1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; modifying Council on Disability duties and powers; 
1.3 	appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 256.482, 
1.4 	subdivision 5.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 256.482, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 5.Duties and powers. The council shall have the following duties and powers:
1.8 	(1) to advise and otherwise aid the governor; appropriate state agencies, including but 
1.9 	not limited to the Departments of Education, Human Services, Employment and Economic 
1.10 	Development, and Human Rights and the Divisions of Rehabilitation Services and Services 
1.11 	for the Blind; the state legislature; and the public on matters pertaining to public policy and 
1.12 	the administration of programs, services, and facilities for persons who have a disability in 
1.13 	Minnesota;
1.14 	(2) to encourage and assist in the development of coordinated, interdepartmental goals 
1.15 	and objectives and the coordination of programs, services and facilities among all state 
1.16 	departments and private providers of service as they relate to persons with a disability;
1.17 	(3) to serve as a source of information to the public regarding all services, programs and 
1.18 	legislation pertaining to persons with a disability;
1.19 	(4) to review and make comment to the governor, state agencies, the legislature, and the 
1.20 	public concerning adequacy of state programs, plans and budgets for services to persons 
1.21 	with a disability and for funding under the various federal grant programs;
2.1 	(5) to research, formulate and advocate plans, programs and policies which will serve 
2.2 	the needs of persons who are disabled;
2.3 	(6) to advise the Departments of Labor and Industry and Employment and Economic 
2.4 	Development on the administration and improvement of the workers' compensation law as 
2.5 	it relates to programs, facilities and personnel providing assistance to workers who are 
2.6 	injured and disabled;
2.7 	(7) to advise the Workers' Compensation Division of the Department of Labor and 
2.8 	Industry and the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals as to the necessity and extent 
2.9 	of any alteration or remodeling of an existing residence or the building or purchase of a 
2.10 	new or different residence which is proposed by a licensed architect under section 176.137;
2.11 	(8) to initiate or seek to intervene as a party in any administrative proceeding and judicial 
2.12 	review thereof to protect and advance the right of all persons who are disabled to an 
2.13 	accessible physical environment as provided in section 326B.139; ~~and~~
2.14 	(9) to initiate or seek to intervene as a party in any administrative or judicial proceeding 
2.15 	which concerns programs or services provided by public or private agencies or organizations 
2.16 	and which directly affects the legal rights of persons with a disability~~.~~; and
2.17 	(10) to apply for, accept, and disburse grants and other aids from other public or private 
2.18 	sources.

2.19 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; CITIES AND COUNTIES.
 2.20 	$1,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the Council on 
2.21 	Disability to be used for grants to cities and counties to improve website accessibility, to 
2.22 	be available until June 30, 2024. Up to 15 percent of this appropriation may be used for 
2.23 	administrative purposes.