Purpose

Establish a new state Council on Central and Eastern European Affairs to represent Minnesotans from Central and Eastern Europe, including refugees or humanitarian parolees, and connect community input with state policy makers. The goal is to improve access to government programs and advance economic, social, legal, and political equality for these communities.

Key Provisions

• Create the Council on Central and Eastern European Affairs with 15 voting members, including at least five female members.
• Council is intended to represent Central and Eastern European communities in Minnesota, including people with heritage from countries such as Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, and others listed in the bill.
• Four legislators will serve as voting members, appointed by the Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, and the Senate majority/minority caucuses.

Membership and Representation

• Members must broadly represent Minnesota’s Central and Eastern European communities and include public members with various professional backgrounds.
• The Governor appoints most members; four legislators participate as voting members.
• The Governor must ensure the council’s public member composition reflects the CE European population, including recent immigrants.
• Terms: Governor-appointed members may serve up to eight years; legislators may serve up to eight consecutive or 12 nonconsecutive years.
• Membership rules include attendance requirements, conflict-of-interest rules, and automatic removal for missing more than half the meetings in a year.

Appointments, Terms, and Removal

• Appointments should consider dedication to the Central and Eastern European community and relevant expertise (public policy, legal affairs, social work, business, etc.).
• Removal rules: a member appointed by the Governor can be removed by a three-vote majority of the four legislators on the Council; other removals follow existing law.

Training and Governance

• New members must complete orientation within six months, with training on the legislative process, open meeting law, fiscal management, and human resources.
• The Council elects a chair and other officers from among Governor-appointed members; an executive committee includes these officers plus one legislative member.
• Quorum is 40% of voting members; members must recuse themselves if they have a conflict of interest.
• Administrative support is provided by a state agency; the Council may contract and apply for grants but cannot incur debt.
• The Attorney General provides legal services to the Council.

Executive Director and Staffing

• The Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC) appoints an executive director (unclassified service) who serves at the LCC’s pleasure.
• The LCC develops recruitment processes in consultation with the Council; the executive director hires and supervises staff and works with the Council on duties.
• The executive director submits the Council’s biennial budget request to the Commissioner of Management and Budget.

Duties and Activities

• Advise the Governor and Legislature on issues affecting Central and Eastern European Minnesotans.
• Recommend administrative or legislative changes.
• Serve as a liaison between state government and Central and Eastern European organizations.
• Conduct or contract studies on education, employment, health, housing, and related issues.
• Collaborate with other ethnic councils on shared concerns.
• Members are expected to maintain communication with their communities and participate in related activities.

Reporting and Budget Process

• The Council must report measurable outcomes from its strategic plan, plus objectives and outcome measures for the coming year, to legislative chairs and ranking minority members with primary jurisdiction over state government operations.
• The Council’s biennial budget must be submitted to the LCC in odd-numbered years.

Funding

• Sec. 2 appropriates $700,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the general fund for the Council’s operations, staffing, and outreach.
• The general fund base for this appropriation is $700,000 in fiscal year 2028.

Significance

• Creates a new, formal mechanism to represent Central and Eastern European communities in Minnesota government.
• Expands representation by ensuring female participation and community-driven leadership.
• Establishes formal budgeting, reporting, and governance processes, aligning with existing state government structures and statutes.

Relevant Terms - Council on Central and Eastern European Affairs - Central and Eastern European Minnesotans - refugees and humanitarian parolees - public members with ethnic heritage - legislative members (four legislators) - governor appointments - gender representation (at least five female members) - appointment terms and removal (up to eight years; procedural removals) - orientation training; legislative process; open meeting law; fiscal management; human resources - executive committee - quorum (40%) - conflict of interest (section 10A.07) - Commissioner of Administration (admin support) - Minnesota Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC) - executive director and unclassified service - collaboration with other ethnic councils - reporting on strategic plan outcomes - biennial budget submission - general fund appropriation ($700,000 in FY2027; base $700,000 in FY2028)