1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; requiring reporting to licensing boards; establishing the 
1.3 	criminal offense of grooming;amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 
1.4 	122A.20, subdivisions 1, 2; 260E.15; 260E.28, subdivision 1; 609.352, subdivisions 
1.5 	1, 4, by adding subdivisions; Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, sections 
1.6 	260E.065, by adding a subdivision; 260E.20, subdivision 1.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.20, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.9 		Subdivision 1.Grounds for revocation, suspension, or denial. (a) The Professional 
1.10 	Educator Licensing and Standards Board or Board of School Administrators, whichever 
1.11 	has jurisdiction over a teacher's licensure, may, on the written complaint of the school board 
1.12 	employing a teacher, a teacher organization, or any other interested person, refuse to issue, 
1.13 	refuse to renew, suspend, or revoke a teacher's license to teach for any of the following 
1.14 	causes:
1.15 	(1) immoral character or conduct;
1.16 	(2) failure, without justifiable cause, to teach for the term of the teacher's contract;
1.17 	(3) gross inefficiency or willful neglect of duty;
1.18 	(4) failure to meet licensure requirements; or
1.19 	(5) fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining a license.
1.20 	The written complaint must specify the nature and character of the charges.
1.21 	(b) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board or Board of School 
1.22 	Administrators, whichever has jurisdiction over a teacher's licensure, shall refuse to issue, 
2.1 	refuse to renew, or automatically revoke a teacher's license to teach without the right to a 
2.2 	hearing upon receiving a certified copy of a conviction showing that the teacher has been 
2.3 	convicted of child abuse, as defined in section 609.185, sex trafficking in the first degree 
2.4 	under section 609.322, subdivision 1, sex trafficking in the second degree under section 
2.5 	609.322, subdivision 1a, engaging in hiring, or agreeing to hire a minor to engage in 
2.6 	prostitution under section 609.324, subdivision 1, sexual abuse under section 609.342, 
2.7 	609.343, 609.344, 609.345, 609.3451, subdivision 3, or 617.23, subdivision 3, solicitation 
2.8 	of children to engage in sexual conduct or communication of sexually explicit materials to 
2.9 	children, or grooming under section 609.352, interference with privacy under section 609.746
2.10 	or harassment or stalking under section 609.749 and the victim was a minor, using minors 
2.11 	in a sexual performance under section 617.246, possessing pornographic works involving 
2.12 	a minor under section 617.247, or any other offense not listed in this paragraph that requires 
2.13 	the person to register as a predatory offender under section 243.166, or a crime under a 
2.14 	similar law of another state or the United States. The board shall send notice of this licensing 
2.15 	action to the district in which the teacher is currently employed.
2.16 	(c) A person whose license to teach has been revoked, not issued, or not renewed under 
2.17 	paragraph (b), may petition the board to reconsider the licensing action if the person's 
2.18 	conviction for child abuse or sexual abuse is reversed by a final decision of the court of 
2.19 	appeals or the supreme court or if the person has received a pardon for the offense. The 
2.20 	petitioner shall attach a certified copy of the appellate court's final decision or the pardon 
2.21 	to the petition. Upon receiving the petition and its attachment, the board shall schedule and 
2.22 	hold a disciplinary hearing on the matter under section 214.10, subdivision 2, unless the 
2.23 	petitioner waives the right to a hearing. If the board finds that, notwithstanding the reversal 
2.24 	of the petitioner's criminal conviction or the issuance of a pardon, the petitioner is disqualified 
2.25 	from teaching under paragraph (a), clause (1), the board shall affirm its previous licensing 
2.26 	action. If the board finds that the petitioner is not disqualified from teaching under paragraph 
2.27 	(a), clause (1), it shall reverse its previous licensing action.
2.28 	(d) For purposes of this subdivision, the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards 
2.29 	Board is delegated the authority to suspend or revoke coaching licenses.

2.30 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.20, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.31 		Subd. 2.Mandatory reporting. (a) A school board, superintendent, charter school 
2.32 	board, charter school executive director, or charter school authorizer must report to the 
2.33 	Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, the Board of School Administrators, 
2.34 	or the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, whichever has 
3.1 	jurisdiction over the teacher's or administrator's license, when its teacher or administrator 
3.2 	is discharged or resigns from employment after a charge is filed with the school board under 
3.3 	section 122A.41, subdivisions 6, paragraph (a), clauses (1), (2), and (3), and 7, or after 
3.4 	charges are filed that are grounds for discharge under section 122A.40, subdivision 13, 
3.5 	paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (5), or when a teacher or administrator is suspended or resigns 
3.6 	while an investigation is pending under section 122A.40, subdivision 13, paragraph (a), 
3.7 	clauses (1) to (5), or chapter 260E; or 122A.41, subdivisions 6, clauses (1), (2), and (3), 
3.8 	and 7; or when a teacher or administrator is suspended without an investigation under section 
3.9 	122A.41, subdivisions 6, paragraph (a), clauses (1), (2), and (3), and 7, or chapter 260E. 
3.10 	The report must be made to the appropriate licensing board within ten days after the 
3.11 	discharge, suspension, or resignation has occurred. The licensing board to which the report 
3.12 	is made must investigate the report for violation of subdivision 1 and the reporting board, 
3.13 	administrator, or authorizer must cooperate in the investigation. Notwithstanding any 
3.14 	provision in chapter 13 or any law to the contrary, upon written request from the licensing 
3.15 	board having jurisdiction over the license, a board, charter school, authorizer, charter school 
3.16 	executive director, or school superintendent shall provide the licensing board with information 
3.17 	about the teacher or administrator from the district's files, any termination or disciplinary 
3.18 	proceeding, any settlement or compromise, or any investigative file. Upon written request 
3.19 	from the appropriate licensing board, a board or school superintendent may, at the discretion 
3.20 	of the board or school superintendent, solicit the written consent of a student and the student's 
3.21 	parent to provide the licensing board with information that may aid the licensing board in 
3.22 	its investigation and license proceedings. The licensing board's request need not identify a 
3.23 	student or parent by name. The consent of the student and the student's parent must meet 
3.24 	the requirements of chapter 13 and Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 99.30. 
3.25 	The licensing board may provide a consent form to the district. Any data transmitted to any 
3.26 	board under this section is private data under section 13.02, subdivision 12, notwithstanding 
3.27 	any other classification of the data when it was in the possession of any other agency.
3.28 	(b) The licensing board to which a report is made must transmit to the Attorney General's 
3.29 	Office any record or data it receives under this subdivision for the sole purpose of having 
3.30 	the Attorney General's Office assist that board in its investigation. When the Attorney 
3.31 	General's Office has informed an employee of the appropriate licensing board in writing 
3.32 	that grounds exist to suspend or revoke a teacher's license to teach, that licensing board 
3.33 	must consider suspending or revoking or decline to suspend or revoke the teacher's or 
3.34 	administrator's license within 45 days of receiving a stipulation executed by the teacher or 
3.35 	administrator under investigation or a recommendation from an administrative law judge 
3.36 	that disciplinary action be taken.
4.1 	(c) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board and Board of School 
4.2 	Administrators must report to the appropriate law enforcement authorities a revocation, 
4.3 	suspension, or agreement involving a loss of license, relating to a teacher or administrator's 
4.4 	inappropriate sexual conduct with a minor. For purposes of this section, "law enforcement 
4.5 	authority" means a police department, county sheriff, or Tribal police department. A report 
4.6 	by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to appropriate law enforcement 
4.7 	authorities does not diminish, modify, or otherwise affect the responsibilities of a school 
4.8 	board or any person mandated to report abuse under chapter 260E.
4.9 	(d) A police department or county sheriff must notify the appropriate licensing board 
4.10 	when a teacher is criminally charged with an offense listed in subdivision 1, paragraph (b), 
4.11 	or is charged with any other offense not listed in this section that requires the person to 
4.12 	register as a predatory offender under section 243.166.

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

4.14 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 260E.065, is amended by adding a 
4.15 	subdivision to read:
4.16 		Subd. 4.Commissioner of children, youth, and families; education-related mandated 
4.17 	reporter training module on grooming. (a) By August 1, 2027, the commissioner of 
4.18 	children, youth, and families must update the existing mandated reporter training that is 
4.19 	specifically applicable to professionals or professionals' delegates engaged in education, to 
4.20 	include but not be limited to:
4.21 	(1) the requirement to report allegations of maltreatment involving students ages 18 
4.22 	through 21, including students receiving special education services, up to and including 
4.23 	graduation and the issuance of a secondary or high school diploma; and
4.24 	(2) addressing grooming and threatened sexual abuse, including the duty to report 
4.25 	grooming as maltreatment under section 260E.06, and how to identify the signs of grooming.
4.26 	(b) The commissioner must consult with the Minnesota Department of Education while 
4.27 	updating the training.

4.28 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260E.15, is amended to read:
4.29 	260E.15 SCREENING GUIDELINES.
4.30 	(a) Child protection staff, supervisors, and others involved in child protection screening 
4.31 	shall follow the guidance provided in the maltreatment screening guidelines issued by the 
5.1 	commissioner and, when notified by the commissioner, shall immediately implement updated 
5.2 	procedures and protocols.
5.3 	(b) Any modification to the screening guidelines must be preapproved by the 
5.4 	commissioner and must not be less protective of children than is mandated by statute. The 
5.5 	county agency must consult with the county attorney before proposing modifications to the 
5.6 	commissioner. The guidelines may provide additional protection for children but must not 
5.7 	limit reports that are screened in or provide additional limits on consideration of reports 
5.8 	that were screened out in making a screening determination.
5.9 	(c) The screening guidelines issued by the commissioner must not limit an agency's 
5.10 	ability to screen in and investigate a report of alleged maltreatment that occurred more than 
5.11 	three years prior to the date of the report.

5.12 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 260E.20, subdivision 1, is amended 
5.13 	to read:
5.14 		Subdivision 1.General duties. (a) The local welfare agency shall offer services to 
5.15 	prevent future maltreatment, safeguarding and enhancing the welfare of the maltreated child, 
5.16 	and supporting and preserving family life whenever possible.
5.17 	(b) If the report alleges a violation of a criminal statute involving maltreatment or child 
5.18 	endangerment under section 609.378, the local law enforcement agency and local welfare 
5.19 	agency shall coordinate the planning and execution of their respective investigation and 
5.20 	assessment efforts to avoid a duplication of fact-finding efforts and multiple interviews. 
5.21 	Each agency shall prepare a separate report of the results of the agency's investigation or 
5.22 	assessment.
5.23 	(c) In cases of alleged child maltreatment resulting in death, the local agency may rely 
5.24 	on the fact-finding efforts of a law enforcement investigation to make a determination of 
5.25 	whether or not maltreatment occurred.
5.26 	(d) When necessary, the local welfare agency shall seek authority to remove the child 
5.27 	from the custody of a parent, guardian, or adult with whom the child is living.
5.28 	(e) In performing any of these duties, the local welfare agency shall maintain an 
5.29 	appropriate record.
5.30 	(f) In conducting a family assessment, noncaregiver human trafficking assessment, or 
5.31 	investigation, the local welfare agency shall gather information on the existence of substance 
5.32 	abuse and domestic violence.
6.1 	(g) If the family assessment, noncaregiver human trafficking assessment, or investigation 
6.2 	indicates there is a potential for abuse of alcohol or other drugs by the parent, guardian, or 
6.3 	person responsible for the child's care, the local welfare agency must coordinate a 
6.4 	comprehensive assessment pursuant to section 245G.05.
6.5 	(h) The agency may use either a family assessment or investigation to determine whether 
6.6 	the child is safe when responding to a report resulting from birth match data under section 
6.7 	260E.03, subdivision 23, paragraph (c). If the child subject of birth match data is determined 
6.8 	to be safe, the agency shall consult with the county attorney to determine the appropriateness 
6.9 	of filing a petition alleging the child is in need of protection or services under section 
6.10 	260C.007, subdivision 6, clause (16), in order to deliver needed services. If the child is 
6.11 	determined not to be safe, the agency and the county attorney shall take appropriate action 
6.12 	as required under section 260C.503, subdivision 2.
6.13 	(i) When conducting any family assessment, noncaregiver human trafficking assessment, 
6.14 	or investigation, the agency shall ask the child, if age appropriate; parents; extended family; 
6.15 	and reporter about the child's heritage, including the child's Tribal lineage pursuant to section 
6.16 	260.761 and the child's race, culture, and ethnicity pursuant to section 260.63, subdivision 
6.17 	10.
6.18 	(j) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent a local welfare agency or local law enforcement 
6.19 	agency from investigating alleged maltreatment that occurred more than three years prior 
6.20 	to the date of the maltreatment report.

6.21 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260E.28, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
6.22 		Subdivision 1.Immediate investigation for alleged maltreatment in a facility. (a) 
6.23 	The commissioner of human services; children, youth, and families; health; or education, 
6.24 	whichever is responsible for investigating the report, shall immediately investigate if the 
6.25 	report alleges that:
6.26 	(1) a child who is in the care of a facility as defined in section 260E.03 is the victim of 
6.27 	maltreatment in a facility by an individual in that facility or has been the victim of 
6.28 	maltreatment in a facility by an individual in that facility within the three years preceding 
6.29 	the report; or
6.30 	(2) a child is the victim of maltreatment in a facility by an individual in a facility defined 
6.31 	in section 260E.03, subdivision 6, while in the care of that facility within the three years 
6.32 	preceding the report.
7.1 	(b) The commissioner of the agency responsible for investigating the report shall arrange 
7.2 	for the transmittal to the commissioner of reports received by local agencies and may delegate 
7.3 	to a local welfare agency the duty to investigate reports. The commissioner of the agency 
7.4 	responsible for investigating the report or local welfare agency may interview any children 
7.5 	who are or have been in the care of a facility under investigation and the children's parents, 
7.6 	guardians, or legal custodians.
7.7 	(c) In conducting an investigation under this section, the commissioner has the powers 
7.8 	and duties specified for a local welfare agency under this chapter.
7.9 	(d) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the agency responsible for screening and 
7.10 	investigating allegations of maltreatment from investigating alleged maltreatment that 
7.11 	occurred more than three years prior to the date of the maltreatment report.

7.12 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.352, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
7.13 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. As used in this section:
7.14 	(a) "child" means a person 15 years of age or younger;
7.15 	(b) "pattern" means two or more instances of conduct;
7.16 	(b) (c) "sexual conduct" means sexual contact of the individual's primary genital area, 
7.17 	sexual penetration as defined in section 609.341, or sexual performance as defined in section 
7.18 	617.246; and
7.19 	(c) (d) "solicit" means commanding, entreating, or attempting to persuade a specific 
7.20 	person in person, by telephone, by letter, or by computerized or other electronic means.

7.21 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes 
7.22 	committed on or after that date.

7.23 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.352, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
7.24 	read:
7.25 		Subd. 2c.Grooming. (a) A person 18 years of age or older commits the felony offense 
7.26 	of grooming, and may be sentenced as provided in subdivision 4, if the person:
7.27 	(1) expresses the desire or intent to engage in sexual conduct with a child; and
7.28 	(2) engages in a deliberate pattern of conduct to methodically develop a false trusting 
7.29 	relationship with the child that is intended to strategically manipulate the child to engage 
7.30 	in sexual conduct with the person at a future time, regardless of whether any sexual conduct 
7.31 	occurs.
8.1 	(b) For purposes of this subdivision, a deliberate pattern of conduct may include, but is 
8.2 	not limited to:
8.3 	(1) communications or conversations sharing desires about sexual intimacy or sexual 
8.4 	contact between the person and the child;
8.5 	(2) normalizing sexualized physical conduct or attempts to initiate such conduct;
8.6 	(3) watching the child undress or appearing undressed in front of the child; or
8.7 	(4) use of threats or control in an attempt to ensure secrecy or compliance from the child.

8.8 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes 
8.9 	committed on or after that date.

8.10 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.352, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
8.11 	read:
8.12 		Subd. 2d.Violations by persons in positions of authority. A person who commits any 
8.13 	of the acts described in subdivisions 2 through 2c is guilty of a felony if:
8.14 	(1) the person is in a current or recent position of authority, as defined in section 609.341, 
8.15 	subdivision 10, over the victim;
8.16 	(2) the person is more than 36 months older than the victim; and
8.17 	(3) the victim is under the age of 18 years.

8.18 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes 
8.19 	committed on or after that date.

8.20 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.352, is amended by adding a subdivision 
8.21 	to read:
8.22 		Subd. 2e.School violations. A person who commits any of the acts described in 
8.23 	subdivisions 2 through 2c is guilty of a felony if:
8.24 	(1) the person is a licensed educator employed or contracted to provide service for an 
8.25 	elementary, middle, or secondary school; and
8.26 	(2) the victim regardless of age is enrolled as a student at the school.

8.27 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes 
8.28 	committed on or after that date.

9.1 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.352, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
9.2 		Subd. 4.Penalty. A person convicted under subdivision 2 or, 2a, 2c, 2d, or 2e is guilty 
9.3 	of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years, or to payment 
9.4 	of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.

9.5 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes 
9.6 	committed on or after that date.