Census data released, redistricting to begin

Yesterday at the Capitol

The U.S. Census Bureau released the 2010 census data for Minnesota yesterday, which legislators will now use in what is known as redistricting, or redrawing the districts to ensure equal population for the congressional and legislative districts in the state. According to Tom Gillaspy, State Demographer, the 2nd and 6th congressional districts have to give up population to ensure every district has equal representation, while the rest of the congressional districts have to pick up population. The numbers can be found at the Department of Administration Office of Geographic and Demographic Analysis, State Demographic Center Web site.

The most recent population for each Minnesota Senate district can be found here.

The most recent population for the state's House districts can be found here.

Today at the Capitol

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections Committee
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda:
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.
H0560A1 Amendment

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.
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.

12:30 PM
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda: HF1078 (Garofalo) Perpich Center for Arts Education status changed from a state agency to a charter school.
HF1056 (Davnie) Targeted family outreach activities grant program created and money appropriated.
HF558 (Downey) Graduation-Required Assessment for Diploma mathematics exception removed.
HF947 (Erickson) Alternative teacher pay system modified.
HF1093 (Garofalo) School district or charter school required to spend at least 70 percent of its total general operating expenditures on direct classroom expenditures.

3:00 PM
House in Session

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 510-DeKruif: College in the schools classes 9th and 10th grade pupils inclusion.
S.F. 388-Nienow: Low-performing school students enrollment options; nonpublic school eligibility requirements.
S.F. 489-Bonoff: Educational shared services consultation study requirement, school districts shared services competition and appropriation.

4:00 PM (or 30 minutes after session)
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda:
HF864 (Peppin) Commissioner of revenue authorized to enter into a reciprocal agreement with the federal government for collection of unpaid debts.
HF1063 (Murray) Counties permitted to perform private audit meeting standards of state auditor.
HF1031 (Stensrud) Legislative Coordinating Commission joint administrative services required to provide or arrange for the service to both the house of representatives and senate.
HF681 (Downey) Minnesota pay for performance pilot program established, funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1090 (Stensrud) Commissioner of management and budget required to issue a proposal request and enter into a contract for dependent audit verification for state employee health plans.
Minnesota House of Representatives budget overview

Looking Ahead

Saturday, March 19

10:00 AM
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda: HF 934 (Garofalo) Education finance statute obsolete reference removed.
Omnibus education finance bill walk through