2007 Minnesota Statutes

256.012 MINNESOTA MERIT SYSTEM.
    Subdivision 1. Minnesota Merit System. The commissioner of human services shall
promulgate by rule personnel standards on a merit basis in accordance with federal standards for
a merit system of personnel administration for all employees of county boards engaged in the
administration of community social services or income maintenance programs, all employees
of human services boards that have adopted the rules of the Minnesota Merit System, and all
employees of local social services agencies.
Excluded from the rules are employees of institutions and hospitals under the jurisdiction
of the aforementioned boards and agencies; employees of county personnel systems otherwise
provided for by law that meet federal merit system requirements; duly appointed or elected
members of the aforementioned boards and agencies; and the director of community social
services and employees in positions that, upon the request of the appointing authority, the
commissioner chooses to exempt, provided the exemption accords with the federal standards for
a merit system of personnel administration.
    Subd. 2. Payment for services provided. (a) The cost of merit system operations shall
be paid by counties and other entities that utilize merit system services. Total costs shall be
determined by the commissioner annually and must be set at a level that neither significantly
overrecovers nor underrecovers the costs of providing the service. The costs of merit system
services shall be prorated among participating counties in accordance with an agreement between
the commissioner and these counties. Participating counties will be billed quarterly in advance
and shall pay their share of the costs upon receipt of the billing.
(b) This subdivision does not apply to counties with personnel systems otherwise provided
by law that meet federal merit system requirements. A county that applies to withdraw from the
merit system must notify the commissioner of the county's intent to develop its own personnel
system. This notice must be provided in writing by December 31 of the year preceding the year
of final participation in the merit system. The county may withdraw after the commissioner has
certified that its personnel system meets federal merit system requirements.
(c) A county merit system operations account is established in the special revenue fund.
Payments received by the commissioner for merit system costs must be deposited in the merit
system operations account and must be used for the purpose of providing the services and
administering the merit system.
(d) County payment of merit system costs is effective July 1, 2003, however payment for
the period from July 1, 2003, through December 31, 2003, shall be made no later than January
31, 2004.
    Subd. 3. Participating county consultation. The commissioner shall ensure that
participating counties are consulted regularly and offered the opportunity to provide input on the
management of the merit system to ensure effective use of resources and to monitor system
performance.
History: 1980 c 614 s 129; 1984 c 654 art 5 s 58; 1986 c 444; 1994 c 631 s 31; 1Sp2003
c 14 art 6 s 48