SF 1953

as introduced - 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 fiscal notes to adequately reflect county costs;
requiring a performance-based approach for managing human services; requiring
information sharing on county consolidation and collaboration; 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 efficiency. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall establish
an advisory committee consisting of department staff and county representatives to
identify ways to simplify and streamline human services laws and administrative
requirements. 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 chairs of house and senate human services
committees, beginning January 15, 2008, with recommendations to implement
improvements developed by the advisory group.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner, in consultation with the committee, shall ensure that
fiscal notes prepared on pending legislation contain timely, reasonable estimates of any
large-scale local fiscal impacts.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner, in consultation with the committee, shall establish a
performance-based approach for managing human services that includes:
new text end

new text begin (1) measures of effectiveness, efficiency, and availability of services that can be used
on a statewide and county-specific basis for all human services programs;
new text end

new text begin (2) performance targets for each measure; and
new text end

new text begin (3) periodic county-by-county performance reports to county human services
agencies, their governing boards, and the legislature.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner, in consultation with the committee, shall periodically
share information with the counties to assist the counties in analyzing the merits of
consolidation or collaborations with other counties for human services program delivery.
The information must include, but not be limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) periodic evaluation of the impact of ongoing county consolidations and
collaborations;
new text end

new text begin (2) guidance on the positive and negative features of formal methods of cooperation
compared with less formal methods; and
new text end

new text begin (3) statewide cost data to help counties analyze the potential or actual fiscal impact
of consolidation.
new text end