ST. PAUL — Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, was appointed by House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, to the newly-created Legislative Task Force on Child Protection Thursday, according to a press release. The task force, which was created as a part of the Health and Human Services omnibus bill signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton in May, will review efforts to implement recommendations from the governor’s Task Force on the Protection of Children and explore additional efforts to improve Minnesota’s child protection laws.

Bennett is joined on the task force by Rep. Tom Anzelc, DFL-Balsam Township, who was also appointed this week, as well as the four current members of the governor’s task force, Rep. Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls; Rep. Joe Mullery, DFL-Minneapolis; Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Vernon Center; and Sen. Kathy Sheran, DFL-Mankato. Two additional members from the Senate majority and minority caucuses will be appointed by Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook.

Bennett issued the following statement regarding her appointment:

“I’m truly honored to have been appointed to this task force and am excited for the opportunity to review and build upon the bipartisan child protection reforms passed last session,” Bennett said. “We need strong schools and effective child protection efforts in place to make sure every child is safe from harm and is able to reach their full potential. I’ve spent my career working to educate and lift up our youngest learners, and hope to apply my many years of teaching experience to our work on this very important issue.”

“As a retired elementary school teacher, Representative Bennett brings a unique and helpful perspective to this task force,” added Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls. “Teachers and school workers are some of the best eyes and ears in working with young children and helping to identify and prevent child abuse at home. We must look at every aspect—from the counties to the schools and everywhere in between—to make sure no child falls through the cracks.”

Kresha was appointed to the Governor’s Task Force on the Protection of Children when it was first formed in the fall of 2014, and worked on multiple pieces of legislation to implement task force recommendations that were ultimately signed into law by Dayton during the 2015 session.

The legislative task force is expected to begin meetings next month, and is tasked with issuing a report to the legislature and the governor Feb. 1, 2016, on progress of implemented recommendations and changes to the child protection system, as well as recommendations for additional legislative action.