Purpose of the Bill

• The bill aims to enhance the safety of infants by ensuring that parents receive crucial information about recognizing and reporting signs of physical abuse in infants.

Main Provisions

• Education Requirement: All licensed hospitals and birth centers in Minnesota must provide parents of newborns with educational materials that instruct on recognizing and reporting physical abuse in infants.
• Material Provision: These materials should be distributed to parents before they are discharged from the hospital or birth center with their newborn.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• New Statutory Requirement: The bill introduces a new section within the Minnesota Statutes (Chapter 144) to mandate educational efforts in hospitals and birth centers regarding infant abuse.
• Approval Process: The bill assigns the commissioner of health the responsibility to either provide materials or approve materials submitted by hospitals or birth centers. It also grants the commissioner authority to suggest modifications to disapproved materials.

Relevant Terms

• Physical abuse
• Infants
• Educational materials
• Hospitals
• Birth centers
• Commissioner of health