State Rep. Brita Sailer

Column

Minnesota House of Representatives                            Contact: Christina Gosack

District 2B (651) 296-4265                                                                                                             (651) 296-5524

327 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155                                                   Christina.Gosack@house.mn

                                                                                                                                               December 30, 2005

NEW STATE LAWS GO INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1, 2006

A new state law will require meth cooks to pay for the cost of their crimes to taxpayers. This is just one of the laws passed during the 2005 Session and signed into law by the governor that go into effect this week.

Beginning January 1, 2006, meth cooks may have to pay for the clean up of their labs. The new law states that people convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine may be required to pay restitution to police and fire departments for the cost of meth lab response and cleanup. Meth manufacture creates toxic by-products and raids and lab cleanup can cost counties thousands of dollars. Meth lab cleanup, along with meth-related incarceration, prosecution and child welfare costs, is putting an enormous burden on rural counties in Minnesota. This new law is one of a number of policies we put in place last session to respond to the meth epidemic, and should help alleviate some of the cost of these crimes to taxpayers.

Under another new law going into effect this week, MinnesotaCare, the state health program for adults whose jobs don't provide health benefits, now covers supplies and equipment for self-monitoring diabetes for adults without children.  While this may seem like a technicality, it came to my attention this past year because of a community member who couldn't get coverage for needed equipment, and was forced to quit school and go back to work full-time to afford the care he needed to manage his condition. With this new provision in place, he'll be able to maintain his health and remain in school part time so he can get a good job and will no longer need state health insurance. In addition, the $5,000 cap on MinnesotaCare benefits for adults without children was lifted January 1^st. The cap had prevented some individuals from getting treatment for life-threatening illnesses such as cancer.

Another new law effective January 1^st requires businesses to let Minnesota residents know if there has been a security breach putting their personal data at risk. The law change comes in the wake of several high-profile security breaches at commercial data companies across the country. Once you have been notified that you may be at risk to identity theft, you can take steps such as checking your credit report and closely monitoring your accounts to determine whether you have been a victim.

Finally, a law put in place this week will prohibit drivers under the age of 18 from talking on their cell phones while driving a car, except in the case of an emergency. Teenagers must now pull over to make a call, even if they are using a hands-free device. Evidence shows that inexperienced drivers are already more distracted while driving. Hopefully, the new ban on cell phones for teen drivers will lead to fewer accidents and safer roads.

If you have comments or questions on these or any other legislative issues, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached at 327 State Office Building, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155; toll free at (800) 920-5867; at home at (218) 732-4562; or by e-mail at rep.brita.sailer@house.mn.

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