HF1614

HF1614 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Child welfare; neglect definition modified to clarify when a child is considered to be without the special care made necessary by a physical, mental, or emotional condition.

Related bill: SF1682

AI Generated Summary

This bill proposes an amendment to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.007, subdivision 6, to clarify the definition of a "child in need of protection or services" (CHIPS).

Key modifications in the bill include: - Clarifying when a child is considered to be without the special care made necessary by a physical, mental, or emotional condition. - Stating that a parent, guardian, or custodian should not be deemed unable or unwilling to provide necessary special care solely if a child remains in an emergency department or hospital because residential treatment is inaccessible or necessary services are unavailable. - Maintaining other existing CHIPS criteria, such as abandonment, abuse, neglect, exposure to dangerous environments, exploitation, truancy, and mental health-related concerns.

Additionally, the bill retains provisions related to parental rights termination, foster care placement, and delinquent acts by minors, including a revision to increase the minimum age for delinquency proceedings from ten to thirteen years, effective August 1, 2026.

The overall intent of the bill is to refine the legal definition of when child protection services are warranted, ensuring that lack of access to treatment does not automatically categorize caregivers as neglectful.

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file
1st Engrossment PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
February 25, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading, referred to	Children and Families Finance and Policy
March 26, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to	Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
April 02, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Committee report, to adopt
April 02, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Committee report, to adopt
April 02, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Second reading
April 02, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Second reading

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill modifies the definition of a child in need of protection or services under section 260C.007.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "260C.007"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references the definition of physical or sexual abuse as defined in section 260E.03.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "260E.03"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references voluntary placement agreements under section 260C.227.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "260C.227"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references certification under section 260B.125 regarding juvenile prosecutions.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "260B.125"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references section 260C.503 regarding termination of parental rights petitions.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "260C.503"
  }
]