated as provided in Minnesota Statutes,
section 15.059, subdivision 3. The committee shall elect the chair from among its members.
Appointments to the task force must be made no later than 15 days following the effective
date of this section, and the chair must convene the task force's first meeting no later than
30 days following the effective date of this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Duties; report required. new text end

new text begin The task force must study and make recommendations
for best practices on the following issues:
new text end

new text begin (1) procedures for reporting sexual misconduct by elected officials and candidates for
elected office, balancing the need for victim privacy with the need for public transparency;
new text end

new text begin (2) training on sexual harassment and workplace conduct for elected officials, candidates
for elected office, and legislative staff, including recommendations on appropriate and
effective training. The recommended training must, at a minimum, set clear expectations
for professional behavior, request that participants sign a code of conduct agreement that
includes accountability measures, and provide options and information for reporting
inappropriate behavior;
new text end

new text begin (3) a nonpartisan process for receiving complaints of sexual harassment and investigating
those complaints. The process must include, at a minimum, detailed reports by the
investigator to designated legislators and staff and accountability measures to ensure all
legislators and designated staff take prompt and appropriate action in response to a complaint;
and
new text end

new text begin (4) any other issues the task force determines relevant to ensuring that the State Capitol
complex provides a safe and respectful environment for all elected officials, candidates for
elected office, legislative staff and other public employees, lobbyists, and members of the
public, and encourages a climate of zero tolerance for sexual harassment in the workplace.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Report required. new text end

new text begin The task force must submit a report describing its work and
recommendations to the chairs and ranking minority members of the Legislative Coordinating
Commission, the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration of the house of
representatives, and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the senate, no later than
60 days after the task force's first meeting.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Staff. new text end

new text begin The Legislative Coordinating Commission must provide staff assistance
to support the work of the task force.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin The task force expires upon submission of the report required by
subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end