This blog post will look at Article 5 and Article 6 of S.F. 1675.
Article 5: Child Support
Definition Change: American Indian Child- means a person under 21 years old (previously 18 years old)
Recognition of Parentage (ROP):

  • Hospital and the Department of Health must provide notary services and file the ROP with the Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics

Article 6: Technical and Conforming Amendments
Adoption:

  • Term change from subsidized adoption to adoption assistance
  • Reimbursement of nonrecurring adoption expenses: Change from ‘up to $2000 of costs incurred in adopting a child with special needs’ to ‘one may apply for reimbursement for costs incurred in adopting a child with special needs.’ (Does not state a maximum amount for reimbursement.)

Annual Court Reviews:

  • If the child is in a voluntary foster care placement, other permanency options (including returning the child home) have to be examined. The option must be able to best serve the child’s needs for a stable and permanent home.

Disposition of Child of Parent Arrested:

  • A parent may release the child to a person designated by the parent unless it is necessary for law enforcement to review the child under 260C. 175

Definitions under 626.556 subd. 2

Maltreatment Determinations:

  • No maltreatment determination shall be made if the alleged perpetrator is under the age of 10.

Child Maltreatment Review Panel:

  • The child maltreatment review panel has been retracted from statute 626.556 subd. 10i and replaced to state that decisions made under that section are not subject to accuracy and completeness challenges.

Changes in these articles are effective August 1, 2012.
Some questions to consider:
How do you think the language clarification regarding parental arrest will impact your relationship with law enforcement? Do you believe this practice is currently occurring? How do you think the expansion in parental exposure to a controlled substance will affect the rate of assessments?