Subdivision 1. Membership.

The Minnesota Emerging Entrepreneur Board is created and consists of the commissioner of employment and economic development, the commissioner of human rights, the chair of the Metropolitan Council, and 12 members from the general public appointed by the governor. Nine of the public members must be representatives from minority business enterprises. No more than six of the public members may be of one gender. At least one member must be a representative from a veteran-owned business, and at least one member must be a representative from a business owned by a person with disabilities. Appointments must ensure balanced geographic representation. At least half of the public members must have experience working to address racial income disparities. All public members must be experienced in business or economic development.

Subd. 1a.Board responsibilities.

Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 116M.15

  • Chair: includes chairman, chairwoman, and chairperson. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Majority: means with respect to an individual the period of time after the individual reaches the age of 18. See Minnesota Statutes 645.451
  • Minority: means with respect to an individual the period of time during which the individual is a minor. See Minnesota Statutes 645.451
  • Person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Small business: means a business entity organized for profit, including but not limited to any individual, partnership, corporation, joint venture, association or cooperative, which entity:

    (1) is not an affiliate or subsidiary of a business dominant in its field of operation; and

    (2) has 20 or fewer full-time employees; or

    (3) in the preceding fiscal year has not had more than the equivalent of $1,000,000 in annual gross revenues; or

    (4) if the business is a technical or professional service, shall not have had more than the equivalent of $2,500,000 in annual gross revenues in the preceding fiscal year. See Minnesota Statutes 645.445

  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.

The board shall:

(1) submit a report to the commissioner by February 1 of each year describing the condition of Minnesota small businesses that are majority owned and operated by a racial or ethnic minority, woman, veteran, or a person with disabilities, along with any policy recommendations;

(2) act as a liaison between the department and nonprofit corporations engaged in small business development support activities; and

(3) assist the department in informational outreach about the program.

Subd. 2.Membership terms.

The membership terms, compensation, removal, and filling of vacancies of public members of the board are as provided in section 15.0575.

Subd. 3.Chair; other officers.

The commissioner of employment and economic development shall serve as chair of the board. The board may elect other officers as necessary from its members.

Subd. 4.Staff.

The commissioner of employment and economic development shall provide staff, consultant support, materials, and administrative services necessary for the board’s activities. The services must include personnel, budget, payroll, and contract administration.

Subd. 5.Board meeting.

(a) If compliance with section 13D.02 is impractical, the Minnesota Emerging Entrepreneur Board 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 board 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 board can hear clearly all discussion and testimony and all votes of members of the board and, if needed, receive those services required by sections 15.44 and 15.441;

(3) at least one member of the board 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.

(b) Each member of the board 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.

(c) If telephone or other electronic means is used to conduct a meeting, the board, to the extent practical, shall allow a person to monitor the meeting electronically from a remote location. The board may require the person making such a connection to pay for documented marginal costs that the board incurs as a result of the additional connection.

(d) If telephone or other electronic means is used to conduct a regular, special, or emergency meeting, the board 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 (c). The timing and method of providing notice is governed by section 13D.04.