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 updates licensing and training requirements for child care providers and agencies, specifying that license holders appealing multiple sanctions must do so in writing and clarifying that variances for dual licensure must be approved by both commissioners. It mandates training for foster care providers on mental health disorders and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, and it establishes a domestic violence informational brochure for public assistance applicants. The bill also allocates funding for various programs to support vulnerable populations, including grants for food relief and emergency shelter facilities. Notably, it allows unexpended funds for the Minnesota Food Assistance Program to remain available until June 30, 2025, and amends the transfer authority of the commissioner of human services to include the commissioner of children, youth, and families, enhancing fiscal accountability.

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