Governor Tim Walz says his administration is looking for an outside expert to determine if it makes sense to break up the troubled state Human Services Department into separate agencies. Republican Senator Carla Nelson from Rochester indicated at State Capitol hearings this week that she has concerns about any split-up, because it would mean “another commissioner, another assistant commissioner, another silo, another place for things to get lost.”
Nelson warns that Minnesotans on human services programs might have to deal with two agencies rather than one. Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead acknowledged that Nelson is raising a good question.