HF 1440

as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 02/24/2025 03:27pm

A bill for an act
relating to arts and cultural heritage; appropriating money to commemorate
anniversary of fall of Saigon; requiring a report.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; EQUITABLE COMMEMORATION OF
ANNIVERSARY OF FALL OF SAIGON.
new text end

new text begin (a) $500,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the arts and cultural heritage fund
to the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Humanities Center to support programming
commemorating the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. Programming must recognize
the cultural and historical contributions of Cambodian-, Lao-, and Vietnamese-Minnesotans.
new text end

new text begin (b) The appropriation under this section is intended to address historical funding inequities
and underrepresentation of Cambodian-, Lao-, and Vietnamese-Minnesotan communities
in previous commemorative initiatives.
new text end

new text begin (c) The Minnesota Humanities Center, in collaboration with the Council on Asian Pacific
Minnesotans, must administer and implement an equitable process to allocate money directly
to nonprofit organizations and initiatives representing Cambodian-, Lao-, and
Vietnamese-Minnesotans. The process must incorporate input from and reflect the priorities
of these communities and must ensure:
new text end

new text begin (1) a minimum allocation of money to each community to guarantee fair representation
and participation;
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new text begin (2) outreach to increase awareness of funding opportunities; and
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new text begin (3) technical assistance and capacity-building support for nonprofit organizations with
limited resources or experience accessing funding.
new text end

new text begin (d) The Minnesota Humanities Center, in collaboration with the Council on Asian Pacific
Minnesotans, may establish methods of distribution that ensure equity and
community-informed decision-making. Potential methods include but are not limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) a grant-making process;
new text end

new text begin (2) direct allocations to nonprofit organizations for programming specific to their
communities; and
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new text begin (3) collaborative partnerships between the Minnesota Humanities Center and nonprofit
organizations to codevelop and implement programming.
new text end

new text begin (e) Programming decisions must be determined by the respective Cambodian, Lao, and
Vietnamese communities, ensuring alignment with their unique cultural and historical
priorities.
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new text begin (f) Of the amount appropriated under paragraph (a), the Board of Directors of the
Minnesota Humanities Center may retain up to $....... to reimburse the center and other
entities for costs incurred to provide technical assistance, capacity-building support, and
other administrative support to nonprofit organizations seeking to access funding under this
section.
new text end

new text begin (g) As part of the report required under Minnesota Statutes, section 138.911, subdivision
2, the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Humanities Center must outline:
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new text begin (1) the allocation of money appropriated under this section, including a breakdown by
community;
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new text begin (2) a description of funded organizations and projects;
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new text begin (3) the methods used to distribute money and ensure equity; and
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new text begin (4) recommendations for future funding to support equitable programming for the
Cambodian, Lao, and Vietnamese communities.
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new text begin (h) Any money remaining after the initial programming is completed must be reallocated
equitably among Cambodian, Lao, and Vietnamese communities for additional programming
consistent with the purposes of this appropriation. This appropriation is available until
expended.
new text end