Governor Dayton signed into law the first of several expected new laws to protect children. I was co-author of the bill and one of four legislators on the Governor's Special Task Force which recommended the law.
Under present law, preservation of the family is the primary consideration. Under our new law, the priority is protection of the child. Also, under present law, investigators cannot look at prior reports when determining whether to screen out a new report. Under our new law, investigators can look at prior reports.
These are important changes but just tiny steps forward on all the vast number of changes that are needed in our child protection system. I am co-author of another bill that contains several recommendations from the task force. The Task Force has just finalized its Recommendations for dozens of new laws and procedures for action by the Department of Human Services and the 2016 legislative session.