1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; modifying child maltreatment interview requirements;
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 626.556, subdivisions 3d, 10.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 626.556, subdivision 3d, is amended to read:
1.6 		Subd. 3d.Authority to interview. The agency responsible for assessing or investigating 
1.7 	reports of child maltreatment has the authority to interview the child, the person or persons 
1.8 	responsible for the child's care, the alleged perpetrator, and any other person with knowledge 
1.9 	of the abuse or neglect for the purpose of gathering the facts, assessing safety and risk to 
1.10 	the child, and formulating a plan. The agency responsible for assessing or investigating 
1.11 	reports of child maltreatment has the authority to interview the child outside the presence 
1.12 	of the alleged perpetrator or the persons responsible for the child's care.

1.13 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 626.556, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
1.14 		Subd. 10.Duties of local welfare agency and local law enforcement agency upon 
1.15 	receipt of report; mandatory notification between police or sheriff and agency. (a) The 
1.16 	police department or the county sheriff shall immediately notify the local welfare agency 
1.17 	or agency responsible for child protection reports under this section orally and in writing 
1.18 	when a report is received. The local welfare agency or agency responsible for child protection 
1.19 	reports shall immediately notify the local police department or the county sheriff orally and 
1.20 	in writing when a report is received. The county sheriff and the head of every local welfare 
1.21 	agency, agency responsible for child protection reports, and police department shall each 
1.22 	designate a person within their agency, department, or office who is responsible for ensuring 
2.1 	that the notification duties of this paragraph are carried out. When the alleged maltreatment 
2.2 	occurred on tribal land, the local welfare agency or agency responsible for child protection 
2.3 	reports and the local police department or the county sheriff shall immediately notify the 
2.4 	tribe's social services agency and tribal law enforcement orally and in writing when a report 
2.5 	is received.
2.6 	(b) Upon receipt of a report, the local welfare agency shall determine whether to conduct 
2.7 	a family assessment or an investigation as appropriate to prevent or provide a remedy for 
2.8 	child maltreatment. The local welfare agency:
2.9 	(1) shall conduct an investigation on reports involving sexual abuse or substantial child 
2.10 	endangerment;
2.11 	(2) shall begin an immediate investigation if, at any time when it is using a family 
2.12 	assessment response, it determines that there is reason to believe that sexual abuse or 
2.13 	substantial child endangerment or a serious threat to the child's safety exists;
2.14 	(3) may conduct a family assessment for reports that do not allege sexual abuse or 
2.15 	substantial child endangerment. In determining that a family assessment is appropriate, the 
2.16 	local welfare agency may consider issues of child safety, parental cooperation, and the need 
2.17 	for an immediate response;
2.18 	(4) may conduct a family assessment on a report that was initially screened and assigned 
2.19 	for an investigation. In determining that a complete investigation is not required, the local 
2.20 	welfare agency must document the reason for terminating the investigation and notify the 
2.21 	local law enforcement agency if the local law enforcement agency is conducting a joint 
2.22 	investigation; and
2.23 	(5) shall provide immediate notice, according to section 260.761, subdivision 2, to an 
2.24 	Indian child's tribe when the agency has reason to believe the family assessment or 
2.25 	investigation may involve an Indian child. For purposes of this clause, "immediate notice" 
2.26 	means notice provided within 24 hours.
2.27 	If the report alleges neglect, physical abuse, or sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, or 
2.28 	individual functioning within the family unit as a person responsible for the child's care, or 
2.29 	sexual abuse by a person with a significant relationship to the child when that person resides 
2.30 	in the child's household or by a sibling, the local welfare agency shall immediately conduct 
2.31 	a family assessment or investigation as identified in clauses (1) to (4). In conducting a family 
2.32 	assessment or investigation, the local welfare agency shall gather information on the existence 
2.33 	of substance abuse and domestic violence and offer services for purposes of preventing 
2.34 	future child maltreatment, safeguarding and enhancing the welfare of the abused or neglected 
3.1 	minor, and supporting and preserving family life whenever possible. If the report alleges a 
3.2 	violation of a criminal statute involving sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect or 
3.3 	endangerment, under section 609.378, the local law enforcement agency and local welfare 
3.4 	agency shall coordinate the planning and execution of their respective investigation and 
3.5 	assessment efforts to avoid a duplication of fact-finding efforts and multiple interviews. 
3.6 	Each agency shall prepare a separate report of the results of its investigation or assessment. 
3.7 	In cases of alleged child maltreatment resulting in death, the local agency may rely on the 
3.8 	fact-finding efforts of a law enforcement investigation to make a determination of whether 
3.9 	or not maltreatment occurred. When necessary the local welfare agency shall seek authority 
3.10 	to remove the child from the custody of a parent, guardian, or adult with whom the child is 
3.11 	living. In performing any of these duties, the local welfare agency shall maintain appropriate 
3.12 	records.
3.13 	If the family assessment or investigation indicates there is a potential for abuse of alcohol 
3.14 	or other drugs by the parent, guardian, or person responsible for the child's care, the local 
3.15 	welfare agency shall conduct a chemical use assessment pursuant to Minnesota Rules, part 
3.16 	9530.6615.
3.17 	(c) When a local agency receives a report or otherwise has information indicating that 
3.18 	a child who is a client, as defined in section 245.91, has been the subject of physical abuse, 
3.19 	sexual abuse, or neglect at an agency, facility, or program as defined in section 245.91, it 
3.20 	shall, in addition to its other duties under this section, immediately inform the ombudsman 
3.21 	established under sections 245.91 to 245.97. The commissioner of education shall inform 
3.22 	the ombudsman established under sections 245.91 to 245.97 of reports regarding a child 
3.23 	defined as a client in section 245.91 that maltreatment occurred at a school as defined in 
3.24 	section 120A.05, subdivisions 9, 11, and 13, and chapter 124E.
3.25 	(d) Authority of the local welfare agency responsible for assessing or investigating the 
3.26 	child abuse or neglect report, the agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report, 
3.27 	and of the local law enforcement agency for investigating the alleged abuse or neglect 
3.28 	includes, but is not limited to, authority to individually interview, without parental consent,
3.29 	the alleged victim and any other minors who currently reside with or who have resided with 
3.30 	the alleged offender prior to contacting the alleged offender or parent, legal custodian, 
3.31 	guardian, or school official. The interview may take place at school or at any facility or 
3.32 	other place where the alleged victim or other minors might be found or the child may be 
3.33 	transported to, and the interview conducted at, a place appropriate for the interview of a 
3.34 	child designated by the local welfare agency or law enforcement agency. It is the preferred 
3.35 	practice for the responsible agency to interview may take placethe child prior to contacting, 
4.1 	and outside the presence of, the alleged offender or parent, legal custodian, guardian, or 
4.2 	school official. For family assessments, it is the preferred practice to request a parent or 
4.3 	guardian's permission to interview the child prior to conducting the child interview, unless 
4.4 	doing so would compromise the safety assessment. Except as provided in this paragraph, 
4.5 	the parent, legal custodian, or guardian shall be notified by the responsible local welfare or 
4.6 	law enforcement agency no later than the conclusion of the investigation or assessment that 
4.7 	this interview has occurred. Notwithstanding rule 32 of the Minnesota Rules of Procedure 
4.8 	for Juvenile Courts, the juvenile court may, after hearing on an ex parte motion by the local 
4.9 	welfare agency, order that, where reasonable cause exists, the agency withhold notification 
4.10 	of this interview from the parent, legal custodian, or guardian. If the interview took place 
4.11 	or is to take place on school property, the order shall specify that school officials may not 
4.12 	disclose to the parent, legal custodian, or guardian the contents of the notification of intent 
4.13 	to interview the child on school property, as provided under this paragraph, and any other 
4.14 	related information regarding the interview that may be a part of the child's school record. 
4.15 	A copy of the order shall be sent by the local welfare or law enforcement agency to the 
4.16 	appropriate school official.
4.17 	(e) When the local welfare, local law enforcement agency, or the agency responsible 
4.18 	for assessing or investigating a report of maltreatment determines that an interview should 
4.19 	take place on school property, written notification of intent to interview the child on school 
4.20 	property must be received by school officials prior to the interview. The notification shall 
4.21 	include the name of the child to be interviewed, the purpose of the interview, and a reference 
4.22 	to the statutory authority to conduct an interview on school property. For interviews 
4.23 	conducted by the local welfare agency, the notification shall be signed by the chair of the 
4.24 	local social services agency or the chair's designee. The notification shall be private data 
4.25 	on individuals subject to the provisions of this paragraph. School officials may not disclose 
4.26 	to the parent, legal custodian, or guardian the contents of the notification or any other related 
4.27 	information regarding the interview until notified in writing by the local welfare or law 
4.28 	enforcement agency that the investigation or assessment has been concluded, unless a school 
4.29 	employee or agent is alleged to have maltreated the child. Until that time, the local welfare 
4.30 	or law enforcement agency or the agency responsible for assessing or investigating a report 
4.31 	of maltreatment shall be solely responsible for any disclosures regarding the nature of the 
4.32 	assessment or investigation.
4.33 	Except where the alleged offender is believed to be a school official or employee, the 
4.34 	time and place, and manner of the interview on school premises shall be within the discretion 
4.35 	of school officials, but the local welfare or law enforcement agency shall have the exclusive 
5.1 	authority to determine who may attend the interview. The conditions as to time, place, and 
5.2 	manner of the interview set by the school officials shall be reasonable and the interview 
5.3 	shall be conducted not more than 24 hours after the receipt of the notification unless another 
5.4 	time is considered necessary by agreement between the school officials and the local welfare 
5.5 	or law enforcement agency. Where the school fails to comply with the provisions of this 
5.6 	paragraph, the juvenile court may order the school to comply. Every effort must be made 
5.7 	to reduce the disruption of the educational program of the child, other students, or school 
5.8 	staff when an interview is conducted on school premises.
5.9 	(f) Where the alleged offender or a person responsible for the care of the alleged victim 
5.10 	or other minor prevents access to the victim or other minor by the local welfare agency, the 
5.11 	juvenile court may order the parents, legal custodian, or guardian to produce the alleged 
5.12 	victim or other minor for questioning by the local welfare agency or the local law 
5.13 	enforcement agency outside the presence of the alleged offender or any person responsible 
5.14 	for the child's care at reasonable places and times as specified by court order.
5.15 	(g) Before making an order under paragraph (f), the court shall issue an order to show 
5.16 	cause, either upon its own motion or upon a verified petition, specifying the basis for the 
5.17 	requested interviews and fixing the time and place of the hearing. The order to show cause 
5.18 	shall be served personally and shall be heard in the same manner as provided in other cases 
5.19 	in the juvenile court. The court shall consider the need for appointment of a guardian ad 
5.20 	litem to protect the best interests of the child. If appointed, the guardian ad litem shall be 
5.21 	present at the hearing on the order to show cause.
5.22 	(h) The commissioner of human services, the ombudsman for mental health and 
5.23 	developmental disabilities, the local welfare agencies responsible for investigating reports, 
5.24 	the commissioner of education, and the local law enforcement agencies have the right to 
5.25 	enter facilities as defined in subdivision 2 and to inspect and copy the facility's records, 
5.26 	including medical records, as part of the investigation. Notwithstanding the provisions of 
5.27 	chapter 13, they also have the right to inform the facility under investigation that they are 
5.28 	conducting an investigation, to disclose to the facility the names of the individuals under 
5.29 	investigation for abusing or neglecting a child, and to provide the facility with a copy of 
5.30 	the report and the investigative findings.
5.31 	(i) The local welfare agency responsible for conducting a family assessment or 
5.32 	investigation shall collect available and relevant information to determine child safety, risk 
5.33 	of subsequent child maltreatment, and family strengths and needs and share not public 
5.34 	information with an Indian's tribal social services agency without violating any law of the 
5.35 	state that may otherwise impose duties of confidentiality on the local welfare agency in 
6.1 	order to implement the tribal state agreement. The local welfare agency or the agency 
6.2 	responsible for investigating the report shall collect available and relevant information to 
6.3 	ascertain whether maltreatment occurred and whether protective services are needed. 
6.4 	Information collected includes, when relevant, information with regard to the person reporting 
6.5 	the alleged maltreatment, including the nature of the reporter's relationship to the child and 
6.6 	to the alleged offender, and the basis of the reporter's knowledge for the report; the child 
6.7 	allegedly being maltreated; the alleged offender; the child's caretaker; and other collateral 
6.8 	sources having relevant information related to the alleged maltreatment. The local welfare 
6.9 	agency or the agency responsible for investigating the report may make a determination of 
6.10 	no maltreatment early in an investigation, and close the case and retain immunity, if the 
6.11 	collected information shows no basis for a full investigation.
6.12 	Information relevant to the assessment or investigation must be asked for, and may 
6.13 	include:
6.14 	(1) the child's sex and age; prior reports of maltreatment, including any maltreatment 
6.15 	reports that were screened out and not accepted for assessment or investigation; information 
6.16 	relating to developmental functioning; credibility of the child's statement; and whether the 
6.17 	information provided under this clause is consistent with other information collected during 
6.18 	the course of the assessment or investigation;
6.19 	(2) the alleged offender's age, a record check for prior reports of maltreatment, and 
6.20 	criminal charges and convictions. The local welfare agency or the agency responsible for 
6.21 	assessing or investigating the report must provide the alleged offender with an opportunity 
6.22 	to make a statement. The alleged offender may submit supporting documentation relevant 
6.23 	to the assessment or investigation;
6.24 	(3) collateral source information regarding the alleged maltreatment and care of the 
6.25 	child. Collateral information includes, when relevant: (i) a medical examination of the child; 
6.26 	(ii) prior medical records relating to the alleged maltreatment or the care of the child 
6.27 	maintained by any facility, clinic, or health care professional and an interview with the 
6.28 	treating professionals; and (iii) interviews with the child's caretakers, including the child's 
6.29 	parent, guardian, foster parent, child care provider, teachers, counselors, family members, 
6.30 	relatives, and other persons who may have knowledge regarding the alleged maltreatment 
6.31 	and the care of the child; and
6.32 	(4) information on the existence of domestic abuse and violence in the home of the child, 
6.33 	and substance abuse.
7.1 	Nothing in this paragraph precludes the local welfare agency, the local law enforcement 
7.2 	agency, or the agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report from collecting 
7.3 	other relevant information necessary to conduct the assessment or investigation. 
7.4 	Notwithstanding sections 13.384 or 144.291 to 144.298, the local welfare agency has access 
7.5 	to medical data and records for purposes of clause (3). Notwithstanding the data's 
7.6 	classification in the possession of any other agency, data acquired by the local welfare 
7.7 	agency or the agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report during the course 
7.8 	of the assessment or investigation are private data on individuals and must be maintained 
7.9 	in accordance with subdivision 11. Data of the commissioner of education collected or 
7.10 	maintained during and for the purpose of an investigation of alleged maltreatment in a school 
7.11 	are governed by this section, notwithstanding the data's classification as educational, 
7.12 	licensing, or personnel data under chapter 13.
7.13 	In conducting an assessment or investigation involving a school facility as defined in 
7.14 	subdivision 2, paragraph (c), the commissioner of education shall collect investigative 
7.15 	reports and data that are relevant to a report of maltreatment and are from local law 
7.16 	enforcement and the school facility.
7.17 	(j) Upon receipt of a report, the local welfare agency shall conduct a face-to-face contact 
7.18 	with the child reported to be maltreated and with the child's primary caregiver sufficient to 
7.19 	complete a safety assessment and ensure the immediate safety of the child. The face-to-face 
7.20 	contact with the child and primary caregiver shall occur immediately if sexual abuse or 
7.21 	substantial child endangerment is alleged and within five calendar days for all other reports. 
7.22 	If the alleged offender was not already interviewed as the primary caregiver, the local welfare 
7.23 	agency shall also conduct a face-to-face interview with the alleged offender in the early 
7.24 	stages of the assessment or investigation. At the initial contact, the local child welfare agency 
7.25 	or the agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report must inform the alleged 
7.26 	offender of the complaints or allegations made against the individual in a manner consistent 
7.27 	with laws protecting the rights of the person who made the report. The interview with the 
7.28 	alleged offender may be postponed if it would jeopardize an active law enforcement 
7.29 	investigation.
7.30 	(k) When conducting an investigation, the local welfare agency shall use a question and 
7.31 	answer interviewing format with questioning as nondirective as possible to elicit spontaneous 
7.32 	responses. For investigations only, the following interviewing methods and procedures must 
7.33 	be used whenever possible when collecting information:
7.34 	(1) audio recordings of all interviews with witnesses and collateral sources; and
8.1 	(2) in cases of alleged sexual abuse, audio-video recordings of each interview with the 
8.2 	alleged victim and child witnesses.
8.3 	(l) In conducting an assessment or investigation involving a school facility as defined 
8.4 	in subdivision 2, paragraph (c), the commissioner of education shall collect available and 
8.5 	relevant information and use the procedures in paragraphs (j) and (k), and subdivision 3d, 
8.6 	except that the requirement for face-to-face observation of the child and face-to-face interview 
8.7 	of the alleged offender is to occur in the initial stages of the assessment or investigation 
8.8 	provided that the commissioner may also base the assessment or investigation on investigative 
8.9 	reports and data received from the school facility and local law enforcement, to the extent 
8.10 	those investigations satisfy the requirements of paragraphs (j) and (k), and subdivision 3d.