Subd. 1. Establishment; members.

The Minnesota early childhood care and education council shall consist of 19 members appointed by the governor. Members must represent the following groups and organizations: parents, family child care providers, child care center providers, private foundations, corporate executives, small business owners, and public school districts. The council membership also includes the commissioners of human services, economic security, children, families, and learning, and health; a representative of the higher education services office; a representative of the Minnesota headstart association; representatives of two Minnesota counties; three members from child care resource and referral programs, one of whom shall be from a county-operated resource and referral, one of whom shall be from a rural location, and one of whom shall be from the metropolitan area; and a community group representative. The governor shall consult with the councils established under sections 3.922, 3.9223, 3.9225, and 3.9226, representing the communities of color, to ensure that membership of the council is representative of all racial minority groups. In addition to the 19 members appointed by the governor, two members of the senate shall be appointed by the president of the senate and two members of the house of representatives shall be appointed by the speaker of the house to serve as ex officio members of the council. Membership terms, compensation, and removal of members are governed by section 15.059, except that the council shall not expire as required by that section.

Subd. 2. Executive director; staff.

The council shall select an executive director of the council by a vote of a majority of all council members. The executive director is in the unclassified service and shall provide administrative support for the council and provide administrative leadership to implement council mandates, policies, and objectives. The executive director shall employ and direct other staff.

Subd. 3. Duties and powers.

The council has the following duties and powers:

1. (1) develop a biennial plan for early childhood care and education in the state;
2. (2) take a leadership role in developing its recommendations in conjunction with the recommendations of other state agencies on the state budget for early childhood care and education;
3. (3) apply for and receive state money and public and private grant money;
4. (4) participate in and facilitate the development of interagency agreements on early childhood care and education issues;
5. (5) review state agency policies on early childhood care and education issues so that they do not conflict;
6. (6) advocate for an effective and coordinated early childhood care and education system with state agencies and programs;
7. (7) study the need for child care funding for special populations whose needs are not being met by current programs;
8. (8) ensure that the early childhood care and education system reflects community diversity; and
9. (9) be responsible for advocating policies and funding for early childhood care and education.