Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 196 - Human Services Department
Chapter 9571 - COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS
Part 9571.0030 - DESIGNATION OF COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES

Subpart 1. Authority to designate.

The designation of a community action agency must be made by the political subdivision or combination of political subdivisions having jurisdiction over the entire area to be served. A designation must be made by the governing body of a political subdivision whose boundaries are at least coextensive with the proposed service area. The power to designate may not be delegated.

Subp. 2. Notice and documents.

Before a designee may be designated as a community action agency by a political subdivision, the governing body of the political subdivision having the requisite authority must prepare and file with the department a notice of intent to designate and eligibility documents applicable to the designee. The notice of intent to designate must state how the designee meets the requirements for an eligible entity established under the Community Services Block Grant Act. Eligibility documents are the following:

Subp. 3. Notice of public hearing.

After the notice of intent to designate and the eligibility documents have been filed with the department, the governing body must hold a public hearing on the proposed designation. Notice of the hearing must be given according to items A to D.

Subp. 4. Public hearing.

A public hearing must be held 30 calendar days before designation may occur. If the area to be served by the designee includes more than one county, a public hearing in conformity with this part must be held in each county to be served.

Subp. 5. Hearing procedure.

The governing body will appoint a presiding officer to conduct the public hearing. The governing body, however, may not appoint one of its current members as the presiding officer. The presiding officer will not have a vested interest in the outcome of the proposed designation and will ensure that all persons involved in the hearing are treated fairly and impartially. At the public hearing, the representative of the designee and a representative of the governing body will make an affirmative presentation of facts establishing the designee's qualifications, expertise, and experience in providing community action program services to low-income people. Furthermore, the designee's representative will describe the mission of the community action program, the focus and direction of proposed services, and the goals for outreach to and participation by low-income people. The designee may rely upon facts presented by others on the record during the hearing to support its proposed designation. At the hearing, any interested person will be given the opportunity to present testimony and to ask questions of the designee's representative and of the governing body's representative. Furthermore, any interested party may submit written comments or exhibits.

Subp. 6. Official record.

An official record of the hearing consisting of an electronic recording and minutes of the proceedings must be kept. The official record must also include all testimony, written comments, and exhibits received pertaining to the proposed designation. The hearing record must remain open to receive written comments and exhibits for 20 calendar days following the date of hearing.

Subp. 7. Official resolution.

Once the official record of the public hearing is received and 30 calendar days have passed from the date of the hearing, the governing body may act to designate the designee as a community action agency. The governing body must pass a resolution designating the designee as a community action agency if after review of the official record the governing body finds that:

Subp. 8. Review by department.

Before provisional recognition may occur in part 9571.0040, subpart 1, the governing body must have submitted to the department for review copies of the following documents:

Subp. 9. Costs.

Costs attributable to the designation process, including costs associated with public hearings other than contested case hearings, are the responsibility of the governing body.