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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL)

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Legislative Update- January 25, 2019

Friday, January 25, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you’re staying warm! Be sure to check on your neighbors, especially those who may be vulnerable like seniors or those with disabilities. If you or someone you know needs help paying the heating bills, there are resources available. The Minnesota Department of Commerce has information here.

Examining barriers to student success

House Education Committees held a joint hearing on Tuesday to learn about mental health challenges a growing number of Minnesota K12 students face. Student support personnel, licensed mental health professionals, educators and advocates spoke about the mental health challenges students encounter inside and outside of the classroom.

The Minnesota Chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) was among the testifiers. They shared that many mental illnesses begin at young ages and that the rate of mental illness is increasing among young people. Additionally, we heard from teachers, school social workers, and nurses that made it clear more needs to be done to support mental illness in school-aged children. There is an urgency in resolving this issue.

I’ve long been an advocate for increasing school-linked mental health funding. This grant program supports mental health professionals pairing with school districts to be able to work with students in the school, removing barriers to students accessing the support they need.  The second bill introduced this session tackles this issue, and I hope my colleagues across the aisle will join in supporting our state’s school-aged kids.

Over the course of the session, both education committees will be working on solutions to support students experiencing mental health struggles so that they can develop and achieve in school.      

KSTP covered the meeting here. You can follow our committee work on Twitter here.

Legislation

At the start of this week, Minnesotans had a day to reflect on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his work in the fight for equity. Minnesota has some of the worst racial disparities in the country. We can do better, and I'm committed to working toward a more equitable future for our state.

Housing

With that said, we need to put words to action, that’s why I authored HF 51. This bill seeks to address the racist housing history in Minnesota by allowing homeowners to formally renounce racial covenants on their home titles. While these covenants have not been legally enforceable for fifty years they still are a form of moral injury to the current owner. 

Checkout the Star Tribune’s coverage of the topic here.

Putting Workers First

I’ve also authored bipartisan legislation that would assist Minnesotans having difficulty paying back predatory, high interest ‘payday’ loans. As Minnesotans, we care deeply about each other and want to see one another succeed. This is one step forward in how we can put people ahead of big banks.

Another initiative I’m working on would safeguard workers’ tips that are added to the final charge or bill. Some bars and restaurants deduct from the servers’ tips the business’s credit card company charges. This is a cost of doing business and should not be taken from the servers’ tips.  All tipped workers deserve to be fairly compensated for the quality of work they do and this bill is a good way to ensure they get to keep what they’ve earned.

Helping bees

Another significant piece of legislation I’m offering will allow cities the option to prohibit or regulate registration, labeling, distribution, sale, handling, application or disposal of pesticides. This bill is a great way for local governments to weigh in on how to best address health as a community value. I’ve introduced this bill for several years with no action.  I’m hopeful that the growing concern about the wellbeing of pollinators will change that this year.

Upcoming Town Hall Meeting

I hope you’re able to attend our upcoming Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, February 2. Senator Torres Ray, Representative Wagenius, and I will be sharing significant legislative initiatives moving forward. Please bring your neighbors, friends and most importantly, your input and questions! Here are the details:

  • Saturday, February 2 at 10:00-11:30 a.m. at Corcoran Park, 3334 20th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55407

As always, it’s a pleasure representing our community at the Capitol. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any concerns, questions or thoughts. 

Sincerely,

Jim Davnie

State Representative