Purpose of the Bill

The bill seeks to allocate funds for the modernization and transformation of service delivery systems within Minnesota's human services, specifically focusing on information technology updates and infrastructure enhancements. This applies to counties implementing new systems and to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Main Provisions

• County Grants for Service Delivery Transformation: A designated appropriation for the fiscal year 2026 from the general fund will be provided to Minnesota counties. This funding is intended to offset the costs associated with implementing service delivery transformation requirements and information technology initiatives set by the Department of Human Services.

• Equitable Distribution of Grants: The commissioner of human services will develop a formula to ensure that grant money is distributed equitably, factoring in the number of people served by each county and other relevant factors.

• Framework for Future Costs: The bill calls for the development of a framework to support counties in managing future IT and service delivery costs associated with changes in the Department of Human Services or the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

• County IT Infrastructure Projects: Grants for fiscal year 2026 will also be made available to counties to support IT modernization and infrastructure projects. These efforts aim to unify legacy systems managed by the Department of Human Services and foster collaboration between counties of varying sizes.

• Consultation with Associations: When forming requests for proposals and evaluating grant applicants, the commissioner must involve county associations such as the Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators.

• IT Improvements for Children, Youth, and Families: Funds appropriated will also be used to enhance the social services information system within the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, available until June 30, 2027.

Significant Changes

• This bill introduces one-time appropriations to support infrastructure and service modernization efforts, which require counties to utilize the funds effectively for technology and service delivery transformation.

• The bill also recognizes the necessity of modernizing outdated information systems to work seamlessly across county and state services, possibly improving service efficiency and effectiveness.

Relevant Terms

• Appropriation
• County grants
• Service delivery transformation
• Information technology modernization
• Infrastructure projects
• Social services information system
• Department of Human Services
• Department of Children, Youth, and Families