S.F. No. 4252 Summary

• Amends Minnesota Statutes section 626.556, subdivision 2, to modify the definition of child neglect and related terms in child welfare law.

• Adds three new forms of neglect involving language deprivation: failure to teach deaf children sign language, failure to provide a language-rich environment, and obstruction or deprivation of a child's accessible and cultural language.

• Defines "language-rich environment" as one where a child has incidental language learning opportunities on par with peers; for deaf children, includes accessible languages like American Sign Language without requiring medical intervention.

• Expands the "accidental" definition to include events occurring in facilities when the facility and service providers are in compliance with relevant laws and rules.

• Establishes a "nonmaltreatment mistake" exception for licensed child care centers meeting specific criteria, allowing a determination of mistake rather than substantiated maltreatment if conditions are met including no prior similar incidents in seven years and injuries treated only with over-the-counter remedies.