Minnesota Agencies

The Advisory Committee will assess current safety and security risks in the Capitol Area, as defined by Minn. Stat. 15B.02, and discuss developments that might affect those risks in the future. The committee shall provide advice and recommendations to the governor and legislature regarding security priorities, strategies for addressing these priorities, and recommendations for funding to implement the strategies. In performing its duties under this section, the committee shall consult with the commissioners of administration and public safety, the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, the director of the Minnesota Historical Society, and the sergeants-at-arms of the senate and house of representatives.

The committee shall report to the governor, the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board and the Department of Public Safety, and chief justice of the Supreme Court by January 15 of each year. This report shall provide a general assessment of the status of security in the Capitol Area, describe improvements implemented, and recommend future improvements. As appropriate, the committee shall offer recommendations for capital or operating expenditures, statutory changes, or other changes in security-related policies or practices. The report shall include draft legislation to implement any recommended changes in law. Spending recommendations shall be made in a timely manner to ensure that they can be considered as part of the state's capital and operating budget processes.

On January 18, 2011, Governor Dayton and leaders from the Minnesota Legislature and Supreme Court established a committee to review state government's current approach to achieving public access and security within the Capitol Complex. The committee held eight meetings. It based its review on previous security evaluations and discussions with officials responsible for security and maintenance in the Capitol Complex.

The committee found that security in the Capitol Complex has been a topic of discussion and concern over several decades, and some important improvements have been made in recent years. However, the committee also concluded that security-related activities should be more comprehensive and better coordinated. The committee offered findings and recommendations in their report to guide actions in the current legislative session and into the near-term future.

One of the reports' recommendations was for the Legislature to establish in law an Advisory Committee on Capitol Complex Security. For the full report please see: Final Report: Committee on Capitol Complex Security, State of Minnesota (2011).

The Legislature created this advisory committee in law in 2012 (Laws of Minn. 2012, chap. 258, sec. 2).

The Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security was reviewed by the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy (LCPFP) in 2013 as part of their biennial duty required by Minn. Stat. 3.885 Subd. 11. The LCPFP's 2013 Recommendations called for keeping the committee.

An expiration date of June 30, 2022 had originally been set for the committee. In 2022, the Legislature extended the committee's expiration date to June 30, 2036 (Laws of Minn. 2022, chap. 73).

The advisory committee consists of six members, appointed as follows:

• the lieutenant governor;
• two senators, including one member from the majority party, appointed by the senate majority leader, and one member from the minority party, appointed by the senate minority leader;
• two members of the house of representatives, including one member appointed by the speaker of the house and one member appointed by the minority leader; and
• the chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court or the designee of the chief justice.

A member may be removed by the appointing authority at any time at the pleasure of the appointing authority.