Zero-based budgeting discussed; State of the state to be delivered

Yesterday at the Capitol

Rep. King Banaian, R-St. Cloud, presented his bill, HF 2, to the House State Government Finance committee yesterday morning. Banaian explained that the bill provides for periodic review of state agencies through a zero-based budgeting process. The bill was amended to clarify how often state agencies are to go through the process. In the amendment, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is to prepare the system's budget every four years beginning July 1, 2013 assuming the base to be zero and each proposed expenditure must be justified as if it were new. Committee members passed the bill by a vote of 12-7 and sent it to the Ways and Means committee.

HF 2 can be found here.

Also yesterday, Gov. Mark Dayton completed his cabinet with three new appointments; Spencer Cronk for Administration, Kevin Lindsey for Human Rights and Josh Tilsen for the Bureau of Mediation Services.

The new commissioner for the Department of Administration, Spencer Cronk, most recently served as executive director of organizational development and senior adviser for the Department of Small Business Services in the administration of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Cronk is a graduate of Harvard University’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program. He grew up in Minnesota and received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison

"Spencer is a talented leader who has demonstrated his ability to get results in large, complex public sector organizations," Dayton said in a news release. "He brings great energy and experience to my administration. I welcome him as key player in our administration’s efforts to make state government work better for people."

MPR includes a full list of Gov. Dayton's 24-member cabinet here.

Today at the Capitol

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda: Minnesota State Arts Board Overview: Sue Gens, Executive Director of the Minnesota State Arts Board
Minnesota Historical Society Overview: Michael Fox, Director of the Minnesota Historical Society
Minnesota Management and Budget presentation on recently released 2010 State Workforce Report: Judy Plante, Assistant Commissioner for State Human Resources
Workforce Report found here

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
*Note: Change in Agenda
Agenda: HF89 (Benson) Voter picture identification required before receiving a ballot, voter identification card provided at no charge, and provisional balloting procedure established.
HF203 (Westrom) Legislative approval required for certain rules to take effect

10:30 AM *Note committee will end at 11:15
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda: Economic overview from Steve Hine, DEED

11:30 AM
Senate in Session

11:45 AM
House in Session

12:00 PM
Governor’s State of the State Address
House Chamber

20 minutes following the Governor's address, House and Senate legislative leaders will respond.

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: Board of the MN State Academies confirmations
S.F. 251-Jungbauer: Teacher continuing contracts.
S.F. 104-Kubly: Noncustodial parent access to school records authorization.

Looking Ahead

Thursday, February 10

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda: HF4 (Downey) State workforce reduction required, and early retirement program created.

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement - State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda:
HF133 (Fritz) Trial placements for eligible children allowed at the Minnesota State Academies.
HF183 (Kieffer) Teacher candidates required to pass basic skills exam.
HF300 (Erickson) Comprehensive eye exams recommended for early childhood development screening.

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda:
HF192 (Downey) Reinventing Government Employment Act proposed, public employee compensation freeze provided and future compensation method determined, state workforce reduction required, state employee gain sharing system established, state contract restrictions removed, and right to work constitutional amendment proposed.
HF102 (Mahoney) Minnesota science and technology program established.

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: Basement Hearing Room, State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda: Student and faculty testimony

Monday, February 14

3:00 PM
Senate Higher Education
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Michelle L. Fischbach
Agenda: Presentation from the Minnesota Private College Council.

Wednesday, February 16

5:30 PM
Joint House and Senate Committee on Higher Education
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chairs: Rep. Bud Nornes, Sen. Michelle Fischbach
Agenda: University of Minnesota Board of Regents candidate interviews
Election of nominees to forward to Joint Convention