A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing the Age-Friendly Minnesota Council; requiring a
report; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 15.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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The Age-Friendly
Minnesota Council is established in law and sets forth the work of the council established
by the governor's Executive Order No. 19-38 by undertaking the established steps to enroll
Minnesota in a nationally recognized network of age-friendly states, such as the AARP
Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. The infrastructure of the Age-Friendly
Minnesota Council established in this section shall be autonomous and independent.
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(a) The Age-Friendly Minnesota Council shall consist of at least
25 voting members:
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(1) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house;
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(2) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the house minority leader;
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(3) one member of the senate appointed by the senate majority leader;
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(4) one member of the senate appointed by the senate minority leader;
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(5) one member representing a Minnesota Tribal Nation selected by the Indian Affairs
Council under section 3.922;
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(6) one member representing the Governor's broadband task force;
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(7) a minimum of two members from age-friendly cities and counties;
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(8) members from philanthropic organizations;
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(9) members of the public who are older adults and either residents of or individuals
representing rural areas outside of the seven-county metropolitan area;
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(10) members representing the business community
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(11) members representing nonprofit organizations representing older adults and
healthcare providers; and
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(12) members representing the public at large.
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(b) In addition to the members in paragraph (a), each of the following state agencies
shall designate an Age-Friendly Minnesota lead who shall actively participate as a member
of the council:
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(1) Board on Aging;
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(2) Department of Commerce;
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(3) Department of Employment and Economic Development;
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(4) Department of Health;
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(5) Housing and Finance Agency;
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(6) Department of Human Services;
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(7) Department of Transportation;
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(8) Department of Veterans Affairs;
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(9) Metropolitan Council; and
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(10) Department of Natural Resources.
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Other state agencies may participate as nonvoting members.
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(c) To ensure that power is repositioned and that the council is helping to create leaders
and build capacity, priority shall be given to older adults and members of groups and
communities that face frequent discrimination and exclusion. Those groups and communities
include but are not limited to individuals who are low income; identify as indigenous
American Indian, Black, African-American, Asian, or Latinx; identify as LGBTQ+; are
new immigrants or refugees; have limited English proficiency; live in rural areas; are
veterans; or have disabilities.
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(d) The council shall hire an executive director who serves in the unclassified service
and may employ or contract with staff to provide support as the council deems necessary
to perform the council's duties. The director must have knowledge and demonstrated
experience in aging, age-friendly work, and proficiency in the management and
administration of programs relating to these fields.
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(e) The Minnesota Board on Aging appointee shall serve at all times as the chair of the
Age-Friendly Minnesota Council unless the council, by majority vote, selects another
chairperson from among the council's members. Any vote to replace the chair of the council
requires 30 days public notice prior to any such vote.
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(f) The council shall take all steps necessary to enroll Minnesota in a nationally recognized
network of age-friendly states to advise state and local government agencies and organizations
on the establishment of age-friendly communities, including sovereign tribal nations in
Minnesota, if one or more tribal nations decide to pursue age-friendly designation by
December 31, 2021.
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(g) The council may accept support and in-kind services from nongovernment
organizations, corporations, and other entities for purposes consistent with the role and
authority of the council in this section.
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Except for members appointed by the Indian Affairs
Council, initial appointments shall be made by the governor by October 1, 2021. Initial
appointments shall serve staggered terms of three years or as determined by the secretary
of state.
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Members shall be compensated as provided in section 15.0575,
subdivision 3.
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An age-friendly cities framework proposes eight domains to identify
and address barriers to and opportunities for the well-being and participation of older people.
Domains are specified to guide the priorities and strategies of the council. The council shall
work to advance age-friendly policies and prioritize social equity considerations in an effort
to eliminate historic disparities experienced by older Minnesotans. Domains include but
are not limited to:
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(1) outdoor spaces and buildings that ensure parks and other green spaces, safe streets,
well-maintained sidewalks, outdoor and indoor seating, and accessible buildings are available
and can be used and enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities;
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(2) housing options that include homes that are affordable, accessible, appropriate for
various stages of life, and allow aging in the community, including access to home
modifications and services that allow people to stay in their homes;
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(3) transportation options in Minnesota that are safe, reliable, convenient, and easy to
use and include accessible and affordable public transit, ridesharing, and walking and biking,
recognizing that needs and resources vary by geography across the state.
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(4) work and civic engagement that ensures older Minnesotans continue to have
opportunities to work for pay, volunteer their skills, and be actively engaged in community
life;
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(5) respect and social inclusion that ensures that older Minnesotans feel valued, regardless
of age; that older adults are understood and appreciated through an intergenerational lens;
and that multicultural views and traditions associated with aging are recognized and
respected;
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(6) work that seeks to eliminate ageism;
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(7) social participation, including electronic means of connecting, that provides
opportunities for older adults to engage in community life through accessible and affordable
activities that are meaningful and safe and that supports physical and mental well-being and
helps combat isolation;
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(8) communication and information sources that enable communities to effectively
disseminate information in a variety of ways, including through well-designed online sources
made available through affordable, universal access to broadband services, as well as through
nonweb-based means such as print, radio, and television;