ST. PAUL, MN—Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls, will continue his work on efforts to reform and improve Minnesota's child protection laws as one eight members of the newly-created Legislative Task Force on Child Protection. The task force was created as a part of the
Health and Human Services omnibus bill signed into law by Governor Dayton in May, and will review efforts to implement recommendations from the
Governor's Task Force on the Protection of Children and explore additional efforts to improve Minnesota's child protection laws.
Kresha is joined on the task force by the other three members of the Governor's Task Force on the Protection of Children, which were appointed in October of 2014; Rep. Joe Mullery, DFL-Minneapolis, Sen. Kathy Sheran, DFL-Mankato, and Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Vernon Center. House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, appointed two additional House members on Thursday, Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, and Rep. Tom Anzelc, DFL-Balsam Township. Two additional members from the Senate Majority and Minority caucuses will be appointed by Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook.
"We still have more work to do in making sure our child protection laws are keeping our most vulnerable children safe," Rep. Kresha said. "I'm looking forward to working with my colleagues to review the bipartisan reforms passed during the 2015 session, and collaboratively exploring additional reforms and solutions to improve Minnesota's child protection laws."
Rep. Kresha was the chief author of multiple provisions ultimately signed into law stemming from recommendations from the Governor's Task Force on Child Protection.
The Legislative Task Force is expected to begin meetings next month, and is tasked with issuing a report to the legislature and the governor on February 01, 2016 on progress of implemented recommendations and changes to the child protection system, as well as recommendations for additional legislative action that can be considered when the 2016 session begins on March 08, 2016.
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