Capitol Notepad: March 31, 2009

Another big day for policy bills.

House side: Ethics with Rep. Mary Murphy (DFL-Hermantown) is having an early organizational meeting (Ethics meets rarely; this isn’t Illinois, after all).

State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections is hearing about sick leave for veteran state employees, Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day, greenhouse gas emission registry, non-campaign disbursements and death deed transfers.

The Public Safety Finance Division with Rep. Michael Paymar (DFL-St. Paul) is hearing about fees in court filings and public defender funding (which is sorely needed).

The Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division is hearing about a wide variety of local water and outdoor projects, state parks and trails funding and accounting, wellhead protection areas, a ban on coal tar, requiring biodegradable yard waste bags to be compostable (HF 403), ATV registration, water monitoring for endocrine disruptors (HF 2123) and other major environmental policy items.

The Housing Finance and Policy and Public Health Finance Division is hearing about foster care, homeless youth and the Housing Solutions Act (HF 1989).

The Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division is hearing about farmer-lender mediation (HF 841), pesticides, loan programs and the Veterinary Diagnostic Library.

the Bioscience and Workforce Development Policy and Oversight Division is hearing HF 1948, an investment fund for eligible organizations.

The Property and Local Sales Tax Division is hearing Rep. Paul Marquart’s (DFL-Dilworth) property tax reform proposal and the Property Tax Division report.

Public Safety Policy and Oversight is canceled.

The Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division is hearing about job training, MnSCU human resources upgrades, economic development authorities authorized to becomemembers of an LLC, accountability required for state funds, the Minnesota Inventors Congress, transitional employment training and an early warning system for employers, including federal compliance and oversight authority (HF 1963).

The Health Care and Human Services Finance Division is hearing a Department of Human Services update on stimulus provisions, the Minnesota False Claims Act (HF 8) and testimony on the governor’s supplemental GAMC proposal.

The State Government Finance Division is hearing about the proposed budget for the attorney general, the Campaign Finance Board, the Capitol Area Architecture Planning Board, the lottery, the Racing Commission, the Office of Administrative Hearings and the Legislature.

Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight is hearing about supporting housing and managed care pilot cost study results, the Hearth Connection, modifications to county human services, school district employee health insurance and emeritus status and other regulations for psychologists.

The K-12 Education Finance Division is hearing about early graduation, concurrent enrollment, site-governed schools, research-based professional development funding for the St. Croix River Education District and the Minnesota Reading Corps.

The Capital Investment Finance Division is hearing about the omnibus capital investment bill (HF 855) and asset preservation for state agencies and higher education.

Commerce and Labor is hearing about the Pubic Utilities Commission ordering refunds for unlawful utility revenues, petroleum standards updates, "various licenses, forms, coverages, marketing practices and records regulated" for health insurance (HF 1853), home warranties and payday loans (HF 2029).

The Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division is hearing about a couple of early childhood programs.

The Transportation Finance and Policy Division is hearing about careless driving, primary seat-belt violations, local transit planning and technical changes to MnDOT policies.

The K-12 Education Finance Division hits the road to check out education funding in growing school districts, visiting the Farmington High School Little Theater.

Finance is hearing the omnibus capital investment bill, asset preservation for various state agencies, vehicle service fees and rail safe technology grants.

The Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement is having final consideration of the omnibus retirement bill, PERA, technical corrections and the Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association.

Senate side: The Health and Human Services Budget Division is hearing about medical transportation, social work licensing and innovation in nursing education demonstration projects.

Taxes is hearing about local tax increment financing and tax preparation services.

Commerce and Consumer Protection is hearing about debt management regulation, recalled toys, auto insurers repair facility ownership prohibition, certificates of insurance regulation and other insurance policies.

The Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division is hearing an update from the Commerce Department Office of Energy Security on federal stimulus funding, residential energy federal stimulus funding, other renewable energy grants, the solar cities energy working group and other nifty energy projects.

The Higher Education Budget and Policy Division is hearing about the Minnesota campus compact, various grant proposals, the governor’s recommendations and other appropriations.

Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications is hearing about telecom service providers reduced rate regulations, renewable energy production incentives, renewable thermal energy policy and the solar cities energy working group.

Judiciary is hearing about 911 calls for mental health crisis teams, medication mass dispensing and quarantine, wrongful death coveragefor domestic partners, radiologic technology exams, aircraft laser discharge criminal penalties, the revisor’s bill (SF 1096), probate anatomical gifts, the Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act, children’s health toxic chemicals in products, marriage provisions, domestic abuse, a state interoperability executive committee and modifying the domestic fatality review.

Agriculture and Veterans is hearing about National Guard and reserve members pay clarification and reporting for use of federal money in biomass-related activities. At the same time, the committee’s Budget and Policy Division will hear about veteran designation on driver’s licenses and ID cards, a turf seed council and post-deployment health assessments and funding.