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Legislative Update - March 16, 2017
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Proposed post-secondary programs for students with disabilities offer opportunity
On Wednesday, the House Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance committee heard HF2153, sponsored by Rep. Brian Daniels (R-Faribault), Minnesota State would offer academic programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at two college or university campuses beginning in the 2018-19 school year.
Campuses would be selected by their ability to offer programming using existing facilities, with a goal of enrolling at least 15 incoming students per year.
“This will make a big difference in the lives of students with intellectual disabilities,” said Rep. Tony Albright (R-Prior Lake). “The reality is that these students have very limited options after high school. There is a real lack of understanding of the potential that they have.”
The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. It has no Senate companion.
Programs would provide full-time, two-year residential college experiences offering courses that develop life skills in a student's chosen field of study. It would also provide internship or other skills-based experiences to prepare students for meaningful employment after completion.
“We need to provide students with the tools they need to be active participants in society and let them know we believe in their ability to succeed,” Albright said.
A student who successfully completes a program would be awarded an appropriate academic credential.
An annual program report would be due the Legislature.
In addition to academia, programs would allow students to engage in campus communities, including peer support and other engagement activities.
Favorable of its intent, testifiers expressed concern with promoting a one-size-fits-all approach, saying some community colleges already offer occupational skills programs for students with disabilities.
“Our goal is to increase access to all educational aspects and institutions,” said Mary Benson, who teaches a nine-month occupational skills program at Ridgewater College (Willmar) that focuses on independent living skills. A similar program is offered at Central Lakes College (Brainerd). Three students from Ridgewater College's Occupational Skills Program shared with the committee what they enjoy about the program and what industries they have interned at.
The bill would also request the University of Minnesota adopt a similar program. Due to the university’s constitutional autonomy, the state cannot require it to adhere to the potential change.
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Jesse Schutte tells the House Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance Committee March 15 about his experience with the Occupational Skills Program at Ridgewater College in Willmar. Photo by Paul Battaglia
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Mandatory college and university student activity fees debated
“Students in Minnesota are struggling to pay student fees, which are growing to hundreds of dollars. I don’t think it’s fair,” Rep. Drew Christensen (R-Savage) told the House Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance Committee Tuesday.
He sponsors HF2198, which would prohibit Minnesota State institutions from imposing mandatory fees that fund non-instructional student programs, activities, groups or services. It would not prohibit mandatory fees that are directly related to academic, administrative or health services. HF2197 would require any increase in mandatory student life or student activity fees at a public post-secondary institution or campus over the amount of the fees charged to students at that institution or campus in the previous academic year must be approved by a vote of the student body at that institution or campus.
Both bills would also request the University of Minnesota to adopt a policy implementing the prohibition. Because of the university’s constitutional autonomy, the state cannot require it to adhere to the potential change.
However, as a punitive measure, if the Board of Regents later imposed a mandatory fee violating the prohibition, an amount equal to the net revenue generated by the fee would be reduced from the university's base appropriation in the first year of the next biennium.
The committee held the bill over for possible omnibus bill inclusion. It has no Senate companion.
“Much of this money goes toward extracurricular activities,” Christensen said. “We all recognize the value of these activities, but some of these budgets are approaching a half a million a year; it’s quite a bit beyond pizza money.”
Testifiers from Minnesota State colleges, including students and staff, brought forth concerns as to whether eliminating student fees could potentially quell certain student programs or eliminate student staff positions.
University of Minnesota Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Danita Brown Young and Minnesota Student Association President Abeer Syedah shared their concerns on both bills. A lengthy Q&A between the two testifiers, Rep. Christensen, and other members regarding the University's process and what fees are used for.
The committee video can be viewed HERE
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This week at the Capitol
Thursday, March 16 8:15 a.m.
House Education Innovation Policy
10 State Office Building
Agenda: Presentation of the OLA Evaluation on Standardized Testing 8:30 a.m.
Senate Committee on Finance
1200 Minnesota State Building
Agenda:
SF78 (Kiffmeyer) - Advisory task force on fiscal notes establishment
SF914 (Bakk) - Clean air act settlement money specifically appropriated
SF65 (Fischbach) - Zero-based budgeting requirement 10:15 a.m.
House Agriculture Finance
5 State Office Building
Agenda:
HF2409 (Kiel) - Farm to school program established and money appropriated
HF1120 (Swedzinski) - Shrimp production incentive program established and money appropriated
HF2277 (Poston) - Wolf-livestock conflict prevention pilot program grants established, and money appropriated.
HF2327 (Johnson) - GROW-IT Center renovation funding provided, and money appropriated
HF2076 (Clark) - Agriculture related grant funding provided and money appropriated
HF1461 (Clark) - Urban agriculture development pilot grant program established, and money appropriated. 11:00 a.m.
Senate in Session 1:00 p.m.
House Education Finance
5 State Office Building
Agenda:
HF1997 (Kresha) - Early learning scholarship program child eligibility modified, early learning scholarship program administration modified, targeted home visiting grant program for high-risk populations established, and money appropriated.
HF1338 (Thissen) - Third-party reimbursement for special education evaluation modified.
HF2259 (Loon) - Early education access fund established, director of early education and development established, enhanced coordination of early education and development programs provided, early education resources hubs authorized, report required, early education programs transferred to the director of early education and development, and money appropriated.
HF1217 (Kiel) - State reimbursement for each school lunch served increased by five cents.
HF1663 (Erickson) Alternative teacher preparation and compensation programs modified, Teacher Shortage Task Force created, concurrent enrollment teacher program expanded, report required, and money appropriated.
HF1491 (Loon) - Early learning scholarship program administration modified, and commissioner prohibited from designating scholarships for use in predetermined qualifying programs.
HF1382 (Nornes) - Regional public library systems state aid formula modified; funding increased for regional public library systems and multicounty, multitype libraries, and money appropriations.
HF1684 (Sandstede) - School readiness program appropriations increased.
HF654 (Drazkowski) - Reverse referendum for property tax levies allowed.
HF1338 (Thissen) will be heard pending referral to the Education Finance Committee.
HFXXXX(Jurgens) will be heard pending referral to the Education Finance Committee.
Committee Documents:
H2259DE6.pdf
H1663A5.pdf
1:00 p.m.
Senate Committee on Higher Education Finance and Policy
15 Capitol
Agenda:
S.F. 1935 (Abeler): Aviation degree loan forgiveness program and appropriation.
S.F. 211 (Clausen): State educational service award for volunteers establishment and appropriation
S.F. 2045-Anderson, P.: Workforce development scholarships establishment and appropriation 3:00 p.m.
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Finance and Policy
1200 Minnesota Senate Building
Agenda:
S.F. 481 (Jensen, S). Waiver of examination for dental therapists and assistants and technical changes.
S.F. 341 (Ingebrigtsen) Governmental entity investment of funds of a hospital owned and operated by a governmental entity authorization.
S.F. 819 (Housley) Health professional loan forgiveness program and employee scholarship program modification; medication administration by unlicensed personnel authorization.
S.F. 1073 (Rosen) Dental services medical assistance (MA) rates increase; dental providers uniform credentialing process and dental services uniform prior authorization criteria development requirements.
S.F. 1003 (Rosen) **Pending receipt of a fiscal note, this bill will be picked up from the table.
S.F. 1302 (Abeler) Family medical account (FMA) program establishment.
S.F. 655 (Relph) Senior care workforce innovation grant program establishment and appropriation.
S.F. 386 (Relph) Health professionals employed by supplemental nursing services agencies overseen by the commissioner of health modification.
S.F. 1002 (Benson) Housing with services establishments exemption from department of health lodging licensing requirement.
S.F. 1372 (Benson) Long-term care services and supports study statutory changes; long-term care services gaps analysis appropriation. 3:30 p.m.
House in Session Friday, March 17 9:00 a.m.
Senate Committee on E-12 Finance
1150 Minnesota Senate Building
Agenda:
S.F. 1885 (Nelson) - School districts foundation and incentive revenue establishment and appropriation.
S.F. 1475 (Pratt) Statewide MCA and MTAS testing participation financial incentives to school districts authorization.
S.F. 1567 (Pratt) African-American registry teacher preparation funding appropriation.
S.F. 1792 (Nelson) Adult basic education funding increase; supplemental aid creation and appropriation.
S.F. 1698 (Nelson) Minnesota Children's museum and Minnesota Children's Museum, Rochester grant appropriation.
S.F. 2094 (Nelson) Special education activities funding increase and appropriation.
S.F. 609 (Dahms) Southwest Minnesota state university special education teacher education program additional school employee participation authorization.
S.F. 1222 (Pratt) Prekindergarten through grade 12 education miscellaneous provisions modifications.
S.F. 4 (Pratt) Professional educator licensing and standards board establishment; teacher licensing and support personnel licensing and credentialing authority transfer.
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Important Links:
- Most recent bill introductions related to higher education (compiled by Government Relations team) can be found HERE (updated 3/13/17)
- Committee schedules can be found HERE
- Many committee hearings and floor sessions are streamed live via the web or broadcast on television. More information and a schedule can be found HERE
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