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Dear neighbors,
Last night, the House passed the Minnesota Police Accountability Act of 2020 – a package of legislation that aims to increase police accountability, build trust between officers and the communities they serve, and reimagine public safety. This legislation was authored by members of the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus and contains many bills that have been discussed for several years. It’s time to enact these long overdue reforms, which include:
- Banning choke holds
- Prohibiting warrior-style training
- Creating a duty for officers to intercede when fellow officers use unreasonable force
- Modifying use of force laws to prevent wrongful deaths
- Reforming the arbitration process to ensure officers are held accountable for misconduct
- Putting power in the hands of the people and neighborhoods that police officers are sworn to serve and protect
- Lifting the state ban on residence requirements so local governments can incentivize officers to live in the communities they serve
- Restoring confidence and trust in the systems that are meant to provide justice for all Minnesotans
- Expanding mental health and autism training for officers
- Creating community-led public safety
You can find more information about this bill here.
Assistance for Local Governments
Many local governments are struggling to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act contained funding for townships, cities, and counties that must be allocated by Governor Walz and the Legislature. I’m committed to delivering funds for South St. Paul, West St. Paul, Mendota, Mendota Heights, Lilydale, Dakota County, and communities across the state so Minnesotans can continue receiving the essential public services they count on.
Rebuilding Communities
Unfortunately, many businesses were damaged in the days following George Floyd’s killing. These businesses are vital to our communities and our state. Significantly, many of them are owned by people of color. We need to support and rebuild these businesses and the neighborhoods where they’re located in an equitable way. On Monday, House DFLers introduced the Providing Resources, Opportunity, and Maximizing Investments in Striving Entrepreneurs (PROMISE) Act, a comprehensive plan to help Minnesota businesses rebuild and recover. More information about this legislation is available here.
Protecting our Environment and Natural Resources
Earlier this week, the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee advanced legislation that invests $64.2 million from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund in environmental projects across the state. The bill provides funding to maintain and improve parks, trails, and recreation areas; manage aquatic and terrestrial invasive species; and more. It was amended to include $6 million to help the Minnesota Zoo stay in business during and after the pandemic. In addition, it includes measures to protect our environment and natural resources. More details can be found here.
On a related note, next week is National Pollinator Week. This occasion aims to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators and the many threats they face. You can read more about it here.
Bills Signed into Law
On Tuesday, Governor Walz signed one of my bills into law, as announced here.This bill provides flexibility for important environmental projects and recycling facilities impacted by COVID-19. The governor also signed legislation delivering $62.5 million in grants to help small businesses get through the pandemic.
Share Your Distance Learning Experience
The Minnesota Department of Education is inviting families to share their distance learning experience as they plan for the 2020-2021 school year. The input you provide will inform the agency’s decisions and the guidance they provide to schools this fall. You can take their Fall Planning Survey here.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions or if I can be of assistance. You can reach me at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn or 651-296-6828.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative
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