The bill seeks to modernize and enhance state personnel management provisions in Minnesota by amending various sections of the Minnesota Statutes. Key updates include the explicit inclusion of "sexual orientation," "gender identity," and "familial status" as protected categories in employment decisions, alongside a mandate for affirmative action to address the underutilization of qualified individuals from these protected groups. The bill also requires training for managers on bias in hiring and performance evaluations, and it modifies compensation language to consider employees of color and those with disabilities. Additionally, it introduces a new "Nonrepresented employees compensation plan," establishes a requirement for annual reporting on hiring waivers, and prioritizes recently separated veterans in the hiring process.

Further amendments streamline employment practices by adjusting the ranking of applicants based on veteran's preference and skill matches, extending emergency appointments, and clarifying the process for appointing unclassified incumbents. The bill also establishes a 700-hour on-the-job demonstration experience for applicants with disabilities and revises vacation donation policies. It mandates the creation of a statewide affirmative action program and requires agency affirmative action plans to be publicly available. Additionally, the bill repeals several outdated statutes related to employee benefits, clarifies health insurance eligibility, and establishes a long-term care insurance trust fund, aiming to improve transparency, accessibility, and inclusivity in state employment practices and benefits administration.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 43A.01, 43A.02, 43A.04, 43A.05, 43A.07, 43A.08, 43A.10, 43A.11, 43A.121, 43A.15, 43A.17, 43A.18, 43A.181, 43A.1815, 43A.23, 43A.24, 43A.27, 43A.346