Newsmakers: Rep. Ginny Klevorn Discusses Assisted Living Safety, Fraud Prevention, and More
Rep. Ginny Klevorn, DFL-Plymouth, is advancing several bills this legislative session, and in this Newsmakers lightning round, we highlighted a few of them.
No Lift, No Touch Bill HF3935
The “No Lift No Touch” consumer protection bill would require training, notification of emergency procedures, and an emergency plan at assisted living facilities.
“We did have a local resident who died of asphyxiation while the staff were standing around waiting for 911 responders to arrive,” said Klevorn. “Hopefully this will prevent deaths in the future and limit 911 calls to assisted living, and get training knowledge and procedures in place for family members.”
The bill has bipartisan support, and Klevorn says there’s thoughtful input from care providers, family members and advocates.
Fraud Withholding Bill HF3621
Fighting fraud has been a consistent theme this legislative session, and Klevorn is supporting a bill that would help stop payments on contracts if an agency has a credible allegation.
“What we have seen is that sometimes these bad actors have multiple contracts in place and this would allow the other agencies to check and stop payment,” said Klevorn. “It’s a really good fraud prevention measure.”
Owner of Firearms Required to Have Liability Insurance HF3938
Gun violence is also in the spotlight this year at the state capitol. Klevorn has proposed a bill that would require gun owners to have liability insurance.
“My bill is really about accidental or unintentional harm with guns,” said Klevorn. “So if you are a renter, you would have the same protections that a homeowner currently has in their policy. This would allow if there’s an unintentional discharge of a firearm, you would have liability insurance which would cover the cost of a harm to any individual who is harmed unintentionally.”
Klevorn says the conversation around this bill has involved insurance agencies.
Legislation Underway to Memorialize Speaker Emerita Hortman
Klevorn wore “Hortman Green” to the Newsmakers interview and says she’s supportive of efforts underway to memorialize Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman.
“Yesterday we had a full green board on the solar garden bill being renamed for Melissa Hortman, which was awesome,” said Klevorn. “In state government yesterday, we were able to get the renaming of the renovated state office building out of committee on a full bipartisan vote so I’m very happy about that as well.”
Klevorn is the chief author on the bill to rename the State Office building for Hortman, which is HF3455.
Increased Penalties for Impersonating a Police Officer HF3404
Klevorn is also the chief author of a bill that would increase penalties for an individual impersonating a police officer.
This bill came out of the events of June 14, where an individual impersonating a police officer came to the homes of legislators, resulting in the death of Hortman and her husband Mark and serious injuries to Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, and his wife, Yvette.
The gunman impersonating an officer also came to the home of Rep. Kristin Bahner, DFL-Maple Grove, and CCX Media interviewed her about this bill recently on Newsmakers.
The bill would also ban the use of marking and items generally associated with a law enforcement vehicle from being used to impersonate a police officer.
