Labor contracts move forward, Workforce report heard

Yesterday at the Capitol

The House State and Local Government Committee took up the bill on labor agreements and contract ratifications, HF 2758. Bill author, Rep. Leon Lillie, DFL- North St. Paul, shared that this bill ratifies all of the labor contracts and plans that were worked on since the 2009 session, including the Minnesota State College Faculty (MSCF), the Minnesota State University Association of Administrative and Service Faculty (MSUAAF), the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (ASCFME), the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE), the Middle Management Association, the MnSCU Administrators, the Commissioner’s Plan and the Managerial Plan. The committee passed the bill and referred it to the House Finance Committee.

The House Bioscience and Workforce Development Committee heard the newly released report on Workforce programs. The report stated that workforce program clients generally achieved better job and wage outcomes than similar people who filed for unemployment insurance but did not participate in workforce programs. Specific to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the report recommended that the System should “identify academic programs that help laid off workers and assist its colleges to determine whether to offer more such programs.” Following the House hearing, the Senate also heard this report in the Business, Industry and Jobs Committee. A full copy of the report, and summary, can be found here.

Today at the Capitol

Today, the House Higher Education Committee will take testimony on the governor’s budget proposal from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

Thursday, February 18

8:30 AM
House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF2703 (Greiling) Board of Teaching rulemaking authority clarified.
HF2880 (Kath) Graduation-Required Assessment for Diploma requirement for retakes amended.
Board of Teaching rulemaking update.

8:30 AM
Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
Room 112 Capitol
Agenda:
S.F. 2305 Bonoff Education aid payment schedule modification.
S.F. 2326 Bonoff School district state aid payment reduction requirement prior to state short term borrowing repeal.
S.F. 2598 Saxhaug Collaborative urban educator grant program appropriation clarification.

Televised
11 AM
The House meets in Session.

Televised
12 noon
The Senate meets in session.

1:00 PM
House Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Fiscal condition of state financial aid programs
Governor’s higher education budget recommendation
David Metzen, Director of the Office of Higher Education
Response to the governor’s budget proposal from MnSCU and U of M

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

Looking ahead

Friday, February 19

9:30 AM
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Chair: Sen. Don Betzold/ Rep. Mary Murphy
Room 107 Capitol
Agenda: Review of the 2009 actuarial valuation reports; presentation by the commission's reviewing actuary (Milliman, Inc.)
SF2644/ HF2922 (Betzold/Thissen): MERF/PERA; Administrative consolidation of MERF into PERA-General.
LCPR09-070 PERA; Purchase of prior service credit for a period of omitted member deductions, Inver Grove Heights public school employee. - Atkins

Tuesday, February 23

12:30 PM
Senate Higher 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

Thursday, February 25

12:30 PM
Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Sandy Pappas
Agenda: OLA evaluation report, MnSCU System Office - Joel Alter

Friday, February 26

10 AM
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Chair: Sen. Don Betzold/Rep. Mary Murphy
Room 107 Capitol
Agenda: To be announced.

Friday, March 5, 2010

10:00 AM
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Room: 107 State Capitol
Chairs: Rep. Mary Murphy, Sen. Don Betzold
Agenda: TBA