2001 Minnesota Statutes

     268.0122 Powers and duties. 

    Subdivision 1.    State agency.  The commissioner of 
 economic security is designated the "state agency" as defined by 
 United States Code, title 29, section 49c, the Wagner-Peyser 
 Act, as amended through December 31, 1984.  

    Subd. 2.    Specific powers.  The commissioner of 
 economic security shall: 

    (1) administer and supervise all forms of unemployment 
 benefits provided for under federal and state laws that are 
 vested in the commissioner, including make investigations and 
 audits, secure and transmit information, and make available 
 services and facilities as the commissioner considers necessary 
 or appropriate to facilitate the administration of any other 
 states, or federal unemployment insurance program, and accept 
 and use information, services, and facilities made available by 
 other states or the federal government; 

    (2) administer and supervise all employment and training 
 services assigned to the department under federal or state law; 

    (3) review and comment on local service unit plans and 
 community investment program plans and approve or disapprove the 
 plans; 

    (4) establish and maintain administrative units necessary 
 to perform administrative functions common to all divisions of 
 the department; 

    (5) supervise the county boards of commissioners, local 
 service units, and any other units of government designated in 
 federal or state law as responsible for employment and training 
 programs; 

    (6) establish administrative standards and payment 
 conditions for providers of employment and training services; 

    (7) act as the agent of, and cooperate with, the federal 
 government in matters of mutual concern, including the 
 administration of any federal funds granted to the state to aid 
 in the performance of functions of the commissioner; 

    (8) obtain reports from local service units and service 
 providers for the purpose of evaluating the performance of 
 employment and training services; 

    (9) review and comment on plans for Indian tribe employment 
 and training services and approve or disapprove the plans; and 

    (10) require all general employment and training programs 
 that receive state funds to make available information about 
 opportunities for women in nontraditional careers in the trades 
 and technical occupations. 

    Subd. 3.    Duties as state agency.  The commissioner 
 shall: 

    (1) administer the unemployment insurance program and 
 related programs; 

    (2) administer the aspects of the Minnesota family 
 investment program, general assistance, and food stamps that 
 relate to employment and training services, subject to the 
 contract under section 268.86, subdivision 2; 

    (3) administer a national system of public employment 
 offices as prescribed by United States Code, title 29, chapter 
 4B, the Wagner-Peyser Act, and other federal employment and 
 training programs; 

    (4) cooperate with the federal government and its 
 employment and training agencies in any reasonable manner as 
 necessary to qualify for federal aid for employment and training 
 services and money; 

    (5) enter into agreements with other departments of the 
 state and local units of government as necessary; 

    (6) as requested, certify employment and training services, 
 and decertify services that fail to comply with performance 
 criteria according to standards established by the commissioner; 

    (7) provide consistent, integrated employment and training 
 services across the state; 

    (8) establish the standards for all employment and training 
 services administered under this chapter; 

    (9) develop standards for the contents and structure of the 
 local service unit plans and plans for Indian tribe employment 
 and training services; 

    (10) provide current state and substate labor market 
 information and forecasts, in cooperation with other agencies; 

    (11) identify underserved populations, unmet service needs, 
 and funding requirements; 

    (12) consult with the council for the blind on matters 
 pertaining to programs and services for the blind and visually 
 impaired; and 

    (13) enter into agreements with Indian tribes as necessary 
 to provide employment and training services as funds become 
 available. 

    Subd. 4.    Demonstration projects.  The commissioner 
 may conduct and administer demonstration projects to test 
 methods and procedures for providing employment and training 
 services.  The demonstration must provide new methods and 
 procedures of administration and must not conflict with the 
 basic purposes, coverage, or benefits provided by law.  No 
 demonstration project authorized by this section is effective 
 until any required approval by a federal agency is obtained and 
 the comprehensive plan, including the estimated project costs, 
 is filed with the commissioner of administration.  

    Subd. 5.    Rulemaking.  (a) The commissioner may make 
 rules to carry out this chapter. 

    (b) Effective July 1, 1997, the commissioner may make rules 
 to carry out section 256J.51. 

    Subd. 6.    Mission; efficiency.  It is part of the 
 department's mission that within the department's resources the 
 commissioner shall endeavor to: 

    (1) prevent the waste or unnecessary spending of public 
 money; 

    (2) use innovative fiscal and human resource practices to 
 manage the state's resources and operate the department as 
 efficiently as possible; 

    (3) coordinate the department's activities wherever 
 appropriate with the activities of other governmental agencies; 

    (4) use technology where appropriate to increase agency 
 productivity, improve customer service, increase public access 
 to information about government, and increase public 
 participation in the business of government; 

    (5) utilize constructive and cooperative labor-management 
 practices to the extent otherwise required by chapters 43A and 
 179A; 

    (6) report to the legislature on the performance of agency 
 operations and the accomplishment of agency goals in the 
 agency's biennial budget according to section 16A.10, 
 subdivision 1; and 

    (7) recommend to the legislature appropriate changes in law 
 necessary to carry out the mission and improve the performance 
 of the department. 

    Subd. 7.    Classification of data on individuals.  Data 
 collected on individuals pursuant to a program operated by the 
 commissioner are private data on individuals as defined in 
 section 13.02, subdivision 12, unless more restrictively 
 classified by law. 

    HIST: 1Sp1985 c 14 art 9 s 40; 1987 c 403 art 2 s 129,130; art 
 3 s 50; 1989 c 282 art 5 s 123,124; 1994 c 483 s 1; 1995 c 248 
 art 11 s 19; 1995 c 259 art 1 s 40; 1996 c 339 s 2,3; 1997 c 7 
 art 5 s 34; 1997 c 66 s 80; 1997 c 85 art 4 s 26; 1997 c 245 art 
 4 s 6; 1998 c 265 s 2; 1998 c 366 s 65; 1999 c 107 s 66; 1999 c 
 159 s 119; 2000 c 343 s 4; 2001 c 79 s 3; 2001 c 175 s 52; 
 1Sp2001 c 9 art 10 s 61