This bill amends the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act to enhance protections for African American and disproportionately represented children in the child welfare system. It redefines "active efforts" to require social services agencies to engage families continuously in case planning and service selection, taking into account their social and cultural values. The bill sets a higher standard for agencies to actively prevent out-of-home placements and facilitate family reunification when appropriate. It also establishes a process for identifying disproportionately represented children every three years and underscores the importance of community involvement in placement decisions.

Additionally, the bill mandates improved compliance and oversight measures within the child welfare system, including the disaggregation of data by the commissioner of human services to monitor outcomes for affected children. A working group will oversee the implementation of the phase-in program in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, with an interim report due by January 1, 2026, detailing initial needs and recommendations for statutory or policy changes. The deadline for statewide implementation of the plan and best practices has been extended to September 1, 2027. The bill also introduces a publicly accessible online compliance and feedback portal for reporting noncompliance, which will take effect on January 1, 2027, and repeals a specific section from previous legislation.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 257.0762, 260.63, 260.64, 260.67