The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260E.03, subdivision 15, to clarify the definition of neglect in relation to child welfare. It specifies that neglect includes various forms of failure to provide necessary care, supervision, and protection for a child, as well as prenatal exposure to controlled substances and emotional harm due to detrimental behavior patterns. The bill emphasizes that neglect should not be determined solely based on a parent's reliance on spiritual means for treatment or care, nor does it impose a duty on individuals not legally responsible for a child's care to provide necessary support.

A significant addition to the definition of neglect is the insertion of a provision that states a child with a mental, physical, or emotional condition is not considered neglected solely because they remain in an emergency department or hospital due to the unavailability of necessary services, such as residential treatment, that their medical or mental health care professional deems essential. This aims to protect children who cannot be safely discharged to their families due to systemic service gaps.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 260C.007
1st Engrossment: 260E.03