House Capital Investment committee meets, discusses jobs; Budget conference committes set

Yesterday at the Capitol

The House Capital Investment committee met yesterday afternoon to take up two bills. After much discussion, both bills were laid over for further consideration. The first bill, sponsored by Rep. King Banaian, R-St. Cloud, requires a return on investment projected for each capital project requested. Banaian said the ROI information would help the Capital Investment Committee determine which projects to fund.

The second bill, introduced by Rep. Sarah Anderson, R-Plymouth, requires an analysis of how many jobs are created or retained as a result of each capital project funded. Anderson said supporters of projects testify to the number of jobs created, but the numbers are never quantified. She said her bill would help legislators understand better the number of jobs created.

As budget bill conferees start their work on negotiating the differences between the House and Senate bills. As a reminder, the higher education conference committee meets Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in room 300N of the State Office Building.

Today at the Capitol

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda: HF1234 (Downey) Commissioner of administration required to issue a request for proposals and enter into a contract for strategic sourcing consulting services.

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda:
HF984 (Hackbarth) Game and fish; aquaculture provisions modified; compensation and assistance provisions for crop damage by elk modified; fish and wildlife management plan requirements modified; invasive species provisions modified; taking, possessing, and transporting wild animal provisions modified; acquisition procedures modified; penalty and license provisions modified; invasive species control provisions modified; and landowner liability for state walk-in access program limited.
HF1036 (Sanders) State passenger vehicle fleet management and consolidation provided.
HF462 (Norton) Nurse Licensure Compact and appointments provided.

1:00 PM
Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Mike Parry
Agenda:
S.F. 51-Koch: Female-veteran license plate designation for special veterans license plates or Gold Star license plates.
S.F. 509-Limmer: Voter photo identification requirement; picture identification issuance provisions; provisional balloting procedure establishment; challenged voter eligibility list establishment; electronic polling place roster standard for use establishment and use.

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 452-Vandeveer: Charter school as educational entity within a school district pilot project for charter district #4116, Lakes International Language Academy and independent school district #831, Forest Lake.
S.F. 946-DeKruif: School districts joint operation and innovative delivery of education pilot project establishment.
S.F. 408-Wolf: Teacher's union financial reporting requirement.


Looking Ahead

Thursday, April 14

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda: HF210 (Kiffmeyer) Voter picture identification required before receiving a ballot, identification cards provided at no charge, provisional ballot procedures established, election administration procedures specified, electronic polling place required, recount procedures enacted, and money appropriated.
No public testimony.

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda:
SF170 (Kieffer) Teacher candidates required to pass basic skills exam.
HF966 (Mariani) Teacher Tenure Act modified for school districts located in a city of the first class.

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda:
HF1088 (Drazkowski) State agency natural disaster response provisions modified.
HF1376 (Leidiger) E-Verify use required by state contractors.
HF1205 (Holberg) County park fee restriction modified.
HF1411 (Kahn) Geospatial advisory council provisions changed and expiration date extended.

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

12:30 PM
Conference Committee on H.F. 1101: higher education finance bill
CONFEREES:
SENATE: Fischbach; Robling; Senjem; Carlson; Brown
HOUSE: Nornes; Dettmer; Daudt; Hancock; Mazorol
Room: 300N State Office Bldg.
Chairs: Sen. Michelle L. Fischbach and Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda: Summary and Discussion of House and Senate Language and Appropriation Differences

3:00 PM
House in Session

5:30 PM or 30 minutes after session
Conference Committee on S.F. 1047: state government finance bill
CONFEREES:
SENATE: Parry; Gazelka; Thompson; Daley; Vandeveer
HOUSE: Lanning; Downey; Benson; Stensrud; Anderson
Room: 200 State Office Bldg.
Chairs: Sen. Mike Parry and Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda:
S.F. 1047-Parry: Omnibus state government, military affairs and veterans affairs appropriations; Minnesota Sunset Act.