Capitol Review: Taxes, Drugs and a New Paramedic

Editor's note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they're voting, the bills they're writing and the issues they're getting behind. Come back to Burnsville Patch every week for a new Capitol Review.

Have a look at what Burnsville legislators have been doing recently:

Sen. Dan Hall (R-District 40) of Burnsville

Email: sen.dan.hall@senate.mn
Phone: 651-296-5975

Senator Hall was elected in 2010 and is serving his first term in office. He is the vice chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. He also serves on the committees for Health and Human Service and Judiciary Public Safety.

Authored a bill on controlled substances (SF1092)

The bill criminalizes the use of synthetic “analogue” substances. An analogue can be a stimulant, depressant or hallucinogenic but is not among those included on the DEA's list of illegal controlled substances. The bill was introduced Apr. 4.  

Co-authored a bill on charitable donations (SF1084)

The bill identifies and excludes certain types of transfers to qualified charitable or religious organizations from the Fraudulent Transfer Act. The bill was introduced on Apr. 4. 

Rep. Pam Myhra (R-District 40A) of Burnsville

Email: rep.pam.myhra@house.mn
Phone: 651-296-9895

Representative Myhra is a retired CPA and teacher. She serves on the committees for Capital Investment, Education Finance, Education Reform and Taxes.

Co-authored a bill on education finance (HF1040)

The bill allows an independent or special school district to petition government officials for additional funds to lease a building or parcel of land when it the district deems it educationally advantageous to do so. The bill was introduced on Mar. 10 but was revised and reintroduced yesterday.

Co-authored a bill on housing tax credits (HF1319)

The bill allows the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to allocate a housing tax credit to any qualified homeowner for a five-year period beginning Jan. 1, 2012. The bill was introduced on Mar. 28.

Elsewhere in the legislature: 

Representatives from Burnsville's surrounding communities have been busy as well. State Representative Joe Hoppe (R-Chaska) sponsored HF382, which lays out a framework for receiverships.

A recievership is the process where a court orders an outside party to take custodial responsibility of another person’s property. According to Hoppe, the bill aims to add conformity and guidance to the process. The House passed the bill 131-0 and it now moves to the Senate where Sen. Dave Thompson (R-Lakeville) is its sponsor.

State Representative Tara Mack (R-Apple Valley) and Senator Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont), are sponsoring bill that will allow emergency medical technicians (EMT) to be certified to expand their roles (HF262/ SF119) to help underserved communities.

The bill calls them “community paramedics” and allows them to monitor and treat patients with chronic disease and perform minor medical procedures intended to prevent ambulatory or emergency room services. The bill was passed overwhelmingly by both the House and Senate and is expected to move to the governor’s desk today or tomorrow.