On Tuesday, we passed a significant jobs, labor, and energy bill that focuses on first responders, increasing agency transparency, updating wage theft laws, funding frontline worker bonus pay, and moving Minnesota energy forward. The legislation also includes funding of a study on the current benefits to support the families of permanently disabled police officers, firefighters, and troopers. Additionally, the bill incorporates funding for experimental mental health therapy for first responders dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. After the past two years we’ve had, we’re focused on supporting our workforce, encouraging economic growth, and helping to keep energy more affordable.
Jobs and Labor
Notably, this bill includes a one-time disbursement of $250 million for the Frontline Worker Bonus Pay program. The language specifically covers first responders or other emergency frontline workers that performed frontline services, such as law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, ambulance personnel, corrections officers, and long-term or other health care frontline workers.
Other key jobs committee provisions included in the bill:
- Requirement for the Department of Economic and Economic Development (DEED) to report Unemployment Insurance (UI) fraud
- Stipulate that DEED must prioritize job training programs/grants for high-demand careers
- Non-profits receiving DEED grants are required to disclose employee compensation
- Updates to Wage Theft laws
This bill does not include burdensome mandates, expensive new programs, or excessive regulations on businesses.
Energy
The provisions on energy are a measured, thoughtful approach to the state’s energy needs. They include additional funding for Solar on Schools, repealing the moratorium on new nuclear-powered electric generating plants, and securitization for weather events for natural gas utilities.
Other key provisions included in the bill:
- Funding to conduct an advanced nuclear feasibility study to bring modern, clean nuclear as an option for the state’s energy needs
- Protect consumers from price spikes due to polar vortex weather by allowing utilities to spread out the energy costs through financing
- Repeals the sunset of a provision that allowed utilities to raise rates without going to the Public Utilities Commission, ensuring transparency and protecting consumers
- Prohibition of political subdivisions from banning or preventing natural gas connections as one of the most affordable and reliable energy sources
- Sets forth a state carbon capture policy
The legislation passed in the Senate on a vote of 38-27 with bipartisan support.