Today is our first day of special session. We got right into it passing a few important bills that we didn’t get to during the regular session. We approved a bill that will create a $62.5 million fund for small business grants.Businesses with 50 or fewer employees can receive grants up to $10,000 each. This is a massively important bill that will provide our beloved local businesses with the assistance they need to continue on during these difficult times.
We spent much of this session debating whether or not we should revoke the governor’s emergency powers. We are still in the middle of one of the worst pandemics in our nation's history, while some places are allowed to open up safely, we need to remember that we aren’t out of the woods yet. I voted to allow Governor Walz to maintain his authority during this crisis so our state can respond swiftly to any dangerous changes in our current situation.
Reimagining our Public Safety Systems
As the world watched George Floyd die at the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, we all have a moral obligation to create positive change in our public safety systems. The Legislature’s People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus have been sharing their lived experiences and through those, have developed a legislative platform that is supported by the Governor and House. We will focus on:
- Use of Force
- Reform of the keystone statute that defines when law enforcement is justified in using deadly force to prioritize sanctity of life. This measure is a recommendation from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety/Attorney General Working Group.
- Alternatives to Policing
- Creates new models of ensuring public safety by: 1) Creating a new office within DPS to administer grants to community-based violence-intervenors and problem solvers to intercept violence and reduce interactions with law enforcement, and 2) Providing funding for a co-responder form of policing that pairs officers with social worker when responding to crisis calls and welfare checks. This measure is a recommendation from the MN Department of Public Safety/Attorney General Working Group. ?
- Police Oversight Reform?
- Creates a robust framework of accountability of the law enforcement profession through: 1) Expansion of the Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) board and creation of a Police-Community Relations Council at the POST Board, 2) Reforming how arbitrations of the termination of law enforcement officers are handled, and 3) Requiring robust, real-time data collection and analysis of complaint, discipline and use of force data and use it to inform reforms at the POST Board, particularly as it relates to licensure decisions.
- Voting Restoration
- Ends the disenfranchisement of over 50,000 Minnesotans. Those who are not serving a sentence in a prison facility – who are in their communities and contributing to their families and rebuilding their lives – must be provided their right to vote, regardless of supervision status. ?
- Community Healing
- Creates a grant program to fund professional community healers trained to respond to systemic oppression-induced historic and present-day trauma through supportive services. This measure is a recommendation from the DPS/AG Working Group.
- Independent Prosecution and Investigation Reform
- Provides the AG with independent jurisdiction for the prosecution of police-involved deaths and creates an independent investigation unit within the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for police-involved cases. This measure is a recommendation from the DPS/AG Working Group.
- Training Expansion
- Expands training in de-escalation and mental health crisis intervention. This measure is a recommendation from the DPS/AG Working Group.
- Warrior Training and Choke Holds Prohibited
- Prohibits the use of all restraints or holds by law enforcement that purposely restrict a person’s airways or blood flow and ends the use of warrior-style training.
Shakopee School Info
- The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) is a temporary food benefit available to Minnesota families with children who would have received free or reduced-price meals if schools were open. Families with eligible children will receive a one-time payment of $325 per child on a new or existing EBT card to help fill the gap created by a loss of school meals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has authorized the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the Minnesota Department of Education, and Code for America to operate the program. Click here to visit the Minnesota Department of Human Services website for details.
- Districtwide meal pickup and delivery is still happening! Meals will be distributed at twelve bus stops throughout the community and via drive-through at Shakopee High School through June 30. After June 30, meals will continue to be distributed at the twelve bus stop locations, but as of right now, we do not have the special waiver from the State of Minnesota that would allow us to offer the drive-through meals at the high school in July and August. Please help us spread the word. Click here for more information on food drop-off locations throughout the community.
- Starting next school year, our spending is projected to be greater than our revenue. That is not sustainable, and the district is looking at various options while being respectful of our community’s financial realities. District leaders are currently exploring options that include a combination of budget cuts and a request to voters for a “phased-in” operating levy. A phased-in levy would spread out both the levy revenue and the tax impact over a number of years. When combined with a series of budget cuts, this approach is seen as a fiscally conservative and respectful approach given the impact COVID-19 has had on the community’s economic realities. The district’s goals are to:
- Maintain quality programming and learning opportunities for students.
- Attract, retain, and fairly compensate high-quality teachers
- Build a path to long-term financial stability
Helpful Community Information
- Grocery distribution this Saturday from 11am-12:30pm in Shakopee and Bloomington. We need volunteers. Find out more about the event here.
- Road Testing is now available in Plymouth. For all information about what you need to bring in order to be permitted to take the test, visit the DVS website here.
- The Shakopee Clean Up Day has been rescheduled for July 18. Here is everything you need to know about that event.
Brad Tabke, State Representative | Rep.Brad.Tabke@house.mn
Addie Miller, Legislative Assistant | adeline.miller@house.mn