Sen John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 17, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We have had tragedy strike Minnesota once more. Many words have been already been said and actions by many of our community members have been heartening as people have come together to support each other through everything that has happened.

The trial over George Floyd’s death will be coming to a close shortly as well. I know we all hope for justice and a peaceful resolution. With everything Minnesota has been through I hope we can come together to support each other, see justice done for the victims and a brighter future for us and our children. As I stated in my last Enews, while the state legislature made some movement last summer with the Police Accountability Act of 2020, that was only the beginning. It was the bare minimum of what everyone could agree to at the time and there is still so much work left to be done around public safety reform. We must work together to make critical, effective, and long-term structural changes so that every Minnesotan feels safe in their community and across the state—regardless of what they look like.”

The Senate floor has had a busy week with omnibus bills introduced. There is still much work to be done as we look to the last month of session. More omnibus bills will be heard next week and I will continue to listen to you all as we move forward into conference committees.

Stay safe and hold your loved ones close. We will get through this as we always do.

Together.

John

Important Police Reform through providing police with additional services

A bill that I am a co-author of is SF1924 or Travis’s Law. This bill is named after Travis Jordan who was 36 years old and having a suicidal mental health crisis in which he threatened police officers with a knife. The two police officers he targeted shot 8 times at Mr. Jordan and killed him. In a review of the body cam footage, it is reasonable to conclude that the officers’ lives were threatened and force was therefore understandably used. This doesn’t change the fact, however, that the police were the wrong people to respond to the call. The role of the police is to enforce the law, not to act as social service workers or mental health experts. Additionally, when you confront a suicidal person with police officers, suicide by cop is the term we read about. In order to prevent more needless killings of people living with mental health, we need to have a mental health crisis team available to step in when the police are not the right response. Matter of fact, a report by the Ruderman Family Foundation over 50% of all people who die at the hands of police have a disability. There is a discussion of the intersectionality of disability and race that needs to be addressed.

In the name of Travis Jordan, my colleagues in the Senate and I offer changes to the current law regarding 911 emergency response. Travis’s Law states that the 911 emergency response system “shall include a referral to mental health crisis teams when appropriate.” Before this change, the very existence of a mental health crisis team was optional. Additionally, the prior law states offered that crisis team only “where available”. This new language requires it “when appropriate” which makes the crisis team much more likely to be used and the language change indirectly requires that mental health crisis team to be available at all times. The link below contains the new story of Mr. Jordan’s killing.

https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-officers-won-t-be-charged-in-travis-jordan-s-death/503865812/?refresh=true

I was grateful to be invited to the Lao New Year celebration! It was a wonderful event that I look forward to next year. It is always an honor to be included in honoring the diversity of Senate District 36 and the great State of Minnesota. Thank you for what you contribute to us all.

Thank You!

It is my greatest honor to represent you the citizens of Brooklyn Park, Champlin and Coon Rapids here at our great state capitol. In addition to representing you, I absolutely enjoy it when you come visit. You must schedule with our office to arrange an appointment before any arrival, and we also do Zoom meetings! So reach out and tell me what matters to you or schedule an appointment so I can continue working on your behalf. You can reach me by email at sen.john.hoffman@senate.mn or by phone at 651-296-4154. I am at 95 University Avenue Suite 2235 in the Minnesota Senate Building.

Sincerely,

Senator John Hoffman

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to call my office at 651-296-4154 or by e-mail at jhoffman@senate.mn.

Bills in Omnibus

A bipartisan bill that is currently in the Jobs Omnibus that I’m a Co-Author on is SF 594. This bill gives a 500,000 dollar appropriation over two years to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Twin Cities for workforce and skills development of youth aged 12-21.

Another Bill is SF 1138. This bill gives 500,000 over two years to Minnesota Grocers Association Foundation for Carts to Careers, a statewide initiative to promote careers, conduct outreach, provide job skills training, and award scholarships for students pursuing careers in the food industry.

In the Judiciary Omnibus is SF 1137 which sets grant money for alternative incarceration to expand their availability while also requiring a study to identify barriers so that we can address what makes it difficult for those returning to the community.

In the Higher Education Omnibus heard this week and moved off the Senate Floor was a bill I’m Co-authored on, SF 2001 which requires mental health awareness at each technical and community college in Minnesota. It also has a committee to oversee grant applications for the purpose that must be a majority of student representation.

In addition to authoring the most legislation of any other member of the Minnesota Senate, I have continued to address the issues our state faces through my work on the upcoming series of omnibus bills that the Senate has been focusing on over the past few weeks. Today I’m highlighting one of those amendments, which takes an important step forward in making the transition to adulthood easier for teenagers in foster care. Becoming an adult, and the important decisions that come with it, like finding a place to live, a college to enroll in or a job to apply for, how to pay taxes, bills, rent, or save some money for retirement are all difficult to figure out for the first time for anybody. For kids in foster care, whose lives are often upended by lack of resources and family support it is even more imperative they have time spent intentionally developing their plan to be successful adults while they have valuable services.

Local news:

Coon Rapids allows liquor licenses for smaller grocery stores

Lisa Jacobson, Hollies Winston Win Brooklyn Park Special Election Primary – CCX Media

Hanson Boulevard railroad overpass wins two engineering awards

End of the line for the Northstar? | Government

Environmental education grants being accepted from Hennepin County

Information and Resources

State Government

Governor
651.201.3400 | http://mn.gov/governor

Attorney General
651.296.3353 | www.ag.state.mn.us

Representative Melissa Hortman (36B)
651.296.4280

Representative Zack Stephenson (36A)
651.296.5513