SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – House Education Policy Chair Cheryl Youakim (DFL-Hopkins) today is announcing a new event taking place at the Capitol this Friday, March 1 called “Health and Safety in Our Schools Day.” The event is a House DFL Majority initiative inspired by students, parents, and public education advocates.
What, When, Where, Who
In conjunction with “Health and Safety in Our Schools Day,” the Education Policy Committee will meet in Room 5 of the State Office Building Friday, March 1 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. to advance a conversation with our fellow Minnesotans about this important priority. During this public hearing, students, parents, educators, administrators, advocates, and House DFLers will share their hopes, dreams, and challenges as it relates to health and safety in our schools. Members of the press and members of the public are invited to attend and participate.
“In the Minnesota House, we are committed to ensuring that students, educators, employees, administrators, and members of the public are healthy and safe while in school to the fullest extent possible,” said Rep. Youakim. “This is a priority for the House DFL Majority and should be for all elected officials, regardless of political party.”
During “Health and Safety in Our Schools Day,” state lawmakers will discuss the following legislative package of bipartisan bills:
- HF 1204 (Pryor) | School sexual harassment and sex discrimination laws compliance required, training required, and money appropriated.
- HF 244 (Claflin) | School districts required to conduct radon testing.
- HF 491 (DeMuth) | School employees, independent contractors, and persons in positions of authority who have sexual relationships with students penalties established.
- HF 1414 (Lippert) | Comprehensive sex education
- HF 1094 (Her) | Mental health education requirements amended.
- HF 1566 (Kunesh-Podein) | Jake’s Law
- HF 532 (Erickson) | Background checks required on all first-time teaching applicants, and mandatory reporting expanded.
“Health and Safety in Our Schools Day” is taking place several days after a Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Division hearing on gun violence prevention legislation, which has been a major priority for students across the state.
Last fall, House DFLers campaigned on addressing the epidemic of senseless violence in our nation, as well as improving the health and safety of students in our schools. House DFLers plan to accomplish this goal by passing legislation to ensure universal background checks (HF 8) and create a “red flag” law (HF 9), and by having discussions like the one House DFLers are having on March 1 in the House Education Policy Committee.
House DFLers won a convincing victory and took back control of the Minnesota House from Republicans in 2018, who like Senate Republicans have refused to do anything to address gun violence in recent years.