Bill > HF2436

This bill creates comprehensive changes to children and families services in Minnesota, with a focus on improving child welfare, early care and learning, and economic support programs. Here is a summary of the key provisions: This bill covers multiple aspects of children and family services, including child protection, foster care, child care, licensing, economic assistance, and related financial appropriations. Key provisions include expanding the definition of relatives for child foster care, requiring more comprehensive background checks and training for child care providers, enhancing protections for children in foster care, implementing new technology systems for child welfare and early learning services, and making adjustments to child care assistance and child support programs. The bill also includes detailed appropriations for various family and children's services programs across multiple state agencies, with a total appropriation of over $1.3 billion for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Specifically, the bill introduces several significant changes: 1. Child Welfare and Foster Care: - Expands the definition of "related" individuals for foster care placements - Requires more comprehensive training for foster care providers - Establishes new review processes for children approaching 18 years old in foster care - Creates more robust requirements for permanency planning and relative searches 2. Child Care Licensing and Safety: - Requires video security cameras in child care centers under certain conditions - Increases training requirements for child care providers - Implements new variance and correction order processes for licensing - Standardizes licensing visit procedures 3. Early Care and Learning: - Modifies child care assistance eligibility and payment systems - Creates new technology tools for family applications and child care payments - Adjusts training and capacity requirements for child care providers 4. Economic Support: - Updates child support and maintenance payment regulations - Modifies Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and child care assistance programs - Provides new grant opportunities for family support services The bill also includes substantial appropriations totaling approximately $1.3 billion over two fiscal years, with funding allocated across various child and family service programs, including child welfare, early learning, economic support, and administrative functions.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF2436&ssn=0&y=2025