Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: February 19, 2021

CAPITOL UPDATE FEBRUARY 19, 2021

This week, SD46 members hosted the first of several virtual town halls. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us and submit questions. The full video is available here and future dates will be announced through this listserv again as well.

VACCINE CONNECTOR

Vaccines continue to become available and now all Minnesotans have an option to enroll and be notified when they are eligible with the new vaccine connector launched this week. You can visit this site here.

ST LOUIS PARK TENT REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM 

St. Louis Park-based businesses may apply for a 50% reimbursement for rental or purchase of an outdoor tent or other eligible expenses through a new City of St. Louis Park program. To be eligible, businesses must be under specific restrictions from current state emergency executive orders such as restaurants, breweries, distilleries and fitness facilities, and must have no more than 50 full-time equivalent employees to be eligible for the program. Maximum reimbursement amount is $5,000 with one reimbursement allowed per business. 

Application period opens Feb. 18, 2021, and applications will be accepted until funds are exhausted or the executive orders are rescinded. 

Contact Julie Grove, City of St. Louis Park small business liaison, at jgrove@stlouispark.org or 952.924.2523 for information about applying.

More information on eligibility and the application can be found by clicking here.

SUPPORTING PARENTS WITH DISABILITIES

The Senate Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee heard a billthis week authored by DFL Sen. Melisa Franzen that includes multiple provisions to provide support to parents with disabilities. The bill would require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to create a pilot project to assist parents with disabilities in childbearing tasks and prevent the removal of a child solely because the parent has a disability. In addition, the bill would create two-year grants for Personal Care Assistance (PCA) agencies to provide these supportive parenting services. The legislation would also establish a Parenting with Disability Advisory Committee to advise DHS.  

A 2015 report demonstrated that parents with disabilities are over-represented in having their parental rights terminated or seeing their children in out of home placement. From 2000-2010, 35% of the 283 parents whose parental rights were terminated identified as having at least one disability.

LOOKING AHEAD

On Friday, February 26 Minnesota Management and Budget will release updated fiscal data that the Governor and legislature will use as we move into setting the biennial budget. The legislature is required to pass a balanced budget which will go into effect July 1, 2021.

It is a continued honor to serve the people of SD46 during this extremely difficult time. Stay safe, wear a mask as much as possible, and we can all look to a brighter future in the coming months.

Regards,