Hello Friends and Neighbors,
As week three of the 2019 legislative session comes to a close, there have been a lot of new bills introduced from the rising costs of insulin to paid family leave for all Minnesotans to enhancing the teacher student relationships of those who need it most. As we look onto the beginning of week Four we are met with a Minnesota Snow Storm and below zero weather. I hope you and your family have a safe week. Stay Warm.
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.
There seems to be consensus to fast track a few bills this session including legislation authorizing Minnesota to access federal funds for election security and hands-free cellphone legislation. The legislature will hear more regarding these issues and others in the coming weeks.
In the senate
Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Senate celebrated this week what would have been Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s 89thbirthday. It was a day to applaud and remember Dr. King’s many accomplishments and take a moment to keep his “dream” alive. But for all of his incredible accomplishments, the state still has a long way to go in achieving racial equity and social justice.
The country is at a turning point. Rhetoric is ramped up and the rights of many Americans, especially minority communities and traditionally disenfranchised communities, are at greater risk. Through distorting the protections of religious freedom to provide cover for discrimination, ongoing issues with the criminal justice system and voting rights, and the fear mongering against Muslim-Americans, these issues and others epitomize the words of Dr. King: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
With these words, the state remembered a great man on January 21, who was the impetus for change in the country and whose legacy continues to be relevant for social change.
Minnesotans call for increased family and medical leave
The Minnesotans for Paid Family and Medical Leave Coalition, a group of organizations from the faith, labor, business, and nonprofit communities, held a press conference this week voicing its support for the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. The bill seeks to implement a state-administered paid leave insurance program that would provide workers with up to 12 weeks of partial wage replacement for medical leave, as well as up to an additional 12 weeks of partial wage replacement for family leave.
The press conference highlighted the burdens placed upon workers, families, and business owners due to the lack of availability of paid family leave, as well as the difficulties faced by caregivers due to Minnesota’s current employer requirements. Other speakers noted the conflict between an outdated model of care giving expectations, which depends upon a family member remaining home, and a more modern standard model which frequently involves all family adults working full-time jobs while also providing care giving support.
In 2016, only 14% of civilian workers in the United States had access to paid family and medical leave, and more than 95% of Minnesotans rely upon employer sponsored healthcare. One in three U.S. civilian employees leave a job at some point in their careers due to care giving needs. The Paid Family and Medical Leave Act aims to prevent this by ensuring that Minnesotans are able to meet their families’ care giving needs without leaving the workforce.
The Paid Family and Medical Leave Act comes as a response to changing demographics and an increasing need for caregivers as Minnesota’s retired population continues to grow. The coalition is working to gather bipartisan support and hopes the bill will be an active issue for the current legislative session. (HF 0005)
Reducing the immorally high prices of insulin
A press conference this week highlighted a legislative package of four bills designed to bring down the immorally high price of insulin for Minnesota’s consumers.
The Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act, the first piece of the package, establishes a means for Minnesotans who are unable to afford their needed insulin to get their prescription filled on a temporary basis. The bill provides reimbursement for pharmacies through a fee paid by insulin manufacturers.
The second bill ensures price transparency between insulin manufacturers, pharmacies, and customers by asking insulin manufacturers to justify and explain each price hike they propose so customers can understand why they’re being charged more. It also calls for reports from pharmacy benefit managers and orders the Minnesota’s Health Commissioner to analyze the data and provide a report to the legislature. Price transparency was listed as one of the American Diabetes Association’s main recommendations for changes to the insulin industry in 2018.
The third bill works towards that same goal of accountability by creating transparency between insurance companies and their customers. It mandates that insurance providers disclose the brand of insulin and type of equipment provided under a healthcare plan.
The final bill creates a long-term plan for keeping insulin prices low for customers and allows the Minnesota commissioner of health to hold insulin manufacturers accountable for their prices by imposing reimbursement charges. The commissioner will collect and analyze data submitted from manufacturers, pharmacies and insurance providers to determine a reasonable price for insulin. (S.F. 366, S.F. 365, S.F. 364)
Bipartisan efforts to address the opioid crisis
A bipartisan group of legislators held a press conference this week to unveil legislation to help prevent opioid addiction and support children subjected to abuse or neglect. The state pays for the legislation with an increase in licensing fees on opioid manufacturers and distributors.
Highlights of the legislation include:
- Funding for county-administered social services to help kids who have been subjected to child abuse or neglect due to parental addiction.
- Prescription monitoring program to prevent overprescribing and “doctor shopping.”
- Public awareness, prevention, and education programs.
- Statewide access to effective treatment and recovery services.
- Continuing education for opioid prescribers.
- Research and development of evidence-based treatment programs.
- Stronger reporting by pharmaceutical companies.
In order to accomplish these goals, the bill creates an Opiate Stewardship Advisory Council, made up of legislators and medical and health experts, tasked with developing a statewide effort to curb opioid addiction.
In Committee
Agriculture Economy reviewed in committee
In the Agriculture, Rural Development and Housing Policy Committee this week, members heard there are variances across the state, but 2018 was a challenging year for farmers overall. It was the fifth year in a row with very low profitability. Median net farm income was reported at $28,620 for 2017. Additionally, 2019 cash flow projections are troublesome for many farmers. Compounding this problem is the limited amount of credit available. Testifiers reported that this has all led to a tremendous increase in the number of Farmer-Lender Mediations. Agriculture is critical industry important to Minnesota and the United States. It is clear the legislature will do what it can this session to assist farmers as they continue to confront difficult economic conditions.
Legislators continue work to address elder abuse in Minnesota
Addressing the abuse and neglect of Minnesota’s seniors is once again on the agenda after the 2018 session ended without any urgently needed reforms in long-term care. Members of the new Family Care and Aging Committee heard an update from the commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Health on the outcome of several informal working groups on elder abuse convened last year to continue the critical work of finding solutions. A final report from the groups is expected shortly.
Last year, bipartisan legislation backed by a coalition of consumer advocates was ignored by Republican leaders in favor of a deeply flawed proposal that was ultimately wrapped into the 990-page omnibus supplemental budget bill. Governor Dayton cited the legislation’s inclusion as a primary reason for vetoing the bill.
Several pieces of new legislation this year are expected to come from stakeholders involved in the working groups, including a path to licensure for the state’s assisted living facilities, new requirements and protections for electronic monitoring (also known as granny cams), and legislation that will clarify and strengthen the rights of individuals living in assisted living settings. Senate DFLers will once again be working hard this year to ensure that protecting seniors and strengthening their rights are always at the forefront of the conversation.
Helmets to Hardhats receives first hearing
A proposal that would allocate resources to aid the trades in recruiting military members and veterans to work in Minnesota’s construction industry was heard this week in the Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy Committee. In the previous biennium, the legislature appropriated $400,000 for this program. The Senate author and the bill’s supporters are seeking $800,000 from the Workforce Development Fund to continue to, “…recruit, retain, assist, and support National Guard, reserve, and active duty military members’ and veterans’ participation into apprenticeship programs registered with the Department of Labor and Industry and connect them with career training and employment in the building and construction industry”, as written in the bill. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. (SF 103)
Committee looks at stricter penalties for various sex crimes
The Senate Judiciary Committee this week took up a bill that would address a number of concerns with the state’s definitions of and penalties for sex crimes.
The bill would create a harsher penalty for surreptitious intrusion crimes involving a minor, expand the definition of a person in a position of authority in relation to sex crimes, and prohibit peace officers from engaging in sexual activity with a person being restrained or otherwise unable to leave the officer’s premise.
The bill would also remove the “marital rape” exception from state statute and remove the exception for intentionally touching the clothing covering the buttocks. It was passed out of the committee and will be heard next in Finance Committee. (SF 111)
A bill heard in the Judiciary Committee this week aims to improve relations between landlords and student renters while protecting student renters.
The bill, brought forward by the Minnesota Student Association, adds requirements to leases that specify the unit to be rented, the amount of prorated rent for leases that don’t start on the first of a month, and a better timeline for renters notifying landlords that they would like to end their lease. It passed out of the committee and will be heard next on the Senate floor. (SF 125)
Committee considers distracted driving regulations
The Senate Transportation Committee considered two bills this week aimed at making Minnesota’s roads safer. The first would prohibit the use of cellphones while driving or part of traffic (such as at a stoplight), unless the driver is using a hands-free device. Drivers only would be able to use a cellphone if their vehicle is legally pulled over to the side of the road and not obstructing traffic. Use of GPS or navigational systems or audio-based content that is temporarily affixed to the vehicle still would be permitted. (S.F. 91)
The second bill would increase the current penalty for texting while driving. Under current law, texting while driving is a petty misdemeanor carrying a $50 base fine, which is increased for subsequent violations. The proposed legislation would increase the penalty to a misdemeanor and increase fines to $150 for the first offense, $300 for the second offense, and $500 for the third. After the third offense, a driver would be subject to forfeiture of their cellphone. The bill’s author argued higher penalties may be more effective than banning the use of cellphones all together. (S.F. 75)
The second bill also would require driver education programs to include instruction on distracted driving, and it would add operating a cellphone in a negligent manner without a hands-free setting to the definitions of criminal vehicular homicide, great bodily harm, bodily harm, and death of an unborn child.
Both bills were supported by friends and family members of victims of distracted driving-related accidents in Minnesota. The National Safety Council estimates that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes every year, or 64% of all road accidents. In the past few years, there have been an average of 59 deaths each year on Minnesota roads due to distracted driving and 223 serious injuries. Auto premiums in the past three years are up 15%, partially attributable to claims due to distracted driving.
Both bills were referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for further consideration. A similar version of the hands-free cellphone bill also is making progress in the House of Representatives.
Veterans Committee hears legislation to support veterans’ spouses
The Veterans Committee this week focused on expanding tax benefits for veterans and their spouses. The committee heard two bills that would both extend the tax exclusion for homes for veterans’ spouses. Right now, qualifying veterans and their spouses are eligible for a tax benefit that would reduce the value of their home by up to $300,000. Certain disabled veterans, their disabled spouses, the surviving spouses of military personnel who have died in the line of duty, and certain primary caregivers of disabled veterans are eligible for this benefit.
Surviving spouses are eligible now for up to eight years after the death of the veteran or until they move or remarry. One of the bills heard in committee this week would make the tax benefit permanent for veterans’ spouses, until they remarry or sell, transfer, or otherwise get rid of the property. (SF 113)
The other bill would allow spouses to transfer the exclusion to new property under certain circumstances, as long as certain requirements were met. This would be a new benefit for surviving spouses – spouses of veterans often move after the death of the veteran. This bill acknowledges that and the need to support veterans’ spouses. (SF 114)
Both bills were recommended to pass and will be heard next in Tax Committee.
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. A hello from Senator John Hoffman.
Sincerely,
Senator John Hoffman