HF 3136

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 04/21/2025 01:48 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to public health; requiring establishment of a task force on prevention of
female genital mutilation; requiring a report; appropriating money; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [144.3875] TASK FORCE ON PREVENTION OF FEMALE GENITAL
MUTILATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Task force established. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of health, in consultation
with the commissioner of public safety, must establish and administer a task force to
strengthen education and outreach on the harms caused by female genital mutilation and to
coordinate and strengthen enforcement of state and federal laws prohibiting female genital
mutilation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership; chairperson. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must appoint up to 15 members
to the task force. Task force members must include survivors of female genital mutilation,
leaders of Minnesota communities in which female genital mutilation has been practiced
as a traditional or religious practice, public health professionals, and law enforcement
personnel. The commissioner must appoint members to the task force by November 1, 2025,
and the commissioner must convene the first meeting of the task force by January 1, 2026.
At the task force's first meeting and annually thereafter, members of the task force must
elect a chairperson from among its members.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Terms, compensation, removal of members, expiration, meetings. new text end

new text begin Terms,
compensation, and removal of members are governed by section 15.059. Notwithstanding
section 15.059, this task force does not expire. The task force must meet at least four times
per year and may meet more frequently at the call of the chairperson.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The task force must:
new text end

new text begin (1) develop strategies to provide the public and communities impacted by female genital
mutilation with accurate medical and legal information about female genital mutilation and
the criminal penalties and other impacts for parents and guardians who consent to female
genital mutilation for a child;
new text end

new text begin (2) raise public awareness about the physical and emotional harms caused by female
genital mutilation by:
new text end

new text begin (i) developing partnerships to educate students in an age-appropriate manner in elementary
schools, secondary schools, and postsecondary institutions; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) developing partnerships to educate health care providers, mental health providers,
and law enforcement personnel;
new text end

new text begin (3) provide information to the public and communities impacted by female genital
mutilation on state law that requires reasonable efforts to provide culturally appropriate
services to prevent removal of a child and promote family reunification if the child's interests,
health, and safety can be assured;
new text end

new text begin (4) improve data collection and coordination regarding female genital mutilation among
state and local law enforcement agencies, the Departments of Public Safety and Health, and
local health departments;
new text end

new text begin (5) develop and recommend resources to protect children from female genital mutilation
and support families in their efforts to protect children from community pressure to have
female genital mutilation performed; and
new text end

new text begin (6) perform other duties as determined by the task force.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Meeting space; administrative support. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must provide
meeting space and administrative support to the task force.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Annual report. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of health, in consultation with the
commissioner of public safety, must annually report on the activities of the task force to
the governor, the attorney general, and the chairs and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over public health and public safety. The report
shall contain information on the education provided and outreach engaged in on female
genital mutilation in Minnesota. Section 144.05, subdivision 7, does not apply to reports
required under this subdivision.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of health for purposes of the task force on prevention of female
genital mutilation under Minnesota Statutes, section 144.3875.
new text end