Subdivision 1. Establishment. The Trade Policy Advisory Council is established to advise and assist the governor and the legislature regarding United States trade agreements.
Subd. 2. Membership. (a) The Trade Policy Advisory Council shall have 15 members, as follows:
(1) the commissioner of employment and economic development or designee;
(2) the commissioner of agriculture or designee;
(3) the commissioner of administration or designee;
(4) two senators, including one appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration, and one appointed by the minority leader;
(5) two members of the house of representatives, including one member appointed by the speaker of the house and one member appointed by the minority leader; and
(6) eight members appointed by the governor. The governor's appointees shall represent specified interests, including organized labor, environmental interests, family farmers, business and industry, and international trade and development.
(b) The Trade Policy Advisory Council may invite representatives from other state agencies, industries, trade and labor organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and local governments to join the council as nonvoting ex officio members.
(c) Except for initial appointments, the appointing authorities shall make appointments by the first Monday in January of each odd-numbered year.
Subd. 3. Term. Except for the initial appointees, members of the Trade Policy Advisory Council shall serve for a term of two years and may be reappointed. Members shall serve until their successors have been appointed.
Subd. 4. Administration. The commissioner of employment and economic development or the commissioner's designee shall provide meeting space and administrative services for the council.
Subd. 5. Initial appointments and first meeting. The appointing authorities shall appoint the first members of the council by January 15, 2014. The first appointees shall serve until the first Monday in January 2015. The commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development shall convene the first meeting by February 15, 2014, and shall act as chair until the council elects a chair at its first meeting.
Subd. 6. Chair. The members shall elect a chair from the legislative members of the advisory council.
Subd. 7. No compensation. Public members of the advisory council serve without compensation or payment of expenses.
Subd. 8. Duties. The Trade Policy Advisory Council shall:
(1) advise the governor and the legislature on matters relating to United States trade agreements;
(2) assess the potential impact of federal trade agreements on the state's economy;
(3) advise the governor and the legislature of the group's findings and make recommendations, including any draft legislation necessary to implement the recommendations, to the governor and the legislature;
(4) determine, on a case-by-case basis, the impact of a specific federal trade agreement by requesting input from state agencies, seeking expert advice, convening public hearings, and taking other reasonable and appropriate actions;
(5) request information from the Office of the United States Trade Representative necessary to conduct an appropriate review of government procurement agreements or other trade issues; and
(6) receive information obtained by the United States Trade Representative's single point of contact for Minnesota.
Subd. 9. Meeting. The Trade Policy Advisory Council shall meet at least once per fiscal year.
Subd. 10. Sunset. The council shall sunset January 1, 2020.
History:2013 c 85 art 3 s 9