Friday, April 24, 2009

Higher education bill goes to conference committee; Taxes debated; Session adjournment nears

Legislative Update
April 24, 2009


Higher education bill heads to conference committee
The House passed the higher education omnibus bill on the floor this week by a vote of 86-46. After almost three hours of debate and multiple amendments, only three amendments were adopted. The amendment adopted that affects the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system was offered by Rep. Larry Haws, DFL-St. Cloud, and requires that the college and university bookstores, to the extent possible, sell clothing made in America. The institutions must report to the Legislature on their efforts to comply. Earlier in the week, the House Ways and Means Committee took up the bill before sending it to the floor and amended the tuition guarantee provision. Instead of guaranteeing students a stable tuition rate for up to four consecutive academic years, the language now reads that students must be offered the opportunity to participate in a four-year stable tuition rate plan.

Now that both bodies have passed their respective higher education omnibus bills, a conference committee will be formed to work through the differences. We anticipate conferees meeting early next week.

Bonding bill conferees closer to agreement
The Capital Investment Conference Committee met this week and conferees are closer to an agreement. On Wednesday, Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon, presented a new offer totaling $275 million, which was reduced from the Senate’s original position of $329 million. The only change to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system in the Senate’s offer was the HEAPR number, which went from $50 million to $45 million. The House, which held the gavel, called another conference committee Thursday to present its proposal. The House came up $10 million in HEAPR for the system and is now at $40 million, so $5 million in HEAPR for the system separates the Senate and House.

All five vetoed projects are still in both the Senate and House proposals. Those projects include the health and science center addition at Lake Superior College; the carpentry and industrial mechanical technology shops at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College; the smart classroom center at Metropolitan State University; the center for business and technology at North Hennepin Community College; and the systemwide classroom renovation initiative at Central Lakes College, Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Northland Community and Technical College, Pine Technical College and Rochester Community and Technical College.

Tax plan debated at the Capitol
The Senate and House of Representatives moved the omnibus tax bill through the process this week. In the Senate bill, SF 2074, income tax rates are set at 6 percent, 7.7 percent and 8.5 percent. The bill also creates a fourth tier with a rate of 9.25 percent for single taxpayers making $141,250 or more in taxable net income and for married couples making at least $250,000 in taxable net income. The bill also sets the alternative minimum tax rate at 7 percent for tax years 2009 to 2013 and then returns to the current rate in tax year 2013.

Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, tax committee chairman, said the proposal raises income taxes at all levels to bring in $2.19 billion over the next biennium. Bakk said the new income tax rates will blink off in 2014. He said the income tax increase will have an impact on most tax filers, but 15 percent of taxpayers will not be affected by the change. Bakk said the bill is part of the solution to the state's budget crisis. "The (Senate) appropriation bills all contain 7 percent cuts in base spending, but those cuts would be much more severe without the revenue raised in the bill," Bakk said. On Friday afternoon, the Senate was debating the tax bill on the floor.

The House bill was narrowly approved in the Tax Committee this week by a vote of 16-14. Rep. Ann Lenczewski, DFL-Bloomington, the committee chairwoman, said the bill, HF 2323 is an attempt to reform the tax code. The bill cuts $1.6 billion in the current biennium by eliminating many existing business subsidies and other tax expenditures, including Gov. Tim Pawlenty's economic development initiative known as Job Opportunity Building Zones, or JOBZ. The bill raises $1.5 billion in revenue, with a new income tax rate of 9 percent for couples making more than $300,000 a year, a tax on cigarettes of 54 cents a pack, and an additional 1 to 3 cents on the cost of a drink through the alcohol tax. The bill also expands the sales tax to the purchase of goods on the Internet, as well as digital downloads of music, books and video. The House is expected to take up the tax bill on the floor Saturday.

Countdown to adjournment
The House and Senate were busy this week debating omnibus appropriation bills on the floor. Now that lawmakers have approved the majority of these bills, conference committees will be formed to work through the differences between the House and Senate. The fifth and final committee deadline, when conference committee reports are to be to the floor, is May 7. The Legislature is on track, but multiple things could stall the process. Legislative leadership and the governor disagree on taxes, and Gov. Pawlenty has indicated he will not sign a bill that includes any tax increases. Also, the complications the federal stimulus package presents could cause delays in adjourning on time. With only three weeks left until May 18, Capitol watchers are wondering if a global deal between lawmakers and the governor can be reached.

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 web site.

Saturday, April 25
9:30 AM
House in Session

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

Tuesday, April 28
9:30 AM
Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
Agenda: S.F. 191-Betzold: Omnibus retirement provisions modifications.

Thursday, April 30
8:30 AM
Senate Higher Education Committee
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Sandra L. Pappas
Agenda: Continued Confirmations of MnSCU and HEFA Board of Trustees

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Omnibus bills move

Legislative Update
April 17, 2009

Higher education omnibus appropriation bills make their way through the process

It was a busy week in the Senate and House of Representatives as finance committees assembled omnibus bills and moved them to the full Finance Committees prior to the April 16 deadline. The higher education omnibus bill in both bodies was no exception as each made its way through the process.

Members of the House Finance Committee split up several of the major spending bills in the House and realigned them to match up with the Senate’s spending bills. HF 869 now only includes the omnibus higher education finance provisions. The committee removed the workforce development-related portions of the bill and amended them into HF 1169.

While the House bill has one more stop in Ways and Means, the Senate bill made it to the floor today. Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, introduced the bill on the floor by outlining four goals she hopes to achieve: meet the Senate directive of seven percent cuts across-the-board; protect financial aid for students; use federal stimulus funding wisely; and provide for research based reform, such as the summer bridge program and refocusing the Achieve scholarship program to meet both merit and need. The bill passed by a vote of 41-23.

The Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to meet early next week to take up omnibus appropriation bills, and then the higher education omnibus bill will go to the floor. Once the House passes the bill, a conference committee will be formed to work through the differences between the two bills.

The House bill, HF 869, includes:

• Cuts to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system of $160 million in base funding over the 2010-11 biennium, with an allocation of one-time federal stabilization funds of $130 million.

• Financial aid: the tuition maximum in the state grant program is set at $9,938 for students in four-year programs; the tuition and fee maximum for a student at a two-year college is the maximum tuition and fee amount charged at a two-year college; the living and miscellaneous expense is set at $6,900 each year; the assigned student responsibility is reduced from 46 percent to 45 percent of the cost of attending the institution; the number of semesters a student is eligible for a state grant is increased from 8 semesters to 10 semesters; and as a condition of enrollment, each entering Minnesota resident student must complete the FAFSA.

• $2 million each year of the biennium for the existing Power of You program and for pilot rural and suburban sites.

• $100,000 each year total for financial aid offices at the colleges in the system to provide emergency aid grants to technical and community college students who are experiencing extraordinary economic circumstances.

• The appropriation to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is for operation and maintenance for direct support of instruction and related functions necessary to protect the core mission of educating students.

• The Board may only fill essential administrative and managerial vacancies during the 2010-11 biennium in the central office or on a campus.

• The Board must not expend appropriations for competitive salaries, awards of excellence, campus and technology initiatives outside the allocation model or other Board or Chancellor initiatives.

• During the 2010-11 biennium, expenditures for technology must not exceed $40 million and expenditures for underrepresented students must not exceed $5 million.

• Tuition increases for an undergraduate student must not exceed five percent each year of the 2010-11 biennium. Federal stimulus money must be used to buy down the tuition increase to no more than two percent per year.

• Exempts the AAS degree from the 60-semester credit length until July 2, 2012. By Jan. 2, 2012, MSCF and MSCSA must present a joint report to higher education committees on a process for reviewing the credit requirements for an AAS degree.

• Encourages the Board to place a priority on identifying and implementing measures to improve the human resources system used by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to provide seamless information on faculty and employees to facilitate transfers between institutions.

• Requires the Office of Higher Education to report on the implementation of textbook information requirements under U.S. Code.

• Directs the system to maintain course equivalency guides that include information on the course equivalency and awarding of credit for learning acquired as a result of the successful completion of formal military courses and occupational training. (The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system already does this).

• Requires a bookstore located on a public college or university campus to only offer clothing manufactured in the U.S.

• Changes the selection process for the Board of Trustees to an election by the Legislature.

• Provides for an undergraduate tuition guarantee - guarantees a stable tuition rate for up to four consecutive academic years.

The Senate bill, SF 2083, includes:

• Cuts to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system of $103.8 million in base funding over the 2010-11 biennium, with an allocation of one-time federal stabilization funds of $75.6 million.

• Financial aid: the tuition and fee maximum for four-year programs in the state grant program is set at $11,038 in each year, and the tuition and fee maximum for the two-year programs is set at $6,908 each year; the living and miscellaneous expense is set at $6,447 each year; reduces the assigned family responsibility for dependent students from 96 to 93 percent of the parental contribution, for independent students with dependents, it is reduced to 83 percent from 86 percent, and for independent students without dependents, the assigned family responsibility is reduced to 65 percent of the student contribution from 68 percent.

• System priority allocations must be reviewed by the Board to determine whether they are critical to advancing the educational mission and priorities of the system. Those programs include centers of excellence, competitive salaries, community energy pilots and economic development e-folio. If the board determines any programs to not be essential, they may discontinue the programs and reallocate the funding.

• Federal stimulus funding must first be allocated to mitigate the need to raise tuition and fees for Minnesota resident students. The board must consult with the chairs of the higher education committees and then submit a plan to MOHE that has to be approved.

• Repeals the 60-120 credit cap program language from the 2007 legislative session.

• Encourages the Board to place a priority on identifying and implementing measures to improve the human resources system used by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to provide seamless information on faculty and employees to facilitate transfers between institutions.

• Allows institutions to provide information about PSEO, including the potential financial and educational benefits of its programs, to secondary students.

• Includes language related to relationships with K-12, including establishing a P-20 Education Partnership, postsecondary education planning and other college readiness efforts.

• Directs the system to maintain course equivalency guides that include information on the course equivalency and awarding of credit for learning acquired as a result of the successful completion of formal military courses and occupational training. (The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system already does this).

• Institutions must provide notice regarding the possible impact of criminal records to prospective students about the chances of employment in the field of study and chances to obtain financial aid. Language was included on the floor that states institutions are not liable for failing to provide the notice required.

• Encourages higher education systems and institutions to offer a research-based high school-to-college development transition program (bridge program for the summer after high school graduation) to prepare students for college-level academic coursework and provides for a one-time grant to help pay expenses.

• Amends Board of Trustee membership language so that a commissioner of a state agency may not serve as a member of the Board. The bill includes language that allows for a commissioner currently serving on the Board to continue serving the remainder of the term.

• Amends the Power of You program language to be permissive rather than required at Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis Community and Technical College and Saint Paul College.

• Amends the Centers of Excellence language to be permissive rather than required, and requires an annual report to the Legislature, rather than in odd-numbered years.

• Includes the language from the bill carried by Sen. Ann Lynch, DFL-Rochester, that puts into place two different types of mid-level practitioners that will provide dental services to patients in rural and underserved communities. The first practitioner in this section of the bill is an Oral Health Practitioner (OHP) designed by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and the other model, the dental therapist, was designed by the University of Minnesota.

• Requires Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to assess labor market data when conducting college program reviews. Colleges will be required to enroll no more than the approximate number of students in a technical or occupational program that the labor market data indicates have a reasonable likelihood of obtaining a job in the field of study. Colleges are also to provide prospective students job placement rate information.

Bonding conference committee holds first meeting

The Capital Investment Conference Committee met for the first time this week, and House and Senate conferees compared the differences in the respective bills. HF 855, sponsored by Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul, and SF 781, sponsored by Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon, differ by $129.2 million. For the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, the two bills differ by approximately $20 million. The Senate is recommending $90 million for the system and the House is recommending $67.9 million. “We are encouraged there will be a bill this year,” Rep. Hausman said, adding that she and Sen. Langseth have spoken with the governor’s office.

A side-by-side comparison of the House and Senate bills is available here.

A summary comparison of the two bills can be found here.

The second conference committee has yet to be called. Stay tuned.

Senate Higher Education Committee forwards trustee confirmations to full Senate

The Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division forwarded the names of Cheryl Dickson, Jacob Englund, Clarence Hightower, Allyson Lueneburg, Louise Sundin and Terri Thomas to the full Senate for confirmation of their appointment to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees. After introductions and background comments, trustees in attendance responded to a variety of questions related to access, affordability, tuition, campus locations and the current budget situation. Committee members also recommended David Metzen to be confirmed as the director of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

One month to go before adjournment

Legislators have arrived at the point in session when committee hearings start to wind down, and conference committees and floor session pick up. The higher education committees will likely not meet again now that the bills have been put together, unless there is some other business that comes before the committee. The question on everyone’s mind is can legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Pawlenty agree on how to solve the $6.4 billion budget deficit by the constitutionally required deadline of May 18.

House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, said she is still hopeful a special session will not be needed, however she has indicated that the Legislature may be back after May 18. Speaker Anderson Kelliher said that this year has some unprecedented issues; the stimulus package presents complications and delays. The delay may be due to the level of staffing needed to process the information, she said. Kelliher however, stressed the importance of legislators having the needed information to develop “a complete understanding before making their decisions.”

House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, said there is a need to strip proposed tax increases from House and Senate omnibus bills, or they can expect Gov. Pawlenty to veto them. Rep. Seifert said that bipartisan cooperation is necessary if the majority party does not want to end up in a special session.

Many of the omnibus appropriation bills in both bodies are expected to be acted on next week. As omnibus appropriation bills take shape, Speaker Anderson Kelliher stressed the need for transparency in the process and public involvement from the governor as they work toward resolving the budget.

The next committee deadline is April 22. This is the deadline that requires the Finance, Ways and Means and Tax committees to act on the omnibus appropriation bills. Stay tuned as conference committee members try to assemble bills most everyone can agree on.

Middle Class Task Force looks at college affordability

Vice President Joe Biden said today at a meeting of his Middle Class Task Force, that the administration will seek new ways of helping American families afford to send their children to college. Vice President Biden said he would like to make further progress in the area of college affordability, such as extending a tax credit for families paying for college and making government-backed student loans more cost-efficient. You can find a full staff report of the Middle Class Task Force, “Financing the Dream: Securing College Affordability for the Middle Class.”

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 web site.

Monday, April 20

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Richard Cohen
Agenda:
S.F. 1198-Tomassoni: Economic Development and Housing Omnibus Budget Bill.
S.F. 1627-Foley: Judiciary Omnibus Budget Bill.

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

1:00 PM
House in Session

3:00 PM or immediately following session
House Ways and Means
Room: TBA
Chair: Rep. Loren Solberg
Agenda: Omnibus finance bills coming out of the House Finance Committee

Tuesday, April 21

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Richard Cohen
Agenda: S.F. XXXX-Anderson, E. R.: Environment and Natural Resources Omnibus Budget Bill.

8:30 AM
Joint Meeting: E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division and K-12 Education Finance Division
Room: Basement Hearing Room State Office Building
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
Agenda:
Presentation by Education Commission of the States (ECS):
Overview of ECS
Aligning Education and Workforce Development
Update on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
High School Exit Exams and End of Course Exams
Community Schools: Locating Government Services in Schools

Wednesday, April 22

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Richard Cohen
Agenda: TBA

11:00 AM
House in Session

12:00 PM or immediately following session
House Ways and Means
Room: TBA
Chair: Rep. Loren Solberg
Agenda: Omnibus finance bills coming out of the House Finance Committee

Thursday, April 23

9:30 AM
House in Session

Friday, April 24

9:30 AM
House in Session

Saturday, April 25

9:30 AM (If needed to continue to process omnibus budget bills)
House in Session

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Spring break begins; Senate Higher Education bill out; Bonding conferees named; Federal stimulus webinar offered

Legislative Update
April 9, 2009

Lawmakers head home for spring break

As is tradition every year around the Easter and Passover holidays, legislators take some much-deserved time away from the Capitol. Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, said, “It’s out of respect for members that we give them time to spend with their families and to check in with their constituents.” Lawmakers headed home to their districts, but not before they met in long floor sessions and committee hearings Monday and Tuesday. When lawmakers return to St. Paul Tuesday, they will get to work putting together and passing omnibus appropriation bills out of committee in time to meet the April 16 deadline.

In a news conference earlier this week, House majority leaders said the session is on track. Speaker Kelliher said that Democrats and Republicans have significant differences that will make meetings with Gov. Pawlenty after the legislative break very important. Kelliher added that she hopes legislators will use the break to ask constituents in their districts what their perception of fairness is in regards to cuts and taxes.

Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, said at a Senate leadership news conference that the spring break represents a mid-session break, and when lawmakers return, there will be a lot of activity. Sen. Clark said the E-12 Education bill that passed off the floor Tuesday is “showing the way,” and as omnibus appropriation bills get done, lawmakers will debate them on the floor. Both Sen. Clark and E-12 Education omnibus bill author Sen. LeRoy Stumpf, DFL-Plummer, said that the $6.4 billion budget deficit is a realization legislators grapple with day to day. Sen. Stumpf said it is tough to make cuts to programs in order to balance the budget because “you’re cutting the very programs you worked so hard to put in place.” When lawmakers return, they, along with Gov. Pawlenty, will continue to struggle with the best way to balance the budget.

Senate committee releases higher education bill

The Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division released the committee's omnibus bill earlier this week. The committee did not take any action on the bill, but members are expected to pass it out of committee Tuesday, where it will then head to the Senate Finance Committee April 16. The House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division is scheduled to release their bill Tuesday. That afternoon committee members will walk through the bill and amendments will be taken later that evening. If necessary, they will meet Wednesday afternoon to finish amendments and they plan to pass the bill out of committee April 16 in order to meet the deadline. The House Finance committee is expected to take the bill up April 17. It is sure to be a busy week with both the House and Senate moving the higher education bills through the process. We will continue to keep you updated.

The Senate bill released this week cuts the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system $103.8 million in base funding over the 2010-11 biennium. The bill then allocates one-time federal stabilization funds of $75.6 million.

In financial aid, language in the Senate bill specifies that the tuition and fee maximum for four-year programs is $11,038 in each year (an increase of $1,200), and the tuition and fee maximum for the two-year programs is $6,908 each year (an increase of $1,100). The LME, or living and miscellaneous expense, is set at $6,447 each year (an increase of $247 a year). The bill also reduces the assigned family responsibility for dependent students from 96 to 93 percent of the parental contribution. For independent students with dependents, it is reduced to 83 percent from 86 percent. And for independent students without dependents, the assigned family responsibility is reduced to 65 percent of the student contribution from 68 percent.

Highlights in the Senate bill:

• System programs must be reviewed by the Board of Trustees to determine whether they are critical to advancing the educational mission and priorities of the system. Those programs include farm and small business programs, centers of excellence, competitive salaries, community energy pilots, economic development e-folio and Northeast Higher Education District vocational education. If the board determines any programs to not be essential, they may discontinue the programs and reallocate the funding.

• Federal stimulus funding must first be allocated to mitigate the need to raise tuition and fees for Minnesota resident students. The board must consult with the chairs of the higher education committees and then submit a plan to the commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget and the higher education committee chairs by June 1. The commissioner has to approve the plan by mid-June.

• Repeals the 60-120 credit cap program language from the 2007 legislative session.

• The board is encouraged to improve the human resources system to provide seamless information on faculty and employees to facilitate transfers between institutions.

• Removes the provision that says institutions cannot advertise or otherwise recruit or solicit the participation of secondary pupils to enroll in PSEO programs on financial grounds.

• Includes language related to relationships with PK-12, including establishing a P-20 Education Partnership, teacher education reform, postsecondary education planning and other college readiness efforts.

• Directs the system to maintain course equivalency guides that include information on the course equivalency and awarding of credit for learning acquired as a result of the successful completion of formal military courses and occupational training. (The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system already does this).

• Institutions must provide notice regarding the possible impact of criminal records to prospective students about the chances of employment in the field of study and chances to obtain financial aid.

• Encourages higher education systems and institutions to offer a research-based high school-to-college development transition program (bridge program for the summer after high school graduation) to prepare students for college-level academic coursework and provides for a one-time grant to help pay expenses.

• Amends Board of Trustees membership language so that a commissioner of a state agency may not serve as a member of the Board of Trustees. The bill includes language that allows for a commissioner currently serving on the Board to continue serving the remainder of the term.

• Amends the Power of You program language to be permissive rather than required at Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis Community and Technical College and Saint Paul College.

• Amends the Centers of Excellence language to be permissive rather than required, and requires an annual report rather than in odd-numbered years.

• Includes the language from the bill carried by Sen. Ann Lynch, DFL-Rochester, that authorizes the Oral Health Practitioners program.

House passes bonding bill - conference committee scheduled to meet

The full House passed the bonding bill off the floor earlier this week by a vote of 93-40. One amendment was adopted that requires the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and others funded in the bill to report to the Legislature on the jobs created or retained as a result of the projects funded. The report must include, but is not limited to, the number and types of jobs for each project, whether new or retained, where the jobs are located, and pay ranges. The bill passed with $67.9 million for the system - $30 million in HEAPR and the five vetoed projects from last session. As a reminder, those are; $11 million for the health and science center addition at Lake Superior College; $5 million for carpentry and industrial mechanical technology shops at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College; $4.98 million for the smart classroom center at Metropolitan State University; $13.3 million for the center for business and technology at North Hennepin Community College; and $3.635 million for the system wide classroom renovation initiative at Central Lakes College, Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Northland Community and Technical College, Pine Technical College and Rochester Community and Technical College.

Here is the latest engrossment of the bill.

Since the Senate already passed its version of the bonding bill March 16, the next stop is conference committee to work through the differences in the two bills. The conferees for the bill have been appointed. In the House, the five conferees are:

Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul
Rep. Bev Scalze, DFL-Little Canada
Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia
Rep. Jean Wagenius, DFL-Minneapolis
Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker

The Senate conferees are:

Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon
Sen. David Tomassoni, DFL-Chisholm
Sen. Ann Lynch, DFL-Rochester
Sen. Katie Sieben, DFL-Newport
Sen. Dick Day, R-Owatonna

The first conference committee has been scheduled for Tuesday at 2:45 p.m. in the basement hearing room of the State Office Building. Conferees are expected to walk through the House and Senate side-by-side comparison of the two bills.

Senate passes E-12 education bill

Before recessing for spring break, the Senate passed the E-12 Education bill, as amended, by a vote of 37-29. The bill was the first omnibus appropriation bill passed by the full Senate this session. Sen. LeRoy Stumpf, DFL-Plummer, chief author of SF 1328, presented the bill and told Senators on the floor, “All of us have a desire that the 1.3 million learners in the state succeed, and we want to thank the teachers, administrators, school boards and taxpayers of the state.”

Sen. Stumpf said the bill has provisions that change the delivery of education, yet provides fewer resources. He said the bill does reduce the budget and that there were limited resources for new programs. Stumpf said the measure appropriates $13.4 billion for the biennium, a 3.3 percent reduction. The general fund appropriation is $6.35 billion for FY 2010 and $6.57 billion for FY 2011. The bill also includes $519 million in federal stimulus one-time funds. Stumpf said the Senate chose to make cuts throughout the state budget, including education.

Included in the bill are provisions that provide for education excellence through assessments of performance, requires comprehensive, scientifically-based reading instruction and provides for an alternative teacher preparation program. The bill also includes language on charter schools and sets forth requirements for sponsorship, provides for better financial oversight and requires charter school board members to attend department approved training.

Sen. Stumpf said the bill includes assessment provisions that tie the secondary system with the post-secondary system so that when students take their graduation exams, they receive quick results from the colleges and universities that let them know if they are ready to attend college. Stumpf said if a student is not ready, they then have the senior year to get up to speed. He said the bill attempts to address the concern that 35 percent of students take remedial courses when they first enter college. With this provision, the hope is fewer students will fall into this category. Stumpf acknowledged that the need for remedial education may never be completely eliminated, because many students take time off between high school and college, but the bill attempts to address the remedial issue for high school students. The assessment test will let a student know if he or she is ready for college, needs a little extra help, or is not ready and needs to apply themselves during the senior year of high school. Stumpf said lawmakers believe this will be a savings in the long run for the parent, student and taxpayer.

Senate Republicans said the E-12 education bill was a high priority, but disagree with how the bill was put together. Senate Minority Leader David Senjem, R-Rochester, said the DFL chose to cut the K-12 education budget by $500,000, which might mean it is “dead on arrival” when it reaches the governor’s office. Senjem said the House K-12 education omnibus bill more closely reflects the governor’s education budget. The House bill will be making its way through committee next week when lawmakers return from spring break. Once the House passes the bill, a conference committee will meet to iron out the differences between the two bills.

The latest engrossment of the bill can be found here.

Webinars available to learn more about federal stimulus funds

There are three webinars currently available to learn more about federal stimulus funds and how to access them. Grants.gov, a federal Web site that announces competitive grants available from the federal government, will be holding a webcast next week to present information about the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Funding through the federal legislation will be announced and accessible for applications through Grants.gov.

The webcast is scheduled for Wednesday from 12-1 p.m. central time. Registration is not required. To join the webcast, please go here. Please note you will need the Adobe Flash Player installed on your computer in order to view the live video stream. You can test your ability to view the flash video stream starting at 10:00 a.m. EDT on the day of the webcast.

The Institute for College and Career Success is offering a webinar series on “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: What Does the Stimulus Package Mean for Education.” You can learn more about the purpose of these funds April 21 at 3 p.m. central time. If interested, you may sign up for this webinar here. The second webinar in the series will review eligibility requirements and possible ways to access the stimulus funds. This webinar will be held April 28 at 3 p.m. central time. You may sign up for this webinar 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 web site.

Monday, April 13

Legislature is on Easter/Passover Break

Tuesday, April 14

12:00 PM
Senate in Session

12:00 PM
House in Session

12:30 PM
Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Sandra L. Pappas
Agenda: S.F. 954-Wiger: E-16 education reform recommendations establishment.
Continued Discussion of Omnibus Bill

1:00 PM (will recess at 2:30 and reconvene at 7:00 p.m.)
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Policy and Finance Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Distribute bill and do a quick walk-through, recess

2:45 PM
Capital Investment Conference Committee
Room: Basement Hearing Room
Chairs: Rep. Alice Hausman, Sen. Keith Langseth
Agenda: Omnibus Capital Investment bill walk through House-Senate side by side

2:45 PM
House K-12 Education Finance Division
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF2 (Greiling) Omnibus K-12 Finance bill - information only
(The delete everything amendment will be available on Monday, April 13)

2:45 PM
House State Government Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Phyllis Kahn
Agenda: State Government Finance omnibus bill rollout: HF1781 (Kahn) General legislative and administrative expenses of state government provisions modified, and money appropriated.

7:00 PM
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Policy and Finance Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Amend the omnibus bill

Wednesday, April 15

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Richard J. Cohen
Agenda:
S.F. 530-Rest: Budgeting revenues relative to personal income report requirement repeal.
S.F. 1298-Gimse: Finance department and employees relations department name change to Minnesota Management and Budget.
S.F. 913-Bakk: Greenhouse gas emissions reduction; new municipal incorporations prohibition; limited densities in unincorporated areas; city growth areas authority; compact development district project standards.
S.F. 1764-Olson, M. A.: Minnesota business venture capital program and appropriation.
S.F. 292-Saltzman: Businesses investment company tax credit for emerging and start-up businesses.
S.F. 657-Anderson, E. R.: Federal stimulus energy programs funding direction.

8:45 AM (Note: the committee will recess at 10:30 a.m. and reconvene at 6:30 p.m. to complete the agenda)
House Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson
Agenda:
HF1657 (Paymar) Public safety omnibus finance bill
HF1122 (Juhnke) Agriculture and veterans affairs omnibus finance bill
HF2229 (Murphey) Cultural and outdoor resources omnibus finance bill
HF1026 (Slawik) Early childhood education omnibus finance bill (pending division action)
HF2123 (Wagenius) Environment and natural resources omnibus finance bill (pending division action)
HF1309 (Lieder) Transportation omnibus finance bill (pending division action)

10:30 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 500S State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Phyllis Kahn
Agenda: amendments to HF1781 (Kahn) General legislative and administrative expenses of state government provisions modified, and money appropriated.

12:30 PM
Senate State Government Budget Division
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Don Betzold
Agenda:
S.F. 1036-Metzen: State labor contracts ratification.
S.F. 131-Bonoff: Investment board Iran holdings divestment requirement.
S.F. 1297-Gimse: Minnesota management and budget department (MMB)data oversight clarification; management analysis revolving fund establishment.
S.F. 1679-Bakk: Public employment retirement incentives.
S.F. 1889-Gerlach: State settlements and recovery payments to general fund.
S.F. 1113-Rummel: Legislative and citizen commission on the future of public education establishment and appropriation; Legislative Educational Analysis, Research and Navigation in the Next Generation (LEARNING) center establishment.
S.F. 1481-Cohen: Strategic and long-range planning office independence, geographic and demographic analysis office transfer and appropriation.
S.F. 1982-Gerlach: State civil services employment vacancies veterans preference application, interview requirement and reporting requirements.
S.F. 1053-Lourey, T.: Compulsive gambling services appropriation.
S.F. 1867-Betzold: Minnesota geospatial information office establishment.
State Government Budget Division working document.

1:00 PM (if necessary)
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Policy and Finance Division
Room: Basement hearing room - State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Finish amendments to omnibus bill

1:45 PM
House K-12 Education Finance Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF2 (Greiling) Omnibus K-12 Finance bill

3:00 PM
Senate Economic Development and Housing Budget Division
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. David J. Tomassoni
Agenda:
S.F. 340-Scheid: Homestead-lender mediation requirement prior to foreclosure.
S.F. 1936-Saxhaug: Progressive development and employment opportunities grant appropriation.
Omnibus Bill

Thursday, April 16

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Richard Cohen
Agenda:
S.F. 1779-Vickerman: Agriculture, veterans and military affairs appropriations.
S.F. 1276-Murphy: Transportation, metropolitan council and public safety activities and programs appropriations.
Higher Education Omnibus Budget Bill

12:30 PM
Senate Higher Education Committee
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Sandra L. Pappas
Agenda:
Confirmation Hearing:
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board,
Higher Education Facilities Authority Board,
Office of Higher Education

1:00 PM
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Policy and Finance Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Pass the omnibus bill out of committee

Friday, April 17

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Richard Cohen
Agenda: TBA

9:00 AM (Note: any bills not heard on Friday will be added to Saturday's agenda).
House Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson
Agenda: HF2 (Greiling) K-12 education omnibus finance bill (pending division action)
HF1781 (Kahn) State government omnibus finance bill (pending division action)
HF2150 (Clark) Housing and public health omnibus finance bill (pending division action)
HF860 (Rukavina) Higher Education and workforce development omnibus finance bill (pending division action)
HF1362 (Huntley) Health and human services omnibus finance bill (pending division action)

Saturday, April 18

9:00 AM (if necessary)
House Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson
Agenda: Omnibus finance bills not completed Friday

Monday, April 20

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Richard Cohen
Agenda: TBA

Tuesday, April 21

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Richard Cohen
Agenda: TBA

8:30 AM
Joint Meeting: E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division and K-12 Education Finance Division
Room: Basement Hearing Room State Office Building
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
Agenda:
Overview of ECS; ECS issue in focus; Update on ARRA; high school exit exams; Community Schools

Wednesday, April 22

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Richard Cohen
Agenda: TBA

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Legislative break begins!

Lawmakers have headed home to their districts for a brief spring break today through Monday, April 13. Therefore, you will not be receiving another daily update until Tuesday, April 14. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact any of us in government relations. Enjoy the Passover and Easter holiday.

Yesterday at the Capitol

Senate Higher Education omnibus bill released
The Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division released the committee's omnibus bill. The committee did not take any action on the bill. The committee's plan is to pass it out of committee next Tuesday, April 14, where it will then head to the Senate Finance committee on Thursday, April 16. The House Higher Education committee is expected to release their bill April 14. Once the House bill has been released, we will prepare a side-by-side for you to compare the two bills.

The bill cuts the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system $103.8 million in base funding over the 2010-11 biennium. The bill then allocates federal stabilization funds (one-time) of $75.6 million.

In financial aid, language in the bill specifies that the tuition and fee maximum for four-year programs is $11,038 in each year (an increase of $1,200), and the tuition and fee maximum for the two-year programs is $6,908 each year (an increase of $1,100). The LME, or living and miscellaneous expense, is set at $6,447 each year (an increase of $247 a year). The bill also reduces the assigned family responsibility for dependent students from 96 to 93 percent of the parental contribution. For independent students with dependents, it is reduced to 83 percent from 86 percent. And for independent students without dependents, the assigned family responsibility is reduced to 65 percent of the student contribution from 68 percent.

Highlights in the bill include:

• The following programs must be reviewed by the Board of Trustees to determine whether the programs are critical to advancing the educational mission and priorities of the system: farm and small business programs; centers of excellence; competitive salaries; community energy pilots; economic development e-folio and Northeast Higher Education District vocational education. If the Board determines any not essential, they may discontinue the programs and reallocate the funding.

• Federal stimulus appropriation must first be allocated to mitigate the need to raise tuition and fees for Minnesota resident students. The Board must consult with the chairs of the higher education committees and then submit a plan to the commissioner of MMB and the higher ed chairs by June 1, 2009. The commissioner has to approve the plan by mid-June.

• Repeals the 60-120 credit cap program language from the 2007 legislative session.

• The Board is encouraged to improve the human resources system to provide seamless information on faculty and employees to facilitate transfers between institutions.

• Removes the mandate that institutions cannot advertise or otherwise recruit or solicit the participation of secondary pupils to enroll in PSEO programs on financial grounds.

• Includes language related to relationships with PK-12, including establishing a P-20 Education Partnership, teacher education reform, postsecondary education planning and other college readiness efforts.

• Directs the system to maintain course equivalency guides that include information on the course equivalency and awarding of credit for learning acquired as a result of the successful completion of formal military courses and occupational training. (The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system currently already does this).

• Must provide notice regarding the possible impact of criminal records to prospective students about the chances of employment in the field of study and chances to obtain financial aid.

• Encourages higher education systems and institutions to offer a research-based high school-to-college development transition program (bridge program for the summer after high school graduation) to prepare students for college-level academic coursework and provides for onetime grant to help pay expenses.

• Amends Board of Trustees membership language so that a commissioner of a state agency may not serve as a member of the Board of Trustees (includes language that allows for a commissioner currently serving on the Board to continue serving for remainder of term).

• Amends the Power of You program language to be permissive rather than required at Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis Community and Technical College and Saint Paul College.

• Amends the Centers of Excellence language to be permissive rather than required, and requires an annual report rather than odd-numbered year report.

• Includes Article on the Oral Health Care Practitioners program.

Bonding conferees announced
The conferees for the capital investment bill have been appointed. A conference committee could be called anytime after the legislative spring break, continue to watch your e-mail. In the House, the five conferees are:

Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul
Rep. Bev Scalze, DFL-Little Canada
Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia
Rep. Jean Wagenius, DFL-Minneapolis
Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker

The Senate conferees are:

Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon
Sen. David Tomassoni, DFL-Chisholm
Sen. Ann Lynch, DFL-Rochester
Sen. Katie Sieben, DFL-Newport
Sen. Dick Day, R-Owatonna

Senate passes E-12 Education omnibus bill
The Senate passed the E-12 Education omnibus bill as amended on the Senate floor by a vote of 37-29. Sen. LeRoy Stumpf, DFL-Plummer, chief author of SF 1328, presented the bill and told Senators on the floor, "All of us have a desire that the 1.3 million learners in the state succeed and we want to thank the teachers, administrators, school boards and taxpayers of the state."

Sen. Stumpf said the bill has provisions that change the delivery of education, yet provides fewer resources. He said the bill does reduce the budget and that there were limited resources for new programs. Stumpf said the measure appropriates $13.441 billion for the biennium, which is a 3.3 percent reduction. The general fund appropriation is $6.351 billion for FY 2010 and $6.570 billion for FY 2011. The bill also includes $519 million in federal stimulus one-time funds. The bill does contain a reduction of about seven percent in the 2012-2013 biennium. Stumpf said the Senate has chosen to make cuts throughout the state budget, including education.

Included in the bill are provisions that provide for education excellence through assessments of performance, requires comprehensive, scientifically-based reading instruction and provides for an alternative teacher preparation program. The bill also includes language on charter schools and sets forth requirements for sponsorship, provides for better financial oversight and requires charter school board members to attend department approved training.

Sen. Chuck Wiger, DFL-Maplewood, said the bill aligns the reading, math and science testing requirements to the standards for high school coursework, defines the state graduation test requirements for students and allows a four year alternative method by which a student can earn a state notation, if the student does not pass the mathematics GRAD test.

The latest engrossment of the bill can be found here.

The House K-12 Education omnibus bill will be making its way through committee next week when lawmakers return from spring break.

Today at the Capitol
No meetings scheduled - Legislature on Spring Break

Friday, April 3, 2009

Bonding bill moves in House; Legislative deadline; Web site shows stimulus fund expenditures; Early graduation bill heard

Legislative Update
April 3, 2009


Bonding bill makes its way through the House

HF 855, the House bonding bill, worked its way through the committee process this week. The House Capital Investment, Finance, and Ways and Means committees all approved the $200 million measure. The bill now has one more stop, the House floor, before heading to conference committee to work through the differences with the Senate. Included in the House bill for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is $67.9 million; $30 million in HEAPR and the five vetoed projects from last session. Those projects include $11 million for the health and science center addition at Lake Superior College; $5 million for carpentry and industrial mechanical technology shops at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College; $4.98 million for the smart classroom center at Metropolitan State University; $13.3 million for the center for business and technology at North Hennepin Community College; and $3.635 million for the system wide classroom renovation initiative at Central Lakes College, Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Northland Community and Technical College, Pine Technical College and Rochester Community and Technical College.

Bill author Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul, said the committee tried to work within the $200 million House target. Hausman said that although good arguments could be made for a larger bonding bill, the committee chose to include only "bread and butter" projects like asset preservation for state colleges and universities.

The House is expected to take the bill up on the floor either Monday or Tuesday. Once the bill passes, a conference committee will be formed to work out the differences between the House and Senate bills. The Senate bill includes $90 million for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, $20 million more than the House bill in HEAPR funding.

You may review the House bonding bill here.

You may review the Senate bonding bill here.

Bills move quickly to meet deadlines with legislative break approaching

The last couple weeks of session have brought about a flurry of bill activity. The Legislature met the first committee deadline last week, and the second bill deadline is right around the corner, Tuesday, April 7. This means all policy bills that met the first deadline need to pass out of committee in the other chamber by Tuesday. Both the House and Senate are beginning to put together their finance committee omnibus bills, including the higher education bills. We may see the higher education bills begin to take shape prior to the legislative break. The Legislature is scheduled to meet Monday and Tuesday of next week and then will begin its Spring Break April 8 - April 13. House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, is predicting a "speedy Monday and Tuesday" packed with committee and floor action before breaking. The third committee deadline, when all omnibus appropriation bills must be passed out of committee, is April 16. Stay tuned.

Transparent Web site created on Minnesota’s use of federal stimulus funds

The Minnesota Management and Budget Department has created a Web site for the State of Minnesota’s coordination efforts of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. You can access it here. The goal of the site is a transparent process that allows people to understand how and where the federal dollars are being used in Minnesota.

Early graduation scholarship bill heard

The House K-12 Education Finance Division heard HF 1177, a bill that would create an early graduation achievement scholarship program. High school students who graduate one semester early could earn $2,500. If a student graduates two semesters early, they could earn $5,000 and $7,500 could be earned for graduating three semesters early. The language reads that the scholarship may be used at any accredited institution of higher education.

Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, the bill's author, said the bill could help make college more affordable for students and would save school districts money. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the division’s omnibus bill. The bill's companion, SF 1977, sponsored by Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, was introduced and referred to the Finance committee.

Midwest Higher Education Compact provides cost savings to member states

The Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division heard SF 155 this week. The bill, sponsored by committee chair Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, appropriates $95,000 each year of the 2010-2011 biennium to the Midwest Higher Education Compact. Sen. Pappas told committee members that the appropriation covers the dues the state pays to the compact. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.

The Midwest Higher Education Compact includes 12 member states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Larry Issak, president of the Midwest Higher Education Compact, said the purpose of the compact is to advance Midwestern higher education through interstate cooperation and resource sharing. He said the compact is focused on cost savings, student access and policy research. Isaak reported that cost savings last year amounted to $31 million through technology, property insurance programs and contracts. The compact also provides for reduced tuition for students in eight participating states and although Minnesota tends to have more students coming to the state, the compact has saved Minnesota students $4.8 million in reduced tuition for other states.

Subcommittee recommends study of the Office of the Chancellor

The Legislative Audit Commission Topic Selection Subcommittee met today and chose the study of the "MnSCU System Office Services and Expenditures" as one of eight topics that it will recommend to the full Legislative Audit Commission for a program evaluation study. The Legislative Auditor polled state legislators about their preferences for study topics, and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities topic garnered the highest percentage of votes (60 percent) among the 15 possible topics. The Legislative Audit Commission will meet in the next couple weeks to approve the recommendations.

The topic selection background paper prepared by the Office of the Legislative Auditor, says, "An evaluation of MnSCU’s system office could be useful given the size of the system and the complexity of its delivery of systemwide services. However, MnSCU’s specific structure is unique among higher education systems and it could be difficult to determine benchmarks against which to measure effectiveness."

DREAM Act introduced in Congress

The House and Senate introduced the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act last week, which provides a pathway to permanent residency to undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children (at the age of 15 or under), have lived in the U.S. for at least 5 years, graduated from high school and who attend college or enlist in the military for at least two years. The original DREAM Act was first proposed in Congress in 2001. In October 2007, the U.S. Senate fell short of the 60 votes needed to proceed to a vote.
Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, a sponsor of the bill, said that the current immigration laws prevent thousands of young people from pursuing their dreams and fully contributing to the nation’s future. He continued to say that for many of these young people, the United States is the only home they know, and they are fully assimilated into American society.

U.S. Congress passes budget resolution

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities report that both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate have passed their respective versions of the fiscal year 2010 budget resolution. The House approved its resolution April 2 by a vote of 233-196, and the Senate passed its budget later in the day by a vote of 55-43.

The House budget resolution provides $1.089 trillion for discretionary spending in fiscal year 2010. Discretionary funds are funds that Congress has control over through the appropriations process. In addition to designating the amount that will be appropriated, the resolution also calls on the Committee on Education and Labor to find $1 billion in savings over the next five years under the heading of "Investing in Education" that potentially could benefit higher education. The resolution also includes language establishing a deficit-neutral reserve fund for college access, affordability, and completion to make "college more affordable or accessible or that increases college enrollment and completion through reforms to the Higher Education Act of 1965 or other legislation, including increasing the maximum Pell grant award annually by an amount equal to one percentage point more than the Consumer Price Index."

The Senate also passed their budget resolution that provides for $1.081 trillion in discretionary spending. The Senate resolution includes similar reserve fund language allowing the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions to produce legislation effecting changes to student financial aid.

The House and Senate budget negotiators will meet to resolve differences between the two resolutions. Congress has begun a two week recess in observance of the Easter and Passover holidays, therefore the earliest a meeting can take place is the week of April 20.

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 web site.

Monday, April 6

9:00 AM
Senate Taxes
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Thomas M. Bakk
Agenda:
S.F. 1328-Stumpf: Miscellaneous early childhood education and family, kindergarten through grade 12 and adult education provisions modifications and appropriations.
S.F. 1757-Carlson, J.: Eagan tax increment financing district duration extension authorization.
S.F. 1866-Foley: Coon Rapids tax increment financing district (TIF) duration extension.
S.F. 1881-Metzen: South St. Paul tax increment financing (TIF) district establishment.
S.F. 1895-Scheid: Tax increment financing (TIF) increments transfer to municipality to offset state aid reductions authorization.
S.F. 1993-Scheid: Tax increment financing (TIF) districts duration limit modification for housing and redevelopment districts.

12:30 PM
Senate Business, Industry and Jobs
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. James P. Metzen
Agenda:
S.F. 1450-Olson, M. A.: Oriented strand board facilities salable operating condition requirement.
S.F. 910-Tomassoni: Trucking industry employment classifications modification.
S.F. 1058-Tomassoni: Work-related purchasing preferences by public employers requirements.
S.F. 225-Scheid: Children's health toxic chemicals in products protection.
S.F. 1882-Saltzman: North Star Rising Science and Economic Development commission; Small Business Federal Grant Competitiveness center; Minnesota commercialization enhancement program; Biobusiness alliance.

12:30 PM
Senate State Government Budget Division
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Don Betzold
Agenda:
SF 82 (Latz) Minnesota False Claims Act
SF 1153 (Pappas) Domestic partners health insurance eligibility
Governor’s budget recommendation for the Minnesota Governor’s office and budget recommendation for the Minnesota Legislature
*The division will release a working document which will become the Omnibus State Government bill.

1:00 PM
House in Session

2:45 PM
House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Al Juhnke
Agenda: HF 1122 (Juhnke) Agriculture, Rural Economies, and Veterans Affairs Omnibus Bill.
*Note - The delete all amendment will be available at this hearing. The bill will be amended and voted on the following day.

2:45 PM
House State Government Finance Division
Room: 300N State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Phyllis Kahn
Agenda:
HF0691 (Rukavina) Vacation donation program modified;
HF0715 (Newton) Disabled veteran owned businesses designated as targeted group businesses for purposes of awarding certain state and metropolitan agency contracts;
HF0938 (Reinert) State employees with disabled veteran status provided additional sick leave;
HF1053 (Simon) Public officials required to provide additional data to the secretary of state for use in maintaining the voter registration system, and automatic voter registration of applicants for a driver's license, instruction permit, or identification card provided, and certain notice requirements changed;
HF1113 (Morgan) Early voting authorized, and special elections provided in case of vacancies in nomination;
HF1218 (Lillie) State Contracts ratified;
HF1219 (Kahn) Health insurance benefit availability required for domestic partners of state employees if they are also made available to spouses;
HF1351 (Winkler) Absentee ballot requirements and provisions modified;
HF1463 (Davnie) Various filings and fees regulated and terms defined;
HF1671 (Carlson) Labor or employee organizations provisions modified;
HF1950 (Kahn) Digital radio conversion funding provided, and money appropriated;
HF1981 (Kahn) Minnesota Geospatial Information Office created;
HF2038 (Solberg) Office of Strategic and Long-range Planning established, additional revenue priorities in general fund forecasts modified, report required, and money appropriated;
HF2131 (Hansen) Environment and natural resources funding provided, and money appropriated;
HF2251 (Solberg) Federal stimulus oversight funding allocated for certain state agencies, money appropriated.

3:00 PM
Senate Economic Development and Housing Budget Division
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. David J. Tomassoni
Agenda:
S.F. 1610-Rest: Metropolitan livable communities fund accounts and right-of-way loan acquisition fund transfers for transit operating deficits.
S.F. 1764-Olson, M. A.: Minnesota business venture capital program and appropriation.
S.F. 2014-Kubly: Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota financial services expansion grant appropriation.
S.F. 292-Saltzman: Businesses investment company tax credit for emerging and start-up businesses.
S.F. 1640-Sheran: Minnesota state university, Mankato international renewable energy technical institute (IRETI) grant appropriation.
S.F. 1661-Bakk: Unlicensed contractors and subcontractors registration requirement.

3:00 PM
Senate State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Ann H. Rest
Agenda:
S.F. 1257-Bakk: Obligations issuance and financing of public improvements terms and conditions provisions modifications.
S.F. 1481-Cohen: Strategic and long-range planning office independence, geographic and demographic analysis office transfer and appropriation.
S.F. 1882-Saltzman: North Star Rising Science and Economic Development commission; Small Business Federal Grant Competitiveness center; Minnesota commercialization enhancement program; Biobusiness alliance.
S.F. 702-Tomassoni: State employees vacation donation program modifications.
S.F. 1489-Ingebrigtsen: Central Lakes region sanitary district restructure as an elected body or dissolution.
S.F. 191-Betzold: Omnibus Pension Bill.
S.F. 1867-Betzold: Minnesota geospatial information office establishment.
S.F. 1436-Lourey, T.: Sex offender program provisions modifications.
S.F. 1297-Gimse: Minnesota management and budget department (MMB) data oversight clarification; management analysis revolving fund establishment.
S.F. 1982-Gerlach: State civil services employment vacancies veterans preference application, interview requirement and reporting requirements.

4:30 PM
House Civil Justice
Room: 300S State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joe Mullery
Agenda: HF354 (Hilstrom) Mortgage foreclosure proceedings notice and mandatory mediation required prior to commencement on homestead property, and homestead-lender mediation account created;
HF1396 (Smith) Domestic abuse; Courts authorized to include pets and companion animals in protective orders;
HF1795 (Ruud) Birthing center licensure established, liability limited for hospitals and physicians in certain situations, fees established, and licensed birthing centers designated as essential community providers.
HF127 (Holberg) Motor vehicle definition clarified in statutory provision deeming the driver to be the agent of the owner in case of accident;
HF1482 (Thissen) Estates subject to medical assistance claims modified;
HF804 (Thissen) Guardian and conservator governing provisions modified;
HF854 (Lesch) Customer liability for unauthorized use of lost of stolen cellular phones limited;
HF348 (Lesch) Law prohibiting sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, and coroners from practicing law repealed;
HF1268 (Paymar) Employee fitness and wellness activities authorized in state space;
HF930 (Wagenius) Classification of grants data by government entities proposed, regional parks foundation private donor gift data classified as private or nonpublic;
HF442 (Swails) Data release to legal representative provided;
HF1684 (Holberg) Background check notice and copy required, and terms defined;
HF1689 (Holberg) Data privacy provisions amended;
HF1930 (Holberg) Business screening service regulation amended;
HF1095 (Mullery) Agricultural research, monitoring, and assessment data classified;
HF1180 (Hortman) Data practice provisions changed;
HF1248 (Hortman) Access to data identifying victims or witnesses in active criminal investigations restricted;
HF1750 (Abeler) Human services licensing provisions changed, license disqualifications and background study requirements modified, and other changes made to programs and services licensed by the Department of Human Services;
HF1247 (Kalin) University of Minnesota; Private equity investment data classified.

Tuesday, April 7

8:00 AM
House State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Gene Pelowski
Agenda:
HF723 (Murphy, M) 2009 omnibus retirement bill.
HF927 (Mahoney) Construction codes and licensing modified, high pressure piping profession provisions added, appropriation restrictions modified, and authority to adopt rules for obtaining boiler licenses extended.
HF866 (Hosch) School districts required to obtain employee health coverage through the public employees insurance program.
HF1278 (Sterner) County offices appointment and consolidation provided, subject to notice, hearing, and reverse referendum.
HF222 (Slawik) Multiple unit residences allowed certain persons for campaign and election purposes.
HF884 (Thissen) Medical supplies and equipment purchasing alliance created.
HF986 (Thissen) County maintenance of effort provisions amended for mental health provisions. HF834 (Kohls) State employee suggestion system established, money appropriated.
Pending action from the Local Government Division:
SF104 (Kelly) Cannon Falls library and fire station construction design-build contracts authorized.
HF1670 (Mariani) Municipality rent control provisions modified.
SF740 (Abler) Anoka County design-build contract process use for construction of intersection of U.S. highway #10 and county state-id highway #83.

8:30 AM
K-12 Education Policy
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF1080 (Norton) Comprehensive scientifically based reading instruction definition clarified, prekindergarten through grade six teachers requirements made, reading instruction assessment created, and Board of Teaching rules legislative review provided. (information only)

10:30 AM
House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Al Juhnke
Agenda: HF1122 (Juhnke) Agriculture, Rural Economies, and Veterans Affairs Omnibus Bill.

10:30 AM
House Bioscience and Workforce Development Policy and Oversight Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tim Mahoney
Agenda: Presentation from the Science Initiative of Central Minnesota

12:30 PM
Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Sandra L. Pappas
Agenda: Discussion of omnibus bill

1:00 AM
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Meeting will be continued in the evening if the agenda is not completed in our regular time slot.
HF839 (Juhnke) Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory funding provided,
HF1194 (Downey) Green job incentives provided, green job opportunity building zones provided, small business investment company and job growth investment tax credits provided, tax benefits allowed, conforming changes made, terms defined, and biomethane energy projects allowed.
HF1447 (Otremba) Veterinarian education loan forgiveness program established
HF2071 (Clark) Summer programming provided for American Indian youth

2:45 PM
House State Government Finance Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Phyllis Kahn
Agenda:
HF0007 (Winkler) Laws prohibiting misuse of state funds clarified and strengthened;
HF0020 (Winkler) Web site required with a searchable database of state expenditures;
HF0557 (Severson) State procurement preferences authorized for veteran-owned small businesses including service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses;
HF0625 (Gardner) Public access to data allowed by state accounting and procurement systems;
HF1018 (Kalin) Public Web sites purpose specified, and state agencies required to include contact information on Web sites;
HF1519 (Kahn) Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board funding provided, money appropriated, fund carryover authorized;
HF1534 (Downey) Federal stimulus funds acceptance and expenditure conditions provided;
HF1665 (Swails) Education; Best practices center for shared services established;
HF2146 (Pelowski) Minnesota Management and Budget oversight clarified, management analysis revolving fund established, and money appropriated;
HF1744 (Hilty) Technology accessibility standards and advisory committee established.

3:00 PM
Senate Agriculture and Veterans Budget and Policy Division
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Jim Vickerman
Agenda: S.F. 1779-Vickerman: Agriculture, veterans and military affairs appropriations.

4:30 PM
House Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Nora Slawik
Agenda:
HF1850 (Haws) Administration of training and employment functions reorganized, responsibilities transferred to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. (pending referral from Finance)
Walk through Omnibus Early Childhood Finance and Policy delete-everything amendment to HF1026 (Slawik) Early childhood education provisions amended. Discussion only.

Wednesday, April 8
Legislature is on Easter/Passover Break

Thursday, April 9
Legislature is on Easter/Passover Break

Friday, April 10
Legislature is on Easter/Passover Break

Monday, April 13
Legislature is on Easter/Passover Break

Tuesday, April 14
2:45 PM
House State Government Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Phyllis Kahn
Agenda: State Government Finance omnibus bill rollout: HF1781 (Kahn) General legislative and administrative expenses of state government provisions modified, and money appropriated.

Wednesday, April 15
10:30 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 500S State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Phyllis Kahn
Agenda: amendments to HF1781 (Kahn) General legislative and administrative expenses of state government provisions modified, and money appropriated.

12:30 PM
Senate State Government Budget Division
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Don Betzold
Agenda:
S.F. 1036-Metzen: State labor contracts ratification.
S.F. 131-Bonoff: Investment board Iran holdings divestment requirement.
S.F. 1297-Gimse: Minnesota management and budget department (MMB) data oversight clarification; management analysis revolving fund establishment.
S.F. 1679-Bakk: Public employment retirement incentives.
S.F. 1889-Gerlach: State settlements and recovery payments to general fund.
S.F. 1113-Rummel: Legislative and citizen commission on the future of public education establishment and appropriation; Legislative Educational Analysis, Research and Navigation in the Next Generation (LEARNING) center establishment.
S.F. 1481-Cohen: Strategic and long-range planning office independence, geographic and demographic analysis office transfer and appropriation.
S.F. 1982-Gerlach: State civil services employment vacancies veterans preference application, interview requirement and reporting requirements.
S.F. 1053-Lourey, T.: Compulsive gambling services appropriation.