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Dear Neighbor,
This week, my bill (H.F. 953), requiring providers to educate parents on recognizing and reporting abuse in infants received a hearing in the Health Finance and Policy Committee. The committee discussion went so brilliantly the number of bipartisan authors doubled by the time it finished – from four to eight House members – with three Republicans and five Democrats having signed on at last check.
That’s not to say presenting this bill was an easy task. It was quite difficult and somewhat embarrassing to maintain my composure. The good news is we got through it and my legislation remains viable for passage this session.
Another bill I’ve authored related to the mistreatment of children is just making its way into the legislative process. I introduced H.F. 1590 to escalate punishment for malicious punishment of a child. There are 16 co-authors on this measure. In part, it stipulates that if somebody is guilty of felony level malicious treatment of child they face a one-year mandatory minimum for incarceration. If great bodily harm is involved, it’s a two-year minimum. Too often abusers of children get probation or a mere 90 days. That is unacceptable for parents.
These bills are important to me as both a father and as chair of the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee. I will continue working to get them to the finish line this session, along with a bill of mine requiring childcare centers to have cameras in areas where toddlers and infants are present and retain video for 90 days.
On a separate note, Monday looks to be a big day for safety and fairness in girls sports. A bill (H.F. 12) prohibiting boys from playing in girls sports in Minnesota is expected to come to the House floor that day and is likely to elicit a robust discussion. While Sibyl won't be on skis til next winter, it is incredibly important to me as a father of two daughters.
The proposal, formally known as the Preserve Girls Sports Act, says: “Only students of the female sex may participate in an elementary or secondary school athletic team or sport that an educational institution has restricted on the basis of sex to women or girls.”
Have a good weekend and look for more from the House soon.
Sincerely,
Nolan
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