Senate higher education committee passes omnibus bill
The Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy committee discussed their omnibus bill yesterday, amended it, passed it, and referred it to the Senate Finance Committee where it will be heard next. As a reminder, the bill, which can be found
here
, does not include additional spending, but does reallocate $1 million of surplus funding from the college occupational scholarship pilot program administered by the Office of Higher Education and appropriates that funding to the following:
- $500,000 to Minnesota State for renewal of workforce development scholarships
- $300,000 one-time appropriation to the Office of Higher Education for the State Grant program
- $100,000 one-time appropriation to the Office of Higher Education for the Agricultural Educators Loan Forgiveness program
- $50,000 one-time appropriation to the Office of Higher Education for the Student Loan Debt Counseling program
- $50,000 one-time appropriation to the Office of Higher Education for a Teacher Preparation Program Design Grant
Many amendments were offered in committee, including an amendment that would expand the list of provisions that must be included in an institution’s sexual assault policy by adding a requirement that the policy provide for notice to a sexual assault victim regarding available legal resources. This amendment, offered by Sen. Greg Clausen, DFL-Apple Valley, passed and will be included in the bill.
Sen. Jason Isaacson, DFL-Shoreview, offered many amendments that did not pass, including an amendment that would appropriate $10 million to Minnesota State for general campus support. Chair Michelle Fischbach, R-Paynesville, told committee members she cannot vote for an amendment that adds funding to the bill when the committee does not have a budget target with which to work. Sen. Fischbach added that she is disappointed she does not have additional funding, and will continue to work with legislative leadership on trying to get a budget target for her committee.
Other highlights in the bill include:
- Establishes a program administered by the Office of Higher Education to provide grants to qualified organizations offering student loan debt repayment counseling
- Requires Minnesota State to develop a plan to increase the use of affordable textbooks and instructional materials. The plan must be submitted to the Legislature by January 15, 2020.
- Language that allows for the Office of Higher Education to make a grant to an institution of higher education to explore, design, and plan for a teacher preparation program leading to licensure as a teacher of the blind or visually impaired.
House higher education bill introduced in committee, public testimony taken today
The House Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance committee rolled out the committee’s omnibus bill yesterday. The bill can be found
here
. The committee amended the bill, and laid it on the table for public testimony and further discussion today. As shared earlier, the committee received a $5 million target. The bill appropriates the $5 million to the
cyber security program
at Metropolitan State University.
Similar to the Senate higher education omnibus bill, the House bill reallocates $1 million of surplus funding from the college occupational scholarship pilot program administered by the Office of Higher Education and appropriates that funding to the following:
- $500,000 to Minnesota State for renewal of workforce development scholarships – this is a onetime appropriation available until June 30, 2020 (in Senate bill)
- $350,000 one-time appropriation to the Office of Higher Education for the State Grant program (Senate bill appropriates $300,000)
- $100,000 one-time appropriation to the Office of Higher Education for the Agricultural Educators Loan Forgiveness program (in Senate bill)
- $50,000 one-time appropriation to the Office of Higher Education for the Student Loan Debt Counseling program (in Senate bill)
Other provisions in the bill include:
- Establishes a program administered by the Office of Higher Education to provide grants to qualified organizations offering student loan debt repayment counseling
- Requires Minnesota State to develop a plan to increase the use of affordable textbooks and instructional materials. The plan must be submitted to the Legislature by January 15, 2020.
- Expands the list of provisions that must be included in an institution’s sexual assault policy by adding a requirement that the policy provide for notice to a sexual assault victim regarding available legal resources
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This Week at the Capitol
Wednesday, April 18
10:15 a.m.
House State Government Finance
Room: Basement Hearing Room State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sarah Anderson
Agenda: Omnibus State Government Finance Bill
12:00 p.m.
House 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. 3945-Miller: Supplemental jobs budget appropriations; occupational and safety and health federal conformity modifications; commerce department utility grid assessment extension; manufactured homes relocation provisions modifications; wage theft provisions adoption and criminal and civil penalties establishment.
1:00 p.m.
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Jenifer Loon
Agenda:
Amendments will be considered to the HF4328 DE Amendment.
3:00 p.m.
House Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda: HF3638 (Nornes): Minnesota State College and Universities Board of Trustees funding provided, and money appropriated
The committee will take public testimony on the Higher Education omnibus.
3:00 p.m.
Senate E-12 Finance
Room: 1100 Minnesota Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Carla Nelson
Agenda: S.F. 3928-Nelson: SF 3928 will serve as the Omnibus E-12 Education Finance bill. A delete-all amendment will be voted on
3:00 p.m.
House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda: Walkthrough of omnibus bill and public testimony
Thursday, April 19
8:30 a.m.
Senate Finance
Room: 1200 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Chair: Sen. Julie A. Rosen
Agenda:
S.F. 3245-Pratt: Energy improvements program modification; residential property assessed clean energy (PACE) loans consumer protections authorization.
S.F. 2688-Lang: (MOVED TO SECOND) Outdoor heritage fund appropriations.
S.F. 3290-Lang: (BILL ADDED) Biomass business compensation process establishment.
11:00 a.m.
Senate in Session
1:00 p.m.
Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Michelle Fischbach
Agenda: Confirmation hearing for Minnesota State Board of Trustee appointments
1:00 p.m.
Senate State Government Finance and Policy and Elections
Room: 1200 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Chair: Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer
Agenda:
S.F. 2991-Weber: Real estate appraisal advisory board creation and duties prescribed.
S.F. 3983-Benson: Self-directed workforce collective bargaining agreement provisions modification
3:00 p.m.
Senate Capital Investment
Room: 1150 Minnesota Senate Building
Chair: Sen. David Senjem
Agenda:
S.F. 3957-Wiger: White Bear Lake trail and route bond issue and appropriation.
S.F. 2773-Wiger: White Bear Lake multiuse trail project appropriation description modification.
S.F. 2572-Bakk: St. Louis County Voyageur Country ATV trail construction grant bond issue and appropriation.
S.F. 3721-Lang: Kandiyohi county Grass Lake prairie wetland basin restoration grant bond issue and appropriation.
S.F. 2861-Limmer: Maple Grove North Metro Range regional public safety training facility bond issue and appropriation.
S.F. 3913-Senjem: Rochester nonprofit dental clinic health department grant appropriation.
S.F. 3251-Newton: Blaine national sports center improvements bond issue and appropriation.
