SF 1178

1st Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to human services; establishing an advisory committee to simplify
program administration; requiring studies and reports; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2006, section 256.01, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 256.01, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 23. new text end

new text begin Administrative simplification; county cost study. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner
shall establish an advisory committee to identify ways to simplify and streamline human
services laws and administrative requirements.
new text end

new text begin (b) The committee shall consist of three senators appointed by the senate Committee
on Rules and Administration, three state representatives appointed by the speaker of the
house of representatives, and nine department staff and county representatives appointed
by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (c) The committee shall review laws, policies, and procedures with the goal of
reducing inconsistency between programs and complexity within programs in order to
improve administrative efficiency and reduce the risk of recipient noncompliance. The
commissioner shall report annually to the legislature, beginning January 15, 2008, with
recommendations to implement improvements developed by the advisory group.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner, in consultation with the committee, shall study and report to
the legislature by January 15, 2009, on:
new text end

new text begin (1) options for equalizing county property tax burdens for human services costs;
new text end

new text begin (2) the adequacy and fairness of existing statutory maintenance of effort
requirements for counties; and
new text end

new text begin (3) whether funding formulas should be adjusted for special demographic or
geographic factors that may affect spending needs.
new text end

new text begin (e) The commissioner, in consultation with the committee, shall study and report to
the legislature by January 15, 2009, with recommendations on programs now administered
by counties that could be administered more efficiently or effectively by the commissioner.
The report must review adoption services, child care licensing, child support enforcement,
child care assistance, and other programs. The report must recommend a transition plan
for services, if any, recommended for transfer, and options for incentives to counties to
establish multicounty human services organizations.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin EXPIRATION.
new text end

new text begin Section 1 expires June 30, 2012.
new text end