Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Budget targets approved; Performance pay discussed

Yesterday at the Capitol

The House Ways and Means committee adopted the budget targets yesterday morning by a vote of 17-13. Committee Chair Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville, said, "We feel that these numbers are living within our means, and that we'll be able to meet the necessary needs of the state in the numbers reflected in this target."

Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, offered an amendment to lessen the cut of 16 percent to higher education to reflect Gov. Dayton's proposal of a 6 percent reduction. Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, said higher education institutions train the workforce, which in this economy is far more valuable than business tax cuts. The amendment did not pass. The Higher Education committees have a little less than two weeks to determine how to handle the cut.

In the House State Government Finance committee yesterday, members heard HF 756, a bill that provides that during the 2012-13 biennium, executive branch appointing authorities must construct a performance bonus component, under which at least five percent of base salary and wages otherwise payable may be paid only after completion of the performance evaluation and upon the appointing authority's determination that the employee's performance has been satisfactory and justifies spending additional public funds.

The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the committee's omnibus bill. Committee Chair Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead, said the committee will begin mark-up of the omnibus bill next week.

Today at the Capitol

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda:
HF638 (Myhra) School grading system created, school recognition program created, school report cards modified, rulemaking authorized, and report required.
HF558 (Downey) Graduation-Required Assessment for Diploma mathematics exception removed.
HF329 (Bills) Public school employees prohibited from using public funds and resources to advocate to pass, elect, or defeat a political candidate, ballot question, or pending legislation.

10:30 AM
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda:
S.F. 428-Sieben: Boiler inspector provisions modifications.
S.F. 437-Dahms: Minnesota inventors congress grants appropriation.
S.F. 501-Nelson: BioBusiness Alliance appropriation.
S.F. 708-Pederson: Twin Cities RISE! job training programs appropriation; job training and retention grant requirements modifications.
S.F. 486-Tomassoni: Conservation Corps Minnesota statewide youth job skills development and training program grant appropriation.
S.F. 300-Bonoff: Minnesota science and technology program.

12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda:
HF862 (Benson) University of Minnesota and Mayo Foundation Partnership money appropriated.
HF849 (Nornes) College and university mandates eliminated

12:30 PM
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bob Gunther
Agenda:
HF645 (Mullery) Minority population grant program provided for collaborative activities to reduce unemployment, and money appropriated.
HF995 (McFarlane) Womenventure funding provided for business development programs, and money appropriated.
HF983 (Gunther) Enterprise Minnesota, Inc. funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF893 (Gunther) Vinland Center for rehabilitation services funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF693 (McFarlane) Minority business development programs money appropriated.

2:30 PM
House Capital Investment
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Larry Howes
Agenda: HFXXXX (Howes) A bill for an act relating to capital investment; canceling appropriations and reducing the corresponding bond sale authorizations.

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 641-Senjem: Equity and opportunity in education income tax credit establishment.
S.F. 643-Olson, G.: Permanent school fund investment income earned calculation clarification.
S.F. 622-Hann: Common core academic standards adoption prohibition.
S.F. 747-Hann: Teacher termination and discharge procedure modification.

5:00 PM
House Education Finance
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda: HF947 (Erickson) Alternative teacher pay system modified
HF558 (Downey) Graduation-Required Assessment for Diploma mathematics exception removed.

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, March 16


8:00 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda: HF2 (Banaian) Zero-based budgeting required, and sunset advisory commission and sunset process established for state agencies.
Minnesota House of Representatives budget overview
General Fund Budget overviews by:
Teachers Retirement Association (TRA)
Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS)
Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA)
Governor’s Office budget overview

10:15 AM
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda:
S.F. 635-Jungbauer: Minnesota Citizens for Reform and Economic Equality community-based workforce development grant appropriation.
S.F. 694-Tomassoni: Opportunities industrialization centers appropriation.
S.F. 783-Lillie: Enterprise Minnesota, Inc. small business growth acceleration program grant appropriation.
S.F. 803-Howe: Small business loan guarantee program establishment and appropriation.
S.F. 730-Pederson: African development center training and programs appropriation.
S.F. 800-Harrington: St. Paul summer youth employment program appropriation.
S.F. 761-Torres Ray: Neighborhood development center appropriation.

12:00 PM
Senate in Session

12:30 PM
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda:
HF945 (Petersen) Teacher licensure, evaluations, and tenure modified.
HF1029 (Kelly) Board of Teaching funding provided from the special revenue fund for activities associated with licensure by portfolio.
HF669 (Loon) Early childhood education scholarship finance system created, early education worker training and retainment tax credits provided, early childhood education programming quality improved, and money appropriated.

1:00 PM
Senate Local Government and Elections
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Ray Vandeveer
Agenda:
S.F. 509-Limmer: Voter photo identification requirement; picture identification issuance provisions; provisional balloting procedure establishment; electronic polling place roster use requirement; recount procedure enacting; appropriating money.
S.F. 479-Howe: Voter photo identification and issuance requirement; picture identification and issuance at no charge; provisional balloting procedure establishment.

1:00 PM
Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Mike Parry
Agenda:
S.F. 805-Hann: Public employees health insurance program modification.
S.F. 755-Lillie: Federal offset program; revenue commissioner authority to enter into a reciprocal agreement with the federal government for collection of unpaid debts.
S.F. 811-Thompson: State employee group insurance plan (SEGIP) dependent eligibility verification audit services proposals and contract requirement.
S.F. 798-Jungbauer: State real estate lease evaluation services contract requirement; state lease cancellation length of time for notice modification.

Thursday, March 17

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections Committee
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda:
HF1041 (Mack) State employee suggestion system for making state government less costly or more efficient established.
HF962 (Howes) Municipal tobacco license suspensions for sales to minors limited upon compliance with requirements.
HF681 (Downey) Minnesota pay for performance pilot program established, funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1074 (Westrom) Advisory Committee for Technology Standards for Accessibility and Usability expiration date extended, advisory committee codified, and money appropriated.

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda:
HF1130 (Nornes) Student record and data use provided.
HF1133 (Vogel) Undergraduate stable tuition rate provided.
HF560 (Downey) Government agency energy forward pricing mechanisms provisions modified.

12:30 PM
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bob Gunther
Agenda: Presentation from Elim Transitional Housing, INC.
*Additional items may be added to the agenda*
HF872 (Anderson) African Development Center training and program funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF667 (Mahoney) Conservation Corps Minnesota statewide job skills development program grant administration money appropriated.
HF112 (Barrett) Taylors Falls; border city development zone powers established, and money appropriated.
HF1076 (LeMieur) Administrative, rulemaking, enforcement, and safety and health provisions modified.
HF1037 (Sanders) Department of Employment and Economic Development required to issue an unemployment compensation payment and business intelligence contract proposals request.
HF1110 (Mahoney) Small business investment tax credit provisions modified.

No comments: