Sun Sailor – Published June 2, 2015 at 4:46 pm
Rep. Cheryl Youakim scored a victory in her first year in office.
Only 1.67 percent of bills introduced during the 2015 regular session of the Minnesota Legislature became law – the lowest percentage and number in state history, according to the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. However, Youakim (DFL-Hopkins) succeeded in winning broad support for her bill to create a working group to study a “Silver Alert” system.
The task force would consider a method to quickly communicate information on missing senior citizens with such impairments as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or a traumatic brain injury.
The Minnesota House of Representatives approved her bill 129-0 during a May 12 vote. The Senate version, sponsored by Sen. Kathy Sheran (DFL-Mankato), cleared the Minnesota Senate in April on a 59-4 vote. Gov. Mark Dayton signed the bill into law May 14.
“Like many Minnesota families, ours struggled with caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s who was still living in their home,” Youakim said. “With the state’s demographic shift, we will have more and more families dealing with loved ones aging in place. I want to make sure that we have their backs.”
After the Minnesota House approved the bill, Youakim posted a photo on Twitter of her giving a thumbs-up sign in front of a board filled with green lights representing yes votes. The Silver Alert working group legislation became her first bill passed out of the House, she said in the tweet.
Her eight years working as a staff member at the Capitol helped her promote her bill to study the Silver Alert system, she said during the session.
“I knew who to go to in the Senate to get it passed and which committees it would go to,” Youakim said.
She worked with a Republican to ensure the bill received its initial hearing, Youakim noted.
“You need to work across the aisle,” she said.
A Silver Alert system has been effective in other states, Youakim said. The alerts operate similar to the Amber Alert system for missing children. Electronic boards on highways would communicate the information. The working group would establish criteria for using a Silver Alert system.
She said the concept is important to her because her grandmother died after living with Alzheimer’s disease and her grandfather endured dementia before his death.
“We always worried about if she got out of the house,” Youakim said of her grandmother. “It’s a very common issue for many people taking care of loved ones.”
Sheran said in a statement promoting the bill during the session, “We know that six in 10 individuals with dementia will wander during their illness. Minnesota is one of only 15 states in the U.S. that does not have a Silver Alert or similar system to address this issue.”
Sheran added, “I’m eager to establish a Silver Alert Workgroup here so that we can work toward addressing this significant health and safety concern for individuals living with dementia and other cognitive disabilities.”
Youakim moved from the Hopkins City Council to the Minnesota House of Representatives after winning election last fall. She replaced former Rep. Steve Simon, who won election to become Minnesota Secretary of State.
In her statement, Youakim noted she may be reached about any legislative issue at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn or 651-296-9889.
Contact Seth Rowe at seth.rowe@ecm-inc.com.
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