Greetings –
Governor Dayton has just signed four budget bills into law. Our Health and Human Services, Public Safety, Higher Education, and Transportation budgets had broad, bipartisan support, and contained many good provisions for our district.
Health and Human Services
Our bipartisan Health and Human Services budget delivered on our promise to help the elderly and vulnerable. It included reforms to strengthen child protection, an expansion of telemedicine, protections for state workers employed by DOC or DHS who have been assaulted by patients, the establishment of protocol for transporting stroke patients, and several other good reforms.
Most notably, the Health and Human Services budget improved long-term care for our elderly and vulnerable by implementing a statewide rate of reimbursement for long-term care facilities. Specifically, this statewide rate of reimbursement will mean a 17.30% increase in funding for Good Shepherd Community in Sauk Rapids, and a 24.68% increase in funding for County Manor Campus in Sartell.
The bill passed the House 99-31, and the Senate 49-16.
Public Safety
Public Safety budget, which was supported by members on both sides of the aisle in both the House and Senate, made many good reforms to protect citizens and their constitutional rights. Among the most notable and newsworthy reforms were the legalization of firearm suppressors, a reform to allow law-abiding citizens with conceal and carry permits the ability to carry a firearm on Capitol grounds without prior authorization, a bill to prevent law enforcement officials from seizing firearms from law-abiding citizens in times of state-declared disaster. The bill passed the House 116-15, and the Senate 55-9.
Higher Education
The Higher Education budget passed the GOP-controlled House and DFL-controlled Senate with wide margins, making college more affordable for Minnesota students. It includes a tuition freeze for MnSCU students, followed by a decrease the subsequent year, as well as tuition relief for University of Minnesota schools. The bill also strengthens sexual assault policies to protect students and improve reporting of sexual assaults, a year- long student teaching pilot program, programs to encourage veterans to pursue agriculture careers, assistance to foreign-born students seeking nursing careers, and loan forgiveness for certain careers in teaching and long-term care. The bill also protects our students by providing funds for debt counseling and requiring colleges to implement comprehensive plans to encourage students to complete their educational career. The bill passed the House 71-57, and the Senate 57-8.
Transportation
While we were not able to pass a comprehensive Transportation budget due to stalled negotiations over the gas tax, we did pass a bipartisan Transportation budget that will make a significant difference for our small cities by increasing funds for transportation infrastructure. The Transportation bill also includes provisions to rename a segment of Highway 149 in honor of Officer Scott Patrick, to rename a segment of Highway 36 as Sargent Joseph Bergeron, and a provision to allow for proof of insurance to be provided in electronic format. The bill passed the House 73-58, and the Senate 65-0.
I will continue to keep you updated as the governor signs our budget bills.
Have a great weekend,
Rep. Tim O’Driscoll