Under federal law, every state must have a protection and advocacy agency to provide legal assistance to people with disabilities. The Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis was designated to provide this assistance in Executive Orders 99-7, 99-8, and 99-9, which were issued by Governor Perpich, and continued by each governor through the present day. On June 1, 2012, the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis will merge with several organizations to create Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance. The Executive Orders issued today designate Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance as the entity to provide legal assistance to people with disabilities.

Copies of the Governor's Executive Orders are attached:

• /governor/assets/Executive_Order_12_05.pdf_tcm1055-91731.pdf12-05

• /governor/assets/Executive_Order_12_06.pdf_tcm1055-91732.pdf12-06

• /governor/assets/Executive_Order_12_07.pdf_tcm1055-91733.pdf12-07