Explore Minnesota councils membership modifications

A bill for an act

relating to tourism; modifying the membership of Explore Minnesota councils;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 116U.242; 116U.25.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116U.242, is amended to read:

116U.242 EXPLORE MINNESOTA FOR BUSINESS COUNCIL.

(a) The director shall be advised by the Explore Minnesota for Business Council

consisting of up to 14 voting members appointed by the governor for four-year terms,

including:

(1) the
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executive
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director of Explore Minnesota
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and the commissioner of employment

and economic development, who serve as cochairs
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;

(2) three representatives in marketing, human resources, or executive leadership from

Minnesota-based companies with more than 100 employees representing Minnesota's key

industries, including health care, technology, food and agriculture, manufacturing, retail,

energy, and support services;

(3) two representatives from statewide or regional marketing or business association

leadership, the Iron Range, and nonprofits focused on economic development or human

resource management;

(4) one representative from a Minnesota college or university staff, faculty, leadership,

student leadership, or alumni association;

(5) one member representing Minnesota's
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small business or
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start-up and entrepreneurial

industry who has started at least one Minnesota-based business in the last five years
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and

has at least 20 employees
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;

(6) two representatives from the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and Minnesota Tribal

leadership, including casino management;

(7)
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two representatives from Minnesota's Ethnic Chambers of Commerce Leadership

and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
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one Dakota representative and one Ojibwe

representative
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;
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and
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(8) one
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at-large representative in the field of general marketing, talent attraction, or

economic development.
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representative from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce; and
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(9) one representative from the Department of Employment and Economic Development

who must be the commissioner, deputy commissioner, or an assistant commissioner.

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(b) The council shall act to serve the broader interest of promoting overall livability and

workforce and economic opportunity in Minnesota. Members shall advise Explore Minnesota

for Business' marketing efforts by emphasizing and prioritizing diversity, equity, inclusion,

and accessibility and providing professional marketing insights.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116U.25, is amended to read:

116U.25 EXPLORE MINNESOTA TOURISM COUNCIL.

(a) The director shall be advised by the Explore Minnesota Tourism Council consisting

of up to
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35
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25
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voting members appointed by the governor for four-year terms, including:

(1) the director of Explore Minnesota Tourism who serves as the chair;

(2)
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fourteen
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four
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representatives of statewide
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tourism-related
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associations
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representing

bed and breakfast establishments, golf, festivals and events, counties, convention and visitor

bureaus, lodging, resorts, trails, campgrounds, restaurants, craft beverage establishments,

chambers of commerce, chambers of commerce for underrepresented communities, and

Tribal nations
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;

(3)
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one representative
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five representatives
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from each of the tourism marketing regions

of the state as designated by the office;

(4) ten representatives of the tourism business representing transportation, retail, travel

agencies, tour operators, travel media, convention facilities, arts and culture, sports, outdoor

recreation, and tourism business owners from underrepresented communities;

(5) one
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or more
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ex officio nonvoting
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members including at least one
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member
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from the

University of Minnesota Tourism Center;

(6) four legislators, two from each house, one each from the two largest political party

caucuses in each house, appointed according to the rules of the respective houses; and

(7) other persons, if any, as designated from time to time by the governor.

(b) The council shall act to serve the broader interests of tourism in Minnesota by

promoting activities that support, maintain, and expand the state's domestic and international

travel market, thereby generating increased visitor expenditures, tax revenue, and

employment.

(c) Filling of membership vacancies is as provided in section
15.059
. The terms of

one-half of the members shall be coterminous with the governor and the terms of the

remaining one-half of the members shall end on the first Monday in January one year after

the terms of the other members. Members may serve until their successors are appointed

and qualify. Members are not compensated. A member may be reappointed.

(d) The council shall meet at least
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four
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two
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times per year and at other times determined

by the council.

(e) If compliance with section
13D.02
is impractical, the Explore Minnesota Tourism

Council may conduct a meeting of its members by telephone or other electronic means so

long as the following conditions are met:

(1) all members of the council participating in the meeting, wherever their physical

location, can hear one another and can hear all discussion and testimony;

(2) members of the public present at the regular meeting location of the council can hear

clearly all discussion and testimony and all votes of members of the council and, if needed,

receive those services required by sections
15.44
and
15.441
;

(3) at least one member of the council is physically present at the regular meeting location;

and

(4) all votes are conducted by roll call, so each member's vote on each issue can be

identified and recorded.

(f) Each member of the council participating in a meeting by telephone or other electronic

means is considered present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum and

participating in all proceedings.

(g) If telephone or other electronic means is used to conduct a meeting, the council, to

the extent practical, shall allow a person to monitor the meeting electronically from a remote

location. The council may require the person making such a connection to pay for

documented marginal costs that the council incurs as a result of the additional connection.

(h) If telephone or other electronic means is used to conduct a regular, special, or

emergency meeting, the council shall provide notice of the regular meeting location, of the

fact that some members may participate by telephone or other electronic means, and of the

provisions of paragraph (g). The timing and method of providing notice is governed by

section
13D.04
.