as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 04/06/2010 10:42am
A bill for an act
relating to human services; creating regional service centers; proposing coding
for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 402B.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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The commissioner of human services shall design and implement a plan to transfer
all county-based human services administrative and delivery functions from the state's 87
counties into ten newly created regional service centers.
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(a) The new regional service center framework shall operate as a division within the
Department of Human Services. County human services employees shall be eligible for
employment in the regional service center division.
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(b) Each regional service center shall align with the corresponding district court
jurisdiction of Minnesota's ten judicial districts.
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(a) Each regional service center shall:
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(1) carry out the responsibilities required of local agencies under chapter 393 and
human service boards under chapter 402;
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(2) manage the public resources devoted to human services and other public services
delivered or purchased by the counties that are subsidized or regulated by the Department
of Human Services under chapters 245 to 261;
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(3) employ staff to assist in carrying out the transfer plan;
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(4) develop and maintain a continuity of operations plan to ensure the continued
operation or resumption of essential human services functions in the event of any business
interruption according to local, state, and federal emergency planning requirements;
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(5) receive and expend funds received for the transfer plan;
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(6) rent, purchase, sell, and otherwise dispose of real and personal property as
necessary to carry out the transfer plan; and
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(7) carry out any other service designated as a responsibility of a county.
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(b) Each regional service center shall designate a single administrative structure
that has the powers and duties assigned to the regional service center effective January
1, 2015, and annually thereafter.
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Nothing in this chapter precludes
local governments from utilizing sections 465.81 and 465.82 to establish procedures
for local governments to merge, with the consent of the voters. The county boards
of commissioners shall approve the agreement and shall determine the proportional
financial responsibility of each county to support the programs and services of the regional
service center. Nothing in this chapter limits the authority of a county board to enter into
contractual agreements for services not covered by the provisions of the transfer plan with
other agencies or with other units of government.
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The regional service center plan for service
delivery must include the following binding agreements:
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(1) a governance agreement that defines the respective authority, powers, roles, and
responsibilities of the state and regional service centers under the transfer plan. As part
of the governance agreement, the regional service center shall be held accountable for
achieving measurable goals as defined in the performance agreement under clause (2).
The regional service center must be granted waivers, as necessary, to ensure greater local
control and flexibility to determine the most cost-effective means of achieving specified
measurable goals;
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(2) a performance agreement that defines measurable goals in key operational areas
that the regional service center is expected to achieve. This agreement must identify
dependencies and other requirements necessary for the regional service center to achieve
the measurable goals as defined in the performance agreement. The dependencies and
requirements may include, but are not limited to:
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(i) specific resource commitments of the state and the regional service center; and
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(ii) funding or expenditure flexibility, which may include, but is not limited to,
exemptions to the requirements in sections 245.4835 and 245.714; and
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(3) a service level agreement that specifies the expectations and responsibilities
of the state and the regional service center regarding administrative and information
technology support necessary to achieve the measurable goals specified in the performance
agreement under clause (2).
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