1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to public safety; establishing a temporary subcommittee of the Minnesota 
1.3 	Recovers Task Force; appropriating money for the subcommittee and grants to 
1.4 	improve local disaster mitigation, response, and recovery; requiring reports.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. MINNESOTA RECOVERS TASK FORCE SUBCOMMITTEE.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Subcommittee established. The commissioner of public safety shall 
1.8 	appoint a subcommittee of the Minnesota Recovers Task Force to comprehensively review 
1.9 	the state's disaster mitigation, response, and recovery system. The subcommittee shall study 
1.10 	and make recommendations on ways to improve the state's efforts to mitigate, respond, and 
1.11 	recover from disasters, in light of new climate stresses and the reality of many lower-level 
1.12 	disasters that do not result in a federal or state disaster declaration.
1.13 		Subd. 2.Membership. (a) The commissioner shall appoint the members of the 
1.14 	subcommittee, which must include, at a minimum, representatives of the Departments of 
1.15 	Public Safety, Human Services, Transportation, Health, Natural Resources, and Human 
1.16 	Rights, the Housing Finance Agency, local and tribal governments, higher education, 
1.17 	nonprofits, and philanthropic organizations. In addition, the commissioner shall appoint at 
1.18 	least two representatives each from Minnesota Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster 
1.19 	and the Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers and shall invite interested members 
1.20 	of the legislature to participate. In addition, the commissioner shall appoint at least three 
1.21 	disaster survivors who have personally experienced a nonfederally declared disaster in 
1.22 	Minnesota. The commissioner shall ensure the makeup of the subcommittee is racially and 
1.23 	geographically diverse.
2.1 	(b) By September 1, 2021, the commissioner shall convene the subcommittee's first 
2.2 	meeting.
2.3 	(c) The subcommittee may select a chair from among its members.
2.4 		Subd. 3.Report required. By February 15, 2023, the subcommittee shall submit a report 
2.5 	containing its findings and recommendations to the full Minnesota Recovers Task Force 
2.6 	and the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction 
2.7 	over disaster mitigation, response, and recovery policy and finance.
2.8 		Subd. 4.Other funding. The subcommittee may accept lawful contributions from any 
2.9 	public or private source for operating expenses.
2.10 		Subd. 5.Sunset. The subcommittee expires on February 28, 2023, or upon submission 
2.11 	of its report under subdivision 3, whichever occurs first.

2.12 	Sec. 2. LOCAL DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY GRANTS.
 2.13 	(a) The commissioner of public safety shall award grants to nonprofit organizations and 
2.14 	local units of government to improve local disaster response and recovery. A grant recipient 
2.15 	may use an awarded grant to improve local volunteer capacity and hire volunteer coordinators 
2.16 	and trainers. When awarding grants, the commissioner shall give preference to applicants 
2.17 	from areas in the state that currently have less disaster volunteer capacity.
2.18 	(b) By February 15, 2024, the commissioner shall report on the grants made under this 
2.19 	section to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with 
2.20 	jurisdiction over disaster response and recovery policy and finance.

2.21 	Sec. 3. APPROPRIATIONS.
 2.22 		Subdivision 1.Grant for local disaster response and recovery staff and 
2.23 	operations. $....... in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
2.24 	commissioner of public safety for a grant to a nonprofit organization that is the state affiliate 
2.25 	of a national organization and works to foster more effective services for people who have 
2.26 	or may in the future be affected by disasters through communication, coordination, 
2.27 	cooperation, and collaboration and is made up of volunteer member organizations. The 
2.28 	grant recipient must use the money for staff and operations to provide a reliable and consistent 
2.29 	partner for the state and help provide assistance and support to vulnerable populations 
2.30 	following disasters.
3.1 		Subd. 2.Minnesota Recovers Task Force subcommittee. $....... in fiscal year 2022 is 
3.2 	appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of public safety to implement 
3.3 	section 1.
3.4 		Subd. 3.Local disaster response and recovery grants. $....... in fiscal year 2022 is 
3.5 	appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of public safety for grants under 
3.6 	section 2.