| For Immediate Release | For more information contact: |
| March 16, 2001 | Doug Champeau (651-296-4305) |
FIRST ANNUAL 'DAY AT THE CAPITOL
By State Rep. Connie Ruth
District 28a Owatonna
The deadline is nearing for my first annual "Day at the Capitol" bus trip. To secure a seat, please sign up as soon as possible. Join me in St. Paul on Thursday, March 29, for a tour of the capitol and an opportunity to see the House in session. I'm arranging to have one or more buses to transport people. The buses will leave Waseca at 8:00 a.m. at the Hy-Vee parking lot and at 9:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna, returning the same afternoon. Cost to ride on the bus is $5. If you would like to sign up or have questions, please call me at the toll- free number below.
TOUGHENING SCHOOL BUS DRIVER LAW
The House and Senate will have a conference committee to resolves differences in a bill I'm co-authoring that would toughen the sex offender rules for school bus drivers by including offenses involving minors.
My bill would disqualify school bus drivers if they are found to have used minors in a sexual performance, if they are found in the possession of pornographic work involving minors and if they display or disseminate harmful materials to minors. My bill would add to current law which already bans school bus drivers for criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree, interference with privacy ("Peeping Tom"), indecent exposure, drug use, and driving a bus while impaired.
As the current Newsweek magazine shows, with the internet and computers, there is even greater access to child pornography today than ever before. I don't think parents would feel comfortable having pedophiles driving our school buses. My bill closes a loophole, and it has the support of the State Patrol. A final bill should be ready to be sent to the governor in a few days.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
My bill to reinstate $12.5 million in annual categorical funding for high school vocational education programs was recently heard in the House K-12 Education Finance Committee. Joining me in support of the legislation were Owatonna Superintendent Dr. Jim Bauck, Owatonna Business Manager Jeff Solomon and Owatonna High School Principal Jim Herzog
I'm optimistic about the legislation and many other House members have signed onto it. As you may know, last session, attempts were made to gut special funding for these vocational programs and have school districts fund them from general funds. My concern is that without specially targeted funding, these programs might be discontinued. When so many of these jobs are in high demand, we want to assure these choices are available to our students.
What do you think? I welcome your input and ideas. Call me toll-free, at 1-888- 296-5368 or e-mail me at: rep.connie.ruth@house.leg.state.mn.us.
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