HF 1286

Subd. 10.

Duties of local welfare agency and local law enforcement agency
upon receipt of a report.

(a) Upon receipt of a report, the local welfare agency shall
determine whether to conduct a family assessment or an investigation as appropriate to
prevent or provide a remedy for child maltreatment. new text begin If the report involves an Indian child
who resides or is domiciled on a reservation, the local welfare agency shall comply with
paragraph (b). new text end The local welfare agency:

(1) shall conduct an investigation on reports involving substantial child
endangerment;

(2) shall begin an immediate investigation if, at any time when it is using a family
assessment response, it determines that there is reason to believe that substantial child
endangerment or a serious threat to the child's safety exists;

(3) may conduct a family assessment for reports that do not allege substantial child
endangerment. In determining that a family assessment is appropriate, the local welfare
agency may consider issues of child safety, parental cooperation, and the need for an
immediate response; and

(4) may conduct a family assessment on a report that was initially screened and
assigned for an investigation. In determining that a complete investigation is not required,
the local welfare agency must document the reason for terminating the investigation and
notify the local law enforcement agency if the local law enforcement agency is conducting
a joint investigation.

If the report alleges neglect, physical abuse, or sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, or
individual functioning within the family unit as a person responsible for the child's care,
the local welfare agency shall immediately conduct a family assessment or investigation
as identified in clauses (1) to (4). In conducting a family assessment or investigation, the
local welfare agency shall gather information on the existence of substance abuse and
domestic violence and offer services for purposes of preventing future child maltreatment,
safeguarding and enhancing the welfare of the abused or neglected minor, and supporting
and preserving family life whenever possible. If the report alleges a violation of a
criminal statute involving sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect or endangerment,
under section 609.378, the local law enforcement agency and local welfare agency shall
coordinate the planning and execution of their respective investigation and assessment
efforts to avoid a duplication of fact-finding efforts and multiple interviews. Each agency
shall prepare a separate report of the results of its investigation. In cases of alleged child
maltreatment resulting in death, the local agency may rely on the fact-finding efforts of a
law enforcement investigation to make a determination of whether or not maltreatment
occurred. When necessary the local welfare agency shall seek authority to remove the
child from the custody of a parent, guardian, or adult with whom the child is living. In
performing any of these duties, the local welfare agency shall maintain appropriate records.

If the family assessment or investigation indicates there is a potential for abuse of
alcohol or other drugs by the parent, guardian, or person responsible for the child's care,
the local welfare agency shall conduct a chemical use assessment pursuant to Minnesota
Rules, part 9530.6615. The local welfare agency shall report the determination of the
chemical use assessment, and the recommendations and referrals for alcohol and other
drug treatment services to the state authority on alcohol and drug abuse.

new text begin (b) If the report involves an Indian child residing or domiciled on a reservation, the
local welfare agency shall request that appropriate tribal authorities conduct an assessment
or investigation and take action as required by law of the child's tribe. If the appropriate
tribal authorities represent they are unable to take such action, the assessment or
investigation required in paragraph (a) shall be conducted by the local welfare agency with
notice to and participation of the appropriate tribal authorities. Local welfare agencies
are specifically authorized to share information for notice, referral, or participation with
tribal authorities without violating any law of the state that may otherwise impose duties
of confidentiality on the local welfare agency.
new text end

deleted text begin (b)deleted text end new text begin (c)new text end When a local agency receives a report or otherwise has information indicating
that a child who is a client, as defined in section 245.91, has been the subject of physical
abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect at an agency, facility, or program as defined in section
245.91, it shall, in addition to its other duties under this section, immediately inform the
ombudsman established under sections 245.91 to 245.97. The commissioner of education
shall inform the ombudsman established under sections 245.91 to 245.97 of reports
regarding a child defined as a client in section 245.91 that maltreatment occurred at a
school as defined in sections 120A.05, subdivisions 9, 11, and 13, and 124D.10.

deleted text begin (c)deleted text end new text begin (d)new text end Authority of the local welfare agency responsible for assessing or
investigating the child abuse or neglect report, the agency responsible for assessing or
investigating the report, and of the local law enforcement agency for investigating the
alleged abuse or neglect includes, but is not limited to, authority to interview, without
parental consent, the alleged victim and any other minors who currently reside with or
who have resided with the alleged offender. The interview may take place at school or at
any facility or other place where the alleged victim or other minors might be found or the
child may be transported to, and the interview conducted at, a place appropriate for the
interview of a child designated by the local welfare agency or law enforcement agency.
The interview may take place outside the presence of the alleged offender or parent, legal
custodian, guardian, or school official. For family assessments, it is the preferred practice
to request a parent or guardian's permission to interview the child prior to conducting the
child interview, unless doing so would compromise the safety assessment. Except as
provided in this paragraph, the parent, legal custodian, or guardian shall be notified by the
responsible local welfare or law enforcement agency no later than the conclusion of the
investigation or assessment that this interview has occurred. Notwithstanding rule 49.02
of the Minnesota Rules of Procedure for Juvenile Courts, the juvenile court may, after
hearing on an ex parte motion by the local welfare agency, order that, where reasonable
cause exists, the agency withhold notification of this interview from the parent, legal
custodian, or guardian. If the interview took place or is to take place on school property,
the order shall specify that school officials may not disclose to the parent, legal custodian,
or guardian the contents of the notification of intent to interview the child on school
property, as provided under this paragraph, and any other related information regarding
the interview that may be a part of the child's school record. A copy of the order shall be
sent by the local welfare or law enforcement agency to the appropriate school official.

deleted text begin (d)deleted text end new text begin (e)new text end When the local welfare, local law enforcement agency, or the agency
responsible for assessing or investigating a report of maltreatment determines that an
interview should take place on school property, written notification of intent to interview
the child on school property must be received by school officials prior to the interview.
The notification shall include the name of the child to be interviewed, the purpose of the
interview, and a reference to the statutory authority to conduct an interview on school
property. For interviews conducted by the local welfare agency, the notification shall
be signed by the chair of the local social services agency or the chair's designee. The
notification shall be private data on individuals subject to the provisions of this paragraph.
School officials may not disclose to the parent, legal custodian, or guardian the contents
of the notification or any other related information regarding the interview until notified
in writing by the local welfare or law enforcement agency that the investigation or
assessment has been concluded, unless a school employee or agent is alleged to have
maltreated the child. Until that time, the local welfare or law enforcement agency or the
agency responsible for assessing or investigating a report of maltreatment shall be solely
responsible for any disclosures regarding the nature of the assessment or investigation.

Except where the alleged offender is believed to be a school official or employee,
the time and place, and manner of the interview on school premises shall be within the
discretion of school officials, but the local welfare or law enforcement agency shall have
the exclusive authority to determine who may attend the interview. The conditions as to
time, place, and manner of the interview set by the school officials shall be reasonable and
the interview shall be conducted not more than 24 hours after the receipt of the notification
unless another time is considered necessary by agreement between the school officials and
the local welfare or law enforcement agency. Where the school fails to comply with the
provisions of this paragraph, the juvenile court may order the school to comply. Every
effort must be made to reduce the disruption of the educational program of the child, other
students, or school staff when an interview is conducted on school premises.

deleted text begin (e)deleted text end new text begin (f)new text end Where the alleged offender or a person responsible for the care of the alleged
victim or other minor prevents access to the victim or other minor by the local welfare
agency, the juvenile court may order the parents, legal custodian, or guardian to produce
the alleged victim or other minor for questioning by the local welfare agency or the local
law enforcement agency outside the presence of the alleged offender or any person
responsible for the child's care at reasonable places and times as specified by court order.

deleted text begin (f)deleted text end new text begin (g)new text end Before making an order under paragraph deleted text begin (e)deleted text end new text begin (f)new text end , the court shall issue an order
to show cause, either upon its own motion or upon a verified petition, specifying the basis
for the requested interviews and fixing the time and place of the hearing. The order to
show cause shall be served personally and shall be heard in the same manner as provided
in other cases in the juvenile court. The court shall consider the need for appointment of a
guardian ad litem to protect the best interests of the child. If appointed, the guardian ad
litem shall be present at the hearing on the order to show cause.

deleted text begin (g)deleted text end new text begin (h)new text end The commissioner of human services, the ombudsman for mental health and
developmental disabilities, the local welfare agencies responsible for investigating reports,
the commissioner of education, and the local law enforcement agencies have the right to
enter facilities as defined in subdivision 2 and to inspect and copy the facility's records,
including medical records, as part of the investigation. Notwithstanding the provisions of
chapter 13, they also have the right to inform the facility under investigation that they are
conducting an investigation, to disclose to the facility the names of the individuals under
investigation for abusing or neglecting a child, and to provide the facility with a copy of
the report and the investigative findings.

deleted text begin (h)deleted text end new text begin (i)new text end The local welfare agency responsible for conducting a family assessment shall
collect available and relevant information to determine child safety, risk of subsequent
child maltreatment, and family strengths and needs. The local welfare agency or the
agency responsible for investigating the report shall collect available and relevant
information to ascertain whether maltreatment occurred and whether protective services
are needed. Information collected includes, when relevant, information with regard to
the person reporting the alleged maltreatment, including the nature of the reporter's
relationship to the child and to the alleged offender, and the basis of the reporter's
knowledge for the report; the child allegedly being maltreated; the alleged offender; the
child's caretaker; and other collateral sources having relevant information related to the
alleged maltreatment. The local welfare agency or the agency responsible for assessing
or investigating the report may make a determination of no maltreatment early in an
assessment, and close the case and retain immunity, if the collected information shows no
basis for a full assessment or investigation.

Information relevant to the assessment or investigation must be asked for, and
may include:

(1) the child's sex and age, prior reports of maltreatment, information relating
to developmental functioning, credibility of the child's statement, and whether the
information provided under this clause is consistent with other information collected
during the course of the assessment or investigation;

(2) the alleged offender's age, a record check for prior reports of maltreatment, and
criminal charges and convictions. The local welfare agency or the agency responsible for
assessing or investigating the report must provide the alleged offender with an opportunity
to make a statement. The alleged offender may submit supporting documentation relevant
to the assessment or investigation;

(3) collateral source information regarding the alleged maltreatment and care of the
child. Collateral information includes, when relevant: (i) a medical examination of the
child; (ii) prior medical records relating to the alleged maltreatment or the care of the
child maintained by any facility, clinic, or health care professional and an interview with
the treating professionals; and (iii) interviews with the child's caretakers, including the
child's parent, guardian, foster parent, child care provider, teachers, counselors, family
members, relatives, and other persons who may have knowledge regarding the alleged
maltreatment and the care of the child; and

(4) information on the existence of domestic abuse and violence in the home of
the child, and substance abuse.

Nothing in this paragraph precludes the local welfare agency, the local law
enforcement agency, or the agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report
from collecting other relevant information necessary to conduct the assessment or
investigation. Notwithstanding section 13.384 or 144.335, the local welfare agency has
access to medical data and records for purposes of clause (3). Notwithstanding the data's
classification in the possession of any other agency, data acquired by the local welfare
agency or the agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report during the course
of the assessment or investigation are private data on individuals and must be maintained
in accordance with subdivision 11. Data of the commissioner of education collected
or maintained during and for the purpose of an investigation of alleged maltreatment
in a school are governed by this section, notwithstanding the data's classification as
educational, licensing, or personnel data under chapter 13.

In conducting an assessment or investigation involving a school facility as defined
in subdivision 2, paragraph (i), the commissioner of education shall collect investigative
reports and data that are relevant to a report of maltreatment and are from local law
enforcement and the school facility.

deleted text begin (i)deleted text end new text begin (j)new text end Upon receipt of a report, the local welfare agency shall conduct a face-to-face
contact with the child reported to be maltreated and with the child's primary caregiver
sufficient to complete a safety assessment and ensure the immediate safety of the child.
The face-to-face contact with the child and primary caregiver shall occur immediately
if substantial child endangerment is alleged and within five calendar days for all other
reports. If the alleged offender was not already interviewed as the primary caregiver, the
local welfare agency shall also conduct a face-to-face interview with the alleged offender
in the early stages of the assessment or investigation. At the initial contact, the local child
welfare agency or the agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report must
inform the alleged offender of the complaints or allegations made against the individual in
a manner consistent with laws protecting the rights of the person who made the report.
The interview with the alleged offender may be postponed if it would jeopardize an active
law enforcement investigation.

deleted text begin (j)deleted text end new text begin (k)new text end When conducting an investigation, the local welfare agency shall use a
question and answer interviewing format with questioning as nondirective as possible to
elicit spontaneous responses. For investigations only, the following interviewing methods
and procedures must be used whenever possible when collecting information:

(1) audio recordings of all interviews with witnesses and collateral sources; and

(2) in cases of alleged sexual abuse, audio-video recordings of each interview with
the alleged victim and child witnesses.

deleted text begin (k)deleted text end new text begin (l)new text end In conducting an assessment or investigation involving a school facility
as defined in subdivision 2, paragraph (i), the commissioner of education shall collect
available and relevant information and use the procedures in paragraphs deleted text begin (i),deleted text end new text begin (j) andnew text end (k),
and subdivision 3d, except that the requirement for face-to-face observation of the child
and face-to-face interview of the alleged offender is to occur in the initial stages of the
assessment or investigation provided that the commissioner may also base the assessment
or investigation on investigative reports and data received from the school facility and
local law enforcement, to the extent those investigations satisfy the requirements of
paragraphs deleted text begin (i)deleted text end new text begin (j)new text end and (k), and subdivision 3d.