1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; establishing an advisory committee to simplify 
1.3 	program administration; requiring studies and reports; amending Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes 2006, section 256.01, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 256.01, is amended by adding a 
1.7 	subdivision to read:
1.8 		Subd. 23.Administrative simplification; county cost study. (a) The commissioner 
1.9 	shall establish an advisory committee to identify ways to simplify and streamline human 
1.10 	services laws and administrative requirements. 
1.11 	(b) The committee shall consist of three senators appointed by the senate Committee 
1.12 	on Rules and Administration, three state representatives appointed by the speaker of the 
1.13 	house of representatives, and nine department staff and county representatives appointed 
1.14 	by the commissioner. 
1.15 	(c) The committee shall review laws, policies, and procedures with the goal of 
1.16 	reducing inconsistency between programs and complexity within programs in order to 
1.17 	improve administrative efficiency and reduce the risk of recipient noncompliance. The 
1.18 	commissioner shall report annually to the legislature, beginning January 15, 2008, with 
1.19 	recommendations to implement improvements developed by the advisory group.
1.20 	(d) The commissioner, in consultation with the committee, shall study and report to 
1.21 	the legislature by January 15, 2009, on:
1.22 	(1) options for equalizing county property tax burdens for human services costs;
1.23 	(2) the adequacy and fairness of existing statutory maintenance of effort 
1.24 	requirements for counties; and 
2.1 	(3) whether funding formulas should be adjusted for special demographic or 
2.2 	geographic factors that may affect spending needs.
2.3 	(e) The commissioner, in consultation with the committee, shall study and report to 
2.4 	the legislature by January 15, 2009, with recommendations on programs now administered 
2.5 	by counties that could be administered more efficiently or effectively by the commissioner. 
2.6 	The report must review adoption services, child care licensing, child support enforcement, 
2.7 	child care assistance, and other programs. The report must recommend a transition plan 
2.8 	for services, if any, recommended for transfer, and options for incentives to counties to 
2.9 	establish multicounty human services organizations.

2.10 	Sec. 2. EXPIRATION.
 2.11 	Section 1 expires June 30, 2012.