Legislative Update
This week, we've had a full schedule of committee meetings and floor sessions. During yesterday's session we debated a bill stemming from the conversations across the state about public safety in light of the recent events in Minneapolis. Unfortunately, the bill became an omnibus containing numerous provisions, many of which had nothing to do with police reform, that I simply could not support.
We can all agree that police should not be using choke holds or receiving training that causes them to use excessive force. We can also agree that police departments should be able to fire officers who break the law or the rules put in place by the Peace Officers Standards and Training Board.
However, I cannot agree to provisions allowing residency requirements, which will make filling officer vacancies even harder, unfunded mandates requiring that law enforcement agencies over a certain size design and implement a new oversight board, or any of the other controversial and partisan pieces of this bill, and that is why I voted no.
Guidance for Schools
This week, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced that they are strongly recommending that school districts and charters create contingency plans for each of the potential scenarios schools may face next year: in-person learning for all students, hybrid learning with strict social distance and capacity limits, and distance learning only.
MDE and MDH plans to announce which of those scenarios will be in the best interest of students, staff, and communities by July 27. You can find the MDH School Planning Guidance here, and the MDE School Planning Guidance here.
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