HF 1550

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 04/26/2011 09:28am

A bill for an act
relating to human services; creating the Disparities Reduction Advisory Council;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [256.4831] DISPARITIES REDUCTION ADVISORY COUNCIL.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; members. new text end

new text begin (a) There is hereby established the
Disparities Reduction Advisory Council. The council must consist of no fewer than 15
and no more than 30 members appointed by the commissioner of human services, in
consultation with county, tribal, community, and parent representatives. The purpose of
the council is to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in service access and outcomes for
programs funded by the Department of Human Services. The commissioner shall develop
guidelines defining the membership of the council, setting out definitions, and developing
duties of the commissioner, the council, and council members regarding racial and ethnic
disparities reduction. The guidelines must be developed in consultation with county,
tribal, community, and parent representatives. Members must be appointed to allow for
representation of the following groups:
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new text begin (1) racial and ethnic minority groups;
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new text begin (2) tribal service providers;
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new text begin (3) culturally and linguistically specific advocacy groups and service providers;
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new text begin (4) human services program participants;
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new text begin (5) public and private institutions;
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new text begin (6) parents of human services program participants;
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new text begin (7) members of the faith community;
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new text begin (8) Department of Human Services employees; and
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new text begin (9) any other group the commissioner deems appropriate to facilitate the goals
and duties of the council.
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new text begin (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 15.059, each member of the council
must be appointed to either a one-year or two-year term. The commissioner shall appoint
one member as chair. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 15.059, the council does
not expire unless directed by the commissioner.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, the following definitions
apply:
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new text begin (1) "racial, ethnic, cultural, or linguistic disparities" means differences in program
outcomes, service quality, access, utilization, or participation rates that are considered to
be unfair, unjust, or inequitable;
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new text begin (2) "culturally appropriate" and "culturally sensitive" refer to quality services that
are provided with consideration of specific characteristics of the individual participant,
including, but not limited to, cultural values, norms, attitudes, expectations, beliefs, and
preferences.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Duties of the commissioner. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services shall:
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new text begin (1) maintain the council established in this section;
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new text begin (2) supervise and coordinate services and policies for persons from racial, ethnic,
cultural, linguistic, and tribal communities who experience disparities in access and
outcomes;
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new text begin (3) contract with qualified agencies or employ staff to carry out the recommendations
of the council;
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new text begin (4) investigate the need for the development of new human services rules or statutes
that would benefit affected persons from racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and tribal
communities;
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new text begin (5) investigate present and potential models of service coordination which can be
delivered in a culturally sensitive and competent manner and which achieve positive
outcomes for the service recipients; and
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new text begin (6) based on recommendations of the council, review identified department policies
that maintain racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and tribal disparities and make adjustments
to ensure those disparities are not perpetuated.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Duties of the council. new text end

new text begin The Disparities Reduction Advisory Council shall:
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new text begin (1) recommend to the commissioner for review identified policies in the Department
of Human Services that maintain racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and tribal disparities;
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new text begin (2) coordinate identified issues regarding disparities by engaging diverse populations
in human services systems and engaging in mutual learning essential for achieving human
services parity and optimal wellness for service recipients. The council shall strive to raise
awareness about human services disparities to the legislature and media;
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new text begin (3) provide technical assistance and consultation support to counties, private
nonprofit agencies, and other service providers, to support their efforts to provide equitable
human services for persons from racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and tribal communities
who experience disparities in access and outcomes;
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new text begin (4) provide technical assistance to promote statewide development of culturally
and linguistically appropriate, accessible, and cost-effective human services assistance
and related policy;
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new text begin (5) provide training and outreach to facilitate access to culturally and linguistically
appropriate, accessible, and cost-effective human services to prevent disparities;
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new text begin (6) facilitate culturally appropriate and culturally sensitive admissions, continued
services, discharges, and utilization review for human services agencies and institutions;
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new text begin (7) form work groups to help carry out the duties of the council that include, but are
not limited to, persons who provide and receive services and representatives of advocacy
groups, and provide the work groups with clear guidelines, standardized parameters, and
tasks for the work groups to accomplish; and
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new text begin (8) promote information sharing in the human services community and statewide.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Duties of the council members. new text end

new text begin Each member of the Disparities
Reduction Advisory Council shall:
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new text begin (1) attend and participate in scheduled meetings and be prepared by reviewing
meeting notes;
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new text begin (2) maintain open communication channels with respective constituencies;
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new text begin (3) identify and communicate issues and risks that could impact the timely
completion of tasks;
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new text begin (4) collaborate on disparity reduction efforts;
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new text begin (5) communicate updates of the council's work progress and status on the
Department of Human Service's Web site; and
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new text begin (6) participate in any activities the council or chair deem appropriate and necessary
to facilitate the goals and duties of the council.
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