Minnesota Legislature
HF 4312
as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/24/2022 03:50pm
Current Version - as introduced
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A bill for an act
relating to child protection; extending the effective date for mandatory reporting
for certain youth recreation program employees; modifying deadlines and duties
for the legislative task force on child protection; amending Laws 2021, First Special
Session chapter 7, article 10, sections 1; 3.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 7, article 10, section 1, the effective
date, is amended to read:
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective June 1, deleted text begin 2022deleted text end new text begin 2023new text end .
Sec. 2.
Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 7, article 10, section 3, is amended to
read:
Sec. 3. LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE; CHILD PROTECTION.
(a) A legislative task force is created to:
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(1) review the efforts being made to implement the recommendations of the Governor's
Task Force on the Protection of Children;
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(2) expand the efforts into related areas of the child welfare system;
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(3) work with the commissioner of human services and community partners to establish
and evaluate child protection grants to address disparities in child welfare pursuant to
Minnesota Statutes, section 256E.28;
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(4) review and recommend alternatives to law enforcement responding to a maltreatment
report by removing the child and evaluate situations in which it may be appropriate for a
social worker or other child protection worker to remove the child from the home;
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deleted text begin (5)deleted text end new text begin (1)new text end evaluate current statutes governing mandatory reporters, consider the modification
of mandatory reporting requirements for private or public youth recreation programs, and,
if necessary, introduce legislation by February 15, deleted text begin 2022deleted text end new text begin 2023new text end , to implement appropriate
modifications;new text begin and
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(6) evaluate and consider the intersection of educational neglect and the child protection
system; and
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deleted text begin (7)deleted text end new text begin (2)new text end identify additional areas within the child welfare system that need to be addressed
by the legislature.
(b) Members of the legislative task force shall include:
(1) six members from the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house,
including three from the majority party and three from the minority party; and
(2) six members from the senate, including three members appointed by the senate
majority leader and three members appointed by the senate minority leader.
(c) Members of the task force shall serve a term that expires on December 31 of the
deleted text begin even-numbereddeleted text end new text begin odd-numberednew text end year following the year they are appointed. The speaker of
the house and the majority leader of the senate shall each appoint a chair and vice-chair
from the membership of the task force. The chair shall rotate after each meeting. The task
force must meet at least quarterly.
(d) Initial appointments to the task force shall be made by July 15, deleted text begin 2021deleted text end new text begin 2022new text end . The chair
shall convene the first meeting of the task force by August 15, deleted text begin 2021deleted text end new text begin 2022new text end .
(e) The task force may provide oversight and monitoring of:
(1) the efforts by the Department of Human Services, counties, and Tribes to implement
laws related to child protection;
(2) efforts by the Department of Human Services, counties, and Tribes to implement the
recommendations of the Governor's Task Force on the Protection of Children;
(3) efforts by agencies including but not limited to the Department of Education, the
Housing Finance Agency, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Public
Safety, to work with the Department of Human Services to assure safety and well-being for
children at risk of harm or children in the child welfare system; and
(4) efforts by the Department of Human Services, other agencies, counties, and Tribes
to implement best practices to ensure every child is protected from maltreatment and neglect
and to ensure every child has the opportunity for healthy development.
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(f) The task force, in cooperation with the commissioner of human services, shall issue
a report to the legislature and governor by February 1, 2024. The report must contain
information on the progress toward implementation of changes to the child protection system,
recommendations for additional legislative changes and procedures affecting child protection
and child welfare, and funding needs to implement recommended changes.
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deleted text begin (g)deleted text end new text begin (f)new text end This section expires December 31, deleted text begin 2024deleted text end new text begin 2025new text end .