CAPITOL UPDATE FEBRUARY 4
It’s been more than four weeks and the 2019 legislative session is in full swing. After last year’s session ended unceremoniously, we’ve hit the ground running by renewing efforts to pass a number of bills leftover from 2018. Additionally, I’ve supplemented those bill re-introductions with new agenda items that have arisen since last May. As always, it’s difficult to forecast the many issues that may surface in the coming months and it must be the Legislature’s goal to address those issues head-on. Last year the Legislature was tasked with redefining the state’s tax structure after the federal government overhauled its system of taxation. Although it is unlikely the federal government will assign our state such an alike responsibility this session, it must remain lawmakers’ top priority to find reasonable solutions to those issues as the country’s only state with a divided legislature.
You can watch my first video update of the session below. If you have any questions, please call my office at 651-297-8065 or, if you’re on the Capitol complex, stop by room 2215 in the Minnesota Senate Building.
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Gun Violence Prevention
On January 24, 2019, I introduced two bills aimed at curbing gun violence across the state. The first bill, Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO), also known as “red flag” laws, would allow law enforcement and family members to seek a court order temporarily restricting a person’s access to guns when they show emotional or mental health crisis “red flags” and pose a danger to self or others. The petition for relief would require that person to give up their guns while the order is in effect. In a nationwide study from 2009 to 2016, roughly 42 percent of mass shootings produced documentation that the attacker displayed dangerous warning signs before the attack.
The second bill would extend criminal background checks to most private sales, gun show markets, and online transactions. In states that require a background check before every handgun sale there are nearly half as many suicides by gun, women shot to death by their domestic partners, police officers who die by hand gun fire, incidents of trafficking, and mass shootings. Last year, a Star Tribune poll found that 9 out of 10 Minnesotans support criminal background checks on all private firearm purchases. Support among Minnesotans is broad as well as deep, and crosses political, urban and rural, and gun owners and non-owners’ lines. Minnesotans expect legislators to find a solution to mitigate this problem and we need to deliver.
Link to the full press conference can be found here.
Senator Latz addressed the media on January 24 when he introduced two gun violence prevention measures.
Family and Medical Leave
In recent weeks, the Minnesotans for Paid Family and Medical Leave Coalition held a press conference 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 and an additional 12 weeks of partial wage replacement for family leave. In 2016, only 14 percent of civilian workers in the United States had access to paid family and medical leave, and one in three have left 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.
Opioid Crisis
A group of bipartisan legislators recently unveiled legislation aimed at preventing opioid addiction in addition to supporting children subjected to abuse and neglect. The plan outlines a funding mechanism created through increased licensing fees on opioid manufacturers and distributors. Some key aspects 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 programs to prevent over-prescribing and “doctor shopping,” continued education for both the public and prescribers, statewide access to effective treatment and recovery services, and research and development of evidence-based treatment programs. Additionally, the bill would create an Opiate Stewardship Advisory Council, which would be made up of both legislators and medical and health experts intent on developing a statewide effort to curb opioid addiction.
Senator Latz addressed a bill in Judiciary Committee last week.
Reducing High Insulin Prices
A legislative bill package designed to bring down the high price of insulin for Minnesotans was introduced in the first weeks of session. The package is made up of four different bills that attempt to mitigate the high costs. The first bill, the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act, would establish a means for Minnesotans who are unable to afford their needed insulin to get their prescription filled on a temporary basis. Additionally, the bill would provide reimbursement for pharmacies through a fee paid by insulin manufacturers.
The second bill would ensure price transparency between insulin manufacturers, pharmacies, and customers by asking manufacturers to justify and explain each price hike they propose. It also calls for reports from pharmacy benefit managers and orders the Minnesota’s Health Commissioner to analyze the date and provide a report to the legislature. The third bill would create increased transparency between insurance companies and their customers, and would mandate insurance providers to disclose the brand of insulin and type of equipment provided under a healthcare plan. The final bill would design a long-term plan for keeping insulin prices low for customers and would allow imposing reimbursement charges on manufacturers. The commissioner would collect and analyze data submitted from manufacturers, pharmacies and insurance providers to determine a reasonable price for insulin.
Distracted Driving Regulations
Two bills regarding distracted driving have been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee where I am the ranking minority member. The first bill would prohibit the use of cellphones while driving or part of traffic, unless the driver is using a hands-free device. Drivers would only be able to use a cellphone if their vehicle is legally pulled over and not obstructing traffic. Use of GPS systems that are temporarily affixed to the vehicle and Bluetooth would still be permitted.
The second bill would increase the current penalty for texting while driving from $50 for the first offense to $150, with fines increasing for each offense. After the third offense, a driver would be subject to forfeiture of their cellphone. The National Safety Council estimates that cellphone use while driving causes 64 percent 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.
Senator Latz in the News
Star Tribune: New push for gun control bills in Minnesota Senate meets day of lobbying by opponents
Pioneer Press: MN Democrats unveil new ‘red flag’ gun plan. Here’s what it would do
Minnesota Public Radio: Gun bills are back at the Capitol, but can they pass this year?
KSTP: Gun control bills unveiled at state legislature
Lakeshore Weekly News: Here are your state lawmakers committee assignments
Sun Sailor: Hopkins Legislative Action Coalition hosts legislative breakfast
Thank you for your continued interest in the state legislature and our work serving Senate District 46. If you have any time-sensitive questions, comments, or concerns please call my office at 651-297-8065.
Regards,
Ron Latz