Tim Sanders

Summer is in full swing, and I hope you are enjoying all of the great events and activities this season has to offer. And although government is probably not the first thing you’re thinking of these days, as your representative I wanted to take a moment to update you on new laws passed during the 2010 session and taking effect August 1.

As always, please contact me with your questions or concerns on any state legislative issue. It is a privilege to serve you and our community, and bring the voice and values of Blaine to St. Paul.

Three years ago, Kansas teenager Kelsey Smith was abducted and murdered. Officials and her family were unable to find Kesley for three days, until finally her parents compelled the family’s cell phone provider to release her phone’s location. Federal law allows — but does not require — that the companies provide that information.

In hopes of preventing more tragic stories like Kelsey’s, The Kelsey Smith Act requires cell phone service providers to disclose customers’ call location in emergency situations, as well as in cases where an individual is missing and at risk of death or serious physical harm.

The law also addresses issues of privacy by requiring that the law enforcement agency seeking the data submit a written request, and that service providers establish protocols to respond to requests in emergency situations.

Alcohol-related accidents make up one-third of all traffic deaths in Minnesota each year. Preventing these tragedies is always a priority in our community, and a new law aims to boost that effort by requiring ignition interlock devices in the vehicles of certain DWI offenders. As Governor Pawlenty said, this legislation shows Minnesota is serious about preventing drunk-driving accidents and improving the safety of our state’s roadways.

Under fears that new tobacco products could lure young adults and children, a new law expands the definition of tobacco products to include nicotine strips and “Tic-Tac” style nicotine orbs, and regulates these products as cigarettes and cigars. The law also applies to electronic cigarettes and candy- or fruit-flavored “little cigars.” The law makes it a petty misdemeanor for those under the age of 18 to possess, purchase or attempt to purchase these non-tobacco nicotine products.

In these challenging economic times, home-grown Minnesota businesses don’t deserve to be undercut by out-of-state scammers. It is now illegal for out-of-state companies to misrepresent their location in phone directories, print ads and on the Internet.

The law addresses a scam in which out-of-state companies place ads pretending to be Minnesota-based companies, overcharging Minnesota customers then transferring the orders to actual Minnesota companies and keeping the difference as profit. Practitioners have targeted the floral and locksmith industries in particular. This new law aims to protect consumers, small businesses and local economies from such deceptive business practices.

Consumers will now have more choice when it comes to phone, cable and internet service providers. Effective August 1, it becomes easier for telephone companies to offer “triple-play” services — voice, video and Internet — by letting local governments grant cable franchises to companies that already provide phone services within a given area.

Minnesota law requires diesel fuel contain a certain percentage of biodiesel. After many reports from drivers of blends “gelling up” in extremely low temperatures, a new law allows the Department of Commerce to lift the mandate on the state’s biodiesel content requirement between October and March. This flexibility will help ensure that diesel blends stand up to the demands of colder temperatures during winter months, and help prevent problems previously experienced by Minnesota drivers.

High-speed internet is becoming an increasingly important part of commerce, economic activity and education. As a national leader in technology efforts, Minnesota intends to provide every resident the ability to access high-speed broadband Internet service by 2015. A new law established high-speed goals for the state including:

The law stems from the work of the Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task Force, which spent two years researching a strategy for expanding broadband Internet service throughout the state.

Our veterans and armed service members protect our freedom and way of life, putting this country and all of us ahead of themselves. To recognize their courage and sacrifice, the legislature established May 28 as Veterans of Foreign Wars Day in Minnesota. The date coincides with the founding of the VFW on May 28, 1899. It provides all of us one more way to say thank you and recognize our veterans.