Student mental health, safe schools, health care, & child care among priorities

On the first day of the 2019 legislative session, Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) joined her Minnesota Senate colleagues in unveiling their priorities for the upcoming session, placing a focus on Minnesota families. Specifically, Senator Nelson addressed student mental health services and investing in school safety.

“Untreated mental health concerns continue to grow in our society,” said Senator Nelson, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on E-12 Education Finance and Policy. “In visiting with school counselors in our community, their top concern was not college readiness, but mental health services. This session, I intend to make our schools safer through increased mental health services for our students.”

In addition to mental health, Senator Nelson addressed safe and secure schools funding. Last session, the legislature passed multiple bills that invested in funding for safe schools. Since the former governor vetoed the majority of the proposals, the legislature looks to again pass safe schools funding.

“As a former teacher, I understand firsthand the importance safety plays in a student’s education,” added Senator Nelson. “Right out of the gate, I will continue to lead on safe and secure schools and allow for local flexibility in determining the most pressing school safety needs for each district.”

Other top priorities addressed by the Senate include affordable childcare access, increasing government accountability, tax conformity so that Minnesotans will not see increased state taxes and filing headaches due to the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and lowering the cost of health insurance while guaranteeing coverage for preexisting conditions.

“I look forward to working across the aisle this session on balancing our state budget,” concluded Senator Nelson. “We will continue to focus on making life easier for Minnesota families.”