Certain recipients of money appropriated from the environment and natural resources trust fund required to perform criminal background checks on employees, volunteers, and contractors that work with children.

HF 277 requires organizations receiving money from Minnesota’s environment and natural resources trust fund for children’s services to conduct criminal background checks on all employees, volunteers, and contractors who work with children. This applies specifically to "children's service providers" as defined by state law, including those receiving trust fund appropriations. Organizations must certify these background checks are performed as part of their required work plan submissions to the commission. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2025, for all trust fund recipients operating on or after that date.