Bill > HF2436

This bill makes various changes to laws concerning children and families, including modifications to economic assistance, child protection and welfare, early care and learning, and licensing and certification, and appropriates funds for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families and other related agencies for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027. * **Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Appropriations:** * Total appropriations for the biennium are $2,654,192,000. * General Fund: $2,177,410,000 * State Government Special Revenue Fund: $1,464,000 * Federal TANF Fund: $475,328,000 * Specific allocations include: * Central Office; Agency Supports: $239,911,000 * Central Office; Child Safety and Permanency: $34,177,000 * Central Office; Early Childhood: $30,550,000 (including $7,194,000 for a statewide electronic attendance and record-keeping system for child care assistance) * Central Office; Economic Opportunities and Youth Services: $7,414,000 * Central Office; Family Well-Being: $28,294,000 * Forecasted Programs; MFIP/DWP: $498,640,000 * Forecasted Programs; MFIP Child Care Assistance: $237,577,000 * Forecasted Programs; Northstar Care for Children: $226,374,000 * Grant Programs; Support Services Grants: $207,810,000 * Grant Programs; Basic Sliding Fee Child Assistance Care Grants: $273,000,000 * Grant Programs; Child Care Development Grants: $278,138,000 (including $500,000 for child care provider access to technology grants) * Grant Programs; Child Support Enforcement Grants: $100,000 * Grant Programs; Children's Services Grants: $86,409,000 * Grant Programs; Children and Community Service Grants: $175,968,000 * Grant Programs; Children and Economic Support Grants: $26,753,000 (includes funding for FAIM, American Indian Food Sovereignty, Minnesota Food Shelf, Prepared Meals Food Relief, and Minnesota Food Bank programs) * Grant Programs; Early Learning Grants: $271,526,000 * Grant Programs; Youth Services Grants: $16,282,000 * Technical Activities: $148,986,000 * **Other Agency Appropriations:** * Ombudsperson for Families: $1,600,000 * Ombudsperson for American Indian Families: $691,000 * Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson: $1,621,000 * Department of Education: $15,900,000 * **Key Policy Changes:** * Modifications to rules regarding relative foster care, including training requirements and background studies. * Changes to child protection procedures, including efforts to identify and notify parents and relatives, and requirements for case reviews and permanency planning. * Updates to early care and learning policies, including changes to the diaper distribution program, child care provider payments, and training requirements for providers. * Amendments to licensing and certification requirements for child care providers, including video security camera requirements, posting of licensing actions, and variances. * Various provisions related to child welfare information technology systems modernization and data collection. * Changes to child support and maintenance order notices, including expiration dates for certain provisions.