1997 Minnesota Statutes

     119A.23 Advisory council. 

    Subdivision 1.    Generally.  The commissioner shall 
 appoint a 12-member advisory council to advise the commissioner 
 on the implementation and continued operation of sections 
 119A.20 to 119A.23.  The abused children advisory council shall 
 also serve as a liaison between the commissioner and 
 organizations that provide abused children services.  The terms 
 of members of the advisory council shall be two years.  No 
 member may serve on the advisory council for more than two 
 consecutive terms.  Council members shall not receive per diem 
 but shall receive expense reimbursements as specified in section 
 15.059.  In other matters section 15.059 shall govern the 
 operation of the advisory council.  

    Subd. 2.    Membership.  Persons appointed shall be 
 knowledgeable about or have interests in issues concerning 
 abused children and the programs that serve them, including the 
 need for effective advocacy services.  The membership of the 
 council shall broadly represent the interests of abused children 
 throughout Minnesota, including representation of people of 
 color and other individuals from traditionally underserved 
 population, and must include one member from the department of 
 human services child protection unit.  No more than six members 
 of the council may be representatives of community or 
 governmental organizations that provide abused children 
 services.  One-half of the council's members shall reside in the 
 metropolitan area consisting of the counties of Anoka, Carver, 
 Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington, and one-half of 
 the members shall reside in the nonmetropolitan area.  To the 
 extent possible, nonmetropolitan members must be representative 
 of all nonmetropolitan regions of the state.  

    Subd. 3.    Duties.  The advisory council shall:  

    (1) advise the commissioner on all planning, development, 
 data collection, rulemaking, funding, and evaluation of abused 
 children programs under section 119A.22; 

    (2) advise the commissioner on the adoption of rules under 
 chapter 14 governing the award of grants to ensure that funded 
 programs are consistent with section 119A.21; 

    (3) recommend to the commissioner the names of five 
 applicants for the position of abused children program director; 

    (4) advise the commissioner on the rules adopted under 
 chapter 14; 

    (5) review applications received by the commissioner for 
 grants under section 119A.21 and make recommendations on the 
 awarding of grants; and 

    (6) advise the program director in the performance of 
 duties in the administration and coordination of the programs 
 funded under section 119A.21.  

    Subd. 4.    Conflict of interest.  A member of the 
 advisory council shall be excluded from participating in review 
 and recommendation concerning a grant allocation if the member: 

    (1) serves or has served any time during the last three 
 years as an employee, consultant, volunteer, or governing board 
 member of an organization whose application is being reviewed; 
 or 

    (2) has a financial interest in the funding of the 
 applicant organization. 

    Subd. 5.    Advisory council recommendations.  The 
 commissioner shall consider the advisory council's 
 recommendations before awarding grants or adopting policies 
 regarding the planning, development, data collection, 
 rulemaking, funding, and abused children services for programs 
 funded under section 119A.21.  Before taking action on matters 
 related to programs and abused children services, except 
 day-to-day administrative operations, the commissioner shall 
 notify the advisory council of the intended action.  
 Notification of grant award decisions shall be given to the 
 advisory council in time to allow the council to request 
 reconsideration. 

    HIST: 1994 c 552 s 4