Sometimes, some of the most important safety reforms only come about after a tragedy. After the Titanic sank, for example, major maritime safety laws were enacted. Most notably, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) law was passed in 1914, mandating sufficient lifeboats for all passengers. One could argue that eventually, someone would have seen the danger of having too few lifeboats and pushed for better regulation, but unfortunately, a lot of these situations aren’t thought of as a problem until they actually become a problem.
Tragically, such is the case around Minnesota’s newest law on the books. Harvey’s Law (also known as MN Statute 142B.68) sets forth camera requirements for Minnesota daycare providers prompted by the death of a young boy at a suburban Minnesota daycare center.
Harvey Muklebust was just shy of his first birthday when he was killed by a caregiver at his daycare center. An 18-year-old employee at the center was arrested and charged with his murder after she confessed to strangling the boy.
Law enforcement learned from daycare workers about two similar medical incidents involving a different infant, in the week prior to Harvey’s death. Both incidents involved the same caregiver. His parents say that having cameras in the facility could have prevented his tragic death, which prompted lawmakers to introduce the bill named after Harvey.
If you own or operate a licensed child care center in Minnesota, beginning July 1, 2026, Minnesota Statute 142B.68 will require certain licensed child care centers to install video security cameras in the public and shared areas of their facility, meet specific technical standards, retain footage for a set number of days, and follow strict rules about who can access those recordings.
At Wellington Security Systems, we work with businesses across the Twin Cities to design, install, and maintain security solutions that not only protect people and property, but also keep our customers in full compliance with state regulations. Here’s what Minnesota’s new child care camera law actually says, and what it means for your center:
What the Statute Requires
The new statute applies to licensed child care centers but it won’t apply to all licensed facilities (though could in the future). These camera requirements are triggered when a center is required to post a maltreatment investigation memorandum. When triggered, the center must:
- Install video security cameras in public and shared areas of its indoor facility (outdoor space is not included)
- Come into compliance within six months of when the maltreatment investigation memorandum is required to be posted
- Maintain compliance for four years after the memorandum is required to be posted
Even if your center isn’t currently subject to the trigger, getting compliant ahead of time is the smarter play. Investigations happen quickly and it’s important to protect yourself, your business and the children and families that depend on your care.
Where Cameras Must Be Installed
There are also specific requirements on where cameras must be placed and the standards your system must meet. Subdivision 3 of the statute says that a licensed child care center must have:
- At least one camera in every room designated for infants or toddlers
- Cameras positioned to provide maximum visibility of each room
- Additional cameras in any room where a single camera cannot capture at least 80 percent of the square footage
It’s important to take a close look at your space to ensure that you have the required number of cameras with required line of sight. An infant or toddler room with an alcove, a partial wall, a changing area, or an irregular floor plan will almost always need more than one camera to meet the 80 percent coverage rule. This is what we can help with during a free security audit; we’ll walk the space, measure visibility, and design the camera layout so you pass inspection the first time.
Technical Standards Your Cameras Must Meet
Not just any camera will satisfy the statute. The video security cameras in your facility must:
- Be turned on and recording at all times the center is in operation
- Record and display the accurate date and time
- Have a display resolution of 720p or higher
- Have a frame rate of 15 frames per second or higher
There is one narrow exemption: if your center already had cameras meeting the placement requirements prior to July 1, 2026, you are exempt from the resolution and frame rate requirements on those existing cameras. If you’re adding new cameras to meet the placement rule, those new cameras must meet the full technical specs.
Modern cameras easily exceed 720p and 15 fps, but older analog or low-end systems often do not. If you’re not sure what your existing system can do, we can help.
Why It’s Important to Partner with Someone Local
You may already have a camera system, and you may not have any maltreatment investigations on your facility’s record that require cameras, but it’s always recommended to install a camera system for the safety of your business and clients. We recommend partnering with a security company that understands the local laws and regulations so whether you’re updating an existing system or setting up a new one, the system you have will be in compliance and built to scale.
When you work with Wellington Security, you’re working with a Twin Cities team that:
- Understands Minnesota’s child care regulations and how to design to them
- Walks your facility room by room to verify the 80 percent coverage requirement
- Specifies cameras, recorders, and storage that meet the 720p / 15 fps standard
- Builds in the access controls and audit logging required by the security safeguards rule
- Provides fast, in-person service when something goes wrong, because remote troubleshooting from out of state isn’t a real plan when your compliance clock is ticking
The smartest child care operators aren’t going to wait until a maltreatment investigation memorandum starts a six-month compliance clock. They’re going to design and install their camera systems now, on their own schedule, with a partner who knows the statute.
If you operate a licensed child care center in the Twin Cities or greater Minnesota and want to make sure your facility is ready for the new video security camera requirements, give us a call at 612.822.4094 or contact us today for a free on-site security audit. We’ll review your facility, walk through the statute with you, and design a system that protects the children in your care and keeps you in full compliance with Minnesota law.
Wellington Security Systems is a trusted commercial security systems partner serving customers in and around the Twin Cities metro for over 40 years, specializing in burglary systems, access control, surveillance cameras, and fire alarms. For more information or a free security audit for your business, contact us today.