Dear Neighbors,
Last week the Select Committee on Affordable Child Care unveiled legislation that is the result of hours of meetings with providers and families across Minnesota, discussing the challenges they face every day in accessing and operating child care services.
This week, that legislation began making its way through the legislative process with its first committee hearing taking place in the Health and Human Services Reform Committee on Tuesday.
As chief author of this bill, I look forward to working with my colleagues to gather support for this important piece of legislation and see it become law.
On Tuesday, the House approved legislation that allows Minnesota to prepare for the implementation of REAL ID.
In January, the Department of Homeland Security told Minnesota it had until 2018 to develop REAL ID-compliant licenses in order for residents to board an airplane.
With Tuesday’s vote, it is worth reminding folks that they will not have their travel plans impacted for at least two years due to REAL ID.
This legislation simply begins the conversation of what data the Department of Homeland Security plans to collect and how the Department of Public Safety plans to use the information collected. Also important to me is making sure that Minnesota has the ability to override any future rule making the federal government may make on REAL ID that may not be in the best interest of my constituents. As your state representative, I take your privacy concerns very seriously
Minnesota previously had a law barring Minnesota's Department of Public Safety from even discussing REAL ID compliance with Homeland Security.
I will keep you updated as we move forward with plans to bring Minnesota into compliance while also protecting your private data.
Finally, This week, House Republicans in the State Government Finance Committee launched a website to gather comments and feedback from Minnesota families, taxpayers and small business owners affected by MNsure.
The new website can be found here and is also linked on the House State Government Finance Committee page.
As always, please be sure to let me know your thoughts regarding this issue or any other related to state government. It would be great to speak with you! I can be reached by phone at 651-296-3201 or via email at rep.mary.franson@house.mn.
I truly represent the best!
Have a great weekend,
Mary