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