Friends and Neighbors,
During the interim, there is still plenty happening at the Capitol, though mostly by zoom.
I am part of multiple task forces and commissions that meet during the interim to study and discuss solutions for the upcoming session and review areas that need some legislative intervention. Below are a couple of things I have been and will be participating in over the coming weeks.
Legislative Audit Commission
I am a member of the Legislative Audit Commission and Chair of the Financial Audit Committee. Both are responsible for holding government agencies accountable for their spending and actions. We identify problems and seek solutions for waste or fraud within all levels of government. In our next couple of meetings we will be looking for ways to cut spending in our own Commission to prepare for our recovery from the COVID-19 state budget deficit. I will update you further as we make progress.
Family (in-home) Child Care Task Force
Providing access to quality, affordable child care has been a special effort as I have been working with local providers in my district and throughout Minnesota over the past several years. In the next meeting we will be discussing the implementation of a risk-based violation licensing system, which would have categories based upon the level of seriousness of the issue that could effect the child being cared for. A provider who has proven success would not be treated every year like a new provider.
Some of the issues are technical such as not getting a signature on a form which could typically be satisfied with a fix-it ticket. Others show a need for technical assistance that the family child care provider would receive. If necessary, more substantial intervention would occur if there are concerns about the health and safety of the children.
Currently, all violations are treated equally, creating confusion and unnecessary stress. Some providers have quit providing services due to the hyper-regulatory environment. Creating categories with appropriate correction for each one is being worked on in a work group I chair and there are 7 other assigned duties of the task force we are working on.
These largely women-owned small businesses that have successfully stayed open during Covid. They have extended their hours and cared for the children of health care workers, first responders, and law enforcement in addition to their regular clients.
Overall, the task force is looking for ways to limit bureaucratic involvement in our child care systems while still maintaining the best access to quality safe care. It is a balance that the task force strives for in all of our discussions. I believe we have made significant progress with several successful pieces of legislation but this task force is taking on some very large reforms that take a great deal of time and preparation.
As always, I look forward to hearing from you. Interim is a great time to get in touch with me and share any of your ideas or concerns about how these commissions work or suggestions for solutions I take all of your emails and calls seriously and want to make sure I am doing the best I can to address our district’s needs. Please contact me at sen.mary.kiffmeyer@senate.mn or 651-296-5655.
Mary Kiffmeyer
State Senator
District 30