State Representative
Bob Gunther

I wanted to take this opportunity to bring you up to date on several new laws that have taken effect as of July 1, 2002. Some of these will have a positive impact on your family, others will improve the quality of life in the state of Minnesota. The new laws are listed below.

CRIME & SAFETY

Anti-terrorism provisions- In response to the Sept. 11 attacks, a new law will provide Minnesota law enforcement with training, equipment, and new legal tools to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks. Several provisions in the new law define terrorism and set penalties in place for those convicted. As defined by the law, a crime is committed to further terrorism if it is a violent, premeditated, felony-level crime intended to "terrorize, intimidate, or coerce a considerable number of members of the public in addition to the direct victims of the act."

In addition, the new law makes damage to certain public service facilities, such as utilities and pipelines, a felony. It also establishes guidelines and penalties for manufacturing or possession of weapons of mass destruction, including biological and chemical agents.

A total of $13 million is appropriated for the purchase of equipment and development of staff and training facilities for emergency responders. Under the new law, felons incarcerated in Minnesota will also be required to provide a DNA sample for future testing. Collecting samples from people convicted of other crimes provides an information base that can help investigators to identify suspects.

Taking responsibility for crimes- Activist groups and others who take credit for crimes will face a tougher penalty under a new law. The new law will allow those who destroy crops, animals, or other organisms used for research to be civilly liable for up to three times the amount of the value of the damage, including the estimated value of the research related to the organisms or the items

-MORE-

-PAGE 2-

destroyed.

EMPLOYMENT

Unemployment benefits- Under this new law, workers laid off from Farmland Foods Company in Albert Lea, Fingerhut Companies, Inc., and a number of Minnesota-based airlines, including Northwest and Sun Country, are eligible for an extra 13 weeks of unemployment benefits. The new law also designates $12 million to pay administration costs for an unemployment insurance program.

GAME & FISH

Chronic wasting disease funding- Deer hunters will now be helping fund efforts to manage chronic wasting disease in Minnesota's deer population. This measure is a modification of a current law that designates 50 cents from every deer license to an emergency deer-feeding fund. Under the new law, the money will be split between the feeding appropriation and a fund for the management of chronic wasting disease. The disease affects the brains of infected deer and elk, causing them to lose weight and behave abnormally.

HEALTH

Donated dentistry- Minnesota has joined 32 states that allow dentists to volunteer their services to low-income patients. The measure includes a $75,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2003 to implement the donated dental services program. It will also appropriate $50,000 for medical liability insurance.

HUMAN SERVICES

Behavior disclosure- School districts will be required to disclose an employee's record of violent behavior or sexual misconduct on the job to a prospective employer at another school. The disclosure requirement is dependent on obtaining "written, informed consent" of the employee, however. The new law also includes a provision protecting employers from liability for disclosing information about disciplinary action taken against a current or former staff member at a licensed facility serving children, mentally retarded people, or the developmentally disabled.

LAW

Temporary driver's licenses- Those who have lost their driver's licenses because of failure to pay child support may now receive a temporary license. This new law will grant a one-time, 90-day license to people more than three months behind in child support payments if the person needs a license to get a job, go to a chemical dependency program, or attend post- secondary classes.

RETIREMENT

Pension revisions- Members of the Public Employees Retirement Association, the Minnesota State Retirement System, or the Teachers Retirement Association can now obtain service credit for strike time of up to one year. To obtain credit the employee must pay an amount equal to the

-MORE-

-PAGE 3-

employee and employer contributions plus interest.

If you have comments or questions, please don't hesitate to contact me regarding these or any other issues by calling (651) 296-3240. Or write to me at Rep. Gunther, 379 State Office Building, 100 Constitution Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55155 or rep.bob.gunther@house.leg.state.mn.us.

-30-