1998 Minnesota Statutes

     256C.28 Commission serving deaf and hard-of-hearing 
  people. 

    Subdivision 1.    Membership.  The Minnesota commission 
 serving deaf and hard-of-hearing people consists of seven 
 members appointed at large and one member from each advisory 
 committee established under section 256C.24, subdivision 3.  At 
 least 50 percent of the members must be deaf or deaf-blind or 
 hard of hearing.  Members shall include persons who are deaf, 
 deaf-blind, and hard of hearing, parents of children who are 
 deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing, and representatives of 
 county and regional human services, including representatives of 
 private service providers.  Commission members are appointed by 
 the governor for a three-year term and shall serve no more than 
 two consecutive terms.  The commission shall select one member 
 as chair. 

    Subd. 2.    Removal; vacancies.  The compensation, 
 removal of members, and filling of vacancies on the commission 
 are as provided in section 15.0575.  

    Subd. 3.    Mission.  The commission shall serve as the 
 principal agency of the state to advocate on behalf of deaf, 
 deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing Minnesotans by working to ensure 
 those persons have equal access to the services, programs, and 
 opportunities available to others. 

    Subd. 3a.    Duties.  The commission shall: 

    (1) assist deaf, deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing persons 
 and parents of deaf, deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing students in 
 advocating for equal access to services, programs, and 
 opportunities; 

    (2) advise the governor, the legislature, and the 
 commissioners of the departments of human services, children, 
 families, and learning, economic security, and health on the 
 development of policies, programs, and services affecting deaf, 
 deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing persons, and on the use of 
 appropriate federal and state money; 

    (3) create a public awareness of the special needs and 
 potential of deaf, deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing persons; 

    (4) provide the governor, the legislature, and the 
 commissioners of the departments of human services, children, 
 families, and learning, economic security, and health with a 
 review of ongoing services, programs, and proposed legislation 
 affecting deaf, deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing persons; 

    (5) advise the governor, the legislature, and the 
 commissioners of the departments of human services, children, 
 families, and learning, economic security, and health on 
 statutes, rules, and policies necessary to ensure that deaf, 
 deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing persons have equal access to 
 benefits and services provided to individuals in Minnesota; 

    (6) recommend to the governor, the legislature, and the 
 commissioners of the departments of human services, children, 
 families, and learning, economic security, and health 
 legislation designed to improve the economic and social 
 conditions of deaf, deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing persons in 
 Minnesota; 

    (7) propose solutions to problems of deaf, deaf-blind, and 
 hard-of-hearing persons in the areas of education, employment, 
 human rights, human services, health, housing, and other related 
 programs; 

    (8) recommend to the governor and the legislature any 
 needed revisions in the state's affirmative action program and 
 any other steps necessary to eliminate the underemployment or 
 unemployment of deaf, deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing persons in 
 the state's work force; 

    (9) work with other state and federal agencies and 
 organizations to promote economic development for deaf, 
 deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing Minnesotans; and 

    (10) coordinate its efforts with other state and local 
 agencies serving deaf, deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing persons. 

    Subd. 4.    Staff.  The commission may appoint, subject 
 to the approval of the governor, an executive director who must 
 be experienced in administrative activities and familiar with 
 the problems and needs of deaf, deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing 
 persons.  The commission may delegate to the executive director 
 any powers and duties under this section that do not require 
 commission approval.  The executive director serves in the 
 unclassified service and may be removed at any time by a 
 majority vote of the commission.  The executive director shall 
 coordinate the provision of necessary support services to the 
 commission with the deaf and hard-of-hearing services division.  
 The executive director may employ and direct staff necessary to 
 carry out commission mandates, policies, activities, and 
 objectives. 

    Subd. 5.    Powers.  The commission may contract in its 
 own name.  Contracts must be approved by a majority of the 
 members of the commission and executed by the chair and the 
 executive director.  The commission may apply for, receive, and 
 expend in its own name grants and gifts of money consistent with 
 the powers and duties specified in this section. 

    Subd. 6.    Report.  The commission may prepare and 
 distribute periodic reports to the state agency commissioners, 
 the governor, and the legislature concerning the activities of 
 the commission and the needs and concerns of deaf, deaf-blind, 
 and hard-of-hearing Minnesotans.  

    HIST: 1Sp1985 c 14 art 9 s 27; 1987 c 302 s 5,6; 1988 c 629 s 
 56; 1989 c 282 art 2 s 122-125; 1992 c 513 art 9 s 30,31; 1993 c 
 306 s 16; 1994 c 483 s 1; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 1996 c 392 s 
 6 

*   NOTE:  The commission serving deaf and hard-of-hearing 
*people expires June 30, 2001.  Section 15.059, subdivision 5a.