Higher education committees start hearing bills
The House Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance committee heard a handful of bills in committee this week, including a loan forgiveness program bill that clarifies the funds for the programs. The 2017 Legislature appropriated funds to the Office of Higher Education for four loan forgiveness programs: the Teacher Shortage Loan Forgiveness Program, the Large Animal Veterinarian Loan Forgiveness Program, the Agricultural Educators Loan Forgiveness Program, and the Aviation Degree Loan Forgiveness Program. The bill heard this week clarifies that the funds received for the loan forgiveness programs are for transfer to the respective program accounts in the special revenue fund rather than an appropriation. The bill passed and was laid over in committee.
With the first committee deadline approaching in less than two weeks, we can expect to see committee agendas shift from overviews to bill activity. Also next week, Governor Mark Dayton will give his State of the State address on Wednesday, March 14, which will likely provide a preview of what’s to come Thursday, March 15 when he releases his proposed supplemental budget.
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Next Week at the Capitol
Monday, March 12
10:15 a.m.
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Jim Knoblach
Agenda:
Overview of tax conformity issues, House Research will present
Overview of the Minnesota pension system, Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement will present
HF3147 (Paul Torkelson):
Management and budget commissioner directed to reduce appropriations, Minnesota Licensing and Registration System funding provided, and money appropriated.
*Note
: The Committee will recess no later than 12:00 p.m. and reconvene after session to the call of the Chair to hear HF3147, pending re-referral
1:00 p.m.
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy
Room: 1150 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Chair: Sen. Jeremy R. Miller
Agenda:
S.F. 2629-Draheim: Job training program grant requirements modification.
S.F. 2064-Draheim: Accessibility requirements for public buildings modification.
S.F. 1901-Cohen: Minor league baseball players minimum wage and overtime requirements exemption
2:45 p.m.
Senate in Session
3:00 p.m.
House in Session
Tuesday, March 13
8:15 a.m.
House Education Innovation Policy
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair:
Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda:
HF3370 (Keith Franke): Threat assessment and oversight committees required, access to criminal history and health records provided, and money appropriated.
HF3178 (Roz Peterson): Academic achievement rating system required to track student achievement, academic growth, and achievement gap closure rates in schools and districts.
HF2788 (Bob Dettmer): School counselors encouraged to receive training in armed forces career options, school counselors required to inform students of armed forces career options, and school districts encouraged to grant military recruiters access to secondary students.
HF2724 (Tony Jurgens): School lunch providers prohibited from shaming students, meal policies required to be posted to school websites, and supplementary reserve fund created.
HF3361 (Mary Kunesh-Podein): Substance misuse prevention instruction grant provided, report required, and money appropriated.
HF2825 (Glenn Gruenhagen): Nonpublic students in grade 10 authorized to participate in career and technical courses offered through the postsecondary enrollment options program.
HF2768 (Randy Jessup): Child sexual abuse prevention instruction in a health curriculum modified. *This bill was heard and laid over on February 27, 2018. It's the Chair's intention to re-refer the bill to the General Register during this meeting.
HF1507 (Eric Lucero): Student Data Privacy Act created, and penalties provided. *This bill will be heard pending re-referral from Civil Law and Data Practices.
3:00 p.m.
Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda:
Approval of Minutes
HF XXXX (Albright) Appropriating money to the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to fund cyber security programs at Metropolitan State University.
HF XXXX (Albright) Appropriating money for a cybersecurity operations center at Metro State University; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds.
Followed by an informational hearing on Direct Digital Access.
Attachments
3:00 p.m.
House Capital Investment
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Dean Urdahl
Agenda: Presentation by the Minnesota Historical Society on their 2018 capital budget request for Fort Snelling.
Presentation by Glensheen Mansion on their 2018 capital budget request.
Presentation by Second Harvest Heartland on their 2018 capital budget request.
5:30 p.m.
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Room: 1200 Minnesota Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Julie Rosen
Agenda: TBA
Wednesday, March 14
1:00 p.m.
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy
Room: 1150 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Chair: Sen. Jeremy R. Miller
Agenda:
S.F. 2915-Eichorn: Douglas J. Johnson economic protection trust fund use of funds limits.
S.F. 2434-Anderson, P.: Workforce development funds use modification and report requirement
