Purpose

Create the Council on Central and Eastern European Affairs to represent Minnesotans from Central and Eastern Europe, including people who arrived as refugees or humanitarian parolees. The council aims to connect these communities’ input to state policy, improve access to government programs, and promote economic, social, legal, and political equality.

Key provisions

• Establishment: A new state council under Minnesota Statutes chapter 15 to advise the governor and Legislature on issues facing Central and Eastern European communities.
• Scope of work: Advise on issues affecting these communities; propose administrative or legislative changes; act as a liaison between state government and Central and Eastern European organizations; conduct studies on education, employment, health, housing, and related topics; collaborate with other ethnic councils on shared concerns.
• Reports and budgeting: Require an annual report detailing measurable outcomes and objectives for the coming year; require the council’s biennial budget submission to the Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC) and the budget process.
• Structure and authority: The council can contract, apply for grants, and spend gifts, but cannot incur debt; the attorney general provides legal services; administrative support comes from the commissioner of administration; the council can hire an executive director through the LCC.

Membership and representation

• 15 voting members total: 11 public members and 4 legislators.
• Public members: Appointed by the governor and broadly represent Minnesota’s Central and Eastern European communities, including recent immigrants.
• Legislative members: Four voting legislators—one appointed by the speaker of the House, one by the House minority leader, and one from each Senate caucus (majority and minority) appointed by the Senate Rules Committee.
• Female representation: At least five of the public members must be female.
• Geographic and demographic focus: The governor must ensure the public members reflect the Central and Eastern European population in Minnesota.

Appointments, terms, and removal

• Appointment considerations: Governors should consider commitment to the Central and Eastern European community and relevant expertise (public policy, legal, social work, business, management).
• Terms: Public members may serve up to eight years; legislators may serve up to eight consecutive or 12 nonconsecutive years.
• Removal: Public members can be removed for reasons such as failure to attend meetings (missing more than half in a 12-month period). A governor-appointed member may be removed by a vote of three of the four legislative members.
• Vacancies: Filled as provided by existing policies for such appointments.

Training and governance

• Orientation: New governor-appointed members must complete orientation within six months.
• Training: Mandatory training on the legislative process, open meeting law, fiscal management, and human resources.
• Executive committee: The council elects a chair and other officers from among governor-appointed members; these officers plus one legislative member form the executive committee.
• Quorum and conflicts: A quorum is 40% of voting members; members cannot vote if they have a conflict of interest.
• Administrative support: The commissioner of administration provides support; the council may contract and manage grants; the attorney general provides legal services.
• Executive director: Appointed by the Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC) and serves in the unclassified service; the LCC handles recruitment in consultation with the council; the executive director supervises staff and reports the budget request to the commissioner of management and budget.

Duties of the council

• Promote economic, social, legal, and political equality for Central and Eastern European Minnesotans.
• Provide guidance on issues facing these communities and suggest policy changes.
• Serve as a liaison between state government and Central and Eastern European organizations.
• Commission or perform studies on education, employment, health, housing, and related topics.
• Collaborate with other ethnic councils on shared concerns.
• Encourage ongoing communication with communities and participation in council activities.

Reporting and accountability

• Annual reporting: The council must report measurable outcomes from its strategic plan, with objectives and outcome measures for the next year, to legislative chairs and ranking minority members of the relevant committees by January 15 each year.
• Budget and financial reporting: The council’s biennial budget must be submitted to the LCC by February 1 in odd-numbered years.

Funding and appropriation

• Initial appropriation: $700,000 from the General Fund in fiscal year 2027 for operations, staffing, and outreach.
• Ongoing funding: The General Fund base appropriation is $700,000 in fiscal year 2028 and continued thereafter (subject to future appropriations).

Significance and changes to law

• New statutory entity: Establishes a dedicated council (under Minnesota Statutes chapter 15) focused on Central and Eastern European communities.
• Governance changes: Creates a structured mix of public and legislative members with defined terms, training requirements, governance rules, and an executive director oversight by the LCC.
• Policy and oversight role: Formalizes advisory, oversight, and intergovernmental liaison functions to improve government access and responsiveness for Central and Eastern European Minnesotans.
• Funding commitments: Establishes a dedicated General Fund appropriation for startup and ongoing operations.

Relevant changes to law at a glance - Adds Minnesota Statutes section 15.0148 establishing the Council on Central and Eastern European Affairs. - Specifies composition, appointment process, terms, training, governance, duties, reporting, and funding. - Provides administrative and legal support mechanisms (LCC, Commissioner of Administration, Attorney General, and management/budget processes).

Relevant Terms - Council on Central and Eastern European Affairs - Central and Eastern Europe - Minnesota Statutes chapter 15 - Public members - Legislative members - Governor-appointed - Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC) - Executive director - Open meeting law - Open to grants and contracts; no debt - Refugees; humanitarian parolees - Economic, social, legal, political equality - Strategic plan; measurable outcomes - Biennial budget; annual reporting - General Fund appropriation - Quorum; conflict of interest - Liaison; coordination with ethnic councils