Capitol Notepad: March 24th, 2009

Senate side: Senate in session at noon today. The Health and Human Services Budget Division with Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Minneapolis) is hearing public testimony on the governor’s supplemental budget recommendations, and oral health practitioner and dental therapist licensing.

Taxes with Sen. Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) is also hearing the governor’s supplemental budget recommendations.

Education with Sen. LeRoy Stumpf (DFL-Plummer) is hearing about school bullying and violence. Listed with the same time and chair, the E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division is hearing about school district health and safety revenue, and school wind energy production.

Commerce and Consumer Protection with Sen. Linda Scheid (DFL-Brooklyn Park) is hearing the Equal Access to Acupuncture Act (SF 245), Department of Commerce regulation and credit and insurance scores use regulation.

Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget division is hearing about state land sales, clean water and drinking water financing, small power producers, timber sales, greenhouse gas registration, and energy efficient windows in public buildings and residences.

The Judiciary Budget Division agenda hasn’t been announced. The Higher Education Budget and Policy Division is not going to meet.

The Transportation Budget and Policy Division with Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing) is hearing the stimulus project bill and other transportation policy items.

Higher Education with Sen. Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul) is hearing about MnSCU policies, U of M regents recruitment, tax credits for student loans, scholarships and recruitment.

Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications with Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon (DFL-Duluth) is hearing about carbon, mass transit, biomass, low-income heating rights, renewables in public utilities, solar projects and conservation incentives.

Judiciary with Sen. Mee Moua (DFL-St. Paul) is hearing about domestic abuse, medical assistance, rest areas, secretary of state procedures, university regents, "motor voter" DMV registration, traffic laws, life insurance settlements and state employees whistleblower protection (SF 271). [Additionally, we hear that the "criminal intelligence data" bill (SF 1103), which we reported on, is likely dead for the session.]

Agriculture and Veterans with Sen. Jim Vickerman (DFL-Tracy) is hearing about ag research, noxious weed law modification and dog and cat breeder standards.

House side: The DFL says the floor session at 12:30 p.m. will be brief. It’s another huge day for pushing bills through.

Finance is hearing about mandate relief (HF 1195).

K-12 Education Policy and Oversight is hearing about charter schools, site-governed schools and defibrillators.

The Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division is hearing about parks and trails funding, a budget presentation from the Board of Water and Soil Resources and the Minnesota Naturalist Corps proposal.

State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections is hearing about greenhouse gas reduction, shoreland lots, regional dog park grants and broad outdoor policy reforms.

The Public Safety Finance Division is hearing about native plant research, medical response unit reimbursement, Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans grants, livestock grants, a whey ethanol feasibility study and "Let’s Go Fishing community outreach grants."

The Housing Finance and Policy and Public Health Finance Division is hearing about homeless programs (HF 1491) and support for families with hearing-impaired children.

The Bioscience and Workforce Development Policy and Oversight Division is hearing about accountability reports for those receiving state funds, and shared work employer plans.

The Property and Local Sales Tax Division is hearing about authorized county local sales tax, levy limits changed, fiscal disparities linked to credit reimbursements, local government appropriations, prohibitions on new non-ag relative homesteads and senior citizen property tax deferral.

Public Safety Policy and Oversight is hearing about medical marijuana, REAL ID, tax data, joint powers agreements, firefighter licensing, and in an evening session will address sex trafficking, criminal records in job applications and Board of Pharmacy controlled substance reporting.

The Health Care and Human Services Finance Division is hearing about adoption records, a nursing home moratorium exemption and an overview of the governor’s GAMC proposal, DSH and MERC by the Department of Human Services.

The Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division is hearing about unemployment benefits, economic development and extended employment services.

The K-12 Education FInance Division is hearing about a State Board of Education, the P-20 education partnership proposal and policy cleanup bills.

The State Government Finance Division is hearing about proposed budget changes for the Department of Finance, the Campaign Finance Board, the State Board of Investment and the Gambling Control Board, as well as modifications to lawful gambling.

Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight is hearing about child care, general assistance medical care, child welfare, insuring asthma items, life insurance, predatory offenders, an "Autism Spectrum Disorder Task Force" proposal (HF 1811), a medical supplies "purchasing alliance," health IT incentive requirements supported by federal money and public employee buy-ins for the state’s long-term care insurance program.

Environment Policy and Oversight is hearing about using water to make snow, electric vehicle infrastructure, state parks and trails, hazardous waste audits and modifying the Critical Areas Act of 1973.

Commerce and Labor has a huge docket, including construction licensing, health care co-ops, acupuncture, stolen cell phone liability, Sunday liquor sales, airport liquor sales, liquor store wine tastings, recycling electronics, school district boilers, plumbing inspection, payday lending, foreclosures, energy development and motor vehicle sales.

The Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division is hearing about veteran designation on driver’s licenses, intersection gridlock, noise abatement, speed limits and local projects.

The Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division is hearing information about E-16 reforms, and from the Department of Human Services on the governor’s supplemental budget, as well as a presentation from Karen Effrem at EdWatch.

Civil Justice has lots of bills, including financial records in investigations policy, clinical drug trials, abandoned and foreclosed property regulations, radiological examinations, cost of care modifications, power of attorney for military personnel, tenants’ rights in foreclosure, property collection by affidavit and adult guardianship modifications.