This bill aims to enhance early childhood programs and improve child welfare and child care licensing laws in Minnesota. It introduces technical changes to existing early childhood legislation, updates the recodification of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, and allocates funding for these initiatives. Key amendments include a revised notification process for child-placing agencies regarding Indian children, ensuring Tribes are informed and involved in relevant cases. The bill also establishes new definitions and provisions related to child abuse, child protection, and human trafficking, particularly focusing on labor trafficked youth and the responsibilities of child-placing agencies in these situations. Significant changes include replacing the term "sex" with "human" in notifications about Indian children and requiring child-placing agencies to notify Tribes within 24 hours of a missing child report.

Additionally, the bill amends various sections of Minnesota Statutes to update licensing and training requirements for child care providers and agencies. It specifies that license holders appealing multiple sanctions must do so in writing and clarifies that variances for dual licensure must be approved by both the commissioners of human services and children, youth, and families. The bill also mandates new training for foster care providers on maltreatment reporting and mental health issues. Furthermore, it outlines funding appropriations for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to support organizations addressing homelessness, food relief, and youth services, including significant allocations for emergency shelter facilities and a homeless youth cash stipend pilot project. Overall, the bill seeks to strengthen protections for children and families while enhancing the regulatory framework for child care services.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 260C.007, 260C.212, 260E.03, 260E.14, 260E.36, 245A.065, 245.975, 245A.07, 245A.10, 245A.144, 245A.175, 256.029, 256J.09, 245A.02, 245A.25