This is a summary only. To receive full legislative updates on a biweekly basis, you must be a member of MNAAP. The emails provide additional details about legislative issues that are not posted on our website and are for members only.
- Governor Dayton unveiled his biennial budget on January 26, and it included a renewed focus on mental health, particularly in adolescents and young people. MNAAP has set as one of its key priorities to improve access to mental health services for children and adolescents. The $42 billion, two year budget calls for investment in school-based mental health programming, four additional psychiatric residencies slots, and additional mental health crisis services. Legislators in the DFL-led Senate and GOP-controlled House are expected to announce their own budget proposals early next month after the February budget forecast is announced.
- Immunization Exemptions Under New Bill. MNAAP is supporting efforts of the Minnesota Childhood Immunization Coalition to tighten vaccine exemptions in Minnesota.
- Make sure to mark your calendar for the 2015 Pediatrician’s Day at the Capitol set for March 18, 2015. This important event is one of the key pieces of our advocacy effort, and your participation is important and impactful. Visit the MNAAP’s website for more information and to register.
- A bill to require additional physical education classes and benchmarks for students was considered in the Senate Education Committee. Under the bill, all state public and charter schools would be required to adopt new grade-specific benchmarks for physical education as defined by the national standards. The bill further requires minimum credits of both elective and mandatory physical education credits starting in ninth grade. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a larger policy bill to be considered later in the legislative session.
