Capitol Notepad: March 11, 2009

On the schedule: Senate side: Just played on TPTMN, Taxes with Sen. Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) heard from state economist Tom Stinson about the 2009 February Economic Forecast overview. The federal stimulus cash enters into Sen. James Metzen’s (DFL-South St. Paul) Business, Industry and Jobs, hearing Sen. Dennis Frederickson’s SF 1329 which would use stimulus cash for clean water projects and Sen. David Tomassoni’s (SF 1197) unemployment insurance reform, which would use $9.9 miliion of the federal cash. Sen. Satveer Chaudhary’s (DFL-Fridley) Environment and Natural Resources hears Chaudhary’s SF 353, which would prevent selling recreational land to cover the budget shortfall, as well as Chaughary’s SF 988 and Sen. Tom Saxhaug’s (DFL-Grand Rapids) SF 1094, both of which modify water protection regulations.

The Senate Health and Human Services Budget Division passed Sen. Steve Murphy’s (DFL-Red Wing) medical marijuana bill (SF 97), with the usual jibes and concerns. Sen. Don Betzold’s (DFL-Fridley) State Government Budget Division is hearing Sen. Ann Rest’s (DFL-New Hope) SF 935, a proposed constitutional amendment which would make IT upgrades bondable.

Sen. Kathy Saltzman’s (DFL-Woodbury) Education Subcommittee on Chart Schools will hear her major reform (SF 867) of charter school oversight.

State and Local Government Operations and Oversight has a big docket today: Sen. Ron Latz‘ (DFL-St. Louis Park) Minnesota False Claims Act (SF 82), Sen. John Marty’s (DFL-Roseville) SF 660 would provide automated ‘motor voter’ registration and pass more data to the Secretary of State’s office, and much more. Sen. Sandy Pappas’ (DFL-St. Paul) SF 661 would tighten up voter lists for colleges and universities. Sen. Tarryl Clark’s (DFL-St. Cloud) SF 487 would create an office of early learning.

At 4 p.m., Sen. Linda Higgins’ (DFL-Minneapolis) Public Safety Budget Division will hear about the public safety federal stimulus overview.

Sen. Steve Murphy’s (DFL-Red Wing) Transportation Budget and Policy Division will hear Sen. Saltzman’s SF 827, which would set aside a quarter-million dollars to look at Bus Rapid Transit or rail for the east metro’s I-94 corridor [and it's about time, in the view of this east metro native!]. Murphy’s primary seatbelt law (SF 42) also gets looked at, as well as Sen. Terri Bonoff’s (DFL-Minnetonka) Little Crow transitway (SF 1178). The main Transportation committee will hear Higgins’ SF 541 photo cop enforcement proposal, and Pappas’ (SF 359) ban on smoking in cars with children.

The Judiciary Subcommittee on Data Practices, chaired by Sen. Mary Olson (DFL-Bemidji) has a big docket for the hearing at 6 p.m., including Sen. Betzold’s law enforcement witness data restrictions (SF 588), personnel data changes (SF 1207), and Olson’s two bills on health care data (SF 857 and 863).

House side: Rep. Bill Hilty’s (DFL-Finlayson) Energy Finance and Policy Division hears Rep. Kate Knuth’s (DFL-New Brighton) “strategic tree planting” (HF 689) energy conservation bill, and two K-12 solar energy project bills (HF 1259 and 1260) from Rep. Brita Sailer (DFL-Park Rapids).

Taxes with Rep. Ann Lenczewski (DFL-Bloomington) heard the updated 2009 Minnesota Tax Incidence Report, available here.

Civil Justice with Rep. Joe Mullery (DFL-Minneapolis) heard Rep. Tom Rukavina’s (DFL-Virginia) medical marijuana bill (HF 292), and Mullery’s civil liability modified for labor and sex trafficking crimes (HF 731).

The K-12 Education Finance Division under Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL-Roseville) will hear Rep. Patti Fritz‘ (DFL-Faribault) HF 28 wind generator at Minnesota State Academies, Rep. Andrew Falk’s (DFL-Murdock) school geothermal heating system (HF 588). It seems getting energy generators for schools is a popular tack this year (and likely to save lots of money in the long run).

K-12 Education Policy and Oversight under Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL-St. Paul) heard his bill for alternative graduation for students that fail the basic skills test (HF 501) and establishing a center for “legislative educational analysis research and navigation” (HF 1186), and Rep. Lyn Carlson’s (DFL-Crystal) bill establishing a state board of education (HF 466).

State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections under Rep. Gene Pelowski (DFL-Winona) heard Rep. Morrie Lanning’s (R-Moorhead) HF 1195 establishing a Legislative Commission on Mandate Reform, Rep. Paul Marquart’s (DFL-Dilworth) HF 1201 bill establishing a Council on Local Results and Innovation, and Rep. Denise Dittrich’s (DFL-Champlin) state property tax working group and modifications proposal (HF 1261).

Labor and Consumer Protection Division under Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis) will hear Majority Leader Tony Sertich’s (DFL-Chisholm) reworking of how unemployment is measured (HF925), Rep. Deb Hilstrom’s (DFL-Brooklyn Center) HF818 modifying the disclosure of financial data for investigations, Davnie’s changes to unemployment benefits (HF 1116) and extensive changes to real estate agreements (HF 1214).

There are plenty of bills in Rep. Paul Thissen’s (DFL-Minneapolis) Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight, including Thissen’s HF384 on health tech sharing, Rep. Carolyn Laine’s (DFL-Columbia Heights) nonprofit health plan reserve funds (HF1012), Rep. Jeff Hayden’s (DFL-Minneapolis) changes to group home eligibility, Rep. Jim Abeler’s (R-Anoka) waiting lists for developmental disabilities modified (HF 1233), and Hayden’s (HF 681) HIV education program.

On Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division with Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis), his bill on electric vehicle systems (HF 1250) and statewide greenhouse gas emission goals (HF 1047), and Rep. Alice Hausman’s (DFL-St. Paul) “transportation goals” including greenhouse gases modified (HF 899).

The Housing Finance and Policy and Public Health Finance Division chaired by Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-Minneapolis) heard about federal stimulus legislation from the Department of Health and Housing Finance Agency.

Rep. Al Juhnke’s (DFL-Willmar) Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veteran Affairs Finance Division discussed the budget of the Ag Development and Financial Assistance and Plant Protection divisions of the Department of Agriculture.