Enjoyed attending the recent United Way Progressive Dinner at St. Cloud COP House Proceeds to the Imagination Library.
Dear Neighbor,
It’s omnibus bill season here at the Capitol, which means lengthy floor debates and votes on the largest bills of the session should be happening soon.
I will share some of my thoughts on the more noteworthy omnibus packages as we make our way through them and work toward our May 20 deadline to adjourn. As always, your input and/or questions are welcome as we hit the home stretch of this session.
For now, I would like to mention a pair of anti-Second Amendment bills that are making way through the House. Also, legislation recently was approved that impacts one particular segment of workers. Here is more:
Anti-Second Amendment bills
Three stand-alone anti-gun bills have made it through the committee process and are scheduled to be on the floor Monday for votes of the full House. H.F. 601 puts the onus on the victim of a crime to file a report to law enforcement within the government’s definition of reasonable time. H.F. 4300 improved during the committee process, but still places additional firearm storage burdens on law-abiding firearm owners. We need to take a harder line on the individuals who are breaking today’s laws instead of doing more to trip up law-abiding citizens. I also have concerns over H.F. 2609, which includes an expanded definition of trigger activators, which may impact some commonly used guns.
Watch for more on these bills as developments occur. I’m a strong supporter of our Second Amendment rights and enforcing existing laws to get violent criminals off the street is the best thing we can do to make our streets safer.
Disabled workers
The House recently approved an omnibus human services policy bill that features mainly non-controversial provisions, and the Senate even passed its version with overwhelming 58-9 bipartisan support.
But the House’s version includes one contentious provision which ends the 14c program that provides employment options for the disabled. This language undermined support and caused it to only pass on a party-line vote.
The way it works now, disability centers presently contract with employers to find their clients 14c jobs that are not subject to minimum-wage restrictions. With the right training, preparation and workplace accommodations, people with disabilities benefit from this opportunity by having rewarding careers and even advancing to full-wage positions elsewhere. The groups participating in the 14c program do a wonderful job of helping disabled people develop skills, foster community relationships, and find a heightened sense of purpose.
The House human services bill would threaten organizations from continuing to provide long-term solutions to benefit 14c employees. We should not rid of this program and put the 3,500 participants at risk. Of course, some displaced 14c employees would have the opportunity to go to full-wage positions elsewhere, but many others simply will have something meaningful taken away from them that imparts marketable skills.
There is still hope. While the House bill ends 14c employment, this provision is not in the Senate version. A conference committee needs to iron out differences between the House and Senate bills before a vote can happen on final approval. Let’s hope the Senate position prevails so we are able to provide broad, bipartisan support on the final legislation.
Helpful links:
Here are some links to help you follow developments in St. Paul this session:
Please Contact Me
It’s an honor and privilege to work for you at the Capitol. Don’t hesitate to contact my office at any time this session to share your thoughts, concerns or ideas. You can call me at 651-296-6316, or email me at rep.bernie.perryman@house.mn.gov. I am here to serve you!
Bernie
