SF 2061

1st Engrossment - 79th Legislature (1995 - 1996) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                             A resolution
  1.2             making a public apology to all persons with 
  1.3             developmental disabilities who have been involuntarily 
  1.4             committed to state institutions. 
  1.5      
  1.6      WHEREAS, past policies of the state of Minnesota resulted 
  1.7   in Minnesotans with developmental disabilities receiving 
  1.8   services which: 
  1.9      (1) did not fully demonstrate respect for the dignity and 
  1.10  autonomy of Minnesotans with developmental disabilities and 
  1.11  mental illness; 
  1.12     (2) fostered institutionalization and isolation of 
  1.13  Minnesotans with developmental disabilities rather than 
  1.14  facilitate independent living and community inclusion; and 
  1.15     (3) increased the likelihood that families would place or 
  1.16  commit children and adult family members with developmental 
  1.17  disabilities to state-sponsored institutions; and 
  1.18     WHEREAS, past policies of the state resulted in many 
  1.19  residents of these state institutions being buried in unmarked 
  1.20  graves or graves that bore only a number; and 
  1.21     WHEREAS, past policies of the state resulted in residents 
  1.22  of these state institutions being forced to labor without 
  1.23  compensation in systems that have since been ruled 
  1.24  unconstitutional or were allowed lives lacking purposeful 
  1.25  activity; and 
  2.1      WHEREAS, past policies of the state resulted in residents 
  2.2   of these state institutions being subjected to medical 
  2.3   experiments and procedures without their consent, including the 
  2.4   routine subjection of women residents to involuntary 
  2.5   sterilizations; and 
  2.6      WHEREAS, past policies of the state resulted in residents 
  2.7   of these state institutions being subjected to shock treatments, 
  2.8   frontal lobotomies, aversive drug therapies, isolation, and 
  2.9   pain-based treatment programs; and 
  2.10     WHEREAS, past policies of the state resulted in thousands 
  2.11  of children growing up in these state institutions enjoying none 
  2.12  of the comforts, joys, and cultural ways that are learned in 
  2.13  family life; and 
  2.14     WHEREAS, current policies seek to respect the dignity and 
  2.15  promote inclusion within the community of Minnesotans with 
  2.16  developmental disabilities; NOW, THEREFORE, 
  2.17     BE IT RESOLVED that the state of Minnesota acknowledges and 
  2.18  regrets its past policies regarding Minnesotans with 
  2.19  developmental disabilities.  
  2.20     This resolution is not an admission of liability and does 
  2.21  not restrict or expand any liability of the state under law.  
  2.22  The representations contained in this resolution shall not be 
  2.23  subject to discovery or admitted into evidence, nor shall they 
  2.24  constitute an admission, in any judicial or administrative 
  2.25  proceeding of any kind, for damages, injunctive relief or any 
  2.26  other purpose.