Posted: 8/2/05
Higher wages, owl protection among new Minnesota laws
by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
Sixty-one new laws will take effect on Aug. 1, ranging from a 75 cents a pack cigarette fee increase to displaying of the American flag.
The stateís minimum wage, which hasnít been increased in about eight years, will increase for employees working for larger companies from $5.15 to $6.15 an hour ó for employees working for smaller companies making minimum wage, their pay will increase 35 cents an hour.
Itís estimated about 50,000 Minnesotans will get a salary increase under the minimum wage legislation, according to House Information Service.
An effort championed by staff at the Houston Nature Center will come to pass with the Great Horned Owl being designated a protected bird in Minnesota.
In the area of human services, besides Gov. Pawlentyís controversial healthcare impact fee ó the cigarette fee increase ó going into law, the so-called ìUnborn Child Pain Prevention Actî will require healthcare providers to inform women whether a painkiller would alleviate pain for a fetus during an abortion.
Another law will strike from state statute definitions like ìmentally retardedî or ìhandicapped personsî to definitions seen as less negative by disabled people.
Yet another law will allow high school students to take pain relievers such as Tyenol for minor ailments while in school.
A new law, carried by Sen. Don Betzold, DFL-Fridley, renders as useless any rental or homeowner association prohibitions against displaying the American flag or the Minnesota state flag.
Anyone denied the right to display a flag must file a lawsuit, which could result in an award of damages.
Rules pertaining to the size of flags that can displayed are unaffected by the law.
In the area of highway safety, speeders ticketed for speeding 20 mph or more over the posted speed limit will pay in fine an additional surcharge of at least $25.
If caught driving in excess of 100 mph, a motorists driverís license will be immediately revoked for six months.
In the area of crime, new laws can have dangerous, violent sex offenders locked up for life while other sex offenders can be given indeterminate sentences ó potential lifetime sentences unless proving they pose an acceptable risk in being let out.
To combat methamphetamine (meth), lawmakers passed a new law making it a felony to steal, purchase, or possess anhydrous ammonia with the intent of cooking meth.
Anhydrous ammonia is used as fertilizer, and farmersí supplies of the product are often the target of meth producers.
As of Aug 1, it will be a crime to knowingly provide a cop with false information. It will also be a crime to accuse an officer with misconduct when knowing that the allegation isnít true.
People found guilty of stealing gasoline can lose their driverís license for 30-days under the new laws.
The high-tech crime of ìphishing,î or using e-mail or the web to get personal information under false pretenses, will now carry a penalty of up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
One new law carried by Rep. Gregory Davids, R-Preston, holds landowners who allow people to go rock climbing or cave exploring on their property at no charge less responsible if someone engaged in these pursuits gets hurt.
Gov. Pawlenty vetoed the bill a year ago following the deaths of three teens exploring caves near the Mississippi River in St. Paul from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Caledonia Argus
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507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com