SF 2651

2nd Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/31/2016 09:03am

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing a legislative task force to review the legislative
auditor's 2016 report on teacher licensure and consider how to implement the
recommendations.

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

Section 1. new text begin LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE ON TEACHER LICENSURE.
new text end

new text begin (a) A 12-member legislative task force on teacher licensure is created to review the
2016 report prepared by the Office of the Legislative Auditor on the Minnesota teacher
licensure program and submit a written report by February 1, 2017, to the legislature
recommending how to restructure Minnesota's teacher licensure system by consolidating
all teacher licensure activities into a single state entity to ensure transparency and
consistency or, at a minimum, clarify existing teacher licensure responsibilities to provide
transparency and consistency. In developing its recommendations, the task force must
consider the tiered licensure system recommended in the legislative auditor's report,
among other recommendations. The task force must identify and include in its report any
statutory changes needed to implement the task force recommendations.
new text end

new text begin (b) The legislative task force on teacher licensure includes:
new text end

new text begin (1) six duly elected and currently serving senators, three appointed by the senate
majority leader and three appointed by the senate minority leader; and
new text end

new text begin (2) six duly elected and currently serving members of the house of representatives,
three appointed by the speaker and three appointed by the house minority leader.
new text end

new text begin Only duly elected and currently serving members of the senate or house of representatives
may be task force members.
new text end

new text begin (c) The appointments must be made by June 1, 2016, and expire February 2, 2017. If
a vacancy occurs, the leader of the caucus in the house or senate to which the vacating
task force member belonged must fill the vacancy. A senate member appointed by the
senate majority leader shall convene the first meeting of the task force. The task force
shall elect a chair or cochairs from among the members at the first meeting. The task force
must meet periodically. The Legislative Coordinating Commission shall provide technical
and administrative assistance upon request.
new text end

new text begin (d) In reviewing the legislative auditor's report and developing its recommendations,
the task force must consult with interested and affected stakeholders, including
representatives of the Board of Teaching, Minnesota Department of Education, Education
Minnesota, MinnCAN, Minnesota Business Partnership, Minnesota Rural Education
Association, Association of Metropolitan School Districts, Minnesota Association of
Colleges for Teacher Education, College of Education and Human Development at
the University of Minnesota, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, Minnesota
Private College Council, Minnesota School Boards Association, Minnesota Elementary
School Principals' Association, Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals,
Minnesota Association of School Administrators, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, the
Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage,
Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs, Minnesota Association of Educators, and Minnesota
Teach For America, among other stakeholders.
new text end

new text begin (e) The task force expires February 2, 2017, unless extended by law.
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