This bill seeks to revise the licensing, training, and background study requirements for relative foster care providers in Minnesota, while also making adjustments to the Minnesota family investment program. It mandates that individuals related to a child must obtain a foster care license, with options for licensure through county or private agencies. The commissioner is tasked with developing materials to assist potential relative foster care providers and establishing specific training requirements, which include topics such as sudden unexpected infant death, abusive head trauma, and child passenger restraint systems. The bill also introduces new definitions for "relative caregivers" and clarifies their eligibility for assistance, ensuring that cash assistance received does not count toward the 60-month limit.

Furthermore, the bill enhances background study requirements, disqualifying individuals with certain felony convictions and requiring comprehensive criminal history reviews. It specifies that only certain household members of relative foster care providers need to undergo background studies and allows for attestation from out-of-state agencies instead of requiring consent for registry checks. The commissioner is directed to ensure accessibility of communications and materials in multiple languages and formats, and to create streamlined licensing guidelines by December 2025. The bill includes appropriations for grants to support relative caregivers and for purchasing fingerprinting devices to expedite background studies, ultimately aiming to simplify the licensing process and enhance support for kinship care arrangements.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 142B.01, 142B.05, 142B.47, 142B.51, 142B.80, 142E.01, 142G.01, 142G.40, 256.73, 245C.02, 245C.03, 245C.08, 245C.15