SF 3291

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/21/2023 08:46am

A bill for an act
relating to the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library; moving responsibility
for the library from the Department of Education to the Department of Employment
and Economic Development; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 248.07,
by adding a subdivision; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 134.31,
subdivisions 4a, 6, 7.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 248.07, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 5a. new text end

new text begin Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library; advisory committee. new text end

new text begin (a)
The Department of Employment and Economic Development must provide specialized
services to people with visual and physical disabilities through the Minnesota Braille and
Talking Book Library under a cooperative plan with the National Library Service for the
Blind and Print Disabled of the Library of Congress.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of employment and economic development must appoint an
advisory committee of five members to advise the staff of the Minnesota Braille and Talking
Book Library on long-range plans and library services. Advisory committee members must
be people who use the library. Section 15.059 governs this committee.
new text end

new text begin (c) Notwithstanding section 13D.01, the advisory committee for the Minnesota Braille
and Talking Book Library may conduct a meeting of its members by telephone or other
electronic means so long as the following conditions are met:
new text end

new text begin (1) all members of the committee participating in the meeting, wherever their physical
locations, must be able to hear one another and all discussion and testimony;
new text end

new text begin (2) members of the public present at the regular meeting location of the committee must
be able to hear all discussion, testimony, and votes of the members of the committee;
new text end

new text begin (3) at least one member of the committee must be physically present at the regular
meeting location; and
new text end

new text begin (4) all votes must be conducted by roll call and each member's vote on each issue must
be identified and recorded.
new text end

new text begin (d) If telephone or other electronic means is used to conduct a meeting, the committee
must allow a person to monitor the meeting electronically, to the extent practicable, from
a remote location. The committee may require the person making the connection to pay for
the documented additional costs that the committee incurs because of the additional
connection.
new text end

new text begin (e) If telephone or other electronic means is used to conduct a regular, special, or
emergency meeting, the committee must provide notice of the regular meeting location, the
fact that some members may participate by telephone or other electronic means, and the
provisions of this subdivision regarding monitoring the meeting from a remote location and
the responsibility for additional costs incurred. The timing and the method of providing
notice is governed by section 13D.04.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS.
new text end

new text begin Advisory committee members appointed by the commissioner of education may continue
to serve on the committee until the end of their term. Subsequent appointments or
reappointments must be made by the commissioner of employment and economic
development.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 134.31, subdivisions 4a, 6, and 7, new text end new text begin are repealed.
new text end

APPENDIX

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 23-04916

134.31 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; LIBRARY RESPONSIBILITIES.

Subd. 4a.

Services to people with visual and physical disabilities.

The Minnesota Department of Education shall provide specialized services to people with visual and physical disabilities through the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library under a cooperative plan with the National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress.

Subd. 6.

Advisory committee.

The commissioner shall appoint an advisory committee of five members to advise the staff of the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library on long-range plans and library services. Members shall be people who use the library. Section 15.059 governs this committee.

Subd. 7.

Telephone or electronic meetings.

(a) Notwithstanding section 13D.01, the Advisory Committee for the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library may conduct a meeting of its members by telephone or other electronic means so long as the following conditions are met:

(1) all members of the committee participating in the meeting, wherever their physical locations, can hear one another and can hear all discussion and testimony;

(2) members of the public present at the regular meeting location of the committee can hear all discussion, testimony, and votes of the members of the committee;

(3) at least one member of the committee is physically present at the regular meeting location; and

(4) all votes are conducted by roll call, so each member's vote on each issue can be identified and recorded.

(b) Each member of the committee participating in a meeting by telephone or other electronic means is considered present at the meeting for purposes of determining quorum and participating in all proceedings.

(c) If telephone or other electronic means is used to conduct a meeting, to the extent practical, the committee shall allow a person to monitor the meeting electronically from a remote location. The committee may require the person making the connection to pay for the documented additional costs that the committee incurs as a result of the additional connection.

(d) If telephone or other electronic means is used to conduct a regular, special, or emergency meeting, the committee shall provide notice of the regular meeting location, the fact that some members may participate by telephone or other electronic means, and the provisions of paragraph (c). The timing and method of providing notice is governed by section 13D.04.