Rep. Gail Kulick Jackson, DFL-Milaca, was outraged when she read a story in the Star Tribune in February about a chiropractor getting his license back six years after being convicted of criminal sexual conduct with patients. This week her bill to make that much tougher passed both the House and Senate and is likely to be signed into law by Gov. TIm Pawlenty.
"Start to finish, it took three months. It took longer than that to get into office," said Jackson, who ran three times in five years for the seat she finally won in November.
Jackson said following that long road to the Capitol taught her a thing or two about patience with the political process. But in the last few months she's learned that having key allies and a good idea can make things happen fast in the legislature.
She credited Republican Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, and the state chiropractors association, for being the "cheerleaders" it took to generate bi-partisan support for the bill, which would prohibit the state board from granting a chiropractor's license to anyone who has had a criminal sexual conduct conviction for a minimum of 10 years after the person completes supervision, and would make it impossible if the crime involved a patient.
Jackson said she hopes to use the bill as a template for other health-care professions.
--BIll McAuliffe
