Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Week three has come in a flurry as we try to bring up bills that were missed last year after the initial shut down and covid relief as well as handle business that needs to be done this year.
I am deeply grateful and honored to be the ranking member in Human Services Reform. Over the last couple of weeks we have begun moving legislation and holding hearings on everything from disability services to behavioral health, including mental health care and substance abuse recovery in our state and the dire need for supports and services. Working across the aisle we have seen real facts be acknowledged and begun the process of changing that is required to enhance what our state has to offer.
It will be an incredibly fast session as the first deadlines were announced for March. I will keep fighting to make this challenge productive as we move forward and continue the good work already started.
Thank you for your support and trust as your Senator. I’ll continue to do my best to keep you updated. Among the information in this ENEWS is a link to a vaccine appointment process. They are limited, for now, and targeted towards older individuals and high needs. If you meet the qualifications, don’t hesitate to schedule on line in the process, though expect a significant wait time as they try to process all the requests versus what is available. I hope that larger shipments will become available and will let you all know when that occurs.
Stay safe from my family to yours,
John
Update on Bills I’m Working On
SF0017 This bill is to ensure settlement money from the Jensen Settlement is kept by the Department of Human Services to be utilized to help people with disabilities. The Jensen Settlement was a case the state entered into a consent agreement for allowing mistreatment of people with disabilities.
The money was released by the courts to assist people with disabilities, but due to a quirk in the law these funds will vanish into the general fund rather than be utilized to assist people with disabilities. This is a bipartisan bill that was passed in through its Senate Committee and we hope to finish this soon. When budget forecasts are calculated next month it will be too late to prevent these funds from simply going to the general fund.
It is only right that this money be put to use righting the wrongs of the states past actions.
SF0111 This bill gives funds to develop a pilot project at Winona State University to establish the Minnesota Direct Care Service Corps, where post-secondary students serve as direct care workers for financial incentive.
This addresses a shortage of care workers currently in our direct care workforce and assists students in pursuing their education. This will be heard in Health and Human Services Reform next week in the Senate.
SF0189 This bill offers grants to support parent to parent programs that connect parents of children with severe disabilities with other parents who have already navigated our system of supports. This provides emotional and practical support in taking care of their children as parents who understand each other. This is a model that the Health Resource Service Administration has supported in all states. Minnesota needs to assure that as well.
This bill will be heard in Human Services Reform next Tuesday.
Health and Human Services Reform
This week the Health and Human Services Committee heard a bill that prohibits the Department of Human Services (DHS) from disqualifying an individual from a background study if they have an expunged criminal record.
In 2015, the Senate DFL spearheaded sweeping changes to our state’s expungement laws that allow judges to permanently seal the criminal records of reformed offenders, making it easier for these Minnesotans to secure good jobs, access quality housing, and provide for their families. An expunged record can still be viewed under certain circumstances, and someone cannot request an expungement for certain violent or egregious crimes.
Right now, people can be denied jobs they may have spent years studying or training for, even after they’ve gone through the complicated process to get their record sealed. Positions in the human services industry often face severe workforce shortages, this bill is a way to support individuals who have demonstrated changed behavior to become integrated and productive members of our community.
Transportation
Drivers’ license extensions to sunset
Minnesota driver’s license expirations were provided extensions by the Legislature last session due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the temporary closure of many offices. Drivers with expiration dates on their licenses from last March until the end of January have been allowed to continue to operate vehicles under their old licenses.
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) has determined the agency has the capacity to safely allow this extension provision to sunset over the next few months. According to Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS), driver’s license holders under this provision have until March 31, 2021 to renew their licenses that would have otherwise expired. Driver’s licenses that expire during the month of February also have until March 31 to renew, but licenses expiring in March or later must be renewed on time.
State Government
Redistricting is the redrawing or revision of boundaries for representational districts. Local governments are responsible for local redistricting and drawing precinct boundaries. The Minnesota constitution gives the Legislature the authority to draw congressional and legislative districts, and state law requires the Legislature to draw Met Council districts. The Legislature is guided by redistricting principles and uses a specialized software to draw maps and create reports. The redistricting principles on a federal level focus on equality in congressional and legislative districts and no discrimination based on race. The state redistricting principles require convenient contiguous territory, and that districts are nested and numbered in a regular series.
The timeline for this cycle of redistricting plans to have new Met Council districts effective by 2023, with local government timelines based on the completion of legislative and congressional redistricting plans. Right now, population reports are being delivered to the president and congress is reapportioning the seats. Around March 2021, there should be a delivery of census data to the states. February 15, 2022 is the deadline for the Legislature to complete redistricting. By May 8, 2022 candidates must establish residence in their legislative district and January 31 is the candidate filing deadline. August 9, 2022 is the state primary election and November 8 is the general election, which is why the goal is to have new Met Council districts effective by 2023.
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