1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to international relations and economic 
  1.3             development; establishing Minnesota international 
  1.4             council; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
  1.5             Statutes, chapter 116J. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [116J.976] [MINNESOTA INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] The Minnesota 
  1.9   international council is established to coordinate the 
  1.10  international activities of state government, to advance state 
  1.11  actions to deal with international issues and international 
  1.12  relations, and to promote mutual cooperation and understanding 
  1.13  between the citizens of Minnesota and the citizens of other 
  1.14  nations. 
  1.15     Subd. 2.  [APPOINTMENT.] The council shall consist of three 
  1.16  executive, three house of representatives, three senate, and 
  1.17  three citizen members.  The governor shall appoint the executive 
  1.18  and the legislative leadership shall appoint the legislators and 
  1.19  citizens. 
  1.20     Subd. 3.  [STAFF.] The council shall be staffed with 
  1.21  existing executive and legislative staff. 
  1.22     Subd. 4.  [DUTIES.] (a) The council shall: 
  1.23     (1) inventory and monitor state programs and activities 
  1.24  that impact international competitiveness and understanding; 
  1.25     (2) conduct a broad-based assessment of Minnesota's 
  2.1   competitive position in the global economy focusing on 
  2.2   underlying factors including, but not limited to, international 
  2.3   education in the public school system and the state's ability to 
  2.4   attract and host foreign visitors; 
  2.5      (3) review and coordinate state initiatives to improve 
  2.6   international competitiveness and international relations 
  2.7   through education, research, information, and services for 
  2.8   official international visitors and information and services for 
  2.9   any Minnesotan traveling in an official capacity; 
  2.10     (4) propose measures to promote cultural and educational 
  2.11  exchanges between Minnesota and other countries; 
  2.12     (5) serve as a host to official foreign visitors, 
  2.13  international trade delegations, international trade missions, 
  2.14  and international cultural missions; and 
  2.15     (6) monitor federal issues such as immigration policies, 
  2.16  international agreements, and dispute resolutions to assess 
  2.17  their impact on Minnesota laws and programs. 
  2.18     (b) The activities of the council must not duplicate the 
  2.19  activities of the Minnesota trade division or the Minnesota 
  2.20  World Trade Center corporation. 
  2.21     Subd. 5.  [FUNDING.] The council shall be funded from 
  2.22  existing appropriations, may seek and receive federal money, and 
  2.23  may accept gifts and grants of any type from any source. 
  2.24     Subd. 6.  [STATE AGENCY ASSISTANCE.] The council may 
  2.25  request information from any state office or agency to assist in 
  2.26  carrying out the responsibilities assigned to the council under 
  2.27  this section.  The office or agency shall promptly provide 
  2.28  cooperation and data to the extent permitted by law. 
  2.29     Subd. 7.  [REPORTING.] The council shall report annually to 
  2.30  the legislature and the governor on its activities and make 
  2.31  recommendations on actions to improve coordination of state 
  2.32  activities that impact international affairs, on ways to improve 
  2.33  Minnesota's competitive position in the global economy, and on 
  2.34  means to increase international and cultural awareness.