1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to children; providing for child welfare 
  1.3             reform; restricting release of certain information; 
  1.4             establishing citizen review panels; clarifying 
  1.5             jurisdiction; establishing programs for child abuse 
  1.6             and neglect assessments and investigations and 
  1.7             concurrent planning for permanent placement; defining 
  1.8             terms; imposing duties; appropriating money; amending 
  1.9             Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 13.391; 256.01, 
  1.10            subdivision 12, and by adding a subdivision; 257.42; 
  1.11            257.43; 259.24, subdivision 1; 259.37, subdivision 2; 
  1.12            260.011, subdivision 2; 260.141, by adding a 
  1.13            subdivision; 260.172, subdivision 1; 260.191, 
  1.14            subdivision 1e; 260.221, as amended; and 626.556, 
  1.15            subdivision 11a, and by adding a subdivision; 
  1.16            Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, sections 144.218, 
  1.17            subdivision 2; 259.22, subdivision 4; 259.47, 
  1.18            subdivision 3; 259.60, subdivision 2; 260.012; 
  1.19            260.015, subdivision 29; 260.191, subdivisions 1, 1a, 
  1.20            and 3b; 260.241, subdivision 3; and 626.556, 
  1.21            subdivision 11; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.22            Minnesota Statutes, chapters 257; and 626. 
  1.23  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.24                             ARTICLE 1
  1.25                     ADOPTION AND SAFE FAMILIES
  1.26     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 13.391, is 
  1.27  amended to read: 
  1.28     13.391 [VIDEOTAPES, AUDIOTAPES, AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHILD 
  1.29  ABUSE VICTIMS.] 
  1.30     (a) Notwithstanding section 13.04, subdivision 3, an 
  1.31  individual subject of data may not obtain: 
  1.32     (1) a copy of a videotape or audiotape in which a child 
  1.33  victim or alleged victim is alleging, explaining, denying, or 
  1.34  describing an act of physical or sexual abuse; or 
  2.1      (2) photographs depicting a child's injuries resulting from 
  2.2   physical or sexual abuse 
  2.3   without a court order under section 13.03, subdivision 6, or 
  2.4   611A.90.  The definitions of physical abuse and sexual abuse in 
  2.5   section 626.556, subdivision 2, apply to this section, except 
  2.6   that abuse is not limited to acts by a person responsible for 
  2.7   the child's care or in a significant relationship with the child 
  2.8   or position of authority. 
  2.9      (b) This section does not limit other rights of access to 
  2.10  data by an individual under section 13.04, subdivision 3, other 
  2.11  than the right to obtain a copy of the videotape, audiotape, or 
  2.12  photograph nor limit rights of access pursuant to discovery in a 
  2.13  court proceeding. 
  2.14     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
  2.15  144.218, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  2.16     Subd. 2.  [ADOPTION OF FOREIGN PERSONS.] In proceedings for 
  2.17  the adoption of a person who was born in a foreign country, the 
  2.18  court, upon evidence presented by the commissioner of human 
  2.19  services from information secured at the port of entry, or upon 
  2.20  evidence from other reliable sources, may make findings of fact 
  2.21  as to the date and place of birth and parentage.  Upon receipt 
  2.22  of certified copies of the court findings and the order or 
  2.23  decree of adoption or a certified copy of a decree issued under 
  2.24  section 259.60, the state registrar shall register a birth 
  2.25  certificate in the new name of the adopted person.  The 
  2.26  certified copies of the court findings and the order or, decree 
  2.27  of adoption, or decree issued under section 259.60 are 
  2.28  confidential, pursuant to section 13.02, subdivision 3, and 
  2.29  shall not be disclosed except pursuant to court order or section 
  2.30  144.1761.  The birth certificate shall state the place of birth 
  2.31  as specifically as possible, and that the certificate is not 
  2.32  evidence of United States citizenship. 
  2.33     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 256.01, 
  2.34  subdivision 12, is amended to read: 
  2.35     Subd. 12.  [CHILD MORTALITY REVIEW PANEL.] (a) The 
  2.36  commissioner shall establish a child mortality review panel for 
  3.1   reviewing deaths of children in Minnesota, including deaths 
  3.2   attributed to maltreatment or in which maltreatment may be a 
  3.3   contributing cause, and review of near fatalities as defined in 
  3.4   section 626.556, subdivision 11d.  The commissioners of health, 
  3.5   children, families, and learning, and public safety and the 
  3.6   attorney general shall each designate a representative to the 
  3.7   child mortality review panel.  Other panel members shall be 
  3.8   appointed by the commissioner, including a board-certified 
  3.9   pathologist and a physician who is a coroner or a medical 
  3.10  examiner.  The purpose of the panel shall be to make 
  3.11  recommendations to the state and to county agencies for 
  3.12  improving the child protection system, including modifications 
  3.13  in statute, rule, policy, and procedure. 
  3.14     (b) The commissioner may require a county agency to 
  3.15  establish a local child mortality review panel.  The 
  3.16  commissioner may establish procedures for conducting local 
  3.17  reviews and may require that all professionals with knowledge of 
  3.18  a child mortality case participate in the local review.  In this 
  3.19  section, "professional" means a person licensed to perform or a 
  3.20  person performing a specific service in the child protective 
  3.21  service system.  "Professional" includes law enforcement 
  3.22  personnel, social service agency attorneys, educators, and 
  3.23  social service, health care, and mental health care providers. 
  3.24     (c) If the commissioner of human services has reason to 
  3.25  believe that a child's death was caused by maltreatment or that 
  3.26  maltreatment was a contributing cause, the commissioner has 
  3.27  access to not public data under chapter 13 maintained by state 
  3.28  agencies, statewide systems, or political subdivisions that are 
  3.29  related to the child's death or circumstances surrounding the 
  3.30  care of the child.  The commissioner shall also have access to 
  3.31  records of private hospitals as necessary to carry out the 
  3.32  duties prescribed by this section.  Access to data under this 
  3.33  paragraph is limited to police investigative data; autopsy 
  3.34  records and coroner or medical examiner investigative data; 
  3.35  hospital, public health, or other medical records of the child; 
  3.36  hospital and other medical records of the child's parent that 
  4.1   relate to prenatal care; and records created by social service 
  4.2   agencies that provided services to the child or family within 
  4.3   three years preceding the child's death.  A state agency, 
  4.4   statewide system, or political subdivision shall provide the 
  4.5   data upon request of the commissioner.  Not public data may be 
  4.6   shared with members of the state or local child mortality review 
  4.7   panel in connection with an individual case. 
  4.8      (d) Notwithstanding the data's classification in the 
  4.9   possession of any other agency, data acquired by a local or 
  4.10  state child mortality review panel in the exercise of its duties 
  4.11  is protected nonpublic or confidential data as defined in 
  4.12  section 13.02, but may be disclosed as necessary to carry out 
  4.13  the purposes of the review panel.  The data is not subject to 
  4.14  subpoena or discovery.  The commissioner may disclose 
  4.15  conclusions of the review panel, but shall not disclose data 
  4.16  that was classified as confidential or private data on 
  4.17  decedents, under section 13.10, or private, confidential, or 
  4.18  protected nonpublic data in the disseminating agency, except 
  4.19  that the commissioner may disclose local social service agency 
  4.20  data as provided in section 626.556, subdivision 11d, on 
  4.21  individual cases involving a fatality or near fatality of a 
  4.22  person served by the local social service agency prior to the 
  4.23  date of death. 
  4.24     (e) A person attending a child mortality review panel 
  4.25  meeting shall not disclose what transpired at the meeting, 
  4.26  except to carry out the purposes of the mortality review panel.  
  4.27  The proceedings and records of the mortality review panel are 
  4.28  protected nonpublic data as defined in section 13.02, 
  4.29  subdivision 13, and are not subject to discovery or introduction 
  4.30  into evidence in a civil or criminal action against a 
  4.31  professional, the state or a county agency, arising out of the 
  4.32  matters the panel is reviewing.  Information, documents, and 
  4.33  records otherwise available from other sources are not immune 
  4.34  from discovery or use in a civil or criminal action solely 
  4.35  because they were presented during proceedings of the review 
  4.36  panel.  A person who presented information before the review 
  5.1   panel or who is a member of the panel shall not be prevented 
  5.2   from testifying about matters within the person's knowledge.  
  5.3   However, in a civil or criminal proceeding a person shall not be 
  5.4   questioned about the person's presentation of information to the 
  5.5   review panel or opinions formed by the person as a result of the 
  5.6   review meetings.  
  5.7      Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 256.01, is 
  5.8   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  5.9      Subd. 15.  [CITIZEN REVIEW PANELS.] (a) The commissioner 
  5.10  shall establish at least three citizen review panels to examine 
  5.11  the policies and procedures of state and local welfare agencies 
  5.12  to evaluate the extent to which the agencies are effectively 
  5.13  discharging their child protection responsibilities.  Local 
  5.14  social service agencies shall cooperate and work with the 
  5.15  citizen review panels.  Where appropriate, the panels may 
  5.16  examine specific cases to evaluate the effectiveness of child 
  5.17  protection.  The panels must examine the extent to which the 
  5.18  state and local agencies are meeting the requirements of the 
  5.19  federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and the 
  5.20  Reporting of Maltreatment of Minors Act.  Local mortality review 
  5.21  panels or child protection teams may carry out the duties of a 
  5.22  citizen review panel if membership meets or is expanded to meet 
  5.23  the requirements of this section. 
  5.24     (b) The panel membership must include volunteers who 
  5.25  broadly represent the community in which the panel is 
  5.26  established, including members who have expertise in the 
  5.27  prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. 
  5.28     (c) Access to data for specific case review under this 
  5.29  paragraph is limited to:  police investigative data; autopsy 
  5.30  records and coroner or medical examiner investigative data; 
  5.31  hospital, public health, or other medical records of the child; 
  5.32  hospital and other medical records of the child's parent that 
  5.33  relate to prenatal care; and records created by social service 
  5.34  agencies that provided services to the child or family.  A state 
  5.35  agency, statewide system, or political subdivision shall provide 
  5.36  the data upon request of the commissioner.  Not public data may 
  6.1   be shared with members of the state or local citizen review 
  6.2   panel in connection with an individual case. 
  6.3      (d) Notwithstanding the data's classification in the 
  6.4   possession of any other agency, data acquired by a local or 
  6.5   state citizen review panel in the exercise of its duties is 
  6.6   protected nonpublic or confidential data as defined in section 
  6.7   13.02, but may be disclosed as necessary to carry out the 
  6.8   purposes of the review panel.  The data is not subject to 
  6.9   subpoena or discovery.  The commissioner may disclose 
  6.10  conclusions of the review panel, but shall not disclose data 
  6.11  that was classified as confidential or private data or fatality 
  6.12  or near fatality data. 
  6.13     (e) A person attending a citizen review panel meeting shall 
  6.14  not disclose what transpired at the meeting, except to carry out 
  6.15  the purposes of the review panel.  The proceedings and records 
  6.16  of the review panel are protected nonpublic data as defined in 
  6.17  section 13.02, subdivision 13, and are not subject to discovery 
  6.18  or introduction into evidence in a civil or criminal action 
  6.19  against a professional, the state, or county agency arising out 
  6.20  of the matters the panel is reviewing.  Information, documents, 
  6.21  and records otherwise available from other sources are not 
  6.22  immune from discovery or use in a civil or criminal action 
  6.23  solely because they were presented during proceedings of the 
  6.24  review panel.  A person who presented information before the 
  6.25  review panel or who is a member of the panel is not prevented 
  6.26  from testifying about matters within the person's knowledge.  
  6.27  However, in a civil or criminal proceeding, a person must not be 
  6.28  questioned about the person's presentation of information to the 
  6.29  review panel or opinions formed by the person as a result of the 
  6.30  review meetings. 
  6.31     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 257.42, is 
  6.32  amended to read: 
  6.33     257.42 [APPROPRIATE PUBLIC AUTHORITY DEFINED.] 
  6.34     The "appropriate public authorities" as used in article 3 
  6.35  of the interstate compact on the placement of children shall, 
  6.36  with reference to this state, mean the Minnesota department of 
  7.1   human services and said.  The department of human services or 
  7.2   its delegate shall receive and act with reference to notices 
  7.3   required by said article 3.  
  7.4      Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 257.43, is 
  7.5   amended to read: 
  7.6      257.43 [APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY IN RECEIVING STATE DEFINED.] 
  7.7      As used in paragraph (a) of article 5 of the interstate 
  7.8   compact on the placement of children, the phrase "appropriate 
  7.9   authority in the receiving state" with reference to this state 
  7.10  shall mean the commissioner of human services or the 
  7.11  commissioner's delegate.  
  7.12     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
  7.13  259.22, subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  7.14     Subd. 4.  [TIME FOR FILING PETITION.] A petition shall be 
  7.15  filed not later than 24 six months after a child is placed in a 
  7.16  prospective adoptive home.  If a petition is not filed by that 
  7.17  time, the agency that placed the child, or, in a direct adoptive 
  7.18  placement, the agency that is supervising the placement shall 
  7.19  file with the district court in the county where the prospective 
  7.20  adoptive parent resides a motion for an order and a report 
  7.21  recommending one of the following: 
  7.22     (1) that the time for filing a petition be extended because 
  7.23  of the child's special needs as defined under title IV-E of the 
  7.24  Social Security Act, United States Code, title 42, section 673; 
  7.25     (2) that, based on a written plan for completing filing of 
  7.26  the petition, including a specific timeline, to which the 
  7.27  prospective adoptive parents have agreed, the time for filing a 
  7.28  petition be extended long enough to complete the plan because 
  7.29  such an extension is in the best interests of the child and 
  7.30  additional time is needed for the child to adjust to the 
  7.31  adoptive home; or 
  7.32     (3) that the child be removed from the prospective adoptive 
  7.33  home. 
  7.34     The prospective adoptive parent must reimburse an agency 
  7.35  for the cost of preparing and filing the motion and report under 
  7.36  this section, unless the costs are reimbursed by the 
  8.1   commissioner under section 259.67 or 259.73. 
  8.2      Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 259.24, 
  8.3   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  8.4      Subdivision 1.  [EXCEPTIONS.] No child shall be adopted 
  8.5   without the consent of the child's parents and the child's 
  8.6   guardian, if there be one, except in the following instances: 
  8.7      (a) Consent shall not be required of a parent not entitled 
  8.8   to notice of the proceedings.  
  8.9      (b) Consent shall not be required of a parent who has 
  8.10  abandoned the child, or of a parent who has lost custody of the 
  8.11  child through a divorce decree or a decree of dissolution, and 
  8.12  upon whom notice has been served as required by section 259.49. 
  8.13     (c) Consent shall not be required of a parent whose 
  8.14  parental rights to the child have been terminated by a juvenile 
  8.15  court or who has lost custody of a child through a final 
  8.16  commitment of the juvenile court or through a decree in a prior 
  8.17  adoption proceeding. 
  8.18     (d) If there be no parent or guardian qualified to consent 
  8.19  to the adoption, the consent may be given by the commissioner. 
  8.20     (e) The commissioner or agency having authority to place a 
  8.21  child for adoption pursuant to section 259.25, subdivision 1, 
  8.22  shall have the exclusive right to consent to the adoption of 
  8.23  such child.  Notwithstanding any rule to the contrary, the 
  8.24  commissioner may delegate the right to consent to the adoption 
  8.25  or separation of siblings, if it is in the child's best 
  8.26  interest, to a local social services agency.  
  8.27     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 259.37, 
  8.28  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  8.29     Subd. 2.  [DISCLOSURE TO BIRTH PARENTS AND ADOPTIVE 
  8.30  PARENTS.] An agency shall provide a disclosure statement written 
  8.31  in clear, plain language to be signed by the prospective 
  8.32  adoptive parents and birth parents, except that in intercountry 
  8.33  adoptions, the signatures of birth parents are not required.  
  8.34  The disclosure statement must contain the following information: 
  8.35     (1) fees charged to the adoptive parent, including any 
  8.36  policy on sliding scale fees or fee waivers and an itemization 
  9.1   of the amount that will be charged for the adoption study, 
  9.2   counseling, postplacement services, family of origin searches, 
  9.3   birth parent expenses authorized under section 259.55, or any 
  9.4   other services; 
  9.5      (2) timeline for the adoptive parent to make fee payments; 
  9.6      (3) likelihood, given the circumstances of the prospective 
  9.7   adoptive parent and any specific program to which the 
  9.8   prospective adoptive parent is applying, that an adoptive 
  9.9   placement may be made and the estimated length of time for 
  9.10  making an adoptive placement.  These estimates must be based on 
  9.11  adoptive placements made with prospective parents in similar 
  9.12  circumstances applying to a similar program with the agency 
  9.13  during the immediately preceding three to five years.  If an 
  9.14  agency has not been in operation for at least three years, it 
  9.15  must provide summary data based on whatever adoptive placements 
  9.16  it has made and may include a statement about the kind of 
  9.17  efforts it will make to achieve an adoptive placement, including 
  9.18  a timetable it will follow in seeking a child.  The estimates 
  9.19  must include a statement that the agency cannot guarantee 
  9.20  placement of a child or a time by which a child will be placed; 
  9.21     (4) a statement of the services the agency will provide the 
  9.22  birth and adoptive parents; 
  9.23     (5) a statement prepared by the commissioner under section 
  9.24  259.39 that explains the child placement and adoption process 
  9.25  and the respective legal rights and responsibilities of the 
  9.26  birth parent and prospective adoptive parent during the process 
  9.27  including a statement that the prospective adoptive parent is 
  9.28  responsible for filing an adoption petition not later than 24 
  9.29  six months after the child is placed in the prospective adoptive 
  9.30  home; 
  9.31     (6) a statement regarding any information the agency may 
  9.32  have about attorney referral services, or about obtaining 
  9.33  assistance with completing legal requirements for an adoption; 
  9.34  and 
  9.35     (7) an acknowledgment to be signed by the birth parent and 
  9.36  prospective adoptive parent that they have received, read, and 
 10.1   had the opportunity to ask questions of the agency about the 
 10.2   contents of the disclosure statement. 
 10.3      Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
 10.4   259.47, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 10.5      Subd. 3.  [PREADOPTIVE CUSTODY ORDER.] (a) Before a child 
 10.6   is placed in a prospective adoptive home by a birth parent or 
 10.7   legal guardian, other than an agency, the placement must be 
 10.8   approved by the district court in the county where the 
 10.9   prospective adoptive parent resides.  An order under this 
 10.10  subdivision or subdivision 6 shall state that the prospective 
 10.11  adoptive parent's right to custody of the child is subject to 
 10.12  the birth parent's right to custody until the consents to the 
 10.13  child's adoption become irrevocable.  At the time of placement, 
 10.14  prospective adoptive parents must have for the child qualifying 
 10.15  existing coverage as defined in section 62L.02, subdivision 24, 
 10.16  or other similar comprehensive health care coverage.  The 
 10.17  preadoptive custody order must include any agreement reached 
 10.18  between the prospective adoptive parent and the birth parent 
 10.19  regarding authority to make decisions for medical care of the 
 10.20  child and responsibility for payment not provided by the 
 10.21  adoptive parent's existing health care coverage.  The 
 10.22  prospective adoptive parent must meet the residence requirements 
 10.23  of section 259.22, subdivision 1, and must file with the court 
 10.24  an affidavit of intent to remain a resident of the state for at 
 10.25  least three months after the child is placed in the prospective 
 10.26  adoptive home.  The prospective adoptive parent shall file with 
 10.27  the court a notice of intent to file an adoption petition and 
 10.28  submit a written motion seeking an order granting temporary 
 10.29  preadoptive custody.  The notice and motion required under this 
 10.30  subdivision may be considered by the court ex parte, without a 
 10.31  hearing.  The prospective adoptive parent shall serve a copy of 
 10.32  the notice and motion upon any parent whose consent is required 
 10.33  under section 259.24 or who is named in the affidavit required 
 10.34  under paragraph (b) if that person's mailing address is known.  
 10.35  The motion may be filed up to 60 days before the placement is to 
 10.36  be made and must include:  
 11.1      (1) the adoption study required under section 259.41; 
 11.2      (2) affidavits from the birth parents indicating their 
 11.3   support of the motion, or, if there is no affidavit from the 
 11.4   birth father, an affidavit from the birth mother under paragraph 
 11.5   (b); 
 11.6      (3) an itemized statement of expenses that have been paid 
 11.7   and an estimate of expenses that will be paid by the prospective 
 11.8   adoptive parents to the birth parents, any agency, attorney, or 
 11.9   other party in connection with the prospective adoption; 
 11.10     (4) the name of counsel for each party, if any; 
 11.11     (5) a statement that the birth parents: 
 11.12     (i) have provided the social and medical history required 
 11.13  under section 259.43 to the prospective adoptive parent; 
 11.14     (ii) have received the written statement of their legal 
 11.15  rights and responsibilities under section 259.39; and 
 11.16     (iii) have been notified of their right to receive 
 11.17  counseling under subdivision 4; and 
 11.18     (6) the name of the agency chosen by the adoptive parent to 
 11.19  supervise the adoptive placement and complete the postplacement 
 11.20  assessment required by section 259.53, subdivision 2. 
 11.21     The court shall review the expense statement submitted 
 11.22  under this subdivision to determine whether payments made or to 
 11.23  be made by the prospective adoptive parent are lawful and in 
 11.24  accordance with section 259.55, subdivision 1. 
 11.25     (b) If the birth mother submits the affidavit required in 
 11.26  paragraph (a), clause (2), but the birth father fails to do so, 
 11.27  the birth mother must submit an additional affidavit that 
 11.28  describes her good faith efforts or efforts made on her behalf 
 11.29  to identify and locate the birth father for purposes of securing 
 11.30  his consent.  In the following circumstances the birth mother 
 11.31  may instead submit an affidavit stating on which ground she is 
 11.32  exempt from making efforts to identify and locate the father: 
 11.33     (1) the child was conceived as the result of incest or 
 11.34  rape; 
 11.35     (2) efforts to locate the father by the affiant or anyone 
 11.36  acting on the affiant's behalf could reasonably result in 
 12.1   physical harm to the birth mother or child; or 
 12.2      (3) efforts to locate the father by the affiant or anyone 
 12.3   acting on the affiant's behalf could reasonably result in severe 
 12.4   emotional distress of the birth mother or child. 
 12.5      A court shall consider the motion for temporary preadoptive 
 12.6   custody within 30 days of receiving the motion or by the 
 12.7   anticipated placement date stated in the motion, whichever comes 
 12.8   sooner. 
 12.9      Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
 12.10  259.60, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 12.11     Subd. 2.  [AMENDED BIRTH CERTIFICATE; PROCEDURE AND ORDER.] 
 12.12  (a) Under the procedures in paragraph (b), a person, whose 
 12.13  adoption of a child under the laws of a foreign country is valid 
 12.14  in this state under subdivision 1, may petition the district 
 12.15  court in the county where the adoptive parent resides for a 
 12.16  decree confirming and recognizing the adoption, changing the 
 12.17  child's legal name, if requested in the petition, and 
 12.18  for authorizing the commissioner of health to issue a new birth 
 12.19  certificate for the child pursuant to section 144.218, 
 12.20  subdivision 2. 
 12.21     (b) A court shall issue the decree and birth 
 12.22  certificate described in paragraph (a) upon receipt of the 
 12.23  following documents: 
 12.24     (1) a petition by the adoptive parent requesting that the 
 12.25  court issue a Minnesota birth certificate, and stating that the 
 12.26  adoptive parent completed adoption of the child under the laws 
 12.27  of a foreign country and that the adoption is valid in this 
 12.28  state under subdivision 1 and requesting that the court issue a 
 12.29  decree confirming and recognizing the adoption, changing the 
 12.30  child's legal name, if desired, and authorizing the commissioner 
 12.31  of health to issue a new birth certificate for the child 
 12.32  pursuant to section 144.218, subdivision 2.  The petition must 
 12.33  be in the form of a signed, sworn, and notarized statement; 
 12.34     (2) a copy of the child's original birth certificate, if 
 12.35  available; 
 12.36     (3) a copy of the final adoption certificate or equivalent 
 13.1   as issued by the foreign jurisdiction; 
 13.2      (4) a copy of the child's passport including the United 
 13.3   States visa indicating IR-3 immigration status; and 
 13.4      (5) certified English translations of any of the documents 
 13.5   in clauses (2) to (4) that are not written in the English 
 13.6   language. 
 13.7      (c) Upon issuing a decree pursuant to this section, the 
 13.8   court shall forward to the commissioners of health and human 
 13.9   services a copy of the decree.  The court shall also complete 
 13.10  and forward to the commissioner of health the certificate of 
 13.11  adoption, unless another form has been specified by the 
 13.12  commissioner of health. 
 13.13     Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 260.011, 
 13.14  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 13.15     Subd. 2.  (a) The paramount consideration in all 
 13.16  proceedings concerning a child alleged or found to be in need of 
 13.17  protection or services is the health, safety, and best interests 
 13.18  of the child.  In proceedings involving an American Indian 
 13.19  child, as defined in section 257.351, subdivision 6, the best 
 13.20  interests of the child must be determined consistent with 
 13.21  sections 257.35 to 257.3579 and the Indian Child Welfare Act, 
 13.22  United States Code, title 25, sections 1901 to 1923.  The 
 13.23  purpose of the laws relating to juvenile courts is to secure for 
 13.24  each child alleged or adjudicated in need of protection or 
 13.25  services and under the jurisdiction of the court, the care and 
 13.26  guidance, preferably in the child's own home, as will best serve 
 13.27  the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical welfare of the 
 13.28  child; to provide judicial procedures which protect the welfare 
 13.29  of the child; to preserve and strengthen the child's family ties 
 13.30  whenever possible and in the child's best interests, removing 
 13.31  the child from the custody of parents only when the child's 
 13.32  welfare or safety cannot be adequately safeguarded without 
 13.33  removal; and, when removal from the child's own family is 
 13.34  necessary and in the child's best interests, to secure for the 
 13.35  child custody, care and discipline as nearly as possible 
 13.36  equivalent to that which should have been given by the parents.  
 14.1      (b) The purpose of the laws relating to termination of 
 14.2   parental rights is to ensure that: 
 14.3      (1) reasonable efforts have been made by the social service 
 14.4   agency to reunite the child with the child's parents in a 
 14.5   placement that is safe and permanent; and 
 14.6      (2) if placement with the parents is not reasonably 
 14.7   foreseeable, to secure for the child a safe and permanent 
 14.8   placement, preferably with adoptive parents. 
 14.9      Nothing in this section requires reasonable efforts to be 
 14.10  made in circumstances where the court has determined that the 
 14.11  child has been subjected to egregious harm or the parental 
 14.12  rights of the parent to a sibling have been terminated. 
 14.13     The paramount consideration in all proceedings for the 
 14.14  termination of parental rights is the best interests of the 
 14.15  child.  In proceedings involving an American Indian child, as 
 14.16  defined in section 257.351, subdivision 6, the best interests of 
 14.17  the child must be determined consistent with the Indian Child 
 14.18  Welfare Act of 1978, United States Code, title 25, section 1901, 
 14.19  et seq.  
 14.20     (c) The purpose of the laws relating to children alleged or 
 14.21  adjudicated to be delinquent is to promote the public safety and 
 14.22  reduce juvenile delinquency by maintaining the integrity of the 
 14.23  substantive law prohibiting certain behavior and by developing 
 14.24  individual responsibility for lawful behavior.  This purpose 
 14.25  should be pursued through means that are fair and just, that 
 14.26  recognize the unique characteristics and needs of children, and 
 14.27  that give children access to opportunities for personal and 
 14.28  social growth.  
 14.29     (d) The laws relating to juvenile courts shall be liberally 
 14.30  construed to carry out these purposes.  
 14.31     Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
 14.32  260.012, is amended to read: 
 14.33     260.012 [DUTY TO ENSURE PLACEMENT PREVENTION AND FAMILY 
 14.34  REUNIFICATION; REASONABLE EFFORTS.] 
 14.35     (a) If a child in need of protection or services is under 
 14.36  the court's jurisdiction, the court shall ensure that reasonable 
 15.1   efforts including culturally appropriate services by the social 
 15.2   service agency are made to prevent placement or to eliminate the 
 15.3   need for removal and to reunite the child with the child's 
 15.4   family at the earliest possible time, consistent with the best 
 15.5   interests, safety, and protection of the child.  The court may, 
 15.6   upon motion and hearing, order the cessation of reasonable 
 15.7   efforts if the court finds that provision of services or further 
 15.8   services for the purpose of rehabilitation and reunification is 
 15.9   futile and therefore unreasonable under the circumstances.  In 
 15.10  determining reasonable efforts to be made with respect to a 
 15.11  child and in making those reasonable efforts, the child's health 
 15.12  and safety must be of paramount concern.  Reasonable efforts are 
 15.13  not required if the court determines that the parent has 
 15.14  subjected the child to egregious harm as defined in section 
 15.15  260.015, subdivision 29, or the parental rights of the parent to 
 15.16  a sibling have been terminated involuntarily.  If reasonable 
 15.17  efforts are not made under this section, a permanency hearing 
 15.18  must be held or a termination of parental rights petition filed 
 15.19  within 30 days of the determination.  In the case of an Indian 
 15.20  child, in proceedings under sections 260.172, 260.191, and 
 15.21  260.221 the juvenile court must make findings and conclusions 
 15.22  consistent with the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, United 
 15.23  States Code, title 25, section 1901 et seq., as to the provision 
 15.24  of active efforts.  If a child is under the court's delinquency 
 15.25  jurisdiction, it shall be the duty of the court to ensure that 
 15.26  reasonable efforts are made to reunite the child with the 
 15.27  child's family at the earliest possible time, consistent with 
 15.28  the best interests of the child and the safety of the public. 
 15.29     (b) "Reasonable efforts" means the exercise of due 
 15.30  diligence by the responsible social service agency to use 
 15.31  appropriate and available services to meet the needs of the 
 15.32  child and the child's family in order to prevent removal of the 
 15.33  child from the child's family; or upon removal, services to 
 15.34  eliminate the need for removal and reunite the family.  Services 
 15.35  may include those listed under section 256F.07, subdivision 3, 
 15.36  and other appropriate services available in the community.  The 
 16.1   social service agency has the burden of demonstrating that it 
 16.2   has made reasonable efforts or that provision of services or 
 16.3   further services for the purpose of rehabilitation and 
 16.4   reunification is futile and therefore unreasonable under the 
 16.5   circumstances.  Reunification of a surviving child with a parent 
 16.6   is not required if the parent has been convicted of: 
 16.7      (1) a violation of, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit a 
 16.8   violation of, sections 609.185 to 609.20; 609.222, subdivision 
 16.9   2; or 609.223 in regard to another child of the parent; 
 16.10     (2) a violation of section 609.222, subdivision 2; or 
 16.11  609.223, in regard to the surviving child; or 
 16.12     (3) a violation of, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit a 
 16.13  violation of, United States Code, title 18, section 1111(a) or 
 16.14  1112(a), in regard to another child of the parent. 
 16.15     (c) The juvenile court, in proceedings under sections 
 16.16  260.172, 260.191, and 260.221 shall make findings and 
 16.17  conclusions as to the provision of reasonable efforts.  When 
 16.18  determining whether reasonable efforts have been made, the court 
 16.19  shall consider whether services to the child and family were: 
 16.20     (1) relevant to the safety and protection of the child; 
 16.21     (2) adequate to meet the needs of the child and family; 
 16.22     (3) culturally appropriate; 
 16.23     (4) available and accessible; 
 16.24     (5) consistent and timely; and 
 16.25     (6) realistic under the circumstances. 
 16.26     In the alternative, the court may determine that provision 
 16.27  of services or further services for the purpose of 
 16.28  rehabilitation is futile and therefore unreasonable under the 
 16.29  circumstances or that reasonable efforts are not required as 
 16.30  provided in paragraph (a). 
 16.31     (d) This section does not prevent out-of-home placement for 
 16.32  treatment of a child with a mental disability when the child's 
 16.33  diagnostic assessment or individual treatment plan indicates 
 16.34  that appropriate and necessary treatment cannot be effectively 
 16.35  provided outside of a residential or inpatient treatment program.
 16.36     (e) If continuation of reasonable efforts described in 
 17.1   paragraph (b) is determined to be inconsistent with the 
 17.2   permanency plan for the child, reasonable efforts must be made 
 17.3   to place the child in a timely manner in accordance with the 
 17.4   permanency plan and to complete whatever steps are necessary to 
 17.5   finalize the permanency plan for the child.  
 17.6      (f) Reasonable efforts to place a child for adoption or 
 17.7   with a legal guardian may be made concurrently with reasonable 
 17.8   efforts as described in paragraphs (a) and (b).  Effective July 
 17.9   1, 1999, concurrent permanency planning must be made along with 
 17.10  reasonable efforts described in subdivision 1, as provided in 
 17.11  section 257.0711. 
 17.12     Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
 17.13  260.015, subdivision 29, is amended to read: 
 17.14     Subd. 29.  [EGREGIOUS HARM.] "Egregious harm" means the 
 17.15  infliction of bodily harm to a child or neglect of a child which 
 17.16  demonstrates a grossly inadequate ability to provide minimally 
 17.17  adequate parental care.  The egregious harm need not have 
 17.18  occurred in the state or in the county where a termination of 
 17.19  parental rights action is otherwise properly venued.  Egregious 
 17.20  harm includes, but is not limited to: 
 17.21     (1) conduct towards a child that constitutes a violation of 
 17.22  sections 609.185 to 609.21, 609.222, subdivision 2, 609.223, or 
 17.23  any other similar law of any other state; 
 17.24     (2) the infliction of "substantial bodily harm" to a child, 
 17.25  as defined in section 609.02, subdivision 8; 
 17.26     (3) conduct towards a child that constitutes felony 
 17.27  malicious punishment of a child under section 609.377; 
 17.28     (4) conduct towards a child that constitutes felony 
 17.29  unreasonable restraint of a child under section 609.255, 
 17.30  subdivision 3; 
 17.31     (5) conduct towards a child that constitutes felony neglect 
 17.32  or endangerment of a child under section 609.378; 
 17.33     (6) conduct towards a child that constitutes assault under 
 17.34  section 609.221, 609.222, or 609.223; 
 17.35     (7) conduct towards a child that constitutes solicitation, 
 17.36  inducement, or promotion of prostitution under section 609.322; 
 18.1      (8) conduct towards a child that constitutes receiving 
 18.2   profit derived from prostitution under section 609.323; or 
 18.3      (9) conduct toward a child that constitutes a violation of 
 18.4   United States Code, title 18, section 1111(a) or 1112(a); or 
 18.5      (10) conduct toward a child that constitutes aiding or 
 18.6   abetting, attempting, conspiring, or soliciting to commit a 
 18.7   murder or voluntary manslaughter that constitutes a violation of 
 18.8   United States Code, title 18, section 1111(a) or 1112(a). 
 18.9      Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 260.141, is 
 18.10  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 18.11     Subd. 4.  [NOTICE TO FOSTER PARENTS AND PREADOPTIVE PARENTS 
 18.12  AND RELATIVES.] The foster parents, if any, of a child and any 
 18.13  preadoptive parent or relative providing care for the child must 
 18.14  be provided notice of and an opportunity to be heard in any 
 18.15  review or hearing to be held with respect to the child.  This 
 18.16  section must not be construed to require that any foster parent, 
 18.17  preadoptive parent, or relative providing care for the child be 
 18.18  made a party to such a review or hearing solely on the basis of 
 18.19  such notice and opportunity to be heard.  
 18.20     Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 260.172, 
 18.21  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 18.22     Subdivision 1.  [HEARING AND RELEASE REQUIREMENTS.] (a) If 
 18.23  a child was taken into custody under section 260.165, 
 18.24  subdivision 1, clause (a) or (c)(2), the court shall hold a 
 18.25  hearing within 72 hours of the time the child was taken into 
 18.26  custody, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, to 
 18.27  determine whether the child should continue in custody.  
 18.28     (b) In all other cases, the court shall hold a detention 
 18.29  hearing: 
 18.30     (1) within 36 hours of the time the child was taken into 
 18.31  custody, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, if the 
 18.32  child is being held at a juvenile secure detention facility or 
 18.33  shelter care facility; or 
 18.34     (2) within 24 hours of the time the child was taken into 
 18.35  custody, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, if the 
 18.36  child is being held at an adult jail or municipal lockup.  
 19.1      (c) Unless there is reason to believe that the child would 
 19.2   endanger self or others, not return for a court hearing, run 
 19.3   away from the child's parent, guardian, or custodian or 
 19.4   otherwise not remain in the care or control of the person to 
 19.5   whose lawful custody the child is released, or that the child's 
 19.6   health or welfare would be immediately endangered, the child 
 19.7   shall be released to the custody of a parent, guardian, 
 19.8   custodian, or other suitable person, subject to reasonable 
 19.9   conditions of release including, but not limited to, a 
 19.10  requirement that the child undergo a chemical use assessment as 
 19.11  provided in section 260.151, subdivision 1.  In determining 
 19.12  whether the child's health or welfare would be immediately 
 19.13  endangered, the court shall consider whether the child would 
 19.14  reside with a perpetrator of domestic child abuse. In a 
 19.15  proceeding regarding a child in need of protection or services, 
 19.16  the court, before determining whether a child should continue in 
 19.17  custody, shall also make a determination, consistent with 
 19.18  section 260.012 as to whether reasonable efforts, or in the case 
 19.19  of an Indian child, active efforts, according to the Indian 
 19.20  Child Welfare Act of 1978, United States Code, title 25, section 
 19.21  1912(d), were made to prevent placement or to reunite the child 
 19.22  with the child's family, or that reasonable efforts were not 
 19.23  possible.  The court shall also determine whether there are 
 19.24  available services that would prevent the need for further 
 19.25  detention. 
 19.26     If the court finds the social services agency's preventive 
 19.27  or reunification efforts have not been reasonable but further 
 19.28  preventive or reunification efforts could not permit the child 
 19.29  to safely remain at home, the court may nevertheless authorize 
 19.30  or continue the removal of the child. 
 19.31     The court may determine at the detention hearing, or at any 
 19.32  time prior to an adjudicatory hearing, that the reasonable 
 19.33  efforts are not required because the facts, if proved, will 
 19.34  demonstrate that the parent has subjected the child to egregious 
 19.35  harm as defined in section 260.015, subdivision 29, or the 
 19.36  parental rights of the parent to a sibling of the child have 
 20.1   been terminated involuntarily.  
 20.2      Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
 20.3   260.191, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 20.4      Subdivision 1.  [DISPOSITIONS.] (a) If the court finds that 
 20.5   the child is in need of protection or services or neglected and 
 20.6   in foster care, it shall enter an order making any of the 
 20.7   following dispositions of the case: 
 20.8      (1) place the child under the protective supervision of the 
 20.9   local social services agency or child-placing agency in the 
 20.10  child's own home under conditions prescribed by the court 
 20.11  directed to the correction of the child's need for protection or 
 20.12  services; 
 20.13     (2) transfer legal custody to one of the following: 
 20.14     (i) a child-placing agency; or 
 20.15     (ii) the local social services agency. 
 20.16     In placing a child whose custody has been transferred under 
 20.17  this paragraph, the agencies shall follow the order of 
 20.18  preference stated in section 260.181, subdivision 3; 
 20.19     (3) if the child is in need of special treatment and care 
 20.20  for reasons of physical or mental health, the court may order 
 20.21  the child's parent, guardian, or custodian to provide it.  If 
 20.22  the parent, guardian, or custodian fails or is unable to provide 
 20.23  this treatment or care, the court may order it provided.  The 
 20.24  court shall not transfer legal custody of the child for the 
 20.25  purpose of obtaining special treatment or care solely because 
 20.26  the parent is unable to provide the treatment or care.  If the 
 20.27  court's order for mental health treatment is based on a 
 20.28  diagnosis made by a treatment professional, the court may order 
 20.29  that the diagnosing professional not provide the treatment to 
 20.30  the child if it finds that such an order is in the child's best 
 20.31  interests; or 
 20.32     (4) if the court believes that the child has sufficient 
 20.33  maturity and judgment and that it is in the best interests of 
 20.34  the child, the court may order a child 16 years old or older to 
 20.35  be allowed to live independently, either alone or with others as 
 20.36  approved by the court under supervision the court considers 
 21.1   appropriate, if the county board, after consultation with the 
 21.2   court, has specifically authorized this dispositional 
 21.3   alternative for a child. 
 21.4      (b) If the child was adjudicated in need of protection or 
 21.5   services because the child is a runaway or habitual truant, the 
 21.6   court may order any of the following dispositions in addition to 
 21.7   or as alternatives to the dispositions authorized under 
 21.8   paragraph (a): 
 21.9      (1) counsel the child or the child's parents, guardian, or 
 21.10  custodian; 
 21.11     (2) place the child under the supervision of a probation 
 21.12  officer or other suitable person in the child's own home under 
 21.13  conditions prescribed by the court, including reasonable rules 
 21.14  for the child's conduct and the conduct of the parents, 
 21.15  guardian, or custodian, designed for the physical, mental, and 
 21.16  moral well-being and behavior of the child; or with the consent 
 21.17  of the commissioner of corrections, place the child in a group 
 21.18  foster care facility which is under the commissioner's 
 21.19  management and supervision; 
 21.20     (3) subject to the court's supervision, transfer legal 
 21.21  custody of the child to one of the following: 
 21.22     (i) a reputable person of good moral character.  No person 
 21.23  may receive custody of two or more unrelated children unless 
 21.24  licensed to operate a residential program under sections 245A.01 
 21.25  to 245A.16; or 
 21.26     (ii) a county probation officer for placement in a group 
 21.27  foster home established under the direction of the juvenile 
 21.28  court and licensed pursuant to section 241.021; 
 21.29     (4) require the child to pay a fine of up to $100.  The 
 21.30  court shall order payment of the fine in a manner that will not 
 21.31  impose undue financial hardship upon the child; 
 21.32     (5) require the child to participate in a community service 
 21.33  project; 
 21.34     (6) order the child to undergo a chemical dependency 
 21.35  evaluation and, if warranted by the evaluation, order 
 21.36  participation by the child in a drug awareness program or an 
 22.1   inpatient or outpatient chemical dependency treatment program; 
 22.2      (7) if the court believes that it is in the best interests 
 22.3   of the child and of public safety that the child's driver's 
 22.4   license or instruction permit be canceled, the court may order 
 22.5   the commissioner of public safety to cancel the child's license 
 22.6   or permit for any period up to the child's 18th birthday.  If 
 22.7   the child does not have a driver's license or permit, the court 
 22.8   may order a denial of driving privileges for any period up to 
 22.9   the child's 18th birthday.  The court shall forward an order 
 22.10  issued under this clause to the commissioner, who shall cancel 
 22.11  the license or permit or deny driving privileges without a 
 22.12  hearing for the period specified by the court.  At any time 
 22.13  before the expiration of the period of cancellation or denial, 
 22.14  the court may, for good cause, order the commissioner of public 
 22.15  safety to allow the child to apply for a license or permit, and 
 22.16  the commissioner shall so authorize; 
 22.17     (8) order that the child's parent or legal guardian deliver 
 22.18  the child to school at the beginning of each school day for a 
 22.19  period of time specified by the court; or 
 22.20     (9) require the child to perform any other activities or 
 22.21  participate in any other treatment programs deemed appropriate 
 22.22  by the court.  
 22.23     To the extent practicable, the court shall enter a 
 22.24  disposition order the same day it makes a finding that a child 
 22.25  is in need of protection or services or neglected and in foster 
 22.26  care, but in no event more than 45 days after the finding unless 
 22.27  the court finds that the best interests of the child will be 
 22.28  served by granting a delay.  If the child was under eight years 
 22.29  of age at the time the petition was filed, the disposition order 
 22.30  must be entered within 30 days of the finding and the court may 
 22.31  not grant a delay unless good cause is shown and the court finds 
 22.32  the best interests of the child will be served by the delay. 
 22.33     (c) If a child who is 14 years of age or older is 
 22.34  adjudicated in need of protection or services because the child 
 22.35  is a habitual truant and truancy procedures involving the child 
 22.36  were previously dealt with by a school attendance review board 
 23.1   or county attorney mediation program under section 260A.06 or 
 23.2   260A.07, the court shall order a cancellation or denial of 
 23.3   driving privileges under paragraph (b), clause (7), for any 
 23.4   period up to the child's 18th birthday. 
 23.5      (d) In the case of a child adjudicated in need of 
 23.6   protection or services because the child has committed domestic 
 23.7   abuse and been ordered excluded from the child's parent's home, 
 23.8   the court shall dismiss jurisdiction if the court, at any time, 
 23.9   finds the parent is able or willing to provide an alternative 
 23.10  safe living arrangement for the child, as defined in Laws 1997, 
 23.11  chapter 239, article 10, section 2. 
 23.12     Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
 23.13  260.191, subdivision 1a, is amended to read: 
 23.14     Subd. 1a.  [WRITTEN FINDINGS.] Any order for a disposition 
 23.15  authorized under this section shall contain written findings of 
 23.16  fact to support the disposition ordered, and shall also set 
 23.17  forth in writing the following information: 
 23.18     (a) Why the best interests of the child are served by the 
 23.19  disposition ordered; 
 23.20     (b) What alternative dispositions were considered by the 
 23.21  court and why such dispositions were not appropriate in the 
 23.22  instant case; 
 23.23     (c) How the court's disposition complies with the 
 23.24  requirements of section 260.181, subdivision 3; and 
 23.25     (d) Whether reasonable efforts consistent with section 
 23.26  260.012 were made to prevent or eliminate the necessity of the 
 23.27  child's removal and to reunify the family after removal.  The 
 23.28  court's findings must include a brief description of what 
 23.29  preventive and reunification efforts were made and why further 
 23.30  efforts could not have prevented or eliminated the necessity of 
 23.31  removal or whether reasonable efforts were not required under 
 23.32  section 260.012 or 260.172, subdivision 1. 
 23.33     If the court finds that the social services agency's 
 23.34  preventive or reunification efforts have not been reasonable but 
 23.35  that further preventive or reunification efforts could not 
 23.36  permit the child to safely remain at home, the court may 
 24.1   nevertheless authorize or continue the removal of the child. 
 24.2      Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 260.191, 
 24.3   subdivision 1e, is amended to read: 
 24.4      Subd. 1e.  [CASE PLAN.] For each disposition ordered, the 
 24.5   court shall order the appropriate agency to prepare a written 
 24.6   case plan developed after consultation with any foster parents, 
 24.7   and consultation with and participation by the child and the 
 24.8   child's parent, guardian, or custodian, guardian ad litem, and 
 24.9   tribal representative if the tribe has intervened.  The case 
 24.10  plan shall comply with the requirements of section 257.071, 
 24.11  where applicable.  The case plan shall, among other matters, 
 24.12  specify the actions to ensure the child's safety and to be taken 
 24.13  by the child and the child's parent, guardian, foster parent, or 
 24.14  custodian to comply with the court's disposition order, and the 
 24.15  services to be offered and provided by the agency to the child 
 24.16  and the child's parent, guardian, or custodian.  The court shall 
 24.17  review the case plan and, upon approving it, incorporate the 
 24.18  plan into its disposition order.  The court may review and 
 24.19  modify the terms of the case plan in the manner provided in 
 24.20  subdivision 2.  For each disposition ordered, the written case 
 24.21  plan shall specify what reasonable efforts shall be provided to 
 24.22  the family.  The case plan must include a discussion of: 
 24.23     (1) the availability of appropriate prevention and 
 24.24  reunification services for the family to safely prevent the 
 24.25  removal of the child from the home or to safely reunify the 
 24.26  child with the family after removal; 
 24.27     (2) any services or resources that were requested by the 
 24.28  child or the child's parent, guardian, foster parent, or 
 24.29  custodian since the date of initial adjudication, and whether 
 24.30  those services or resources were provided or the basis for 
 24.31  denial of the services or resources; 
 24.32     (3) the need of the child and family for care, treatment, 
 24.33  or rehabilitation; 
 24.34     (4) the need for participation by the parent, guardian, or 
 24.35  custodian in the plan of care for the child; 
 24.36     (5) the visitation rights and obligations of the parent or 
 25.1   other relatives, as defined in section 260.181, subdivision 3, 
 25.2   during any period when the child is placed outside the home; and 
 25.3      (6) a description of any services that could safely prevent 
 25.4   placement or reunify the family if such services were available. 
 25.5      A party has a right to request a court review of the 
 25.6   reasonableness of the case plan upon a showing of a substantial 
 25.7   change of circumstances. 
 25.8      Sec. 20.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
 25.9   260.191, subdivision 3b, is amended to read: 
 25.10     Subd. 3b.  [REVIEW OF COURT ORDERED PLACEMENTS; PERMANENT 
 25.11  PLACEMENT DETERMINATION.] (a) The court shall conduct a hearing 
 25.12  to determine the permanent status of a child not later than 12 
 25.13  months after the child is placed out of the home of the parent, 
 25.14  except that if the child was under eight years of age at the 
 25.15  time the petition was filed, the hearing must be conducted no 
 25.16  later than three months after the order of disposition is 
 25.17  entered under subdivision 1. 
 25.18     For purposes of this subdivision, the date of the child's 
 25.19  placement out of the home of the parent is the earlier of the 
 25.20  first court-ordered placement or the first court-approved 
 25.21  placement under section 257.071, subdivision 3, of a child who 
 25.22  had been in voluntary placement 60 days after the date on which 
 25.23  the child has been voluntarily placed out of the home. 
 25.24     For purposes of this subdivision, 12 months is calculated 
 25.25  as follows: 
 25.26     (1) during the pendency of a petition alleging that a child 
 25.27  is in need of protection or services, all time periods when a 
 25.28  child is placed out of the home of the parent are cumulated; 
 25.29     (2) if a child has been placed out of the home of the 
 25.30  parent within the previous five years in connection with one or 
 25.31  more prior petitions for a child in need of protection or 
 25.32  services, the lengths of all prior time periods when the child 
 25.33  was placed out of the home within the previous five years and 
 25.34  under the current petition, are cumulated.  If a child under 
 25.35  this clause has been out of the home for 12 months or more, the 
 25.36  court, if it is in the best interests of the child, may extend 
 26.1   the total time the child may continue out of the home under the 
 26.2   current petition up to an additional six months before making a 
 26.3   permanency determination.  
 26.4      (b) Not later than ten days prior to this hearing, the 
 26.5   responsible social service agency shall file pleadings to 
 26.6   establish the basis for the permanent placement determination.  
 26.7   Notice of the hearing and copies of the pleadings must be 
 26.8   provided pursuant to section 260.141.  If a termination of 
 26.9   parental rights petition is filed before the date required for 
 26.10  the permanency planning determination, no hearing need be 
 26.11  conducted under this subdivision.  The court shall determine 
 26.12  whether the child is to be returned home or, if not, what 
 26.13  permanent placement is consistent with the child's best 
 26.14  interests.  The "best interests of the child" means all relevant 
 26.15  factors to be considered and evaluated. 
 26.16     (c) At a hearing under this subdivision, if the child was 
 26.17  under eight years of age at the time the petition was filed, the 
 26.18  court shall review the progress of the case and the case plan, 
 26.19  including the provision of services.  The court may order the 
 26.20  social service agency to show cause why it should not file a 
 26.21  termination of parental rights petition.  Cause may include, but 
 26.22  is not limited to, the following conditions: 
 26.23     (1) the parents or guardians have maintained regular 
 26.24  parenting time and contact with the child, and the child would 
 26.25  benefit from continuing this relationship; or 
 26.26     (2) grounds for termination under section 260.221 do not 
 26.27  exist. 
 26.28     (d) If the child is not returned to the home, the 
 26.29  dispositions available for permanent placement determination are:
 26.30     (1) permanent legal and physical custody to a relative in 
 26.31  the best interests of the child.  In transferring permanent 
 26.32  legal and physical custody to a relative, the juvenile court 
 26.33  shall follow the standards and procedures applicable under 
 26.34  chapter 257 or 518.  An order establishing permanent legal or 
 26.35  physical custody under this subdivision must be filed with the 
 26.36  family court.  A transfer of legal and physical custody includes 
 27.1   responsibility for the protection, education, care, and control 
 27.2   of the child and decision making on behalf of the child.  The 
 27.3   social service agency may petition on behalf of the proposed 
 27.4   custodian; 
 27.5      (2) termination of parental rights and adoption; the social 
 27.6   service agency shall file a petition for termination of parental 
 27.7   rights under section 260.231 and all the requirements of 
 27.8   sections 260.221 to 260.245 remain applicable.  An adoption 
 27.9   completed subsequent to a determination under this subdivision 
 27.10  may include an agreement for communication or contact under 
 27.11  section 259.58; or 
 27.12     (3) long-term foster care; transfer of legal custody and 
 27.13  adoption are preferred permanency options for a child who cannot 
 27.14  return home.  The court may order a child into long-term foster 
 27.15  care only if it finds that neither an award of legal and 
 27.16  physical custody to a relative, nor termination of parental 
 27.17  rights nor adoption is in the child's best interests.  Further, 
 27.18  the court may only order long-term foster care for the child 
 27.19  under this section if it finds the following: 
 27.20     (i) the child has reached age 12 and reasonable efforts by 
 27.21  the responsible social service agency have failed to locate an 
 27.22  adoptive family for the child; or 
 27.23     (ii) the child is a sibling of a child described in clause 
 27.24  (i) and the siblings have a significant positive relationship 
 27.25  and are ordered into the same long-term foster care home; or 
 27.26     (4) foster care for a specified period of time may be 
 27.27  ordered only if: 
 27.28     (i) the sole basis for an adjudication that a child is in 
 27.29  need of protection or services is that the child is a runaway, 
 27.30  is an habitual truant, or committed a delinquent act before age 
 27.31  ten; and 
 27.32     (ii) the court finds that foster care for a specified 
 27.33  period of time is in the best interests of the child. 
 27.34     (d) In ordering a permanent placement of a child, the court 
 27.35  must be governed by the best interests of the child, including a 
 27.36  review of the relationship between the child and relatives and 
 28.1   the child and other important persons with whom the child has 
 28.2   resided or had significant contact. 
 28.3      (e) Once a permanent placement determination has been made 
 28.4   and permanent placement has been established, further court 
 28.5   reviews and dispositional hearings are only necessary if the 
 28.6   placement is made under paragraph (c), clause (4), review is 
 28.7   otherwise required by federal law, an adoption has not yet been 
 28.8   finalized, or there is a disruption of the permanent or 
 28.9   long-term placement.  
 28.10     (f) An order under this subdivision must include the 
 28.11  following detailed findings: 
 28.12     (1) how the child's best interests are served by the order; 
 28.13     (2) the nature and extent of the responsible social service 
 28.14  agency's reasonable efforts, or, in the case of an Indian child, 
 28.15  active efforts, to reunify the child with the parent or parents; 
 28.16     (3) the parent's or parents' efforts and ability to use 
 28.17  services to correct the conditions which led to the out-of-home 
 28.18  placement; 
 28.19     (4) whether the conditions which led to the out-of-home 
 28.20  placement have been corrected so that the child can return home; 
 28.21  and 
 28.22     (5) if the child cannot be returned home, whether there is 
 28.23  a substantial probability of the child being able to return home 
 28.24  in the next six months.  
 28.25     (g) An order for permanent legal and physical custody of a 
 28.26  child may be modified under sections 518.18 and 518.185.  The 
 28.27  social service agency is a party to the proceeding and must 
 28.28  receive notice.  An order for long-term foster care is 
 28.29  reviewable upon motion and a showing by the parent of a 
 28.30  substantial change in the parent's circumstances such that the 
 28.31  parent could provide appropriate care for the child and that 
 28.32  removal of the child from the child's permanent placement and 
 28.33  the return to the parent's care would be in the best interest of 
 28.34  the child. 
 28.35     Sec. 21.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 260.221, as 
 28.36  amended by Laws 1997, chapters 218, sections 10 and 11, and 239, 
 29.1   article 6, section 30, is amended to read: 
 29.2      260.221 [GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS.] 
 29.3      Subdivision 1.  [VOLUNTARY AND INVOLUNTARY.] The juvenile 
 29.4   court may upon petition, terminate all rights of a parent to a 
 29.5   child: 
 29.6      (a) with the written consent of a parent who for good cause 
 29.7   desires to terminate parental rights; or 
 29.8      (b) if it finds that one or more of the following 
 29.9   conditions exist: 
 29.10     (1) that the parent has abandoned the child; or 
 29.11     (2) that the parent has substantially, continuously, or 
 29.12  repeatedly refused or neglected to comply with the duties 
 29.13  imposed upon that parent by the parent and child relationship, 
 29.14  including but not limited to providing the child with necessary 
 29.15  food, clothing, shelter, education, and other care and control 
 29.16  necessary for the child's physical, mental, or emotional health 
 29.17  and development, if the parent is physically and financially 
 29.18  able, and reasonable efforts by the social service agency have 
 29.19  failed to correct the conditions that formed the basis of the 
 29.20  petition; or 
 29.21     (3) that a parent has been ordered to contribute to the 
 29.22  support of the child or financially aid in the child's birth and 
 29.23  has continuously failed to do so without good cause.  This 
 29.24  clause shall not be construed to state a grounds for termination 
 29.25  of parental rights of a noncustodial parent if that parent has 
 29.26  not been ordered to or cannot financially contribute to the 
 29.27  support of the child or aid in the child's birth; or 
 29.28     (4) that a parent is palpably unfit to be a party to the 
 29.29  parent and child relationship because of a consistent pattern of 
 29.30  specific conduct before the child or of specific conditions 
 29.31  directly relating to the parent and child relationship either of 
 29.32  which are determined by the court to be of a duration or nature 
 29.33  that renders the parent unable, for the reasonably foreseeable 
 29.34  future, to care appropriately for the ongoing physical, mental, 
 29.35  or emotional needs of the child.  It is presumed that a parent 
 29.36  is palpably unfit to be a party to the parent and child 
 30.1   relationship upon a showing that: 
 30.2      (i) the child was adjudicated in need of protection or 
 30.3   services due to circumstances described in section 260.015, 
 30.4   subdivision 2a, clause (1), (2), (3), (5), or (8); and 
 30.5      (ii) the parent's parental rights to one or more other 
 30.6   children were involuntarily terminated under clause (1), (2), 
 30.7   (4), or (7), or under clause (5) if the child was initially 
 30.8   determined to be in need of protection or services due to 
 30.9   circumstances described in section 260.015, subdivision 2a, 
 30.10  clause (1), (2), (3), (5), or (8); or 
 30.11     (5) that following upon a determination of neglect or 
 30.12  dependency, or of a child's need for protection or services, 
 30.13  reasonable efforts, under the direction of the court, have 
 30.14  failed to correct the conditions leading to the determination.  
 30.15  It is presumed that reasonable efforts under this clause have 
 30.16  failed upon a showing that: 
 30.17     (i) a child has resided out of the parental home under 
 30.18  court order for a cumulative period of more than one year within 
 30.19  a five-year period following an adjudication of dependency, 
 30.20  neglect, need for protection or services under section 260.015, 
 30.21  subdivision 2a, clause (1), (2), (3), (6), (8), or (9), or 
 30.22  neglected and in foster care, and an order for disposition under 
 30.23  section 260.191, including adoption of the case plan required by 
 30.24  section 257.071; 
 30.25     (ii) conditions leading to the determination will not be 
 30.26  corrected within the reasonably foreseeable future.  It is 
 30.27  presumed that conditions leading to a child's out-of-home 
 30.28  placement will not be corrected in the reasonably foreseeable 
 30.29  future upon a showing that the parent or parents have not 
 30.30  substantially complied with the court's orders and a reasonable 
 30.31  case plan, and the conditions which led to the out-of-home 
 30.32  placement have not been corrected; and 
 30.33     (iii) reasonable efforts have been made by the social 
 30.34  service agency to rehabilitate the parent and reunite the family.
 30.35     This clause does not prohibit the termination of parental 
 30.36  rights prior to one year after a child has been placed out of 
 31.1   the home.  
 31.2      It is also presumed that reasonable efforts have failed 
 31.3   under this clause upon a showing that: 
 31.4      (i) the parent has been diagnosed as chemically dependent 
 31.5   by a professional certified to make the diagnosis; 
 31.6      (ii) the parent has been required by a case plan to 
 31.7   participate in a chemical dependency treatment program; 
 31.8      (iii) the treatment programs offered to the parent were 
 31.9   culturally, linguistically, and clinically appropriate; 
 31.10     (iv) the parent has either failed two or more times to 
 31.11  successfully complete a treatment program or has refused at two 
 31.12  or more separate meetings with a caseworker to participate in a 
 31.13  treatment program; and 
 31.14     (v) the parent continues to abuse chemicals.  
 31.15  Provided, that this presumption applies only to parents required 
 31.16  by a case plan to participate in a chemical dependency treatment 
 31.17  program on or after July 1, 1990; or 
 31.18     (6) that a child has experienced egregious harm in the 
 31.19  parent's care which is of a nature, duration, or chronicity that 
 31.20  indicates a lack of regard for the child's well-being, such that 
 31.21  a reasonable person would believe it contrary to the best 
 31.22  interest of the child or of any child to be in the parent's 
 31.23  care; or 
 31.24     (7) that in the case of a child born to a mother who was 
 31.25  not married to the child's father when the child was conceived 
 31.26  nor when the child was born the person is not entitled to notice 
 31.27  of an adoption hearing under section 259.49 and the person has 
 31.28  not registered with the putative fathers' adoption registry 
 31.29  under section 259.52; or 
 31.30     (8) that the child is neglected and in foster care; or 
 31.31     (9) that the parent has been convicted of a crime listed in 
 31.32  section 260.012, paragraph (b), clauses (1) to (3). 
 31.33     In an action involving an American Indian child, sections 
 31.34  257.35 to 257.3579 and the Indian Child Welfare Act, United 
 31.35  States Code, title 25, sections 1901 to 1923, control to the 
 31.36  extent that the provisions of this section are inconsistent with 
 32.1   those laws. 
 32.2      Subd. 1a.  [EVIDENCE OF ABANDONMENT.] For purposes of 
 32.3   subdivision 1, paragraph (b), clause (1): 
 32.4      (a) Abandonment is presumed when: 
 32.5      (1) the parent has had no contact with the child on a 
 32.6   regular basis and not demonstrated consistent interest in the 
 32.7   child's well-being for six months; and 
 32.8      (2) the social service agency has made reasonable efforts 
 32.9   to facilitate contact, unless the parent establishes that an 
 32.10  extreme financial or physical hardship or treatment for mental 
 32.11  disability or chemical dependency or other good cause prevented 
 32.12  the parent from making contact with the child.  This presumption 
 32.13  does not apply to children whose custody has been determined 
 32.14  under chapter 257 or 518.  The court is not prohibited from 
 32.15  finding abandonment in the absence of this presumption; or 
 32.16     (2) the child is an infant under one year of age and has 
 32.17  been deserted by the parent with the intent not to return to 
 32.18  care for the child. 
 32.19     (b) The following are prima facie evidence of abandonment 
 32.20  where adoption proceedings are pending and there has been a 
 32.21  showing that the person was not entitled to notice of an 
 32.22  adoption proceeding under section 259.49: 
 32.23     (1) failure to register with the putative fathers' adoption 
 32.24  registry under section 259.52; or 
 32.25     (2) if the person registered with the putative fathers' 
 32.26  adoption registry under section 259.52: 
 32.27     (i) filing a denial of paternity within 30 days of receipt 
 32.28  of notice under section 259.52, subdivision 8; 
 32.29     (ii) failing to timely file an intent to claim parental 
 32.30  rights with entry of appearance form within 30 days of receipt 
 32.31  of notice under section 259.52, subdivision 10; or 
 32.32     (iii) timely filing an intent to claim parental rights with 
 32.33  entry of appearance form within 30 days of receipt of notice 
 32.34  under section 259.52, subdivision 10, but failing to initiate a 
 32.35  paternity action within 30 days of receiving the putative 
 32.36  fathers' adoption registry notice where there has been no 
 33.1   showing of good cause for the delay. 
 33.2      Subd. 1b.  [REQUIRED TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS.] The 
 33.3   county attorney shall file a termination of parental rights 
 33.4   petition within 30 days of a child's placement in out-of-home 
 33.5   care if the child has been subjected to egregious harm as 
 33.6   defined in section 260.015, subdivision 29, is the sibling of 
 33.7   another child of the parent who was subjected to egregious harm, 
 33.8   or is an abandoned infant.  The local social services agency 
 33.9   shall concurrently identify, recruit, process, and approve an 
 33.10  adoptive family for the child.  If such a petition has been 
 33.11  filed by another party, the local social services agency shall 
 33.12  seek to be joined as a party to the petition. 
 33.13     This requirement does not apply if it is determined that a 
 33.14  transfer of permanent legal and physical custody to a relative 
 33.15  is in the best interest of the child or there is a compelling 
 33.16  reason documented by the local social services agency and 
 33.17  available for court review for determining that filing such a 
 33.18  petition would not be in the best interest of the child. 
 33.19     Subd. 1c.  [CURRENT FOSTER CARE CHILDREN.] The county 
 33.20  attorney shall file a termination of parental rights petition 
 33.21  for all children determined to be in need of protection or 
 33.22  services who are placed in out-of-home care for reasons other 
 33.23  than care or treatment of the child's disability, and who are in 
 33.24  out-of-home placement on April 1, 1998, and have been in out-of- 
 33.25  home care for 15 of the most recent 22 months, unless the 
 33.26  permanency plan for the child is for a transfer of legal and 
 33.27  physical custody to a relative.  
 33.28     Subd. 2.  [ADOPTIVE PARENT.] For purposes of subdivision 1, 
 33.29  clause (a), an adoptive parent may not terminate parental rights 
 33.30  to an adopted child for a reason that would not apply to a birth 
 33.31  parent seeking termination of parental rights to a child under 
 33.32  subdivision 1, clause (a). 
 33.33     Subd. 3.  [WHEN PRIOR FINDING REQUIRED.] For purposes of 
 33.34  subdivision 1, clause (b), no prior judicial finding of 
 33.35  dependency, neglect, need for protection or services, or 
 33.36  neglected and in foster care is required, except as provided in 
 34.1   subdivision 1, clause (b), item (5). 
 34.2      Subd. 4.  [BEST INTERESTS OF CHILD PARAMOUNT.] In any 
 34.3   proceeding under this section, the best interests of the child 
 34.4   must be the paramount consideration, provided that the 
 34.5   conditions in subdivision 1, clause (a), or at least one 
 34.6   condition in subdivision 1, clause (b), are found by the court.  
 34.7   In proceedings involving an American Indian child, as defined in 
 34.8   section 257.351, subdivision 6, the best interests of the child 
 34.9   must be determined consistent with the Indian Child Welfare Act 
 34.10  of 1978, United States Code, title 25, section 1901, et seq.  
 34.11  Where the interests of parent and child conflict, the interests 
 34.12  of the child are paramount.  
 34.13     Subd. 5.  [FINDINGS REGARDING REASONABLE EFFORTS.] In any 
 34.14  proceeding under this section, the court shall make specific 
 34.15  findings: 
 34.16     (1) regarding the nature and extent of efforts made by the 
 34.17  social service agency to rehabilitate the parent and reunite the 
 34.18  family; 
 34.19     (2) that provision of services or further services for the 
 34.20  purpose of rehabilitation and reunification is futile and 
 34.21  therefore unreasonable under the circumstances; or 
 34.22     (3) that reasonable efforts at reunification is are not 
 34.23  required because the parent has been convicted of a crime listed 
 34.24  in section 260.012, paragraph (b), clauses (1) to (3) as 
 34.25  provided under section 260.012. 
 34.26     Sec. 22.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
 34.27  260.241, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 34.28     Subd. 3.  [ORDER; RETENTION OF JURISDICTION.] (a) A 
 34.29  certified copy of the findings and the order terminating 
 34.30  parental rights, and a summary of the court's information 
 34.31  concerning the child shall be furnished by the court to the 
 34.32  commissioner or the agency to which guardianship is 
 34.33  transferred.  The orders shall be on a document separate from 
 34.34  the findings.  The court shall furnish the individual to whom 
 34.35  guardianship is transferred a copy of the order terminating 
 34.36  parental rights. 
 35.1      (b) The court shall retain jurisdiction in a case where 
 35.2   adoption is the intended permanent placement disposition.  The 
 35.3   guardian ad litem and counsel for the child shall continue on 
 35.4   the case until an adoption decree is entered.  A hearing must be 
 35.5   held every 90 days following termination of parental rights for 
 35.6   the court to review progress toward an adoptive placement and 
 35.7   the specific recruitment efforts the agency has taken to find an 
 35.8   adoptive family or other placement living arrangement for the 
 35.9   child and to finalize the adoption or other permanency plan. 
 35.10     (c) The court shall retain jurisdiction in a case where 
 35.11  long-term foster care is the permanent disposition.  The 
 35.12  guardian ad litem and counsel for the child must be dismissed 
 35.13  from the case on the effective date of the permanent placement 
 35.14  order.  However, the foster parent and the child, if of 
 35.15  sufficient age, must be informed how they may contact a guardian 
 35.16  ad litem if the matter is subsequently returned to court. 
 35.17     Sec. 23.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
 35.18  626.556, subdivision 11, is amended to read: 
 35.19     Subd. 11.  [RECORDS.] (a) Except as provided in paragraph 
 35.20  (b) and subdivisions 10b, 10d, 10g, and 11b, all records 
 35.21  concerning individuals maintained by a local welfare agency 
 35.22  under this section, including any written reports filed under 
 35.23  subdivision 7, shall be private data on individuals, except 
 35.24  insofar as copies of reports are required by subdivision 7 to be 
 35.25  sent to the local police department or the county sheriff.  
 35.26  Reports maintained by any police department or the county 
 35.27  sheriff shall be private data on individuals except the reports 
 35.28  shall be made available to the investigating, petitioning, or 
 35.29  prosecuting authority, including county medical examiners or 
 35.30  county coroners.  Section 13.82, subdivisions 5, 5a, and 5b, 
 35.31  apply to law enforcement data other than the reports.  The local 
 35.32  social services agency shall make available to the 
 35.33  investigating, petitioning, or prosecuting authority, including 
 35.34  county medical examiners or county coroners or their 
 35.35  professional delegates, any records which contain information 
 35.36  relating to a specific incident of neglect or abuse which is 
 36.1   under investigation, petition, or prosecution and information 
 36.2   relating to any prior incidents of neglect or abuse involving 
 36.3   any of the same persons.  The records shall be collected and 
 36.4   maintained in accordance with the provisions of chapter 13.  In 
 36.5   conducting investigations and assessments pursuant to this 
 36.6   section, the notice required by section 13.04, subdivision 2, 
 36.7   need not be provided to a minor under the age of ten who is the 
 36.8   alleged victim of abuse or, neglect, or domestic abuse/exposure 
 36.9   to violence.  An individual subject of a record shall have 
 36.10  access to the record in accordance with those sections, except 
 36.11  that the name of the reporter shall be confidential while the 
 36.12  report is under assessment or investigation except as otherwise 
 36.13  permitted by this subdivision.  Any person conducting an 
 36.14  investigation or assessment under this section who intentionally 
 36.15  discloses the identity of a reporter prior to the completion of 
 36.16  the investigation or assessment is guilty of a misdemeanor.  
 36.17  After the assessment or investigation is completed, the name of 
 36.18  the reporter shall be confidential.  The subject of the report 
 36.19  may compel disclosure of the name of the reporter only with the 
 36.20  consent of the reporter or upon a written finding by the court 
 36.21  that the report was false and that there is evidence that the 
 36.22  report was made in bad faith.  This subdivision does not alter 
 36.23  disclosure responsibilities or obligations under the rules of 
 36.24  criminal procedure. 
 36.25     (b) Upon request of the legislative auditor, data on 
 36.26  individuals maintained under this section must be released to 
 36.27  the legislative auditor in order for the auditor to fulfill the 
 36.28  auditor's duties under section 3.971.  The auditor shall 
 36.29  maintain the data in accordance with chapter 13. 
 36.30     Sec. 24.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 626.556, 
 36.31  subdivision 11a, is amended to read: 
 36.32     Subd. 11a.  [DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN 
 36.33  CERTAIN CASES.] When interviewing a minor under subdivision 10, 
 36.34  an individual does not include the parent or guardian of the 
 36.35  minor for purposes of section 13.04, subdivision 2, when the 
 36.36  parent or guardian is the alleged perpetrator of the abuse or, 
 37.1   neglect, or domestic abuse/exposure to violence.  
 37.2      Sec. 25.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 626.556, is 
 37.3   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 37.4      Subd. 11d.  [DISCLOSURE IN CHILD FATALITY OR NEAR FATALITY 
 37.5   CASES.] (a) The definitions in this paragraph apply to this 
 37.6   subdivision. 
 37.7      (1) "Child fatality" means the death of a child from 
 37.8   suspected abuse, neglect, or maltreatment. 
 37.9      (2) "Near fatality" means a case in which a physician 
 37.10  determines that a child is in serious or critical condition as 
 37.11  the result of sickness or injury caused by suspected abuse, 
 37.12  neglect, or maltreatment. 
 37.13     (3) "Findings and information" means a written summary 
 37.14  pursuant to paragraphs (c) to (f) of actions taken or services 
 37.15  rendered by a local social services agency following receipt of 
 37.16  information that a child might be in need of protection.  The 
 37.17  written summary must include any of the following information 
 37.18  the agency is able to provide: 
 37.19     (i) the dates, outcomes, and results of any actions taken 
 37.20  or services rendered; 
 37.21     (ii) the results of any review by the state child mortality 
 37.22  review panel, a local child mortality review panel, a local 
 37.23  community child protection team, or any public agency; and 
 37.24     (iii) confirmation of the receipt of all reports, accepted 
 37.25  or not accepted by the local social services agency, for 
 37.26  investigation of suspected child abuse, neglect, or 
 37.27  maltreatment, including confirmation that investigations were 
 37.28  conducted, the results of the investigations, a description of 
 37.29  the conduct of the most recent investigation and the services 
 37.30  rendered, and a statement of the basis for the department's 
 37.31  decision.  
 37.32     (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject 
 37.33  to paragraphs (c) to (f), a public agency shall disclose to the 
 37.34  public, upon request, the findings and information related to a 
 37.35  child fatality or near fatality if: 
 37.36     (1) a person is criminally charged with having caused the 
 38.1   child fatality or near fatality; or 
 38.2      (2) a county attorney certifies that a person would be 
 38.3   charged with having caused the child fatality or near fatality 
 38.4   but for that person's prior death. 
 38.5      (c) Nothing in this subdivision authorizes access to the 
 38.6   confidential records in the custody of a local social services 
 38.7   agency, the disclosure to the public of the substance or content 
 38.8   of any psychiatric, psychological, or therapeutic evaluations or 
 38.9   like materials or information pertaining to the child or the 
 38.10  child's family unless directly related to the cause of the child 
 38.11  fatality or near fatality, or the disclosure of information that 
 38.12  would reveal the identities of persons who provided information 
 38.13  related to suspected abuse, neglect, or maltreatment of the 
 38.14  child. 
 38.15     (d) Within five working days from the receipt of a request 
 38.16  for findings and information related to a child fatality or near 
 38.17  fatality, a local agency shall consult with the appropriate 
 38.18  county attorney and provide the findings and information unless 
 38.19  the agency has a reasonable belief that the release of the 
 38.20  information:  
 38.21     (1) is not authorized by paragraphs (a) and (b); 
 38.22     (2) is likely to cause mental or physical harm or danger to 
 38.23  a minor child residing in the deceased or injured child's 
 38.24  household; 
 38.25     (3) is likely to jeopardize the state's ability to 
 38.26  prosecute the defendant; 
 38.27     (4) is likely to jeopardize the defendant's right to a fair 
 38.28  trial; 
 38.29     (5) is likely to undermine an ongoing or future criminal 
 38.30  investigation; or 
 38.31     (6) is not authorized by federal law and regulations. 
 38.32     (e) A person whose request is denied may apply to the 
 38.33  appropriate court for an order compelling disclosure of the 
 38.34  findings and information of the public agency.  The application 
 38.35  must set forth, with reasonable particularity, factors 
 38.36  supporting the application.  The court has jurisdiction to issue 
 39.1   such orders.  Actions under this section must be set down for 
 39.2   immediate hearing, and subsequent proceedings in those actions 
 39.3   must be accorded priority by the appellate courts.  After the 
 39.4   court has reviewed the specific findings and information, in 
 39.5   camera, the court shall issue an order compelling disclosure 
 39.6   unless the court finds that one or more of the circumstances in 
 39.7   paragraph (d) exists. 
 39.8      (g) A public agency or its employees acting in good faith 
 39.9   in disclosing or declining to disclose information under this 
 39.10  section are immune from criminal or civil liability that might 
 39.11  otherwise be incurred or imposed for that action. 
 39.12     Sec. 26.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
 39.13     Section 17 and the provisions of section 20, paragraphs (a) 
 39.14  and (c), that apply to children under eight years of age, are 
 39.15  effective July 1, 1999. 
 39.16                             ARTICLE 2
 39.17    FAMILY ASSESSMENTS AND SERVICES AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
 39.18     Section 1.  [626.5560] [PROGRAMS FOR CHILD PROTECTION 
 39.19  ASSESSMENTS OR INVESTIGATIONS; COMMUNITY COLLABORATION.] 
 39.20     Subdivision 1.  [DESIGNATION OF COUNTIES; GRANTS AND 
 39.21  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.] By October 1, 1998, the commissioner of 
 39.22  human services shall designate counties to participate in the 
 39.23  pilot child protection program established under this section 
 39.24  for assessment and investigation of reports of child 
 39.25  maltreatment received under section 626.556 and the provision of 
 39.26  family services.  The commissioner shall make grants to counties 
 39.27  for purposes of planning and implementing a program under this 
 39.28  section and shall provide technical assistance and develop 
 39.29  protocols for the programs. 
 39.30     Subd. 2.  [ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.] A child protection 
 39.31  program may be established under this section in order to 
 39.32  promote the safety of children and the integrity and 
 39.33  preservation of their families by conducting investigations or 
 39.34  family assessments in response to reports of child maltreatment 
 39.35  under section 626.556.  The program shall be designed to 
 39.36  coordinate community resources and provide assistance or 
 40.1   services to children and families identified to be at risk, and 
 40.2   to prevent and remedy child abuse and neglect. 
 40.3      Subd. 3.  [DETERMINATIONS REGARDING INVESTIGATION OR FAMILY 
 40.4   ASSESSMENT AND SERVICES.] (a) Upon receipt of a report under 
 40.5   section 626.556, the local welfare agency shall make a 
 40.6   determination whether to proceed with an investigation as 
 40.7   provided in section 626.556 or to proceed with a family 
 40.8   assessment and services approach under this section.  If a local 
 40.9   law enforcement agency receives a report under section 626.556 
 40.10  in a county that is participating in the program under this 
 40.11  section, the local law enforcement agency shall immediately 
 40.12  forward the report to the local welfare agency for purposes of 
 40.13  making a determination under this subdivision.  This does not 
 40.14  preclude the local law enforcement agency from proceeding with a 
 40.15  criminal investigation as appropriate. 
 40.16     (b) The local welfare agency shall make determinations 
 40.17  under this subdivision through the use of protocols developed by 
 40.18  the commissioner of human services.  The local welfare agency 
 40.19  may conduct an investigation of any report, but shall conduct an 
 40.20  investigation of reports that, if true, would be a violation of, 
 40.21  or an attempt to commit a violation of: 
 40.22     (1) section 609.221, 609.222, or 609.223 (assault in the 
 40.23  first, second, or third degree); 
 40.24     (2) section 609.322 (solicitation, inducement, and 
 40.25  promotion of prostitution); 
 40.26     (3) sections 609.342 to 609.3451 (criminal sexual conduct); 
 40.27     (4) section 609.352 (solicitation of children to engage in 
 40.28  sexual conduct); 
 40.29     (5) section 609.377 or 609.378 (malicious punishment or 
 40.30  neglect or endangerment of a child); or 
 40.31     (6) section 617.246 (use of minor in sexual performance). 
 40.32     (c) In addition, the local welfare agency shall contact the 
 40.33  appropriate law enforcement agency upon receipt of a report of a 
 40.34  violation of, or an attempt to commit a violation of: 
 40.35     (1) section 609.185, 609.19, or 609.195 (murder in the 
 40.36  first, second, or third degree); 
 41.1      (2) section 609.20 or 609.205 (manslaughter in the first or 
 41.2   second degree); or 
 41.3      (3) an offense listed in paragraph (b). 
 41.4      The law enforcement agency may conduct its own 
 41.5   investigation and shall assist the local welfare agency in its 
 41.6   investigation or provide, within a reasonable time, a written 
 41.7   explanation detailing the reasons why it is unable to assist. 
 41.8      (d) The local welfare agency shall make a determination of 
 41.9   how to proceed and initiate an investigation or family 
 41.10  assessment and services within 24 hours of receipt of the 
 41.11  report, except in cases where the sole basis for the report is 
 41.12  educational neglect.  If the report indicates that educational 
 41.13  neglect is the only complaint and there is no suspicion of other 
 41.14  neglect or abuse, the investigation or family assessment and 
 41.15  services approach must be initiated within 72 hours of receipt 
 41.16  of the report.  If the report indicates the child is in danger 
 41.17  of serious physical harm or threat to life, an investigation or 
 41.18  family assessment and services approach must include direct 
 41.19  observation of the child within 24 hours of the receipt of the 
 41.20  report. 
 41.21     Subd. 4.  [PROVISION OF FAMILY ASSESSMENT AND 
 41.22  SERVICES.] (a) If the local welfare agency makes a determination 
 41.23  to use the family assessment and services approach, the agency 
 41.24  shall assess the risk of abuse and neglect and the service needs 
 41.25  of the family based on information gathered from the family and 
 41.26  other available sources.  At the time of the initial contact 
 41.27  with the family, the local welfare agency shall provide the 
 41.28  parent or other caretaker with information regarding the purpose 
 41.29  of the contact and the assessment process to be followed during 
 41.30  the agency's intervention, including possible services available 
 41.31  and expectations of the family. 
 41.32     (b) The agency shall provide services that are voluntary 
 41.33  and time limited unless the agency determines, based on the 
 41.34  assessment of risk, that there will be a high risk of abuse or 
 41.35  neglect if the family refuses to accept the services.  The 
 41.36  agency shall identify services for families where it is 
 42.1   determined that the child is at high risk of future abuse or 
 42.2   neglect.  The agency shall thoroughly document its attempt to 
 42.3   provide voluntary services and the reasons these services are 
 42.4   important to reduce the risk of future abuse or neglect to the 
 42.5   child.  If the family continues to refuse voluntary services or 
 42.6   the child needs to be protected, the agency may commence an 
 42.7   investigation under section 626.556. 
 42.8      (c) When a case under this subdivision is closed, the local 
 42.9   welfare agency shall document the outcome of the family 
 42.10  assessment and services approach, including services provided 
 42.11  and the removal of risk to the child, if it existed. 
 42.12     Subd. 5.  [REFERRAL OF CASES FOR INVESTIGATION OR 
 42.13  ASSESSMENT.] (a) The local welfare agency shall begin an 
 42.14  immediate investigation if at ay time during the family 
 42.15  assessment and services approach the agency determines that an 
 42.16  investigation is required.  The staff who have conducted the 
 42.17  assessment may remain involved in the provision of services to 
 42.18  the family. 
 42.19     (b) The local welfare agency may conduct a family 
 42.20  assessment and services approach on reports initially referred 
 42.21  for an investigation if the agency determines that a complete 
 42.22  investigation is not required, or it may assist the family in 
 42.23  obtaining services during the investigation if it is determined 
 42.24  that the child or a member of the family needs services.  If the 
 42.25  local law enforcement agency is involved in the investigation, 
 42.26  the law enforcement agency must provide a written agreement with 
 42.27  a decision to terminate the investigation and the local welfare 
 42.28  agency shall document the reason for termination of the 
 42.29  investigative process. 
 42.30     Subd. 6.  [COLLABORATIVE SERVICES.] The local welfare 
 42.31  agency shall coordinate community resources and collaborate with 
 42.32  the community to identify comprehensive local services and 
 42.33  assure access to those services for children and families under 
 42.34  this section.  The local welfare agency shall develop a 
 42.35  comprehensive list of community resources and establish 
 42.36  procedures for making referrals and following through with local 
 43.1   providers to identify and evaluate services that have been 
 43.2   provided to a family. 
 43.3      Sec. 2.  [PLANNING, EVALUATION, AND REPORT.] 
 43.4      Subdivision 1.  [PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION.] The 
 43.5   commissioner of human services shall develop a plan for 
 43.6   establishing, implementing, and evaluating the programs under 
 43.7   section 1.  The plan must provide for administering grants and 
 43.8   local implementation of programs by January 1, 1999.  The plan 
 43.9   must include protocols for the programs and procedures and 
 43.10  criteria for the collection of information from local welfare 
 43.11  agencies to evaluate the programs. 
 43.12     Subd. 2.  [EVALUATION AND REPORT.] By January 15, 2001, the 
 43.13  commissioner of human services shall report to the legislature 
 43.14  on the operation of the program under section 1.  The report 
 43.15  must include an independent evaluation of the program that 
 43.16  assesses its effect upon specified variables, including the 
 43.17  following major goals: 
 43.18     (1) promotion of the safety of children; 
 43.19     (2) preservation of the integrity of families, where 
 43.20  possible; 
 43.21     (3) remediation of abuse or neglect, or other family 
 43.22  problems that give rise to reports; and 
 43.23     (4) prevention of future abuse or neglect. 
 43.24     The report must also evaluate the use of community 
 43.25  collaboration in providing services to families.  Based on the 
 43.26  evaluation, the report must include recommendations for future 
 43.27  legislative action, including any modifications to the operation 
 43.28  of the program and recommendations regarding statewide 
 43.29  implementation. 
 43.30                             ARTICLE 3
 43.31                   CONCURRENT PERMANENCY PLANNING
 43.32     Section 1.  [257.0711] [CONCURRENT PERMANENCY PLANNING.] 
 43.33     Subdivision 1.  [PROGRAM; GOALS.] (a) The commissioner of 
 43.34  human services shall establish a program for concurrent 
 43.35  permanency planning for child protection services.  The program 
 43.36  must include a pilot program phase during which the commissioner 
 44.1   will make grants to counties who participate in concurrent 
 44.2   permanency planning, followed by statewide implementation of 
 44.3   concurrent permanency planning effective July 1, 1999. 
 44.4      (b) Concurrent permanency planning involves a planning 
 44.5   process for children who are placed out of the home of their 
 44.6   parents pursuant to a court order, or who have been voluntarily 
 44.7   placed out of the home by the parents for 60 days or more and 
 44.8   who are not developmentally disabled or emotionally handicapped 
 44.9   under section 257.071, subdivision 4.  The local social service 
 44.10  agency shall develop an alternative permanency plan while making 
 44.11  reasonable efforts for reunification of the child with the 
 44.12  family, if required by section 260.012.  The goals of concurrent 
 44.13  permanency planning are to: 
 44.14     (1) achieve early permanency for children; 
 44.15     (2) decrease children's length of stay in foster care and 
 44.16  reduce the number of moves children experience in foster care; 
 44.17  and 
 44.18     (3) develop a group of families who will work towards 
 44.19  reunification and also serve as permanency families for children.
 44.20     Subd. 2.  [DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES AND PROTOCOLS.] The 
 44.21  commissioner shall establish guidelines and protocols for social 
 44.22  service agencies involved in concurrent permanency planning, 
 44.23  including criteria for conducting concurrent permanency planning 
 44.24  based on relevant factors such as: 
 44.25     (1) age of the child and duration of out-of-home placement; 
 44.26     (2) prognosis for successful reunification with parents; 
 44.27     (3) availability of relatives and other concerned 
 44.28  individuals to provide support or a permanent placement for the 
 44.29  child; and 
 44.30     (4) special needs of the child and other factors affecting 
 44.31  the child's best interests. 
 44.32     Subd. 3.  [PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND DISCLOSURE.] Concurrent 
 44.33  permanency planning programs must include involvement of parents 
 44.34  and full disclosure of their rights and responsibilities, goals 
 44.35  of concurrent permanency planning, support services that are 
 44.36  available for families, permanency options, and the consequences 
 45.1   of not complying with case plans. 
 45.2      Subd. 4.  [TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GRANTS.] The 
 45.3   commissioner of human services shall provide ongoing technical 
 45.4   assistance, support, and training for local social service 
 45.5   agencies and other individuals and agencies involved in 
 45.6   concurrent permanency planning.  The commissioner shall make 
 45.7   grants to counties for purposes of planning, implementing, and 
 45.8   assisting in the evaluation of permanency planning programs and 
 45.9   multidisciplinary training of participants. 
 45.10     Sec. 2.  [EVALUATION AND REPORT.] 
 45.11     The commissioner shall develop a detailed plan for 
 45.12  evaluating concurrent permanency planning programs, based on 
 45.13  identifiable goals and factors, including those specified in 
 45.14  section 1, subdivision 1.  The plan must also include an 
 45.15  evaluation of the fiscal impact of concurrent planning, 
 45.16  including the effect on costs of out-of-home placement.  The 
 45.17  evaluation must incorporate input and recommendations from 
 45.18  counties involved in concurrent planning.  By January 15, 2001, 
 45.19  the commissioner shall report to the legislature on the 
 45.20  operation of the concurrent planning programs and the results of 
 45.21  the evaluation under this section. 
 45.22                             ARTICLE 4 
 45.23                 CHILD SAFETY ASSESSMENTS AND PLANS 
 45.24     Section 1.  [257.070] [CHILD SAFETY ASSESSMENT AND PLAN.] 
 45.25     Subdivision 1.  [WHEN REQUIRED.] (a) The local social 
 45.26  service agency shall follow the child safety assessment and 
 45.27  planning process under this section when the agency receives 
 45.28  information that a child under the age of 12 months has one or 
 45.29  more parents who: 
 45.30     (1) has a history of controlled substance or alcohol abuse; 
 45.31     (2) has been convicted of a crime specified in section 
 45.32  518.179, subdivision 2, if the victim of the crime was a family 
 45.33  or household member; and 
 45.34     (3) has had parental rights to a child terminated 
 45.35  involuntarily, has lost custody of a child in a contested 
 45.36  proceeding to a person other than a parent, or previously has 
 46.1   had another child in court-ordered out-of-home placement. 
 46.2      (b) This section does not relieve the local social service 
 46.3   agency of any duties under this chapter, chapter 260, or section 
 46.4   626.556 in cases involving allegations of abuse or neglect of a 
 46.5   child. 
 46.6      Subd. 2.  [ASSESSMENT AND PLAN.] The agency shall assess 
 46.7   the risk to the child of future abuse and neglect and develop a 
 46.8   safety plan, in consultation with the parents, to address risk 
 46.9   factors that are present in the home and other service needs of 
 46.10  the child and family.  The safety plan may include: 
 46.11     (1) enrollment in early childhood family education; 
 46.12     (2) home visits; 
 46.13     (3) chemical dependency treatment for a parent; and 
 46.14     (4) provision of other services within the community to 
 46.15  assist the family, including child care and other services that 
 46.16  will enable the parents to participate in the safety plan. 
 46.17     The safety plan must involve continued monitoring of the 
 46.18  family as appropriate until the child is three years of age. 
 46.19                             ARTICLE 5 
 46.20                    CHILD WELFARE SERVICES PLAN 
 46.21     Section 1.  [257.001] [CHILD WELFARE SERVICES PLAN.] 
 46.22     Subdivision 1.  [STATE PLANNING.] By January 15, 1999, the 
 46.23  commissioner of human services shall submit to the legislature a 
 46.24  five-year statewide plan for child welfare services.  The plan 
 46.25  must establish statewide goals and objectives for the prevention 
 46.26  of the abuse and neglect of children, early intervention for 
 46.27  children at risk of abuse, family preservation services, 
 46.28  out-of-home placement care and permanency planning, and 
 46.29  adoption.  The plan must include state targets for the continuum 
 46.30  of child welfare services, prioritized goals and objectives, a 
 46.31  rationale for the priority order, and a description and 
 46.32  rationale for the method the state plans to use to address each 
 46.33  goal and objective, including specific legislative, budget, or 
 46.34  administrative actions necessary to implement the plan.  The 
 46.35  commissioner shall incorporate in the plan the semiannual 
 46.36  reports on children in out-of-home placements required under 
 47.1   section 257.0725. 
 47.2      Subd. 2.  [COUNTY PLANNING.] As part of the statewide 
 47.3   planning process, the commissioner shall develop procedures for 
 47.4   counties to prepare and submit annual child welfare plans.  The 
 47.5   commissioner shall incorporate recommendations from the 
 47.6   commissioner of corrections in the development of county plan 
 47.7   requirements.  The county plans must include, at a minimum, an 
 47.8   assessment of the child welfare system in the county, including 
 47.9   an inventory of available early intervention and prevention 
 47.10  service, family preservation, out-of-home placement and 
 47.11  permanency planning services in the county, current and 
 47.12  projected budgets by program for the next year, and 
 47.13  county-specific child welfare targets. 
 47.14     Subd. 3.  [PUBLICATION OF PLANS.] The commissioner shall 
 47.15  publicize the results of the statewide plan and ways for the 
 47.16  public to obtain copies of the plan.  Once the plan is 
 47.17  developed, the commissioner shall prepare an annual report on 
 47.18  progress toward the goals identified in the plan.  The results 
 47.19  of the progress reports must be included in the budget documents 
 47.20  forwarded by the commissioner of finance to the legislature and 
 47.21  shall be included in the state agency performance reports 
 47.22  required by section 15.91. 
 47.23                             ARTICLE 6 
 47.24                    CHILD WELFARE APPROPRIATIONS 
 47.25     Section 1.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
 47.26     $30,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
 47.27  commissioner of human services for purposes of funding child 
 47.28  welfare initiatives and programs.  This appropriation includes 
 47.29  funding for child protection activities; planning, development 
 47.30  of protocols, grants, technical assistance, training, and 
 47.31  evaluation for family assessment and services programs, 
 47.32  concurrent permanency planning, and child safety assessments and 
 47.33  plans; and training of family mediators and facilitation of 
 47.34  relative care plans under Minnesota Statutes, section 626.5565.