HF 1656

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/25/2021 03:31pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; establishing a legislative task force on family foster
care and adoption; requiring a report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin FAMILY FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION LEGISLATIVE TASK
FORCE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; duties. new text end

new text begin The Family Foster Care and Adoption Legislative
Task Force is established to evaluate and make recommendations on improving foster care
licensing and adoption or kinship placement processes and ensuring that children with severe
disabilities have necessary specialized care in out-of-home placements. The task force must
evaluate and make recommendations on:
new text end

new text begin (1) establishing required timelines under which agencies must complete foster care
licensing steps, adoption studies, and medical disclosures to prospective foster and kinship
caregivers and adoptive parents;
new text end

new text begin (2) providing specialized case managers with relevant experience and expertise to
represent the interests of children in out-of-home placement who are medically fragile or
who have severe disabilities;
new text end

new text begin (3) ensuring that foster caregivers with whom a child with severe disabilities is placed
receive additional support and training on caring for children with severe disabilities; and
new text end

new text begin (4) providing additional channels through which prospective foster care licensees and
kinship or adoptive parents may express concerns or submit complaints about foster care
licensing, out-of-home placement or adoptive placement procedures, and child safety in an
out-of-home placement.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force shall consist of the following 18 members:
new text end

new text begin (1) two members from the house of representatives, including one appointed by the
speaker of the house of representatives and one appointed by the minority leader in the
house of representatives;
new text end

new text begin (2) two members from the senate, including one appointed by the senate majority leader
and one appointed by the senate minority leader;
new text end

new text begin (3) the commissioner of human services or the commissioner's designee;
new text end

new text begin (4) one ombudsperson appointed by the Minnesota Office of Ombudsperson for Families;
new text end

new text begin (5) two members representing county social services agencies, appointed by the
Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators;
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new text begin (6) two members representing tribal social services providers, appointed by the Minnesota
Indian Affairs Council;
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new text begin (7) two members of the public who are currently prospective adoptive parents or who
have adopted a child from foster care, one appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives, and one appointed by the senate majority leader;
new text end

new text begin (8) two members of the public who are family foster care license holders, one appointed
by the speaker of the house of representatives, and one appointed by the senate majority
leader;
new text end

new text begin (9) two members representing disability advocacy organizations, one appointed by the
speaker of the house of representatives, and one appointed by the senate majority leader;
and
new text end

new text begin (10) two members representing organizations that advocate for children in out-of-home
placement, one appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and one appointed
by the senate majority leader.
new text end

new text begin (b) Appointments to the task force must be made no later than August 1, 2021.
new text end

new text begin (c) Member compensation and reimbursement for expenses are governed by Minnesota
Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Chair; meetings. new text end

new text begin (a) The first meeting of the task force shall be cochaired by
the task force member from the majority party of the house of representatives and the task
force member from the majority party of the senate. The Legislative Coordinating
Commission must convene the first meeting of the task force no later than August 15, 2021.
The task force shall elect a chair and vice chair at the first meeting who shall preside at the
remainder of the task force meetings, and may elect other officers as necessary.
new text end

new text begin (b) The task force is subject to the open meeting law under Minnesota Statutes, chapter
13D.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Administrative support. new text end

new text begin The Legislative Coordinating Commission must
provide administrative support and meeting space for the task force.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin No later than January 1, 2023, the task force must submit a written
report to the members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over human services
on the task force's evaluation conducted and recommendations developed relating to each
of the duties under subdivision 1, and include any draft legislation necessary to implement
the recommendations.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin The task force shall expire upon submission of the report required
under subdivision 5, or January 1, 2023, whichever is later.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; FAMILY FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION
LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the Legislative
Coordinating Commission for the Family Foster Care and Adoption Legislative Task Force.
This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end