Quote of the Week: “Do I need to unmute myself?” Senator speaking into a microphone at a Senate hearing while also watching on a laptop.
Bill of the Week: H. F. 3626, A bill for an act relating to liquor; providing a definition of beer;
Noncompete Bill Advances
Legislation (HF999, Schultz, DFL-Duluth) to ban the use of noncompete contracts was approved on Wednesday in the House Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee. Persons earning under $75,000 and couples earning less than $94,000 would be protected from being forced to sign an employee contract in which they agree not to work for a competitor within a certain distance. Companies could impose noncompete clauses on employees making more than these amounts, but the employee would need to pay their employer half of their salary for two years if they leave for a competitor. The Senate companion bill is unlikely to be heard this session.
Health Care Worker Retirement Annuity Bill Approved
The House on Thursday passed legislation HF3136 (Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake) that requires payment of retirement annuities during employment as a health care worker. The bill allows a person who is receiving a retirement annuity and was employed by a public employer as a health care worker on or after March 13, 2020 to continue to receive the retirement annuity. The bill applies to city, county and state employees who worked in nursing homes, hospitals and other health care facilities during the COVID pandemic. The bill was passed unanimously by the Senate and nearly unanimously by the House.
OLA Faults Commerce Department
The Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) this week released a report finding deficiencies in the Department of Commerce’s insurance fraud policies. The report found the Department has typically investigated civil insurance fraud and unfair or deceptive insurance practices in a timely way, but it lacks comprehensive, written policies. The OLA expressed concern that the Enforcement Division focused on responding to allegation of insurance fraud or misconduct, rather than on preventing insurance fraud. The Division has also not adopted written policies to guide its investigations. The Consumer Service Center and Insurance Enforcement Team closed about 16,000 complaints in fiscal years 2017 – 2021. The report can be found here: https://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/ped/2022/cciccsum.htm
Schedule for the Week of February 28
Monday, February 28 - 1:00 p.m.
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy
Chair: Sen. Gary H. Dahms
Hybrid hearing: Room 123 Capitol and Livestream YouTube
Agenda:
S.F. 3472 Dahms
Minnesota premium security plan operation extension and money transfer.
Tuesday, March 1 - 3:00 p.m.
Committee on Commerce Finance and Policy
Chair: Rep. Zack Stephenson
Location: Remote Hearing
Agenda:
HF11 (Schultz); Transitional cost-sharing reduction, premium subsidy, small employers public option, and transitional health care credit established; MinnesotaCare eligibility expanded; premium scale modified; and recommendations required for alternative delivery and payment system.
-Discussion limited to sections 1, 2, 10, 12
HF3717 (Stephenson); Minnesota premium security plan operation extended, and money transferred.
Bill Introductions
Senator Fateh introduced--
SF3272: A bill for an act relating to insurance; modifying coverage for autism spectrum disorder; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 62A.3094, subdivision 2.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy.
Senator Dahms introduced--
S.F. No. 3338: A bill for an act relating to insurance; providing for modification or suspension of certain requirements in specific instances; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 61A.02, by adding a subdivision.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy.
Senator Weber introduced--
S.F. No. 3401: A bill for an act relating to taxation; individual income; creating an excess premium credit for health insurance; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 290.
Referred to the Committee on Taxes.
Senators Dahms, Utke, Benson, and Rosen introduced--
S.F. No. 3472: A bill for an act relating to state government; extending the operation of the Minnesota premium security plan; transferring money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 62E.23, subdivision 3; Laws 2017, chapter 13, article 1, section 15, as amended; Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 7, article 15, section 3.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy.
Senators Koran, Hoffman, and Draheim introduced--
S.F. No. 3551: A bill for an act relating to health insurance; requiring coverage for treatments related to ectodermal dysplasias; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 62A.25, subdivision 2; 62A.28, subdivision 2; 256B.0625, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 62A.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy.
NOTE: The House version of SF3551 was approved by the House Commerce Committee last week on a unanimous vote and sent to the Health Finance and Policy Committee.
Stephenson introduced--
H.F.3717: A bill for an act relating to state government; extending the operation of the Minnesota premium security plan; transferring money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 62E.23, subdivision 3; Laws 2017, chapter 13, article 1, section 15, as amended; Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 7, article 15, section 3.
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce Finance and Policy.
