2007 Minnesota Statutes

256M.30 SERVICE PLAN.
    Subdivision 1. Service plan submitted to commissioner. Effective January 1, 2004, and
each two-year period thereafter, each county must have a biennial service plan approved by the
commissioner in order to receive funds. Counties may submit multicounty or regional service
plans.
    Subd. 2. Contents. The service plan shall be completed in a form prescribed by the
commissioner. The plan must include:
(1) a statement of the needs of the children, adolescents, and adults who experience the
conditions defined in section 256M.10, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), and strengths and resources
available in the community to address those needs;
(2) strategies the county will pursue to achieve the performance targets. Strategies must
include specification of how funds under this section and other community resources will be
used to achieve desired performance targets;
(3) a description of the county's process to solicit public input and a summary of that input;
(4) beginning with the service plans submitted for the period from January 1, 2006, through
December 31, 2007, performance targets on statewide indicators for each county to measure
outcomes of children's mental health, and child safety, permanency, and well-being. The
commissioner shall consult with counties and other stakeholders to develop these indicators and
collect baseline data to inform the establishment of individual county performance targets for the
2006-2007 biennium and subsequent plans; and
(5) a budget for services to be provided with funds under this section. The county must
budget at least 40 percent of funds appropriated under sections 256M.01 to 256M.80 for services
to ensure the mental health, safety, permanency, and well-being of children from low-income
families. The commissioner may reduce the portion of child and community services funds that
must be budgeted by a county for services to children in low-income families if:
(i) the incidence of children in low-income families within the county's population is
significantly below the statewide median; or
(ii) the county has successfully achieved past performance targets for children's mental
health, and child safety, permanency, and well-being and its proposed service plan is judged by
the commissioner to provide an adequate level of service to the population with less funding.
    Subd. 3. Continuity of services. In developing the plan required under this section, a county
shall endeavor, within the limits of funds available, to consider the continuing need for services
and programs for children and persons with disabilities that were funded by the former children's
services and community service grants.
    Subd. 4. Information. The commissioner shall provide each county with information and
technical assistance needed to complete the service plan, including: information on children's
mental health, and child safety, permanency, and well-being in the county; comparisons with other
counties; baseline performance on outcome measures; and promising program practices.
    Subd. 5. Timelines. The preliminary service plan must be submitted to the commissioner by
October 15, 2003, and October 15 of every two years thereafter.
    Subd. 6. Public comment. The county board must determine how citizens in the county will
participate in the development of the service plan and provide opportunities for such participation.
The county must allow a period of no less than 30 days prior to the submission of the plan to the
commissioner to solicit comments from the public on the contents of the plan.
    Subd. 7. Commissioner's responsibilities. The commissioner must, within 60 days of
receiving each county service plan, inform the county if the service plan has been approved. If
the service plan is not approved, the commissioner must inform the county of any revisions
needed for approval.
History: 1Sp2003 c 14 art 11 s 4; 2005 c 98 art 3 s 20