SF 3969: Licensing boards reporting requirement provision and grooming criminal offense establishment - Minnesota

2nd Engrossment → 3rd Engrossment · 4 edits · Apr 21, 2026

MODERATE

This bill updates the legislative version from the 2nd to the 3rd Engrossment, reflecting a new posting date and minor text refinements. The core policy changes involve clarifying the definition of 'grooming' to explicitly include a deliberate pattern of conduct intended to manipulate a child for future sexual contact, regardless of whether the sexual act occurs. Additionally, the bill expands the scope of existing grooming laws to cover victims of any age enrolled in schools and clarifies authority definitions. New effective dates are established, setting the implementation timeline for August 1, 2026.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the grooming offense to include victims of any age who are enrolled as students at a school, whereas previous versions were more limited regarding victim age in specific school contexts.

DEFINITION

The definition of grooming was modified to explicitly require a 'deliberate pattern of conduct' intended to strategically manipulate a child into future sexual contact, even if the sexual conduct does not happen.

ELIGIBILITY

The scope of the offense was expanded to apply to victims of any age who are enrolled as students at a school, removing previous age restrictions for this specific context.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for the commissioner of children, youth, and families was changed from developing a new training module to updating the existing mandated reporter training for education professionals.

TIMELINE

New effective dates were added, specifying that the provisions apply to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2026.

1st Engrossment → 2nd Engrossment · 4 edits · Apr 7, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was updated from the 1st to the 2nd Engrossment, changing the posting date and adding new sections (7.29-7.32, 8.13-8.21) that expand the definition of grooming and increase penalties. The law now explicitly lists behaviors like emotional manipulation and isolation as prohibited acts and extends criminal liability to licensed educators regardless of the student's age.

Scope change

The scope of the law expanded to include licensed educators as a specific category of offenders and removed the age limit for students, making it applicable to victims of any age enrolled in a school.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'child' was simplified to remove a specific exception clause.

REQUIREMENT

New sections were added to explicitly list specific grooming behaviors such as emotional manipulation, isolation, and boundary violations.

ENFORCEMENT

The law now applies to licensed educators regardless of the victim's age, whereas previously it was limited to victims under 18.

The penalty section was updated to include the new subdivision 2e, ensuring educators face felony charges under the expanded rules.

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 4 edits · Mar 18, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to remove a field trip safety policy requiring staff to avoid being alone with students, shifting the focus entirely to reporting child maltreatment and establishing the crime of grooming. The scope of mandatory reporting was expanded to include students aged 18 through 21, and a new training module on grooming was mandated for education professionals. Additionally, a new penalty provision was added to specifically address school employees or volunteers who commit grooming offenses while having access to students through their positions.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from including field trip safety rules to focusing exclusively on child maltreatment reporting and grooming offenses. The applicability of mandatory reporting requirements was extended to cover older students (ages 18-21) and specifically targeted school staff and volunteers for enhanced penalties.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement that school employees, contractors, or volunteers must not be alone with a student during field trips.

Added a mandate for the commissioner of children, youth, and families to develop a specific training module on grooming and threatened sexual abuse for education professionals by August 1, 2027.

ELIGIBILITY

Extended the requirement to report allegations of maltreatment to include students aged 18 through 21, covering those receiving special education services up to graduation.

ENFORCEMENT

Created a new penalty provision (Subd. 2d) that imposes felony charges on school employees, volunteers, or contractors who commit grooming offenses while having access to students through their school positions.

Licensing boards reporting requirement provision and grooming criminal offense establishment

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