By Ariana King, Graduate Assistant

Note: updates as of 2/22/2023 AM

These past few weeks, several new child welfare related bills have been introduced! Check out the summaries and status updates below. We’ll continue to keep you updated with new information that could impact children and families.

Governor’s Budget Proposals

Walz’s budget increases early learning scholarships by $90 million annually, adds $353 million to strengthen the childcare programming, and adds $12.5 million for family home visiting. These are all funding measures that can certainly help prevent child maltreatment.

Updates on Bill(s)

Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act

HF1071/SF667

MIFPA modifications: incorporates the gold standard at the state level and codifies ICWA into state law.

  • House
    • Authors: Keeler, Becker-Finn, Kozlowski, et al.
    • 1/30/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Children and Families Finance and Policy
    • 2/6/2023- Tabke added as author
    • 2/9/2023- 2/20-2023- authors added
  • Senate
    • Authors: Kunesh, Abeler, Wiklund, Hauschild
    • 1/25/2023- Intro and first reading, referred to Health and Human Services
    • 2/7/2023- Heard in HHS, re-referred as amended to Judiciary and Public Safety Committee
    • 2/13/2023- Committee report to pass as amended and re-refer to Finance
    • 2/16/2023- Oumon Verbeten added as author
    • 2/21/2023- Committee report to pass; second reading

Read more here from Red Lake Nation News

New Bills Introduced

Adult Adoptee record access

HF1778/SF1279

Adult adoptees can access their own original birth records and other adoption-related information, governing provisions modified

  • House
    • 2/15/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Health Finance and Policy
    • 2/16/2023- Fischer and Backer added as authors
  • Senate
    • 2/6/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Judiciary and Public Safety

Child welfare modifications | Expedited petitions to terminate parental rights

HF1688

Termination of Parental Rights (TPR), emergency removals, and family reunification requirements modified and definition of threatened sexual abuse modified to decrease fast-track TPR

  • House
      • 2/13/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Children and Families Finance and Policy
  • No Senate companion

Kinship caregivers

HF1661/SF1639

Informal kinship caregiver support grant program established, financial support expanded for adoptive, foster, and kinship families, money appropriated

  • House
    • 2/13/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Children and Families Finance and Policy
    • 2/15/2023- Daniels added as author
  • Senate
    • 2/13/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Health and Human Services

Definition of neglect

HF612

Definition of neglect modified concerning maltreatment related to language access and acquisition. The bill adds three clauses to its definition of neglect:

      • failure to teach a deaf child sign language
      • caregiver failure to provide a child with a language-rich environment
      • obstruction or deprivation of a child’s access to the child’s cultural language
  • House
    • 1/19/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Children and Families Finance and Policy
  • No Senate companion

Family Foster Care and Adoption Legislative Task Force Established

HF1898/SF847

Legislative Task Force on family foster care and adoption established, reports required, and money appropriated

  • House
    • 2/16/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Children and Families Finance and Policy
  • Senate
    • 1/27/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Health and Human Services

Safe Harbor Shelter and Housing Grant

HF1858/SF1839

Safe harbor shelter and housing grant program created, sexually exploited youth funding provided, and money appropriated

  • House
    • 2/16/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Children and Families Finance and Policy
  • Senate 
    • 2/20/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Health and Human Services

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