as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/22/2018 09:43am
A bill for an act
relating to human services; establishing a working group to make recommendations
on restructuring the Department of Human Services; requiring a report.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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(a) A working group to consider
restructuring the Department of Human Services is established.
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(b) The working group shall include 14 members as follows:
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(1) two members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the
house and one appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives;
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(2) two members of the senate, one appointed by the senate majority leader and one
appointed by the senate minority leader;
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(3) the legislative auditor or a designee;
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(4) the commissioner of administration or a designee;
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(5) two representatives from county social services agencies, appointed by the
commissioner of human services;
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(6) two representatives from tribal social services agencies, appointed by the
commissioner of human services;
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(7) two representatives from organizations that represent people served by programs
administered by the Department of Human Services, appointed by the commissioner of
human services; and
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(8) two representatives from organizations that represent service providers that are either
licensed or reimbursed by the Department of Human Services, appointed by the commissioner
of human services.
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(c) The appointing authorities under this subdivision must complete their appointments
no later than July 1, 2018.
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The working group shall review the current structure of the Department
of Human Services and programs administered by that agency and propose a restructuring
of the agency to provide for better coordination and control of programs, accountability,
and continuity. In making recommendations, the working group must consider:
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(1) how human services agencies are structured in other states;
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(2) transferring duties to other state agencies;
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(3) the effect of a restructuring on clients and counties;
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(4) administrative efficiencies;
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(5) various analytical methods to evaluate efficiencies, including but not limited to
zero-based budgeting;
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(6) budget and policy priorities;
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(7) program funding sources;
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(8) avoiding conflicting agency roles;
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(9) the extent to which the agency should provide direct services to clients;
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(10) eliminating any duplication of services; and
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(11) staffing issues.
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The legislative auditor or a designee shall convene the first meeting
of the working group no later than August 1, 2018. The legislative auditor or a designee
shall serve as the chair of the working group. Meetings of the working group are open to
the public.
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Members of the working group shall serve without compensation
or reimbursement for expenses.
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The Legislative Coordinating Commission shall
provide administrative support for the working group and arrange for meeting space.
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By ......., the working group must submit a report with findings,
recommendations, and draft legislation to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over human services policy and finance. The report
must include a discussion of the costs and benefits associated with any proposed restructuring.
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The working group expires ....... or the day after the working group
submits the report required under subdivision 6, whichever is earlier.
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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