SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Senator Karla Bigham (DFL – Cottage Grove) said that two of the bipartisan bills that she co-authored during the 2022 legislative session were signed into law by Governor Tim Walz on Monday. Following the ceremonial bill signing, Senator Karla Bigham released the following statement on the Student Data Privacy Act and the competency restoration reform law.
“The tech industry is leaps and bounds ahead of our data protections, but this law takes a big step forward to protect students’ privacy and prevent the sale of student data,” said Senator Karla Bigham. “Tech companies have no business profiting from the collection and sale of educational data. This bill not only prohibits companies from using educational data for commercial purposes, it will also go a long way in empowering parents with the information they need to understand their children’s educational curriculum and the software and technology that enables their learning.”
Governor Walz also signed into law a bill authored by Senator Bigham which closes a gap in the state’s criminal justice and mental health systems which has led to failures to properly treat and supervise those who have been deemed mentally unfit to stand trial.
“This sweeping mental health reform law will improve the safety of our communities, provide better treatment for those who are mentally ill, and establish a clear system to handle cases in which a defendant is deemed unfit to stand trial,” said Senator Karla Bigham. “I’d like to thank KARE 11 for their work to bring this issue to our attention, and the many families, stakeholders, and determined group of bipartisan legislators who worked together to get this done. Our state is safer thanks to those who stepped up to address this problem.”
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