1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; establishing the Minnesota African American Family 
1.3 	Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act; modifying child welfare 
1.4 	provisions; requiring reports; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 
1.5 	2022, section 260C.329, subdivisions 3, 8; proposing coding for new law in 
1.6 	Minnesota Statutes, chapter 260.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. [260.61] CITATION.
1.9 	Sections 260.61 to 260.693 may be cited as the "Minnesota African American Family 
1.10 	Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act."

1.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2026, except as provided under 
1.12 	section 20 of this act.

1.13 	Sec. 2. [260.62] PURPOSES.
1.14 	(a) The purposes of the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child 
1.15 	Welfare Disproportionality Act are to:
1.16 	(1) protect the best interests of African American and disproportionately represented 
1.17 	children;
1.18 	(2) promote the stability and security of African American and disproportionately 
1.19 	represented children and their families by establishing minimum standards to prevent the 
1.20 	arbitrary and unnecessary removal of African American and disproportionately represented 
1.21 	children from their families; and
2.1 	(3) improve permanency outcomes, including family reunification, for African American 
2.2 	and disproportionately represented children.
2.3 	(b) Nothing in this legislation is intended to interfere with the protections of the Indian 
2.4 	Child Welfare Act of 1978, United States Code, title 25, sections 1901 to 1963, or the 
2.5 	Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act, sections 260.751 to 260.835.

2.6 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2026, except as provided under 
2.7 	section 20 of this act.

2.8 	Sec. 3. [260.63] DEFINITIONS.
2.9 		Subdivision 1.Scope. The definitions in this section apply to sections 260.61 to 260.693.
2.10 		Subd. 2.Active efforts. "Active efforts" means a rigorous and concerted level of effort 
2.11 	that the responsible social services agency must continuously make throughout the time 
2.12 	that the responsible social services agency is involved with an African American or a 
2.13 	disproportionately represented child and the child's family. To provide active efforts to 
2.14 	preserve an African American or a disproportionately represented child's family, the 
2.15 	responsible social services agency must continuously involve an African American or a 
2.16 	disproportionately represented child's family in all services for the family, including case 
2.17 	planning and choosing services and providers, and inform the family of the ability to file a 
2.18 	report of noncompliance with this act with the commissioner through the child welfare 
2.19 	compliance and feedback portal. When providing active efforts, a responsible social services 
2.20 	agency must consider an African American or a disproportionately represented child's 
2.21 	family's social and cultural values at all times while providing services to the African 
2.22 	American or disproportionately represented child and the child's family. Active efforts 
2.23 	includes continuous efforts to preserve an African American or a disproportionately 
2.24 	represented child's family and to prevent the out-of-home placement of an African American 
2.25 	or a disproportionately represented child. If an African American or a disproportionately 
2.26 	represented child enters out-of-home placement, the responsible social services agency must 
2.27 	make active efforts to reunify the African American or disproportionately represented child 
2.28 	with the child's family as soon as possible. Active efforts sets a higher standard for the 
2.29 	responsible social services agency than reasonable efforts to preserve the child's family, 
2.30 	prevent the child's out-of-home placement, and reunify the child with the child's family. 
2.31 	Active efforts includes the provision of reasonable efforts as required by Title IV-E of the 
2.32 	Social Security Act, United States Code, title 42, sections 670 to 679c.
2.33 		Subd. 3.Adoptive placement. "Adoptive placement" means the permanent placement 
2.34 	of an African American or a disproportionately represented child made by the responsible 
3.1 	social services agency upon a fully executed adoption placement agreement, including the 
3.2 	signatures of the adopting parent, the responsible social services agency, and the 
3.3 	commissioner of human services according to section 260C.613, subdivision 1.
3.4 		Subd. 4.African American child. "African American child" means a child having 
3.5 	origins in Africa, including a child of two or more races who has at least one parent with 
3.6 	origins in Africa. Whether a child or parent has origins in Africa is based upon 
3.7 	self-identification or identification of the child's origins by the parent or guardian.
3.8 		Subd. 5.Best interests of the African American or disproportionately represented 
3.9 	child. The "best interests of the African American or disproportionately represented child" 
3.10 	means providing a culturally informed practice lens that acknowledges, utilizes, and embraces 
3.11 	the African American or disproportionately represented child's community and cultural 
3.12 	norms and allows the child to remain safely at home with the child's family. The best interests 
3.13 	of the African American or disproportionately represented child support the child's sense 
3.14 	of belonging to the child's family, extended family, kin, and cultural community.
3.15 		Subd. 6.Child placement proceeding. (a) "Child placement proceeding" means any 
3.16 	judicial proceeding that could result in:
3.17 	(1) an adoptive placement;
3.18 	(2) a foster care placement;
3.19 	(3) a preadoptive placement; or
3.20 	(4) a termination of parental rights.
3.21 	(b) Judicial proceedings under this subdivision include a child's placement based upon 
3.22 	a child's juvenile status offense but do not include a child's placement based upon:
3.23 	(1) an act which if committed by an adult would be deemed a crime; or
3.24 	(2) an award of child custody in a divorce proceeding to one of the child's parents.
3.25 		Subd. 7.Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of human services 
3.26 	or the commissioner's designee.
3.27 		Subd. 8.Custodian. "Custodian" means any person who is under a legal obligation to 
3.28 	provide care and support for an African American or a disproportionately represented child, 
3.29 	or who is in fact providing daily care and support for an African American or a 
3.30 	disproportionately represented child. This subdivision does not impose a legal obligation 
3.31 	upon a person who is not otherwise legally obligated to provide a child with necessary food, 
3.32 	clothing, shelter, education, or medical care.
4.1 		Subd. 9.Disproportionality. "Disproportionality" means the overrepresentation of 
4.2 	African American children and other disproportionately represented children in Minnesota's 
4.3 	child welfare system population as compared to the representation of those children in 
4.4 	Minnesota's total child population.
4.5 		Subd. 10.Disproportionately represented child. "Disproportionately represented child" 
4.6 	means an unmarried person who is under the age of 18 and who is a member of a community 
4.7 	whose race, culture, ethnicity, disability status, or low-income socioeconomic status is 
4.8 	disproportionately encountered, engaged, or identified in the child welfare system as 
4.9 	compared to the representation in the state's total child population, as determined on an 
4.10 	annual basis by the commissioner. A child's race, culture, or ethnicity is determined based 
4.11 	upon a child's self-identification or identification of a child's race, culture, or ethnicity as 
4.12 	reported by the child's parent or guardian.
4.13 		Subd. 11.Egregious harm. "Egregious harm" has the meaning given in section 260E.03, 
4.14 	subdivision 5.
4.15 		Subd. 12.Foster care placement. "Foster care placement" means the temporary 
4.16 	placement in foster care as defined in section 260C.007, subdivision 18, following the 
4.17 	court-ordered removal of an African American or a disproportionately represented child 
4.18 	when the parent or legal custodian cannot have the child returned upon demand.
4.19 		Subd. 13.Imminent physical damage or harm. "Imminent physical damage or harm" 
4.20 	means that a child is threatened with immediate and present conditions that are 
4.21 	life-threatening or likely to result in abandonment, sexual abuse, or serious physical injury.
4.22 		Subd. 14.Responsible social services agency. "Responsible social services agency" 
4.23 	has the meaning given in section 260C.007, subdivision 27a.
4.24 		Subd. 15.Parent. "Parent" means the biological parent of an African American or a 
4.25 	disproportionately represented child or any person who has legally adopted an African 
4.26 	American or a disproportionately represented child. Parent includes an unmarried father 
4.27 	whose paternity has been acknowledged or established and a putative father. Paternity has 
4.28 	been acknowledged when an unmarried father takes any action to hold himself out as the 
4.29 	biological father of a child.
4.30 		Subd. 16.Preadoptive placement. "Preadoptive placement" means a responsible social 
4.31 	services agency's placement of an African American or a disproportionately represented 
4.32 	child when the child is under the guardianship of the commissioner for the purpose of 
4.33 	adoption but an adoptive placement agreement for the child has not been fully executed.
5.1 		Subd. 17.Relative. "Relative" has the meaning given in section 260C.007, subdivision 
5.2 	27.
5.3 		Subd. 18.Safety network. "Safety network" means a group of individuals identified by 
5.4 	the parent and child, when appropriate, that is accountable for developing, implementing, 
5.5 	sustaining, supporting, or improving a safety plan to protect the safety and well-being of a 
5.6 	child.
5.7 		Subd. 19.Sexual abuse. "Sexual abuse" has the meaning given in section 260E.03, 
5.8 	subdivision 20.
5.9 		Subd. 20.Termination of parental rights. "Termination of parental rights" means an 
5.10 	action resulting in the termination of the parent-child relationship under section 260C.301.

5.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2026, except as provided under 
5.12 	section 20 of this act.

5.13 	Sec. 4. [260.64] DUTY TO PREVENT OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT AND 
5.14 	PROMOTE FAMILY REUNIFICATION.
5.15 		Subdivision 1.Active efforts. A responsible social services agency shall make active 
5.16 	efforts to prevent the out-of-home placement of an African American or a disproportionately 
5.17 	represented child, eliminate the need for a child's removal from the child's home, and reunify 
5.18 	an African American or a disproportionately represented child with the child's family as 
5.19 	soon as practicable.
5.20 		Subd. 2.Safety plan. (a) Prior to petitioning the court to remove an African American 
5.21 	or a disproportionately represented child from the child's home under section 260.66, a 
5.22 	responsible social services agency must work with the child's family to allow the child to 
5.23 	remain in the child's home while implementing a safety plan based on the family's needs. 
5.24 	The responsible social services agency must:
5.25 	(1) make active efforts to engage the child's parent or custodian and the child, when 
5.26 	appropriate;
5.27 	(2) assess the family's cultural and economic needs;
5.28 	(3) hold a family group consultation meeting and connect the family with supports to 
5.29 	establish a safety network for the family; and
5.30 	(4) provide support, guidance, and input to assist the family and the family's safety 
5.31 	network with developing the safety plan.
5.32 	(b) The safety plan must:
6.1 	(1) address the specific allegations impacting the child's safety in the home. If neglect 
6.2 	is alleged, the safety plan must incorporate economic services and supports for the child 
6.3 	and the child's family, if eligible, to address the family's specific needs and prevent neglect;
6.4 	(2) evaluate whether an order for protection under section 518B.01 or other court order 
6.5 	expelling an allegedly abusive household member from the home of a parent or custodian 
6.6 	who is not alleged to be abusive will allow the child to safely remain in the home;
6.7 	(3) incorporate family and community support to ensure the child's safety while keeping 
6.8 	the family intact; and
6.9 	(4) be adjusted as needed to address the child's and family's ongoing needs and support.
6.10 	(c) The responsible social services agency is not required to establish a safety plan in a 
6.11 	case with allegations of sexual abuse or egregious harm.
6.12 		Subd. 3.Out-of-home placement prohibited. Unless the court finds by clear and 
6.13 	convincing evidence that the child would be at risk of serious physical damage if the child 
6.14 	were to remain in the child's home, a court shall not order a foster care or permanent 
6.15 	out-of-home placement of an African American or a disproportionately represented child 
6.16 	alleged to be in need of protection or services. At each hearing regarding an African American 
6.17 	or a disproportionately represented child who is alleged or adjudicated to be in need of child 
6.18 	protective services, the court shall review whether the responsible social services agency 
6.19 	has provided active efforts to the child and the child's family and shall require the responsible 
6.20 	social services agency to provide evidence and documentation that demonstrate that the 
6.21 	agency is providing culturally informed, strength-based, community-involved, and 
6.22 	community-based services to the child and the child's family.
6.23 		Subd. 4.Required findings that active efforts were provided. When determining 
6.24 	whether the responsible social services agency has made active efforts to preserve the child's 
6.25 	family, the court shall make findings regarding whether the responsible social services 
6.26 	agency made appropriate and meaningful services available to the child's family based upon 
6.27 	the family's specific needs. If a court determines that the responsible social services agency 
6.28 	did not make active efforts to preserve the family as required by this section, the court shall 
6.29 	order the responsible social services agency to immediately provide active efforts to the 
6.30 	child and child's family to preserve the family.

6.31 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2026, except as provided under 
6.32 	section 20 of this act.

7.1 	Sec. 5. [260.641] ENSURING FREQUENT VISITATION FOR AFRICAN 
7.2 	AMERICAN AND DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED CHILDREN IN 
7.3 	OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT.
7.4 	A responsible social services agency must engage in best practices related to visitation 
7.5 	when an African American or a disproportionately represented child is in out-of-home 
7.6 	placement. When the child is in out-of-home placement, the responsible social services 
7.7 	agency shall make active efforts to facilitate regular and frequent visitation between the 
7.8 	child and the child's parents or custodians, the child's siblings, and the child's relatives. If 
7.9 	visitation is infrequent between the child and the child's parents, custodians, siblings, or 
7.10 	relatives, the responsible social services agency shall make active efforts to increase the 
7.11 	frequency of visitation and address any barriers to visitation.

7.12 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2026, except as provided under 
7.13 	section 20 of this act.

7.14 	Sec. 6. [260.65] NONCUSTODIAL PARENTS.
7.15 	(a) Prior to the removal of an African American or a disproportionately represented child 
7.16 	from the child's home, the responsible social services agency must make active efforts to 
7.17 	identify and locate the child's noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent and the child's relatives 
7.18 	to notify the child's parent and relatives that the child is or will be placed in foster care, and 
7.19 	provide the child's parent and relatives with a list of legal resources. The notice to the child's 
7.20 	noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent and relatives must also include the information 
7.21 	required under section 260C.221, subdivision 2, paragraph (b). The responsible social 
7.22 	services agency must maintain detailed records of the agency's efforts to notify parents and 
7.23 	relatives under this section.
7.24 	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 260C.219, the responsible social services 
7.25 	agency must assess an African American or a disproportionately represented child's 
7.26 	noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent's ability to care for the child before placing the child 
7.27 	in foster care. If a child's noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent is willing and able to provide 
7.28 	daily care for the African American or disproportionately represented child temporarily or 
7.29 	permanently, the court shall order that the child be placed in the home of the noncustodial 
7.30 	or nonadjudicated parent pursuant to section 260C.178 or 260C.201, subdivision 1. The 
7.31 	responsible social services agency must make active efforts to assist a noncustodial or 
7.32 	nonadjudicated parent with remedying any issues that may prevent the child from being 
7.33 	placed with the noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent.

8.1 	Sec. 7. [260.66] EMERGENCY REMOVAL.
8.2 		Subdivision 1.Emergency removal or placement permitted. Nothing in this section 
8.3 	shall be construed to prevent the emergency removal of an African American or a 
8.4 	disproportionately represented child's parent or custodian or the emergency placement of 
8.5 	the child in a foster setting in order to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the 
8.6 	child.
8.7 		Subd. 2.Petition for emergency removal; placement requirements. A petition for a 
8.8 	court order authorizing the emergency removal or continued emergency placement of an 
8.9 	African American or a disproportionately represented child or the petition's accompanying 
8.10 	documents must contain a statement of the risk of imminent physical damage or harm to 
8.11 	the African American or disproportionately represented child and any evidence that the 
8.12 	emergency removal or placement continues to be necessary to prevent imminent physical 
8.13 	damage or harm to the child. The petition or its accompanying documents must also contain 
8.14 	the following information:
8.15 	(1) the name, age, and last known address of the child;
8.16 	(2) the name and address of the child's parents and custodians, or, if unknown, a detailed 
8.17 	explanation of efforts made to locate and contact them;
8.18 	(3) the steps taken to provide notice to the child's parents and custodians about the 
8.19 	emergency proceeding;
8.20 	(4) a specific and detailed account of the circumstances that led the agency responsible 
8.21 	for the emergency removal of the child to take that action; and
8.22 	(5) a statement of the efforts that have been taken to assist the child's parents or custodians 
8.23 	so that the child may safely be returned to their custody.
8.24 		Subd. 3.Emergency proceeding requirements. (a) The court shall hold a hearing no 
8.25 	later than 72 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, after the emergency removal of the 
8.26 	African American or disproportionately represented child. The court shall determine whether 
8.27 	the emergency removal continues to be necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or 
8.28 	harm to the child and whether, after considering the child's particular circumstances, the 
8.29 	imminent physical damage or harm to the child outweighs the harm that the child will 
8.30 	experience as a result of continuing the emergency removal.
8.31 	(b) The court shall hold additional hearings whenever new information indicates that 
8.32 	the emergency situation has ended. The court shall consider all such new information at 
8.33 	any court hearing after the emergency proceeding to determine whether the emergency 
9.1 	removal or placement is no longer necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or harm 
9.2 	to the child.
9.3 	(c) Notwithstanding section 260C.163, subdivision 3, and the provisions of Minnesota 
9.4 	Rules of Juvenile Protection Procedure, rule 25, a parent or custodian of an African American 
9.5 	or a disproportionately represented child who is subject to an emergency hearing under this 
9.6 	section and Minnesota Rules of Juvenile Protection Procedure, rule 30, has a right to counsel 
9.7 	appointed by the court. The court must appoint qualified counsel to represent a parent if the 
9.8 	parent meets the eligibility requirements in section 611.17.
9.9 		Subd. 4.Termination of emergency removal or placement. (a) An emergency removal 
9.10 	or placement of an African American or a disproportionately represented child must 
9.11 	immediately terminate once the responsible social services agency or court possesses 
9.12 	sufficient evidence to determine that the emergency removal or placement is no longer 
9.13 	necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the child and the child shall be 
9.14 	immediately returned to the custody of the child's parent or custodian. The responsible social 
9.15 	services agency or court shall ensure that the emergency removal or placement terminates 
9.16 	immediately when the removal or placement is no longer necessary to prevent imminent 
9.17 	physical damage or harm to the African American or disproportionately represented child.
9.18 	(b) An emergency removal or placement ends when the court orders, after service upon 
9.19 	the African American or disproportionately represented child's parents or custodian, that 
9.20 	the child shall be placed in foster care upon a determination supported by clear and 
9.21 	convincing evidence that custody of the child by the child's parent or custodian is likely to 
9.22 	result in serious physical damage to the child.
9.23 	(c) In no instance shall emergency removal or emergency placement of an African 
9.24 	American or a disproportionately represented child extend beyond 30 days unless the court 
9.25 	finds by a showing of clear and convincing evidence that:
9.26 	(1) continued emergency removal or placement is necessary to prevent imminent physical 
9.27 	damage or harm to the child; and
9.28 	(2) it has not been possible to initiate a child placement proceeding with all of the 
9.29 	protections under sections 260.61 to 260.68.

9.30 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2026, except as provided under 
9.31 	section 20 of this act.

10.1 	Sec. 8. [260.67] TRANSFER OF PERMANENT LEGAL AND PHYSICAL 
10.2 	CUSTODY; TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS; CHILD PLACEMENT 
10.3 	PROCEEDINGS.
10.4 		Subdivision 1.Preference for transfer of permanent legal and physical custody. If 
10.5 	an African American or a disproportionately represented child cannot be returned to the 
10.6 	child's parent, the court shall consider the requirements of and responsibilities under section 
10.7 	260.012, paragraph (a), and, if possible, transfer permanent legal and physical custody of 
10.8 	the child to:
10.9 	(1) a noncustodial parent under section 260C.515, subdivision 4, if the child cannot 
10.10 	return to the care of the parent or custodian from whom the child was removed or who had 
10.11 	legal custody at the time that the child was placed in foster care; or
10.12 	(2) a willing and able relative, according to the requirements of section 260C.515, 
10.13 	subdivision 4, if the court determines that reunification with the child's family is not an 
10.14 	appropriate permanency option for the child. Prior to the court ordering a transfer of 
10.15 	permanent legal and physical custody to a relative who is not a parent, the responsible social 
10.16 	services agency must inform the relative of Northstar kinship assistance benefits and 
10.17 	eligibility requirements, and of the relative's ability to apply for benefits on behalf of the 
10.18 	child under chapter 256N.
10.19 		Subd. 2.Termination of parental rights restrictions. (a) A court shall not terminate 
10.20 	the parental rights of a parent of an African American or a disproportionately represented 
10.21 	child based solely on the parent's failure to complete case plan requirements.
10.22 	(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), a court shall not terminate the parental rights 
10.23 	of a parent of an African American or a disproportionately represented child in a child 
10.24 	placement proceeding unless the allegations against the parent involve sexual abuse; 
10.25 	egregious harm as defined in section 260C.007, subdivision 14; murder in the first, second, 
10.26 	or third degree under section 609.185, 609.19, or 609.195; murder of an unborn child in the 
10.27 	first, second, or third degree under section 609.2661, 609.2662, or 609.2663; manslaughter 
10.28 	of an unborn child in the first or second degree under section 609.2664 or 609.2665; domestic 
10.29 	assault by strangulation under section 609.2247; felony domestic assault under section 
10.30 	609.2242 or 609.2243; kidnapping under section 609.25; solicitation, inducement, and 
10.31 	promotion of prostitution under section 609.322, subdivision 1, and subdivision 1a if one 
10.32 	or more aggravating factors are present; criminal sexual conduct under sections 609.342 to 
10.33 	609.3451; engaging in, hiring, or agreeing to hire a minor to engage in prostitution under 
10.34 	section 609.324, subdivision 1; solicitation of children to engage in sexual conduct under 
11.1 	section 609.352; possession of pornographic work involving minors under section 617.247; 
11.2 	malicious punishment or neglect or endangerment of a child under section 609.377 or 
11.3 	609.378; use of a minor in sexual performance under section 617.246; or failing to protect 
11.4 	a child from an overt act or condition that constitutes egregious harm.
11.5 	(c) The court may terminate the parental rights of a parent of an African American or a 
11.6 	disproportionately represented child under section 260C.301, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), 
11.7 	clause (4) or (6), if a transfer of permanent legal and physical custody under subdivision 1 
11.8 	is not possible because the child has no willing or able noncustodial parent or relative to 
11.9 	whom custody can be transferred.
11.10 	(d) Nothing in this subdivision precludes the court from terminating the parental rights 
11.11 	of a parent of an African American or a disproportionately represented child if the parent 
11.12 	desires to voluntarily terminate the parent's own parental rights for good cause under section 
11.13 	260C.301, subdivision 1, paragraph (a).
11.14 		Subd. 3.Appeals. Notwithstanding the Minnesota Rules of Juvenile Protection Procedure, 
11.15 	rule 47.02, subdivision 2, a parent of an African American or a disproportionately represented 
11.16 	child whose parental rights have been terminated may appeal the decision within 90 days 
11.17 	of the service of notice by the court administrator of the filing of the court's order.

11.18 	Sec. 9. [260.68] RESPONSIBLE SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY CONDUCT AND 
11.19 	CASE REVIEW.
11.20 		Subdivision 1.Responsible social services agency conduct. (a) A responsible social 
11.21 	services agency employee who has duties related to child protection shall not knowingly:
11.22 	(1) make untrue statements about any case involving a child alleged to be in need of 
11.23 	protection or services;
11.24 	(2) intentionally withhold any information that may be material to a case involving a 
11.25 	child alleged to be in need of protection or services; or
11.26 	(3) fabricate or falsify any documentation or evidence relating to a case involving a child 
11.27 	alleged to be in need of protection or services.
11.28 	(b) Any of the actions listed in paragraph (a) shall constitute grounds for adverse 
11.29 	employment action.
11.30 		Subd. 2.Case review. (a) Each responsible social services agency shall conduct a review 
11.31 	of all child welfare cases for African American and other disproportionately represented 
11.32 	children handled by the agency. Each responsible social services agency shall create a 
12.1 	summary report of trends identified under paragraphs (b) and (c), a remediation plan as 
12.2 	provided in paragraph (d), and an update on implementation of any previous remediation 
12.3 	plans. The first report shall be provided to the African American Child Well-Being Advisory 
12.4 	Council, the commissioner, and the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative 
12.5 	committees with jurisdiction over child welfare by October 1, 2029, and annually thereafter. 
12.6 	For purposes of determining outcomes in this subdivision, responsible social services 
12.7 	agencies shall use guidance from the commissioner under section 260.63, subdivision 10. 
12.8 	The commissioner shall provide guidance starting on November 1, 2028, and annually 
12.9 	thereafter.
12.10 	(b) The case review must include:
12.11 	(1) the number of African American and disproportionately represented children 
12.12 	represented in the county child welfare system;
12.13 	(2) the number and sources of maltreatment reports received and reports screened in for 
12.14 	investigation or referred for family assessment and the race of the children and parents or 
12.15 	custodians involved in each report;
12.16 	(3) the number and race of children and parents or custodians who receive in-home 
12.17 	preventive case management services;
12.18 	(4) the number and race of children whose parents or custodians are referred to 
12.19 	community-based, culturally appropriate, strength-based, or trauma-informed services;
12.20 	(5) the number and race of children removed from their homes;
12.21 	(6) the number and race of children reunified with their parents or custodians;
12.22 	(7) the number and race of children whose parents or custodians are offered family group 
12.23 	decision-making services;
12.24 	(8) the number and race of children whose parents or custodians are offered the parent 
12.25 	support outreach program;
12.26 	(9) the number and race of children in foster care or out-of-home placement at the time 
12.27 	that the data is gathered;
12.28 	(10) the number and race of children who achieve permanency through a transfer of 
12.29 	permanent legal and physical custody to a relative or an adoption; and
12.30 	(11) the number and race of children who are under the guardianship of the commissioner 
12.31 	or awaiting a permanency disposition.
12.32 	(c) The required case review must also:
13.1 	(1) identify barriers to reunifying children with their families;
13.2 	(2) identify the family conditions that led to the out-of-home placement;
13.3 	(3) identify any barriers to accessing culturally informed mental health or substance use 
13.4 	disorder treatment services for the parents or children;
13.5 	(4) document efforts to identify fathers and maternal and paternal relatives and to provide 
13.6 	services to custodial and noncustodial fathers, if appropriate; and
13.7 	(5) document and summarize court reviews of active efforts.
13.8 	(d) Any responsible social services agency that has a case review showing 
13.9 	disproportionality and disparities in child welfare outcomes for African American and other 
13.10 	disproportionately represented children and the children's families, compared to the agency's 
13.11 	overall outcomes, must include in their case review summary report a remediation plan with 
13.12 	measurable outcomes to identify, address, and reduce the factors that led to the 
13.13 	disproportionality and disparities in the agency's child welfare outcomes. The remediation 
13.14 	plan shall also include information about how the responsible social services agency will 
13.15 	achieve and document trauma-informed, positive child well-being outcomes through 
13.16 	remediation efforts.

13.17 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2026, except as provided under 
13.18 	section 20 of this act.

13.19 	Sec. 10. [260.69] CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS 
13.20 	WORKING WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN AND DISPROPORTIONATELY 
13.21 	REPRESENTED CHILDREN.
13.22 		Subdivision 1.Applicability. The commissioner of human services must collaborate 
13.23 	with the Children's Justice Initiative to ensure that cultural competency training is given to 
13.24 	individuals working in the child welfare system, including child welfare workers, supervisors, 
13.25 	attorneys, juvenile court judges, and family law judges.
13.26 		Subd. 2.Training. (a) The commissioner must develop training content and establish 
13.27 	the frequency of trainings.
13.28 	(b) The cultural competency training under this section is required prior to or within six 
13.29 	months of beginning work with any African American or disproportionately represented 
13.30 	child and their family. A responsible social services agency staff person who is unable to 
13.31 	complete the cultural competency training prior to working with African American or 
13.32 	disproportionately represented children and their families must work with a qualified staff 
14.1 	person within the agency who has completed cultural competency training until the person 
14.2 	is able to complete the required training. The training must be available by January 1, 2027, 
14.3 	and must:
14.4 	(1) be provided by an African American individual or individual from a community that 
14.5 	is disproportionately represented in the child welfare system who is knowledgeable about 
14.6 	African American and other disproportionately represented social and cultural norms and 
14.7 	historical trauma;
14.8 	(2) raise awareness and increase a person's competency to value diversity, conduct a 
14.9 	self-assessment, manage the dynamics of difference, acquire cultural knowledge, and adapt 
14.10 	to diversity and the cultural contexts of communities served;
14.11 	(3) include instruction on effectively developing a safety plan and instruction on engaging 
14.12 	a safety network; and
14.13 	(4) be accessible and comprehensive and include the ability to ask questions.
14.14 	(c) The training may be provided in a series of segments, either in person or online.
14.15 		Subd. 3.Update. The commissioner must provide an update to the chairs and ranking 
14.16 	minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over child protection by 
14.17 	July 1, 2027, on the rollout of the training under subdivision 1 and the content and 
14.18 	accessibility of the training under subdivision 2.

14.19 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2026, except as provided under 
14.20 	section 20 of this act.

14.21 	Sec. 11. [260.691] AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILD WELL-BEING ADVISORY 
14.22 	COUNCIL.
14.23 		Subdivision 1.Duties. The African American Child Well-Being Advisory Council must:
14.24 	(1) review annual reports related to African American children involved in the child 
14.25 	welfare system. These reports may include but are not limited to the maltreatment, 
14.26 	out-of-home placement, and permanency of African American children;
14.27 	(2) assist in and make recommendations to the commissioner for developing strategies 
14.28 	to reduce maltreatment determinations, prevent unnecessary out-of-home placement, promote 
14.29 	culturally appropriate foster care and shelter or facility placement decisions and settings for 
14.30 	African American children in need of out-of-home placement, ensure timely achievement 
14.31 	of permanency, and improve child welfare outcomes for African American children and 
14.32 	their families;
15.1 	(3) review summary reports on targeted case reviews prepared by the commissioner to 
15.2 	ensure that responsible social services agencies meet the needs of African American children 
15.3 	and their families. Based on data collected from those reviews, the council shall assist the 
15.4 	commissioner with developing strategies needed to improve any identified child welfare 
15.5 	outcomes, including but not limited to maltreatment, out-of-home placement, and permanency 
15.6 	for African American children;
15.7 	(4) assist the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council with making 
15.8 	recommendations to the commissioner and the legislature for public policy and statutory 
15.9 	changes that specifically consider the needs of African American children and their families 
15.10 	involved in the child welfare system;
15.11 	(5) advise the commissioner on stakeholder engagement strategies and actions that the 
15.12 	commissioner and responsible social services agencies may take to improve child welfare 
15.13 	outcomes for African American children and their families;
15.14 	(6) assist the commissioner with developing strategies for public messaging and 
15.15 	communication related to racial disproportionality and disparities in child welfare outcomes 
15.16 	for African American children and their families;
15.17 	(7) assist the commissioner with identifying and developing internal and external 
15.18 	partnerships to support adequate access to services and resources for African American 
15.19 	children and their families, including but not limited to housing assistance, employment 
15.20 	assistance, food and nutrition support, health care, child care assistance, and educational 
15.21 	support and training; and
15.22 	(8) assist the commissioner with developing strategies to promote the development of 
15.23 	a culturally diverse and representative child welfare workforce in Minnesota that includes 
15.24 	professionals who are reflective of the community served and who have been directly 
15.25 	impacted by lived experiences within the child welfare system. The council must also assist 
15.26 	the commissioner in exploring strategies and partnerships to address education and training 
15.27 	needs, hiring, recruitment, retention, and professional advancement practices.
15.28 		Subd. 2.Annual report. By January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the council shall 
15.29 	report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with 
15.30 	jurisdiction over child protection on the council's activities under subdivision 1 and other 
15.31 	issues on which the council chooses to report. The report may include recommendations 
15.32 	for statutory changes to improve the child protection system and child welfare outcomes 
15.33 	for African American children and families.

15.34 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2024.

16.1 	Sec. 12. [260.692] AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILD WELL-BEING UNIT.
16.2 		Subdivision 1.Duties. The African American Child Well-Being Unit, currently 
16.3 	established by the commissioner, must:
16.4 	(1) assist with the development of African American cultural competency training and 
16.5 	review child welfare curriculum in the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy to 
16.6 	ensure that responsible social services agency staff and other child welfare professionals 
16.7 	are appropriately prepared to engage with African American children and their families and 
16.8 	to support family preservation and reunification;
16.9 	(2) provide technical assistance, including on-site technical assistance, and case 
16.10 	consultation to responsible social services agencies to assist agencies with implementing 
16.11 	and complying with the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare 
16.12 	Disproportionality Act;
16.13 	(3) monitor individual county and statewide disaggregated and nondisaggregated data 
16.14 	to identify trends and patterns in child welfare outcomes, including but not limited to 
16.15 	reporting, maltreatment, out-of-home placement, and permanency of African American 
16.16 	children and develop strategies to address disproportionality and disparities in the child 
16.17 	welfare system;
16.18 	(4) develop and implement a system for conducting case reviews when the commissioner 
16.19 	receives reports of noncompliance with the Minnesota African American Family Preservation 
16.20 	and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act or when requested by the parent or custodian of 
16.21 	an African American child. Case reviews may include but are not limited to a review of 
16.22 	placement prevention efforts, safety planning, case planning and service provision by the 
16.23 	responsible social services agency, relative placement consideration, and permanency 
16.24 	planning;
16.25 	(5) establish and administer a request for proposals process for African American and 
16.26 	disproportionately represented family preservation grants under section 260.693, monitor 
16.27 	grant activities, and provide technical assistance to grantees;
16.28 	(6) in coordination with the African American Child Well-Being Advisory Council, 
16.29 	coordinate services and create internal and external partnerships to support adequate access 
16.30 	to services and resources for African American children and their families, including but 
16.31 	not limited to housing assistance, employment assistance, food and nutrition support, health 
16.32 	care, child care assistance, and educational support and training; and
17.1 	(7) develop public messaging and communication to inform the public about racial 
17.2 	disparities in child welfare outcomes, current efforts and strategies to reduce racial disparities, 
17.3 	and resources available to African American children and their families involved in the 
17.4 	child welfare system.
17.5 		Subd. 2.Case reviews. (a) The African American Child Well-Being Unit must conduct 
17.6 	systemic case reviews to monitor targeted child welfare outcomes, including but not limited 
17.7 	to maltreatment, out-of-home placement, and permanency of African American children.
17.8 	(b) The reviews under this subdivision must be conducted using a random sampling of 
17.9 	representative child welfare cases stratified for certain case related factors, including but 
17.10 	not limited to case type, maltreatment type, if the case involves out-of-home placement, 
17.11 	and other demographic variables. In conducting the reviews, unit staff may use court records 
17.12 	and documents, information from the social services information system, and other available 
17.13 	case file information to complete the case reviews.
17.14 	(c) The frequency of the reviews and the number of cases, child welfare outcomes, and 
17.15 	selected counties reviewed shall be determined by the unit in consultation with the African 
17.16 	American Child Well-Being Advisory Council, with consideration given to the availability 
17.17 	of unit resources needed to conduct the reviews.
17.18 	(d) The unit must monitor all case reviews and use the collective case review information 
17.19 	and data to generate summary case review reports, ensure compliance with the Minnesota 
17.20 	African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act, and 
17.21 	identify trends or patterns in child welfare outcomes for African American children.
17.22 	(e) The unit must review information from members of the public received through the 
17.23 	compliance and feedback portal, including policy and practice concerns related to individual 
17.24 	child welfare cases. After assessing a case concern, the unit may determine if further 
17.25 	necessary action should be taken, which may include coordinating case remediation with 
17.26 	other relevant child welfare agencies in accordance with data privacy laws, including the 
17.27 	African American Child Well-Being Advisory Council, and offering case consultation and 
17.28 	technical assistance to the responsible local social services agency as needed or requested 
17.29 	by the agency.
17.30 		Subd. 3.Reports. (a) The African American Child Well-Being Unit must provide regular 
17.31 	updates on unit activities, including summary reports of case reviews, to the African 
17.32 	American Child Well-Being Advisory Council, and must publish an annual census of African 
17.33 	American children in out-of-home placements statewide. The annual census must include 
18.1 	data on the types of placements, age and sex of the children, how long the children have 
18.2 	been in out-of-home placements, and other relevant demographic information.
18.3 	(b) The African American Child Well-Being Unit shall gather summary data about the 
18.4 	practice and policy inquiries and individual case concerns received through the compliance 
18.5 	and feedback portal under subdivision 2, paragraph (e). The unit shall provide regular reports 
18.6 	of the nonidentifying compliance and feedback portal summary data to the African American 
18.7 	Child Well-Being Advisory Council to identify child welfare trends and patterns to assist 
18.8 	with developing policy and practice recommendations to support eliminating disparity and 
18.9 	disproportionality for African American children.

18.10 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2024.

18.11 	Sec. 13. [260.693] AFRICAN AMERICAN AND DISPROPORTIONATELY 
18.12 	REPRESENTED FAMILY PRESERVATION GRANTS.
18.13 		Subdivision 1.Primary support grants. The commissioner shall establish direct grants 
18.14 	to organizations, service providers, and programs owned and led by African Americans and 
18.15 	other individuals from communities disproportionately represented in the child welfare 
18.16 	system to provide services and support for African American and disproportionately 
18.17 	represented children and their families involved in Minnesota's child welfare system, 
18.18 	including supporting existing eligible services and facilitating the development of new 
18.19 	services and providers, to create a more expansive network of service providers available 
18.20 	for African American and disproportionately represented children and their families.
18.21 		Subd. 2.Eligible services. (a) Services eligible for grants under this section include but 
18.22 	are not limited to:
18.23 	(1) child out-of-home placement prevention and reunification services;
18.24 	(2) family-based services and reunification therapy;
18.25 	(3) culturally specific individual and family counseling;
18.26 	(4) court advocacy;
18.27 	(5) training for and consultation to responsible social services agencies and private social 
18.28 	services agencies regarding this act;
18.29 	(6) development and promotion of culturally informed, affirming, and responsive 
18.30 	community-based prevention and family preservation services that target the children, youth, 
18.31 	families, and communities of African American and African heritage experiencing the 
19.1 	highest disparities, disproportionality, and overrepresentation in the Minnesota child welfare 
19.2 	system;
19.3 	(7) culturally affirming and responsive services that work with children and families in 
19.4 	their communities to address their needs and ensure child and family safety and well-being 
19.5 	within a culturally appropriate lens and framework;
19.6 	(8) services to support informal kinship care arrangements; and
19.7 	(9) other activities and services approved by the commissioner that further the goals of 
19.8 	the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality 
19.9 	Act, including but not limited to the recruitment of African American staff and staff from 
19.10 	other communities disproportionately represented in the child welfare system to work for 
19.11 	responsible social services agencies and licensed child-placing agencies.
19.12 	(b) The commissioner may specify the priority of an activity and service based on its 
19.13 	success in furthering these goals. The commissioner shall give preference to programs and 
19.14 	service providers that are located in or serve counties with the highest rates of child welfare 
19.15 	disproportionality for African American and other disproportionately represented children 
19.16 	and their families and employ staff who represent the population primarily served.
19.17 		Subd. 3.Ineligible services. Grant money may not be used to supplant funding for 
19.18 	existing services or for the following purposes:
19.19 	(1) child day care that is necessary solely because of the employment or training for 
19.20 	employment of a parent or another relative with whom the child is living;
19.21 	(2) foster care maintenance or difficulty of care payments;
19.22 	(3) residential treatment facility payments;
19.23 	(4) adoption assistance or Northstar kinship assistance payments under chapter 259A 
19.24 	or 256N;
19.25 	(5) public assistance payments for Minnesota family investment program assistance, 
19.26 	supplemental aid, medical assistance, general assistance, general assistance medical care, 
19.27 	or community health services; or
19.28 	(6) administrative costs for income maintenance staff.
19.29 		Subd. 4.Requests for proposals. The commissioner shall request proposals for grants 
19.30 	under subdivisions 1, 2, and 3 and specify the information and criteria required.

19.31 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2024.

20.1 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 260C.329, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
20.2 		Subd. 3.Petition. The county attorney or, a parent whose parental rights were terminated 
20.3 	under a previous order of the court, a child who is ten years of age or older, the responsible 
20.4 	social services agency, or a guardian ad litem may file a petition for the reestablishment of 
20.5 	the legal parent and child relationship. A parent filing a petition under this section shall pay 
20.6 	a filing fee in the amount required under section 357.021, subdivision 2, clause (1). The 
20.7 	filing fee may be waived pursuant to chapter 563. A petition for the reestablishment of the 
20.8 	legal parent and child relationship may be filed when:
20.9 	(1) in cases where the county attorney is the petitioning party, both the responsible social 
20.10 	services agency and the county attorney agree that reestablishment of the legal parent and 
20.11 	child relationship is in the child's best interests;
20.12 	(2) (1) the parent has corrected the conditions that led to an order terminating parental 
20.13 	rights;
20.14 	(3) (2) the parent is willing and has the capability to provide day-to-day care and maintain 
20.15 	the health, safety, and welfare of the child;
20.16 	(4) (3) the child has been in foster care for at least 48 24 months after the court issued 
20.17 	the order terminating parental rights;
20.18 	(5) (4) the child has not been adopted; and
20.19 	(6) (5) the child is not the subject of a written adoption placement agreement between 
20.20 	the responsible social services agency and the prospective adoptive parent, as required under 
20.21 	Minnesota Rules, part 9560.0060, subpart 2.

20.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2026, except as provided under 
20.23 	section 20 of this act.

20.24 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 260C.329, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
20.25 		Subd. 8.Hearing. The court may grant the petition ordering the reestablishment of the 
20.26 	legal parent and child relationship only if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that:
20.27 	(1) reestablishment of the legal parent and child relationship is in the child's best interests;
20.28 	(2) the child has not been adopted;
20.29 	(3) the child is not the subject of a written adoption placement agreement between the 
20.30 	responsible social services agency and the prospective adoptive parent, as required under 
20.31 	Minnesota Rules, part 9560.0060, subpart 2;
21.1 	(4) at least 48 24 months have elapsed following a final order terminating parental rights 
21.2 	and the child remains in foster care;
21.3 	(5) the child desires to reside with the parent;
21.4 	(6) the parent has corrected the conditions that led to an order terminating parental rights; 
21.5 	and
21.6 	(7) the parent is willing and has the capability to provide day-to-day care and maintain 
21.7 	the health, safety, and welfare of the child.

21.8 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2026, except as provided under 
21.9 	section 20 of this act.

21.10 	Sec. 16. DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES; 
21.11 	DISAGGREGATE DATA.
 21.12 	The commissioner of human services must establish a process to improve the 
21.13 	disaggregation of data to monitor child welfare outcomes for African American and other 
21.14 	disproportionately represented children in the child welfare system. The commissioner must 
21.15 	begin disaggregating data by January 1, 2027.

21.16 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2026.

21.17 	Sec. 17. CHILD WELFARE COMPLIANCE AND FEEDBACK PORTAL.
 21.18 	The commissioner of human services shall develop, maintain, and administer a publicly 
21.19 	accessible online compliance and feedback portal to receive reports of noncompliance with 
21.20 	the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality 
21.21 	Act under Minnesota Statutes, sections 260.61 to 260.693, and other statutes related to child 
21.22 	maltreatment, safety, and placement. Reports received through the portal must be transferred 
21.23 	for review and further action to the appropriate unit or department within the Department 
21.24 	of Human Services, including but not limited to the African American Child Well-Being 
21.25 	Unit.

21.26 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2026, except as provided under 
21.27 	section 20 of this act.

21.28 	Sec. 18. DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER; MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS 
21.29 	IN FOSTER CARE BEST PRACTICES.
 21.30 	The commissioner of human services shall develop and publish guidance on best practices 
21.31 	for ensuring that African American and disproportionately represented children in foster 
22.1 	care maintain connections and relationships with their parents, custodians, and extended 
22.2 	relatives. The commissioner shall also develop and publish best practice guidance on 
22.3 	engaging and assessing noncustodial and nonadjudicated parents to care for their African 
22.4 	American or disproportionately represented children who cannot remain with the children's 
22.5 	custodial parents.

22.6 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2026, except as provided under 
22.7 	section 20 of this act.

22.8 	Sec. 19. DIRECTION TO THE COMMISSIONER; COMPLIANCE SYSTEM 
22.9 	REVIEW DEVELOPMENT.
 22.10 	(a) By January 1, 2026, the commissioner of human services, in consultation with counties 
22.11 	and the working group established under section 21 of this act, must develop a system to 
22.12 	review county compliance with the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and 
22.13 	Child Welfare Disproportionality Act. The system may include, but is not limited to, the 
22.14 	cases to be reviewed, the criteria to be reviewed to demonstrate compliance, the rate of 
22.15 	noncompliance and the coordinating penalty, the program improvement plan, and training.
22.16 	(b) By January 1, 2026, the commissioner of human services must provide a report to 
22.17 	the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction 
22.18 	over child welfare on the proposed compliance system review process and language to 
22.19 	codify that process in statute.

22.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2024.

22.21 	Sec. 20. MINNESOTA AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY PRESERVATION AND 
22.22 	CHILD WELFARE DISPROPORTIONALITY ACT; PHASE-IN PROGRAMS.
 22.23 	(a) The commissioner of human services must establish a phase-in program that 
22.24 	implements sections 1 to 18 in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties.
22.25 	(b) The commissioner of human services must report on the outcomes of the phase-in 
22.26 	program, including the number of participating families, the rate of children in out-of-home 
22.27 	placement, and the measures taken to prevent out-of-home placement for each participating 
22.28 	family to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with 
22.29 	jurisdiction over child welfare.
22.30 	(c) Sections 1 to 18 are effective July 1, 2024, for purposes of this phase-in program.
22.31 	(d) This section expires July 1, 2027.

23.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2024.

23.2 	Sec. 21. MINNESOTA AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY PRESERVATION AND 
23.3 	CHILD WELFARE DISPROPORTIONALITY ACT; WORKING GROUP.
 23.4 	(a) The commissioner of human services must establish a working group to provide 
23.5 	guidance and oversight for the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child 
23.6 	Welfare Disproportionality Act phase-in programs in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties.
23.7 	(b) The members of the working group must include representatives from the Minnesota 
23.8 	Association of County Social Service Administrators, the Association of Minnesota Counties, 
23.9 	Hennepin County, Ramsey County, the Department of Human Services, and community 
23.10 	organizations with experience in child welfare. The legislature may provide recommendations 
23.11 	to the commissioner on the selection of the representatives from the community organizations.
23.12 	(c) The working group must provide oversight of the phase-in program and evaluate the 
23.13 	cost of the phase-in program. The working group must also assess future costs of 
23.14 	implementing the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare 
23.15 	Disproportionality Act statewide.
23.16 	(d) By June 30, 2026, the working group must develop an implementation plan and best 
23.17 	practices for the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare 
23.18 	Disproportionality Act to go into effect statewide.

23.19 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2024.

23.20 	Sec. 22. APPROPRIATIONS; MINNESOTA AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY 
23.21 	PRESERVATION AND CHILD WELFARE DISPROPORTIONALITY ACT.
 23.22 	(a) $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
23.23 	commissioner of human services for grants to Hennepin and Ramsey Counties to implement 
23.24 	the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality 
23.25 	Act phase-in programs. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2026.
23.26 	(b) $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
23.27 	commissioner of human services for the African American and disproportionately represented 
23.28 	family preservation grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 260.693. 
23.29 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.98, subdivision 14, the amount for 
23.30 	administrative costs under this paragraph is $0.
23.31 	(c) $1,967,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
23.32 	commissioner of human services to implement the African American Family Preservation 
24.1 	and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act. The base for this appropriation is $3,451,000 in 
24.2 	fiscal year 2026 and $3,310,000 in fiscal year 2027.