1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to human services; establishing an 
  1.3             alternative grant application process for categorical 
  1.4             social service programs in certain counties. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [AUTHORIZATION FOR PROGRAM.] 
  1.7      Pine county and up to four additional counties with a 
  1.8   population of less than 30,000 selected by the children's 
  1.9   cabinet may use a letter of intent in lieu of completing an 
  1.10  application for social service and employment service grants, 
  1.11  including family services collaboratives grants.  For 
  1.12  competitive grants, the departments of human services, children, 
  1.13  families, and learning, and economic security may develop an 
  1.14  alternate grantee selection process that is based primarily on 
  1.15  documented need. 
  1.16     If the county's request for funding is accepted by the 
  1.17  commissioners of the departments of human services, children, 
  1.18  families, and learning, or economic security, the appropriate 
  1.19  commissioner shall distribute the amount of funds requested by 
  1.20  the county up to the amount of the county's allocation or an 
  1.21  amount consistent with the grant and proportionate to that 
  1.22  county. 
  1.23     The county board shall approve the letter of intent.  The 
  1.24  letter of intent shall include:  an agreement to use the funds 
  1.25  for the purpose intended by the grant, a brief description of 
  2.1   the services to be provided, the outcomes, indicators, and 
  2.2   measures the services are intended to provide, and assurances 
  2.3   that the county will follow all applicable laws and rules 
  2.4   associated with the use of the grant funds. 
  2.5      Sec. 2.  [FUTURE FUNDING.] 
  2.6      The commissioners of the departments of human services, 
  2.7   children, families, and learning, and economic security may 
  2.8   withhold future funding if a determination is made that the 
  2.9   county has not met the requirements of the program funded by the 
  2.10  alternative funding process.  The commissioners shall first 
  2.11  provide the county with an appeal process and a 60-day notice of 
  2.12  intent to reduce or end funding received under section 1. 
  2.13     Sec. 3.  [REPORT.] 
  2.14     The children's cabinet shall provide to the legislature a 
  2.15  report by January 15, 1999, on the feasibility of using the 
  2.16  alternative funding process for counties with less than 30,000 
  2.17  population. 
  2.18     Sec. 4.  [SERVICE DELIVERY PLAN.] 
  2.19     Pine county and the other counties using this alternative 
  2.20  application process for grants may annually update their service 
  2.21  delivery plan to reflect changes in the approved budget or 
  2.22  services delivered in lieu of submitting a biennial community 
  2.23  social services plan, a local service unit plan, a family 
  2.24  services collaborative plan, or a grant application, and other 
  2.25  plan document requirements of the departments of human services, 
  2.26  children, families, and learning, and economic security.  The 
  2.27  service delivery plan must be an ongoing planning document that 
  2.28  incorporates the major requirements of the plans it replaces. 
  2.29     Sec. 5.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.30     Sections 1 to 4 are effective July 1, 1997. 
  2.31     Sec. 6.  [SUNSET.] 
  2.32     Sections 1 to 4 sunset on June 30, 2001.