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Dear Neighbors,
Last week, Senate and House Republicans released details of our Safe & Sound Minnesota public safety plan to confront the threat of violent and repeat criminals, strengthen police and improve training for law enforcement, and hold judges and prosecutors accountable with public data and information.?
This is a package of proposals that includes 17 different bills from 15 Republican authors across the state. Confronting the criminal threat would include laws to add a new crime of carjacking to state statute, increase penalties for fleeing police in a motor vehicle, align fentanyl to the same weight thresholds and penalties as heroin, and increase sentences for those convicted with at least two prior crimes of violence.
To address crimes of gun violence, the package specifically increases the penalty for transferring a firearm to an ineligible person and requires a court to ensure someone who has been ordered to give up their firearms has indeed done so.?
The package supports Minnesota?s law enforcement officers with robust recruitment, training, and retention plans. We proposed funding for Pathway to Policing, the award-winning program that brings recruits into public safety from other careers. We have also included funding for college scholarships and technology to help law enforcement students prepare for their roles.
We also seek to increase transparency and accountability in Minnesota?s courts. New data reporting requirements would help legislators and the public understand how many felony-level offenses go uncharged, as well as a database by the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission for the public to research judges and their sentencing decisions.
To address concerns that violent, repeat offenders are too often released, there is a new mandatory minimum sentence for dangerous criminals who commit crimes with a firearm. Finally, the plan would also make who posts bail payments public data. Recent scrutiny on non-profits bailing out violent criminals shows Minnesotans are at risk when these non-profits aren?t held accountable for their decisions.?
There?s a lot here to digest, but Minnesotans are rightfully concerned about rising levels of crime that continue to impact their daily lives. These commonsense proposals will keep our communities and neighborhoods safe while making sure that law enforcement has the resources they need to protect Minnesotans and their families.
Bill Heard in Committee
My bill, House File 2253, received a hearing last week in the House Higher Education Committee. This is the bill?s second hearing and it would provide reimbursement to colleges for providing use-of-force training for peace officers.
Colleges with a peace officer education program currently provide use-of-force training for students enrolled at the school. Adding in-service training will make it more convenient for peace officers to receive the mandated training at a location closer to the agency, thus saving the agency time and money.
It makes sense to have colleges that train students who will be entering the law enforcement profession on the use of force to provide in-service training to current peace officers.?
It will also save agencies time and money.
Promoting Transparency
Last week, my House Republican colleagues sent a letter addressed to Speaker Hortman asking for a status report on the renovation and expansion of the State Office Building.
For a project costing nearly half a billion dollars, the lack of transparency on costs to renovate and expand the State Office Building has been extremely concerning.
Minnesota Democrats want to spend $500 million on luxury offices for politicians in St. Paul and they don?t want you to know about it. I?m demanding answers on this.
You can read the letter here.
Staying in Touch
Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas on ways to improve state government. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-4237 or via email at?[email protected]?
Have a good day,
Paul
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