The Legislature convened yesterday at the Minnesota State Capitol to kick of the 2019 session. This year will likely see a number of important policy debates as well as consideration of how to best spend a projected 1.5 billion budget surplus.
Policies that impact child well-being, abuse and maltreatment
With so many new members in the Minnesota House, meeting with and educating legislators about policy issues related to abuse and maltreatment, multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) and children’s advocacy centers (CACs) is a top priority.
MDTs and CACs provide critical healing services support children, adolescents and families who have experienced abuse and maltreatment. Learn more about coordinated responses to abuse and maltreatment.
Throughout session, our team will share updates about policy considerations as they develop and with a biennium budget on the docket for this year we fully expect a discussion about investment in the child welfare system and efforts to address equity of and access to services.
Know your legislators
Did your legislators change as a result of the 2018 election? There are 37 new members of the House, which is a quarter of state representatives as a whole. Find your state representative and senator.
In addition, Minnesota has a new Governor and Lieutenant Governor in Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan, which means that not only will the dynamic between the Legislature and the Executive Office is likely to shift, but also that most state agencies will usher in new leadership to serve on the Governor’s Cabinet. Tony Lourey, a former state senator is now the Commissioner of Human Services, and John Harrington, former state senator and Chief of Metro Transit Police is the Commissioner of Public Safety.
Minnesota Public Radio News has a more in depth breakdown of the new players in the 2019 session.
Stay in the loop
If you want to stay current on the most pressing issues impacting child welfare, you can sign up to receive the Alliance’s Public Policy Updates on a regular basis.
Have questions about what’s happening this session? Contact Marcia Milliken, Executive Director of the Alliance.