1999 Minnesota Statutes

     626.5593 Peer review of local agency response. 

    Subdivision 1.    Establishment.  By January 1, 1991, 
 the commissioner of human services shall establish a pilot 
 program for peer review of local agency responses to child 
 maltreatment reports made under section 626.556.  The peer 
 review program shall examine agency assessments of maltreatment 
 reports and delivery of child protection services in at least 
 two counties.  The commissioner shall designate the local 
 agencies to be reviewed, and shall appoint a peer review panel 
 composed of child protection workers, as defined in section 
 626.559, and law enforcement personnel who are responsible for 
 investigating reports of child maltreatment under section 
 626.556, subdivision 10, within the designated counties. 

    Subd. 2.    Duties.  The peer review panel shall meet at 
 least quarterly to review case files representative of child 
 maltreatment reports that were investigated or assessed by the 
 local agency.  These cases shall be selected randomly from local 
 welfare agency files by the commissioner.  Not public data, as 
 defined in section 13.02, subdivision 8, may be shared with 
 panel members in connection with a case review. 

    The panel shall review each case for compliance with 
 relevant laws, rules, agency policies, appropriateness of agency 
 actions, and case determinations.  The panel shall issue a 
 report to the designated agencies after each meeting which 
 includes findings regarding the agency's compliance with 
 relevant laws, rules, policies, case practice, and any 
 recommendations to be considered by the agency.  The panel shall 
 also issue a semiannual report concerning its activities.  This 
 semiannual report shall be available to the public, but may not 
 include any information that is classified as not public data. 

    Subd. 3.    Report to legislature.  By January 1, 1992, 
 the commissioner shall report to the legislature regarding the 
 activities of the peer review panel, compliance findings, 
 barriers to the effective delivery of child protection services, 
 and recommendations for the establishment of a permanent peer 
 review system for child protection services. 

    Subd. 4.    Funds.  The commissioner may use funds 
 allocated for child protection services, training, and grants to 
 pay administrative expenses associated with the peer review 
 panel pilot program created by this section. 

    HIST: 1989 c 282 art 2 s 203