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Minnesota Agencies

Information on Minnesota State Agencies, Boards, Task Forces, and Commissions

Compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library


Advisory Council on Workers' Compensation

Also known as:
Workers' Compensation Advisory Council
Workman's Compensation Advisory Council
Active dates:1969 -
Function:

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.

History:

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.

Membership:

The council consists of 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; five additional members representing business; and five additional members representing organized labor.

The governor, the majority leader of the senate, the speaker of the house, the minority leader of the senate, and the minority leader 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 Minnesota AFL-CIO. At least two of the business representatives shall be representatives of small employers as defined in section 177.24, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (2). None of the council members shall represent attorneys, health care providers, qualified rehabilitation consultants, or insurance companies. If the appointing officials cannot agree on a method of appointing the required number of Minnesota AFL-CIO and small business representatives by the second Monday in June of the year in which appointments are made, they shall notify the secretary of state. The distribution of appointments shall then be determined publicly by lot by the secretary of state or a designee in the presence of the appointing officials or their designees on the third Monday in June.

Each council member shall appoint an alternate. Alternates shall serve in the absence of the member they replace. The ten appointed voting members shall serve for terms of five years and may be reappointed. The council shall designate liaisons to the council representing workers' compensation insurers; medical, hospital, and rehabilitation providers; and the legal profession. The speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives shall each appoint a caucus member as a liaison to the council. The majority and minority leaders of the senate shall each appoint a caucus member to serve as a liaison to the council. The compensation and removal of members shall be as provided in section 15.059.

Entries for this agency in the Annual Compilation and Statistical Report of Multi-Member Agencies Report: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979.

Note: This report provides membership details as well as meeting information and a summary of the group's activities.

Agency heads:

Commissioner of Labor and Industry

Note: The Legislative Reference Library may have additional reports on or by this group available through our catalog.
Documents/Articles:
Re: 2024 Workers' Compensation Advisory Council recommendations - HF4661 (Wolgamott)/SF4745 (McEwen). Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, 3/15/2024.
News clippings and documents. Agencies Notebook Collection, 1969-2019.
Record last updated: 04/15/2024
 

All information on this group from the Library’s collection of agency notebooks has been digitized. These materials are incorporated into the “documents/articles” section of the record. Please contact a librarian with any questions. The Minnesota Agencies database is a work in progress.

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