SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed HF 55, legislation to establish an Office of Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls on a 110-19 vote. Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth) voted for the bill.
“Black women and girls experience violence at disproportionate rates, and not only have too many families experienced tragedies, but too many of them have also gone without answers about what happened to their loved ones,” Rep. Olson said. “I’m proud Minnesota is leading the way in lifting up voices of Black Minnesotans and taking action in a collaborative fashion to address and prevent these tragedies.”
In the 2021 session, the Legislature established the Task Force on Missing and Murdered African American Women to examine the causes of violence against African American women and recommend policies to address those causes. The provisions in this bill will ensure the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension can operate an alert program and requires issuance of an alert when a person is determined to be missing and endangered.
In the Senate, the bill currently awaits consideration by the Judiciary Committee.