Richfield's Legislative Reps Continue to Create New Bills

Editor's note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they're voting, the bills they're writing and the issues they're getting behind. Come back to Richfield Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review.

Here's what bills were authored and co-authored by Richfield representatives last week:

House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis)

• Co-authored a bill requiring health benefits to be extended to domestic partners and spouses of state employees. The bill was introduced on April 11 and referred to the Government Operations and Elections Committee.

State Rep. Linda Slocum (DFL-Richfield)

• Added as an author to two bills: which gives employers who employ felons a credit and another, HF1307, which grants funding for summer youth employment programs.
• Authored a bill creating an option for a school district-sponsored collaborative charter school designed to enhance student achievement. The bill was introduced April 14 and referred to the Education Reform Committee the same day.

State Sen. Ken Kelash (DFL-Richfield)

• Co-authored the companion bill for the House's HF1307, awarding grants for summer youth employment programs.
• Co-authored a bill adopting the workers compensation advisory council's recommendations, requiring rulemaking and amending state statutes. SF1159 was introduced April 11 and referred to the Jobs and Economic Growth Committee the same day. On April 14 the committee reported that it should be passed as amended and was then referred to the State Government Innovations and Veterans Committee.
• Co-authored a bill appropriating money for the Lake Street Transit Station and authorizing the sale of state bonds. The bill was introduced April 14 and referred to the Captiol Investment Committee the same day.

Come back every Monday for another Capitol Review.