Bill > SF3995

This bill amends the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act by changing the term "active efforts" to "reasonable efforts" throughout the relevant statutes. "Reasonable efforts" refers to the diligent actions a social services agency must take to prevent a child from being removed from their home, to eliminate the need for removal, and to reunite a child with their family as quickly as possible. The bill also repeals a section of existing law that defined "active efforts" and established it as a higher standard than "reasonable efforts." This change aims to align the state's child welfare laws with federal requirements, specifically Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, which mandates "reasonable efforts." The bill's provisions apply to African American children and other children who are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system, ensuring that agencies continue to make diligent attempts to keep families together and address their specific needs, including cultural and economic considerations, while also allowing for exceptions in cases of egregious harm or abuse.

Health and Social Services

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/94/2026/0/SF/3995/