SF4770
Abusive head trauma training requirements for child care centers modification
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)
Related bill: HF4419
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
To strengthen child care safety by requiring formal training on abusive head trauma (AHT) for people who care for young children, with the goal of reducing injuries from shaking or other abuse.
Main Provisions
- Mandatory AHT training for all who care for children under school age, including directors, staff, substitutes, and unsupervised volunteers.
- Training must occur at orientation and then every calendar year thereafter.
- Training length must be at least 30 minutes (one-half hour).
- Training content must cover:
- Risk factors related to shaking infants and young children.
- Ways to reduce the risk of abusive head trauma.
- How license holders should communicate with parents about reducing the risk of AHT.
- Training completed during orientation can count toward inservice training requirements under subdivision 9.
- The state Department of Health (the commissioner) must provide a video presentation on the dangers of shaking infants and young children to be used with the annual training.
- License holders must post and maintain a poster (written or approved by the commissioner) that includes information on AHT risk factors and how to reduce the risk.
- The poster must be placed in a readily accessible and conspicuous location for staff, substitutes, volunteers, and visitors.
Training Details
- Before caring for children under school age, individuals must complete the required training.
- The annual training must be completed every year; orientation training can count toward annual requirements if applicable.
- The video resource is optional to use in conjunction with the annual training.
Poster and Communication Requirements
- A poster addressing AHT risk factors and prevention must be displayed.
- The poster must be approved or written by the commissioner.
- Placement must be easily accessible to staff, substitutes, and unsupervised volunteers, and clearly visible to families and visitors.
Compliance and Practical Effects
- Child care centers and license holders are responsible for implementing the training and poster requirements.
- The changes emphasize proactive education about preventing abusive head trauma and improving communication with families about prevention.
Related Legal Context
- This amendment modifies Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 142B.65, subdivision 7.
Relevant Terms abusive head trauma, AHT, shaken baby syndrome, shaking infants, infants, young children, child care centers, director, staff, substitutes, unsupervised volunteers, orientation, inservice training, subdivision 9, video presentation, poster, risk factors, means to reduce risk, license holder, commissioner, Minnesota Statutes 142B.65
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 25, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| March 25, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Health and Human Services |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Requires director, staff persons, substitutes, and unsupervised volunteers to receive abusive head trauma training before caring for children under school age, with annual training thereafter.",
"Training must be at least 30 minutes in length and address risk factors related to shaking infants and young children and means to reduce the risk of abusive head trauma.",
"Allows the commissioner-provided video presentation on the dangers of shaking infants and young children to be used in conjunction with the annual training.",
"Requires the license holder to post and maintain a poster (written or approved by the commissioner) containing information on risk factors and means to reduce the risk of abusive head trauma, placed so it is readily accessible to staff and visitors.",
"Clarifies that training completed during orientation may be used to meet inservice training requirements under subdivision 9."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 142B.65, subdivision 7, to require abusive head trauma training for certain child care personnel before caring for children under school age, with annual training of at least 30 minutes, and to add related content and posting requirements.",
"modified": [
"Expands and clarifies the training requirements in subdivision 7, including who must be trained, the frequency and duration of training, and accompanying materials (video, poster).",
"Incorporates cross-references to subdivision 9 to allow the new training to count toward inservice requirements."
]
},
"citation": "142B.65",
"subdivision": "7"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill references Minnesota Statutes 142B.65, subdivision 9 (inservice training requirements) in the context of the new abusive head trauma training requirements, but does not by itself modify subdivision 9.",
"modified": [
"Cross-reference to the inservice training requirements under subdivision 9 is used to allow completed abusive head trauma training to meet existing inservice requirements."
]
},
"citation": "142B.65",
"subdivision": "9"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee