1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; establishing the Minnesota Commission on New 
1.3 	Americans; providing appointments; appropriating money;proposing coding for 
1.4 	new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 3.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [3.9228] MINNESOTA COMMISSION ON NEW AMERICANS.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Commission established. The Minnesota Commission on New 
1.8 	Americans is established to capitalize upon and develop the strengths of the immigrant 
1.9 	community in Minnesota. The commission shall enable state government to more 
1.10 	effectively identify the underutilized resources within the immigrant community and to 
1.11 	facilitate the full participation of immigrants in social, cultural, and political life in this 
1.12 	state.
1.13 		Subd. 2.Membership. The Minnesota Commission on New Americans consists 
1.14 	of ten members. The governor shall appoint two public members; the Subcommittee on 
1.15 	Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the senate shall appoint two 
1.16 	public members and two senators; and the speaker of the house of representatives shall 
1.17 	appoint two public members and two members of the house of representatives. Appointees 
1.18 	must have proven experience and dedication to working with the immigrant community, 
1.19 	including training, special skills, and experience that would benefit the commission, 
1.20 	including training and experience in business, management, economics, public policy, 
1.21 	legal affairs, and social work. The appointing authorities shall seek to collaborate with 
1.22 	each other and with the councils established in sections 3.9223, 3.9225, and 3.9226, to 
1.23 	ensure that the public membership of the commission is ethnically and geographically 
1.24 	diverse and is reasonably balanced by gender. Compensation and the filling of vacancies 
2.1 	for appointed members are as provided in section 15.0575. The appointments required 
2.2 	under this subdivision must be completed no later than September 1, 2007.
2.3 		Subd. 3.Organization. As soon as possible after the appointments under 
2.4 	subdivision 2 have been completed, the executive director of the Legislative Coordinating 
2.5 	Commission shall convene the first meeting of the commission. The members of the 
2.6 	commission shall select their chairperson at the first meeting.
2.7 		Subd. 4.Assistance. The Legislative Coordinating Commission shall provide the 
2.8 	administrative and clerical support services necessary for the operation of the Minnesota 
2.9 	Commission on New Americans.
2.10 		Subd. 5.Duties. The Minnesota Commission on New Americans shall study and 
2.11 	consider opportunities and issues for the immigrant community in this state, including:
2.12 	(1) steps to eliminate underutilization of immigrants in the state's work force;
2.13 	(2) the development of entrepreneurial and small business opportunities for 
2.14 	immigrants;
2.15 	(3) the use of the immigrant community to enhance and expand state trade relations 
2.16 	with other countries;
2.17 	(4) improving the opportunity for the study of English as a second language;
2.18 	(5) improving the efficient use of existing state programs and services; and
2.19 	(6) other appropriate steps to improve the economic and social condition of 
2.20 	immigrants in this state.
2.21 	By December 1, 2008, the commission shall report to the chairs of the legislative 
2.22 	committees and divisions with jurisdiction over issues affecting immigrants. The 
2.23 	report must include a discussion of the items listed in this subdivision together with 
2.24 	recommendations for state agencies and the legislature, including any proposed legislation 
2.25 	necessary to accomplish the recommendations. The executive director of the Legislative 
2.26 	Coordinating Commission shall ensure that copies of the report are available on the 
2.27 	Legislative Coordinating Commission's Web site.
2.28 		Subd. 6.Expiration. This section expires on June 30, 2009.

2.29 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; MINNESOTA COMMISSION ON NEW 
2.30 	AMERICANS.
 2.31 	$....... in fiscal year 2008 and $....... in fiscal year 2009 are appropriated from the 
2.32 	general fund to the Legislative Coordinating Commission for the Minnesota Commission 
2.33 	on New Americans established in section 1.