1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to immigration; eliminating the Office of New Americans; repealing
1.3 Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116J.4231.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. REPEALER.
1.6 Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116J.4231, is repealed.
1.7 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective June 30, 2025.
1Section 1.
REVISOR SS/NS 25-0431702/25/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 2058
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Schultz, Engen and Gordon03/10/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy 116J.4231 OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS.
Subdivision 1.Office established; purpose.(a) The Office of New Americans is established
within the Department of Employment and Economic Development. The governor must appoint
an assistant commissioner who serves in the unclassified service. The assistant commissioner must
hire a program manager, an office assistant, and any staff necessary to carry out the office's duties
under subdivision 2.
(b) The purpose of the office is to foster immigrant and refugee inclusion through an intentional
process to improve economic mobility, enhance civic participation, and improve receiving
communities' openness to immigrants and refugees by incorporating the needs and aspirations of
immigrants and refugees, their families, and their communities for the benefit of all by fulfilling
the duties outlined in subdivision 2.
Subd. 2.Duties.The Office of New Americans has the following duties:
(1) create and implement a statewide strategy and programming to foster and promote immigrant
and refugee inclusion in Minnesota so as to improve economic mobility, enhance civic participation,
and improve receiving communities' openness to immigrants and refugees;
(2) address the state's workforce needs by connecting employers and job seekers within the
immigrant and refugee community;
(3) identify and support implementation of programs and strategies to reduce employment
barriers for immigrants and refugees, including the creation of alternative employment pathways;
(4) support programs and activities designed to ensure equitable access to the workforce for
immigrants and refugees, including those who are disabled;
(5) support equitable opportunities for immigrants and refugees to access state government
services and grants, including collaborating with Minnesota's ethnic councils as created by section
15.0145;
(6) work with state agencies, Minnesota's ethnic councils, and community and foundation
partners to undertake studies and research and analyze economic and demographic trends to better
understand and serve the state's immigrant and refugee communities;
(7) coordinate and establish best practices for language access initiatives to all state agencies
after soliciting input from Minnesota's ethnic councils;
(8) convene stakeholders to further the objectives identified in subdivision 1;
(9) make policy recommendations to the governor on issues impacting immigrants and refugees
after soliciting input from Minnesota's ethnic councils;
(10) engage all stakeholders to further the objectives identified in subdivision 1 within the
context of workforce access and workforce readiness, including in the areas of employment, housing,
legal services, health care, and education and communicate the importance of immigrant and refugee
inclusion in the success of immigrants, refugees, their children, and the communities in which they
settle;
(11) engage with and support existing municipal and county offices that promote and foster
immigrant and refugee inclusion and encourage the development of new municipal and county
offices dedicated to immigrant and refugee inclusion;
(12) serve as the point of contact for immigrants and refugees accessing resources both within
the department and with boards charged with oversight of a profession;
(13) promulgate rules necessary to implement and effectuate this section;
(14) provide an annual report, as required by subdivision 3;
(15) perform any other activities consistent with the office's purpose; and
(16) administer any grant program or other appropriation to the office.
Subd. 3.Reporting.(a) Beginning January 15, 2025, and each year thereafter, the Office of
New Americans shall report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over the office's activities
during the previous year.
(b) The report shall contain, at a minimum:
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APPENDIX
Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 25-04317 (1) a summary of the office's activities;
(2) suggested policies, incentives, and legislation designed to accelerate the achievement of the
duties under subdivision 2;
(3) any proposed legislative and policy initiatives;
(4) the amount and types of grants awarded under subdivision 6; and
(5) any other information deemed necessary and requested by the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over the office.
(c) The report may be submitted electronically and is subject to section 3.195, subdivision 1.
Subd. 4.Interdepartmental Coordinating Council on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs.(a)
An Interdepartmental Coordinating Council on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs is established to
advise the Office of New Americans.
(b) The purpose of the council is to identify and establish ways in which state departments,
agencies, and Minnesota's ethnic councils can work together to deliver state programs and services
effectively and efficiently to Minnesota's immigrant and refugee populations. The council shall
implement policies, procedures, and programs requested by the governor through the state
departments and offices.
(c) The council shall be chaired by the assistant commissioner of the Office of New Americans
and shall include the commissioners, department directors, or designees from the following:
(1) the governor's office;
(2) the Department of Administration;
(3) the Department of Employment and Economic Development;
(4) the Department of Human Services;
(5) the Department of Human Services Refugee Resettlement Programs Office;
(6) the Department of Labor and Industry;
(7) the Department of Health;
(8) the Department of Education;
(9) the Office of Higher Education;
(10) the Department of Public Safety;
(11) the Department of Corrections;
(12) the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans;
(13) the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage; and
(14) the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs.
(d) Each department or office specified in paragraph (c) shall designate one staff member as an
immigrant and refugee services liaison. The liaison's responsibilities shall include:
(1) preparation and dissemination of information and services available to immigrants and
refugees; and
(2) interfacing with the Office of New Americans on issues that impact immigrants and refugees.
Subd. 5.No right of action.Nothing in this section shall be construed to create any right or
benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the state; its
departments, agencies, or entities; its officers, employees, or agents; or any other person.
Subd. 6.Grants.The Office of New Americans may apply for grants for interested state agencies,
community partners, and stakeholders under this section to carry out the duties under subdivision
2.
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APPENDIX
Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 25-04317