Category: Minnesota Legislature

Rep. Olson and Sen. Dibble introduce strong eldercare protections; bill endorsed by key consumer organizations

ST.PAUL, Minn. – Today, state Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth) and state Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL – Minneapolis) introduced a comprehensive package of legislation aimed at improving eldercare in the state of Minnesota, directly addressing abuse, assault, neglect and other maltreatment in Minnesota’s assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Many of the ideas and recommendations emerged last year from an Elder Abuse Consumer Workgroup convened by AARP Minnesota, which backs the legislation along with other organizations such as Elder Voice Family Advocates and Legal Aid.

“Minnesotans have an expectation that when they make the difficult decision to move into assisted living, they will receive the quality of care they need to age in place and maintain an excellent quality of life. But they also expect to do so free of the heartbreaking, abhorrent behaviors that have been highlighted far too frequently at the hands of the very people entrusted to care for them,” Rep. Olson said. “This package of reforms and protections has been carefully crafted with the likes of AARP and other groups to ensure our focus is on consumers and their wellbeing. It’s time for the Legislature to come together and get this done to protect our parents and grandparents and all older and vulnerable adults in Minnesota.” Continue reading “Rep. Olson and Sen. Dibble introduce strong eldercare protections; bill endorsed by key consumer organizations”

Nearly 40 Minnesotans will testify at hearing for 100 percent clean energy bill

SAINT PAUL, MN – On Tuesday, January 5, nearly 40 Minnesotans will testify at an informational hearing of the Energy and Climate Finance and Policy Division, chaired by Rep. Jean Wagenius (DFL—Minneapolis). The hearing will focus on legislation that would increase the proportion of energy that must come from renewable sources and set target dates by which these goals must be achieved.

Due to substantial interest, the committee will meet twice in order to hear from everyone who wishes to testify. Leaders of the next generations of Minnesotans from Minnesota Can’t Wait will open both sessions of public testimony. They will be joined by environmental advocacy groups, scientific organizations, faith groups, public health professionals, energy producers and utilities, and interested citizens.

What: Energy and Climate Finance and Policy Division informational hearing

Who: Rep. Jean Wagenius

When: Tuesday, February 5 at 9:45am and 4:30pm

Where: Room 120-Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155

Rescheduled Minn. House Corrections Division hearing at MCF–Stillwater Wednesday

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota House Corrections Division informational hearing at the Minnesota Correctional Facility – Stillwater has been rescheduled for next Wednesday, Feb. 6. The panel, chaired by Rep. Jack Considine (DFL – Mankato) will hear testimony from stakeholders about concerns in state correctional facilities and the resources needed to address them to ensure everyone, personnel and offenders alike, are able to come home safely.

Extremely limited public seating is available to observe the hearing via livestream in the Warden’s House.

The Department of Corrections will provide a link to watch streaming video of the hearing here or here. Continue reading “Rescheduled Minn. House Corrections Division hearing at MCF–Stillwater Wednesday”

Senate DFL Week in review: January 31, 2019

Minnesota Senate continues work in spite of cold weather

Week four of the 2019 Legislative Session kicked off with a joint Senate and House press conference on the legalization of recreational cannabis. The issue of cannabis legalization is one that is moving fast around the country. Their goal is to secure a legislative hearing and to begin the discussion on this issue.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue started accepting tax returns on Monday, Jan. 28. The deadline for filing taxes is April 15. Continue reading “Senate DFL Week in review: January 31, 2019”

Rep. Lislegard champions bill to name Hwy. 53 bridge after Rukavina; deliver Virginia gap funding

Rep. Dave Lislegard (DFL – Aurora) and House Transportation Chair Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL – Minneapolis) 

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – State Rep. Dave Lislegard (DFL – Aurora) today introduced a bill in the Minnesota House to name the Highway 53 bridge over the Rouchleau mine pit in Virginia – the tallest bridge in the entire state –  the “Tom Rukavina Memorial Bridge” after the longtime former Iron Range lawmaker who passed away earlier this month. The bill also includes $5.4 million to reimburse the city of Virginia for their share of costs incurred in the rerouting of the highway.

“I’m honored to be the chief author of this legislation which accomplishes two major things: makes the city of Virginia whole for their contributions to this enormous project, and honors Tom Rukavina for his enormous contributions to our region over a lifetime of public service,” Rep. Lislegard said. “Some of us may find irony in having Tommy’s name on the tallest bridge in the state, but this is a perfect way to remind us all of his work to strengthen opportunities for working people here on the Range and throughout the state.”

The bridge rises 204 ft. above the water in the mine pit and is widely considered a massive engineering phenomenon. Its construction was part of a 3.2 mile reroute of the highway completed last year at a cost of $240 million. The move was necessitated by Cleveland Cliffs’s reclamation of land underneath the former highway stemming from a decades-long agreement over mineral leases. Continue reading “Rep. Lislegard champions bill to name Hwy. 53 bridge after Rukavina; deliver Virginia gap funding”

Nearly 30 Organizations Express Support for the Great Start for All Minnesota Children Act

ST. PAUL, MN – Nearly 30 organizations have sent a letter expressing their strong support for H.F. 1, the Great Start for All Minnesota Children Act. This legislation, authored by Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL—Eden Prairie) and Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL—St. Paul), would increase support for prenatal care, home visiting, and early care and learning opportunities. The endorsement of these organizations is more evidence of the strong momentum this session to help get every child off to a great start.

Read the full text of the letter below:

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force Receives First Public Hearing

Saint Paul, Minnesota – Legislation authored by Representative Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL-New Brighton) to create a new state task force to address the endemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Minnesota (H.F.111) received its first public hearing today. The House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee listened to heartbreaking personal stories from families impacted by violence committed against indigenous women. There is currently no state or national system in place to collect data on missing and murdered Native women in Minnesota.

“We can send a message that Minnesota will not let Indigenous women continue to vanish,” said Rep. Kunesh-Podein. “No one should wonder if their daughters, their sisters, their mothers and loved ones will return when they walk out the door. Native women are not a disposable community.”

If approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Walz, the new task force will provide analysis regarding the systemic causes behind the number of missing Native American women in the state. The goal of the task force will be to better understand the causes of violence against Indigenous women and to reduce and prevent violence where it is happening. The task force will include members of the indigenous community, law enforcement, policymakers and the public.

Stats and Figures:

  • Murder is the third-leading cause of death among American Indian/Alaska native women.
  • 5,712 cases of MMIWG were reported in 2016 and only 116 were logged in a DOJ database.
  • Misclassification is a serious problem. From the 1960s through the early ‘80s, the Seattle Police Department used “N” to signify either Negro or Native American.

House Public Safety panel launches ‘Gender-Based Violence Prevention Week’; members committed to justice for victims and survivors

Saint Paul, Minnesota – Several state lawmakers today held a State Capitol news conference, launching a broad effort to deliver justice for victims and survivors of sexual assault and other gender-based crimes. This week, the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Division will hold “Gender-Based Violence Prevention Week,” a comprehensive effort over three days of hearings considering legislation to strengthen accountability and close loopholes in state law.

“Our committee’s effort this week recognizes that there are significant shortcomings throughout our system that have led too often to Minnesotans being failed when they’ve sought justice,” said Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), chair of the committee. “Victims and survivors of gender-based violence are to be valued, and as we work together to deliver better outcomes, I look forward to taking an approach centered on their needs.”

Two of the measures are championed by Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL – Shoreview), who is chief author of a bill requiring law enforcement agencies to adopt policies for sexual assault investigation cases, as well as one which would create a task force directed to rewrite the state’s entire criminal sexual conduct statute. Continue reading “House Public Safety panel launches ‘Gender-Based Violence Prevention Week’; members committed to justice for victims and survivors”

Minn. House members, advocates to unveil series of gender-based violence prevention initiatives

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – On Tuesday morning, members of the Minnesota House of Representatives will be joined by victim and survivor advocates for a press conference to launch “Gender-Based Violence Prevention Week” in the House Public Safety Division. This week, the panel, chaired by Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), will hear a variety of bills regarding the topic, including training for law enforcement on investigations of sexual assault, ending the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women endemic, repeal of the “marital rape” exception and other initiatives as part of a comprehensive effort to end gender-based violence.

WHAT: Press conference to launch “Gender-Based Violence Prevention Week” in the Minnesota House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Division.

WHO: House Public Safety Division Chair Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL – Shoreview), Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL – Coon Rapids), Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL – New Brighton), Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn (DFL – Roseville), advocates for victims and survivors of gender-based violence including representatives from the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women (MCBW), Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MNCASA), and Reviving Sisterhood.

WHERE: Room B971, Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, 55155

WHEN: Tuesday, January 29, 2019, 9:00 a.m.