WEEK Five: Friday, Feb. 8
Friends and Neighbors,
I hope this finds you well despite all the snow and ice midweek. Week five of the Legislative Session has shown an increase in the pace of activity. More bills are being heard and discussed including several of my own addressing how we handle complex medical care. Early in the week I carried a bill through committee that would make grant money available for a parent to parent program that connects those with children afflicted by complex medical conditions. The additional support of a parent with experience in handling our complex medical system as well as an understanding ear drastically reduces stress and improves outcomes. At the end of the week I stood once more for a bill that would ensure communication between providers when a child with a complicated medical diagnosis is discharged from a hospital. This cuts down on accidental redundancies and risks due to a lack of communication between those administering medical care.
Together we make Minnesota better one step at a time. I look forward to next week and thank you for trusting me to take on your needs at the Capitol.
Committee work in full swing at the Senate, committee deadlines released
It’s been a busy week at the Capitol with committees in full swing hearing bills including hands-free legislation, electronic monitoring in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, higher education capital investment needs, and requiring a personal finance course to graduate from high school.
In the senate
Moving Minnesota toward 100% clean energy
Youth climate activists and faith leaders joined Minnesota Senate and House legislators at a press conference to discuss legislation that moves Minnesota towards 100% clean energy. The proposal would prompt Minnesota to transition away from power sources that rely on fossil fuels in favor of renewable methods like wind and solar.
Introducing the United Black Legislative Caucus
In honor of Black History Month, members of the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives announced the first ever United Black Legislative Caucus at a press conference this week. The goal of the caucus is to elevate and advocate for issues relating to Minnesota’s black communities.
Minnesotans demand compensation for stolen wages
Several legislators joined the Coalition to End Wage Theft – a united group of workers, contractors, and businesses who have been harmed by wage theft – to voice their support for a bipartisan bill seeking to create rules to prevent wage exploitation and penalize employers who attempt to cheat workers out of promised compensation.
MNCASA Action Day brings forth stories of determination
The Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s (MNCASA) Action Day took place this week and gave Minnesotans the opportunity to gather in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence, including those whose voices are not often heard. Dozens of survivors, advocates, and allies of the sexual assault community joined together to raise awareness and propose legislation for increased accountability in our laws regarding sexual assault. (SF 235, SF 111)
Everyone deserves a second chance
Senator Hoffman Speaks at the Rally
Even through a snowstorm, dozens of citizens came to the Minnesota State Capitol to take part in Second Chance Day on the Hill. The Minnesota Second Chance Coalition is a bipartisan non-profit consisting of hundreds of non-profit member organizations and individuals. The group strongly advocates for second chances for persons who have been punished for crimes so they can earn the opportunity to live, work, and grow to be fully contributing members of their communities.
The United States has a gun death rate 10 times greater than other high-income nations, and by early February, more Americans are killed with guns than are killed in our peer countries in an entire calendar year. That’s the sobering statistic guiding the inaugural “Gun Violence Survivors Week”, running from February 1 to February 8.
In Committee
MHFA presents on affordable housing plan
The Agriculture, Rural Development and Housing Finance committee heard a presentation from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) regarding its 2019 Affordable Housing Plan. The agency’s presentation outlined how they plan to dedicate their resources for the upcoming year. Central to their mission is homebuyer financing, home refinancing, new construction, rental rehabilitation, and rental assistance.
Push for financial literacy courses advances
Legislation requiring students to take a single half-credit course in personal finance to graduate from a Minnesota high school was heard in the Education Committee this week. This bill will amend the state’s graduation requirements and cut elective credits from 7 to 6.5. If passed, it would be effective for the 2020-21 school year. (S.F. 19)
Bill expands PSEO for home-school, private school students
A bill heard this week would allow home-schooled or non-public school 10th grade students taking career and technical classes to take advantage of the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program. The state would be required to pay for the expansion, which could cost around $10,000 annually. (S.F. 94)
Dyslexia teacher training bills will help students learn to read
Two bills heard in the E-12 Education Committee would provide training for teachers to help them define and understand dyslexia and provide training and resources to help students. (S.F.116 (S.F.196)
Chronic Wasting Disease response bill advances
The Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance Committee approved a bill this week to appropriate $1.5 million for continuation of wildlife disease surveillance and emergency response as part of a major effort by the Department of Natural Resources to slow and prevent the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Minnesota. $208,000 of the $1.5 million appropriation is earmarked for enforcement response to animals that are escaped from cervidae farms. (SF 444)
Electronic monitoring legislation comes back to the legislature
Bipartisan legislation on electronic monitoring, otherwise known as granny cams, was heard this week in the Family Care and Aging Committee. Lawmakers and advocates have been working for several years so monitoring can be used as an effective tool to ensure seniors are safe and receiving quality care in long-term care facilities. (S.F. 11)
Human Services block grant legislation makes a stir in committee
Controversial legislation that could threaten funding for some human services programs was heard this week in the Human Services Reform Committee. The bill would combine state money provided to counties and tribal governments for programs like child protection, mental health services, and services to help people with disabilities live independently into one block grant of funding. (SF 794)
Parent-to-Parent grant funding receives first hearing
A bill to appropriate funds for statewide parent-to-parent programs was heard this week in the Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee. The funds appropriated would go to grants to support parent-to-parent programs for families of children with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and health-related educational or behavioral problems. Funding would go to the nonprofit Family Voices of MN. They run the CONNECTED Program, a program that matches families with experienced volunteer support parents who have received training to assist them at no cost to the families. (SF 215)
U of M, MinnState present bonding requests
The University of Minnesota and Minnesota State presented their capital investment (bonding) requests for the 2019 session to the Senate Higher Education Committee this week.
Greater Minnesota business infrastructure grants
The Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program was first developed in 2002. Rural communities, defined as communities outside of the seven-county metropolitan area, are eligible for a grant of up to $2 million when they match 50% of the capital costs for publicly owned infrastructure that assists in economic development. Economic development projects include manufacturing, technology, warehousing and distribution, research and development, agricultural processing, and industrial park development.
Senate driving state towards hands-free legislation
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard two bills this week that would increase penalties for using a cell phone while driving. (S.F. 75, S.F. 91)
Tax committee considers tax relief for charitable gambling
The Senate Tax Committee considered several bills this week aiming to reduce taxes paid by charitable gaming organizations. The proposals vary from providing sales tax exemptions on the purchase of pulltabs and paddlewheels, to reducing the overall tax rates applied to an organization’s earnings. (SF 437, SF 845, SF 414, SF 219, SF 549, SF 371, SF 578)
Metro Mobility moving to Lakeville
A bill was heard this week in the Senate Transportation Committee to extend Metro Mobility services to the city of Lakeville through the Met Council transit taxing district. Metro Mobility provides rides to seniors and residents with disabilities throughout the metro area for a small fee to riders. Although the city is already part of the transit taxing district, it cannot provide Metro Mobility service without legislative authorization.
A Video Update from Senator Hoffman
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.So come on down, reach out and tell me what matters to you so I can continue working on your behalf. You can reach me by email at sen.john.hoffman@senate.mn, phone by 651-296-4154 or just stop by. I am at 95 University Avenue Suite 2231 in the Minnesota Senate Building
Sincerely,
Senator John Hoffman
Thank you to everyone who came to visit me this week!
A big shout out to Linea who came to shadow with me for a day!
Cynthia Lieffring a CPA from Coon Rapids Sharing the importance of Tax Conformity
Kristi Gullickson speaking on bills that affect the work of pharmacists
The Second Chance Coalition advocating for Reform
A coalition of student leaders studying all fields came to share their experiences and learn more about the capitol of the great state of Minnesota
Taking the students around the capitol to share some history
Life Source constituents speaking on the importance of organ donation
Thank you Dr. Eva Norman from Live Your Life for stopping by with students from SD 36 and advocating for physical therapy and the ability to prescribe accessible parking passes.
Thank you Family Voices of Minnesota for supporting our Parent to Parent grant funding