The 1975 Legislature recognized the need to address the issue of human services fragmentation at the state level in order to further the partnership with local government and provide better services to people. Gov. Wendell Anderson responded by creating the Human Services Office via executive order.
In December 1976, Director William Quirin announced that the 1977 Legislature would be asked to combine 10 departments and agencies into two new State Human Services departments. A Department of Economic Security would include: Employment Services, Governor's Manpower Office, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (then in Education), and Income Maintenance in Department of Public Welfare (DPW). A Department of Health and Social Services would include: Departments of Health and Corrections, the Residential and Community Services Bureaus of DPW, and the federally funded aging, developmental disabilities, and health planning and development programs.
Executive Order 114 from 1975 stipulated the Office shall terminate by June 30, 1977. The functions of the office were placed in the State Planning Agency by the Legislature that year. The Legislation stated that "the state planning officer shall have authority for human services development" (see Laws of Minn. 1977, Chap. 411).
That same law also changed the name of human services regional commissions to human services boards. It expanded the duties of the boards and provided for representation on advisory committees. It provided for notification of intent to establish a human services board and for the awarding of planning and implementation grants by a state planning officer.