Bonding passes House, Senate; Veto expected

Yesterday at the Capitol

Yesterday was all about bonding at the Capitol. The capital investment conference committee wrapped things up yesterday morning and then the bill moved to the floor in both bodies last night. The House passed the bill by a vote of 85-46 and then the Senate passed the bill at approximately 9:30 p.m. by a vote of 47-19. Included in the bill is $305.9 million (including user financing) for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. You can find the detail on the attached side-by-side spreadsheet.

Supporters of the bill said the legislation would create more than 20,000 jobs in Minnesota. However, Gov. Pawlenty has already said that he will veto the entire bill once it reaches his desk.

Here is a link to the updated capital budget spreadsheet. Here is a link to the Conference Committee Report

Today at the Capitol

8:30 AM
House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: Teaching proposals in Minnesota's Race to the Top application:
Recommended state teacher evaluation rubric
Enhanced QComp
Ensuring equitable distribution of effective teachers

10:30 AM
House Bioscience and Workforce Development Policy and Oversight Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tim Mahoney
Agenda: Continued discussion of the Office of the Legislative Auditor report: Workforce Programs

12:30 PM
Senate Education Budget and Policy Division
Chair: Sen. Sandra L. Pappas
Room 123 Capitol
Agenda:
Bush Foundation Proposal-Peter Hutchinson
OHE: Preliminary Minnesota Postsecondary Enrollment Census for Fall 2009
Minnesota's 2008 High School Graduates Enrolled in College at Record Rates-Mark Misukanis & Alexandra Djurovich , OHE

1:00 PM
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Overview of Governor's budget - Workforce/Economic Development
Dept of Labor and Industry -Commissioner Steve Sviggum
Dept of Employment and Economic Development - Commissioner McElroy

2:45 PM
House K-12 Education Finance Division
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: Shared services report
HF2840 (Swails) Collaborative governance council established. - Information only

2:45 PM
House State Government Finance Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Phyllis Kahn
Agenda: MMB and OET Personnel and Payroll System Security Controls; MMB discussion of planned $9M savings from an additional 3% operating budget reduction.

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, February 24

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.

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.

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

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

2:45 PM
House K-12 Education Finance Division
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: TBD

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.