HF 4417

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/28/2024 04:35pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing the Task Force on Preventing Violence
Against Latina Women; requiring a report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin TASK FORCE ON PREVENTING VIOLENCE AGAINST LATINA
WOMEN.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; duties. new text end

new text begin (a) By August 1, 2024, the commissioner of
public safety shall establish a Task Force on Preventing Violence Against Latina Women.
The task force shall provide recommendations to reduce and end violence against Latina
women and girls in Minnesota; recommend strategies to disrupt the developmental pathways
toward gender-based violence; identify key strategies to help prevent abuse and violence
before it occurs, including outreach and communication to high-risk populations; and
recommend strategies to develop public engagement and prevention campaigns to address
interrelated risk factors that contribute to violence.
new text end

new text begin (b) The task force may serve as a liaison between commissioners, agencies and
nongovernmental organizations that provide services to victims, survivors, families of
victims and survivors, and communities of victims and survivors.
new text end

new text begin (c) The Task Force on Preventing Violence Against Latina Women must examine and
report on the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) the systemic causes behind violence that Latina women and girls experience that
explain why disproportionately high levels of violence occur against Latina women and
girls, including at a minimum:
new text end

new text begin (i) patterns and underlying factors; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) underlying historical, social, economic, religious, institutional, immigration, and
cultural factors that may contribute to the violence;
new text end

new text begin (2) appropriate methods for tracking and collecting data on violence against Latina
women and girls, including at a minimum data on preventing violence against Latina women
and girls;
new text end

new text begin (3) policies and institutions such as policing, education, labor, child welfare, coroner
practices, and other practices that impact violence against Latina women and girls and the
investigation and prosecution of crimes of gender-based violence against Latine communities;
new text end

new text begin (4) measures necessary to address and reduce violence against Latina women and girls,
including at a minimum public awareness campaigns on gender-based violence, aimed at
reaching both perpetrators and victims of abuse to educate community members about the
severity of the issue, encourage people to take action to promote social change, and educate
victims survivors about the availability of services; and
new text end

new text begin (5) measures to help victims and survivors, families of victims and survivors, and
communities of victims and survivors prevent and heal from violence that occurs against
Latina women and girls, including at a minimum recommendations to expand existing
programs and the creation of innovative strategies that strengthen relationships with families
and networks of support.
new text end

new text begin (d) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given:
new text end

new text begin (i) "commissioners" means the commissioner of public safety and commissioner of
health; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) "nongovernmental organizations" means nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations
that provide legal, social, or other community services.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin (a) To the extent practicable, the Task Force on Preventing
Violence Against Latina Women shall consist of the following individuals, or designees,
who are knowledgeable of victims' rights or violence prevention and, unless otherwise
specified, members shall be appointed by the commissioners:
new text end

new text begin (1) two members of the senate, one appointed by the majority leader and one appointed
by the minority leader;
new text end

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

new text begin (3) two representatives who work closely with the Latine community from among the
following:
new text end

new text begin (i) the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association;
new text end

new text begin (ii) the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association;
new text end

new text begin (iii) the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; and
new text end

new text begin (iv) the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association;
new text end

new text begin (4) one or more representatives from the Minnesota County Attorneys Association;
new text end

new text begin (5) a county coroner or a representative from a statewide coroner's association or a
representative of the Department of Health;
new text end

new text begin (6) one representative from among the following:
new text end

new text begin (i) a statewide, rural, or local organization that provides legal services to Latina women
and girls;
new text end

new text begin (ii) a statewide, rural, or local organization that provides nonlegal services to Latina
women and girls;
new text end

new text begin (iii) a Latine-led health organization or agency; and
new text end

new text begin (iv) Latina women who are survivors of gender-based violence; and
new text end

new text begin (7) three members representing the public schools system.
new text end

new text begin (b) Members of the task force serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority or until
the task force expires. Vacancies in commissioners-appointed positions shall be filled by
the commissioners consistent with the qualifications of the vacating member required under
this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin (c) The task force members may receive expense reimbursement under Minnesota
Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 6.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Officers; meetings. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force members shall annually elect a chair
and vice-chair from among the task force's members and may elect other officers as
necessary. The task force shall meet at least quarterly or upon the call of the chair and may
hold meetings throughout the state. The task force shall meet sufficiently to accomplish the
tasks identified in this section. Meetings of the task force are subject to Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 13D. The task force shall seek out and enlist the cooperation and assistance of
nongovernmental organizations, community and advocacy organizations working with the
Latine community, and academic researchers and experts, specifically those specializing
in violence against Latina women and girls, representing diverse communities
disproportionately affected by violence against women and girls, or focusing on issues
related to gender-based violence and violence against Latina women and girls.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioners shall convene the first meeting of the task force no later than
September 15, 2024, and shall provide meeting space and administrative assistance as
necessary for the task force to conduct its work.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin On or before December 15, 2026, the task force shall report to the
chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over
public safety, health and human services, and state government on the work of the task
force, including but not limited to the issues to be examined in subdivision 1, and shall
include in the report institutional policies and practices or proposed institutional policies
and practices that are effective in reducing gender-based violence and increasing the safety
of Latina women and girls. The report shall include recommendations to reduce and end
violence against Latina women and girls and help victims, survivors, families, and
communities heal from gender-based violence and violence against Latina women and girls.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, the task force
expires January 1, 2026.
new text end

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

new text begin $650,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of public safety for the Task Force on Preventing Violence Against Latina Women under
section 1. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until January 1, 2026.
new text end