This bill proposes significant amendments to Minnesota's child welfare and economic assistance laws, focusing on enhancing support for children and families, particularly within African American communities. Key provisions include the establishment of the African American Child and Family Well-Being Advisory Council, which will review child welfare outcomes and recommend policy improvements. The bill also introduces new training requirements for foster care providers, mandates the development of cultural competency training, and emphasizes the importance of engaging noncustodial parents and relatives in the foster care process. Additionally, it clarifies definitions related to foster care, establishes new requirements for juvenile protection proceedings, and enhances the responsibilities of social services agencies in case planning and reporting.

Furthermore, the bill addresses child care access and safety by mandating licensed child care centers to install video security cameras and outlining the conditions for child care licensing and authorizations. It introduces a diaper distribution program to support under-resourced families and emphasizes the need for timely and effective planning for children in foster care. The bill also includes provisions for training on child passenger restraint systems and updates reporting requirements for educational neglect. Overall, the legislation aims to improve the welfare and outcomes for children and families involved in the child welfare system while ensuring that cultural and familial connections are prioritized in decision-making processes.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 127A.41, 127A.45, 142A.03, 142D.08, 142D.093, 142D.11, 260.810, 260.821, 142D.21, 142D.31, 142E.03, 142E.11, 142E.13, 142E.15, 142E.16
1st Engrossment: 142A.03, 142B.01, 142B.05, 142B.47, 142B.51, 142B.80, 245C.02, 260.65, 260.66, 260.691, 260.692, 260C.001, 260C.007, 260C.141, 260C.150, 260C.178, 260C.201, 260C.202, 260C.204, 260C.212, 260C.221, 260C.223, 260C.329, 260C.451, 260C.452, 260E.03, 260E.065, 260E.09, 260E.20, 260E.24, 260.810, 260.821, 518.68, 518A.34, 518A.46, 518A.75, 142A.42, 142D.21, 142B.18, 142D.23, 142D.31, 142E.03, 142E.11, 142E.13, 142E.15, 142E.16, 142E.17, 245.0962, 142B.10, 142B.16, 142B.171, 142B.30, 142B.41, 142B.65, 142B.66, 142B.70, 142C.06, 142C.11, 142C.12, 245A.18