The bill establishes the Department of Children, Youth, and Families in Minnesota, creating a new statutory framework to enhance the administration and oversight of services for children and families. It amends various sections of the Minnesota Statutes to define the roles and responsibilities of the commissioner of this new department, including the authority to apply for grants, manage public assistance programs, and oversee child welfare activities. The commissioner is tasked with developing program objectives, performance measures, and biennial reporting to ensure accountability. Significant provisions include the authority to require county agency participation in training, monitor performance, and establish quality control programs, as well as the administration of child welfare activities and coordination with other state agencies.

Additionally, the bill introduces several amendments to improve the efficiency and integrity of public assistance programs, including requirements for county boards to submit corrective action plans and deadlines for fiscal reports. It establishes a framework for American Indian child welfare projects, mandates the development of a centralized disbursement system for benefits, and emphasizes the importance of providing information in multiple languages. The bill also outlines the appeals process for maltreatment determinations, clarifies the responsibilities of various agencies, and introduces new training requirements for child protection workers. Overall, the legislation aims to streamline processes, enhance collaboration among agencies, and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations in Minnesota.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 256.01, 256.012, 256.016, 256.017, 256.018, 256.019, 256.0281, 256.029, 256.045, 256.0451, 256.046, 256.82, 256.981, 256.982, 256.983, 256.9831, 256.986, 256.9861, 256.987, 256.998, 256E.21, 256E.22, 256E.24, 145.917, 256E.25, 256E.26, 256E.27, 299A.72, 245A.02, 245A.03, 245A.035, 245A.04, 245A.08, 245A.09, 245A.10, 245A.14, 245A.1443, 245A.1444, 245A.146, 245A.147, 245A.156, 245A.16, 245A.18, 245A.25, 245A.66, 245H.12, 119A.5411, 124D.13, 124D.135, 124D.142, 124D.15, 124D.16, 124D.165, 125A.02, 125A.28, 125A.35, 125A.45, 125A.48, 119B.03, 119B.09, 119B.24, 256D.64, 256J.01, 256J.021, 256J.08, 256J.09, 256J.351, 256J.395, 256J.425, 256J.645, 13.46, 116L.665, 116L.86, 144.225, 245C.03, 245C.08, 245C.22, 245C.25, 256.741, 256.87, 256P.04, 260.92, 260C.178, 260C.201, 260C.215, 260C.301, 260D.02, 260E.02, 260E.03, 260E.14, 260E.20, 260E.24, 260E.28, 260E.29, 260E.30, 260E.32, 260E.33, 260E.34, 260E.35, 260E.36, 393.07, 393.11, 518A.26, 518A.60, 631.40
1st Engrossment: 256.01, 256.012, 256.016, 256.017, 256.018, 256.019, 256.0281, 256.029, 256.045, 256.0451, 256.046, 256.82, 256.981, 256.982, 256.983, 256.9831, 256.986, 256.9861, 256.987, 256.998, 256E.21, 256E.22, 256E.24, 145.917, 256E.25, 256E.26, 256E.27, 299A.72, 245A.02, 245A.03, 245A.035, 245A.04, 245A.08, 245A.09, 245A.10, 245A.14, 245A.1443, 245A.1444, 245A.146, 245A.147, 245A.156, 245A.16, 245A.18, 245A.25, 245A.66, 245H.12, 119A.5411, 124D.13, 124D.135, 124D.142, 124D.15, 124D.16, 124D.165, 125A.02, 125A.28, 125A.35, 125A.45, 125A.48, 119B.03, 119B.09, 119B.24, 256D.64, 256J.01, 256J.021, 256J.08, 256J.09, 256J.351, 256J.395, 256J.425, 256J.645, 13.46, 116L.665, 116L.86, 144.225, 245C.03, 245C.08, 245C.22, 245C.25, 256.741, 256.87, 256P.04, 260.92, 260C.178, 260C.201, 260C.215, 260C.301, 260D.02, 260E.02, 260E.03, 260E.14, 260E.20, 260E.24, 260E.28, 260E.29, 260E.30, 260E.32, 260E.33, 260E.34, 260E.35, 260E.36, 393.07, 393.11, 518A.26, 518A.60, 631.40
2nd Engrossment: 245.814, 256.01, 256.012, 256.016, 256.017, 256.018, 256.019, 256.029, 256.045, 256.0451, 256.046, 256.82, 256.981, 256.982, 256.983, 256.9831, 256.986, 256.9861, 256.987, 256.998, 256E.21, 256E.22, 256E.24, 145.917, 256E.25, 256E.26, 256E.27, 299A.72, 245A.02, 245A.03, 245A.035, 245A.04, 245A.08, 245A.09, 245A.10, 245A.14, 245A.1443, 245A.1444, 245A.146, 245A.147, 245A.156, 245A.16, 245A.18, 245A.25, 245A.66, 245H.12, 119A.5411, 124D.13, 124D.135, 124D.142, 124D.15, 124D.151, 124D.16, 124D.165, 125A.02, 125A.28, 125A.35, 125A.45, 125A.48, 125A.76, 119B.03, 119B.09, 119B.24, 256D.64, 256J.01, 256J.021, 256J.08, 256J.09, 256J.351, 256J.395, 256J.425, 256J.645, 13.46, 116L.665, 116L.86, 144.225, 245C.03, 245C.08, 245C.22, 245C.25, 256.741, 256.87, 256P.04, 260.92, 260C.178, 260C.201, 260C.215, 260C.301, 260D.02, 260E.02, 260E.03, 260E.14, 260E.20, 260E.24, 260E.28, 260E.29, 260E.30, 260E.32, 260E.33, 260E.34, 260E.35, 260E.36, 393.07, 393.11, 518A.26, 518A.60, 631.40