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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jennifer Schultz (DFL)

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Legislative Update - February 19, 2015

Monday, February 23, 2015

Dear neighbors,

As the legislative session continues, I’ve been hearing from many of you and I appreciate your correspondence and input. There have also been a number of special days at the Capitol for special interest groups, and it’s always great to visit with Duluth residents. I wanted to update you on some of the issues I’ve been working on at the Capitol.

MN Benefits Kick-off Event in Duluth

Early in February, Duluth hosted a kick-off event for a campaign to establish earned sick and safe leave for all employees in Minnesota. TakeAction Minnesota organized the event to raise awareness of the high number of employees in our community that have no guarantee of earned sick leave or safe leave. I am a co-author of the legislation (HF 549), which would require employers to offer at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. It would make all full- and part-time employees in the state eligible for the benefit after three months on the job. You can learn more and sign the petition to pass the bill here!

Legislative Commission Appointments

At the beginning of February, I accepted two appointments by the Speaker to the Great Lakes Commission and the Legislative Commission on Health Care Workforce Commission. The Great Lakes Commission is an interstate compact agency that promotes the orderly, integrated, and comprehensive development, use, and conservation of the water and related natural resources of the Great Lakes Basin and the St. Lawrence River. The Health Care Workforce Commission is charged with examining challenges facing providers, employers, and employees in the field of health care throughout Minnesota, especially Greater Minnesota. You can read more about these two appointments here.

Committee and Legislative Work

Immunizations (HF 393):

I’ve co-authored bipartisan legislation regarding immunizations in an effort to reduce the number of children who go unvaccinated in Minnesota each year. The bill would require parents who don’t want their children immunized to consult a physician and discuss the danger to their child and others. Parents who don’t vaccinate would have to present a note proving they have discussed immunizations with a physician and understand the risks.

Seed Bank Regulations:

I’m continuing to work with my colleagues on the Ag Policy Committee, and officials from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to change rules for community seed banks like our own seed-sharing program in Duluth. I’ve received positive feedback, and there should be final legislative language drafted on this issue soon.

Minnesota Health Plan Savings:

Each year, health plans are the recipients of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to provide coverage for Minnesotans. It’s often difficult to know how these dollars are spent, but I’m taking a serious look at payments to health plans in the prepaid medical assistance program (PMAP) to ensure accountability, find cost savings for the state, and ways to improve access to care by enabling health professionals (e.g. dentists) to provide care during retirement.

Non-partisan Redistricting

I'm also currently working on a bill that will take the process of legislative redistricting out of the hands of partisan legislators, and require a commission of non-partisan judges to handle the process of drawing district lines. I’ll continue to update you as I work with Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon on this bill.

Congressman Rick Nolan stopped in St. Paul to meet with Representatives from the 8th Congressional District on Wednesday. He took time to discuss local issues with me on the House floor.

Upcoming Events

*Duluth and St. Louis County Days at the Capitol

February 25th & 26th, 2015 in St. Paul, MN

For more info: http://www.duluthchamber.com/events/annual/capitol-days.htm

*Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial Dinner

Saturday, March 28th, 2015 in Duluth

For more info: http://www.claytonjacksonmcghie.org

*Office Hours in Duluth

Friday, February 27th, 2015 in Duluth

Availability to meet with constituents in Duluth.

Please call to arrange time to meet by using my contact info below, or contact my legislative assistant Gina at 651-296-5526 or Gina.Kunesh@house.mn

I encourage you to contact me on any legislative or state government issue that may arise. During the legislative session, my office in St. Paul can be reached by email at Rep.Jennifer.Schultz@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-2228.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Schultz

State Representative