Investigative powers added to the Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson.

This bill expands the investigative authority of Minnesota's Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson to better protect children in foster care. It grants the ombudsperson the power to enter and inspect any facility where a foster youth lives, including detention centers and treatment facilities, without prior notice. The office will also gain direct access to social services and medical records, the ability to subpoena witnesses and documents, and the authority to receive complaints from any source regarding a child's safety or welfare. Additionally, the law requires placement managers and caregivers to immediately forward any communications from foster youth to the ombudsperson without opening them first.