1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to energy; requiring the Department of Commerce to assist any tribal 
1.3 	advocacy council on energy established by the 11 federally recognized Indian 
1.4 	tribes in Minnesota.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. TRIBAL ADVOCACY COUNCIL ON ENERGY; DEPARTMENT OF 
1.7 	COMMERCE SUPPORT.
 1.8 	(a) The Department of Commerce must provide technical support and subject matter 
1.9 	expertise to assist and help facilitate any efforts taken by the 11 federally recognized Indian 
1.10 	tribes in Minnesota to establish a tribal advocacy council on energy.
1.11 	(b) When providing support to a tribal advocacy council on energy, the Department of 
1.12 	Commerce must assist the council:
1.13 	(1) assess and evaluate common tribal energy issues, including (i) identifying and 
1.14 	prioritizing energy issues, (ii) facilitating idea sharing between the tribes to generate solutions 
1.15 	to energy issues, and (iii) assisting decision making with respect to resolving energy issues;
1.16 	(2) develop new statewide energy policies or proposed legislation, including (i) organizing 
1.17 	stakeholder meetings, (ii) gathering input and other relevant information, (iii) assisting with 
1.18 	policy proposal development, evaluation, and decision making, and (iv) helping facilitate 
1.19 	actions taken to submit, and obtain approval for or have enacted, policies or legislation 
1.20 	approved by the council;
1.21 	(3) make efforts to raise awareness and provide educational opportunities with respect 
1.22 	to tribal energy issues by (i) identifying information resources, (ii) gathering feedback on 
2.1 	issues and topics the council identifies as areas of interest, and (iii) identifying topics for 
2.2 	educational forums and helping facilitate the forum process; and
2.3 	(4) identify, evaluate, and disseminate successful energy-related practices, and develop 
2.4 	mechanisms or opportunities to implement the successful practices.
2.5 	(c) Nothing in this section requires or otherwise obligates the 11 federally recognized 
2.6 	Indian tribes in Minnesota to establish a tribal advocacy council on energy, nor does it 
2.7 	require or obligate any one of the 11 federally recognized Indian tribes in Minnesota to 
2.8 	participate in or implement a decision or support an effort made by an established tribal 
2.9 	advocacy council on energy.
2.10 	(d) Any support provided by the Department of Commerce to a tribal advocacy council 
2.11 	on energy under this section must be provided only upon request of the council and is limited 
2.12 	to issues and areas where the Department of Commerce's expertise and assistance is 
2.13 	requested.