Minnesota Agencies

The council advises the Department of Labor & Industry in carrying out the purposes of Chapter 176 (Workers' Compensation). The council shall submit its recommendations with respect to amendments to Chapter 176 by February 1 of each year to each regular session of the legislature and shall report its view upon any pending bill relating to Chapter 176 to the proper legislative committee.

The council was created in 1969 as the Workmen's Compensation Advisory Committee (see Laws of Minnesota 1969, chapter 926).

In 1975 the commissioner of labor and industry replaced the governor as the appointing authority and the council's name changed to the Advisory Council on Workmen's Compensation (see Laws of Minnesota 1975, chapter 271, section 3).

In 1981 the council was given the duty to report on financial, administrative, and personnel needs of the workers' compensation division. As of 1981 the Council is being referred to as the Advisory Council on Workers' Compensation.

In 1983 the persons receiving benefits and 2 additional public members were added to the council. Also in 1983, language relating to the expiration of the council was dropped.

The Workers' Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC) was created by Minnesota Statutes 175.007, in 1992, as a permanent council about workers' compensation.

The Advisory Council on Workers' Compensation 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 the keeping the council.

22 members: (12 voting members including: the presidents of the largest statewide Minnesota business and organized labor organizations as measured by the number of employees of its business members and in its affiliated labor organizations in Minnesota on July 1, 1992, and every five years thereafter; 5 additional members representing business, and 5 additional members representing organized labor). The governor, majority leader of the senate, speaker of the house of representatives, the minority leaders of the senate and of the house of representatives, shall each select a business and a labor representative. At least four of the labor representatives shall be chosen from the affiliated membership of the AFL-CIO. At least two of the business representatives shall be representatives of small employers. None of the council members shall represent attorneys, health care providers, qualified rehabilitation consultants, or insurance companies. The commissioner of Labor and Industry shall serve as chair of the council as a nonvoting member. The ten appointed voting members shall serve for terms of five years and may be reappointed. The majority leader of the senate and the speaker of the house, the minority leader of the senate and the minority leader of the house shall each appoint a caucus member as liaisons to the council. (Source: 1993 annual compilation and statistical report); 19 members (5 representatives of employers, 5 representatives of employees, 5 nonvoting members representing the public, and 2 persons who have received workers compensation benefits); appointed by commissioner of labor and industry; terms governed by Minn. Stat. 15.059; compensation governed by Minn. Stat. 15.059; not subject to Minn. Stat. 15.059 subdivision 5.

As of 1/26/2015 there are 12 voting members.

Commissioner of Labor and Industry