In this update:
1) New Laws
2) Special Session for Mille Lacs Lake?
3) Planned Parenthood
1) New Laws
August 1 marked the effective date for some of the new laws that were passed by the legislature earlier this year.
Among the new laws include:
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Increased penalties for texting while driving
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The “Right to Try Act” that provides terminally ill patients the option of try certain experimental treatments as a last resort
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New family law reform measures that update child custody standards for children of parents who are not or are no longer married
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Limits on the use and retention of data gathered from license plate readers
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Permitting banks and credit unions to offer raffles to encourage saving
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The Prenatal Trisomy Diagnosis Awareness Act will require those who order a trisomy screening test to provide a woman whose tests results are positive with more information about the diagnosis, including current, evidence-based information, which has been reviewed by medical experts and national trisomy organizations
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Clarification of our right to carry a firearm law to permit Minnesota law enforcement officers to recognize right to carry permits from other states that were issued under laws similar to Minnesota's law
You can read more about all of the new laws effective August 1 by clicking here.
2) Special Session for Mille Lacs Lake?
On Monday, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced that walleye fishing on Lake Mille Lacs is now closed because the walleye harvest by anglers has exceeded the state’s allotment for 2015 by more than 2,000 pounds.
While the Governor has suggested a possible special session to address this issue, I do not support such an approach. Legislative leaders have assembled a working group of commissioners, committee chairs and policy experts to develop stable and long-term solutions for Lake Mille Lacs, including members of the governor’s cabinet. This is a much better way to address the problem and it is my hope this group can develop ways to revitalize the walleye population so Lake Mille Lacs can continue to be a regional attraction for walleye fishing.
3) Planned Parenthood
Like many of you, I have been disturbed by recent reports that officials with Planned Parenthood have been engaged in the illegal process of harvesting and selling organs of aborted babies. Given the fact that Planned Parenthood, which receives taxpayer funding and operates 18 clinics in Minnesota, I have signed onto a letter with 64 of my legislative colleagues asking the governor to investigate whether those clinics in our state are engaging in similar illegal practices.
Irrespective of one’s view on the issue of abortion, I think we can agree that the practice of selling body parts is abhorrent and has no place in a civilized society. The videos that have been released raise serious questions. Given these revelations, why would we not want to make sure that the Planned Parenthood clinics in Minnesota are compliant with state and federal law? While I understand the governor and Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith (a former Planned Parenthood executive) do not share my view on the issue of life, I hope they would see this issue beyond the traditional battle lines and move forward with our honest questions and concerns.
Although the legislature is now out of regular session, please don’t hesitate to contact me on issues of concern to you. My direct line is 651-296-7806. My email address is rep.joyce.peppin@house.mn and my mailing address is Room 459 State Office Building, 100 Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55155
Have a wonderful weekend,
Joyce
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