1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; creating the Cultural and Ethnic Leadership 
1.3 	Communities Council; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
1.4 	chapter 256.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [256.999] CULTURAL AND ETHNIC COMMUNITIES LEADERSHIP 
1.7 	COUNCIL.
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Establishment; purpose. There is hereby established the Cultural 
1.9 	and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council for the Department of Human Services. The 
1.10 	purpose of the council is to advise the commissioner of human services on reducing 
1.11 	disparities that affect racial and ethnic groups.
1.12 		Subd. 2.Members. (a) The council must consist of no fewer than 15 and no more 
1.13 	than 25 members appointed by the commissioner of human services, in consultation with 
1.14 	county, tribal, cultural, and ethnic communities; diverse program participants; and parent 
1.15 	representatives from these communities. The commissioner shall direct the development 
1.16 	of guidelines defining the membership of the council; setting out definitions; and 
1.17 	developing duties of the commissioner, the council, and council members regarding racial 
1.18 	and ethnic disparities reduction. The guidelines must be developed in consultation with:
1.19 	(1) the chairs of relevant committees; and
1.20 	(2) county, tribal, and cultural communities and program participants from these 
1.21 	communities.
1.22 	(b) Members must be appointed to allow for representation of the following groups:
1.23 	(1) racial and ethnic minority groups;
1.24 	(2) tribal service providers;
2.1 	(3) culturally and linguistically specific advocacy groups and service providers;
2.2 	(4) human services program participants;
2.3 	(5) public and private institutions;
2.4 	(6) parents of human services program participants;
2.5 	(7) members of the faith community;
2.6 	(8) Department of Human Services employees;
2.7 	(9) chairs of relevant legislative committees; and
2.8 	(10) any other group the commissioner deems appropriate to facilitate the goals 
2.9 	and duties of the council.
2.10 	(c) Notwithstanding section 15.059, each member of the council must be appointed to 
2.11 	either a one-year or two-year term. The commissioner shall appoint one member as chair.
2.12 		Subd. 3.Duties of commissioner. (a) The commissioner of human services or the 
2.13 	commissioner's designee shall:
2.14 	(1) maintain the council established in this section;
2.15 	(2) supervise and coordinate policies for persons from racial, ethnic, cultural, 
2.16 	linguistic, and tribal communities who experience disparities in access and outcomes;
2.17 	(3) identify human services rules or statutes affecting persons from racial, ethnic, 
2.18 	cultural, linguistic, and tribal communities that may need to be revised;
2.19 	(4) investigate and implement cost-effective models of service delivery such as 
2.20 	careful adaptation of clinically proven services that constitute one strategy for increasing 
2.21 	the number of culturally relevant services available to currently underserved populations; 
2.22 	(5) based on recommendations of the council, review identified department 
2.23 	policies that maintain racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and tribal disparities, and make 
2.24 	adjustments to ensure those disparities are not perpetuated; and
2.25 	(6) based on recommendations of the council, submit legislation to reduce disparities 
2.26 	affecting racial and ethnic groups, increase access to programs, and promote better 
2.27 	outcomes.
2.28 	(b) The commissioner of human services or the commissioner's designee shall 
2.29 	consult with the council and receive recommendations from the council when meeting 
2.30 	the requirements of this section.
2.31 		Subd. 4.Duties of council. The Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership 
2.32 	Council shall:
2.33 	(1) recommend to the commissioner for review identified policies in the Department 
2.34 	of Human Services that maintain racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and tribal disparities;
2.35 	(2) identify issues regarding disparities by engaging diverse populations in human 
2.36 	services programs;
3.1 	(3) engage in mutual learning essential for achieving human services parity and 
3.2 	optimal wellness for service recipients;
3.3 	(4) raise awareness about human services disparities to the legislature and media;
3.4 	(5) provide technical assistance and consultation support to counties, private 
3.5 	nonprofit agencies, and other service providers to build their capacity to provide equitable 
3.6 	human services for persons from racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and tribal communities 
3.7 	who experience disparities in access and outcomes;
3.8 	(6) provide technical assistance to promote statewide development of culturally 
3.9 	and linguistically appropriate, accessible, and cost-effective human services and related 
3.10 	policies;
3.11 	(7) provide training and outreach to facilitate access to culturally and linguistically 
3.12 	appropriate, accessible, and cost-effective human services to prevent disparities;
3.13 	(8) facilitate culturally appropriate and culturally sensitive admissions, continued 
3.14 	services, discharges, and utilization review for human services agencies and institutions;
3.15 	(9) form work groups to help carry out the duties of the council that include, but are 
3.16 	not limited to, persons who provide and receive services and representatives of advocacy 
3.17 	groups, and provide the work groups with clear guidelines, standardized parameters, and 
3.18 	tasks for the work groups to accomplish; and
3.19 	(10) promote information-sharing in the human services community and statewide.
3.20 		Subd. 5.Duties of council members. The members of the council shall:
3.21 	(1) attend and participate in scheduled meetings and be prepared by reviewing 
3.22 	meeting notes;
3.23 	(2) maintain open communication channels with respective constituencies;
3.24 	(3) identify and communicate issues and risks that could impact the timely 
3.25 	completion of tasks;
3.26 	(4) collaborate on disparity reduction efforts;
3.27 	(5) communicate updates of the council's work progress and status on the 
3.28 	Department of Human Services Web site; and
3.29 	(6) participate in any activities the council or chair deem appropriate and necessary 
3.30 	to facilitate the goals and duties of the council. 
3.31 		Subd. 6.Expiration. Notwithstanding section 15.059, the council does not expire 
3.32 	unless directed by the commissioner.