Minnesota Agencies

The Workers’ Compensation Reinsurance Association was established to respond to a need for reliable, low-cost reinsurance protection for serious workers’ compensation claims in order to add stability to the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation system. The board of directors of the reinsurance association is responsible for the operation of the reinsurance association consistent with the plan of operation and Minn. Stat. 79.34 to 79.40. 

According to the WCRA, "in 1977, the Minnesota State Legislature created a study commission to analyze the state’s workers’ compensation insurance system, with the goals of finding ways to minimize the cost of insurance, ensuring fair compensation to employees for job-related injuries, and encouraging an injured employee’s rapid return to work.

"After receiving the study commission’s recommendations, the 1979 Legislature enacted legislation creating the Workers’ Compensation Reinsurance Association (WCRA), an unincorporated, nonprofit association that operates under the direction of a board of directors whose members represent many of the parties involved in the workers’ compensation system."

The board consists of 13 directors. Four directors shall represent insurers; two directors shall represent employers; two shall represent self-insurers; two directors shall represent employees; the commissioner of management and budget and the executive director of the state Board of Investment or their designees shall serve as directors; and one director shall represent the public. Insurer members of the reinsurance association shall elect the directors who represent insurers; self-insurer members of the reinsurance association shall elect the directors who represent self-insurers; and the commissioner of labor and industry shall appoint the remaining directors for the terms authorized in the plan of operation.