HF 4727

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/07/2024 02:43pm

A bill for an act
relating to child protection; creating a Child Protection Advisory Council; requiring
reports; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 260E.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [260E.021] CHILD PROTECTION ADVISORY COUNCIL.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin A Child Protection Advisory Council is established to
review policies, laws, and protocols of the child protection system, enhance accountability
in the child protection system, and ensure that the system has sufficient capacity and resources
to operate as intended.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin The advisory council shall consist of up to 26 members, appointed
as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) the commissioner of human services or a designee;
new text end

new text begin (2) the commissioner of children, youth, and families or a designee;
new text end

new text begin (3) the ombudsperson for foster youth or a designee;
new text end

new text begin (4) two members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the
house and one appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives;
new text end

new text begin (5) two members of the senate, one appointed by the senate majority leader and one
appointed by the senate minority leader;
new text end

new text begin (6) a representative from the Association of Minnesota Counties appointed by the
association;
new text end

new text begin (7) two members representing county social services agencies appointed by the Minnesota
Association of County Social Service Administrators, one from a county outside the
seven-county metropolitan area and one from a county within the seven-county metropolitan
area;
new text end

new text begin (8) one member appointed by the Minnesota Council on Disability;
new text end

new text begin (9) one member appointed by Indian Child Welfare Advisory Council;
new text end

new text begin (10) one member appointed by the ombudsperson of American Indian Families;
new text end

new text begin (11) one member appointed by the Children's Alliance;
new text end

new text begin (12) up to four members appointed by the ombudsperson for families;
new text end

new text begin (13) up to four members from the Children's Justice Task Force; and
new text end

new text begin (14) four members of the public appointed by the governor, including:
new text end

new text begin (i) one member 18 years of age or older who has lived experience with the child welfare
system;
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new text begin (ii) one member 18 years of age or older who has lived experience with the child welfare
system as a parent or caregiver;
new text end

new text begin (iii) one member who is an advocate that has experience working within the child welfare
system and that has experience working with members of the LGBTQ+ community or
persons who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color; and
new text end

new text begin (iv) one member with experience working and advocating for children with disabilities
in the child welfare system.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Council administration. new text end

new text begin (a) The advisory council is governed by section
15.059, except that subdivision 6 does not apply.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of human services shall provide the advisory council with staff
support, office space, and access to office equipment and services.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Meetings. new text end

new text begin (a) The advisory council must meet at least quarterly but may meet
more frequently at the call of the chairperson or at the request of a majority of advisory
council members.
new text end

new text begin (b) Meetings of the advisory council are subject to section 13D.01 and notice of its
meetings is governed by section 13D.04.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Chairperson. new text end

new text begin (a) The advisory council must elect a chairperson and other
officers as it deems necessary and in accordance with the advisory council's operating
procedures.
new text end

new text begin (b) The advisory council shall be governed by an executive committee elected by the
members of the advisory council. One member of the executive committee must be the
advisory council chairperson.
new text end

new text begin (c) The advisory council shall appoint an executive director. The executive director
serves as an ex officio nonvoting member of the executive committee. The advisory council
may delegate to the executive director any powers and duties under this section that do not
require advisory council approval. The executive director serves in the unclassified service
and may be removed at any time by a majority vote of the advisory council. The executive
director may employ and direct staff necessary to carry out advisory council mandates,
policies, activities, and objectives.
new text end

new text begin (d) The executive committee may appoint additional subcommittees and work groups
as necessary to fulfill the duties of the advisory council.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin (a) The advisory council must:
new text end

new text begin (1) conduct child mortality review processes;
new text end

new text begin (2) review child welfare data provided by the Department of Human Services and
counties;
new text end

new text begin (3) review and provide guidance on the Family First Prevention Services Act
implementation; and
new text end

new text begin (4) work with the commissioner of human services to evaluate child protection grants
to address disparities in child welfare pursuant to section 256E.28.
new text end

new text begin (b) The advisory council may collect additional topic areas for study and evaluation
from the public. For the advisory council to study and evaluate a topic, the topic must be
approved for study and evaluation by the advisory council.
new text end

new text begin (c) Legislative members may not deliberate about or vote on decisions related to the
issuance of grants of state money.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the advisory council must
submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees
with jurisdiction over child protection and child welfare on the advisory council's activities
under subdivision 6 and other issues on which the advisory council may choose to report.
new text end