Dear Neighbors,
Here is an update with the latest news from the Capitol.
Omnibus Bills
The House continued to debate and pass budget omnibus bills this week. Here are some highlights from the bills which passed this week.
- Agriculture: The agriculture budget addresses the needs of farmers and our agriculture community, focuses on growing our state’s agro-economy industries, and creates a dedicated Pollinator Habitat and Research Account to research and help address our dwindling pollinator population.
- Public Safety: This bill is about keeping Minnesotans safe and giving law enforcement the tools they need. Included in the bill is an increase in penalties for illegal protests on highways, dedicated funds for additional sex trafficking prevention grants, as well as a provision I co-authored that creates stronger penalties and longer supervision for convicted sexual predators.
The provision on stronger penalties and longer supervision for sexual predators, HF 1572, specifically addresses a plea deal known as a "Stay of Adjudication." That is, if individuals who admit to a crime (in a plea agreement) are not convicted, the conviction does not stay with them.
This is a problem in Minnesota for current law allow stays of adjudication for individuals charged with criminal sexual conduct. Specifically, if an individual charged with a sex crime admits to the crime, and agrees to probation and sex offender treatment, the case is listed as pending during the time of probation and they receive a stay of adjudication.
As a recent investigation highlighted, these "stays" are a huge problem, for when a sex offender who received a stay of adjudication moves into a community, individuals in that community are not notified of past criminal sexual conduct. This has led to grave concern for there have been multiple cases where individuals who received stays of adjudication have re-offended.
For more on this, please see: http://www.kare11.com/news/investigations/sex-offender-sentencing-bill-introduced-following-kare-11-investigation/412951330
For more on the bill itself (included in the omnibus bill) please see: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/bs/90/HF1572.pdf
- Higher Education: This bill works to put students first and address college affordability. For two and four year MnSCU schools there are tuition freezes and reductions. It also extends a counseling program to help Minnesotans manage their student loan debt payments.
Notably, in the Ways and Means Committee an amendment was added that strengthens oversight regarding the use of aborted fetal tissue research. It would require researchers at the University of Minnesota to seek approval for all aborted fetal tissue research through the Institutional Review Board or Stem Cell oversight committee. It also requires the University to submit a report to the legislature on aborted fetal tissue.
For more on this, see section 9 of the omnibus bill: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF2214&version=2&session=ls90&session_year=2017&session_number=0&type=ue
- Legacy: The Legacy bill contains appropriations to the four Legacy funds: Outdoor Heritage, Clean Water, Parks and Trails, and Arts and Cultural Heritage. It includes more than $100 million to restore and protect water across the state. This money is constitutionally dedicated for these specific purposes. The bill passed in the Minnesota House with a vote of 131-0.
- State Government Finance: The focus of this bill is to increase efficiency, accountability and transparency in state government, while limiting growth, hiring and spending. Notably, there is a provision that addresses a program called "gainsharing." As a recent news article states, the program "has morphed into a state worker achievement bonus" (http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2017/04/05/gainshare/). The bill requires a report to be issued monthly to legislature for increased oversight. It also protects funding for our veterans programs to help those who have honorably served our nation.
- Job Growth and Energy Affordability: This legislation fights to lower energy costs for Minnesota consumers by streamlining the regulation process for energy providers, and reinvests funding from ineffective programs into clean energy programs that better serve Minnesotans. There is also a provision in the bill that creates a pilot program to increase competitive employment opportunities for youth in Anoka County focused on career guidance and job training.
- Health and Human Services: The HHS bill includes a number of provisions that prioritize our state’s most vulnerable citizens. I bill I carried to require reporting on abortions via telemedicine (which I explain more below) is included in the bill, and the repeal of MNsure. For more on this bill please see: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/
I will keep you updated on budget bills as we enter conference committee negotiations with the Senate. Notably, there will likely be alot that changes as we go forward.
House File 2573
In the Civil Law Committee this week I presented a bill that requires clinics to report whether or not an abortion was performed via telemedicine.
Clinics currently are required to report to the Department of Health on a variety of abortion data, but since the advent of telemedicine abortions there is now a gap in the reporting requirements. This leads to an incomplete picture of abortion in the state. The bill heard yesterday would help close that gap because currently, we do not officially know whether or not telemedicine abortions are being performed in the state of Minnesota.
The Session Daily summarized the hearing as well. For more on that, see: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/
If you would like more on this issue in general, the following article provides good background: https://lozierinstitute.org/utahconsiders-ban-on-telemedicine-abortions/.
Hometown News and Events
Talking about Alzheimer’s: Every third Tuesday of the month through May, caregivers and others are welcome to share their experiences and gain a better understanding of Alzheimer’s, dementia, and how it affects family, friends, and our community. It takes place from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Rum River Library, 4201 6th Ave. in Anoka.
Property Tax Help: Volunteers are available to help senior citizens and Minnesotans with disabilities apply for their homeowners/renters Minnesota property tax refund. You will need to bring your federal form 1040 or records showing your 2016 total household income, a copy of your 2017 real estate tax statement if you’re a homeowner, and a certificate of rent paid for renters.
Dates include May 9 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Ramsey Municipal Center (7550 Sunwood Dr. N.W.) and May 16 from 1:00-4:30 p.m. at the Anoka County Government Center (2100 3rd Ave., Room 715).
Foster Hope: To address our foster care shortage, Anoka County has partnered with groups to help families in crisis and provide information about foster care in the community. You can go to www.anokacounty.us/foster for more information.
Around the Capitol
Meeting with student from Youth First to discuss the importance of youth intervention and House File 660. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me!
I spoke with the North Metro Republican Women's (NMRW) Club at for their Day at the Capitol event, and they presented me with a certificate of appreciation. Pictures from left to right: Gretchen Irmen, Kathy Tingelstad, myself, Diane Johnson, and Karen Godfrey.
Also, there’s a beautiful piano in the Senate Office Building that is open to everyone to play. Check out the video about it here.
Staying in Touch
Please know my office is available should you need assistance on a matter of state government. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-1729 or via email at rep.abigail.whelan@house.mn. I also welcome your input and ideas on legislation and matters moving through the Minnesota House. I am here to serve you! Thank you for the honor and privilege of being your state representative.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Abigail