Today (Wednesday, February 1) there will be a hearing in the Minnesota House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee The agenda includes several items, but the one most relevant to child welfare is Jacob's Law (HF 1899), whose short description is
"Jacob's law established requiring notice of crime victim rights to parents and guardians of child victims, requiring notification to social services if a child is abused outside the home, and amending parental rights to include police reports on minor children."
If passed, this bill would expand parental rights after legal separation and divorce proceedings by requiring each parent to inform the other should their child become a victim of a crime, and to include the name of the investigating officer. Also, the prosecuting agency would be required to notify all parents/guardians of the child's rights as a victim, unless it was prohibited by law or the parent or guardian was the perpetrator.
Additionally, the bill would insert text requiring law enforcement agencies to report the abuse of a child outside the child's home to child welfare services in order to allow child welfare services to provide appropriate services to the child. Currently the law does not technically require this.
Jacob’s law was started by Sarah Guggisberg-who has been campaigning for the law after her son was sexually abused while staying with a family in Lyon County in 2005. She was never notified but her Ex-husband was aware of the allegations and police involvement. Local law makers that have given their support to the effort include: District 13B Rep. Bruce Vogel, R-Willmar, District 21A Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, District 22A Rep. Joe Schomacker, R-Luverne, District 13A Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck and District 20B Rep. Lyle Koenen, DFL-Clara City.