Social workers will now be able to look through past records

Associated Press and Austin Daily Herald

ST. PAUL — Minnesota House lawmakers have voted unanimously to strengthen the state’s child-protection system.

Mower County Sheriff Terese Amazi was pleased to see legislators pass a bill Monday to undo a law preventing social workers from considering past reports of child abuse when deciding whether to investigate new ones. Amazi, a member of the Governor’s Task Force for the Protection of Children, said it was encouraging to see lawmakers act on the task force’s recommendations.

“It’s very nice that you see something come to fruition,” she said.

The bill comes after high-profile cases where children died or were injured after social service workers didn’t act on signs of abuse. Yet Amazi and several proponents of child protection reform say the bill is just the beginning.

“We’ve definitely got a lot more to do,” she said.

Bill author Rep. Ron Kresha said it’s the first step in reforming the system. The Little Falls Republican plans to recommend further tweaks later this session.

Kresha serves on a task force that also recommended social workers send reports of child abuse to law enforcement even when they decide not to investigate them.

The state Senate has yet to act on the bill. Amazi will testify before senators next week.