Lawmakers push for independent task force on possible changes to sexual harassment policy

House Minority Leader Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) thinks ideas for changing how the Legislature addresses sexual harassment should come from an independent task force of experts.

HF3030, sponsored by Hortman, would create the task force to study and recommend best practices for reporting sexual misconduct by elected officials and candidates handling those reports, and improving sexual harassment training for lawmakers and staff.

The House Subcommittee on Workplace Safety and Respect held an information-only hearing on the bill Monday. It has no Senate companion.

Hortman said the inspiration for the bill came after two women came forward last year and reported inappropriate conduct by two former lawmakers – Rep. Tony Cornish and Sen. Dan Schoen – who both subsequently resigned.

“We clearly had a problem that we needed to address,” Hortman said, noting the women discovered there is no way for people who don’t work at the Capitol to report harassment, and they were largely left out of the investigation process.

“As a woman who has gone through the process already in place – who tried to use the system that has been created by this Legislature – I’m here to tell you the current system is woefully inadequate and needs an overhaul,” said Lindsey Port, who accused Schoen of groping her while she was running for a House seat in 2015.

WATCH Committee discussion of Hortman's bill

The bill would require an eight-member task force comprised of four people appointed by the Legislature’s majority leaders and four appointed by the minority leaders – none of whom can be current legislators, staff or lobbyists.

The appointments would be based on “their demonstrated interest and expertise in sexual harassment issues, human resources, public sector employment law, or employee-focused employment law,” the bill says.

“This issue deserves careful thought and attention, and I think outside professionals have better experience and expertise to do this work than we do, especially in the very limited time that we’re here in St. Paul in 2018,” Hortman said, noting lobbyists and victims may be more likely to speak to the task force than they would at a formal committee meeting.

The task force would be required to submit a report of its findings. It would then be up to the Legislature to decide whether to implement those recommendations.

House Majority Leader Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers) did raise some questions about the bill, specifically setting parameters for the task force and whether meetings would be open to the public. Hortman noted these issues could be addressed in the bill if it begins to move through the legislative process.

Teri Walker McLaughlin, the executive director of the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in “enthusiastic support” of the bill and she said the organization is eagerly awaiting the chance to work with the Legislature on preventing sexual harassment.

Proposed change to House rules

Hortman on Monday also proposed a change to the Permanent Rules of the House that would establish a task force similar to the one laid out in HF3030. Because the proposal would amend House rules, it would not need approval from the Senate, she explained.

The House-only task force would be made up of six citizens – three appointed by the speaker and three by the minority leader – who are experts in human resources law, sexual harassment training and enforcement or legislative ethics.

The subcommittee took no action on the proposal.