as introduced - 90th Legislature, 2017 1st Special Session (2017 - 2017) Posted on 05/30/2017 09:16am
A bill for an act
relating to state government; acknowledging the fundamental injustice, cruelty,
brutality, and inhumanity suffered by certain groups in Minnesota's history;
establishing a commission to study and report recommendations to provide
appropriate remedies.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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(a) The legislature finds acts of injustice, cruelty,
brutality, and inhumanity have been suffered by African American Minnesotans in the
course of the state's history.
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(b) The legislature finds acts of injustice, cruelty, brutality, inhumanity, and genocide
have been suffered by American Indian Minnesotans in the course of the state's history.
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A commission to identify
historical findings and to study reparation proposals for African American and American
Indian Minnesotans is established.
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(a) The commission consists of 22 members. The
governor is the appointing authority and shall consult with the Council for Minnesotans of
African Heritage and the Indian Affairs Council in making appointments. In making
appointments under this subdivision, the appointing authority must consider an individual's
experience related to the commission's purpose and duties. Relevant experience may include,
but is not limited to, an individual's academic training, life experiences, and history of public
policy and civic engagement with the issues to be considered. Appointments must be made
no later than July 1, 2018.
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(b) The commission shall elect a chair and vice-chair and other officers as determined
by the commission. The chair may convene meetings as necessary to conduct the duties
required by this section. The first meeting shall be convened by the governor no later than
August 1, 2018.
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(c) Commission members shall serve until the commission's work is complete. Vacancies
must be filled by the appointing authority for the vacant position. Members of the commission
shall be compensated as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 15.0575, subdivision 3.
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The Legislative Coordinating Commission
must provide administrative staff assistance to the commission. Within the limits of available
resources, legislative staff and state boards and agencies with relevant expertise in the subject
matter must provide research assistance to the commission and cooperate with the
commission's requests for information, to the extent permitted by law.
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The commission shall submit a
report on its findings and recommendations to the governor and to the legislature no later
than January 15, 2020. The commission expires upon submission of the report required by
this subdivision.
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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