2026 Minnesota Statutes

16E.40 HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEMS MODERNIZATION ADVISORY COUNCIL.

Subdivision 1.Definition.

For the purposes of this section and section 16E.50, "human services systems" means any information technology system used by counties, federally recognized Indian Tribes located in Minnesota, or the commissioners of human services or children, youth, and families to administer a human services program.

Subd. 2.Membership; staff support.

(a) The Human Services Systems Modernization Advisory Council is established and consists of the following members:

(1) the commissioner of human services, or the commissioner's designee;

(2) the commissioner of children, youth, and families, or the commissioner's designee;

(3) the commissioner of information technology services, or the commissioner's designee;

(4) two members appointed by the Association of Minnesota Counties;

(5) two representatives of county financial assistance administration appointed by the Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators; and

(6) one representative of federally recognized Indian Tribes located in Minnesota appointed by the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council.

(b) The council member appointed under paragraph (a), clause (6), may rotate between different individuals as determined by the appointing authority.

(c) The commissioner of information technology services must provide meeting space and administrative and research support to the council.

(d) The council must elect a chair and vice-chair from among the membership at the first council meeting each odd-numbered year.

Subd. 3.Meetings.

The council must meet at least quarterly, or more frequently as determined by the chair. Meetings of the council are subject to chapter 13D and must include an opportunity for public testimony.

Subd. 4.Terms; compensation; removal.

The terms, compensation, and removal of members of the council are as provided in section 15.059.

Subd. 5.Duties.

(a) The council must provide recommendations to the commissioners of human services; children, youth, and families; and information technology services on the planning, prioritization, governance, financing, development, implementation, integration, replacement, and modernization of current and future human services systems. This may include, but is not limited to:

(1) reviewing the status of legacy and replacement human services systems;

(2) advising on statewide modernization priorities for human services systems;

(3) evaluating opportunities to improve interoperability of human services systems, including the development of an enterprise integration layer;

(4) identifying opportunities to maximize federal financial participation and align human services system design, development, implementation, and operations with applicable federal approval requirements;

(5) reviewing the effect of modernization decisions on counties, federally recognized Indian Tribes located in Minnesota, providers, and beneficiaries;

(6) providing recommendations to the legislature on statutory, budgetary, governance, enterprise architecture, and funding changes needed to support successful modernization; and

(7) developing a financing plan to support the ongoing operating costs of systems and projects developed and deployed with the funding under section 16E.50.

(b) For each human services system, the council must make recommendations on modernization goals and priorities, allocation of modernization resources, major system decisions, and tracking total system funding and expenditures from all sources.

(c) The council must provide updates on the council's duties under this subdivision to the Legislative Commission on Human Services Systems under section 256.0142 at least annually.

(d) The Human Services Systems Modernization Advisory Council must coordinate modernization plans and activities with the Technology Advisory Council established under section 16E.036.

Subd. 6.Prior consultation required.

(a) Before initiating any work on a major modernization project or procurement that would materially affect counties or federally recognized Indian Tribes located in Minnesota, the commissioners of human services; children, youth, and families; and information technology services must present the proposal to the council and consider the council's recommendations. If the commissioners do not adopt a recommendation of the council that materially affects counties or federally recognized Indian Tribes located in Minnesota, the commissioners must provide a written explanation within ten business days to the council and the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over human services systems and state government finance.

(b) When making a recommendation under this subdivision, the council must consider:

(1) impacts on counties, federally recognized Indian Tribes located in Minnesota, providers, and beneficiaries;

(2) strategies to transition from legacy human services systems, including continuity of operations and mitigation of service disruption;

(3) project timelines, milestones, risks, and dependencies;

(4) federal approval pathways, including planning and implementation documentation;

(5) measurable outcomes related to reduction of manual work, duplicative data entry, processing time, and administrative burden;

(6) development and use of enterprise data, analytics, and performance dashboards; and

(7) prioritization of modernization initiatives based on clauses (1) to (6), feasibility, federal requirements, and available resources.

Subd. 7.Report.

Beginning February 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the council must submit a report to the Legislative Commission on Human Services Systems under section 256.0142 and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over human services systems and state government finance. The report must include:

(1) project status and risks;

(2) council findings and recommendations;

(3) major procurement or implementation developments;

(4) federal financial participation opportunities and constraints; and

(5) any recommended draft legislation.

History:

2026 c 120 s 2