BOARD/COMMISSION:  Compensation Council

The Compensation Council consists of 24 members:

• eight non-judges appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court, of whom no more than four may belong to the same political party; 
• one member from each congressional district appointed by the governor, of whom no more than four may belong to the same political party;
• two members appointed by the speaker of the house;
• two members appointed by the house minority leader;
• two members appointed by the senate majority leader and
• two members appointed by the senate minority leader. 

Appointed members may not be a current or former judge; a current lobbyist registered under Minnesota law; a current employee in the judicial, legislative, or executive branch of state government; a current or former governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, or state auditor; or a current or former legislator, or the spouse of a current legislator.

Appointments must be made after the first Monday in January and before January 15. Members continue to serve until new members are appointed.

The council is created each odd-numbered  years to make recommendations to the legislature regarding the salaries of judges. The council also determines the salaries for constitutional officers and heads of state and metropolitan agencies (as listed in Minnesota Statutes 15A.0815). The council must report its recommendations and determinations to the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate by April 1 in each odd-numbered year. In making recommendations, the council considers the compensation paid to comparable positions in the public and private sector, the amount of compensation needed to attract and retain experienced and competent persons, and the ability of the state to pay the recommended compensation.