1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to children; establishing interview requirements for children who are 
1.3 	subjects of maltreatment reports; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 
1.4 	626.556, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 626.556, is amended by adding a 
1.7 	subdivision to read:
1.8 		Subd. 3g.Interviews with children. (a) Notwithstanding any provision to the 
1.9 	contrary, absent special circumstances, an interview with a child who is the subject of a 
1.10 	report shall be conducted outside the presence of the child's parents. This requirement 
1.11 	applies to all initial interviews with a child subject conducted by the local welfare agency, 
1.12 	agency responsible for investigating or assessing the report, or law enforcement and 
1.13 	applies to family assessment and family investigation cases.
1.14 	(b) If there are special circumstances, the person responsible for conducting the 
1.15 	interview must document in writing the special circumstances that prohibit an interview of 
1.16 	the child outside the presence of the child's parents. This documentation must be included 
1.17 	in the child's case file and must be reviewed by a quality assurance review.