May 10, 2016 The Honorable Sen. Rod Skoe 95 University Avenue West Minnesota Senate Building, Room 3211 Saint Paul, MN 55155 Cc:
Sen. Ann Rest (chief author) Sen. Barb Goodwin, Sen. Dan Hall, Sen. John Marty, Sen. Paul Gazelka (co-authors)
Dear Sen. Skoe: As a father of a stillborn child and vice board chair of the Star Legacy Foundation, I am pleased that the $2,000 refundable tax credit for families of stillborn children is included in the supplemental omnibus tax bill. Thousands of families across the state are paying close attention and hoping that Minnesota will be the fifth state in the nation to pass this important legislation. Approximately 500 Minnesota families experience this heartbreaking tragedy each year. Because they never took a breath, stillborn children are not recognized as people by insurance companies, so families must fully pay for autopsy costs if they want to learn how and why the stillbirth happened. A child born alive qualifies for a tax exemption, even if the child dies soon after birth. Parents of stillborn children accept the burden of many financial costs, including preparing for the arrival of the child, funeral expenses, time away from work, and counseling. These expenses add up to thousands of dollars – often reaching totals as high as $15,000. But this bill is about more than money; it's about acknowledging the families who go home from the hospital emptyhanded and suffer in silence. Four states have recently passed laws allowing an income tax credit for parents of stillborn children – Missouri, Indiana, Michigan and Arizona. Minnesota is known for being a national leader in stillbirth advocacy, and we have the opportunity to uphold that reputation by passing this bill. Please do not hesitate to share this letter to your colleagues on the Senate floor. On behalf of all Minnesota families of stillborn children, I respectfully urge you to help make this bill become a reality. Sincerely,
Chris Duffy Star Legacy Foundation Board Vice Chair Resident of New Brighton, MN