SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the compromise Jobs, Economic Development, and Labor budget following a bipartisan agreement reached with the Senate. The budget delivers resources for workers, families, and small businesses to recover from an incredibly challenging year. The legislation also includes a measure, originally authored by Rep. Dave Lislegard (DFL – Aurora), requiring workers at oil refineries to have apprenticeship-level training to protect workers and communities around the facilities alike.
“At its core, this bill is about keeping communities safe. Oil refineries are dangerous environments rife with hazards, and people living near them are particularly vulnerable,” Rep. Lislegard said. “It’s absolutely critical that only workers with the highest quality training are allowed to work within these facilities. It’s time to move forward in a bipartisan partnership to get this requirement across the finish line.”
The Senate had previously added the oil refinery safety provision to its version of the Jobs budget on a broad bipartisan vote last Friday, only to remove it on Monday.
A spreadsheet of the investments contained within the legislation can be accessed here. Video of the House Floor session will be available on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel.