HF 883

1st Engrossment - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/18/2013 04:45pm

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; creating a trade policy advisory group;
requiring a report; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
116J.

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

Section 1.

[116J.9661] TRADE POLICY ADVISORY GROUP.

Subdivision 1.

Establishment.

The trade policy advisory group is established to
advise and assist the governor and the legislature regarding government procurement
agreements of United States trade agreements.

Subd. 2.

Membership.

(a) The trade policy advisory group shall be appointed by
the governor and comprised of 13 members as follows:

(1) two representatives of organized labor;

(2) a representative of an organization representing environmental interests;

(3) two representatives of organizations representing family farmers;

(4) two representatives from business and industry;

(5) a representative of a nonprofit organization focused on international trade and
development;

(6) the commissioner of employment and economic development or designee;

(7) two senators, including one member from the majority party and one member
from the minority party, appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee
on Rules and Administration of the senate; and

(8) two members of the house of representatives, including one member appointed
by the speaker of the house and one member appointed by the minority leader.

(b) Members of the trade policy advisory group shall serve for a term of two years
and may be reappointed. Members shall serve until their successors have been appointed.

(c) The trade policy advisory group may invite representatives from state agencies,
industries, trade and labor organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and local
governments to join the group as nonvoting ex officio members.

Subd. 3.

Administration.

(a) The commissioner of employment and economic
development or the commissioner's designee shall:

(1) coordinate with the other appointing authorities to designate their representatives;
and

(2) provide meeting space and administrative services for the group.

(b) The members shall elect a chair from the legislative members of the working
group. The chair will assume responsibility for convening future meetings of the group.

(c) Public members of the advisory group serve without compensation or payment of
expenses.

Subd. 4.

Duties.

The trade policy advisory group shall:

(1) serve as an advisory group to the governor and the legislature on matters relating
to United States trade agreements;

(2) assess the potential impact of federal trade agreements on the state's economy;

(3) advise the governor and the legislature of the group's findings and make
recommendations, including any draft legislation necessary to implement the
recommendations, to the governor and the legislature;

(4) determine, on a case-by-case basis, the impact of a specific federal trade
agreement by requesting input from state agencies, seeking expert advice, convening
public hearings, and taking other reasonable and appropriate actions;

(5) request information from the Office of the United States Trade Representative
necessary to conduct an appropriate review of government procurement agreements or
other trade issues; and

(6) receive information obtained by the United States Trade Representative's single
point of contact for Minnesota.

Subd. 5.

Report.

The trade policy advisory group shall issue a report to the
legislature with its findings and recommendations no less than once per fiscal year.

Sec. 2. REPORT TO LEGISLATURE REQUIRED.

(a) The Department of Administration must file with the governor, the speaker of the
house, the majority leader of the senate, and the trade policy advisory group an annual
report analyzing the following impacts of trade policy on the state:

(1) an audit of the amount of public contract work being performed overseas;

(2) an audit of government goods being procured from overseas;

(3) a study of the impact of federal trade agreements and local employment levels,
tax revenues, and retraining and adjustment costs;

(4) an analysis of the constraints trade rules place on state regulatory authority
including, but not limited to, the state's ability to preserve the environment, protect public
health and safety, and provide high-quality public services; and

(5) findings and recommendations of specific actions the state should take in
response to the impacts of trade on the state identified in clauses (1) to (4). These actions
may include, but shall not be limited to:

(i) revocation of the state's consent to be bound by the procurement rules of
international trade agreements;

(ii) prohibition of offshore performance of state contract work and preferences
for domestic content in state purchasing;

(iii) state support for cases brought under federal trade laws by residents of the state;

(iv) state advocacy for reform of trade agreements and trade laws at the federal
level; and

(v) implementation of a growth strategy formulated with business, labor, and
community participation. The strategy may include, but not be limited to:

(A) more effective early warning and layoff aversion measures;

(B) increased assistance and adjustment programs for displaced workers and
trade-impacted communities;

(C) stronger standards and accountability for recipients of state subsidies and
incentives;

(D) investments in workforce training and development;

(E) investments in technology and infrastructure; and

(F) increased access to capital for local producers.

(b) Within 30 days of receipt of the annual trade impact report:

(1) the governor shall review the report and issue a public statement explaining
which of the report's recommendations for specific action under paragraph (a), clause (5),
the governor must act upon in the next 30 days, whether through executive action or
proposed legislation; and

(2) the legislature shall review the report, hold public hearings on the report's
recommendations for specific action under paragraph (a), clause (5), and introduce
legislation to enact those recommendations accepted by the legislature.