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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL)

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Rep. Halverson votes to support hourly school workers and safe and secure elections

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Yesterday, the Minnesota House of Representatives approved legislation to ensure hourly school employees continue to get paid through the end of the school year. The bill provides compensation for hourly school employees and allows entities that contract with schools to provide services to be reimbursed for paying their employees, for changes in school employment practices as a result of COVID-19 related school closures and the conversion to distance learning programs.

“Hourly school workers have gone to extraordinary lengths to continue serving students despite unprecedented challenges,” said Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL – Eagan). “We need to ensure all school employees are paid through the end of the school year so they can continue providing crucial services and support for Minnesota students during the current public health crisis and into the future.”

The legislation also addresses school finance formula glitches resulting from the conversion to the distance learning model. The legislation creates and legislatively approves certain waivers of state law regarding assessments, graduation and course requirements, and potential licensure issues faced by prospective and current teachers.

The Minnesota House also approved legislation allowing the utilization of federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds, and additional measures to ensure Minnesota’s elections remain safe and secure.

“Voters deserve an election system that is safe to participate in and secure from hacking and foreign interference,” said Rep. Halverson. “Investing available federal funds in election accessibility and cybersecurity will help ensure Minnesotans can exercise their fundamental right to vote.”

In addition to improving accessibility and modernizing election security, HAVA funds will be used to ensure the health and safety of election officials and in-person voters. This includes preparation for increased absentee voting, new polling place locations, the purchase of sanitation and disinfectant supplies, and public outreach for implementing social distancing guidelines related to voting. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, additional funds were made available for virus-specific measures through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.