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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Dennis Smith (R)

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Legislative Update (August 14, 2015)

Friday, August 14, 2015
Dear Friends,
 
I hope you are enjoying the summer weather, and are ready for what hopefully is the last heat-wave of the summer. Fall and back to school time will be here before you know it!
 
This week I met the Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee to build support for House File 2307, a bill I will continue working on throughout the fall and hope to pass next session.
 
This bill is a pilot project that would consolidate watershed organizations in Hennepin County as recommended by a University of Minnesota study commissioned by the Hennepin County Board. Many Hennepin County officials at the local level and at the legislature believe that we can significantly improve our current county water governance system which is tangled in a bureaucratic mess of 11 watershed organizations, 44 cities and municipalities, at least six state agencies, and many other county lake associations and other organizations.
 
We've been talking for years about ways to make water management more efficient and effective, and have commissioned study after study, but for years the result has been the same: no action and no changes. I think it's time for that to change. This bill simplifies oversight of efforts to manage and improve water quality here in Hennepin County, and is estimated to save at least $900,000 that can be used to make our water even cleaner and safer. I will keep you updated on this issue and its progress next session.
 
Minnesota Sex Offender Program
The Minnesota Sex offender Program has been a major topic of discussion recently at the Capitol. Earlier this summer, United States District Court Judge Donovan Frank issued a decision declaring Minnesota's Sex Offender Program unconstitutional saying it violated constitutional rights of sex offenders by indefinitely committing offenders who have served their prison sentences until they are cleared and formally discharged from the program. These offenders receive treatment at facilities in St. Peter and Moose Lake.
 
The judge identified a lack of clear guidelines on how sex offenders are tracked as they go through treatment, as well as lack of periodic assessments to determine whether offenders are still dangerous enough to require continued commitment as two major systemic flaws. {C}To date, no sex offender has been unconditionally released from the program.
 
Legislative leaders and Governor Dayton met privately on Monday with United States District Court Judge Frank to discuss possible remedies for Minnesota's Sex Offender Program. Some have indicated that a special session may be needed before next March to pass changes to the program, pending further action by Judge Frank.
 
As the legal process continues to play out, my number one focus remains on keeping Minnesotans safe, and ensuring that families are protected from dangerous offenders who are at great risk of re-offending. I agree with Governor Dayton, Attorney General Swanson, and others who have argued that our sex offender program is indeed constitutional, and support plans to appeal the judge's ruling. It's critically important that we keep not-yet-rehabilitated offenders off the streets.
 
In the Community
I enjoyed greatly meeting this past Saturday with the Maple Grove Critical Thinking Club. We had an engaging discussion that lasted more than two hours on issues facing our district and our state.
 
 
I always enjoy the opportunity to visit with community groups, and hope you'll consider inviting me if there's an event you'd like me to stop by.

Reach me any time by phone at 651-296-5502 or by email at rep.dennis.smith@house.mn.
 
Thank you for the continued privilege of serving our community!

Have a great weekend,
 
Dennis