The $1.4 million budget cut proposed by House Republicans would force the Department of Human Rights to lay off 18 people or 40 percent of its total staff

The layoffs and cuts would severely undermine the ability of the Department of Human Rights to investigate allegations of discrimination

House Republicans have targeted the Department of Human Rights for a cut despite a $329 million overall budget surplus

ST. PAUL, MN – Governor Mark Dayton today strongly urged Republicans in the Minnesota House of Representatives to reconsider ill-conceived and unwarranted budget cuts to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. The $1.4 million in proposed budget cuts amount to more than 30 percent of the Department of Human Right’s annual budget. If enacted, the Department would be forced to lay-off 18 people, amounting to 40 percent of its total staff. These cuts would severely undermine the ability of the Department of Human Rights to investigate allegations of discrimination.

“These budget cuts are unnecessary and completely unwarranted. They would severely undermine the State of Minnesota’s ability to protect people from discrimination in our communities, and in our workplaces,” said Governor Dayton. “I cannot comprehend why Republican legislators would push this destructive legislation. Last year, we agreed to a two-year budget for the Department of Human Rights and all other state agencies. I have made it very clear: I will veto any bill that cuts previously-established state agency budgets.”

One of Minnesota’s smallest state agencies, the Department of Human Rights already has ten fewer employees than it did in 1996. Despite its size, the Department is charged with investigating discrimination complaints, enforcing the state’s equal pay and employment statutes, and working to alleviate discrimination and disparate outcomes in society. 

“The actions of the Legislature to reduce funding to the Department is especially shortsighted given the growing concerns being expressed to address sexual harassment and to ensure that all have meaningful economic opportunities to succeed,” said Human Rights Commissioner Kevin Lindsey. “The promise of our state and our country can only be fully recognized if we are clear by our words and actions that all are welcome in our society. The Department plays an important role in educating Minnesotans about our rights and responsibilities, creating opportunities for all, fostering community dialog, and constructively impacting systems that lead to disparate outcomes.”

A Clear Need for Human Rights Enforcement

In 1967, Republican Governor Harold LeVander and the Minnesota Legislature created the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. Now, five decades later, the need for the Department persists. Rising intolerance and societal tensions, punctuated by high-profile examples such as the Bloomington mosque bombing, anti-Semitic graffiti on college campuses, and other acts of discrimination, underscore the need for a fully-staffed Department of Human Rights. 

Empowering the Department of Human Rights

Since taking office, Governor Dayton has empowered the Minnesota Department of Human Rights to aggressively fulfill its mission of protecting the rights of all Minnesotans. The Governor also has worked with the Minnesota Legislature to reverse budget cuts that left the Department of Human Rights unable to carry out its mission. 

·         Increased Funding for Department of Human Rights – Tthe previous administration cut funding for the Department of Human Rights by $1.2 million, or 15 percent. These cuts undermined the ability of the Department to efficiently and effectively investigate allegations of discrimination charges. Since taking office, Governor Dayton has advocated for regional offices and worked to restore the Department of Human Rights’ budget by investing an additional $2.3 million in its operations. This amounts to a 34 percent increase and has allowed the agency to take on additional duties, including operating a St. Cloud regional office, and enforcing of the Women’s Economic Security Act and Ban the Box law. 

·         Increased Number of Investigations by 250 Percent – Since 2011, the Department has worked to aggressively investigate discrimination in the workplace. In the first four years of the Dayton Administration, the Department investigated 2,700 cases. During the previous four years (2006-2010), the Department investigated only 1,080 cases. 

·         Reduced Discrimination Investigation Times by 32 Percent – Under the Dayton Administration, the Department of Human Rights has reduced investigation times by 32 percent, helping to ensure that Minnesotans receive justice in a timely manner. Before 2011, it took 430 days—more than a year—for complaints to be investigated. Thanks to reforms implemented by the agency, complaint investigations now only take 290 days to complete.

·         Increased Workplace Audits by 3,200 Percent – The Department of Human Rights has completed more than 500 workforce certificate audits since 2011. These audits help ensure that contractors are providing equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities, women, and people of color on public works projects. This is a 3,200 percent increase over the previous administration.

·         Streamlined Workforce Certificate Process – The agency streamlined its workforce certificate application process. Thanks to these process improvement, the wait time for contractors was reduced from 30 days to less than 10 days, a 66 percent improvement.

·         Increased Opportunities for Employers to Address Workforce Shortage – Since 2013, the Department has participated in hundreds of presentations discussing ban the box and collateral consequences and has worked with more than 200 employers to modify their employment applications and pre-hire materials to ensure fair chance opportunities. 

·         Expand Opportunities in Construction – The Department increased construction workforce participation goals for people of color in the seven county metropolitan area on state and major metropolitan agency projects. On construction projects monitored by the Department, the percentage of hours worked on construction projects by people of color between 2011 and 2016 rose from slightly more than 11 percent to 27 percent in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties and from 11 percent to 18 percent in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Scott, and Washington Counties.

·         Launched Consumer-Friendly Website and Hotline – In 2011, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights streamlined the intake charge process resulting in a reduction of 66 days to complete an administrative charge. In 2016, the Department added foreign language hotlines to assist citizens, business owners and other members of the public. The hotline has served more than 80 Minnesotans with over 32 hours of calls since July 2016. Additionally, the Department’s Spanish speaking enforcement officer took about 480 calls from Minnesotans whose primary language is Spanish. In 2016, the Department also redesigned its website to increased efficiency and improve user navigability.

Recent Incidents of Alleged Discrimination in Minnesota

Below is a list of recent news stories, describing alleged acts of discrimination in Minnesota on the bases of race, religion, gender, and more.

·         Star Tribune – Three men arrested in Illinois case are charged with Bloomington mosque bombing

·         Star Tribune – Guilty plea entered in assault with beer mug on Muslim woman at Coon Rapids Applebee's

·         City Pages – St. Cloud is the worst place in Minnesota to be Somali

·         Star Tribune – Anti-Semitic posters surface at University of Minnesota

·         Associated Press – Threats to Minnesota Jewish centers investigated as hate crimes, feds say

·         Star Tribune – University of Minnesota police investigate flier with two swastikas posted on campus

·         Star Tribune – Twin Cities Jewish community shaken by rising anti-Semitism

·         MinnPost – Anti-Semitic incidents spark worries of a trend

·         St. Cloud Times – Minnesota has seen its own rise in hate, clashes before Charlottesville

·         St. Cloud Times – Swastika graffiti discovered at North Junior High School

·         Star Tribune – Swastikas, anti-Arab markings under investigation at Macalester

·         Star Tribune – Shooting of Muslim men will be investigated as possible hate crime

·         Star Tribune – Stabbing suspect attacks man on street, tells police he hates Muslims

·         Detroit Lakes Tribune – After Moorhead Muslim woman harassed over hijab, some say treatment is common

·         Associated Press – CAIR-MN Calls On Minnesotans To Fight Bigotry And Hate

·         St. Cloud Times – Cab passenger charged with hate crime, assault of Somali driver

·         KARE 11 – Threat to Somali woman investigated as hate crime

·         KEYC – Vandalism At Islamic Center Causing Concerns

·         Huffington Post – Muslim Teen Finds Note At Mosque Reading ‘F**k Islam’

·         MPR News – Muslim leaders: Wash. Co. 5th-grader threatened Somali child with air gun

·         WCCO – Minnesota DPS Revokes Anti-Muslim License Plate, Deemed Offensive

·         Pioneer Press – Minnesota restaurant owner takes heat for ‘Muslims Get Out’ sign

·         Star Tribune – Anti-Muslim billboard posted near St. Cloud taken down

·         U.S. Dept. of Justice – Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime for Mailing Threatening Letter to Islamic Center

·         Star Tribune – Fear stalks Minnesota Muslims as anti-Islam feeling builds

·         Star Tribune – Minn. man charged in firebombing of Somali restaurant in Grand Forks