Minnesota Agencies

Studies all matters relating the economic status of women in Minnesota, including credit, family support and inheritance laws relating to the economic security of homemakers, educational opportunities, career counseling, contribution of women to Minnesota's per capita and family income and state revenues, job and promotion opportunities, and laws and business practices that may be barriers to women's full participation in the economy.

The Council on the Economic Status of Women was created by the Minnesota Legislature in 1976. In 1983, the group was reorganized as a joint legislative advisory commission and the name was changed to the Commission on the Economic Status of Women. In 2005, the group was renamed again to the Office on the Economic Status of Women and it was aligned under the Legislative Coordinating Commission.

The Council on the Economic Status of Women established a Task Force on Pay Equity in October 1981. The Task Force included representatives from the Department of Employee Relations and state employee unions as well as legislative committee chairs and members of the Council. Task Force members reviewed information about pay equity generally, and information about women as state employees under a newly-adopted job evaluation system.

The Speaker of the house appoints 5 house members, more than half of whom must be women (1977)

Director: Nina Rothchild (1976-1983)