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Minnesota Agencies

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

Compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library


Governor's Task Force on Families

Active dates:1978-1979
Function:

Study the needs and concerns of Minnesota families and the adequacy of family-related programs; recommend legislative and executive actions supportive of families.

History:

The Governor's Task Force on Families was established by an executive order of Governor Rudy Perpich in May, 1978, to "review ways in which existing public policies and programs are affecting families in Minnesota and to recommend legislative or executive actions which might be supportive of families." It was funded for one year by the Legislative Advisory Committee. The task force had 15 members, including three legislators. Its first meeting was May 9, 1978, but its work was publicly initiated at the Governor's Conference on Families, May 22-23, 1978.

Members met in day-long sessions once a month to examine five major areas: health care, economics and employment, education, the legal system, and social services. Five public hearings were held in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth, Northfield, and Brainerd. The task force produced a special report on families, a report on families and housing, a report on families in conflict, and a monthly newsletter, Network. During 1979, it endorsed 20 pieces of legislation.

In 1979 Governor Albert Quie reissued the executive order establishing the task force, but later did not support legislation (S.F. 264 or H.F. 355) that would have continued the task force as a more permanent advisory body. The task force closed its office as of June 30, 1979.
(Information in the above paragraphs is from the MN Historical Society, Agency history record for this group).

Membership:

15 (14 in original appointment)

List of members: Grace U. Harkness (chair), Kirk Jeffrey (vice-chair), Dick Connor, Linda J. Gontjes, Bette M. Hillemeier, Jerome Hughes, Doris O. Huspeni, Ernie Jenkins, Bea Kersten, Robert McCauley, Marion "Mike" Menning, Shirley L. Utzinger, Ida-Lorraine Wilderson, Ann Wynia, Heladio Zavala.

Agency heads:

Chair: Grace Harkness

Note: The Legislative Reference Library may have additional reports on or by this group available through our catalog.
Documents/Articles:
News clippings and documents. Agencies Notebook Collection, 1978-1979.
Record last updated: 06/05/2023
 

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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