Dear Neighbor,
Thank you to all those who participated in FFA Day at the Capitol today. Those trademark blue-and-gold jackets always make quite a presence in St. Paul and I was pleased to take time to talk with students and staff about ag. issues. We are facing a shortage of young people entering the ag. area, making the FFA's services as valuable as ever.
In other news, the bill I authored to strengthen penalties for crimes similar to what happened to Laura Schwendemann cleared its first House committee hurdle this week. Laura's body was found 12 days after she was reported missing last fall.
"Laura's Law" was approved by the House committee on public safety. Douglas County Attorney Chad Larson testified and provided helpful information.
Crimes of interfering with the body or scene of a death with intent to conceal the body or evidence, or otherwise to mislead the coroner or medical examiner, currently are defined as gross misdemeanors in Minnesota. The maximum penalty for such a crime is 365 days in jail and a fine.
My bill makes this punishable as a felony with the maximum penalty increased to not more than 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $20,000 or both. The Senate's version of the bill is being carried by Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen.
In other news, the House on Tuesday approved legislation that allows our state to conduct research and planning regarding federal Real ID standards.
This does not necessarily guarantee the state will move into full compliance. What it does is eliminate a state law which currently prevents us from collecting information that will help us decide the appropriate action for our state.
The state's prohibition on studying Real ID and/or meeting compliance standards was put in place in 2009, mainly over concerns pertaining to citizens' private data. Many of the questions that arose back then remain valid today and we will be looking for answers.
One thing I want to remind folks is the Department of Homeland Security has indicated enforcement of new Real ID standards for boarding commercial, domestic flights will take effect no sooner than Jan. 22, 2018.
Sincerely,
Paul