The 2018 Minnesota legislative session begins Tuesday.

District 27 Sen. Dan Sparks and District 27A Rep. Peggy Bennett both plan to address improving rural access to health care, an issue the area has become aware of due to Mayo Clinic Health System’s planned transition of most inpatient services from Albert Lea to Austin.

Bennett, R-Albert Lea, said she spoke this summer with the Minnesota Department of Health and state researchers and representatives to address the loss of health care services in Greater Minnesota.

She plans to introduce three or four bills this year that could include incentives to bring certain health care services back to communities, including tax incentives for health care infrastructure, tweaking Destination Medical Center legislation to allow for some of the funding to be used for health care infrastructure in communities in Mayo service regions that are losing services, and the creation of health impact studies that would look at the impact of losing services.

Sparks said he expected to see bills on his desk that could include proposals requested by Save Our Hospital members, who have advocated legislators take steps to prevent Mayo Clinic from transitioning most inpatient services to Austin.

He said he wants to make sure groups are on the same page and the area has access to affordable health care.

Bonding, transportation

A member of the Senate Capital Investment Committee, Sparks said bonding tours finished last week. He said he plans to advocate for Riverland Community College’s $10.1 million request in state bonding to relocate truck driving and collision programs from Austin to Albert Lea and to integrate the programs into shared spaces with auto service and diesel programs.

Sparks said he is “very hopeful” the project will be included.

Other local projects officials hope will receive funding include $20 million for Blazing Star Landing development and $1.9 million to build a bridge over Albert Lea Lake to connect Blazing Star Trail from Myre-Big Island State Park to Hayward.

Bennett said though a bonding bill was passed last year, this year is considered a bonding year. There are about $4 billion in requests Bennett said typically get reduced to less than $1 billion in a final package.

Though she does not think all local projects will be included in this year’s bill, she said she will advocate for all of them.

Bennett said she hopes at least one local project is included in a bonding package.

“Nothing’s ever for certain until it’s signed into law,” she said.

Riverland probably has the best chance to be included in a bonding bill because of the project’s status in a Minnesota State list of construction needs.

Bennett called Blazing Star Trail work “hugely important,” a project that has been in the making for more than 20 years. She said it is financially responsible for the project to be included because of the financial investments already made on the trail.

Sparks said he supports a constitutional amendment establishing an automobile sales tax dedicated to the MnDOT highway fund to prevent transportation costs from being shifted locally.

Bennett said she expects the bonding bill to be “heavy” with infrastructure and transportation projects.

Gun legislation

A spate of mass shootings at schools across the country has sparked discussion about possible legislation to address gun violence.

Bennett and Sparks said they expect such legislation will be introduced this year.

To form an opinion on specific legislation, Bennett said she needs to evaluate specific proposals but cautioned against passing legislation that would not solve the crisis. 

Bennett, who said she wants to ensure children are safe, said a conversation between differing views needs to take place so ideas can be listened to and the proper approach can be gathered.

Sparks said he is not sure the approach the Legislature will take in the process and anticipated legislators would discuss possible measures on gun control and mental health.

He said there are good laws in place now on the issue and would be open to discussing possibly tightening laws regarding assault weapons.

Taxes, LGA funding

Bennett and Sparks said the state this year needs to ensure it is in line with the recently passed federal tax bill.

Bennett, who spoke of her support for the legislation, said there are a few groups of people in Minnesota who will see their taxes rise because of the legislation, something she said she doesn’t want to see happen.

She said the state surplus could be used to prevent people from seeing their taxes increase due to a loss of deductions.

Sparks said he needs to become more aware of the changes, noting there were items in the bill he supports.

Sparks called LGA funding “important to local communities” and said he supports increasing LGA funding to 2002 levels.

Bennett said increasing LGA funding will need to be balanced with other needs, such as ending the tax on Social Security and having more money for home and community-based services.

Education

Sparks said if the state’s budget forecast reveals a surplus and a supplemental budget is formed, an education bill will be considered.

Bennett said she anticipates there will be a small education bill and is working with Fairmont Area Schools Superintendent Joe Brown on a bill she said would allow districts providing students innovative education options to reimburse teachers outside school hours.

MNLARS

Bennett said the Legislature needs to address the problems centering around the Minnesota Licensing and Registration program, a $93 million vehicle licensing and registration system that has encountered problems since it was introduced. Gov. Mark Dayton has requested more than $40 million in additional funding to address the program’s problems.

“It’s a mess, and we need to look at it,” Bennett said, adding employees who spent overtime hours working on the system have not been reimbursed.

She is co-authoring two bills ensuring local DMV offices would be reimbursed for the overtime hours.