5.2. ERMUSR 03-08-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

7ur Foundation MINNESOTA STATUTE 123A.21: SERVICE COOPERATIVES This is the statute under which our cooperative was created. Our previous name was the North Central Service Cooperative (NCSC) and we are now doing business as the National Joint Powers Alliance® (NJPA). • M.S. 123A.21 Subd. 2 defines that the purpose of a service cooperative Is to "assist In meeting specific needs of clients" • M.S. 123A.21 Subd. 3: Membership and Participation Full Membership with a service cooperative shall be limited to public school districts, cities, counties and other governmental units as defined in section 471 .59 and NJ PA's Bylaws and Policies. Governmental units are not required to join NJ PA as Full Members, but they must sign on as NJ PA Participating Members to access our contracts and to validate their purchoses. Many local policies require Membership to legally access contracts held by other agencies. NJ PA provides a Participating Membership and Joint Powers Agreement at no cost. When a board slgnsa Joint Powers Agreement it qualifies that board to serve on the NJ PA Joint Powers Advisory Board. The Participating Membership and Joint Powers Agreements both establish a legal paper trail between NJ PA and the Member as contracts are accessed. M.S. 123A.21 Subd. 5(g) shows that the powers of the board of directors of a service cooperative are written very broadly to grant extensive authority. This statute states "The board of directors shall have authority fo maintain and operate a service cooperative" More specifically, "The service cooperative board of directors may enter Into contracts with other public and private agencies and institutions to provide administrative staff and other personnel as necessary to furnish and support the agreed-upon programs and services." M.S. 123A.21 Subd. 7 describes the ability and directive to provide cooperative purchasing services. This statute specifically tolls for the board to support programs and services that support and allow for cooperative purchasing. M.S. 123A.21 Subd. 9(d,e): Service Cooperative Defined Subd 9 defines the Service Cooperative (SC) under (d) the SC is a public corporation and agency and its board of directors may make application for, accept, and expend private, state and federal funds that are available for programs of the Members. (e) The SC Is a public corporation and agency and as such, no earnings or Interest of the SC may incur to the benefit of an individual or private entity. OUR LEGAL AUTHORITY