Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.
(b) "Date of hiring" means the earlier of: (1) the first day for which an employee is owed compensation by an employer; or (2) the first day that an employee reports to work or performs labor or services for an employer.
(c) "Earnings" means payment owed by an employer for labor or services rendered by an employee.
(d) "Employee" means a person who resides or works in Minnesota, performs services for compensation, in whatever form, for an employer and satisfies the criteria of an employee under chapter 24 of the Internal Revenue Code. Employee does not include:
(1) persons hired for domestic service in the private home of the employer, as defined in the Federal Tax Code; or
(2) an employee of the federal or state agency performing intelligence or counterintelligence functions, if the head of such agency has determined that reporting according to this law would endanger the safety of the employee or compromise an ongoing investigation or intelligence mission.
(e) "Employer" means a person or entity located or doing business in this state that employs one or more employees for payment, and satisfies the criteria of an employer under chapter 24 of the Internal Revenue Code. Employer includes a labor organization as defined in paragraph (g). Employer also includes the state, political or other governmental subdivisions of the state, and the federal government.
(f) "Hiring" means engaging a person to perform services for compensation and includes the reemploying or return to work of any previous employee who was laid off, furloughed, separated, granted a leave without pay, or terminated from employment when a period of 60 days elapses from the date of layoff, furlough, separation, leave, or termination to the date of the person's return to work.
(g) "Labor organization" means entities located or doing business in this state that meet the criteria of labor organization under section 2(5) of the National Labor Relations Act. This includes any entity, that may also be known as a hiring hall, used to carry out requirements described in chapter 7 of the National Labor Relations Act.
(h) "Payor" means a person or entity located or doing business in Minnesota who pays money to an independent contractor according to an agreement for the performance of services.
Subd. 2. Work reporting system established. The commissioner of human services shall establish a centralized work reporting system for the purpose of receiving and maintaining information from employers on newly hired or rehired employees. The commissioner of human services shall take reasonable steps to inform the state's employers of the requirements of this section and the acceptable processes by which employers can comply with the requirements of this section.
Subd. 3. Duty to report. Employers doing business in this state shall report to the commissioner of human services the hiring of any employee who resides or works in this state to whom the employer anticipates paying earnings. Employers shall submit reports required under this subdivision within 20 calendar days of the date of hiring of the employee.
Employers are not required to report the hiring of any person who will be employed for less than two months' duration; and will have gross earnings less than $250 per month.
Subd. 4. Means to report. Employers may report by delivering, mailing, or telefaxing a copy of the employee's federal W-4 form or W-9 form or any other document that contains the required information, submitting electronic media in a compatible format, toll-free telecommunication, or other means authorized by the commissioner of human services that will result in timely reporting.
Subd. 5. Report contents. Reports required under this section must contain all the information required by federal law.
Subd. 6. Sanctions. If an employer fails to report under this section, the commissioner of human services, by certified mail, shall send the employer a written notice of noncompliance requesting that the employer comply with the reporting requirements of this section. The notice of noncompliance must explain the reporting procedure under this section and advise the employer of the penalty for noncompliance. An employer who has received a notice of noncompliance and later incurs a second violation is subject to a civil penalty of $25 for each intentionally unreported employee. An employer who has received a notice of noncompliance is subject to a civil penalty of $500 for each intentionally unreported employee, if noncompliance is the result of a conspiracy between an employer and an employee not to supply the required report or to supply a false or incomplete report. These penalties may be imposed and collected by the commissioner of human services. An employer who has been served with a notice of noncompliance and incurs a second or subsequent violation resulting in a civil penalty, has the right to a contested case hearing under chapter 14. An employer has 20 days from the date of service of the notice, to file a request for a contested case hearing with the commissioner. The order of the administrative law judge constitutes the final decision in the case.
Subd. 7. Access to data. The commissioner of human services shall retain the information reported to the work reporting system for a period of six months. Data in the work reporting system may be disclosed to the public authority responsible for child support enforcement, federal agencies, state and local agencies of other states for the purposes of enforcing state and federal laws governing child support, and agencies responsible for the administration of programs under title IV-A of the Social Security Act, the Department of Employment and Economic Development, and the Department of Labor and Industry.
Subd. 8. Authority to contract. The commissioner may contract for services to carry out this section.
Subd. 9. Independent contractors. The state and all political subdivisions of the state, when acting in the capacity of an employer, shall report the hiring of any person as an independent contractor to the centralized work reporting system in the same manner as the hiring of an employee is reported.
Other payors may report independent contractors to whom they make payments that require the filing of a 1099-MISC report. Payors reporting independent contractors shall report by use of the same means and provide the same information required under subdivisions 4 and 5. The commissioner of human services shall establish procedures for payors reporting under this section.
Subd. 10. Use of work reporting system information in determining eligibility for public assistance programs. The commissioner of human services is authorized to use information from the work reporting system to determine eligibility for applicants and recipients of public assistance programs administered by the Department of Human Services. Data including names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers of people applying for or receiving public assistance benefits will be compared to the work reporting system information to determine if applicants or recipients of public assistance are employed. County agencies will be notified of discrepancies in information obtained from the work reporting system.
Subd. 11. Action on information. Upon receipt of the discrepant information, county agencies will notify clients of the information and request verification of employment status and earnings. County agencies must attempt to resolve the discrepancy within 45 days of receipt of the information.
Subd. 12. Client notification. Persons applying for public assistance programs administered by the Department of Human Services will be notified at the time of application that data including their name, date of birth, and Social Security number will be shared with the work reporting system to determine possible employment. All current public assistance recipients will be notified of this provision prior to its implementation.
1995 c 257 art 1 s 16; 1997 c 203 art 6 s 15-20; 1997 c 245 art 1 s 10; art 3 s 7; 2004 c 206 s 52; 2012 c 216 art 1 s 3,4
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 245 - 267 — Public Welfare And Related Activities
Section 256.01 — Commissioner Of Human Services; Powers, Duties.
Section 256.011 — Administration Of Federal Grants-in-aid.
Section 256.0112 — Grants And Purchase Of Service Contracts.
Section 256.012 — Minnesota Merit System.
Section 256.0121 — Southern Cities Community Health Clinic.
Section 256.014 — State And County Systems.
Section 256.015 — Public Assistance Lien On Recipient's Cause Of Action.
Section 256.016 — Plain Language In Written Materials.
Section 256.0161 — Forecast On Children's Health Care Services.
Section 256.017 — Compliance System.
Section 256.018 — County Public Assistance Incentive Fund.
Section 256.019 — Recovery Of Money; Apportionment.
Section 256.02 — Investigations; Examinations; Supervision.
Section 256.021 — Vulnerable Adult Maltreatment Review Panel.
Section 256.023 — One Hundred Percent County Assistance.
Section 256.027 — Use Of Vans Permitted.
Section 256.028 — Tax Rebates.
Section 256.0281 — Interagency Data Exchange.
Section 256.029 — Domestic Violence Informational Brochure.
Section 256.041 — Cultural And Ethnic Communities Leadership Council.
Section 256.042 — Opiate Epidemic Response Advisory Council.
Section 256.043 — Opiate Epidemic Response Fund.
Section 256.045 — Administrative And Judicial Review Of Human Services Matters.
Section 256.0451 — Hearing Procedures.
Section 256.046 — Administrative Fraud Disqualification Hearings.
Section 256.0471 — Overpayments Become Judgments By Operation Of Law.
Section 256.25 — Old Age Assistance To Be Allowed As Claim In District Court.
Section 256.263 — Land Acquired By State Under Old Age Assistance Liens.
Section 256.362 — Reports And Implementation.
Section 256.462 — Applicability Of Other Law; Recovery Of Assistance Furnished.
Section 256.476 — Consumer Support Program.
Section 256.477 — Self-advocacy Grants.
Section 256.4772 — Minnesota Inclusion Initiative Grant.
Section 256.4776 — Parent-to-parent Peer Support.
Section 256.478 — Transition To Community Initiative.
Section 256.479 — Customized Living Quality Improvement Grants.
Section 256.481 — Person With A Disability; Definition.
Section 256.482 — Council On Disability.
Section 256.4825 — Report Regarding Programs And Services For People With Disabilities.
Section 256.4835 — Minnesota Rare Disease Advisory Council.
Section 256.484 — Social Adjustment Services To Refugees.
Section 256.741 — Child Support And Maintenance.
Section 256.82 — Payments By State.
Section 256.87 — Contribution By Parents.
Section 256.8799 — Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Outreach Program.
Section 256.88 — Social Welfare Fund Established.
Section 256.89 — Fund Deposited In State Treasury.
Section 256.90 — Social Welfare Fund; Use; Disposition; Depositories.
Section 256.92 — Commissioner Of Human Services, Accounts.
Section 256.925 — Optional Voter Registration For Public Assistance Applicants And Recipients.
Section 256.93 — Commissioner Of Human Services, Possession Of Estates.
Section 256.935 — Funeral Expenses, Payment By County Agency.
Section 256.9365 — Purchase Of Health Care Coverage For People Living With Hiv.
Section 256.94 — Conferences Of Various Officials.
Section 256.95 — Expense Of Attendance At Conference.
Section 256.958 — Retired Dentist Program.
Section 256.959 — Dental Practice Donation Program.
Section 256.96 — Cooperation With Other Boards.
Section 256.962 — Minnesota Health Care Programs Outreach.
Section 256.963 — Primary Care Access Initiative.
Section 256.9655 — Payments To Medical Providers.
Section 256.9656 — Deposits Into The General Fund.
Section 256.9657 — Provider Surcharges.
Section 256.9685 — Establishment Of Inpatient Hospital Payment System.
Section 256.9686 — Definitions.
Section 256.969 — Payment Rates.
Section 256.9693 — Inpatient Treatment For Mental Illness.
Section 256.9695 — Appeals Of Rates; Prohibited Practices For Hospitals; Transition Rates.
Section 256.974 — Office Of Ombudsman For Long-term Care.
Section 256.9741 — Definitions.
Section 256.9742 — Duties And Powers Of The Office.
Section 256.9744 — Office Data.
Section 256.975 — Minnesota Board On Aging.
Section 256.9752 — Senior Nutrition Programs.
Section 256.9753 — Volunteer Programs For Retired Senior Citizens.
Section 256.9754 — Community Services Development Grants Program.
Section 256.9755 — Caregiver Support Programs.
Section 256.976 — Foster Grandparents Program.
Section 256.977 — Senior Companion Program.
Section 256.978 — Location Of Parents, Access To Records.
Section 256.979 — Child Support Incentives.
Section 256.98 — Wrongfully Obtaining Assistance; Theft.
Section 256.981 — Training Of Welfare Fraud Prosecutors.
Section 256.982 — Training Of Welfare Fraud Investigators.
Section 256.983 — Fraud Prevention Investigations.
Section 256.9831 — Benefits; Gambling Establishments.
Section 256.984 — Declaration And Penalty.
Section 256.986 — County Coordination Of Fraud Control Activities.
Section 256.9861 — Fraud Control; Program Integrity Reinvestment Project.
Section 256.9862 — Electronic Benefit Transaction Card Fee.
Section 256.9863 — Electronic Benefit Transaction Card; Receipt Of Benefits.
Section 256.9864 — Reports By Recipient.
Section 256.9865 — Recovery Of Overpayments And Atm Errors.
Section 256.9866 — Community Service As A County Obligation.
Section 256.987 — Electronic Benefit Transfer Card.
Section 256.9872 — Ebt Transaction Costs; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Section 256.99 — Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Disregarded.
Section 256.995 — School-linked Services For At-risk Children And Youth.
Section 256.997 — Child Support Obligor Community Service Work Experience Program.