Today in a public signing ceremony, Governor Mark Dayton signed Chapter 175, Senate File 1586 which makes the intentional abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults a felony crime. The new law also includes a provision that will toughen criminal penalties for parents who use restraints to abuse and harm a child.

Governor Dayton was joined by a bipartisan group of legislators, agency commissioners and a diverse group of activists who worked to pass this bill:

• Commissioner Ed Ehlinger, Minnesota Department of Health

• Commissioner Lucinda Jesson, Minnesota Department of Human Services

• Senator Warren Limmer

• Senator Dan Sparks

• Representative Steve Gottwalt

• Representative Jeanne Poppe

• Representative Debra Hilstrom

• Representative Joyce Peppin

• Representative Patti Fritz

• Mike Freeman, Hennepin County Attorney

• Tony Palumbo, Anoka County Attorney

• Sheriff Terese Amazi, Mower County

• Iris Freeman, Center for Elder Justice and Policy, William Mitchell College of Law

• Dr. Lowery Johnson, State President, AARP

• Rick Varco, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota

• Bernie Hesse, UFCW Local 1189

• Linda Hamilton, President, Minnesota Nurses Association

• Toby Pearson, Care Providers of Minnesota

• Darrell Shreve, Aging Services of Minnesota

• Jennifer Sorensen, Executive Director, Minnesota HomeCare Association