Legislative Update - Recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Dear neighbors,

It’s an exciting – and busy – week at the State Capitol! After several months of hard work, most House committees have developed omnibus bills, packages of legislation that outline our plan for a specific area of the budget. On Monday, for example, House committees that are responsible for education finance and policy announced a plan to invest more than $3 billion in Minnesota’s public schools. Over the next few days, we’ll discuss each proposal in detail and hear input from Minnesotans.  

I’ll keep you informed as we continue working on omnibus bills. Please stay tuned and feel free to share your feedback! 

Recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to raise public awareness about sexual assault and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent and respond to sexual violence.  

According to the CDC, 42% of Minnesota women have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. National statistics reveal that rates of sexual violence are higher among women of color and people with disabilities. The vast majority of victims of sexual assault were first assaulted by age 25, and almost half of victims are likely to experience sexual violence repeatedly. Sexual violence can negatively impact the physical, mental, and emotional health of survivors. It also exacts a high economic toll, costing nearly $3.1 trillion dollars, $1 trillion of which is carried by government sources. 

The Public Safety and Judiciary budget we passed last year included several measures to help survivors of sexual assault and similar crimes. The legislation: 

• Strengthened Minnesota’s criminal sexual conduct statutes by enacting a series of recommendations put forth by a working group led by survivors 
• Closed the “intoxication loophole,” which prevented people who were assaulted after voluntarily consuming alcohol or drugs from getting justice   
• Created a new Office of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives to prevent violence against Indigenous women and girls 
• Established a Missing and Murdered African American Women Task Force, the first in the nation 
• Helps members of the Minnesota National Guard who experience sexual assault get justice 
• Helps protect survivors of intimate partner violence by permitting Minnesota to enforce protection orders issued in Canada 
• Eliminated the statute of limitations for certain offenses, including sex trafficking 

If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual assault, help is available. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. 

Supporting Retired Racehorses and Nonprofit Organizations

There are several nonprofit organizations in Minnesota that house, care for, and train retired racehorses. One of them, This Old Horse: Phoenix Farm, is in District 38B.  

Last week, the House approved my bill to allow Breeders’ Fund money to be used for the care and training of retired racehorses. Thanks to an increase in sports wagering during the pandemic, the Breeders’ Fund has excess revenue. Under my bill, these funds could be used for food, veterinary care, and other necessities, and to train the animals for useful careers, such as serving as a therapy horse or police horse. The bill, which passed with approval from both parties, would support the work of organizations like This Old Horse: Phoenix Farm and help horses lead full and productive lives after their racing careers are over.  

Advocating for Workers

Forcing Minnesotans to work when they’re sick can negatively impact their health, the people they work with, and the larger community. That’s why House DFLers are advocating to extend Earned Sick and Safe Time to all Minnesota workers.  

Last week, we passed legislation that would allow workers to earn at least one hour of Earned Sick and Safe Time for every 30 hours they work, up to at least 48 hours per year. People could use this paid time off to stay home when they’re not feeling well, go to the doctor, or care for a loved one.  

Make Your Voice Heard 

Apply for a State Board, Council, or Commission 

Serving on a state board, council, or commission is a great way to use your unique experiences and expertise for the good of our state. There are dozens of groups that work on promoting the arts, professional licensing, environmental protection, and everything in between. A list of current openings is available here. If you find one that matches your interests, I encourage you to apply.  

If you have questions, ideas, or feedback that you’d like to share, please email me at rep.ami.wazlawik@house.mn or call (651) 296-3018. I appreciate hearing from community members!  

Sincerely,  

Ami Wazlawik  
State Representative