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State Representative Joyce Peppin
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7806
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
NEWS COLUMN
Protecting Vulnerable Adults
Dear Neighbors,
In this edition:
1) Minnesota Business Day at the Capitol
2) Protecting Vulnerable Adults
3) Lands Bill to be debated next week
1) Minnesota Business Day at the Capitol
I visited with members of the I-94 West Chamber this week as part of their “Minnesota Business Day at the Capitol.” Rhonda Baack is the Chamber President and does an excellent job in this critical position. The Chamber includes more than 500 members and nine cities, and, among many other functions, it serves to promote the priorities of our local businesses.
Just as the Chamber aims to strengthen our business climate and improve the lives of Minnesotans, so do legislators in St. Paul as part of our Tax Relief and Job Creation Act and Reform 2.0 initiatives. We understand that our small- and medium-sized businesses will serve as the catalysts for continued economic recovery. However, we also recognize that over the years, state government has placed unnecessary burdens and regulations on Minnesotans who merely want to build a business and become engaged in our economy. The Tax Relief and Job Creation Act and Reform 2.0 initiatives responsibly address these concerns.
For more information about the I-94 West Chamber of Commerce, please visit www.i94westchamber.org. They have several upcoming events and provide many ways to get involved in our community.
2) Vulnerable Adults Protection Bill
The House passed a bill on Tuesday that protects vulnerable adults from intentional abuse and neglect. As co-author and long-time proponent of the bill, I was pleased that we are one step closer to creating a law that indicates all lives are valuable.
In many cases, horrible crimes against vulnerable adults only result in misdemeanor convictions. During the House floor debate, I mentioned an instance from our district in which an abusive caregiver received only minor charges for leaving a vulnerable adult lying on the floor for several days.
Considering this instance and several other reported cases, House File 1945 would create a new intentional felony deprivation crime that corresponds to the severity of an abuse and neglect offense. The definition of ‘abuse’ and ‘neglect’ includes intentional behavior that deprives a vulnerable adult of necessary food, clothing, shelter, health care, or supervision that could likely result in substantial or great bodily harm.
To be certain, this legislation is not intended to criminalize health care workers and others who may be involved in honest mistakes or accidents. Language in the bill provides instances of affirmative defense for caregivers who were acting in good faith.
House File 1945 has been endorsed by a broad, bipartisan coalition, and I am pleased that the governor has indicated he intends to sign the bill into law.
3) Lands Bill to be debated next week
Next week the House will discuss an omnibus lands bill, which makes modifications to environmental regulations and allows for the sale or conveyance of tax-forfeited or surplus state lands. Two of my bills are included within this package that will benefit our community.
As it currently stands, the cities of Dayton and Ramsey are burdened by the accumulation of rules and regulations by both the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area. These overlapping and oftentimes contradictory sets of rules pose difficulties for property owners, developers, and sometimes city staff. House File 2718 would remove the cities of Dayton and Ramsay from designation as a component of the wild, scenic, and recreation rivers system and allow current zoning standards to serve as minimum standards for future critical area ordinance approvals. In addition, the City of Dayton would be classified as a rural open space. When signed into law, Dayton and Ramsey will be able to invest in long-range economic development while at the same time protecting our natural resources.
My second bill, House File 2872, would authorize tax-forfeited lands bordering public waters to be conveyed to a state government subdivision in order to be used for different projects such as flood plains, open spaces, wetland preservation, storm water ponding, or for trails and recreational purposes.
As always, it is a pleasure and a privilege to serve you in St. Paul. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding state matters.
Have a great weekend,
Joyce
News Items
- PEPPIN REPORT: FORECAST SHOWS THIRD CONSECUTIVE STATE SURPLUS - (Posted: 2012-12-06 00:00:00)
- A Look Ahead to the 2012 Legislative Session - (Posted: 2012-01-26 00:00:00)
- A Call to Caucus - (Posted: 2012-02-04 00:00:00)
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