Friday, April 29, 2011

Final countdown to session end; Voter Id moves; Governor Jeb Bush in town; Education reform discussed

Legislative Update
April 29, 2011

The countdown begins


With three weeks remaining before the constitutionally required adjournment date of May 23, the landscape looks like this; $5 billion state budget deficit, Gov. Mark Dayton wants to solve $2.5 billion of it in tax increases, and the Republican Legislature wants to solve all of it with spending cuts. Both legislative leadership and the governor are saying they will end on time, but a lot of people are scratching their heads as to how that can happen.

This week consisted of committees aggressively processing policy bills to meet today’s first policy bill deadline. House Speaker Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, called it, “A big policy week,” and said lawmakers are starting down the road to finishing up by May 23. Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, said we can expect to see a lot of committee activity next week as well with the final date for policy bills being next Friday, May 6.

With a big part of the focus right now being on policy, Dayton called for lawmakers to pass the budget bills and send them to him by May 6 in order to begin negotiations. Koch said May 6 is an arbitrary deadline set by the governor and not agreed to by leadership. Deputy Majority Leader Geoff Michel, R-Edina, said Dayton is going to have to work with the Legislature, and he is going to have to lead. He said opportunities will be provided for him and his staff to come and negotiate, but deadlines, other than May 23, are not helpful. At today’s press conference, it was brought to the Republican leaders attention that the governor has weighed in with letters of what he likes and doesn’t like in the budget bills. Zellers replied that it works better to talk face-to-face instead of through letters. “Letters will not get us out of here by May 23,” Zellers said.

When asked at the press conference if the budget bill conference committees are making progress, Zellers said there is progress being made; however, Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, said there has not been one motion on any provision in any of the bills. Bakk said the governor would like the House and Senate to work out their differences so there’s one position with which to negotiate.

In addressing the situation at hand, Koch said the state is in a fiscal crisis, there is a deadline of May 23 looming, the governor has submitted a budget of $2.5 million in revenue, spending in the state has gone too far, and she believes lawmakers need to rein in spending. When pushed at the press conference about why Republicans are focusing on policy instead of working hard in conference committee, Koch said, “The deadline is May 23, the budget is the job.” She went on to say that if there’s agreement, it’s entirely possible they can close up some of the conference committees next week, but said, “We need the governor to engage.”

As for the higher education conference committee, conferees did not meet this week, but have announced the next meeting to be held Tuesday, May 3 at 1:00 p.m. in the basement hearing room of the State Office Building. Legislative leadership also indicated today that next week is going to consist of busy floor sessions, with the likelihood of meeting every day.

Voter ID bill clears the Senate

The Senate passed the voter ID bill this week by a partisan vote of 37-26. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, would amend statute to require all Minnesota residents to present photo identification when voting. Limmer said the legislation would modernize the state voting system and bring back integrity. In the House, the most recent stop for the companion bill was a hearing in the Civil Law committee this week. The bill now awaits action by the full body.

Also this week, Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, introduced an alternative bill proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution requiring state residents to show photo identification when voting. If the bill passes the Legislature, the photo ID question would be put to voters on the 2012 ballot. Proposed constitutional amendments do not require approval by the governor to be placed on a ballot, so if Gov. Dayton vetoes the bill the Senate just approved, Kiffmeyer’s bill poses another alternative. This bill was heard today in the House Government Operations and Elections committee. Opponents of the bills have questioned what problem the bills are trying to solve. DFL lawmakers have argued there are no widespread voter fraud issues, and this bill can make voting more difficult for some, including college students who change their addresses frequently.

Education reform on the minds of lawmakers

The first day back from the Easter/Passover break, legislative leaders invited former Florida Governor Jeb Bush to speak to lawmakers as they look at different ways to tackle education reform. Bush discussed successful reform efforts he led in Florida that include giving schools grades and providing vouchers for students in failing schools. Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, said it was exciting to hear about education reform successes and possibilities. DFL lawmakers held a press conference afterward and argued this is not the time to bring in people from other states to talk about education reform with the budget still unresolved. Sen. Chuck Wiger, DFL-Maplewood, said comparing Florida to Minnesota in the area of education is like comparing apples and oranges. Wiger said Minnesota is a leader in education with a higher graduation rate than Florida. He also said he is proud of the universities that prepare our teachers.

Meanwhile, House Education Reform committee members marked up the K-12 education policy bill in committee this week. One of the provisions in the bill directs the Board of Teaching to adopt rules requiring teacher candidates to pass the basic skills reading, writing, and math exam as a requirement for obtaining an initial teaching license; and postsecondary teacher preparation institutions to offer remedial assistance to candidates who do not pass the exam. In the Senate, the companion bill was taken up this week in the Senate Education Committee. The bills, HF 1381/SF 1167, can be found at:

HF 1381 (the most recent engrossment is not yet available online)

HF 1381 Delete all amendment

SF 1167 (first engrossment)

Also in the area of education reform, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, or AASCU, has released its April policy publication entitled: K-12 Education Reform: Implications and Opportunities for Public Colleges and Universities. The brief explores major reform and innovation in K-12 education and discusses how public institutions of higher education can serve as essential partners in implementing education policy at the national, state and local level. The brief can be found here.

Here's What's Happening at the Capitol:

This schedule shows all meetings that we are aware of at the time of publication that MAY have an impact on the system. This schedule may change. Please watch the House and Senate schedules posted on the Legislature's web site.


Monday, May 2


10:15 AM
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Liz Holberg
Agenda: HF4 (Downey) State workforce reduction required, and early retirement program created.
HF66 (Drazkowski) Political contribution refund repealed.
HF873 (Garofalo) Education finance obsolete language removed.
HF874 (Garofalo) Education finance obsolete language removed.
HF1230 (Fabian) State land disposition of receipts modified; state parks, state recreation areas, state forests, and state wildlife management areas added to and deleted from; Mississippi River management plan modified; and public and private sales and conveyances authorized for certain state lands.
HF1234 (Downey) Commissioner of administration required to issue a request for proposals and enter into a contract for strategic sourcing consulting services.
HF632 (Howes) Maintenance plumbers licensed, and fees modified.
HF210 (Kiffmeyer) Voter picture identification required before receiving a ballot, identification cards provided at no charge, provisional ballot procedures established, challenged voter eligibility list created, election administration procedures specified, electronic polling place rosters allowed, electronic polling place roster standards set, electronic roster implementation legislative task force created, recount procedures enacted, and money appropriated.

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

12:30 PM
House Transportation Policy and Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Michael Beard
Agenda: HF1283 (Hackbarth) Recreational vehicle operating provisions modified, dual registration of off-highway motorcycles provided, and special vehicle use on roadways modified.
SF67 (Nornes) Waterfront structure transportation on trunk highways authorized with annual special permits.
HF232 (Kriesel) Gold star license plates eligibility expanded to surviving legal guardians and siblings.
SF478 (Shimanski) Disability motorcycle plate provided.
HF1036 (Sanders) State passenger vehicle fleet management and consolidation provided.
HF977(Cornish) State Patrol prohibited from closing or consolidating dispatch centers.

1:00 PM
Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans
Chair: Sen. Mike Parry
Agenda:
H.F. 786-Daley: Charitable organizations financial statement modifications and compensation information reporting requirements.
S.F. 878-Higgins: Honorary military service prior offense presumption of rehabilitation.
S.F. 904-Lillie: State depositories bond requirements modifications.
H.F. 1362-Lillie: Workers' Compensation Advisory Council recommendations adopted.
S.F. 1283-Benson: State Capitol complex security advisory committee creation; state patrol protection to government officials authorization.

1:00 PM
Conference Committee on S.F. 1030: K-12 education omnibus bill
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chairs: Sen. Gen Olson and Rep. Pat Garofalo
CONFEREES:
SENATE: Olson; Nelson; Thompson; Kruse; Wolf
HOUSE: Garofalo; Kelly; Doepke; Fabian; Erickson
Agenda: Review Literacy Initiatives

3:00 PM
House in Session

Tuesday, May 3

10:00 AM
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda:
HF1260 (Drazkowski) Public library maintenance of effort repealed.
HF1176 (McFarlane) Alternative facility revenue uses modified.
HF1179 (McFarlane) Pupil transportation provisions modified, Department of Education's role clarified in maintaining training programs, lift bus use included in the category or revenue authorized for reimbursement, and actual contracted transportation costs included as a method for allocating pupil transportation costs.
HF945 (Petersen) Teacher evaluations and tenure modified.
HF392 (Howes) School bus crossing control arms required.
HF1381 (Erickson) Omnibus education policy bill

10:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Conference committee on SF 1047/HF 57: state government omnibus bill
Room: 300 N SOB
Chairs: Rep. Lanning and Sen. Parry
HOUSE CONFEREES: Lanning, B. Anderson, M. Benson, Downey, and Stensrud
SENATE CONFEREES: Parry, Daley, Gazelka, Thompson, and Vandeveer

12:30 PM
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bob Gunther
Agenda:
HF1032 (Torkelson) Prevailing hours of labor requirements modified.
HF1476 (Scott) Prevailing wage provisions modified.

1:00 PM
Conference Committee on H.F. 1101: higher education omnibus bill
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chairs: Sen. Michelle L. Fischbach and Rep. Bud Nornes
CONFEREES:
SENATE: Fischbach; Robling; Senjem; Carlson; Brown
HOUSE: Nornes; Dettmer; Daudt; Hancock; Mazorol
Agenda: Public testimony on H.F. 1101-Fischbach: Omnibus higher education appropriations and policy provisions modification.

2:30 PM
Legislative Audit Commission - Topic Selection Subcommittee
Room: 112 State Capitol
Chair: Sen. Roger Reinert
Agenda: Working session to select 5 - 6 evaluation topics for
consideration by the full Legislative Audit Commission

3:30 PM
Legislative Audit Commission
Room: 112 State Capitol
Chairs: Rep. Michael Beard, Sen. Roger Reinert
Agenda: Approve Evaluation Topics for 2011

4:30 PM
House in Session

Wednesday, May 4

1:00 PM
Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Mike Parry
Agenda:
SF849 (Carlson, J) State employee group insurance program (SEGIP) retired employee termination notice requirement and coverage reinstatement procedure
SF702 (Parry) Lawful gambling tax rates modification; linked bingo and electronic pull-tabs authorization
SF896 (Daley) County private audit meeting standards of state auditor performance authority
SF1046 (Senjem) Racino and Minnesota future fund

2:30 PM
House Capital Investment
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Larry Howes
Agenda: HF959 (Howes) Flood hazard mitigation grant funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

4:30 PM
House in Session

6:00 PM
Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Warren Limmer
Agenda: S.F. 425 Gerlach Event ticket practices regulation.

Thursday, May 5

12:30 PM
House in Session

Friday, May 6

9:30 AM
House in Session

Voter ID bill passes Senate; Higher Education conference committee set to meet

Yesterday at the Capitol

The Senate passed the voter ID bill yesterday by a partisan vote of 37-26. The bill would amend statute to require all Minnesota residents to present photo ID when voting. Author of the bill Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, said the legislation would modernize the state voting system and bring back integrity. In the House, the most recent stop for the companion bill was a hearing in Civil Law committee yesterday. The bill now awaits action by the full body. The more recent bill, which puts to the voters a proposed amendment to the Minnesota Constitution requiring voters to present photo ID when voting, will be heard today in the House Government Operations and Elections committee.

A higher education conference committee has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 3 at 1:00 p.m. Conferees are expected to take public testimony.

Today at the Capitol

At 10:00 a.m. today, legislative leaders will hold their weekly media availabilities to talk about the week and look ahead to next week.

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda:
HF174 (Peppin) Department of Revenue required to issue a request for proposals for a tax analytics and business intelligence contract.
HF182 (Beard) State and local water management study required.
HF1332 (Hansen) Legislative auditor governing provisions modified.
HF1579 (McFarlane) Counties given authority to provide for general welfare, and alternative service delivery pilot program for waivers established.

8:30 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda: HF1544 (Kiel) Marshall County; process provided for making county offices appointive.
HF1097 (McNamara) Land acquisition by exchange provided; peatland protection, recreational vehicle enforcement provisions, local recreation grant cash match requirement, and Mineral Coordinating Committee modified; Blakeley State Wayside repealed, and money appropriated.
HF1532 (Simon) Secretary of state duties imposed, and lists of registrants with challenged voting statuses due to felony convictions required.
HF1597 (Kiffmeyer) Voters required to present photographic identification, photographic identification provided to voters at no charge, equal verification standards required for all voters, and constitutional amendment proposed.

9:00 AM
Senate Health and Human Services
*Note: Committee will recess for an hour at noon and reconvene at 1:00 p.m. in Room 123, Capitol
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. David W. Hann
Agenda:
Social Costs of Casino Gaming Informational Hearing
S.F. 731-Hann: Nursing facility rate equalization phase out.
S.F. 477-Howe: Food, beverage, and lodging establishment statutory governance exemptions modifications.
S.F. 1212-Brown: Adult children of deceased person patient definition addition.
S.F. 1201-Senjem: Dental therapists practice provisions modifications.
S.F. 1169-Hann: Special family day care homes licensure classification expansion.
S.F. 1170-Hann: Case management and personal care assistance services appeals conference requirement.

12:00 PM
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Room: 10 State Office Building
Agenda: Organizational Meeting
Election of 2011-2012 Commission Officers

Looking Ahead

Monday, May 2


10:15 AM
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Liz Holberg
Agenda: HF4 (Downey) State workforce reduction required, and early retirement program created.
HF66 (Drazkowski) Political contribution refund repealed.
HF873 (Garofalo) Education finance obsolete language removed.
HF874 (Garofalo) Education finance obsolete language removed.
HF1230 (Fabian) State land disposition of receipts modified; state parks, state recreation areas, state forests, and state wildlife management areas added to and deleted from; Mississippi River management plan modified; and public and private sales and conveyances authorized for certain state lands.
HF1234 (Downey) Commissioner of administration required to issue a request for proposals and enter into a contract for strategic sourcing consulting services.
HF632 (Howes) Maintenance plumbers licensed, and fees modified.
HF210 (Kiffmeyer) Voter picture identification required before receiving a ballot, identification cards provided at no charge, provisional ballot procedures established, challenged voter eligibility list created, election administration procedures specified, electronic polling place rosters allowed, electronic polling place roster standards set, electronic roster implementation legislative task force created, recount procedures enacted, and money appropriated.

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

12:30 PM
House Transportation Policy and Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Michael Beard
Agenda: HF1283 (Hackbarth) Recreational vehicle operating provisions modified, dual registration of off-highway motorcycles provided, and special vehicle use on roadways modified.
SF67 (Nornes) Waterfront structure transportation on trunk highways authorized with annual special permits.
HF232 (Kriesel) Gold star license plates eligibility expanded to surviving legal guardians and siblings.
SF478 (Shimanski) Disability motorcycle plate provided.
HF1036 (Sanders) State passenger vehicle fleet management and consolidation provided.
HF977(Cornish) State Patrol prohibited from closing or consolidating dispatch centers.

1:00 PM
Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans
Chair: Sen. Mike Parry
Agenda:
H.F. 786-Daley: Charitable organizations financial statement modifications and compensation information reporting requirements.
S.F. 878-Higgins: Honorary military service prior offense presumption of rehabilitation.
S.F. 904-Lillie: State depositories bond requirements modifications.
H.F. 1362-Lillie: Workers' Compensation Advisory Council recommendations adopted.
S.F. 1283-Benson: State Capitol complex security advisory committee creation; state patrol protection to government officials authorization.

1:00 PM
Conference Committee on S.F. 1030: K-12 education omnibus bill
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chairs: Sen. Gen Olson and Rep. Pat Garofalo
CONFEREES:
SENATE: Olson; Nelson; Thompson; Kruse; Wolf
HOUSE: Garofalo; Kelly; Doepke; Fabian; Erickson
Agenda: Review Literacy Initiatives

3:00 PM
House in Session


Tuesday, May 3


1:00 PM
Conference Committee on H.F. 1101: higher education omnibus bill
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chairs: Sen. Michelle L. Fischbach and Rep. Bud Nornes
CONFEREES:
SENATE: Fischbach; Robling; Senjem; Carlson; Brown
HOUSE: Nornes; Dettmer; Daudt; Hancock; Mazorol
Agenda: Public testimony on H.F. 1101-Fischbach: Omnibus higher education appropriations and policy provisions modification.

2:30 PM
Legislative Audit Commission - Topic Selection Subcommittee
Room: 112 State Capitol
Chair: Sen. Roger Reinert
Agenda: Working session to select 5 - 6 evaluation topics for
consideration by the full Legislative Audit Commission

3:30 PM
Legislative Audit Commission
Room: 112 State Capitol
Chairs: Rep. Michael Beard, Sen. Roger Reinert
Agenda: Approve Evaluation Topics for 2011

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Deadline looms; Voting amendment may go on ballot

Yesterday at the Capitol

With only two more days left before the first policy bill deadline midnight on Friday, both bodies are busy hearing bills. Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, said budget discussions will start to heat up again once the policy bills are out of the way.

Also yesterday, a bill was introduced by Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, that would propose an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution requiring people to show photo identification when voting. If the bill passes the Legislature, a question about whether or not Minnesotans should show a photo ID would be put to the people on the 2012 ballot. Proposed constitutional amendments do not require approval by the governor to be placed on a ballot. This is a back-up plan for Republican lawmakers in case Gov. Dayton vetoes the photo ID bill moving through the Legislature.

Today at the Capitol

8:00 AM
Conference Committee on H.F. 42: Omnibus tax bill
Room: 15 Capitol
Chairs: Rep. Greg Davids, Sen. Julianne Ortman
Agenda: HF42 Omnibus Tax Bill

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: HF1381 (Erickson) Prekindergarten through grade 12 education policy provided, including general education, education excellence, special programs, facilities and technology, early childhood education, and student transportation.
*Note: HF1381 will become the omnibus education policy bill. The agenda will be mark-up and passage of the omnibus.

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda:
HF554 (Johnson) Mississippi River Parkway Commission expiration date changed.
HF1411 (Kahn) Geospatial advisory council provisions changed and expiration date extended.
HF1331 (Benson) State agencies required to enter into contracts to provide consulting services for improvements to state-operated systems and services.
HF1376 (Leidiger) E-Verify use required by state contractors.
HF1506 (Banaian) Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy new duties assigned, duties transferred from executive agencies, and money appropriated.

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda:
HF233 (Sanders) Department of Human Services required to issue a request for proposals for a Medicaid fraud detection and business intelligence contract.
HF182 (Beard) State and local water management study required.
HF1391 (Downey) State agency program designation authorized as performance-based organizations.
HF545 (Downey) State budget document required to include federal insolvency contingency planning.
HF1360 (Torkelson) Environmental Quality Board modified and duties eliminated and reassigned.
HF1238 (Fabian) Subsurface sewage treatment systems ordinance adoption delay extended.
HF716 (Gunther) Mandatory environmental assessment worksheet category rulemaking required.
HF997 (Westrom) State agency civil penalty imposition regulated, fees and expenses awarded to prevailing parties in actions involving state agencies and municipalities.
HF1577 (Cornish) Sex offender policy task force established.
HF1498 (Liebling) Human services agency provisions modified, agency hearing and appeals provisions modified, and Disparities Reduction Advisory Council created.
HF1359 (Barrett) Stimulants and hallucinogens added as Schedule I controlled substances.
HF1545 (McNamara) Energy Reliability and Intervention Office established within Department of Commerce to replace Energy Issues Intervention Office and energy reliability administrator, and conforming changes made.

10:30 AM
Senate in Session

12:30 PM
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bob Gunther
Agenda:
HF844 (McFarlane) Public library representative provided for the Governor's Workforce Development Council.
HF1164 (Murdock) JOBZ provisions modified.
HF1032 (Torkelson) Prevailing hours of labor requirements modified.

12:30 PM
House Civil Law
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Torrey Westrom
Agenda: HF1466 (Scott) Data practices technical changes made.
HF1370 (Paymar) Law enforcement data sharing permitted.
HF1130 (Nornes) Student record and data use provided.
HF1060 (Beard) "Personnel data" definition modified; data obtained for design-build transportation projects, adopt-a-highway program related data, and mileage-based road users data classified; and traffic accident related data provisions modified.
HF1533 (Peppin) Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board procedures and requirements changed.
HF601 (Holberg) Optional disclosure of public appraisals provided by a government entity.
HF210 (Kiffmeyer) Voter picture identification required before receiving a ballot, identification cards provided at no charge, provisional ballot procedures established, challenged voter eligibility list created, election administration procedures specified, electronic polling place rosters allowed, electronic polling place roster standards set, electronic roster implementation legislative task force created, recount procedures enacted, and money appropriated.
*House Files: 601, 1060, 1130, 1370, 1466 and 1533 were heard in the Data Practices Subcommittee on 4/26 and referred to Civil Law. No additional public testimony will be taken on these bills.

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 939-Nienow: Pupil transportation provisions modification.
S.F. 946-DeKruif: School districts joint operation and innovative delivery of education pilot project establishment.
S.F. 1073-Nelson: School districts transition planning for high school students to successfully pursue postsecondary education and employment.
S.F. 408-Wolf: Teacher's union financial reporting requirement.
S.F. 612-Benson: Youth athlete concussion policies establishment.

3:00 PM
House in Session

6:00 PM
Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Mike Parry
Agenda:
S.F. 1244-Dahms: Environmental review and solid waste land disposal facility permits rulemaking requirement.
S.F. 158-Ingebrigtsen: Outdoor heritage fund appropriations and provisions modifications.
S.F. 657-Ingebrigtsen: Clean water fund appropriations; clean water legacy act modifications; clean water council duties and membership modifications.
S.F. 174-Fischbach: Electronic linked bingo, electronic pull-tabs and video lottery terminals establishment.
S.F. 1319-Daley: Veterans homes special revenue account for facilities and programs operations appropriation transfer authorization.
S.F. 1320-Daley: Veterans homes work therapy programs funding support authorization.
S.F. 1321-Daley: Veterans affairs commissioner federal funds acceptance authorization.
S.F. 346-Senjem: Mississippi River Parkway commission expiration date extension.


Looking Ahead

Friday, April 29


8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda:
HF182 (Beard) State and local water management study required.
HF1332 (Hansen) Legislative auditor governing provisions modified.
HF1579 (McFarlane) Counties given authority to provide for general welfare, and alternative service delivery pilot program for waivers established.

8:30 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda: HF1544 (Kiel) Marshall County; process provided for making county offices appointive.
HF1597 (Kiffmeyer) Voters required to present photographic identification, photographic identification provided to voters at no charge, equal verification standards required for all voters, and constitutional amendment proposed.

9:00 AM
Senate Health and Human Services
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. David W. Hann
Agenda:
Social Costs of Casino Gaming Informational Hearing
S.F. 731-Hann: Nursing facility rate equalization phase out.
S.F. 477-Howe: Food, beverage, and lodging establishment statutory governance exemptions modifications.
S.F. 1212-Brown: Adult children of deceased person patient definition addition.
S.F. 1201-Senjem: Dental therapists practice provisions modifications.
S.F. 1169-Hann: Special family day care homes licensure classification expansion.
S.F. 1170-Hann: Case management and personal care assistance services appeals conference requirement.

12:00 PM
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Room: 10 State Office Building
Agenda: Organizational Meeting
Election of 2011-2012 Commission Officers

Tuesday, May 3

2:30 PM
Legislative Audit Commission - Topic Selection Subcommittee
Room: 112 State Capitol
Chair: Sen. Roger Reinert
Agenda: Working session to select 5 - 6 evaluation topics for
consideration by the full Legislative Audit Commission

3:30 PM
Legislative Audit Commission
Room: 112 State Capitol
Chairs: Rep. Michael Beard, Sen. Roger Reinert
Agenda: Approve Evaluation Topics for 2011

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Education Reform discussed; Governor calls for budget action

Yesterday at the Capitol

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush was in Minnesota yesterday talking with legislators about education reform. Bush discussed successful efforts he led that include giving schools grades and providing vouchers for students in failing schools. DFL lawmakers held a press conference afterward and argued this is not the time to bring in governor's from other states to talk about education reform, but said the focus should be on the budget. Sen. Chuck Wiger, DFL-Maplewood, said comparing Florida to Minnesota in the area of education is like comparing apples and oranges. Wiger said Minnesota is a leader in education with a higher graduation rate than Florida. He also said he is proud of the universities that prepare our teachers.

Meanwhile, committees continue to meet to process policy bills before Friday's deadline, and Gov. Dayton and Republican leadership continue to debate the best way to resolve the $5 billion budget deficit. Dayton held a news conference yesterday and said legislative leadership is not putting forward what he said is "an honest budget plan." He called for lawmakers to pass the budget bills and send them to him by May 6, so they can begin negotiations. Gov. Dayton's staff and legislative staff are scheduled to meet today to begin the process of reconciling some fiscal differences in the various budget bills.

There is no word on a higher education conference committee scheduled for this week. We will continue to keep you posted.

Today at the Capitol

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda:
HF1309 (Kahn) State government finance; amount billed by the commissioner of management and budget for statewide services provided changed, general fund budget reserve maximum amount set, additional forecast balance allocated, which fund bond proceeds are credited to specified, Environmental Quality Board technical changes made, Enterprise Real Property Technology System funds availability extended, and money appropriated.
HF1036 (Sanders) State passenger vehicle fleet management and consolidation provided.
HF2 (Banaian) Zero-based budgeting required, and sunset advisory commission and sunset process established for state agencies
HF384 (Dettmer) Campus veterans representative program sunset repealed
HF1024 (Stensrud) Deputy commissioner numbers reduced and assistant commissioner position eliminated in the unclassified service.
HF1063 (Murray) Counties permitted to perform private audit meeting standards of state auditor.
HF886 (Lanning) Compulsive gambling money appropriated

10:00 AM
Conference Committee on S.F. 1030: K-12 Education
Room 300S State Office Bldg.
Chairs: Sen. Gen Olson and Rep. Pat Garofalo
CONFEREES:
SENATE: Olson; Nelson; Thompson; Kruse; Wolf
HOUSE: Garofalo; Kelly; Doepke; Fabian; Erickson
Agenda: Continue walking through side by side documents.

10:30 AM
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda: S.F. 1199-Pederson: Prevailing wage provisions modifications.

12:00 PM
Senate in Session

1:00 PM
Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Mike Parry
Agenda:
S.F. 943-Ingebrigtsen: Miscellaneous aquaculture, game and fish, hunting, elk crop damage, fish and wildlife management plans, invasive species, natural resources department (DNR) provisions modifications.
S.F. 1146-Wolf: Public employees dues check off written request requirement for certain contributions.
S.F. 16-Wiger: Resolution urging Congress to investigate the Prisoner of War - Missing in Action (POW/MIA) issue.
S.F. 327-Miller: Fillmore county veterans cemetery requirement.
S.F. 994-Senjem: Bingo gross profits use for allowable expenses percent increase.
S.F. 878-Higgins: Honorary military service prior offense presumption of rehabilitation.
S.F. 1234-Kruse: Secretary of state business entities certificates issuance process provisions clarifications and modifications.
S.F. 1200-Nelson: State capitol preservation commission establishment and appropriation.
S.F. 361-Magnus: Mitochondrial disease awareness week establishment.
S.F. 959-Vandeveer: Disabled veterans homestead market value exemption extension to primary family caregiver.
S.F. 575-Newman: State agency rulemaking adoption legislative approval requirement.
S.F. 993-Newman: Contested case hearing by office of administrative hearings submission.
S.F. 1137-Hann: State agency programs designation as performance-based organizations for persons with disabilities.

4:30 PM
House in Session

Looking Ahead

Thursday, April 28


8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: HF1381 (Erickson) Prekindergarten through grade 12 education policy provided, including general education, education excellence, special programs, facilities and technology, early childhood education, and student transportation.
*Note: HF1381 will become the omnibus education policy bill. The agenda will be mark-up and passage of the omnibus.

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda:
HF554 (Johnson) Mississippi River Parkway Commission expiration date changed.
HF1411 (Kahn) Geospatial advisory council provisions changed and expiration date extended.
HF1331 (Benson) State agencies required to enter into contracts to provide consulting services for improvements to state-operated systems and services.
HF1376 (Leidiger) E-Verify use required by state contractors.
HF1506 (Banaian) Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy new duties assigned, duties transferred from executive agencies, and money appropriated.

8:30 AM
Conference Committee on H.F. 42: Omnibus tax bill
Room: 15 Capitol
Chairs: Rep. Greg Davids, Sen. Julianne Ortman
Agenda: HF42 Omnibus Tax Bill

12:30 PM
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bob Gunther
Agenda:
HF844 (McFarlane) Public library representative provided for the Governor's Workforce Development Council.
HF1164 (Murdock) JOBZ provisions modified.
HF1032 (Torkelson) Prevailing hours of labor requirements modified.

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 939-Nienow: Pupil transportation provisions modification.
S.F. 946-DeKruif: School districts joint operation and innovative delivery of education pilot project establishment.
S.F. 1073-Nelson: School districts transition planning for high school students to successfully pursue postsecondary education and employment.
S.F. 408-Wolf: Teacher's union financial reporting requirement.
S.F. 612-Benson: Youth athlete concussion policies establishment.

6:00 PM
Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Mike Parry
Agenda:
S.F. 174-Fischbach: Electronic linked bingo, electronic pull-tabs and video lottery terminals establishment.
S.F. 702-Parry: Lawful gambling tax rates modification; linked bingo and electronic pull-tabs authorization.
S.F. 1266-Wiger: State government resource recovery program modifications.
S.F. 1270-Wiger: Geospatial advisory council appointing authority modification and expiration date extension.

Friday, April 29

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda:
HF182 (Beard) State and local water management study required.
HF1332 (Hansen) Legislative auditor governing provisions modified.
HF1579 (McFarlane) Counties given authority to provide for general welfare, and alternative service delivery pilot program for waivers established.

12:00 PM
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Room: 10 State Office Building
Agenda: Organizational Meeting
Election of 2011-2012 Commission Officers:
- Chair
- Vice Chair
- Secretary

Tuesday, May 3

2:30 PM
Legislative Audit Commission - Topic Selection Subcommittee
Room: 112 State Capitol
Chair: Sen. Roger Reinert
Agenda: Working session to select 5 - 6 evaluation topics for
consideration by the full Legislative Audit Commission

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Lawmakers back at it; Conference committees set to meet

Lawmakers return to St. Paul today after a week-long recess in their home districts. Due to the snow last week, the Republican leadership fly-around was postponed until yesterday. GOP leaders set the tone for the final weeks of the 2011 legislative session. Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, said there is room for compromise, and leadership will cooperate with Gov. Dayton. "We're just not going to compromise our principles and we're not raising taxes. Minnesotans can't afford it," Koch said. Dayton and the Republican leadership will meet for breakfast today.

Look for long committee hearings this week as lawmakers work to meet the policy bill deadline by Friday. As of now, there are no higher education committee hearings or a conference committee scheduled. Stay tuned.

Today at the Capitol

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will be at the Capitol today to speak about education with the MN Business Partnership.

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda:
HF1487 (Myhra) Statewide literacy initiative formulated to ensure students succeed in achieving grade-level reading proficiency by the end of grade 3, and data provided to improve student outcomes.
HF1381 (Erickson) Prekindergarten through grade 12 education policy provided, including general education, education excellence, special programs, facilities and technology, early childhood education, and student transportation.

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Claire A. Robling
Agenda:
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.

8:30 AM
Conference Committee on H.F. 42: Omnibus tax bill
Room: 112 Capitol
Chairs: Sen. Julianne E. Ortman and Rep. Greg Davids
CONFEREES:
SENATE: Ortman; Rosen; Senjem; Chamberlain; Limmer
HOUSE: Davids; Lenczewski; Runbeck; Anderson; Loon
Agenda: H.F. 42-Ortman: Omnibus tax bill.

9:30 AM
Conference Committee on S.F. 887: Omnibus jobs and economic development
Room: 107 Capitol
Chairs: Sen. Geoff Michel and Rep. Bob Gunther
CONFEREES:
SENATE: Michel; Pederson; Miller; Daley; Lillie
HOUSE: Gunther; Hoppe; McFarlane; Sanders; Kieffer
Agenda: S.F. 887-Michel: Omnibus jobs and economic growth and development appropriations.

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda: HF1440 (Beard) Hydroelectric facility municipal approval exception provided.
HF1506 (Banaian) Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy new duties assigned, duties transferred from executive agencies, and money appropriated.
HF1538 (Peppin) Contribution and expenditure limits modified.
HF1331 (Benson) State agencies required to enter into contracts to provide consulting services for improvements to state-operated systems and services.
HF1332 (Hansen) Legislative auditor governing provisions modified.
HF1339 (Abeler) My Life, My Choices Task Force established.
HF1363 (Scalze) Metrodome Task Force established.
HFXXXX (McFarlane) A bill for an act relating to counties; giving counties authority to provide for the general welfare; establishing an alternative service delivery pilot program for waivers; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 375.18, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 402A.

10:30 AM
Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Chris Gerlach
Agenda:
SF 26 (Rest): Homeowners insurance surcharge disclosure requirement
SF 918 (Gerlach) Omnibus Liquor Bill
SF 1208 (Sparks) Life insurance and title insurance reserves regulation

12:00 PM
House in Session

12:00 PM
Senate in Session

2:30 PM
House Commerce and Regulatory Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joe Hoppe
HF1459 (Lanning) Minnesota State University, Morehead alcohol license restrictions modified.
HF1410 (ODriscoll) Workers compensation self-insurance groups permitted to substitute an insurance policy for a security deposit to ensure payment of claims.
HF1303 Revenue-based filing fee gradually adjusted beginning in fiscal year 2014.
HF1476 (Scott) Prevailing wage provisions modified.
HF1422 (Simon) Professional athlete drug and alcohol testing provisions modified.
HF441 (Loon) Collection of 911 fees from prepaid wireless telecommunications services provided.
HF611 (Gunther) Small business loan guarantee program created.
HF1485 (Kriesel) Lawful gambling tax rates modified, linked bingo and electronic pull-tabs provided for, and clarifying, conforming, and technical changes made.
HF1473 (Hoppe) Insurance definitions modified, life insurance and title insurance reserves modified, accounts and funding agreements regulated, obsolete and conflicting provisions repealed, and conforming changes made.

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 619-Hann: School districts essential uses reserve account authorization.
S.F. 1167-Olson, G.: Prekindergarten through grade 12 education policy provisions modification.
S.F. 1062-Gerlach: Retired teachers to serve as coaches.
S.F. 1213-Nelson: Adult education performance tracking system modifications.

6:00 PM
House Data Practices Subcommittee
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Peggy Scott
Agenda: HF1466 (Scott) Data practices technical changes made.
HF1130 (Nornes) Student record and data use provided.
HF601 (Holberg) Optional disclosure of public appraisals provided by a government entity.
HF1060 (Beard) "Personnel data" definition modified; data obtained for design-build transportation projects, adopt-a-highway program related data, and mileage-based road users data classified; and traffic accident related data provisions modified.
HF1370 (Paymar) Law enforcement data sharing permitted.
HF1461 (Abeler) Human services licensing provisions changes made, data practice provisions changed, Maltreatment of Vulnerable Adults Act amended, and Human Services Background Studies Act amended.
HF1533 (Peppin) Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board procedures and requirements changed.

7:30 PM
House Taxes
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Greg Davids
Agenda:
HF1231 (Paymar) Policy, technical, administrative, enforcement, and other changes made to individual income, corporate franchise, estate, sales and use, property, insurance, and other taxes and tax-related provisions, and conforming to Internal Revenue Code changes.
*NOTE: HF1231 is Governor Dayton's tax plan*

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, April 27


8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda:
HF1309 (Kahn) State government finance; amount billed by the commissioner of management and budget for statewide services provided changed, general fund budget reserve maximum amount set, additional forecast balance allocated, which fund bond proceeds are credited to specified, Environmental Quality Board technical changes made, Enterprise Real Property Technology System funds availability extended, and money appropriated.
HF1036 (Sanders) State passenger vehicle fleet management and consolidation provided.
HF2 (Banaian) Zero-based budgeting required, and sunset advisory commission and sunset process established for state agencies.
HF384 (Dettmer) Campus veterans representative program sunset repealed.
HF1024 (Stensrud) Deputy commissioner numbers reduced and assistant commissioner position eliminated in the unclassified service.
HF1063 (Murray) Counties permitted to perform private audit meeting standards of state auditor.
HF886 (Lanning) Compulsive gambling money appropriated.

10:00 AM
Conference Committee on S.F. 1030: K-12 Education
Room 300S State Office Bldg.
Chairs: Sen. Gen Olson and Rep. Pat Garofalo
CONFEREES:
SENATE: Olson; Nelson; Thompson; Kruse; Wolf
HOUSE: Garofalo; Kelly; Doepke; Fabian; Erickson
Agenda: Continue walking through side by side documents.

1:00 PM
Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Mike Parry
Agenda:
S.F. 943-Ingebrigtsen: Miscellaneous aquaculture, game and fish, hunting, elk crop damage, fish and wildlife management plans, invasive species, natural resources department (DNR) provisions modifications.
S.F. 1146-Wolf: Public employees dues check off written request requirement for certain contributions.
S.F. 1100-Brown: Interest arbitration factor consideration for public sector labor relations.
S.F. 16-Wiger: Resolution urging Congress to investigate the Prisoner of War - Missing in Action (POW/MIA) issue.
S.F. 327-Miller: Fillmore county veterans cemetery requirement.
S.F. 994-Senjem: Bingo gross profits use for allowable expenses percent increase.
S.F. 878-Higgins: Honorary military service prior offense presumption of rehabilitation.
S.F. 1234-Kruse: Secretary of state business entities certificates issuance process provisions clarifications and modifications.
S.F. 1200-Nelson: State capitol preservation commission establishment and appropriation.
S.F. 361-Magnus: Mitochondrial disease awareness week establishment.
S.F. 959-Vandeveer: Disabled veterans homestead market value exemption extension to primary family caregiver.
S.F. 575-Newman: State agency rulemaking adoption legislative approval requirement.
S.F. 993-Newman: Contested case hearing by office of administrative hearings submission.
S.F. 1137-Hann: State agency programs designation as performance-based organizations for persons with disabilities.


Thursday, April 28


8:00 AM
Conference Committee on H.F. 42: Omnibus tax bill
Room: 15 Capitol
Chairs: Rep. Greg Davids, Sen. Julianne Ortman
Agenda: HF42 Omnibus Tax Bill

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: HF1381 (Erickson) Prekindergarten through grade 12 education policy provided, including general education, education excellence, special programs, facilities and technology, early childhood education, and student transportation.

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda:
HF554 (Johnson) Mississippi River Parkway Commission expiration date changed.
HF1411 (Kahn) Geospatial advisory council provisions changed and expiration date extended.
F1331 (Benson) State agencies required to enter into contracts to provide consulting services for improvements to state-operated systems and services.
HF1376 (Leidiger) E-Verify use required by state contractors.
HF1506 (Banaian) Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy new duties assigned, duties transferred from executive agencies, and money appropriated.

12:30 PM
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bob Gunther
Agenda:
HF844 (McFarlane) Public library representative provided for the Governor's Workforce Development Council.
HF1164 (Murdock) JOBZ provisions modified.
HF1032 (Torkelson) Prevailing hours of labor requirements modified.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Lawmakers discuss session; Schedules posted

Yesterday at the Capitol

The higher education finance omnibus conference committee met briefly yesterday afternoon and House Researcher Kathy Novak walked through the side-by-side of the House and Senate bills, and Fiscal Analyst Doug Berg walked through the funding in both bills. There was no discussion, and no votes were taken.

Conference Committee Chairs Rep. Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls and Sen. Michelle Fischbach, R-Paynesville, said there is a possibility the conference committee will meet Monday, April 18 before the legislative recess. If not, they will meet after the break to take testimony on the two bills.

You may find the side-by-side of the Senate and House bills here.

The spreadsheet for the bills can be found here.

Also yesterday, both bodies took up the agriculture finance conference report on the floor, approved it and sent it to the governor. Gov. Dayton is expected to sign the bill at 11:00 this morning. Dayton said the bill closely matches his recommendations and fits within his budget framework.

Included in the bill is $94,000 for both years of the biennium for statewide mental health counseling support to farm families and business operators through farm business management programs at Central Lakes College and Ridgewater College.

Today at the Capitol

9:00 AM
Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Warren Limmer
Agenda:
S.F. 799-Miller: Student records and data usage liability clarification.
S.F. 735-Limmer: Civil immunity extension to municipalities donating public safety equipment.
S.F. 1068-Daley: School facilities recreational activities use immunity establishment.
S.F. 160-Hann: Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act.
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.

At 10:00 a.m. legislative leaders will hold their weekly media availability.

Looking Ahead

Lawmakers will meet Monday of next week and then will recess for the Easter/Passover break at 3:00 p.m. They are expected to return to St. Paul Tuesday, April 26.

Monday, April 18

12:00 PM
Senate in Session

12:30 PM
House in Session

1:00 PM
Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Mike Parry
Agenda:
S.F. 247-Dahms: Public employees insurance program local government employees participation or withdrawal approval requirements.
S.F. 1100-Brown: Interest arbitration factor consideration for public sector labor relations.
S.F. 1146-Wolf: Public employees dues check off written request requirement for certain contributions.

Tuesday, April 19 - Monday, April 25

Easter/Passover Break

Tuesday, April 26

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: To be announced.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Governor hosts higher education round table; Schedules posted

Yesterday at the Capitol

A panel of higher education leaders, faculty, students and staff met yesterday at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul for Gov. Dayton's round table discussion on higher education. Dayton heard directly from students, faculty and administrators about the impact of the House and Senate proposed budget cuts, and discussed the future of higher education. Chancellor Jim McCormick said that studies show by 2018, 70 percent of jobs in Minnesota will require postsecondary education, and the current degrees and certificates will not be enough for the country to advance globally. He said more people need to obtain degrees.

Other round table speakers included Minnesota State University Student Association Chair Andrew Spaeth who said he's concerned about the future of Minnesota if the legislative proposed budget cuts are enacted. Spaeth also said that the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is one of the most efficient systems in the country already.

President of Metropolitan State University Sue Hammersmith said there is a direct relationship between the disinvestment on the part of the state and the increasing tuition burden on the students. President Terry Leas of Riverland Community College said decisions will have to be made, whether it's closing programs to balance the budget or cut off access. Leas said his college has nationally recognized programs, yet they will have to choose among them when deciding what to cut. Metropolitan State University professor Monte Bute said higher education is a public good and told Gov. Dayton that if he stands up for the public good, there are many Minnesotans who will as well.

Gov. Dayton said the round table discussion gave him a strengthening of his resolve to stand firm on minimal cuts, and resist the deeper cuts being proposed in the House and Senate bills. Conferees will begin discussing the two higher education finance bills today at 12:30 p.m.

Today at the Capitol

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.
HF563 (Moran) School board creation of full-service school zones authorized.

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda:
HF1376 (Leidiger) E-Verify use required by state contractors.
HF1036 (Sanders) State passenger vehicle fleet management and consolidation provided.
HF1205 (Holberg) County park fee restriction modified.
HF1411 (Kahn) Geospatial advisory council provisions changed and expiration date extended.
HF1269 (McFarlane) Campaign finance and public disclosure law definition of "public official" changed.
HF554 (Johnson) Mississippi River Parkway Commission expiration date changed.

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

12:30 PM (or 15 minutes after session)
Conference Committee on S.F. 1030: K-12 Education finance bill
CONFEREES:
SENATE: Olson; Nelson; Thompson; Kruse; Wolf
HOUSE: Garofalo; Kelly; Doepke; Fabian; Erickson
Room: 5 State Office Bldg.
Chairs: Sen. Gen Olson and Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda: S.F. 1030-Olson, G.: Omnibus early childhood through grade 12 education policy provisions modifications and appropriations.

3:00 PM
House in Session

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 768-Thompson: Probationary teacher and principal status requirements clarification.
S.F. 781-Harrington: Teacher Tenure Act for school districts located in first class cities modification.
S.F. 1022-Nelson: School district principals annual performance-based evaluation system establishment.

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.

Looking Ahead

At this time there are no higher education related committee hearings scheduled for Friday or into next week. Given that schedules are fluid right now, we can expect to see hearings scheduled soon.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

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.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Higher ed round table discussed held; Conference Committee to meet; Special election today

Roundtable discussions on higher education funding

Gov. Mark Dayton is hosting a roundtable discussion on the impact of cuts as proposed in the higher education appropriation bills headed for conference committee later this week. Topics of discussion include the consequences of spending cuts on people, jobs and tuition. Individuals have been asked to participate in the discussion, including Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Chancellor Jim McCormick, University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks, and Director for the Minnesota Office of Higher Education Sheila Wright. Faculty and students have also been invited to participate. The event will be held Wednesday, April 13, 10:00 a.m. (expected duration 1 - 1 ½ hours) in the Ecolab Community Room at Metropolitan State University.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum is also hosting a roundtable discussion on higher education. Congresswoman McCollum's discussion will be focused on the federal level, and the potential consequences of federal budget cuts to higher education. This event is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 28, at Metropolitan State University, Founders Hall.

Conference committee activity

The Senate appointed conferees yesterday for all the budget bills. The conferees for the higher education finance bill are: Sen. Michelle Fischbach, R-Paynesville; Sen. John Carlson, R-Bemidj; Sen. David Brown, R-Becker; Sen. Claire Robling, R-Jordan; and Sen. David Senjem, R-Rochester.

As a reminder, the House higher education conferees are: Rep. Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls; Rep. Bob Dettmer, R-Forest Lake; Rep. Kurt Daudt, R-Crown; Rep. Pat Mazorol, R-Bloomington; and Rep. David Hancock, R-Bemidji.

The ten conferees will meet to discuss the similarities and differences between the House and Senate higher education bills and work to come to an agreement for one conference report. A conference committee has been scheduled for Thursday, April 14 at 12:30 to walk through the side-by-side of the two bills and go over the spreadsheet.

Both the House and Senate adjourned floor session yesterday with the intention to not meet on the floor until Thursday. This will give committees time to process policy bills, and conference committees will begin to meet.

The first conference committee to meet was the committee to negotiate the agriculture and rural development finance bill. Conferees approved a final report yesterday, which will be sent back to both bodies for approval. As a reminder, a conference report cannot be amended, but rather can only be voted up or down. If voted down, it will be sent back to conference committee to rework it.

Today at the Capitol

The special election will be held in Senate District 66 between DFL candidate Mary Jo McGuire and Republican candidate Greg Copeland to replace DFL Sen. Ellen Anderson who left to lead the Public Utilities Commission.

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda:
HF682 (Kiel) Career and technical levy modified, and career and technical education credits provided.
HF617 (Woodard) AmeriCorps Innovation aligned to federal law.
HF575 (Erickson) Probationary teacher and principal status governing requirements clarified.
HF563 (Moran) School board creation of full-service school zones authorized.

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Claire A. Robling
Agenda:
S.F. 712-Carlson, J.: State lands valuation methods for acquired lands modification; adopt-a-WMA (wildlife management area) program establishment; state parks, forests, recreation areas and wildlife management areas additions and deletions; public and private sales of cer.
S.F. 930-Robling: Deficiency funding appropriations for public safety department, judicial standards board, tax court, and secretary of state; state-owned land minimum sale requirement modification.

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda:
HF1117 (O'Driscoll) Bond requirements for state depositories changed.
HF1152 (Sanders) Pawnbrokers pledged goods return and location restrictions regulated.
HF1171 (Westrom) Nonprofit organizations receiving a grant or direct appropriation from the state conditions imposed.
HF745 (Mack) Autism Spectrum Disorder Task Force created, appointments provided, and development of a statewide strategic plan required.

10:30 AM
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda:
S.F. 1130-Pederson: Unemployment insurance and workforce development provisions modifications.
H.F. 664-Metzen: Elevator code changes compliance timeline modification.
S.F. 588-DeKruif: Well contractor licensing requirements modifications.
H.F. 529-Magnus: Agricultural building roof panels equivalent load bearing capacity requirement.

2:30 PM
House Capital Investment
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Larry Howes
Agenda: HF369 (Banaian) Capital investment return determination information required.
HF194 (Anderson) State agencies required to track and report on the number of jobs created or retained as a result of capital project funding.

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 612-Benson: Youth athlete concussion policies establishment.
S.F. 901-Pederson: Early childhood services and programs for full kindergarten readiness coordination

5:00 PM
Conference Committee on Omnibus Education Finance bill
CONFEREES:
SENATE: Olson; Nelson; Thompson; Kruse; Wolf
HOUSE: Garofalo; Kelly; Doepke; Fabian; Erickson
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chairs: Rep. Pat Garofalo and Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: Walk-through of side by sides of HF934 (Garofalo/Olson, G.) Omnibus Education Finance bill.

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, April 13


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.
HF1088 (Drazkowski) State agency natural disaster response provisions modified.
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. 977-Wolf: Charter school revenue formulas modifications.

Thursday, April 14

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:
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

Monday, April 11, 2011

Weekly schedules posted

Today at the Capitol

8:30 AM
Conference Committee on S.F. 1016: Omnibus agriculture and rural economic development appropriations
Room: 107 Capitol
Chairs: Sen. Doug Magnus and Rep. Rod Hamilton
CONFEREES:
SENATE: Magnus; Miller; Kubly; Nienow; Dahms
HOUSE: Hamilton; Shimanski; Anderson; LeMieur; Eken

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

1:00 PM
Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Mike Parry
Agenda:
H.F. 299-Senjem: State agency value initiative (SAVI) program establishment.
S.F. 527-Senjem: Autism spectrum disorder task force creation.

3:00 PM
House in Session

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 605-Nienow: Graduation required assessment for diploma (GRAD) mathematics requirement exception removal; high school assessments for college and career readiness determination establishment.
S.F. 143-Wiger: High school assessments for college and career readiness determination establishment; assessment advisory committee recommendations for alternative means of graduation for students requirement.
S.F. 1073-Nelson: School districts transition planning for high school students to successfully pursue postsecondary education and employment.

Looking Ahead

Tuesday, April 12


8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda:
HF682 (Kiel) Career and technical levy modified, and career and technical education credits provided.
HF617 (Woodard) AmeriCorps Innovation aligned to federal law.
HF575 (Erickson) Probationary teacher and principal status governing requirements clarified.
HF563 (Moran) School board creation of full-service school zones authorized.

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Claire A. Robling
Agenda:
S.F. 712-Carlson, J.: State lands valuation methods for acquired lands modification; adopt-a-WMA (wildlife management area) program establishment; state parks, forests, recreation areas and wildlife management areas additions and deletions; public and private sales of cer.
S.F. 930-Robling: Deficiency funding appropriations for public safety department, judicial standards board, tax court, and secretary of state; state-owned land minimum sale requirement modification.

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda:
HF389 (Beard) Interim planning ordinances provided, and municipal development contracts provided.
HF746 (Mack) Department of Human Services required to issue a request for proposals for an integrated online eligibility and application portal for food support, cash assistance, child care, and health care programs.
HF1117 (O'Driscoll) Bond requirements for state depositories changed.
HF1152 (Sanders) Pawnbrokers pledged goods return and location restrictions regulated.
HF1171 (Westrom) Nonprofit organizations receiving a grant or direct appropriation from the state conditions imposed.

10:30 AM
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda:
S.F. 1130-Pederson: Unemployment insurance and workforce development provisions modifications.
H.F. 664-Metzen: Elevator code changes compliance timeline modification.
S.F. 588-DeKruif: Well contractor licensing requirements modifications.
H.F. 529-Magnus: Agricultural building roof panels equivalent load bearing capacity requirement.

2:30 PM
House Capital Investment
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Larry Howes
Agenda: HF369 (Banaian) Capital investment return determination information required.

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 612-Benson: Youth athlete concussion policies establishment.
S.F. 901-Pederson: Early childhood services and programs for full kindergarten readiness coordination

Wednesday, April 13

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.
HF1088 (Drazkowski) State agency natural disaster response provisions modified.
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. 977-Wolf: Charter school revenue formulas modifications.

Thursday, April 14

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

Friday, April 8, 2011

Conferees named; Budget bills passed; Federal government shut down?

Legislative Update
April 8, 2011

Half of the higher education conferees named


This week, the House of Representatives appointed conferees to negotiate the higher education finance omnibus bill. They are: Rep. Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls; Rep. Bob Dettmer, R-Forest Lake; Rep. Kurt Daudt, R-Crown; Rep. Pat Mazorol, R-Bloomington; and Rep. David Hancock, R-Bemidji. Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, said today that Senate conferees for all the finance bills are likely to be named Monday, and then conference committees will get to work. Lawmakers only have one week to work through differences between the House and Senate bills prior to the spring recess scheduled to begin Monday, April 18 at 3:00 p.m. Conference committee work will resume after the break on April 26 if necessary. When asked today at a media availability whether legislative leaders have set internal deadlines on when to have the budget bills done, Koch said it’s not productive to set deadlines for getting bills to the governor. She said legislative leadership is not focused on deadlines other than May 23, the session adjournment date.

All finance bills off the floor and into conference committee

It was a productive week for legislative leadership as they passed the last remaining spending bills and sent them to conference committee. One of the bills passed this week by the House with interest to higher education includes the jobs and economic development finance omnibus bill. The bill cuts funding to the Department of Employment and Economic Development by 5.8 percent and the Department of Labor and Industry by 7 percent. One of the more controversial provisions in the bill is the transfer of $60 million in one-time money from the Douglas J. Johnson Economic Protection Trust Fund that is funded by tax mining companies who pay towards the fund in lieu of property taxes. The money is used for economic development projects on the Iron Range.

The bill reduces the Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership program by $1.37 million over the 2012-2013 biennium. There is also an appropriation of $90,000 each year of the biennium for a grant to the Rural Policy and Development Center at St. Peter, Minnesota. The grant is to be used for research and policy analysis on emerging economic and social issues in rural Minnesota, and to encourage collaboration across higher education institutions.

Another bill of interest to higher education passed by a partisan vote in the House this week is the state government finance omnibus bill. This bill cuts state agencies by 34 percent and includes many state government reforms. Rep. Keith Downey, R-Edina, sponsored many of the reform provisions included in the bill, and said the bill would lead to better services by empowering state employees to be more productive and manage state programs more efficiently. Some of the reforms included in the bill related to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system include a salary freeze; however, the House bill exempts system faculty and administrators from the freeze (the Senate bill does not include the exemption). Another reform includes establishing a program to provide one-time bonus compensation to state employees for efforts made to reduce the costs of operating state government.

During floor debate, opponents of the bill questioned the fairness to state employees as well as the use of fiscal notes, which Democrats said Republicans have been ignoring. Sponsor of the bill, Rep. Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead, said his best judgment says that the bill is balanced and is a big step toward reforming government.

The Senate was also busy on the floor this week finalizing the budget bills with the passage of the omnibus tax bill. The bill cuts $580 million in spending and eliminates the statewide property tax on businesses, reduces aid to local governments and reduces a property tax refund for renters. The House tax bill differs in that it includes income tax cuts, does not phase out the business property tax, and focuses its local government aid cuts only on the cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth. These differences will be addressed in conference committee.

Now that the finance bills have all passed the floor and are headed to conference committee, Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, said she would invite Gov. Dayton’s commissioners to conference committee meetings to weigh in on the ten appropriation bills. Koch said leadership has an open door policy for the governor. Dayton has said he will become part of the negotiations once the Senate and House have reached an agreement (conference reports worked out through the conference committee process). Senate Deputy Majority Leader Geoff Michel, R-Edina, said today that leadership wants the governor and his cabinet to be part of a transparent and open process given the dynamics of a new legislative majority and new governor. Michel also said that the public can expect conference committees to run smoother than usual with the House and Senate bills being close financially.

Koch said the focus right now is on the budget; however, she did say with the policy bill deadlines approaching, we can expect to see policy bills in committee “cranking up” next week. By April 29, all policy bills must be out of the body of origin, and by May 6, the third and final committee deadline, all policy bills must be out of both bodies.

Federal government shutdown looming

Dominating the news this week is the potential for a partial federal government shutdown if Congress, specifically congressional leaders, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, do not come to an agreement on the current fiscal year spending by midnight tonight. As a reminder, the current federal fiscal year is half over, and the federal government has been operating on a series of continuing resolutions that fund government at the 2010 spending levels.

Without an agreement by midnight tonight, approximately 800,000 government workers will be furloughed and a range of government services will stop, though essential services such as law enforcement will continue. What it means for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is unclear at this time; however, a shutdown is likely to have an impact on services related to federal financial aid and government grants and contracts.

The latest proposed cuts fall between $38 billion and $40 billion. House Republicans passed legislation to keep the government open for one additional week while leaders work to reach a deal. The legislation would include $12 billion in spending cuts and fund the Pentagon for six months. Reid has said he will try to get a one-week funding extension through the Senate today, but it is unclear if it will pass.

Here's What's Happening at the Capitol:

This schedule shows all meetings that we are aware of at the time of publication that MAY have an impact on the system. This schedule may change. Please watch the House and Senate schedules posted on the Legislature's web site.

Monday, April 11

8:30 AM
Conference Committee on S.F. 1016: Omnibus agriculture and rural economic development appropriations
Room: 107 Capitol
Chairs: Sen. Doug Magnus and Rep. Rod Hamilton
CONFEREES:
SENATE: Magnus; Miller; Kubly; Nienow; Dahms
HOUSE: Hamilton; Shimanski; Anderson; LeMieur; Eken

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

1:00 PM
Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Mike Parry
Agenda:
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
House in Session

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 605-Nienow: Graduation required assessment for diploma (GRAD) mathematics requirement exception removal; high school assessments for college and career readiness determination establishment.
S.F. 143-Wiger: High school assessments for college and career readiness determination establishment; assessment advisory committee recommendations for alternative means of graduation for students requirement.
S.F. 1073-Nelson: School districts transition planning for high school students to successfully pursue postsecondary education and employment.

Tuesday, April 12

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Claire A. Robling
Agenda:
S.F. 712-Carlson, J.: State lands valuation methods for acquired lands modification; adopt-a-WMA (wildlife management area) program establishment; state parks, forests, recreation areas and wildlife management areas additions and deletions.
S.F. 930-Robling: Deficiency funding appropriations for public safety department, judicial standards board, tax court, and secretary of state; state-owned land minimum sale requirement modification.

2:30 PM
House Capital Investment
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Larry Howes
Agenda: HF369 (Banaian) Capital investment return determination information required.

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 612-Benson: Youth athlete concussion policies establishment.
S.F. 901-Pederson: Early childhood services and programs for full kindergarten readiness coordination

Wednesday, April 13

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.

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. 977-Wolf: Charter school revenue formulas modifications.

Budget process further clarified

Yesterday at the Capitol
Senate Republicans held a press conference yesterday to discuss the budget bills that are now moving into their respective conference committee. Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, said conference committees are a good opportunity for Gov. Dayton's commissioners and staff to weigh in on what they like and don't like in the House and Senate bills. She said now is the time to get going on negotiations and her door is open to the governor. Koch indicated the Senate legislative leadership does not want to send the bills to Dayton for veto, and said she doesn't believe it's helpful. She said there are areas of potential agreement in many of the bills. The governor has said he will start negotiations once the Senate and House have an agreement (worked out through the conference committee process). Dayton has said that he would reject anything less than a complete budget package.

When asked about policy bills and what's next on the horizon, Koch said the focus right now is on the budget. However, we will start to see committee hearings pick up again as the next two committee deadlines are focused on policy bills. By April 29, all policy bills must be out of the body of origin, and by May 6, the third and final committee deadline, all policy bills must be out of both bodies.

Also meeting yesterday was the House State Government Finance Committee which took up HF 210, a bill that requires voters to show photo identification. The bill was laid over however, after objections from committee members that the bill's fiscal note did not reflect the most recent amendment to the bill. Committee Chair, Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead, said they would take up the bill and vote on it early next week. The Senate companion is scheduled to be heard in the Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans Committee Monday.

Today at the Capitol

9:00 AM
House Education Reform
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda:
HF905 (Hamilton) Youth athletes with concussions resulting from participation in youth athletic activities policies established.
HF1092 (Buesgens) Qualified individuals receiving a retirement annuity allowed to serve as a coach during a sports season.
HF575 (Erickson) Probationary teacher and principal status governing requirements clarified.

10:00 AM
Legislative leadership media briefing

12:00 PM
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Room 10 State Office Building
Agenda: Organizational Meeting
Election of 2011-2012 Commission Officers

2:30 PM
Joint Meeting: Environment and Natural Resources and Capital Investment
Room: Moorhead City Hall
Chairs: Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, Sen. David H. Senjem
Agenda: 2011 Red River Valley Flood Update and Impact

Looking Ahead

Monday, April 11


8:30 AM
Conference Committee on S.F. 1016: Omnibus agriculture and rural economic development appropriations
Room: 107 Capitol
Chairs: Sen. Doug Magnus and Rep. Rod Hamilton
CONFEREES:
SENATE: Magnus; Miller; Kubly; Nienow; Dahms
HOUSE: Hamilton; Shimanski; Anderson; LeMieur; Eken

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

1:00 PM
Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Mike Parry
Agenda:
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
House in Session

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 605-Nienow: Graduation required assessment for diploma (GRAD) mathematics requirement exception removal; high school assessments for college and career readiness determination establishment.
S.F. 143-Wiger: High school assessments for college and career readiness determination establishment; assessment advisory committee recommendations for alternative means of graduation for students requirement.
S.F. 1073-Nelson: School districts transition planning for high school students to successfully pursue postsecondary education and employment.

Tuesday, April 12

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Claire A. Robling
Agenda:
S.F. 712-Carlson, J.: State lands valuation methods for acquired lands modification; adopt-a-WMA (wildlife management area) program establishment; state parks, forests, recreation areas and wildlife management areas additions and deletions; public and private sales of cer.
S.F. 930-Robling: Deficiency funding appropriations for public safety department, judicial standards board, tax court, and secretary of state; state-owned land minimum sale requirement modification.

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 612-Benson: Youth athlete concussion policies establishment.
S.F. 540-Nelson: Child maltreatment mandatory reporting requirement for school district employees; teacher license revocation provision.
S.F. 901-Pederson: Early childhood services and programs for full kindergarten readiness coordination

Wednesday, April 13

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. 977-Wolf: Charter school revenue formulas modifications.