1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to health; establishing an office of minority 
  1.3             health in the department of health; specifying powers 
  1.4             and duties of the office; proposing coding for new law 
  1.5             in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [144.085] [OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] The commissioner shall 
  1.9   establish an office of minority health within the department of 
  1.10  health.  The office shall provide leadership and direction on 
  1.11  minority health policies and issues in Minnesota. 
  1.12     Subd. 2.  [DUTIES.] The office shall perform the following 
  1.13  duties: 
  1.14     (1) serve as a central information and referral source on 
  1.15  policies and issues affecting minority health; coordinate 
  1.16  planning, evaluation, and monitoring on minority health issues; 
  1.17  and issue reports on the status of minority health and progress 
  1.18  made toward addressing minority health issues; 
  1.19     (2) work with state, local, and federal agencies, colleges 
  1.20  and universities, private interest groups, communities, 
  1.21  foundations, and other offices of minority health to improve the 
  1.22  health status and health profile of populations of color, 
  1.23  maximizing existing resources and coordinating activities to 
  1.24  avoid unnecessary duplication of existing services or 
  1.25  activities; 
  2.1      (3) develop minority health initiatives, including 
  2.2   initiatives related to multilingual communications, and evaluate 
  2.3   cultural competency activities as they relate to minority 
  2.4   health; and 
  2.5      (4) provide recommendations to schools, colleges, 
  2.6   universities, health care providers and facilities, governmental 
  2.7   agencies, local health boards, and local human services agencies 
  2.8   on the recruitment and retention of minorities in the health 
  2.9   professions. 
  2.10     Subd. 3.  [PERMITTED ACTIVITIES.] The office may perform 
  2.11  other duties related to minority health and improving the health 
  2.12  status of populations of color, including but not limited to: 
  2.13     (1) participate in or coordinate conferences and training 
  2.14  programs to raise awareness among state and local agencies about 
  2.15  policies and methods for improving the health status and health 
  2.16  profile of populations of color; 
  2.17     (2) administer grant funds for innovative projects to 
  2.18  improve the health status and health profile of populations of 
  2.19  color; 
  2.20     (3) establish and coordinate advisory committees; 
  2.21     (4) publicize minority health issues through the media; 
  2.22     (5) seek and accept grants, gifts, and donations from 
  2.23  public and private entities to fund the office and enter into 
  2.24  contracts or agreements necessary to accept grants, gifts, and 
  2.25  donations; 
  2.26     (6) explore the development of a minority health research 
  2.27  institute to make minority health data available for research 
  2.28  into activities to reduce and eliminate health disparities among 
  2.29  various populations in Minnesota; and 
  2.30     (7) conduct and produce, in coordination with the center 
  2.31  for health statistics, health status reports, health profiles, 
  2.32  and surveys on significant health disparities and health 
  2.33  assessments for each population of color. 
  2.34     Subd. 4.  [ADMINISTRATION.] The commissioner shall appoint 
  2.35  a director for the office of minority health who shall report 
  2.36  directly to the commissioner.  The director may appoint an 
  3.1   assistant director and other staff as needed to discharge the 
  3.2   duties of the office.  The director and all other staff in the 
  3.3   office shall serve as classified employees.  The commissioner 
  3.4   shall provide the office with office space, administrative 
  3.5   services, and secretarial and clerical services. 
  3.6      Subd. 5.  [REPORTS TO THE LEGISLATURE.] No later than 
  3.7   January 15 of each odd-numbered year, the director shall submit 
  3.8   a biennial report to the legislature regarding activities of the 
  3.9   office and any findings, issues, and recommendations relating to 
  3.10  minority health in Minnesota.