Higher education bills moving through the committee process
It was a busy week at the State Capitol with committees scrambling to meet the session’s first committee deadline yesterday. The second committee deadline has been set for next Thursday, March 29, so we can expect another busy week in committee.
One of the bills the Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee heard this week was
SF 3098
, a bill authored by Senator Rich Draheim, R-Madison Lake, that requires Minnesota State to create a plan focused on continuing efforts to make textbooks more affordable for students.
The bill was amended to require Minnesota State to develop a plan to increase the use of affordable textbooks. The language requires Minnesota State to explore and study registration software or other systems and methods to disclose or display the cost of all textbooks and instructional materials required for a course at or prior to course registration. Also through the plan, a goal is to be established for the percentage of all courses offered at state colleges and universities that will use affordable textbooks and materials. Draheim said the goal of the bill is to lower the cost of textbooks for students. The bill, as amended, was adopted and sent to the Senate floor. In the House, the companion bill,
HF3985
, has not yet received a hearing.
Senate Finance approves contract ratification bill
The Senate Finance Committee took up
SF 3154
Thursday morning. The bill ratifies labor contracts and compensation plans for state employees, including AFSCME, MAPE, Middle Management Association (MMA), Inter Faculty Organization (IFO), Commissioner’s Plan and the Managerial Plan. The bill was amended to include the Minnesota Nurses Association contract and the Minnesota State personnel plan for administrators. The bill, as amended, was approved and sent to the Senate floor. A companion bill,
HF 4067
, was introduced this week in the House by Rep. Marion O’Neill, R-Maple Lake.
Governor Dayton signs MNLARS bill
Gov. Mark Dayton signed the MNLARS bill, which provides emergency funding for the state’s vehicle license and registration computer system. After five weeks of legislative debate surrounding the funding request to continue fixing the malfunctioned MNLARS system, a conference committee reconciled the Senate and House position yesterday, the bill passed both bodies and was sent to the Governor.
The bill appropriates $9.65 million to the Department of Public Safety in FY2018 to continue improvements to the statewide computer system, and $350,000 to put in place strict legislative oversight on how the money is spent and the progress being made.
The legislation creates a new legislative steering committee made up of House and Senate members to review progress on fixing MNLARS and quarterly appropriations for work on the project. It also directs $350,000 in funding to the Office of the Legislative Auditor for the appointment of an information technology auditor to closely monitor and report on the development and implementation of MNLARS.
_________________________________________________________________________
Next Week at the Capitol
Monday, March 26
9:00 a.m.
Subcommittee on Workplace Safety and Respect
Room: Capitol 120
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda:
Expert Testimony:
Steven Smith, Nichols Kaster
Ellen Sampson, formerly with Stinson Leonard Street
Tina Marisam, University of Minnesota Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action office
Laura Kushner, League of Minnesota Cities
Kiesha Mayes, UnitedHealth Group
Emma Denny, Halunen Law Firm
Kelly Jeanetta, Kelly A. Jeanetta Law Firm, LLC
Minnesota Management and Budget testifying on the January report "Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy and Procedures Report"
Attachments
10:15 a.m.
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Jim Knoblach
Agenda:
Discussion regarding Governor's supplemental budget recommendations (Commissioner Frans and MMB staff will appear before the committee);
Overview of Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (Commissioner Tingerthal and MHFA staff will appear before the Committee)
HF2739 (Hertaus): Wayzata; U.S. Highway 12 designated as Officer Bill Mathews Memorial Highway.
HF2908 (Wills): Rosemount; U.S. Highway 52 designated as Warrant Office Dennis A. Groth Memorial Bridge.
HF2967 (Lohmer): Collection of information on the connection between pornography and sex trafficking required, and authorized penalty assessment expanded to include additional crimes.
HF3232 (O'Neill): Solar energy incentive program modified.
HF3371 (Fenton): Criminal penalties established for peace officers who have sexual relations with persons in custody.
11:00 a.m.
Senate in Session
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. 2064-Draheim: Accessibility requirements for public buildings modification.
S.F. 3580-Bakk: Taconite assistance area definition modification; taconite economic development fund use clarification and 2018 distribution transfer authorization.
S.F. 3773-Miller: Extended employment rules effective date delay.
S.F. 3630-Dibble: Workers compensation court of appeals judges salary basis determination adjustment
3:00 p.m.
Senate E-12 Finance
Room: 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Chair: Sen. Carla J. Nelson
Agenda:
S.F. 3125-Dahms: Extended time to pupils enrolled in career and technical education courses expansion.
S.F. 3335-Ruud: Online learning providers requirement to generate online learning aid for courses offered to nonpublic pupils authorization and appropriation.
S.F. 3516-Nelson: Voluntary prekindergarten participants to be served through a mixed delivery of services requirement.
S.F. 2398-Dziedzic: Project SUCCESS grant authorization and appropriation
3:30 p.m.
House in Session
Tuesday, March 27
10:15 a.m.
House Agriculture Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Rod Hamilton
Agenda:
Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) presentation on supplemental budget recommendations and update on MDA programming.
HF2888 (Backer) Mental health counseling for farm families and farm business operators funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF3255 (Swedzinski) Mental health counseling funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF2896 (Poppe) Mental health counseling and advocate services funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF3515 (Poppe) Farmers' Legal Action Group grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
