ST. PAUL — A state task force says lawmakers should repeal a law that prevents county workers from considering previously-rejected reports of child abuse when they are deciding whether to investigate a new allegation.

That is just one of the preliminary recommendations made Friday by the task force that was created in September as part of an overhaul of the state’s child-protection system.

It was created after the Star Tribune reported that county workers didn’t follow up on abuse complaints about a 4-year-old Starbuck boy who was later killed.

Among other things, the task force also found that Minnesota leans too heavily on family engagement and support when it gets reports of child abuse, and doesn’t put enough weight on investigating and child safety.

Final recommendations are due at the end of March.