Today Senator Zach Duckworth (R-Lakeville) presented legislation authorizing the creation of a specialty license plate for the Minnesota 100 Club, an organization dedicated to providing relief and support to assist fallen First Responders and their families. If enacted, SF1534 would allow contributions collected from sales of the license plates to be distributed to the Minnesota 100 Club to help further the organization’s mission and purpose.
“It’s an absolute honor to author this bill that supports the Minnesota 100 Club’s efforts to provide instant relief and aid to family members of First Responders who have sacrificed so much in the line of duty,” said Senator Duckworth. “We owe our First Responders and their loved ones a debt that we’ll never be able to fully repay – it’s important that we express our thanks and gratitude for the heroism they display every day on behalf our communities all across Minnesota.”
“One of the reasons Officer Matson has had such an incredible recovery is due to the support of Minnesota 100 Club,” said Senator John Jasinski (R-Faribault), a co-author of the bill. “These specialty plates are a great way to raise awareness of the tremendous work they do and, hopefully, allow us to help even more first responders.”
Organized in 1972, the Minnesota 100 Club was established in Minneapolis to provide instant relief and aid to family members of First Responders who were killed in the line of duty. With an increase of dangers facing First Responders every year, additional membership and support is crucial. Throughout its nearly 50 years of existence, the Club has paid benefits to hundreds of families of First Responders. The Minnesota 100 Club currently receives no public funding, and all donations must come from private individuals or organizations, making this bill crucial in developing an extra line of contributions.
Former Waseca Officer Arik Matson (who was injured in the line of duty in January, 2020) said, “We hope the legislature moves forward to pass this license plate for the MN 100 Club as it recognizes the important efforts of law enforcement.”
Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association Executive Director Brian Peters said, “We ask a lot of our public safety community and their families and this piece of legislation is a sign of the commitment we hold to those who work every day to make our communities safer.”
Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) Executive Director Jim Mortenson said, “Public safety officials face considerable danger in their day-to-day work. This license plate is a way to recognize their efforts on behalf of the citizens of Minnesota.”
Minnesota 100 Club Executive Director Julianne Ortman said, “For nearly 50 years, the Minnesota 100 Club has had just one mission: to support the families of Minnesota First Responders who have been killed or critically injured in the line of duty. The Minnesota 100 Club steps in right away to help these families at a time of unthinkable tragedy. These license plates will invite Minnesotans from all over the State to join in this mission and stand with the brave men and women who risk their lives to protect us.”
This bill passed through the Senate Transportation Committee with bipartisan support and will now head to the Senate Finance Committee, and then to the Senate Floor.