Category: Minnesota Legislature

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force Receives First Hearing

St. Paul, Minnesota  – On Tuesday, January 29, Representative Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL – New Brighton) will present legislation creating a new state task force to address the endemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Minnesota (H.F.111) in the bill’s first public hearing before the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee. There is currently no state or national system in place to collect data on missing and murdered Native women in Minnesota.

The 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.

What: First hearing on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force

When: Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at 12:45 p.m.

Where: Capitol 120

Who:

Chief Author Rep. Kunesh-Podein

Nicole Matthews: executive director of Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition

Rene Goodrich: Bad River Tribal Elder

Dolly Boswell: sister of missing woman

Mysti Babineau: Red Lake enrollee

Mary Lyons: elder

 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 the U.S. 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.

Mariani and Considine statement about legislative tour of MCF – Stillwater

Stillwater, Minnesota – Today, members of the House Corrections Division took a comprehensive tour of the Minnesota Correctional Facility – Stillwater.

State Rep. Jack Considine (DFL – Mankato), division chair, and Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), division member and Chair of the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy Division, released the following statement:

“Valuable work is happening behind the walls of each of our state’s correctional facilities. It’s important for us as lawmakers to see this work first-hand and learn about how we can best support the public servants working in these facilities. Continue reading “Mariani and Considine statement about legislative tour of MCF – Stillwater”

Minnesota House Corrections Division to meet at MCF–Stillwater Wednesday

Saint Paul, Minnesota – The Minnesota House Corrections Division will hold an informational hearing at the Minnesota Correctional Facility – Stillwater next Wednesday. 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.

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

The following are contraband: cell phones, tobacco products, weapons, simulated weapon, pocket knives, mace, handcuff keys, and drugs.

 

The Minnesota Department of Corrections website will provide a link to watch streaming video of the hearing. Continue reading “Minnesota House Corrections Division to meet at MCF–Stillwater Wednesday”

Senate DFL Week in Review: January 25, 2019

WEEK THREE: January 24, 2019

2019 Legislature starts hearing bills while a number of press conferences highlight legislation

State offices were closed and committees did not meet so legislators were able to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday on January 21. The week started off with a number of press conferences, including one on paid family and medical leave, reducing the cost of insulin, the opioid epidemic, and gun violence reduction.

Committee work kicked into full gear with the hands-free cellphone bills heard in the Senate and House, an update from the Elder and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Prevention working group, Driver Assist Technology in commercial trucks, and stricter penalties for sexual assault.

There were a number of groups who held “days” at the Capitol this week including the Woman’s March, AIDS Action Day, MCCL, National School Choice, and the Minnesota gun owners lobby day. Continue reading “Senate DFL Week in Review: January 25, 2019”

House HHS Policy Committee to visit Mille Lacs for opioid crisis discussion

St. Paul, Minnesota – Members of the Minnesota House Health and Human Services Policy Committee will hold an informational hearing Friday at the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe regarding the impact of opioids among Minnesota’s Native communities. The committee is traveling to Mille Lacs to hear testimony from tribal representatives to determine how to best develop collaborative strategies to end the state’s persistent opioid crisis.

Those scheduled to testify include: Cathy Chavers, Chairwoman, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa; Pam Hughes, Substance Use Disorder/New Moon Program Director, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa; Faron Jackson, Tribal Chairman, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe; and Jon Priem, Chief of Police, Prairie Island Indian Community.

WHAT: House Health and Human Services Policy Committee informational hearing to discuss the impact of opioids on Minnesota’s Native communities.

WHO: Committee Chair State Representative Rena Moran (DFL – Saint Paul); committee members, representatives of tribal communities.

WHERE: Grand Casino Mille Lacs Convention Center, 777 Grand Avenue, Onamia, Minn, 56359.

WHEN: Friday, January 25 at 1:00 p.m.

 

Rep. Stephenson Announces New Plan to Deliver State Financial Assistance to Furloughed Federal Employees

St. Paul, Minnesota – In response to the federal government shutdown, Representative Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) and Senator Matt Little (DFL-Lakeville) are fighting for federal employees affected financially in Minnesota.

Both legislators have introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow for federal employees who are furloughed, or working without pay, to apply for interest- free personal loans.  Minnesota is home to over 17,000 federal employees and contractors, and over 6,000 are currently furloughed or required to work without pay because of the shutdown.

“Today should be payday for thousands of federal employees across Minnesota,” Rep. Stephenson said. “Instead, workers are being forced to make impossible decisions about which bills to pay.  It’s time to release the hostages kept captive by the federal shutdown and give our federal workforce the financial security they’ve earned.”  Continue reading “Rep. Stephenson Announces New Plan to Deliver State Financial Assistance to Furloughed Federal Employees”

Rep. Olson introduces bill ensuring state action to end opioid crisis

St. Paul, Minnesota — State Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth) today announced plans to introduce a bill addressing Minnesota’s ongoing opioid crisis, which has resulted in tragic losses for families across the state. The legislation will establish an Opioid Stewardship Advisory Council to deliver grants focusing on education, intervention, treatment, training, and prevention strategies.

“Minnesotans are pleading with us to take action to protect people, and to do this we need a truly comprehensive strategy to save lives,” Rep. Olson said. “As families continue to experience unthinkable tragedies, Minnesotans can’t wait any longer for comprehensive strategies to end this crisis. I’m confident that we can work together in a bipartisan fashion to take action.”

Funding will for the advisory council’s grants will come from registration fees. In addition to the grants, the legislation expands coverage of pain management services and requires that companies perform comprehensive assessments of clients to better determine treatment options. Continue reading “Rep. Olson introduces bill ensuring state action to end opioid crisis”

Rep. Stephenson & Sen. Little Propose Financial Relief, Loan Guarantee Program for Furloughed Federal Workers

St. Paul, MN –Representative Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) and Senator Matt Little (DFL-Lakeville) have introduced legislation to enact a statewide loan guarantee program to assist federal employees affected financially by the government shutdown. Friday morning they will hold a press conference at the State Capitol to discuss the proposal.

Celia Hahn, a federal employee of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will share how she and her family have been impacted by the shutdown. Rick Beeson, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development of Sunrise Banks, will also be present to provide support.

What: Press Conference on HF XXX (house file number to be introduced today)

Where: Capitol Press Room, B971

Who: Representative Zack Stephenson, Senator Matt Little, Celia Hahn, TSA Employee, Rick Beeson with Sunrise Banks, Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, House Commerce Chair Laurie Halverson, legislators

When: Friday, January 25, 2019 at 9:00 AM

Representative Kunesh-Podein Statement on Equal Rights Amendment

St. Paul – Today, Representative Mary Kunesh-Podein participated in the first public hearing of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) bill before the House Government Operations committee. If approved, the ERA bill (H.F. 13) would put an Equal Rights Amendment on the ballot in Minnesota in November of 2020 to amend the state constitution to read, “Equality under the law shall not be abridged or denied on account of gender.” If ratified, the amendment will take effect on January 1, 2021.

Rep. Kunesh-Podein, who is the chief-author of the bill, released the following statement:

“Minnesotans deserve nothing less than constitutional equality and a government that upholds our basic values of fairness,” said Kunesh-Podein. “Gender discrimination must receive the highest level of scrutiny – assumed equality is not enough. Our state should work for all of us, no matter what we look like or who we are.”   Continue reading “Representative Kunesh-Podein Statement on Equal Rights Amendment”