System budget cut, Bonding conference committee update, State grant shortfall, Workforce report out, Primary date

A system budget cut

Gov. Tim Pawlenty released his supplemental budget Monday. His proposal contained a $10.5 million cut to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. You may recall that the state could cut $46.6 million from higher education and still meet the federal “maintenance of efforts” requirement on receiving the federal stimulus funding. The governor took the rest of the higher education cut from the University of Minnesota at $36.1 million. The governor’s decision would align the current budgets of both higher education systems with their 2006 funding levels.

Bonding bill - no conference committee meetings, yet

Conferees of the capital investment bill have not met publicly this week. It is expected that a bonding bill will be out early this session. The conference committee members were named early this week and are as follows:

• Sen. Keith Langseth
• Sen. David Tomassoni
• Sen. Sandy Pappas
• Sen. Paul Koering
• Sen. Ann Lynch

• Rep. Alice Hausman
• Rep. Jean Wagenius
• Rep. Loren Solberg
• Rep. Bev Scalze
• Rep. Larry Howes

The House passed its version of the capital investment bill Monday after 4.5 hours of debate. The $1.09 billion legislation contained $343 million for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, or $245 million when factoring out the user financing. It also provides the system with $60 million for repairs and replacement, known as HEAPR. The Senate capital investment bill was passed Feb. 9 and recommended $297 million for the system, or $211 million when subtracting the one-third user financing. The Senate bill also recommended $50 million of repair and replacement funds. A current spreadsheet comparing the House, Senate and governor’s recommendation can be found here.

State grant shortfall discussed

With high unemployment rates, more students have gone back to college. This has placed a higher demand on the financial aid system; the state grant program is now facing a $41.6 million shortfall. This means next year’s students will receive less money to help them attend college. Meredith Fergus of the Office of Higher Education told the House Higher Education Committee on Thursday that students will receive $150 to $1,000 less in their state grant award next fall. The Office of Higher Education chose to award students the full amount of state grants this academic year and reduce awards in the 2010-2011 academic year. Recall that the governor also had a projected cut of $2.3 million to the state grant program when he released his budget Monday. The committee took no action. The Senate Higher Education Committee heard a similar report on Tuesday.

Workforce report recommends system action

The House Bioscience and Workforce Development Committee on Wednesday heard the newly released report by the Office of the Legislative Auditor on workforce programs. The report stated that workforce program clients generally achieved better job and wage outcomes than similar people who filed for unemployment insurance but did not participate in workforce programs. Specific to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the report recommended that the system should “identify academic programs that help laid-off workers and assist its colleges to determine whether to offer more such programs.” Following the House hearing, the Senate also heard this report in the Business, Industry and Jobs Committee. A full copy of the report and summary can be found here.

Labor contracts moved

The House State and Local Government Committee took up the bill on labor agreements and contract ratifications, HF 2758, on Wednesday. Bill author Rep. Leon Lillie, DFL- North St. Paul, shared that the bill ratifies all of the labor contracts and plans that were worked on since the 2009 session, including the Minnesota State College Faculty (MSCF), the Minnesota State University Association of Administrative and Service Faculty (MSUAAF), the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (ASCFME), the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE), the Middle Management Association, the MnSCU Administrators, the Commissioner’s Plan and the Managerial Plan. The committee passed the bill and referred it to the House Finance Committee.

Senate passed primary election change

On Monday, the Senate also approved a measure to move up Minnesota’s election primary by one month to comply with federal standards. The former primary date was Sept. 14. The new legislation would push this up to Aug. 10. The House has not yet taken action on this bill.


Here's What's Happening at the Capitol:

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

Monday, February 22

Televised
11 a.m.
The Senate meets in session.

Televised
1 p.m.
The House meets in session.

Tuesday, February 23

8:30 AM
House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: Teaching proposals in Minnesota's Race to the Top application:
Recommended state teacher evaluation rubric
Enhanced QComp
Ensuring equitable distribution of effective teachers

10:30 AM
House Bioscience and Workforce Development Policy and Oversight Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tim Mahoney
Agenda: Continued discussion of the Office of the Legislative Auditor
report: Workforce Programs

12:30 PM
Senate Education Budget and Policy Division
Chair: Sen. Sandra L. Pappas
Room 123 Capitol
Agenda:
Bush Foundation Proposal-Peter Hutchinson
OHE: Preliminary Minnesota Postsecondary Enrollment Census for Fall 2009
Minnesota's 2008 High School Graduates Enrolled in College at Record Rates-Mark Misukanis & Alexandra Djurovich , OHE

1:00 PM
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Overview of Governor's budget - Workforce/Economic Development
Dept of Labor and Industry -Commissioner Steve Sviggum
Dept of Employment and Economic Development - Commissioner McElroy

2:45 PM
House K-12 Education Finance Division
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: Shared services report
HF2840 (Swails) Collaborative governance council established. - Information only

Wednesday, February 24

8:30 AM
Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division - Subcommittee on Arts Education
Chair: Sen. Dan Skogen
Room 112 Capitol
Agenda:
Update on art and education to the E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division

10:30 AM
House Bioscience and Workforce Development Policy and Oversight Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tim Mahoney
Agenda: TBA

Thursday, February 25

12:30 PM
Senate Education Budget and Policy Division
Chair: Sen. Sandra L. Pappas
Room 123 Capitol
Agenda: OLA report on the Office of the Chancellor

1:00 PM
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Legislative Auditor
1) Workforce Programs report
2) Unemployment Insurance Information Technology Audit

4:30 PM
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Legislative Auditor
MnSCU Central Office report

Friday, February 26

10 AM
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Chair: Sen. Don Betzold/Rep. Mary Murphy
Room 107 Capitol
Agenda: To be announced.

Friday, March 5, 2010

10:00 AM
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Room: 107 State Capitol
Chairs: Rep. Mary Murphy, Sen. Don Betzold
Agenda: TBA