Transfer passed, House committee hears from system presidents

Yesterday at the Capitol

The full Senate passed HF 3164 yesterday, the House version of the credit transfer bill that requires the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to develop and maintain a systemwide effective and efficient mechanism for seamless student transfer between system institutions that has a goal of minimal loss of credits for transferring students. The House passed the bill a couple weeks prior.

The House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division is beginning to look ahead to the 2012-13 biennium given the projected $5.8 billion deficit. Committee members heard yesterday from the higher education systems about what colleges and universities are doing to prepare for budget planning. St. Cloud State University President Earl Potter said his university is considering retrenchment and faculty layoffs to address the problem. Potter testified to the open communication process the university has undertaken with the entire St. Cloud community.

North Hennepin Community College President Ann Wynia told committee members that she is concerned about the 2012-13 biennium, especially since the one-time federal ARRA funds will no longer be available. Wynia said that the college's enrollment is at an all-time high, but the worst thing she feels could happen would be to turn away students due to budget reductions.

Today at the Capitol

8:00 AM
Trustee Candidate Advisory Council
Room: 300N State Office Building
Chair: Kent Eklund
Agenda: Candidates interviewed for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees

8:30 AM
Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
Agenda: MN Department of Education presentation on the federal School Improvement Grant program for Minnesota's 34 lowest achieving schools

10:00 AM (Bills not heard by 11:00 will be heard 30 minutes after session adjourns)
Senate State Government Budget Division
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Don Betzold
Agenda:
S.F. 3318-Dibble: Energy improvement financing program provisions modification.
S.F. 3325-Latz: Local impact notes request from finance and ways and means committees authorization.
S.F. 1770-Jungbauer: Ladder out of poverty task force establishment.
S.F. 2496-Rummel: Policy innovation and research task force.
S.F. 2620-Bonoff: Service innovation commission establishment.
S.F. 1880-Metzen: Innovation board reestablishment; providing for grants and appropriation.

10:30 AM
House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: The Common Core State Standards Initiative

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

12:30 PM
House in Session

Looking Ahead
Thursday, April 8

8:00 AM
Trustee Candidate Advisory Council
Room: 300N State Office Building
Chair: Kent Eklund
Agenda: Candidates interviewed for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees

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 authority establishment; credit enhancement account creation; purchasing and borrowing authority authorization; building lease transition aid eligibility authorization.
8:30 AM
Senate Committee on Taxes
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Thomas M. Bakk
Agenda:
S.F. 3036-Vandeveer: Energy management system purchase and installation income tax subtraction.
S.F. 3047-Kubly: Grain bin sales and use tax collection.
S.F. 2224-Kubly: County public safety radio communications equipment upgrade sales tax exemptions.
S.F. 2545-Frederickson: Sales tax exemption for public safety radio communications equipment.
S.F. 2798-Rosen: Sales tax exemption for public safety radio communications equipment.
S.F. 2688-Anderson: Homeless prevention and food shelf income tax checkoff.
S.F. 3286-Sieben: Cottage Grove economic development authority tax increment financing (TIF) district plan modification authority.
S.F. 3322-Pappas: Higher education bond allocation limits modification; housing finance agency (HFA), office of higher education and rural finance authority bonding authority transfer authorization.

10:00 PM
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: HF3739 (Carlson) Bond allocation limits modified, and transfer authorized.
HF3757 (Hilty) relating to higher education; modifying securities transaction exemptions; appropriating money for the state grant program

10:30 AM and after session if needed
House State Government Finance
Room: 400N State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Phyllis Kahn
Agenda:
HF2952 (Murphy) State employees retirement plan contribution rates increased, adjustment provisions changed, refund interest rates reduced, augmentation rates reduced, interest eliminated, vesting requirements and early retirement reduction rates increased, rates reduced, amortization periods extended, study required, and bylaw amendments authorized.
HF3281 (Murphy) Volunteer fire relief associations technical corrections made, break-in-service return revised, Minnesota deferred compensation plan service pension transfers authorized, payout defaults revised in survivor benefits, and corrections of certain special fund deposits authorized.
HF2922 (Thissen) Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund; administrative functions transferred to the Public Employees Retirement Association, consolidation account created within the Public Employees Retirement Association, and money appropriated.

12:30 PM
House in Session

Friday, April 9

8:30 AM
House Finance
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson
Agenda:
HF2758 (Lillie) Labor agreements and compensation plans ratified.
HF677 (Bunn) Body art procedures and establishments regulated.
SF2339 (Peterson) Criminal penalty increased for possessing dangerous weapons on school property while criminal penalty lowered for brandishing, using, or possessing replica firearms and BB guns on school property.
HF1320 (Swails) Pharmacists prohibited from substituting epilepsy drugs without prior consent and notification.
HF3046 (Ruud) Birthing centers licensure established.
HF3123 (Morgan) K-12 special education third-party billing process made more cost effective.
HF3279 (Huntley) Electronic health record technology provisions amended, administrative penalties provided, and money appropriated.
HF3713 (Huntley) Medical assistance eligibility expanded to include certain adults without children, and money appropriated.
HF3224 (Beard) Transportation projects provisions modified.