Enhancing domestic violence penalties definition

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As part of a domestic assault in July 2011, a man in Hopkins held his wife against a wall by her chest and neck during an argument and then threw her to the floor.Following the man’s arrest, Jason Hutchison, the prosecuting attorney for Hopkins, reviewed the man’s criminal history to see if he had been previously convicted of a qualified domestic violence-related offense that would have allowed Hutchison to start the case as a gross misdemeanor, rather than a misdemeanor.Qualified domestic violence-related offenses include: murder; violating an order for protection, harassment restraining order or no-contact order; stalking; domestic assault or criminal sexual conduct. Hutchison found none of these in the man’s past.“What was brought to my attention by one of the police detective’s was that this particular suspect had been convicted of female genital mutilation in 2000 for which he was on probation until 2001,” Hutchison told the House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee.Sponsored by Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-St. Louis Park), HF2149 would add to the list of a qualified domestic violence-related offense the crime of female genital mutilation against a family or household member.Approved by the committee, the bill awaits action by the House Judiciary Policy and Finance Committee. A companion, SF1657, sponsored by Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park), awaits action by the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.“People who commit acts of FGM, a felony, and are convicted for those acts, should have those convictions used against them when they perpetrate other acts of violence on their families and family members,” Hutchison said. Continue Reading

Omnibus transportation policy bill proffered

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Speed limit violations, online driver’s education training and dollars for organ donation are part of a proposed omnibus transportation policy bill.Sponsored by Rep. Mike Beard (R-Shakopee), HF1284 is mostly what was proposed in last session’s omnibus bill (HF1068) that was awaiting floor action when session concluded.Approved by the House Transportation Policy and Finance Committee, the latest version was sent to the House Government Operations and Elections Committee.Potentially the most controversial part would prohibit speed limit violations of up to 10 mph over the limit in 55 mph and 60 mph zones from going on a driver’s record. Currently, a ticket does not appear on someone’s driving record if the person was driving up to 10 mph over the speed limit in a 55 mph zone, or 5 mph over the limit in a 60 mph zone.“This is not good public safety policy,” said Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Mpls). “Any kind of inference that it’s OK to go over the speed limit is problematic.”Representatives from the state patrol and the Department of Transportation also spoke against the provision, saying, in part, the idea sends the wrong message about traffic safety laws.“The ability to write tickets and enforce traffic laws is not impeded in the least,” Beard said, adding he’s only trying to help keep people’s insurance costs down. “I’m in favor of cutting people a little slack there.”Sponsored by Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City), a standalone bill for this (HF537) was passed 111-20 by the House last session, but tabled by the Senate.Other provisions in the bill include:allowing a person under age 18 to complete the classroom portion of driver’s education online through a program approved by the Department of Public Safety;allowing payment of driver’s license and identification card fees by credit or debit card, and authorizing driver’s license agents to impose a convenience fee;expanding the authority for buses to operate on freeway or expressway shoulders so that counties and towns having jurisdiction over the road can authorize the buses; andrequiring the Driver and Vehicle Services Division of the Department of Public Safety to include a mechanism for vehicle owners to donate $2 for organ donation educational programs as part of an in-person payment of vehicle registration taxes. Continue Reading

Notifying an abuse victim’s parents

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Sarah Guggisberg has lived a mother’s nightmare that she doesn’t want to happen to anyone else.While spending weekends with her ex-husband in 2005, her 5-year-old son, Jacob, was sexually abused by a neighbor. She wasn’t informed of the incident until Jacob told her four years later.“Investigators with the Lyon County Sheriff’s department talked to my ex-husband and told him they thought Jacob had been abused. My ex-husband chose not to do anything, chose not to allow Jacob to be interviewed, did not tell me and he did not tell Jacob that he knew about the abuse,” said Guggisberg, who believes, that as Jacob’s primary caregiver, she should have been notified.Guggisberg found out what happened in 2009 after Jacob told a social worker. She subsequently spoke with a Lyon County investigator who informed her that her ex-husband was informed, and that state statute was followed because they contacted “a parent.”“I’m picking up the pieces of a broken little boy that have been shattered over the last six years,” Guggisberg said. Jacob has tried to commit suicide at least four times.Sponsored by Rep. Bruce Vogel (R-Willmar), HF1899 would add to the custody order in a divorce agreement so that each party must “notify the other party if the minor child is the victim of an alleged crime and shall provide the name of the investigating law enforcement officer.” It would also require law enforcement to immediately notify a local welfare agency if the child is a victim of neglect, physical abuse or sexual abuse outside the family.“Most law enforcement agencies already do the notification,” Vogel said.Approved by the House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance, the bill was sent to the House Judiciary Policy and Finance Committee. Continue Reading

County attorneys could pack heat

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Cook County Attorney Tim Scannell is accustomed to prosecuting criminals. Six weeks ago he became a victim of one while doing his job at the county courthouse.On Dec. 15, Scannell was shot by Daniel Schlienz after the latter was convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Scannell was rushed to a Duluth hospital with three gunshot wounds, but survived.He was in the audience when the House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee approved HF1829 that would allow a county attorney or assistant county attorney to carry a firearm on duty provided they have a state-issued permit to carry. State statute prohibits local government employees, other than licensed peace officers, from carrying firearms. The bill awaits action by the full House. Continue Reading

Rep. Susan Allen: Always looking to help others

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Before she was a teenager, Rep. Susan Allen (DFL-Mpls) knew she wanted to fight for social and economic justice.Throughout her personal life and professional career, Allen has done that. Now, she’ll do it under the Capitol dome.Allen won a Jan. 10 special election to replace former Rep. Jeff Hayden (DFL-Mpls), who replaced the retiring Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Mpls).A self-described political newcomer, Allen follows a family tradition of activism. She has spent a decade or more on the boards of the ICWA Law Center, Indigenous Peoples Task Force and the Indian Neighborhood Club on Alcohol and Drugs. The daughter of an Episcopal priest, she said her parents worked hard to change how the church administered its ministries to American Indians throughout the country.“I grew up moving a lot because my parents didn’t want anything to be about them; they wanted to go into a place and organize and move on to the next place,” said Allen, who grew up during a time of political and social change for American Indians. Continue Reading

Newest House member sworn into office

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Even before her teen years, Rep. Susan Allen (DFL-Mpls) knew she wanted to fight for social and economic justice.Throughout her personal life and professional career, Allen has done that. Now, she’ll do it under the Capitol dome.Allen won a Jan. 10 special election to replace former Rep. Jeff Hayden (DFL-Mpls) in District 61B, who replaced the retiring Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Mpls).A self-described political newcomer, Allen follows a family tradition of activism. She has spent a decade or more on the boards of the ICWA Law Center, Indigenous Peoples Task Force and the Indian Neighborhood Club on Alcohol and Drugs. The daughter of an Episcopal priest, she said her parents worked hard to change how the church administered its ministries to American Indians throughout the country.“I grew up moving a lot because my parents didn’t want anything to be about them; they wanted to go into a place and organize and move on to the next place,” said Allen, who grew up during a time of political and social change for American Indians. Continue Reading

Governor unveils his 2012 bonding proposal

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Gov. Mark Dayton is asking the Legislature to pass a capital investment bill with $775 million in general obligation bonding.Unveiled at a press conference, the DFL governor said the proposal is about putting thousands of Minnesotans back to work and investing in the future of the state.Dayton argues that a bonding bill at this level would create 21,700 jobs throughout the state, almost all in the private sector.Jim Schowalter, commissioner of Minnesota Management & Budget, said that when combined with all other funding — including local matches and federal funds — the total proposal equates to more than $1.4 billion in investments. Traditionally, a larger capital investment law is passed in even-numbered years.“Interest rates are low, the need for these investments is high and Minnesota needs the jobs,” Dayton said. He is urging the Legislature to pass the bonding bill by the end of February to enable many of the projects to begin in 2012. “Unemployed Minnesotans need jobs now, not next year.”In a statement, House Speaker Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) accuses Dayton of playing Washington-style politics by “proposing stimulus packages under the banner of job creation and economic development. In these economic times, a $775 million bonding bill that puts local spending projects on par with core infrastructure is unwise and ill-advised.”Of the governor’s proposal, 36 percent of funding would be for projects in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area, 36 percent in Greater Minnesota and 28 percent would go for statewide programs.By investment area: 27 percent is for economic development, 22 percent for higher education, 18 percent for public safety, 17 percent for environment, 9 percent for transportation and 7 percent for veterans and military affairs.Among the aspects of Dayton’s proposal are:$81.2 million for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, including $17.5 million to construct a biosciences and health careers center at North Hennepin Community College;$78 million for the University of Minnesota, including $54 million to renovate a steam plant facility on the Minneapolis campus to a multi-utility power plant to serve the campus and reduce its carbon footprint by 10 percent;$42 million to build or improve wastewater treatment plants and drinking water infrastructure;$27 million to build a 7,500-seat ballpark in downtown St. Continue Reading