Section 626.5593 Peer Review of Local Agency Response
626.5593 PEER REVIEW OF LOCAL AGENCY RESPONSE.
Subdivision 1.Establishment.
By January 1, 1991, the commissioner of human services shall establish a pilot program for peer review of local agency responses to child maltreatment reports made under section 626.556. The peer review program shall examine agency assessments of maltreatment reports and delivery of child protection services in at least two counties. The commissioner shall designate the local agencies to be reviewed, and shall appoint a peer review panel composed of child protection workers, as defined in section 626.559, and law enforcement personnel who are responsible for investigating reports of child maltreatment under section 626.556, subdivision 10, within the designated counties.
Subd. 2.Duties.
The peer review panel shall meet at least quarterly to review case files representative of child maltreatment reports that were investigated or assessed by the local agency. These cases shall be selected randomly from local welfare agency files by the commissioner. Not public data, as defined in section 13.02, subdivision 8, may be shared with panel members in connection with a case review.
The panel shall review each case for compliance with relevant laws, rules, agency policies, appropriateness of agency actions, and case determinations. The panel shall issue a report to the designated agencies after each meeting which includes findings regarding the agency's compliance with relevant laws, rules, policies, case practice, and any recommendations to be considered by the agency. The panel shall also issue a semiannual report concerning its activities. This semiannual report shall be available to the public, but may not include any information that is classified as not public data.
Subd. 3.Report to legislature.
By January 1, 1992, the commissioner shall report to the legislature regarding the activities of the peer review panel, compliance findings, barriers to the effective delivery of child protection services, and recommendations for the establishment of a permanent peer review system for child protection services.
Subd. 4.Funds.
The commissioner may use funds allocated for child protection services, training, and grants to pay administrative expenses associated with the peer review panel pilot program created by this section.
History:
1989 c 282 art 2 s 203