Monday, May 3, 2010

Emmer endorsed; Credit bill vetoed; House expected to take up policy bill

On Friday, the Republican party endorsed State Representative Tom Emmer, R-Delano, for governor on the second ballot. Now that both state party conventions are over and candidates have been endorsed, the focus at the Capitol will be on wrapping up the session by May 17.

Also over the weekend, Gov. Pawlenty vetoed the credit transfer bill, HF 3164, Chapter 284. The veto letter written by Gov. Pawlenty says the "bill is unnecessary because the credit transfer issues identified by the Legislative Auditor, MnSCU staff, and students are already being addressed through internal actions and policy changes."

This week, the House omnibus K-12 education bill will be heard in the House Finance and Tax committees. The Senate omnibus K-12 education finance bill will be heard in the Finance committee Tuesday, and the Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division is scheduled to take up the K-12 education policy bill.

On the House floor today at 3:00 p.m., the higher education policy bill is expected to be taken up. As a reminder, the full Senate has passed their version of the higher ed policy bill.

Today at the Capitol

9:00 AM
House Taxes
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Ann Lenczewski
Agenda: HF3729 (Lenczewski) Omnibus tax bill

10:00 AM
House Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson
Agenda: HF2431 (Greiling) Omnibus K-12 education bill
SF1761 (Fritz) Health plans required to establish equal out-of-pocket requirements for oral and intravenously administered chemotherapy medications.

10:00 AM
House Ways and Means
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Loren Solberg
Agenda:
Budget Resolution;
HF2614 (Huntley) Intensive care management program established for medical assistance enrollees, funding reduced for the medical assistance program, request for proposals required, report required, and money appropriated;
HF3281 (Murphy) Omnibus retirement bill;
HF3660 (Koenen) Department of corrections; settlement provided for certain claims against the state for injuries suffered, and money appropriated;
HF3571 (Koenen) Publicly owned nursing facilities rate increase authorized, and local share required for nonfederal medical assistance costs;
HF3702 (Wagenius) Omnibus environment and natural resources finance bill;
SF2505 (Slawik) Statewide child care provider training, coaching, consultation, and supports funding provided to prepare for the voluntary Minnesota quality rating system, and money appropriated.

2:00 PM
Senate in Session

3:00 PM
House in Session

Looking Ahead

Tuesday, May 4

8:30 AM
Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
Agenda: S.F. 3189-Stumpf: High school students statewide testing open-ended items inclusion.

8:30 AM
House Capital Investment Finance Division
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Alice Hausman
Agenda: HF3678 (Clark) Challenge program for affordable housing and permanent supportive housing purposes funding provided, and bonds issued.
HF3725 (Marquart) Mortgage registry tax and deed tax proceed portion appropriated to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to be used for creation of affordable housing units.
Second Order Amending Order of Commissioner of Finance
Relating to Use and Sale of State Bond Financed Property, MMB
Meeting Documents: revised commissioner's order on section 16A.69

2:30 PM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Richard J. Cohen
Agenda:
S.F. 3318-Dibble: Energy improvement financing program provisions modification.
S.F. 3043-Vandeveer: Minnesota Appraisal Management Company Licensing and Regulation Act; real estate appraiser advisory board modification.
H.F. 3056-Lourey: Health provider peer grouping timelines and system modification.
S.F. 2337-Berglin: Intensive care management program for medical assistance (MA) enrollees establishment.
S.F. 3063-Stumpf: Career and technical education levy formula adjustment.
S.F. 3028-Stumpf: Pre-kindergarten through grade 12 education appropriations and appropriation reductions.
S.F. 3064-Stumpf: Northwestern Online College in the high school program appropriations.

3:00 PM (or after the Tuesday floor session whichever is later)
House Taxes
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Ann Lenczewski
Agenda:
HF2431 (Greiling) Omnibus K-12 education bill

Wednesday, May 5

8:30 AM
House K-12 Education Policy
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: Federal School Improvement Grants and Minnesota's list of "Persistently Lowest-Achieving Schools"

8:30 AM
House State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Gene Pelowski
Agenda: (Marquart) Board of Innovation reestablished, powers and duties imposed, and money appropriated.

Tuesday, May 11

12:30 PM
Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Sandra L. Pappas
Agenda:
University District Alliance report
HEFA confirmations

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