CAPITOL UPDATE APRIL 9, 2021
Latz Leads Successful Effort to Add Criminal Sexual Conduct Statutory Reforms to Judiciary & Public Safety Budget Bill
In March of this year the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in the case State v. Khalil that under current Minnesota law, an individual charged with sexual assault of a person that is mentally incapacitated due to consumption of drugs or alcohol may not be found guilty if the victim is voluntarily intoxicated, due to a poorly written definition found in state statute. This decision received significant media and social media attention and brought renewed focus to ongoing bipartisan efforts to reform Minnesota’s criminal sexual conduct statutes, found in much of the recommendations of the Criminal Sexual Conduct Statutory Reform Working Group.
On Wednesday I joined Senate and House colleagues in announcing a fix to this statute with bipartisan support and stakeholder agreement. On Thursday, my amendment to encapsulate the working group’s recommendations was adopted in the Judiciary Committee.
The stakeholders, advocates, and survivors who shared their stories and struggles in the Judiciary Committee Wednesday evening and who have tirelessly worked towards closing this loophole have my utmost admiration and respect. I am committed to ensuring these changes are carried through the session and signed into law by Governor Walz.
Judiciary Budget Bill
Yesterday evening the Judiciary Committee completed work on its budget. While much of what is contained in the legislation is not objectionable, the lack of substantive reforms that were promised by Senate Republicans during the summer of 2020 failed to materialize and we are left with a considerable backlog of work. The bill does not include policing and criminal justice reform, justice programs, and does little to begin reducing the intersectional causes behind crime and recidivism.
An as-is justice system can only do so much. Judges are prohibited from using their discretion in lowering the amount of a fine to help assuage the perpetual poverty cycle many low-level offenders are stuck in. Public Defenders who serve more low income populations have unmanageably high caseloads and strikingly low compensation. Corrections Officers need more support within the facilities they keep safe.
The bill will be updated to reflect amendments on Monday, and will be heard in the Finance Committee early next week as well.
Looking Ahead: Budget Bills
Next week the Senate will begin longer floor sessions as the first round of budget bills spanning the entirety of our government are heard. Many of these bills have poison pills in them – notably State Government – in which a substantial rollback of voter rights and a focus on increasing barriers to participation are included to perpetuate the on-going and completely false claims of a stolen election. The Environment bill strikes the Pollution Control Agency’s authority to set vehicle emissions standards and does nothing to even attempt to negate the impacts of climate change or lower the state’s carbon footprint. As the Senate and House move budget bills from committees to the floor, the remainder of the session will be spent in conference committees negotiating agreements between legislative bodies, and with the Governor and executive branch. The state must have a balanced budget signed by the Governor by midnight on June 30 in order to continue state operations. It is especially critical to continue services during the pandemic to mitigate any spread as we work towards herd immunity.
City Spotlight: Plymouth
Congratulations to officer Erik Fadden, Plymouth’s new public safety director/police chief. Officer Fadden was raised in Plymouth and has been serving his community since 2004, and before that was in the Plymouth Police Reserve while attending college
Vaccine Appointments
With the announcement that all Minnesotans age 16 and over are eligible for a Covid19 vaccination, the demand still outpaces the supply. Several pharmacies are offering appointments and although they fill quickly, it is worthwhile to look to the websites of Walgreens, Thrifty White, and CVS. These pharmacies have received doses from a federal program and through the state. This map offers a snapshot of availability.
Conclusion
While vaccines continue to be more available to a wider group of Minnesotans, please do not forget this pandemic has not yet ended. Cases are again increasingly slightly, and ICU beds are once again filling. Let us all continue to do what we can to mitigate the spread to protect our families, friends, and neighbors. Wear your mask, practice social distancing when practicable, and frequently wash your hands.
Regards,
