Governor Dayton today rolled out a nearly $15 million plan to better protect the health and safety of Minnesota seniors and vulnerable adults in care facilities. Dayton says the proposal strengthens and expands the rights of older Minnesotans and their families and creates a new licensing framework for assisted living and dementia care and increases the criminal and enforcement penalties when those rights are violated. Dayton says he takes responsibility and apologizes “to all the vulnerable adults and their families who’ve gone through this difficult time where we have not been fulfilling our responsibilities and where the providers have not been fulfilling their responsibilities.” The plan, which has bipartisan support–including from Republican Senator and Lieutenant Governor Michelle Fishbach, is the result of recommendations from the Office of the Legislative Auditor and an independent work group convened by A-A-R-P.