Minnesota lawmakers gaveled in the 2024 legislative session on Monday – with a short list of priorities and a much smaller pot of money compared to last year.
Our work in 2024 will be influenced by many factors, including a limited state budget. However, we will continue to monitor, support or oppose bills that have a direct impact on children in the child welfare system.
Below are a few examples of legislation being put forward:
- Sen. Mary Kunesh recommends an analysis of how Minnesota is currently accessing and utilizing federal dollars to fund prevention efforts (SC1071)
- Sen. Bobby Joe Champion is proposing changes that would reduce the number of African American children being removed from their homes (SF716)
- Rep. Kim Hicks would like the state to study the feasibility of a statewide maltreatment hotline
- Sen. Nicole Mitchell is pursuing several pieces of legislation:
- Law enforcement training recommendations for child protection and removals (SC1013)
- Notifications to fosters when their benefits are being received by the county (SC0696-4)
- Access to foster data in SSIS for certain ombudspersons (SC1058)
- Penalties for organizations that dissuade or impede the ability of mandated reporters to make a report (SC0706)
- Rep. Hassan is advocating for a plain language summary when children are removed from the home (SS074)
- Rep. Pinto would like to see more thorough reviews of child mortality data
- Rep. Coulter believes parents who have had their rights terminated for certain reasons should be allowed to be foster parents after 5 years rather than 20 years (HF3343)
Throughout the legislative session, Safe Passage for Children will be reaching out as necessary about opportunities to use your voice to advocate on these important issues.