Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to allocate funds to county governments and specific Minnesota departments to support and enhance their service delivery systems and information technology (IT) infrastructures. The bill aims to help counties modernize their IT systems and meet new service delivery requirements.

Main Provisions

• County Grants for Service Delivery Transformation:

  • In fiscal year 2026, funding will be provided from the general fund for grants to counties.
  • These grants are intended to cover costs associated with implementing new service delivery requirements from the Department of Human Services.
  • The funding is meant to be distributed equitably among counties based on the number of people they serve and other relevant factors.
  • A framework is required to prepare counties for future IT or service delivery projects by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Children, Youth and Families.

• County Grants for IT Infrastructure:

  • Additional funds in fiscal year 2026 are reserved for grants aimed at modernizing county IT systems.
  • The focus is on enabling counties to develop updated IT systems that can interface smoothly with legacy systems within the Department of Human Services.
  • These grants also support collaborative IT infrastructure projects between large and small counties.
  • The Department of Human Services must consult with county associations for creating and managing these grants.

• Department of Children, Youth, and Families IT Systems Improvement:

  • Funds allocated in fiscal year 2026 are designated for enhancing the department's social services information system.
  • These funds are available through June 30, 2027.

Significant Changes

This bill proposes substantial financial support aimed at transforming and modernizing IT systems and service delivery methods for county human services departments. These upgrades are crucial for the integration and efficient operation of social service programs.

Relevant Terms

• Service delivery transformation
• Information technology modernization
• Legacy IT systems
• Social services information system
• Fiscal year 2026 funding
• Department of Human Services
• Department of Children, Youth, and Families