Minnesota Agencies

The commission serves as the principal agency of the state to advocate on behalf of Minnesotans who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing by working to ensure those persons have equal access to the services, programs, and opportunities available to others.

In 1985 Minnesota established the Hearing Impaired Council. In 1993 the council's name changed to Minnesota Commission Serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing People. It was again renamed in 2008 to the Commission of Deaf, Deaf Blind, and Hard-of-Hearing Minnesotans.

The Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard-of-Hearing Minnesotans 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 commission.

Effective August 1, 2024, the Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard-of-Hearing consists of ten members appointed at large and one member each from up to five advisory committees established under section 256C.24, subdivision 3. At least 50 percent of the voting members must be deaf or deafblind or hard-of-hearing. Members shall include persons who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing, at least one parent of guardian of children who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing, and representatives of county and regional human services, including representatives of private service providers.

The commissioners of education, health, and employment and economic development and the director of the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing State Services Division in the Department of Human Services, or their designees, shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the commission. The commission may appoint additional ex officio members from other bureaus, divisions, or sections of state departments directly concerned with the provision of services to persons who are deaf, deafblind, or hard-of-hearing.

Voting members of the commission are appointed by the governor for a four-year term and until successors are appointed and qualify. Voting members of the commission shall serve no more than three consecutive full terms.