1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to state government; creating the Office of New Americans; establishing
1.3 the Interdepartmental Coordinating Council on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs;
1.4 requiring reports; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
1.5 Statutes, chapter 116J.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. [116J.4231] OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS.
1.8 Subdivision 1.Office established; purpose.(a) The Office of New Americans is
1.9established within the Department of Employment and Economic Development. The governor
1.10must appoint an assistant commissioner who serves in the unclassified service. The assistant
1.11commissioner must hire a program manager, an office assistant, and any staff necessary to
1.12carry out the office's duties under subdivision 2.
1.13 (b) The purpose of the office is to foster immigrant and refugee inclusion through an
1.14intentional process to improve economic mobility, enhance civic participation, and improve
1.15receiving communities' openness to immigrants and refugees by incorporating the needs
1.16and aspirations of immigrants and refugees, their families, and their communities for the
1.17mutual benefit of all by fulfilling the duties outlined in subdivision 2.
1.18 Subd. 2.Duties.The Office of New Americans has the following duties:
1.19 (1) create and implement a statewide strategy and programming to foster and promote
1.20immigrant and refugee-inclusion in Minnesota so as to improve economic mobility, enhance
1.21civic participation, and improve receiving communities' openness to immigrants and refugees;
1.22 (2) address the state's workforce needs by connecting employers and job seekers within
1.23the immigrant and refugee community;
1Section 1.
S0360-1 1st EngrossmentSF360 REVISOR SS
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 360NINETY-THIRD SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: MOHAMED, Putnam, Kupec, Dziedzic and Champion)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading20401/17/2023
Referred to Jobs and Economic Development
Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to State and Local Government and Veterans03/08/2023 2.1 (3) identify and support implementation of programs and strategies to reduce employment
2.2barriers for immigrants and refugees, including the creation of alternative employment
2.3pathways;
2.4 (4) support programs and activities designed to ensure equitable access to the workforce
2.5for immigrants and refugees, including those who are disabled;
2.6 (5) support equitable opportunities for immigrants and refugees to access state government
2.7services and grants, including collaborating with Minnesota's ethnic councils as created by
2.8section 15.0145;
2.9 (6) work with state agencies, Minnesota's ethnic councils, and community and foundation
2.10partners to undertake studies and research and analyze economic and demographic trends
2.11to better understand and serve the state's immigrant and refugee communities;
2.12 (7) coordinate and establish best practices for language access initiatives to all state
2.13agencies after soliciting input from Minnesota's ethnic councils;
2.14 (8) convene stakeholders to further the objectives identified in subdivision 1;
2.15 (9) make policy recommendations to the governor on issues impacting immigrants and
2.16refugees in consultation with Minnesota's ethnic councils;
2.17 (10) engage all stakeholders to further the objectives identified in subdivision 1 within
2.18the context of workforce access and workforce readiness, including in the areas of
2.19employment, housing, legal services, health care, and education and communicate the
2.20importance of immigrant and refugee inclusion in the success of immigrants, refugees, their
2.21children, and the communities in which they settle;
2.22 (11) engage with and support existing municipal and county offices that promote and
2.23foster immigrant and refugee inclusion and encourage the development of new municipal
2.24and county offices dedicated to immigrant and refugee inclusion;
2.25 (12) serve as the point of contact for immigrants and refugees accessing resources both
2.26within the department and with boards charged with oversight of a profession;
2.27 (13) promulgate rules necessary to implement and effectuate this section;
2.28 (14) provide an annual report, as required by subdivision 3; and
2.29 (15) perform any other activities consistent with the office's purpose.
2.30 Subd. 3.Reporting.(a) Beginning January 15, 2025, and each year thereafter, the Office
2.31of New Americans shall report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over the
2.32office's activities during the previous year.
2Section 1.
S0360-1 1st EngrossmentSF360 REVISOR SS 3.1 (b) The report shall contain, at a minimum:
3.2 (1) a summary of the office's activities;
3.3 (2) suggested policies, incentives, and legislation designed to accelerate the achievement
3.4of the duties under subdivision 2;
3.5 (3) any proposed legislative and policy initiatives;
3.6 (4) the amount and types of grants awarded under subdivision 6; and
3.7 (5) any other information deemed necessary and requested by the legislative committees
3.8with jurisdiction over the office.
3.9 (c) The report may be submitted electronically and is subject to section 3.195, subdivision
3.101.
3.11 Subd. 4.Interdepartmental Coordinating Council on Immigrant and Refugee
3.12Affairs.(a) An Interdepartmental Coordinating Council on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs
3.13is established to advise the Office of New Americans.
3.14 (b) The purpose of the council is to identify and establish ways in which state
3.15departments, agencies, and Minnesota's ethnic councils can work together to deliver state
3.16programs and services effectively and efficiently to Minnesota's immigrant and refugee
3.17populations. The council shall implement policies, procedures, and programs requested by
3.18the governor through the state departments and offices.
3.19 (c) The council shall be chaired by the assistant commissioner of the Office of New
3.20Americans and shall include the commissioners, department directors, or designees from
3.21the following:
3.22 (1) the governor's office;
3.23 (2) the Department of Administration;
3.24 (3) the Department of Employment and Economic Development;
3.25 (4) the Department of Human Services;
3.26 (5) the Department of Human Services Refugee Resettlement Programs Office;
3.27 (6) the Department of Labor and Industry;
3.28 (7) the Department of Health;
3.29 (8) the Department of Education;
3.30 (9) the Office of Higher Education;
3Section 1.
S0360-1 1st EngrossmentSF360 REVISOR SS 4.1 (10) the Department of Public Safety;
4.2 (11) the Department of Corrections;
4.3 (12) the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans;
4.4 (13) the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage; and
4.5 (14) the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs.
4.6 (d) Each department or office specified in paragraph (c) shall designate one staff member
4.7as an immigrant and refugee services liaison. The liaison's responsibilities shall include:
4.8 (1) preparation and dissemination of information and services available to immigrants
4.9and refugees; and
4.10 (2) interfacing with the Office of New Americans on issues that impact immigrants and
4.11refugees and their communities.
4.12 Subd. 5.No right of action.Nothing in this section shall be construed to create any
4.13right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party
4.14against the state; its departments, agencies, or entities; its officers, employees, or agents;
4.15or any other person.
4.16 Subd. 6.Grants.The Office of New Americans may apply for grants for interested state
4.17agencies, community partners, and stakeholders under this section to carry out the duties
4.18under subdivision 2.
4.19 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
4.20 $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from
4.21the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for the
4.22Office of New Americans under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.4231.
4Sec. 2.
S0360-1 1st EngrossmentSF360 REVISOR SS