Capitol Notepad: March 19, 2009

Another busy day for the House, which went into session after 10:30.

K-12 Education Policy and Oversight with Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL-St. Paul) heard about setting up a best practices for shared services center (HF 1665), and aligning assessments to academic standards.

Rep. Jean Wagenius’ (DFL-Minneapolis) Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division is hearing a budget presentation from the Board of Water and Soil Resources.

State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections with Rep. Gene Pelowski (DFL-Winona) is hearing two election reform bills (HF 817 and 1053) and a bill that would abolish a state designer selection board (HF 13).

Rep. Michael Paymar’s (DFL-St. Paul) Public Safety Finance Division is hearing about federal stimulus funding.

Public Safety Policy and Oversight with Rep. Deb Hilstrom (DFL-Brooklyn Center) has a big docket today, and may meet twice. Domestic abuse and assault, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension data handling, commercial driver’s licenses and two bills (HF 1517 and 812) about administrative fines and penalties are up [somewhat related to the "local traffic ticket" issue].

Rep. Tom Huntley’s (DFL-Duluth) Health Care and Human Services Finance Division is hearing the governor’s supplemental budget proposal for health and human services.

Rep. Tom Rukavina’s (DFL-Virginia) Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division is hearing about a stable tuition guarantee, unemployment measurement and Rukavina’s HF 1326, an emergency employment development program. In an evening session, the committee is hearing lots of business development grants, including bioscience, summer youth work programs and some higher education reporting rules.

Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight with Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis) is hearingbillson claims processing, adult foster homes, a Goodhue County nursing facility, MFIP and food stamp benefits, a hospital construction moratorium exception (HF 665), health insurance for domestic partners of state employees (HF 1219) and other medical assistance items.

Capital Investment Finance Division with Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul) is hearing bonding recommendations from finance divisions.

The State Government Finance Division with Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Minneapolis) is hearing about proposed budget changes from the Departments of Revenue, Finance and Administration.

The K-12 Education Finance Division with Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL-Roseville) is hearing about educational grants and information on some reforms for expanding student opportunities (HF 1188).

Commerce and Labor with Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL-South St. Paul) is hearing about no-fault auto insurance (HF 1619), financial records disclosure in criminal investigations (HF 818), telecom promotion activities (HF 1149), banning toxic bisphenol-A additives (HF 326), plumbing (HF 1418), promoting preventive health care in high deductible health plans (HF 705) and shared work employer plans (HF 908).

Transportation Finance and Policy Division with Rep. Bernie Lieder (DFL-Crookston) is hearing about rail safety, Hausman’s bill establishing a Minnesota Transit Authority and shifting financing around (HF 1535), vehicle service fees, buses on freeway shoulders, hazardous materials and transit pass discounts for charitable organizations.

Environment Policy and Oversight with Rep. Kent Eken (DFL-Twin Valley) has a sizable docket, with directions for the Pollution Control Agency to develop rules on high global warming potential gases (HF 1675, mainly exotic fluoride compounds), idling reduction technology (HF 877), preserving Lake of the Woods, loosening rules on veterans getting free state park passes, reporting on recycling for video devices (HF 1648), licensing for non-resident ATV operators, snowmobile trails (HF 376) and renaming the North Shore Trail the C.J. Ramstad Memorial Trail (HF 924).

Senate side: The Senate is in session at 11 a.m. Finance with Sen. Richard Cohen (DFL-St. Paul) is hearing about elimination of mandates, adoption records, environmental appropriations and motor vehicle child restraints.

Taxes with Sen. Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) is hearing about Tax Increment Financing (TIF), St. Paul housing and redevelopment authority for the Central Corridor area (SF 1122) and St. Paul’s sales tax.

Education with Sen. LeRoy Stumpf (DFL-Plummer) is hearing about resources for the deaf and hard of hearing and alternative and standard teacher licensing.

E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division with Stumpf is hearing a proposal for the Minnesota reading corps.

Commerce and Consumer Protection with Sen. Linda Scheid (DFL-Brooklyn Park) has plenty of liquor bills on tap, and regulation of viatical settlements.

Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division with Sen. Ellen Anderson (DFL-St. Paul) is hearing about metro parks, clean energy resource teams (SF 1215) and natural resources management.

Transportation with Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing) is hearing about appropriations, including federal stimulus money.

Higher Education with Sen. Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul) is hearing about MnSCU occupational programs, and hearing testimony from MINNITEXT Library Services, MNLINK Gateway and Learning Network of Minnesota.

Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications with Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon (DFL-Duluth) is hearing about electric vehicles, transmission line reports, solar projects and strategic tree planting.

The Agriculture and Veterans Budget and Policy Division with Sen. Jim Vickerman (DFL-Tracy) is getting into biofuels feasibility presentations and agricultural loans.

Judiciary with Sen. Mee Moua (DFL-St. Paul) is hearing about local government mandates, rural health cooperatives, medical laboratory licensing, MnSCU provision of voter rolls, tax preparation, firefighter licensing and judicial election campaign contribution limits.