Subd. 1. Generally.

The commissioner shall appoint a 12-member advisory council to advise the commissioner on the implementation and continued operation of sections 119A.20 to 119A.23. The abused children advisory council shall also serve as a liaison between the commissioner and organizations that provide abused children services. The terms of members of the advisory council shall be two years. No member may serve on the advisory council for more than two consecutive terms. Council members shall not receive per diem but shall receive expense reimbursements as specified in section 15.059. In other matters section 15.059 shall govern the operation of the advisory council.

Subd. 2. Membership.

Persons appointed shall be knowledgeable about or have interests in issues concerning abused children and the programs that serve them, including the need for effective advocacy services. The membership of the council shall broadly represent the interests of abused children throughout Minnesota, including representation of people of color and other individuals from traditionally underserved population, and must include one member from the department of human services child protection unit. No more than six members of the council may be representatives of community or governmental organizations that provide abused children services. One-half of the council's members shall reside in the metropolitan area consisting of the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington, and one-half of the members shall reside in the nonmetropolitan area. To the extent possible, nonmetropolitan members must be representative of all nonmetropolitan regions of the state.

Subd. 3. Duties.

The advisory council shall:

1. (1) advise the commissioner on all planning, development, data collection, rulemaking, funding, and evaluation of abused children programs under section 119A.22;
2. (2) advise the commissioner on the adoption of rules under chapter 14 governing the award of grants to ensure that funded programs are consistent with section 119A.21;
3. (3) recommend to the commissioner the names of five applicants for the position of abused children program director;
4. (4) advise the commissioner on the rules adopted under chapter 14;
5. (5) review applications received by the commissioner for grants under section 119A.21 and make recommendations on the awarding of grants; and
6. (6) advise the program director in the performance of duties in the administration and coordination of the programs funded under section 119A.21.

Subd. 4. Conflict of interest.

A member of the advisory council shall be excluded from participating in review and recommendation concerning a grant allocation if the member:

1. (1) serves or has served any time during the last three years as an employee, consultant, volunteer, or governing board member of an organization whose application is being reviewed; or
2. (2) has a financial interest in the funding of the applicant organization.

Subd. 5. Advisory council recommendations.

The commissioner shall consider the advisory council's recommendations before awarding grants or adopting policies regarding the planning, development, data collection, rulemaking, funding, and abused children services for programs funded under section 119A.21. Before taking action on matters related to programs and abused children services, except day-to-day administrative operations, the commissioner shall notify the advisory council of the intended action. Notification of grant award decisions shall be given to the advisory council in time to allow the council to request reconsideration.