Saturday, March 27, 2010

Budget and policy bill advance, Transfer bill moves, Lawmakers get ready for break, Congress passes loan reform, Appropriations out

Legislative Update
March 26, 2010

Conference committee comes to agreement on higher education article


Approximately one-third of the state’s budget deficit of almost $1 billion is close to being resolved. The supplemental budget conference committee negotiating the bill that makes $313 million in reductions has been meeting this week to resolve the differences between the House and Senate. After a long meeting Thursday night, conference committee members went back to work today and adopted the higher education article and moved that the article be placed in the omnibus bill. As of the time of this writing, the conference committee is still meeting to finalize the remaining articles.

Included in the higher education article of the bill is $10.467 million in reductions to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system in fiscal year 2011. Of the cut to the system, $500,000 is to be reduced from the central system office, along with an additional $500,000 internal obligation. The bill includes language that says the Board of Trustees must make a good-faith effort to make the reductions at campuses and the central office in a manner that minimizes reductions related to providing direct services to students and maximizes reductions for administrative services not providing direct services to students.

The bill also increases the revenue fund authority in statute from $200 million to $300 million and removes the House language that limited the revenue fund to only state university projects. As for financial aid, lawmakers had to fill the $42 million state grant shortfall. The bill reduces state work study and also reduces from nine to eight, the number of semesters that a student can attend while maintaining eligibility for the state grant program. The bill modifies the Achieve scholarship program and reduces the technical and community college emergency grants and makes clear that this appropriation in fiscal year 2009 was a one-time appropriation.

The policy language was removed from the bill; however, it was added to the House higher education policy bill earlier this week.

House Majority Leader Rep. Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm, said he hopes for smooth passage of the legislation on the House floor. Both the House and Senate are expected to take up the supplemental budget conference committee report on the floor Monday, prior to adjournment for the Passover and Easter break. House Speaker Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, said, “We want a signed bill on this piece of legislation,” adding that if that happens, everyone could go home early.

Higher education policy bill moving through House

Higher education policy was discussed by members of the House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division this week. Included in the bill is language that increases the age from 62 to 66 for receiving reduced tuition as senior citizens. The bill includes language that establishes the system office in statute and provides for general duties of the office. Also in the bill is amended language calling for streamlining of the system office by better targeting the use of state resources and providing services at the most efficient level to avoid duplicating services provided at the colleges and universities. An amendment also passed that includes language on appropriation reductions to the system office that states any reduction to the system office must not be passed through to any institution or campus.

The bill was amended to include the policy language from the House supplemental budget bill that was removed in conference committee. Among the provisions is credit transfer language directing the Board of Trustees to develop and maintain a system wide effective and efficient mechanism for seamless student transfer between system institutions with a goal of minimal loss of credits for transferring students (this also traveled in its own bill, see below). Language also was included that requires a report of transfer activities to the Legislature. The provision regarding the pilot project for local deposit of reserves for system institutions also was amended into the policy bill. The committee adopted the bill as amended. The Senate higher education committee passed their version of a policy bill earlier this session, which differs greatly from the House bill. As the bills make their way through the process, lawmakers will have to iron out the differences.

Transfer bill heard on floor

Transferring credits within the system should be easier. That sums up the intent of new legislation passed by the House and Senate this week. Rep. Larry Haws, DFL-St. Cloud, carried the House version of the bill, HF 3164, which requires documentation of transfer, accessible transfer information online, consistent transfer among institutions and training for campus staff. “The students are happy, the faculty are happy,” Haws said. Rep. Mark Buesgens,R Jordan, questioned why this needs to be legislated, saying, “We have to tell them how to talk to each other?” Haws responded, “This is exactly what this House should be doing … I will take teamwork anytime” in making policy. The Senate passed its version of the credit transfer bill, SF 2822, earlier this week. Bill author Sen. Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, proposed the Senate’s version of the bill to help make the credit transfer process seamless. The bill versions differ slightly so a conference committee would need to work through the differences. As noted above, transfer language is also included in the House higher education policy bill.

Lawmakers head home for break

As is tradition every year around the Easter and Passover holidays, legislators head home to their districts for a much-deserved break. House DFL leaders have said they are optimistic about their
accomplishments and quick pace in the session thus far. Monday, March 29 will mark the third committee deadline, when divisions of the House and Senate Finance committees need to pass omnibus finance bills. Lawmakers continue to work into the evening tonight to wrap up the supplemental budget bill. Once the House and Senate take up the budget bill and jobs creation bill on the floor Monday, they anticipate adjourning in time to allow those traveling and preparing for Passover adequate time before the sunset start of the religious holiday. Lawmakers will be in their home districts Tuesday, March 30 through Monday, April 5.

U.S. Congress approves student loan reform

It appeared that the House and Senate were riding a seesaw with the nation’s student loan reform legislation this week. First it was at the House, then it went to the Senate, where changes were made, then back to the House for final approval. The student loan reform was sent to the President after the House passed the Senate’s amended bill Thursday on a vote of 220-207. The Student Aid Fiscal Responsibility Act traveled with the health care reform bill in the budget reconciliation process. After the passage of the reconciliation bill, the House and Senate wrapped up and left Washington, D.C. for a two week recess.

Under the legislation, all student loans will be given out under the Direct Lending program. This change will begin July 1, 2010. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the change will save $61 billion over the next 10 years. The savings will be used to increase the Pell Grants $690 in mandatory funds (not subject to annual appropriations approval). This change will bring the current $4,860 award to $5,550. The legislation also directs the award to increase by the consumer price index for a projected maximum $5,975 award. This maximum would be maintained for fiscal years 2019 and beyond without further Congressional action.

The legislation also includes $2 billion for the Community College and Career Training Grant Program. This program would award funds to programs taught at institutions of higher education that do not exceed two years in length and have a strong community focus and component. The program is to be directly tied to improving the skill sets of individuals who have lost their jobs for trade-related reasons and will be administered through the U.S. Department of Labor.

The existing College Access Challenge Grant program will receive $150 million each year (currently funded at $66 million) for five years for a total amount of $750 million. This program is designed to help students understand the benefits of a postsecondary education, provide the financing options for postsecondary education, and initiate outreach programs for students at risk of not enrolling or completing.

The bill also will provide $2.5 billion for Minority Serving Institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This funding continues previously authorized funds through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act to better target programs focused on retention and completion.

Finally, funds were provided to make changes to the current Income Based Repayment Program that first was proposed in President Obama’s fiscal year 2011 budget. Currently, students who pursue that program may have their loan payment amount reduced to 15 percent of their total income and must make 25 years of continuous payments before any remaining balance is forgiven. The president proposed reducing these amounts to 10 percent and 20 years, respectively. Using funds provided in this legislation, first-time borrowers will be eligible for these benefits under the updated program beginning in 2014.

To see how the Senate voted,
click here.
To see how the House voted,
click here.

Learn more about earmark appropriation submissions

U.S. House members have posted their fiscal year 2011 appropriations projects that have been submitted to the Appropriations Committee on their web pages. Congressman Kline, Congressman Paulsen, and Congresswoman Bachmann did not submit appropriations projects. Links to the pages are below:

Congressman Tim Walz (DFL - 1st District)

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL - 4th District)

Congressman Keith Ellison (DFL - 5th District)

Congressman Collin Peterson (DFL - 7th District)

Chairman Jim Oberstar (DFL - 8th District)


Jobs legislation passes House

In the second phase of what is expected to be a series of jobs legislation, the U.S. House passed a tax incentives bill (HR 4849) this week. The bill provides an estimated $13.2 billion for bond programs used largely by state and local governments for infrastructure development. Among the bond provisions is an extension of the Build America Bonds program through June 2013, which provides financial support to state and local governments through federal tax exemptions for interest on municipal bonds. The third piece, headed to the House floor (HR4899), would provide $5.7 million for disaster relief, $600 million in funding for summer jobs, and $60 million for a small-business loan program. The estimates indicate this bill would support 300,000 summer jobs for teens and young adults.

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, March 29

8:30 AM
House in Session
Anticipated consideration of:
● Omnibus supplemental budget bill
● HF2695 (Lenczewski) Job creation encouraged, small business tax credits allowed, special assessment use expanded, tax increment financing expanded, Bloomington's development restrictions of the Mall of America site repealed, tax system and debt collection management provided, energy improvement financing program established, property tax exemption and minerals distribution modified, and money appropriated.

8:30 AM
Senate in Session
Anticipated consideration of:
● Omnibus supplemental budget bill
● S.F. 2568 (Bakk) Economic development and job creation encouragement; small business investment credit and appropriation, Minnesota business investment credit and historical structure rehabilitation credit establishment and appropriation; compact development district.

Tuesday, March 30 - Monday, April 5
Legislative Break

Tuesday, April 6

10:00 AM *Note time change* House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Higher education system and campus budget planning

Wednesday, April 7

8:00 AM
Trustee Candidate Advisory Council
Room: 300N State Office Building
Chair: Kent Eklund
Agenda: Candidates interviewed for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees

Thursday, April 8

8:00 AM
Trustee Candidate Advisory Council
Room: 300N State Office Building
Chair: Kent Eklund
Agenda: Candidates interviewed for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees

Friday, March 19, 2010

Final bonding bill; Supplemental budget moves; Higher education cost savings; System budget considered; Congress works toward student loan reform

Legislative Update
March 19, 2010


Governor reduces bonding bill by more than $300 million

Gov. Tim Pawlenty line-item vetoed the bonding bill this week from a $999 million bill that passed the Legislature, down to $680 million. In his veto letter to legislative leadership, the governor told lawmakers that "like any family or business, state government needs to live within its means and follow a budget," and that he had said earlier he would not sign a bill as large as what was presented to him. The final bill the governor signed however; was smaller than his initial bonding recommendation.

Chief authors of the capital investment bill, Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul, and Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon, said the line-item vetoes will mean about 7,000 fewer jobs created. Among the areas hit hardest by the governor’s veto is the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, which had reductions of more than $130 million and saw its bonding funding going from $239 million down to $106 million (numbers include user financing). Hausman noted that the system has three times as many students as the University of Minnesota but receives less in the law. Langseth said that Minnesota has lost an opportunity because interest rates are favorable now and construction bids are lower.

The 16 projects cut by the governor are the fine arts building renovation and the bioscience and allied health addition at Anoka-Ramsey Community College; the learning resource center at Hennepin Technical College; the workforce program renovation at Minneapolis Community and Technical College; lab construction and renovation at Ridgewater College; the classroom renovation and addition at South Central College, Faribault; the bioscience and health careers center addition at North Hennepin Community College; the Livingston Lord library and information technology renovation at Minnesota State University Moorhead; the science lab renovation at Southwest Minnesota State University; the integrated science and engineering laboratory facility at St. Cloud State University; transportation and emerging technologies lab renovation at Dakota County Technical College; the workforce center co-location at Rochester Community and Technical College; the systemwide initiative for renovation of STEM classrooms at nine campuses; the clinical science building design for Minnesota State University, Mankato; the wind turbine training facility at Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Canby; and the engineering program at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College.

Here is the link to the letter from the governor that explains his line-item vetoes. Here is the link to the final spreadsheet for the bonding bill that includes the governor’s vetoes.

Supplemental budget bill heads to the floor Monday
The supplemental budget bill in the House and Senate worked its way through the committee process this week and is headed to the floor for debate Monday in both bodies. HF 1671/SF 3223, includes all the finance division's supplemental budget bills with the exception of K-12 education and health and human services, which will be addressed at a later time. The reductions to state agencies and programs in the bill, including the $10.5 million reduction to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, total $209 million. The budget bill also includes tax provisions that cut $105 million in state spending from county program aid, local government aid and the market-value homestead credit. Finance Committee Chair Rep. Lyndon Carlson, DFL-Crystal, said the bill is loaded with some very difficult decisions.

Legislative leaders are working to resolve the $1 billion budget deficit in three phases, of which the supplemental budget bill is considered the first phase. Speaker of the House, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, in a media availability today said the House is running three weeks ahead of schedule. Kelliher said a forthcoming health and human services finance bill is on hold until Congress takes action on legislation that could provide more than $408 million in one-time federal stimulus funds. If the federal funding comes through, legislators might not have to cut too much beyond this first phase of cuts. Senate Tax Committee Chair Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, said, "There's no point in passing a huge reduction bill if, at the end of the day, we get some federal money that would have back-filled some of the cuts." However, Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, said lawmakers need to see the whole budget. "Until we see their budget in its entirety, we are not going to agree to participate in this solution."

Senate hears about cost savings mechanisms for higher education

The Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division heard from Larry Isaak with the Midwestern Higher Education Compact this week regarding services provided, including cooperative purchasing. Isaak, the president of MHEC, told committee members that each of the 12 states that are part of the compact pay $95,000 a year in dues; however, the return on that investment for Minnesota in fiscal year 2009 was 26:1. Minnesota higher education institutions, school districts, state and local governments and students have achieved cost savings of $28.8 million since joining the compact in 1991 by using MHEC's cost savings and student exchange programs, including technology hardware and software purchases.

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities also work in collaboration to leverage the best value in purchasing. Steve Gednalske, system director of tax and financial services and Michael Noble-Olson, purchasing manager at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, explained to members about the system's collaborative sourcing team. The team’s mission is to collaborate to seek innovative strategic sourcing solutions to achieve sustainability and best value by leveraging the system's buying power. The team includes representation from system institutions and the Office of the Chancellor. Gednalske provided examples of benefits gained.
The team has been able to obtain quality mattresses at reduced prices through a contract that is used by all campuses with dorms; leveraged spending on office supplies to obtain lower prices; collaborated with the Department of Administration to leverage spending and reduce the pricing of travel management; and saved money on textbook delivery as well as other shipped items.

Lawmakers learn about system’s budget planning for upcoming biennium

Members of the Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division heard from the higher education systems this week about budget plans for fiscal years 2012-2013. Laura King, vice chancellor and CFO for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, told committee members that with notice of the $50 million unallotment to the system occurring a year in advance, and the state's poor economic outlook, the system adjusted its budget planning framework early in the budgeting process and aimed for a $594 million base each year for planning purposes. The $594 million base reflects the governor's $50 million unallotment and the proposed $10.5 million reduction to the system in FY2011.

Jake Hite, a student at Winona State University, testified on the effects the appropriation cuts have had on students. Hite told committee members that the Minnesota State University Student Association listened to students at the seven state universities to learn more about how the reductions are affecting them. Hite said some of the trends include reduction of course offerings and increased class sizes; student service reductions in financial aid and childcare; fewer hours of operation at libraries and student centers; increased fees and charges for services; and reduced public safety.

Hite said that the initial picture of how recent cuts have affected the state universities and the students attending them raises concern as to how the quality, affordability, and accessibility of education will be affected as further steps are taken to balance the campus budgets. Sen. Sharon Erickson Ropes, DFL-Winona, said that this year higher education is seeing a 2 percent reduction. Next year, however, given the economic outlook, higher education could be looking at a 20 percent reduction. Erickson Ropes encouraged Hite to have conversations within the student organization regarding what has to change and what has to go away.

Next week, the House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division is scheduled to learn more about the system’s 2012-13 budget planning Thursday. The system's 2012-13 budget planning report is here.

Reconciliation bill combines health care reform with student loan reform

Last week we reported that Congress was looking at merging the health care overhaul bill with the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act in a process called budget reconciliation. Late this week, Congress released the reconciliation bill that contains both the health care reform package and student loan reform legislation. The bill contains $500 million per year for fiscal years 2011-14 for the Community College and Career Training Grant Program to improve educational and career training programs. Grants will go to institutions in all 50 states on a competitive basis, but institutions in each state will receive at least $2.5 million each year.

The bill would end the Federal Family Education Loan Program and require all federal education loans to be originated through the Direct Lending Program beginning July 1, 2010. The impact of this change in policy is estimated to produce a savings of $61 billion. The reconciliation bill will also provide funds for the Pell Grant. The bill ensures a continued maximum grant of $5,550, as is scheduled to take effect this July 1. For 2014-2018, the bill provides for an automatic annual increase in the maximum Pell Grant by the rate of inflation. The legislation will also provide $13.6 billion to help address a large shortfall in the program that has developed due to booming enrollment increases that have resulted in more students qualifying for grants, and many qualifying for larger grants.

It is anticipated that the House will take up the bill Sunday. House Democrats need 216 votes to pass the bill. If passed, the bill will be considered by the Senate, where it will need a simple majority of 51 votes to pass.

Here's What's Happening at the Capitol:

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

Monday, March 22

8:00 AM
House Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson
Agenda:
HF2899 (Pelowski) Administrative remedy provided for certain data practice law violations, civil penalty provided, and money appropriated.
HF2499 (Mullery) Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees required to study technical education credentials.
HF3274 (Obermueller) Benefit account requirements modified for unemployment benefits.
HF3048 (Norton) Construction codes and licensing provisions modified, and certain notice provisions modified.
HF2925 (Kath) Public facilities programs amended and technical changes made.

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Richard J. Cohen
Agenda:
S.F. 2598-Saxhaug: Collaborative urban educator grant program appropriation clarification.
S.F. 2533-Bakk: Lake Vermilion state park land acquisition authority and incorporation of existing park land.
S.F. 2564-Anderson: Outdoor heritage appropriations.
H.F. 2624/S.F. 2462-Anderson: Legislative-citizen commission on Minnesota resources (LCCMR) environment and natural resources appropriations.
S.F. 2364-Pappas: Higher education facilities authority revenue bond limit increase.
S.F. 2386-Metzen: Labor agreements and compensation plans ratification.
S.F. 364-Sparks: Drainage systems provisions modifications.

10:00 AM
House in Session
It is anticipated the House will come in to session, then recess to caucus.
HF1671 (Carlson) Omnibus supplemental budget

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

3:00 PM
Senate Economic Development and Housing Budget Division
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. David J. Tomassoni
Agenda:
S.F. 1590-Sieben: Inflatable amusement equipment safety standards establishment.
S.F. 2895-Bonoff: Unemployment insurance administrative, benefit and tax provisions modifications; special state extended unemployment insurance program establishment.
S.F. 2310-Saltzman: Comparative study of state regulation affecting small business start-ups.
S.F. 3014-Saltzman: Minnesota Science and Technology Authority Act.

Tuesday, March 23
8:30 AM *Note time and room change*
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
Room: 500S State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda:
HF3076 (Juhnke) Elevator provisions modified.
HF3293 (Clark) State building Code amended, and licensing requirements modified.
HF3533 (Rukavina) Joint powers agreements may not circumvent or impinge upon the rights of employees covered by certain collective bargaining agreements.
HF3024 (Murdock) Manufactured Home Building Code requirements modified
Other bills may be added

8:30 AM
House K-12 Education Finance
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF2887 (Drazkowski) Independent School District No. 858, St. Charles, disaster aid funding and declining pupil unit aid appropriation used to help the city cover revenue losses.
HF3404 (Mariani) Aid payment schedule modified for certain charter schools.
HF3539 (Benson) Charter schools revised evaluation requirements and changes in sponsorship fees postponed.
HF2867 (Newton) Child with a disability definition clarified and obligations to children with disabilities specified.
HF3487 (Newton) Conciliation conference requirements clarified, and Minnesota Department of Education directed to amend two special education rules.
HF2885 (Davnie) Capital project referendum ballot language modified in cases where the same level of taxing authority is renewed.
HF3237 (Huntley) Health care provisions changed relating to education plan requirements, health access program, private nursing coverage, children's health insurance reauthorization act, long-term care, asset transfers, clinics, dental benefits, prior authorization, drug formulary and administrative committees, preferred drugs, multisource drugs, health plans, claims against the state, and eligibility standards. - Article 1 only

10:30 AM
House State Government Finance Division
Room: 300N State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Phyllis Kahn
Agenda:
HF2758 (Lillie) Labor agreements and compensation plans ratified.
HF2815 (Bly) Fiscal note requirements modified.
HF3205 (Mahoney) Preference created for community banks and credit unions for the state's general revenue account, state depository accounts required to be held in community banks or credit unions, and a study required of possible further use of community banks and credit unions by the state and municipalities.
HF3589 (Kath) Contracts for professional or technical services reporting threshold reduced.
HF1818 (Mariani) State commissioners required to provide a poverty impact statement on bills when requested by a legislator.
HF2613 (Hilstrom) Mediation provided prior to commencement of mortgage foreclosure proceedings on homestead property, and homestead-lender mediation account created.

12:30 PM
Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Sandy Pappas
Agenda: S.F. 3180-Sparks: Malt liquor and spirits tasting authorization at exclusive liquor stores; University of Minnesota stadium liquor licensing conditions modification.

Wednesday, March 24

8:30 AM *Note time and room change*
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
Room: 500S State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Higher Ed and Workforce Finance/Policy omnibus bill 2

10:00 AM
Senate State Government Budget Division
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Don Betzold
Agenda:
S.F. 2809-Higgins: State bond proceeds recipients requirements and electronic reporting requirement.
S.F. 2199-Olson, G.: Legislature size reduction and senate district division prevention.
S.F. 2471-Olseen: Declaration of trust and real property secretary of state filings modification.
S.F. 2644-Betzold: Minneapolis employees retirement fund (MERF) administrative functions transfer to the public employees retirement association (PERA); MERF consolidation account in PERA establishment and operation provisions.
S.F. 2573-Betzold: State, local, legislator, and hospital public employees retirement provisions modifications.
S.F. 3084-Carlson: Professional or technical services contract reporting threshold reduction.
Thursday, March 25

8:30 AM
House K-12 Finance Division
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: Governor's charter school property tax exemption proposal (see HF3306 article 6, section 2)
HF3421 (Mariani) High school assessments established to determine college and career readiness.

10:30 AM *Note time and room change*
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Higher Education Plans for FY2012-13 Budgets

12:30 PM
Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Sandy Pappas
Agenda: TBA

Friday, March 12, 2010

Bonding bill final movement; Higher education budgets set; Credit transfer bill heard; U.S. Congress may act on SAFRA; McCollum hears jobs ideas

Legislative Update
March 12, 2010


Bonding - almost wrapped up?

After weeks of negotiations, the House and Senate passed a revised $1 billion bonding bill this week. The new legislation contains $239 million (including user financing) in projects and repair and replacement for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

The bonding bill passed the House Thursday by a vote of 89-44. House Majority Leader Rep. Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm, said the bill is about getting Minnesotans back to work. Proponents of the bill have said the legislation is expected to create 21,000 to 27,000 jobs.

Shortly after the House passed the bill, the Senate took it up and passed it by a vote of 49-17. The legislation now heads to the governor. Gov. Tim Pawlenty said he can work with the bill but will use his line-item veto authority to trim the large size. He has not publicly stated how much he will cut; however, in the past he has mentioned he would like the bill to be near $725 million.


Flurry of activity on budget bills this week


The House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division passed the committee’s budget bill this week. The legislation reduces the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system by $10.5 million to help address the state’s almost $1 billion budget deficit. The bill directs $3 million of the system cut to be taken from the Office of the Chancellor. The remaining $7.5 million is to be cut from campus budgets. The overall cut brings the system back to the 2006 budget level, which was a federal stipulation of receiving the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, or ARRA, funds last year. The bill passed by a vote of 13-4. A spreadsheet of the bill is available here.

In addition to addressing the budget, the higher education bill contained some policy. The legislation increases the revenue fund authority for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system from $200 million to $275 million, and for 2010 and 2011, limits the revenue fund to only state university projects. The revenue fund allows campuses to upgrade dorms, build parking lots or construct wellness centers, among other projects. The Senate bill increases the revenue fund authority to $300 million and does not specify in language which campuses are eligible for use.

In attempts to improve local economies, the House bill calls for eight pilot projects of transferring reserves for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities campuses to local banks. The legislation also calls for the Board of Trustees and the Minnesota Management and Budget office to report independently on the effectiveness of the pilot projects. The evaluation is to include recommendations on the future implementation of the pilot project.

To reduce the state grant shortfall, committee members adopted an amendment to eliminate the ninth semester of eligibility, remove the high school-to-college developmental summer transition program and reduce the tuition maximums to $5,364 for fiscal year 2012 for students in two-year programs and for students in private, for-profit four-year programs. The House reductions do not completely address the $42 million state grant shortfall, so more work may be needed in this area. Rep. Mike Obermueller, DFL-Eagan, said cutting the state grant program is doing a disservice to the state and its students. Committee Chair Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, expressed his regret at having to cut the state grant program and indicated he had hoped more could have been done for the students and higher education. Rukavina said higher education has taken a heavy hit over the years and government should be investing in people, not cutting.

The bill, HF 1835, was heard this afternoon in the full Finance committee, where it was incorporated with other supplemental budget bills into HF 1671. There were no amendments related to higher education. The bill was recommended to pass and was referred to the Ways and Means committee.

In the Senate, the Finance committee passed the higher education supplemental budget bill Wednesday. The bill was first heard in the Senate Finance committee Monday; however, no action was taken as the Office of Higher Education and lawmakers worked through a tuition reciprocity issue with North Dakota. Chair Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, came back to the Finance committee on Wednesday and applied the savings from the reciprocity agreement to reduce cuts to the state grant program, the American Indian Scholarship and work study. The legislation was rolled into a larger supplemental budget bill, SF 3223.

After both the Senate and House pass the supplemental budget bills, differences between the two versions will be worked out in conference committee.

Credit transfer a hot topic at the Legislature

Both the House and Senate higher education committees heard legislation on transfer this week. Sen. Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, presented SF 2822 before the Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division Tuesday. The legislation requires the Board of Trustees to create a mechanism for seamless student transfer between system institutions. The legislation also states that the Degree Audit and Reporting System and u.select database (or successor databases) housed in the Office of the Chancellor shall be the official repository of course equivalencies between system colleges and universities. Senior Vice Chancellor Linda Baer told committee members that the system has been working extensively on transfer. Baer said that while the system is doing pretty well and that 91 percent of credits transfer, “We know we can and must do better.” The bill was passed by the committee and laid on the table for possible inclusion in the higher education policy bill, and was sent to the Senate floor as an individual bill.

The House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division also heard transfer legislation this week and included it in its omnibus bill. The language, similar to the Senate, requires the Board of Trustees to develop a system that minimizes the loss of credit transfer for students and develops a mechanism for seamless student transfer between institutions. The House bill also includes a provision regarding a report on credit transfer activities to be submitted to lawmakers annually on the system’s activities to achieve the credit transfer goals spelled out in statute.

U.S. Congress to possibly merge student loans with health care overhaul

Congress may be merging the health care overhaul bill with the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act in a process called budget reconciliation. The purpose is two-fold. One hope is that the health care - student loan package will have broader support. Another benefit is that a reconciliation bill speeds up the process. By definition, a reconciliation bill is a single piece of legislation that combines multiple legislative provisions that affect the federal budget that cannot be filibustered, which means there cannot be any attempt to block or delay Senate action on a bill by debating it at length or by offering numerous procedural motions. A reconciliation bill also can be passed with 51 votes in the Senate. In the case of a 50-50 vote, the vice president is called on to break the tie.

The federal student loan changes, requiring all campuses to move to Direct Lending, would save the federal government an estimated $78 billion over the next 10 years. (This number previously was reported at $87 million, but new projections from the Congressional Budget Office have shown that the $78 billion estimate is more accurate.) Some in the higher education community said they fear that a budget reconciliation merger of health care and higher education may apply the savings to health care initiatives instead of providing higher Pell Grants for low-income students, which is where the savings was pegged to go. Some say that the merger of these two bills will speed up the process and get money to campuses quicker. Recall that the Student Aid Fiscal Responsibility Act passed in the House last September; however, the legislation has not yet been heard in the Senate.

Student loan reform was the topic of a press conference Thursday featuring Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. Minnesota’s junior senator joined with Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chair Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and House Education Chairman George Miller, D-Calif., in the announcement. The senators called for action on the student aid reform, noting that the changes could save billions. Specifically, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act would eliminate the Federal Family Education Loan program and require college campuses to use Direct Lending, making the federal government provide the funding for college loans. “In this tough economy, when so many students are struggling to afford college, it just doesn’t make sense to me that we would choose banks over students,” Franken said.

Congresswoman McCollum hosts listening session on jobs for Minnesotans

Minnesotans going back to school rely on federal Pell Grants. This was the message that Senior Vice Chancellor Linda Baer shared at Congresswoman Betty McCollum’s federal hearing on workforce Monday. Enrollment at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has increased nearly 8 percent, but the number of Pell Grant recipients has grown by 32 percent. “In other words, the number of our students whose financial situation puts them at risk has grown four times faster than our enrollment,” Baer said. She credited McCollum and leaders in Washington, D.C., for providing assistance to states with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. This has “directly contributed to supporting our institutions to keeping tuition affordable,” Baer said. Federal workforce funding also has allowed campuses to be innovative to design accelerated programs with multiple start dates. These programs help get Minnesotans back into the workforce faster. Congresswoman McCollum held Monday’s forum in St. Paul to get opinions on what the federal government can do improve workforce services. Being a member of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations subcommittee, the congresswoman plans to bring the ideas back with her to Washington.

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, March 15

9:00 AM *Meeting Canceled*
Senate Taxes
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Tom Bakk
Agenda: 2010 Supplemental Budget

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

12:30 PM
Senate State Government Budget Division
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Don Betzold
Agenda:
S.F. 2629-Sieben: County assistive voting, vote-counting and optical scan equipment grants appropriation.
S.F. 2870-Rest: Legislative auditor audit costs payment authorization from heritage funds appropriations.
S.F. 2915-Dahle: Fiscal note requirements modification.
S.F. 3134-Betzold: State government appropriations, appropriation reductions and one-time transfers.

1:00 PM
House in Session

Tuesday, March 16

8:30 AM
Senate Education
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
Agenda:
S.F. 2757-Bonoff: Teaching board teacher preparation and licensure programs authorization.
S.F. 3104-Saltzman: School and parent conciliation conference requirements clarification.
S.F. 2698-Koch: Graduation required assessment for diploma (GRAD) retake requirement modification.
S.F. 3002-Bonoff: School desegregation and integration advisory task force establishment.

8:30 AM
House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF2867 (Newton) Child with a disability definition clarified and obligations to children with disabilities specified.
Presentation by Margaret Bird, the director of Utah's Children's Land Alliance Supporting Schools (CLASS) and Kevin Carter, director of the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration on Utah school trust land governance and land management practices

8:30 AM
House State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Gene Pelowski
Agenda: HF3389 (Mahoney) Minnesota Science and Technology authority created, and money appropriated.
HF3106 (Bigham) Implied consent, driving while impaired, and ignition interlock provisions modified.
HF3124 (Dill) Aquaculture provisions modified, provisions for taking, possessing, and transporting wild animals modified, fish and wildlife management plans requirements modified, and game and fish license provisions modified.
HF3475 (Dittrich) Independent agency created to oversee management of Minnesota's permanent school fund lands.
HF1828 (Hornstein) Municipal comprehensive plan for affordable housing amendments authorized to be approved by a simple majority.
HF2660 (Thissen) Minnesota Coalition for Innovation and Collaboration created, rule and law waivers provided, and money appropriated.
HF3055 (Thissen) State-County Results, Accountability, and Service Delivery Redesign Act changes made, and public employee status specified for service delivery units.
HF2510 (Gardner) Threats of reprisal against a person who is or is considering being a candidate prohibited.

9:00 AM
Joint Senate Finance and Taxes
Room: 15 Capitol
Chairs: Sen. Richard Cohen and Sen. Tom Bakk
Agenda: Discussion with David Walker, President and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Former Comptroller General of the United States, Former head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO)

12:30 PM
Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Sandra L. Pappas
Agenda:
MHEC: Discussion of purchasing and CREST agreements
Discussion of MnSCU purchasing agreement
Discussion on salary freezes and furloughs at MnSCU and U of M
S.F. 2941-Saltzman: 4-H funding procedure modification; county and state fair surcharges authorization; University of Minnesota extension service policy modification for 4-H programs support.
Budget Plan Report (March 15th Report)

2:45 PM
House Capital Investment Finance Division
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Alice Hausman
Agenda: Discussion on bonding policy issues

Wednesday, March 17

8:30 AM
House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF3421 (Mariani) High school assessments established to determine college and career readiness.

12:30 PM
House in Session

Thursday, March 18

8:30 AM
House State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Gene Pelowski
Agenda: HF2952 (Murphy) State employees retirement plan contribution rates increased,
interest rates on refunds and certain benefit accrual rates reduced, vesting requirements and early retirement reduction rates increased, and certain amortization periods extended.
HF3281 (Murphy) Volunteer fire relief associations technical corrections made, break-in-service return revised, Minnesota deferred compensation plan service pension transfers authorized, payout defaults revised in survivor benefits, and corrections of certain special fund deposits authorized.
Recommendations from the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement.

10:30 AM
House in Session

12:30 PM
Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Sandra L. Pappas
Agenda: To be announced

2:45 PM
House Education K-12 Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Agenda:
HF3043 (Kalin) Computer-adaptive assessments provided for general education students.
HF3267 (Newton) Advisory task force established on school desegregation and integration.
HF3163 (Mariani) Prekindergarten through grade 12 funding provided, including general education, education excellence, special programs, and early childhood education.

Wednesday, April 7

8:00 AM
Trustee Candidate Advisory Council
Room: 300N State Office Building
Chairs: Kent Eklund
Agenda: Candidates interviewed for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees

Thursday, April 8

8:00 AM
Trustee Candidate Advisory Council
Room: 300N State Office Building
Chairs: Kent Eklund
Agenda: Candidates interviewed for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees

Friday, April 9

8:00 AM
Trustee Candidate Advisory Council
Room: 300N State Office Building
Chairs: Kent Eklund
Agenda: Candidates interviewed for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees

Friday, March 5, 2010

Higher Education budget discussed;

Legislative Update
March 5, 2010


Higher Education bill movement

Lawmakers set a budget for two years during the odd year of a biennium; therefore, during the second year of a biennium, legislators do not need to pass a supplemental budget bill unless needed. Given the almost $1 billion deficit, legislators and the governor are working hard to balance the budget. The Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division this week released its omnibus finance bill, which committee members discussed Tuesday and Thursday. The bill contains a $10.5 million cut to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system in fiscal year 2011. The committee passed the bill and referred it to the Finance Committee, where it will be heard Monday morning.

Chair Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, said Tuesday there was agreement that the financial aid changes should not hurt the lowest-income families, those making under $20,000. A proposal was set forth that reduces work-study, reduces child care grants and follows the rationing formula that is written into statute. In comparison to the governor's budget, this proposal provides less funding for two-year college students in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities but slightly more for university students. Travis Johnson of the Minnesota State College Student Association said, “Preserving the state grant is key on our agenda.” Both Johnson and Graeme Allen of the Minnesota State University Student Association said they would need to consult with their student members before weighing in on the proposal.

The House has not yet created its version of a higher education finance bill. However, the committee did hear from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system this week regarding the system’s budget and the proposed $10.5 million additional cut Gov. Tim Pawlenty has recommended. Chancellor James McCormick told committee members these cuts come at a time when enrollment is increasing, and the colleges and universities are doing their best to meet demand despite declining state revenues. McCormick asked committee members to do what they can to protect Minnesota’s higher education legacy.

To bond, or not to bond?

The capital investment working group on Thursday approved a revised bonding bill that brings the bill total down slightly from $999.9 million to $986.4 million, and now contains the core projects identified by the governor. Included in the cuts are projects from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and a combined $10 million from civic center projects in Mankato, Rochester and St. Cloud.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities portion decreases from $217 million to $179 million. Specific reductions to system projects are included in the attached side-by-side comparison. The repair and replacement number, also known as HEAPR, remained at $52 million. It is likely the bill will head to the House and Senate floors next week.

Session timeframe taking shape in House

House legislators now have a timeframe for their work this session. The House Rules and Administration committee approved committee deadlines this week. The concurrent resolution will need to be approved by the full House.

As recommended, the first committee deadline is Friday, March 12. This is when committees will need to act favorably on policy bills in the house of origin. The second deadline is Friday, March 19, a date when committees must act favorably on the companion bills, those that met the deadline in the other body. The third committee deadline is Monday, March 29, where House and Senate finance committees must act favorably on appropriations bills.

House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL- Minneapolis, said today that budget targets will be released early next week, with reductions released in batches starting later in the week. She said that the House proposal will most likely exclude cuts to human services, early childhood education and K-12 education.

The budget outlook, a bit better for current biennium

The February Economic Forecast released earlier this week showed the outlook for the U.S. economy has changed little since November. A $994 million deficit is being projected for the current biennium, a modest reduction from the $1.2 billion shortfall forecast in November. The state’s budget gets worse, however, when looking to the future. State Economist Tom Stinson said Minnesota will have a projected $5.8 billion deficit in the next two-year budget cycle, or $7 billion when factoring in inflation. Documents regarding the forecast can be found at the Minnesota Management and Budget Web site.

P-16 legislation works its way through committee

Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Seagren presented before the House K-12 Education committee this week on Gov. Pawlenty’s proposal to require K-12 teachers to renew their tenure every five years. The legislation states that every five years, school districts must “either renew or terminate a teacher’s service.” Evaluations would be conducted three times a year, at a minimum, and teachers would be measured on how well their students performed on tests.

This proposal and other P-16 proposals being heard in K-12 Education committees with the potential to affect system institutions are being followed closely at the Capitol. Legislation includes college and career readiness and planning, teacher licensure (including alternative pathways and Board of Teaching rulemaking) and charter school reform. Proposals in the governor's K-12 recommendation, including requiring students to pass a basic skills test prior to admission to teacher preparation programs, closer alignment of teacher and administrator licensure standards with state academic standards, and revisions in school district eligibility to receive concurrent enrollment funding, are topics of K-12 Education committee hearings. As K-12 education omnibus bills are prepared, we will continue to keep you updated on their impact to colleges and universities.

U.S. House approves jobs bill, sends legislation back to Senate

The U.S. House passed the jobs bill this week, after the legislation was tossed back from the U.S. Senate, which passed its version of the bill last week. House members passed the bill 217-201, mostly along party lines. The $35 billion bill combines $15 billion of tax cuts and subsidies with $20 billion of transportation funds. The House made minor tweaks to the legislation, which means the bill needs to go back to the Senate for another vote.

U.S. House hears Direct Lending proposal

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Wednesday told the U.S. House Education Committee he thought all colleges and universities could switch to a Direct Lending only process for student loans. He thought this could be accomplished by July. The proposal follows President Obama’s plan, included in the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act that the House passed last fall. The shift is projected to save $87 billion over the next 10 years. Duncan told committee members the switch would provide all borrowers with the highest-quality customer service when repaying their loans. It also would establish a competitive bidding process that would allow the U.S. Department of Education to select lenders based on how well they serve borrowers, educate them financially and prevent defaults on loans.

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, March 8

8:30 AM (televised live)
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Richard J. Cohen
Agenda:
2010 Supplemental Budget
The following articles will be discussed:
Higher Education
Judiciary
Agriculture and Veterans
Environment, Energy and Natural Resources

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

1:00 PM
House in Session

3:00 PM
Senate State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Ann H. Rest
Agenda:
S.F. 2941-Saltzman: 4-H funding procedure modification; county and state fair surcharges authorization; University of Minnesota extension service policy modification for 4-H programs support.
S.F. 2752-Saltzman: Lower St. Croix River area land use modifications.
S.F. 2555-Senjem: Volunteer protections for entities assisting a local jurisdiction during an emergency or disaster.
S.F. 1605-Dibble: Municipal comprehensive plan affordable housing development amendment adoption requirement.
S.F. 2226-Rummel: Threats of reprisal against potential political candidates prohibition.
S.F. 1818-Berglin: Tenant campaign material posting in residential window authority.
S.F. 834-Pappas: Municipal precinct and ward boundaries procedures and requirements modification.
S.F. 2888-Gerlach: Elections provisions modifications; authorized proofs of residence modification; vouching for certain voters on election date elimination; provisional ballots for unregistered voters authorization.


Tuesday, March 9


8:30 AM
Senate Education
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
Agenda:
MDE Presentation: The ACCESS System: Achieving College and Career Readiness for Every Student's Success
S.F. XXXX (Wiger) - College and Career Readiness Policy Institute Working Group assessment and accountability recommendations.
S.F. 2610-Anderson: Graduation required assessment for diploma (GRAD) language arts and reading paper-and-pencil format for retaking test authorization.
S.F. XXXX (Wiger) Minnesota Department of Education policy and technical bill.

8:30 AM
*Note: The committee will recess at 10:00 AM and reconvene at 6:00 PM in the Basement Hearing Room.
House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF2986 (Hornstein) Responsible family life and sexuality education program created.
HFXXXX (Doepke) Board of teaching rulemaking authorized.
HF2995 (Tillberry) Diagnosis qualifications of attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder expanded.
HF3267 (Newton) Advisory task force established on school desegregation and integration.
HFXXXX (Newton) Clarifying requirements for a conciliation conference; MDE directed to amend two special education rules.
HF2962 (Fritz) Minnesota Academy for the Deaf and Minnesota Academy for the Blind provided trial placement.
HFXXXX (Benson) School district mandates reduced.
Meeting Documents: HFXXXX (Doepke) Board of teaching rulemaking authorized. http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/docs/10-5916.pdf
HFXXXX (Newton) Clarifying requirements for a conciliation conference http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/docs/10-5786.pdf

12:30 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. 2822-Clark: Minnesota state colleges and universities (MnSCU) credits transfer regulation.
S.F. XXXX-Pappas: Office of Higher Education Policy Bill.
Minnesota Home Grown Initiative

2:45 PM
House Capital Investment Finance Division
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Alice Hausman
Agenda: HF2182 (Gardner) Rating criteria required for capital project funding requests.
HF2909 (Anderson) State agencies required to track and report on the number of jobs created or retained as a result of capital project funding.
HF3105 (Downey) Information required to determine return on investment for capital requests.
Discussion on various bonding policies including provisions in HF2700 as passed on the House Floor.

2:45 PM
House K-12 Education Finance Division
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF3176 (Slocum) Charter school provisions modified, commission created, and charter schools permitted to borrow money.

3:00 PM
Senate Agriculture and Veterans
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Jim Vickerman
Agenda:
S.F. 2927-Doll: Veterans preference provisions modifications.
S.F. 2626-Erickson Ropes: Minnesota state academies bond issue and appropriation.
S.F. 1657-Olson, M.: Environment and natural resources organization advisory committee establishment and task forces; state agencies powers and duties consideration requirements.

Wednesday, March 10

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Richard J. Cohen
Agenda:
2010 Supplemental Budget
The following articles will be discussed:
Economic Development
State Government
Transportation
Public Safety

12:30 PM
Senate Business, Industry and Jobs
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. James P. Metzen
Agenda:
S.F. 2911-Berglin: Window fall prevention devices requirements modification.
S.F. 2758-Bonoff: Minnesota Entrepreneur Resource Virtual Network (MERVN) authorization and appropriation.
S.F. 2874-Pogemiller: State government streamlining; departments of employment and economic development (DEED) and labor and industry abolishment; commerce department downsizing; task force and employee participation committee establishment.

12:30 PM
Senate State Government Budget Division
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Don Betzold
Agenda:
S.F. 2386-Metzen: Labor agreements and compensation plans ratification.
S.F. 2750-Bonoff: Constitutional amendment for public debt to be incurred for public information technology systems, licenses and infrastructure.
S.F. 2506-Bonoff: Capital project funding report on jobs created or retained.

12:30 PM
Senate Health, Housing and Family Security
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. John Marty
Agenda. TBA

6:00 PM
Senate State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Ann H. Rest
Agenda:
S.F. 2950-Sparks: Jobs, family and economic development fund creation; agricultural, rural, early childhood, bioscience, medical technology, economic development, athletic, recreational, extracurricular activities and capital improvements funding mechanisms authorization.

Thursday, March 11

8:30 AM
House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF3163 (Mariani) Prekindergarten through grade 12 funding provided, including general education, education excellence, special programs, and early childhood education.