HF1614

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.