I was honored to welcome the State Champion Faribault Emeralds High School Dance team to the Capitol on Thursday. Congratulations on your outstanding achievement! (photo courtesy of Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services)
Dear Neighbors,
Thanks to those of you who took the time out of your busy schedules to visit St. Paul this past week. It is an honor to meet with you to hear your thoughts and concerns. If you are planning on being in St. Paul sometime in the near future, please do not hesitate to contact my office to set up a time to meet. I am here to be YOUR voice in St. Paul and it is a responsibility that I take very seriously.
Driver’s License Bill
Recently, there has been some discussion about House File 97 - a bill relating to changing the eligibility criteria for driver's licenses. While I continue to have concerns about this legislation, I'm happy to hear from advocates and opponents of this bill. I've already had meetings in St. Paul with those who are in support of this proposal. If you would like to set up a meeting in or near Faribault, please contact my office at 651-296-8237. I wish I could attend the local meeting scheduled for Friday, March 13 regarding this issue, but I'm attending a meeting organized by farmers relating to Governor Dayton's proposal to mandate farmers to set aside a 50-foot buffer strip on their farms. Governor Dayton's agency staff will be at this meeting to explain how this proposal would affect private property.
In District “Office Hours” this Saturday
I will be hosting in-district "office hours" this Saturday at Bernie’s Grill in Faribault beginning at 8 am to meet with constituents to discuss your priorities for the legislative session.
These “office hours” give me the opportunity to meet with folks in a less formal, one-on-one environment. It is extremely important that I gain input from local residents as important pieces of legislation are set to be debated at the Capitol.
Here are the details for Saturday’s event:
What: In-District “Office Hours”
When: Saturday, March 14th, 2015
Time: 8 am- 9:30 am
Where: Bernie's Grill
129 Central Ave N
Faribault, MN 55021
Bill Receives Committee Hearing
A bill that I am chief authoring, House File 1152, was heard by the Aging and Long-Term Care Committee on Wednesday. HF 1152 looks to increase accessibility to vaccinations for nursing home and long term care employees.
Often times, especially in rural areas, long term care and nursing home workers may not have accessibility to crucial vaccinations, specifically tuberculosis, influenza, and hepatitis B, that help protect the individuals that they care for. This bill establishes a working group to assess this problem and establishes solutions to ensure that individuals who are being cared for in a nursing home or a long term facility are not put at risk.
The bill was passed out of committee and has been sent to the Government Operations and Elections Committee.
Discussion on Governor’s Proposed Buffer Strips
Buffer strips have been part of Minnesota drainage laws since 1959. Historically, these laws have not been uniformly enforced. This January, Governor Dayton asked the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to strengthen and take over enforcement of the law to provide consistent enforcement throughout our state. Changes to the law are being proposed, with penalties from enforcement being looked at to fund the program.
In light of this proposal, a “buffer strip summit” will be taking place this Friday, March 13th in Mazeppa. Beginning at 1:00 pm, there will be a number of presentations taking place discussing the Governor’s proposed buffer strips which will end around 4:00 pm. The public is then invited to return at 7:00 pm where a number of legislators, including myself, will be discussing this important issue in a public forum.
The event is taking place at the Mazeppa Community Center, 278 First Ave. North, Mazeppa, MN 55956.
Staying in Touch
Please encourage your family, friends, or co-workers to sign up for my weekly email updates. They can sign up by visiting my official House page.
As always, do not hesitate to contact me to discuss any questions, comments, or concerns you may have regarding the legislature. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-8237 or via email at rep.brian.daniels@house.mn. You can also stay connected with me by visiting my Facebook page and my Twitter account.
Sincerely,
Brian