Bonding bill held; K-12 committee discusses budget

Yesterday at the Capitol

As reported yesterday afternoon, lawmakers held back the bonding bill in order to try and reach a compromise. House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, said legislative rules allow the speaker to return the House file to the Senate, because no one has signed the bill. Legislators have until Thursday to reconsider the bill. Lawmakers can then send the bill back to conference committee, otherwise it heads to the governor.

The House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight committee discussed teaching proposals in Minnesota's Race to the Top application in a hearing yesterday. Dept. of Education Commissioner Alice Seagren told committee members that the attorney general has certified that the state’s Race to the Top application for $330 million in federal grants is not in conflict with state law. Some committee members however had a different opinion.

Committee Chair, Rep. Carlos Mariani, DFL-St. Paul, said that state statute precedes grant proposals, and as state legislators, it’s important to pay attention to legislators' allegiance and ownership over Minnesota law.

Also meeting yesterday was the House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division to learn more about the governor's recommended cuts to workforce and economic development. Committee members learned that Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s supplemental budget plan includes $10.3 million in cuts to the Department of Employment and Economic Development, or DEED. Combined with unallotments made last year, the governor’s plan equates to a 4.8 percent cut to the agency’s budget.

The impact of the cuts would affect organizations and programs that receive funding through DEED grants, including the Extended Employment Program and the Job Skills Partnership Program.

Today at the Capitol

8:30 AM
House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF2751 (Morgan) Students who do not pass the reading and language arts GRAD allowed to retake the test in paper-and-pencil format.
HF3043 (Kalin) Computer-adaptive assessments provided for general education students.
HF3069 (Kath) Board of Teaching directed to incorporate professional reflection and growth in best teaching practices into its renewal requirements for a continuing teaching license.

8:30 AM
Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division - Subcommittee on Arts Education
Chair: Sen. Dan Skogen
Room 112 Capitol
Agenda:
Update on art and education to the E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division

10:30 AM
House Bioscience and Workforce Development Policy and Oversight Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tim Mahoney
Agenda: HF2946 (Kalin) Public infrastructure for bioscience businesses expanded to include clean energy businesses.
HF2837 (Knuth) "Green economy" definition amended to include the concept of
"green chemistry".

2:45 PM
House K-12 Education Finance Division
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF664 (Welti) Mental health model curriculum created.
HF2814 (Swails) Pupil transportation provisions modified, certain lift buses included in category of revenue authorized reimbursement, and contracted transportation costs included as a method for allocating pupil transportation costs.
HF3022 (Tillberry) Legislative intent clarified, and language added to the collaborative urban educator appropriation.

3:00 PM
Senate State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Ann H. Rest
Agenda:
S.F. 2386-Metzen: Labor agreements and compensation plans ratification.
S.F. 2188-Betzold: State webmaster position establishment and appointment; state chief information officer and standards, guidelines, and report development requirements.
S.F. 2354-Betzold: Data practices and open meetings violations administrative remedies and civil penalties.

Looking Ahead

Thursday, February 25

8:30 AM
House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF3074 (Slocum) Board of Teaching allowed to approve innovative, research-based teacher and preparation and licensure programs.
HFXXXX (Mariani) Alternative teacher preparation program and limited-term teacher license established.
Meeting Documents: HFXXXX (Mariani) Alternative teacher preparation program and limited-term teacher license established.

8:30 AM
Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
Agenda:
S.F. 2716-Saltzman: Charter school provisions modifications; charter schools facilities commission establishment and credit enhancement account creation.

8:30 AM
House State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Gene Pelowski
Agenda: HF2899 (Pelowski) Data practices and open meetings law violations provided an administrative remedy, civil penalties provided, and money appropriated.
HF440 (Eken) Executive officer, judge, or legislator required to be elected by a majority of the votes cast at the general election for the office, and constitutional amendment proposed.

10:30 AM
House in Session

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

12:30 PM
Senate Education Budget and Policy Division
Chair: Sen. Sandra L. Pappas
Room 123 Capitol
Agenda: OLA report on the Office of the Chancellor
S.F. 2425-Erickson Ropes: Higher education private data disclosure provision modification.
S.F. 2446-Rest: Transitions plan for high school students to successfully pursue postsecondary education and employment implementation appropriation.

1:00 PM *Note change in agenda*
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: University of Minnesota Budget Hearing
Richard Pfutzenreuter, Vice President Budget and Finance

3:00 PM
Senate Agriculture and Veterans Budget and Policy Division
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Jim Vickerman
Agenda:
S.F. 2341-Bonoff: Deceased veteran surviving spouse and children higher education benefits residency requirement elimination.
S.F. 2632-Marty: Beverage production in basements modification.
S.F. 2744-Skoe: Biodiesel minimum content requirement exemption for number 1 diesel fuel.
S.F. 755-Koch: Horses and equines definition clarification.
S.F. 2664-Ingebrigtsen: Bronze star veterans motor vehicle license plates authorization.
S.F. 2465-Vickerman: Temporary livestock production input lien allowance following a mediation request.

3:30 PM
House State Government Finance Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Phyllis Kahn
Agenda: Executive Budget Officers presenting the Governor's supplementary budget changes

4:30 PM *Meeting Canceled*
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
Room: 500N State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Legislative Auditor
MnSCU Central Office report

Friday, February 26

8:30 AM
House Veterans Affairs Division
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Lyle Koenen
Agenda: HF2684 (Haws) Surviving spouse and children of a deceased veteran educational benefit eligibility broadened.
HF2621 (Doty) Higher education benefit eligibility requirement eliminated for
surviving spouse and children of a deceased veteran who dies as a result of military service.
HF2672 (Newton) Transit fee exemption provisions clarified for veterans with
service-connected disabilities.
HF2674 (Newton) Veterans of Foreign Wars Day designated as May 28.

9:30 AM
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Chair: Sen. Don Betzold/Rep. Mary Murphy
Room 107 Capitol
Agenda: SF2499 / HF2953 (Betzold/Murphy, M.) TRA; Financial sustainability measures.
SF2573 / HF2952 (Betzold/Murphy, M.) MSRS; Financial sustainability measures.
SF2631 / HF2999 (Betzold/Murphy, M.) PERA; Financial sustainability measures.
SF2672 (Betzold) PERA-P&F; MPPOA-recommended financial sustainability measures.
SF2404 / HF2951 (Pappas/Kahn) SPTRFA; Increasing benefits and state aid, revising fiduciary provisions and large plan investment authority.
SF506 / HF592 (Betzold/Thissen) Teacher plans benefit increase.
HFxxxx (Murphy, M.) DTRFA; Financial sustainability measures.

Monday, March 1

12:30 PM
Senate Business, Industry and Jobs
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. James P. Metzen
Agenda: Recommendations from the Minnesota Science and Technology Initiative.

Wednesday, March 3

8:30 AM
Joint Senate Hearing: Committee on Taxes; Committee on Finance
Room: 15 Capitol
Chairs: Sen. Thomas M. Bakk, Sen. Richard J. Cohen
Agenda: 2009 February Economic Forecast overview.