HF 953

as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 02/27/2025 06:03pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; requiring hospitals and birth centers to educate parents on
recognizing physical abuse in infants; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 144.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [144.575] EDUCATION ON RECOGNIZING PHYSICAL ABUSE IN
INFANTS.
new text end

new text begin (a) All hospitals licensed under sections 144.50 to 144.56 and birth centers licensed
under section 144.615 must provide the parents of each newborn born at the hospital or
birth center with written materials to educate parents on how to recognize the signs of
physical abuse in infants and how to report suspected physical abuse of infants. Hospitals
and birth centers must provide written materials obtained from or approved by the
commissioner of health, and must provide these written materials to the newborn's parents
before the newborn is discharged from the hospital or birth center after birth.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner must:
new text end

new text begin (1) develop and make available to hospitals, birth centers, and interested individuals, at
cost, written materials for hospitals and birth centers to provide to parents of newborns
according to paragraph (a); and
new text end

new text begin (2) review and approve or disapprove written materials submitted by hospitals and birth
centers for provision to parents of newborns according to paragraph (a).
new text end

new text begin If the commissioner disapproves written materials submitted to the commissioner under
this paragraph, the commissioner may suggest modifications to the written materials that,
if made, would allow the commissioner to approve the written materials.
new text end