1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; establishing the Minnesota Commission on 
1.3 	Fatherhood; requiring a report;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes, chapter 245.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [245.996] MINNESOTA COMMISSION ON FATHERHOOD.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Membership. (a) The Minnesota Commission on Fatherhood 
1.8 	consists of 20 members representing the following categories:
1.9 	(1) two members of the house of representatives, each representing different political 
1.10 	parties, appointed by the speaker of the house. One shall represent the seven-county 
1.11 	metropolitan area and one shall represent greater Minnesota;
1.12 	(2) two members of the senate, each representing different political parties, 
1.13 	appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and 
1.14 	Administration. One shall represent the seven-county metropolitan area and one shall 
1.15 	represent greater Minnesota;
1.16 	(3) the governor or the governor's designee;
1.17 	(4) one representative of the judicial branch of government, appointed by the chief 
1.18 	justice of the Supreme Court;
1.19 	(5) the commissioners of health, human services, education, corrections, 
1.20 	employment and economic development, and veterans affairs, or their designees;
1.21 	(6) six representatives of programs providing direct services to fathers and families. 
1.22 	Three shall be from the seven-county metropolitan area and three shall be from greater 
1.23 	Minnesota; and
2.1 	(7) two representatives who have received direct services from fatherhood-inclusive 
2.2 	programs. One shall be from the seven-county metropolitan area and one shall be from 
2.3 	greater Minnesota.
2.4 	(b) The commission shall annually elect a chair from among its members.
2.5 		Subd. 2.Removal; vacancies. The compensation, removal of members, and filling 
2.6 	of vacancies on the commission are as provided in section 15.075.
2.7 		Subd. 3.Mission. The commission shall work to enhance the well-being of 
2.8 	Minnesota's children by providing opportunities for fathers to become better parents, 
2.9 	partners, and providers.
2.10 		Subd. 4.Duties. The commission shall:
2.11 	(1) maintain a Web site, organize a state summit on fatherhood, and conduct annual 
2.12 	statewide trainings;
2.13 	(2) identify and secure resources available to fund healthy fatherhood-family 
2.14 	programs and services;
2.15 	(3) support the creation of initiatives that increase public awareness of the important 
2.16 	roles of fathers, build the parenting skills of fathers, build parenting partnerships, provide 
2.17 	employment-related services to low-income fathers, prevent premature fatherhood, and 
2.18 	provide services to inmates of state and county correctional institutions so they can 
2.19 	maintain or reestablish relationships with their children;
2.20 	(4) recommend to the governor, the legislature, the judicial branch, and the 
2.21 	commissioners of all state agencies legislation designed to improve economic stability, 
2.22 	foster responsible parenting, and promote healthy relationships; and
2.23 	(5) annually, prepare a report that describes the commission's expectations for the 
2.24 	outcome of fatherhood-related programs and initiatives, and the methods the commission 
2.25 	uses for measuring outcomes.
2.26 		Subd. 5.Staff; funding. (a) The governor shall appoint an individual to serve as the 
2.27 	commission's executive director. The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the 
2.28 	governor and shall report to the commissioner of human services.
2.29 	(b) The commission may accept gifts, grants, donations, contributions, and other 
2.30 	funds from any public agency or private source to carry out the commission's duties. 
2.31 	All funds received by the commission shall be used solely to support the operation 
2.32 	of the commission.