Bonding committee meets with governor, Contracts bill moves

Yesterday at the Capitol

After lawmakers sent the bonding bill back to the Senate Tuesday, a capital investment working group met yesterday to begin further negotiations on the bill. This open meeting was followed by a meeting in the governor's office. The final bill and the governor are approximately $300 million apart. Legislative leaders and the governor are expected to meet again this morning.

The Senate is expected to reconsider the bill on the floor today so that lawmakers have time to refine the bill. Legislative leaders said they hope to complete the bill next week.

During the working group discussions, Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, Chair of the Higher Education committee said the House and Senate respect the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system's bonding process and the colleges and universities play a vital role in the state's economy. Other members of the working group said the system is a model for getting shovels in the ground quickly.

The Senate State and Local Government Operations and Oversight committee passed SF 2386 yesterday. The bill ratifies labor agreements and compensation plans including MSUAASF, MSCF, MAPE, AFSCME, Commissioner Plan, MMA and system administrators. In the House, the bill is working its way through the committee process and will be heard next in the Finance Committee.

Today at the Capitol

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 televised live
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.
S.F. 2364-Pappas: Higher education facilities authority revenue bond limit increase.
S.F. 651-Pappas: Education and career plan requirements for high school students - discussion only.
Office of Higher Education Proposed Reductions

1:00 PM televised live
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
President Bruininks
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

Looking Ahead

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.

2:45 PM
House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba
Agenda: HF2684 (Haws) Surviving spouse and children of a deceased veteran educational benefit eligibility broadened.
HF2672 (Newton) Transit fee exemption provisions clarified for veterans with service-connected disabilities.
SF2475 (Newton) Veterans of Foreign Wars Day designated as May 28.
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.
HF3101 (Doty) Minnesota "Support our Troops" account eligible money use expanded.

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.

6:30 PM
Joint Committee: Finance and Ways and Means Committees
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chairs: Rep. Lyndon Carlson, Rep. Loren Solberg
Agenda: Presentation of February forecast