MN HF803

Establishes the MNovate Commission to assist the governor, legislature, and commissioner of education in developing innovative public school models focused on individualized learning, teacher professional opportunities, and system efficiency.

Commission consists of 12 voting members appointed by the governor, speaker of the house, and senate majority leader (four members each), with the commissioner of education serving as an ongoing voting member and initial chair.

Members serve staggered three-year terms with a maximum of two consecutive terms, except the commissioner of education; initial terms allocated by lottery with one-third, one-third, and one-third serving one, two, and three years respectively.

Commission duties include researching unmet student learning needs, identifying restrictive laws and rules limiting innovation, evaluating new school models, developing charter school sponsor applications and reviews, administering federal charter school grants, and reporting annually to the governor and legislature.

Commission may create a private nonprofit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status to carry out its work, subject to open meetings law, salary limits, legislative audits, and ethics requirements.