GOOD MORNING IT IS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH, 2023 AND WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT. TODAY WE WILL FIRST TAKE UP SENATE FILE 73 WHICH WE WERE WORKING ON LAST WEEK AND SEN. PORT IS HERE AGAIN TO DISCUSS RESUME DISCUSSION ON THE BILL. WE WERE AT THE POINT OF QUESTIONS AND AMENDMENTS AND SEN. PORT DID YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS YOU WANT TO MAKE AS WE GET STARTED. KNOW JUST THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HAVE THE FULL DISCUSSION ON THIS I APPRECIATE IT I THINK WE ARE WAITING FOR A COUPLE OF AMENDMENTS FROM ME THAT ARE BEING PRINTED NOW.
WE CAN GO BACK TO THE CONVERSATIONS WE WERE HAVING BEFORE. APPARENTLY WE HAVE THE AMENDMENTS HERE NOW THOSE ARE AVAILABLE DO YOU WANT TO START WITH THOSE. SEN. ABELER HAD AN AMENDMENT. DO YOU HAVE COPIES. I DO NO. WHEN YOU HAVE COPIES THEN IF YOU COULD LET ME KNOW WHICH ONE ONE YOU WOULD LIKE TO OFFER FIRST. SEN. PORT. MME. CHAIR IF WE CAN MOVE THE A71 FIRST. SEN. MANN WILL MOVE THE A71 AMENDMENT. IT IS BEING PASSED OUT. SEN. PORT TO YOUR AMENDMENT. THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE AMENDMENT LAST WEEK WHEN WE MET WE ADDED RECOVERY TO THE PORTION OF THE BILL IN PREVENTION TREATMENT AND RECOVERY AND RECOVERY WAS MISSED ON ONE LINE SO THIS ADDS IN THE RECOVERY PORTION THAT WAS MISSED ON THAT LINE. MEMBERS ANY QUESTIONS ON THE A71 AMENDMENT? SEEING NO QUESTIONS ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT PLEASE SAY AYE, THOSE OPPOSED THE MOTION DOES PREVAIL THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
SEN. PORT DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER AMENDMENT. YES IF WE CAN MOVE THE A73 AMENDMENT. SEN. MANN WILL YOU MOVE THE AMENDMENT PLEASE. SO MOVED. THE AMENDMENT IS BEING PASSED OUT THE A73. SEN. PORT CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE AMENDMENT. YES THANK YOU MME. CHAIR THIS IS AN AMENDMENT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON WITH NAMI TO ADDRESS A NUMBER OF CONCERNS THEY HAVE IN THE BILL. IT DOES A COUPLE OF THINGS, FIRST IT COLLECTS DATA FROM STATE COURTS AND HOSPITALS ON THE UTILIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WE ARE GATHERING THE INFORMATION TO LEARN ABOUT THE INCREASE OF VISITS AND THE SERVICES REQUIRED AND OBTAINS A SUMMARY SO WE ARE MAKING SURE WE ARE COLLECTING THE DATA TO FIND OUT IF THERE ARE INCREASES IN MINNESOTA.
IT ALSO ADDS HILD WELFARE WORKERS TO A PORTION OF THE BILL I WILL SKIP OVER THAT FOR A MOMENT WHILE WE PULL THAT UP. IT REQUIRES CANNABIS FLOWER AND CANNABINOID PRODUCTS MUST BE INACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN AND STORED AWAY FROM FOOD PRODUCTS WARNING LABELS LIKE THAT INSERTS THE COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES TO DEVELOP THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE UNDER TREATMENT RATHER THAN THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. WE WILL ADOPT EVIDENCE-BASED CULTURALLY INFORMED AND RESPONSIVE TREATMENTS AND SERVICES THAT FUNDS ARE USED TO PROMOTE THE EXPANSION OF AND RECOVERY SPECIALISTS WHICH IS A PARTICULAR PIECE WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY THAT WE HAVE FOUND IN ALL OF THE RESEARCH IN THE OTHER STATES SORT OF PEER-TO-PEER EDUCATION IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE BOTH IN PREVENTING FIRST USE AND ALSO THROUGH RECOVERY.
THE MORE SUPPORT YOU HAVE FROM YOUR P ARE NETWORK THE MORE YOU ARE ABLE TO GET ACCURATE INFORMATION FROM YOUR P ARE NETWORK THE MORE USEFUL IT IS THE MORE IT STICKS AND ACTUALLY CURBS BEHAVIOR. THAT IS A PIECE WE WANTED TO BUILD OUT IN THIS, THE FINAL BIG THING THAT THIS DOES IS IT DELETES THE SUBSTANCE USE ADVISORY COUNCIL THAT'S CREATED IN THE BILL AND INSTEAD POINTS BACK TO SUBSTANCE USE AND OPIOID COUNSEL THAT THE GOVERNOR ALREADY HAS WE DISCUSSED THAT A BIT LAST WEEK AND IN TALKING WITH DHS AND THE GOV.'S OFFICE AND WITH TREATMENT AND RECOVERY EXPERTS THEY SAY THIS WOULD BE A DUPLICATE OF COUNCIL AND THAT COUNSEL ACTUALLY IS ALREADY DOING WORK ACROSS THE STATE AND THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE IT POINT DIRECTLY TO THAT COUNSEL.
MEMBERS ANY QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDMENT? SEEING NO QUESTIONS ON THE A73 AMENDMENT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, ANY OPPOSED, THE MOTION IS ADOPTED THE MOTION PASSES AND THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. THE FINAL ONE I WILL OFFER MME. CHAIR IS THE A72. SEN. MANN WOULD YOU OFFER THE A72 AMENDMENT. SO MOVED. THE A72 AMENDMENT IS BEING PASSED OUT. SEN. PORT PLEASE DESCRIBE THE AMENDMENT. THIS ADDS INTO THE SORT OF LIST OF WARNINGS THAT NEED TO BE DEVELOPED BY THE OFFICE A PARTICULAR WARNING LABEL REQUIRING REGARDING THE EFFECTS OF USE OF CANNABIS FLOWER AND CANNABINOID PRODUCTS FOR PERSONS 25 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER THIS IS A PORTION WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THROUGHOUT TESTIMONY HERE AND THERE ARE SEVERAL PLACES IN THE BILL WHERE WE HAVE PEER-TO-PEER EDUCATION WHERE WE HAVE PUBLIC SERVICE EDUCATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT WE ARE ALSO ADDING THE WARNING LABEL.
MEMBERS ANY QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDMENT? SEEING NO QUESTIONS ON THE A72 AMENDMENT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE, ANY OPPOSED, THE MOTION DOES PASS IN THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. ANY FURTHER AMENDMENTS. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO MOVE THANK YOU. MOVING TO MEMBER AMENDMENTS ARE THERE ANY FURTHER AMENDMENTS SEN. ABELER. THANKS MME. CHAIR I KNOW YOU HAVE A NEW COPY AVAILABLE I DON'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER BUT IT'S ONE TO CHANGE THE AGE FROM AGE 21 UP TO 25. 25. I SEE COUNSEL HAS THE AMENDMENT OR YOU DO NOT. MME. CHAIR IT IS THE A60 THREE AMENDMENT. THREE AMENDMENT. I WILL MOVE THE AMENDMENT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED A COPY EVERYWHERE IT SAYS AGE 21 IT 21 IT WOULD CHANGE TO AGE 25 25 THERE'S A BUNCH OF CITATIONS BUT THE REST OF THE BILL STAYS THE SAME. I WILL MOVE THE AMENDMENT AND THEN OFFER A COMMENT. SEN. ABELER MOVES THE A60 THREE AMENDMENT SEN. PORT ANY COMMENTS.
THANK YOU MME. CHAIR I ASK MEMBERS TO VOTE NO ON THIS AS AS A COUNTRY WE HAVE AGREED THE AGE OF 21 YOU ARE ADULTS AND WE ARE PROVIDING AMPLE EDUCATION SPECIFICALLY TO THE KINDS OF EDUCATION IN THIS BILL THAT WE ARE FOUND THROUGH STUDIES IN OTHER STATES HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE TO GET THE INFORMATION TO YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE DANGERS. AT SOME POINT THEY ARE ADULTS AND WE HAVE TO TRUST THEY WILL TAKE THE INFORMATION AND USE IT TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES.
ALSO I WOULD ADD ALCOHOL HAS ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN NO ONE IS CALLING TO MOVE THE LEGAL AGE OF DRINKING UP TO AGE 25 BRAIN DEVELOPMENT 25 BRAIN DEVELOPMENT BEYOND BRAIN DEVELOPING BOTH ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY STRONGER HEALTH CONCERNS AND WE ARE NOT SORT OF SINGLING THEM OUT IN THAT WAY MY BIGGEST ARGUMENT IS THIS BILL IS BUILT ON THE PREMISE THAT PROHIBITION HAS NOT WORKED IT IS A FAILED SYSTEM THAT IS NOT KEPT CANNABIS OUT OF THE HANDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE PAID A VERY HIGH COST FOR THAT. IF OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE AGE OF 21 TO AGE 25 NOT USE 25 NOT USE CANNABIS WHY WOULD WE FOCUS ON FAILED PROHIBITION SYSTEM THAT IS NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE IN DOING THAT SO FAR INSTEAD WE SHOULD FOCUS ON THE THINGS WE KNOW THAT WORK WHICH IS PEER-TO-PEER EDUCATION WHICH IS GETTING PUBLIC SERVICE EDUCATION OUT THERE WHICH IS WORKING THROUGH THE SYSTEMS THAT WE KNOW CAN BE EFFECTIVE.
IF WE WERE TO RAISE THE AGE TO 25 WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE ILLICIT MARKET TO TARGET THEM IN OUR GOAL IN THIS BILL IS TO WORK AND USE THE BEST PRACTICES WE HAVE ACROSS OTHER STATES TO STAMP OUT THE ILLICIT MARKET AND THIS WOULD BE SHINING A SPOTLIGHT TO THEM TO TARGET OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SO FOR THAT REASON I ASK FOR A NO VOTE. MEMBERS ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS ON THE AMENDMENT SEN. ABELER. I WON'T BELABOR THIS WE DISCUSSED THIS A LITTLE BEFORE, I AGREE YOU WANT TO PROTECT THE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE ILLICIT MARKET BUT I ALSO DON'T AGREE THAT WE NEED TO NEGLECT EVERY SCIENTIFIC OPINION ABOUT THE HARM OF THIS PARTICULAR PRODUCT EVEN IN YOUR LAST AMENDMENT WARNING LABEL ABOUT UNDER AGE 25 WHEN IT'S AGE 21 WITH A 21 WITH A WARNING LABEL THE KIDS ARE GOING TO BLOW THIS WARNING UP AND HANGING ON THE WALL IN THEIR DORM ROOM BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE FUNNY BECAUSE IT'S NO BIG DEAL WE HEARD THE GOOD GOV. VENTURA SAY IF YOU'RE ABLE TO BE IN THE MILITARY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SMOKE A JOINT IT'S JUST THAT CASUAL NO BIG DEAL.
I TALKED TO SOME DRUG PEOPLE THIS MORNING THE GROWTH IN DRUG TREATMENT THESE DAYS THE FAST GROWTH IS IN MARIJUANA IN THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN WE MAKE IT LEGAL THERE WILL BE MORE IN YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT YOU TALKED ABOUT MORE TREATMENT YOU TALKED ABOUT FIRST EPISODE OF CYCLE UNTIL YOU'RE 25 I 25 I DON'T CARE IF WE VISIT WE HAVE A SMOKING THINK WE CAN BUY CIGARETTES WHEN YOU'RE 21 BUT 21 BUT YOU CAN SMOKE THEM WHEN YOU'RE 18 THAT IS GOOFY BUT ACTUALLY SOMEONE THOUGHT IT MADE SENSE AND MAYBE IT'S HELPING REDUCE SMOKING. I BUT I CAN TELL YOU PASSING THIS BILL AT AGE 21 WILL HARM PEOPLE PASSING THIS BILL AT AGE 21 21 WILL MAKE MORE CASES OF THE MOM WHO SAT THERE ABOUT HER SON WITH PSYCHOSIS WHO AT AGE 22 22 WHO ACTUALLY KILLED HIMSELF PASSING THIS BILL AT AGE 21 21 WILL CAUSE HARM AND I CAN'T REMEMBER A TIME IN THIS BODY WHEN WE PASSED A BILL THAT WE KNOW WOULD CAUSE HARM AND THAT'S WHY URGE MEMBERS TO VOTE FOR AGE 25 AND PUT A BIG STAR ON THEIR IT'S NOT MY GOAL TO DERAIL THE BILL BUT IT'S MY GOAL TO MAKE THE BILL WE PASSED BE ONE THAT YOU CAN HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE IN THAT PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW THE LAW WILL NOT DO HARM THAT'S ALL I HAVE MME.
CHAIR. SEN. MANN. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH QUITE A BIT AS YOU KNOW AND SO I WAS LEANING TOWARDS THIS ENTIRE TIME VOTING FOR THE AGE INCREASE HOWEVER LAST NIGHT I SPOKE TO SEVERAL PEOPLE INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT FELLOW PHYSICIANS, PEOPLE FROM COLORADO I MADE A WHOLE NIGHT OF IT IT WAS WONDERFUL. A COUPLE OF THINGS STOOD OUT IN MY MIND ONE IS ONE IS THIS NOTION THAT WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE DECIDED THAT 21 21 MAKES YOU AN ADULT I DON'T KNOW IF I AGREE NECESSARILY I REMEMBER BEING 21 AND BEING A COMPLETE IDIOT BUT THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE DECIDED COLLECTIVELY AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE SHOULD SMOKE MARIJUANA AT THAT YOUNG AGE I DON'T THINK PEOPLE SHOULD DRINK ALCOHOL AT 21 BUT AGAIN 21 BUT AGAIN WE HAVE DECIDED THAT WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAKE HER OWN CHOICES AT AGE 21.
THE OTHER THING IS IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION IF WE TAKE THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE AND SAY YOU CANNOT DO THIS THERE ALREADY DOING IT RIGHT, 21-YEAR-OLDS THROUGH 25 THERE 25 THERE ALREADY USING IF THEY'RE GOING TO USE MARIJUANA THERE ALREADY USING MARIJUANA IN THE STATES THAT HAVE LEGALIZED IT THE USE FOR THAT AGE GROUP 21 THROUGH 25 DID NOT 25 DID NOT INCREASE IN THAT STUCK OUT TO ME QUITE A BIT WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT AGE GROUP THERE ABLE TO GET A LEGAL PRODUCT THAT IS REGULATED INSTEAD OF GETTING FENTANYL LACED PRODUCTS ON THE STREET. SO WHILE I STILL IS DIFFICULT FOR ME BECAUSE IT WORK IN THE ER I HAVE A VERY SKEWED VISION OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S ALCOHOL USE AND DRUG USE I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE OTHER SIDE AND I THINK IF WE WANT TO DO OUR BEST TO NOT ALIENATE PEOPLE TO NOT PUT FIRE UNDER AN ILLEGAL MARKET TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE GETTING A SAFER PRODUCT, THEN I THINK VOTING FOR KEEPING AT AGE 21 IS THE 21 IS THE RIGHT DECISION.
THANK YOU SEN. MANN. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? WE WILL MOVE TO A VOTE AND ON THE A60 THREE AMENDMENT OFFERED THREE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY SEN. ABELER ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, THOSE OPPOSED, THE MOTION DOES NOT PREVAIL THE AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION THAT THIS IS STILL AN IMPORTANT TOPIC THANK YOU. THANK YOU SEN. ABELER. ANY OTHER AMENDMENTS MEMBERS HAVE? SEN.
LIESKE. I KNOW SEN. HOFFMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT CARRYING THIS BUT I ALSO OFFERED TO CARRY IT IF HE WASN'T HERE I WOULD MOVE THE A70 AMENDMENT. SEN. LIESKE MOVES THE A70 AMENDMENT THAT WILL BE PASSED OUT. SEN. LIESKE CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE AMENDMENT. I WILL DO THE BEST I CAN. THE AMENDMENT BASICALLY DESCRIBES A STUDY WILL BE DONE ON THE RESERVATIONS IN ORDER TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY INCREASES IN USE OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE I BELIEVE THAT'S THE BASICS OF WHAT THIS AMENDMENT WILL TRY TO DO. SEN. PORT ANY RESPONSE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR SEN. LIESKE I'M WONDERING HAS THERE BEEN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE TRIBES ON THIS I'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH THEM QUITE A LOT AND HAVE NOT HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS PIECE. SEN. LIESKE. MME. CHAIR YES AS FAR AS I KNOW THEY HAVE SEN.
GREEN WAS IN CONVERSATION WITH THE TRIBES AND HE OFFERED THIS AS A POSSIBLE AMENDMENT FOR THIS COMMITTEE SO SINCE HE'S NOT SITTING ON IT HE ASKED ME AND SEN. HOFFMAN TO LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF CARRYING THIS FORWARD TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE. SEN. PORT. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AT THIS POINT I WOULD ASK FOR A NO VOTE ON THIS I'M NOT SURE THIS IS THE PLACE TO DO RESEARCH ON THE NUMBER OF MURDERS AND DEATH RATES ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING IN MY MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE TRIBES I HAVE NOT HEARD THIS AT ALL SO I WOULD ASK FOR A NO VOTE. SEN. ABELER. THANKS MME. CHAIR AND SEN. PORT IS THIS BILL GOING TO THE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE NEXT.
IT IS. ADAM CHAIR I WOULD HAVE A SUGGESTION NONE OF US HAVE SEEN THIS ADAM UP THIS IS A GOOD AMENDMENT OR NOT, HOW COULD SEN. HOFFMAN NOT HAVE A GOOD AMENDMENT THAT SEEMS TO BE IMPOSSIBLE SINCE WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE COMMITTEE NOW THAT THE AMENDMENT IS OUT THERE SEEMS PEOPLE CAN REACT TO IT SO MAYBE YOU WANT TO CONSIDER WAITING ON THIS. THANK YOU AND SEN. LIESKE. MANAGER I WILL WITHDRAW THE AMENDMENT FOR NOW AND WILL LET IT HAVE CONSIDERATION IN THE NEXT COMMITTEE. THANK YOU SEN. LIESKE WITHDRAWS THE A70 AMENDMENT I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION WITH THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED AND SEN. PORT AND DISCUSS WHETHER THE STATISTICS CAPTURING THE STATISTICS WOULD BE SOMETHING WOULD BE MEANINGFUL AND OF INTEREST. ANY OTHER AMENDMENTS? MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE ANY FINAL COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION BEFORE WE GO TO THE AUTHOR SEN. UTKE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR I HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO GO THROUGH WITH THE AUTHOR TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND I WILL TAKE THEM AS I HAVE THEM TO AND GO FORWARD.
UNDER THE DEFINITIONS IN THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO COME UP IN VARIOUS POINTS THROUGHOUT THE BILL BUT IT JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE WAY I HAVE THEM YOU HAVE BONA FIDE LABOR ORGANIZATION AND YOU HIGHLIGHT THAT WHY? IT APPEARS YOU ARE SPECIFICALLY SAYING ALL EMPLOYEES ARE MEMBERS OF AN ORGANIZED LABOR UNIT IS THAT CORRECT AND WHITE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AND SEN. UTKE YES AS WE ARE SETTING UP THIS NEW INDUSTRY WE WANT TO ENSURE IT HAS GOOD PAYING GOOD BENEFIT JOBS FOR MINNESOTANS THIS BILL WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSED IN LENGTH IN THE LABOR COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY I BELIEVE DOES REQUIRE A LABOR PEACE AGREEMENT.
SEN. UTKE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR MY ONLY COMMENT THERE AND I WOULD FOLLOW TO SEE WHAT WE SEE COME OUT OF THE JOBS COMMITTEE OR LABOR COMMITTEE YOU SAID BUT THE FACT THAT THERE AN ORGANIZED LABOR UNIT DOES NOT YOU MENTIONED GOOD PAY AND BENEFITS, THAT DOESN'T SIGNIFY THAT IS THE CASE IT COULD BE THE OTHER WAY TOO. I WILL WAIT TO SEE WHAT ADDITIONAL COMES OUT I HAPPEN TO SEE THAT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.
ON PAGE 6 PAGE 6 DIVISION OF SOCIAL EQUITY PROMOTES DEVELOPMENT STABILITY AND SAFETY IN COMMUNITIES THAT EXPERIENCED AT THIS PROPORTIONATE NEGATIVE IMPACT FROM CANNABIS PROHIBITION AND USAGE. I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO COME UP HERE LATER AGAIN IN THE BILL, WHY WOULD NOT HAVING LEGALIZED CANNABIS BE A PROBLEM? I DON'T SEE WHERE WE ARE TARGETING AND SING WE HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THAT. WE ARE GOING TO SEE AS WE GO FURTHER INTO THE BILL THE FACT THAT IT'S ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT WERE GOING TO MEET MORE SU D SERVICES WE WILL NEED MORE CHALLENGES WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WE WILL HAVE ALL THESE PROBLEMS JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS A PROBLEM NOT HAVING IT. SEN. PORT. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AND SEN. UTKE WHAT THIS IS REALLY GETTING AT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IT'S TRUE IN MINNESOTA PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WHITE PEOPLE USE CANNABIS AT ROUGHLY THE SAME RATES NEARLY IDENTICAL RATES YET THEY ARE PROSECUTED AT SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT RATES OVER FOUR – ONE THAT ONE THAT BLACK PEOPLE ARE PROSECUTED FOR HAVING CANNABIS FOR USING CANNABIS AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE THAN WHITE PEOPLE AND WHAT THIS GETS AT IS THERE HAS BEEN A DISCRIMINATORY COST TO CANNABIS PROHIBITION THAT IS AFFECTED CERTAIN COMMUNITIES MORE THAN OTHERS AND WHAT THIS IS TRYING TO GET OUT IS IF YOU ARE PART OF A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN TARGETED AND PAID A MUCH HIGHER COST THAN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY THAT WE WANT TO ENSURE AS CANNABIS IS NO LONGER PROHIBITED AND HAS A LEGAL MARKET IS SETTING UP AND I'M SURE YOU'LL GET THE TO THIS IN YOUR QUESTIONS THAT YOU WILL HAVE A STAKE YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET INTO THIS INDUSTRY THAT HAS CAUSED SUCH DRASTIC HARM THROUGH PARTICULARLY BLACK MINNESOTAN COMMUNITIES.
SEN. UTKE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR I THINK THE ANSWER KIND OF GOT AWAY FROM WHAT THIS SECTION WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS IS JUST TALKING ABOUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT WASN'T AVAILABLE WE ARE GOING INTO THE LEGAL SIDE MORE OF ARRESTS AND SUCH I DON'T SEE A CONNECTION THERE TO TALK ABOUT IT PROTECTS THE STATE'S INTERESTS. WHY WOULD THAT BE THE CASE IT BASICALLY FROM WHAT I AM SEEING THE ORGANIZED LABOR EMPLOYEE GROUP THAT WOULD BE WORKING THERE IS NOT ALLOWED TO PICK IT OR HAVE WORK STOPPAGE ETC. AROUND THE CANNABIS BUSINESS BUT WHY DOES THAT PROTECT THE STATES INTEREST. SEN. PORT. MME. CHAIR CAN INTRODUCE MY EXPERT AS WELL AND HAVE HER TAKE THIS QUESTION. PLEA STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND ANSWER THE QUESTION.E CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR FOR MN IS READY THE STATES LARGEST AND MOST DIVERSE COALITION OF CANNABIS POLICY STAKEHOLDERS. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS TO DO MUCH OF THE POLICY RESEARCH AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT TOWARDS MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BILL. MME. CHAIR AND SEN. UTKE THE LABOR PEACE AGREEMENT PROVISION DOESN'T REQUIRE ENTIRETY OF THE WORKFORCE IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY BE UNIONIZED BUT IT REQUIRES LABOR PEACE AGREEMENTS BECAUSE SINCE ONE OF THE MAJOR PUBLIC POLICY GOALS OF THIS BILL IS TO ELIMINATE THE ILLICIT MARKET AND TO ENSURE THERE'S ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF WELL-REGULATED PRODUCT THAT IS SAFE AND AVAILABLE TO CONS CONSUMERS, THE CONCERN FROM THE STATE INTEREST PERSPECTIVE WITH HAVING A LABOR ISSUE THAT INTERFERES WITH SUPPLY IS THAT WOULD THEN PUSH CONSUMERS TO PURCHASING THEIR PRODUCTS FROM AN ILLICIT MARKET WHERE THEY ARE LESS SAFE AND UNREGULATED THE LABOR PEACE AGREEMENT ARE NOT UNCOMMON IN SITUATIONS LIKE THAT WHERE THERE'S ISSUES OF HEALTH AND SAFETY F PUBLIC INTEREST THAT MAY BE DISRUPTED OR COMPROMISED BECAUSE OF A LABOR DISPUTE.
SEN. UTKE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR I GUESS A LITTLE BIT OF A COMMENT THE FACT THAT THIS WOULD IT WAS BROUGHT UP I WILL COMMENT ON THE ILLICIT MARKET IS GOING TO GO AWAY THAT IS FROM EVERYTHING I HAVE SEEN HERE READING ETC. OR THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS IT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT'S A PIPE DREAM. IN SOME CASES IT GROWS BECAUSE WE EXPOSE YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE PRODUCT MAYBE THROUGH A LEGAL PURCHASE BUT IT LEADS TO THE ILLICIT MARKET. I DON'T SEE THAT AGAIN AS ANYTHING THAT PERTAINS TO CONTROLLING AND REDUCING IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS ONLY GOING TO EXPAND THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT. I GET UP TO PAGE PAGE 15 AND YOU HAVE A MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM IT TALKS ABOUT THE DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THIS IS ALL BEING MOVED PARTICULARLY THE MEDICAL CANNABIS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO THIS NEW OFFICE. HOW IS THAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THIS NEW OFFICE DO YOU SEE THAT WORKING, PARTICULARLY THE MEDICAL CANNABIS IS STILL SO-CALLED HEALTH PRODUCT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER WHERE DO YOU SEE THAT HOW DO YOU SEE THAT WORKING.
THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AND SEN. UTKE, THERE ARE MULTIPLE PROVISIONS IN THE BILL PARTICULARLY AS IT GETS TO THE MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM WHERE THEY WORK IN TANDEM WITH EACH OTHER THEY WILL WORK TOGETHER HOWEVER PUTTING IT ALL UNDER ONE FOR THE LICENSING FOR REGULATIONS AND FOR TESTING FOR ALL OF THOSE PIECES, IT MAKES MORE SENSE THAN LEAVING THAT SORT OF OFF TO THE SIDE UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. WE HAVE FOLKS FROM DHS HERE TODAY IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON THAT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK THEM. SEN. UTKE. MME. CHAIR I THINK WE SHOULD THIS IS THE HEALTH COMMITTEE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR THAT. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS HERE, WELCOME TO THE COMMITTEE PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM AT THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THANK YOU MME. CHAIR. SEN. UTKE YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR MY QUESTION WAS WE SEE EVERYTHING MOVING IT'S ESTABLISHING ON THE RECREATIONAL SIDE A NEW OFFICE FOR CANNABIS BUT IT'S ALSO BRINGING ALONG THE MEDICAL CANNABIS WHICH WOULD HAVE A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP AS FAR AS IT'S PART OF HEALTHCARE AND IT'S BEING MOVED OVER.
HOW DO YOU SEE MY QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE IT'S STILL PRESCRIBED AS A HEALTH PRODUCT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NEW OFFICE AND THE CURRENT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WILL YOU STILL BE INVOLVED OR HOW DO YOU SEE THAT IT'S ALL KINDA PROPOSED IT STILL ON PAPER HOW DO YOU READ THAT. MISS FOCUS. MME. CHAIR AND SEN. UTKE THE BILL MAINTAINS THE MEDICAL PROGRAM THE DEFINITIONS OF MEDICAL CANNABIS PRODUCTS IT MAINTAINS THE STRUCTURE OF THE OFFICE OF MEDICAL CANNABIS AS IT OPERATES TODAY IT DOES CREATE NEW LICENSE CATEGORIES FOR THE MANUFACTURERS BUT LARGELY THE OFFICE WILL MAINTAIN THE WAY THAT IT OPERATES TODAY.
THE WAY WE OPERATE AS AN AGENCY NOW IS WE HAVE VERY STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER AGENCIES FOR EXAMPLE THE MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM HAS STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NOW AND WE LOOK TO THEM FOR THEIR EXPERTISE ON CULTIVATION AND PESTICIDE USE AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE OUT OF THE WHEELHOUSE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND I WOULD IMAGINE A SIMILAR RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER AGENCIES AS NEEDED WOULD BE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT THEY WOULD TAP INTO OTHER AREAS OF EXPERTISE WITH INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS OR IN INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS WERE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AS NEEDED.
SEN. UTKE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. MME. CHAIR IF I COULD THERE IS IN THAT SAME AREA WE TALK ABOUT MAKING LOANS AND GRANTS FOR THESE PROGRAMS. WHAT TYPE OF MONEY OR AMOUNTS DO YOU SEE AS BEING USED IN LOANS AND GRANTS BECAUSE TO ME I WILL THROW IT OUT THERE SO YOU CAN RESPOND TO IT TO LET US KNOW WHAT THESE LOANS AND GRANTS WILL END UP DOING TO ME IT'S BRINGING CANNABIS DISPENSARY TO A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU.
WHAT IS THE IDEA BEHIND THIS AND HOW BIG WILL IT BE. SEN. PORT. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AND SEN. UTKE, THERE ARE NOT FISCAL NUMBERS IN THIS BILL YET WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE FISCAL NOTES THOSE WILL BE ADDED BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THE PROGRAMS IS THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY TO HELP PEOPLE GET INTO A BRAND-NEW INDUSTRY WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO SET UP A ROBUST INDUSTRY WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE ONE OR TWO SORT OF TWO SORT OF HUGE CONGLOMERATES WHO HAVE THE WHOLE MARKET OUR GOAL WAS SETTING UP THESE PROGRAMS BOTH FOR GROWERS TO GET BUSINESS EXPERTISE TO OPEN WHICHEVER LEVEL OF LICENSING YOU HAVE TO DO EDUCATION AROUND THAT.
THE IDEA IS TO HELP PEOPLE AND THERE IS THE SOCIAL EQUITY COMPONENT TO THIS AS WELL FROM COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN HARMED AND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET INTO THIS INDUSTRY TO BE ABLE TO ENTER AT A SMALLER MINNESOTA-BASED BUSINESSES WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO AVOID IS HAVING ONE OR TWO OF THE BIG GUYS FROM OUT-OF-STATE COME IN AND ON THE WHOLE MARKET WE WANT TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MINNESOTANS TO RUN THIS MARKET IN SMALL BUSINESSES IN WAYS THAT CAN GROW BUT DO NOT RELY ON ONE OR TWO VERY LARGE TWO VERY LARGE STAKEHOLDERS. SEN. UTKE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AND ONE ONE OF MY QUESTIONS LATER ON BECAUSE THAT'S AT THE END OF THE BILL WILL BE WHAT WE HEARD ABOUT A FISCAL NOTE, WE ARE NINE WEEKS INTO SESSION DEFINITELY HAD THIS BILL AVAILABLE PRIOR TO SESSION, DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN WE ARE GOING TO SEE THESE NUMBERS.
THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AND SEN. UTKE I DO NOT I KNOW WE GOT ANOTHER PORTION OF IT WAS FILLED OUT BUT WE ARE STILL WAITING ON THE FULL FISCAL N NOTE. SEN. UTKE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR I SEE THINGS I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED AS FAR AS SOME OF THE STUDIES THAT ARE REQUIRED DRIVING IMPAIRED AND SUCH, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO SPEND A WHOLE LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT ON THE STUDIES THE INFORMATION IS ALREADY THERE. AS AN EXAMPLE I KNOW IN MY HOME COUNTY THIS IS PROBABLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AT LEAST THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WE NO LONGER HOUSE INMATES FROM OTHER COUNTIES BECAUSE WE HAVE THE JAIL FULL ON OUR OWN AND WE HAVE A NEW OR WHAT SHOULD BE A LARGE JAIL IS WAY MORE THAN WE NEEDED AND HUBBARD COUNTY BUT IT'S PRETTY MUCH AT CAPACITY AND THEY SAID 85% OF THOSE PEOPLE IN JAIL WERE BECAUSE OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS AND THAT'S WHY AS I GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE THING IT SO CONCERNING THAT WE ARE ALREADY TAPPING OUT OUR JAILS ARE PUBLIC SAFETY THINGS THEY ARE AT CAPACITY AND WE ARE GOING TO ADD MORE TO THEIR WORKLOAD.
YOU KNOW I CHUCKLE AT THE FACT WE HAVE TO REPLACE ALL OUR DRUG DOGS ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE CRAZY THE FACT WE ARE GOING TO LOOK TO CHANGE ALL THIS I HAVE A COUPLE MORE HERE. WE TALKED AND IT WAS PART OF THE AMENDMENTS THE LABELS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON THESE PRODUCTS, DO WE THINK PEOPLE WILL THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE WE SEE IT ALREADY IN OUR CURRENT SUBSTANCES THERE ARE MORE AFTER IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THEIR ENJOYMENT OR THEIR FUN WHATEVER THE NOT GOING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT SAYS A CERTAIN THING OR NOT.
SCHOOL PROGRAMS I HAVE JUMPED AHEAD ON PAGE 185 AND IT TALKS ABOUT THE SCHOOLS STARTING IN 2026 AND 2027 THAT 2027 THAT THEY NEED TO START THEY MUST IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM ON CANNABIS USE AND SUBSTANCE USE FOR STUDENTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL. ONCE AGAIN IT'S SHOWING HOW BAD THIS IS BUT THE BIG THING IS IT'S A MANDATE TO THE SCHOOLS IS ONE ONE MORE THING THAT'S ON THEIR PLATE THEY ARE TRYING TO EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS AND NOW HOW BIG A DEAL DO YOU ENVISION IS THIS SOMETHING I HAVE PUT OUT SOME FLYERS AND TALK ABOUT IT ONCE OR TWICE DURING THE YEAR OR TWO THINK THIS IS MORE PART OF A CLASS THAT WILL TAKE MORE EMPHASIS TO DRIVE HOME WHAT THIS PRODUCT WILL DO IN THE AFFECTED COULD HAVE ON YOUNG PEOPLE.
THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AND SEN. UTKE AS IS ON PAGE 185.2 IT LAYS OUT THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION MUST PUT TOGETHER A MODEL PROGRAM I AM NOT A TEACHER, I AM NOT AN SPURRED IN THAT AREA AND WE DO HAVE EXPERTS AND THAT'S WHY WE REFER TO THEM IN THIS BILL 12 PUT 12 PUT TOGETHER THAT PROGRAM. I SHOULDN'T BE THE ONE SORT OF ONE SORT OF WRITING THAT PROGRAM BECAUSE I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN EDUCATION THAT'S WHY WE EFER IN THE BILL TO THE DEPARTMENT TO HELP PUT TOGETHER A MODEL PROGRAM THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN USE.
SEN. UTKE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR NOW I AM BACK TO THE END OF ARTICLE 6 ARTICLE 6 THERE IS A REPEALER WITH ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THREE QUARTERS OF THE PAGE OF STUFF THAT'S REPEALED. CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THERE WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THOSE WHAT ARE WE TAKING OUT OF STATUTE OR PROBABLY CHANGING STATUTE COULD YOU GIVE US A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT'S BEING REPEALED. PERHAPS COUNSEL COULD GO THROUGH SOME OF THE REPEALERS. SEN. UTKE ARE YOU SPEAKING ON PAGE 213. PAGE 213. I AM ON PAGE 213 AND PAGE 214 PAGE 214 I WAS LOOKING FOR A HIGH LEVEL WE DON'T NEED UNLESS COUNCIL AS A QUICK AND EASY ANSWER WE DON'T NEED TO GO THERE AT THIS TIME.
MME. CHAIR AND SEN. UTKE I BELIEVE THE REPEALER IS REPEALING ALL OF THE MEDICAL CANNABIS LANGUAGE AND IT WILL BE RESTATED IN STATUTE. SEN. UTKE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AND THANK YOU FOR THAT IT WAS WHAT I WAS ANTICIPATING THAT ANSWERS THAT. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR. I WAS TARGETING TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON. ANY OTHER MEMBERS WITH QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER MEMBERS WITH COMMENTS ON THE BILL AT THIS POINT? SEN. PORT SOME CLOSING THOUGHTS. I WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR ITS TIME AND ENGAGING ON THE ISSUE I THINK I WANT TO STATE FOR THE RECORD THOSE OF US WERE WORKING ON THIS BILL DO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE ARE FLIPPANTLY MOVING WITHOUT THOUGHT THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE TAKING VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE ARE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY BECAUSE DONE SIGNIFICANT HARM TO OUR COMMUNITY'S THE PROHIBITION OF CANNABIS IS DONE SIGNIFICANT HARM TO OUR COMMUNITIES WE SEE CAN TO UNDO THE HARM IS THIS WE BILL PERFECT NO, IT'S 300 PAGES 300 PAGES NOW IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CHANGES AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS AND I THINK THAT IS GOOD FOR THE BILL I THINK IT'S GOOD WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS I THINK IT'S GOOD WE CONTINUE TO TALK AND ASK QUESTIONS AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER BECAUSE OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THIS THE BEST BILL.
I DO THINK WE HAVE THINGS IN THE BILL THAT ARE TAKING THE BEST PARTS OF WHAT HAS WORKED IN OTHER STATES TO GET AT SOME OF THE CONCERNS PARTICULARLY ON THE ILLICIT MARKET WE HAVE SEEN MAJOR DROPS IN SOME STATES MONTANA 41 WENT FROM ABOUT AFTER THEY LEGALIZED 100% OF THE USE PRE-LEGALIZATION WAS THROUGH THE ILLICIT MARKET NOW OVER 80% IS THROUGH THE REGULATED MARKET THAT'S A MASSIVE DROP AND PART OF THE REASON THAT WORKED IS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE AREAS OF THE STATE THAT COULD CONTINUE PROHIBITIONS OF THE WEREN'T BLOCKS OF COUNTIES N AREAS WHERE CANNABIS WAS STILL PROHIBITED WHICH KILLED OUT MUCH OF THE ILLICIT MARKET.
WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE LESSONS FROM THE STATES WE ARE LEARNING FROM WHAT HAS WORKED IN OTHER STATES TO CURB USE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE TO STOP THE INITIAL FIRST USE WHICH IS PEER-TO-PEER EDUCATION FAR OUT SHINING EVERYTHING ELSE ABOVE AND BEYOND AND SO I DO APPRECIATE THE ENGAGEMENT AND I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH FOLKS AS THIS CONTINUES THROUGH THE PROCESS OF THINK IT'S ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE COMMITTEE STOPS NOW AND SO WE STILL A LONG WAY TO GO, AND MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATIONS AND I THINK THE COMMITTEE FOR ITS ENGAGEMENT. THANK YOU SEN. PORT I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE PUT INTO TAKING IN FEEDBACK AS YOU GO ALONG AND TAKING STEPS TO ACT ON THE FEEDBACK AND I HOPE THAT WILL CONTINUE FROM MY STANDPOINT IN THIS COMMITTEE I APPRECIATE THERE ARE A LOT OF PROACTIVE EFFORTS PLANNED REGARDING EDUCATION OF YOUTH AND EDUCATION OF ADULTS ON THE HEALTH IMPACTS AND WE CAN LEARN FROM OTHER STATES WHAT HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY HELPFUL IN THESE AREAS AND WE CAN KEEP CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVING THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE TAKING NOTE OF ANY AREAS WHERE WE ARE SEEING NEGATIVE IMPACTS AND WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THEM THROUGH MEANS IN EDUCATION AND PROGRAMS WE DEVELOP SO I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION IN THIS COMMITTEE AND APPRECIATE MEMBERS YOUR FULL DISCUSSION OF THE BILL.
SEN. MANN WOULD YOU PLEASE MAKE THE MOTION. MME. CHAIR I WOULD MOVE SENATE FILE 73 AS AMENDED BE RECOMMENDED TO PASS AND BE REFERRED TO THE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. ON THE SEN. MANN MOTION ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, THOSE OPPOSED, THE MOTION PREVAILS SENATE FILE 73 AS AMENDED DOES PASS AND WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES. THANK YOU. NOW MEMBERS WE WILL MOVE TO THE OTHER SEVEN BILLS WE HAVE ON THE SCHEDULE FOR TODAY.
THE FIRST BILL WE HAVE COMING UP NOW IS SENATE FILE 1814 WHICH 1814 WHICH IS A SEN. FATEH BILL AND SEN. MANN IS PRESENTING FOR SEN. FATEH. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR SENATE FILE 1814 APPROPRIATES $500,000 IN ONE TIME FUNDING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO DEVELOP A PUBLIC HEALTH CAMPAIGN ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND OTHER FORMS OF DEMENTIA. CURRENTLY ALZHEIMER'S IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF DEMENTIA AND ACCOUNTS FOR 60 – 80% OF DEMENTIA CASES DEMENTIA WILL WORSEN WITH TIME AND THERE IS CURRENTLY NO CURE. HOWEVER WE CAN SLOW ITS PROGRESSION AND IMPROVE PATIENT'S QUALITY OF LIFE IF IT IS DIAGNOSED EARLY. IMPORTANT PART OF THE BILL IS THE DEPARTMENT HEALTH MUST DEVELOP CULTURALLY RELEVANT MESSAGING TAILORED TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY'S INCURRING RURAL POPULACE NATIVE AND IN JESUS COMMITTEES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR REASON FOR THAT IS FOR EXAMPLE BLACK PEOPLE ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO HAVE DEMENTIA LATINOS ARE ONE AND HALF TIMES AS LIKELY THESE RACIAL DISPARITIES ARE DRIVEN BY SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND NOT BY GENETIC FACTORS. FACING THESE RACIAL DISPARITIES THE NEED FOR CULTURALLY RELEVANT MESSAGING ON AGING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
EARLY DETECTION IS SHOWN IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE BY EMPOWERING PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S OR OTHER DIMENSION TO COLLECT WITH LOVED ONES AND MEANINGFULLY PARTICIPATE IN TREATMENT PLANNING GIVES PEOPLE TIME TO TAKE PROACTIVE STEPS TO CLOTHE A PROGRESSION OF THE DISEASE AND IT SAVES THE STATE MONEY AND EARLY DIAGNOSIS DELAYS NURSING HOME PLACEMENTS THAT MME. CHAIR WE HAVE SOME TESTIFIERS. THANK YOU BEFORE YOU PROCEED PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND BEGIN YOUR TESTIMONY.
I'M TUESDAY GLOVER I WORK FOR VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA. MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CAREGIVER SUPPORT AND DEMENTIA SERVICES PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN IS A NONPROFIT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO SERVING PEOPLE IN NEED STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND BUILDING COMMUNITIES. FOR 125 125 YEARS VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA IN WISCONSIN IS OFFERED CONFERENCE OF RANGE OF INNOVATED SERVICES AND NETWORKS THAT RESPOND AND INVOLVE WITH THE NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES. IN THE PURSUIT OF ITS MISSION TO HELP PEOPLE BUILD HOPE RESILIENCE AND WELL-BEING. I'M HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT THE WORK AND SERVICES WHICH I LEAVE THE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CAREGIVER SUPPORT AND DEMENTIA SERVICES TEAM.
THE SERVICE HISTORICALLY FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH EDUCATION RELATED TO DEMENTIA OFFERING MEMORY SCREENS AND SUPPORTING CAREGIVERS. THE STRESS AND HEALTH IMPACTS AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH LONG JOURNEY OF CARING FOR SOMEONE IMPACTED BY DIMENSION OFTEN CREATES TWO OR TWO OR MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE DESPERATE IN NEED OF SUPPORT. OUR WORK SUPPORTING CAREGIVERS REVEALS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE IMPACT OF OFFERING RESPITE TO CAREGIVERS AS WAS MENTIONED DEMENTIA DISEASE OF THE BRAIN IS FATAL THIS VICIOUS DISEASE CAN AFFECT MEMORY EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DAY-TO-DAY LIVING AND DECISION-MAKING.
THOSE IMPACTED BY THE DISEASE WILL EVENTUALLY FORGET THEIR LOVED ONES NAMES FORGET WHO THEY ARE AND FORGET TO EAT. THEY WILL NEED A CAREGIVER THIS CAREGIVER JOURNEY CAN BE STRESSFUL AND SELF-CARE IS VITAL. WITHOUT PROPER SELF-CARE STATISTICS SHOW CAREGIVER WILL EXPIRE BEFORE THE CARE RECEIVER DUE TO THE DEMANDING DUTIES AND STRESSES THAT COME ALONG WITH BEING A CAREGIVER. AS A SPEAKER ON BEHALF OF OF CAREGIVERS OF MY CLIENTS AND CAREGIVERS IN THE TWIN CITY AREA CAREGIVERS RESPITE I FEEL IS IN CRISIS OUR PROGRAM KATES FOR CAREGIVER SELF-CARE OUR CLIENTS ARE SEEKING RESPITE SERVICES SO THEY ARE ABLE TO GO TO THE DOCTOR THEIR DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS GO TO THE DENTIST OR GET A HAIRCUT FOR THE AVERAGE COST FOR RESPITE SERVICES IS 30 – $40 FOR AN HOUR WITH A THREE HOUR MINIMUM THREE HOUR MINIMUM AVERAGING $120 FOR THREE HOURS MOST OF OUR CAREGIVERS ARE RETIRED AND DID NOT PLAN FINANCIALLY FOR RESPITE SERVICES.
THE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CAREGIVER SUPPORT AND DEMENTIA SERVICES PROGRAM HAS RECENTLY COLLABORATED WITH THE VOA VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA PROGRAM CALLED AMERICORPS IT'S A SENIOR PROGRAM TO RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST WITH SHORT-TERM RESPITE SERVICES FOR OUR PRESENT CLIENTS SO THEY CAN HAVE RESPITE SERVICES WHILE THEY ENJOY OUR DEMENTIA AND BRAIN EDUCATION HEALTH CLASSES. I ASKED THE STATE OF MINNESOTA CREATE MORE FUNDING FOR CAREGIVERS CARE FOR OLDER ADULTS AND AS THEY CARE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES WITH DEMENTIA INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR HOME FOR AS LONG AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN. AGAIN THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ALLOWING ME TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF CAREGIVERS VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN IN THE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CAREGIVER SUPPORT AND DEMENTIA SERVICES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW YOU HAVE THE SECOND TESTIFIER. MME. CHAIR I WILL BE RELIEVING THE TRANSLATION OF TESTIMONY I AM FROM THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION.
WELCOME TO THE COMMITTEE PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. I AM IT AT O'MEARA MONTALVO I WAS BORN IN SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO AND MOVED TO MINNESOTA WITH MY HUSBAND MY HUSBAND WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, IF I WOULD NOT OF HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE WARNING SIGNS IN SPANISH MY HUSBAND NEVER WOULD'VE RECEIVED AN EARLY DIAGNOSIS. EIGHT YEARS AGO I BEGAN PARTICIPATING IN THE WISE ELDERS PROGRAM WHERE LEARNED ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S AND PARTICIPATED IN AN ORIGINAL PLAY IN SPANISH TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF THE 10 WARNING TEN WARNING SIGNS. SADLY A FEW YEARS LATER I STARTED TO NOTICE THE SIGNS WITH MY HUSBAND WHEN I TOLD HIS PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR SHE DISMISSED MY CONCERNS IS NORMAL MEMORY LOSS CAUSED BY AGING. BECAUSE OF WHAT I HAD LEARNED I KNEW WHAT MY HUSBAND WAS EXPENSING WAS NOT NORMAL IT TOOK MORE THAN THREE YEARS OF THREE YEARS OF LISTENING GOING FROM DOCTOR TO DOCTOR AND FINALLY A FEW MONTHS AGO MY HUSBAND RECEIVED A FORMAL DIAGNOSIS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
THE EDUCATION AND RESOURCES ARE RESERVED AT THE PROGRAM GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE AND THE TOOLS I NEEDED TO CONTINUE FIGHTING UNTIL I RECEIVE THE DIAGNOSIS EVEN AS MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS DOUBTED AND MINIMIZED MY CONCERNS. MOST LATINAS IN MINNESOTA HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAVE HAD WHICH IS WHY SO MANY ARE CARING FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WITH ALZHEIMER'S WITHOUT A FORMAL DIAGNOSIS. MISSING OUT ON OPPORTUNITIES TO SLOW THE PROGRESSION AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE. MORE ALZHEIMER'S EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AND IN SPANISH ARE NEEDED TO INCREASE RATES OF EARLY DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY THANKS FOR COMING TODAY. HAVING NO OTHER TESTIFIERS MEMBERS ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BILL SEN. UTKE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR I WILL HAVE ONE QUESTION AT THE END BUT MORE OF A COMMENT TO START WITH. FOR MR. SMITH I'M GLAD TO SEE THE LANGUAGE OF THE BILL BECAUSE WE HAD CONVERSATIONS AROUND IT LAST YEAR WHERE IT SAYS IS DIRECTED AT THE GENERAL POPULATION BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S NO ONE WHO IS EXEMPT FROM SUFFERING FROM THIS HORRIFIC DISEASE BUT AS WE JUST HEARD GETTING IT EXPANDED INTO LANGUAGES IN AREAS SO WE DO COVER THE GENERAL POPULATION SO THAT IS GOOD. I LIKE THAT AND JUST AT THE END WE TALK ABOUT IT'S A HALF MILLION DOLLARS APPROPRIATION BUT THE AMOUNT THAT CAN BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE REPORT IS STILL BLANK DOES ANYONE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT NUMBER WILL GO IN THERE I AM HOPING IT'S A SMALL AS POSSIBLE SO THE VAST MAJORITY GOES TOWARDS THIS PROJECT.
MR. SMITH IF YOU HAVE AN ANSWER OR I WOULD FOR THE RECORD WE HAVE REQUESTED A FISCAL NOTE IF THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE THE ONE I THINK TO CREATE. MME. CHAIR AND SEN. UTKE THANK YOU THAT BLANK APPROPRIATION SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AROUND THE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN I THINK WE ALL AGREE WE HOPE MAJORITY OF THE RESOURCES GOES INTO THE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AND ESPECIALLY ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY'S MOST IMPACTED BY ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE SO THEY CAN HELP TO DEVELOP THE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE MESSAGING IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR DETAILS WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE FISCAL NOTE. SEN. UTKE. MME. CHAIR THANK YOU MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THIS BILL DOES IT STAY IN OUR COMMITTEE AT THIS POINT WE LAID OVER UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT THAT IS OKAY GOOD WE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN AND KEEP THAT NUMBER DOWN SO WE CAN DO GOOD WORK WITH THE REST OF IT THANK YOU.
MEMBERS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE BILL? CLOSING COMMENTS SEN. MANN. I APPRECIATE YOUR BRINGING THE BILL FORWARD I THINK AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT IS EFFECTIVE IN COMING TO BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF EARLY DETECTION AND DISCUSSING THE BENEFITS OF DOING THE WORK EARLY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ALL COMMUNITY'S HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION SO WE PRESENT YOUR BRINGING THE BILL FORWARD THE BILL WILL BE LAID OVER FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE FUTURE BILL THANK YOU. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS SENATE FILE 988 SEN. 988 SEN. BOLDON. THANK YOU SEN. BOLDON PLEASE PROCEED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AND MEMBERS THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE BILL. IT WAS BROUGHT TO ME BY THE BOARD OF DENTISTRY IT DOES TWO THINGS, IT MODIFIES THE LANGUAGE IN STATUTE IN TWO TWO PLACES WHERE IT SAYS ASSISTING AND SHOULD SAY ASSISTANT JUST A TECHNICAL CHANGE.
IT ADDS A LINE EACH LICENSEE MUST SUBMIT TO NONREFUNDABLE FIVE DOLLARS FEE $5 FEE TO REQUEST A MAILING ADDRESS LIST. THIS IS LANGUAGE THAT WAS INADVERTENTLY ACCIDENTALLY OMITTED IN THE DRAFTING PROCESS FOR THE BOARD OF DENTISTRY LARGER POLICY BILL LAST YEAR SO IT'S CORRECTING THAT OMISSION AND IT PUTS IT IN LINE WITH WHAT IS AVAILABLE FOR OTHER BOARDS AND THAT LICENSEES CAN REQUEST A LIST FROM THE BOARD CURRENTLY REQUESTERS MUST PURCHASE LICENSEE MAILING LIST FROM THE MINNESOTA BOOKSTORE BUT THE BOARD OF DENTISTRY HAS THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION AND THEY ARE ASKING FOR A $5 FEE TO DO THAT WHICH IS A SAID IS IN LINE WITH WHAT OTHER BOARDS DO SO IT'S A SIMPLE CHANGE BROUGHT IN BECAUSE IT WAS OMITTED FROM THE BILL LAST YEAR.
MEMBERS ANY, QUESTIONS ON THE BILL? SEN. ABELER. THANKS MME. CHAIR AND FIVE $5 FEE IS A TREND WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IT COST THAT MUCH TO COLLECT IT HAS THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH LOOKS FOR THEIR REPORTING I THINK THERE'S A LESSON TO BE TAKEN ACROSS GOVERNMENT IF YOU CAN DO SOMETHING FOR FIVE DOLLARS AT $5 AT THE BOARD LEVEL AND MAYBE SOME OF THE AGENCIES CAN MAKE THE BOARDS LEAN AND FRUGAL AND MORE MONEY CAN GO INTO HELPING PEOPLE THERE HAPPY WHEN WE SUGGEST THAT. THANK YOU SEN. ABELER ND I WILL CALL YOUR ATTENTION THERE IS A FISCAL NOTE WE RECEIVED AND THERE IS NO STATE COST. THIS BILL WILL PASS THIS BILL AND GO TO THE FLOOR FOR ACTION ON THE FLOOR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SEN. BOLDON YOU CAN MAKE THE MOTION. THANK YOU MME.
CHAIR I WOULD MOVE THAT THE BILL BE PASSED AND BE REFERRED TO THE FLOOR. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE, ANY OPPOSED, THE MOTION DOES PREVAIL SENATE FILE 988 988 DOES PASS AND WILL BE IT DOES PASS. THANK YOU SEN. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS SENATE FILE 1,129 SEN. HOFFMAN'S BILL. WELCOME SEN. HOFFMAN TO THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR I RAISED THE CHAIR. MEMBERS THERE IS AN A1 AMENDMENT IT IS ATTACHED I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE AMENDMENT FIRST. SEN. HOFFMAN MOVES THE A1 AMENDMENT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, ANY OPPOSED THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
THANK YOU MME. CHAIR NOW THE BILL IS IN THE FORM I WANTED TO BE IN. I WANT TO WELCOME SARAH GOODNO TO THE TABLE AS WELL THIS ADDRESSES A HUGE ISSUE PATIENT ADVOCATES AND HOSPITAL PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN RUNNING INTO WHICH IS PATIENTS WITH G TUBES HAVE BEEN RUNNING INTO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION ISSUES. PRIOR AUTHORIZATION ON EVERYTHING IS ABSOLUTELY BEYOND LIVE EXPENSE MYSELF BUT THIS ALSO ROLLS INTO THE PREFERRED DRUG LIST WITH CHILDREN WITH FEEDING TUBES ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS THE LIQUID VERSIONS OF NEEDED MEDICATIONS. THIS ONE ONE IS A LARGE ISSUE THAT'S WHY I'M HERE IN FRONT OF YOU TO DO THAT. THE DRUG FORMULARY COMMITTEE DFC IF YOU WANT TO GET ANOTHER ACRONYM IN YOUR WORLD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING MINNESOTA'S PUBLIC HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS PREFERRED DRUG LIST AND EVALUATES WHETHER DRUGS COVERED BY PUBLIC PROGRAMS SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION WHAT THE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION CRITERIA SHOULD BE. ALL WE ARE SAYING IN THIS SENATE FILE 1129 IS WE 1,129 IS WE WOULD MODIFY THE COMPOSITION OF THE DRUG FORMULARY COMMITTEE AND UPDATE THE PROCESS FOR MAKING CHANGES TO THE PREFERRED DRUG LIST TO INCREASE THE DIVERSITY A PROVIDER EXPERTISE AND SEN.
THE PATIENT EXPENSE AND INCLUDE THE TRANSPARENCY IN THE PROCESS. THERE IS THE ADDITION OF THREE CONSUMER THREE CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVES TO THAT WHICH THE COMMITTEE INCLUDING RARE DISEASE DISABILITY PEDIATRICS. WHAT I WOULD ASK IS SARAH GOODNO WHO IS THE ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC POLICY MANAGER FOR THE EPILEPSY FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA CAN SPEAK MORE ON BEHALF OF THE BILL THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AND MEMBERS. WELCOME TO THE COMMITTEE MISS GOODNO PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND AGAIN YOUR TESTIMONY. CHAIR WIKLUND AND MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE I'M SARAH GOODNO ON THE ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC POLICY MANAGER AT THE EPILEPSY FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA. I'M HERE TODAY TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF SENATE FILE 1129 1,129 WITH MODIFY THE DRUG FORMULARY COMMITTEE COMPOSITION AND MAKE CHANGES TO THE PROCESS UPDATING THE PREFERRED DRUG LIST.
THE DRUG FORMULARY COMMITTEE AND THE PREFERRED DRUG LIST HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HOW PEOPLE WHO USE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ARE ABLE TO ACCESS MEDICATIONS IN MINNESOTA. THE EPILEPSY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS ADDING ADDITIONAL CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVES AND PROVIDERS WITH EXPERTISE IN RARE DISEASE DISABILITY AND PEDIATRICS BECAUSE THAT DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT PRACTICE AND INFORMATION WILL ENCOURAGE THE COMMITTEE TO LOOK BEYOND TO THE EXPLICITLY CLINICAL DATA AND INTO THE LIVES OF PATIENTS. SUCH AS A CHILD WITH A RARE EPILEPSY DIAGNOSIS WAS PARENTS NEED TO PUT PILLS INTO THE FOOD DAILY BECAUSE THE PREFERRED DRUG LIST AND PRIOR AUTHORIZATION CRITERIA WOULDN'T COVER THE LIQUID VERSIONS OF THE MEDICINE THIS IS ONE ONE EXAMPLE WE HAVE HEARD SIMILAR STORIES WERE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OF THE LIQUID VERSION OF A MEDICATION IS REPEATEDLY DENIED FOR CHILDREN USING FEEDING TUBES WHICH COULD LEAD TO CRUSHING PILLS CLOGGING THEIR G-TUBES IN THIS CASE THE METHOD OF APPLICATION IS NOT A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE BUT COULD BE A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH THIS MAY SOUND MEDIC BUT FOR EPILEPSY AND A NUMBER OF OTHER CHRONIC CONDITIONS INGLE MISS DOES COULD HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES DIVERSE CLINICAL AND PATIENT EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE AS VOTING MEMBERS OF THE DRUG FORMULARY COMMITTEE IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING THAT THE BEST DECISIONS ARE MADE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE DECISIONS.
I ENCOURAGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR SENATE FILE 1,129 AND I BE HAPPY TO STAND FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU I BELIEVE THAT'S YOUR ONLY TESTIFIER MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS SEN. MORRISON. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR. NO QUESTION I WANTED TO THANK SEN. HOFFMAN FOR BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD PRIOR AUTHORIZATION IS A NIGHTMARE FOR PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS CAUSES HARM DELAYS CARE AND INCREASES BURNOUT. THIS IS LOW HANGING FRUIT SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ADVOCATING FOR PATIENTS THIS WAY. SEN. HOFFMAN CLOSING COMMENTS. THEY COULD DR. MORRISON AND MME. CHAIR IT IS LOW HANGING FRUIT YOU WONDER WHITE WE SET UP ALL THESE ROADBLOCKS TO GETTING TO INEFFECTIVE PATIENT CENTERED EXPERIENCE IN THIS ONE ONE IS ONE OF A SMALL LITTLE MOVEMENTS TOWARDS THAT I APPRECIATE YOU HEARING THE BILL AND PASSING IT.
SEN. ABELER. JUST A PILOT SEN. MORRISON DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF COMMENTING ABOUT IT TO ECHO SOME OF THESE PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS COST MONEY MORE MONEY THAN THEY ARE ORTH. THEY ONLY SAVE MONEY BY DENYING CARE THAT'S NECESSARY OR DELAYING IT IN SOME OF THE HARM THAT HAPPENS WITH SOME OF THESE POLICIES IS REALLY BAD I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHETHER PLANS CONTINUE DOING THIS THAT WE HAVE TO PASS A LAW TO SAY COULD YOU USE YOUR HEAD AND CARE ABOUT THE CLIENTS FOR WHAT WE PAY FOR OUR HEALTHCARE AND TO DENY SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT EVEN ARE ALMOST 100% APPROVED BY THE TIME YOU GET AROUND TO IT MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL AND ADDS TO IT MINISTRY OF COSTS. THANKS FOR THE EPILEPSY FOUNDATION AND THANK YOU SEN. HOFFMAN. TO THAT POINT MME. CHAIR BOTH DOCTORS POINTS ABSOLUTELY MY LIVED EXPERIENCE I HAD TO APOLOGIZE I FEEL LIKE I HAD TO APOLOGIZE TO MY DAUGHTER'S OWN PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN BECAUSE SHE WAS SPENDING MORE TIME ROUTING PAPERWORK THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO DO THE WORK THAT SHE WAS PAID TO DO AND DO WELL AND THEN TO APPEAL AND TO FIGHT KNOW WHAT LET'S MAKE IT RIGHTU AND DO IT RIGHT FIRST I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS AND APPRECIATE PASSING THIS BILL.
THANK YOU SEN. HOFFMAN AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD IN THE BILL NEEDS TO GO TO THE COMMITTEE AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND VETERANS. IF YOU COULD MAKE THAT MOTION TO RECOMMEND THE BILL IS PASSED AS AMENDED AND THEN BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND VETERANS. MAY I ASK MME. CHAIR A QUESTION, I WILL NEED SOME ADVICE ON WHY IS IT GOING TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS REQUESTED THE BILL THE CHAIR. SEN. ABELER. MME. CHAIR AND SEN. HOFFMAN MAYBE IT AFFECTS SEGIP THEY RUN THAT INSURANCE. MME. CHAIR TO THAT POINT I UNDERSTAND THINGS GETTING REFERRED BUT WHAT WOULD BE THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE FOR THIS BILL IF IT WAS NOT REFERRED TO THAT COMMITTEE. IT COULD BE LAID OVER I BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A FISCAL IMPACT SO WE WILL NEED TO ASK COUNSEL. COUNSEL BELIEVES THE BILL REFERS TO THE FORMULARY COMMITTEE WHICH THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE JURISDICTION OVER COMMITTEES LIKE THAT. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR FOR CLARIFYING THAT. AND CHANGING EXPIRATION DATES. THANK YOU I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT IT'S ONE OF THOSE ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS YOU WONDER WHY IT'S GOING SOMEPLACE. THAT IS PERFECTLY FINE TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THAT CAN YOU MAKE THE MOTION. I MAKE THE MOTION THAT IS AMENDED WE REFER THE BILL TO THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND VETERANS COMMITTEE. MEMBERS ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, ANY OPPOSED, THE MOTION DOES PREVAIL SENATE FILE 1129 AS 1,129 AS AMENDED IS PASSED AND IS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND VETERANS.
THANK YOU, THE NEXT BILL ON THE AGENDA IS SENATE FILE 441 WHICH IS SEN. MORRISON'S BILL. SEN. MORRISON OU HAVE SENATE FILE 441. 441. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AND MEMBERS I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT SENATE FILE 441 THIS BILL WOULD DIRECT THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH TO STUDY AND LAMENT A STATEWIDE ELECTRONIC DATABASE FOR PROVIDER ORDERS FOR LIFE-SUSTAINING TREATMENT OR PULSED FORMS IT'S A VALUABLE TOOL FOR MEDICAL PROVIDERS TO OUTLINE PATIENT TREATMENT PREFERENCES IS AND WHETHER THE TRANSFER NOT TO TRANSFER OR RESUSCITATE OR DO NOT RESUSCITATE ETC. PULSED FORMS ARE NOT FOR ALL PATIENTS THERE MEANT FOR SEVERELY ILL PATIENTS RECEIVING END-OF-LIFE TREATMENT. THEY ARE MEDICAL ORDERS NOT AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE AND ESPECIALLY OUTLINE THE TREATMENT OF PATIENT WANTS OR DOES NOT WANT. CURRENTLY WHEN A PROVIDER AUTHORIZES A PULSE FORM THE PATIENT IS GIVEN A PAPER COPY IF THE PATIENT MISPLACES THE FORM IT GETS DAMAGED OR THEY DON'T HAVE IT WITH THEM IN AN EMERGENCY IS LIKELY THERE END-OF-LIFE PREFERENCES WILL NOT BE FOLLOWED.
WITH TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY PATIENTS SHOULD OTHER PULSE FORM ACCESSIBLE WITHOUT HAVING PHYSICAL COPY PRESENT. PULSED FORMS ARE ESPECIALLY VALUABLE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY WHEN EMERGENCY CARE PROVIDERS ARRIVE ON THE SCENE THEY MAY NOT EVEN KNOW THE PATIENT'S PULSE FORM UNLESS THE FORM IS READILY AVAILABLE THIS CAN LEAD TO LIABILITY ISSUES FOR EMERGENCY PROVIDERS MANY EMS RESPONDERS AND SHAREHOLDER STORIES WERE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE SCREAMING AT THEM NOT TO RESUSCITATE OR TRANSFER BECAUSE THEY HAVE THAT OUTLINED IN THEIR PULSE FORM BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE PHYSICAL FORM. THIS IS HAPPENED IN MY FAMILY IT'S PRETTY AWFUL. THIS BILL FORMS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF STAKEHOLDERS WILL LOOK INTO THE RECOMMENDATIONS HOW TO BEST IMPLEMENT THE REGISTRY SUCH AS HOW TO UPDATE IT WHEN CHANGES ARE MADE TO A PATIENT'S POST WAS CHARGED WITH SECURING THE FORMS ETC. STANDARDIZED POSTWAR WAS DEVELOPED IN 2008 2008 AND FINALIZED IN 2010 IT'S 2010 IT'S WIDELY USED AND RECOGNIZED BY HOSPITAL SYSTEMS LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND EMS THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA TODAY. WITH THAT MME. CHAIR I DO HAVE A TESTIFIER DR. NICHOLSON I BELIEVE IS HERE.
THANK YOU AND WELCOME TO THE COMMITTEE. DR. NICHOLSON PLEA STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND BEGIN YOUR TESTIMONY. GOING FROM PEDIATRIC FEEDING TUBES TO END-OF-LIFE CARE THANKS FOR HANGING IN THERE. I'M WILL NICHOLSON CHAIR OF THE MINNESOTA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND I PRACTICE AS A HOSPITALIST IN EAST METRO. PRESIDENT OF THE MINNESOTA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION I'M HERE TO SUPPORT SENATE FILE 441 THIS 441 THIS BILL IS NEEDED TO ENSURE MY PATIENTS HEALTHCARE DECISIONS AT THE END-OF-LIFE ARE KNOWN AND FOLLOWED POST IS SOMETHING THAT EMPOWERS PATIENTS STANDS FOR PROVIDER ORDERS FOR LIFE-SUSTAINING TREATMENT THAT'S PROVIDER ORDERS FOR LIFE-SUSTAINING TREATMENT THESE ARE ORDERS THEY'RE NOT INTENTIONS OR FEELINGS THERE ORDERS THAT A PROVIDER RIGHTS FOR THEIR PATIENT WITH THEIR PATIENT AND THEIR CRITICAL TOOL THAT PHYSICIANS AND PATIENTS USE TO DOCUMENT PATIENT PREFERENCE FOR TREATMENT AND SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PHASES OF LIFE CHANGE.
AT THE END-OF-LIFE WE KNOW THAT WE OVER TREAT PATIENTS THAT WE DO THINGS THAT THEY DON'T WANT BECAUSE IT IS SORT OF THE BASELINE THAT WE FOLLOW AND THIS GIVES PATIENTS A CHANCE TO DESCRIBE WHAT THEY WANT AT THE END-OF-LIFE RATHER THAN FOLLOWING THE STANDARD PROCESS. THEY BEEN WIDELY USED IN MINNESOTA TO GOOD EFFECT LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS EMS AND HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN USING IT FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS AND THEY BASICALLY ALLOW US TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE THE PROBLEM IS YEARS AGO WE WERE MANDATED TO BUY THESE FANCY MEDICAL RECORDS WE'RE NOT MANDATED TO HAVE THEM TALK TO EACH OTHER AND THE PATIENTS GET STUCK IN THE MIDDLE SO CURRENTLY MOST PULSED FORMS EXIST AS PAPER FORMS THAT A PATIENT PHYSICALLY CARRIES AND AS A SEN.
OUTLINED THERE ARE NUMBER OF SCENARIOS WHERE THOSE COPIES OF THOSE FORMS GET MISPLACED OR DAMAGED OR ARE INACCESSIBLE AND WHEN AND EMS PROVIDER OR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO PULSED PUTS THEM IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION POSSIBLY GIVING UNINTENTIONALLY GIVING CARE THAT A PATIENT DOESN'T WANT IF YOU PUT YOURSELF IN THE PLACE OF THE PATIENT OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBER, YOU CAN IMAGINE SITTING DOWN AND HAVING THE DIFFICULT CONVERSATION ABOUT END-OF-LIFE DOCUMENTING THIS WITH YOUR DOCTOR AND THEN AT THE MOMENT YOU'RE SICK AND IN NEED OF HELP YOU DON'T GET WHAT YOU NEED.
PATIENTS WAKE UP IN HOSPITAL BEDS AFTER DOCUMENTING THAT THEY NEVER WANTED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES FAMILIES OF PATIENTS WHO DON'T WAKE UP HAVE TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS ABOUT TERMINATING CARE THAT THE PATIENT NEVER WANTED IN THE FIRST PLACE AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS HAVE TO RECKON WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE DELIVERED PATIENT CARE THAT NO ONE WANTED ONE WANTED AFTER SWEARING THE FIRST DO NO HARM IN REALIZING THAT WERE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE JUST HAVE A SYSTEM THAT DEPENDS ON PAPER. I THINK THE TRAGIC AND PREVENT ABILITY OF THIS IS DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN THERE.
WE HAVE MUCH BETTER COMMUNICATION TOOLS NOW WE NEED TO USE THEM AND SENATE FILE 441 DIRECTS THE 441 DIRECTS THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH TO FORM AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS PATIENTS ETHICISTS AND ATTORNEYS EMS AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY LEADERS TO STUDY AND RECOMMEND HOW TO IMPLEMENT A STATEWIDE ONLINE REGISTRY FOR PULSED WE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS ON OTHER MEDICAL TOPICS IMMUNIZATIONS AND ON OPIOIDS THAT A BEEN INCREDIBLE HELPFUL THIS CAN BE SOMETHING COULD BE ACCESSED BY HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ANYTIME FROM ANYWHERE IN AS A PHYSICIAN I WANT TO ENSURE THAT EVERY PATIENT'S WISHES ARE KNOWN AND FOLLOWED STATEWIDE REGISTRY FOR PULSED WILL HELP ENSURE FOR OUR PATIENTS AND HELP US STOP DELIVERING UNNEEDED CARE.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY ON THE SUBJECT AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BILL? SEN. ABELER. I APPRECIATE I THINK WAS A CO-AUTHOR ON THIS BILL LAST YEAR AND I REMEMBER WITH MY DAD WHO PASSED AWAY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AT HOME ON VETERANS DAY WHICH IS GOOD AS IT COULD BE HE HAD THIS ENVELOPE THEY HAD THREE COPIES OF IT TAKE IT TO FLORIDA AND COME BACK SO LUCKILY THEY NEVER NEEDED IT BUT I APPRECIATE THE BILL AND THE GOOD DOCTOR DESCRIBING I WAS GOING TO HELP.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE PROCESS OF PEOPLE WRITING UP THERE PULSED AND HOW YOU SAY THAT CORRECTLY SO THESE ARE A DOCTOR SITTING DOWN WHATEVER CARE TEAM SITTING DOWN WITH THE FAMILY AND THEY GIVE AND TAKE THE WRITE-DOWN EVERYONE IS ENGAGED AND KNOWN AS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS BUT THE PROCESS SEEMS LIKE IT'S EVOLVED WHERE PEOPLE 'S AND STRONG AGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT IS WRITTEN DOWN AND THE DOCTOR WOULD GIVE ADVICE IN THE FAMILY COULD SAY YES OR NO OR THE PERSON WAS THE TARGET WOULD AGREE TO THE HAVE TO SIGN IT THEMSELVES CAN YOU COMMENT ABOUT THAT PROCESS. IT'S A GREAT QUESTION OUR STANDARD FOR DECISION-MAKING WEIGHS HEAVILY ON AUTONOMY AND INFORMED CONSENT. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE SCENARIOS OUR PATIENTS THAT A BEEN FACING END-OF-LIFE CHALLENGES FOR A LONG TIME MOST OF THE TIME THEY BRODY HAD THE PROCESS PUTTING TOGETHER AN ADVANCED DIRECTIVE AND ESTABLISHING CODE STATUS AND THIS IS AN ADDED LAYER OF SPECIFICITY AND INSURANCE THAT WHAT THEY WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN WILL HAPPEN THAT THERE GENERALLY DONE AS A GROUP DECISION IN MY EXPERIENCE IT'S USUALLY NOT JUST A PATIENT IT'S A PATIENT AND THEIR FAMILY AS WELL AS THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.
WE ARE HARD DECISIONS OUR GOAL IS NOT TO COUNSEL IS MUCH AS IT IS TO EMPOWER AND HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT EACH OF THE DECISIONS THAT END-OF-LIFE MEANS MOST OF US HAVE NEVER DIED BEFORE SO I KNOW IT SEEMS OBVIOUS BUT WE HAVEN'T PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO IT SO A LOT OF WHAT PROVIDERS DO IS TALK ABOUT THE RISKS HE BENEFITS AND THE OPTIONS AND HELP PATIENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BEST THING FOR THEM AND THEIR GOALS MAY BE. THANK YOU I'VE NEVER HAD ANYBODY COMPLAIN ABOUT IT IT'S NICE TO HEAR HOW COLLABORATIVE IT IS THANK YOU. I SHOULD ADD PATIENTS CAN CHANGE THESE AT ANY TIME JUST LIKE ANYTHING IN HEALTHCARE THE PATIENT CAN CHANGE THEIR MIND OUR GOAL IS TO BEAT THE NEEDS OF THE PATIENT NOT HOLD THEM TO SOME STANDARD WE ESTABLISHED A DAY AND A HALF AGO.
SEN. UTKE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AND I WAS THROUGHOUT THE TESTIMONY I THINK YOU TOUCHED ON IT AT THE END BECAUSE I WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CREATED FROM THE GROUND UP NEW I THINK YOU SAID THERE'S KIND OF A SYSTEM OUT THERE FOR MEDICATIONS AND OPIOIDS CURRENTLY WHERE THIS COULD BE KIND OF ATTACHED IS THERE A SYSTEM THAT DOES SPREAD SOME INFORMATION NOW THAT THIS COULD BE ATTACHED TO OR DO WE HAVE TO CREATE A WHOLE NEW NETWORK TO DO IT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE. DR. NICHOLSON OR SEN. MORRISON. THANK YOU SEN. FROM THE STANDPOINT OF A PERSON WHO USES THE SYSTEMS ON A DAILY BASIS I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO HOW BEST TO DO THIS I THINK THAT'S WHY WE TALKED ABOUT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE ON THIS BILL TO GET A GROUP OF EXPERTS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO HELP GUIDE THE PROCESS I'M NOT AN EXPERT AND HOW BEST TO DO THAT.
SEN. UTKE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR BECAUSE IT DOES TALK ABOUT FORMING A COMMITTEE AND KINDA BUILDING THIS FROM GROUND UP SO TO SPEAK TO CREATE THIS WHOLE PROCESS THAT'S WHAT I WAS AFTER THANK YOU. FOR MEMBERS INFORMATION WE HAVE REQUESTED A FISCAL NOTE SO WE WILL BE GETTING THAT WE WILL BE LAYING THE BILL OVER TODAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I APPRECIATE YOUR BRINGING THE BILL FORWARD I HAD A RELATIVE MY HUSBAND'S GRANDMOTHER LIVED A LONG TIME PASSED 100 TO BE 100 TO BE 107 I REMEMBER THE FAMILY CREATED WORK TOGETHER WITH THE PHYSICIANS TO CREATE A PULSED FORM AND I WAS SURPRISED THEY WOULD HANGING ON THE REFRIGERATOR AND HOPE THAT WOULD WORK OUT FOR EVERY POSSIBLE TIME THAT THEY MAY HAVE A CASE WHERE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WOULD BE SEE IT OR COME TO THE HOME OR WHO KNOWS WHO WAS THERE AND WOULD RECOGNIZE WHETHER THE FORM WOULD BE OBSERVED SO I APPRECIATE YOUR BRINGING THE BILL FORWARD IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD THING TO STUDY AND TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO MAKE SURE THEIR WISHES ARE BEING FOLLOWED THE WAY THEY HAVE DIRECTED THANK YOU.
WE WILL BE LAYING THE BILL OVER FOR POSSIBLE CONSIDERATION IN A FUTURE BILL THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR. NEXT SEN. MORRISON HAS ANOTHER BILL SENATE FILE 836. 836. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AND MME. CHAIR AND MEMBERS I APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO PRESENT SENATE FILE 836. WE'VE ALL WITNESSED THE GROWING STRESS OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FACE TODAY AND WE'VE HEARD TESTIMONY IN MANY OF OUR COMMITTEES ABOUT THE NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES THE STRESS OUR STUDENTS FACE EXISTED BEFORE COVID 19 AND OF 19 AND OF COURSE WILL EXIST AFTER THE PANDEMIC IS SHOWN A HARSH LIGHT ON THE LACK OF SUPPORT IN THE SAFETY NET FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
THIS BILL IS A SMALL STEP WE CAN TAKE TO GIVE STUDENTS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS BEFORE THEY BECOME DIRE. IN CURRENT LAW IS 16 AND 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLD IS ALLOWED TO CHECK THEMSELVES INTO AN INPATIENT FACILITY OF THEIR OWN ACCORD BUT CANNOT ACCESS THE HELP OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IN AN OUTPATIENT SETTING WITHOUT PARENTAL PERMISSION FIRST. WITH THIS BILL IT'S OUR HOPE THAT YOUNG ADULTS WILL GET THE HELP THEY NEED LONG BEFORE REQUIRING A HOSPITAL STAY DELAYING URGENT CARE CAN BE COSTLY IN SO MANY WAYS SOMETIMES THESE DELS CAN BE SIMPLE AS A LANGUAGE BARRIER OR TIME CONSTRAINTS FOR THE PARENTS OF THE SDENT OR IT MAY BE A LACK OF KNOWLED ABOUT THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
WHEVER THE CASE MAY BE WE WANT OUR YOUNG KIDS YOG ADULTS TO GET NEEDED HELP WITHOUTHAT COSTLY DELAY. MEMBERS YOU SHOULD HAVE TW TWO LETTERS OF SUPPORT IN YOUR PACK FOR THIS BILL FROM NAMI AND THE MINNESOTA SCHO PSYCHOLOGIST ASSOCIATION. I LIEVE I HAVE TESTIFIERS TODAY MME. CHAIR. TRE IS A TESTIFIER OSCAR WOLF WHOS JOINING US VIA ZOOM. WELCOMEO THE COMMITTE PLEA STATE YOUNAME FOR THE RECORD AND BIN YOUR STIMONY. THANK YOU E. CHAIR I'M OSCAR WOLF A SENR AT PKINS HIGH SCHL IN THE WEST METRO I'M HERE TO TEIFIN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. AUT A YEAR AGO I WAS IN FRENCH CLASWHEN A IEND OF MINE HAD PANIC ATCK I WATCHED H FEZE UP I SAW HER EYES GET PICKY IN A NEW ETTYUICKLY SOMETHI WASN'T RHT. I FLAGGEDOWN MY TCH AND WE WERE ABLTO T MYRIEND TTHNURSES OFFI UNFTUNATELY ON TH PARTICUL DAY THERE WASO MENTAL HEAH ECIALIST IN THE SCHO SMY FRIEND HAD TOAI FOR OUT AN HOUR ANA LF IN ANMPTY ROOM BEFOREHEAS LE TO BE SEEN BYOMNE.
U ULD THINK TEA TRMAC EXPERIENCE LIKTH MYRIEND WOULD NEEDOMSORT MTAL HEALTHARTO HELP PE WITH THATUTN MY FRNDCASE 1 OF THE MAR CONTRITI FACTORS TO HER MENTAL HLTISSUES WAS HER SITUATIOATOME WAS HER PARENTS.BECAE E KNEW IF SHE WERE TUSTHOSE MENT HEALTH ROUES THEY WOULD BE CALLG HO SHE DIDN'T SEEK THEMUTT ALTHE TRUTH I THISILHAD EXISTEA AR AGMYRIEND WOULD'VE REID DICATREATMENT ATHE NEED N THE YEA IE BE INIGH SCHOOL I'VE TULY EN T RESOURCESVAABLE IMPROVE A LOT PKS NOW OFRS PSYCHOLIS AND SOCIAL WORKERS D ERAPTS AND LOT OF THAT SN AVAILABLE WHEN I WAS FSHMAN. HOWEVER GIVEN HOW MANYTUNTS ARE IN NEED OF THE SOURCES IS PRETTY SURPRISINHOUNDERUSED THEY ARE AND ONEF E MAJOR ASONS FOR THAT IBEUSE STUDENTS KNOW TH TY DON'T VE THAT COIDTIALITY THEIR PARENTS ARE INTO KNOW.
AT HOPKINS ALMOSTALOF STUDENTS ARE ON FREE REDUCED LUNCH S GOING TSIDOF SCHOOL G RESINTL TREATMENT FO PRIVE ERAPIST IS OFT NOT A REONABLE OPTION SOE ED MAKSURE WE TEAR DOWN ER BARRIETHAT'S MAKING THE RESOURS IN SCHOOL AND ACCESSIB TO STUDENTS ESPECIALLY OUROW INCOME STUDENTS. I DO EMPATHIZE WI THE RES MIGHT VIEW TS AS A LO OF CONTROL ON TIRND T AS A STUDENT WAS WCHED IS PLAY OUT IN SCHOOLS AND THREAL WORLD PARENTAL NSENT ISROVEN TO BE MU MORE OF AN OBSTACLE THAN A SAGUARD. WITH THAT WOULD URGE YOU ON BEHALFF THE STUDENTS THROUGHOUT MINNETA TO SUPPORT THIS BILL ORDER TO MAKE MENTAL HEAH CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERMUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY ANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO PREST YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BILL.
SEN. MORRISON ANY OTHER COMMEN. MME. CHAIR KNOW I'M HE TO STANFOR QUESTIONS. MEMBERS ANY QUESTIONS, SEN. ABELER. THANKS I'VE MET STUDY THIS I JUST HEARD ABOUT TS NOW I APPRECIATE THE TESTIMONY OF THE FELLOW THERE SORRY I DN'T GET HIS NAME. AS WEISCUSSED WHAT MINORS CAN DO ON THEIR OWN WITH OR WITHOUT CONSENT WITHOUT INFORMING I UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS THAT COME IN SOME OF THE RELATIONSHIPS WHERE THEY AREN'T ABOUT TO TELL ANYONE AND I'M SURE THERE'S SOME STUDENTS SOME YOUNG PEOPLE TAKEN THEIR LIVES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T FEEL THEY COULD TALK ABOUT SOMETHING AND WE WANT TO AVOID THAT BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN IS ANYONE EXPRESSED A CONCERN ABOUT THAT THIS DISCONNECTS FROM THE FAMILY THERE ARE SOME GOOD FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT IF THEY COULD TALK T WOULD ACTUALLY BE USEFUL. I DO KNOW WHERE THIS BILL IS GOING COULD YOU COMMENT ABOUT THAT SEN. MORRISON. MME. CHAIR AND SEN. ABELER THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I THINK MOST PSYCHOLOGISTS WOULD TELL YOU OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WOULD TELL YOU IDEALLY THE FAMILIES INVOLVED FROM THE GET-GO AND THAT'S USUALLY THE CASE BUT THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THERE'S EITHER A FAMILY SITUATION OR SOME OF THE EXAMPLES I MENTIONED IN MY OPENING REMARKS EITHER LANGUAGE BARRIER OR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS OTHER THINGS CAN BE BARRIERS FOR KIDS GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED AND THE FACT THEY CAN CONSENT TO INPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT BUT NOT OUTPATIENT SEEMS INCONGRUOUS SO THIS BRINGS IN CONGRUITY AND EXPENSE ACCESS TO OUR KIDS ARE IN DIRE STRAITS WE NEED TO BE CREATIVE NOW AND DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET THEM THE HELP THEY NEED.
SEN. ABELER. I APPRECIATE THAT I DON'T THINK I'M AN OPPONENT I'M JUST KIND OF AGNOSTIC AT THIS POINT. JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE WHO LIKES THIS LEGISLATION THE PARENTS ARE GOING TO FIND A BECAUSE THE GOING TO GET A BILL IN THE MAIL FROM WHEREVER THEY WENT AND THEY MAY GO TO PLACE THAT'S NOT EVEN RIGHT PLACE IN THEIR PLAN IN THE THING OF IT ALL SO THIS ACTUALLY THERE'S A SIDE WHERE IT COULD CAUSE SOME CONFLICT LIKE WHY DIDN'T YOU GO TO THE PERSON WE HAVE THIS WHOLE NETWORK IT'S AN AMAZING ONE AND THEY'RE NOT COVERED SO JUST A POINT THAT OUT THOSE ARE LOGISTICAL THINGS I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU FIX BUT I THINK YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK THAT'S ALL I HAVE THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS SEN. UTKE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AND SEN. ABELER TOUCHED ON PART OF WHERE I WAS HEADING TO ABOUT WHO PAYS AND YORTY TOUCHED ON THE FACT THEY CAN CONSENT TO INPATIENT BUT THIS IS OUTPATIENT CARE. I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT WHO GETS THE BILL BUT IF THE BILL IS SHOWING UP AT HOME AFTERWARDS AND THE FACT THINGS IT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IS THERE A FISCAL NOTE ON THIS IS THEIR ANY COST TO THE STATE IF IT'S PUBLIC SERVICES WE ARE PAYING BUT DO WE ANTICIPATE THERE WILL BE MORE COST WE ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR ONE SIDE ONE SIDE THIS IS GIVING IT ANOTHER OPTION. SEN. MORRISON. MME. CHAIR AND SEN. UTKE, I THINK MR. WOLF MADE A GREAT POINT FOR EXAMPLE HIS HIGH SCHOOL THEY HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS CURRENTLY THAT THEY DIDN'T USE TO HAVE AND THEY'RE NOT BEING UTILIZED IN HIS VIEW TO THE EXTENT THEY ARE NEEDED BECAUSE OF THIS BARRIER SO THAT'S PART OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SO THAT WOULD NOT BE AN ADDITIONAL COST BUT IF THEY WIN OUT INTO THE COMMITTEE THAT'S TRUE THERE WOULD EVENTUALLY BE A BILL BUT ALSO TO SEN.
ABELER'S POINT BUT I WOULD POINT OUT MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WILL TELL YOU IN A SCENARIO LIKE THIS OFTEN IT WILL TAKE A VISIT OR TWO THEN TWO THEN THEY WILL WORK WITH THE STUDENT WITH THE YOUNG PERSON TO BRING THEIR FAMILY IN SO IT'S ALWAYS THE GOAL TO INVOLVE THE FAMILY AND MAY JUST BE ONE OR TWO VISITS TO GET THE STUDENT TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO DO THAT THAT'S ALWAYS THE GOAL OF A GOOD MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ASSUMING THAT IT'S SAFE. SEN. UTKE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AND THANK YOU THAT'S ALWAYS A CONCERN BECAUSE SOMETIMES THAT'S A PRIZED BILL IN THE MAIL CREATES MORE PROBLEMS THAN WE HAD BEFORE AS FAR AS THE YOUNG PERSON IN THE RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS WHOEVER THEY ARE WITH.
WE WAIT AND SEE THANK YOU. THANK YOU SEN. MORRISON IT SEEMS LIKE THIS WILL BE A BENEFIT TO EXPAND THE OPTIONS STUDENTS THE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE SINCE THEY CAN ALREADY CONSENT TO SOME OF THESE CARE SERVICES THAT MAKE SENSE TO ME WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE THEM EFFECTIVE CONSENT FOR THE NONRESIDENTIAL TREATMENT AS WELL. I APPRECIATE YOUR BRINGING THE BILL FORWARD THIS BILL DOES NOT HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT AND WE WILL PASS THE BILL OUT TODAY TO THE FLOOR.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION. SO MOVED MME. CHAIR. SENATE FILE A36 IS RECOMMENDED TO PASS ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE, ANY OPPOSED THE MOTION DOES PREVAIL IN THE BILL IS PASSED. THANK YOU. NOW I WILL TURN THIS OVER TO SEN. MANN FOR THE TWO BILLS THAT I HAVE. MME. CHAIR PLEASE PROCEED. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT SENATE FILE 1680. THIS 1,680. THIS IS A BILL THAT MAKES STATE FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR FAMILY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR SUPPORT AND EDUCATION MONEY WAS PASSED TO SUPPORT THIS TYPE OF CHILDCARE IN THE 2021 SESSION 2021 SESSION AND WE USED AT THAT TIME FEDERAL COVID FUNDS WERE USED AND WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS GRANT PROGRAM CONTINUE ON I AM EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THIS IMPORTANT BILL WHICH SUPPORTS FAMILY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND HELPS ENSURE QUALITY CARE AND LEARNING IS AVAILABLE TO ALL CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY GET THEIR CARE OR WHO IS THERE CARE PROVIDER.
FAMILY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR PROVIDERS OFFER LEGAL UNLICENSED CHILD CARE TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND OUR FREQUENT CHOICE OF CARE FOR PARENTS WITH INFANTS AND TODDLERS ESPECIALLY PARENTS IN A DIVERSE CULTURAL AND ETHNIC COMMUNITY AND PARENTS WITH DIFFERENTLY ABLE TO CHILDREN PARENTS WORKING NONSTANDARD OUR JOBS ALSO MAKE A LOT OF USE OF FAMILY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR PROVIDERS. IF YOU RECALL WHEN WE HAD THE BILL HEARING ON THE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM ONE OF THE TESTIFIERS WAS FROM THE PROGRAM OR COALITION IN THE RICHFIELD BLOOMINGTON AREA AND THEY FOCUS THEIR EFFORTS ON PROVIDING TRAINING AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR PROVIDERS. EVERY FAMILY SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE WHO CARES FOR THEIR CHILDREN WHEN THEY WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME AND THE COST OF CHILDCARE AND SHORTAGE OF CHILD PROGRAMS ARE OFTEN THE DRIVING FORCES BETWEEN OR BEHIND PARENTS DECISION-MAKING. I KNOW THERE ARE MANY FAMILIES IN MY COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE STATE THAT WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO BE CARED FOR BY A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND MIGHT SHARE THEIR CULTURAL PERSONAL OR RELIGIOUS VALUES, AND I HOPE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE PROVIDERS AS WELL SO THEY CAN OFFER THE HIGHEST QUALITY CARE REGARDLESS OF WHO WAS PROVIDING IT.
OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS DHS HAS BUILT A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY SUPPORTS FOR FAMILY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE WE APPROVED $4.5 MILLION IN ONE TIME ONE TIME FUNDING TO BUILD THIS NETWORK AND TO GET NECESSARY RESOURCES TO FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. THESE FUNDS ARE SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE IN 2023 2023 THIS BILL WOULD MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR THIS NEW NETWORK AND WOULD ALLOW FOR AN EXPANSION INTO THE WESTERN COUNTIES OF THE STATE. AS YOU WILL SEE IN THE BILL THE GRANT AWARDS CAN BE USED FOR A NUMBER OF PURPOSES SUCH AS PROVIDING CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE TRAININGS SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO FAMILY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR CAREGIVERS THEY CAN USE THE GRANT MONEY TO CONNECT CAREGIVERS AND CHILDREN'S FAMILIES WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES CONNECTING FAMILY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR CAREGIVERS AND CHILDREN'S FAMILIES TO EARLY CHILDHOOD SCREENING PROGRAMS AND SO ON. I DO HAVE THINK THREE THREE TESTIFIERS TODAY WHO I BELIEVE ARE HERE WITH US REMOTELY AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO THE TESTIMONY NOW.
THANK YOU MME. CHAIR FIRST IS SUE THOMAS. GOOD MORNING MME. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE I'M SUE THOMAS WE SERVE NINE NINE COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA TO PROVIDE A BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE REGION INCLUDING RENTAL AND MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE FOOD ASSISTANCE REFUGEE SETTLEMENT IN MY AREA OF WORK SUPPORTING CHILDCARE IN EARLY LEARNING WE WORK CLOSELY ACROSS A CHILDCARE SECTOR TO SUPPORT FAMILIES EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS AND PARTNERS TO IMPROVE THE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY CHILDCARE LEARNING AND EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WE KNOW IS A SOLID FOUNDATION IS A BASIS FOR TO LAST THROUGH STORMS AND MAKES A SOLID FOUNDATION OF CONSISTENT SAFE NURTURING AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT CARE IS THE BASIS FOR CHILD TO DEVELOP IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE.
IN OUR COMMUNITY THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE SHORTAGE OF CHILDCARE PROVIDERS BUT WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT SERVE CHILDREN SPEAK LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH AND BECAUSE OF CLOSE WORK WE DO WITH THESE FAMILIES WE KNOW FAMILIES ARE LOOKING FOR CULTURALLY RELEVANT CARE AND OFTEN USE FAMILY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR CHILDCARE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE'S PEOPLE WHO THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH AND KNOW THEIR LIFESTYLE AND WE ALSO NOTE THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER FAMILIES FROM NONTRADITIONAL HOURS THAT RELY ON FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE WHILE THEY WORK AND WE BELIEVE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS THE MATTER IF THEY WORK IN A LICENSE CENTER OR IN A HOME PROGRAM OR SCHOOL THAT OR FURTHER AN UNLICENSED PROVIDED THEY DESERVE THEM SUPPORTS NEEDED TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY CARE POSSIBLE WHERE SUPPORTS CAN BE BASIC TRAINING AND SAFETY THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING AND A PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE THE VALUE OF HEALTHY INTERACTIONS NUTRITION AND SO MUCH MORE.
WERE CURRENTLY RECEIVING FUNDING FROM DHS THROUGH THE GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT FFM PROVIDERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES THIS GRANT PROGRAM IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK WITH DHS AND OR PARTNERS TO LEARN HOW TO BEST SUPPORT FFM PROVIDERS AND THE GRANT AS YOU HEARD IS TIME-LIMITED AND WILL BE ENDING IN SEPTEMBER AND WE NEED FUNDING TO INCREASE QUALITY CHILDCARE AND RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITIES AND WERE THANKFUL THE STATE IS BEGINNING TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO CONTINUE THE SUPPORT FOR FRIEND FAMILY CARE IN THIS GRANT PROGRAM HAS BEEN ONE WAY THAT HAS IMPACT IN A REGION OF THE STATE. I THINK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU MISS THOMAS NEXT IS MISS PRINGLE. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR GOOD MORNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS I'M KUHLIA PRINGLE THE MINNESOTA STATE DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL PARENTS UNION. I'M HERE TO TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF SENATE FILE 1680 ESTABLISHED FAMILY 1,680 ESTABLISHED FAMILY FRIEND NEIGHBOR CHILDCARE GRANT PROGRAM. IN MY WORK I'VE WORKED ONE-ON-ONE TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AS THEY NAVIGATE PRE-K AREAS PREDOMINANTLY BLACK BROWN AND LOW INCOME FAMILIES WHEN THE LEGISLATURE DECIDED TO DICTATE EMERGENCY FUNDS TO SUPPORT FAMILY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR PROVIDERS WE SUPPORTED 40% OF FAMILIES IN MINNESOTA. THEY RECEIVE CRITICAL CARE THEY NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CHILDREN. FF AND ARE TRUSTED BY THE COMMUNITY THAT CARE FOR BLACK BROWN AND RURAL MINNESOTANS HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONALLY IMPACTED BY THE ONGOING PANDEMIC AND MORE FAMILIES OF ALL BACKGROUNDS RETURNED TO THEIR FAMILY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO HELP CARE FOR THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN FFM GRANTS ALLOW PROVIDERS TO ACCESS TRAINING TO FOSTER SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT EARLY LITERACY AND OTHER SKILLS NEEDED TO PREPARE CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL AND THE LIFETIME OF LEARNING.
THESE RESOURCES HELP PROMOTE SAFE ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN TO BE CARED FOR AND IMPROVES ACCESS TO CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE CARE. WE BELIEVE IT'S CRITICAL TO PROVIDE QUALITY CARE AND SUPPORT CHILDREN AND THEIR PROVIDERS REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE GETTING CARE OR WHO IS PROVIDING THE CARE. PLEASE SUPPORT ME IN SUPPORTING THIS BILL THANK YOU. THANK YOU MISS PRINGLE NEXT IS MIA ROCHA. GOOD MORNING MIA ROCHA FAMILY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR NAVIGATOR WITH GROWING UP HEALTHY A PROGRAM OF HEALTHY COMMUNITY IN RICE COUNTY GROWING UP HEALTHY ENVISIONS A RICE COUNTY IN WHICH DIVERSE POPULATIONS ARE CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER AND ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN CREATING A COMMUNITY WHERE ALL FAMILIES THRIVE.
SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH LATIN NEXT IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND ALL INCOME FAMILIES TO CULTIVATE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP FOSTER SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AND COLLECTIVELY ADVOCATE FOR SYSTEMS OF LEVEL CHANGE TO SUPPORT ALL FAMILIES GROWING UP HEALTHY RECEIVED A GRANT FROM DHS TO SUPPORT FFM PROVIDERS IN RICE COUNTY FFM PROVIDERS REPORT FEELING DISCONNECTED FROM RESOURCES AND SERVICES OFTEN BECAUSE OF LANGUAGE BARRIERS OR BECAUSE THEY LACK TRANSPORTATION OR FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY WIDE PROGRAMMING.
ALL SERVICES ARE BEING OFFERED IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH SO FF AND CAREGIVERS CAN GET THE INFORMATION NEEDED IN THEIR MOTHER LANGUAGE WE ALSO HOST VARIOUS TRAININGS FOR FFM CAREGIVERS INCLUDING RED CROSS FIRST-AID CPR IN SPANISH TO ENSURE THEY HAVE THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE. GROWING UP HEALTHY CREATES REGULAR OPPORTUNITIES FOR FF AND CAREGIVERS AND FAMILIES TO CONNECT IN THE COMMUNITY BOTH TO EACH OTHER AND TO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT HELP THEM IN THEIR ROLE CARING FOR OUR YOUNGEST COMMUNITY MEMBERS WE WORK WITH FFM CAREGIVERS AND FAMILIES TO BRING CULTURAL AND LANGUAGE INTO THE CARE OF THE CHILDREN. FOR MULTIPLE YEARS GROWING UP HEALTHY HAS HEARD OF BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES THAT FF AND CAREGIVERS WE ARE WORKING HARD TO BREAK DOWN THOSE BARRIERS IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE FFM CAREGIVERS FAMILIES AND LOCAL LEADERS.
WE BELIEVE IN ONGOING FUNDING S CRITICAL TO OUR LONG-TERM GOALS F INCREASING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AMONG ALL RICE COUNTY FAMILIES IN GRANTS LIKE THESE CAN LEVERAGE OTHER IMPORTANT COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF FF AND PROVIDERS IN RICE COUNTY WE ARE EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU AND TO ENSURE QUALITY CARE IS AVAILABLE IN ALL MINNESOTA CHILDREN THANK YOU. THANK YOU MISS ROCHA. MEMBERS ANY DISCUSSION? SEN. HOFFMAN. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR AND THANK YOU SEN. WIKLUND FOR BRINGING THIS. I STARTED TO SMILE BECAUSE YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA THE TALKED ABOUT KID AND CAN AND THEY WERE WONDERING WHERE THAT NETWORK WAS AND TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS MODELED AFTER THE WASHINGTON STATE OF FF AND NETWORK THAT'S ENHANCED AND ESTABLISHED THERE AND IF THAT'S THE CASE AS THEY LOOK AT PARSING OUT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD STUFF IN MINNESOTA IS IT YOUR INTENTION I CAN ASK WHAT YOUR INTENT IS IS HE YOUR DESIRE THAT THIS FOLLOW ALONG WITH THAT SAME PATH SO IT BECOMES EMBEDDED IN HOW WE DO BUSINESS IN MINNESOTA.
SEN. WIKLUND. THANK YOU SEN. HOFFMAN AND MME. CHAIR YES I HOPE THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS SHOWN WE CAN PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE PATH FOR GRANT MONEY TO GO TO THESE NETWORKS AND TO HELP SUPPORT THE FAMILY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR PROVIDERS IN THEIR OWN CULTURAL AND LANGUAGE SPECIFIC WAYS AND SO I THINK WHAT THE BILL IS INTENDING TO DO IS TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT AND AS WE GO FORWARD TO FLESH OUT MORE NETWORKS ACROSS THE STATE SOME MORE FAMILIES CAN BENEFIT FROM MORE WELL-TRAINED PROVIDERS. YES MME. CHAIR DOES ANSWER MY QUESTION I WOULD HOPE THE HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY THAT'S THE NAME OF A KID THAT'S NOT FUNNY BUT IN THIS CASE AS WE START TO LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS THAT ARE OUT THERE REGARDING THIS POCKET OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES I'M EXCITED TO SEE YOU BRING THIS FORWARD BECAUSE IT'S BRINGING JOY IN THE FACT THAT 30 YEARS 30 YEARS AGO WE'RE HAVING THE SAME DISCUSSION AND IS OF THE STATES THAT HAVE DONE IT.
I WOULD HOPE THE DEPARTMENT REALIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS AND SUSTAINS IT REGARDING THE CONVERSATION THAT'S GOING TO BE GOING FORWARD WHEN THEY START TO LOOK AT ALL THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES AND PROGRAMS IN MINNESOTA BECAUSE THIS IS A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD. THANK YOU AND JUST TO COMMENT, THE DEPARTMENT DID HAVE SOME FUNDING FOR THE PDG GRANT WAS ABLE TO HIRE SOMEONE TO DO SOME PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND LEARNING FROM THIS PARTICULAR STRATEGY AND I THINK THEY ARE VERY COMMITTED TO MAKING IT CAN TO NEW IN A SUCCESSFUL WEIGHT. OTHER COMMENTS SEN. ABELER. THANKS AND THANKS MME.
CHAIR. I RECOGNIZE I THINK WE DID WITH SOME OF THE MONEY WE HAD BACK WHEN THE BIG PILE OF MONEY LANDED ON US BUT GOING FORWARD JUST A THOUGHT TO YOU I'VE A FEELING WE MAY SEE THIS AGAIN IN A BILL COMING TO US SOMEDAY. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S FOR LEGAL AND UNLICENSED WHICH I THINK IS A GREAT IDEA AS YOU WORK TO PUT SOME MORE STRUCTURE INTO THE PROGRAM YOU MAY WANT TO THANK WHAT'S A GOOD-SIZED GRANT FOR PEOPLE TO GET HOW MANY DO YOU WANT TO TRY TO GET OUT WHAT ABOUT DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE STATE TO MAKE SURE IT'S COVERED PARTICULARLY IN AREAS WHERE THERE'S A LACK OF CHILDCARE I SUPPOSE IN GREATER MINNESOTA IN PARTICULAR. I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME URBAN GROUPS THAT WOULD BE SERVED BY THIS AS WELL SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU AS YOU WE DID A LOT OF THOSE PROGRAMS QUICKLY AND WE SPENT $600 $600 MILLION I THINK IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME FRANKLY BEHIND-THE-SCENES IT WAS A LOUSY WAY TO DO BUSINESS SOME GREAT PROGRAMS CAME OUT OF IT ONE OF THOSE MAYBE THIS JUST A THOUGHT AS YOU GO FORWARD TO NOT BE SHY TO SIT WITH THE ADVOCATES AND APARTMENT AND GET SOME STRUCTURE SO THE MORE STRUCTURE THEY HAVE THE LESS THEY'LL SPEND ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE THANKS.
SEN. WIKLUND. THANK YOU CHAIR AND SEN. ABELER THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE AND I WILL DEFINITELY TALK WITH THEM ABOUT IF THERE'S MORE LANGUAGE WE CAN INCLUDE IN THE BILL THAT WILL DEFINE THINGS A LITTLE MORE STRUCTURE. ANYONE ELSE, SEN. WIKLUND THINKING FOR BRINGING THE BILL FORWARD IT'S BRILLIANT WORK KEEPING KIDS IN THEIR COMMUNITY'S WERE INVESTING PUTTING MONEY BACK INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES WHILE FIGHTING THE CHILD CARE CRISIS WERE I'VE BEEN ASKED TO BE ADDED TO THE BILL. ANY FINAL COMMENTS. KNOW I WOULD APPRECIATE WILL LAY THE BILL OVER SO I DON'T NEED TO ASK FOR SUPPORT TODAY BUT I DO HOPE THAT YOU SEE THE VALUE IN MAKINGORE RESOURCES AVAILABLE OVER TIME AND WHEN WE KNOW OVER 40% OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS ARE BEING CARED FOR IN THE SETTINGS WE WANT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF THEM TO BE ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THESE IMPORTANT EARLY YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND YOUR ATTENTION TODAY. THANK YOU WITH THAT THE BILL IS LAID OVER. SEN. WIKLUND TO YOUR BILL SENATE FILE 1675. 1,675. THANK YOU MME. CHAIR SENATE FILE 1,675 IS RELATED TO MEDICAL PRICING TRANSPARENCY AND I HAVE AN AMENDMENT AN AUTHOR'S AMENDMENT. I DON'T KNOW THAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET IT IS THE A1 AMENDMENT. THE MOTION TO MOVE THE A1 AMENDMENT EVERYONE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, THOSE OPPOSED OKAY THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. THANK YOU THE AMENDMENT IT DOES CLARIFY MAKES TECHNICAL CHANGES IT WILL ALSO CHANGE THE CONSTRUCTION SO THE HOSPITAL COMPLIANCE IS BY GENERALLY FIRST OF 2024 AND THE OTHER MEDICAL OR DENTAL PRACTICES IT GIVES THEM ANOTHER YEAR FOR THEM LIMITATION OF THIS BILL. AS I SAID THE BILL HAS TO DO WITH MEDICAL PRICING TRANSPARENCY OVER THE PAST 20 20 YEARS MOSTLY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO REDUCE HEALTHCARE COSTS AND MAYBE IF WE EMPOWERED CONSUMERS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT THEIR HEALTHCARE BASED ON UNDERSTANDING THE QUALITY AND THE PRICE OF THE HEALTHCARE THAT MAYBE THAT WOULD BE A WAY WE COULD REDUCE HEALTHCARE COSTS IN OUR COUNTRY.
THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT EFFORTS TO PUT IN PLACE THESE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS AND UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF THEM DIDN'T HELP IN TERMS OF PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT PATIENTS NEED TO BE SERVICES SO WHAT THIS BILLE WORKS TO DO IS PUT MORE HOSPITALS AND OTHER MEDICAL AND DENTAL PRACTICES MUST MAKE AVAILABLE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THERE WAS A REQUIREMENT BY BEGINNING IN 2021 FOUR 20,214 HOSPITALS NATIONWIDE TO PUBLISH THEIR PRICES IN A MACHINE-READABLE FORMAT AND THIS TAKES IT A STEP FURTHER IN TERMS OF DEFINING WHAT THE STANDARD FORMAT IS SO PATIENTS CAN ACTUALLY MAKE USE OF THE INFORMATION. THE RULE IN THE BEGINNING DID NOT SPECIFY A PARTICULAR FORMAT SO HOSPITALS COULD CREATE A FORMAT OF THEIR OWN AND THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR PATIENTS TO BE ABLE TO COMPARE INFORMATION ACROSS FACILITIES.
SENATE FILE 1675 1,675 WOULD REQUIRE MINNESOTA HOSPITAL SYSTEMS TO REORGANIZE THEIR EXISTING FILES INTO THIS NEW FORMAT NEXT JANUARY. BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER PROVIDERS OF MANY SHOP ABOUT MEDICAL SERVICES SERVICES THAT CAN BE PLANNED IN ADVANCE SUCH AS RADIOLOGY SCANS ARE ORTHOPEDIC JOINT REPLACEMENTS VISION ENHANCEMENT SURGERIES AND THE LIKE, THEY ARE NOT HOSPITALS BUT THEIR SPECIALTY PRACTICES AND THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE THESE PRACTICES IN THESE SPECIALTIES WITH OVER $50 $50 MILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUE TO PUBLISH THEIR PRICES IN THE SAME FORMAT BY JANUARY 2025 SO THEIR PRICES CAN BE INCLUDED IN PRICE COMPARISON REPORTS FOR CONSUMERS AS WELL.
WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICE FOR CONSUMERS THERE IS A WEBSITE YOU CAN GO TO TODAY CALLED TURQUOISE HEALTH AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY PUT IN YOU CAN ENTER WHAT SERVICE YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT THE NAME OF THE PROCEDURE YOUR ZIP CODE AND THE TOOL RESPONSE WITH THE CASH PRICE OF THAT PROCEDURE AT HOSPITALS IN YOUR AREA. IF YOU DO THIS YOU CAN SEE THIS QUITE VARIATION IN THE CASH PRICES FOR THE PROCEDURE ACROSS HOSPITALS YOU CAN ALSO DRILL DOWN FURTHER AND YOU CAN SELECT THE NAME OF YOUR OWN HEALTH PLAN AND THAT CAN SHOW YOU PRICES THE HOSPITAL FOR YOUR HEALTH PLAN SO THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE BUT IF HOSPITALS ARE NOT USING THE SAME FORMAT THAT MAKES IT MORE CHALLENGING FOR PEOPLE TO GET ACCESS TO IT. WITH INFORMATION LIKE THIS HEALTHCARE CONSUMER GOOD FOR THE FIRST TIME BE ABLE TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT WHERE TO HAVE THEIR EXPENSIVE HEALTHCARE PROCEDURES PERFORMED BASED ON PRICE THE TURQUOISE TOOL DOES ALSO INCLUDE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT CMS QUALITY RATING SO IT DOES HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT QUALITY, AND THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO VIEW INFORMATION ABOUT PRICE AND QUALITY.
SENATE FILE 1675 DOES 1,675 DOES ALSO ASK THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TASK THEM WITH DEVELOPING OR PROCURING A TOOL LIKE THIS FOR MINNESOTA HEALTHCARE CONSUMERS THERE WILL BE A FISCAL NOTE THAT WILL BE DEVELOPED TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THAT COST WOULD BE FOR DEVELOPING THE TOOL OR IF THEY COULD PURCHASE SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY IN EXISTENCE. I DO HAVE A TESTIFIER ONLINE TODAY JEAN ABRAHAM WAS A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA. MISS ABRAHAM PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND PROCEED. MME. CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS THANK YOU I'M JEAN ABRAHAM HEALTH ECONOMIST AND PROFESSOR IN THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA. MY REMARKS TODAY REPRESENT MY OWN VIEWS AND NOT THOSE OF MY EMPLOYER. MORE THAN 90% OF MINNESOTANS WITH EMPLOYER-BASED COVERAGE HAVE AN ANNUAL DEDUCTIBLE REQUIREMENT WITH AVERAGE AMOUNTS THAT NOW REACH $4,200 PER YEAR FOR FAMILY COVERAGE STUDIES BY THE RAND CORPORATION AND OTHERS ALSO HAVE DOCUMENTED RAPID GROWTH IN COMMERCIAL HEALTH PLAN PRICES AND SIGNIFICANT GEOGRAPHIC SPECIFIC VARIATION.
THESE FACTORS TOGETHER STRENGTHEN CONSUMERS INCENTIVES TO SEARCH FOR AND USE PRICING INFORMATION WHEN MAKING CHOICES ABOUT THE PROVIDERS FROM WHOM THEY SEEK CARE. COMPREHENSIVE ACCESSIBLE AND TIMELY PRICING DATA ALSO SUPPORT ECONOMIC RESEARCH TO INFORM POLICYMAKING AND REGULATORY ACTIONS TO PROMOTE COMPETITIVE HEALTHCARE MARKETS. MANY RESEARCHERS INCLUDING MYSELF ARE INVESTIGATING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL HOSPITAL PRICE TRANSPARENCY REGULATION THAT WENT INTO EFFECT IN 2021.
RESEARCHERS 2021. RESEARCHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ALSO HAVE BEGUN TO CONDUCT ANALYSES TO MEASURE HOSPITAL PRICE VARIATION FOR VARIOUS SERVICES OR TO QUANTIFY HOW PRICES VARY BY ORGANIZATIONAL OR MARKET ATTRIBUTES. HOWEVER THE USE OF THE ACTUAL MACHINE-READABLE DATA CONTAINED THAT ARE POSTED ONLINE BY HOSPITALS HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING TO USE GIVEN THE LACK OF A STANDARDIZED DATA STRUCTURE FORMAT. SO WHAT VALUE DOES SENATE FILE 1675 1,675 CONFER? FIRST REQUIRING A PARTICULAR FILE STRUCTURE WOULD FACILITATE THE MERGING OF FILES ACROSS HOSPITALS AND SUPPORT ANALYSES OF IMPORTANT STATE POLICY RELEVANT QUESTIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE YOU CAN MONITOR HOW PRICES ARE CHANGING OVER TIME FOR DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF PRIVATELY INSURED POPULATIONS IN LOCAL GEOGRAPHIC MARKETS AND ONE CAN ANALYZE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHANGES IN PRICES AND PROVIDER MARKET COMPETITION THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT IN LIGHT OF INCREASING CONSOLIDATION VIA MERGER AND ACQUISITION IN BOTH PROVIDER AND INSURER MARKETS. ALSO SENATE FILE 60 AND 75 60 AND 75 CONFERS ALUE TO CONSUMERS AND EMPLOYER PURCHASERS BY EXPANDING THE SET OF PROVIDERS WHO WILL BE REPORTING DATA THIS IS VALUABLE BECAUSE INDIVIDUALS PATIENTS CAN INCREASINGLY CHOOSE TO USE OUTPATIENT SETTINGS IN ADDITION TO HOSPITAL-BASED SETTINGS FOR MANY TYPES OF MEDICAL PROCEDURES.
SENATE FILE SIX SIX AND 75 IS IMPORTANT STEP IN HELPING CONSUMERS MAKE MORE INFORMED CHOICES ABOUT WHERE FROM WHOM THEY RECEIVE THEIR MEDICAL CARE AND FINALLY IT ENABLES THE RESEARCH AND POLICYMAKING COMMUNITIES TO MORE EFFECTIVELY MONITOR PRICE GROWTH AND PRICE VARIATION ACROSS PROVIDERS AS WELL AS HOW PRICES ARE CHANGING WITH CHANGES IN THE STRUCTURE OF PROVIDER AND INSURANCE MARKETS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MISS ABRAHAM MEMBERS ANY DISCUSSION? SEN. ABELER. THANKS MME. CHAIR AND SEN. WIKLUND THANKS FOR WORKING ON THIS JUST A THOUGHT AGAIN AS YOU GO FORWARD, THE TERM STANDARD CHARGE THERE'S ALSO USUAL CUSTOMARY THERE IS WHAT WE CHARGE AND THERE IS WHAT AN AVERAGE COMMERCIAL COMPANY WILL PAY SOME OR HIGHER AND SOME ARE LOWER THE PMAP REIMBURSEMENTS ARE LOW BUT THEY VARY CONSIDERABLY BY PROVIDER AS WELL.
AS YOU GO FORWARD WORKING ON THIS I HOPE YOU DO IN THE PAST HOSPITALS HAVE PUSHED BACK THAT IS TOO HARD OR SOMETHING IS GREAT USE IN SOME OF THIS IF YOU CAN STANDARDIZE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO AND YOU MAY ALSO CONSIDER PACKAGES IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO IN FOR A DELIVERY SOME HOSPITALS BUT HAVE DIFFERENT PRICES WOULD INCLUDE DIFFERENT THINGS AS FAR AS THE RATE AND I DON'T HONESTLY KNOW YOU GET ACCURATE REPRESENTATION SOME PLACES GIVE A DISCOUNT FOR CASH A PERSON WALKS IN WITH CASH WITH THAT PACKAGE COST THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT BE NAILED DOWN I THINK BACK IN TIME THEN ATTY. GEN. HATCH OB OWNED HOSPITALS TO GET PEOPLE CASH DISCOUNT SOMETHING EQUIVALENT TO THE AVERAGE COMMERCIAL RATE OR SOMETHING. IT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA ESPECIALLY IF YOU CAN CONNECT PEOPLE WITH ARE THE COSTS YOU MAY UNDERSTAND HOSPITAL VISITS ARE MORE THAN JUST A $50 CO-PAY IT'S A WORTHY ENDEAVOR THANK YOU.
MME. CHAIR AND SEN. ABELER THANK YOU I THINK THERE IS WORK GOING ON I KNOW THE AUTHOR IN THE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE ELKINS I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HE HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THIS THIS BILL AND SOME OTHERS IN TERMS OF HAVING PEOPLE COME TOGETHER ON STANDARDIZING THE FILE FORMATS SO IT CAN BE ACCESSIBLE I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT THE NEXT STEP OF LOOKING AT WHAT INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AND HOW IS IT RELEVANT TO A PARTICULAR PATIENT THIS IDEA OF STANDARD CHARGES WHAT DOES IT MEAN? I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK GOING ON IN TERMS OF THAT AND YOU ARE RIGHT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY ALL THE SERVICES YOU NEED BUT YOU KNOW YOU NEED YOUR KNEE REPLACED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT SO COMING UP WITH A WAY TO MAKE SURE IT'S ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WHEN THEY WANT TO SEE INFORMATION ABOUT A PARTICULAR SERVICE THAT IS AVAILABLE THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AS WELL.
THANK YOU. MEMBERS OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS SEEING NONE SEN. WIKLUND FINAL THOUGHTS. I SEE THIS AS 1 MORE WAY WE COULD NOT ONLY EMPOWER PATIENTS TO UNDERSTAND HEALTHCARE COSTS BETTER BUT WE CAN ALSO PROVIDE A WAY FOR RESEARCHERS AS PROFESSOR ABRAHAM AS SAID AND LOOK AT COSTS OVER TIME AND BY MAKING SURE THE FORMAT IS STANDARDIZED AND WE HAVE A TOOL TO BE ABLE TO VIEW THEM YOU THE INFORMATION I THINK THAT WILL HELP US MAKE PROGRESS AS WE LOOK AT WAYS TO UNDERSTAND AND LOWER HEALTHCARE COSTS THANK YOU. THANK YOU SEN. AND WITH THAT THE BILL WILL BE LAID OVER. SEN. WIKLUND ANY OTHER THOUGHTS BEFORE WE ADJOURN. QUESTION 1 WITH THE GET STUFF DONE IS TO THREATEN THE STATE.
