1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to children and families; modifying relative foster care licensing, training, 
1.3 	and background study requirements; modifying the Minnesota family investment 
1.4 	program; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 
1.5 	142B.01, subdivision 15; 142B.05, subdivision 3; 142B.47; 142B.51, subdivision 
1.6 	2; 142B.80; 142E.01, subdivisions 14, 19; 142G.01, subdivision 8; 142G.40, 
1.7 	subdivision 4; 245C.02, by adding a subdivision; 245C.15, subdivision 4a; 
1.8 	proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 142B.
1.9 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.10 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.01, subdivision 15, is amended to read:
1.11 		Subd. 15.Individual who is related. "Individual who is related" means a spouse, a 
1.12 	parent, a birth or adopted child or stepchild, a stepparent, a stepbrother, a stepsister, a niece, 
1.13 	a nephew, an adoptive parent, a grandparent, a sibling, an aunt, an uncle, or a legal guardian.
1.14 	For purposes of family child foster care, "individual who is related" includes an individual 
1.15 	who is an important individual of the child or of the child's parent or custodian. Important 
1.16 	individual means an individual with whom the child has resided or had significant contact 
1.17 	or who has a significant relationship to the child or the child's parent or custodian.

1.18 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.05, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.19 		Subd. 3.Foster care by an individual who is related to a child; license required. (a) 
1.20 	Notwithstanding subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (1), in order to provide foster care for 
1.21 	a child, an individual who is related to the child, other than a parent, or legal guardian, must 
1.22 	be licensed by the commissioner except as provided by section 142B.06.
1.23 	(b) An individual who is related to the child may seek foster care licensure through the 
1.24 	county agency or a private agency in the community designated or licensed by the 
2.1 	commissioner. The county agency must provide information to all potential relative foster 
2.2 	care providers about this choice, including information about available private agencies for 
2.3 	foster care licensure.
2.4 	(c) The commissioner must develop materials for the county agency to distribute at 
2.5 	regular intervals to all potential relative foster care providers and licensed relative foster 
2.6 	care providers, advising such providers on:
2.7 	(1) access to legal services and support;
2.8 	(2) choice in licensing under paragraph (b);
2.9 	(3) choice in ongoing case support;
2.10 	(4) how to access respite care and strategies for leveraging natural supports for the child 
2.11 	and family; and
2.12 	(5) ways to include resource or substitute caregivers in the child's case plan.
2.13 	(d) If an individual who is related to a child is seeking licensure to provide foster care 
2.14 	for the child and the individual has a domestic partner but is not married to the domestic 
2.15 	partner, only the individual related to the child must be licensed to provide foster care. The 
2.16 	commissioner must conduct background studies on household members according to section 
2.17 	245C.03, subdivision 1.

2.18 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.47, is amended to read:
2.19 	142B.47 TRAINING ON RISK OF SUDDEN UNEXPECTED INFANT DEATH 
2.20 	AND ABUSIVE HEAD TRAUMA FOR CHILD FOSTER CARE PROVIDERS.
2.21 	(a) Licensed child foster care providers, except individuals related to the child, that care 
2.22 	for infants or children through five years of age must document that before caregivers assist 
2.23 	in the care of infants or children through five years of age, they the caregivers are instructed 
2.24 	on the standards in section 142B.46 and receive training on reducing the risk of sudden 
2.25 	unexpected infant death and abusive head trauma from shaking infants and young children.
2.26 	Licensed child foster care providers who are related to the child must document completion 
2.27 	of the training required under this section within 30 days after licensure. This section does 
2.28 	not apply to emergency relative placement under section 142B.06. The training on reducing 
2.29 	the risk of sudden unexpected infant death and abusive head trauma may be provided as:
2.30 	(1) orientation training to child foster care providers who care for infants or children 
2.31 	through five years of age under Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070, subpart 1; or
3.1 	(2) in-service training to child foster care providers who care for infants or children 
3.2 	through five years of age under Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070, subpart 2.
3.3 	(b) Training required under this section must be at least one hour in length and must be 
3.4 	completed at least once every five years. At a minimum, the training must address the risk 
3.5 	factors related to sudden unexpected infant death and abusive head trauma, means of reducing 
3.6 	the risk of sudden unexpected infant death and abusive head trauma, and license holder 
3.7 	communication with parents regarding reducing the risk of sudden unexpected infant death 
3.8 	and abusive head trauma.
3.9 	(c) Training for child foster care providers must be approved by the county or private 
3.10 	licensing agency that is responsible for monitoring the child foster care provider under 
3.11 	section 142B.30. The approved training fulfills, in part, training required under Minnesota 
3.12 	Rules, part 2960.3070.

3.13 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.51, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
3.14 		Subd. 2.Child passenger restraint systems; training requirement. (a) Programs 
3.15 	licensed by the Department of Human Services under chapter 245A or the Department of 
3.16 	Children, Youth, and Families under this chapter and Minnesota Rules, chapter 2960, that 
3.17 	serve a child or children under eight years of age must document training that fulfills the 
3.18 	requirements in this subdivision.
3.19 	(b) Before a license holder, staff person, or caregiver transports a child or children under 
3.20 	age eight in a motor vehicle, the person transporting the child must satisfactorily complete 
3.21 	training on the proper use and installation of child restraint systems in motor vehicles. 
3.22 	Training completed under this section may be used to meet initial or ongoing training under 
3.23 	Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070, subparts 1 and 2.
3.24 	(c) Training required under this section must be completed at orientation or initial training 
3.25 	and repeated at least once every five years. At a minimum, the training must address the 
3.26 	proper use of child restraint systems based on the child's size, weight, and age, and the 
3.27 	proper installation of a car seat or booster seat in the motor vehicle used by the license 
3.28 	holder to transport the child or children.
3.29 	(d) Training under paragraph (c) must be provided by individuals who are certified and 
3.30 	approved by the Office of Traffic Safety within the Department of Public Safety. License 
3.31 	holders may obtain a list of certified and approved trainers through the Department of Public 
3.32 	Safety website or by contacting the agency.
4.1 	(e) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), for an emergency relative placement under section 
4.2 	142B.06, the commissioner may grant a variance to the training required by this subdivision 
4.3 	for a relative who completes a child seat safety check up. The child seat safety check up 
4.4 	trainer must be approved by the Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety, and 
4.5 	must provide one-on-one instruction on placing a child of a specific age in the exact child 
4.6 	passenger restraint in the motor vehicle in which the child will be transported. Once granted 
4.7 	a variance, and if all other licensing requirements are met, the relative applicant may receive 
4.8 	a license and may transport a relative foster child younger than eight years of age. A child 
4.9 	seat safety check up must be completed each time a child requires a different size car seat 
4.10 	according to car seat and vehicle manufacturer guidelines. A relative license holder must 
4.11 	complete training that meets the other requirements of this subdivision prior to placement 
4.12 	of another foster child younger than eight years of age in the home or prior to the renewal 
4.13 	of the child foster care license.
4.14 	(f) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), a child foster care license holder who is an individual 
4.15 	related to the child must document completion of the training required under this section 
4.16 	within 30 days after licensure.

4.17 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.80, is amended to read:
4.18 	142B.80 CHILD FOSTER CARE TRAINING REQUIREMENT; MENTAL 
4.19 	HEALTH TRAINING; FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS TRAINING.
4.20 	Prior to a nonemergency placement of a child in a foster care home, the child foster care 
4.21 	license holder and caregivers in foster family and treatment foster care settings must complete 
4.22 	two hours of training that addresses the causes, symptoms, and key warning signs of mental 
4.23 	health disorders; cultural considerations; and effective approaches for dealing with a child's 
4.24 	behaviors. At least one hour of the annual training requirement for the foster family license 
4.25 	holder and caregivers must be on children's mental health issues and treatment. Except for 
4.26 	providers and services under chapter 245D and child foster care license holders who are 
4.27 	individuals related to the child, the annual training must also include at least one hour of 
4.28 	training on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which must be counted toward the 12 hours 
4.29 	of required in-service training per year. Short-term substitute caregivers are exempt from 
4.30 	these requirements. Training curriculum shall be approved by the commissioner of children, 
4.31 	youth, and families.

5.1 	Sec. 6. [142B.81] CHILD FOSTER CARE TRAINING; RELATIVE CAREGIVERS.
5.2 	Notwithstanding the required hours under Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070, subpart 2, 
5.3 	a child foster care license holder who is an individual related to the child must complete a 
5.4 	minimum of six hours of in-service training per year in one or more of the areas in Minnesota 
5.5 	Rules, part 2960.3070, subpart 2, or in other areas as agreed upon by the licensing agency 
5.6 	and the foster parent. The relative child foster care license holder must consult with the 
5.7 	licensing agency and complete training in areas that are most applicable to caring for the 
5.8 	relative children in foster care in the home.

5.9 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142E.01, subdivision 14, is amended to read:
5.10 		Subd. 14.Family. "Family" means parents; stepparents; guardians and their spouses; 
5.11 	other eligible relative caregivers and their spouses; relative custodians who accepted a 
5.12 	transfer of permanent legal and physical custody of a child under section 260C.515, 
5.13 	subdivision 4, or similar permanency disposition in Tribal code, and their spouses; successor 
5.14 	custodians or guardians as established by section 142A.605, subdivision 10, and their 
5.15 	spouses; foster parents providing care to a child placed in a family foster home under section 
5.16 	260C.007, subdivision 16b, and their spouses; relative caregivers, as defined under section 
5.17 	260C.007, subdivision 27, and their spouses residing in the same household; and the 
5.18 	blood-related dependent children and adoptive siblings under the age of 18 years living in 
5.19 	the same home as any of the above. Family includes children temporarily absent from the 
5.20 	household in settings such as schools, foster care, and residential treatment facilities and 
5.21 	adults temporarily absent from the household in settings such as schools, military service, 
5.22 	or rehabilitation programs. An adult family member who is not in an authorized activity 
5.23 	under this chapter may be temporarily absent for up to 60 days. When a minor parent or 
5.24 	parents and his, her, or their child or children are living with other relatives, and the minor 
5.25 	parent or parents apply for a child care subsidy, "family" means only the minor parent or 
5.26 	parents and their child or children. An adult age 18 or older who meets this definition of 
5.27 	family and is a full-time high school or postsecondary student may be considered a dependent 
5.28 	member of the family unit if 50 percent or more of the adult's support is provided by the 
5.29 	parents; stepparents; guardians and their spouses; relative custodians who accepted a transfer 
5.30 	of permanent legal and physical custody of a child under section 260C.515, subdivision 4, 
5.31 	or similar permanency disposition in Tribal code, and their spouses; successor custodians 
5.32 	or guardians as established by section 142A.605, subdivision 10, and their spouses; foster 
5.33 	parents providing care to a child placed in a family foster home under section 260C.007, 
5.34 	subdivision 16b, and their spouses; or eligible relative caregivers and their spouses residing 
5.35 	in the same household.

6.1 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142E.01, subdivision 19, is amended to read:
6.2 		Subd. 19.Legal nonlicensed child care provider. "Legal nonlicensed child care 
6.3 	provider" means: (1) a child care provider who is excluded from licensing requirements 
6.4 	under section 142B.05, subdivision 2; or (2) a child care provider authorized to provide 
6.5 	care in a child's home under section 142E.10, subdivision 14, provided the provider only 
6.6 	cares for related children, children from a single, unrelated family, or both related children 
6.7 	and children from a single, unrelated family; or (3) a relative caregiver as defined under 
6.8 	section 260C.007, subdivision 27, who is not the child's parent, stepparent, or guardian.

6.9 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142G.01, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
6.10 		Subd. 8.Child-only TANF program. Children who receive assistance under this chapter, 
6.11 	in which the assistance unit does not include a caregiver, but only includes a minor child, 
6.12 	shall become part of the program established under this chapter. A child receiving assistance 
6.13 	under this subdivision may live with a relative caregiver who does not have guardianship 
6.14 	or custody of the child. For purposes of this subdivision, "relative" has the meaning given 
6.15 	in section 260C.007, subdivision 27.

6.16 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142G.40, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
6.17 		Subd. 4.Exemption for certain families. (a) Any cash assistance received by an 
6.18 	assistance unit does not count toward the 60-month limit on assistance during a month in 
6.19 	which the caregiver is age 60 or older.
6.20 	(b) From July 1, 1997, until the date MFIP is operative in the caregiver's county of 
6.21 	financial responsibility, any cash assistance received by a caregiver who is complying with 
6.22 	Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 256.73, subdivision 5a, and Minnesota Statutes 1998, 
6.23 	section 256.736, if applicable, does not count toward the 60-month limit on assistance. 
6.24 	Thereafter, any cash assistance received by a minor caregiver who is complying with the 
6.25 	requirements of sections 142G.14 and 142G.57, if applicable, does not count towards toward
6.26 	the 60-month limit on assistance.
6.27 	(c) Any diversionary assistance or emergency assistance received prior to July 1, 2003, 
6.28 	does not count toward the 60-month limit.
6.29 	(d) Any cash assistance received by an 18- or 19-year-old caregiver who is complying 
6.30 	with an employment plan that includes an education option under section 142G.57 does not 
6.31 	count toward the 60-month limit.
7.1 	(e) Payments provided to meet short-term emergency needs under section 142G.76 do 
7.2 	not count toward the 60-month time limit.
7.3 	(f) Any cash assistance received by an assistance unit does not count toward the 60-month 
7.4 	limit on assistance during a month in which the caregiver is a relative caregiver. For purposes 
7.5 	of this subdivision, "relative" has the meaning given in section 260C.007, subdivision 27.

7.6 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 245C.02, is amended by adding a subdivision 
7.7 	to read:
7.8 		Subd. 16b.Relative. "Relative" has the meaning given in section 260C.007, subdivision 
7.9 	27. For purposes of background studies affiliated with child foster care licensure, a person 
7.10 	is a relative if the person was known to the child or the child's parent before the child is 
7.11 	placed in foster care.

7.12 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 245C.15, subdivision 4a, is amended to read:
7.13 		Subd. 4a.Licensed family foster setting disqualifications. (a) Notwithstanding 
7.14 	subdivisions 1 to 4, for a background study affiliated with a licensed family foster setting, 
7.15 	regardless of how much time has passed, an individual is disqualified under section 245C.14 
7.16 	if the individual committed an act that resulted in a felony-level conviction for sections: 
7.17 	609.185 (murder in the first degree); 609.19 (murder in the second degree); 609.195 (murder 
7.18 	in the third degree); 609.20 (manslaughter in the first degree); 609.205 (manslaughter in 
7.19 	the second degree); 609.2112 (criminal vehicular homicide); 609.221 (assault in the first 
7.20 	degree);609.223, subdivision 2 (assault in the third degree, past pattern of child abuse); 
7.21 	609.223, subdivision 3 (assault in the third degree, victim under four); a felony offense 
7.22 	under sections 609.2242 and 609.2243 (domestic assault, spousal abuse, child abuse or 
7.23 	neglect, or a crime against children); 609.2247 (domestic assault by strangulation); 609.2325 
7.24 	(criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult resulting in the death of a vulnerable adult); 609.245 
7.25 	(aggravated robbery); 609.247, subdivision 2 or 3 (carjacking in the first or second degree); 
7.26 	609.25 (kidnapping); 609.255 (false imprisonment); 609.2661 (murder of an unborn child 
7.27 	in the first degree); 609.2662 (murder of an unborn child in the second degree); 609.2663 
7.28 	(murder of an unborn child in the third degree); 609.2664 (manslaughter of an unborn child 
7.29 	in the first degree); 609.2665 (manslaughter of an unborn child in the second degree); 
7.30 	609.267 (assault of an unborn child in the first degree); 609.2671 (assault of an unborn child 
7.31 	in the second degree); 609.268 (injury or death of an unborn child in the commission of a 
7.32 	crime); 609.322, subdivision 1 (solicitation, inducement, and promotion of prostitution; sex 
7.33 	trafficking in the first degree); 609.324, subdivision 1 (other prohibited acts; engaging in, 
8.1 	hiring, or agreeing to hire minor to engage in prostitution); 609.342 (criminal sexual conduct 
8.2 	in the first degree); 609.343 (criminal sexual conduct in the second degree); 609.344 (criminal 
8.3 	sexual conduct in the third degree); 609.345 (criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree); 
8.4 	609.3451 (criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree); 609.3453 (criminal sexual predatory 
8.5 	conduct); 609.3458 (sexual extortion); 609.352 (solicitation of children to engage in sexual 
8.6 	conduct); 609.377 (malicious punishment of a child); 609.378 (neglect or endangerment of 
8.7 	a child); 609.561 (arson in the first degree); 609.582, subdivision 1 (burglary in the first 
8.8 	degree); 609.746 (interference with privacy); 617.23 (indecent exposure); 617.246 (use of 
8.9 	minors in sexual performance prohibited); or 617.247 (possession of pictorial representations 
8.10 	of minors).
8.11 	(b) Notwithstanding subdivisions 1 to 4, for the purposes of a background study affiliated 
8.12 	with a licensed family foster setting, an individual is disqualified under section 245C.14, 
8.13 	regardless of how much time has passed, if the individual:
8.14 	(1) committed an action under paragraph (e) that resulted in death or involved sexual 
8.15 	abuse, as defined in section 260E.03, subdivision 20;
8.16 	(2) committed an act that resulted in a gross misdemeanor-level conviction for section 
8.17 	609.3451 (criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree);
8.18 	(3) committed an act against or involving a minor that resulted in a felony-level conviction 
8.19 	for: section 609.222 (assault in the second degree); 609.223, subdivision 1 (assault in the 
8.20 	third degree); 609.2231 (assault in the fourth degree); or 609.224 (assault in the fifth degree); 
8.21 	or
8.22 	(4) committed an act that resulted in a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor-level 
8.23 	conviction for section 617.293 (dissemination and display of harmful materials to minors).
8.24 	(c) Notwithstanding subdivisions 1 to 4, for a background study affiliated with a licensed 
8.25 	family foster setting,:
8.26 	(1) an individual is disqualified under section 245C.14 if fewer than 20 years have passed 
8.27 	since the termination of the individual's parental rights under section 260C.301, subdivision 
8.28 	1, paragraph (b), or if the individual consented to a termination of parental rights under 
8.29 	section 260C.301, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), to settle a petition to involuntarily terminate 
8.30 	parental rights. An individual is disqualified under section 245C.14 if fewer than 20 years 
8.31 	have passed since the termination of the individual's parental rights in any other state or 
8.32 	country, where the conditions for the individual's termination of parental rights are 
8.33 	substantially similar to the conditions in section 260C.301, subdivision 1, paragraph (b); or
9.1 	(2) when an individual is a relative of the child in foster care, an individual is disqualified 
9.2 	under section 245C.14 if fewer than seven years have passed since the termination of the 
9.3 	individual's parental rights under section 260C.301, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), or if the 
9.4 	individual consented to a termination of parental rights under section 260C.301, subdivision 
9.5 	1, paragraph (a), to settle a petition to involuntarily terminate parental rights. An individual 
9.6 	is disqualified under section 245C.14 if fewer than seven years have passed since the 
9.7 	termination of the individual's parental rights in any other state or country, where the 
9.8 	conditions for the individual's termination of parental rights are substantially similar to the 
9.9 	conditions in section 260C.301, subdivision 1, paragraph (b).
9.10 	(d) Notwithstanding subdivisions 1 to 4, for a background study affiliated with a licensed 
9.11 	family foster setting, an individual is disqualified under section 245C.14 if fewer than five 
9.12 	years have passed since a felony-level violation for sections: 152.021 (controlled substance 
9.13 	crime in the first degree); 152.022 (controlled substance crime in the second degree); 152.023 
9.14 	(controlled substance crime in the third degree); 152.024 (controlled substance crime in the 
9.15 	fourth degree); 152.025 (controlled substance crime in the fifth degree); 152.0261 (importing 
9.16 	controlled substances across state borders); 152.0262, subdivision 1, paragraph (b) 
9.17 	(possession of substance with intent to manufacture methamphetamine); 152.027, subdivision 
9.18 	6, paragraph (c) (sale or possession of synthetic cannabinoids); 152.096 (conspiracies 
9.19 	prohibited); 152.097 (simulated controlled substances); 152.136 (anhydrous ammonia; 
9.20 	prohibited conduct; criminal penalties; civil liabilities); 152.137 (methamphetamine-related 
9.21 	crimes involving children or vulnerable adults); 169A.24 (felony first-degree driving while 
9.22 	impaired); 243.166 (violation of predatory offender registration requirements); 609.2113 
9.23 	(criminal vehicular operation; bodily harm); 609.2114 (criminal vehicular operation; unborn 
9.24 	child); 609.221 (assault in the first degree); 609.228 (great bodily harm caused by distribution 
9.25 	of drugs); 609.2325 (criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult not resulting in the death of a 
9.26 	vulnerable adult); 609.233 (criminal neglect); 609.235 (use of drugs to injure or facilitate 
9.27 	a crime); 609.24 (simple robbery); 609.247, subdivision 4 (carjacking in the third degree); 
9.28 	609.322, subdivision 1a (solicitation, inducement, and promotion of prostitution; sex 
9.29 	trafficking in the second degree); 609.498, subdivision 1 (tampering with a witness in the 
9.30 	first degree); 609.498, subdivision 1b (aggravated first-degree witness tampering); 609.562 
9.31 	(arson in the second degree); 609.563 (arson in the third degree); 609.582, subdivision 2 
9.32 	(burglary in the second degree); 609.66 (felony dangerous weapons); 609.687 (adulteration); 
9.33 	609.713 (terroristic threats); 609.749, subdivision 3, 4, or 5 (felony-level harassment or 
9.34 	stalking); 609.855, subdivision 5 (shooting at or in a public transit vehicle or facility); or 
9.35 	624.713 (certain people not to possess firearms).
10.1 	(e) Notwithstanding subdivisions 1 to 4, except as provided in paragraph (a), for a 
10.2 	background study affiliated with a licensed family child foster care license, an individual 
10.3 	is disqualified under section 245C.14 if fewer than five years have passed since:
10.4 	(1) a felony-level violation for an act not against or involving a minor that constitutes: 
10.5 	section 609.222 (assault in the second degree); 609.223, subdivision 1 (assault in the third 
10.6 	degree); 609.2231 (assault in the fourth degree); or 609.224, subdivision 4 (assault in the 
10.7 	fifth degree);
10.8 	(2) a violation of an order for protection under section 518B.01, subdivision 14;
10.9 	(3) a determination or disposition of the individual's failure to make required reports 
10.10 	under section 260E.06 or 626.557, subdivision 3, for incidents in which the final disposition 
10.11 	under chapter 260E or section 626.557 was substantiated maltreatment and the maltreatment 
10.12 	was recurring or serious;
10.13 	(4) a determination or disposition of the individual's substantiated serious or recurring 
10.14 	maltreatment of a minor under chapter 260E, a vulnerable adult under section 626.557, or 
10.15 	serious or recurring maltreatment in any other state, the elements of which are substantially 
10.16 	similar to the elements of maltreatment under chapter 260E or section 626.557 and meet 
10.17 	the definition of serious maltreatment or recurring maltreatment;
10.18 	(5) a gross misdemeanor-level violation for sections: 609.224, subdivision 2 (assault in 
10.19 	the fifth degree); 609.2242 and 609.2243 (domestic assault); 609.233 (criminal neglect); 
10.20 	609.377 (malicious punishment of a child); 609.378 (neglect or endangerment of a child); 
10.21 	609.746 (interference with privacy); 609.749 (stalking); or 617.23 (indecent exposure); or
10.22 	(6) committing an act against or involving a minor that resulted in a misdemeanor-level 
10.23 	violation of section 609.224, subdivision 1 (assault in the fifth degree).
10.24 	(f) For purposes of this subdivision, the disqualification begins from:
10.25 	(1) the date of the alleged violation, if the individual was not convicted;
10.26 	(2) the date of conviction, if the individual was convicted of the violation but not 
10.27 	committed to the custody of the commissioner of corrections; or
10.28 	(3) the date of release from prison, if the individual was convicted of the violation and 
10.29 	committed to the custody of the commissioner of corrections.
10.30 	Notwithstanding clause (3), if the individual is subsequently reincarcerated for a violation 
10.31 	of the individual's supervised release, the disqualification begins from the date of release 
10.32 	from the subsequent incarceration.
11.1 	(g) Notwithstanding paragraph (f), for purposes of paragraph (d), the disqualification 
11.2 	begins from the date of the alleged violation when the individual is a relative of the child 
11.3 	in foster care.
11.4 	(h) An individual's aiding and abetting, attempt, or conspiracy to commit any of the 
11.5 	offenses listed in paragraphs (a) and (b), as each of these offenses is defined in Minnesota 
11.6 	Statutes, permanently disqualifies the individual under section 245C.14. An individual is 
11.7 	disqualified under section 245C.14 if fewer than five years have passed since the individual's 
11.8 	aiding and abetting, attempt, or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses listed in paragraphs 
11.9 	(d) and (e).
11.10 	(h) (i) An individual's offense in any other state or country, where the elements of the 
11.11 	offense are substantially similar to any of the offenses listed in paragraphs (a) and (b), 
11.12 	permanently disqualifies the individual under section 245C.14. An individual is disqualified 
11.13 	under section 245C.14 if fewer than five years have passed since an offense in any other 
11.14 	state or country, the elements of which are substantially similar to the elements of any 
11.15 	offense listed in paragraphs (d) and (e).

11.16 	Sec. 13. DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND 
11.17 	FAMILIES.
 11.18 	The commissioner of children, youth, and families must make all written communications 
11.19 	and materials for individuals who are related to a child, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, 
11.20 	section 142B.01, subdivision 15, and who are providing or seeking to provide foster care, 
11.21 	available in the 20 most common languages spoken in Minnesota. The commissioner must 
11.22 	also make the communications and materials available in American Sign Language and 
11.23 	accessible to relative foster care providers with disabilities.

11.24 	Sec. 14. DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND 
11.25 	FAMILIES; CONDENSED CHILD FOSTER CARE LICENSING GUIDELINES.
 11.26 	By December 15, 2025, the commissioner of children, youth, and families must create 
11.27 	a condensed version of the child foster care licensing guidelines published by the 
11.28 	commissioner of human services in December 2023 for individuals providing foster care 
11.29 	for a relative child and for the purpose of kinship foster care providers to achieve licensure 
11.30 	as quickly as possible. The commissioner must consult with stakeholders to remove or 
11.31 	significantly condense portions of the guidelines for home studies and interviews that do 
11.32 	not apply to relative foster caregivers and any other guidelines that are unnecessary or 
11.33 	duplicative when licensing relative foster caregivers.

12.1 	Sec. 15. APPROPRIATION; SUPPORTING RELATIVE CAREGIVER GRANTS.
 12.2 	$....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the general 
12.3 	fund to the commissioner of children, youth, and families for the supporting relative caregiver 
12.4 	grant program established in Laws 2024, chapter 115, article 12, section 33.

12.5 	Sec. 16. APPROPRIATION; COUNTY GRANTS FOR FINGERPRINTING 
12.6 	DEVICES.
 12.7 	$....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
12.8 	human services for grants to community licensing partners and to county and Tribal social 
12.9 	services agencies to purchase at-home or mobile fingerprinting devices, for purposes of 
12.10 	expediting background studies under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245C. Fingerprinting 
12.11 	devices purchased with grant funds must be approved by the commissioner of human services 
12.12 	for submitting fingerprints to the existing background study system. This is a onetime 
12.13 	appropriation.