2024 Minnesota Statutes

CHAPTER 260. JUVENILE COURT; CHILD PLACEMENT; COMPACTS

GENERAL PROVISIONS

260.01 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.011 TITLE, INTENT, AND CONSTRUCTION.

Subdivision 1.Citation.

Sections 260.011 to 260.92 may be cited as general provisions of the Juvenile Court Act.

Subd. 2.

[Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

History:

1959 c 685 s 1; 1980 c 580 s 3; 1985 c 286 s 1; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 514 s 3; 1988 c 673 s 2; 1990 c 542 s 10; 1998 c 406 art 1 s 23,37; 1998 c 407 art 9 s 22; 1999 c 139 art 1 s 1; 2019 c 50 art 1 s 84

260.012 DUTY TO ENSURE PLACEMENT PREVENTION AND FAMILY REUNIFICATION; REASONABLE EFFORTS.

(a) Once a child alleged to be in need of protection or services is under the court's jurisdiction, the court shall ensure that reasonable efforts, including culturally appropriate services and practices, by the social services agency are made to prevent placement or to eliminate the need for removal and to reunite the child with the child's family at the earliest possible time, and the court must ensure that the responsible social services agency makes reasonable efforts to finalize an alternative permanent plan for the child as provided in paragraph (e). In determining reasonable efforts to be made with respect to a child and in making those reasonable efforts, the child's best interests, health, and safety must be of paramount concern. Reasonable efforts to prevent placement and for rehabilitation and reunification are always required except upon a determination by the court that a petition has been filed stating a prima facie case that:

(1) the parent has subjected a child to egregious harm as defined in section 260C.007, subdivision 14;

(2) the parental rights of the parent to another child have been terminated involuntarily;

(3) the child is an abandoned infant under section 260C.301, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (2);

(4) the parent's custodial rights to another child have been involuntarily transferred to a relative under Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 260C.201, subdivision 11, paragraph (d), clause (1), section 260C.515, subdivision 4, or a similar law of another jurisdiction;

(5) the parent has committed sexual abuse as defined in section 260E.03, against the child or another child of the parent;

(6) the parent has committed an offense that requires registration as a predatory offender under section 243.166, subdivision 1b, paragraph (a) or (b); or

(7) the provision of services or further services for the purpose of reunification is futile and therefore unreasonable under the circumstances.

(b) When the court makes one of the prima facie determinations under paragraph (a), either permanency pleadings under section 260C.505, or a termination of parental rights petition under sections 260C.141 and 260C.301 must be filed. A permanency hearing under sections 260C.503 to 260C.521 must be held within 30 days of this determination.

(c) In the case of an Indian child, in proceedings under sections 260B.178, 260C.178, 260C.201, 260C.202, 260C.204, 260C.301, or 260C.503 to 260C.521, the juvenile court must make findings and conclusions consistent with the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, United States Code, title 25, section 1901 et seq., as to the provision of active efforts. In cases governed by the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, United States Code, title 25, section 1901, the responsible social services agency must provide active efforts as required under United States Code, title 25, section 1911(d).

(d) "Reasonable efforts to prevent placement" means:

(1) the agency has made reasonable efforts to prevent the placement of the child in foster care by working with the family to develop and implement a safety plan that is individualized to the needs of the child and the child's family and may include support persons from the child's extended family, kin network, and community; or

(2) the agency has demonstrated to the court that, given the particular circumstances of the child and family at the time of the child's removal, there are no services or efforts available that could allow the child to safely remain in the home.

(e) "Reasonable efforts to finalize a permanent plan for the child" means due diligence by the responsible social services agency to:

(1) reunify the child with the parent or guardian from whom the child was removed;

(2) assess a noncustodial parent's ability to provide day-to-day care for the child and, where appropriate, provide services necessary to enable the noncustodial parent to safely provide the care, as required by section 260C.219;

(3) conduct a relative search to identify and provide notice to adult relatives, and engage relatives in case planning and permanency planning, as required under section 260C.221;

(4) consider placing the child with relatives in the order specified in section 260C.212, subdivision 2, paragraph (a);

(5) place siblings removed from their home in the same home for foster care or adoption, or transfer permanent legal and physical custody to a relative. Visitation between siblings who are not in the same foster care, adoption, or custodial placement or facility shall be consistent with section 260C.212, subdivision 2; and

(6) when the child cannot return to the parent or guardian from whom the child was removed, to plan for and finalize a safe and legally permanent alternative home for the child, and considers permanent alternative homes for the child inside or outside of the state, preferably with a relative in the order specified in section 260C.212, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), through adoption or transfer of permanent legal and physical custody of the child.

(f) Reasonable efforts are made upon the exercise of due diligence by the responsible social services agency to use culturally appropriate and available services to meet the individualized needs of the child and the child's family. Services may include those provided by the responsible social services agency and other culturally appropriate services available in the community. The responsible social services agency must select services for a child and the child's family by collaborating with the child's family and, if appropriate, the child. At each stage of the proceedings when the court is required to review the appropriateness of the responsible social services agency's reasonable efforts as described in paragraphs (a), (d), and (e), the social services agency has the burden of demonstrating that:

(1) the agency has made reasonable efforts to prevent placement of the child in foster care, including that the agency considered or established a safety plan according to paragraph (d), clause (1);

(2) the agency has made reasonable efforts to eliminate the need for removal of the child from the child's home and to reunify the child with the child's family at the earliest possible time;

(3) the agency has made reasonable efforts to finalize a permanent plan for the child pursuant to paragraph (e);

(4) the agency has made reasonable efforts to finalize an alternative permanent home for the child, and considered permanent alternative homes for the child in or out of the state, preferably with a relative in the order specified in section 260C.212, subdivision 2, paragraph (a); or

(5) reasonable efforts to prevent placement and to reunify the child with the parent or guardian are not required. The agency may meet this burden by stating facts in a sworn petition filed under section 260C.141, by filing an affidavit summarizing the agency's reasonable efforts or facts that the agency believes demonstrate that there is no need for reasonable efforts to reunify the parent and child, or through testimony or a certified report required under juvenile court rules.

(g) Once the court determines that reasonable efforts for reunification are not required because the court has made one of the prima facie determinations under paragraph (a), the court may only require the agency to make reasonable efforts for reunification after a hearing according to section 260C.163, if the court finds that there is not clear and convincing evidence of the facts upon which the court based the court's prima facie determination. If there is clear and convincing evidence that the child is in need of protection or services, the court may find the child in need of protection or services and order any of the dispositions available under section 260C.201, subdivision 1. Reunification of a child with a parent is not required if the parent has been convicted of:

(1) a violation of, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit a violation of, sections 609.185 to 609.20; 609.222, subdivision 2; or 609.223 in regard to another child of the parent;

(2) a violation of section 609.222, subdivision 2; or 609.223, in regard to the child;

(3) a violation of, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit a violation of, United States Code, title 18, section 1111(a) or 1112(a), in regard to another child of the parent;

(4) committing sexual abuse as defined in section 260E.03, against the child or another child of the parent; or

(5) an offense that requires registration as a predatory offender under section 243.166, subdivision 1b, paragraph (a) or (b).

(h) The juvenile court, in proceedings under sections 260B.178, 260C.178, 260C.201, 260C.202, 260C.204, 260C.301, or 260C.503 to 260C.521, shall make findings and conclusions as to the provision of reasonable efforts. When determining whether reasonable efforts have been made by the agency, the court shall consider whether services to the child and family were:

(1) selected in collaboration with the child's family and, if appropriate, the child;

(2) tailored to the individualized needs of the child and child's family;

(3) relevant to the safety, protection, and well-being of the child;

(4) adequate to meet the individualized needs of the child and family;

(5) culturally appropriate;

(6) available and accessible;

(7) consistent and timely; and

(8) realistic under the circumstances.

In the alternative, the court may determine that the provision of services or further services for the purpose of rehabilitation is futile and therefore unreasonable under the circumstances or that reasonable efforts are not required as provided in paragraph (a).

(i) This section does not prevent out-of-home placement for the treatment of a child with a mental disability when it is determined to be medically necessary as a result of the child's diagnostic assessment or the child's individual treatment plan indicates that appropriate and necessary treatment cannot be effectively provided outside of a residential or inpatient treatment program and the level or intensity of supervision and treatment cannot be effectively and safely provided in the child's home or community and it is determined that a residential treatment setting is the least restrictive setting that is appropriate to the needs of the child.

(j) If continuation of reasonable efforts to prevent placement or reunify the child with the parent or guardian from whom the child was removed is determined by the court to be inconsistent with the permanent plan for the child or upon the court making one of the prima facie determinations under paragraph (a), reasonable efforts must be made to place the child in a timely manner in a safe and permanent home and to complete whatever steps are necessary to legally finalize the permanent placement of the child.

(k) Reasonable efforts to place a child for adoption or in another permanent placement may be made concurrently with reasonable efforts to prevent placement or to reunify the child with the parent or guardian from whom the child was removed. When the responsible social services agency decides to concurrently make reasonable efforts for both reunification and permanent placement away from the parent under paragraph (a), the agency shall disclose the agency's decision and both plans for concurrent reasonable efforts to all parties and the court. When the agency discloses the agency's decision to proceed with both plans for reunification and permanent placement away from the parent, the court's review of the agency's reasonable efforts shall include the agency's efforts under both plans.

History:

1986 c 448 s 1; 1988 c 514 s 4; 1989 c 235 s 1; 1997 c 239 art 6 s 13; 1998 c 406 art 1 s 24,37; 1998 c 407 art 9 s 23; 1999 c 245 art 8 s 42; 2001 c 178 art 1 s 4,44; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 11 s 11; 2005 c 159 art 2 s 11; 2007 c 147 art 1 s 7; 2009 c 163 art 2 s 13; 2010 c 301 art 3 s 4; 2012 c 216 art 4 s 1; art 6 s 13; 1Sp2020 c 2 art 8 s 109; 2022 c 98 art 8 s 2

260.013 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.014 [Renumbered 142A.452]

260.015 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

ORGANIZATION OF THE COURT

260.019 JUVENILE COURT; HENNEPIN AND RAMSEY COUNTIES.

Subdivision 1.Hennepin and Ramsey Counties; district court; juvenile court.

In Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, the district court is the juvenile court.

Subd. 2.

[Repealed, 2002 c 229 s 1]

Subd. 3.

[Repealed, 2002 c 229 s 1]

Subd. 4.

[Repealed, 2002 c 229 s 1]

History:

1978 c 750 s 7; 1981 c 292 s 2; 1986 c 444; 1999 c 139 art 4 s 2

260.0191 [Repealed, 1985 c 278 s 2; 1989 c 262 s 5]

260.02 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.021 JUVENILE COURTS.

Subdivision 1.

[Repealed, 1978 c 750 s 9]

Subd. 2.

[Repealed, 1978 c 750 s 9]

Subd. 3.

[Repealed, 1978 c 750 s 9]

Subd. 4.Juvenile court.

In counties now or hereafter having a population of not more than 200,000, the probate court is the juvenile court. At the primary or general election, the office of probate judge shall also be designated on the ballot as "Judge of the Juvenile Court."

History:

1959 c 685 s 3; 1965 c 316 s 1,2; 1971 c 25 s 49,50

260.022 [Repealed, 2001 c 78 s 4]

260.023 [Repealed, 2001 c 78 s 4]

260.024 [Repealed, 2001 c 78 s 4]

260.025 [Repealed, 2001 c 78 s 4]

260.03 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.031 REFEREE.

Subdivision 1.Appointment.

The chief judge of the judicial district may appoint one or more suitable persons to act as referees. All referees are subject to the administrative authority and assignment power of the chief judge of the district as provided in section 484.69, subdivision 3, and are not limited to assignment to juvenile court. Referees shall hold office at the pleasure of the judges of the district court and shall be learned in the law, except that persons holding the office of referee on January 1, 1983, may continue to serve under the terms and conditions of their appointment. The compensation of a referee shall be fixed by the judge, approved by the county board and payable from the general revenue funds of the county not otherwise appropriated. Part time referees holding office in the Second Judicial District pursuant to this subdivision shall cease to hold office on July 31, 1984.

Subd. 2.Referee hears case.

The judge may direct that any case or class of cases shall be heard in the first instance by the referee in the manner provided for the hearing of cases by the court.

Subd. 3.Findings transmitted.

Upon the conclusion of the hearing in each case, the referee shall transmit to the judge all papers relating to the case, together with findings and recommendations in writing. Notice of the findings of the referee together with a statement relative to the right of rehearing shall be given to the minor, parents, guardian, or custodian of the minor whose case has been heard by the referee, and to any other person that the court may direct. This notice may be given at the hearing, or by certified mail or other service directed by the court.

Subd. 4.Hearing request.

The minor and the minor's parents, guardians, or custodians are entitled to a hearing by the judge of the juvenile court if, within three days after receiving notice of the findings of the referee, they file a request with the court for a hearing. The court may allow such a hearing at any time.

Subd. 5.Referee findings; decree of court.

In case no hearing before the judge is requested, or when the right to a hearing is waived, the findings and recommendations of the referee become the decree of the court when confirmed by an order of the judge. The final order of the court shall, in any event, be proof of such confirmation, and also of the fact that the matter was duly referred to the referee.

History:

1959 c 685 s 5; 1981 c 272 s 1; 1Sp1981 c 4 art 4 s 25; 1983 c 370 s 1; 1986 c 444

260.04 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.041 COURT ADMINISTRATOR; COURT REPORTER.

Subdivision 1.Duties.

The court administrator of the juvenile court shall keep necessary books and records, issue summons and process, attend to the correspondence of the court, and in general perform such duties in the administration of the business of the court as the judge may direct.

Subd. 2.Service as court administrator of juvenile court.

In counties having a population of not more than 200,000, the court administrator of the probate court shall serve as court administrator of the juvenile court.

Subd. 3.Court reporters.

The judge of juvenile court, in counties not having a court reporter for the juvenile court, may appoint one or more qualified persons to serve as court reporters for the juvenile court in any matter or proceeding, whenever the court considers it necessary. The compensation of the court reporter shall be fixed by the judge and approved by the county board and shall be payable from general revenue funds not otherwise appropriated.

History:

1959 c 685 s 6; 1961 c 576 s 2; 1965 c 316 s 3; 1Sp1986 c 3 art 1 s 82

260.042 ORIENTATION AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM.

The court shall make an orientation and educational program available for juveniles and their families in accordance with the program established, if any, by the supreme court.

History:

1995 c 226 art 3 s 16

260.05 [Renumbered 260.305]

260.06 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.065 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.07 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.08 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.09 [Renumbered 260.311]

260.092 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.094 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.096 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.10 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.101 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.103 [Repealed, 1988 c 673 s 40]

SALARIES

260.105 SALARIES.

All salaries and expenses to be paid by the county under the provisions of sections 244.19 and 260.021 to 260.042 shall be paid upon certification of the judge of juvenile court or upon such other authorization provided by law.

History:

1959 c 685 s 12; 1991 c 199 art 2 s 1; 2009 c 86 art 1 s 45

260.106 [Repealed, 1977 c 200 s 1]

260.11 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.111 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.115 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.12 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.121 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.125

Subdivision 1.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.01]

Subd. 2.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.02]

Subd. 3.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.03]

Subd. 4.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.04]

Subd. 5.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.05]

Subd. 6.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.06]

Subd. 7.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.07]

Subd. 8.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.08]

Subd. 9.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.09]

Subd. 10.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.10]

Subd. 11.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.11]

Subd. 12.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.12]

Subd. 13.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.13]

Subd. 14.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.14]

Subd. 15.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.15]

Subd. 16.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.16]

Subd. 17.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.17]

Subd. 18.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.18]

Subd. 19.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.19]

Subd. 20.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.20]

Subd. 21.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.21]

Subd. 22.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.22]

Subd. 23.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.23]

Subd. 24.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.24]

Subd. 25.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.25]

Subd. 26.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.26]

Subd. 27.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.27]

Subd. 28.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.28]

Subd. 29.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.29]

Subd. 30.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.30]

Subd. 31.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.31]

Subd. 32.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.32]

Subd. 33.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.33]

Subd. 34.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.34]

Subd. 35.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.35]

Subd. 36.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.36]

Subd. 37.

MS 1949 [Renumbered 242.37]

260.125 MS 1998 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.126 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.13 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.131 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.132 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.133 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.135 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.14 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.141 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.145 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.15 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.151 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.152 [Repealed, 1Sp2003 c 14 art 11 s 12]

260.155 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.156 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3; 2000 c 260 s 86]

260.157 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.16 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.161 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.162 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.165 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.17 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.171 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.172 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.173 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.1735 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.174 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.175 [Repealed, 1976 c 318 s 18]

260.18 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.181 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.185 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.19 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.191 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.192 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.193 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.194 [Repealed, 1988 c 673 s 40]

260.195 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.20 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.21 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.211 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.215 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.22 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.221 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.225 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3; 2000 c 260 s 86]

260.23 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.231 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3; 2000 c 260 s 86]

260.235 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3; 2000 c 260 s 86]

260.24 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.241 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.242 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.245 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.25 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.251 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.255 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.26 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.261 [Repealed, 1998 c 367 art 10 s 17; 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.27 [Renumbered 260.315]

260.271 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.28 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.281 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.29 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.291 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.30 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.301 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.305 [Repealed, 1974 c 322 s 26]

260.31 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.311

Subdivision 1.

[Renumbered 244.19, subdivision 1]

Subd. 2.

[Renumbered 244.19, subd 2]

Subd. 3.

[Renumbered 244.19, subd 3]

Subd. 3a.

[Renumbered 244.19, subd 4]

Subd. 4.

[Renumbered 244.19, subd 5]

Subd. 5.

[Renumbered 244.19, subd 6]

Subd. 6.

[Renumbered 244.19, subd 7]

Subd. 7.

[Renumbered 244.19, subd 8]

260.315 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.32 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.33 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.34 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.35 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.36 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.37 [Repealed, 1959 c 685 s 53]

260.38 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3; 2000 c 260 s 86]

260.39 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.40 [Repealed, 1999 c 139 art 4 s 3]

260.41 [Repealed, 1980 c 472 s 1]

260.42 [Repealed, 1980 c 472 s 1]

260.43 [Repealed, 1980 c 472 s 1]

260.44 [Repealed, 1980 c 472 s 1]

260.45 [Repealed, 1980 c 472 s 1]

260.46 [Repealed, 1980 c 472 s 1]

INTERSTATE COMPACT FOR JUVENILES

260.51 [Repealed, 2015 c 35 s 1]

260.515 INTERSTATE COMPACT FOR JUVENILES.

The Interstate Compact for Juveniles is enacted into law and entered into with all other states legally joining in it in substantially the following form:

ARTICLE I

PURPOSE

The compacting states to this Interstate Compact recognize that each state is responsible for the proper supervision or return of juveniles, delinquents, and status offenders who are on probation or parole and who have absconded, escaped, or run away from supervision and control and in so doing have endangered their own safety and the safety of others. The compacting states also recognize that each state is responsible for the safe return of juveniles who have run away from home and in doing so have left their state of residence. The compacting states also recognize that Congress, by enacting the Crime Control Act, United States Code, title 4, section 112 (1965), has authorized and encouraged compacts for cooperative efforts and mutual assistance in the prevention of crime.

It is the purpose of this compact, through means of joint and cooperative action among the compacting states to:

(A) ensure that the adjudicated juveniles and status offenders subject to this compact are provided adequate supervision and services in the receiving state as ordered by the adjudicating judge or parole authority in the sending state;

(B) ensure that the public safety interests of the citizens, including the victims of juvenile offenders, in both the sending and receiving states are adequately protected;

(C) return juveniles who have run away, absconded, or escaped from supervision or control or have been accused of an offense to the state requesting their return;

(D) make contracts for the cooperative institutionalization in public facilities in member states for delinquent youth needing special services;

(E) provide for the effective tracking and supervision of juveniles;

(F) equitably allocate the costs, benefits, and obligations of the compact states;

(G) establish procedures to manage the movement between states of juvenile offenders released to the community under the jurisdiction of courts, juvenile departments, or any other criminal or juvenile justice agency which has jurisdiction over juvenile offenders;

(H) insure immediate notice to jurisdictions where defined juvenile offenders are authorized to travel or to relocate across state lines;

(I) establish procedures to resolve pending charges (detainers) against juvenile offenders prior to transfer or release to the community under the terms of this compact;

(J) establish a system of uniform data collection on information pertaining to juveniles subject to this compact that allows access by authorized juvenile justice and criminal justice officials, and regular reporting of compact activities to heads of state; executive, judicial, and legislative branches; and juvenile criminal justice administrators;

(K) monitor compliance with rules governing interstate movement of juveniles and initiate interventions to address and correct noncompliance;

(L) coordinate training and education regarding the regulation of interstate movement of juveniles for officials involved in such activity; and

(M) coordinate the implementation and operation of the compact with the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children, the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision, and other compacts affecting juveniles particularly in those cases where concurrent or overlapping supervision issues arise.

It is the policy of the compacting states that the activities conducted by the Interstate Commission created herein are the information of public policies and therefore are public business. Furthermore, the compacting states shall cooperate and observe their individual and collective duties and responsibilities for the prompt return and acceptance of juveniles subject to the provisions of this compact. The provisions of this compact shall be reasonably and liberally construed to accomplish the purpose and policies of the compact.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

As used in this compact, unless the context clearly requires a different construction:

A. "Bylaws" means those bylaws established by the commission for its governance, or for directing or controlling its actions or conduct.

B. "Compact administrator" means the individual in each compacting state appointed pursuant to the terms of this compact responsible for the administration and management of the state's supervision and transfer of juveniles subject to the terms of this compact, the rules adopted by the Interstate Commission, and policies adopted by the state council under this compact.

C. "Compacting state" means any state which has enacted the enabling legislation for this compact.

D. "Commissioner" means the voting representative of each compacting state appointed pursuant to Article III of this compact.

E. "Court" means any court having jurisdiction over delinquent, neglected, or dependent children.

F. "Deputy compact administrator" means the individual, if any, in each compacting state appointed to act on behalf of a compact administrator pursuant to the terms of this compact responsible for the administration and management of the state's supervision and transfer of juveniles subject to the terms of this compact, the rules adopted by the Interstate Commission, and policies adopted by the state council under this compact.

G. "Interstate Commission" means the Interstate Commission for Juveniles created by Article III of this compact.

H. "Juvenile" means any person defined as a juvenile in any member state or by the rules of the Interstate Commission, including:

(1) accused delinquent - a person charged with an offense that, if committed by an adult, would be a criminal offense;

(2) adjudicated delinquent - a person found to have committed an offense that, if committed by an adult, would be a criminal offense;

(3) accused status offender - a person charged with an offense that would not be a criminal offense if committed by an adult;

(4) adjudicated status offender - a person found to have committed an offense that would not be a criminal offense if committed by an adult; and

(5) nonoffender - a person in need of supervision who has not been accused or adjudicated a status offender or delinquent.

I. "Noncompacting state" means any state which has not enacted the enabling legislation for this compact.

J. "Probation" or "parole" means any kind of supervision or conditional release of juveniles authorized under the laws of the compacting states.

K. "Rule" means a written statement by the Interstate Commission promulgated pursuant to Article VI of this compact that is of general applicability, implements, interprets, or prescribes a policy or provision of the compact, or an organizational, procedural, or practice requirement of the commission, and has the force and effect of statutory law in a compacting state, and includes the amendment, repeal, or suspension of an existing rule.

L. "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia (or its designee), the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Marianas.

ARTICLE III

INTERSTATE COMMISSION FOR JUVENILES

A. The compacting states hereby create the "Interstate Commission for Juveniles." The commission shall be a body corporate and joint agency of the compacting states. The commission shall have all the responsibilities, powers, and duties set forth herein, and such additional powers as may be conferred upon it by subsequent action of the respective legislatures of the compacting states in accordance with the terms of this compact.

B. The Interstate Commission shall consist of commissioners appointed by the appropriate appointing authority in each state pursuant to the rules and requirements of each compacting state and in consultation with the State Advisory Council for Interstate Supervision of Juvenile Offenders and Runaways created hereunder. The commissioner shall be the compact administrator. The commissioner of corrections or the commissioner's designee shall serve as the compact administrator, who shall serve on the Interstate Commission in such capacity under or pursuant to the applicable law of the compacting state.

C. In addition to the commissioners who are the voting representatives of each state, the Interstate Commission shall include individuals who are not commissioners but who are members of interested organizations. Such noncommissioner members must include a member of the national organizations of governors, legislators, state chief justices, attorneys general, Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision, Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, juvenile justice and juvenile corrections officials, and crime victims. All noncommissioner members of the Interstate Commission shall be ex-officio (nonvoting) members. The Interstate Commission may provide in its bylaws for such additional ex-officio (nonvoting) members, including members of other national organizations, in such numbers as shall be determined by the commission.

D. Each compacting state represented at any meeting of the commission is entitled to one vote. A majority of the compacting states shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, unless a larger quorum is required by the bylaws of the Interstate Commission.

E. The commission shall meet at least once each calendar year. The chair may call additional meetings and, upon the request of a simple majority of the compacting states, shall call additional meetings. Public notice shall be given of all meetings and meetings shall be open to the public.

F. The Interstate Commission shall establish an executive committee, which shall include commission officers, members, and others as determined by the bylaws. The executive committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the Interstate Commission during periods when the Interstate Commission is not in session, with the exception of rulemaking and/or amendment to the compact. The executive committee shall oversee the day-to-day activities of the administration of the compact managed by an executive director and Interstate Commission staff; administer enforcement and compliance with the provisions of the compact, its bylaws, and rules; and perform such other duties as directed by the Interstate Commission or set forth in the bylaws.

G. Each member of the Interstate Commission shall have the right and power to cast a vote to which that compacting state is entitled and to participate in the business and affairs of the Interstate Commission. A member shall vote in person and shall not delegate a vote to another compacting state. However, a commissioner, in consultation with the state council, shall appoint another authorized representative, in the absence of the commissioner from that state, to cast a vote on behalf of the compacting state at a specified meeting. The bylaws may provide for members' participation in meetings by telephone or other means of telecommunication or electronic communication.

H. The Interstate Commission's bylaws shall establish conditions and procedures under which the Interstate Commission shall make its information and official records available to the public for inspection or copying. The Interstate Commission may exempt from disclosure any information or official records to the extent they would adversely affect personal privacy rights or proprietary interests.

I. Public notice shall be given of all meetings and all meetings shall be open to the public, except as set forth in the rules or as otherwise provided in the compact. The Interstate Commission and any of its committees may close a meeting to the public where it determines by two-thirds vote that an open meeting would be likely to:

1. relate solely to the Interstate Commission's internal personnel practices and procedures;

2. disclose matters specifically exempted from disclosure by statute;

3. disclose trade secrets or commercial or financial information which is privileged or confidential;

4. involve accusing any person of a crime or formally censuring any person;

5. disclose information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;

6. disclose investigative records compiled for law enforcement purposes;

7. disclose information contained in or related to examination, operating or condition reports prepared by, or on behalf of or for the use of, the Interstate Commission with respect to a regulated person or entity for the purpose of regulation or supervision of such person or entity;

8. disclose information, the premature disclosure of which would significantly endanger the stability of a regulated person or entity;

9. specifically relate to the Interstate Commission's issuance of a subpoena or its participation in a civil action or other legal proceeding.

J. For every meeting closed pursuant to this provision, the Interstate Commission's legal counsel shall publicly certify that, in the legal counsel's opinion, the meeting may be closed to the public, and shall reference each relevant exemptive provision. The Interstate Commission shall keep minutes which shall fully and clearly describe all matters discussed in any meeting and shall provide a full and accurate summary of any actions taken, and the reasons therefore, including a description of each of the views expressed on any item and the record of any roll call vote (reflected in the vote of each member on the question). All documents considered in connection with any action shall be identified in such minutes.

K. The Interstate Commission shall collect standardized data concerning the interstate movement of juveniles as directed through its rules which shall specify the data to be collected, the means of collection, and data exchange and reporting requirements. Such methods of data collection, exchange, and reporting shall insofar as is reasonably possible conform to up-to-date technology and coordinate its information functions with the appropriate repository of records.

ARTICLE IV

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION

The commission shall have the following powers and duties:

1. To provide for dispute resolution among compacting states.

2. To promulgate rules to affect the purposes and obligations as enumerated in this compact, which shall have the force and effect of statutory law and shall be binding in the compact states to the extent and in the manner provided in this compact.

3. To oversee, supervise, and coordinate the interstate movement of juveniles subject to the terms of this compact and any bylaws adopted and rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission.

4. To enforce compliance with the compact provisions, the rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission, and the bylaws, using all necessary and proper means, including but not limited to the use of judicial process.

5. To establish and maintain offices which shall be located within one or more of the compacting states.

6. To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds.

7. To borrow, accept, hire, or contract for services of personnel.

8. To establish and appoint committees and hire staff which it deems necessary for the carrying out of its functions including, but not limited to, an executive committee as required by Article III, which shall have the power to act on behalf of the Interstate Commission in carrying out its powers and duties hereunder.

9. To elect or appoint such officers, attorneys, employees, agents, or consultants, and to fix their compensation, define their duties, and determine their qualifications; and to establish the Interstate Commission's personnel policies and programs relating to, inter alia, conflicts of interest, rates of compensation, and qualifications of personnel.

10. To accept any and all donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services, and to receive, utilize, and dispose of it.

11. To lease, purchase, accept contributions or donations of, or otherwise to own, hold, improve, or use any property, real, personal, or mixed.

12. To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon, or otherwise dispose of any property, real, personal, or mixed.

13. To establish a budget, make expenditures, and levy dues as provided in Article VIII of this compact.

14. To sue and be sued.

15. To adopt a seal and bylaws governing the management and operation of the Interstate Commission.

16. To perform such functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this compact.

17. To report annually to the legislatures, governors, judiciary, and state councils of the compacting states concerning the activities of the Interstate Commission during the preceding year. Such reports shall also include any recommendations that may have been adopted by the Interstate Commission.

18. To coordinate education, training, and public awareness regarding the interstate movement of juveniles for officials involved in such activity.

19. To establish uniform standards of the reporting, collecting, and exchanging of data.

20. The Interstate Commission shall maintain its corporate books and records in accordance with the bylaws.

ARTICLE V

ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION
OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION

Section A. Bylaws.

1. The Interstate Commission shall, by a majority of the members present and voting, within 12 months after the first Interstate Commission meeting, adopt bylaws to govern its conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the compact, including, but not limited to:

a. establishing the fiscal year of the Interstate Commission;

b. establishing an executive committee and such other committees as may be necessary;

c. provide: (i) for the establishment of committees, and (ii) governing any general or specific delegation of any authority or function of the Interstate Commission;

d. providing reasonable procedures for calling and conducting meetings of the Interstate Commission and ensuring reasonable notice of each such meeting;

e. establishing the titles and responsibilities of the officers of the Interstate Commission;

f. providing a mechanism for concluding the operations of the Interstate Commission and the return of any surplus funds that may exist upon the termination of the compact after the payment and/or reserving of all of its debts and obligations;

g. providing "start-up" rules for initial administration of the compact;

h. establishing standards and procedures for compliance and technical assistance in carrying out the compact.

Section B. Officers and staff.

1. The Interstate Commission shall, by a majority of the members, elect annually from among its members a chair and a vice-chair, each of whom shall have such authority and duties as may be specified in the bylaws. The chair or, in the chair's absence or disability, the vice-chair shall preside at all meetings of the Interstate Commission. The officers so elected shall serve without compensation or remuneration from the Interstate Commission; provided that, subject to the availability of budget funds, the officers shall be reimbursed for any ordinary and necessary costs and expenses incurred by them in the performance of their responsibilities as officers of the Interstate Commission.

2. The Interstate Commission shall, through its executive committee, appoint or retain an executive director for such period, upon such terms and conditions, and for such compensation as the Interstate Commission may deem appropriate. The executive director shall serve as secretary to the Interstate Commission, but shall not be a member and shall hire and supervise such other staff as may be authorized by the Interstate Commission.

Section C. Qualified immunity, defense, and indemnification.

1. The commission's executive director and employees shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused or arising out of or relating to any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; provided, that any such person shall not be protected from suit or liability for any damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of any such person.

2. The liability of any commissioner, or the employee or agent of a commissioner, acting within the scope of such person's employment or duties for acts, errors, or omissions occurring within such person's state may not exceed the limits of liability set forth under the Constitution and laws of that state for state officials, employees, and agents. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to protect any such person from suit or liability for any damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of any such person.

3. The Interstate Commission shall defend the executive director or the employees or representatives of the Interstate Commission and, subject to the approval of the attorney general of the state represented by any commissioner of a compacting state, shall defend such commissioner or the commissioner's representatives or employees in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that the defendant has a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the part of such person.

4. The Interstate Commission shall indemnify and hold the commissioner of a compacting state, or the commissioner's representatives or employees, or the Interstate Commission's representatives or employees, harmless in the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against such persons arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that such persons had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the part of such persons.

ARTICLE VI

RULEMAKING FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION

1. The Interstate Commission shall promulgate and publish rules in order to effectively and efficiently achieve the purposes of the compact.

2. Rulemaking shall occur pursuant to the criteria set forth in this article and the bylaws and rules adopted pursuant thereto. Such rulemaking shall substantially conform to the principles of the "Model State Administrative Procedures Act," 1981 Act, Uniform Laws Annotated, Vol. 15, page 1 (2000), or such other administrative procedures act, as the Interstate Commission deems appropriate consistent with due process requirements under the United States Constitution as now or hereafter interpreted by the United States Supreme Court. All rules and amendments shall become binding as of the date specified, as published with the final version of the rule as approved by the commission.

3. When promulgating a rule, the Interstate Commission shall, at a minimum:

a. publish the proposed rule's entire text stating the reasons for that proposed rule;

b. allow and invite any and all persons to submit written data, facts, opinions, and arguments, which information shall be added to the record, and be made publicly available;

c. provide an opportunity for an informal hearing if petitioned by ten or more persons; and

d. promulgate a final rule and its effective date, if appropriate, based on input from state or local officials, or interested parties.

4. The Interstate Commission shall allow, not later than 60 days after a rule is promulgated, any interested person to file a petition in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or in the federal District Court where the Interstate Commission's principal office is located for judicial review of such rule. If the court finds that the Interstate Commission's action is not supported by substantial evidence in the rulemaking record, the court shall hold the rule unlawful and set it aside. For purposes of this subsection, evidence is substantial if it would be considered substantial evidence under the Model (State) Administrative Procedures Act.

5. If a majority of the legislatures of the compacting states rejects a rule, those states may, by enactment of a statute or resolution in the same manner used to adopt the compact, cause that such rule shall have no further force and effect in any compacting state.

6. The existing rules governing the operation of the Interstate Compact on Juveniles superceded by this act shall be null and void 12 months after the first meeting of the Interstate Commission created hereunder.

7. Upon determination by the Interstate Commission that a state of emergency exists, it may promulgate an emergency rule which shall become effective immediately upon adoption, provided that the usual rulemaking procedures provided hereunder shall be retroactively applied to said rule as soon as reasonably possible, but no later than 90 days after the effective date of the emergency rule.

ARTICLE VII

OVERSIGHT, ENFORCEMENT, AND DISPUTE
RESOLUTION BY THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION

Section A. Oversight.

1. The Interstate Commission shall oversee the administration and operations of the interstate movement of juveniles subject to this compact in the compacting states and shall monitor such activities being administered in noncompacting states which may significantly affect compacting states.

2. The courts and executive agencies in each compacting state shall enforce this compact and shall take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the compact's purposes and intent. The provisions of this compact and the rules promulgated hereunder shall be received by all the judges, public officers, commissions, and departments of the state government as evidence of the authorized statute and administrative rules. All courts shall take judicial notice of the compact and the rules. In any judicial or administrative proceeding in a compacting state pertaining to the subject matter of this compact which may affect the powers, responsibilities, or actions of the Interstate Commission, it shall be entitled to receive all service of process in any such proceeding, and shall have standing to intervene in the proceeding for all purposes.

3. The compact administrator shall assess and collect fines, fees, and costs from any state or local entity deemed responsible by the compact administrator for a default as determined by the Interstate Commission under Article XI.

Section B. Dispute resolution.

1. The compacting states shall report to the Interstate Commission on all issues and activities necessary for the administration of the compact as well as issues and activities pertaining to compliance with the provisions of the compact and its bylaws and rules.

2. The Interstate Commission shall attempt, upon the request of a compacting state, to resolve any disputes or other issues which are subject to the compact and which may arise among compacting states and between compacting and noncompacting states. The commission shall promulgate a rule providing for both mediation and binding dispute resolution for disputes among the compacting states.

3. The Interstate Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall enforce the provisions and rules of this compact using any or all means set forth in Article XI of this compact.

ARTICLE VIII

FINANCE

1. The Interstate Commission shall pay or provide for the payment of the reasonable expenses of its establishment, organization, and ongoing activities.

2. The Interstate Commission shall levy on and collect an annual assessment from each compacting state to cover the cost of the internal operations and activities of the Interstate Commission and its staff which must be in a total amount sufficient to cover the Interstate Commission's annual budget as approved each year. The aggregate annual assessment amount shall be allocated based upon a formula to be determined by the Interstate Commission, taking into consideration the population of each compacting state and the volume of interstate movement of juveniles in each compacting state, and shall promulgate a rule binding upon all compacting states which governs said assessment.

3. The Interstate Commission shall not incur any obligations of any kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same; nor shall the Interstate Commission pledge the credit of any of the compacting states, except by and with the authority of the compacting state.

4. The Interstate Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the Interstate Commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established under its bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the Interstate Commission shall be audited yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant and the report of the audit shall be included in and become part of the annual report of the Interstate Commission.

5. Minnesota's annual assessment shall not exceed $30,000. The Interstate Compact for Juveniles fund is established as a special fund in the Department of Corrections. The fund consists of money appropriated for the purpose of meeting financial obligations imposed on the state as a result of Minnesota's participation in this compact. An assessment levied or any other financial obligation imposed under this compact is effective against the state only to the extent that money to pay the assessment or meet the financial obligation has been appropriated and deposited in the fund established in this paragraph.

ARTICLE IX

THE STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL

Each member state shall create a State Advisory Council for the Interstate Compact for Juveniles. The Advisory Council on the Interstate Compact for Juveniles shall be combined with the Advisory Council on Interstate Adult Offender Supervision established by section 243.1606 and consist of the following individuals or their designees:

(1) the governor;

(2) the chief justice of the Supreme Court;

(3) two senators, one from the majority and the other from the minority party, selected by the Subcommittee on Committees of the senate Committee on Rules and Administration;

(4) two representatives, one from the majority and the other from the minority party, selected by the house speaker;

(5) a representative from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families regarding the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children;

(6) the compact administrator, selected as provided in Article III;

(7) the executive director of the Office of Justice Programs or designee;

(8) the deputy compact administrator;

(9) a representative from the State Public Defender's Office;

(10) a representative from the Minnesota County Attorney's Association;

(11) a representative from the Minnesota Sheriff's Association;

(12) a representative from the Minnesota Association of County Probation Officers;

(13) a representative from the Minnesota Association of Community Corrections Act Counties;

(14) a representative from the community at large;

(15) a representative from a community organization working with victims of crimes; and

(16) other members as appointed by the commissioner of corrections.

The council may elect a chair from among its members.

The council shall oversee and administer the state's participation in the compact as described in Article III. The council shall appoint the compact administrator as the state's commissioner.

The state advisory council will advise and exercise advocacy concerning that state's participation in Interstate Commission activities and other duties as may be determined by that state, including, but not limited to, development of policy concerning operations and procedures of the compact within that state.

Expiration; expenses. The provisions of section 15.059 apply to the council except that it does not expire.

ARTICLE X

COMPACTING STATES, EFFECTIVE DATE,
AND AMENDMENT

1. Any state, the District of Columbia (or its designee), the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Marianas Islands as defined in Article II of this compact is eligible to become a compacting state.

2. The compact shall become effective and binding upon legislative enactment of the compact into law by no less than 35 of the states. The initial effective date shall be the later of July 1, 2004, or upon enactment into law by the 35th jurisdiction. Thereafter, it shall become effective and binding as to any other compacting state upon enactment of the compact into law by that state. The governors of nonmember states or their designees shall be invited to participate in the activities of the Interstate Commission on a nonvoting basis prior to adoption of the compact by all states and territories of the United States.

3. The Interstate Commission may propose amendments to the compact for enactment by the compacting states. No amendment shall become effective and binding upon the Interstate Commission and the compacting states unless and until it is enacted into law by unanimous consent of the compacting states.

ARTICLE XI

WITHDRAWAL, DEFAULT, TERMINATION,
AND JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT

Section A. Withdrawal.

1. Once effective, the compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each and every compacting state; provided that a compacting state may withdraw from the compact specifically repealing the statute, which enacted the compact into law.

2. The effective date of withdrawal is the effective date of the repeal.

3. The withdrawing state shall immediately notify the chair of the Interstate Commission in writing upon the introduction of legislation repealing this compact in the withdrawing state. The Interstate Commission shall notify the other compacting states of the withdrawing state's intent to withdraw within 60 days of its receipt thereof.

4. The withdrawing state is responsible for all assessments, obligations, and liabilities incurred through the effective date of withdrawal, including any obligations, the performance of which extend beyond the effective date of withdrawal.

5. Reinstatement following withdrawal of any compacting state shall occur upon the withdrawing state reenacting the compact or upon such later date as determined by the Interstate Commission.

Section B. Technical assistance, fines, suspension, termination, and default.

1. If the Interstate Commission determines that any compacting state has at any time defaulted in the performance of any of its obligations or responsibilities under this compact, or the bylaws or duly promulgated rules, the Interstate Commission may impose any or all of the following penalties:

a. remedial training and technical assistance as directed by the Interstate Commission;

b. alternative dispute resolution;

c. fines, fees, and costs in such amounts as are deemed to be reasonable as fixed by the Interstate Commission;

d. suspension or termination of membership in the compact, which shall be imposed only after all other reasonable means of securing compliance under the bylaws and rules have been exhausted and the Interstate Commission has therefore determined that the offending state is in default. Immediate notice of suspension shall be given by the Interstate Commission to the governor, the chief justice, or the chief judicial officer of the state; the majority and minority leaders of the defaulting state's legislature; and the state council. The grounds for default include, but are not limited to, failure of a compacting state to perform such obligations or responsibilities imposed upon it by this compact, the bylaws, or duly promulgated rules and any other grounds designated in commission bylaws and rules. The Interstate Commission shall immediately notify the defaulting state in writing of the penalty imposed by the Interstate Commission and of the default pending a cure of the default. The commission shall stipulate the conditions and the time period within which the defaulting state must cure its default. If the defaulting state fails to cure the default within the time period specified by the commission, the defaulting state shall be terminated from the compact upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the compacting states and all rights, privileges, and benefits conferred by this compact shall be terminated from the effective date of termination.

2. Within 60 days of the effective date of termination of a defaulting state, the commission shall notify the governor, the chief justice or chief judicial officer, the majority and minority leaders of the defaulting state's legislature, and the state council of such termination.

3. The defaulting state is responsible for all assessments, obligations, and liabilities incurred through the effective date of termination including any obligations, the performance of which extends beyond the effective date of termination.

4. The Interstate Commission shall not bear any costs relating to the defaulting state unless otherwise mutually agreed upon in writing between the Interstate Commission and the defaulting state.

5. Reinstatement following termination of any compacting state requires both a reenactment of the compact by the defaulting state and the approval of the Interstate Commission pursuant to the rules.

Section C. Judicial enforcement.

The Interstate Commission may, by majority vote of the members, initiate legal action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or, at the discretion of the Interstate Commission, in the federal district where the Interstate Commission has its offices, to enforce compliance with the provisions of the compact, its duly promulgated rules and bylaws, against any compacting state in default. In the event judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorney fees.

Section D. Dissolution of compact.

1. The compact dissolves effective upon the date of the withdrawal or default of the compacting state, which reduces membership in the compact to one compacting state.

2. Upon the dissolution of this compact, the compact becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or effect, and the business and affairs of the Interstate Commission shall be concluded and any surplus funds shall be distributed in accordance with the bylaws.

ARTICLE XII

SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION

1. The provisions of this compact shall be severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this compact shall be enforceable.

2. The provisions of this compact shall be liberally constructed to effectuate its purposes.

ARTICLE XIII

BINDING EFFECT OF COMPACT AND OTHER LAWS

Section A. Other laws.

1. Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other law of a compacting state that is not inconsistent with this compact.

2. All compacting states' laws other than state constitutions and other interstate compacts conflicting with this compact are superseded to the extent of the conflict.

Section B. Binding effect of the compact.

1. All lawful actions of the Interstate Commission, including all rules and bylaws promulgated by the Interstate Commission, are binding upon the compacting state.

2. All agreements between the Interstate Commission and the compacting states are binding in accordance with their terms.

3. Upon the request of a party to a conflict over meaning or interpretation of Interstate Commission actions, and upon a majority vote of the compacting states, the Interstate Commission may issue advisory opinions regarding such meaning of interpretation.

4. In the event any provision of this compact exceeds the constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any compacting state, the obligations, duties, powers, or jurisdiction sought to be conferred by such provision upon the Interstate Commission shall be ineffective and such obligations, duties, powers, or jurisdiction shall remain in the compacting state and shall be exercised by the agency thereof to which such obligations, duties, powers, or jurisdiction are delegated by law in effect at the time this compact becomes effective.

History:

2010 c 378 s 1; 2023 c 52 art 11 s 24; 2024 c 80 art 8 s 70

260.52 [Repealed, 2014 c 218 s 10]

260.53 [Repealed, 2015 c 35 s 1]

260.54 [Repealed, 2014 c 218 s 10]

260.55 EXPENSE OF RETURNING JUVENILES TO STATE, PAYMENT.

The expense of returning juveniles to this state pursuant to the Interstate Compact for Juveniles shall be paid as follows:

(1) In the case of a runaway, the court making the requisition shall inquire summarily regarding the financial ability of the petitioner to bear the expense and if it finds the petitioner is able to do so, shall order that the petitioner pay all such expenses; otherwise the court shall arrange for the transportation at the expense of the county and order that the county reimburse the person, if any, who returns the juvenile, for actual and necessary expenses; and the court may order that the petitioner reimburse the county for so much of said expense as the court finds the petitioner is able to pay. If the petitioner fails, without good cause, or refuses to pay such sum, the petitioner may be proceeded against for contempt.

(2) In the case of an escapee or absconder, if the juvenile is in the legal custody of the commissioner of corrections the commissioner shall bear the expense of the juvenile's return; otherwise the appropriate court shall, on petition of the person or agency entitled to the juvenile's custody or charged with the juvenile's supervision, arrange for the transportation at the expense of the county and order that the county reimburse the person, if any, who returns the juvenile, for actual and necessary expenses. In this subsection "appropriate court" means the juvenile court which adjudged the juvenile to be delinquent or, if the juvenile is under supervision for another state under Article VII of the compact, then the juvenile court of the county of the juvenile's residence during such supervision.

(3) In the case of a voluntary return of a runaway without requisition, the person entitled to the juvenile's legal custody shall pay the expense of transportation and the actual and necessary expenses of the person, if any, who returns such juvenile; but if financially unable to pay all the expenses the person may petition the juvenile court of the county of the petitioner's residence for an order arranging for the transportation as provided in paragraph (1). The court shall inquire summarily into the financial ability of the petitioner and, if it finds the petitioner is unable to bear any or all of the expense, the court shall arrange for such transportation at the expense of the county and shall order the county to reimburse the person, if any, who returns the juvenile, for actual and necessary expenses. The court may order that the petitioner reimburse the county for so much of said expense as the court finds the petitioner is able to pay. A petitioner who fails, without good cause, or refuses to pay such sum may be proceeded against for contempt.

History:

1957 c 892 s 5; 1974 c 125 s 2; 1986 c 444; 2014 c 218 s 8; 2017 c 40 art 1 s 88

260.56 COUNSEL OR GUARDIAN AD LITEM FOR JUVENILE, FEES.

Any judge of this state who appoints counsel or a guardian ad litem pursuant to the provisions of the Interstate Compact for Juveniles may allow a reasonable fee on order of the court. The costs of the counsel must be paid by the county and the cost of the guardian ad litem, if any, must be paid by the state courts.

History:

1957 c 892 s 6; 1986 c 444; 1999 c 216 art 7 s 24; 2014 c 218 s 9; 2017 c 40 art 1 s 89

260.57 ENFORCEMENT.

The courts, departments, agencies, and officers of this state and its political subdivisions shall enforce the Interstate Compact for Juveniles and shall do all things appropriate to the effectuation of its purposes which may be within their respective jurisdictions.

History:

1957 c 892 s 7; 2017 c 40 art 1 s 90

MINNESOTA AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY PRESERVATION
AND CHILD WELFARE DISPROPORTIONALITY ACT

260.61 CITATION.

Sections 260.61 to 260.693 may be cited as the "Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act."

History:

2024 c 117 s 1

NOTE: This section, as added by Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 1, is effective January 1, 2027, except as provided under Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 20. Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 1, the effective date.

260.62 PURPOSES.

(a) The purposes of the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act are to:

(1) protect the best interests of African American and disproportionately represented children;

(2) promote the stability and security of African American and disproportionately represented children and their families by establishing minimum standards to prevent the arbitrary and unnecessary removal of African American and disproportionately represented children from their families; and

(3) improve permanency outcomes, including family reunification, for African American and disproportionately represented children.

(b) Nothing in this legislation is intended to interfere with the protections of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, United States Code, title 25, sections 1901 to 1963, or the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act, sections 260.751 to 260.835. The federal Indian Child Welfare Act and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act apply in any child placement proceeding, as defined in section 260.755, subdivision 3, involving an Indian child, as defined in section 260.755, subdivision 8.

History:

2024 c 117 s 2

NOTE: This section, as added by Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 2, is effective January 1, 2027, except as provided under Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 20. Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 2, the effective date.

260.63 DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Scope.

The definitions in this section apply to sections 260.61 to 260.693.

Subd. 2.Active efforts.

"Active efforts" means a rigorous and concerted level of effort that the responsible social services agency must continuously make throughout the time that the responsible social services agency is involved with an African American or a disproportionately represented child and the child's family. To provide active efforts to preserve an African American or a disproportionately represented child's family, the responsible social services agency must continuously involve an African American or a disproportionately represented child's family in all services for the family, including case planning and choosing services and providers, and inform the family of the ability to file a report of noncompliance with this act with the commissioner through the child welfare compliance and feedback portal. When providing active efforts, a responsible social services agency must consider an African American or a disproportionately represented child's family's social and cultural values at all times while providing services to the African American or disproportionately represented child and the child's family. Active efforts includes continuous efforts to preserve an African American or a disproportionately represented child's family and to prevent the out-of-home placement of an African American or a disproportionately represented child. If an African American or a disproportionately represented child enters out-of-home placement, the responsible social services agency must make active efforts to reunify the African American or disproportionately represented child with the child's family as soon as possible. Active efforts sets a higher standard for the responsible social services agency than reasonable efforts to preserve the child's family, prevent the child's out-of-home placement, and reunify the child with the child's family. Active efforts includes the provision of reasonable efforts as required by Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, United States Code, title 42, sections 670 to 679c.

Subd. 3.Adoptive placement.

"Adoptive placement" means the permanent placement of an African American or a disproportionately represented child made by the responsible social services agency upon a fully executed adoption placement agreement, including the signatures of the adopting parent, the responsible social services agency, and the commissioner of children, youth, and families according to section 260C.613, subdivision 1.

Subd. 4.African American child.

"African American child" means a person under 18 years of age having origins in Africa, including a child of two or more races who has at least one parent with origins in Africa. Whether a child or parent has origins in Africa is based upon self-identification or identification of the child's origins by the parent or guardian.

Subd. 5.Best interests of the African American or disproportionately represented child.

The "best interests of the African American or disproportionately represented child" means providing a culturally informed practice lens that acknowledges, utilizes, and embraces the African American or disproportionately represented child's community and cultural norms and allows the child to remain safely at home with the child's family. The best interests of the African American or disproportionately represented child support the child's sense of belonging to the child's family, extended family, kin, and cultural community.

Subd. 6.Child placement proceeding.

(a) "Child placement proceeding" means any judicial proceeding that could result in:

(1) an adoptive placement;

(2) a foster care placement;

(3) a preadoptive placement; or

(4) a termination of parental rights.

(b) Judicial proceedings under this subdivision include a child's placement based upon a child's juvenile status offense but do not include a child's placement based upon:

(1) an act which if committed by an adult would be deemed a crime; or

(2) an award of child custody in a divorce proceeding to one of the child's parents.

Subd. 7.Commissioner.

"Commissioner" means the commissioner of children, youth, and families or the commissioner's designee.

Subd. 8.Custodian.

"Custodian" means any person who is under a legal obligation to provide care and support for an African American or a disproportionately represented child, or who is in fact providing daily care and support for an African American or a disproportionately represented child. This subdivision does not impose a legal obligation upon a person who is not otherwise legally obligated to provide a child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, education, or medical care.

Subd. 9.Disproportionality.

"Disproportionality" means the overrepresentation of African American children and other disproportionately represented children in Minnesota's child welfare system population as compared to the representation of those children in Minnesota's total child population.

Subd. 10.Disproportionately represented child.

"Disproportionately represented child" means a person who is under the age of 18 and who is a member of a community whose race, culture, ethnicity, disability status, or low-income socioeconomic status is disproportionately encountered, engaged, or identified in the child welfare system as compared to the representation in the state's total child population, as determined on an annual basis by the commissioner. A child's race, culture, or ethnicity is determined based upon a child's self-identification or identification of a child's race, culture, or ethnicity as reported by the child's parent or guardian.

Subd. 11.Egregious harm.

"Egregious harm" has the meaning given in section 260E.03, subdivision 5.

Subd. 12.Foster care placement.

"Foster care placement" means the temporary placement of an African American or a disproportionately represented child in foster care as defined in section 260C.007, subdivision 18, following the court-ordered removal of the child when the parent or legal custodian cannot have the child returned upon demand.

Subd. 13.Imminent physical damage or harm.

"Imminent physical damage or harm" means that a child is threatened with immediate and present conditions that are life-threatening or likely to result in abandonment, sexual abuse, or serious physical injury. The existence of community or family poverty, isolation, single parenthood, age of the parent, crowded or inadequate housing, substance use, prenatal drug or alcohol exposure, mental illness, disability or special needs of the parent or child, or nonconforming social behavior does not by itself constitute imminent physical damage or harm.

Subd. 14.Responsible social services agency.

"Responsible social services agency" has the meaning given in section 260C.007, subdivision 27a.

Subd. 15.Parent.

"Parent" means the biological parent of an African American or a disproportionately represented child or any person who has legally adopted an African American or a disproportionately represented child. Parent includes an unmarried father whose paternity has been acknowledged or established and a putative father. Paternity has been acknowledged when an unmarried father takes any action to hold himself out as the biological father of a child.

Subd. 16.Preadoptive placement.

"Preadoptive placement" means a responsible social services agency's placement of an African American or a disproportionately represented child when the child is under the guardianship of the commissioner for the purpose of adoption but an adoptive placement agreement for the child has not been fully executed.

Subd. 17.Relative.

"Relative" has the meaning given in section 260C.007, subdivision 27.

Subd. 18.Safety network.

"Safety network" means a group of individuals identified by the parent and child, when appropriate, that is accountable for developing, implementing, sustaining, supporting, or improving a safety plan to protect the safety and well-being of a child.

Subd. 19.Sexual abuse.

"Sexual abuse" has the meaning given in section 260E.03, subdivision 20.

Subd. 20.Termination of parental rights.

"Termination of parental rights" means an action resulting in the termination of the parent-child relationship under section 260C.301.

History:

2024 c 80 art 8 s 70; 2024 c 117 s 3

NOTE: This section, as added by Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 13, is effective January 1, 2027, except as provided under Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 20. Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 3, the effective date.

260.64 DUTY TO PREVENT OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT AND PROMOTE FAMILY REUNIFICATION.

Subdivision 1.Active efforts.

A responsible social services agency shall make active efforts to prevent the out-of-home placement of an African American or a disproportionately represented child, eliminate the need for a child's removal from the child's home, and reunify an African American or a disproportionately represented child with the child's family as soon as practicable.

Subd. 2.Safety plan.

(a) Prior to petitioning the court to remove an African American or a disproportionately represented child from the child's home under section 260.66, a responsible social services agency must work with the child's family to allow the child to remain in the child's home while implementing a safety plan based on the family's needs. The responsible social services agency must:

(1) make active efforts to engage the child's parent or custodian and the child, when appropriate;

(2) assess the family's cultural and economic needs and, if applicable, needs and services related to the child's disability;

(3) hold a family group consultation meeting and connect the family with supports to establish a safety network for the family; and

(4) provide support, guidance, and input to assist the family and the family's safety network with developing the safety plan.

(b) The safety plan must:

(1) address the specific allegations impacting the child's safety in the home. If neglect is alleged, the safety plan must incorporate economic services and supports for the child and the child's family, if eligible, to address the family's specific needs and prevent neglect;

(2) incorporate family and community support to ensure the child's safety while keeping the family intact; and

(3) be adjusted as needed to address the child's and family's ongoing needs and support.

(c) The responsible social services agency is not required to establish a safety plan:

(1) in a case with allegations of sexual abuse or egregious harm;

(2) when the parent is not willing to follow a safety plan;

(3) when the parent has abandoned the child or is unavailable to follow a safety plan; or

(4) when the parent has chronic substance use disorder issues and is unable to parent the child.

Subd. 3.Out-of-home placement prohibited.

Unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the child would be at risk of serious emotional damage or serious physical damage if the child were to remain in the child's home, a court shall not order a foster care or permanent out-of-home placement of an African American or a disproportionately represented child alleged to be in need of protection or services. At each hearing regarding an African American or a disproportionately represented child who is alleged or adjudicated to be in need of child protective services, the court shall review whether the responsible social services agency has provided active efforts to the child and the child's family and shall require the responsible social services agency to provide evidence and documentation that demonstrate that the agency is providing culturally informed, strength-based, community-involved, and community-based services to the child and the child's family.

Subd. 4.Required findings that active efforts were provided.

When determining whether the responsible social services agency has made active efforts to preserve the child's family, the court shall make findings regarding whether the responsible social services agency made appropriate and meaningful services available to the child's family based upon the family's specific needs. If a court determines that the responsible social services agency did not make active efforts to preserve the family as required by this section, the court shall order the responsible social services agency to immediately provide active efforts to the child and child's family to preserve the family.

History:

2024 c 117 s 4

NOTE: This section, as added by Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 4, is effective January 1, 2027, except as provided under Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 20. Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 4, the effective date.

260.641 ENSURING FREQUENT VISITATION FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN AND DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED CHILDREN IN OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT.

A responsible social services agency must engage in best practices related to visitation when an African American or a disproportionately represented child is in out-of-home placement. When the child is in out-of-home placement, the responsible social services agency shall make active efforts to facilitate regular and frequent visitation between the child and the child's parents or custodians, the child's siblings, and the child's relatives. If visitation is infrequent between the child and the child's parents, custodians, siblings, or relatives, the responsible social services agency shall make active efforts to increase the frequency of visitation and address any barriers to visitation.

History:

2024 c 117 s 5

NOTE: This section, as added by Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 5, is effective January 1, 2027, except as provided under Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 20. Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 5, the effective date.

260.65 NONCUSTODIAL PARENTS; RELATIVE PLACEMENT.

(a) Prior to the removal of an African American or a disproportionately represented child from the child's home, the responsible social services agency must make active efforts to identify and locate the child's noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent and the child's relatives to notify the child's parent and relatives that the child is or will be placed in foster care, and provide the child's parent and relatives with a list of legal resources. The notice to the child's noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent and relatives must also include the information required under section 260C.221, subdivision 2, paragraph (b). The responsible social services agency must maintain detailed records of the agency's efforts to notify parents and relatives under this section.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 260C.219, the responsible social services agency must assess an African American or a disproportionately represented child's noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent's ability to care for the child before placing the child in foster care. If a child's noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent is willing and able to provide daily care for the African American or disproportionately represented child temporarily or permanently, the court shall order that the child be placed in the home of the noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent pursuant to section 260C.178 or 260C.201, subdivision 1. The responsible social services agency must make active efforts to assist a noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent with remedying any issues that may prevent the child from being placed with the noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent.

(c) The relative search, notice, engagement, and placement consideration requirements under section 260C.221 apply under this act.

History:

2024 c 117 s 6

NOTE: This section, as added by Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 6, is effective January 1, 2027, except as provided under Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 20. Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 6, the effective date.

260.66 EMERGENCY REMOVAL.

Subdivision 1.Emergency removal or placement permitted.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the emergency removal of an African American or a disproportionately represented child's parent or custodian or the emergency placement of the child in a foster setting in order to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the child.

Subd. 2.Petition for emergency removal; placement requirements.

A petition for a court order authorizing the emergency removal or continued emergency placement of an African American or a disproportionately represented child or the petition's accompanying documents must contain a statement of the risk of imminent physical damage or harm to the African American or disproportionately represented child and any evidence that the emergency removal or placement continues to be necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the child. The petition or its accompanying documents must also contain the following information:

(1) the name, age, and last known address of the child;

(2) the name and address of the child's parents and custodians or, if unknown, a detailed explanation of efforts made to locate and contact them;

(3) the steps taken to provide notice to the child's parents and custodians about the emergency proceeding;

(4) a specific and detailed account of the circumstances that led the agency responsible for the emergency removal of the child to take that action; and

(5) a statement of the efforts that have been taken to assist the child's parents or custodians so that the child may safely be returned to their custody.

Subd. 3.Emergency proceeding requirements.

(a) The court shall hold a hearing no later than 72 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, after the emergency removal of the African American or disproportionately represented child. The court shall determine whether the emergency removal continues to be necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the child and whether, after considering the child's particular circumstances, the imminent physical damage or harm to the child outweighs the harm that the child will experience as a result of continuing the emergency removal.

(b) The court shall hold additional hearings whenever new information indicates that the emergency situation has ended. The court shall consider all such new information at any court hearing after the emergency proceeding to determine whether the emergency removal or placement is no longer necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the child.

(c) Notwithstanding section 260C.163, subdivision 3, and the provisions of Minnesota Rules of Juvenile Protection Procedure, rule 25, a parent or custodian of an African American or a disproportionately represented child who is subject to an emergency hearing under this section and Minnesota Rules of Juvenile Protection Procedure, rule 30, has a right to counsel appointed by the court. The court must appoint qualified counsel to represent a parent if the parent meets the eligibility requirements in section 611.17.

Subd. 4.Termination of emergency removal or placement.

(a) An emergency removal or placement of an African American or a disproportionately represented child must immediately terminate once the responsible social services agency or court possesses sufficient evidence to determine that the emergency removal or placement is no longer necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the child and the child shall be immediately returned to the custody of the child's parent or custodian. The responsible social services agency or court shall ensure that the emergency removal or placement terminates immediately when the removal or placement is no longer necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the African American or disproportionately represented child.

(b) An emergency removal or placement ends when the court orders, after service upon the African American or disproportionately represented child's parents or custodians, that the child shall be placed in foster care upon a determination supported by clear and convincing evidence that custody of the child by the child's parent or custodian is likely to result in serious emotional or physical damage to the child.

(c) In no instance shall emergency removal or emergency placement of an African American or a disproportionately represented child extend beyond 30 days unless the court finds by a showing of clear and convincing evidence that:

(1) continued emergency removal or placement is necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the child; and

(2) it has not been possible to initiate a child placement proceeding with all of the protections under sections 260.61 to 260.68.

History:

2024 c 117 s 7

NOTE: This section, as added by Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 7, is effective January 1, 2027, except as provided under Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 20. Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 7, the effective date.

260.67 TRANSFER OF PERMANENT LEGAL AND PHYSICAL CUSTODY; TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS; CHILD PLACEMENT PROCEEDINGS.

Subdivision 1.Preference for permanency placement with a relative.

Consistent with section 260C.513, if an African American or disproportionately represented child cannot be returned to the child's parent, permanency placement with a relative is preferred. The court shall consider the requirements of and responsibilities under section 260.012, paragraph (a), and, if possible and if requirements under section 260C.515, subdivision 4, are met, transfer permanent legal and physical custody of the child to:

(1) a noncustodial parent under section 260C.515, subdivision 4, if the child cannot return to the care of the parent or custodian from whom the child was removed or who had legal custody at the time that the child was placed in foster care; or

(2) a willing and able relative, according to the requirements of section 260C.515, subdivision 4. When the responsible social services agency is the petitioner, prior to the court ordering a transfer of permanent legal and physical custody to a relative, the responsible social services agency must inform the relative of Northstar kinship assistance benefits and eligibility requirements and of the relative's ability to apply for benefits on behalf of the child under chapter 256N.

Subd. 2.Termination of parental rights restrictions.

(a) A court shall not terminate the parental rights of a parent of an African American or a disproportionately represented child based solely on the parent's failure to complete case plan requirements.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), a court shall not terminate the parental rights of a parent of an African American or a disproportionately represented child in a child placement proceeding unless the allegations against the parent involve sexual abuse; egregious harm as defined in section 260C.007, subdivision 14; murder in the first, second, or third degree under section 609.185, 609.19, or 609.195; murder of an unborn child in the first, second, or third degree under section 609.2661, 609.2662, or 609.2663; manslaughter of an unborn child in the first or second degree under section 609.2664 or 609.2665; domestic assault by strangulation under section 609.2247; felony domestic assault under section 609.2242 or 609.2243; kidnapping under section 609.25; solicitation, inducement, and promotion of prostitution under section 609.322, subdivision 1, and subdivision 1a if one or more aggravating factors are present; criminal sexual conduct under sections 609.342 to 609.3451; engaging in, hiring, or agreeing to hire a minor to engage in prostitution under section 609.324, subdivision 1; solicitation of children to engage in sexual conduct under section 609.352; possession of pornographic work involving minors under section 617.247; malicious punishment or neglect or endangerment of a child under section 609.377 or 609.378; use of a minor in sexual performance under section 617.246; or failing to protect a child from an overt act or condition that constitutes egregious harm.

Subd. 3.Termination of parental rights; exceptions.

(a) The court may terminate the parental rights of a parent of an African American or a disproportionately represented child if a transfer of permanent legal and physical custody under subdivision 1 is not possible because the child has no willing or able noncustodial parent or relative to whom custody can be transferred, if it finds that one or more of the following conditions exist:

(1) that the parent has abandoned the child;

(2) that a parent is palpably unfit to be a party to the parent and child relationship because of a consistent pattern of specific conduct before the child or of specific conditions directly relating to the parent and child relationship, either of which are determined by the court to be of a duration or nature that renders the parent unable, for the reasonably foreseeable future, to care appropriately for the ongoing physical, mental, or emotional needs of the child;

(3) that following the child's placement out of the home, active efforts, under the direction of the court, have failed to correct the conditions leading to the child's placement. It is presumed that active efforts under this clause have failed upon a showing that:

(i) a child has resided out of the parental home under court order for a cumulative period of 12 months within the preceding 22 months. In the case of a child under age eight at the time that the petition was filed alleging the child to be in need of protection or services, the presumption arises when the child has resided out of the parental home under court order for six months unless the parent has maintained regular contact with the child and the parent is complying with the out-of-home placement plan;

(ii) the court has approved the out-of-home placement plan required under section 260C.212 and filed with the court under section 260C.178;

(iii) conditions leading to the out-of-home placement have not been corrected. It is presumed that conditions leading to a child's out-of-home placement have not been corrected upon a showing that the parent or parents have not substantially complied with the court's orders and a reasonable case plan; and

(iv) active efforts have been made by the responsible social services agency to rehabilitate the parent and reunite the family; and

(4) that a child has experienced egregious harm in the parent's care that is of a nature, duration, or chronicity that indicates a lack of regard for the child's well-being, such that a reasonable person would believe it contrary to the best interests of the child or of any child to be in the parent's care.

(b) For purposes of paragraph (a), clause (1), abandonment is presumed when:

(1) the parent has had no contact with the child on a regular basis and has not demonstrated consistent interest in the child's well-being for six months and the social services agency has made active efforts to facilitate contact with the parent, unless the parent establishes that an extreme financial or physical hardship or treatment for mental disability or substance use disorder or other good cause prevented the parent from making contact with the child. This presumption does not apply to children whose custody has been determined under chapter 257 or 518; or

(2) the child is an infant under two years of age and has been deserted by the parent under circumstances that show an intent not to return to care for the child.

Subd. 4.Voluntary termination of parental rights.

Nothing in subdivisions 2 and 3 precludes the court from terminating the parental rights of a parent of an African American or a disproportionately represented child if the parent desires to voluntarily terminate the parent's own parental rights for good cause under section 260C.301, subdivision 1, paragraph (a).

Subd. 5.Appeals.

Notwithstanding the Minnesota Rules of Juvenile Protection Procedure, rule 47.02, subdivision 2, a parent of an African American or a disproportionately represented child whose parental rights have been terminated may appeal the decision within 90 days of the service of notice by the court administrator of the filing of the court's order.

History:

2024 c 117 s 8

NOTE: This section, as added by Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 8, is effective January 1, 2027, except as provided under Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 20. Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 8, the effective date.

260.68 RESPONSIBLE SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY CONDUCT AND CASE REVIEW.

Subdivision 1.Responsible social services agency conduct.

(a) A responsible social services agency employee who has duties related to child protection shall not knowingly:

(1) make untrue statements about any case involving a child alleged to be in need of protection or services;

(2) intentionally withhold any information that may be material to a case involving a child alleged to be in need of protection or services; or

(3) fabricate or falsify any documentation or evidence relating to a case involving a child alleged to be in need of protection or services.

(b) Any of the actions listed in paragraph (a) shall constitute grounds for adverse employment action.

Subd. 2.Case review.

(a) Each responsible social services agency shall conduct a review of all child welfare cases for African American and other disproportionately represented children handled by the agency. Each responsible social services agency shall create a summary report of trends identified under paragraphs (b) and (c), a remediation plan as provided in paragraph (d), and an update on implementation of any previous remediation plans. The first report shall be provided to the African American Child Well-Being Advisory Council, the commissioner, and the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over child welfare by October 1, 2029, and annually thereafter. For purposes of determining outcomes in this subdivision, responsible social services agencies shall use guidance from the commissioner. The commissioner shall provide guidance starting on November 1, 2028, and annually thereafter.

(b) The case review must include:

(1) the number of African American and disproportionately represented children represented in the county child welfare system;

(2) the number and sources of maltreatment reports received and reports screened in for investigation or referred for family assessment and the race of the children and parents or custodians involved in each report;

(3) the number and race of children and parents or custodians who receive in-home preventive case management services;

(4) the number and race of children whose parents or custodians are referred to community-based, culturally appropriate, strength-based, or trauma-informed services;

(5) the number and race of children removed from their homes;

(6) the number and race of children reunified with their parents or custodians;

(7) the number and race of children whose parents or custodians are offered family group decision-making services;

(8) the number and race of children whose parents or custodians are offered the parent support outreach program;

(9) the number and race of children in foster care or out-of-home placement at the time that the data is gathered;

(10) the number and race of children who achieve permanency through a transfer of permanent legal and physical custody to a relative or an adoption; and

(11) the number and race of children who are under the guardianship of the commissioner or awaiting a permanency disposition.

(c) The required case review must also:

(1) identify barriers to reunifying children with their families;

(2) identify the family conditions that led to the out-of-home placement;

(3) identify any barriers to accessing culturally informed mental health or substance use disorder treatment services for the parents or children;

(4) document efforts to identify fathers and maternal and paternal relatives and to provide services to custodial and noncustodial fathers, if appropriate; and

(5) document and summarize court reviews of active efforts.

(d) Any responsible social services agency that has a case review showing disproportionality and disparities in child welfare outcomes for African American and other disproportionately represented children and the children's families, compared to the agency's overall outcomes, must include in their case review summary report a remediation plan with measurable outcomes to identify, address, and reduce the factors that led to the disproportionality and disparities in the agency's child welfare outcomes. The remediation plan shall also include information about how the responsible social services agency will achieve and document trauma-informed, positive child well-being outcomes through remediation efforts.

History:

2024 c 117 s 9

NOTE: This section, as added by Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 9, is effective January 1, 2027, except as provided under Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 20. Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 9, the effective date.

260.69 CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS WORKING WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN AND DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED CHILDREN.

Subdivision 1.Applicability.

The commissioner of children, youth, and families must collaborate with the Children's Justice Initiative to ensure that cultural competency training is given to individuals working in the child welfare system, including child welfare workers and supervisors. Training must also be made available to attorneys, juvenile court judges, and family law judges.

Subd. 2.Training.

(a) The commissioner must develop training content and establish the frequency of trainings for child welfare workers and supervisors.

(b) The cultural competency training under this section is required prior to or within six months of beginning work with any African American or disproportionately represented child and their family. A responsible social services agency staff person who is unable to complete the cultural competency training prior to working with African American or disproportionately represented children and their families must work with a qualified staff person within the agency who has completed cultural competency training until the person is able to complete the required training. The training must be available by January 1, 2027, and must:

(1) be provided by an African American individual or individual from a community that is disproportionately represented in the child welfare system who is knowledgeable about African American and other disproportionately represented social and cultural norms and historical trauma;

(2) raise awareness and increase a person's competency to value diversity, conduct a self-assessment, manage the dynamics of difference, acquire cultural knowledge, and adapt to diversity and the cultural contexts of communities served;

(3) include instruction on effectively developing a safety plan and instruction on engaging a safety network; and

(4) be accessible and comprehensive and include the ability to ask questions.

(c) The training may be provided in a series of segments, either in person or online.

Subd. 3.Update.

The commissioner must provide an update to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over child protection by January 1, 2028, on the rollout of the training under subdivision 1 and the content and accessibility of the training under subdivision 2.

History:

2024 c 80 art 8 s 70; 2024 c 117 s 10

NOTE: This section, as added by Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 10, is effective January 1, 2027, except as provided under Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 20. Laws 2024, chapter 117, section 10, the effective date.

260.691 AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILD WELL-BEING ADVISORY COUNCIL.

Subdivision 1.Duties.

The African American Child Well-Being Advisory Council must:

(1) review annual reports related to African American children involved in the child welfare system. These reports may include but are not limited to the maltreatment, out-of-home placement, and permanency of African American children;

(2) assist with and make recommendations to the commissioner for developing strategies to reduce maltreatment determinations, prevent unnecessary out-of-home placement, promote culturally appropriate foster care and shelter or facility placement decisions and settings for African American children in need of out-of-home placement, ensure timely achievement of permanency, and improve child welfare outcomes for African American children and their families;

(3) review summary reports on targeted case reviews prepared by the commissioner to ensure that responsible social services agencies meet the needs of African American children and their families. Based on data collected from those reviews, the council shall assist the commissioner with developing strategies needed to improve any identified child welfare outcomes, including but not limited to maltreatment, out-of-home placement, and permanency for African American children;

(4) assist the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council with making recommendations to the commissioner and the legislature for public policy and statutory changes that specifically consider the needs of African American children and their families involved in the child welfare system;

(5) advise the commissioner on stakeholder engagement strategies and actions that the commissioner and responsible social services agencies may take to improve child welfare outcomes for African American children and their families;

(6) assist the commissioner with developing strategies for public messaging and communication related to racial disproportionality and disparities in child welfare outcomes for African American children and their families;

(7) assist the commissioner with identifying and developing internal and external partnerships to support adequate access to services and resources for African American children and their families, including but not limited to housing assistance, employment assistance, food and nutrition support, health care, child care assistance, and educational support and training; and

(8) assist the commissioner with developing strategies to promote the development of a culturally diverse and representative child welfare workforce in Minnesota that includes professionals who are reflective of the community served and who have been directly impacted by lived experiences within the child welfare system. The council must also assist the commissioner with exploring strategies and partnerships to address education and training needs, hiring, recruitment, retention, and professional advancement practices.

Subd. 2.Annual report.

By January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the council shall report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over child protection on the council's activities under subdivision 1 and other issues on which the council chooses to report. The report may include recommendations for statutory changes to improve the child protection system and child welfare outcomes for African American children and families.

History:

2024 c 117 s 11

260.692 AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILD WELL-BEING UNIT.

Subdivision 1.Duties.

The African American Child Well-Being Unit, currently established by the commissioner, must:

(1) assist with the development of African American cultural competency training and review child welfare curriculum in the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy to ensure that responsible social services agency staff and other child welfare professionals are appropriately prepared to engage with African American children and their families and to support family preservation and reunification;

(2) provide technical assistance, including on-site technical assistance, and case consultation to responsible social services agencies to assist agencies with implementing and complying with the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act;

(3) monitor individual county and statewide disaggregated and nondisaggregated data to identify trends and patterns in child welfare outcomes, including but not limited to reporting, maltreatment, out-of-home placement, and permanency of African American children and develop strategies to address disproportionality and disparities in the child welfare system;

(4) develop and implement a system for conducting case reviews when the commissioner receives reports of noncompliance with the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act or when requested by the parent or custodian of an African American child. Case reviews may include but are not limited to a review of placement prevention efforts, safety planning, case planning and service provision by the responsible social services agency, relative placement consideration, and permanency planning;

(5) establish and administer a request for proposals process for African American and disproportionately represented family preservation grants under section 260.693, monitor grant activities, and provide technical assistance to grantees;

(6) in coordination with the African American Child Well-Being Advisory Council, coordinate services and create internal and external partnerships to support adequate access to services and resources for African American children and their families, including but not limited to housing assistance, employment assistance, food and nutrition support, health care, child care assistance, and educational support and training; and

(7) develop public messaging and communication to inform the public about racial disparities in child welfare outcomes, current efforts and strategies to reduce racial disparities, and resources available to African American children and their families involved in the child welfare system.

Subd. 2.Case reviews.

(a) The African American Child Well-Being Unit must conduct systemic case reviews to monitor targeted child welfare outcomes, including but not limited to maltreatment, out-of-home placement, and permanency of African American children.

(b) The reviews under this subdivision must be conducted using a random sampling of representative child welfare cases stratified for certain case related factors, including but not limited to case type, maltreatment type, if the case involves out-of-home placement, and other demographic variables. In conducting the reviews, unit staff may use court records and documents, information from the social services information system, and other available case file information to complete the case reviews.

(c) The frequency of the reviews and the number of cases, child welfare outcomes, and selected counties reviewed shall be determined by the unit in consultation with the African American Child Well-Being Advisory Council, with consideration given to the availability of unit resources needed to conduct the reviews.

(d) The unit must monitor all case reviews and use the collective case review information and data to generate summary case review reports, ensure compliance with the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act, and identify trends or patterns in child welfare outcomes for African American children.

(e) The unit must review information from members of the public received through the compliance and feedback portal, including policy and practice concerns related to individual child welfare cases. After assessing a case concern, the unit may determine if further necessary action should be taken, which may include coordinating case remediation with other relevant child welfare agencies in accordance with data privacy laws, including the African American Child Well-Being Advisory Council, and offering case consultation and technical assistance to the responsible local social services agency as needed or requested by the agency.

Subd. 3.Reports.

(a) The African American Child Well-Being Unit must provide regular updates on unit activities, including summary reports of case reviews, to the African American Child Well-Being Advisory Council, and must publish an annual census of African American children in out-of-home placements statewide. The annual census must include data on the types of placements, age and sex of the children, how long the children have been in out-of-home placements, and other relevant demographic information.

(b) The African American Child Well-Being Unit shall gather summary data about the practice and policy inquiries and individual case concerns received through the compliance and feedback portal under subdivision 2, paragraph (e). The unit shall provide regular reports of the nonidentifying compliance and feedback portal summary data to the African American Child Well-Being Advisory Council to identify child welfare trends and patterns to assist with developing policy and practice recommendations to support eliminating disparity and disproportionality for African American children.

History:

2024 c 117 s 12

260.693 AFRICAN AMERICAN AND DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED FAMILY PRESERVATION GRANTS.

Subdivision 1.Primary support grants.

The commissioner shall establish direct grants to organizations, service providers, and programs owned and led by African Americans and other individuals from communities disproportionately represented in the child welfare system to provide services and support for African American and disproportionately represented children and their families involved in Minnesota's child welfare system, including supporting existing eligible services and facilitating the development of new services and providers, to create a more expansive network of service providers available for African American and disproportionately represented children and their families.

Subd. 2.Eligible services.

(a) Services eligible for grants under this section include but are not limited to:

(1) child out-of-home placement prevention and reunification services;

(2) family-based services and reunification therapy;

(3) culturally specific individual and family counseling;

(4) court advocacy;

(5) training for and consultation to responsible social services agencies and private social services agencies regarding this act;

(6) development and promotion of culturally informed, affirming, and responsive community-based prevention and family preservation services that target the children, youth, families, and communities of African American and African heritage experiencing the highest disparities, disproportionality, and overrepresentation in the Minnesota child welfare system;

(7) culturally affirming and responsive services that work with children and families in their communities to address their needs and ensure child and family safety and well-being within a culturally appropriate lens and framework;

(8) services to support informal kinship care arrangements; and

(9) other activities and services approved by the commissioner that further the goals of the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act, including but not limited to the recruitment of African American staff and staff from other communities disproportionately represented in the child welfare system to work for responsible social services agencies and licensed child-placing agencies.

(b) The commissioner may specify the priority of an activity and service based on its success in furthering these goals. The commissioner shall give preference to programs and service providers that are located in or serve counties with the highest rates of child welfare disproportionality for African American and other disproportionately represented children and their families and employ staff who represent the population primarily served.

Subd. 3.Ineligible services.

Grant money may not be used to supplant funding for existing services or for the following purposes:

(1) child day care that is necessary solely because of the employment or training for employment of a parent or another relative with whom the child is living;

(2) foster care maintenance or difficulty of care payments;

(3) residential treatment facility payments;

(4) adoption assistance or Northstar kinship assistance payments under chapter 259A or 256N;

(5) public assistance payments for Minnesota family investment program assistance, supplemental aid, medical assistance, general assistance, general assistance medical care, or community health services; or

(6) administrative costs for income maintenance staff.

Subd. 4.Requests for proposals.

The commissioner shall request proposals for grants under subdivisions 1, 2, and 3 and specify the information and criteria required.

History:

2024 c 117 s 13

MINNESOTA INDIAN FAMILY PRESERVATION ACT

260.751 CITATION.

Sections 260.751 to 260.835 may be cited as the "Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act."

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 2

260.752 APPLICABILITY.

Unless otherwise stated, sections 260.751 to 260.835 and the federal Indian Child Welfare Act are applicable without exception in any child placement proceeding involving an Indian child where custody is granted to someone other than a parent or an Indian custodian. Nothing in sections 260.751 to 260.835 is intended to apply to custody actions between parents or between a parent and Indian custodian.

History:

2023 c 16 s 1

260.753 PURPOSES.

The purposes of the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act are to (1) protect the long-term interests, as defined by the Tribes, of Indian children, their families as defined by law or custom, and the child's Tribe; and (2) preserve the Indian family and Tribal identity, including an understanding that Indian children are damaged if family and child Tribal identity and contact are denied. Indian children are the future of the Tribes and are vital to their very existence.

History:

2015 c 78 art 1 s 13; 2023 c 16 s 2

260.754 POLICY ON TRIBAL-STATE RELATIONS.

(a) The state of Minnesota acknowledges federally recognized Indian Tribes as sovereign political entities that predate the existence of the United States and that have retained inherent sovereign authority to pass their own laws, maintain their own systems of governance, and determine their own jurisdiction. The sovereign authority of Tribes may only be limited by the federal government and not by any action of the state, including the state legislature and state courts.

(b) Inherently, as members of Indian Tribes recognized by the federal government, Indian people have rights and privileges as members of their Tribe which the state of Minnesota recognizes and protects.

(c) Indian people have a right to be protected from being disfranchised or deprived of any of the rights and privileges secured to any citizen in the state and to have the recognition and protection of the rights and privileges flowing from their membership in an Indian Tribe by any state action.

(d) The state of Minnesota recognizes all federally recognized Indian Tribes as having the inherent authority to determine their own jurisdiction for any and all Indian child custody or child placement proceedings regardless of whether the Tribe's members are on or off the reservation and regardless of the procedural posture of the proceeding.

(e) The state of Minnesota has long recognized the importance of Indian children to their Tribes not only as members of Tribal families and communities, but also as the Tribe's greatest resource as future members and leaders of the Tribe. The vitality of Indian children in the state of Minnesota is essential to the health and welfare of both the state and the Tribes and is essential to the future welfare and continued existence of the child's Tribe.

(f) The state of Minnesota recognizes that the historical deprivation of rights of Indian people and Indian Tribes has led to disparate out-of-home placement of Indian children.

History:

2023 c 16 s 3

260.755 DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Scope.

As used in sections 260.751 to 260.835, the following terms have the meanings given them.

Subd. 1a.Active efforts.

(a) "Active efforts" means a rigorous and concerted level of effort to preserve the Indian child's family that is ongoing throughout the involvement of the child-placing agency or the petitioner with the Indian child. Active efforts require the engagement of the Indian child, the Indian child's parents, the Indian custodian, the extended family, and the Tribe in using the prevailing social and cultural values, conditions, and way of life of the Indian child's Tribe to: (1) preserve the Indian child's family; (2) prevent placement of an Indian child; (3) if placement occurs, to return the Indian child to the Indian child's family at the earliest possible time; and (4) where a permanent change in parental rights or custody is necessary, ensure the Indian child retains meaningful connections to the Indian child's family, extended family, and Tribe.

(b) Active efforts for all Indian child placements includes this section and sections 260.012 and 260.762 and require a higher standard than reasonable efforts as defined in section 260.012 to preserve the family, prevent breakup of the family, and reunify the family. Active efforts are required for all Indian child placement proceedings and for all voluntary Indian child placements that involve a child-placing agency regardless of whether the reasonable efforts would have been relieved under section 260.012.

Subd. 2.Administrative review.

"Administrative review" means review under section 260C.203.

Subd. 2a.Best interests of an Indian child.

"Best interests of an Indian child" means compliance with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act to preserve and maintain an Indian child's family. The best interests of an Indian child support the Indian child's sense of belonging to family, extended family, and Tribe. The best interests of an Indian child are interwoven with the best interests of the Indian child's Tribe.

Subd. 3.Child placement proceeding.

(a) "Child placement proceeding" includes a judicial proceeding which could result in:

(1) "adoptive placement," meaning the permanent placement of an Indian child for adoption, including an action resulting in a final decree of adoption;

(2) "involuntary foster care placement," meaning an action removing an Indian child from the child's parents or Indian custodian for temporary placement in a foster home, institution, or the home of a guardian. The parent or Indian custodian cannot have the Indian child returned upon demand, but parental rights have not been terminated;

(3) "preadoptive placement," meaning the temporary placement of an Indian child in a foster home or institution after the termination of parental rights, before or instead of adoptive placement; or

(4) "termination of parental rights," meaning an action resulting in the termination of the parent-child relationship under section 260C.301.

(b) The term child placement proceeding is a domestic relations proceeding that includes all placements where Indian children are placed away from the care, custody, and control of their parent or parents or Indian custodian that do not implicate custody between the parents. Child placement proceeding also includes any placement based upon juvenile status offenses but does not include a placement based upon an act which if committed by an adult would be deemed a crime, or upon an award of custody in a divorce proceeding to one of the parents.

Subd. 3a.Child-placing agency.

"Child-placing agency" means a public, private, or nonprofit legal entity: (1) providing assistance to an Indian child and the Indian child's parents or Indian custodian; or (2) placing an Indian child in foster care or for adoption on a voluntary or involuntary basis.

Subd. 3b.Child placement.

"Child placement" means placement of an Indian child on a voluntary or involuntary basis in foster care, preadoptive placement, or adoption by a child-placing agency, parent, parents, Indian custodian, or individual.

Subd. 4.Commissioner.

"Commissioner" means the commissioner of children, youth, and families.

Subd. 4a.Custody.

"Custody" means the physical or legal custody, or both, of an Indian child under any applicable Tribal law, Tribal custom, or state law. A party may demonstrate the existence of custody by looking to Tribal law, Tribal custom, or state law.

Subd. 5.Demand.

"Demand" means a written and notarized statement signed by a parent or Indian custodian of an Indian child which requests the return of the Indian child who has been voluntarily placed in foster care.

Subd. 5a.Emergency proceeding.

"Emergency proceeding" means and includes any court action that involves an emergency removal or emergency placement of an Indian child.

Subd. 5b.Extended family member.

"Extended family member" is as defined by the law or custom of the Indian child's Tribe or, in the absence of any law or custom of the Tribe, is a person who has reached the age of 18 and who is the Indian child's grandparent, aunt or uncle, brother or sister, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, niece or nephew, first or second cousin, or stepparent. For the purposes of provision of active efforts and foster care and permanency placement decisions, the legal parent, guardian, or custodian of the Indian child's sibling is not an extended family member or relative of an Indian child unless they are independently related to the Indian child or recognized by the Indian child's Tribe as an extended family member.

Subd. 6.Family-based services.

"Family-based services" means intensive family-centered services to families primarily in their own home and for a limited time.

Subd. 6a.Imminent physical damage or harm.

"Imminent physical damage or harm" means that a child is threatened with immediate and present conditions that are life threatening or likely to result in abandonment, sexual abuse, or serious physical injury.

Subd. 7.Indian.

"Indian" means a person who is a member of an Indian tribe or an Alaskan native and a member of a regional corporation as defined in section 7 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, United States Code, title 43, section 1606.

Subd. 8.Indian child.

"Indian child" means an unmarried person who is under age 18 and is:

(1) a member of an Indian tribe; or

(2) eligible for membership in an Indian tribe.

A determination by a tribe that a child is a member of the Indian tribe or is eligible for membership in the Indian tribe is conclusive. For purposes of this chapter and chapters 256N, 260C, and 260D, Indian child also includes an unmarried person who satisfies either clause (1) or (2), is under age 21, and is in foster care pursuant to section 260C.451.

Subd. 9.Indian child's tribe.

"Indian child's tribe" means the Indian tribe in which an Indian child is a member or eligible for membership. In the case of an Indian child who is a member of or eligible for membership in more than one tribe, the Indian child's tribe is the tribe with which the Indian child has the most significant contacts. If that tribe does not express an interest in the outcome of the actions taken under sections 260.751 to 260.835 with respect to the child, any other tribe in which the child is eligible for membership that expresses an interest in the outcome may act as the Indian child's tribe.

Subd. 10.Indian custodian.

"Indian custodian" means an Indian person who has legal custody of an Indian child under tribal law or custom or under state law, or to whom temporary physical care, custody, and control has been transferred by the parent of the child.

Subd. 11.Indian organization.

"Indian organization" means an organization providing child welfare services that is legally incorporated as a nonprofit organization, is registered with the secretary of state, and is governed by a board of directors having at least a majority of Indian directors.

Subd. 12.Indian tribe.

"Indian tribe" means an Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community of Indians recognized as eligible for the services provided to Indians by the secretary because of their status as Indians, including any Native group under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, United States Code, title 43, section 1602.

Subd. 13.

MS 2022 [Repealed, 2024 c 115 art 17 s 56]

Subd. 14.Parent.

"Parent" means the biological parent of an Indian child or any person who has lawfully adopted an Indian child, including a person who has adopted an Indian child by Tribal law or custom. Parent includes a father as defined by Tribal law or custom. Parent does not include an unmarried father whose paternity has not been acknowledged or established. Paternity has been acknowledged when an unmarried father takes any action to hold himself out as the biological father of an Indian child.

Subd. 15.Permanency planning.

"Permanency planning" means the systematic process of carrying out, within a short time, a set of goal-oriented activities designed to help children live in families that offer continuity of relationships with nurturing parents or caretakers, and the opportunity to establish lifetime relationships.

Subd. 15a.Petitioner.

"Petitioner" means one or more individuals other than a parent or Indian custodian who has filed a petition or motion seeking a grant of temporary or permanent guardianship, custody, or adoption of an Indian child.

Subd. 16.Placement prevention and family reunification services.

"Placement prevention and family reunification services" means services designed to help children remain with their families or to reunite children with their parents.

Subd. 16a.Public act.

"Public act" means an act of legislation by a political body affecting the public as a whole.

Subd. 17.

MS 2022 [Repealed, 2023 c 16 s 39]

Subd. 17a.Qualified expert witness.

"Qualified expert witness" means an individual who meets the criteria in section 260.771, subdivision 6, paragraph (d), and provides testimony as required by the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, United States Code, title 25, section 1912, and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act, regarding child placement or permanency proceedings relating to an Indian child.

Subd. 18.Reservation.

"Reservation" means Indian country as defined in United States Code, title 18, section 1151, and any lands which are either held by the United States in trust for the benefit of an Indian tribe or individual, or held by an Indian tribe or individual subject to a restriction by the United States against alienation.

Subd. 19.Secretary.

"Secretary" means the secretary of the United States Department of the Interior.

Subd. 20.Tribal court.

"Tribal court" means a court with jurisdiction over child custody proceedings and which is either a court of Indian offenses, a court established and operated under the code or custom of an Indian Tribe, or any other administrative body of a Tribe which is vested with authority over child custody proceedings.

Subd. 20a.Tribal representative.

"Tribal representative" means a representative designated by and acting on behalf of a Tribe in connection with an Indian child placement proceeding as defined in subdivision 3. It is not required that the designated representative be an attorney to represent the Tribe in these matters. An individual appearing as a Tribal representative on behalf of a Tribe and participating in a court proceeding under this chapter is not engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.

Subd. 21.Tribal social services agency.

"Tribal social services agency" means the unit under authority of the governing body of the Indian tribe which is responsible for human services.

Subd. 22.Voluntary foster care placement.

"Voluntary foster care placement" means a decision in which there has been participation by a child-placing agency resulting in the temporary placement of an Indian child away from the home of the Indian child's parents or Indian custodian in a foster home, institution, or the home of a guardian, and the parent or Indian custodian may have the Indian child returned upon demand.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 3; 2007 c 147 art 1 s 8,9; 2012 c 216 art 6 s 13; 2015 c 78 art 1 s 14-18; 2023 c 16 s 4-14; 2024 c 80 art 8 s 70; 2024 c 115 art 17 s 3-14;

260.758 EMERGENCY REMOVAL OR PLACEMENT OF INDIAN CHILD; TERMINATION; APPROPRIATE ACTION.

Subdivision 1.Emergency removal or placement permitted.

Nothing in sections 260.751 to 260.835 shall be construed to prevent the emergency removal of an Indian child from the Indian child's parent or Indian custodian, including an Indian child who is a resident of or is domiciled on a reservation but temporarily located off the reservation, or the emergency placement of the Indian child in a foster home or institution under sections 260.751 to 260.835, in order to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the Indian child.

Subd. 2.Temporary emergency jurisdiction of state courts.

(a) The child-placing agency, petitioner, or court shall ensure that the emergency removal or placement terminates immediately when removal or placement is no longer necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the Indian child. The child-placing agency, petitioner, or court shall expeditiously initiate a child placement proceeding subject to the provisions of sections 260.751 to 260.835, transfer the Indian child to the jurisdiction of the appropriate Indian Tribe, or return the Indian child to the Indian child's parent or Indian custodian as may be appropriate.

(b) If the Indian child is a resident of or is domiciled on a reservation but temporarily located off the reservation, a court of this state has only temporary emergency jurisdiction until the Indian child is transferred to the jurisdiction of the appropriate Indian Tribe unless the Indian child's Tribe has expressly declined to exercise its jurisdiction, or the Indian child is returned to the Indian child's parent or Indian custodian.

Subd. 3.Petition for emergency removal; placement requirements.

A petition for a court order authorizing the emergency removal or continued emergency placement of an Indian child, or the petition's accompanying documents, must contain a statement of the risk of imminent physical damage or harm to the Indian child and any evidence that the emergency removal or placement continues to be necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the Indian child. The petition or its accompanying documents must also contain the following information:

(1) the name, age, and last known address of the Indian child;

(2) the name and address of the Indian child's parents and Indian custodians, if any;

(3) the steps taken to provide notice to the Indian child's parents, Indian custodians, and Tribe about the emergency proceeding;

(4) if the Indian child's parents and Indian custodians are unknown, a detailed explanation of what efforts have been made to locate and contact them;

(5) the residence and domicile of the Indian child;

(6) if either the residence or domicile of the Indian child is believed to be on a reservation or in an Alaska Native village, the name of the Tribe affiliated with that reservation or village;

(7) the Tribal affiliation of the Indian child and of the Indian child's parents or Indian custodians;

(8) a specific and detailed account of the circumstances that led the agency responsible for the emergency removal of the Indian child to take that action;

(9) if the child is believed to reside or be domiciled on a reservation where the Tribe exercises exclusive jurisdiction over Indian child custody matters, a statement of the efforts that have been made and are being made to contact the Tribe and transfer the Indian child to the Tribe's jurisdiction; and

(10) a statement of the efforts that have been taken to assist the Indian child's parents or Indian custodians so that the Indian child may safely be returned to their custody.

Subd. 4.Emergency proceeding requirements.

(a) The court shall hold a hearing no later than 72 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, after the emergency removal of the Indian child. The court shall determine whether the emergency removal continues to be necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the Indian child.

(b) The court shall hold additional hearings whenever new information indicates that the emergency situation has ended and must determine at any court hearing during the emergency proceeding whether the emergency removal or placement is no longer necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the Indian child.

Subd. 5.Termination of emergency removal or placement.

(a) An emergency removal or placement of an Indian child must immediately terminate once the child-placing agency or court possesses sufficient evidence to determine that the emergency removal or placement is no longer necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the Indian child and the Indian child shall be immediately returned to the custody of the Indian child's parent or Indian custodian.

(b) An emergency removal or placement ends when the Indian child is transferred to the jurisdiction of the Indian child's Tribe, or when the court orders, after service upon the Indian child's parents, Indian custodian, and Indian child's Tribe, placement of the Indian child upon a determination supported by clear and convincing evidence, including testimony by a qualified expert witness, that custody of the Indian child by the Indian child's parent or Indian custodian is likely to result in serious emotional or physical damage to the Indian child.

(c) In no instance shall emergency removal or emergency placement of an Indian child extend beyond 30 days unless the court finds by a showing of clear and convincing evidence that: (1) continued emergency removal or placement is necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the Indian child; (2) the court has been unable to transfer the proceeding to the jurisdiction of the Indian child's Tribal court; and (3) it has not been possible to initiate a child placement proceeding with all of the protections under sections 260.751 to 260.835, including obtaining the testimony of a qualified expert witness.

History:

2023 c 16 s 15; 2024 c 115 art 17 s 15-17

260.761 INQUIRY OF TRIBAL LINEAGE; NOTICE TO TRIBES, PARENTS, AND INDIAN CUSTODIANS; ACCESS TO FILES.

Subdivision 1.Inquiry of Tribal lineage.

(a) The child-placing agency or petitioner shall inquire of the child, the child's parents and custodians, and other appropriate persons whether there is any reason to believe that a child brought to the agency's attention may have lineage to an Indian Tribe. This inquiry shall occur at the time the child comes to the attention of the child-placing agency or petitioner and shall continue throughout the involvement of the child-placing agency or petitioner.

(b) In any child placement proceeding, the court shall inquire of the child, the child's parents, custodian, and any person participating in the proceedings whether the child has any American Indian heritage or lineage to an Indian Tribe. The inquiry shall be made at the commencement of the proceeding and all responses must be on the record. The court must instruct the parties to inform the court if they subsequently receive information that provides reason to believe the child is an Indian child.

(c) If there is reason to believe the child is an Indian child, but the court does not have sufficient evidence to determine whether the child is an Indian child, the court shall:

(1) confirm with a report, declaration, or testimony in the record that the child-placing agency or petitioner used due diligence to identify and work with all of the Tribes for which there is reason to believe the child may be a member of or eligible for membership to verify whether the child is an Indian child; and

(2) proceed with the case as if the child is an Indian child until it is determined on the record that the child does not meet the definition of Indian child.

Subd. 2.Notice of services or court proceedings involving an Indian child.

(a) When a child-placing agency or petitioner has information that a family assessment, investigation, or noncaregiver human trafficking assessment being conducted may involve an Indian child, the child-placing agency or petitioner shall notify the Indian child's Tribe of the family assessment, investigation, or noncaregiver human trafficking assessment according to section 260E.18. The child-placing agency or petitioner shall provide initial notice by telephone and by email or facsimile and shall include the child's full name and date of birth; the full names and dates of birth of the child's biological parents; and if known the full names and dates of birth of the child's grandparents and of the child's Indian custodian. If information regarding the child's grandparents or Indian custodian is not immediately available, the child-placing agency or petitioner shall continue to request this information and shall notify the Tribe when it is received. Notice shall be provided to all Tribes to which the child may have any Tribal lineage. The child-placing agency or petitioner shall request that the Tribe or a designated Tribal representative participate in evaluating the family circumstances, identifying family and Tribal community resources, and developing case plans. The child-placing agency or petitioner shall continue to include the Tribe in service planning and updates as to the progress of the case.

(b) When a child-placing agency or petitioner has information that a child receiving services may be an Indian child, the child-placing agency or petitioner shall notify the Tribe by telephone and by email or facsimile of the child's full name and date of birth, the full names and dates of birth of the child's biological parents, and, if known, the full names and dates of birth of the child's grandparents and of the child's Indian custodian. This notification must be provided for the Tribe to determine if the child is a member or eligible for Tribal membership, and the child-placing agency or petitioner must provide this notification to the Tribe within seven days of receiving information that the child may be an Indian child. If information regarding the child's grandparents or Indian custodian is not available within the seven-day period, the child-placing agency or petitioner shall continue to request this information and shall notify the Tribe when it is received. Notice shall be provided to all Tribes to which the child may have any Tribal lineage.

(c) In all child placement proceedings, when a court has reason to believe that a child placed in emergency protective care is an Indian child, the court administrator or a designee shall, as soon as possible and before a hearing takes place, notify the Tribal social services agency by telephone and by email or facsimile of the date, time, and location of the emergency protective care or other initial hearing. The court shall allow appearances by telephone, video conference, or other electronic medium for Tribal representatives, the Indian child's parents, or the Indian custodian.

(d) In all child placement proceedings, except for adoptive or preadoptive placement proceedings, when a court has reason to believe the child is an Indian child, the child-placing agency or petitioner shall provide notice of the proceedings and a copy of any petition to the Indian child's parents, Indian custodian, and the Indian child's Tribe and shall effect service of any notice and petition governed by sections 260.751 to 260.835 upon the parent, Indian custodian, and the Indian child's Tribe by certified mail or registered mail, return receipt requested. If the identity or location of the Indian child's parents or Indian custodian or Tribe cannot be determined, the child-placing agency or petitioner shall provide the notice required in this paragraph to the United States Secretary of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Where service is only accomplished through the United States Secretary of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the initial hearing shall not be held until 20 days after notice upon the Tribe or the Secretary of the Interior.

(e) Notice under this subdivision must be in clear and understandable language and include the following:

(1) the child's name, date of birth, and birth place;

(2) all names known for the parents and Indian custodian, including maiden, married, former names, and aliases, correctly spelled;

(3) the dates of birth, birth place, and Tribal enrollment numbers of the Indian child, the Indian child's parents, and the Indian custodian, if known;

(4) the full names, dates of birth, birth places, and Tribal enrollment or affiliation information of direct lineal ancestors of the child, other extended family members, and custodians of the child, if known;

(5) the name of any and all Indian Tribes in which the child is or may be a member or eligible for membership in; and

(6) statements setting out:

(i) the name of the petitioner and name and address of the petitioner's attorney;

(ii) the right of any parent or Indian custodian of the Indian child, to intervene in the child placement proceedings, if not already a party;

(iii) the right of the Indian child's Tribe to intervene in the proceedings at any time;

(iv) the right of the Indian child, the Indian child's parent, and the Indian custodian to court-appointed counsel if they meet the requirements in section 611.17;

(v) the right to be granted, upon request, up to 20 additional days to prepare for the child-placement proceedings;

(vi) the right of the Indian child's parent, the Indian custodian, and the Indian child's Tribe to petition the court for transfer of the proceedings to Tribal court;

(vii) the mailing addresses and telephone numbers of the court and information related to all parental and custodial rights of the parent or Indian custodian; and

(viii) that all parties must maintain confidentiality of all information contained in the notice and must not provide the information to anyone other than their attorney.

(f) A Tribe, the Indian child's parents, or the Indian custodian may request up to 20 additional days to prepare for the initial hearing. The court shall allow appearances by telephone, video conference, or other electronic medium for Tribal representatives, the Indian child's parents, or the Indian custodian.

(g) A child-placing agency or petitioner must provide the notices required under this subdivision at the earliest possible time to facilitate involvement of the Indian child's Tribe. Nothing in this subdivision is intended to hinder the ability of the child-placing agency, petitioner, and the court to respond to an emergency situation. Lack of participation by a Tribe shall not prevent the Tribe from intervening in services and proceedings at a later date. A Tribe may participate in a case at any time. At any stage of the child-placing agency's or petitioner's involvement with an Indian child, the child-placing agency or petitioner shall provide full cooperation to the Tribal social services agency, including disclosure of all data concerning the Indian child. Nothing in this subdivision relieves the child-placing agency or petitioner of satisfying the notice requirements in state or federal law.

(h) The court shall allow appearances by telephone, video conference, or other electronic means for Tribal representatives at all hearings and trials. The court shall allow appearances by telephone, video conference, or other electronic means for the Indian child's parents or Indian custodian for all hearings, except that the court may require an in-person appearance for trials or other evidentiary or contested hearings.

[See Note.]

Subd. 3.Notice of potential preadoptive or adoptive placement.

In any adoptive or preadoptive placement proceeding, including voluntary proceedings, where any party or participant has reason to believe that a child who is the subject of an adoptive or preadoptive placement proceeding is or may be an "Indian child," as defined in section 260.755, subdivision 8, and United States Code, title 25, section 1903(4), the child-placing agency or petitioner shall notify the Indian child's Tribe by registered mail or certified mail with return receipt requested of the pending proceeding and of the right of intervention under subdivision 6. If the identity or location of the Indian child's Tribe cannot be determined, the notice must be given to the United States Secretary of Interior in like manner. No preadoptive or adoptive placement proceeding may be held until at least 20 days after receipt of the notice by the Tribe or the secretary. Upon request, the Tribe must be granted up to 20 additional days to prepare for the proceeding. The child-placing agency or petitioner shall include in the notice the identity of the birth parents and Indian child absent written objection by the birth parents. The child-placing agency or petitioner shall inform the birth parents of the Indian child of any services available to the Indian child through the child's Tribal social services agency, including child placement services, and shall additionally provide the birth parents of the Indian child with all information sent from the Tribal social services agency in response to the notice.

Subd. 4.Unknown father.

If the child-placing agency, petitioner, the court, or any party has reason to believe that a child who is the subject of a child placement proceeding is or may be an Indian child but the father of the child is unknown and has not registered with the fathers' adoption registry pursuant to section 259.52, the child-placing agency or petitioner shall provide to the Tribe believed to be the Indian child's Tribe information sufficient to enable the Tribe to determine the child's eligibility for membership in the Tribe, including, but not limited to, the legal and maiden name of the birth mother, her date of birth, the names and dates of birth of her parents and grandparents, and, if available, information pertaining to the possible identity, Tribal affiliation, or location of the birth father. If the identity or location of the Indian child's Tribe cannot be determined, the notice must be given to the United States Secretary of Interior in like manner.

Subd. 5.Proof of service of notice upon Tribe or secretary.

In cases where a child-placing agency or party to an adoptive placement knows or has reason to believe that a child is or may be an Indian child, proof of service upon the Indian child's Tribe or the secretary of interior must be filed with the adoption petition.

Subd. 6.Indian Tribe's right of intervention.

In any child placement proceeding under sections 260.751 to 260.835, the Indian child's Tribe shall have a right to intervene at any point in the proceeding.

Subd. 6a.Indian Tribe's access to files.

At any stage of the child-placing agency or petitioner's involvement with an Indian child, the child-placing agency or petitioner shall, upon request, give the Tribal social services agency full cooperation including access to all files concerning the Indian child. If the files contain confidential or private data, the child-placing agency or petitioner may require execution of an agreement with the Tribal social services agency to maintain the data according to statutory provisions applicable to the data.

Subd. 7.

MS 2022 [Repealed by amendment, 2023 c 16 s 16]

Subd. 8.Missing child notification.

A child-placing agency or individual petitioner shall notify an Indian child's Tribe or Tribes by telephone and by email or facsimile immediately but no later than 24 hours after receiving information on a missing child as defined under section 260C.212, subdivision 13, paragraph (a).

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 4; 2007 c 147 art 1 s 10; 2015 c 78 art 1 s 19,20; 1Sp2020 c 2 art 8 s 110; 2023 c 16 s 16; 2023 c 70 art 14 s 6; 2024 c 115 art 12 s 4; art 17 s 18; 2024 c 127 art 66 s 18

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 2 by Laws 2024, chapter 115, article 12, section 4, is effective July 1, 2025. Laws 2024, chapter 115, article 12, section 4, the effective date.

260.7611 [Renumbered 260.7745]

260.762 DUTY TO PREVENT OUT-OF-HOME CHILD PLACEMENT, PRESERVE THE CHILD'S FAMILY, AND PROMOTE FAMILY REUNIFICATION; ACTIVE EFFORTS.

Subdivision 1.Active efforts.

Active efforts includes acknowledging traditional helping and healing systems of an Indian child's Tribe and using these systems as the core to help and heal the Indian child and family regardless of whether the Indian child's Tribe has intervened in the proceedings.

Subd. 2.

MS 2023 Supp [Repealed by amendment, 2024 c 115 art 17 s 19]

Subd. 2a.Required findings that active efforts were provided.

(a) A court shall not order a child placement, termination of parental rights, guardianship to the commissioner of children, youth, and families under section 260C.325, or temporary or permanent change in custody of an Indian child unless the court finds that the child-placing agency or petitioner demonstrated that active efforts were made to preserve the Indian child's family. Active efforts to preserve the Indian child's family include efforts to prevent placement of the Indian child to correct the conditions that led to the placement by ensuring remedial services and rehabilitative programs designed to prevent the breakup of the family were provided in a manner consistent with the prevailing social and cultural conditions of the Indian child's Tribe and in partnership with the Indian child, the Indian child's parents, the Indian custodian, extended family members, and Tribe, and that these efforts have proved unsuccessful.

(b) The court, in determining whether active efforts were made to preserve the Indian child's family for purposes of child placement or permanency, shall ensure the provision of active efforts designed to correct the conditions that led to the placement of the Indian child and shall make findings regarding whether the following activities were appropriate and necessary, and whether the child-placing agency or petitioner ensured appropriate and meaningful services were available based upon the family's specific needs, whether listed in this paragraph or not:

(1) whether active efforts were made at the earliest point possible to inquire into the child's heritage, to identify any federally recognized Indian Tribe the child may be affiliated with, to notify all potential Tribes at the earliest point possible, and to request participation of the Indian child's Tribe;

(2) whether a Tribally designated representative with substantial knowledge of the prevailing social and cultural standards and child-rearing practices within the Tribal community was provided an opportunity to consult with and be involved in any investigations or assessments of the family's circumstances, participate in identifying the family's needs, and participate in development of any plan to keep the Indian child safely in the home, identify services designed to prevent the breakup of the Indian child's family, and to reunify the Indian child's family as soon as safety can be assured if out-of-home placement has occurred;

(3) whether the Tribal representative was provided with all information available regarding the proceeding, and whether it was requested that the Tribal representative assist in identifying services designed to prevent the breakup of the Indian child's family and to reunify the Indian child's family as soon as safety can be assured if out-of-home placement has occurred;

(4) whether, before making a decision that may affect an Indian child's safety and well-being or when contemplating placement of an Indian child, guidance from the Indian child's Tribe was sought regarding family structure, how the family can seek help, what family and Tribal resources are available, and what barriers the family faces that could threaten the family's preservation;

(5) whether a Tribal representative was consulted to determine and arrange for visitation in the most natural setting that ensures the Indian child's safety, when the Indian child's safety requires supervised visitation;

(6) whether early and ongoing efforts occurred to identify, locate, and include extended family members as supports for the Indian child and the Indian child's family;

(7) whether continued active efforts were made to identify and place the Indian child in a home that is compliant with the placement preferences in sections 260.751 to 260.835, including whether extended family members were consulted to provide support to the Indian child and Indian child's parents; to inform the child-placing agency, petitioner, and court as to cultural connections and family structure; to assist in identifying appropriate cultural services and supports for the Indian child and Indian child's parents; and to identify and serve as placement and permanency resources for the Indian child. If there was difficulty contacting or engaging extended family members, whether assistance was sought from the Tribe, the Department of Human Services, or other agencies with expertise in working with Indian families;

(8) whether services and resources were provided to extended family members who are considered the primary placement option for an Indian child, as agreed upon by the child-placing agency or petitioner and the Tribe, to overcome licensing and other barriers to providing care to an Indian child. The need for services or resources shall not be a basis to exclude an extended family member from consideration as a primary placement. Services and resources include but are not limited to child care assistance, financial assistance, housing resources, emergency resources, and foster care licensing assistance and resources;

(9) whether concrete services and access to both Tribal and non-Tribal services were provided to the Indian child's parents and Indian custodian and, where necessary, members of the Indian child's extended family members who provide support to the Indian child and the Indian child's parents; and whether these services were provided in an ongoing manner throughout the child-placing agency or petitioner's involvement with the Indian family to directly assist the Indian family in accessing and utilizing services to maintain the Indian family, or to reunify the Indian family as soon as safety can be assured if out-of-home placement has occurred. Services include but are not limited to financial assistance, food, housing, health care, transportation, in-home services, community support services, and specialized services; and

(10) whether visitation occurred whenever possible in the home of the Indian child's parent, Indian custodian, or extended family member or in another noninstitutional setting in order to keep the Indian child in close contact with the Indian child's parents, siblings, and other relatives regardless of the Indian child's age and to allow the Indian child and those with whom the Indian child visits to have natural, unsupervised interaction when consistent with protecting the child's safety.

Subd. 2b.Adoptions.

For adoptions under chapter 259, the court may find that active efforts were made to prevent placement of an Indian child or to reunify the Indian child with the Indian child's parents upon a finding that: (1) subdivision 2a, paragraph (b), clauses (1) to (4), were met; (2) the Indian child's parent knowingly and voluntarily consented to placement of the Indian child for adoption on the record as described in section 260.765, subdivision 3a; (3) fraud was not present, and the Indian child's parent was not under duress; (4) the Indian child's parent was offered and declined services that would enable the Indian child's parent to maintain custody of the Indian child; and (5) the Indian child's parent was counseled on alternatives to adoption, and adoption contact agreements.

Subd. 3.

MS 2023 Supp [Repealed by amendment, 2024 c 115 art 17 s 19]

History:

2015 c 78 art 1 s 21; 2023 c 16 s 18; 2024 c 80 art 8 s 70; 2024 c 115 art 12 s 5; art 17 s 19

NOTE: Subdivision 2 was also amended by Laws 2024, chapter 115, article 12, section 5, to read as follows:

"Subd. 2.Requirements for child-placing agencies and individual petitioners.

A child-placing agency or individual petitioner shall:

(1) work with the Indian child's Tribe and family to develop an alternative plan to out-of-home placement;

(2) before making a decision that may affect an Indian child's safety and well-being or when contemplating out-of-home placement of an Indian child, seek guidance from the Indian child's Tribe on family structure, how the family can seek help, what family and Tribal resources are available, and what barriers the family faces at that time that could threaten its preservation;

(3) request participation of the Indian child's Tribe at the earliest possible time and request the Tribe's active participation throughout the case; and

(4) notify the Indian child's Tribe or Tribes by telephone and by email or facsimile immediately but no later than 24 hours after receiving information on a missing child as defined under section 260C.212, subdivision 13, paragraph (a)."

260.763 JURISDICTION AND TRANSFER TO TRIBAL COURT.

Subdivision 1.Indian Tribe jurisdiction.

(a) An Indian Tribe has exclusive jurisdiction over all child placement proceedings involving an Indian child who resides or is domiciled within the reservation of the Tribe, except where jurisdiction is otherwise vested in the state by existing federal law. The child-placing agencies and the courts shall defer to a Tribal determination of the Tribe's exclusive jurisdiction when an Indian child resides or is domiciled within the reservation of the Tribe.

(b) Where an Indian child is a ward of the Tribal court, the Indian Tribe retains exclusive jurisdiction, notwithstanding the residence or domicile of the child unless the Tribe agrees to allow concurrent jurisdiction with the state.

(c) An Indian Tribe and the state of Minnesota share concurrent jurisdiction over a child placement proceeding involving an Indian child who resides or is domiciled outside of the reservation of the Tribe, or if the Tribe agrees to concurrent jurisdiction.

Subd. 2.Effect of Tribal placement orders.

The court shall give full faith and credit to Tribal court placement orders. In any case where the Tribal court orders placement and services, including but not limited to case planning services, full faith and credit of the Tribal court's order shall be provided so long as the county of financial responsibility was provided notice and an opportunity to be heard regarding the expenses. Determination of county of financial responsibility for the placement shall be determined by the child-placing agency in accordance with section 256G.02, subdivision 4. Disputes concerning the county of financial responsibility shall be settled in the manner prescribed in section 256G.09.

Subd. 2a.Interpretation of Tribal judicial proceedings.

The court shall give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of any Indian Tribe in all proceedings under sections 260.755 to 260.835. The courts shall give deference to the Tribe's interpretation of the Tribe's own unique system of laws. If further interpretation of a Tribe's laws or order is required, the court shall transfer the proceedings to the jurisdiction of the Tribal court for interpretation of the Tribal court's order.

Subd. 3.Indian Tribe agreements.

The commissioner or the child-placing agency is hereby authorized to enter into agreements with Indian Tribes respecting care and custody of Indian children and jurisdiction over child placement proceedings, including agreements which may provide for orderly transfer of jurisdiction on a case-by-case basis and agreements which provide for concurrent jurisdiction between the state and an Indian Tribe.

Subd. 4.Transfer of proceedings.

In any child placement proceeding, upon a motion or request by the Indian child's parent, Indian custodian, or Tribe, the court, in the absence of good cause to the contrary, shall transfer the proceeding to the jurisdiction of the Tribe absent objection by either of the Indian child's parent or the Indian custodian. The motion or request to transfer may be made by the Indian child's parent, the Indian custodian, or the Indian child's Tribe at any stage in the proceedings by: (1) filing a written motion with the court and serving the motion upon the other parties; or (2) making a request on the record during the hearing, which shall be reflected in the court's findings. A request or motion to transfer made by a Tribal representative of the Indian child's Tribe under this subdivision shall not be considered the unauthorized practice of law. The transfer is subject to declination by the Tribal court of the Tribe.

Subd. 5.Good cause to deny transfer.

(a) Establishing good cause to deny transfer of jurisdiction to a Tribal court is a fact-specific inquiry to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Socioeconomic conditions and the perceived adequacy of Tribal or Bureau of Indian Affairs social services or judicial systems must not be considered in a determination that good cause exists. The party opposed to transfer of jurisdiction to a Tribal court has the burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence that good cause to deny transfer exists. Opposition to a motion to transfer jurisdiction to Tribal court must be in writing and must be served upon all parties.

(b) Upon a motion or request by an Indian child's parent, Indian custodian, or Tribe, the court shall transfer jurisdiction to a Tribal court unless the court determines that there is good cause to deny transfer based on the following:

(1) the Indian child's Tribe does not have a Tribal court or any other administrative body of a Tribe vested with authority over child placement proceedings, as defined in section 260.755, subdivision 3, to which the case can be transferred, and no other Tribal court has been designated by the Indian child's Tribe; or

(2) the evidence necessary to decide the case could not be adequately presented in the Tribal court without undue hardship to the parties or the witnesses and the Tribal court is unable to mitigate the hardship by any means permitted in the Tribal court's rules. Without evidence of undue hardship, travel distance alone is not a basis for denying a transfer.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 6; 2007 c 147 art 1 s 12; 2013 c 65 s 1; 2015 c 78 art 1 s 22,23; 2023 c 16 s 38; 2024 c 115 art 17 s 20-22

260.765 VOLUNTARY FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT.

Subdivision 1.Determination of Indian child's Tribe.

The child-placing agency shall follow the notice provisions in section 260.761.

Subd. 1a.Identification of extended family members.

Any agency considering placement of an Indian child shall make active efforts to identify and locate extended family members.

Subd. 1b.Access to files.

At any subsequent stage of a child-placing agency's involvement with an Indian child, the child-placing agency shall, upon request, give the Tribal social services agency full cooperation including access to all files concerning the child. If the files contain confidential or private data, the child-placing agency or individual may require execution of an agreement with the Tribal social services agency that the Tribal social services agency shall maintain the data according to statutory provisions applicable to the data.

Subd. 2.Notice.

When an Indian child is voluntarily placed out of the care of the Indian child's parent or Indian custodian, the child-placing agency involved in the decision to place the Indian child shall give notice as described in section 260.761 of the placement to the Indian child's parent, parents, Indian custodian, and the Tribal social services agency within seven days of placement, excluding weekends and holidays.

If a child-placing agency makes a temporary voluntary placement pending a decision on adoption by an Indian child's parent or Indian custodian, notice of the placement shall be given to the Indian child's parents, Tribal social services agency, and the Indian custodian upon the filing of a petition for termination of parental rights or three months following the temporary placement, whichever occurs first.

Subd. 3.Notice of administrative review.

In an administrative review of a voluntary foster care placement, the Tribal social services agency of the child, the Indian custodian, and the parents of the child shall have notice and a right of intervention and participation in the review.

Subd. 3a.Court requirements for consent.

Where any parent or Indian custodian voluntarily consents to a child placement or to termination of parental rights or adoption, the consent shall not be valid unless executed in writing and recorded before a judge and accompanied by the presiding judge's finding that the terms and consequences of the consent were fully explained in detail and were fully understood by the parent or Indian custodian. The court shall also find that either the parent or Indian custodian fully understood the explanation in English or that it was interpreted into a language the parent or Indian custodian understood. Any consent given prior to, or within ten days after, the birth of an Indian child shall not be valid.

Subd. 4.Withdrawal of consent to voluntary placement; return of child in voluntary placement.

Any parent or Indian custodian may withdraw consent to a child placement at any time and, upon the withdrawal of consent, the child shall be returned to the parent or the Indian custodian. Upon demand by the parent or Indian custodian of an Indian child, the child-placing agency that placed the child shall return the child in voluntary foster care placement to the parent or Indian custodian within 24 hours of the receipt of the demand. If the request for return does not satisfy the requirement of section 260.755, subdivision 5, the child-placing agency shall immediately inform the parent or Indian custodian of the Indian child of the requirement.

Subd. 4a.Withdrawal of consent to voluntary termination of parental rights or adoptive placement; return of custody.

In any voluntary proceeding for termination of parental rights to, or adoptive placement of, an Indian child, the consent of the parent may be withdrawn for any reason at any time prior to the entry of a final decree of termination or adoption, as the case may be, and the child shall be returned to the parent.

Subd. 4b.Collateral attack; vacation of decree and return of custody; limitations.

After the entry of a final decree of adoption of an Indian child in any state court, the Indian child's parent may withdraw consent upon the grounds that consent was obtained through fraud or duress and may petition the court to vacate the decree. Upon a finding that consent was obtained through fraud or duress, the court shall vacate the decree and return the Indian child to the Indian child's parent. No adoption that has been effective for at least two years may be invalidated under the provisions of this subdivision unless otherwise permitted under a provision of state law.

Subd. 5.

[Renumbered subd 1a]

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 5; 2007 c 147 art 1 s 11; 1999 c 139 art 1 s 5; 2007 c 147 art 1 s 11; 2023 c 16 s 19-26,38; 2024 c 115 art 17 s 23-25

260.771 INVOLUNTARY CHILD PLACEMENT PROCEEDINGS.

Subdivision 1.

[Renumbered 260.763, subd 1]

Subd. 1a.Active efforts.

In any child placement proceeding, the child-placing agency or petitioner shall ensure that appropriate active efforts as described in section 260.762 are provided to the Indian child's parent or parents, Indian custodian, and family to support reunification and preservation of the Indian child's placement with and relationship to the Indian child's extended family.

Subd. 1b.Placement preference.

In any child placement proceeding, the child-placing agency or petitioner shall follow the placement preferences described in section 260.773 or, where preferred placement is not available even with the provision of active efforts, shall follow section 260.773, subdivisions 12 to 15.

Subd. 1c.Identification of extended family members.

Any child-placing agency or petitioner considering placement of an Indian child shall ensure active efforts are made to identify and locate siblings and extended family members and to explore placement with extended family members and ensure the Indian child's relationship with the Indian child's extended family and Tribe.

Subd. 1d.Notice of hearings.

The notice provisions in section 260.761 apply to all involuntary child placement proceedings under this section. An Indian child ten years of age and older, the Indian child's parent or parents, the Indian custodian, and the Indian child's Tribe shall have notice of the right to participate in all hearings regarding the Indian child.

Subd. 2.Court determination of Tribal affiliation of child.

In any child placement proceeding, the court shall establish whether an Indian child is involved and the identity of the Indian child's Tribe. Sections 260.751 to 260.835 and the federal Indian Child Welfare Act are applicable without exception in any child placement proceeding involving an Indian child. Sections 260.751 to 260.835 apply to child placement proceedings involving an Indian child whether the child is in the physical or legal custody of an Indian parent or parents, Indian custodian, Indian extended family member, or other person at the commencement of the proceedings. A court shall not determine the applicability of sections 260.751 to 260.835 or the federal Indian Child Welfare Act to a child placement proceeding based upon whether an Indian child is part of an existing Indian family or based upon the level of contact a child has with the child's Indian Tribe, reservation, society, or off-reservation community.

Subd. 2a.Right of intervention.

In any state court child placement proceeding of an Indian child, the Indian child's Tribe, parent or parents, and Indian custodian shall have the right to intervene at any point in the proceeding.

Subd. 2b.Appointment of counsel.

(a) In any state court child placement proceeding, including but not limited to any proceeding where the petitioner or another party seeks to temporarily or permanently remove an Indian child from the Indian child's parent or parents or Indian custodian, the Indian child's parent or parents or Indian custodian shall have the right to be represented by an attorney. If the parent or parents or Indian custodian cannot afford an attorney and meet the requirements of section 611.17, an attorney will be appointed to represent them.

(b) In any state court child placement proceeding, any Indian child ten years of age or older shall have the right to court-appointed counsel. The court may appoint counsel for any Indian child under ten years of age in any state court child placement proceeding if the court determines that appointment is appropriate and in the best interest of the Indian child.

(c) If the court appoints counsel to represent a person pursuant to this subdivision, the court shall appoint counsel to represent the person prior to the first hearing on the petition, but may appoint counsel at any stage of the proceeding if the court deems it necessary. The court shall not appoint a public defender to represent the person unless such appointment is authorized by section 611.14.

Subd. 2c.Examination of reports or other documents.

Each party to a proceeding under this section involving an Indian child shall have the right to examine all the reports or other documents filed with the court upon which any decision with respect to the action may be based.

Subd. 2d.Tribal access to files and other documents.

At any subsequent stage of the child-placing agency or petitioner's involvement with an Indian child, the child-placing agency or petitioner shall, upon request, give the Tribal social services agency full cooperation including access to all files concerning the Indian child. If the files contain confidential or private data, the child-placing agency or petitioner may require execution of an agreement with the Tribal social services agency specifying that the Tribal social services agency shall maintain the data according to statutory provisions applicable to the data.

Subd. 2e.Participation of Indian child's Tribe in court proceedings.

(a) In any child placement proceeding that involves an Indian child, any Tribe that the Indian child may be eligible for membership in, as determined by the Tribe, is a party to the proceedings without the need to file a motion.

(b) An Indian child's Tribe, Tribal representative, or attorney representing the Tribe:

(1) may appear remotely at hearings by telephone, video conference, or other electronic medium without prior request;

(2) is not required to use the court's electronic filing and service system and may use United States mail, facsimile, or other alternative method for filing and service;

(3) may file documents with the court using an alternative method that the clerk of court shall accept and file electronically;

(4) is exempt from any filing fees required under section 357.021; and

(5) is exempt from the pro hac vice requirements of Rule 5 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice.

Subd. 3.

[Renumbered 260.763, subd 4]

Subd. 3a.

[Renumbered 260.763, subd 5]

Subd. 4.

(a) [Renumbered 260.763, subd 2]

(b) [Renumbered 260.763 subd 2a]

Subd. 5.

[Renumbered 260.763, subd 3]

Subd. 6.Qualified expert witness and evidentiary requirements.

(a) In any involuntary placement proceeding, the court must determine by clear and convincing evidence, including testimony of a qualified expert witness, that continued custody of the Indian child by the parent or Indian custodian is likely to result in serious emotional damage or serious physical damage to the Indian child.

In a termination of parental rights proceeding, the court must determine by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, including testimony of a qualified expert witness, that continued custody of the Indian child by the parent or Indian custodian is likely to result in serious emotional damage or serious physical damage to the Indian child.

In an involuntary permanent transfer of legal and physical custody, permanent custody to the agency, temporary custody to the agency, or other permanency proceeding, the court must determine by clear and convincing evidence, including testimony of a qualified expert witness, that the continued custody of the Indian child by the Indian child's parent or parents or Indian custodian is likely to result in serious emotional damage or serious physical damage to the Indian child. Qualified expert witness testimony is not required where custody is transferred to the Indian child's parent.

Testimony of a qualified expert witness shall be provided for involuntary child placement and permanency proceedings independently.

(b) The child-placing agency, petitioner, or any other party shall make diligent efforts to locate and present to the court a qualified expert witness designated by the Indian child's Tribe. The qualifications of a qualified expert witness designated by the Indian child's Tribe are not subject to a challenge in Indian child placement proceedings.

(c) If a party cannot obtain testimony from a Tribally designated qualified expert witness, the party shall submit to the court the diligent efforts made to obtain a Tribally designated qualified expert witness.

(d) If clear and convincing evidence establishes that a party's diligent efforts cannot produce testimony from a Tribally designated qualified expert witness, the party shall demonstrate to the court that a proposed qualified expert witness is, in descending order of preference:

(1) a member of the Indian child's Tribe who is recognized by the Indian child's Tribal community as knowledgeable in Tribal customs as they pertain to family organization and child-rearing practices; or

(2) an Indian person from an Indian community who has substantial experience in the delivery of child and family services to Indians and extensive knowledge of prevailing social and cultural standards and contemporary and traditional child-rearing practices of the Indian child's Tribe.

If clear and convincing evidence establishes that diligent efforts have been made to obtain a qualified expert witness who meets the criteria in clause (1) or (2), but those efforts have not been successful, a party may use an expert witness, as defined by the Minnesota Rules of Evidence, rule 702, who has substantial experience in providing services to Indian families and who has substantial knowledge of prevailing social and cultural standards and child-rearing practices within the Indian community. The court or any party may request the assistance of the Indian child's Tribe or the Bureau of Indian Affairs agency serving the Indian child's Tribe in locating persons qualified to serve as expert witnesses.

(e) The court may allow alternative methods of participation and testimony in state court proceedings by a qualified expert witness, such as participation or testimony by telephone, video conference, or other electronic medium.

Subd. 7.

[Renumbered 260.773]

Subd. 8.Guardians ad litem for Indian children.

Guardians ad litem shall be specifically trained in the provision of services to Indian children, parent or parents, and Indian custodians under relevant federal and state laws and rules of court pursuant to section 480.35, subdivision 2, clause (3).

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 6; 2007 c 147 art 1 s 12,13; 2013 c 65 s 1; 2015 c 78 art 1 s 22-25; 1999 c 139 art 1 s 6; 2007 c 147 art 1 s 12; 2015 c 71 art 1 s 24; 2023 c 16 s 27,38; 2024 c 115 art 17 s 26-32

260.773 PLACEMENT OF INDIAN CHILDREN.

Subdivision 1.Least restrictive setting.

In all proceedings where custody of the Indian child may be removed from the Indian child's parent or Indian custodian, the Indian child shall be placed in the least restrictive setting which most approximates a family and in which the Indian child's special needs, if any, may be met. The Indian child shall also be placed within reasonable proximity to the Indian child's home, taking into account any special needs of the Indian child.

Subd. 2.Tribe's order of placement recognized.

In the case of a placement under subdivision 3 or 4, if the Indian child's Tribe has established a different order of placement preference by resolution, the child-placing agency or petitioner and the court shall recognize the Indian child's Tribe's order of placement in the form provided by the Tribe.

Subd. 3.Placement preferences for temporary proceedings.

Preference shall be given, in the absence of good cause to the contrary, to a placement with:

(1) a noncustodial parent or Indian custodian;

(2) a member of the Indian child's extended family;

(3) a foster home licensed, approved, or specified by the Indian child's Tribe;

(4) an Indian foster home licensed or approved by an authorized non-Indian licensing authority; or

(5) an institution for children approved by an Indian Tribe or operated by an Indian organization which has a program suitable to meet the Indian child's needs.

Subd. 4.Placement preferences for permanent proceedings.

In any adoptive placement, transfer of custody placement, or other permanency placement of an Indian child, a preference shall be given, in the absence of good cause to the contrary, to a placement with:

(1) the Indian child's noncustodial parent or Indian custodian;

(2) a member of the Indian child's extended family;

(3) other members of the Indian child's Tribe; or

(4) other persons or entities recognized as appropriate to be a permanency resource for the Indian child, by the Indian child's parent or parents, Indian custodian, or Indian Tribe.

Subd. 5.Suitability of placement.

The child-placing agency and petitioner shall defer to the judgment of the Indian child's Tribe as to the suitability of a placement.

Subd. 6.Preference of Indian child or parent.

The court shall consider the preference of the Indian child or parent.

Subd. 7.Standards applied to preference requirements.

The standards to be applied in meeting the preference requirements of this section shall be the prevailing social and cultural standards of the Indian community in which the parent or extended family resides or with which the parent or extended family members maintain social and cultural ties.

Subd. 8.Removal of Indian child from placement.

Whenever an Indian child is removed from a foster care home or institution for the purpose of further foster care, preadoptive, or adoptive placement, the placement shall be in accordance with the placement preferences, except in the case where an Indian child is being returned to the parent or Indian custodian from whose custody the Indian child was originally removed.

Subd. 9.Record required.

A record of each such placement of an Indian child under state law shall be maintained by the county in which the placement was made and by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families evidencing the efforts to comply with the order of preference specified in this section. The record shall be made available at any time upon the request of the Secretary of the Interior or the Indian child's Tribe.

Subd. 10.Exceptions to placement preferences.

The court shall follow the placement preferences in subdivisions 1 to 9, except as follows:

(1) where a parent evidences a desire for anonymity, the child-placing agency or petitioner and the court shall give weight to the parent's desire for anonymity in applying the preferences. A parent's desire for anonymity does not excuse the application of sections 260.751 to 260.835; or

(2) where the court determines there is good cause based on:

(i) the reasonable request of the Indian child's parents, if one or both parents attest that they have reviewed the placement options that comply with the order of placement preferences;

(ii) the reasonable request of the Indian child if the Indian child is able to understand and comprehend the decision that is being made;

(iii) the testimony of a qualified expert designated by the Indian child's Tribe and, if necessary, testimony from an expert witness who meets qualifications of section 260.771, subdivision 6, paragraph (d), clause (2), that supports placement outside the order of placement preferences due to extraordinary physical or emotional needs of the Indian child that require highly specialized services; or

(iv) the testimony by the child-placing agency or petitioner that a diligent search has been conducted that did not locate any available, suitable families for the Indian child that meet the placement preference criteria.

Subd. 11.Factors considered in determining placement.

Testimony of the Indian child's bonding or attachment to a foster family alone, without the existence of at least one of the factors in subdivision 10, clause (2), shall not be considered good cause to keep an Indian child in a lower preference or nonpreference placement. Ease of visitation and facilitation of relationship with the Indian child's parents, Indian custodian, extended family, or Tribe may be considered when determining placement.

Subd. 12.Burden of establishing good cause to modify order of placement preferences.

A party who proposes that the required order of placement preferences not be followed bears the burden of establishing by clear and convincing evidence that good cause exists to modify the order of placement preferences.

Subd. 13.Court written findings.

If the court finds there is good cause to place the Indian child outside the order of placement preferences, the court must make written findings.

Subd. 14.Good cause finding; active efforts.

A good cause finding under this subdivision must consider whether active efforts were provided to extended family members who are considered the primary placement option to assist them in becoming a placement option for the Indian child as required by section 260.762.

Subd. 15.Placement outside order of placement preferences; ongoing assessment.

When an Indian child is placed outside the order of placement preferences, good cause to continue this placement must be determined at every stage of the proceedings.

History:

2015 c 78 art 1 s 25; 2023 c 16 s 27,38; 2024 c 80 art 8 s 70; 2024 c 115 art 17 s 33-39

260.774 IMPROPER REMOVAL OF CHILD, DECLINATION OF JURISDICTION, INVALIDATION, RETURN OF CUSTODY.

Subdivision 1.Improper removal.

In any proceeding where custody of the Indian child was improperly removed from the parent or Indian custodian or where the petitioner has improperly retained custody after a visit or other temporary relinquishment of custody, the court shall decline jurisdiction over the petition and shall immediately return the Indian child to the Indian child's parent or Indian custodian unless returning the Indian child to the Indian child's parent or Indian custodian would subject the Indian child to a substantial and immediate danger or threat of such danger.

Subd. 2.Invalidation.

(a) Any order for child placement, transfer of custody, termination of parental rights, or other permanent change in custody of an Indian child shall be invalidated upon a showing, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a violation of any one of the provisions in section 260.761, 260.762, 260.763, 260.765, 260.771, 260.773, or 260.7745 has occurred.

(b) The Indian child, the Indian child's parent or parents, guardian, Indian custodian, or Indian Tribe may file a petition or motion to invalidate under this subdivision.

(c) Upon a finding that a violation of one of the provisions in section 260.761, 260.762, 260.763, 260.765, 260.771, 260.773, or 260.7745 has occurred, the court shall:

(1) dismiss the petition without prejudice;

(2) return the Indian child to the care, custody, and control of the parent or parents or Indian custodian, unless the Indian child would be subjected to imminent physical damage or harm; and

(3) determine whether the Indian child's parent or Indian custodian has been assessed placement costs and order reimbursement of those costs.

(d) Upon a finding that a willful, intentional, knowing, or reckless violation of one of the provisions in section 260.761, 260.762, 260.763, 260.765, 260.771, 260.773, or 260.7745 has occurred, the court may consider whether sanctions, reasonable costs, and attorney fees should be imposed against the offending party.

Subd. 3.Return of custody following adoption.

(a) Whenever a final decree of adoption of an Indian child has been vacated, set aside, or there is a termination of the parental rights of the adoptive parents to the Indian child, a biological parent or prior Indian custodian may petition for return of custody and the court shall grant the petition unless there is a showing, in proceedings subject to the provision of sections 260.751 to 260.835, that the return of custody is not in the best interests of the Indian child.

(b) The county attorney, Indian child, Indian child's Tribe, Indian custodian, or an Indian child's parent whose parental rights were terminated under a previous order of the court may file a petition for the return of custody.

(c) A petition for return of custody may be filed in court when:

(1) the parent or Indian custodian has corrected the conditions that led to an order terminating parental rights;

(2) the parent or Indian custodian is willing and has the capability to provide day-to-day care and maintain the health, safety, and welfare of the Indian child; and

(3) the adoption has been vacated, set aside, or termination of the parental rights of the adoptive parents to the Indian child has occurred.

(d) A petition for reestablishment of the legal parent and child relationship for an Indian child who has not been adopted must meet the requirements in section 260C.329.

History:

2023 c 16 s 28,38; 2024 c 115 art 17 s 40-42

260.7745 COUNTY AND TRIBAL AGREEMENTS; MALTREATMENT ASSESSMENTS AND INVESTIGATIONS OF INDIAN CHILDREN.

A Tribe and a county may enter a written agreement transferring responsibility for the screening and initial response to a child maltreatment report regarding an Indian child residing in the county where the child's reservation is located, from the county to the Tribe. An agreement under this section shall include a provision clarifying whether the county or the Tribe is responsible for ongoing case management stemming from a child maltreatment report.

History:

1Sp 2020 c 2 art 5 s 66; 2023 c 16 s 17,29,38

260.775 PLACEMENT RECORDS.

(a) The commissioner of children, youth, and families shall publish annually an inventory of all Indian children in residential facilities. The inventory shall include, by county and statewide, information on legal status, living arrangement, age, sex, Tribe in which the Indian child is a member or eligible for membership, accumulated length of time in foster care, and other demographic information deemed appropriate concerning all Indian children in residential facilities. The report must also state the extent to which authorized child-placing agencies comply with the order of preference described in United States Code, title 25, section 1901, et seq. The commissioner shall include the information required under this paragraph in the annual report on child maltreatment and on children in placement under section 257.0725.

(b) This section expires January 1, 2032.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 7; 2022 c 98 art 14 s 28; 2024 c 80 art 8 s 70; 2024 c 115 art 17 s 43

260.781 RECORDS; INFORMATION AVAILABILITY.

Subdivision 1.Court decree information.

(a) A state court entering a final decree or order in an Indian child adoptive placement shall provide the Department of Children, Youth, and Families and the child's Tribal social services agency with a copy of the decree or order together with such other information to show:

(1) the name and Tribal affiliation of the Indian child;

(2) the names and addresses of the biological parents and Indian custodian, if any;

(3) the names and addresses of the adoptive parents; and

(4) the identity of any agency having files or information relating to the adoptive placement.

If the court records contain an affidavit of the biological or adoptive parents or Indian custodian requesting anonymity, the court shall delete the name and address of the biological or adoptive parents or Indian custodian from the information sent to the Indian child's Tribal social services agency. The court shall include the affidavit with the other information provided to the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families and the Secretary of the Interior. The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families shall and the Secretary of the Interior is requested to ensure that the confidentiality of the information is maintained and the information shall not be subject to the Freedom of Information Act, United States Code, title 5, section 552, as amended.

(b) For:

(1) disclosure of information for membership of an Indian child in the Tribe;

(2) determination of member rights or benefits; or

(3) certification of entitlement to membership upon the request of the adopted Indian child over the age of eighteen, the adoptive or foster parents of an Indian child, or an Indian Tribe,

the Secretary of the Interior is requested to disclose any other necessary information for the membership of an Indian child in the Tribe in which the Indian child may be eligible for membership or for determining any rights or benefits associated with that membership. Where the documents relating to the Indian child contain an affidavit from the biological parent or Indian custodian requesting anonymity, the Secretary of the Interior is requested to certify to the Indian child's Tribe, where the information warrants, that the Indian child's parentage and other circumstances of birth entitle the Indian child to membership under the criteria established by the Tribe.

Subd. 2.Disclosure of records.

Upon the request of an adopted Indian person over the age of 18, the adoptive or foster parents of an Indian person, or an Indian Tribal social services agency, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families shall disclose to the Indian person's Tribe information necessary for membership of an Indian person in the Tribe in which the person may be eligible for membership or for determining any rights or benefits associated with that membership. When the documents relating to the person contain an affidavit from the biological or adoptive parent or parents requesting anonymity, the department must use the procedures described in subdivision 1.

Subd. 3.Tribal affiliation information.

Upon application by an Indian individual who has reached the age of 18 and who was the subject of an adoptive placement, the court that entered the final decree shall inform the individual of the Tribal affiliation, if any, of the individual's biological parents and provide any other necessary information to protect any rights flowing from the individual's Tribal relationship.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 8; 2023 c 16 s 30; 2024 c 80 art 8 s 70; 2024 c 115 art 17 s 44

260.785 INDIAN CHILD WELFARE GRANTS.

Subdivision 1.Primary support grants.

The commissioner shall establish direct grants to Indian Tribes, Indian organizations, and Tribal social services agency programs located off-reservation that serve Indian children and their families to provide primary support for Indian child welfare programs to implement the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act.

Subd. 2.Special focus grants.

The commissioner shall establish direct grants to child-placing agencies, Tribes, Indian organizations, and other organizations for placement prevention and family reunification services for Indian children.

Subd. 3.Compliance grants.

The commissioner shall establish direct grants to an Indian child welfare defense corporation, as defined in Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 611.216, subdivision 1a, to promote statewide compliance with the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act and the Indian Child Welfare Act, United States Code, title 25, section 1901, et seq. The commissioner shall give priority consideration to applicants with demonstrated capability of providing legal advocacy services statewide.

Subd. 4.Request for proposals.

The commissioner shall request proposals for grants under subdivisions 1, 2, and 3, and specify the information and criteria required.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 9; 2016 c 158 art 1 s 150; 2023 c 16 s 31; 2024 c 115 art 17 s 45,46

260.786 CHILD WELFARE STAFF ALLOCATION FOR TRIBES.

Subdivision 1.Allocations.

The commissioner shall allocate $80,000 annually to each of Minnesota's federally recognized Tribes that, at the beginning of the fiscal year, have not joined and are not in the process of planning to join the American Indian Child welfare initiative under section 142A.03, subdivision 9. Tribes not participating in or planning to join the initiative as of July 1, 2023, are: Bois Fort Band of Chippewa, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Lower Sioux Indian Community, Prairie Island Indian Community, and Upper Sioux Indian Community.

Subd. 2.Purposes.

Money must be used to address staffing for responding to notifications under the federal Indian Child Welfare Act and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act, to the extent necessary, or to provide other child protection and child welfare services. Money must not be used to supplant current Tribal expenditures for these purposes.

Subd. 3.Reporting.

By June 1 each year, Tribes receiving this money shall provide a report to the commissioner. The report shall be written in a manner prescribed by the commissioner and must include an accounting of money spent, staff hired, job duties, and other information as required by the commissioner.

Subd. 4.Redistribution of money.

If a Tribe joins the American Indian child welfare initiative, the payment for that Tribe shall be distributed equally among the remaining Tribes receiving an allocation under this section.

History:

2023 c 70 art 14 s 7; 2024 c 80 art 1 s 96; 2024 c 115 art 17 s 47

260.791 GRANT APPLICATIONS.

A Tribe, Indian organization, or Tribal social services agency program located off-reservation may apply for primary support grants under section 260.785, subdivision 1. A child-placing agency, Tribe, Indian organization, or other social service organization may apply for special focus grants under section 260.785, subdivision 2. Civil legal service organizations eligible for grants under section 260.785, subdivision 3, may apply for grants under that section. Application may be made alone or in combination with other Tribes or Indian organizations.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 10; art 4 s 2; 2023 c 16 s 32

260.795 ELIGIBLE SERVICES.

Subdivision 1.Types of services.

(a) Eligible Indian child welfare services provided under primary support grants include:

(1) placement prevention and reunification services;

(2) family-based services;

(3) individual and family counseling;

(4) access to professional individual, group, and family counseling;

(5) crisis intervention and crisis counseling;

(6) development of foster and adoptive placement resources, including recruitment, licensing, and support;

(7) court advocacy;

(8) training and consultation to county and private social services agencies regarding the federal Indian Child Welfare Act and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act;

(9) advocacy in working with the county and private social services agencies, and activities to help provide access to agency services, including but not limited to 24-hour caretaker and homemaker services, day care, emergency shelter care up to 30 days in 12 months, access to emergency financial assistance, and arrangements to provide temporary respite care to a family for up to 72 hours consecutively or 30 days in 12 months;

(10) transportation services to the child and parents to prevent placement or reunite the family; and

(11) other activities and services approved by the commissioner that further the goals of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act, including but not limited to recruitment of Indian staff for child-placing agencies and licensed child-placing agencies. The commissioner may specify the priority of an activity and service based on its success in furthering these goals.

(b) Eligible services provided under special focus grants include:

(1) permanency planning activities that meet the special needs of Indian families;

(2) teenage pregnancy;

(3) independent living skills;

(4) family and community involvement strategies to combat child abuse and chronic neglect of children;

(5) coordinated child welfare and mental health services to Indian families;

(6) innovative approaches to assist Indian youth to establish better self-image, decrease isolation, and decrease the suicide rate;

(7) expanding or improving services by packaging and disseminating information on successful approaches or by implementing models in Indian communities relating to the development or enhancement of social structures that increase family self-reliance and links with existing community resources;

(8) family retrieval services to help adopted individuals reestablish legal affiliation with the Indian Tribe; and

(9) other activities and services approved by the commissioner that further the goals of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act. The commissioner may specify the priority of an activity and service based on its success in furthering these goals.

(c) The commissioner shall give preference to programs that use Indian staff, contract with Indian organizations or Tribes, or whose application is a joint effort between the Indian and non-Indian community to achieve the goals of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act. Programs must have input and support from the Indian community.

Subd. 2.Inappropriate expenditures.

Indian child welfare grant money must not be used for:

(1) child day care necessary solely because of employment or training for employment of a parent or other relative with whom the child is living;

(2) foster care maintenance or difficulty of care payments;

(3) residential facility payments;

(4) adoption assistance payments;

(5) public assistance payments for Minnesota family investment program assistance, supplemental aid, medical assistance, general assistance, or community health services authorized by sections 145A.01 to 145A.14; or

(6) administrative costs for income maintenance staff.

Subd. 3.Revenue enhancement.

The commissioner shall submit claims for federal reimbursement earned through the activities and services supported through Indian child welfare grants. The commissioner may set aside a portion of the federal funds earned under this subdivision to establish and support a new Indian child welfare position in the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to provide program development. The commissioner shall use any federal revenue not set aside to expand services under section 260.785. The federal revenue earned under this subdivision is available for these purposes until the funds are expended.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 11; art 4 s 2; 1999 c 159 s 108; 2016 c 158 art 2 s 112; 2023 c 16 s 33; 2024 c 80 art 8 s 70; 2024 c 115 art 17 s 48

260.805 CONTINUED LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY OF CHILD-PLACING AGENCIES.

The legal responsibility of child-placing agencies to provide Indian child welfare services continues, and existing services must not be reduced because of the availability of these funds.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 12; 2023 c 16 s 34

260.810 PAYMENTS; REQUIRED REPORTS.

Subdivision 1.Payments.

The commissioner shall make grant payments to each approved program in four quarterly installments a year. The commissioner may certify an advance payment for the first quarter of the state fiscal year. Later payments must be made upon receipt by the state of a quarterly report on finances and program activities.

Subd. 2.Quarterly report.

The commissioner shall specify requirements for reports, including quarterly fiscal reports, according to section 142A.03, subdivision 2, paragraph (o). Each quarter, an approved program receiving an Indian child welfare grant shall submit a report to the commissioner that includes:

(1) a detailed accounting of grant money expended during the preceding quarter, specifying expenditures by line item and year to date; and

(2) a description of Indian child welfare activities conducted during the preceding quarter, including the number of clients served and the type of services provided.

The quarterly reports must be submitted no later than 30 days after the end of each quarter of the state fiscal year.

Subd. 3.Final report.

A final evaluation report must be submitted by each approved program to the commissioner. It must include client outcomes, cost and effectiveness in meeting the goals of the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act and permanency planning goals. The commissioner must compile the final reports into one document and provide a copy to each Tribe.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 13; 2015 c 78 art 4 s 61; 2024 c 80 art 1 s 96; 2024 c 115 art 17 s 49

260.815 MONITORING AND EVALUATION.

The commissioner shall design and implement methods for monitoring the delivery and evaluating the effectiveness of Indian child welfare services funded through these grants.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 14

260.821 GRANT FORMULA.

Subdivision 1.Primary support grants.

(a) The amount available for grants established under section 260.785, subdivision 1, to tribes, Indian organizations, and tribal social services agency programs located off-reservation is four-fifths of the total annual appropriation for Indian child welfare grants.

(b) The commissioner shall award tribes at least 70 percent of the amount set in paragraph (a) for primary support grants. Each tribe shall be awarded a base amount of five percent of the total amount set in this paragraph. In addition, each tribe shall be allocated a proportion of the balance of the amount set in this paragraph, less the total base amounts for all reservations. This proportion must equal the ratio of the tribe's on-reservation population to the state's total on-reservation population. Population data must be based on the most recent federal census data according to the state demographer's office.

(c) The commissioner shall award Indian organizations and tribal social services agency programs located off-reservation that serve Indian children and families up to 30 percent of the amount set in paragraph (a) for primary support grants. A maximum of four multiservice Indian organizations and tribal social services agency programs located off-reservation may be awarded grants under this paragraph. "Multiservice Indian organizations" means Indian organizations recognized by the Indian community as providing a broad continuum of social, educational, or cultural services, including Indian child welfare services designed to meet the unique needs of the Indian communities in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Duluth. Grants may be awarded to programs that submit acceptable proposals, comply with the goals and the application process of the program, and have budgets that reflect appropriate and efficient use of funds. To maintain continuity of service in Indian communities, primary support grants awarded under this paragraph which meet the grant criteria and have demonstrated satisfactory performance as established by the commissioner may be awarded on a noncompetitive basis. The commissioner may revoke or deny funding for Indian organizations or tribal social services agencies failing to meet the grant criteria established by the commissioner, and the commissioner may request new proposals from Indian organizations or tribal social services agencies to the extent that funding is available.

Subd. 2.Special focus grants.

The amount available for grants established under section 260.785, subdivision 2, for child-placing agencies, Tribes, Indian organizations, and other social services organizations is one-fifth of the total annual appropriation for Indian child welfare grants. The maximum award under this subdivision is $100,000 a year for programs approved by the commissioner.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 15; 2023 c 16 s 35

260.831 UNDISTRIBUTED FUNDS.

Undistributed funds must be reallocated by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to any other grant categories established under section 260.785, subdivision 1 or 2, for the goals of this grant process. Undistributed funds are available until expended.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 16; 2024 c 80 art 8 s 70

260.835 AMERICAN INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ADVISORY COUNCIL.

Subdivision 1.Creation.

The commissioner shall appoint an American Indian Advisory Council to help formulate policies and procedures relating to Indian child welfare services and to make recommendations regarding approval of grants provided under section 260.785, subdivisions 1, 2, and 3. The council shall consist of 17 members appointed by the commissioner and must include representatives of each of the 11 Minnesota reservations who are authorized by tribal resolution, one representative from the Duluth Urban Indian Community, three representatives from the Minneapolis Urban Indian Community, and two representatives from the St. Paul Urban Indian Community. Representatives from the urban Indian communities must be selected through an open appointments process under section 15.0597. The terms, compensation, and removal of American Indian Child Welfare Advisory Council members shall be as provided in section 15.059.

Subd. 2.

MS 2022 [Repealed, 2023 c 50 art 1 s 38]

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 17; 1Sp2005 c 4 art 3 s 17; 2008 c 361 art 6 s 22; 2012 c 271 s 4; 2013 c 142 art 2 s 5; 2014 c 286 art 7 s 12; art 8 s 39; 2014 c 291 art 3 s 8; 2018 c 164 s 4; 2023 c 16 s 36; 2024 c 85 s 115

260.836 SEVERABILITY.

If any provision in sections 260.751 to 260.835 is held invalid or contrary to the Constitution of the United States or the Minnesota Constitution or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of the provisions in sections 260.751 to 260.835 and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.

History:

2023 c 16 s 37

INTERSTATE COMPACT

260.851 INTERSTATE COMPACT ON THE PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN.

The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children is hereby enacted into law and entered into with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein in form substantially as follows:

ARTICLE 1

PURPOSE AND POLICY

It is the purpose and policy of the party states to cooperate with each other in the interstate placement of children to the end that:

(a) Each child requiring placement shall receive the maximum opportunity to be placed in a suitable environment and with persons or institutions having appropriate qualifications and facilities to provide a necessary and desirable degree and type of care.

(b) The appropriate authorities in a state where a child is to be placed may have full opportunity to ascertain the circumstances of the proposed placement, thereby promoting full compliance with applicable requirements for the protection of the child.

(c) The proper authorities of the state from which the placement is made may obtain the most complete information on the basis on which to evaluate a projected placement before it is made.

(d) Appropriate jurisdictional arrangements for the care of children will be promoted.

ARTICLE 2

DEFINITIONS

As used in this compact:

(a) "Child" means a person who, by reason of minority, is legally subject to parental, guardianship or similar control.

(b) "Sending agency" means a party state, officer or employee thereof; a subdivision of a party state, or officer or employee thereof; a court of a party state; a person, corporation, association, charitable agency or other entity which sends, brings, or causes to be sent or brought any child to another party state.

(c) "Receiving state" means the state to which a child is sent, brought, or caused to be sent or brought, whether by public authorities or private persons or agencies, and whether for placement with state or local public authorities or for placement with private agencies or persons.

(d) "Placement" means the arrangement for the care of a child in a family free or boarding home or in a child-caring agency or institution but does not include any institution caring for the mentally ill, mentally defective or persons having epilepsy or any institution primarily educational in character, and any hospital or other medical facility.

ARTICLE 3

CONDITIONS FOR PLACEMENT

(a) No sending agency shall send, bring, or cause to be sent or brought into any other party state any child for placement in foster care or as a preliminary to a possible adoption unless the sending agency shall comply with each and every requirement set forth in this article and with the applicable laws of the receiving state governing the placement of children therein.

(b) Prior to sending, bringing or causing any child to be sent or brought into a receiving state for placement in foster care or as a preliminary to a possible adoption, the sending agency shall furnish the appropriate public authorities in the receiving state written notice of the intention to send, bring, or place the child in the receiving state. The notice shall contain:

(1) The name, date and place of birth of the child.

(2) The identity and address or addresses of the parents or legal guardian.

(3) The name and address of the person, agency or institution to or with which the sending agency proposes to send, bring, or place the child.

(4) A full statement of the reasons for such proposed action and evidence of the authority pursuant to which the placement is proposed to be made.

(c) Any public officer or agency in a receiving state which is in receipt of a notice pursuant to paragraph (b) of this article may request of the sending agency, or any other appropriate officer or agency of or in the sending agency's state, and shall be entitled to receive therefrom, such supporting or additional information as it may deem necessary under the circumstances to carry out the purpose and policy of this compact.

(d) The child shall not be sent, brought, or caused to be sent or brought into the receiving state until the appropriate public authorities in the receiving state shall notify the sending agency, in writing, to the effect that the proposed placement does not appear to be contrary to the interests of the child.

ARTICLE 4

PENALTY FOR ILLEGAL PLACEMENT

The sending, bringing, or causing to be sent or brought into any receiving state of a child in violation of the terms of this compact shall constitute a violation of the laws respecting the placement of children of both the state in which the sending agency is located or from which it sends or brings the child and of the receiving state. Such violation may be punished or subjected to penalty in either jurisdiction in accordance with its laws. In addition to liability for any such punishment or penalty, any such violation shall constitute full and sufficient grounds for the suspension or revocation of any license, permit, or other legal authorization held by the sending agency which empowers or allows it to place, or care for children.

ARTICLE 5

RETENTION OF JURISDICTION

(a) The sending agency shall retain jurisdiction over the child sufficient to determine all matters in relation to the custody, supervision, care, treatment and disposition of the child which it would have had if the child had remained in the sending agency's state, until the child is adopted, reaches majority, becomes self-supporting or is discharged with the concurrence of the appropriate authority in the receiving state. Such jurisdiction shall also include the power to effect or cause the return of the child or its transfer to another location and custody pursuant to law. The sending agency shall continue to have financial responsibility for support and maintenance of the child during the period of the placement. Nothing contained herein shall defeat a claim of jurisdiction by a receiving state sufficient to deal with an act of delinquency or crime committed therein.

(b) When the sending agency is a public agency, it may enter into an agreement with an authorized public or private agency in the receiving state providing for the performance of one or more services in respect of such case by the latter as agent for the sending agency.

(c) Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prevent a private charitable agency authorized to place children in the receiving state from performing services or acting as agent in that state for a private charitable agency of the sending state; nor to prevent the agency in the receiving state from discharging financial responsibility for the support and maintenance of a child who has been placed on behalf of the sending agency without relieving the responsibility set forth in paragraph (a) hereof.

ARTICLE 6

INSTITUTIONAL CARE OF DELINQUENT CHILDREN

A child adjudicated delinquent may be placed in an institution in another party jurisdiction pursuant to this compact but no such placement shall be made unless the child is given a court hearing on notice to the parent or guardian with opportunity to be heard, prior to his being sent to such other party jurisdiction for institutional care and the court finds that:

1. Equivalent facilities for the child are not available in the sending agency's jurisdiction; and

2. Institutional care in the other jurisdiction is in the best interest of the child and will not produce undue hardship.

ARTICLE 7

COMPACT ADMINISTRATOR

The executive head of each jurisdiction party to this compact shall designate an officer who shall be general coordinator of activities under this compact in his jurisdiction and who, acting jointly with like officers of other party jurisdictions, shall have power to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out more effectively the terms and provisions of this compact.

ARTICLE 8

LIMITATIONS

This compact shall not apply to:

(a) The sending or bringing of a child into a receiving state by his parent, stepparent, grandparent, adult brother or sister, adult uncle or aunt, or his guardian and leaving the child with any such relative or nonagency guardian in the receiving state.

(b) Any placement, sending or bringing of a child into a receiving state pursuant to any other interstate compact to which both the state from which the child is sent or brought and the receiving state are party, or to any other agreement between said states which has the force of law.

ARTICLE 9

ENACTMENT AND WITHDRAWAL

This compact shall be open to joinder by any state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and, with the consent of Congress, the Government of Canada or any province thereof. It shall become effective with respect to any such jurisdiction when such jurisdiction has enacted the same into law. Withdrawal from this compact shall be by the enactment of a statute repealing the same, but shall not take effect until two years after the effective date of such statute and until written notice of the withdrawal has been given by the withdrawing state to the Governor of each other party jurisdiction. Withdrawal of a party state shall not affect the rights, duties and obligations under this compact of any sending agency therein with respect to a placement made prior to the effective date of withdrawal.

ARTICLE 10

CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY

The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any party state or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state party thereto, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining states and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 18

NOTE: This section is repealed by Laws 2008, chapter 361, article 6, section 59, effective upon legislative enactment of the interstate compact in section 260.93 by no fewer than 35 states.

260.852 [Renumbered 260.92]

260.853 [Renumbered 260.93]

260.855 FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

Financial responsibility for any child placed pursuant to the provisions of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of article 5 thereof in the first instance. However, in the event of partial or complete default of performance thereunder, the provisions of sections 518C.101 to 518C.902 also may be invoked.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 19

260.861 APPROPRIATE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES DEFINED.

The "appropriate public authorities" as used in article 3 of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children shall, with reference to this state, mean the commissioner of children, youth, and families. The commissioner of children, youth, and families or the commissioner's delegate shall receive and act with reference to notices required by said article 3.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 20; 2024 c 80 art 8 s 70

260.865 APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY IN RECEIVING STATE DEFINED.

As used in paragraph (a) of article 5 of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, the phrase "appropriate authority in the receiving state" with reference to this state shall mean the commissioner of children, youth, and families or the commissioner's delegate.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 21; 2024 c 80 art 8 s 70

260.871 AGREEMENTS.

The officers and agencies of this state and its subdivisions having authority to place children are hereby empowered to enter into agreements with appropriate officers or agencies of or in other party states pursuant to paragraph (b) of article 5 of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. Any such agreement which contains a financial commitment or imposes a financial obligation on this state or subdivision or agency thereof shall not be binding unless it has the approval in writing of the commissioner of children, youth, and families in the case of the state and of the chief local fiscal officer in the case of a subdivision of the state.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 22; 2024 c 80 art 8 s 70

260.875 REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITATION; SUPERVISION.

Any requirements for visitation, inspection or supervision of children, homes, institutions or other agencies in another party state which may apply under section 260C.212 shall be deemed to be met if performed pursuant to an agreement entered into by appropriate officers or agencies of this state or a subdivision thereof as contemplated by paragraph (b) of article 5 of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 23

260.881 CERTAIN LAWS NOT APPLICABLE.

The provisions of section 257.06 shall not apply to placements made pursuant to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 24

260.885 COURT JURISDICTION RETAINED.

Any court having jurisdiction to place delinquent children may place such a child in an institution or in another state pursuant to article 6 of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and shall retain jurisdiction as provided in article 5 thereof.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 25

260.91 EXECUTIVE HEAD DEFINED.

As used in article 7 of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, the term "executive head" means the governor. The governor is hereby authorized to appoint a compact administrator in accordance with the terms of said article 7.

History:

1999 c 139 art 1 s 26

260.92 PLACEMENT PROCEDURES.

Subdivision 1.Home study.

The state must have procedures for the orderly and timely interstate placement of children that are implemented in accordance with an interstate compact. Within 60 days after the state receives from another state a request to conduct a study of a home environment for purposes of assessing the safety and suitability of placing a child in the home, the state shall, directly or by contract, conduct and complete a home study and return to the other state a report on the results of the study, which shall address the extent to which placement in the home would meet the needs of the child. If the state fails to comply with conducting and completing the home study within the 60-day period and this is as a result of circumstances beyond the control of the state, the state has 75 days to comply if the state documents the circumstances involved and certifies that completing the home study is in the best interests of the child.

This subdivision does not require the completion within the applicable period of the parts of the home study involving the education and training of the prospective foster or adoptive parents.

Subd. 2.Effect of received report.

The state shall treat any report described in subdivision 1 that is received from another state, an Indian tribe, or a private agency under contract with another state or Indian tribe as meeting any requirements imposed by the state for the completion of a home study before placing a child in the home, unless, within 14 days after receipt of the report, the state determines, based on grounds that are specific to the content of the report, that making a decision in reliance on the report would be contrary to the welfare of the child.

Subd. 3.Resources.

The state shall make effective use of cross-jurisdictional resources, including through contract for the purchase of services, and shall eliminate legal barriers to facilitate timely adoptive or permanent placements for waiting children. The state shall not impose any restriction on the use of private agencies for the purpose of conducting a home study to meet the 60-day requirement.

Subd. 4.Incentive eligibility.

Minnesota is an incentive-eligible state and must:

(1) have an approved plan as required by the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services;

(2) be in compliance with the data requirements of the United States Department of Health and Human Services; and

(3) have data that verify that a home study is completed within 30 days.

Subd. 5.Data requirements.

The state shall provide to the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services a written report, covering the preceding fiscal year, that specifies:

(1) the total number of interstate home studies requested by the state with respect to children in foster care under the responsibility of the state, and with respect to each study, the identity of the other state involved;

(2) the total number of timely interstate home studies completed by the state with respect to children in foster care under the responsibility of other states and, with respect to each study, the identity of the other state involved; and

(3) other information the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services requires in order to determine whether Minnesota is a home study incentive-eligible state.

Subd. 6.Definitions.

(a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.

(b) "Home study" means an evaluation of a home environment conducted in accordance with applicable requirements of the state in which the home is located, to determine whether a proposed placement of a child would meet the individual needs of the child, including the child's safety; permanency; health; well-being; and mental, emotional, and physical development.

(c) "Interstate home study" means a home study conducted by a state at the request of another state to facilitate an adoptive or foster placement in the state of a child in foster care under the responsibility of the state.

(d) "Timely interstate home study" means an interstate home study completed by a state if the state provides to the state that requested the study, within 30 days after receipt of the request, a report on the results of the study, except that there is no requirement for completion within the 30-day period of the parts of the home study involving the education and training of the prospective foster or adoptive parents.

Subd. 7.Background study requirements for adoption and foster care.

(a) Background study requirements for an adoption home study must be completed consistent with section 259.41, subdivisions 1, 2, and 3.

(b) Background study requirements for a foster care license must be completed consistent with section 245C.08.

Subd. 8.Home visits.

If a child has been placed in foster care outside the state in which the home of the parents of the child is located, periodically, but at least every six months, a caseworker on the staff of the agency of the state in which the home of the parents of the child is located or the state in which the child has been placed, or a private agency under contract with either state, must visit the child in the home or institution and submit a report on each visit to the agency of the state in which the home of the parents of the child is located.

History:

2007 c 147 art 1 s 14; 2024 c 80 art 8 s 23

260.925 APPLICATION OF LAWS; GENDER-AFFIRMING HEALTH CARE.

A law of another state that authorizes a state agency to remove a child from the child's parent or guardian because the parent or guardian allowed the child to receive gender-affirming health care, as defined in section 543.23, paragraph (b), is against the public policy of this state and must not be enforced or applied in a case pending in a court in this state. A court order for the removal of a child issued in another state because the child's parent or guardian assisted the child in receiving gender-affirming care in this state must not be enforced in this state.

History:

2023 c 29 s 1

INTERSTATE COMPACT FOR CHILD PLACEMENT

260.93 INTERSTATE COMPACT FOR THE PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN.

ARTICLE I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children is to:

A. Provide a process through which children subject to this compact are placed in safe and suitable homes in a timely manner.

B. Facilitate ongoing supervision of a placement, the delivery of services, and communication between the states.

C. Provide operating procedures that will ensure that children are placed in safe and suitable homes in a timely manner.

D. Provide for the promulgation and enforcement of administrative rules implementing the provisions of this compact and regulating the covered activities of the member states.

E. Provide for uniform data collection and information sharing between member states under this compact.

F. Promote coordination between this compact, the Interstate Compact for Juveniles, the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance, and other compacts affecting the placement of and which provide services to children otherwise subject to this compact.

G. Provide for a state's continuing legal jurisdiction and responsibility for placement and care of a child that it would have had if the placement were intrastate.

H. Provide for the promulgation of guidelines, in collaboration with Indian tribes, for interstate cases involving Indian children as is or may be permitted by federal law.

ARTICLE II. DEFINITIONS

As used in this compact,

A. "Approved placement" means the public child-placing agency in the receiving state has determined that the placement is both safe and suitable for the child.

B. "Assessment" means an evaluation of a prospective placement by a public child-placing agency to determine whether the placement meets the individualized needs of the child, including but not limited to the child's safety and stability, health and well-being, and mental, emotional, and physical development. An assessment is only applicable to a placement by a public child-placing agency.

C. "Child" means an individual who has not attained the age of eighteen (18).

D. "Certification" means attesting, declaring, or swearing before a judge or notary public.

E. "Default" means the failure of a member state to perform the obligations or responsibilities imposed upon it by this compact, the bylaws or rules of the Interstate Commission.

F. "Home study" means an evaluation of a home environment conducted according to the applicable requirements of the state in which the home is located, and documents the preparation and the suitability of the placement resource for placement of a child according to the laws and requirements of the state in which the home is located.

G. "Indian tribe" means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community of Indians recognized as eligible for services provided to Indians by the Secretary of the Interior because of their status as Indians, including any Alaskan native village as defined in section 3(c) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act at United States Code, title 43, chapter 33, section 1602(c).

H. "Interstate Commission for the Placement of Children" means the commission that is created under Article VIII of this compact and which is generally referred to as the Interstate Commission.

I. "Jurisdiction" means the power and authority of a court to hear and decide matters.

J. "Legal risk placement" ("Legal risk adoption") means a placement made preliminary to an adoption where the prospective adoptive parents acknowledge in writing that a child can be ordered returned to the sending state or the birth mother's state of residence, if different from the sending state and a final decree of adoption shall not be entered in any jurisdiction until all required consents are obtained or are dispensed with according to applicable law.

K. "Member state" means a state that has enacted this compact.

L. "Noncustodial parent" means a person who, at the time of the commencement of court proceedings in the sending state, does not have sole legal custody of the child or has joint legal custody of a child, and who is not the subject of allegations or findings of child abuse or neglect.

M. "Nonmember state" means a state which has not enacted this compact.

N. "Notice of residential placement" means information regarding a placement into a residential facility provided to the receiving state including, but not limited to the name, date and place of birth of the child, the identity and address of the parent or legal guardian, evidence of authority to make the placement, and the name and address of the facility in which the child will be placed. Notice of residential placement shall also include information regarding a discharge and any unauthorized absence from the facility.

O. "Placement" means the act by a public or private child-placing agency intended to arrange for the care or custody of a child in another state.

P. "Private child-placing agency" means any private corporation, agency, foundation, institution, or charitable organization, or any private person or attorney that facilitates, causes, or is involved in the placement of a child from one state to another and that is not an instrumentality of the state or acting under color of state law.

Q. "Provisional placement" means a determination made by the public child-placing agency in the receiving state that the proposed placement is safe and suitable, and, to the extent allowable, the receiving state has temporarily waived its standards or requirements otherwise applicable to prospective foster or adoptive parents so as to not delay the placement. Completion of an assessment and the receiving state requirements regarding training for prospective foster or adoptive parents shall not delay an otherwise safe and suitable placement.

R. "Public child-placing agency" means any government child welfare agency or child protection agency or a private entity under contract with such an agency, regardless of whether they act on behalf of a state, county, municipality, or other governmental unit and which facilitates, causes, or is involved in the placement of a child from one state to another.

S. "Receiving state" means the state to which a child is sent, brought, or caused to be sent or brought.

T. "Relative" means someone who is related to the child as a parent, stepparent, sibling by half or whole blood or by adoption, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or first cousin or a nonrelative with such significant ties to the child that they may be regarded as relatives as determined by the court in the sending state.

U. "Residential facility" means a facility providing a level of care that is sufficient to substitute for parental responsibility or foster care, and is beyond what is needed for assessment or treatment of an acute condition. For purposes of the compact, residential facilities do not include institutions primarily educational in character, hospitals, or other medical facilities.

V. "Rule" means a written directive, mandate, standard, or principle issued by the Interstate Commission promulgated pursuant to Article XI of this compact that is of general applicability and that implements, interprets, or prescribes a policy or provision of the compact. Rule has the force and effect of an administrative rule in a member state, and includes the amendment, repeal, or suspension of an existing rule.

W. "Sending state" means the state from which the placement of a child is initiated.

X. "Service member's permanent duty station" means the military installation where an active duty Armed Services member is currently assigned and is physically located under competent orders that do not specify the duty as temporary.

Y. "Service member's state of legal residence" means the state in which the active duty Armed Services member is considered a resident for tax and voting purposes.

Z. "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas Islands, and any other territory of the United States.

AA. "State court" means a judicial body of a state that is vested by law with responsibility for adjudicating cases involving abuse, neglect, deprivation, delinquency, or status offenses of individuals who have not attained the age of eighteen (18).

BB. "Supervision" means monitoring provided by the receiving state once a child has been placed in a receiving state pursuant to this compact.

ARTICLE III. APPLICABILITY

A. Except as otherwise provided in Article III, Section B, this compact shall apply to:

1. The interstate placement of a child subject to ongoing court jurisdiction in the sending state, due to allegations or findings that the child has been abused, neglected, or deprived as defined by the laws of the sending state, provided, however, that the placement of such a child into a residential facility shall only require notice of residential placement to the receiving state prior to placement.

2. The interstate placement of a child adjudicated delinquent or unmanageable based on the laws of the sending state and subject to ongoing court jurisdiction of the sending state if:

a. the child is being placed in a residential facility in another member state and is not covered under another compact; or

b. the child is being placed in another member state and the determination of safety and suitability of the placement and services required is not provided through another compact.

3. The interstate placement of any child by a public child-placing agency or private child-placing agency as defined in this compact as a preliminary step to a possible adoption.

B. The provisions of this compact shall not apply to:

1. The interstate placement of a child in a custody proceeding in which a public child-placing agency is not a party, provided the placement is not intended to effectuate an adoption.

2. The interstate placement of a child with a nonrelative in a receiving state by a parent with the legal authority to make such a placement provided, however, that the placement is not intended to effectuate an adoption.

3. The interstate placement of a child by one relative with the lawful authority to make such a placement directly with a relative in a receiving state.

4. The placement of a child, not subject to Article III, Section A, into a residential facility by the child's parent.

5. The placement of a child with a noncustodial parent provided that:

a. The noncustodial parent proves to the satisfaction of a court in the sending state a substantial relationship with the child;

b. The court in the sending state makes a written finding that placement with the noncustodial parent is in the best interests of the child; and

c. The court in the sending state dismisses its jurisdiction in interstate placements in which the public child-placing agency is a party to the proceedings.

6. A child entering the United States from a foreign country for the purpose of adoption or leaving the United States to go to a foreign country for the purpose of adoption in that country.

7. Cases in which a U.S. citizen child living overseas with the child's family, at least one of whom is in the United States armed services, and who is stationed overseas, is removed and placed in a state.

8. The sending of a child by a public child-placing agency or a private child-placing agency for a visit as defined by the rules of the Interstate Commission.

C. For purposes of determining the applicability of this compact to the placement of a child with a family in the armed services, the public child-placing agency or private child-placing agency may choose the state of the service member's permanent duty station or the service member's declared legal residence.

D. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prohibit the concurrent application of the provisions of this compact with other applicable interstate compacts including the Interstate Compact for Juveniles and the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance. The Interstate Commission may in cooperation with other interstate compact commissions having responsibility for the interstate movement, placement, or transfer of children, promulgate like rules to ensure the coordination of services, timely placement of children, and the reduction of unnecessary or duplicative administrative or procedural requirements.

ARTICLE IV. JURISDICTION

A. Except as provided in article IV, section H and article V, section B, paragraphs 2 and 3, concerning private and independent adoptions and in interstate placements in which the public child-placing agency is not a party to a custody proceeding, the sending state shall retain jurisdiction over a child with respect to all matters of custody and disposition of the child which it would have had if the child had remained in the sending state. Such jurisdiction shall also include the power to order the return of the child to the sending state.

B. When an issue of child protection or custody is brought before a court in the receiving state, such court shall confer with the court of the sending state to determine the most appropriate forum for adjudication.

C. In cases that are before courts and subject to this compact, the taking of testimony for hearings before any judicial officer may occur in person or by telephone; by audio-video conference; or by other means as approved by the rules of the Interstate Commission. Judicial officers may communicate with other judicial officers and persons involved in the interstate process as may be permitted by their Canons of Judicial Conduct and any rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission.

D. In accordance with its own laws, the court in the sending state shall have authority to terminate its jurisdiction if:

1. The child is reunified with the parent in the receiving state who is the subject of allegations or findings of abuse or neglect, only with the concurrence of the public child-placing agency in the receiving state; or

2. The child is adopted;

3. The child reaches the age of majority under the laws of the sending state; or

4. The child achieves legal independence pursuant to the laws of the sending state; or

5. A guardianship is created by a court in the receiving state with the concurrence of the court in the sending state; or

6. An Indian tribe has petitioned for and received jurisdiction from the court in the sending state; or

7. The public child-placing agency of the sending state requests termination and has obtained the concurrence of the public child-placing agency in the receiving state.

E. When a sending state court terminates its jurisdiction, the receiving state child-placing agency shall be notified.

F. Nothing in this article shall defeat a claim of jurisdiction by a receiving state court sufficient to deal with an act of truancy, delinquency, crime, or behavior involving a child as defined by the laws of the receiving state committed by the child in the receiving state which would be a violation of its laws.

G. Nothing in this article shall limit the receiving state's ability to take emergency jurisdiction for the protection of the child.

H. The substantive laws of the state in which an adoption will be finalized shall solely govern all issues relating to the adoption of the child and the court in which the adoption proceeding is filed shall have subject matter jurisdiction regarding all substantive issues relating to the adoption, except:

1. when the child is a ward of another court that established jurisdiction over the child prior to the placement;

2. when the child is in the legal custody of a public agency in the sending state; or

3. when the court in the sending state has otherwise appropriately assumed jurisdiction over the child, prior to the submission of the request for approval of placement.

ARTICLE V. PLACEMENT EVALUATION

A. Prior to sending, bringing, or causing a child to be sent or brought into a receiving state, the public child-placing agency shall provide a written request for assessment to the receiving state.

B. For placements by a private child-placing agency, a child may be sent or brought, or caused to be sent or brought, into a receiving state, upon receipt and immediate review of the required content in a request for approval of a placement in both the sending and receiving state's public child-placing agency. The required content to accompany a request for provisional approval shall include all of the following:

1. A request for approval identifying the child, birth parents, the prospective adoptive parents, and the supervising agency, signed by the person requesting approval; and

2. The appropriate consents or relinquishments signed by the birthparents in accordance with the laws of the sending state or, where permitted, the laws of the state where the adoption will be finalized; and

3. Certification by a licensed attorney or other authorized agent of a private adoption agency that the consent or relinquishment is in compliance with the applicable laws of the sending state, or where permitted the laws of the state where finalization of the adoption will occur; and

4. A home study; and

5. An acknowledgment of legal risk signed by the prospective adoptive parents.

C. The sending state and the receiving state may request additional information or documents prior to finalization of an approved placement, but they may not delay travel by the prospective adoptive parents with the child if the required content for approval has been submitted, received, and reviewed by the public child-placing agency in both the sending state and the receiving state.

D. Approval from the public child-placing agency in the receiving state for a provisional or approved placement is required as provided for in the rules of the Interstate Commission.

E. The procedures for making, and the request for an assessment, shall contain all information and be in such form as provided for in the rules of the Interstate Commission.

F. Upon receipt of a request from the public child-placing agency of the sending state, the receiving state shall initiate an assessment of the proposed placement to determine its safety and suitability. If the proposed placement is a placement with a relative, the public child-placing agency of the sending state may request a determination for a provisional placement.

G. The public child-placing agency in the receiving state may request from the public child-placing agency or the private child-placing agency in the sending state, and shall be entitled to receive supporting or additional information necessary to complete the assessment.

ARTICLE VI. PLACEMENT AUTHORITY

A. Except as otherwise provided in this compact, no child subject to this compact shall be placed into a receiving state until approval for such placement is obtained.

B. If the public child-placing agency in the receiving state does not approve the proposed placement then the child shall not be placed. The receiving state shall provide written documentation of any such determination in accordance with the rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission. Such determination is not subject to judicial review in the sending state.

C. If the proposed placement is not approved, any interested party shall have standing to seek an administrative review of the receiving state's determination.

1. The administrative review and any further judicial review associated with the determination shall be conducted in the receiving state pursuant to its applicable Administrative Procedure Act.

2. If a determination not to approve the placement of the child in the receiving state is overturned upon review, the placement shall be deemed approved, provided however that all administrative or judicial remedies have been exhausted or the time for such remedies has passed.

ARTICLE VII. PLACING AGENCY RESPONSIBILITY

A. For the interstate placement of a child made by a public child-placing agency or state court:

1. The public child-placing agency in the sending state shall have financial responsibility for:

a. the ongoing support and maintenance for the child during the period of the placement, unless otherwise provided for in the receiving state; and

b. as determined by the public child-placing agency in the sending state, services for the child beyond the public services for which the child is eligible in the receiving state.

2. The receiving state shall only have financial responsibility for:

a. any assessment conducted by the receiving state; and

b. supervision conducted by the receiving state at the level necessary to support the placement as agreed upon by the public child-placing agencies of the receiving and sending state.

3. Nothing in this provision shall prohibit public child-placing agencies in the sending state from entering into agreements with licensed agencies or persons in the receiving state to conduct assessments and provide supervision.

B. For the placement of a child by a private child-placing agency preliminary to a possible adoption, the private child-placing agency shall be:

1. Legally responsible for the child during the period of placement as provided for in the law of the sending state until the finalization of the adoption.

2. Financially responsible for the child absent a contractual agreement to the contrary.

C. The public child-placing agency in the receiving state shall provide timely assessments, as provided for in the rules of the Interstate Commission.

D. The public child-placing agency in the receiving state shall provide, or arrange for the provision of, supervision and services for the child, including timely reports, during the period of the placement.

E. Nothing in this compact shall be construed as to limit the authority of the public child-placing agency in the receiving state from contracting with a licensed agency or person in the receiving state for an assessment or the provision of supervision or services for the child or otherwise authorizing the provision of supervision or services by a licensed agency during the period of placement.

F. Each member state shall provide for coordination among its branches of government concerning the state's participation in, and compliance with, the compact and Interstate Commission activities, through the creation of an advisory council or use of an existing body or board.

G. Each member state shall establish a central state compact office, which shall be responsible for state compliance with the compact and the rules of the Interstate Commission.

H. The public child-placing agency in the sending state shall oversee compliance with the provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act (United States Code, title 25, chapter 21, section 1901 et seq.) for placements subject to the provisions of this compact, prior to placement.

I. With the consent of the Interstate Commission, states may enter into limited agreements that facilitate the timely assessment and provision of services and supervision of placements under this compact.

ARTICLE VIII. INTERSTATE COMMISSION FOR THE

PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN

The member states hereby establish, by way of this compact, a commission known as the "Interstate Commission for the Placement of Children." The activities of the Interstate Commission are the formation of public policy and are a discretionary state function. The Interstate Commission shall:

A. Be a joint commission of the member states and shall have the responsibilities, powers and duties set forth herein, and such additional powers as may be conferred upon it by subsequent concurrent action of the respective legislatures of the member states.

B. Consist of one commissioner from each member state who shall be appointed by the executive head of the state human services administration with ultimate responsibility for the child welfare program. The appointed commissioner shall have the legal authority to vote on policy-related matters governed by this compact binding the state.

1. Each member state represented at a meeting of the Interstate Commission is entitled to one vote.

2. A majority of the member states shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, unless a larger quorum is required by the bylaws of the Interstate Commission.

3. A representative shall not delegate a vote to another member state.

4. A representative may delegate voting authority to another person from their state for a specified meeting.

C. In addition to the commissioners of each member state, the Interstate Commission shall include persons who are members of interested organizations as defined in the bylaws or rules of the Interstate Commission. Such members shall be ex officio and shall not be entitled to vote on any matter before the Interstate Commission.

D. Establish an executive committee which shall have the authority to administer the day-to-day operations and administration of the Interstate Commission. It shall not have the power to engage in rulemaking.

ARTICLE IX. POWERS AND DUTIES OF

THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION

The Interstate Commission shall have the following powers:

A. To promulgate rules and take all necessary actions to effect the goals, purposes and obligations as enumerated in this compact.

B. To provide for dispute resolution among member states.

C. To issue, upon request of a member state, advisory opinions concerning the meaning or interpretation of the interstate compact, its bylaws, rules or actions.

D. To enforce compliance with this compact or the bylaws or rules of the Interstate Commission pursuant to Article XII.

E. Collect standardized data concerning the interstate placement of children subject to this compact as directed through its rules which shall specify the data to be collected, the means of collection and data exchange and reporting requirements.

F. To establish and maintain offices as may be necessary for the transacting of its business.

G. To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds.

H. To hire or contract for services of personnel or consultants as necessary to carry out its functions under the compact and establish personnel qualification policies, and rates of compensation.

I. To establish and appoint committees and officers including, but not limited to, an executive committee as required by Article X.

J. To accept any and all donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services, and to receive, utilize, and dispose thereof.

K. To lease, purchase, accept contributions or donations of, or otherwise to own, hold, improve, or use any property, real, personal, or mixed.

L. To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon, or otherwise dispose of any property, real, personal, or mixed.

M. To establish a budget and make expenditures.

N. To adopt a seal and bylaws governing the management and operation of the Interstate Commission.

O. To report annually to the legislatures, governors, the judiciary, and state advisory councils of the member states concerning the activities of the Interstate Commission during the preceding year. Such reports shall also include any recommendations that may have been adopted by the Interstate Commission.

P. To coordinate and provide education, training, and public awareness regarding the interstate movement of children for officials involved in such activity.

Q. To maintain books and records in accordance with the bylaws of the Interstate Commission.

R. To perform such functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this compact.

ARTICLE X. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION

A. Bylaws

1. Within 12 months after the first Interstate Commission meeting, the Interstate Commission shall adopt bylaws to govern its conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the compact.

2. The Interstate Commission's bylaws and rules shall establish conditions and procedures under which the Interstate Commission shall make its information and official records available to the public for inspection or copying. The Interstate Commission may exempt from disclosure information or official records to the extent they would adversely affect personal privacy rights or proprietary interests.

B. Meetings

1. The Interstate Commission shall meet at least once each calendar year. The chairperson may call additional meetings and, upon the request of a simple majority of the member states shall call additional meetings.

2. Public notice shall be given by the Interstate Commission of all meetings and all meetings shall be open to the public, except as set forth in the rules or as otherwise provided in the compact. The Interstate Commission and its committees may close a meeting, or portion thereof, where it determines by two-thirds vote that an open meeting would be likely to:

a. relate solely to the Interstate Commission's internal personnel practices and procedures; or

b. disclose matters specifically exempted from disclosure by federal law; or

c. disclose financial or commercial information which is privileged, proprietary or confidential in nature; or

d. involve accusing a person of a crime, or formally censuring a person; or

e. disclose information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy or physically endanger one or more persons; or

f. disclose investigative records compiled for law enforcement purposes; or

g. specifically relate to the Interstate Commission's participation in a civil action or other legal proceeding.

3. For a meeting, or portion of a meeting, closed pursuant to this provision, the Interstate Commission's legal counsel or designee shall certify that the meeting may be closed and shall reference each relevant exemption provision. The Interstate Commission shall keep minutes which shall fully and clearly describe all matters discussed in a meeting and shall provide a full and accurate summary of actions taken, and the reasons therefore, including a description of the views expressed and the record of a roll call vote. All documents considered in connection with an action shall be identified in such minutes. All minutes and documents of a closed meeting shall remain under seal, subject to release by a majority vote of the Interstate Commission or by court order.

4. The bylaws may provide for meetings of the Interstate Commission to be conducted by telecommunication or other electronic communication.

C. Officers and Staff

1. The Interstate Commission may, through its executive committee, appoint or retain a staff director for such period, upon such terms and conditions and for such compensation as the Interstate Commission may deem appropriate. The staff director shall serve as secretary to the Interstate Commission, but shall not have a vote. The staff director may hire and supervise such other staff as may be authorized by the Interstate Commission.

2. The Interstate Commission shall elect, from among its members, a chairperson and a vice chairperson of the executive committee and other necessary officers, each of whom shall have such authority and duties as may be specified in the bylaws.

D. Qualified Immunity, Defense and Indemnification

1. The Interstate Commission's staff director and its employees shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for a claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused or arising out of or relating to an actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; provided, that such person shall not be protected from suit or liability for damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by a criminal act or the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of such person.

a. The liability of the Interstate Commission's staff director and employees or Interstate Commission representatives, acting within the scope of such person's employment or duties for acts, errors, or omissions occurring within such person's state may not exceed the limits of liability set forth under the Constitution and laws of that state for state officials, employees, and agents. The Interstate Commission is considered to be an instrumentality of the states for the purposes of any such action. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to protect such person from suit or liability for damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by a criminal act or the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of such person.

b. The Interstate Commission shall defend the staff director and its employees and, subject to the approval of the Attorney General or other appropriate legal counsel of the member state shall defend the commissioner of a member state in a civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of an actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that the defendant had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the part of such person.

c. To the extent not covered by the state involved, member state, or the Interstate Commission, the representatives or employees of the Interstate Commission shall be held harmless in the amount of a settlement or judgment, including attorney's fees and costs, obtained against such persons arising out of an actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that such persons had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the part of such persons.

ARTICLE XI. RULEMAKING FUNCTIONS OF

THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION

A. The Interstate Commission shall promulgate and publish rules in order to effectively and efficiently achieve the purposes of the compact.

B. Rulemaking shall occur pursuant to the criteria set forth in this article and the bylaws and rules adopted pursuant thereto. Such rulemaking shall substantially conform to the principles of the "Model State Administrative Procedures Act," 1981 Act, Uniform Laws Annotated, Vol. 15, p.1 (2000), or such other administrative procedure acts as the Interstate Commission deems appropriate consistent with due process requirements under the United States Constitution as now or hereafter interpreted by the United States Supreme Court. All rules and amendments shall become binding as of the date specified, as published with the final version of the rule as approved by the Interstate Commission.

C. When promulgating a rule, the Interstate Commission shall, at a minimum:

1. Publish the proposed rule's entire text stating the reason(s) for that proposed rule; and

2. Allow and invite any and all persons to submit written data, facts, opinions, and arguments, which information shall be added to the record, and be made publicly available; and

3. Promulgate a final rule and its effective date, if appropriate, based on input from state or local officials, or interested parties.

D. Rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission shall have the force and effect of administrative rules and shall be binding in the compacting states to the extent and in the manner provided for in this compact.

E. Not later than 60 days after a rule is promulgated, an interested person may file a petition in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or in the Federal District Court where the Interstate Commission's principal office is located for judicial review of such rule. If the court finds that the Interstate Commission's action is not supported by substantial evidence in the rulemaking record, the court shall hold the rule unlawful and set it aside.

F. If a majority of the legislatures of the member states rejects a rule, those states may by enactment of a statute or resolution in the same manner used to adopt the compact cause that such rule shall have no further force and effect in any member state.

G. The existing rules governing the operation of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children superseded by this act shall be null and void no less than 12, but no more than 24 months after the first meeting of the Interstate Commission created hereunder, as determined by the members during the first meeting.

H. Within the first 12 months of operation, the Interstate Commission shall promulgate rules addressing the following:

1. Transition rules

2. Forms and procedures

3. Timelines

4. Data collection and reporting

5. Rulemaking

6. Visitation

7. Progress reports/supervision

8. Sharing of information/confidentiality

9. Financing of the Interstate Commission

10. Mediation, arbitration, and dispute resolution

11. Education, training, and technical assistance

12. Enforcement

13. Coordination with other interstate compacts

I. Upon determination by a majority of the members of the Interstate Commission that an emergency exists:

1. The Interstate Commission may promulgate an emergency rule only if it is required to:

a. Protect the children covered by this compact from an imminent threat to their health, safety, and well-being; or

b. Prevent loss of federal or state funds; or

c. Meet a deadline for the promulgation of an administrative rule required by federal law.

2. An emergency rule shall become effective immediately upon adoption, provided that the usual rulemaking procedures provided hereunder shall be retroactively applied to said rule as soon as reasonably possible, but no later than 90 days after the effective date of the emergency rule.

3. An emergency rule shall be promulgated as provided for in the rules of the Interstate Commission.

ARTICLE XII. OVERSIGHT, DISPUTE RESOLUTION,

ENFORCEMENT

A. Oversight

1. The Interstate Commission shall oversee the administration and operation of the compact.

2. The executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government in each member state shall enforce this compact and the rules of the Interstate Commission and shall take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the compact's purposes and intent. The compact and its rules shall be binding in the compacting states to the extent and in the manner provided for in this compact.

3. All courts shall take judicial notice of the compact and the rules in any judicial or administrative proceeding in a member state pertaining to the subject matter of this compact.

4. The Interstate Commission shall be entitled to receive service of process in any action in which the validity of a compact provision or rule is the issue for which a judicial determination has been sought and shall have standing to intervene in any proceedings. Failure to provide service of process to the Interstate Commission shall render any judgment, order or other determination, however so captioned or classified, void as to the Interstate Commission, this compact, its bylaws, or rules of the Interstate Commission.

B. Dispute Resolution

1. The Interstate Commission shall attempt, upon the request of a member state, to resolve disputes which are subject to the compact and which may arise among member states and between member and nonmember states.

2. The Interstate Commission shall promulgate a rule providing for both mediation and binding dispute resolution for disputes among compacting states. The costs of such mediation or dispute resolution shall be the responsibility of the parties to the dispute.

C. Enforcement

1. If the Interstate Commission determines that a member state has defaulted in the performance of its obligations or responsibilities under this compact, its bylaws or rules, the Interstate Commission may:

a. Provide remedial training and specific technical assistance; or

b. Provide written notice to the defaulting state and other member states, of the nature of the default and the means of curing the default. The Interstate Commission shall specify the conditions by which the defaulting state must cure its default; or

c. By majority vote of the members, initiate against a defaulting member state legal action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or, at the discretion of the Interstate Commission, in the federal district where the Interstate Commission has its principal office, to enforce compliance with the provisions of the compact, its bylaws, or rules. The relief sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In the event judicial enforcement is necessary the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation including reasonable attorney's fees; or

d. Avail itself of any other remedies available under state law or the regulation of official or professional conduct.

ARTICLE XIII. FINANCING OF THE COMMISSION

A. The Interstate Commission shall pay, or provide for the payment of the reasonable expenses of its establishment, organization, and ongoing activities.

B. The Interstate Commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each member state to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the Interstate Commission and its staff which must be in a total amount sufficient to cover the Interstate Commission's annual budget as approved by its members each year. The aggregate annual assessment amount shall be allocated based upon a formula to be determined by the Interstate Commission which shall promulgate a rule binding upon all member states.

C. The Interstate Commission shall not incur obligations of any kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same; nor shall the Interstate Commission pledge the credit of any of the member states, except by and with the authority of the member state.

D. The Interstate Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the Interstate Commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established under its bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the Interstate Commission shall be audited yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant and the report of the audit shall be included in and become part of the annual report of the Interstate Commission.

ARTICLE XIV. MEMBER STATES, EFFECTIVE DATE

AND AMENDMENT

A. Any state is eligible to become a member state.

B. The compact shall become effective and binding upon legislative enactment of the compact into law by no less than 35 states. The effective date shall be the later of July 1, 2007 or upon enactment of the compact into law by the 35th state. Thereafter it shall become effective and binding as to any other member state upon enactment of the compact into law by that state. The executive heads of the state human services administration with ultimate responsibility for the child welfare program of nonmember states or their designees shall be invited to participate in the activities of the Interstate Commission on a nonvoting basis prior to adoption of the compact by all states.

C. The Interstate Commission may propose amendments to the compact for enactment by the member states. No amendment shall become effective and binding on the member states unless and until it is enacted into law by unanimous consent of the member states.

ARTICLE XV. WITHDRAWAL AND DISSOLUTION

A. Withdrawal

1. Once effective, the compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each and every member state; provided that a member state may withdraw from the compact specifically repealing the statute which enacted the compact into law.

2. Withdrawal from this compact shall be by the enactment of a statute repealing the same. The effective date of withdrawal shall be the effective date of the repeal of the statute.

3. The withdrawing state shall immediately notify the president of the Interstate Commission in writing upon the introduction of legislation repealing this compact in the withdrawing state. The Interstate Commission shall then notify the other member states of the withdrawing state's intent to withdraw.

4. The withdrawing state is responsible for all assessments, obligations, and liabilities incurred through the effective date of withdrawal.

5. Reinstatement following withdrawal of a member state shall occur upon the withdrawing state reenacting the compact or upon such later date as determined by the members of the Interstate Commission.

B. Dissolution of Compact

1. This compact shall dissolve effective upon the date of the withdrawal or default of the member state which reduces the membership in the compact to one member state.

2. Upon the dissolution of this compact, the compact becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or effect, and the business and affairs of the Interstate Commission shall be concluded and surplus funds shall be distributed in accordance with the bylaws.

ARTICLE XVI. SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION

A. The provisions of this compact shall be severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the compact shall be enforceable.

B. The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.

C. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prohibit the concurrent applicability of other interstate compacts to which the states are members.

ARTICLE XVII. BINDING EFFECT OF COMPACT

AND OTHER LAWS

A. Other Laws

1. Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other law of a member state that is not inconsistent with this compact.

B. Binding Effect of the Compact

1. All lawful actions of the Interstate Commission, including all rules and bylaws promulgated by the Interstate Commission, are binding upon the member states.

2. All agreements between the Interstate Commission and the member states are binding in accordance with their terms.

3. In the event any provision of this compact exceeds the constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any member state, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of the conflict with the constitutional provision in question in that member state.

ARTICLE XVIII. INDIAN TRIBES

Notwithstanding any other provision in this compact, the Interstate Commission may promulgate guidelines to permit Indian tribes to utilize the compact to achieve any or all of the purposes of the compact as specified in Article I. The Interstate Commission shall make reasonable efforts to consult with Indian tribes in promulgating guidelines to reflect the diverse circumstances of the various Indian tribes.

History:

2008 c 361 art 6 s 23; 2009 c 163 art 1 s 1