Friends,
We had another busy week at the Capitol. This week was "deadline week" meaning that bills had to have at least one hearing by Friday in order to reach the House Floor this session. It was a busy and rewarding time as I do the work of representing our community in St. Paul!
MNLARS Update
Another update on MNLARS, with there finally being a light at the end of this disastrous tunnel for Minnesotans. The conference committee created earlier this week to hammer out differences between the House & Senate MNLARS fixes came back with a solution that could work for all sides. The bill will use the agreed upon special fund to pay the immediate $10 million and a special MNLARS Steering Committee will be established to oversee the progress made to fix MNLARS. Any further disbursement would also be overseen by this steering committee.
Also included in the bill that passed both chambers today and Governor Dayton has agreed to sign, was my provision requiring a request for information to determine whether a private vendor is a better option. I believe this is an important step since it has been made abundantly clear that the governmental bodies that initially developed this system failed woefully.
It also requires the Governor’s administration to seek an extension from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for REAL ID.
The bottom line is that Minnesota taxpayers have paid nearly $100 million for a system that is only half built. Minnesotans deserve a DMV system that works, but we will not give a blank check to the governor and throw good money after bad. Our solution allows fixes to continue but sets up important oversight to ensure tax dollars are being spent wisely.
Closing Sexual Harassment Loophole
Last week, I spoke with KARE 11 regarding my bill to close a loophole in Minnesota's sexual misconduct laws that passed the Public Safety Committee. When fifth-degree sexual misconduct was created in 1988, there was a specific exception put into the law for "the intentional touching of the clothing covering the immediate area of the buttocks."
The existence of this loophole came as much of a shock to me as I am sure it does to you. My bill removes this loophole. There is simply no reason for this exemption to exist. You can see me discuss this more from a story on KARE 11 this week.
Dakota County SMART Center
The construction of the Safety and Mental Health Alternative Response Training (SMART) Center in Inver Grove Heights is one of my very top priorities this session. Law enforcement and first responders from across the region would use the facility that would also provide a central location for regional resources, such as electronic crime units or drug task forces.
Chief Messerich, Chief Deputy Leko, Commissioner Atkins, Rep. Barr,
Chief Shaver, Michael Peterson, and Chief McCarthy
The facility would take the best practices in the areas of health and public safety to create better results in crisis situations. It will have a unique focus on soft skills that so often get overlooked compared to hard skills for law enforcement training.
Just last year, the Public Safety bill included a training requirement making it mandatory for an officer to complete 16 continuing education credits within their three-year licensing cycle. This training would cover crisis intervention and mental health crisis, conflict management and mediation, and recognizing and valuing community diversity and cultural awareness.This center will become a regional hub for just this type of training.
Video of me presenting this bill is available here.
In Case You Missed It: Tour around 52B!
Late last summer, we put together a video that highlights some of the great and beautiful parts of District 52B, which encompasses Inver Grove Heights, Sunfish Lake, parts of Mendota Heights and Eagan. I think it turned out very well and am proud to represent such a fantastic place to live. Check out the video here!
On this day in History
"Give me liberty or give me death!" On this day in 1775, Patrick Henry uttered these immortal words at the second Virginia Convention responding to the increasingly oppressive British rule of the American Colonies.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas with me. You can schedule a time to meet with me in my office anytime by calling me at 651-296-4192, or share your thoughts by emailing me at rep.regina.barr@house.mn.
Have a great weekend!
Regina