Dear Neighbors,
I hope you all had a great summer and safe Labor Day weekend. As summer comes to a close and our kids head back to school, it is a perfect time to reflect on the 2015 legislature’s education focus, as well as other recently enacted laws.
Back to School
During the legislative session, we passed our two-year budget with bipartisan support. Notably, our budget included significant increases in education funding – with a two percent rise in per pupil funding for each of the next two years. Under the new plan, the Lakeville School District receives $678 more per pupil for after-school programs, hiring more teachers, or decreasing class sizes. Furthermore, we funded early education scholarships, targeted pre-kindergarten, and school readiness programs to help close the achievement gap in our state. Our education plan is student-focused while empowering our teachers.
Even after the new education funding, we left close to $1 billion unspent that will hopefully go toward additional tax relief and road projects in 2016.
Jon reads a picture book to local pre-schoolers.
My Legislation
I’m pleased to report that I authored and co-authored several proposals that also became law this summer! A provision I authored within the transportation omnibus bill cuts bureaucratic red tape and streamlines the permit process for truck drivers’ escort vehicles to be able to move their products to market in a more efficient manner. This was one way to make Minnesota more business-friendly.
For our seniors, I co-authored legislation that directed the commissioner of public safety to create a grant program to assist local law enforcement agencies with the costs of developing a lifesaver rapid response program designed to quickly find individuals with medical conditions that cause them to go missing. A modified version of this proposal was signed into law. Specifically, it convenes a working group to study Minnesota’s need for a “Silver Alert” system to aid in the recovery of missing persons who are senior citizens with dementia, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, or other mental disabilities.
I was honored to co-author a bill that creates “Military Spouses and Families Day” in Minnesota. Each Sunday before Memorial Day will carry this title and give us the opportunity to honor the critical support and sacrifice that our military men and women – as well as their families – provide for the blessings of freedom for our nation. Minnesota is now the second state in the nation that offers this recognition to the sacrifice of families as their loved ones fight to defend the values of our country.
New Laws
Other new laws passed by the legislature this year also took effect this summer including increased penalties for texting while driving and the “Right to Try Act” that provides terminally ill patients the option to try certain experimental treatments as a last resort. A new family law reform to update child custody standards for children of parents who are not or are no longer married was also passed and signed into law.
Although the legislature is not currently in session, please feel free to contact me with your questions, comments, and concerns. If you would like to schedule a meeting, in either St. Paul or Lakeville, please contact my office at (651) 296-6926 or Rep.Jon.Koznick@house.mn.
Remember to drive safely around buses and watch for kids!
Jon Koznick
State Representative