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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Ami Wazlawik (DFL)

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Rep. Wazlawik votes to provide bigger bonus checks to all frontline workers

Thursday, February 24, 2022

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, Democrats in the Minnesota House advanced a proposal to use a historic budget surplus to provide at least 667,000 frontline workers with bonus checks of up to $1,500, a top legislative priority. The bill will put money into the pockets of first responders, nurses, child care providers, janitors, and so many others who have sacrificed their health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rep. Ami Wazlawik (DFL – White Bear Township) voted in favor of the bill.  

“Minnesotans who have worked throughout the pandemic while facing increased risks of exposure to COVID-19 deserve more than our thanks,” said Rep. Wazlawik. “They should be compensated for the critical role they played in keeping our state running and helping Minnesotans stay safe and healthy. Legislators have been working hard to secure premium pay for frontline workers, and the bill we passed today is a big step forward.” 

During the June 2021 special session, the DFL House and Republican Senate passed a compromise budget that included $250 million for frontline worker bonus pay and created a working group to make recommendations to the Legislature on how to distribute those resources. When Minnesota announced a historic $7.7 billion budget surplus in December 2021, Democrats quickly beefed up their proposal to deliver $1 billion in order to provide bigger bonus checks to all frontline workers.  

The House’s bill includes the following occupations in the definition of a frontline worker: 1) long-term care and home care; 2) health care; 3) emergency responders; 4) public health, social service, and regulatory service; 5) courts and corrections; 6) child care; 7) public schools, including charter schools, state schools, and higher education; 8) food service, including production, processing, preparation, sale, and delivery; 9) retail, including sales, fulfillment, distribution, and delivery; 10) temporary shelters and hotels; 11) building services, including maintenance, janitorial, and security; 12) public transit; 13) ground and air transportation services; 14) manufacturing; and 15) vocational rehabilitation. 

In order to receive a bonus check, workers must meet the following individual eligibility requirements: 

  • was employed in one of the frontline sectors in MN for at least 120 hours from 3/15/20 to 6/30/21 
  • was not able to work remotely due to the nature of their work, and worked in close proximity to other individuals (not in the same household); 
  • meet income restrictions. For workers providing direct care to COVID patients, max income is $350,000 (joint filers) and $175,000 (single). For all other workers, the limits are $185,000 (joint) and $85,000 (single); and 
  • did not collect more than 20 weeks of unemployment benefits from 3/15/20 to 6/30/21. 

Senate Republicans have yet to introduce a single piece of legislation that delivers bonus checks to frontline workers after the Legislature promised to do so as part of budget negotiations during the June 2021 special session.