SAINT PAUL — Today, Secretary of State Steve Simon announced that he is taking a new step aimed at increasing the transparency and member diversity of Minnesota’s Boards & Commissions.
Secretary Simon launched a new web application that now allows Minnesotans to quickly and easily find information about—and apply to join—one or more of the over 220 Boards, Commissions, Councils, Work Groups, and Task Forces in Minnesota that work to advise policy makers and regulate professionals.
“One of the hallmarks of Minnesotans is our desire to serve our communities and neighbors and, as Secretary of State, it’s my job to make it as easy as possible for people to participate and make a difference,” said Secretary Simon. “This new step will make it easier for Minnesotans to learn about and apply for positions on state boards and commissions and play an important role in helping improve the diversity of applicants.”
Click here to view and search through Minnesota’s Boards & Commissions.
Minnesotans can now search online through hundreds of Boards & Commissions and learn about their designated responsibilities; search and view open positions and appointing authorities; see who has applied to fill specific vacancies, as well as view pending appointments, direct appointments, and current members—all in real time.
Additionally, the public can now search through the more than 3,100 Minnesotans who currently serve as a member of a board or commission, view their past and current appointments, as well as see their active applications for vacancies on boards or commissions.
Secretary Simon worked closely with Governor Mark Dayton’s administration, which is responsible for hundreds of vacancy appointments every year, to ensure that today’s step would support and align with the Governor’s efforts to increase the diversity of those serving the people of Minnesota.
“Minnesota’s boards and commissions play an important role in shaping the direction of state government,” said Lt. Governor Tina Smith. “This new, easy-to-use application is a great example of state government working better to help reflect the voices of all Minnesotans.”
Previously, the only information publicly available on the Secretary of State’s website on Minnesota’s Boards & Commissions was a PDF of the current month’s vacancies and the Open Appointments annual report(s).
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