1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to courts; establishing a task force to study 
  1.3             disability bias in the judicial system; appropriating 
  1.4             money. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [TASK FORCE ON DISABILITY BIAS IN JUDICIAL 
  1.7   SYSTEM.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED; MEMBERSHIP.] A 
  1.9   task force is established to conduct a study on disability bias 
  1.10  in the state's judicial system, including juvenile courts and 
  1.11  administrative law hearings.  The governor shall select 12 
  1.12  members who have demonstrated experience or are familiar with 
  1.13  the judicial system, or who have demonstrated experience with 
  1.14  the disabled including the following: 
  1.15     (1) an appellate court judge or justice; 
  1.16     (2) a district court judge; 
  1.17     (3) a juvenile court judge; 
  1.18     (4) a public defender; 
  1.19     (5) a prosecutor; 
  1.20     (6) two members from the council on disability; 
  1.21     (7) the commissioner of health or a designee; 
  1.22     (8) five public members, a majority of whom shall have a 
  1.23  disability or be parents or guardians of persons with a 
  1.24  disability. 
  1.25     Subd. 2.  [SCOPE OF STUDY.] The task force shall study and 
  2.1   determine if there is a need for additional training of juvenile 
  2.2   court public defenders, prosecutors, and juvenile court judges 
  2.3   to ensure their awareness of disabilities and how disabilities 
  2.4   may impact a child's behavior or conduct. 
  2.5      Subd. 3.  [REPORT REQUIRED.] The task force shall report 
  2.6   its findings and recommendations to the chairs of the senate 
  2.7   health care and judiciary committees and the house of 
  2.8   representatives health and human services and judiciary 
  2.9   committees by January 1, 1997. 
  2.10     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.11     $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the task 
  2.12  force established under section 1 to perform the duties assigned 
  2.13  to the task force, to be available until June 30, 1997.