Lawmakers: Kids Not Always First In Child Protection System

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A group of Minnesota lawmakers wants to change a state child protection system they say has strayed from always putting kids' safety first.

Two Democrats and two Republicans want to give more information on abuse reports to county child protection workers and law enforcement. They've introduced bills in the House and Senate to do so.

The lawmakers say the current system puts too much emphasis on keeping families together. They say that sometimes isn't in a child's best interest.

The bills would make past reports of abuse available to county workers deciding whether to investigate new ones. State law currently bars child protection workers from considering those reports.

The legislators serve on a task force Governor Mark Dayton created after bureaucratic failures in the death of a 4-year-old boy.