| For Immediate Release | For more information contact: |
| January 26, 1999 | Jon Peterson (651-296-5989) |
(ST. PAUL) Calling for a "three-pronged attack on criminals in Minnesota," this week State Representative Rich Stanek (R-Maple Grove) unveiled the bills that make up the anti-crime package of the House Republican Inspection Report, a scorecard that legislators introduced at the beginning of the session. The bills, House Files 12, 13 and 14, would punish three-time convicted felons with life in prison, provide new funding for the existing gang strike force and ban any sexual criminal from teaching in Minnesota schools.
"When the people of Minnesota gave us the privilege of serving in the majority in the House of Representatives, we promised them that we'd work to make Minnesota a safer place in which to raise a family," said Rep. Stanek, who serves as Chair of the House Crime Prevention Committee. "Passing these three bills will help us keep our promise. They are strong steps in the right direction toward personal safety and family freedom."
House File 12 sets new guidelines requiring Minnesota courts to provide a life imprisonment sentence for persons convicted of three or more violent felonies. This provision was passed last year as part of the 1998 Omnibus Crime Bill, but was removed in a conference committee between the House and Senate before the bill became law.
Rep. Stanek is the chief author of House File 13, which provides $6 million in funding for the criminal gang oversight council and strike force. "One of the things that has helped reduce crime in Minnesota has been our efforts at targeting organized gang activity," said Stanek. "For the sake of family safety and the protection of our kids, this is a program that is well worth continuing."
House File 14 makes a person convicted of criminal sexual conduct ineligible to be licensed as a school teacher in Minnesota. Additionally, any teacher convicted of criminal sexual conduct would be immediately dismissed, regardless of his or her contract level. "As parents, we entrust school teachers with the most valuable people in our lives, our children. We should take every reasonable step to ensure that our kids are safe at school," said Rep. Stanek.
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