House Minority Leader Paul Thissen on Monday urged legislators give approval to a bill that would require some potential laws have reports prepared to show how they would affect minority populations.
In a letter to Gov. Mark Dayton, who has requested a special session to deal with a handful of issues including black poverty and unemployment, Thissen said there is already previous legislation ready to be considered.
"The dispariaties impact note would be an analysis... of whether proposed legislation would increase or decrease the differences in economic, employment, health, education, or public safety otucomes between the state population as a whole and subgroups of the population defined by by socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, age, gender, disability, or geography."
He added: "[T]he legislation will enhance the quality of the information we receive regarded the status of all Minnesotans in our state, which itself will lead to better policy outcomes."
Thissen said racial disparities are too broad to tackle in a single special session, and he urged the topic become a "top priority for the upcoming regular session."
Legislators will begin discussing the topics this month, and Dayton has said he wants to know by Jan. 8 whether legislators will agree to a special session. Though only the governor can call for a session, it can only be concluded by legislators.
