Dear Neighbors,
I hope you and your family are doing well. Here’s an update from Saint Paul as we conclude the third week of the legislative session.
Supporting School Workers
Before, during, and after the school day, educational support professionals (ESPs) perform invaluable work to keep our schools well-run, while ensuring our children can be successful, safe, and healthy. Unfortunately, too many of them – including paraprofessionals, food service workers, custodians, bus drivers – are earning poverty wages for their work and go without key benefits to support themselves and their families.
This week, the House Education Finance Committee, of which I’m vice chair, held a public hearing on legislation to support these hardworking members of our communities. Among other solutions, the legislation would make unlicensed school workers eligible for unemployment insurance during the summer months, require a $25 per hour starting minimum wage, ensure districts cover a significant portion of a worker’s health insurance costs, provide up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave, and ensure continuous pay and benefits if a district implements e-learning days.
Many schools are experiencing dire shortages of ESPs across our state. Strengthening their wages and benefits will not only help them personally have the economic security they deserve, but will also help recruit and retain dedicated people sorely needed in these important positions. I’m hopeful we can prioritize a significant portion of our budget surplus toward investments in our public schools to support all aspects of learning, including our dedicated ESPs.
Premium Pay for Frontline Workers
Last session as part of our bipartisan two-year state budget, lawmakers dedicated $250 million toward extra pay for frontline workers who kept our state running during the pandemic’s worst days. Ultimately though, a working group made up of members of the House, Senate, and Governor Walz’s administration couldn’t agree upon eligibility and the particular amounts to award.
Since then, we’ve recognized $250 million is nowhere near adequate to get bonus checks out to everyone who’s deserving. House DFLers are now working to deliver payments up to $1,500, totaling $1 billion for those who faced pandemic head-on, like our healthcare and long-term care workers, educators, first responders, corrections officers, food service workers and others. The House Workforce and Business Development Committee approved the plan last week, and the House Ways and Means Committee will consider the legislation Monday.
Redistricting
Serving on the House Redistricting Committee, we listened to feedback from communities all across the state as we developed a plan – following the 2020 Census – for new boundaries for congressional and legislative districts. I was disappointed the Senate wasn’t as serious about getting this work done to reach a compromise. As a result, this week, a special judicial panel announced new district lines taking effect next January. You can read more in this Session Daily article and visit the Legislative Coordinating Commission’s Geographic Information Services website for more detailed information on what this all means.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me with your input, ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance. You can contact me by phone at 651-296-0172 or email at rep.julie.sandstede@house.mn. You can also follow me on Facebook. It’s an honor to represent you.
Together,
Julie Sandstede
State Representative