This bill proposes modifications to the Statewide Office of Appellate Counsel and Training and the State Board of Appellate Counsel and Training in Minnesota. It makes several key changes:

1. Statewide Office of Appellate Counsel and Training (SOACT)

   • Establishes the SOACT as an independent state agency in the executive branch.
   • Responsibilities include:
     • Providing appellate representation to parents in juvenile protection cases, including in Tribal court jurisdictions.
     • Training parent attorneys across Minnesota and setting practice standards.
     • Collaborating with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families to obtain federal Title IV-E funding for counties and Tribes.

2. State Board of Appellate Counsel and Training

   • Creates a seven-member board to oversee the SOACT.
   • Membership includes:
     • Four public members appointed by the governor.
     • Three members appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court, including two attorneys and one public member (one attorney must have experience representing parents in juvenile court).
   • Prohibits certain individuals from serving on the board, such as judges, lobbyists, guardians ad litem, and government attorneys.
   • Encourages diversity in board appointments and requires at least one member to represent a federally recognized Indian Tribe.
   • Board members must have knowledge of appellate defense for parents and relevant legal areas.

3. Head Appellate Counsel and Employment Terms

   • A head appellate counsel will be appointed for a four-year term and can only be removed for cause.
   • Head appellate counsel must be a full-time licensed attorney and cannot engage in private legal practice.
   • The board will set the compensation for appellate counsel, aligning salaries with county attorneys' pay structures.
   • The head appellate counsel will employ:
     • One managing appellate attorney.
     • Two staff attorneys.
     • One director of training.
     • One program administrator (for Title IV-E reimbursement efforts).
     • One office administrator.
   • Attorneys and employees will be subject to specific employment classifications and compensation determinations.

Overall, the bill aims to formalize and enhance appellate representation for parents in juvenile protection cases by structuring the SOACT as a standalone agency, refining governance through an independent board, and setting employment standards for appellate counsel and staff.