Human Services bonding priorities

More than $57 million in seven proposed bonding projects, such as physically separating sex offenders from vulnerable adults at the St. Peter State Hospital, were approved Jan. 31 by the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee and referred to the House Capital Investment Committee for possible inclusion in a capital investment bill.

The list includes three bills and Gov. Mark Dayton’s proposed $47.3 million 2012 capital budget request for the Department of Human Services. Dayton’s proposal is broken into four separate items: $41.7 million for two projects at the Minnesota Security Hospital and Correctional Facility in

St. Peter; $3.1 million for matching grants to renovate early childhood learning facilities; and $2.5 million for statewide facility preservation. However, the department requested $5 million in preservation, a number the committee supported.

The three bills approved by the committee are:

• HF1922, sponsored by Rep. Larry Howes (R-Walker), which seeks $5 million for a new Washburn Center for Children in Hennepin County;

• HF291, sponsored by Rep. Carol McFarlane (R-White Bear Lake), seeking $2 million to renovate the Harriet Tubman Center East in Maplewood as a regional safety service center; and

• HF285, sponsored by Rep. Patti Fritz (DFL-Faribault), which seeks $1 million to finish the purchase and placement of grave markers for unmarked graves of former state hospital residents.

Howes’ bill has no Senate companion; Sen. Chuck Wiger (DFL-Maplewood) offers a companion, SF15, to McFarlane’s bill; and Senate Majority Leader David Senjem (R-Rochester) sponsors SF526, a companion to Fritz’s bill. Both Senate bills await action by the Senate Capital Investment Committee.

“It’s a ton of money but the system costs us a ton of money,” said Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Abeler (R-Anoka).

Rep. Diane Loeffler (DFL-Mpls) asked members to give thought to adding guest services to the St. Peter facilities so that clients can receive visitors and keep their personal connections, which are important for their rehabilitation.