A new state report says Minnesota’s government should create an independent office to receive and investigate reports of sexual harassment made by government employees.

The Minnesota Management and Budget office released the report Friday following an extensive review of the state government’s sexual harassment policies and procedures. Gov. Mark Dayton ordered the review last fall after two state legislators were accused of sexual misconduct. Both legislators eventually resigned.

“There is no place in our workplaces for sexual harassment,” MMB Commissioner Myron Frans said in a statement. “Every employee deserves a work environment that is safe, respectful, and supportive. To all state employees who have experienced harassment in the workplace, we see you. We hear you. We will do better,” Commissioner Myron Frans said

The report and review focused on the executive branch consisting of 23 agencies and 33,200 employees. They did not include the judicial or legislative branches of Minnesota’s government.

According to the report, there were 266 sexual harassment complaints across the 23 state agencies from 2012-2017. More than half of the complaints—51 percent–were substantiated after an investigation, while 40 percent were found to be unsubstantiated, later withdrawn or one of the parties left their job.

The Department of Corrections had 73 complaints, the most of any agency over six years, followed by the Department of Human Services with 45 and the Department of Transportation with 33. The Bureau of Mediation Services, Department of Commerce, Department of Higher Education and the Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation had no complaints in six years.


MMB will present their findings and recommendations to the governor sometime in the next few weeks.

In a statement released Friday, Dayton said he plans to propose legislation this session to establish a central administrative body within the executive branch that will address sexual harassment complaints.

Supporters of changes to sexual harassment policies have organized a rally on Friday afternoon, calling for a task force to “ensure people working at the Capitol and in campaigns are able to do their jobs without sexual harassment or assault.” The rally starts at 1:30 p.m. at the State Capitol rotunda.

Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says while he "applauds the good intentions of those proposing a task force on sexual harassment," he believes a non-partisan Senate Counsel and the Senate human resources department are better suited to making recommendations on new policies.

COMPLETE LIST OF MMB RECOMMENDATIONS