Minnesota’s Department of Human Services Commissioner Plans to Continue Program Reforms

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _  The head of Minnesota's Department of Human Services says she's long asserted that the state's civil commitment program for sex offenders is constitutional.

Human Services Commissioner Emily Piper says she's pleased the U.S. Supreme
Court declined to take up the matter, and that she expects ongoing reforms to the program to continue.

Piper also says she expects to still seek money for less restrictive housing for offenders.

When asked whether it will be a harder sell to get lawmakers to pay for more housing options for offenders now that the court won't be enforcing changes, Piper said: ``I expect them to do their job.''