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Rep. Ward Encourages Constituents to Apply for Boards and Commissions

(ST. PAUL) — State Representative John Ward is encouraging local citizens to apply for an appointment to a number of councils, committees, boards, and commissions.

“These commissions, boards, councils, and committees do great work for the people of Minnesota," said Rep. Ward. “They help advise state agencies, the governor, and the legislature. I strongly encourage people to apply for the openings that meet their skills and qualifications. It would be great to see some more folks from our region on these committees.”

Application forms may be found at: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=5 or may be obtained from the Office of the Secretary of State, Open Appointments, 180 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155-1299, or in person at Room 180 of the State Office Building. The list of vacancies can be found here: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=11508.

In accordance with the Minnesota Open Appointments Law, the Secretary of State acts as an administrator in publishing vacancies, receiving applications, and recording appointments. Applications will be reviewed and appointments made by the appointing authorities for these various agencies; questions about specific vacancies and appointments should be directed to the appointing authority. Applications submitted by May 29, 2012 are assured of full consideration by the appointing authority. Appointing authorities for these agencies may choose to review applications received by the Secretary of State after that date.

If you have additional questions about the application process, you can also contact Rep. Ward at (651) 296- 4333, or 1-800-683-4205, by mail at 221 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155 or via e-mail at rep.john.ward@house.mn.

CURRENT VACANCIES
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HERITABLE AND CONGENITAL DISORDERS
DEPT OF HEALTH
601 ROBERT ST. NO.
PO BOX 64899
ST PAUL, MN 55155
651-201-5463
M.S. 144.1255
Appointing: Commssioner of Health
Compensation: None
Vacancies: Three (3) - Primary Care Providers
To provide advice and recommendations to the Commissioner concerning tests and treatments for heritable and congenital disorders found in newborn children. Membership includes: At least one member from each of the following representative groups: parents and other consumers; primary care providers; clinicians and researchers specialing in newborn diseases and disorders; genetic counselors; birth hospital representatives; newborn screening laboratory professionals; nutritionists; and other experts as needed representing related fields such as emerging technologies and health insurance. Meetings are held every six months in St. Paul, MN.
ADVISORY COUNCIL ON WORKERS' COMPENSATION
DEPT. OF LABOR & INDUSTRY
443 LAFAYETTE RD.
ST. PAUL, MN 55155
651-284-5018
M.S. 175.007.
Appointing: Governor & Legislature
Compensation: $55 per diem plus expenses
Vacancies: Two (2) -
- One Business Representative
- One Labor Representative
The council advises the Department of Labor & Industry in carrying out the purposes of Chapter 176 (Workers' Compensation). The council shall submit its recommendations with respect to amendments to Chapter 176 by February 1 of each year to each regular session of the legislature and shall report its view upon any pending bill relating to Chapter 176 to the proper legislative committee. At the request of the chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives committees that hear workers' compensation matters, the Department shall schedule a meeting of the council with the members of the committees to discuss matters of legislative concern arising under Chapter 176. Responsible for recommending to the legislature adjustments in workers' compensation maximum weekly benefit amount. Membership Includes: Presidents of the largest statewide Minnesota business and organized labor organizations as measured by the number of employees of its business members and in its affiliated labor organizations in Minnesota on July 1, 1992, and every five years thereafter; five additional members representing business, and five additional members representing organized labor. The governor, majority leader of the senate, speaker of the house of representatives, the minority leaders of the senate and the house of representatives, shall each select a business and labor representative. At least four of the labor representatives shall be chosen from the affiliated membership of the AFL-CIO. At least two of the business representatives shall be representatives of small employers. None of the council members shall represent attorneys, health care providers, qualified rehabilitation consultants, or insurance companies. The Commissioner of Labor and Industry shall serve as chair of the council as a nonvoting member. The ten appointed voting members shall serve for terms of five years and may be reappointed. The majority leader of the senate and the speaker of the house, the minority leader of the senate and the minority leader of the house shall each appoint a caucus member as liaisons to the council. The council has 12 voting members and 4 legislative liaisons. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of February, April, June, August, October and December, in the Minnesota Room at the Dept. Labor & Industry, 443 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN. .
CLEAN WATER COUNCIL
MN POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY
520 LAFAYETTE ROAD NO.
ST PAUL, MN 55155
651-757-2549
M.S. 114D.30 (rev. 07/20/11)
Appointing: Governor
Compensation: $55 per diem plus expenses
Vacancies: One (1) - Township Officer Representative
The Clean Water Council will advise on the administration and implementation of the Clean Water Legacy Act, and foster coordination and cooperation. The Clean Water Legacy Act was created to facilitate compliance with the federal Clean Water Act's requirements to protect, restore, and preserve the quality of Minnesota's surface waters. The Clean Water Council is responsible for preparation of an implementation plan and biennial work plans for setting priorities to address impaired waters, with the first plan due December 1, 2006; providing recommendations to the Governor and legislature how money from the clean water legacy account should be appropriated each biennium; biennial reports to the legislature on how the clean water money has been spent; and advising on appropriate processes for expert scientific review. Membership Includes: The commissioners of natural resources, agriculture, health, and the Pollution Control Agency, and the executive director of the Board of W ater and Soil Resources shall each appoint one person from their respective agency to serve as a nonvoting member of the council. Two members of the house of representatives, including one member from the majority party and one member from the minority party, appointed by the speaker and two senators, including one member from the majority party and one member from the minority party, appointed according to the rules of the senate shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority as nonvoting members of the council. Agency and legislative members appointed under this paragraph serve as nonvoting members of the council. Nineteen voting members of the council shall be appointed by the governor as follows: (1) two members representing statewide farm organizations; (2) two members representing business organizations; (3) two members representing environmental organizations; (4) one member representing soil and water conservation districts; (5) one member representing waters hed districts; (6) one member representing nonprofit organizations focused on improvement of Minnesota lakes or streams; (7) two members representing organizations of county governments, one member representing the interests of rural counties and one member representing the interests of counties in the seven-county metropolitan area; (8) two members representing organizations of city governments; (9) one member representing the Metropolitan Council established under section 473.123; (10) one member representing township officers; (11) one member representing the interests of tribal governments; (12) one member representing statewide hunting organizations; (13) one member representing the University of Minnesota or a Minnesota state university; and (14) one member representing statewide fishing organizations. Meetings are held on the third Monday of the month in the Freeman Building, Room B145; 625 Robert St., St. Paul, MN.
COUNCIL ON BLACK MINNESOTANS
2233 UNIVERSITY AVE.
WRIGHT BLDG; # 426
ST. PAUL, MN 55114
651-642-0811
M.S. 3.9225.
Appointing: Governor, Legislature
Compensation: Per diem for public members
Vacancies: One (1) - Public Member
As specified in MN Statutes 3.9225, subds. 3, 5; generally, to advise governor and legislature on issues of particular importance to Black Minnesotans, to serve as a liaison between Black Minnesotans and state government, to participate in policymaking on issues that affect the interests and well-being of Black Minnesotans, and to publicize the achievements and contributions of Black Minnesotans. The sixteen member council consists of 12 public members and four legislative members. Public members to be broadly representative of the Black community of the state and include at least six males and at least six females. Minn.Stats. 3.9225 subd. 1. At least one public member must be more than 60 years old. Minn.Stats. 15.0591. Regular meetings of the Council take place on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:00 pm. The meeting schedule for FY2012: July 12, August 9, September 13, October 11, November 8, December 13, 2011; January 10, February 14, March 13, April 10, May 8, and June 12, 2012. Meetings are sometimes postponed or rescheduled; call the Council office to confirm the time and date of a given meeting. Meetings are held at the Wright Building, Fourth Floor Conference Room, 2233 University Ave West, St. Paul. Meetings are sometimes held in communities around the Twin Cities.
FOOD SAFETY AND DEFENSE TASK FORCE
MN DEPT OF AGRICULTURE
625 ROBERT ST. NO.
ST PAUL, MN 55155
651-201-6111
M.S. 28A.21
Appointing: Governor
Compensation: None
Vacancies: Nine (9) -
- Three At-Large Representatives
- Two Health or Food Professional Representatives
- One Local Food Inspection Agency Representative
- One Food-Oriented Consumer Group Representative
- One Statewide Farm Organization Representative
- One Minnesota Based Manufacturer of Microbial Detection Equipment
The Food Safety and Defense Task Force has been established to advise the commissioner and the legislature on food issues and food safety. The Task Force coordinates educational efforts regarding food safety; provides advice and coordination to state agencies as requested by the agencies; serves as a source of information and referral for the public, news media, and others concerned with food safety; and makes recommendations to Congress. The legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture finance and policy, the legislature, and others about appropriate action to improve food safety in the state. The Task Force consists of: 1) The commissioner of Agriculture or the commissioner's designee; 2) the commissioner of health or the commissioner's designee; 3) a representative of the United States Food and Drug Administration; 4) a representative of the United States Department of Agriculture; 5) a representative of the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute; 6) o ne member of the Minnesota Grocers Association; 7) One member from the University of Minnesota knowledgeable in food and food safety issues; and 8) nine members appointed by the governor who are interested in food and food safety, or whom: i) two persons are health or food professionals; ii) one person represents a statewide general farm organization; iii) one person represents a local food inspection agency; iv) one person represents a food-oriented consumer group; and v) one person represents a Minnesota-based manufacturer of microbial detection equipment and remediation products. Meetings are held on a monthly basis, or as determined by the chair, at the MN Dept of Agriculture.
GAMBLING CONTROL BOARD
1711 W. CO. RD. B, # 300 SOUTH
ROSEVILLE, MN 55113
651-639-4000
M.S. 349.151.
Appointing: Governor, Attorney General, and Commissioner of Public Safety
Compensation: $55 per diem plus expenses
Vacancies: Three (3) - Members
The board issues, suspends and revokes licenses of organizations, distributors and manufacturers of gambling equipment, registers gambling equipment, collects license fees and inspects records, conducts hearings to insure integrity of operations and compliance with all applicable laws and rules. The seven members should include five members appointed by the Governor, one member appointed by the Commissioner of Public Safety, and one member appointed by the Attorney General. No more than three members appointed by the Governor may belong to the same political party. Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month; committee meetings are held for the legislative committee, rules committee, and the compliance review group. Meetings are held at the Roseville Office of the Gambling Control Board.
GOVERNOR'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
MN DEED, 1ST Natl Bank Bldg
332 Minnesota St.,Suite #E200
ST. PAUL, MN 55101-1351
651-259-7568
CHAPTER 131, LAWS OF 1995.
Appointing: Governor
Compensation: $55 per diem, plus expenses
Vacancies: Ten (10) -
- One Local Public Secondary and Post-Secondary Education Representative
- One Business Representative
- Two Community-based Organization Representatives
- Four Labor Organization Representatives
- One School Based Service Learning Representative
- One Leadership U of M / Post-Secondary Education Representative
The council replaces the Governor's Job Training Council and assumes all of its requirements, duties and responsibilities. Additionally, the council shall coordinate the development, implementation, and evaluation of the statewide education and employment transitions system and Minnesota youth services programs; review the provision of services and the use of funds and resources under applicable federal human resource programs and advise the governor on methods of coordinating the provision of services and the use of funds resources consistent with the laws and regulations governing the programs; review federal, state, and local education, post-secondary, job skills training, and youth employment programs and make recommendations to the governor and the legislature for establishing an integrated seamless system for providing education, service-learning, and work skills development services to learners and workers of all ages; advise the governor on the development service to learners and workers of all ages; advise the governor on the development and implementation of statewide and local performance standards and measures relating to federal human resource programs; and administer grants. The council consists of 31 members including the commissioners of the Department of Employment and Economic Development; Education; Human Services; six members representing business and industry; six members representing labor organizations; four members representing community-based organizations; six members representing education as follows: one representing local public secondary education, one having expertise in design and implementation of school-based service-learning, one representing leadership of the University of Minnesota, one representing post-secondary vocational institutions and the chancellor of the Board of Trustees of MNSCU; and one member with expertise in agricultural education. Other: two individuals shall represent other constituencies i ncluding: units of local government; and applicable state or local programs. The speaker and the minority leader of the house of representatives shall each appoint a representative to serve as an ex officio member of the council. The majority and minority leaders of the senate shall each appoint a senator to serve as an ex officio member of the council. During FY 2010 (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010) the Council met on a quarterly basis (every three months). Meetings were held at various locations.
MINNESOTA e-HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE
PO BOX 64975-0975
ST PAUL, MN
651-201-3570
M.S. 62J.45
Appointing: Commissioner of Health
Compensation: None
Vacancies: Eleven (11) -
- One Health System Chief Information Officer Representative
- One Academics & Informatics Training & Education Representative
- Health Plans Representative
- One Clinic Manager Representative
- One Nurse Representative
- One Small/Critical Access Hospital Representative
- One Quality Improvement Organization Representative
- One Expert in Clinical Guidelines Development Representative
- One Dentistry Representative
- One Pharmacist Representative
- One Local Public Health Representative
This committee advises the Commissioner on the following matters: 1) assessment of the use of health information technology by the state, licensed health care providers and facilities, and local public health agencies; 2) recommendations for implementing a statewide interoperable health information infrastructure, to include estimates of necessary resources, and for determining standards for administrative data exchange, clinical support programs, patient privacy requirements, and maintenance of the security and confidentiality of individual patient data; and 3) other related issues as requested by the commissioner. The members of the Advisory Committee shall include the commissioners, or commissioners' designees of health, human services, administration, and commence and additional members to be appointed by the commissioner to include persons representing Minnesota's local public health agencies, licensed hospitals and other licensed facilities and providers, private pur chasers, the medical and nursing professions, health insurers and health plans, long term care providers, the state quality improvement organization, academic and research institutions, consumer advisory organizations with an interest and expertise in health information technology, and other stakeholders as identified by the Advisory Committee. Meetings are held on a quarterly basis at the MN Dept of Health.
MINNESOTA ORGANIC ADVISORY TASK FORCE (6/30/2009)
625 ROBERT ST. NO.
ST PAUL, MN 55155
651-201-6616
M.S. 31.94 (C) 2009
Appointing: Commissioner of Agriculture
Compensation: Expenses
Vacancies: Eight (8) -
- One Public Member
- Two Farmers using Organic Agriculture Methods
- One University of Minnesota Faculty Representative
- One Organic Consumer Representative
- One Organic Processor Representative
- One Organic Wholesaler and/or Distributor of Organic Products Representative
- One Nonprofit Organization Representing Producers Representative
Advise the commissioner (of agriculture) and the University of Minnesota on policies and programs that will improve organic agriculture in Minnesota, including how available resources can most effectively be used for outreach, education, research, and technical assistance that meet the needs of the organic agriculture community. The task force must consist of the following residents of the state: (1) three farmers using organic agriculture methods; (2) one wholesaler or distributor of organic products; (3) one representative of organic certification agencies; (4) two organic processors; (5) one representative from University of Minnesota Extension; (6) one University of Minnesota faculty member; (7) one representative from a nonprofit organization representing producers; (8) two public members; (9) one representative from the United States Department of Agriculture; (10) one retailer of organic products; and (11) one organic consumer representative. Meetings are usually held four (4) times per year. Various locations.
MINNESOTA RESOURCE CENTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE: DEAF/HARD OF HEARING
MN Resource Center
615 Olof Hanson Dr.
FARIBAULT, MN 55021
800-657-3936
M.S. 125A.63
Appointing: Commissioner of Education
Compensation: Expenses
Vacancies: Five (5) -
- Two Teacher of Deaf/Hard of Hearing Representatives
- Two Parent Representatives
- One Member
The purpose of the deaf/hard of hearing advisory committee is two fold: A) To provide specific advice and council to the MRCDHH regarding needs to improve learning results for students who are DHH, priorities for action, technical issues in the education of students who are DHH, and general operations of the Center. B) Provide general advice and counsel to the MN Department of Education regarding general procedures for assuring the needs of students who are DHH are addressed within the context of the entire special education program rules, priorities, procedures, and funding The Committee shall consist of 13-15 members including; Four parents of children who are DHH; four teachers of students who are DHH; two related service staff persons employed to work with students who are DHH; one representative of an institute of higher education that prepares to work with students who are DHH; two special education directors, coordinators, or supervisor; two people from another stat e agency that has a mission that includes services to children birth-21 who are DHH. The committee shall be geographically representative of the state and try to include at least two members who are DHH. Meetings are held four times per year; the meeting location varies.
STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON MENTAL HEALTH
PO Box 64981
540 Cedar Street
ST. PAUL, MN 55164-0981
651-431-2249
M.S. 245.697.
Appointing: Governor
Compensation: $55 per diem, reimbursed for expenses
Vacancies: One (1) - County Social Services Director Representative
The council advises the Governor, the legislature, and state agency heads about policy, programs, and services affecting people with mental illness. The 30 members include the assistant commissioner of mental health for the Department of Human Services, a representative of the Department of Human Services, responsible for the medical assistance program, one member from each of the four core mental health professional disciplines (psychiatry, psychology, social work, nursing); one representative from each of the following advocacy groups: Mental Health Association of MN, MN Alliance on Mental Illness, MH Consumer/Survivor Network of MN, MN Mental Health Law Projects; providers of mental health services, consumers of mental health services, family members of persons with mental illnesses, legislators, social service agency directors, county commissioners, and other members reflecting a broad range of community interest as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Servi ces may prescribe by regulation or as may be selected by the Governor. Meetings are held monthly usually at the Department of Human Services in St. Paul.