2nd Engrossment - 83rd Legislature (2003 - 2004) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to human services; making changes affecting 1.3 counties, human services policy, child care, 1.4 assistance programs, adoption and child placement, 1.5 child welfare, economic support, mental health, and 1.6 continuing care for the elderly; amending Minnesota 1.7 Statutes 2002, sections 119B.02, subdivision 4; 1.8 119B.03, subdivision 6; 119B.09, subdivision 4; 1.9 119B.21, subdivision 5; 144A.071, subdivision 1a; 1.10 245.462, subdivision 18; 245.464, by adding a 1.11 subdivision; 256.01, by adding a subdivision; 256B.02, 1.12 subdivision 12; 256B.056, by adding subdivisions; 1.13 256B.431, subdivision 37; 256B.5012, by adding a 1.14 subdivision; 256D.02, subdivision 17; 256D.06, 1.15 subdivision 5; 256J.67, subdivisions 1, 3; 256L.04, 1.16 subdivision 2; 257.85, subdivisions 2, 3; 259.23, 1.17 subdivisions 1, 2; 259.41, subdivision 3; 259.79, 1.18 subdivision 1; 260C.001, subdivision 3; 260C.007, 1.19 subdivisions 7, 8, 18, 22, 27; 260C.151, subdivision 1.20 6; 260C.178; 260C.201, subdivisions 1, 2, 6, 10, 11; 1.21 260C.212, subdivision 5; 260C.312; 260C.317, 1.22 subdivision 3; 549.02, by adding a subdivision; 1.23 549.04; 626.556, subdivisions 1, 10f, 11c, by adding 1.24 subdivisions; Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, 1.25 sections 119B.025, subdivision 1; 119B.125, 1.26 subdivisions 1, 2; 245B.03, subdivision 2; 256.01, 1.27 subdivision 2; 256B.0622, subdivision 8; 256B.431, 1.28 subdivision 38; 256J.40; 256J.425, subdivision 7; 1.29 256J.46, subdivision 1; 256J.521, subdivision 2; 1.30 256J.626, subdivisions 6, 7; 256J.95, subdivisions 10, 1.31 12; 260.012; 626.556, subdivisions 2, 3, 10, 10b, 10e, 1.32 10i, 11; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2002, sections 1.33 626.5551, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Laws 2001, First 1.34 Special Session chapter 9, article 9, section 52; Laws 1.35 2003, First Special Session chapter 14, article 3, 1.36 section 56; Minnesota Rules, part 9560.0220, subpart 1.37 6, item B. 1.38 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.39 ARTICLE 1 1.40 CHILD CARE; ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 1.41 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 119B.02, 2.1 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 2.2 Subd. 4. [UNIVERSAL APPLICATION FORM.] The commissioner 2.3 must develop and make available to all counties a universal 2.4 application form for child care assistance under this 2.5 chapter. The commissioner may develop and make available to all 2.6 counties a child care addendum form to be used to supplement the 2.7 combined application form for MFIP, DWP, or Food Support or to 2.8 supplement other statewide application forms for public 2.9 assistance programs for families applying for one of these 2.10 programs in addition to child care assistance. The application 2.11 must provide notice of eligibility requirements for assistance 2.12 and penalties for wrongfully obtaining assistance. 2.13 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 2.14 119B.025, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 2.15 Subdivision 1. [FACTORS WHICH MUST BE VERIFIED.] (a) The 2.16 county shall verify the following at all initial child care 2.17 applications using the universal application: 2.18 (1) identity of adults; 2.19 (2) presence of the minor child in the home, if 2.20 questionable; 2.21 (3) relationship of minor child to the parent, stepparent, 2.22 legal guardian, eligible relative caretaker, or the spouses of 2.23 any of the foregoing; 2.24 (4) age; 2.25 (5) immigration status, if related to eligibility; 2.26 (6) Social Security number, if given; 2.27 (7) income; 2.28 (8) spousal support and child support payments made to 2.29 persons outside the household; 2.30 (9) residence; and 2.31 (10) inconsistent information, if related to eligibility. 2.32 (b) If a family did not use the universal application or 2.33 child care addendum to apply for child care assistance, the 2.34 family must complete the universal application or child care 2.35 addendum at its next eligibility redetermination and the county 2.36 must verify the factors listed in paragraph (a) as part of that 3.1 redetermination. Once a family has completed a universal 3.2 application or child care addendum, the county shall use the 3.3 redetermination form described in paragraph (c) for that 3.4 family's subsequent redeterminations. Eligibility must be 3.5 redetermined at least every six months. If a family reports a 3.6 change in an eligibility factor before the family's next 3.7 regularly scheduled redetermination, the county must recalculate 3.8 eligibility without requiring verification of any eligibility 3.9 factor that did not change. 3.10 (c) The commissioner shall develop arecertification3.11 redetermination form to redetermine eligibility and a change 3.12 report form to report changes thatminimizesminimize paperwork 3.13 for the county and the participant. 3.14 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 119B.03, 3.15 subdivision 6, is amended to read: 3.16 Subd. 6. [ALLOCATION FORMULA.] The basic sliding fee state 3.17 and federal funds shall be allocated on a calendar year basis. 3.18 Funds shall be allocated first in amounts equal to each county's 3.19 guaranteed floor according to subdivision 8, with any remaining 3.20 available funds allocated according to the following formula: 3.21 (a) One-fourth of the funds shall be allocated in 3.22 proportion to each county's total expenditures for the basic 3.23 sliding fee child care program reported during the most recent 3.24 fiscal year completed at the time of the notice of allocation. 3.25 (b) One-fourth of the funds shall be allocated based on the 3.26 number of families participating in the transition year child 3.27 care program as reported during the most recent quarter 3.28 completed at the time of the notice of allocation. 3.29 (c) One-fourth of the funds shall be allocated in 3.30 proportion to each county's most recently reported first, 3.31 second, and third priority waiting list as defined in 3.32 subdivision 2 and the reinstatement list of those families whose 3.33 assistance was terminated with the approval of the commissioner 3.34 under Minnesota Rules, part 3400.0183, subpart 1. 3.35 (d) One-fourth of the funds must be allocated in proportion 3.36 to each county's most recently reported waiting list as defined 4.1 in subdivision 2 and the reinstatement list of those families 4.2 whose assistance was terminated with the approval of the 4.3 commissioner under Minnesota Rules, part 3400.0183, subpart 1. 4.4 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 119B.09, 4.5 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 4.6 Subd. 4. [ELIGIBILITY; ANNUAL INCOME; CALCULATION.] Annual 4.7 income of the applicant family is the current monthly income of 4.8 the family multiplied by 12 or the income for the 12-month 4.9 period immediately preceding the date of application, or income 4.10 calculated by the method which provides the most accurate 4.11 assessment of income available to the family. Self-employment 4.12 income must be calculated based on gross receipts less operating 4.13 expenses. Income must beredeterminedrecalculated when the 4.14 family's income changes, but no less often than every six 4.15 months. Income must be verified with documentary evidence. If 4.16 the applicant does not have sufficient evidence of income, 4.17 verification must be obtained from the source of the income. 4.18 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 4.19 119B.125, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 4.20 Subdivision 1. [AUTHORIZATION.] Except as provided in 4.21 subdivision 5, a county must authorize the provider chosen by an 4.22 applicant or a participant before the county can authorize 4.23 payment for care provided by that provider. The commissioner 4.24 must establish the requirements necessary for authorization of 4.25 providers. A provider must be reauthorized every two years. A 4.26 legal, nonlicensed family child care provider also must be 4.27 reauthorized when another person over the age of 13 joins the 4.28 household, a current household member turns 13, or there is 4.29 reason to believe that a household member has a factor that 4.30 prevents authorization. The provider is required to report all 4.31 family changes that would require reauthorization. When a 4.32 provider has been authorized for payment for providing care for 4.33 families in more than one county, the county responsible for 4.34 reauthorization of that provider is the county of the family 4.35 with a current authorization for that provider and who has used 4.36 the provider for the longest length of time. 5.1 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 5.2 119B.125, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 5.3 Subd. 2. [PERSONS WHO CANNOT BE AUTHORIZED.] (a) A person 5.4 who meets any of the conditions under paragraphs (b) to (n) must 5.5 not be authorized as a legal nonlicensed family child care 5.6 provider. To determine whether any of the listed conditions 5.7 exist, the county must request information about the provider 5.8 from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the juvenile courts, 5.9 and social service agencies. When one of the listed entities 5.10 does not maintain information on a statewide basis, the county 5.11 must contact the entity in the county where the provider resides 5.12 and any other county in which the provider previously resided in 5.13 the past year. For purposes of this subdivision, a finding that 5.14 a delinquency petition is proven in juvenile court must be 5.15 considered a conviction in state district court. If a county 5.16 has determined that a provider is able to be authorized in that 5.17 county, and a family in another county later selects that 5.18 provider, the provider is able to be authorized in the second 5.19 county without undergoing a new background investigation unless 5.20 one of the following conditions exists: 5.21 (1) two years have passed since the first authorization; 5.22 (2) another person age 13 or older has joined the 5.23 provider's household since the last authorization; 5.24 (3) a current household member has turned 13 since the last 5.25 authorization; or 5.26 (4) there is reason to believe that a household member has 5.27 a factor that prevents authorization. 5.28 (b) The person has been convicted of one of the following 5.29 offenses or has admitted to committing or a preponderance of the 5.30 evidence indicates that the person has committed an act that 5.31 meets the definition of one of the following offenses: sections 5.32 609.185 to 609.195, murder in the first, second, or third 5.33 degree; 609.2661 to 609.2663, murder of an unborn child in the 5.34 first, second, or third degree; 609.322, solicitation, 5.35 inducement, or promotion of prostitution; 609.323, receiving 5.36 profit from prostitution; 609.342 to 609.345, criminal sexual 6.1 conduct in the first, second, third, or fourth degree; 609.352, 6.2 solicitation of children to engage in sexual conduct; 609.365, 6.3 incest; 609.377, felony malicious punishment of a child; 6.4 617.246, use of minors in sexual performance; 617.247, 6.5 possession of pictorial representation of a minor; 609.2242 to 6.6 609.2243, felony domestic assault; a felony offense of spousal 6.7 abuse; a felony offense of child abuse or neglect; a felony 6.8 offense of a crime against children; or an attempt or conspiracy 6.9 to commit any of these offenses as defined in Minnesota 6.10 Statutes; or an offense in any other state or country where the 6.11 elements are substantially similar to any of the offenses listed 6.12 in this paragraph. 6.13 (c) Less than 15 years have passed since the discharge of 6.14 the sentence imposed for the offense and the person has received 6.15 a felony conviction for one of the following offenses, or the 6.16 person has admitted to committing or a preponderance of the 6.17 evidence indicates that the person has committed an act that 6.18 meets the definition of a felony conviction for one of the 6.19 following offenses: sections 609.20 to 609.205, manslaughter in 6.20 the first or second degree; 609.21, criminal vehicular homicide; 6.21 609.215, aiding suicide or aiding attempted suicide; 609.221 to 6.22 609.2231, assault in the first, second, third, or fourth degree; 6.23 609.224, repeat offenses of fifth degree assault; 609.228, great 6.24 bodily harm caused by distribution of drugs; 609.2325, criminal 6.25 abuse of a vulnerable adult; 609.2335, financial exploitation of 6.26 a vulnerable adult; 609.235, use of drugs to injure or 6.27 facilitate a crime; 609.24, simple robbery; 617.241, repeat 6.28 offenses of obscene materials and performances; 609.245, 6.29 aggravated robbery; 609.25, kidnapping; 609.255, false 6.30 imprisonment; 609.2664 to 609.2665, manslaughter of an unborn 6.31 child in the first or second degree; 609.267 to 609.2672, 6.32 assault of an unborn child in the first, second, or third 6.33 degree; 609.268, injury or death of an unborn child in the 6.34 commission of a crime; 609.27, coercion; 609.275, attempt to 6.35 coerce; 609.324, subdivision 1, other prohibited acts, minor 6.36 engaged in prostitution; 609.3451, repeat offenses of criminal 7.1 sexual conduct in the fifth degree; 609.378, neglect or 7.2 endangerment of a child; 609.52, theft; 609.521, possession of 7.3 shoplifting gear; 609.561 to 609.563, arson in the first, 7.4 second, or third degree; 609.582, burglary in the first, second, 7.5 third, or fourth degree; 609.625, aggravated forgery; 609.63, 7.6 forgery; 609.631, check forgery, offering a forged check; 7.7 609.635, obtaining signature by false pretenses; 609.66, 7.8 dangerous weapon; 609.665, setting a spring gun; 609.67, 7.9 unlawfully owning, possessing, or operating a machine gun; 7.10 609.687, adulteration; 609.71, riot; 609.713, terrorist threats; 7.11 609.749, harassment, stalking; 260.221, grounds for termination 7.12 of parental rights; 152.021 to 152.022, controlled substance 7.13 crime in the first or second degree; 152.023, subdivision 1, 7.14 clause (3) or (4), or 152.023, subdivision 2, clause (4), 7.15 controlled substance crime in third degree; 152.024, subdivision 7.16 1, clause (2), (3), or (4), controlled substance crime in fourth 7.17 degree; 617.23, repeat offenses of indecent exposure; an attempt 7.18 or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses as defined in 7.19 Minnesota Statutes; or an offense in any other state or country 7.20 where the elements are substantially similar to any of the 7.21 offenses listed in this paragraph. 7.22 (d) Less than ten years have passed since the discharge of 7.23 the sentence imposed for the offense and the person has received 7.24 a gross misdemeanor conviction for one of the following offenses 7.25 or the person has admitted to committing or a preponderance of 7.26 the evidence indicates that the person has committed an act that 7.27 meets the definition of a gross misdemeanor conviction for one 7.28 of the following offenses: sections 609.224, fifth degree 7.29 assault; 609.2242 to 609.2243, domestic assault; 518B.01, 7.30 subdivision 14, violation of an order for protection; 609.3451, 7.31 fifth degree criminal sexual conduct; 609.746, repeat offenses 7.32 of interference with privacy; 617.23, repeat offenses of 7.33 indecent exposure; 617.241, obscene materials and performances; 7.34 617.243, indecent literature, distribution; 617.293, 7.35 disseminating or displaying harmful material to minors; 609.71, 7.36 riot; 609.66, dangerous weapons; 609.749, harassment, stalking; 8.1 609.224, subdivision 2, paragraph (c), fifth degree assault 8.2 against a vulnerable adult by a caregiver; 609.23, mistreatment 8.3 of persons confined; 609.231, mistreatment of residents or 8.4 patients; 609.2325, criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult; 8.5 609.2335, financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult; 609.233, 8.6 criminal neglect of a vulnerable adult; 609.234, failure to 8.7 report maltreatment of a vulnerable adult; 609.72, subdivision 8.8 3, disorderly conduct against a vulnerable adult; 609.265, 8.9 abduction; 609.378, neglect or endangerment of a child; 609.377, 8.10 malicious punishment of a child; 609.324, subdivision 1a, other 8.11 prohibited acts, minor engaged in prostitution; 609.33, 8.12 disorderly house; 609.52, theft; 609.582, burglary in the first, 8.13 second, third, or fourth degree; 609.631, check forgery, 8.14 offering a forged check; 609.275, attempt to coerce; an attempt 8.15 or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses as defined in 8.16 Minnesota Statutes; or an offense in any other state or country 8.17 where the elements are substantially similar to any of the 8.18 offenses listed in this paragraph. 8.19 (e) Less than seven years have passed since the discharge 8.20 of the sentence imposed for the offense and the person has 8.21 received a misdemeanor conviction for one of the following 8.22 offenses or the person has admitted to committing or a 8.23 preponderance of the evidence indicates that the person has 8.24 committed an act that meets the definition of a misdemeanor 8.25 conviction for one of the following offenses: sections 609.224, 8.26 fifth degree assault; 609.2242, domestic assault; 518B.01, 8.27 violation of an order for protection; 609.3232, violation of an 8.28 order for protection; 609.746, interference with privacy; 8.29 609.79, obscene or harassing telephone calls; 609.795, letter, 8.30 telegram, or package opening, harassment; 617.23, indecent 8.31 exposure; 609.2672, assault of an unborn child, third degree; 8.32 617.293, dissemination and display of harmful materials to 8.33 minors; 609.66, dangerous weapons; 609.665, spring guns; an 8.34 attempt or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses as defined 8.35 in Minnesota Statutes; or an offense in any other state or 8.36 country where the elements are substantially similar to any of 9.1 the offenses listed in this paragraph. 9.2 (f) The person has been identified by thecounty'schild 9.3 protection agency in the county where the provider resides or a 9.4 county where the provider has resided or by the statewide child 9.5 protection database as the person allegedly responsible for 9.6 physical or sexual abuse of a child within the last seven years. 9.7 (g) The person has been identified by thecounty'sadult 9.8 protection agency in the county where the provider resides or a 9.9 county where the provider has resided or by the statewide adult 9.10 protection database as the person responsible for abuse or 9.11 neglect of a vulnerable adult within the last seven years. 9.12 (h) The person has refused to give written consent for 9.13 disclosure of criminal history records. 9.14 (i) The person has been denied a family child care license 9.15 or has received a fine or a sanction as a licensed child care 9.16 provider that has not been reversed on appeal. 9.17 (j) The person has a family child care licensing 9.18 disqualification that has not been set aside. 9.19 (k) The person has admitted or a county has found that 9.20 there is a preponderance of evidence that fraudulent information 9.21 was given to the county for child care assistance application 9.22 purposes or was used in submitting child care assistance bills 9.23 for payment. 9.24 (l) The person has been convictedor there is a9.25preponderance of evidenceof the crime of theft by wrongfully 9.26 obtaining public assistance. 9.27 (m) The person has a household member age 13 or older who 9.28 has access to children during the hours that care is provided 9.29 and who meets one of the conditions listed in paragraphs (b) to 9.30 (l). 9.31 (n) The person has a household member ages ten to 12 who 9.32 has access to children during the hours that care is provided; 9.33 information or circumstances exist which provide the county with 9.34 articulable suspicion that further pertinent information may 9.35 exist showing the household member meets one of the conditions 9.36 listed in paragraphs (b) to (l); and the household member 10.1 actually meets one of the conditions listed in paragraphs (b) to 10.2 (l). 10.3 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 119B.21, 10.4 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 10.5 Subd. 5. [CHILD CARE SERVICES GRANTS.] (a) A child care 10.6 resource and referral program designated under section 119B.19, 10.7 subdivision 1a, may award child care services grants for: 10.8 (1) creating new licensed child care facilities and 10.9 expanding existing facilities, including, but not limited to, 10.10 supplies, equipment, facility renovation, and remodeling; 10.11 (2) improving licensed child care facility programs; 10.12 (3) staff training and development services including, but 10.13 not limited to, in-service training, curriculum development, 10.14 accreditation, certification, consulting, resource centers, and 10.15 program and resource materials; 10.16 (4) interim financing; 10.17 (5) capacity building through the purchase of appropriate 10.18 technology to create, enhance, and maintain business management 10.19 systems; 10.20 (6) emergency assistance for child care programs; 10.21 (7) new programs or projects for the creation, expansion, 10.22 or improvement of programs that serve ethnic immigrant and 10.23 refugee communities; and 10.24 (8) targeted recruitment initiatives to expand and build 10.25 the capacity of the child care system and to improve the quality 10.26 of care provided by legal nonlicensed child care providers. 10.27 (b) A child care resource and referral program designated 10.28 under section 119B.19, subdivision 1a, may award child care 10.29 services grants to: 10.30 (1) licensed providers; 10.31 (2) providers in the process of being licensed; 10.32 (3) corporations or public agencies that develop or provide 10.33 child care services; 10.34 (4) school-age care programs;or10.35 (5) legal nonlicensed providers; or 10.36 (6) any combination of clauses (1) to(4)(5). 11.1Unlicensed providers are only eligible for grants under11.2paragraph (a), clause (7).Providers described under clauses (2) 11.3 and (5), are only eligible for grants under paragraph (a), 11.4 clauses (3), (7), and (8). 11.5 (c) A recipient of a child care services grant for facility 11.6 improvements, interim financing, or staff training and 11.7 development must provide a 25 percent local match. 11.8 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256D.02, 11.9 subdivision 17, is amended to read: 11.10 Subd. 17. [PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION.] "Professional 11.11 certification" means:11.12(1)a statement about a person's illness, injury, or 11.13 incapacity that is signed by alicensed physician, psychological11.14practitioner, or licensed psychologist, qualified by11.15professional training and experience to diagnose and certify the11.16person's condition; or11.17(2) a statement about an incapacity involving a spinal11.18subluxation condition that is signed by a licensed chiropractor11.19qualified by professional training and experience to diagnose11.20and certify the condition"qualified professional" as defined in 11.21 section 256J.08, subdivision 73a. 11.22 ARTICLE 2 11.23 ADOPTION AND CHILD PLACEMENT 11.24 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 11.25 245B.03, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 11.26 Subd. 2. [RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER STANDARDS GOVERNING 11.27 SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION OR RELATED 11.28 CONDITIONS.] (a) ICFs/MR are exempt from: 11.29 (1) section 245B.04; 11.30 (2) section 245B.06, subdivisions 4 and 6; and 11.31 (3) section 245B.07, subdivisions 4, paragraphs (b) and 11.32 (c); 7; and 8, paragraphs (1), clause (iv), and (2). 11.33 (b) License holders also licensed under chapter 144 as a 11.34 supervised living facility are exempt from section 245B.04. 11.35 (c) Residential service sites controlled by license holders 11.36 licensed under this chapter for home and community-based 12.1 waivered services for four or fewer adults are exempt from 12.2 compliance with Minnesota Rules, parts 9543.0040, subpart 2, 12.3 item C; 9555.5505; 9555.5515, items B and G; 9555.5605; 12.4 9555.5705; 9555.6125, subparts 3, item C, subitem (2), and 4 to 12.5 6; 9555.6185; 9555.6225, subpart 8; 9555.6245; 9555.6255; and 12.6 9555.6265; and as provided under section 245B.06, subdivision 2, 12.7 the license holder is exempt from the program abuse prevention 12.8 plans and individual abuse prevention plans otherwise required 12.9 under sections 245A.65, subdivision 2, and 626.557, subdivision 12.10 14. The commissioner may approve alternative methods of 12.11 providing overnight supervision using the process and criteria 12.12 for granting a variance in section 245A.04, subdivision 9. This 12.13 chapter does not apply to foster care homes that do not provide 12.14 residential habilitation services funded under the home and 12.15 community-based waiver programs defined in section 256B.092. 12.16 (d) Residential service sites controlled by license holders 12.17 licensed under this chapter for home and community-based 12.18 waivered services for four or fewer children are exempt from 12.19 compliance with Minnesota Rules, parts9545.0130; 9545.0140;12.209545.0150; 9545.0170; 9545.0220, subparts 1, items C, F, and I,12.21and 3; and 9545.02302960.3060, subpart 3, items B and C; 12.22 2960.3070; 2960.3100, subpart 1, items C, F, and I; and 12.23 2960.3210. 12.24 (e) The commissioner may exempt license holders from 12.25 applicable standards of this chapter when the license holder 12.26 meets the standards under section 245A.09, subdivision 7. 12.27 License holders that are accredited by an independent 12.28 accreditation body shall continue to be licensed under this 12.29 chapter. 12.30 (f) License holders governed by sections 245B.02 to 245B.07 12.31 must also meet the licensure requirements in chapter 245A. 12.32 (g) Nothing in this chapter prohibits license holders from 12.33 concurrently serving consumers with and without mental 12.34 retardation or related conditions provided this chapter's 12.35 standards are met as well as other relevant standards. 12.36 (h) The documentation that sections 245B.02 to 245B.07 13.1 require of the license holder meets the individual program plan 13.2 required in section 256B.092 or successor provisions. 13.3 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 257.85, 13.4 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 13.5 Subd. 2. [SCOPE.] The provisions of this section apply to 13.6 those situations in which the legal and physical custody of a 13.7 child is established with a relative or important friend with 13.8 whom the child has resided or had significant contact according 13.9 to section 260C.201, subdivision 11, by a district court order 13.10 issued on or after July 1, 1997, or a tribal court order issued 13.11 on or after July 1, 2004. 13.12 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 257.85, 13.13 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 13.14 Subd. 3. [DEFINITIONS.] For purposes of this section, the 13.15 terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings given them. 13.16 (a) "MFIP standard" means the transitional standard used to 13.17 calculate assistance under the MFIP program, or, if permanent 13.18 legal and physical custody of the child is given to a relative 13.19 custodian residing outside of Minnesota, the analogous 13.20 transitional standard or standard of need used to calculate 13.21 assistance under the TANF program of the state where the 13.22 relative custodian lives. 13.23 (b) "Local agency" means thelocalcounty social services 13.24 agency or tribal social services agency with legal custody of a 13.25 child prior to the transfer of permanent legal and physical 13.26 custody. 13.27 (c) "Permanent legal and physical custody" means permanent 13.28 legal and physical custody ordered by a Minnesota Juvenile Court 13.29 under section 260C.201, subdivision2711. 13.30 (d) "Relative" has the meaning given in section 260C.007, 13.31 subdivision 27. 13.32 (e) "Relative custodian" means a person who has permanent 13.33 legal and physical custody of a child. When siblings, including 13.34 half-siblings and stepsiblings, are placed together in permanent 13.35 legal and physical custody, the person receiving permanent legal 13.36 and physical custody of the siblings is considered a relative 14.1 custodian of all of the siblings for purposes of this section. 14.2 (f) "Relative custody assistance agreement" means an 14.3 agreement entered into between a local agency and a person who 14.4 has been or will be awarded permanent legal and physical custody 14.5 of a child. 14.6 (g) "Relative custody assistance payment" means a monthly 14.7 cash grant made to a relative custodian pursuant to a relative 14.8 custody assistance agreement and in an amount calculated under 14.9 subdivision 7. 14.10 (h) "Remains in the physical custody of the relative 14.11 custodian" means that the relative custodian is providing 14.12 day-to-day care for the child and that the child lives with the 14.13 relative custodian; absence from the relative custodian's home 14.14 for a period of more than 120 days raises a presumption that the 14.15 child no longer remains in the physical custody of the relative 14.16 custodian. 14.17 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 259.23, 14.18 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 14.19 Subdivision 1. [VENUE.] (a) Except as provided in section 14.20 260C.101, subdivision 2, the juvenile court shall have original 14.21 jurisdiction in all adoption proceedings. The proper venue for 14.22 an adoption proceeding shall be the county of the petitioner's 14.23 residence except as provided in paragraph (b).However,14.24 (b) Venue for the adoption of children committed to the 14.25 guardianship of the commissioner of human services shall be the 14.26 county with jurisdiction in the matter according to section 14.27 260C.317, subdivision 3. 14.28 (c) Upon request of the petitioner, the court having 14.29 jurisdiction over the matter under section 260C.317, subdivision 14.30 3, may transfer venue of an adoption proceeding involving a 14.31 child under the guardianship of the commissioner to the county 14.32 of the petitioner's residence upon determining that: 14.33 (1) the commissioner has given consent to the petitioner's 14.34 adoption of the child or that consent is unreasonably withheld; 14.35 (2) there is no other adoption petition for the child that 14.36 has been filed or is reasonably anticipated by the commissioner 15.1 or the commissioner's delegate to be filed; and 15.2 (3) transfer of venue is in the best interests of the child. 15.3 Transfer of venue under this paragraph shall be according 15.4 to the rules of adoption court procedure. 15.5 (d) In all other adoptions, if the petitioner has acquired 15.6 a new residence in another county and requests a transfer of the 15.7 adoption proceeding, the court in which an adoption is initiated 15.8 may transfer the proceeding to the appropriate court in the new 15.9 county of residence if the transfer is in the best interests of 15.10 the person to be adopted. The court transfers the proceeding by 15.11 ordering a continuance and by forwarding to the court 15.12 administrator of the appropriate court a certified copy of all 15.13 papers filed, together with an order of transfer. The 15.14 transferring court also shall forward copies of the order of 15.15 transfer to the commissioner of human services and any agency 15.16 participating in the proceedings. The judge of the receiving 15.17 court shall accept the order of the transfer and any other 15.18 documents transmitted and hear the case; provided, however, the 15.19 receiving court may in its discretion require the filing of a 15.20 new petition prior to the hearing. 15.21 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 259.23, 15.22 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 15.23 Subd. 2. [CONTENTS OF PETITION.] The petition shall be 15.24 signed by the petitioner and, if married, by the spouse. It 15.25 shall be verified, and filed in duplicate. The petition shall 15.26 allege: 15.27 (a) The full name, age and place of residence of 15.28 petitioner, and if married, the date and place of marriage; 15.29 (b) The date petitioner acquired physical custody of the 15.30 child and from what person or agency; 15.31 (c) The date of birth of the child, if known, and the state 15.32 and county where born; 15.33 (d) The name of the child's parents, if known, and the 15.34 guardian if there be one; 15.35 (e) The actual name of the child, if known, and any known 15.36 aliases; 16.1 (f) The name to be given the child if a change of name is 16.2 desired; 16.3 (g) The description and value of any real or personal 16.4 property owned by the child; 16.5 (h) That the petitioner desires that the relationship of 16.6 parent and child be established between petitioner and the 16.7 child, and that it is to the best interests of the child for the 16.8 child to be adopted by the petitioner. 16.9 In agency placements, the information required in clauses 16.10 (d) and (e)aboveshall not be required to be alleged in the 16.11 petition but shall be transmitted to the court by the 16.12 commissioner of human services or the agency. 16.13 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 259.41, 16.14 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 16.15 Subd. 3. [BACKGROUND CHECK; AFFIDAVIT OF HISTORY.] (a) At 16.16 the time an adoption study is commenced, each prospective 16.17 adoptive parent must: 16.18 (1) authorize access by the agency to any private data 16.19 needed to complete the study; 16.20 (2) provide all addresses at which the prospective adoptive 16.21 parent and anyone in the household over the age of 13 has 16.22 resided in the previoustenfive years; and 16.23 (3) disclose any names used previously other than the name 16.24 used at the time of the study; and16.25(4) provide a set of fingerprints, which shall be forwarded16.26to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to facilitate the16.27criminal conviction background check required under paragraph16.28(b). 16.29 (b) When the requirements of paragraph (a) have been met, 16.30 the agency shall immediately begin a background check, on each 16.31 person over the age of 13 living in the home, consisting, at a 16.32 minimum, of the following: 16.33 (1) a check of criminal conviction data with the Bureau of 16.34 Criminal Apprehension and local law enforcement authorities; 16.35 (2) a check for data on substantiated maltreatment of a 16.36 child or vulnerable adult and domestic violence data with local 17.1 law enforcement and social services agencies and district 17.2 courts; and 17.3 (3) for those persons under the age of 25, a check of 17.4 juvenile court records. 17.5 Notwithstanding the provisions of section 260B.171 or 17.6 260C.171, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, local law 17.7 enforcement and social services agencies, district courts, and 17.8 juvenile courts shall release the requested information to the 17.9 agency completing the adoption study. 17.10 When paragraph (b) requires checking the data or records of 17.11 local law enforcement and social services agencies and district 17.12 and juvenile courts, the agency shall check with the law 17.13 enforcement and social services agencies and courts whose 17.14 jurisdictions cover the addresses under paragraph (a), clause 17.15 (2). In the event that the agency is unable to complete any of 17.16 the record checks required by paragraph (b), the agency shall 17.17 document the fact and the agency's efforts to obtain the 17.18 information. 17.19 (c) At any time prior to completion of the background check 17.20 required under paragraph (b), a prospective adoptive parent may 17.21 submit to the agency conducting the study a sworn affidavit 17.22 stating whether they or any person residing in the household 17.23 have been convicted of a crime. The affidavit shall also state 17.24 whether the adoptive parent or any other person residing in the 17.25 household is the subject of an open investigation of, or have 17.26 been the subject of a substantiated allegation of, child or 17.27 vulnerable-adult maltreatment within the pasttenfive years. A 17.28 complete description of the crime, open investigation, or 17.29 substantiated abuse, and a complete description of any sentence, 17.30 treatment, or disposition must be included. The affidavit must 17.31 contain an acknowledgment that if, at any time before the 17.32 adoption is final, a court receives evidence leading to a 17.33 conclusion that a prospective adoptive parent knowingly gave 17.34 false information in the affidavit, it shall be determined that 17.35 the adoption of the child by the prospective adoptive parent is 17.36 not in the best interests of the child. 18.1 (d) For the purposes of subdivision 1 and section 259.47, 18.2 subdivisions 3 and 6, an adoption study is complete for 18.3 placement, even though the background checks required by 18.4 paragraph (b) have not been completed, if each prospective 18.5 adoptive parent has completed the affidavit allowed by paragraph 18.6 (c) and the other requirements of this section have been met. 18.7 The background checks required by paragraph (b) must be 18.8 completed before an adoption petition is filed. If an adoption 18.9 study has been submitted to the court under section 259.47, 18.10 subdivision 3 or 6, before the background checks required by 18.11 paragraph (b) were complete, an updated adoption study report 18.12 which includes the results of the background check must be filed 18.13 with the adoption petition. In the event that an agency is 18.14 unable to complete any of the records checks required by 18.15 paragraph (b), the agency shall submit with the petition to 18.16 adopt an affidavit documenting the agency's efforts to complete 18.17 the checks. 18.18 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 259.79, 18.19 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 18.20 Subdivision 1. [CONTENT.] (a) The adoption records ofthe18.21commissioner,the commissioner's agents and licensed 18.22 child-placing agencies shall contain copies of all relevant 18.23 legal documents, responsibly collected genetic, medical and 18.24 social history of the child and the child's birth parents, the 18.25 child's placement record, copies of all pertinent agreements, 18.26 contracts, and correspondence relevant to the adoption, and 18.27 copies of all reports and recommendations made to the court. 18.28 (b) The commissioner of human services shall maintain a 18.29 permanent record of all adoptions granted in Minnesota. Each 18.30 record shall contain identifying information about the child, 18.31 birth parents and adoptive parents, the date and name of the 18.32 placing agency, the county of placement, the date and county of 18.33 petition to adopt, and the decree. 18.34 (c) Identifying information contained in the adoption 18.35 record shall be confidential and shall be disclosed only 18.36 pursuant to section 259.61. 19.1 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 19.2 260.012, is amended to read: 19.3 260.012 [DUTY TO ENSURE PLACEMENT PREVENTION AND FAMILY 19.4 REUNIFICATION; REASONABLE EFFORTS.] 19.5 (a) Once a child alleged to be in need of protection or 19.6 services is under the court's jurisdiction, the court shall 19.7 ensure that reasonable efforts including culturally appropriate 19.8 services by the social services agency are made to prevent 19.9 placementorand to finalize a permanent plan for the child, as 19.10 appropriate. "Reasonable efforts to finalize the permanent plan 19.11 for the child" include the agency's efforts to eliminate the 19.12 need for removal and to reunite the child with the child's 19.13 family at the earliest possible time,consistent with the best19.14interests, safety, and protection of the childand place the 19.15 child with a family that will be a legally permanent home for 19.16 the child in the event the child cannot be reunited with the 19.17 parent or guardian from whom the child was removed. In 19.18 determining reasonable efforts to be made with respect to a 19.19 child and in making those reasonable efforts, the child's best 19.20 interests, health, and safety must be of paramount concern. 19.21 Reasonable efforts to prevent placement or for rehabilitation 19.22 and reunification are not required upon a determination by the 19.23 court that:19.24(1)atermination of parental rightspetition has been 19.25 filed stating a prima facie case that: 19.26(i)(1) the parent has subjected a child to egregious harm 19.27 as defined in section 260C.007, subdivision 14; 19.28(ii)(2) the parental rights of the parent to another child 19.29 have been terminated involuntarily; 19.30(iii)(3) the child is an abandoned infant under section 19.31 260C.301, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (2);or19.32(iv)(4) the parent's custodial rights to another child 19.33 have been involuntarily transferred to a relative under section 19.34 260C.201, subdivision 11, paragraph (e), clause (1), or a 19.35 similar law of another jurisdiction; or 19.36(2) the county attorney has filed a determination not to20.1proceed with a termination of parental rights petition on these20.2grounds was made under section 260C.301, subdivision 3,20.3paragraph (b), and a permanency hearing is held within 30 days20.4of the determination; or20.5(3) a termination of parental rights petition or other20.6petition according to section 260C.201, subdivision 11, has been20.7filed alleging a prima facie case that20.8 (5) the provision of services or further services for the 20.9 purpose of reunification is futile and therefore unreasonable 20.10 under the circumstances. 20.11 When the court makes a prima facie determination under this 20.12 clause, either permanency pleadings required under section 20.13 260C.201, subdivision 11, or a termination of parental rights 20.14 petition under sections 260C.141 and 260C.301 must be filed and 20.15 a permanency hearing under section 260C.201, subdivision 11, be 20.16 held within 30 days of this hearing. 20.17 In the case of an Indian child, in proceedings under 20.18 sections 260B.178 or 260C.178, 260C.201, and 260C.301 the 20.19 juvenile court must make findings and conclusions consistent 20.20 with the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, United States Code, 20.21 title 25, section 1901 et seq., as to the provision of active 20.22 efforts. If a child is under the court's delinquency 20.23 jurisdiction, it shall be the duty of the court to ensure that 20.24 reasonable efforts are made to reunite the child with the 20.25 child's family at the earliest possible time, consistent with 20.26 the best interests of the child and the safety of the public. 20.27 (b)(1) "Reasonable efforts to prevent placement" means: 20.28 (i) the agency has made reasonable efforts to prevent the 20.29 placement of the child; or 20.30 (ii) given the particular circumstances of the child and 20.31 family at the time of the child's removal, there are no services 20.32 or reasonable efforts available which could allow the child to 20.33 safely remain in the home. 20.34 (2) As appropriate under the particular circumstances and 20.35 stage of the case, "reasonable efforts to finalize a permanent 20.36 plan for the child" means reasonable efforts by the responsible 21.1 social services agency to: 21.2 (i) reunify the child with the parent or guardian from whom 21.3 the child was removed; 21.4 (ii) assess a noncustodial parent's ability to provide 21.5 day-to-day care for the child and, where appropriate, to provide 21.6 services necessary to enable the noncustodial parent's ability 21.7 to safely provide such care; and 21.8 (iii) finalize a safe and legally permanent home for the 21.9 child, preferably through adoption or transfer of permanent 21.10 legal and physical custody of the child, when the child cannot 21.11 return to the parent or guardian from whom the child was removed. 21.12 (3) Reasonable efforts are made upon the exercise of due 21.13 diligence by the responsible social services agency to use 21.14 appropriate and available services to meet the needs of the 21.15 child and the child's familyin order to prevent removal of the21.16child from the child's family; or upon removal, services to21.17eliminate the need for removal and reunite the family. 21.18(1)(i) Services may include those provided by the 21.19 responsible social services agency and other appropriate 21.20 services available in the community. 21.21(2)(ii) At each stage of the proceedings where the court 21.22 is required to review the appropriateness of the responsible 21.23 social services agency's reasonable efforts, the social services 21.24 agency has the burden of demonstrating that: 21.25 (A) it has made reasonable efforts, or that provision of21.26services or further services for the purpose of rehabilitation21.27and reunification is futile and therefore unreasonable under the21.28circumstances or that reasonable efforts aimed at reunification21.29are not required under this sectionto prevent placement; 21.30 (B) it has made reasonable efforts to finalize the 21.31 permanent plan for the child; or 21.32 (C) reasonable efforts to prevent placement and to reunify 21.33 the child with the parent or guardian are not required. The 21.34 agency may meet this burden by stating facts in a sworn petition 21.35 filed under section 260C.141,orby filing an affidavit 21.36 summarizing the agency's reasonable efforts or facts the agency 22.1 believes demonstrate there is no need for reasonable efforts to 22.2 reunify the parent and child, or through testimony or a 22.3 certified report required under juvenile court rules. 22.4(3) No(4) Once the court determines that reasonable 22.5 efforts for reunification are not requiredwhen the court makes22.6a determinationbecause of a prima facie finding under paragraph 22.7 (a)unless, the court may only require reasonable efforts for 22.8 reunification after a hearing according to section 22.9 260C.163, where the court finds there is not clear and 22.10 convincing evidence of the facts upon which the court based its 22.11 prima facie determination. In this case, the court may proceed 22.12 under section 260C.312. Reunification of a surviving child with 22.13 a parent is not required if the parent has been convicted of: 22.14 (i) a violation of, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit a 22.15 violation of, sections 609.185 to 609.20; 609.222, subdivision 22.16 2; or 609.223 in regard to another child of the parent; 22.17 (ii) a violation of section 609.222, subdivision 2; or 22.18 609.223, in regard to the surviving child; or 22.19 (iii) a violation of, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit 22.20 a violation of, United States Code, title 18, section 1111(a) or 22.21 1112(a), in regard to another child of the parent. 22.22 (c) The juvenile court, in proceedings under sections 22.23 260B.178 or 260C.178, 260C.201, and 260C.301 shall make findings 22.24 and conclusions as to the provision of reasonable efforts. When 22.25 determining whether reasonable efforts have been made, the court 22.26 shall consider whether services to the child and family were: 22.27 (1) relevant to the safety and protection of the child; 22.28 (2) adequate to meet the needs of the child and family; 22.29 (3) culturally appropriate; 22.30 (4) available and accessible; 22.31 (5) consistent and timely; and 22.32 (6) realistic under the circumstances. 22.33 In the alternative, the court may determine that provision 22.34 of services or further services for the purpose of 22.35 rehabilitation is futile and therefore unreasonable under the 22.36 circumstances or that reasonable efforts are not required as 23.1 provided in paragraph (a). 23.2 (d) This section does not prevent out-of-home placement for 23.3 treatment of a child with a mental disability when the child's 23.4 diagnostic assessment or individual treatment plan indicates 23.5 that appropriate and necessary treatment cannot be effectively 23.6 provided outside of a residential or inpatient treatment program. 23.7 (e) If continuation of reasonable effortsdescribed in23.8paragraph (b)to prevent placement or reunify the child with the 23.9 parent or guardian from whom the child was removed is determined 23.10 by the court to be inconsistent with the permanent plan for the 23.11 child, or upon a determination under paragraph (a), reasonable 23.12 efforts must be made to place the child in a timely manner in 23.13accordance with the permanent plan ordered by the courta safe 23.14 and permanent home and to complete whatever steps are necessary 23.15 to legally finalize the permanentplan forplacement of the 23.16 child. 23.17 (f) Reasonable efforts to place a child for adoption or in 23.18 another permanent placement may be made concurrently with 23.19 reasonable effortsas described in paragraphs (a) and (b)to 23.20 prevent placement or to reunify the child with the parent or 23.21 guardian from whom the child was removed. When the responsible 23.22 social services agency decides to concurrently make reasonable 23.23 efforts for both reunification and permanent placement away from 23.24 the parent under paragraphs (a) and (b), the agency shall 23.25 disclose its decision and both plans for concurrent reasonable 23.26 efforts to all parties and the court. When the agency discloses 23.27 its decision to proceed on both plans for reunification and 23.28 permanent placement away from the parent, the court's review of 23.29 the agency's reasonable efforts shall include the agency's 23.30 efforts underparagraphs (a) and (b)both plans. 23.31 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 260C.001, 23.32 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 23.33 Subd. 3. [PERMANENCY AND TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS.] 23.34 The purpose of the laws relating to permanency and termination 23.35 of parental rights is to ensure that: 23.36 (1) when required and appropriate, reasonable efforts have 24.1 been made by the social services agency to reunite the child 24.2 with the child's parents in a home that is safe and permanent; 24.3 and 24.4 (2) if placement with the parents is not reasonably 24.5 foreseeable, to secure for the child a safe and permanent 24.6 placement, preferably with adoptive parents or a fit and willing 24.7 relative through transfer of permanent legal and physical 24.8 custody to that relative. 24.9 Nothing in this section requires reasonable efforts to 24.10 reunify the child with the parent or guardian to be made in 24.11 circumstances where the court has determined that the child has 24.12 been subjected to egregious harmor, when the child is an 24.13 abandoned infant, the parent has involuntarily lost custody of 24.14 another child through a proceeding under section 260C.201, 24.15 subdivision 11, or similar law of another state, the parental 24.16 rights of the parent to a sibling have been involuntarily 24.17 terminated, or the court has determined that reasonable efforts 24.18 or further reasonable efforts to reunify the child with the 24.19 parent or guardian would be futile. 24.20 The paramount consideration in all proceedings for 24.21 permanent placement of the child under section 260C.201, 24.22 subdivision 11, or the termination of parental rights is the 24.23 best interests of the child. In proceedings involving an 24.24 American Indian child, as defined in section 260.755, 24.25 subdivision 8, the best interests of the child must be 24.26 determined consistent with the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, 24.27 United States Code, title 25, section 1901, et seq. 24.28 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 260C.007, 24.29 subdivision 7, is amended to read: 24.30 Subd. 7. [CHILD-PLACING AGENCY.] "Child-placing agency" 24.31 meansanyonean agency licensed under sections 245A.01 to 24.32 245A.16 and 252.28, subdivision 2. 24.33 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 260C.007, 24.34 subdivision 8, is amended to read: 24.35 Subd. 8. [COMPELLING REASONS.] "Compelling reasons" means 24.36 an individualized determination by the responsible social 25.1 services agency, which is approved by the court, related to a 25.2 request by the agency not to initiate proceedings to terminate 25.3 parental rights or transfer permanent legal and physical custody 25.4 of a child to the child's relative or former noncustodial parent 25.5 under section 260C.301, subdivision 3, or to continue the child 25.6 in foster care past the time required in section 260C.201, 25.7 subdivision 11, or 260C.141, subdivision 2, paragraph (b). 25.8 Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 260C.007, 25.9 subdivision 18, is amended to read: 25.10 Subd. 18. [FOSTER CARE.] "Foster care" meansthe24 houra25.11day care of a child in any facility which for gain or otherwise25.12regularly provides one or more children, when unaccompanied by25.13their parents, with a substitute for the care, food, lodging,25.14training, education, supervision or treatment they need but25.15which for any reason cannot be furnished by their parents or25.16legal guardians in their homes.substitute care for children 25.17 placed away from their parents or guardian and for whom a 25.18 responsible social services agency has placement and care 25.19 responsibility. "Foster care" includes, but is not limited to, 25.20 placement in foster family homes, foster homes of relatives, 25.21 group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities not 25.22 excluded in this subdivision, child care institutions, and 25.23 preadoptive homes. A child is in foster care under this 25.24 definition regardless of whether the facility is licensed and 25.25 payments are made for the cost of care. Nothing in this 25.26 definition creates any authority to place a child in a home or 25.27 facility that is required to be licensed which is not licensed. 25.28 "Foster care" does not include placement in any of the following 25.29 facilities: hospitals, in-patient chemical dependency treatment 25.30 facilities, facilities that are primarily for delinquent 25.31 children, any corrections facility or program within a 25.32 particular corrections facility not meeting requirements for 25.33 Title IV-E facilities as determined by the commissioner, 25.34 facilities to which a child is committed under the provision of 25.35 chapter 253B, forestry camps, or jails. 25.36 Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 260C.007, 26.1 subdivision 22, is amended to read: 26.2 Subd. 22. [LEGAL CUSTODY.] "Legal custody" means the right 26.3 to the care, custody, and control of a child who has been taken 26.4 from a parent by the court in accordance with the provisions of 26.5 section 260C.201 or 260C.317. The expenses of legal custody are 26.6 paid in accordance with the provisions of section 26.7 260C.331. "Legal custody" also means "emergency protective 26.8 care" and "protective care" as defined in the rules for juvenile 26.9 court. 26.10 Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 260C.007, 26.11 subdivision 27, is amended to read: 26.12 Subd. 27. [RELATIVE.] "Relative" means a person related to 26.13 the child by blood, marriage, or adoption, or an individual who 26.14 is an important friend with whom the child has resided or had 26.15 significant contact. For an Indian child, relative includes 26.16 members of the extended family as defined by the law or custom 26.17 of the Indian child's tribe or, in the absence of law or custom, 26.18 or in the absence of such law or custom, shall be a person who 26.19 has reached the age of 18 and who is the Indian child's 26.20 grandparent, aunt or uncle, brother or sister, brother-in-law or 26.21 sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, or first or second cousins or 26.22 stepparent, as provided in the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, 26.23 United States Code, title 25, section 1903. 26.24 Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 260C.151, 26.25 subdivision 6, is amended to read: 26.26 Subd. 6. [IMMEDIATE CUSTODY.] If the court makes 26.27 individualized, explicit findings, based on the notarized 26.28 petition or sworn affidavit, that there are reasonable grounds 26.29 to believe the child is in surroundings or conditions which 26.30 endanger the child's health, safety, or welfare that require 26.31 that responsibility for the child's care and custody be 26.32 immediately assumed by thecourtresponsible social services 26.33 agency and that continuation of the child in the custody of the 26.34 parent or guardian is contrary to the child's welfare, the court 26.35 may order that the officer serving the summons take the child 26.36 into immediate custody for placement of the child in foster 27.1 care. In ordering that responsibility for the care, custody, 27.2 and control of the child be assumed by the responsible social 27.3 services agency, the court is ordering emergency protective care 27.4 as that term is defined in the rules of juvenile court. 27.5 Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 260C.178, is 27.6 amended to read: 27.7 260C.178 [DETENTIONEMERGENCY REMOVAL HEARING.] 27.8 Subdivision 1. [HEARING AND RELEASE REQUIREMENTS.] (a) If 27.9 a child was taken into custody under section 260C.175, 27.10 subdivision 1, clause (a) or (b)(2), the court shall hold a 27.11 hearing within 72 hours of the time the child was taken into 27.12 custody, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, to 27.13 determine whether the child should continue in custody. 27.14 (b) Unless there is reason to believe that the child would 27.15 endanger self or others, not return for a court hearing, run 27.16 away from the child's parent, guardian, or custodian or 27.17 otherwise not remain in the care or control of the person to 27.18 whose lawful custody the child is released, or that the child's 27.19 health or welfare would be immediately endangered, the child 27.20 shall be released to the custody of a parent, guardian, 27.21 custodian, or other suitable person, subject to reasonable 27.22 conditions of release including, but not limited to, a 27.23 requirement that the child undergo a chemical use assessment as 27.24 provided in section 260C.157, subdivision 1. If the court 27.25 determines there is reason to believe that the child would 27.26 endanger self or others; not return for a court hearing; run 27.27 away from the child's parent, guardian, or custodian or 27.28 otherwise not remain in the care or control of the person to 27.29 whose lawful custody the child is released; or that the child's 27.30 health or welfare would be immediately endangered, the court 27.31 shall order the child into foster care under the responsibility 27.32 of the responsible social services agency or responsible 27.33 probation or corrections agency for the purposes of protective 27.34 care. In determining whether the child's health or welfare 27.35 would be immediately endangered, the court shall consider 27.36 whether the child would reside with a perpetrator of domestic 28.1 child abuse. 28.2 (c) The court, before determining whether a child should be 28.3 placed in or continue incustodyfoster care under the 28.4 protective care of the responsible agency, shall also make a 28.5 determination, consistent with section 260.012 as to whether 28.6 reasonable efforts, orwere made to prevent placement or whether 28.7 reasonable efforts to prevent placement are not required. In 28.8 the case of an Indian child, active efforts, according to the 28.9 Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, United States Code, title 25, 28.10 section 1912(d), were made to prevent placement.The court28.11shall also determine whether there are available services that28.12would prevent the need for further detention. In the28.13alternative,The court shall enter a finding that the 28.14 responsible social services agency has made reasonable efforts 28.15 to prevent placement when the agency establishes either that it 28.16 has actually provided services or made efforts in an attempt to 28.17 prevent the child's removal, but that such services or efforts 28.18 have not proven sufficient to permit the child to safely remain 28.19 in the home or that there are no services or other efforts that 28.20 could be made at the time of the hearing that could safely 28.21 permit the child to remain home or to return home. When 28.22 reasonable efforts to prevent placement are required and there 28.23 are services or other efforts that could be ordered which would 28.24 permit the child to safely return home, the court shall order 28.25 the child returned to the care of the parent or guardian and the 28.26 services or efforts put in place to ensure the child's safety. 28.27 When the court makes a prima facie determination that one of the 28.28 circumstances under paragraph (e) exists, the court shall 28.29 determine that reasonable efforts to prevent placement and to 28.30 return the child to the care of the parent or guardian are not 28.31 requiredif the court makes a prima facie determination that one28.32of the circumstances under paragraph (e) exists. 28.33 If the court finds the social services agency's preventive 28.34 or reunification efforts have not been reasonable but further 28.35 preventive or reunification efforts could not permit the child 28.36 to safely remain at home, the court may nevertheless authorize 29.1 or continue the removal of the child. 29.2 (d) The court may not order or continue the foster care 29.3 placement of the child unless the court makes explicit, 29.4 individualized findings that continued custody of the child by 29.5 the parent or guardian would be contrary to the welfare of the 29.6 child. 29.7 (e) At thedetentionemergency removal hearing, or at any 29.8 time during the course of the proceeding, and upon notice and 29.9 request of the county attorney, the court shallmake the29.10following determinations:29.11(1)determine whether atermination of parental rights29.12 petition has been filed stating a prima facie case that: 29.13(i)(1) the parent has subjected a child to egregious harm 29.14 as defined in section 260C.007, subdivision 14; 29.15(ii)(2) the parental rights of the parent to another child 29.16 have been involuntarily terminated;or29.17(iii)(3) the child is an abandoned infant under section 29.18 260C.301, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (2); 29.19(2) that(4) the parents' custodial rights to another child 29.20 have been involuntarily transferred to a relative under section 29.21 260C.201, subdivision 11, paragraph (e), clause (1), or a 29.22 similar law of another jurisdiction; or 29.23 (5) the provision of services or further services for the 29.24 purpose of reunification is futile and therefore unreasonable. 29.25 (f) When a petition to terminate parental rights is 29.26 required under section 260C.307, but the county attorney has 29.27 determined not to proceed with a termination of parental rights 29.28 petitionunder section 260C.307; or29.29(3) whether a termination of parental rights petition or29.30other petition according to section 260C.201, subdivision 11,29.31has been filed alleging a prima facie case that the provision of29.32services or further services for the purpose of rehabilitation29.33and reunification is futile and therefore unreasonable under the29.34circumstances.29.35If the court determines that the county attorney is not29.36proceeding with a termination of parental rights petition under30.1section 260C.307, but is proceeding with a petition under30.2section 260C.201, subdivision 11, the court shall schedule a30.3permanency hearing within 30 days., and has instead filed a 30.4 petition to transfer permanent legal and physical custody to a 30.5 relative under section 260C.201, subdivision 11, the court shall 30.6 schedule a permanency hearing within 30 days of a hearing under 30.7 this section. 30.8 (g) If the county attorney has filed a petition under 30.9 section 260C.307, the court shall schedule a trial under section 30.10 260C.163 within 90 days of the filing of the petition except 30.11 when the county attorney determines that the criminal case shall 30.12 proceed to trial first under section 260C.201, subdivision 3. 30.13(f)(h) If the court determines the child should be ordered 30.14 intoout-of-home placementfoster care and the child's parent 30.15 refuses to give information to the responsible social services 30.16 agency regarding the child's father or relatives of the child, 30.17 the court may order the parent to disclose the names, addresses, 30.18 telephone numbers, and other identifying information to the 30.19 responsible social services agency for the purpose of complying 30.20 with the requirements of sections 260C.151, 260C.212, and 30.21 260C.215. 30.22(g)(i) If a child ordered intoout-of-home30.23placementfoster care has siblings, whether full, half, or step, 30.24 who are also ordered intoplacementfoster care, the court shall 30.25 inquire of the responsible social services agency of the efforts 30.26 to place the children together as required by section 260C.212, 30.27 subdivision 2, paragraph (d), if placement together is in each 30.28 child's best interests, unless a child is in placement due 30.29 solely to the child's own behavior or a child is placed with a 30.30 previously noncustodial parent who is not parent to all 30.31 siblings. If the children are not placed together at the time 30.32 of the hearing, the court shall inquire at each subsequent 30.33 hearing of the agency's efforts to place the siblings together. 30.34 If any sibling is not placed with another sibling or siblings, 30.35 the agency must develop a plan for visitation among the siblings 30.36 as required under section 260C.212, subdivision 1. 31.1Subd. 2. [DURATION.] If the court determines that the31.2child should continue in detention, it may order detention31.3continued for eight days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and31.4holidays, from and including the date of the order. The court31.5shall include in its order the reasons for continued detention31.6and the findings of fact which support these reasons.31.7 Subd. 3. [PARENTAL VISITATION.] If a child has been taken 31.8 into custody under section 260C.151, subdivision 5, or 260C.175, 31.9 subdivision 1, clause (b)(2), and the court determines that the 31.10 child should continue indetentionfoster care, the court shall 31.11 include in its order reasonable rules for supervised or 31.12 unsupervised parental visitation of the child in theshelter31.13 foster care facility unless it finds that visitation would 31.14 endanger the child's physical or emotional well-being. 31.15 Subd. 4. [MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.] (a) Except as provided 31.16 in paragraph (b), a child who is held indetentionfoster care 31.17 as an alleged victim of child abuse as defined in section 31.18 630.36, subdivision 2, may not be given mental health treatment 31.19 specifically for the effects of the alleged abuse until the 31.20 court finds that there is probable cause to believe the abuse 31.21 has occurred. 31.22 (b) A child described in paragraph (a) may be given mental 31.23 health treatment prior to a probable cause finding of child 31.24 abuse if the treatment is either agreed to by the child's parent 31.25 or guardian in writing, or ordered by the court according to the 31.26 standard contained in section 260C.201, subdivision 1. 31.27 Subd. 5. [COPIES OF ORDER.] Copies of the court's order 31.28 shall be served upon the parties, including thesupervisor of31.29the detention facilityplacement facility,whowhich shall 31.30 release the child or continue to hold the child as the court 31.31 orders. 31.32 When the court's order is served upon these parties, notice 31.33 shall also be given to the parties of the subsequent reviews 31.34 provided by subdivision 6.The notice shall also inform each31.35party of the right to submit to the court for informal review31.36any new evidence regarding whether the child should be continued32.1in detention and to request a hearing to present the evidence to32.2the court.32.3 Subd. 6. [REVIEW.]If a child held in detention under a32.4court order issued under subdivision 2 has not been released32.5prior to expiration of the order, the court or referee shall32.6informally review the child's case file to determine, under the32.7standards provided by subdivision 1, whether detention should be32.8continued. If detention is continued thereafter, informal32.9reviews such as these shall be held within every eight days,32.10excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, of the child's32.11detention.When a child is placed in foster care, the child's 32.12 placement shall be periodically reviewed as required under the 32.13 rules of juvenile court including notice to the parties required 32.14 to be served with a copy of the order under subdivision 4. 32.15 A hearing, rather than an informal review of the child's32.16case file,shall be held at the request of any one of the 32.17 parties notified pursuant to subdivision 5, if that party 32.18 notifies the court of a wish to present to the court new 32.19 evidence concerning whether the child should be continued in 32.20 detention or notifies the court of a wish to present an 32.21 alternate placement arrangement to provide for the safety and 32.22 protection of the child. 32.23 In addition, if a child was taken intodetentioncustody 32.24 under section 260C.151, subdivision 5, or 260C.175, subdivision 32.25 1, clause (c)(2), and is held indetentionfoster care or placed 32.26 in another facility under a court order issued under subdivision 32.27 2, the court shall schedule and hold an adjudicatory hearing on 32.28 the petition within 60 days of thedetentionemergency removal 32.29 hearing upon the request of any party to the proceeding. 32.30 However, if good cause is shown by a party to the proceeding why 32.31 the hearing should not be held within that time period, the 32.32 hearing shall be held within 90 days, unless the parties agree 32.33 otherwise and the court so orders. 32.34 Subd. 7. [OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT PLAN.] (a) An out-of-home 32.35 placement plan required under section 260C.212 shall be filed 32.36 with the court within 30 days of the filing of a petition 33.1 alleging the child to be in need of protection or services under 33.2 section 260C.141, subdivision 1, or filed with the petition if 33.3 the petition is a review of a voluntary placement under section 33.4 260C.141, subdivision 2. 33.5 (b) Upon the filing of the out-of-home placement plan which 33.6 has been developed jointly with the parent and in consultation 33.7 with others as required under section 260C.212, subdivision 1, 33.8 the court mayapproveorder the responsible social services 33.9 agency to implement the plan based on the allegations contained 33.10 in the petition. The court shall send written noticeof the33.11approval ofto all parties that the out-of-home placement plan 33.12to all parties and the county attorneyhas been ordered or may 33.13 state suchapprovalorder on the record at a hearing.A parent33.14may agree to comply with the terms of the plan filed with the33.15court.33.16 (c)Upon notice and motion by a parent who agrees to comply33.17with the terms of an out-of-home placement plan, the court may33.18modify the plan and order the responsible social services agency33.19to provide other or additional services for reunification, if33.20reunification efforts are required, and the court determines the33.21agency's plan inadequate under section 260.012.If a parent 33.22 refuses to cooperate in the development of the out-of-home 33.23 placement plan or disagrees with the services recommended by the 33.24 responsible social service agency, the agency shall note such 33.25 refusal or disagreement for the court in the out-of-home 33.26 placement plan filed with the court. The agency shall notify 33.27 the court of the services it will provide or efforts it will 33.28 attempt under the plan notwithstanding the parents' refusal to 33.29 cooperate or disagreement with the services, and the court may 33.30 approve the plan based on the content of the petition. 33.31 (d) Unless the parent agrees to comply with the terms of 33.32 the out-of-home placement plan, the court may not order a parent 33.33 to comply with the provisions of the plan until the courtmakes33.34a determinationdetermines that the child is in need of 33.35 protection or services and orders disposition under section 33.36 260C.201, subdivision 1. However, the court may find that the 34.1 responsible social services agency has made reasonable efforts 34.2 for reunification if the agency makes efforts to implement the 34.3 terms of an out-of-home placement plan ordered or approved under 34.4 this section. 34.5 Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 260C.201, 34.6 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 34.7 Subdivision 1. [DISPOSITIONS.] (a) If the court finds that 34.8 the child is in need of protection or services or neglected and 34.9 in foster care, it shall enter an order making any of the 34.10followingdispositions of the case:in paragraphs (b) to (l). 34.11(1)(b) Place the child under the protective supervision of 34.12 the responsible social services agency or child-placing agency 34.13 in the home of a parent of the child under conditions prescribed 34.14 by the court directed to the correction of the child's need for 34.15 protection or services: 34.16 (i) the court may order the child into the home of a parent 34.17 who does not otherwise have legal custody of the child, however, 34.18 an order under this section does not confer legal custody on 34.19 that parent; 34.20 (ii) if the court orders the child into the home of a 34.21 father who is not adjudicated, he must cooperate with paternity 34.22 establishment proceedings regarding the child in the appropriate 34.23 jurisdiction as one of the conditions prescribed by the court 34.24 for the child to continue in his home; and 34.25 (iii) the court may order the child into the home of a 34.26 noncustodial parent with conditions and may also order both the 34.27 noncustodial and the custodial parent to comply with the 34.28 requirements of a case plan under subdivision 2; or. 34.29(2)(c) Transfer legal custody to one of the following: 34.30 (i) a child-placing agency; or 34.31 (ii) the responsible social services agency. 34.32 (d) Inplacingmaking a foster care placement for a child 34.33 whose custody has been transferred under thisparagraph34.34 subdivision, theagenciesagency shall make an individualized 34.35 determination of how the placement is in the child's best 34.36 interests using the consideration for relatives and the best 35.1 interest factors in section 260C.212, subdivision 2, paragraph 35.2 (b); or. 35.3 (e) When an agency has legal custody of a child, the court 35.4 may order a trial home visit, which means the child is returned 35.5 to the care of the parent or guardian from whom the child was 35.6 removed for a period not to exceed six months. During the 35.7 period of the trial home visit, the responsible social services 35.8 agency: 35.9 (1) shall continue to have legal custody of the child, 35.10 which means the agency may see the child in the parent's home, 35.11 at school, in a child care facility, or other setting as the 35.12 agency deems necessary and appropriate; 35.13 (2) shall continue to have the ability to access 35.14 information under section 260C.208; 35.15 (3) shall continue to provide appropriate services to both 35.16 the parent and the child during the period of the trial home 35.17 visit; 35.18 (4) without previous court order or authorization, may 35.19 terminate the trial home visit and remove the child to foster 35.20 care; 35.21 (5) shall advise the court and parties within three days of 35.22 the termination of the trial home visit when a visit is 35.23 terminated by the responsible social services agency without a 35.24 court order; and 35.25 (6) shall prepare a report for the court when the trial 35.26 home visit is terminated whether by the agency or court order 35.27 which describes the child's circumstances during the trial home 35.28 visit and recommends appropriate orders, if any, for the court 35.29 to enter to provide for the child's safety and stability. In 35.30 the event a trial home visit is terminated by the agency by 35.31 removing the child to foster care without prior court order or 35.32 authorization, the court shall conduct a hearing within ten days 35.33 of receiving notice of the termination of the trial home visit 35.34 by the agency and shall order disposition under this subdivision 35.35 or conduct a permanency hearing under subdivision 11 or 11a. 35.36 This time period for the hearing may be extended by the court 36.1 for good cause shown and if it is in the best interests of the 36.2 child as long as the total time the child spends in foster care 36.3 without a permanency hearing does not exceed 12 months. 36.4(3)(f) If the child has been adjudicated as a child in 36.5 need of protection or services because the child is in need of 36.6 special services or care to treat or ameliorate a physical or 36.7 mental disability, the court may order the child's parent, 36.8 guardian, or custodian to provide it. The court may order the 36.9 child's health plan company to provide mental health services to 36.10 the child. Section 62Q.535 applies to an order for mental 36.11 health services directed to the child's health plan company. If 36.12 the health plan, parent, guardian, or custodian fails or is 36.13 unable to provide this treatment or care, the court may order it 36.14 provided. Absent specific written findings by the court that 36.15 the child's disability is the result of abuse or neglect by the 36.16 child's parent or guardian, the court shall not transfer legal 36.17 custody of the child for the purpose of obtaining special 36.18 treatment or care solely because the parent is unable to provide 36.19 the treatment or care. If the court's order for mental health 36.20 treatment is based on a diagnosis made by a treatment 36.21 professional, the court may order that the diagnosing 36.22 professional not provide the treatment to the child if it finds 36.23 that such an order is in the child's best interests; or. 36.24(4)(g) If the court believes that the child has sufficient 36.25 maturity and judgment and that it is in the best interests of 36.26 the child, the court may order a child 16 years old or older to 36.27 be allowed to live independently, either alone or with others as 36.28 approved by the court under supervision the court considers 36.29 appropriate, if the county board, after consultation with the 36.30 court, has specifically authorized this dispositional 36.31 alternative for a child. 36.32(b)(h) If the child was adjudicated in need of protection 36.33 or services because the child is a runaway or habitual truant, 36.34 the court may order any of the following dispositions in 36.35 addition to or as alternatives to the dispositions authorized 36.36 under paragraph (a): 37.1 (1) counsel the child or the child's parents, guardian, or 37.2 custodian; 37.3 (2) place the child under the supervision of a probation 37.4 officer or other suitable person in the child's own home under 37.5 conditions prescribed by the court, including reasonable rules 37.6 for the child's conduct and the conduct of the parents, 37.7 guardian, or custodian, designed for the physical, mental, and 37.8 moral well-being and behavior of the child; or with the consent 37.9 of the commissioner of corrections, place the child in a group 37.10 foster care facility which is under the commissioner's 37.11 management and supervision; 37.12 (3) subject to the court's supervision, transfer legal 37.13 custody of the child to one of the following: 37.14 (i) a reputable person of good moral character. No person 37.15 may receive custody of two or more unrelated children unless 37.16 licensed to operate a residential program under sections 245A.01 37.17 to 245A.16; or 37.18 (ii) a county probation officer for placement in a group 37.19 foster home established under the direction of the juvenile 37.20 court and licensed pursuant to section 241.021; 37.21 (4) require the child to pay a fine of up to $100. The 37.22 court shall order payment of the fine in a manner that will not 37.23 impose undue financial hardship upon the child; 37.24 (5) require the child to participate in a community service 37.25 project; 37.26 (6) order the child to undergo a chemical dependency 37.27 evaluation and, if warranted by the evaluation, order 37.28 participation by the child in a drug awareness program or an 37.29 inpatient or outpatient chemical dependency treatment program; 37.30 (7) if the court believes that it is in the best interests 37.31 of the child and of public safety that the child's driver's 37.32 license or instruction permit be canceled, the court may order 37.33 the commissioner of public safety to cancel the child's license 37.34 or permit for any period up to the child's 18th birthday. If 37.35 the child does not have a driver's license or permit, the court 37.36 may order a denial of driving privileges for any period up to 38.1 the child's 18th birthday. The court shall forward an order 38.2 issued under this clause to the commissioner, who shall cancel 38.3 the license or permit or deny driving privileges without a 38.4 hearing for the period specified by the court. At any time 38.5 before the expiration of the period of cancellation or denial, 38.6 the court may, for good cause, order the commissioner of public 38.7 safety to allow the child to apply for a license or permit, and 38.8 the commissioner shall so authorize; 38.9 (8) order that the child's parent or legal guardian deliver 38.10 the child to school at the beginning of each school day for a 38.11 period of time specified by the court; or 38.12 (9) require the child to perform any other activities or 38.13 participate in any other treatment programs deemed appropriate 38.14 by the court. 38.15 (i) To the extent practicable, the court shall enter a 38.16 disposition order the same day it makes a finding that a child 38.17 is in need of protection or services or neglected and in foster 38.18 care, but in no event not more than 15 days after the finding 38.19 unless the court finds that the best interests of the child will 38.20 be served by granting a delay. If the child was under eight 38.21 years of age at the time the petition was filed, the disposition 38.22 order must be entered within ten days of the finding and the 38.23 court may not grant a delay unless good cause is shown and the 38.24 court finds the best interests of the child will be served by 38.25 the delay. 38.26(c)(j) If a child who is 14 years of age or older is 38.27 adjudicated in need of protection or services because the child 38.28 is a habitual truant and truancy procedures involving the child 38.29 were previously dealt with by a school attendance review board 38.30 or county attorney mediation program under section 260A.06 or 38.31 260A.07, the court shall order a cancellation or denial of 38.32 driving privileges under paragraph(b)(h), clause (7), for any 38.33 period up to the child's 18th birthday. 38.34(d)(k) In the case of a child adjudicated in need of 38.35 protection or services because the child has committed domestic 38.36 abuse and been ordered excluded from the child's parent's home, 39.1 the court shall dismiss jurisdiction if the court, at any time, 39.2 finds the parent is able or willing to provide an alternative 39.3 safe living arrangement for the child, as defined in Laws 1997, 39.4 chapter 239, article 10, section 2. 39.5(e)(l) When a parent has complied with a case plan ordered 39.6 under subdivision 6 and the child is in the care of the parent, 39.7 the court may order the responsible social services agency to 39.8 monitor the parent's continued ability to maintain the child 39.9 safely in the home under such terms and conditions as the court 39.10 determines appropriate under the circumstances. 39.11 Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 260C.201, 39.12 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 39.13 Subd. 2. [WRITTEN FINDINGS.] (a) Any order for a 39.14 disposition authorized under this section shall contain written 39.15 findings of fact to support the disposition and case plan 39.16 ordered and shall also set forth in writing the following 39.17 information: 39.18 (1) why the best interests and safety of the child are 39.19 served by the disposition and case plan ordered; 39.20 (2) what alternative dispositions or services under the 39.21 case plan were considered by the court, if any, and why such 39.22 dispositions or services were not appropriate in the instant 39.23 case; 39.24 (3) when legal custody of the child is transferred, the 39.25 appropriateness ofthe particular placement made or to be made39.26by the placing agency usingresponsible social services agency's 39.27 determinations regarding the factors in section 260C.212, 39.28 subdivision 2, paragraph (b); and 39.29 (4) when the child is removed from the care of a parent or 39.30 guardian, whether reasonable efforts consistent with section 39.31 260.012 were made to prevent or eliminate the necessity of the 39.32 child's removal and to reunify the family after removal. The 39.33 court's findings must include a brief description of what 39.34 preventive and reunification efforts were made and why further 39.35 efforts could not have prevented or eliminated the necessity of 39.36 removal or that reasonable efforts were not required under 40.1 section 260.012 or 260C.178, subdivision 1. 40.2 (b) If the court finds that the social services agency's 40.3 preventive or reunification efforts have not been reasonable but 40.4 that further preventive or reunification efforts could not 40.5 permit the child to safely remain at home, the court may 40.6 nevertheless authorize or continue the removal of the child. 40.7 (c) If the child has been identified by the responsible 40.8 social services agency as the subject of concurrent permanency 40.9 planning, the court shall review the reasonable efforts of the 40.10 agency to recruit, identify, and make a placement in a home 40.11 where the foster parent or relative that has committed to being 40.12 the legally permanent home for the child in the event 40.13 reunification efforts are not successful. 40.14 Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 260C.201, 40.15 subdivision 6, is amended to read: 40.16 Subd. 6. [CASE PLAN.] (a) For each disposition ordered 40.17 where the child is placed away from a parent or guardian, the 40.18 court shall order the responsible social services agency to 40.19 prepare a written out-of-home placement plan according to the 40.20 requirements of section 260C.212, subdivision 1. 40.21 (b) In cases where the child is not placed out of the home 40.22 or is ordered into the home of a noncustodial parent, the 40.23 responsible social services agency shall prepare a plan for 40.24 delivery of social services to the child and custodial parent 40.25 under section 626.556, subdivision 10, or any other case plan 40.26 required to meet the needs of the child. The plan shall be 40.27 designed to safely maintain the child in the home or to reunite 40.28 the child with the custodial parent. 40.29 (c) The court mayapproveorder the case plan as presented 40.30 or modify it after hearing from the parties. Once the plan is 40.31approvedordered,the court shall orderall partiestoshall 40.32 comply with it. A copy of theapprovedcase plan that is 40.33 ordered shall be attached to the court's order and incorporated 40.34 into it by reference. 40.35 (d) A party has a right to request a court review of the 40.36 reasonableness of the case plan upon a showing of a substantial 41.1 change of circumstances. 41.2 Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 260C.201, 41.3 subdivision 10, is amended to read: 41.4 Subd. 10. [COURT REVIEW OFOUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENTSFOSTER 41.5 CARE.] (a) If the court places a child ina residential41.6facility, as defined in section 260C.212, subdivision 1foster 41.7 care, the court shall review the out-of-home placement at least 41.8 every 90 days as required in juvenile court rules to determine 41.9 whether continued out-of-home placement is necessary and 41.10 appropriate or whether the child should be returned home. 41.11 (b) No later than six months after the child'sout-of-home41.12 placement in foster care, the court shall review agency efforts 41.13 pursuant to section 260C.212, subdivision 2, and order that the 41.14 efforts continue if the agency has failed to perform the duties 41.15 under that section. 41.16 (c) The court shall review the out-of-home placement plan 41.17 and may modify the plan as provided under subdivisions 6 and 7. 41.18 (d) When the court ordersout-of-home placementfoster care 41.19 or protective supervision with a noncustodial parent under 41.20 subdivision 1, the court shall notify the parents of the 41.21 provisions of subdivisions 11 and 11a as required under juvenile 41.22 court rules. 41.23 Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 260C.201, 41.24 subdivision 11, is amended to read: 41.25 Subd. 11. [REVIEW OF COURT ORDERED PLACEMENTS; PERMANENT 41.26 PLACEMENT DETERMINATION.] (a)Except forThis subdivision and 41.27 subdivision 11a do not apply in cases where the child is in 41.28 placement due solely to the child's developmental disability or 41.29 emotional disturbance,andwhere legal custody has not been 41.30 transferred to the responsible social services agency, and where 41.31 the court finds compelling reasons under section 260C.007, 41.32 subdivision 8, to continue the child in foster care past the 41.33 time periods specified in this subdivision. Foster care 41.34 placements of children due solely to their disability are 41.35 governed by section 260C.141, subdivision 2, paragraph (b). In 41.36 all other cases where the child is in foster care or in the care 42.1 of a noncustodial parent under subdivision 1 of this section, 42.2 the court shall conduct a hearing to determine the permanent 42.3 status of a child not later than 12 months after the childis42.4placed out of the home of thehas been placed in foster care or 42.5 in the care of a noncustodial parent. 42.6 For purposes of this subdivision, the date of the child's 42.7 placementout of the home of the parentin foster care is the 42.8 earlier of the first court-ordered placement under section 42.9 260C.178 or 60 days after the date on which the child has been 42.10 voluntarily placedout of the homein foster care by the child's 42.11 parent or guardian. For purposes of this subdivision, time 42.12 spent by a child under the protective supervision of the 42.13 responsible social services agency in the home of a noncustodial 42.14 parent pursuant to an order under subdivision 1 of this section 42.15 counts towards the requirement of a permanency hearing under 42.16 this subdivision or subdivision 11a. Time spent on a trial home 42.17 visit does not count towards the requirement of a permanency 42.18 hearing under this subdivision or subdivision 11a. 42.19 For purposes of this subdivision, 12 months is calculated 42.20 as follows: 42.21 (1) during the pendency of a petition alleging that a child 42.22 is in need of protection or services, all time periods when a 42.23 child is placedout of the home of the parentin foster care or 42.24 in the home of a noncustodial parent are cumulated; 42.25 (2) if a child has been placedout of the home of the42.26parentin foster care within the previous five years under one 42.27 or more previous petitions, the lengths of all prior time 42.28 periods when the child was placedout of the homein foster care 42.29 within the previous five years are cumulated. If a child under 42.30 this clause has beenout of the homein foster care for 12 42.31 months or more, the court, if it is in the best interests of the 42.32 child and for compelling reasons, may extend the total time the 42.33 child may continue out of the home under the current petition up 42.34 to an additional six months before making a permanency 42.35 determination. 42.36 (b) Unless the responsible social services agency 43.1 recommends return of the child to the custodial parent or 43.2 parents, not later than30ten days prior to this hearing, the 43.3 responsible social services agency shall file pleadings in 43.4 juvenile court to establish the basis for the juvenile court to 43.5 order permanent placement of the child, including a termination 43.6 of parental rights petition, according to paragraph (d). Notice 43.7 of the hearing and copies of the pleadings must be provided 43.8 pursuant to section 260C.152.If a termination of parental43.9rights petition is filed before the date required for the43.10permanency planning determination and there is a trial under43.11section 260C.163 scheduled on that petition within 90 days of43.12the filing of the petition, no hearing need be conducted under43.13this subdivision.At the permanency hearing scheduled under this 43.14 subdivision, the court shall: 43.15 (1) review the pleadings filed to determine whether the 43.16 pleadings state a prima facie basis on which to order the child 43.17 placed permanently away from the parent, including a prima facie 43.18 basis for termination of parental rights where a termination of 43.19 parental rights petition has been filed; 43.20 (2) review the pleadings and record to determine whether 43.21 the pleadings and record state a prima facie basis to find that 43.22 reasonable efforts have been made to reunify the child with the 43.23 parent or guardian where such efforts are required; 43.24 (3) upon determining there is a prima facie basis as 43.25 required in clauses (1) and (2), the court shall require the 43.26 parent or guardian of the child to answer the pleadings as 43.27 required in rules of juvenile court; 43.28 (4) in the event the parent or guardian enters a denial to 43.29 the pleadings, or another party, including the child, objects to 43.30 the proposed permanent placement sought in the pleadings or to 43.31 the termination of parental rights, the court shall set the 43.32 matter for trial according to section 260C.163 not later than 60 43.33 days from the date of the permanency hearing required under this 43.34 subdivision, or where trial is required on a termination of 43.35 parental rights petition, not later than 90 days from the date 43.36 of the permanency hearing required under this subdivision; and 44.1 (5) in the event the court finds that the pleadings do not 44.2 state a prima facie basis on which to order permanent placement 44.3 of the child away from the parent, the court shall proceed 44.4 according to the requirements of the rules of juvenile court. 44.5 (c) At the conclusion of the hearing or the trial on the 44.6 permanency or termination of parental rights petition, the court 44.7 shall order the child returned to the care of the parent or 44.8 guardian from whom the child was removed, or order a trial home 44.9 visit and delay further orders regarding permanent placement of 44.10 the child pending the agency's assessment of the trial home 44.11 visit and further hearing, or order a permanent placement or 44.12 termination of parental rights if permanent placement or 44.13 termination of parental rights is in the child's best 44.14 interests. The "best interests of the child" means all relevant 44.15 factors to be considered and evaluated. Transfer of permanent 44.16 legal and physical custody, termination of parental rights, or 44.17 guardianship and legal custody to the commissioner through a 44.18 consent to adopt are preferred permanency options for a child 44.19 who cannot return home. 44.20 (d) If the child is not returned to the home, the court 44.21 must order one of the following dispositions: 44.22 (1) permanent legal and physical custody to a relative in 44.23 the best interests of the child according to the following 44.24 conditions: 44.25 (i) an order for transfer of permanent legal and physical 44.26 custody to a relative shall only be made after the court has 44.27 reviewed the suitability of the prospective legal and physical 44.28 custodian; 44.29 (ii) in transferring permanent legal and physical custody 44.30 to a relative, the juvenile court shall follow the standards 44.31 applicable under this chapter and chapter 260, and the 44.32 procedures set out in the juvenile court rules; 44.33 (iii) an order establishing permanent legal and physical 44.34 custody under this subdivision must be filed with the family 44.35 court; 44.36 (iv) a transfer of legal and physical custody includes 45.1 responsibility for the protection, education, care, and control 45.2 of the child and decision making on behalf of the child; 45.3 (v) the social services agency may bring a petition or 45.4 motion naming a fit and willing relative as a proposed permanent 45.5 legal and physical custodian. The commissioner of human 45.6 services shall annually prepare for counties information that 45.7 must be given to proposed custodians about their legal rights 45.8 and obligations as custodians together with information on 45.9 financial and medical benefits for which the child is eligible; 45.10 and 45.11 (vi) the juvenile court may maintain jurisdiction over the 45.12 responsible social services agency, the parents or guardian of 45.13 the child, the child, and the permanent legal and physical 45.14 custodian for purposes of ensuring appropriate services are 45.15 delivered to the child and permanent legal custodian or for the 45.16 purpose of ensuring conditions ordered by the court related to 45.17 the care and custody of the child are met; 45.18 (2) termination of parental rights when the requirements of 45.19 sections 260C.301 to 260C.328 are met or according to the 45.20 following conditions: 45.21 (i)unlessorder the social services agencyhas already45.22filedto file a petition for termination of parental 45.23 rightsunder section 260C.307, the court may order such a45.24petition filed andin which case all the requirements of 45.25 sections 260C.301 to 260C.328 remain applicable; and 45.26 (ii) an adoption completed subsequent to a determination 45.27 under this subdivision may include an agreement for 45.28 communication or contact under section 259.58; 45.29 (3) long-term foster care according to the following 45.30 conditions: 45.31 (i) the court may order a child into long-term foster care 45.32 only if itfindsapproves the responsible social service 45.33 agency's compelling reasons that neither an award of permanent 45.34 legal and physical custody to a relative, nor termination of 45.35 parental rights is in the child's best interests;and45.36 (ii) further, the court may only order long-term foster 46.1 care for the child under this section if it finds the following: 46.2 (A) the child has reached age 12 andreasonable efforts by46.3 the responsible social services agencyhave failedhas made 46.4 reasonable efforts to locate and place the child with an 46.5 adoptive familyfor the childor with a fit and willing relative 46.6 who will agree to a transfer of permanent legal and physical 46.7 custody of the child, but such efforts have not proven 46.8 successful; or 46.9 (B) the child is a sibling of a child described in subitem 46.10 (A) and the siblings have a significant positive relationship 46.11 and are ordered into the same long-term foster care home; and 46.12 (iii) at least annually, the responsible social services 46.13 agency reconsiders its provision of services to the child and 46.14 the child's placement in long-term foster care to ensure that: 46.15 (A) long-term foster care continues to be the most 46.16 appropriate legal arrangement for meeting the child's need for 46.17 permanency and stability, including whether there is another 46.18 permanent placement option under this chapter that would better 46.19 serve the child's needs and best interests; 46.20 (B) whenever possible, there is an identified long-term 46.21 foster care family that is committed to being the foster family 46.22 for the child as long as the child is a minor or under the 46.23 jurisdiction of the court; 46.24 (C) the child is receiving appropriate services or 46.25 assistance to maintain or build connections with the child's 46.26 family and community; 46.27 (D) the child's physical and mental health needs are being 46.28 appropriately provided for; and 46.29 (E) the child's educational needs are being met; 46.30 (4) foster care for a specified period of time according to 46.31 the following conditions: 46.32 (i) foster care for a specified period of time may be 46.33 ordered only if: 46.34 (A) the sole basis for an adjudication that the child is in 46.35 need of protection or services is the child's behavior; 46.36 (B) the court finds that foster care for a specified period 47.1 of time is in the best interests of the child; and 47.2 (C) the courtfindsapproves the responsible social 47.3 services agency's compelling reasons that neither an award of 47.4 permanent legal and physical custody to a relative, nor 47.5 termination of parental rights is in the child's best interests; 47.6 (ii) the order does not specify that the child continue in 47.7 foster care for any period exceeding one year; or 47.8 (5) guardianship and legal custody to the commissioner of 47.9 human services under the following procedures and conditions: 47.10 (i) there is an identified prospective adoptive home agreed 47.11 to by the responsible social services agency that has agreed to 47.12 adopt the child and the court accepts the parent's voluntary 47.13 consent to adopt under section 259.24 except that such consent 47.14 executed by a parent under this clause shall be irrevocable 47.15 unless fraud is established and an order issues permitting 47.16 revocation as stated in item (vii); 47.17 (ii) if the court accepts a consent to adopt in lieu of 47.18 ordering one of the other enumerated permanency dispositions, 47.19 the court must review the matter at least every 90 days. The 47.20 review will address the reasonable efforts of the agency to 47.21 achieve a finalized adoption; 47.22 (iii) a consent to adopt under this clause vests all legal 47.23 authority regarding the child, including guardianship and legal 47.24 custody of the child, with the commissioner of human services as 47.25 if the child were a state ward after termination of parental 47.26 rights; 47.27 (iv) the court must forward a copy of the consent to adopt, 47.28 together with a certified copy of the order transferring 47.29 guardianship and legal custody to the commissioner, to the 47.30 commissioner;and47.31 (v) if an adoption is not finalized by the identified 47.32 prospective adoptive parent within 12 months of the execution of 47.33 the consent to adopt under this clause, the commissioner of 47.34 human services or the commissioner's delegate shall pursue 47.35 adoptive placement in another home unless the commissioner 47.36 certifies that the failure to finalize is not due to either an 48.1 action or a failure to act by the prospective adoptive parent.; 48.2 (vi) notwithstanding item (v), as soon as the commissioner 48.3 or commissioner's delegate determines that finalization of the 48.4 adoption with the identified prospective adoptive parent is not 48.5 possible, that the prospective adoptive parent is not 48.6 cooperative in completing the steps necessary to finalize the 48.7 adoption, or upon the commissioner's determination to withhold 48.8 consent to the adoption under chapter 259, the commissioner or 48.9 commissioner's delegate shall pursue adoptive placement in 48.10 another home; and 48.11 (vii) except as otherwise required by the Indian Child 48.12 Welfare Act, United States Code, title 25, section 1913, a 48.13 consent to adopt executed under this section shall be 48.14 irrevocable upon acceptance by the court except upon order 48.15 permitting revocation issued by the same court after written 48.16 findings that consent was obtained by fraud. 48.17 (e) In ordering a permanent placement of a child, the court 48.18 must be governed by the best interests of the child, including a 48.19 review of the relationship between the child and relatives and 48.20 the child and other important persons with whom the child has 48.21 resided or had significant contact. 48.22 (f) Once a permanent placement determination has been made 48.23 and permanent placement has been established, further court 48.24 reviews are necessary if: 48.25 (1) the placement is long-term foster care or foster care 48.26 for a specified period of time; 48.27 (2) the court orders further hearings because it has 48.28 retained jurisdiction of a transfer of permanent legal and 48.29 physical custody matter; 48.30 (3) an adoption has not yet been finalized; or 48.31 (4) there is a disruption of the permanent or long-term 48.32 placement. 48.33 (g) Court reviews of an order for long-term foster care, 48.34 whether under this section or section 260C.317, subdivision 3, 48.35 paragraph (d),or foster care for a specified period of time48.36 must be conducted at least yearly and must review the child's 49.1 out-of-home placement plan and the reasonable efforts of the 49.2 agency to finalize the permanent plan for the child including 49.3 the agency's efforts to: 49.4 (1) ensure that long-term foster care continues to be the 49.5 most appropriate legal arrangement for meeting the child's need 49.6 for permanency and stability or, if not, to identify and attempt 49.7 to finalize another permanent placement option under this 49.8 chapter that would better serve the child's needs and best 49.9 interests; 49.10 (2) identify a specific long-term foster home for the child 49.11or a specific foster home for the time the child is specified to49.12be out of the care of the parent, if one has not already been 49.13 identified; 49.14(2)(3) support continued placement of the child in the 49.15 identified home, if one has been identified; 49.16(3)(4) ensure appropriate services are provided to address 49.17 the physical health, mental health, and educational needs of the 49.18 child during the period of long-term foster careor foster care49.19for a specified period of timeand also ensure appropriate 49.20 services or assistance to maintain relationships with 49.21 appropriate family members and the child's community; and 49.22(4)(5) plan for the child's independence upon the child's 49.23 leaving long-term foster care living as required under section 49.24 260C.212, subdivision 1; and49.25(5) where placement is for a specified period of time, a49.26plan for the safe return of the child to the care of the parent. 49.27 (h) In the event it is necessary for a child that has been 49.28 ordered into foster care for a specified period of time to 49.29 exceed one year in foster care, not later than 12 months after 49.30 the time the child was ordered into foster care for a specified 49.31 period of time, the matter must be returned to court for a 49.32 review of the appropriateness of continuing the child in foster 49.33 care and of the responsible social services agency's reasonable 49.34 efforts to finalize a permanent plan for the child; if it is in 49.35 the child's best interests to continue the order for foster care 49.36 for a specified period of time past a total of 12 months, the 50.1 court shall set objectives for the child's continuation in 50.2 foster care, specify any further amount of time the child may be 50.3 in foster care, and review the plan for the safe return of the 50.4 child to the parent. 50.5(h)(i) An orderunder this subdivisionpermanently placing 50.6 a child out of the home of the parent or guardian must include 50.7 the following detailed findings: 50.8 (1) how the child's best interests are served by the order; 50.9 (2) the nature and extent of the responsible social service 50.10 agency's reasonable efforts, or, in the case of an Indian child, 50.11 active efforts to reunify the child with the parent or 50.12parentsguardian where such efforts are required; 50.13 (3) the parent's or parents' efforts and ability to use 50.14 services to correct the conditions which led to the out-of-home 50.15 placement; and 50.16 (4)whetherthat the conditions which led to the 50.17 out-of-home placement have not been corrected so that the child 50.18 can safely return home. 50.19(i)(j) An order for permanent legal and physical custody 50.20 of a child may be modified under sections 518.18 and 518.185. 50.21 The social services agency is a party to the proceeding and must 50.22 receive notice. A parent may only seek modification of an order 50.23 for long-term foster care upon motion and a showing by the 50.24 parent of a substantial change in the parent's circumstances 50.25 such that the parent could provide appropriate care for the 50.26 child and that removal of the child from the child's permanent 50.27 placement and the return to the parent's care would be in the 50.28 best interest of the child. The responsible social services 50.29 agency may seek vacation of an order for long-term foster care 50.30 upon a prima facie showing that there is a factual basis for the 50.31 court to order another permanency option under this chapter and 50.32 that such an option is in the child's best interests. Upon a 50.33 hearing where the court determines that there is a factual basis 50.34 for vacating the order for long-term foster care and that 50.35 another permanent order regarding the placement of the child is 50.36 in the child's best interests, the court may vacate the order 51.1 for long-term foster care and enter a different order for 51.2 permanent placement that is in the child's best interests. The 51.3 court shall not require further reasonable efforts to reunify 51.4 the child with the parent or guardian as a basis for vacating 51.5 the order for long-term foster care and ordering a different 51.6 permanent placement in the child's best interests. The county 51.7 attorney must file pleadings and give notice as required under 51.8 the rules of juvenile court in order to modify an order for 51.9 long-term foster care under this clause. 51.10(j)(k) The court shall issue an order required under this 51.11 section within 15 days of the close of the proceedings. The 51.12 court may extend issuing the order an additional 15 days when 51.13 necessary in the interests of justice and the best interests of 51.14 the child. 51.15 Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 260C.212, 51.16 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 51.17 Subd. 5. [RELATIVE SEARCH; NATURE.] (a) In implementing 51.18 the requirement that the responsible social services agency must 51.19 consider placement with a relative under subdivision 2as soon51.20as possibleimmediately after identifying the need for placement 51.21 of the child in foster care, the responsible social services 51.22 agency shall identify relatives of the child and notify them of 51.23 the need for a foster care home for the child and of the 51.24 possibility of the need for a permanent out-of-home placement of 51.25 the child. The relative search required by this section shall 51.26 be reasonable and comprehensive in scope and may last up to six 51.27 months or until a fit and willing relative is 51.28 identified.Relatives should be notified that a decision not to51.29be a placement resource at the beginning of the case may affect51.30the relative being considered for placement of the child with51.31that relative laterThe relative search required by this section 51.32 shall include both maternal relatives of the child and paternal 51.33 relatives of the child, if paternity is adjudicated. The 51.34 relatives must be notified that they must keep the responsible 51.35 social services agency informed of their current address in 51.36 order to receive notice that a permanent placement is being 52.1 sought for the child. A relative who fails to provide a current 52.2 address to the responsible social services agency forfeits the 52.3 right to notice of the possibility of permanent placement. A 52.4 decision by a relative not to be a placement resource at the 52.5 beginning of the case shall not affect whether the relative is 52.6 considered for placement of the child with that relative later. 52.7 (b) A responsible social services agency may disclose 52.8 private or confidential data, as defined in section 13.02, to 52.9 relatives of the child for the purpose of locating a suitable 52.10 placement. The agency shall disclose only data that is 52.11 necessary to facilitate possible placement with relatives. If 52.12 the child's parent refuses to give the responsible social 52.13 services agency information sufficient to identify the maternal 52.14 and paternal relatives of the child, the agency shalldetermine52.15whether the parent's refusal is in the child's best interests.52.16If the agency determines the parent's refusal is not in the52.17child's best interests, the agency shall file a petition under52.18section 260C.141, and shallask the juvenile court to order the 52.19 parent to provide the necessary information. If a parent makes 52.20 an explicit request that relatives or a specific relative not be 52.21 contacted or considered for placement, the agency shall bring 52.22 the parent's request to the attention of the court to determine 52.23 whether the parent's request is consistent with the best 52.24 interests of the child and the agency shall not contact 52.25 relatives or a specific relative unless authorized to do so by 52.26 the juvenile court. 52.27 (c) When the placing agency determines that a permanent 52.28 placement hearing is necessary because there is a likelihood 52.29 that the child will not return to a parent's care, the agency 52.30 may send the notice provided in paragraph (d), may ask the court 52.31 to modify the requirements of the agency under this paragraph, 52.32 or may ask the court to completely relieve the agency of the 52.33 requirements of this paragraph. The relative notification 52.34 requirements of this paragraph do not apply when the child is 52.35 placed with an appropriate relative or a foster home that has 52.36 committed to being the permanent legal placement for the child 53.1 and the agency approves of that foster home for permanent 53.2 placement of the child. The actions ordered by the court under 53.3 this section must be consistent with the best interests, safety, 53.4 and welfare of the child. 53.5 (d) Unless required under the Indian Child Welfare Act or 53.6 relieved of this duty by the court under paragraph (c), when the 53.7 agency determines that it is necessary to prepare for the 53.8 permanent placement determination hearing, or in anticipation of 53.9 filing a termination of parental rights petition, the agency 53.10 shall send notice to the relatives, any adult with whom the 53.11 child is currently residing, any adult with whom the child has 53.12 resided for one year or longer in the past, and any adults who 53.13 have maintained a relationship or exercised visitation with the 53.14 child as identified in the agency case plan. The notice must 53.15 state that a permanent home is sought for the child and that the 53.16 individuals receiving the notice may indicate to the agency 53.17 their interest in providing a permanent home. The notice must 53.18 state that within 30 days of receipt of the notice an individual 53.19 receiving the notice must indicate to the agency the 53.20 individual's interest in providing a permanent home for the 53.21 child or that the individual may lose the opportunity to be 53.22 considered for a permanent placement. 53.23 (e) The Department of Human Services shall develop a best 53.24 practices guide and specialized staff training to assist the 53.25 responsible social services agency in performing and complying 53.26 with the relative search requirements under this subdivision. 53.27 Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 260C.312, is 53.28 amended to read: 53.29 260C.312 [DISPOSITION; PARENTAL RIGHTS NOT TERMINATED.] 53.30 (a) If, after a hearing, the court does not terminate 53.31 parental rights but determines that the child is in need of 53.32 protection or services, or that the child is neglected and in 53.33 foster care, the court may find the child is in need of 53.34 protection or services or neglected and in foster care and may 53.35 enter an order in accordance with the provisions of section 53.36 260C.201. 54.1 (b) When a child has been in placement 15 of the last 22 54.2 months after a trial on a termination of parental rights 54.3 petition, if the court finds that the petition is not proven or 54.4 that termination of parental rights is not in the child's best 54.5 interests, the court must order the child returned to the care 54.6 of the parent unless the courtfindsapproves the responsible 54.7 social services determination of compelling reasons why the 54.8 child should remain out of the care of the parent. If the court 54.9 orders the child returned to the care of the parent, the court 54.10 may order a trial home visit, protective supervision, or 54.11 monitoring under section 260C.201. 54.12 Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 260C.317, 54.13 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 54.14 Subd. 3. [ORDER; RETENTION OF JURISDICTION.] (a) A 54.15 certified copy of the findings and the order terminating 54.16 parental rights, and a summary of the court's information 54.17 concerning the child shall be furnished by the court to the 54.18 commissioner or the agency to which guardianship is 54.19 transferred. The orders shall be on a document separate from 54.20 the findings. The court shall furnish the individual to whom 54.21 guardianship is transferred a copy of the order terminating 54.22 parental rights. 54.23 (b) The court shall retain jurisdiction in a case where 54.24 adoption is the intended permanent placement disposition until 54.25 the child's adoption is finalized, the child is 18 years of age, 54.26 or the child is otherwise ordered discharged from the 54.27 jurisdiction of the court. The guardian ad litem and counsel 54.28 for the child shall continue on the case until an adoption 54.29 decree is entered. A hearing must be held every 90 days 54.30 following termination of parental rights for the court to review 54.31 progress toward an adoptive placement and the specific 54.32 recruitment efforts the agency has taken to find an adoptive 54.33 family or other placement living arrangement for the child and 54.34 to finalize the adoption or other permanency plan. 54.35 (c)When adoption is not the intended disposition,The 54.36 responsible social services agency may make a determination of 55.1 compelling reasons for a child to be in long-term foster care 55.2 when the agency has made exhaustive efforts to recruit, 55.3 identify, and place the child in an adoptive home, andifthe 55.4 child continues inout-of-home placementfoster care for12at 55.5 least 24 months after the court has issued the order terminating 55.6 parental rightsand at. Upon approving the agency's 55.7 determination of compelling reasons, the court may order the 55.8 child placed in long-term foster care. At least every 12 months 55.9 thereafter as long as the child continues in out-of-home 55.10 placement, the court shall conduct a permanency review hearing 55.11 to determine the future status of the child, including, but not55.12limited to, whether the child should be continued in out-of-home55.13placement, should be placed for adoption, or should, because of55.14the child's special needs and for compelling reasons, be ordered55.15into long-term out-of-home placementusing the review 55.16 requirements of section 260C.201, subdivision 11, paragraph (g). 55.17 (d) The court shall retain jurisdiction through the child's 55.18 minority in a case where long-term foster care is the permanent 55.19 disposition whether under paragraph (c) or section 260C.201, 55.20 subdivision 11.All of the review requirements under section55.21260C.201, subdivision 11, paragraph (g), apply.55.22 Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 55.23 626.556, subdivision 10, is amended to read: 55.24 Subd. 10. [DUTIES OF LOCAL WELFARE AGENCY AND LOCAL LAW 55.25 ENFORCEMENT AGENCY UPON RECEIPT OF A REPORT.] (a) If the report 55.26 alleges neglect, physical abuse, or sexual abuse by a parent, 55.27 guardian, or individual functioning within the family unit as a 55.28 person responsible for the child's care, the local welfare 55.29 agency shall immediately conduct an assessment including 55.30 gathering information on the existence of substance abuse and 55.31 offer protective social services for purposes of preventing 55.32 further abuses, safeguarding and enhancing the welfare of the 55.33 abused or neglected minor, and preserving family life whenever 55.34 possible. If the report alleges a violation of a criminal 55.35 statute involving sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect or 55.36 endangerment, under section 609.378, the local law enforcement 56.1 agency and local welfare agency shall coordinate the planning 56.2 and execution of their respective investigation and assessment 56.3 efforts to avoid a duplication of fact-finding efforts and 56.4 multiple interviews. Each agency shall prepare a separate 56.5 report of the results of its investigation. In cases of alleged 56.6 child maltreatment resulting in death, the local agency may rely 56.7 on the fact-finding efforts of a law enforcement investigation 56.8 to make a determination of whether or not maltreatment 56.9 occurred. When necessary the local welfare agency shall seek 56.10 authority to remove the child from the custody of a parent, 56.11 guardian, or adult with whom the child is living. In performing 56.12 any of these duties, the local welfare agency shall maintain 56.13 appropriate records. 56.14 If the assessment indicates there is a potential for abuse 56.15 of alcohol or other drugs by the parent, guardian, or person 56.16 responsible for the child's care, the local welfare agency shall 56.17 conduct a chemical use assessment pursuant to Minnesota Rules, 56.18 part 9530.6615. The local welfare agency shall report the 56.19 determination of the chemical use assessment, and the 56.20 recommendations and referrals for alcohol and other drug 56.21 treatment services to the state authority on alcohol and drug 56.22 abuse. 56.23 (b) When a local agency receives a report or otherwise has 56.24 information indicating that a child who is a client, as defined 56.25 in section 245.91, has been the subject of physical abuse, 56.26 sexual abuse, or neglect at an agency, facility, or program as 56.27 defined in section 245.91, it shall, in addition to its other 56.28 duties under this section, immediately inform the ombudsman 56.29 established under sections 245.91 to 245.97. The commissioner 56.30 of education shall inform the ombudsman established under 56.31 sections 245.91 to 245.97 of reports regarding a child defined 56.32 as a client in section 245.91 that maltreatment occurred at a 56.33 school as defined in sections 120A.05, subdivisions 9, 11, and 56.34 13, and 124D.10. 56.35 (c) Authority of the local welfare agency responsible for 56.36 assessing the child abuse or neglect report, the agency 57.1 responsible for assessing or investigating the report, and of 57.2 the local law enforcement agency for investigating the alleged 57.3 abuse or neglect includes, but is not limited to, authority to 57.4 interview, without parental consent, the alleged victim and any 57.5 other minors who currently reside with or who have resided with 57.6 the alleged offender. The interview may take place at school or 57.7 at any facility or other place where the alleged victim or other 57.8 minors might be found or the child may be transported to, and 57.9 the interview conducted at, a place appropriate for the 57.10 interview of a child designated by the local welfare agency or 57.11 law enforcement agency. The interview may take place outside 57.12 the presence of the alleged offender or parent, legal custodian, 57.13 guardian, or school official. Except as provided in this 57.14 paragraph, the parent, legal custodian, or guardian shall be 57.15 notified by the responsible local welfare or law enforcement 57.16 agency no later than the conclusion of the investigation or 57.17 assessment that this interview has occurred. Notwithstanding 57.18 rule 49.02 of the Minnesota Rules of Procedure for Juvenile 57.19 Courts, the juvenile court may, after hearing on an ex parte 57.20 motion by the local welfare agency, order that, where reasonable 57.21 cause exists, the agency withhold notification of this interview 57.22 from the parent, legal custodian, or guardian. If the interview 57.23 took place or is to take place on school property, the order 57.24 shall specify that school officials may not disclose to the 57.25 parent, legal custodian, or guardian the contents of the 57.26 notification of intent to interview the child on school 57.27 property, as provided under this paragraph, and any other 57.28 related information regarding the interview that may be a part 57.29 of the child's school record. A copy of the order shall be sent 57.30 by the local welfare or law enforcement agency to the 57.31 appropriate school official. 57.32 (d) When the local welfare, local law enforcement agency, 57.33 or the agency responsible for assessing or investigating a 57.34 report of maltreatment determines that an interview should take 57.35 place on school property, written notification of intent to 57.36 interview the child on school property must be received by 58.1 school officials prior to the interview. The notification shall 58.2 include the name of the child to be interviewed, the purpose of 58.3 the interview, and a reference to the statutory authority to 58.4 conduct an interview on school property. For interviews 58.5 conducted by the local welfare agency, the notification shall be 58.6 signed by the chair of the local social services agency or the 58.7 chair's designee. The notification shall be private data on 58.8 individuals subject to the provisions of this paragraph. School 58.9 officials may not disclose to the parent, legal custodian, or 58.10 guardian the contents of the notification or any other related 58.11 information regarding the interview until notified in writing by 58.12 the local welfare or law enforcement agency that the 58.13 investigation or assessment has been concluded, unless a school 58.14 employee or agent is alleged to have maltreated the child. 58.15 Until that time, the local welfare or law enforcement agency or 58.16 the agency responsible for assessing or investigating a report 58.17 of maltreatment shall be solely responsible for any disclosures 58.18 regarding the nature of the assessment or investigation. 58.19 Except where the alleged offender is believed to be a 58.20 school official or employee, the time and place, and manner of 58.21 the interview on school premises shall be within the discretion 58.22 of school officials, but the local welfare or law enforcement 58.23 agency shall have the exclusive authority to determine who may 58.24 attend the interview. The conditions as to time, place, and 58.25 manner of the interview set by the school officials shall be 58.26 reasonable and the interview shall be conducted not more than 24 58.27 hours after the receipt of the notification unless another time 58.28 is considered necessary by agreement between the school 58.29 officials and the local welfare or law enforcement agency. 58.30 Where the school fails to comply with the provisions of this 58.31 paragraph, the juvenile court may order the school to comply. 58.32 Every effort must be made to reduce the disruption of the 58.33 educational program of the child, other students, or school 58.34 staff when an interview is conducted on school premises. 58.35 (e) Where the alleged offender or a person responsible for 58.36 the care of the alleged victim or other minor prevents access to 59.1 the victim or other minor by the local welfare agency, the 59.2 juvenile court may order the parents, legal custodian, or 59.3 guardian to produce the alleged victim or other minor for 59.4 questioning by the local welfare agency or the local law 59.5 enforcement agency outside the presence of the alleged offender 59.6 or any person responsible for the child's care at reasonable 59.7 places and times as specified by court order. 59.8 (f) Before making an order under paragraph (e), the court 59.9 shall issue an order to show cause, either upon its own motion 59.10 or upon a verified petition, specifying the basis for the 59.11 requested interviews and fixing the time and place of the 59.12 hearing. The order to show cause shall be served personally and 59.13 shall be heard in the same manner as provided in other cases in 59.14 the juvenile court. The court shall consider the need for 59.15 appointment of a guardian ad litem to protect the best interests 59.16 of the child. If appointed, the guardian ad litem shall be 59.17 present at the hearing on the order to show cause. 59.18 (g) The commissioner of human services, the ombudsman for 59.19 mental health and mental retardation, the local welfare agencies 59.20 responsible for investigating reports, the commissioner of 59.21 education, and the local law enforcement agencies have the right 59.22 to enter facilities as defined in subdivision 2 and to inspect 59.23 and copy the facility's records, including medical records, as 59.24 part of the investigation. Notwithstanding the provisions of 59.25 chapter 13, they also have the right to inform the facility 59.26 under investigation that they are conducting an investigation, 59.27 to disclose to the facility the names of the individuals under 59.28 investigation for abusing or neglecting a child, and to provide 59.29 the facility with a copy of the report and the investigative 59.30 findings. 59.31 (h) The local welfare agency or the agency responsible for 59.32 assessing or investigating the report shall collect available 59.33 and relevant information to ascertain whether maltreatment 59.34 occurred and whether protective services are needed. 59.35 Information collected includes, when relevant, information with 59.36 regard to the person reporting the alleged maltreatment, 60.1 including the nature of the reporter's relationship to the child 60.2 and to the alleged offender, and the basis of the reporter's 60.3 knowledge for the report; the child allegedly being maltreated; 60.4 the alleged offender; the child's caretaker; and other 60.5 collateral sources having relevant information related to the 60.6 alleged maltreatment. The local welfare agency or the agency 60.7 responsible for assessing or investigating the report may make a 60.8 determination of no maltreatment early in an assessment, and 60.9 close the case and retain immunity, if the collected information 60.10 shows no basis for a full assessment or investigation. 60.11 Information relevant to the assessment or investigation 60.12 must be asked for, and may include: 60.13 (1) the child's sex and age, prior reports of maltreatment, 60.14 information relating to developmental functioning, credibility 60.15 of the child's statement, and whether the information provided 60.16 under this clause is consistent with other information collected 60.17 during the course of the assessment or investigation; 60.18 (2) the alleged offender's age, a record check for prior 60.19 reports of maltreatment, and criminal charges and convictions. 60.20 The local welfare agency or the agency responsible for assessing 60.21 or investigating the report must provide the alleged offender 60.22 with an opportunity to make a statement. The alleged offender 60.23 may submit supporting documentation relevant to the assessment 60.24 or investigation; 60.25 (3) collateral source information regarding the alleged 60.26 maltreatment and care of the child. Collateral information 60.27 includes, when relevant: (i) a medical examination of the 60.28 child; (ii) prior medical records relating to the alleged 60.29 maltreatment or the care of the child maintained by any 60.30 facility, clinic, or health care professional and an interview 60.31 with the treating professionals; and (iii) interviews with the 60.32 child's caretakers, including the child's parent, guardian, 60.33 foster parent, child care provider, teachers, counselors, family 60.34 members, relatives, and other persons who may have knowledge 60.35 regarding the alleged maltreatment and the care of the child; 60.36 and 61.1 (4) information on the existence of domestic abuse and 61.2 violence in the home of the child, and substance abuse. 61.3 Nothing in this paragraph precludes the local welfare 61.4 agency, the local law enforcement agency, or the agency 61.5 responsible for assessing or investigating the report from 61.6 collecting other relevant information necessary to conduct the 61.7 assessment or investigation. Notwithstanding section 13.384 or 61.8 144.335, the local welfare agency has access to medical data and 61.9 records for purposes of clause (3). Notwithstanding the data's 61.10 classification in the possession of any other agency, data 61.11 acquired by the local welfare agency or the agency responsible 61.12 for assessing or investigating the report during the course of 61.13 the assessment or investigation are private data on individuals 61.14 and must be maintained in accordance with subdivision 11. Data 61.15 of the commissioner of education collected or maintained during 61.16 and for the purpose of an investigation of alleged maltreatment 61.17 in a school are governed by this section, notwithstanding the 61.18 data's classification as educational, licensing, or personnel 61.19 data under chapter 13. 61.20 In conducting an assessment or investigation involving a 61.21 school facility as defined in subdivision 2, paragraph (f), the 61.22 commissioner of education shall collect investigative reports 61.23 and data that are relevant to a report of maltreatment and are 61.24 from local law enforcement and the school facility. 61.25 (i) In the initial stages of an assessment or 61.26 investigation, the local welfare agency shall conduct a 61.27 face-to-face observation of the child reported to be maltreated 61.28 and a face-to-face interview of the alleged offender. At the 61.29 initial contact, the local child welfare agency or the agency 61.30 responsible for assessing or investigating the report must 61.31 inform the alleged offender of the complaints or allegations 61.32 made against the individual in a manner consistent with laws 61.33 protecting the rights of the person who made the report. The 61.34 interview with the alleged offender may be postponed if it would 61.35 jeopardize an active law enforcement investigation. 61.36 (j) The local welfare agency shall use a question and 62.1 answer interviewing format with questioning as nondirective as 62.2 possible to elicit spontaneous responses. The following 62.3 interviewing methods and procedures must be used whenever 62.4 possible when collecting information: 62.5 (1) audio recordings of all interviews with witnesses and 62.6 collateral sources; and 62.7 (2) in cases of alleged sexual abuse, audio-video 62.8 recordings of each interview with the alleged victim and child 62.9 witnesses. 62.10 (k) In conducting an assessment or investigation involving 62.11 a school facility as defined in subdivision 2, paragraph (f), 62.12 the commissioner of education shall collect available and 62.13 relevant information and use the procedures in paragraphs (h), 62.14 (i), and (j), provided that the commissioner may also base the 62.15 assessment or investigation on investigative reports and data 62.16 received from the school facility and local law enforcement, to 62.17 the extent those investigations satisfy the requirements of 62.18 paragraphs (h), (i), and (j). 62.19 Sec. 26. [REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.] 62.20 In the next edition of Minnesota Statutes, the revisor of 62.21 statutes shall change "residential facility" to either "foster 62.22 care" or "foster care facility," whichever term is appropriate, 62.23 in chapter 260C. 62.24 ARTICLE 3 62.25 CHILD WELFARE 62.26 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 626.556, 62.27 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 62.28 Subdivision 1. [PUBLIC POLICY.] The legislature hereby 62.29 declares that the public policy of this state is to protect 62.30 children whose health or welfare may be jeopardized through 62.31 physical abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse. While it is 62.32 recognized that most parents want to keep their children safe, 62.33 sometimes circumstances or conditions interfere with their 62.34 ability to do so. When this occurs, families are best served by 62.35 interventions that engage their protective capacities and 62.36 address immediate safety concerns, ongoing risks of child 63.1 maltreatment, and threats to family well being. In furtherance 63.2 of this public policy, it is the intent of the legislature under 63.3 this section to strengthen the family and make the home, school, 63.4 and community safe for children by promoting responsible child 63.5 care in all settings; and to provide, when necessary, a safe 63.6 temporary or permanent home environment for physically or 63.7 sexually abused or neglected children. 63.8 In addition, it is the policy of this state to require the 63.9 reporting of neglect, physical or sexual abuse of children in 63.10 the home, school, and community settings; to provide for the 63.11 voluntary reporting of abuse or neglect of children; to require 63.12thea family assessmentand, when appropriate, as the preferred 63.13 response to reports not alleging substantial child endangerment; 63.14 to require an investigationof the reportswhen the report 63.15 alleges substantial child endangerment; and to provide 63.16 protectiveand counseling, family support, and family 63.17 preservation services when needed in appropriate cases. 63.18 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 63.19 626.556, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 63.20 Subd. 2. [DEFINITIONS.] As used in this section, the 63.21 following terms have the meanings given them unless the specific 63.22 content indicates otherwise: 63.23 (a) "Family assessment" means a comprehensive assessment of 63.24 child safety, risk of subsequent child maltreatment, and family 63.25 strengths and needs that is applied to a child maltreatment 63.26 report that does not allege substantial child endangerment. 63.27 Family assessment does not include a determination as to whether 63.28 child maltreatment occurred but does determine the need for 63.29 services to address the safety of family members, the risk of 63.30 subsequent maltreatment, and threats to family and child well 63.31 being. 63.32 (b) "Investigation" means fact gathering related to the 63.33 current safety of a child and the risk of subsequent 63.34 maltreatment that determines whether child maltreatment occurred 63.35 and whether child protective services are needed. An 63.36 investigation must be used when reports involve substantial 64.1 child endangerment, and for reports of maltreatment in 64.2 facilities required to be licensed under chapter 245A or 245B; 64.3 under sections 144.50 to 144.58 and 241.021; in a school as 64.4 defined in sections 120A.05, subdivisions 9, 11, and 13, and 64.5 124D.10; or in a nonlicensed personal care provider association 64.6 as defined in sections 256B.04, subdivision 16, and 256B.0625, 64.7 subdivision 19a. 64.8 (c) "Substantial child endangerment" means a person 64.9 responsible for a child's care, a person who has a significant 64.10 relationship to the child as defined in section 609.341, or a 64.11 person in a position of authority as defined in section 609.341, 64.12 who by act or omission commits or attempts to commit an act 64.13 against a child under their care that constitutes any of the 64.14 following: 64.15 (1) egregious harm as defined in section 260C.007, 64.16 subdivision 14; 64.17 (2) sexual abuse as defined in paragraph (d); 64.18 (3) abandonment under section 260C.301, subdivision 2; 64.19 (4) neglect as defined in paragraph (f), clause (2), that 64.20 substantially endangers the child's physical or mental health, 64.21 including a growth delay, which may be referred to as failure to 64.22 thrive, that has been diagnosed by a physician and is due to 64.23 parental neglect; 64.24 (5) murder in the first, second, or third degree under 64.25 section 609.185, 609.19, or 609.195; 64.26 (6) manslaughter in the first or second degree under 64.27 section 609.20 or 609.205; 64.28 (7) assault in the first, second, or third degree under 64.29 section 609.221, 609.222, or 609.223; 64.30 (8) solicitation, inducement, and promotion of prostitution 64.31 under section 609.322; 64.32 (9) criminal sexual conduct under sections 609.342 to 64.33 609.3451; 64.34 (10) solicitation of children to engage in sexual conduct 64.35 under section 609.352; 64.36 (11) malicious punishment or neglect or endangerment of a 65.1 child under section 609.377 or 609.378; 65.2 (12) use of a minor in sexual performance under section 65.3 617.246; or 65.4 (13) parental behavior, status, or condition which mandates 65.5 that the county attorney file a termination of parental rights 65.6 petition under section 260C.301, subdivision 3, paragraph (a). 65.7 (d) "Sexual abuse" means the subjection of a child by a 65.8 person responsible for the child's care, by a person who has a 65.9 significant relationship to the child, as defined in section 65.10 609.341, or by a person in a position of authority, as defined 65.11 in section 609.341, subdivision 10, to any act which constitutes 65.12 a violation of section 609.342 (criminal sexual conduct in the 65.13 first degree), 609.343 (criminal sexual conduct in the second 65.14 degree), 609.344 (criminal sexual conduct in the third degree), 65.15 609.345 (criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree), or 65.16 609.3451 (criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree). Sexual 65.17 abuse also includes any act which involves a minor which 65.18 constitutes a violation of prostitution offenses under sections 65.19 609.321 to 609.324 or 617.246. Sexual abuse includes threatened 65.20 sexual abuse. 65.21(b)(e) "Person responsible for the child's care" means (1) 65.22 an individual functioning within the family unit and having 65.23 responsibilities for the care of the child such as a parent, 65.24 guardian, or other person having similar care responsibilities, 65.25 or (2) an individual functioning outside the family unit and 65.26 having responsibilities for the care of the child such as a 65.27 teacher, school administrator, other school employees or agents, 65.28 or other lawful custodian of a child having either full-time or 65.29 short-term care responsibilities including, but not limited to, 65.30 day care, babysitting whether paid or unpaid, counseling, 65.31 teaching, and coaching. 65.32(c)(f) "Neglect" means: 65.33 (1) failure by a person responsible for a child's care to 65.34 supply a child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, health, 65.35 medical, or other care required for the child's physical or 65.36 mental health when reasonably able to do so; 66.1 (2) failure to protect a child from conditions or actions 66.2 that seriously endanger the child's physical or mental health 66.3 when reasonably able to do so, including a growth delay, which 66.4 may be referred to as a failure to thrive, that has been 66.5 diagnosed by a physician and is due to parental neglect; 66.6 (3) failure to provide for necessary supervision or child 66.7 care arrangements appropriate for a child after considering 66.8 factors as the child's age, mental ability, physical condition, 66.9 length of absence, or environment, when the child is unable to 66.10 care for the child's own basic needs or safety, or the basic 66.11 needs or safety of another child in their care; 66.12 (4) failure to ensure that the child is educated as defined 66.13 in sections 120A.22 and 260C.163, subdivision 11, which does not 66.14 include a parent's refusal to provide the parent's child with 66.15 sympathomimetic medications, consistent with section 125A.09, 66.16 subdivision 3; 66.17 (5) nothing in this section shall be construed to mean that 66.18 a child is neglected solely because the child's parent, 66.19 guardian, or other person responsible for the child's care in 66.20 good faith selects and depends upon spiritual means or prayer 66.21 for treatment or care of disease or remedial care of the child 66.22 in lieu of medical care; except that a parent, guardian, or 66.23 caretaker, or a person mandated to report pursuant to 66.24 subdivision 3, has a duty to report if a lack of medical care 66.25 may cause serious danger to the child's health. This section 66.26 does not impose upon persons, not otherwise legally responsible 66.27 for providing a child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, 66.28 education, or medical care, a duty to provide that care; 66.29 (6) prenatal exposure to a controlled substance, as defined 66.30 in section 253B.02, subdivision 2, used by the mother for a 66.31 nonmedical purpose, as evidenced by withdrawal symptoms in the 66.32 child at birth, results of a toxicology test performed on the 66.33 mother at delivery or the child at birth, or medical effects or 66.34 developmental delays during the child's first year of life that 66.35 medically indicate prenatal exposure to a controlled substance; 66.36 (7) "medical neglect" as defined in section 260C.007, 67.1 subdivision 6, clause (5); 67.2 (8) chronic and severe use of alcohol or a controlled 67.3 substance by a parent or person responsible for the care of the 67.4 child that adversely affects the child's basic needs and safety; 67.5 or 67.6 (9) emotional harm from a pattern of behavior which 67.7 contributes to impaired emotional functioning of the child which 67.8 may be demonstrated by a substantial and observable effect in 67.9 the child's behavior, emotional response, or cognition that is 67.10 not within the normal range for the child's age and stage of 67.11 development, with due regard to the child's culture. 67.12(d)(g) "Physical abuse" means any physical injury, mental 67.13 injury, or threatened injury, inflicted by a person responsible 67.14 for the child's care on a child other than by accidental means, 67.15 or any physical or mental injury that cannot reasonably be 67.16 explained by the child's history of injuries, or any aversive or 67.17 deprivation procedures, or regulated interventions, that have 67.18 not been authorized under section 121A.67 or 245.825. Abuse 67.19 does not include reasonable and moderate physical discipline of 67.20 a child administered by a parent or legal guardian which does 67.21 not result in an injury. Abuse does not include the use of 67.22 reasonable force by a teacher, principal, or school employee as 67.23 allowed by section 121A.582. Actions which are not reasonable 67.24 and moderate include, but are not limited to, any of the 67.25 following that are done in anger or without regard to the safety 67.26 of the child: 67.27 (1) throwing, kicking, burning, biting, or cutting a child; 67.28 (2) striking a child with a closed fist; 67.29 (3) shaking a child under age three; 67.30 (4) striking or other actions which result in any 67.31 nonaccidental injury to a child under 18 months of age; 67.32 (5) unreasonable interference with a child's breathing; 67.33 (6) threatening a child with a weapon, as defined in 67.34 section 609.02, subdivision 6; 67.35 (7) striking a child under age one on the face or head; 67.36 (8) purposely giving a child poison, alcohol, or dangerous, 68.1 harmful, or controlled substances which were not prescribed for 68.2 the child by a practitioner, in order to control or punish the 68.3 child; or other substances that substantially affect the child's 68.4 behavior, motor coordination, or judgment or that results in 68.5 sickness or internal injury, or subjects the child to medical 68.6 procedures that would be unnecessary if the child were not 68.7 exposed to the substances; 68.8 (9) unreasonable physical confinement or restraint not 68.9 permitted under section 609.379, including but not limited to 68.10 tying, caging, or chaining; or 68.11 (10) in a school facility or school zone, an act by a 68.12 person responsible for the child's care that is a violation 68.13 under section 121A.58. 68.14(e)(h) "Report" means any report received by the local 68.15 welfare agency, police department, county sheriff, or agency 68.16 responsible for assessing or investigating maltreatment pursuant 68.17 to this section. 68.18(f)(i) "Facility" means a licensed or unlicensed day care 68.19 facility, residential facility, agency, hospital, sanitarium, or 68.20 other facility or institution required to be licensed under 68.21 sections 144.50 to 144.58, 241.021, or 245A.01 to 245A.16, or 68.22 chapter 245B; or a school as defined in sections 120A.05, 68.23 subdivisions 9, 11, and 13; and 124D.10; or a nonlicensed 68.24 personal care provider organization as defined in sections 68.25 256B.04, subdivision 16, and 256B.0625, subdivision 19a. 68.26(g)(j) "Operator" means an operator or agency as defined 68.27 in section 245A.02. 68.28(h)(k) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of human 68.29 services. 68.30(i) "Assessment" includes authority to interview the child,68.31the person or persons responsible for the child's care, the68.32alleged perpetrator, and any other person with knowledge of the68.33abuse or neglect for the purpose of gathering the facts,68.34assessing the risk to the child, and formulating a plan.68.35(j)(l) "Practice of social services," for the purposes of 68.36 subdivision 3, includes but is not limited to employee 69.1 assistance counseling and the provision of guardian ad litem and 69.2 parenting time expeditor services. 69.3(k)(m) "Mental injury" means an injury to the 69.4 psychological capacity or emotional stability of a child as 69.5 evidenced by an observable or substantial impairment in the 69.6 child's ability to function within a normal range of performance 69.7 and behavior with due regard to the child's culture. 69.8(l)(n) "Threatened injury" means a statement, overt act, 69.9 condition, or status that represents a substantial risk of 69.10 physical or sexual abuse or mental injury. Threatened injury 69.11 includes, but is not limited to, exposing a child to a person 69.12 responsible for the child's care, as defined in 69.13 paragraph(b)(e), clause (1), who has: 69.14 (1) subjected a child to, or failed to protect a child 69.15 from, an overt act or condition that constitutes egregious harm, 69.16 as defined in section 260C.007, subdivision 14, or a similar law 69.17 of another jurisdiction; 69.18 (2) been found to be palpably unfit under section 260C.301, 69.19 paragraph (b), clause (4), or a similar law of another 69.20 jurisdiction; 69.21 (3) committed an act that has resulted in an involuntary 69.22 termination of parental rights under section 260C.301, or a 69.23 similar law of another jurisdiction; or 69.24 (4) committed an act that has resulted in the involuntary 69.25 transfer of permanent legal and physical custody of a child to a 69.26 relative under section 260C.201, subdivision 11, paragraph (d), 69.27 clause (1), or a similar law of another jurisdiction. 69.28(m)(o) Persons who conduct assessments or investigations 69.29 under this section shall take into account accepted 69.30 child-rearing practices of the culture in which a child 69.31 participates and accepted teacher discipline practices, which 69.32 are not injurious to the child's health, welfare, and safety. 69.33 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 69.34 626.556, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 69.35 Subd. 3. [PERSONS MANDATED TO REPORT.] (a) A person who 69.36 knows or has reason to believe a child is being neglected or 70.1 physically or sexually abused, as defined in subdivision 2, or 70.2 has been neglected or physically or sexually abused within the 70.3 preceding three years, shall immediately report the information 70.4 to the local welfare agency, agency responsible for assessing or 70.5 investigating the report, police department, or the county 70.6 sheriff if the person is: 70.7 (1) a professional or professional's delegate who is 70.8 engaged in the practice of the healing arts, social services, 70.9 hospital administration, psychological or psychiatric treatment, 70.10 child care, education, or law enforcement; or 70.11 (2) employed as a member of the clergy and received the 70.12 information while engaged in ministerial duties, provided that a 70.13 member of the clergy is not required by this subdivision to 70.14 report information that is otherwise privileged under section 70.15 595.02, subdivision 1, paragraph (c). 70.16 The police department or the county sheriff, upon receiving 70.17 a report, shall immediately notify the local welfare agency or 70.18 agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report, 70.19 orally and in writing. The local welfare agency, or agency 70.20 responsible for assessing or investigating the report, upon 70.21 receiving a report, shall immediately notify the local police 70.22 department or the county sheriff orally and in writing. The 70.23 county sheriff and the head of every local welfare agency, 70.24 agency responsible for assessing or investigating reports, and 70.25 police department shall each designate a person within their 70.26 agency, department, or office who is responsible for ensuring 70.27 that the notification duties of this paragraph and paragraph (b) 70.28 are carried out. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed 70.29 to require more than one report from any institution, facility, 70.30 school, or agency. 70.31 (b) Any person may voluntarily report to the local welfare 70.32 agency, agency responsible for assessing or investigating the 70.33 report, police department, or the county sheriff if the person 70.34 knows, has reason to believe, or suspects a child is being or 70.35 has been neglected or subjected to physical or sexual abuse. 70.36 The police department or the county sheriff, upon receiving a 71.1 report, shall immediately notify the local welfare agency or 71.2 agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report, 71.3 orally and in writing. The local welfare agency or agency 71.4 responsible for assessing or investigating the report, upon 71.5 receiving a report, shall immediately notify the local police 71.6 department or the county sheriff orally and in writing. 71.7 (c) A person mandated to report physical or sexual child 71.8 abuse or neglect occurring within a licensed facility shall 71.9 report the information to the agency responsible for licensing 71.10 the facility under sections 144.50 to 144.58; 241.021; 245A.01 71.11 to 245A.16; or chapter 245B; or a nonlicensed personal care 71.12 provider organization as defined in sections 256B.04, 71.13 subdivision 16; and 256B.0625, subdivision 19. A health or 71.14 corrections agency receiving a report may request the local 71.15 welfare agency to provide assistance pursuant to subdivisions 71.16 10, 10a, and 10b. A board or other entity whose licensees 71.17 perform work within a school facility, upon receiving a 71.18 complaint of alleged maltreatment, shall provide information 71.19 about the circumstances of the alleged maltreatment to the 71.20 commissioner of education. Section 13.03, subdivision 4, 71.21 applies to data received by the commissioner of education from a 71.22 licensing entity. 71.23 (d) Any person mandated to report shall receive a summary 71.24 of the disposition of a family assessment or investigation 71.25 related to any report made by that reporter, including whether 71.26 the case has been opened for child protection or other services, 71.27 or if a referral has been made to a community organization, 71.28 unless release would be detrimental to the best interests of the 71.29 child. Any person who is not mandated to report shall, upon 71.30 request to the local welfare agency, receive a concise summary 71.31 of the disposition of any report made by that reporter, unless 71.32 release would be detrimental to the best interests of the child. 71.33 (e) For purposes of this subdivision, "immediately" means 71.34 as soon as possible but in no event longer than 24 hours. 71.35 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 626.556, is 71.36 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 72.1 Subd. 3d. [AUTHORITY TO INTERVIEW.] The agency responsible 72.2 for assessing or investigating reports of child maltreatment has 72.3 the authority to interview the child, the person or persons 72.4 responsible for the child's care, the alleged perpetrator, and 72.5 any other person with knowledge of the abuse or neglect for the 72.6 purpose of gathering the facts, assessing safety and risk to the 72.7 child, and formulating a plan. 72.8 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 72.9 626.556, subdivision 10, is amended to read: 72.10 Subd. 10. [DUTIES OF LOCAL WELFARE AGENCY AND LOCAL LAW 72.11 ENFORCEMENT AGENCY UPON RECEIPT OF A REPORT.] (a) Upon receipt 72.12 of a report, the local welfare agency shall determine whether to 72.13 conduct a family assessment or an investigation as appropriate 72.14 to prevent or provide a remedy for child maltreatment. The 72.15 local welfare agency: 72.16 (1) shall conduct an investigation on reports involving 72.17 substantial child endangerment; 72.18 (2) shall begin an immediate investigation if, at any time 72.19 when it is using a family assessment response, it determines 72.20 that there is reason to believe that substantial child 72.21 endangerment or a serious threat to the child's safety exists; 72.22 (3) may conduct a family assessment for reports that do not 72.23 allege substantial child endangerment. In determining that a 72.24 family assessment is appropriate, the local welfare agency may 72.25 consider issues of child safety, parental cooperation, and the 72.26 need for an immediate response; and 72.27 (4) may conduct a family assessment on a report that was 72.28 initially screened and assigned for an investigation. In 72.29 determining that a complete investigation is not required, the 72.30 local welfare agency must document the reason for terminating 72.31 the investigation and notify the local law enforcement agency if 72.32 the local law enforcement agency is conducting a joint 72.33 investigation. 72.34 If the report alleges neglect, physical abuse, or sexual 72.35 abuse by a parent, guardian, or individual functioning within 72.36 the family unit as a person responsible for the child's care, 73.1 the local welfare agency shall immediately conductana family 73.2 assessmentincluding gatheringor investigation as identified in 73.3 clauses (1) to (4). In conducting a family assessment or 73.4 investigation, the local welfare agency shall gather information 73.5 on the existence of substance abuse and domestic violence and 73.6 offerprotective socialservices for purposes of preventing 73.7further abusesfuture child maltreatment, safeguarding and 73.8 enhancing the welfare of the abused or neglected minor, 73.9 and supporting and preserving family life whenever possible. If 73.10 the report alleges a violation of a criminal statute involving 73.11 sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect or endangerment, under 73.12 section 609.378, the local law enforcement agency and local 73.13 welfare agency shall coordinate the planning and execution of 73.14 their respective investigation and assessment efforts to avoid a 73.15 duplication of fact-finding efforts and multiple interviews. 73.16 Each agency shall prepare a separate report of the results of 73.17 its investigation. In cases of alleged child maltreatment 73.18 resulting in death, the local agency may rely on the 73.19 fact-finding efforts of a law enforcement investigation to make 73.20 a determination of whether or not maltreatment occurred. When 73.21 necessary the local welfare agency shall seek authority to 73.22 remove the child from the custody of a parent, guardian, or 73.23 adult with whom the child is living. In performing any of these 73.24 duties, the local welfare agency shall maintain appropriate 73.25 records. 73.26 If the family assessment or investigation indicates there 73.27 is a potential for abuse of alcohol or other drugs by the 73.28 parent, guardian, or person responsible for the child's care, 73.29 the local welfare agency shall conduct a chemical use assessment 73.30 pursuant to Minnesota Rules, part 9530.6615. The local welfare 73.31 agency shall report the determination of the chemical use 73.32 assessment, and the recommendations and referrals for alcohol 73.33 and other drug treatment services to the state authority on 73.34 alcohol and drug abuse. 73.35 (b) When a local agency receives a report or otherwise has 73.36 information indicating that a child who is a client, as defined 74.1 in section 245.91, has been the subject of physical abuse, 74.2 sexual abuse, or neglect at an agency, facility, or program as 74.3 defined in section 245.91, it shall, in addition to its other 74.4 duties under this section, immediately inform the ombudsman 74.5 established under sections 245.91 to 245.97. The commissioner 74.6 of education shall inform the ombudsman established under 74.7 sections 245.91 to 245.97 of reports regarding a child defined 74.8 as a client in section 245.91 that maltreatment occurred at a 74.9 school as defined in sections 120A.05, subdivisions 9, 11, and 74.10 13, and 124D.10. 74.11 (c) Authority of the local welfare agency responsible for 74.12 assessing or investigating the child abuse or neglect report, 74.13 the agency responsible for assessing or investigating the 74.14 report, and of the local law enforcement agency for 74.15 investigating the alleged abuse or neglect includes, but is not 74.16 limited to, authority to interview, without parental consent, 74.17 the alleged victim and any other minors who currently reside 74.18 with or who have resided with the alleged offender. The 74.19 interview may take place at school or at any facility or other 74.20 place where the alleged victim or other minors might be found or 74.21 the child may be transported to, and the interview conducted at, 74.22 a place appropriate for the interview of a child designated by 74.23 the local welfare agency or law enforcement agency. The 74.24 interview may take place outside the presence of the alleged 74.25 offender or parent, legal custodian, guardian, or school 74.26 official. For family assessments, it is the preferred practice 74.27 to request a parent or guardian's permission to interview the 74.28 child prior to conducting the child interview, unless doing so 74.29 would compromise the safety assessment. Except as provided in 74.30 this paragraph, the parent, legal custodian, or guardian shall 74.31 be notified by the responsible local welfare or law enforcement 74.32 agency no later than the conclusion of the investigation or 74.33 assessment that this interview has occurred. Notwithstanding 74.34 rule 49.02 of the Minnesota Rules of Procedure for Juvenile 74.35 Courts, the juvenile court may, after hearing on an ex parte 74.36 motion by the local welfare agency, order that, where reasonable 75.1 cause exists, the agency withhold notification of this interview 75.2 from the parent, legal custodian, or guardian. If the interview 75.3 took place or is to take place on school property, the order 75.4 shall specify that school officials may not disclose to the 75.5 parent, legal custodian, or guardian the contents of the 75.6 notification of intent to interview the child on school 75.7 property, as provided under this paragraph, and any other 75.8 related information regarding the interview that may be a part 75.9 of the child's school record. A copy of the order shall be sent 75.10 by the local welfare or law enforcement agency to the 75.11 appropriate school official. 75.12 (d) When the local welfare, local law enforcement agency, 75.13 or the agency responsible for assessing or investigating a 75.14 report of maltreatment determines that an interview should take 75.15 place on school property, written notification of intent to 75.16 interview the child on school property must be received by 75.17 school officials prior to the interview. The notification shall 75.18 include the name of the child to be interviewed, the purpose of 75.19 the interview, and a reference to the statutory authority to 75.20 conduct an interview on school property. For interviews 75.21 conducted by the local welfare agency, the notification shall be 75.22 signed by the chair of the local social services agency or the 75.23 chair's designee. The notification shall be private data on 75.24 individuals subject to the provisions of this paragraph. School 75.25 officials may not disclose to the parent, legal custodian, or 75.26 guardian the contents of the notification or any other related 75.27 information regarding the interview until notified in writing by 75.28 the local welfare or law enforcement agency that the 75.29 investigation or assessment has been concluded, unless a school 75.30 employee or agent is alleged to have maltreated the child. 75.31 Until that time, the local welfare or law enforcement agency or 75.32 the agency responsible for assessing or investigating a report 75.33 of maltreatment shall be solely responsible for any disclosures 75.34 regarding the nature of the assessment or investigation. 75.35 Except where the alleged offender is believed to be a 75.36 school official or employee, the time and place, and manner of 76.1 the interview on school premises shall be within the discretion 76.2 of school officials, but the local welfare or law enforcement 76.3 agency shall have the exclusive authority to determine who may 76.4 attend the interview. The conditions as to time, place, and 76.5 manner of the interview set by the school officials shall be 76.6 reasonable and the interview shall be conducted not more than 24 76.7 hours after the receipt of the notification unless another time 76.8 is considered necessary by agreement between the school 76.9 officials and the local welfare or law enforcement agency. 76.10 Where the school fails to comply with the provisions of this 76.11 paragraph, the juvenile court may order the school to comply. 76.12 Every effort must be made to reduce the disruption of the 76.13 educational program of the child, other students, or school 76.14 staff when an interview is conducted on school premises. 76.15 (e) Where the alleged offender or a person responsible for 76.16 the care of the alleged victim or other minor prevents access to 76.17 the victim or other minor by the local welfare agency, the 76.18 juvenile court may order the parents, legal custodian, or 76.19 guardian to produce the alleged victim or other minor for 76.20 questioning by the local welfare agency or the local law 76.21 enforcement agency outside the presence of the alleged offender 76.22 or any person responsible for the child's care at reasonable 76.23 places and times as specified by court order. 76.24 (f) Before making an order under paragraph (e), the court 76.25 shall issue an order to show cause, either upon its own motion 76.26 or upon a verified petition, specifying the basis for the 76.27 requested interviews and fixing the time and place of the 76.28 hearing. The order to show cause shall be served personally and 76.29 shall be heard in the same manner as provided in other cases in 76.30 the juvenile court. The court shall consider the need for 76.31 appointment of a guardian ad litem to protect the best interests 76.32 of the child. If appointed, the guardian ad litem shall be 76.33 present at the hearing on the order to show cause. 76.34 (g) The commissioner of human services, the ombudsman for 76.35 mental health and mental retardation, the local welfare agencies 76.36 responsible for investigating reports, the commissioner of 77.1 education, and the local law enforcement agencies have the right 77.2 to enter facilities as defined in subdivision 2 and to inspect 77.3 and copy the facility's records, including medical records, as 77.4 part of the investigation. Notwithstanding the provisions of 77.5 chapter 13, they also have the right to inform the facility 77.6 under investigation that they are conducting an investigation, 77.7 to disclose to the facility the names of the individuals under 77.8 investigation for abusing or neglecting a child, and to provide 77.9 the facility with a copy of the report and the investigative 77.10 findings. 77.11 (h) The local welfare agencyor the agencyresponsible for 77.12assessing orconducting a family assessment shall collect 77.13 available and relevant information to determine child safety, 77.14 risk of subsequent child maltreatment, and family strengths and 77.15 needs. The local welfare agency or the agency responsible for 77.16 investigating the report shall collect available and relevant 77.17 information to ascertain whether maltreatment occurred and 77.18 whether protective services are needed. Information collected 77.19 includes, when relevant, information with regard to the person 77.20 reporting the alleged maltreatment, including the nature of the 77.21 reporter's relationship to the child and to the alleged 77.22 offender, and the basis of the reporter's knowledge for the 77.23 report; the child allegedly being maltreated; the alleged 77.24 offender; the child's caretaker; and other collateral sources 77.25 having relevant information related to the alleged 77.26 maltreatment. The local welfare agency or the agency 77.27 responsible for assessing or investigating the report may make a 77.28 determination of no maltreatment early in an assessment, and 77.29 close the case and retain immunity, if the collected information 77.30 shows no basis for a full assessment or investigation. 77.31 Information relevant to the assessment or investigation 77.32 must be asked for, and may include: 77.33 (1) the child's sex and age, prior reports of maltreatment, 77.34 information relating to developmental functioning, credibility 77.35 of the child's statement, and whether the information provided 77.36 under this clause is consistent with other information collected 78.1 during the course of the assessment or investigation; 78.2 (2) the alleged offender's age, a record check for prior 78.3 reports of maltreatment, and criminal charges and convictions. 78.4 The local welfare agency or the agency responsible for assessing 78.5 or investigating the report must provide the alleged offender 78.6 with an opportunity to make a statement. The alleged offender 78.7 may submit supporting documentation relevant to the assessment 78.8 or investigation; 78.9 (3) collateral source information regarding the alleged 78.10 maltreatment and care of the child. Collateral information 78.11 includes, when relevant: (i) a medical examination of the 78.12 child; (ii) prior medical records relating to the alleged 78.13 maltreatment or the care of the child maintained by any 78.14 facility, clinic, or health care professional and an interview 78.15 with the treating professionals; and (iii) interviews with the 78.16 child's caretakers, including the child's parent, guardian, 78.17 foster parent, child care provider, teachers, counselors, family 78.18 members, relatives, and other persons who may have knowledge 78.19 regarding the alleged maltreatment and the care of the child; 78.20 and 78.21 (4) information on the existence of domestic abuse and 78.22 violence in the home of the child, and substance abuse. 78.23 Nothing in this paragraph precludes the local welfare 78.24 agency, the local law enforcement agency, or the agency 78.25 responsible for assessing or investigating the report from 78.26 collecting other relevant information necessary to conduct the 78.27 assessment or investigation. Notwithstanding section 13.384 or 78.28 144.335, the local welfare agency has access to medical data and 78.29 records for purposes of clause (3). Notwithstanding the data's 78.30 classification in the possession of any other agency, data 78.31 acquired by the local welfare agency or the agency responsible 78.32 for assessing or investigating the report during the course of 78.33 the assessment or investigation are private data on individuals 78.34 and must be maintained in accordance with subdivision 11. Data 78.35 of the commissioner of education collected or maintained during 78.36 and for the purpose of an investigation of alleged maltreatment 79.1 in a school are governed by this section, notwithstanding the 79.2 data's classification as educational, licensing, or personnel 79.3 data under chapter 13. 79.4 In conducting an assessment or investigation involving a 79.5 school facility as defined in subdivision 2, paragraph(f)(i), 79.6 the commissioner of education shall collect investigative 79.7 reports and data that are relevant to a report of maltreatment 79.8 and are from local law enforcement and the school facility. 79.9 (i) In the initial stages of an assessment or 79.10 investigation, the local welfare agency shall conduct a 79.11 face-to-face observation of the child reported to be maltreated 79.12 and a face-to-face interview of the alleged offender. At the 79.13 initial contact, the local child welfare agency or the agency 79.14 responsible for assessing or investigating the report must 79.15 inform the alleged offender of the complaints or allegations 79.16 made against the individual in a manner consistent with laws 79.17 protecting the rights of the person who made the report. The 79.18 interview with the alleged offender may be postponed if it would 79.19 jeopardize an active law enforcement investigation. 79.20 (j) When conducting an investigation, the local welfare 79.21 agency shall use a question and answer interviewing format with 79.22 questioning as nondirective as possible to elicit spontaneous 79.23 responses. For investigations only, the following interviewing 79.24 methods and procedures must be used whenever possible when 79.25 collecting information: 79.26 (1) audio recordings of all interviews with witnesses and 79.27 collateral sources; and 79.28 (2) in cases of alleged sexual abuse, audio-video 79.29 recordings of each interview with the alleged victim and child 79.30 witnesses. 79.31 (k) In conducting an assessment or investigation involving 79.32 a school facility as defined in subdivision 2, 79.33 paragraph(f)(i), the commissioner of education shall collect 79.34 available and relevant information and use the procedures in 79.35 paragraphs(h),(i), (k), and(j)subdivision 3d, provided that 79.36 the commissioner may also base the assessment or investigation 80.1 on investigative reports and data received from the school 80.2 facility and local law enforcement, to the extent those 80.3 investigations satisfy the requirements of 80.4 paragraphs(h),(i), (k), and(j)subdivision 3d. 80.5 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 80.6 626.556, subdivision 10b, is amended to read: 80.7 Subd. 10b. [DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER; NEGLECT OR ABUSE IN 80.8 FACILITY.] (a) This section applies to the commissioners of 80.9 human services, health, and education. The commissioner of the 80.10 agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report 80.11 shall immediately assess or investigate if the report alleges 80.12 that: 80.13 (1) a child who is in the care of a facility as defined in 80.14 subdivision 2 is neglected, physically abused, sexually abused, 80.15 or is the victim of maltreatment in a facility by an individual 80.16 in that facility, or has been so neglected or abused, or been 80.17 the victim of maltreatment in a facility by an individual in 80.18 that facility within the three years preceding the report; or 80.19 (2) a child was neglected, physically abused, sexually 80.20 abused, or is the victim of maltreatment in a facility by an 80.21 individual in a facility defined in subdivision 2, while in the 80.22 care of that facility within the three years preceding the 80.23 report. 80.24 The commissioner of the agency responsible for assessing or 80.25 investigating the report shall arrange for the transmittal to 80.26 the commissioner of reports received by local agencies and may 80.27 delegate to a local welfare agency the duty to investigate 80.28 reports. In conducting an investigation under this section, the 80.29 commissioner has the powers and duties specified for local 80.30 welfare agencies under this section. The commissioner of the 80.31 agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report or 80.32 local welfare agency may interview any children who are or have 80.33 been in the care of a facility under investigation and their 80.34 parents, guardians, or legal custodians. 80.35 (b) Prior to any interview, the commissioner of the agency 80.36 responsible for assessing or investigating the report or local 81.1 welfare agency shall notify the parent, guardian, or legal 81.2 custodian of a child who will be interviewed in the manner 81.3 provided for in subdivision 10d, paragraph (a). If reasonable 81.4 efforts to reach the parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a 81.5 child in an out-of-home placement have failed, the child may be 81.6 interviewed if there is reason to believe the interview is 81.7 necessary to protect the child or other children in the 81.8 facility. The commissioner of the agency responsible for 81.9 assessing or investigating the report or local agency must 81.10 provide the information required in this subdivision to the 81.11 parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a child interviewed 81.12 without parental notification as soon as possible after the 81.13 interview. When the investigation is completed, any parent, 81.14 guardian, or legal custodian notified under this subdivision 81.15 shall receive the written memorandum provided for in subdivision 81.16 10d, paragraph (c). 81.17 (c) In conducting investigations under this subdivision the 81.18 commissioner or local welfare agency shall obtain access to 81.19 information consistent with subdivision 10, paragraphs (h), (i), 81.20 and (j). In conducting assessments or investigations under this 81.21 subdivision, the commissioner of education shall obtain access 81.22 to reports and investigative data that are relevant to a report 81.23 of maltreatment and are in the possession of a school facility 81.24 as defined in subdivision 2, paragraph(f)(i), notwithstanding 81.25 the classification of the data as educational or personnel data 81.26 under chapter 13. This includes, but is not limited to, school 81.27 investigative reports, information concerning the conduct of 81.28 school personnel alleged to have committed maltreatment of 81.29 students, information about witnesses, and any protective or 81.30 corrective action taken by the school facility regarding the 81.31 school personnel alleged to have committed maltreatment. 81.32 (d) The commissioner may request assistance from the local 81.33 social services agency. 81.34 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 81.35 626.556, subdivision 10e, is amended to read: 81.36 Subd. 10e. [DETERMINATIONS.]Upon the conclusion of every82.1assessment or investigation it conducts,(a) After conducting a 82.2 family assessment, the local welfare agency shall determine 82.3 whether services are needed to address the safety of the child 82.4 and other family members, the risk of subsequent maltreatment, 82.5 and threats to family and child well being. 82.6 (b) After conducting an investigation, the local welfare 82.7 agency shall make two determinations: first, whether 82.8 maltreatment has occurred; and second, whether child protective 82.9 services are needed.Upon the conclusion of82.10 (c) If the commissioner of education conducts an assessment 82.11 or investigationby, the commissionerof education, the82.12commissionershall determine whether maltreatment occurred and 82.13 what corrective or protective action was taken by the school 82.14 facility. If a determination is made that maltreatment has 82.15 occurred, the commissioner shall report to the employer, the 82.16 school board, and any appropriate licensing entity the 82.17 determination that maltreatment occurred and what corrective or 82.18 protective action was taken by the school facility. In all 82.19 other cases, the commissioner shall inform the school board or 82.20 employer that a report was received, the subject of the report, 82.21 the date of the initial report, the category of maltreatment 82.22 alleged as defined in paragraph(a)(d), the fact that 82.23 maltreatment was not determined, and a summary of the specific 82.24 reasons for the determination. 82.25 (d) When maltreatment is determined in an investigation 82.26 involving a facility, the investigating agency shall also 82.27 determine whether the facility or individual was responsible, or 82.28 whether both the facility and the individual were responsible 82.29 for the maltreatment using the mitigating factors in 82.30 paragraph(d)(h). Determinations under this subdivision must 82.31 be made based on a preponderance of the evidence and are private 82.32 data on individuals or nonpublic data as maintained by the 82.33 commissioner of education. 82.34(a)(e) For the purposes of this subdivision, "maltreatment" 82.35 means any of the following acts or omissions: 82.36 (1) physical abuse as defined in subdivision 2, paragraph 83.1(d)(g); 83.2 (2) neglect as defined in subdivision 2, paragraph(c)(f); 83.3 (3) sexual abuse as defined in subdivision 2, paragraph 83.4(a)(d); 83.5 (4) mental injury as defined in subdivision 2, paragraph 83.6(k)(m); or 83.7 (5) maltreatment of a child in a facility as defined in 83.8 subdivision 2, paragraph(f)(i). 83.9(b)(f) For the purposes of this subdivision, a 83.10 determination that child protective services are needed means 83.11 that the local welfare agency has documented conditions during 83.12 the assessment or investigation sufficient to cause a child 83.13 protection worker, as defined in section 626.559, subdivision 1, 83.14 to conclude that a child is at significant risk of maltreatment 83.15 if protective intervention is not provided and that the 83.16 individuals responsible for the child's care have not taken or 83.17 are not likely to take actions to protect the child from 83.18 maltreatment or risk of maltreatment. 83.19(c)(g) This subdivision does not mean that maltreatment 83.20 has occurred solely because the child's parent, guardian, or 83.21 other person responsible for the child's care in good faith 83.22 selects and depends upon spiritual means or prayer for treatment 83.23 or care of disease or remedial care of the child, in lieu of 83.24 medical care. However, if lack of medical care may result in 83.25 serious danger to the child's health, the local welfare agency 83.26 may ensure that necessary medical services are provided to the 83.27 child. 83.28(d)(h) When determining whether the facility or individual 83.29 is the responsible party for determined maltreatment in a 83.30 facility, the investigating agency shall consider at least the 83.31 following mitigating factors: 83.32 (1) whether the actions of the facility or the individual 83.33 caregivers were according to, and followed the terms of, an 83.34 erroneous physician order, prescription, individual care plan, 83.35 or directive; however, this is not a mitigating factor when the 83.36 facility or caregiver was responsible for the issuance of the 84.1 erroneous order, prescription, individual care plan, or 84.2 directive or knew or should have known of the errors and took no 84.3 reasonable measures to correct the defect before administering 84.4 care; 84.5 (2) comparative responsibility between the facility, other 84.6 caregivers, and requirements placed upon an employee, including 84.7 the facility's compliance with related regulatory standards and 84.8 the adequacy of facility policies and procedures, facility 84.9 training, an individual's participation in the training, the 84.10 caregiver's supervision, and facility staffing levels and the 84.11 scope of the individual employee's authority and discretion; and 84.12 (3) whether the facility or individual followed 84.13 professional standards in exercising professional judgment. 84.14 (i) Individual counties may implement more detailed 84.15 definitions or criteria that indicate which allegations to 84.16 investigate, as long as a county's policies are consistent with 84.17 the definitions in the statutes and rules and are approved by 84.18 the county board. Each local welfare agency shall periodically 84.19 inform mandated reporters under subdivision 3 who work in the 84.20 county of the definitions of maltreatment in the statutes and 84.21 rules and any additional definitions or criteria that have been 84.22 approved by the county board. 84.23 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 626.556, 84.24 subdivision 10f, is amended to read: 84.25 Subd. 10f. [NOTICE OF DETERMINATIONS.] Within ten working 84.26 days of the conclusion of a family assessment, the local welfare 84.27 agency shall notify the parent or guardian of the child of the 84.28 need for services to address child safety concerns or 84.29 significant risk of subsequent child maltreatment. The local 84.30 welfare agency and the family may also jointly agree that family 84.31 support and family preservation services are needed. Within ten 84.32 working days of the conclusion of anassessmentinvestigation, 84.33 the local welfare agency or agency responsible for assessing or 84.34 investigating the report shall notify the parent or guardian of 84.35 the child, the person determined to be maltreating the child, 84.36 and if applicable, the director of the facility, of the 85.1 determination and a summary of the specific reasons for the 85.2 determination. The notice must also include a certification 85.3 that the information collection procedures under subdivision 10, 85.4 paragraphs (h), (i), and (j), were followed and a notice of the 85.5 right of a data subject to obtain access to other private data 85.6 on the subject collected, created, or maintained under this 85.7 section. In addition, the notice shall include the length of 85.8 time that the records will be kept under subdivision 11c. The 85.9 investigating agency shall notify the parent or guardian of the 85.10 child who is the subject of the report, and any person or 85.11 facility determined to have maltreated a child, of their appeal 85.12 or review rights under this section or section 256.022. 85.13 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 85.14 626.556, subdivision 10i, is amended to read: 85.15 Subd. 10i. [ADMINISTRATIVE RECONSIDERATION OF FINAL 85.16 DETERMINATION OF MALTREATMENT AND DISQUALIFICATION BASED ON 85.17 SERIOUS OR RECURRING MALTREATMENT; REVIEW PANEL.] 85.18 (a) Administrative reconsideration is not applicable in family 85.19 assessments since no determination concerning maltreatment is 85.20 made. For investigations, except as provided under paragraph 85.21 (e), an individual or facility that the commissioner of human 85.22 services, a local social service agency, or the commissioner of 85.23 education determines has maltreated a child, an interested 85.24 person acting on behalf of the child, regardless of the 85.25 determination, who contests the investigating agency's final 85.26 determination regarding maltreatment, may request the 85.27 investigating agency to reconsider its final determination 85.28 regarding maltreatment. The request for reconsideration must be 85.29 submitted in writing to the investigating agency within 15 85.30 calendar days after receipt of notice of the final determination 85.31 regarding maltreatment or, if the request is made by an 85.32 interested person who is not entitled to notice, within 15 days 85.33 after receipt of the notice by the parent or guardian of the 85.34 child. Effective January 1, 2002, an individual who was 85.35 determined to have maltreated a child under this section and who 85.36 was disqualified on the basis of serious or recurring 86.1 maltreatment under sections 245C.14 and 245C.15, may request 86.2 reconsideration of the maltreatment determination and the 86.3 disqualification. The request for reconsideration of the 86.4 maltreatment determination and the disqualification must be 86.5 submitted within 30 calendar days of the individual's receipt of 86.6 the notice of disqualification under sections 245C.16 and 86.7 245C.17. 86.8 (b) Except as provided under paragraphs (e) and (f), if the 86.9 investigating agency denies the request or fails to act upon the 86.10 request within 15 calendar days after receiving the request for 86.11 reconsideration, the person or facility entitled to a fair 86.12 hearing under section 256.045 may submit to the commissioner of 86.13 human services or the commissioner of education a written 86.14 request for a hearing under that section. Section 256.045 also 86.15 governs hearings requested to contest a final determination of 86.16 the commissioner of education. For reports involving 86.17 maltreatment of a child in a facility, an interested person 86.18 acting on behalf of the child may request a review by the Child 86.19 Maltreatment Review Panel under section 256.022 if the 86.20 investigating agency denies the request or fails to act upon the 86.21 request or if the interested person contests a reconsidered 86.22 determination. The investigating agency shall notify persons 86.23 who request reconsideration of their rights under this 86.24 paragraph. The request must be submitted in writing to the 86.25 review panel and a copy sent to the investigating agency within 86.26 30 calendar days of receipt of notice of a denial of a request 86.27 for reconsideration or of a reconsidered determination. The 86.28 request must specifically identify the aspects of the agency 86.29 determination with which the person is dissatisfied. 86.30 (c) If, as a result of a reconsideration or review, the 86.31 investigating agency changes the final determination of 86.32 maltreatment, that agency shall notify the parties specified in 86.33 subdivisions 10b, 10d, and 10f. 86.34 (d) Except as provided under paragraph (f), if an 86.35 individual or facility contests the investigating agency's final 86.36 determination regarding maltreatment by requesting a fair 87.1 hearing under section 256.045, the commissioner of human 87.2 services shall assure that the hearing is conducted and a 87.3 decision is reached within 90 days of receipt of the request for 87.4 a hearing. The time for action on the decision may be extended 87.5 for as many days as the hearing is postponed or the record is 87.6 held open for the benefit of either party. 87.7 (e) Effective January 1, 2002, if an individual was 87.8 disqualified under sections 245C.14 and 245C.15, on the basis of 87.9 a determination of maltreatment, which was serious or recurring, 87.10 and the individual has requested reconsideration of the 87.11 maltreatment determination under paragraph (a) and requested 87.12 reconsideration of the disqualification under sections 245C.21 87.13 to 245C.27, reconsideration of the maltreatment determination 87.14 and reconsideration of the disqualification shall be 87.15 consolidated into a single reconsideration. If reconsideration 87.16 of the maltreatment determination is denied or the 87.17 disqualification is not set aside or rescinded under sections 87.18 245C.21 to 245C.27, the individual may request a fair hearing 87.19 under section 256.045. If an individual requests a fair hearing 87.20 on the maltreatment determination and the disqualification, the 87.21 scope of the fair hearing shall include both the maltreatment 87.22 determination and the disqualification. 87.23 (f) Effective January 1, 2002, if a maltreatment 87.24 determination or a disqualification based on serious or 87.25 recurring maltreatment is the basis for a denial of a license 87.26 under section 245A.05 or a licensing sanction under section 87.27 245A.07, the license holder has the right to a contested case 87.28 hearing under chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8510 to 87.29 1400.8612 and successor rules. As provided for under section 87.30 245A.08, subdivision 2a, the scope of the contested case hearing 87.31 shall include the maltreatment determination, disqualification, 87.32 and licensing sanction or denial of a license. In such cases, a 87.33 fair hearing regarding the maltreatment determination shall not 87.34 be conducted under paragraph (b). If the disqualified subject 87.35 is an individual other than the license holder and upon whom a 87.36 background study must be conducted under chapter 245C, the 88.1 hearings of all parties may be consolidated into a single 88.2 contested case hearing upon consent of all parties and the 88.3 administrative law judge. 88.4 (g) For purposes of this subdivision, "interested person 88.5 acting on behalf of the child" means a parent or legal guardian; 88.6 stepparent; grandparent; guardian ad litem; adult stepbrother, 88.7 stepsister, or sibling; or adult aunt or uncle; unless the 88.8 person has been determined to be the perpetrator of the 88.9 maltreatment. 88.10 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 626.556, is 88.11 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 88.12 Subd. 10l. [DOCUMENTATION.] When a case is closed that has 88.13 been open for services, the local welfare agency shall document 88.14 the outcome of the family assessment or investigation, including 88.15 a description of services provided and the removal or reduction 88.16 of risk to the child, if it existed. 88.17 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 88.18 626.556, subdivision 11, is amended to read: 88.19 Subd. 11. [RECORDS.] (a) Except as provided in paragraph 88.20 (b) or (d) and subdivisions 10b, 10d, 10g, and 11b, all records 88.21 concerning individuals maintained by a local welfare agency or 88.22 agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report 88.23 under this section, including any written reports filed under 88.24 subdivision 7, shall be private data on individuals, except 88.25 insofar as copies of reports are required by subdivision 7 to be 88.26 sent to the local police department or the county sheriff. All 88.27 records concerning determinations of maltreatment by a facility 88.28 are nonpublic data as maintained by the Department of Education, 88.29 except insofar as copies of reports are required by subdivision 88.30 7 to be sent to the local police department or the county 88.31 sheriff. Reports maintained by any police department or the 88.32 county sheriff shall be private data on individuals except the 88.33 reports shall be made available to the investigating, 88.34 petitioning, or prosecuting authority, including county medical 88.35 examiners or county coroners. Section 13.82, subdivisions 8, 9, 88.36 and 14, apply to law enforcement data other than the reports. 89.1 The local social services agency or agency responsible for 89.2 assessing or investigating the report shall make available to 89.3 the investigating, petitioning, or prosecuting authority, 89.4 including county medical examiners or county coroners or their 89.5 professional delegates, any records which contain information 89.6 relating to a specific incident of neglect or abuse which is 89.7 under investigation, petition, or prosecution and information 89.8 relating to any prior incidents of neglect or abuse involving 89.9 any of the same persons. The records shall be collected and 89.10 maintained in accordance with the provisions of chapter 13. In 89.11 conducting investigations and assessments pursuant to this 89.12 section, the notice required by section 13.04, subdivision 2, 89.13 need not be provided to a minor under the age of ten who is the 89.14 alleged victim of abuse or neglect. An individual subject of a 89.15 record shall have access to the record in accordance with those 89.16 sections, except that the name of the reporter shall be 89.17 confidential while the report is under assessment or 89.18 investigation except as otherwise permitted by this 89.19 subdivision. Any person conducting an investigation or 89.20 assessment under this section who intentionally discloses the 89.21 identity of a reporter prior to the completion of the 89.22 investigation or assessment is guilty of a misdemeanor. After 89.23 the assessment or investigation is completed, the name of the 89.24 reporter shall be confidential. The subject of the report may 89.25 compel disclosure of the name of the reporter only with the 89.26 consent of the reporter or upon a written finding by the court 89.27 that the report was false and that there is evidence that the 89.28 report was made in bad faith. This subdivision does not alter 89.29 disclosure responsibilities or obligations under the Rules of 89.30 Criminal Procedure. 89.31 (b) Upon request of the legislative auditor, data on 89.32 individuals maintained under this section must be released to 89.33 the legislative auditor in order for the auditor to fulfill the 89.34 auditor's duties under section 3.971. The auditor shall 89.35 maintain the data in accordance with chapter 13. 89.36 (c) The commissioner of education must be provided with all 90.1 requested data that are relevant to a report of maltreatment and 90.2 are in possession of a school facility as defined in subdivision 90.3 2, paragraph(f)(i), when the data is requested pursuant to an 90.4 assessment or investigation of a maltreatment report of a 90.5 student in a school. If the commissioner of education makes a 90.6 determination of maltreatment involving an individual performing 90.7 work within a school facility who is licensed by a board or 90.8 other agency, the commissioner shall provide necessary and 90.9 relevant information to the licensing entity to enable the 90.10 entity to fulfill its statutory duties. Notwithstanding section 90.11 13.03, subdivision 4, data received by a licensing entity under 90.12 this paragraph are governed by section 13.41 or other applicable 90.13 law governing data of the receiving entity, except that this 90.14 section applies to the classification of and access to data on 90.15 the reporter of the maltreatment. 90.16 (d) The investigating agency shall exchange not public data 90.17 with the Child Maltreatment Review Panel under section 256.022 90.18 if the data are pertinent and necessary for a review requested 90.19 under section 256.022. Upon completion of the review, the not 90.20 public data received by the review panel must be returned to the 90.21 investigating agency. 90.22 Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 626.556, 90.23 subdivision 11c, is amended to read: 90.24 Subd. 11c. [WELFARE, COURT SERVICES AGENCY, AND SCHOOL 90.25 RECORDS MAINTAINED.] Notwithstanding sections 138.163 and 90.26 138.17, records maintained or records derived from reports of 90.27 abuse by local welfare agencies, agencies responsible for 90.28 assessing or investigating the report, court services agencies, 90.29 or schools under this section shall be destroyed as provided in 90.30 paragraphs (a) to (d) by the responsible authority. 90.31 (a)If uponFor family assessmentorcases and cases where 90.32 an investigationthere isresults in no determination of 90.33 maltreatment or the need for child protective services, 90.34 the assessment or investigation records must be maintained for a 90.35 period of four years. Records under this paragraph may not be 90.36 used for employment, background checks, or purposes other than 91.1 to assist in future risk and safety assessments. 91.2 (b) All records relating to reports which, uponassessment91.3orinvestigation, indicate either maltreatment or a need for 91.4 child protective services shall be maintained for at least ten 91.5 years after the date of the final entry in the case record. 91.6 (c) All records regarding a report of maltreatment, 91.7 including any notification of intent to interview which was 91.8 received by a school under subdivision 10, paragraph (d), shall 91.9 be destroyed by the school when ordered to do so by the agency 91.10 conducting the assessment or investigation. The agency shall 91.11 order the destruction of the notification when other records 91.12 relating to the report under investigation or assessment are 91.13 destroyed under this subdivision. 91.14 (d) Private or confidential data released to a court 91.15 services agency under subdivision 10h must be destroyed by the 91.16 court services agency when ordered to do so by the local welfare 91.17 agency that released the data. The local welfare agency or 91.18 agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report 91.19 shall order destruction of the data when other records relating 91.20 to the assessment or investigation are destroyed under this 91.21 subdivision. 91.22 Sec. 13. [REPEALER.] 91.23 (a) Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 626.5551, subdivisions 91.24 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, are repealed. 91.25 (b) Minnesota Rules, part 9560.0220, subpart 6, item B, is 91.26 repealed. 91.27 ARTICLE 4 91.28 ECONOMIC SUPPORTS 91.29 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256D.06, 91.30 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 91.31 Subd. 5. [ELIGIBILITY; REQUIREMENTS.] (a) Any applicant, 91.32 otherwise eligible for general assistance and possibly eligible 91.33 for maintenance benefits from any other source shall(a)(1) 91.34 make application for those benefits within 30 days of the 91.35 general assistance application; and(b)(2) execute an interim 91.36 assistanceauthorizationagreement on a form as directed by the 92.1 commissioner. 92.2 (b) The commissioner shall review a denial of an 92.3 application for other maintenance benefits and may require a 92.4 recipient of general assistance to file an appeal of the denial 92.5 if appropriate. If found eligible for benefits from other 92.6 sources, and a payment received from another source relates to 92.7 the period during which general assistance was also being 92.8 received, the recipient shall be required to reimburse the 92.9 county agency for the interim assistance paid. Reimbursement 92.10 shall not exceed the amount of general assistance paid during 92.11 the time period to which the other maintenance benefits apply 92.12 and shall not exceed the state standard applicable to that time 92.13 period.The commissioner shall adopt rules authorizing county92.14agencies or other client representatives to retain from the92.15amount recovered under an interim assistance agreement 2592.16percent plus actual reasonable fees, costs, and disbursements of92.17appeals and litigation, of providing special assistance to the92.18recipient in processing the recipient's claim for maintenance92.19benefits from another source. The money retained under this92.20section shall be from the state share of the recovery. The92.21commissioner or the county agency may contract with qualified92.22persons to provide the special assistance.92.23 (c) The commissioner may contract with qualified agencies, 92.24 organizations, or persons to provide advocacy and support 92.25 services to process claims for federal disability benefits for 92.26 recipients of services or benefits supervised by the 92.27 commissioner. 92.28 (1) For interim assistance recipients, the commissioner may 92.29 contract with county agencies or other client representatives to 92.30 retain from the amount recovered under an interim assistance 92.31 agreement 25 percent plus actual reasonable fees, costs, and 92.32 disbursements of appeals and litigation, and for providing 92.33 advocacy and support services. The money retained under this 92.34 clause shall be from the state's share of the recovery. 92.35 (2) For other recipients, to the extent funds are 92.36 available, the commissioner may reimburse client representatives 93.1 for actual reasonable fees, costs, and disbursements of appeals 93.2 and litigation, and for providing advocacy and support services. 93.3 (d) Therules adopted by thecommissionershall include the93.4 may provide methodsby whichfor county agenciesshallto 93.5 identify, refer, and assist recipients who may be eligible for 93.6 benefits under federal programs for the disabled.This93.7subdivision does not require repayment of per diem payments made93.8to shelters for battered women pursuant to section 256D.05,93.9subdivision 3.93.10 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 93.11 256J.40, is amended to read: 93.12 256J.40 [FAIR HEARINGS.] 93.13 Caregivers receiving a notice of intent to sanction or a 93.14 notice of adverse action that includes a sanction, reduction in 93.15 benefits, suspension of benefits, denial of benefits, or 93.16 termination of benefits may request a fair hearing. A request 93.17 for a fair hearing must be submitted in writing to the county 93.18 agency or to the commissioner and must be mailed within 30 days 93.19 after a participant or former participant receives written 93.20 notice of the agency's action or within 90 days when a 93.21 participant or former participant shows good cause for not 93.22 submitting the request within 30 days. A former participant who 93.23 receives a notice of adverse action due to an overpayment may 93.24 appeal the adverse action according to the requirements in this 93.25 section. Issues that may be appealed are: 93.26 (1) the amount of the assistance payment; 93.27 (2) a suspension, reduction, denial, or termination of 93.28 assistance; 93.29 (3) the basis for an overpayment, the calculated amount of 93.30 an overpayment, and the level of recoupment; 93.31 (4) the eligibility for an assistance payment; and 93.32 (5) the use of protective or vendor payments under section 93.33 256J.39, subdivision 2, clauses (1) to (3). 93.34 Except for benefits issued under section 256J.95, a county 93.35 agency must not reduce, suspend, or terminate payment when an 93.36 aggrieved participant requests a fair hearing prior to the 94.1 effective date of the adverse action or within ten days of the 94.2 mailing of the notice of adverse action, whichever is later, 94.3 unless the participant requests in writing not to receive 94.4 continued assistance pending a hearing decision. An appeal 94.5 request cannot extend benefits for the diversionary work program 94.6 under section 256J.95 beyond the four-month time limit. 94.7 Assistance issued pending a fair hearing is subject to recovery 94.8 under section 256J.38 when as a result of the fair hearing 94.9 decision the participant is determined ineligible for assistance 94.10 or the amount of the assistance received. A county agency may 94.11 increase or reduce an assistance payment while an appeal is 94.12 pending when the circumstances of the participant change and are 94.13 not related to the issue on appeal. The commissioner's order is 94.14 binding on a county agency. No additional notice is required to 94.15 enforce the commissioner's order. 94.16 A county agency shall reimburse appellants for reasonable 94.17 and necessary expenses of attendance at the hearing, such as 94.18 child care and transportation costs and for the transportation 94.19 expenses of the appellant's witnesses and representatives to and 94.20 from the hearing. Reasonable and necessary expenses do not 94.21 include legal fees. Fair hearings must be conducted at a 94.22 reasonable time and date by an impartial referee employed by the 94.23 department. The hearing may be conducted by telephone or at a 94.24 site that is readily accessible to persons with disabilities. 94.25 The appellant may introduce new or additional evidence 94.26 relevant to the issues on appeal. Recommendations of the 94.27 appeals referee and decisions of the commissioner must be based 94.28 on evidence in the hearing record and are not limited to a 94.29 review of the county agency action. 94.30 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 94.31 256J.425, subdivision 7, is amended to read: 94.32 Subd. 7. [STATUS OF DISQUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS.] (a) An 94.33 assistance unit that is disqualified under subdivision 6, 94.34 paragraph (a), may be approved for MFIP if the participant 94.35 complies with MFIP program requirements and demonstrates 94.36 compliance for up to one month. No assistance shall be paid 95.1 during this period. 95.2 (b) An assistance unit that is disqualified under 95.3 subdivision 6, paragraph (a), and that reapplies under paragraph 95.4 (a) is subject to sanction under section 256J.46, subdivision 1, 95.5 paragraph (c), clause(1)(2), for a first occurrence of 95.6 noncompliance. A subsequent occurrence of noncompliance results 95.7 in a permanent disqualification. 95.8 (c) If one participant in a two-parent assistance unit 95.9 receiving assistance under a hardship extension under 95.10 subdivision 3 or 4 is determined to be out of compliance with 95.11 the employment and training services requirements under sections 95.12 256J.521 to 256J.57, the county shall give the assistance unit 95.13 the option of disqualifying the noncompliant participant from 95.14 MFIP. In that case, the assistance unit shall be treated as a 95.15 one-parent assistance unit for the purposes of meeting the work 95.16 requirements under subdivision 4 and the assistance unit's MFIP 95.17 grant shall be calculated using the shared household standard 95.18 under section 256J.08, subdivision 82a. An applicant who is 95.19 disqualified from receiving assistance under this paragraph may 95.20 reapply under paragraph (a). If a participant is disqualified 95.21 from MFIP under this subdivision a second time, the participant 95.22 is permanently disqualified from MFIP. 95.23 (d) Prior to a disqualification under this subdivision, a 95.24 county agency must review the participant's case to determine if 95.25 the employment plan is still appropriate and attempt to meet 95.26 with the participant face-to-face. If a face-to-face meeting is 95.27 not conducted, the county agency must send the participant a 95.28 notice of adverse action as provided in section 256J.31. During 95.29 the face-to-face meeting, the county agency must: 95.30 (1) determine whether the continued noncompliance can be 95.31 explained and mitigated by providing a needed preemployment 95.32 activity, as defined in section 256J.49, subdivision 13, clause 95.33 (9); 95.34 (2) determine whether the participant qualifies for a good 95.35 cause exception under section 256J.57; 95.36 (3) inform the participant of the family violence waiver 96.1 criteria and make appropriate referrals if the waiver is 96.2 requested; 96.3 (4) inform the participant of the participant's sanction 96.4 status and explain the consequences of continuing noncompliance; 96.5 (5) identify other resources that may be available to the 96.6 participant to meet the needs of the family; and 96.7 (6) inform the participant of the right to appeal under 96.8 section 256J.40. 96.9 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 96.10 256J.46, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 96.11 Subdivision 1. [PARTICIPANTS NOT COMPLYING WITH PROGRAM 96.12 REQUIREMENTS.] (a) A participant who fails without good cause 96.13 under section 256J.57 to comply with the requirements of this 96.14 chapter, and who is not subject to a sanction under subdivision 96.15 2, shall be subject to a sanction as provided in this 96.16 subdivision. Prior to the imposition of a sanction, a county 96.17 agency shall provide a notice of intent to sanction under 96.18 section 256J.57, subdivision 2, and, when applicable, a notice 96.19 of adverse action as provided in section 256J.31. 96.20 (b) A sanction under this subdivision becomes effective the 96.21 month following the month in which a required notice is given. 96.22 A sanction must not be imposed when a participant comes into 96.23 compliance with the requirements for orientation under section 96.24 256J.45 prior to the effective date of the sanction. A sanction 96.25 must not be imposed when a participant comes into compliance 96.26 with the requirements for employment and training services under 96.27 sections 256J.515 to 256J.57 ten days prior to the effective 96.28 date of the sanction. For purposes of this subdivision, each 96.29 month that a participant fails to comply with a requirement of 96.30 this chapter shall be considered a separate occurrence of 96.31 noncompliance. If both participants in a two-parent assistance 96.32 unit are out of compliance at the same time, it is considered 96.33 one occurrence of noncompliance. 96.34 (c) Sanctions for noncompliance shall be imposed as follows: 96.35 (1) For the first occurrence of noncompliance by a 96.36 participant in an assistance unit, the assistance unit's grant 97.1 shall be reduced by ten percent of the MFIP standard of need for 97.2 an assistance unit of the same size with the residual grant paid 97.3 to the participant. The reduction in the grant amount must be 97.4 in effect for a minimum of one month and shall be removed in the 97.5 month following the month that the participant returns to 97.6 compliance. 97.7 (2) For a second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth occurrence 97.8 of noncompliance by a participant in an assistance unit, the 97.9 assistance unit's shelter costs shall be vendor paid up to the 97.10 amount of the cash portion of the MFIP grant for which the 97.11 assistance unit is eligible. At county option, the assistance 97.12 unit's utilities may also be vendor paid up to the amount of the 97.13 cash portion of the MFIP grant remaining after vendor payment of 97.14 the assistance unit's shelter costs. The residual amount of the 97.15 grant after vendor payment, if any, must be reduced by an amount 97.16 equal to 30 percent of the MFIP standard of need for an 97.17 assistance unit of the same size before the residual grant is 97.18 paid to the assistance unit. The reduction in the grant amount 97.19 must be in effect for a minimum of one month and shall be 97.20 removed in the month following the month that the participant in 97.21 a one-parent assistance unit returns to compliance. In a 97.22 two-parent assistance unit, the grant reduction must be in 97.23 effect for a minimum of one month and shall be removed in the 97.24 month following the month both participants return to 97.25 compliance. The vendor payment of shelter costs and, if 97.26 applicable, utilities shall be removed six months after the 97.27 month in which the participant or participants return to 97.28 compliance. If an assistance unit is sanctioned under this 97.29 clause, the participant's case file must be reviewed to 97.30 determine if the employment plan is still appropriate. 97.31 (d) For a seventh occurrence of noncompliance by a 97.32 participant in an assistance unit, or when the participants in a 97.33 two-parent assistance unit have a total of seven occurrences of 97.34 noncompliance, the county agency shall close the MFIP assistance 97.35 unit's financial assistance case, both the cash and food 97.36 portions. The case must remain closed for a minimum of one full 98.1 month. Closure under this paragraph does not make a participant 98.2 automatically ineligible for food support, if otherwise eligible. 98.3 Before the case is closed, the county agency must review the 98.4 participant's case to determine if the employment plan is still 98.5 appropriate and attempt to meet with the participant 98.6 face-to-face. The participant may bring an advocate to the 98.7 face-to-face meeting. If a face-to-face meeting is not 98.8 conducted, the county agency must send the participant a written 98.9 notice that includes the information required under clause (1). 98.10 (1) During the face-to-face meeting, the county agency must: 98.11 (i) determine whether the continued noncompliance can be 98.12 explained and mitigated by providing a needed preemployment 98.13 activity, as defined in section 256J.49, subdivision 13, clause 98.14 (9); 98.15 (ii) determine whether the participant qualifies for a good 98.16 cause exception under section 256J.57, or if the sanction is for 98.17 noncooperation with child support requirements, determine if the 98.18 participant qualifies for a good cause exemption under section 98.19 256.741, subdivision 10; 98.20 (iii) determine whether the participantqualifiesqualified 98.21 for an exemption under section 256J.56 or the work activities in 98.22 the employment plan are appropriate based on the criteria in 98.23 section 256J.521, subdivision 2 or 3; 98.24 (iv) determine whether the participant qualifies for the 98.25 family violence waiver; 98.26 (v) inform the participant of the participant's sanction 98.27 status and explain the consequences of continuing noncompliance; 98.28 (vi) identify other resources that may be available to the 98.29 participant to meet the needs of the family; and 98.30 (vii) inform the participant of the right to appeal under 98.31 section 256J.40. 98.32 (2) If the lack of an identified activity or service can 98.33 explain the noncompliance, the county must work with the 98.34 participant to provide the identified activity. 98.35 (3) The grant must be restored to the full amount for which 98.36 the assistance unit is eligible retroactively to the first day 99.1 of the month in which the participant was found to lack 99.2 preemployment activities or toqualifyhave qualified for an 99.3 exemption under section 256J.56, a family violence waiver, or 99.4 for a good cause exemption under section 256.741, subdivision 99.5 10, or 256J.57. 99.6 (e) For the purpose of applying sanctions under this 99.7 section, only occurrences of noncompliance that occur after July 99.8 1, 2003, shall be considered. If the participant is in 30 99.9 percent sanction in the month this section takes effect, that 99.10 month counts as the first occurrence for purposes of applying 99.11 the sanctions under this section, but the sanction shall remain 99.12 at 30 percent for that month. 99.13 (f) An assistance unit whose case is closed under paragraph 99.14 (d) or (g), may reapply for MFIP and shall be eligible if the 99.15 participant complies with MFIP program requirements and 99.16 demonstrates compliance for up to one month. No assistance 99.17 shall be paid during this period. 99.18 (g) An assistance unit whose case has been closed for 99.19 noncompliance, that reapplies under paragraph (f), is subject to 99.20 sanction under paragraph (c), clause (2), for a first occurrence 99.21 of noncompliance. Any subsequent occurrence of noncompliance 99.22 shall result in case closure under paragraph (d). 99.23 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 99.24 256J.521, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 99.25 Subd. 2. [EMPLOYMENT PLAN; CONTENTS.] (a) Based on the 99.26 assessment under subdivision 1, the job counselor and the 99.27 participant must develop an employment plan that includes 99.28 participation in activities and hours that meet the requirements 99.29 of section 256J.55, subdivision 1. The purpose of the 99.30 employment plan is to identify for each participant the most 99.31 direct path to unsubsidized employment and any subsequent steps 99.32 that support long-term economic stability. The employment plan 99.33 should be developed using the highest level of activity 99.34 appropriate for the participant. Activities must be chosen from 99.35 clauses (1) to (6), which are listed in order of preference. 99.36 The employment plan must also list the specific steps the 100.1 participant will take to obtain employment, including steps 100.2 necessary for the participant to progress from one level of 100.3 activity to another, and a timetable for completion of each 100.4 step. Levels of activity include: 100.5 (1) unsubsidized employment; 100.6 (2) job search; 100.7 (3) subsidized employment or unpaid work experience; 100.8 (4) unsubsidized employment and job readiness education or 100.9 job skills training; 100.10 (5) unsubsidized employment or unpaid work experience and 100.11 activities related to a family violence waiver or preemployment 100.12 needs; and 100.13 (6) activities related to a family violence waiver or 100.14 preemployment needs. 100.15 (b) Participants who are determined to possess sufficient 100.16 skills such that the participant is likely to succeed in 100.17 obtaining unsubsidized employment must job search at least 30 100.18 hours per week for up to six weeks and accept any offer of 100.19 suitable employment. The remaining hours necessary to meet the 100.20 requirements of section 256J.55, subdivision 1, may be met 100.21 through participation in other work activities under section 100.22 256J.49, subdivision 13. The participant's employment plan must 100.23 specify, at a minimum: (1) whether the job search is supervised 100.24 or unsupervised; (2) support services that will be provided; and 100.25 (3) how frequently the participant must report to the job 100.26 counselor. Participants who are unable to find suitable 100.27 employment after six weeks must meet with the job counselor to 100.28 determine whether other activities in paragraph (a) should be 100.29 incorporated into the employment plan. 100.30 (c) All job search activitieswhich are continued after six100.31weeksmust be structured and supervised. 100.32(c)(d) Beginning July 1, 2004, activities and hourly 100.33 requirements in the employment plan may be adjusted as necessary 100.34 to accommodate the personal and family circumstances of 100.35 participants identified under section 256J.561, subdivision 2, 100.36 paragraph (d). Participants who no longer meet the provisions 101.1 of section 256J.561, subdivision 2, paragraph (d), must meet 101.2 with the job counselor within ten days of the determination to 101.3 revise the employment plan. 101.4(d)(e) Participants who are determined to have barriers to 101.5 obtaining or retaining employment that will not be overcome 101.6 during six weeks of job search under paragraph (b) must work 101.7 with the job counselor to develop an employment plan that 101.8 addresses those barriers by incorporating appropriate activities 101.9 from paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (6). The employment plan 101.10 must include enough hours to meet the participation requirements 101.11 in section 256J.55, subdivision 1, unless a compelling reason to 101.12 require fewer hours is noted in the participant's file. 101.13(e)(f) The job counselor and the participant must sign the 101.14 employment plan to indicate agreement on the contents. Failure 101.15 to develop or comply with activities in the plan, or voluntarily 101.16 quitting suitable employment without good cause, will result in 101.17 the imposition of a sanction under section 256J.46. 101.18(f)(g) Employment plans must be reviewed at least every 101.19 three months to determine whether activities and hourly 101.20 requirements should be revised. 101.21 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 101.22 256J.626, subdivision 6, is amended to read: 101.23 Subd. 6. [BASE ALLOCATION TO COUNTIES AND TRIBES.] (a) For 101.24 purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings 101.25 given them: 101.26 (1) "2002 historic spending base" means the commissioner's 101.27 determination of the sum of the reimbursement related to fiscal 101.28 year 2002 of county or tribal agency expenditures for the base 101.29 programs listed in clause(4)(5), items (i) through (iv), and 101.30 earnings related to calendar year 2002 in the base program 101.31 listed in clause(4)(5), item (v), and the amount of spending 101.32 in fiscal year 2002 in the base program listed in 101.33 clause(4)(5), item (vi), issued to or on behalf of persons 101.34 residing in the county or tribal service delivery area. 101.35 (2) "Caseload factor" means a factor weighted 47 percent on 101.36 the MFIP cases in each county at four points in time in the 102.1 previous state fiscal year and 53 percent on the count of adults 102.2 on MFIP in each county and tribe at four points in time in the 102.3 previous state fiscal year. 102.4 (3) "Initial allocation" means the amount potentially 102.5 available to each county or tribe based on the formula in 102.6 paragraphs (b) through(d)(f). 102.7(3)(4) "Final allocation" means the amount available to 102.8 each county or tribe based on the formula in paragraphs (b) 102.9 through(d)(e), after adjustment by subdivision 7. 102.10(4)(5) "Base programs" means the: 102.11 (i) MFIP employment and training services under Minnesota 102.12 Statutes 2002, section 256J.62, subdivision 1, in effect June 102.13 30, 2002; 102.14 (ii) bilingual employment and training services to refugees 102.15 under Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256J.62, subdivision 6, 102.16 in effect June 30, 2002; 102.17 (iii) work literacy language programs under Minnesota 102.18 Statutes 2002, section 256J.62, subdivision 7, in effect June 102.19 30, 2002; 102.20 (iv) supported work program authorized in Laws 2001, First 102.21 Special Session chapter 9, article 17, section 2, in effect June 102.22 30, 2002; 102.23 (v) administrative aid program under section 256J.76 in 102.24 effect December 31, 2002; and 102.25 (vi) emergency assistance program under Minnesota Statutes 102.26 2002, section 256J.48, in effect June 30, 2002. 102.27 (b)(1) Beginning July 1, 2003, the commissioner shall 102.28 determine the initial allocation of funds available under this 102.29 section according to clause (2). 102.30 (2) All of the funds available for the period beginning 102.31 July 1, 2003, and ending December 31, 2004, shall be allocated 102.32 to each county or tribe in proportion to the county's or tribe's 102.33 share of the statewide 2002 historic spending base. 102.34 (c) For calendar year 2005, the commissioner shall 102.35 determine the initial allocation of funds to be made available 102.36 under this section in proportion to the county or tribe's 103.1 initial allocation for the period of July 1, 2003, to December 103.2 31, 2004. 103.3 (d)The formula under this subdivision sunsets December 31,103.42005.For calendar year 2006, the commissioner shall determine 103.5 the initial allocation of funds to be made available under this 103.6 section based 90 percent on the proportion of the county or 103.7 tribe's share of the statewide 2002 historic spending base and 103.8 based ten percent on the proportion of the county or tribe's 103.9 share of the caseload factor. 103.10 (e) For calendar year 2007, the commissioner shall 103.11 determine the initial allocation of funds to be made available 103.12 under this section based 70 percent on the proportion of the 103.13 county or tribe's share of the statewide 2002 historic spending 103.14 base and based 30 percent on the proportion of the county or 103.15 tribe's share of the caseload factor. 103.16 (f) For calendar year 2008 and subsequent years, the 103.17 commissioner shall determine the initial allocation of funds to 103.18 be made available under this section based 50 percent on the 103.19 proportion of the county or tribe's share of the statewide 2002 103.20 historic spending base and based 50 percent on the proportion of 103.21 the county or tribe's share of the caseload factor. 103.22(e) Before November 30, 2003, a county or tribe may ask for103.23a review of the commissioner's determination of the historic103.24base spending when the county or tribe believes the 2002103.25information was inaccurate or incomplete. By January 1, 2004,103.26the commissioner must adjust that county's or tribe's base when103.27the commissioner has determined that inaccurate or incomplete103.28information was used to develop that base. The commissioner103.29shall adjust each county's or tribe's initial allocation under103.30paragraph (c) and final allocation under subdivision 7 to103.31reflect the base change.103.32 (g) With the commencement of a new or expanded tribal TANF 103.33 program or an agreement under section 256.01, subdivision 2, 103.34 paragraph (g), in which some or all of the responsibilities of 103.35 particular counties under this section are transferred to a 103.36 tribe, the commissioner shall: 104.1 (1) in the case where all responsibilities under this 104.2 section are transferred to a tribal program, determine the 104.3 percentage of the county's current caseload that is transferring 104.4 to a tribal program and adjust the affected county's allocation 104.5 accordingly; and 104.6 (2) in the case where a portion of the responsibilities 104.7 under this section are transferred to a tribal program, the 104.8 commissioner shall consult with the affected county or counties 104.9 to determine an appropriate adjustment to the allocation. 104.10(f)(h) Effective January 1, 2005, counties and tribes will 104.11 have their final allocations adjusted based on the performance 104.12 provisions of subdivision 7. 104.13 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 104.14 256J.626, subdivision 7, is amended to read: 104.15 Subd. 7. [PERFORMANCE BASE FUNDS.] (a) Beginning calendar 104.16 year 2005, each county and tribe will be allocated 95 percent of 104.17 their initial calendar year2005allocation. Counties and 104.18 tribes will be allocated additional funds based on performance 104.19 as follows: 104.20 (1) for calendar year 2005, a county or tribe that achieves 104.21 a5040 percent rate or higher on the MFIP participation rate 104.22 under section 256J.751, subdivision 2, clause (8), as averaged 104.23 across the four quarterly measurements for the most recent year 104.24 for which the measurements are available, will receive an 104.25 additional allocation equal to 2.5 percent of its initial 104.26 allocation; and 104.27 (2) for calendar year 2006, a county or tribe that achieves 104.28 a 40 percent rate or a five percentage point improvement over 104.29 the previous year's MFIP participation rate under section 104.30 256J.751, subdivision 2, clause (8), as averaged across the four 104.31 quarterly measurements for the most recent year for which the 104.32 measurements are available, will receive an additional 104.33 allocation equal to 2.5 percent of its initial allocation; and 104.34 (3) for calendar year 2007, a county or tribe that achieves 104.35 a 50 percent rate or a five percentage point improvement over 104.36 the previous year's MFIP participation rate under section 105.1 256J.751, subdivision 2, clause (8), as averaged across the four 105.2 quarterly measurements for the most recent year for which the 105.3 measurements are available, will receive an additional 105.4 allocation equal to 2.5 percent of its initial allocation; and 105.5 (4) for calendar year 2008 and yearly thereafter, a county 105.6 or tribe that achieves a 50 percent MFIP participation rate 105.7 under section 256J.751, subdivision 2, clause (8), as averaged 105.8 across the four quarterly measurements for the most recent year 105.9 for which the measurements are available, will receive an 105.10 additional allocation equal to 2.5 percent of its initial 105.11 allocation; and 105.12 (5) for calendar years 2005 and thereafter, a county or 105.13 tribe that performs above the top of its range of expected 105.14 performance on the three-year self-support index under section 105.15 256J.751, subdivision 2, clause (7), in both measurements in the 105.16 preceding year will receive an additional allocation equal to 105.17 five percent of its initial allocation; or 105.18(3)(6) for calendar years 2005 and thereafter, a county or 105.19 tribe that performs within its range of expected performance on 105.20 the three-year self-support index under section 256J.751, 105.21 subdivision 2, clause (7), in both measurements in the preceding 105.22 year, or above the top of its range of expected performance in 105.23 one measurement and within its expected range of performance in 105.24 the other measurement, will receive an additional allocation 105.25 equal to 2.5 percent of its initial allocation. 105.26 (b) Funds remaining unallocated after the performance-based 105.27 allocations in paragraph (a) are available to the commissioner 105.28 for innovation projects under subdivision 5. 105.29 (c)(1) If available funds are insufficient to meet county 105.30 and tribal allocations under paragraph (a), the commissioner may 105.31 make available for allocation funds that are unobligated and 105.32 available from the innovation projects through the end of the 105.33 current biennium. 105.34 (2) If after the application of clause (1) funds remain 105.35 insufficient to meet county and tribal allocations under 105.36 paragraph (a), the commissioner must proportionally reduce the 106.1 allocation of each county and tribe with respect to their 106.2 maximum allocation available under paragraph (a). 106.3 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256J.67, 106.4 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 106.5 Subdivision 1. [ESTABLISHING THE COMMUNITY WORK EXPERIENCE 106.6 PROGRAM.] To the extent of available resources, each county 106.7 agency may establish and operate a work experience component for 106.8 MFIP caregivers who are participating in employment and training 106.9 services. This option for county agencies supersedes the 106.10 requirement in section 402(a)(1)(B)(iv) of the Social Security 106.11 Act that caregivers who have received assistance for two months 106.12 and who are not exempt from work requirements must participate 106.13 in a work experience program. The purpose of the work 106.14 experience component is to enhance the caregiver's employability 106.15 and self-sufficiency and to provide meaningful, productive work 106.16 activities.The county shall use this program for an individual106.17after exhausting all other employment opportunities. The county106.18agency shall not require a caregiver to participate in the106.19community work experience program unless the caregiver has been106.20given an opportunity to participate in other work activities.106.21 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256J.67, 106.22 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 106.23 Subd. 3. [EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS.] (a) Work sites developed 106.24 under this section are limited to projects that serve a useful 106.25 public service such as: health, social service, environmental 106.26 protection, education, urban and rural development and 106.27 redevelopment, welfare, recreation, public facilities, public 106.28 safety, community service, services to aged or disabled 106.29 citizens, and child care. To the extent possible, the prior 106.30 training, skills, and experience of a caregiver must be 106.31 considered in making appropriate work experience assignments. 106.32 (b) Structured, supervised volunteer work with an agency or 106.33 organization, which is monitored by the county service provider, 106.34 may, with the approval of the county agency, be used as a work 106.35 experience placement. 106.36 (c) As a condition of placing a caregiver in a program 107.1 under this section, the county agency shall first provide the 107.2 caregiver the opportunity:107.3(1)for placement in suitablesubsidized orunsubsidized 107.4 employment through participation in a job search; or107.5(2) for placement in suitable employment through107.6participation in on-the-job training, if such employment is107.7available. 107.8 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 107.9 256J.95, subdivision 10, is amended to read: 107.10 Subd. 10. [DIVERSIONARY WORK PROGRAM GRANT.] (a) The 107.11 amount of cash benefits that a family unit is eligible for under 107.12 the diversionary work program is based on the number of persons 107.13 in the family unit, the family maintenance needs, personal needs 107.14 allowance, and countable income. The county agency shall 107.15 evaluate the income of the family unit that is requesting 107.16 payments under the diversionary work program. Countable income 107.17 means gross earned and unearned income not excluded or 107.18 disregarded under MFIP. The same disregards for earned income 107.19 that are allowed under MFIP are allowed for the diversionary 107.20 work program. 107.21 (b) The DWP grant is based on the family maintenance needs 107.22 for which the DWP family unit is responsible plus a personal 107.23 needs allowance. Housing and utilities, except for telephone 107.24 service, shall be vendor paid. Unless otherwise stated in this 107.25 section, actual housing and utility expenses shall be used when 107.26 determining the amount of the DWP grant. 107.27 (c) The maximum monthly benefit amount available under the 107.28 diversionary work program is the difference between the family 107.29 unit's needs under paragraph (b) and the family unit's countable 107.30 income not to exceed the cash portion of the MFIP standard of 107.31 need as defined in section 256J.08, subdivision 55a, for the 107.32 family unit's size. 107.33 (d)OnceA DWP family unit's benefits, including any 107.34 changes, shall be budgeted prospectively. When the county has 107.35 determined a grant amount, the DWP grant amount will not be107.36decreased if the determination isbased on the best information 108.1 available at the time of approvaland shall not be decreased108.2because of any additional income to the family unit, the DWP 108.3 grant amount must not be decreased because of an increase in 108.4 family household income, unless a new member is added to the 108.5 household. The grant amount must beincreased if a participant108.6later verifies an increaserecalculated if there is a decrease 108.7 in family household income, a change in family size, or a change 108.8 in family maintenance needsor family unit size. 108.9 (e) The minimum cash benefit amount, if income and asset 108.10 tests are met, is $10. Benefits of $10 shall not be vendor paid. 108.11(e)(f) When all criteria are met, including the 108.12 development of an employment plan as described in subdivision 14 108.13 and eligibility exists for the month of application, the amount 108.14 of benefits for the diversionary work program retroactive to the 108.15 date of application is as specified in section 256J.35, 108.16 paragraph (a). 108.17(f)(g) Any month during the four-month DWP period that a 108.18 person receives a DWP benefit directly or through a vendor 108.19 payment made on the person's behalf, that person is ineligible 108.20 for MFIP or any other TANF cash assistance program except for 108.21 benefits defined in section 256J.626, subdivision 2, clause (1). 108.22If during the four-month period a family unit that receives108.23DWP benefits moves to a county that has not established a108.24diversionary work program, the family unit may be eligible for108.25MFIP the month following the last month of the issuance of the108.26DWP benefit.108.27 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 108.28 256J.95, subdivision 12, is amended to read: 108.29 Subd. 12. [CONVERSION OR REFERRAL TO MFIP.] (a) If at any 108.30 time during the DWP application process or during the four-month 108.31 DWP eligibility period, it is determined that a participant is 108.32 unlikely to benefit from the diversionary work program, the 108.33 county shall convert or refer the participant to MFIP as 108.34 specified in paragraph (d).Participants who are determined to108.35be unlikely to benefit from the diversionary work program must108.36develop and sign an employment plan.Participants who meet any 109.1 one of the criteria in paragraph (b) shall be considered to be 109.2 unlikely to benefit from DWP, provided the necessary 109.3 documentation is available to support the determination. 109.4 (b) A participant who: 109.5 (1) has been determined by a qualified professional as 109.6 being unable to obtain or retain employment due to an illness, 109.7 injury, or incapacity that is expected to last at least 60 days; 109.8 (2) is required in the home as a caregiver because of the 109.9 illness, injury, or incapacity, of a family member, or a 109.10 relative in the household, or a foster child, and the illness, 109.11 injury, or incapacity and the need for a person to provide 109.12 assistance in the home has been certified by a qualified 109.13 professional and is expected to continue more than 60 days; 109.14 (3) is determined by a qualified professional as being 109.15 needed in the home to care for a child or adult meeting the 109.16 special medical criteria in section256J.425256J.561, 109.17 subdivision 2, paragraph (d), clause (3); 109.18 (4) is pregnant and is determined by a qualified 109.19 professional as being unable to obtain or retain employment due 109.20 to the pregnancy; or 109.21 (5) has applied for SSI orRSDISSDI because the 109.22 participant has an illness, injury, or incapacity certified by a 109.23 qualified professional that makes the participant unable to 109.24 obtain or retain employment. 109.25 (c) In a two-parent family unit, both parents must be 109.26 determined to be unlikely to benefit from the diversionary work 109.27 program before the family unit can be converted or referred to 109.28 MFIP. 109.29 (d) A participant who is determined to be unlikely to 109.30 benefit from the diversionary work program shall be converted to 109.31 MFIP and, if the determination was made within 30 days of the 109.32 initial application for benefits, no additional application form 109.33 is required. A participant who is determined to be unlikely to 109.34 benefit from the diversionary work program shall be referred to 109.35 MFIP and, if the determination is made more than 30 days after 109.36 the initial application, the participant must submit a program 110.1 change request form. The county agency shall process the 110.2 program change request form by the first of the following month 110.3 to ensure that no gap in benefits is due to delayed action by 110.4 the county agency. In processing the program change request 110.5 form, the county must follow section 256J.32, subdivision 1, 110.6 except that the county agency shall not require additional 110.7 verification of the information in the case file from the DWP 110.8 application unless the information in the case file is 110.9 inaccurate, questionable, or no longer current. 110.10 (e) The county shall not request a combined application 110.11 form for a participant who has exhausted the four months of the 110.12 diversionary work program, has continued need for cash and food 110.13 assistance, and has completed, signed, and submitted a program 110.14 change request form within 30 days of the fourth month of the 110.15 diversionary work program. The county must process the program 110.16 change request according to section 256J.32, subdivision 1, 110.17 except that the county agency shall not require additional 110.18 verification of information in the case file unless the 110.19 information is inaccurate, questionable, or no longer current. 110.20 When a participant does not request MFIP within 30 days of the 110.21 diversionary work program benefits being exhausted, a new 110.22 combined application form must be completed for any subsequent 110.23 request for MFIP. 110.24 ARTICLE 5 110.25 MENTAL HEALTH 110.26 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 245.462, 110.27 subdivision 18, is amended to read: 110.28 Subd. 18. [MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.] "Mental health 110.29 professional" means a person providing clinical services in the 110.30 treatment of mental illness who is qualified in at least one of 110.31 the following ways: 110.32 (1) in psychiatric nursing: a registered nurse who is 110.33 licensed under sections 148.171 to 148.285, and (i) who is 110.34 certified as a clinical specialist or as a nurse practitioner in 110.35 adult or family psychiatric and mental health nursing by a 110.36 national nurse certification organization; or (ii) who has a 111.1 master's degree in nursing or one of the behavioral sciences or 111.2 related fields from an accredited college or university or its 111.3 equivalent, with at least 4,000 hours of post-master's 111.4 supervised experience in the delivery of clinical services in 111.5 the treatment of mental illness; 111.6 (2) in clinical social work: a person licensed as an 111.7 independent clinical social worker under section 148B.21, 111.8 subdivision 6, or a person with a master's degree in social work 111.9 from an accredited college or university, with at least 4,000 111.10 hours of post-master's supervised experience in the delivery of 111.11 clinical services in the treatment of mental illness; 111.12 (3) in psychology: an individual licensed by the board of 111.13 psychology under sections 148.88 to 148.98 who has stated to the 111.14 board of psychology competencies in the diagnosis and treatment 111.15 of mental illness; 111.16 (4) in psychiatry: a physician licensed under chapter 147 111.17 and certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology 111.18 or eligible for board certification in psychiatry; 111.19 (5) in marriage and family therapy: the mental health 111.20 professional must be a marriage and family therapist licensed 111.21 under sections 148B.29 to 148B.39 with at least two years of 111.22 post-master's supervised experience in the delivery of clinical 111.23 services in the treatment of mental illness; or 111.24 (6) in allied fields: a person with a master's degree from 111.25 an accredited college or university in one of the behavioral 111.26 sciences or related fields, with at least 4,000 hours of 111.27 post-master's supervised experience in the delivery of clinical 111.28 services in the treatment of mental illness. 111.29 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 245.464, is 111.30 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 111.31 Subd. 3. [PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.] The commissioner 111.32 may establish a mechanism by which counties, the Department of 111.33 Human Services, hospitals, health plans, consumers, and others 111.34 may enter into agreements that allow for capacity building and 111.35 oversight of any agreed-upon entity that is developed through 111.36 these partnerships. The purpose of these partnerships is the 112.1 development and provision of mental health services which would 112.2 be more effective, efficient, and accessible than services that 112.3 might be provided separately by each partner. 112.4 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 112.5 256B.0622, subdivision 8, is amended to read: 112.6 Subd. 8. [MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PAYMENT FOR INTENSIVE 112.7 REHABILITATIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.] (a) Payment for 112.8 residential and nonresidential services in this section shall be 112.9 based on one daily rate per provider inclusive of the following 112.10 services received by an eligible recipient in a given calendar 112.11 day: all rehabilitative services under this section, staff 112.12 travel time to provide rehabilitative services under this 112.13 section, and nonresidential crisis stabilization services under 112.14 section 256B.0624. 112.15 (b) Except as indicated in paragraph (c), payment will not 112.16 be made to more than one entity for each recipient for services 112.17 provided under this section on a given day. If services under 112.18 this section are provided by a team that includes staff from 112.19 more than one entity, the team must determine how to distribute 112.20 the payment among the members. 112.21 (c) The host county shall recommend to the commissioner one 112.22 rate for each entity that will bill medical assistance for 112.23 residential services under this section and two rates for each 112.24 nonresidential provider. The first nonresidential rate is for 112.25 recipients who are not receiving residential services. The 112.26 second nonresidential rate is for recipients who are temporarily 112.27 receiving residential services and need continued contact with 112.28 the nonresidential team to assure timely discharge from 112.29 residential services. In developing these rates, the host 112.30 county shall consider and document: 112.31 (1) the cost for similar services in the local trade area; 112.32 (2) actual costs incurred by entities providing the 112.33 services; 112.34 (3) the intensity and frequency of services to be provided 112.35 to each recipient; 112.36 (4) the degree to which recipients will receive services 113.1 other than services under this section; 113.2 (5) the costs of other services, such as case management, 113.3 that will be separately reimbursed; and 113.4 (6) input from the local planning process authorized by the 113.5 adult mental health initiative under section 245.4661, regarding 113.6 recipients' service needs. 113.7 (d) The rate for intensive rehabilitative mental health 113.8 services must exclude room and board, as defined in section 113.9 256I.03, subdivision 6, and services not covered under this 113.10 section, such ascase management,partial hospitalization, home 113.11 care, and inpatient services. Physician services that are not 113.12 separately billed may be included in the rate to the extent that 113.13 a psychiatrist is a member of the treatment team. The county's 113.14 recommendation shall specify the period for which the rate will 113.15 be applicable, not to exceed two years. 113.16 (e) When services under this section are provided by an 113.17 assertive community team, case management functions must be an 113.18 integral part of the team.The county must allocate costs which113.19are reimbursable under this section versus costs which are113.20reimbursable through case management or other reimbursement, so113.21that payment is not duplicated.113.22 (f) The rate for a provider must not exceed the rate 113.23 charged by that provider for the same service to other payors. 113.24 (g) The commissioner shall approve or reject the county's 113.25 rate recommendation, based on the commissioner's own analysis of 113.26 the criteria in paragraph (c). 113.27 Sec. 4. [REPEALER.] 113.28 Laws 2001, First Special Session chapter 9, article 9, 113.29 section 52, is repealed effective the day following final 113.30 enactment of this section. 113.31 ARTICLE 6 113.32 CONTINUING CARE FOR THE ELDERLY 113.33 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 144A.071, 113.34 subdivision 1a, is amended to read: 113.35 Subd. 1a. [DEFINITIONS.] For purposes of sections 144A.071 113.36 to 144A.073, the following terms have the meanings given them: 114.1 (a) "Attached fixtures" has the meaning given in Minnesota 114.2 Rules, part 9549.0020, subpart 6. 114.3 (b) "Buildings" has the meaning given in Minnesota Rules, 114.4 part 9549.0020, subpart 7. 114.5 (c) "Capital assets" has the meaning given in section 114.6 256B.421, subdivision 16. 114.7 (d) "Commenced construction" means that all of the 114.8 following conditions were met: the final working drawings and 114.9 specifications were approved by the commissioner of health; the 114.10 construction contracts were let; a timely construction schedule 114.11 was developed, stipulating dates for beginning, achieving 114.12 various stages, and completing construction; and all zoning and 114.13 building permits were applied for. 114.14 (e) "Completion date" means the date on which a certificate 114.15 of occupancy is issued for a construction project, or if a 114.16 certificate of occupancy is not required, the date on which the 114.17 construction project is available for facility use. 114.18 (f) "Construction" means any erection, building, 114.19 alteration, reconstruction, modernization, or improvement 114.20 necessary to comply with the nursing home licensure rules. 114.21 (g) "Construction project" means: 114.22 (1) a capital asset addition to, or replacement of a 114.23 nursing home or certified boarding care home that results in new 114.24 space or the remodeling of or renovations to existing facility 114.25 space; and 114.26 (2) the remodeling or renovation of existing facility space 114.27 the use of which is modified as a result of the project 114.28 described in clause (1). This existing space and the project 114.29 described in clause (1) must be used for the functions as 114.30 designated on the construction plans on completion of the 114.31 project described in clause (1) for a period of not less than 24 114.32 months; or114.33(3) capital asset additions or replacements that are114.34completed within 12 months before or after the completion date114.35of the project described in clause (1). 114.36 (h) "Depreciation guidelines" means the most recent 115.1 publication of "The Estimated Useful Lives of Depreciable 115.2 Hospital Assets," issued by the American Hospital Association, 115.3 840 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60611. 115.4 (i) "New licensed" or "new certified beds" means: 115.5 (1) newly constructed beds in a facility or the 115.6 construction of a new facility that would increase the total 115.7 number of licensed nursing home beds or certified boarding care 115.8 or nursing home beds in the state; or 115.9 (2) newly licensed nursing home beds or newly certified 115.10 boarding care or nursing home beds that result from remodeling 115.11 of the facility that involves relocation of beds but does not 115.12 result in an increase in the total number of beds, except when 115.13 the project involves the upgrade of boarding care beds to 115.14 nursing home beds, as defined in section 144A.073, subdivision 115.15 1. "Remodeling" includes any of the type of conversion, 115.16 renovation, replacement, or upgrading projects as defined in 115.17 section 144A.073, subdivision 1. 115.18(i)(j) "Project construction costs" means the cost of the 115.19 following items that have a completion date within 12 months 115.20 before or after the completion date of the project described in 115.21 item (g), clause (1): 115.22 (1) facility capital asset additions,; 115.23 (2) replacements,; 115.24 (3) renovations, or; 115.25 (4) remodeling projects,; 115.26 (5) construction site preparation costs, and; 115.27 (6) related soft costs. Project construction costs include115.28the cost of any remodeling or renovation of existing facility115.29space which is modified as a result of the construction115.30project. Project construction costs also includes the cost of115.31new technology implemented as part of the construction project.115.32Project construction costs also include; and 115.33 (7) the cost of new technology implemented as part of the 115.34 construction project and depreciable equipment directly 115.35 identified to the project, if the construction costs for clauses 115.36 (1) to (6) exceed the threshold for additions and replacements 116.1 stated in section 256B.431, subdivision 16.Any newTechnology 116.2 and depreciable equipment shall be included in the project 116.3 construction costsshall, at theunless a written electionofis 116.4 made by the facility,be includedto not include it in the 116.5 facility's appraised value for purposes of Minnesota Rules, part 116.6 9549.0020, subpart 5, and. Debt incurred foritspurchase of 116.7 technology and depreciable equipment shall be included as 116.8 allowable debt for purposes of Minnesota Rules, part 9549.0060, 116.9 subpart 5, items A and C, unless the written election is to not 116.10 include it. Any new technology and depreciable equipment 116.11 included in the project construction costs that the facility 116.12 elects not to include in its appraised value and allowable debt 116.13 shall be treated as provided in section 256B.431, subdivision 116.14 17, paragraph (b). Written election under this paragraph must 116.15 be included in the facility's request for the rate change 116.16 related to the project, and this election may not be changed. 116.17(j)(k) "Technology" means information systems or devices 116.18 that make documentation, charting, and staff time more efficient 116.19 or encourage and allow for care through alternative settings 116.20 including, but not limited to, touch screens, monitors, 116.21 hand-helds, swipe cards, motion detectors, pagers, telemedicine, 116.22 medication dispensers, and equipment to monitor vital signs and 116.23 self-injections, and to observe skin and other conditions. 116.24 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 116.25 256.01, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 116.26 Subd. 2. [SPECIFIC POWERS.] Subject to the provisions of 116.27 section 241.021, subdivision 2, the commissioner of human 116.28 services shall:carry out the specific duties in paragraphs (a) 116.29 to (aa). 116.30(1)(a) Administer and supervise all forms of public 116.31 assistance provided for by state law and other welfare 116.32 activities or services as are vested in the commissioner. 116.33 Administration and supervision of human services activities or 116.34 services includes, but is not limited to, assuring timely and 116.35 accurate distribution of benefits, completeness of service, and 116.36 quality program management. In addition to administering and 117.1 supervising human services activities vested by law in the 117.2 department, the commissioner shall have the authority to: 117.3(a)(1) require county agency participation in training and 117.4 technical assistance programs to promote compliance with 117.5 statutes, rules, federal laws, regulations, and policies 117.6 governing human services; 117.7(b)(2) monitor, on an ongoing basis, the performance of 117.8 county agencies in the operation and administration of human 117.9 services, enforce compliance with statutes, rules, federal laws, 117.10 regulations, and policies governing welfare services and promote 117.11 excellence of administration and program operation; 117.12(c)(3) develop a quality control program or other 117.13 monitoring program to review county performance and accuracy of 117.14 benefit determinations; 117.15(d)(4) require county agencies to make an adjustment to 117.16 the public assistance benefits issued to any individual 117.17 consistent with federal law and regulation and state law and 117.18 rule and to issue or recover benefits as appropriate; 117.19(e)(5) delay or deny payment of all or part of the state 117.20 and federal share of benefits and administrative reimbursement 117.21 according to the procedures set forth in section 256.017; 117.22(f)(6) make contracts with and grants to public and 117.23 private agencies and organizations, both profit and nonprofit, 117.24 and individuals, using appropriated funds; and 117.25(g)(7) enter into contractual agreements with federally 117.26 recognized Indian tribes with a reservation in Minnesota to the 117.27 extent necessary for the tribe to operate a federally approved 117.28 family assistance program or any other program under the 117.29 supervision of the commissioner. The commissioner shall consult 117.30 with the affected county or counties in the contractual 117.31 agreement negotiations, if the county or counties wish to be 117.32 included, in order to avoid the duplication of county and tribal 117.33 assistance program services. The commissioner may establish 117.34 necessary accounts for the purposes of receiving and disbursing 117.35 funds as necessary for the operation of the programs. 117.36(2)(b) Inform county agencies, on a timely basis, of 118.1 changes in statute, rule, federal law, regulation, and policy 118.2 necessary to county agency administration of the programs. 118.3(3)(c) Administer and supervise all child welfare 118.4 activities; promote the enforcement of laws protecting 118.5 handicapped, dependent, neglected and delinquent children, and 118.6 children born to mothers who were not married to the children's 118.7 fathers at the times of the conception nor at the births of the 118.8 children; license and supervise child-caring and child-placing 118.9 agencies and institutions; supervise the care of children in 118.10 boarding and foster homes or in private institutions; and 118.11 generally perform all functions relating to the field of child 118.12 welfare now vested in the State Board of Control. 118.13(4)(d) Administer and supervise all noninstitutional 118.14 service to handicapped persons, including those who are visually 118.15 impaired, hearing impaired, or physically impaired or otherwise 118.16 handicapped. The commissioner may provide and contract for the 118.17 care and treatment of qualified indigent children in facilities 118.18 other than those located and available at state hospitals when 118.19 it is not feasible to provide the service in state hospitals. 118.20(5)(e) Assist and actively cooperate with other 118.21 departments, agencies and institutions, local, state, and 118.22 federal, by performing services in conformity with the purposes 118.23 of Laws 1939, chapter 431. 118.24(6)(f) Act as the agent of and cooperate with the federal 118.25 government in matters of mutual concern relative to and in 118.26 conformity with the provisions of Laws 1939, chapter 431, 118.27 including the administration of any federal funds granted to the 118.28 state to aid in the performance of any functions of the 118.29 commissioner as specified in Laws 1939, chapter 431, and 118.30 including the promulgation of rules making uniformly available 118.31 medical care benefits to all recipients of public assistance, at 118.32 such times as the federal government increases its participation 118.33 in assistance expenditures for medical care to recipients of 118.34 public assistance, the cost thereof to be borne in the same 118.35 proportion as are grants of aid to said recipients. 118.36(7)(g) Establish and maintain any administrative units 119.1 reasonably necessary for the performance of administrative 119.2 functions common to all divisions of the department. 119.3(8)(h) Act as designated guardian of both the estate and 119.4 the person of all the wards of the state of Minnesota, whether 119.5 by operation of law or by an order of court, without any further 119.6 act or proceeding whatever, except as to persons committed as 119.7 mentally retarded. For children under the guardianship of the 119.8 commissioner whose interests would be best served by adoptive 119.9 placement, the commissioner may contract with a licensed 119.10 child-placing agency or a Minnesota tribal social services 119.11 agency to provide adoption services. A contract with a licensed 119.12 child-placing agency must be designed to supplement existing 119.13 county efforts and may not replace existing county programs, 119.14 unless the replacement is agreed to by the county board and the 119.15 appropriate exclusive bargaining representative or the 119.16 commissioner has evidence that child placements of the county 119.17 continue to be substantially below that of other counties. 119.18 Funds encumbered and obligated under an agreement for a specific 119.19 child shall remain available until the terms of the agreement 119.20 are fulfilled or the agreement is terminated. 119.21(9)(i) Act as coordinating referral and informational 119.22 center on requests for service for newly arrived immigrants 119.23 coming to Minnesota. 119.24(10)(j) The specific enumeration of powers and duties as 119.25 hereinabove set forth shall in no way be construed to be a 119.26 limitation upon the general transfer of powers herein contained. 119.27(11)(k) Establish county, regional, or statewide schedules 119.28 of maximum fees and charges which may be paid by county agencies 119.29 for medical, dental, surgical, hospital, nursing and nursing 119.30 home care and medicine and medical supplies under all programs 119.31 of medical care provided by the state and for congregate living 119.32 care under the income maintenance programs. 119.33(12)(l) Have the authority to conduct and administer 119.34 experimental projects to test methods and procedures of 119.35 administering assistance and services to recipients or potential 119.36 recipients of public welfare. To carry out such experimental 120.1 projects, it is further provided that the commissioner of human 120.2 services is authorized to waive the enforcement of existing 120.3 specific statutory program requirements, rules, and standards in 120.4 one or more counties. The order establishing the waiver shall 120.5 provide alternative methods and procedures of administration, 120.6 shall not be in conflict with the basic purposes, coverage, or 120.7 benefits provided by law, and in no event shall the duration of 120.8 a project exceed four years. It is further provided that no 120.9 order establishing an experimental project as authorized by the 120.10 provisions of this section shall become effective until the 120.11 following conditions have been met: 120.12(a)(1) the secretary of health and human services of the 120.13 United States has agreed, for the same project, to waive state 120.14 plan requirements relative to statewide uniformity.; and 120.15(b)(2) a comprehensive plan, including estimated project 120.16 costs, shall be approved by the Legislative Advisory Commission 120.17 and filed with the commissioner of administration. 120.18(13)(m) According to federal requirements, establish 120.19 procedures to be followed by local welfare boards in creating 120.20 citizen advisory committees, including procedures for selection 120.21 of committee members. 120.22(14)(n) Allocate federal fiscal disallowances or sanctions 120.23 which are based on quality control error rates for the aid to 120.24 families with dependent children program formerly codified in 120.25 sections 256.72 to 256.87, medical assistance, or food stamp 120.26 program in the following manner: 120.27(a)(1) one-half of the total amount of the disallowance 120.28 shall be borne by the county boards responsible for 120.29 administering the programs. For the medical assistance and the 120.30 AFDC program formerly codified in sections 256.72 to 256.87, 120.31 disallowances shall be shared by each county board in the same 120.32 proportion as that county's expenditures for the sanctioned 120.33 program are to the total of all counties' expenditures for the 120.34 AFDC program formerly codified in sections 256.72 to 256.87, and 120.35 medical assistance programs. For the food stamp program, 120.36 sanctions shall be shared by each county board, with 50 percent 121.1 of the sanction being distributed to each county in the same 121.2 proportion as that county's administrative costs for food stamps 121.3 are to the total of all food stamp administrative costs for all 121.4 counties, and 50 percent of the sanctions being distributed to 121.5 each county in the same proportion as that county's value of 121.6 food stamp benefits issued are to the total of all benefits 121.7 issued for all counties. Each county shall pay its share of the 121.8 disallowance to the state of Minnesota. When a county fails to 121.9 pay the amount due hereunder, the commissioner may deduct the 121.10 amount from reimbursement otherwise due the county, or the 121.11 attorney general, upon the request of the commissioner, may 121.12 institute civil action to recover the amount due.; and 121.13(b)(2) notwithstanding the provisions ofparagraph121.14(a)clause (1), if the disallowance results from knowing 121.15 noncompliance by one or more counties with a specific program 121.16 instruction, and that knowing noncompliance is a matter of 121.17 official county board record, the commissioner may require 121.18 payment or recover from the county or counties, in the manner 121.19 prescribed inparagraph (a)clause (1), an amount equal to the 121.20 portion of the total disallowance which resulted from the 121.21 noncompliance, and may distribute the balance of the 121.22 disallowance according toparagraph (a)clause (1). 121.23(15)(o) Develop and implement special projects that 121.24 maximize reimbursements and result in the recovery of money to 121.25 the state. For the purpose of recovering state money, the 121.26 commissioner may enter into contracts with third parties. Any 121.27 recoveries that result from projects or contracts entered into 121.28 under this paragraph shall be deposited in the state treasury 121.29 and credited to a special account until the balance in the 121.30 account reaches $1,000,000. When the balance in the account 121.31 exceeds $1,000,000, the excess shall be transferred and credited 121.32 to the general fund. All money in the account is appropriated 121.33 to the commissioner for the purposes of this paragraph. 121.34(16)(p) Have the authority to make direct payments to 121.35 facilities providing shelter to women and their children 121.36 according to section 256D.05, subdivision 3. Upon the written 122.1 request of a shelter facility that has been denied payments 122.2 under section 256D.05, subdivision 3, the commissioner shall 122.3 review all relevant evidence and make a determination within 30 122.4 days of the request for review regarding issuance of direct 122.5 payments to the shelter facility. Failure to act within 30 days 122.6 shall be considered a determination not to issue direct payments. 122.7(17)(q) Have the authority to establish and enforce the 122.8 following county reporting requirements: 122.9(a)(1) the commissioner shall establish fiscal and 122.10 statistical reporting requirements necessary to account for the 122.11 expenditure of funds allocated to counties for human services 122.12 programs. When establishing financial and statistical reporting 122.13 requirements, the commissioner shall evaluate all reports, in 122.14 consultation with the counties, to determine if the reports can 122.15 be simplified or the number of reports can be reduced.; 122.16(b)(2) the county board shall submit monthly or quarterly 122.17 reports to the department as required by the commissioner. 122.18 Monthly reports are due no later than 15 working days after the 122.19 end of the month. Quarterly reports are due no later than 30 122.20 calendar days after the end of the quarter, unless the 122.21 commissioner determines that the deadline must be shortened to 122.22 20 calendar days to avoid jeopardizing compliance with federal 122.23 deadlines or risking a loss of federal funding. Only reports 122.24 that are complete, legible, and in the required format shall be 122.25 accepted by the commissioner.; 122.26(c)(3) if the required reports are not received by the 122.27 deadlines established in clause(b)(2), the commissioner may 122.28 delay payments and withhold funds from the county board until 122.29 the next reporting period. When the report is needed to account 122.30 for the use of federal funds and the late report results in a 122.31 reduction in federal funding, the commissioner shall withhold 122.32 from the county boards with late reports an amount equal to the 122.33 reduction in federal funding until full federal funding is 122.34 received.; 122.35(d)(4) a county board that submits reports that are late, 122.36 illegible, incomplete, or not in the required format for two out 123.1 of three consecutive reporting periods is considered 123.2 noncompliant. When a county board is found to be noncompliant, 123.3 the commissioner shall notify the county board of the reason the 123.4 county board is considered noncompliant and request that the 123.5 county board develop a corrective action plan stating how the 123.6 county board plans to correct the problem. The corrective 123.7 action plan must be submitted to the commissioner within 45 days 123.8 after the date the county board received notice of 123.9 noncompliance.; 123.10(e)(5) the final deadline for fiscal reports or amendments 123.11 to fiscal reports is one year after the date the report was 123.12 originally due. If the commissioner does not receive a report 123.13 by the final deadline, the county board forfeits the funding 123.14 associated with the report for that reporting period and the 123.15 county board must repay any funds associated with the report 123.16 received for that reporting period.; 123.17(f)(6) the commissioner may not delay payments, withhold 123.18 funds, or require repayment underparagraph (c)clause (3) or 123.19(e)(5) if the county demonstrates that the commissioner failed 123.20 to provide appropriate forms, guidelines, and technical 123.21 assistance to enable the county to comply with the 123.22 requirements. If the county board disagrees with an action 123.23 taken by the commissioner underparagraph (c)clause (3) or 123.24(e)(5), the county board may appeal the action according to 123.25 sections 14.57 to 14.69.; and 123.26(g)(7) counties subject to withholding of funds under 123.27paragraph (c)clause (3) or forfeiture or repayment of funds 123.28 underparagraph (e)clause (5) shall not reduce or withhold 123.29 benefits or services to clients to cover costs incurred due to 123.30 actions taken by the commissioner underparagraph (c)clause (3) 123.31 or(e)(5). 123.32(18)(r) Allocate federal fiscal disallowances or sanctions 123.33 for audit exceptions when federal fiscal disallowances or 123.34 sanctions are based on a statewide random sample for the foster 123.35 care program under title IV-E of the Social Security Act, United 123.36 States Code, title 42, in direct proportion to each county's 124.1 title IV-E foster care maintenance claim for that period. 124.2(19)(s) Be responsible for ensuring the detection, 124.3 prevention, investigation, and resolution of fraudulent 124.4 activities or behavior by applicants, recipients, and other 124.5 participants in the human services programs administered by the 124.6 department. 124.7(20)(t) Require county agencies to identify overpayments, 124.8 establish claims, and utilize all available and cost-beneficial 124.9 methodologies to collect and recover these overpayments in the 124.10 human services programs administered by the department. 124.11(21)(u) Have the authority to administer a drug rebate 124.12 program for drugs purchased pursuant to the prescription drug 124.13 program established under section 256.955 after the 124.14 beneficiary's satisfaction of any deductible established in the 124.15 program. The commissioner shall require a rebate agreement from 124.16 all manufacturers of covered drugs as defined in section 124.17 256B.0625, subdivision 13. Rebate agreements for prescription 124.18 drugs delivered on or after July 1, 2002, must include rebates 124.19 for individuals covered under the prescription drug program who 124.20 are under 65 years of age. For each drug, the amount of the 124.21 rebate shall be equal to the rebate as defined for purposes of 124.22 the federal rebate program in United States Code, title 42, 124.23 section 1396r-8(c)(1). The manufacturers must provide full 124.24 payment within 30 days of receipt of the state invoice for the 124.25 rebate within the terms and conditions used for the federal 124.26 rebate program established pursuant to section 1927 of title XIX 124.27 of the Social Security Act. The manufacturers must provide the 124.28 commissioner with any information necessary to verify the rebate 124.29 determined per drug. The rebate program shall utilize the terms 124.30 and conditions used for the federal rebate program established 124.31 pursuant to section 1927 of title XIX of the Social Security Act. 124.32(22)(v) Have the authority to administer the federal drug 124.33 rebate program for drugs purchased under the medical assistance 124.34 program as allowed by section 1927 of title XIX of the Social 124.35 Security Act and according to the terms and conditions of 124.36 section 1927. Rebates shall be collected for all drugs that 125.1 have been dispensed or administered in an outpatient setting and 125.2 that are from manufacturers who have signed a rebate agreement 125.3 with the United States Department of Health and Human Services. 125.4(23)(w) Have the authority to administer a supplemental 125.5 drug rebate program for drugs purchased under the medical 125.6 assistance program. The commissioner may enter into 125.7 supplemental rebate contracts with pharmaceutical manufacturers 125.8 and may require prior authorization for drugs that are from 125.9 manufacturers that have not signed a supplemental rebate 125.10 contract. Prior authorization of drugs shall be subject to the 125.11 provisions of section 256B.0625, subdivision 13. 125.12(24)(x) Operate the department's communication systems 125.13 account established in Laws 1993, First Special Session chapter 125.14 1, article 1, section 2, subdivision 2, to manage shared 125.15 communication costs necessary for the operation of the programs 125.16 the commissioner supervises. A communications account may also 125.17 be established for each regional treatment center which operates 125.18 communications systems. Each account must be used to manage 125.19 shared communication costs necessary for the operations of the 125.20 programs the commissioner supervises. The commissioner may 125.21 distribute the costs of operating and maintaining communication 125.22 systems to participants in a manner that reflects actual usage. 125.23 Costs may include acquisition, licensing, insurance, 125.24 maintenance, repair, staff time and other costs as determined by 125.25 the commissioner. Nonprofit organizations and state, county, 125.26 and local government agencies involved in the operation of 125.27 programs the commissioner supervises may participate in the use 125.28 of the department's communications technology and share in the 125.29 cost of operation. The commissioner may accept on behalf of the 125.30 state any gift, bequest, devise or personal property of any 125.31 kind, or money tendered to the state for any lawful purpose 125.32 pertaining to the communication activities of the department. 125.33 Any money received for this purpose must be deposited in the 125.34 department's communication systems accounts. Money collected by 125.35 the commissioner for the use of communication systems must be 125.36 deposited in the state communication systems account and is 126.1 appropriated to the commissioner for purposes of this section. 126.2(25)(y) Receive any federal matching money that is made 126.3 available through the medical assistance program for the 126.4 consumer satisfaction survey. Any federal money received for 126.5 the survey is appropriated to the commissioner for this 126.6 purpose. The commissioner may expend the federal money received 126.7 for the consumer satisfaction survey in either year of the 126.8 biennium. 126.9(26)(z) Designate community information and referral call 126.10 centers and incorporate cost reimbursement claims fromFirst126.11Call Minnesota and Greater Twin Cities United Waythe designated 126.12 community information and referral call centers into the federal 126.13 cost reimbursement claiming processes of the department 126.14 according to federal law, rule, and regulations. Existing 2-1-1 126.15 information and referral centers provided by Greater Twin Cities 126.16 United Way or existing call centers for which Greater Twin 126.17 Cities United Way has legal authority to represent, shall be 126.18 included in these designations upon review by the commissioner 126.19 and assurance that these services are accredited and in 126.20 compliance with national standards. Any reimbursementreceived126.21 is appropriated to the commissioner and all designated 126.22 information and referral centers shallbe disbursed to First126.23Call Minnesota and Greater Twin Cities United Wayreceive 126.24 payments according to normal departmentpayment126.25 schedules established by the commissioner upon final approval of 126.26 allocation methodologies from the United States Department of 126.27 Health and Human Services Division of Cost Allocation or other 126.28 appropriate authorities. 126.29(27)(aa) Develop recommended standards for foster care 126.30 homes that address the components of specialized therapeutic 126.31 services to be provided by foster care homes with those services. 126.32 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256.01, is 126.33 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 126.34 Subd. 21. [HOMELESS SERVICES.] The commissioner of human 126.35 services may contract directly with nonprofit organizations 126.36 providing homeless services in two or more counties. 127.1 [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective immediately 127.2 following final enactment. 127.3 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256B.431, 127.4 subdivision 37, is amended to read: 127.5 Subd. 37. [NURSING HOME RATE INCREASES EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 127.6 2002.] For rate years beginning on or after July 1, 2002, the 127.7 commissioner shall provide to each nursing home reimbursed under 127.8 this section or section 256B.434 an increase in each case mix 127.9 payment rate equal to the increase in the per-bed surcharge paid 127.10 under section 256.9657, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), divided by 127.11 365 and further divided by .80. The increase under this 127.12 subdivision shall be added following the determination of the 127.13 payment rate for the home under this chapter. The increase 127.14 shall not be subject to any annual percentage increase. If a 127.15 facility has beds licensed for nursing home care and also has 127.16 beds licensed for boarding care, the increase will be prorated 127.17 by the ratio of beds licensed for nursing home care to the total 127.18 number of licensed beds in the facility. If the number of 127.19 licensed beds in facilities that have both types of licensure 127.20 changes during the year, the proration of the increase will be 127.21 changed effective the first of the month following the change in 127.22 the number of beds. 127.23 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 127.24 256B.431, subdivision 38, is amended to read: 127.25 Subd. 38. [NURSING HOME RATE INCREASES EFFECTIVE IN FISCAL 127.26 YEAR 2003.] Effective June 1, 2003, the commissioner shall 127.27 provide to each nursing home reimbursed under this section or 127.28 section 256B.434, an increase in each case mix payment rate 127.29 equal to the increase in the per-bed surcharge paid under 127.30 section 256.9657, subdivision 1, paragraph (d), divided by 365 127.31 and further divided by .90. The increase shall not be subject 127.32 to any annual percentage increase. The 30-day advance notice 127.33 requirement in section 256B.47, subdivision 2, shall not apply 127.34 to rate increases resulting from this section. If a facility 127.35 has beds licensed for nursing home care and also has beds 127.36 licensed for boarding care, the increase will be prorated by the 128.1 ratio of beds licensed for nursing home care to the total number 128.2 of licensed beds in the facility. If the number of licensed 128.3 beds in facilities that have both types of licensure changes 128.4 during the year, the proration of the increase will be changed 128.5 effective the first of the month following the change in the 128.6 number of beds. The commissioner shall not adjust the rate 128.7 increase under this subdivision unless the adjustment is greater 128.8 than 1.5 percent of the monthly surcharge payment amount under 128.9 section 256.9657, subdivision 4. 128.10 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256B.5012, is 128.11 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 128.12 Subd. 6. [FACILITY CONVERSION.] (a) For the rate year 128.13 beginning July 1, 2004, a 51-bed facility located in Ramsey 128.14 County and licensed as an intermediate care facility for persons 128.15 with mental retardation and related conditions since 1977 shall 128.16 receive an incremental increase in rates of $15.73 per calendar 128.17 day above the rate in effect on June 30, 2004. 128.18 (b) Effective the day following final enactment until the 128.19 complete closure of this facility, the occupancy requirements 128.20 under this section, and the hospital and therapeutic leave 128.21 provisions under Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0415, subparts 1 to 128.22 7, shall not apply during the conversion to closure of this 128.23 51-bed facility. 128.24 Sec. 7. [REPEALER.] 128.25 Laws 2003, First Special Session chapter 14, article 3, 128.26 section 56, is repealed effective immediately following final 128.27 enactment. 128.28 ARTICLE 7 128.29 HEALTH CARE 128.30 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256B.02, 128.31 subdivision 12, is amended to read: 128.32 Subd. 12. "Third-party payer" means a person, entity, or 128.33 agency or government program that has a probable obligation to 128.34 pay all or part of the costs of a medical assistance recipient's 128.35 health services. Third-party payer includes an entity under 128.36 contract with the recipient to cover all or part of the 129.1 recipient's medical costs. 129.2 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256B.056, is 129.3 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 129.4 Subd. 8a. [NOTICE.] The state agency must be given notice 129.5 of monetary claims against a person, entity, or corporation that 129.6 may be liable to pay all or part of all of the cost of medical 129.7 care when the state agency has paid or becomes liable for the 129.8 cost of that care. Notice must be given as follows: 129.9 (a) An applicant for medical assistance shall notify the 129.10 state or local agency of any possible claims when the applicant 129.11 submits the application. A recipient of medical assistance 129.12 shall notify the state or local agency of any possible claims 129.13 when those claims arise. 129.14 (b) A person providing medical care services to a recipient 129.15 of medical assistance shall notify the state agency when the 129.16 person has reason to believe that a third party may be liable 129.17 for payment of the cost of medical care. 129.18 (c) A party to a claim that may be assigned to the state 129.19 agency under this section shall notify the state agency of its 129.20 potential assignment claim in writing at each of the following 129.21 stages of a claim: 129.22 (1) when a claim is filed; 129.23 (2) when an action is commenced; and 129.24 (3) when a claim is concluded by payment, award, judgment, 129.25 settlement, or otherwise. 129.26 Every party involved in any stage of a claim under this 129.27 subdivision is required to provide notice to the state agency at 129.28 that stage of the claim. However, when one of the parties to 129.29 the claim provides notice at that stage, every other party to 129.30 the claim is deemed to have provided the required notice for 129.31 that stage of the claim. If the required notice under this 129.32 paragraph is not provided to the state agency, all parties to 129.33 the claim are deemed to have failed to provide the required 129.34 notice. A party to the claim includes the injured person or the 129.35 person's legal representative, the plaintiff, the defendants, or 129.36 persons alleged to be responsible for compensating the injured 130.1 person or plaintiff, and any other party to the cause of action 130.2 or claim, regardless of whether the party knows the state agency 130.3 has a potential or actual assignment claim. 130.4 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256B.056, is 130.5 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 130.6 Subd. 8b. [JOINDER OF STATE IN ACTIONS AGAINST THIRD 130.7 PARTIES.] Any medical assistance recipient or the recipient's 130.8 legal representative asserting a claim against a third party 130.9 potentially liable for all or part of the recipient's medical 130.10 costs shall join the state agency as a party to the claim. 130.11 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256B.056, is 130.12 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 130.13 Subd. 8c. [SETTLEMENT.] Pursuant to United States Code, 130.14 title 42, section 1396k(b), no judgment, award, or settlement of 130.15 any action or claim by or on behalf of a medical assistance 130.16 recipient to recover damages from a third party potentially 130.17 liable for all or part of the recipient's medical costs shall be 130.18 acceded to or satisfied by the recipient or the recipient's 130.19 legal representative or approved by the court without granting 130.20 the state agency first recovery from the liable third party to 130.21 the full extent of its medical expenditures, minus pro rata 130.22 costs and attorney fees, regardless of whether the recipient has 130.23 been fully compensated. 130.24 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256L.04, 130.25 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 130.26 Subd. 2. [COOPERATION IN ESTABLISHING THIRD-PARTY 130.27 LIABILITY, PATERNITY, AND OTHER MEDICAL SUPPORT.] (a) To be 130.28 eligible for MinnesotaCare, individuals and families must 130.29 cooperate with the state agency to identify potentially liable 130.30 third-party payers and assist the state in obtaining third-party 130.31 payments. "Cooperation" includes, but is not limited to, 130.32 complying with the notice and settlement requirements in section 130.33 256B.056, subdivisions 8a and 8c, identifying any third party 130.34 who may be liable for care and services provided under 130.35 MinnesotaCare to the enrollee, providing relevant information to 130.36 assist the state in pursuing a potentially liable third party, 131.1 and completing forms necessary to recover third-party payments. 131.2 (b) A parent, guardian, relative caretaker, or child 131.3 enrolled in the MinnesotaCare program must cooperate with the 131.4 Department of Human Services and the local agency in 131.5 establishing the paternity of an enrolled child and in obtaining 131.6 medical care support and payments for the child and any other 131.7 person for whom the person can legally assign rights, in 131.8 accordance with applicable laws and rules governing the medical 131.9 assistance program. A child shall not be ineligible for or 131.10 disenrolled from the MinnesotaCare program solely because the 131.11 child's parent, relative caretaker, or guardian fails to 131.12 cooperate in establishing paternity or obtaining medical support. 131.13 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 549.02, is 131.14 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 131.15 Subd. 3. [LIMITATION.] Notwithstanding subdivisions 1 and 131.16 2, where the state agency is joined as a party according to 131.17 section 256B.056, subdivision 8b, or brings an independent 131.18 action to enforce its rights under section 256B.056, it shall 131.19 not be liable for costs to any prevailing defendant. 131.20 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 549.04, is 131.21 amended to read: 131.22 549.04 [DISBURSEMENTS; TAXATION AND ALLOWANCE.] 131.23 Subdivision 1. [GENERALLY.] In every action in a district 131.24 court, the prevailing party, including any public employee who 131.25 prevails in an action for wrongfully denied or withheld 131.26 employment benefits or rights, shall be allowed reasonable 131.27 disbursements paid or incurred, including fees and mileage paid 131.28 for service of process by the sheriff or by a private person. 131.29 Subd. 2. [LIMITATION.] Notwithstanding subdivision 1, 131.30 where the state agency is joined as a party according to section 131.31 256B.056, subdivision 8b, or brings an independent action to 131.32 enforce its rights under section 256B.056, it shall not be 131.33 liable for disbursements to any prevailing defendant.