Greetings,
Elder Abuse Findings
This week lawmakers learned from the Legislative Auditor’s Office that some Minnesota state agencies have fallen short or failed in protecting vulnerable adults.
We learned that thousands of complaints submitted to the Minnesota Department of Health relating to abuse allegations were not adequately investigated or investigated at all by the department.
This is extremely troubling!
Please keep in mind that the vast majority of our state’s nursing home facilities provide quality and compassionate care to residents. However, we need to rid the stage of bad actors in the industry.
This is why I have agreed to co-author a bill to improve protections and rights for nursing home residents and their families.
As we all age and are living healthy, happier and longer, we need to ensure that our final years are better protected.
MNLARS – vehicle title & tabs system
I sit on the House State Government Finance Committee. On Thursday evening, we heard a number of hours of testimony from the leaders responsible for the design, development and delivery of the new vehicle title and tabs system.
To date the state has invested over $100 million of taxpayer money in the system and we’ve learned that the designers are asking for an additional $43 million of which $10 million is being requested immediately.
The committee wanted firm assurances that the additional funds being requested will be the final project overrun costs and we can get the system to work for Minnesotans.
The House State Government Finance committee did pass the bill out of committee and moved it forward to the next step in the funding process. However, not until the committee asked tough and pointed questions on when and how the system will be completed and what’s its final cost.
We need a system that works to meet Minnesota’s vehicle title and tabs needs.
Recent visitors
Recently, I met with Dave Yurczyk of the Holdingford Fire Department and others regarding fire safety issues.
Other residents and groups I’ve had the pleasure to meet with this week include:
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Minnesota Realtors
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Arts Advocates
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Minnesota Beverage Association members
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National Alliance on Metal Illness – Minnesota
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Stearns County Officials
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Local members of the Minnesota Optometric Association
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AGRI Growth
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Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Alliance
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Minnesota District Attorney’s Association
If you know of anyone who would like to receive future email updates, forward this email to them and have them sign up here. Also, if you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding any issue related to state government, please feel free to contact me at either 651-296-7808 or rep.tim.odriscoll@house.mn.
Sincerely,
Tim