By Stacy Gehringer  

There are many, many bills related to children and families introduced and revisited at the Minnesota legislature during session. Hearings, testimony, debate, companion bills — it’s a lot to track! We have provided bill summaries and brief status updates below that are relevant to the child welfare workforce, as well as other important policy news. A reminder that this is merely a sample of the bills and proposals impacting children and families across the state.

Note: updates as of 2/07/23 AM

Governor’s Budget Proposals

New Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan proposed a new Department of Children, Youth, and Families that restructures state government to elevate child, youth, and family priorities and funding needs by providing focused leadership in the executive branch. This new agency would provide comprehensive support for families, including core programs from early childhood through youth. The core programs considered to move into the new agency include: child care and early learning programs; Child Support, Child Safety and other family-focused, community programs; economic support and food assistance programs; and youth opportunity and older youth investments. According to the administration, the One Minnesota Budget proposes a process for transitioning to the new agency and obtaining authority and resources to support the creation, alignment, and launch of a two-year process of moving core child, youth, and family support divisions beginning July 2024.

Supporting Older Youth in Care. Governor Walz proposed $17.1 million in FY 2024-25 and 2026-27 to increase the ability of the adolescent services unit to serve older youth in foster care and/or in the process of aging out. The proposal would also grant new or increased funding for additional programs for older youth, including Successful Transition to Adulthood for Youth (STAY) in the Community, Minor Connect, and Support Beyond 21 (new program).

Support After Foster Care. Give additional funding for Public Private Adoption Initiative (PPAI) agencies to work with youth whose permanency plan is TPLPC and kin custodial agreements. Currently, PPAI agencies only receive funds to work for prospective adoptive parents and other adoption-related work.The proposal will also enable the Department of Human Services to hire and work more directly with youth that have lived experience in foster care and give county and tribal agencies an opportunity to apply for funding to decrease caseloads giving them more time to work with adolescents

Expanding Child Care Supports for Foster Care and Relative Caregivers. Modify the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) so that foster families and relative/kin custodians and guardians can apply for and receive CCAP. Currently, CCAP does not allow for the above parties to receive any assistance.

DHS Policy 

Minnesota Department of Human Services offers new Child Maltreatment Intake guidelines. MN DHS created new guidelines about when families can be referred to CPS in the event their child cannot be taken home from the emergency room or hospital due to safety concerns. These new policies can be found in “Minnesota Child Maltreatment Intake, Screening, and Response Path Guidelines” (pg 56). In short, families in these situations cannot be screened in for neglect.

Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act

H.F. 1071 /S.F. 667

MIFPA modifications: incorporates the gold standard at the state level and codifies ICWA into state law.

  • House
    • Authors: Keeler, Becker-Finn, Kozlowski, et al.
    • 1/30/2023: Introduction and first reading, referred to Children and Families Finance and Policy
    • 2/6/2023: Tabke added as author
  • Senate
    • Authors: Kunesh, Abeler, Wiklund, Hauschild
    • 1/25/2023: Intro and first reading, referred to Health and Human Services
    • 2/7/2023: Heard in HHS, re-referred as amended to Judiciary and Public Safety Committee

Minnesota African American Family Preservation Act

HH.F. 912 / S.F. 716

Minnesota African American Family Preservation Act established, African American Child Welfare Council established, child welfare provisions modified, reports required, and money appropriated.

  • House
    • Authors: Agbaje, Richardson, Clardy et al.
    • 1/26/2023: Introduction and first reading, referred to Children and Families Finance and Policy
  • Senate
    • Authors: Champion, Kunesh
    • 1/25/2023: Intro and first reading, referred to Health and Human Services
    • 2/01/2023: Kunesh added as author

Survivor Benefits for Foster Children

H.F. 54

Trust established for foster children receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits, report required, money appropriated (amendment)

    • Authored by Rep Duane Quam
    • 1/4/2023- Intro and first reading, referred to Children and Families Finance and Policy
  • No Senate Companion 

Social Security Number for Foster Children

S.F. 324

Requiring establishment for providing SSN for foster children

    • Authored by Limmer, Marty, Rest, Abeler
    • 1/17/2023: Intro and first reading, referred to Health and Human Services
    • 1/19/2023: Rest and Abeler added as authors r
  • No House Companion

Homeless Youth Act

HF 444 / SF 388

  • Homeless Youth Act modified, money appropriated (more support for youth under 24)
  • Hearing was scheduled for yesterday (2/6/23)
  • House
    • Authors: Keeler, Gomez, Noor, et al.
    • 1/17/2023: Intro and first reading, referred to Human Services Finance
    • 1/23/2023: Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Children and Families Finance and Policy
    • 1/25/23 + 1/30/23: authors added
    • 1/26/2023: Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Ways and Means
    • 2/6/23: Kraft added as author
  • Senate
    • Author: Dibble, Murphy, Fateh et al.
    • 1/19/2023: Intro and first reading,  referred to Health and Human Services
    • 1/25/2023 – 2/6/2023: authors added

Upcoming Events 

February 27th – March 2nd MN Social Work Advocacy Week + Day at the Capitol 

March 9th Mental Health Day on the Hill , AspireMN Advocacy Day at the Capitol