A Nonpartisan Publication of the Minnesota House of Representatives ♦ March 19, 1999 ♦ Volume 16, Number 11

HF1897-HF2182 Session Weekly is a nonpartisan publication of the Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Office. During the 1999-2000 Legislative Minnesota House of Representatives • March 19, 1999 • Volume 16, Number 11 Session, each issue reports daily House action between Thursdays of each week, lists bill introductions and upcoming committee meeting schedules, and pro- vides other information. The publication Reflections is a service of the Minnesota House. Eight-hour days began to last longer as members raced to meet the first committee No fee. deadline of March 19. Committee chairs were working overtime to get policy bills prepared for discussion on the House floor. To subscribe, contact: The race continues for the next six weeks — right up until May 17 when legislators Minnesota House of Representatives must adjourn the first of two years in the 81st biennial session. By law, work must end Public Information Office at midnight of the third Monday following the third Saturday of the fifth month, in an 175 State Office Building odd-numbered year. St. Paul, MN 55155-1298 When the House and Senate reconvene in the second year, legislative business must be (651) 296-2146 or completed during a time not to exceed a total of 120 days within the two-year period. 1-800-657-3550 Only the governor can convene a special session any time during the Legislature’s interim TTY (651) 296-9896 period, but he cannot control its duration. As of the March 19 deadline, members had introduced a record 2,182 bills in the Director House. Of these, hundreds had moved out of House committees to be heard in the LeClair G. Lambert chamber by the full House. Many are yet to be acted on, while some have been re-referred Acting Assistant Director/Editor to other committees. Any bills that originated in the House this session will now only be Nick Healy heard in finance committees, Ways and Means, or the House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee. Acting Assistant Editor All activity around the Capitol now increases. Lobbyists can be seen on their cell Sandy Donovan phones talking more to unknown listeners; they also hang out more often at the chamber Art & Production Coordinator door, hoping to discuss a bill with a legislator. As the cafeterias get more crowded, it Paul Battaglia becomes difficult to get in and out during a quick lunch break. Also, staff and members get a bit tired, but understandably so. Writers March 19 can be considered the halfway mark of this first year of session. By now, new Jon Fure, Sarah Hallonquist, pages in the sergeant’s office have learned how to dodge the crowds blocking the hallways Grant Martin, Paul Wahl and filling the elevators in the State Office Building. And they’ve learned the names and Chief Photographer faces of 134 members. Now, standing and walking for hours is not even a major problem. Tom Olmscheid Committee deadlines prevail year after year. In spite of increased activity or lack thereof on some bills, everyone’s hard work results in new policies for Minnesotans and Photographers funding to keep the state in operation. Gina Dabrowski, Laura Phillips, A second deadline comes up on March 31, when bills that met the first deadline must Andrew Von Bank have their companion file passed out of policy committees in the other legislative body. Office Manager The final deadline for this Legislature is April 16. By then, every major funding bill is Nicole Wood pieced together with directives or appropriations for issues favored by each caucus in the House and Senate, as well as special projects on the governor’s list. Staff Assistants Once the smoke clears on Tuesday, May 18, legislators head home to all corners of the Ivan Weiss Jr., Jennifer Ridgeway state. One can only surmise that the total number of bills passed, failed, or vetoed during the first five months of 1999, will be worthwhile for every resident in the state of Session Weekly (ISSN 1049-8176) is pub- lished weekly during the legislative session by Minnesota. the Minnesota House of Representatives Pub- —LeClair Grier Lambert lic Information Office, 100 Constitution Ave., St. Paul, MN 55155-1298. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, MN, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Session Weekly, Public Information Office, INSIDE Minnesota House of Representatives, 175 State Highlights ...... 5 Office Building, 100 Constitution Ave., St. Paul, MN 55155-1298. A Closer Look: Abortion bills advance ...... 18

Printed on recycled paper which is 50% recycled, Governor’s Desk (CH1-CH17)...... 20 20% post-consumer content. Bill Introductions (HF1897-HF2182)...... 21 Committee Schedule (March 22-26)...... 28 t e d i n o r n

P On the cover: Speaker Steve Sviggum leads House Republicans to a meeting in Room 217 r

e r c e in the Capitol. y p c a l e d p —Photo by Tom Olmscheid

2 SESSION WEEKLY / March 19, 1999 Transportation spending . . . Urge to cut fees, need for funding pressure lawmakers By Sarah Hallonquist Efforts to lower Minnesota’s license tab fees are beginning to resemble the process of nego- tiating a potential tax rebate. Everybody has a plan, but none of the plans are the same. While neither the House nor the Senate has passed a bill yet, committees in both bodies have heard several proposals, including one supported by Gov. Jesse Ventura. But with the looming possibility of a tab fee reduction, lawmakers on the House transpor- tation committees are clamoring to find a way to fill the gap that would result in the state’s highway fund. Currently, less than 1 percent of the state’s general fund dollars are targeted toward transportation. Add those two factors to a multi-billion dollar list of proposed transportation projects for the next two decades, and you get a fund- ing crunch that some legislators see as exacer- bating the already contentious process of getting a major transportation project Lawmakers on House transportation committees are studying a number of plans to reduce license tab fees while maintaining funds for highway and transit projects statewide. approved. The House Transportation Finance Com- Photo illustration by Tom Olmscheid mittee approved a bill March 17 that would Ventura would retain the current deprecia- Federal subsidies, driver’s license fees, and lower tab fees but not in the manner proposed tion schedule for vehicles more than 1 year other miscellaneous funds also support the by the governor. old, but if the calculation comes to more than trunk highway fund. The state can also sell Sponsored by Rep. Bill Kuisle (R-Rochester), $75, the motorist would only have to pay bonds to pay for highway projects. the plan would lower tab fees for most vehicles the $75. Kuisle’s bill would constitutionally dedi- and provide a constitutional amendment to make If the calculation is less than $75 but more cate 50 percent of the proceeds from the mo- sure transportation funding is secured in the than $35, than the motorist would pay that tor vehicle sales tax to transportation projects. future. amount. That would leave cars more than 10 Thirty percent would go into the Highway The bill (HF446) would increase highway years old still paying the $35 flat fee, under the User Tax Distribution Fund, and 20 percent funding, but at the expense of about $120 governor’s plan. would go into a new transit assistance fund. million from the general fund — money usu- But both proposals would leave a hole in the The remaining 50 percent would stay in the ally dedicated to other government agencies. Highway User Tax Distribution Fund, a pot general fund, where the all proceeds from the Kuisle’s bill now moves to the House Taxes that provides money for highway projects state- motor vehicle sales now go. Committee. wide. Voters would be asked to approve this pro- The transportation finance panel rejected The governor is recommending a transfer vision by voting on a constitutional amend- the governor’s plan, which was tacked onto of money from the general fund to cover the ment placed on the November 2000 ballot. another tab fee reduction bill under losses for the first year. But in subsequent In the 1980s, the Legislature put into law a consideration. years, the loss to the fund would increase to an plan to transfer some motor vehicle sales tax Ventura wants to change the current system estimated $40.3 million in 2003. money into the highway fund, but it was not so that motorists would pay no more than $75 The current highway system is supported secured with a constitutional amendment. The to renew their license tabs each year. Under his largely by a state constitutional amendment state did transfer a small percentage of motor plan, vehicle owners would pay the current tax that dedicates certain percentages of the gas vehicle sales tax revenues for a few years, but only during the first year of their vehicle’s life. tax and fees for license plates and tabs to a the Legislature repealed the law when the gen- The current registration tax rate is $10 plus highway fund. eral fund needed the extra money. 1.25 percent of the vehicle’s suggested retail That fund is divided into three parts: 69 Some lawmakers want to see all motor ve- price. However, when the vehicle is 3 years percent goes to the trunk highway fund, 29 hicle sales tax funds devoted to transportation old, the percentage is dropped to 90 percent percent goes to the county state-aid highway projects. Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul) and is lowered consistently as the vehicle ages. fund, and 9 percent goes to the municipal said the Kuisle proposal is a “Band-Aid” on When a vehicle is more than 10 years old, the state-aid street system. transportation funding. She said she would motorist pays a flat fee of $35.

March 19, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 3 rather see the committee ask for 100 percent of motor vehicle sales tax proceeds from the beginning. Railroad heir brought family ethic to House “What concerns me is that we settle for too When former Rep. defeated both Daniel D. O’Connell and little,” Hausman said. Louis W. Hill Jr. served on Kueffner, who ran as an independent, in Because the House has been focusing on the House Civil Adminis- the general election. working out details of a potential income-tax tration Committee in 1951, Several pundits of the day wondered reduction, the success of a cut in tab fees he received a letter from a whether Hill was running because he had remains an unanswered question in the House young St. Paul lawyer urg- nothing better to do or because he was Taxes Committee. ing him to support a bill genuinely interested in public service. Yet another way to raise transportation rev- that would raise district judge salaries from One newspaper noted Hill was “rich enue is to increase the gas tax, but lawmakers $9,500 to $13,500 per year. enough to be an idler without distinc- have expressed doubts about doing so in light The lawyer said that he was particularly tion” but added that if he wanted to fol- of the state’s budget surplus. concerned that judges make a decent living low the family tradition of hard work, The Senate Transportation Committee because he had judicial aspirations of his “he’ll find plenty of it in government.” passed a tab fee reduction plan with a $60 own. Hill brought with him to the House a million provision for light rail funding, which In his reply, Hill promised that attorney broad background in philanthropic and has not been a priority for the House commit- — a fellow named Warren civic organizations, includ- tees this year. Burger — that he would sup- ing work with the Minne- Rep. Tom Workman (R-Chanhassen), chair port an increase but that he sota Historical Society. of the House Transportation Policy Commit- wasn’t sure he could support His district included tee, is sponsoring two bills that would address the entire amount recom- the Minnesota Club, which other aspects of transportation projects. One mended in the bill. at the time boasted mem- bill (HF939) would transfer the funding of the While Hill may not have bers including such lumi- Minnesota State Patrol to the general fund, realized that his young so- naries as Elmer L. instead of the trunk highway fund. licitor would go on to be- Andersen, president of The other bill (HF698) would set up a ma- come chief justice of the U. S. H.B. Fuller Co.; Charles K. jor transportation projects commission made Supreme Court, he was no Blandin, president of up of legislators and a corps of gubernatorial stranger to prominent Blandin Paper Co., and appointees. In an attempt to “de-politicize” Americans. William L. McKnight, the process of getting highway construction Hill’s grandfather, James Rep. Louis W. Hill Jr. chairman of the board of projects approved, the commission would have J. Hill, made the family for- 3M. the sole authority to rubber-stamp projects tune in railroads, and the family domi- But Hill’s tenure in the House proved submitted by the Minnesota Department of nated public life in St. Paul at the turn of to the satisfaction of most that his inter- Transportation. the century. ests were varied and diverse. Among other Workman said he wants to see the dollars Louis W. Hill Jr. was the first member of causes, he championed setting up game used efficiently for transportation-related the Hill dynasty to become politically ac- farms for pheasant hunters. And his ca- projects. But he joins his House colleagues in tive, serving in the Minnesota House from pacity to grasp the problems of the disad- their worries that transportation funding is 1937 to 1951. vantaged was large. not high-profile enough to get attention. Although born to wealth and affluence, Hill’s votes reflect a diversity of view- “If we’ve got good times, and we can’t get an Hill was required to earn his way into the points, sometimes staunchly conserva- increase in funds, what’s going to happen in family business. tive — at least by today’s standards — and bad times?” said Rep. Bernie Lieder (DFL- He was given his first job as assistant at other times, quite liberal. Crookston). timekeeper, extra gang, for Great North- In his waning days in the House, Hill ern Railway in St. Paul in 1927. was appointed to the Tuberculosis Facili- Where to find Hill adopted that same “common man” ties Commission. The panel was charged information philosophy when he began his quest for of- with examining the 12 sanitariums in the fice in 1937. He campaigned for seven months, state devoted to assisting people recover- House Public Information Office pushing every doorbell in his district — the ing from the dreaded disease. 175 State Office Building area along Summit Avenue in St. Paul often Interestingly, some of the issues sur- (651) 296-2146 or 1-800-657-3550 called the “silk-stocking ward.” rounding those institutions remain con- The House Public Information Office is a nonpartisan office that provides committee But Hill didn’t confine his campaigning cerns today — adequate funding, meeting schedules; legislator information; and to those who owned the stately mansions; rehabilitation programs, reducing the size publications, including the Session Weekly he was often seen talking with kitchen help, and intrusiveness of the institutions, and newsmagazine, educational brochures for all maids, deliverymen, and doormen. providing adequate benefits and services. ages, and member directories. All informa- Hill, only 34 at the time, ran as a liberal Hill expressed an inordinate capacity for tion is available at no charge. and was elected in a year when Franklin D. care and concern where victims of tuber- Most of what this office publishes can be Roosevelt swept to the presidency. culosis were concerned. viewed on the Legislature’s World Wide Web The Yale-educated Hill beat the incum- Hill died April 6, 1995, at his home in page. To connect, point your web browser at: bent, Albert Kueffner, in the primary and North Oaks. He was 92. http://www.leg.state.mn.us

Photo from 1949 Legislative Manual. 4 SESSION WEEKLY / March 19, 1999 Week in Review . . . March 11 - 18 , 1999

said. “As it stands, (the bill) breaks the Berg said her organization advocates farm- AGRICULTURE consensus irrevocably.” ing practices — including using guard ani- Others testified that the consensus was al- mals — that discourage wolves from attacking, Wolf plan moves ahead ready weakened because the group was trying instead of having farmers simply shooting to meet a deadline and they felt pressured to wolves. The House Environment and Natural Re- reach an agreement in order to avoid having to Rep. Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) defended the sources Policy Committee approved a bill accept a plan they liked even less. amended version of the bill, saying it would March 16 that would establish a statewide Under the bill, illegal hunting of a gray wolf give wolves more than one million acres of wolf management plan. would be a gross misdemeanor and the resti- sanctuary. And the wolf population in Minne- Supporters say the plan is necessary because tution value of a wolf would be set at $250. sota has exceeded the requirements to come the federal government is set to remove the Also, a trained guard animal could protect off the endangered list, which has led to more gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act. livestock from gray wolves, a gray wolf could conflicts with people. A group of 34 citizens representing various be killed if it attacked a human or threatened “The Endangered Species Act has really done interests began meeting as a roundtable in livestock or other animals, and a person could something in Minnesota,” he said. “If the num- 1997 to discuss ecological issues and other harass a gray wolf if it is within 500 yards of ber of wolves is already higher than (required controversial aspects of a wolf management people, buildings, livestock, or other domestic to be dropped from list), why would we allow plan. animals. A killed wolf would have to be re- the numbers to continue to grow even That roundtable led to a bill (HF1415), ported to a conservation officer within 48 further?” sponsored by Rep. Tim Finseth (R-Angus). hours. Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul) pro- But the bill was amended in the House In addition, trapping and hunting proce- posed an amendment that would restore the Agriculture Policy Committee, and some of dures would be established if the wolf popula- bill to the roundtable plan that was intro- the original roundtable participants testified tion exceeds 1,600. Trapping and hunting duced, but the committee rejected the pro- against the new version. would not be allowed in the Boundary Waters posal. Tom Meyers, a regional director for the Canoe Area Wilderness. “We don’t legislate by roundtable; we legis- Minnesota Conservation Federation, urged Karlyn Berg testified against the bill on be- late by representative democracy,” said the environment panel to return the bill to its half of the U.S. Humane Society. She said the Rep. Mike Osskopp (R-Lake City). original text because the changes undermine plan should be “ecologically sound, based on The bill now moves to the House floor. the consensus of the 34 participants in the responsible stewardship.” roundtable. “We have always supported taking wolves “None of us got what we wanted, but every for (attacking livestock),” she said. “But it Can farmers market? one of us got what we needed at that time. And shouldn’t be allowed if farmers don’t follow we all raised our hand and voted yes,” Meyers You can grow the greatest product in the good husbandry.” world, but if you can’t find someone to buy it, it’s worthless. That’s the logic used by sup- porters of a marketing program called “Min- nesota Marketplace.” A bill (HF1091) that would provide $950,000 in seed money for the plan over the next two years was approved March 17 by the House Agriculture Policy Committee. Rep. Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake), sponsor of the bill, said the idea is to connect producers with consumers. He told the com- mittee that currently most farmers simply drop their product at the local elevator and let them do the marketing. Under “Minnesota Marketplace,” coopera- tives would be formed to find and create pro- duce markets. Each dollar of state money would be matched by 50 cents of private money. The organization would focus on the needs of west-central and northwestern Minnesota, Tom Meyers, left, regional director for the Minnesota Conservation Federation, expresses concern over areas of the state particularly hard-hit by the a wolf management bill presented March 16 to the House Environment and Natural Resources Policy most recent farm downturn. Committee. Karlyn Berg, right, from Humane Society of the United States, testifies in opposition to the bill at the same hearing.

March 19, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 5 The idea has broad support from growers tion, which is administered through the Min- Sen. David Ten Eyck (DFL-East Gull Lake) associations across the state. nesota Department of Administration, based sponsored the proposal in the Senate. Kurt Knutson, president of the Minnesota on the costs of a new building or alteration HF248*/SF324/CH7 Barley Growers Association, said it’s tough for project that costs more than $500,000. The Minnesota’s farmers to compete with foreign money can be used for art in or around the markets where agriculture is often heavily sub- building. BUDGET sidized. He said farmers are traditionally good Seifert said that law allows up to $890,000 to at producing but poor at marketing. be spent on art for the state correctional facil- The cost of government Zachary Fore, a University of Minnesota ity being built in Rush City. But, he said, cropping systems specialist, said farmers to- officials for that project do not plan to spend The House passed a resolution March 15 day grow a lot of crops that are not profitable. that much money for art. that would set targets for the price of govern- With a concentrated effort on finding mar- However, other correctional facilities have ment over the next four years. The vote was kets, that situation could be turned around. used the 1-percent appropriation for art 111-21. Westrom said he envisions the idea as a projects. The correctional facility in Faribault Current law requires that the Legislature pilot project and believes the organization will has used the money for three different art pass a concurrent resolution every two years be self-supporting within five years. projects: $40,000 for five benches sculpted stating revenue targets in relation to personal Members of the agriculture panel generally from granite, $44,000 for a mural and trellis at income for the upcoming two budget periods. supported the idea, but wanted to make cer- the entrance of a building for visitors, and The resolution passed by the House states tain this new program wasn’t a duplication of $15,000 for several murals with messages that that the price of government over both the other efforts. are designed to encourage inmates to stay out 2000-01 and 2002-03 budget periods shouldn’t Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba (DFL-Long of prison after they are released. exceed 17.3 percent of personal income. Prairie) said the state already supports the Rep. Mary Murphy (DFL-Hermantown) The Senate version of the resolution calls Agricultural Utilization and Research Insti- said that the 1-percent appropriation can be for targets of 17.6 percent for 2000-2001 and tute, which has similar goals. used to connect the hosting community to the 17.5 percent for 2002-2003. Knutson said the new organization would prison — like a sculpture in a prison gate — or Rep. Dave Bishop (R-Rochester), sponsor have close ties to the institute but would do in public spaces. of the resolution, said that the House version work that isn’t being accomplished anywhere “There are other ways of looking at this than of the resolution would call for $390 million else. just saying no to 1 percent,” she said. less in taxes over the 2000-2001 budget than Rep. Bob Ness (R-Dassel) said the institute “I just think that in a world of priorities, this the Senate version. is devoted more to technology transfer and just isn’t a high priority for people,” Seifert The concurrent resolution passed in 1997 not to soliciting markets. said. set the maximum share of personal income “We need to work collaboratively to get The bill now moves to the House floor. collected in taxes at 17.8 percent in 1998-99 beyond where we are today bringing value- and 17.7 percent in 2000-01. added closer to the consumer,” Ness said, “I think we’re showing a very steady decline adding that the Minnesota Department of BANKING in the price of government as a percentage of Agriculture and other entities would also have Minnesota’s income,” Bishop said. The resolution now goes back to the Senate. to get on board eventually to make it work. Banking in Outing The bill moves to the House Agriculture and Rural Development Finance Committee. A new law effective March 16 will allow a bank to open a branch of- CHILDREN fice in the small community of

ARTS Signed Outing, located in southern Cass Defrauding day care by the County. governor Fraud could be occurring in about 10 percent Prison art challenged The law provides an exception to current state law that prohibits banks from of state-funded child-care programs in Minne- The state usually spends 1 percent of a operating in townships. Outing is an unincor- sota, said Dan Haley, director of the Program building’s construction budget to buy art, but a porated city in Crooked Lake Township. Integrity Projects Team at the state’s Depart- bill that would prohibit that money from being Minnesota’s “home office protection law” ment of Human Services. spent on art for state correctional facilities won allows banks to establish branch offices in Haley testified in support of a bill (HF1318) approval from two House committees. cities with a population less than 10,000 only that would set up a fraud-prevention program “I believe we as legislators are here to set with consent from all the banks that have their aimed specifically at child-care programs. The priorities, and as much as art adds to the home office in that city. Banks are also prohib- bill was considered March 15 by the House ambiance of a prison, I feel this is not a wise ited from getting around that law by opening Family and Early Childhood Education Fi- way to use state resources,” said Rep. in townships just outside city limits. nance Committee. Marty Seifert (R-Marshall), sponsor of the bill Rep. Kris Hasskamp (DFL-Crosby), House Child-care fraud can take many forms, in- (HF82). sponsor of the new measure, said First Na- cluding parents falsifying their incomes to The bill was approved March 11 by the tional Bank of Crosby had planned to open an qualify for assistance or lying about the cost of House Governmental Operations and Veter- office in Outing, assuming it was an incorpo- child care in order to make a profit from ans Affairs Policy Committee and March 18 rated city. Because Outing has its own post assistance provided by the state government by the House Capital Investment Committee. office and zip code, many people don’t realize and the federal government. A 1984 state law authorizes the appropria- that it has never been incorporated, she said. Rep. Barb Sykora (R-Excelsior) is sponsor-

6 SESSION WEEKLY / March 19, 1999 ing the bill, which calls for a statewide applica- tion form for all child-care programs. Cur- Attention getter rently, all 87 counties administer child-care funds and programs using separate applica- tion forms, making it difficult for officials to keep track of families in the system. In addition, the bill would set up penalties for people who intentionally commit child- care fraud. The first offense would result in a three-month suspension from child-care as- sistance, the second offense would result in a six-month suspension, and the third offense would deny assistance for two years. After a fourth offense, a person would be perma- nently ineligible to receive child-care assis- tance. Haley, whose program already investigates welfare fraud, said his investigators could start working on child-care fraud immediately af- ter the measure becomes law. He said the bill is a “necessary first step in child-care program integrity.” Rep. Carlos Mariani, right, keeps 9-month-old Mary Beth Little occupied as her mother, Gina, a Faribault resident, testifies March 17 before the House Family and Early Childhood Education Sykora said the $350,000 per year that would Finance Committee. Gina Little told the committee about the positive effects early childhood be spent to investigate child-care fraud would education programs have had for her and her children. allow programs to recoup much more than that in lost funds. She said she expects child- no numeric limit on the number of children care programs will continue to grow in Min- who could be cared for by an unlicensed CRIME nesota and that more money would be saved operation. in the long run under her bill. He said without a continuation of the 1997 The committee took no action on the bill, DWI bill stalls law, families would be out in the streets look- but it will consider the proposal for inclusion ing for child care. He estimated there are Members of the House Transportation Fi- in the omnibus family and early childhood between 12,000 and 16,000 legal unlicensed nance Committee rejected a bill March 17 that education finance bill. in-home day care operations in the state. would lower the blood-alcohol level at which The number of licensed facilities has been a driver can legally operate a motor vehicle. Unlicensed day care decreasing. The bill (HF1004), sponsored by Rep. Kevin Opponents argued that passing the bill Goodno (R-Moorhead), would cut the legal A bill that would extend legal unlicensed would lower standards for child care in the limit for drunkenness from 0.10 percent to day care in Minnesota ran into a nursery full of state. They said unlicensed facilities can be 0.08 percent. The lower limit would apply to opposition March 16, but the measure still operated by people who have not undergone a the operation of automobiles, off-road ve- managed to win approval form a House com- background check or completed safety and hicles, and motorboats. And the bill would mittee. health training. Also, unlicensed providers are apply the new limit to hunting with a firearm The proposal (HF802) would make perma- not required to be part of ongoing in-service or bow. nent the state authorization of certain unli- programs. Proponents argue that the proposed limit is censed day-care operations that the 1997 “None of us know it all,” said Rep. Mary reasonable and that it would result in a reduc- Legislature allowed on a temporary basis. Ellen Otremba (DFL-Long Prairie). tion in DWI-related fatalities. Opponents say Current law allows unlicensed day-care pro- Otremba, who has worked with preschool that the bill would focus law enforcement viders to take care of unrelated children if the education programs, said the state should be resources on social drinkers, while most prob- children are from no more than three other trying to increase the number of facilities lems are caused by chronic offenders. families; there are no more than four unre- under licensure, rather than sanctioning unli- According to the National Highway Trans- lated children; there are no more than two censed operations. portation Safety Administration, the average children under two years old; and there are no Rep. Darlene Luther (DFL-Brooklyn Park) male would have to drink four standard drinks more than five children being cared for at any noted that even kennels for boarding dogs are in an hour and the average female would have given time. licensed. to drink three standard drinks in an hour to Bill sponsor Rep. Fran Bradley (R- And Rep. Linda Wejcman (DFL-Mpls) said reach the 0.08-percent level. Rochester) told the House Health and Human that if the state is going to require mothers to A number of factors affect the body’s ability Services Policy Committee that the temporary work under welfare reform, it has a responsi- to process alcohol, including the duration of 1997 law was passed in response to concerns bility to assure day care operations are safe. drinking, weight, ingestion of food, and gen- about the availability of day care as more “It’s not hard to get a license,” said Rep. Bill der. A standard drink is a 12-ounce glass of parents moved into the labor force in the Haas (R-Champlin). “Would you go to an beer, a five-ounce glass of wine, or a one-and- aftermath of welfare reform. unlicensed doctor or dentist?” a-half-ounce shot of hard alcohol. He also said that previous to 1997 there was The bill goes to the House floor. Last year, separate versions of the DWI bill

March 19, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 7 passed the two bodies of the Legislature but Knoblach (R-St. Cloud), seeks to protect work- The measure will be considered by the House stalled in a conference committee as legisla- ers from the spread of blood-borne pathogens K-12 Education Finance Committee. tors struggled to work out the difference be- such as hepatitis and the HIV virus. tween the bills. It would allow corrections employees to The House version of the bill would have request that an inmate give a blood sample Dealing with disruptive kids lowered the standard for legal drunkenness in after the employee has had significant expo- A bill that would allow teachers more au- Minnesota from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent sure to the inmate. thority to remove disruptive students from for all drivers. The Senate version passed last If the inmate refuses to give the sample, the class was approved March 16 by the House year would have applied the lower limit only bill would provide for a process through which Education Policy Committee. to repeat DWI offenders. the corrections worker could obtain a court House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty (R- order to force the inmate to comply. Eagan) is sponsoring the bill (HF16), which is The test results would be private data to be supported by many education organizations released only for diagnosis and treatment of including the teachers union Education DNA from more offenders the employee. Penalties would be provided for Minnesota. unauthorized release of the test results. The list of crimes for which offenders are The bill would lower the standard for stu- The bill (HF741) now goes to the Senate. required to submit DNA samples would be dent behavior that constitutes grounds for expanded under a bill approved March 13 by dismissal or removal from the classroom. the House Crime Prevention Committee. Current law allows schools to dismiss stu- SCHOOL Current law requires only sex offenders to EDUCATION dents for conduct that “materially and sub- submit DNA samples to a statewide database stantially” interferes with other students’ rights kept by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Blocking porn on Web to an education or a teacher’s ability to teach. Apprehension. Such conduct can include carrying a weapon The bill would add several crimes not con- Lawmakers considered a bill March 16 that in school, but there is no clear-cut definition. sidered sex offenses to the list of crimes for would require all school and library comput- Pawlenty’s bill would clarify that conduct which offenders must submit samples. Those ers to have software filters that block children’s level as behavior that “significantly” affects crimes would include murder, assault, kid- access to pornography on the Internet. the classroom atmosphere. The provision napping, and burglary. The House Education Policy Committee would also extend beyond the classroom into Rep. Doug Fuller (R-Bemidji), sponsor of discussed the bill (HF923) but did not vote on any school function such as recess, a school the bill, said the proposal is an attempt to it. assembly, or a meeting in a principal’s office. gather information on offenders who commit The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Seifert (R- Pawlenty said his bill would put order into “predatory” crimes. Woodbury), would also require all school dis- the classroom and strengthen teachers’ abili- But Rep. Joe Mullery (DFL-Mpls) said the tricts to adopt Internet use policies. ties to manage their classrooms. bill represents an expansion into a sensitive Tom Prichard, president of the Minnesota “We can’t just focus on the rights of the area of privacy rights. He said the original law Family Council, said the bill’s goal is to protect disruptive students,” Pawlenty said. only authorized DNA samples for sex offend- children and it follows the same argument as But Rep. Matt Entenza (DFL-St. Paul) said ers because of the unique nature of the restricting children’s access to pornographic the bill is only symbolic in nature and it would evidence. magazines in stores. not have much of an effect on schools. “This bill totally changes the whole concept “With just a couple clicks of the mouse, Several groups cautioned lawmakers against of that,” he said. children are able to access the most vulgar, the bill, saying it would make it easier to kick Fuller said that keeping DNA on file is no perverse material imaginable,” Prichard said. students out of school, which would harm different than keeping fingerprints on file. Bob Meeks, director of governmental rela- them in the long run. “If a person doesn’t want their DNA taken, tions for the Minnesota School Boards Asso- Claudia Fuentes, a lobbyist with the Urban I suggest that they don’t commit these crimes,” ciation, said the bill is not necessary because Coalition, said lowering the threshold for dis- Fuller said. many schools already monitor Internet use missal would disproportionately affect stu- Frank Dolejsi, director of the forensic sci- and have adopted policies restricting access to dents of color and perpetuate racial biases in ence laboratory at the Bureau of Criminal pornographic material. schools. Apprehension, said that several states are tak- Judy Bull, a school media specialist in But Pawlenty said that if the bill does be- ing DNA samples from criminals other than St. Paul, said software filters only block words, come law, schools should not use it as a tool sex offenders. He said Virginia requires DNA not images. In addition, she said many of the against students. However, he said, the prob- samples from all convicted felons, which in- filters don’t work because they end up restrict- lem of disruptive students is a common com- cludes a much larger list of crimes than those ing access to legitimate World Wide Web sites. plaint from teachers. in Fuller’s bill. For example, a medical research site might “There are real issues affecting real people, The bill (HF1328) now goes to the House be restricted because it contains the word and we need to deal with them genuinely,” he Judiciary Finance Committee. “sex.” said. Bull said many of her students use Internet The bill moves to the House floor. search engines designed specially for children. Protecting prison guards The bill does not include an appropriation The House passed a bill March 15 that aims for schools to buy the blocking software. How- If you have Internet access, visit the to give corrections workers more protection ever, because the state would require schools Legislature’s web page at: on the job. The vote was 123-7. to purchase software, some lawmakers pressed http://www.leg.state.mn.us The measure, sponsored by Rep. Jim for state funding to support the initiative.

8 SESSION WEEKLY / March 19, 1999 option of having “a deeper, more committed Family Council, said that Minnesota’s no- ELECTIONS marriage.” fault divorce law makes divorce too easy. The bill would create a new type of marriage “It’s easier to get out of a 30-year marriage Initiative bill gains ground called a covenant marriage, and it would pro- than a $100 business deal,” Prichard said. vide procedures for entering into such an Prichard said that according to surveys done A bill that would allow citizens to directly arrangement. by his organization, two-thirds of married place on the ballot proposed changes in state Covenant marriages would differ from stan- adults say that marriage is weaker today than law or in the Minnesota Constitution was dard marriages in that they would be exempt 30 years ago and two-thirds of people who are approved March 10 by the House Ways and from the state’s no-fault divorce laws. divorced now say they wish they had tried Means Committee and March 17 by the House Under the bill, divorce in a covenant mar- harder to save their marriage. Rules Committee. riage would only be granted in cases of adul- Rep. Len Biernat (DFL-Mpls), a family law Under current law, only the Legislature, tery, abandonment, physical or sexual abuse, professor at Hamline University Law School, with the governor’s approval, can change laws or when a spouse has committed a felony-level said that the provisions dealing with manda- or put a constitutional amendment question crime and is incarcerated. tory premarital counseling are a good idea and on the ballot. Marital counseling would be required be- should be applied to all marriages. The bill (HF484) would place a constitu- fore couples could enter into the covenant But the current no-fault divorce laws are tional amendment on the ballot for the 2000 marriage, under the bill. working well and should be left alone, he said. general election that would allow voters to Chuck Shreffler of Minneapolis testified in “If two parties don’t want to remain mar- choose if they want the power of initiative and support of the bill. He said that his ex-wife and ried, why should the state stand in their way?” referendum. three children live in Colorado following his he said. Such a constitutional change would give no-fault divorce. He said the spouse seeking The bill (HF1571) now goes to the House citizens the ability to enact an initiative law, the divorce has the most leverage under cur- Judiciary Finance Committee. repeal an existing law, or put constitutional rent divorce laws. amendment questions on future ballots by “The person who is the least committed in filing a petition. the relationship has the most power,” he said, Grandparents’ rights Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-Eden Prairie), the bill’s “and I don’t think that’s right.” The House Civil Law Committee gave initial sponsor, said other states have similar initia- Shreffler said all marriages are lifelong com- approval March 17 to a bill that would expand tive and referendum laws, and he said those mitments and the covenant marriage would child visitation rights for grandparents. laws promote higher voter turnout and in- simply be “full disclosure” of that fact. The bill (HF764), sponsored by Rep. creased accountability of lawmakers. Tom Prichard, president of the Minnesota Under Paulsen’s plan, an initiative would Steve Smith (R-Mound), would eliminate cur- go on the ballot if a petition is signed by 5 rent restrictions on when a grandparent can percent of the number of voters who voted for Pine Point proposal be granted visitation rights to allow courts governor in the previous election. That thresh- more discretion in such cases. And the bill old would have to be met in three-quarters of would mandate mediation in cases where visi- the state’s congressional districts and on a tation by the grandparent is contested. statewide basis. And a constitutional amend- Smith said that the mediation process would ment question would go on the ballot if a take these important issues out of the “cold petition is signed by 8 percent of those voters. courtroom” and place them in a setting where The requirement regarding congressional compromises can be worked out between the districts is designed to make it difficult for an parties in dispute. initiative or referendum to be placed on the Muriel Hinich and Donna Zieska, co-direc- ballot without support from different regions tors of Grandparents Preserving Families, tes- of the state. tified in support of the bill. Opponents of initiative and referendum laws Hinich said that she hasn’t seen her 16- say that many measures are too complex to be year-old granddaughter for more than ten simply stated on a ballot and voted on without years. She said the notion of grandparents not the extensive information, deliberation, and participating in the lives of grandchildren debate that help lawmakers make decisions. would have been outrageous years ago. The bill now moves to the House floor. “God would strike you dead if you ever said it,” she said. “No child should lose their grand- parent while (the grandparent) is still alive.” FAMILY Zieska said she was involved in a six-year dispute over visitation with her grandchild Making marriage stick and was finally awarded visitation. “This would have never happened if we had Married couples or couples planning to wed positive mediation at the start,” she said. in Minnesota could opt to have a covenant But Stephen Arnott, an attorney with the marriage, under a bill approved March 13 by Ken Litzau, superintendent of schools on the White Earth Reservation, explains the need family law section of the Minnesota State Bar the House Civil Law Committee. for state aid to replace the Pine Point School Association, said that adding more visitation Bill sponsor Rep. Elaine Harder (R- during a March 17 meeting of the House K-12 Jackson) said her bill would give couples the Education Finance Committee.

March 19, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 9 GAME & FISH Hunting preserves approved A plan to allow a limited number of elk and deer farmers across the state to open fenced-in shooting preserves is progressing through the House, and with it comes a debate over the ethics of hunting versus the interests of the agricultural community. Farmed cervidae — the biological name for the family of animals including elk and deer — are currently raised on Minnesota farms for fiber, meat, animal byproducts, or as breed- ing stock. Rep. Mark Holsten (R-Stillwater) is spon- soring a bill (HF710) that would expand the permitted uses of farmed cervidae to include stocking them on 10 licensed shooting preserves. The House Environment and Natural Re- Donna Zieska, left, and Muriel Hinich, co-directors of Grandparents Preserving Families, testify in favor sources Policy Committee approved the mea- of a bill that would expand grandparent visitation rights. The women addressed the House Civil Law sure March 15. Committee on March 17. Shooting preserves would contribute mil- lions of dollars in feed and fencing purchases rights to parties other than the parents will Rep. Mike Osskopp (R-Lake City), sponsor to their local economies, elk farmer Larry result in increased litigation. of the bill (HF1281), said Canterbury Park is Winter told the committee. He said the current law does a good job of trying to compete against tracks in other states Winter, speaking on behalf of the Minne- balancing the interests of grandparents and that can offer higher purses due to proceeds sota Elk Breeders Association, said that an parents in these cases. The current law also from other forms of gambling. animal killed by a patron of a shooting pre- allows judges to use their own judgment on “The better horses go to Iowa, and that also serve would bring in 10 times the dollar value which cases to refer for mediation, he said, means horse farms go to Iowa,” he said. that slaughter would yield. unlike Smith’s bill, which would require it. Osskopp estimated that proceeds from a “We need to have something to do with our “Mediation is not the answer for all dis- card club would raise the purses at Canterbury aging bulls who are ready for slaughter,” he putes,” Arnott said. by about $2 million to $3 million annually. explained. “It’s something that’s going to keep The committee also gave approval to two The track’s purses are currently around $4 us alive instead of turning into a butcher additional bills, HF1787 and HF1646, dealing million, and purses at Prairie Meadows race- facility.” with child visitation for parties other than track in Iowa total about $15 million. Shooting preserve operators could charge parents. The committee also accepted an amend- up to $8,000 per animal or whatever the mar- HF1787, sponsored by Rep. Andy Dawkins ment offered by Rep. Michael Paymar (DFL- ket would support, Holsten said. (DFL-St. Paul), would allow court appointed St. Paul) that would allocate some of the “This is a value-added practice for the farm- guardians to petition judges to allow visita- proceeds of the card club to the commissioner ers,” he said. “When these animals’ ultimate tion for foster siblings. of health and human services for a program to purpose is to end up wrapped in a bag in the And HF1646, sponsored by Rep. help compulsive gamblers. freezer, what difference should it make how Lynda Boudreau (R-Faribault), would allow The committee did not act on a bill they get there?” other family members, such as adult siblings, (HF1374), sponsored by Rep. Mark Holsten Representatives from the Minnesota De- uncles, aunts, or cousins, to petition the courts (R-Stillwater), that would allow slot machines partment of Natural Resources, animal rights for visitation rights to the child. and blackjack at Canterbury Park. groups, and even some hunters — an unusual These bills now go to the House floor. But the lawmakers did approve a bill alliance — testified that shooting farm-raised, (HF686) that would allow dice games in bars. fenced-in animals is completely different from “This is already a legal activity,” said Rep. traditional hunting. GAMBLING Steve Dehler (R-St. Joseph) sponsor of that “This would be a canned hunt,” said Linda bill. Hatfield of the Humane Society of the United Gambling bills advance Under gambling statutes, a private, social States. “It is cruel, inhumane, and disrespect- bet is not considered illegal, he said. But under ful to the animal.” The House Governmental Operations and liquor statutes, dice are not allowed in bars. The state of Texas allows exotic species hunts Veterans Affairs Policy Committee approved Bar patrons often play dice games, such as of retired zoo animals, Hatfield said, and she two bills March 12 that would allow new forms “liar’s poker,” “500 rummy,” or “6-5-4” for fears cervidae shooting preserves would open of gambling in Minnesota. small stakes or to buy drinks, Dehler said. up the door for those activities in Minnesota. The first was a bill that would allow a card club Dehler’s bill and the measure proposing a “I am a hunter, I am a fisher, and I had a to operate at a Shakopee horse track and direct a card club at Canterbury Park now move to the venison hamburger for lunch,” said Tom share of the profits to increasing race purses. House floor.

10 SESSION WEEKLY / March 19, 1999 Meyers, a regional director for the Minnesota the time of the person’s death, under a law But minors can bypass the parental notifica- Conservation Federation. “My concern is the effective March 17. tion by receiving a judge’s permission. image that this paints of hunters in The measure, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Rep. Kevin Goodno (R-Moorhead), spon- Minnesota.” Ozment (R-Rosemount), allows a spouse who sor of the bill, said there is no good documen- Meyers questioned the ethics of advertised, is not covered as a dependent at the time of the tation to show how so-called “judicial pass guaranteed hunts, saying they would not pro- death — but was eligible or later became eli- through” is working, how often it is used, or vide fair chases. gible to be covered — to be a dependent on the what criteria judges use in granting their Wayne Edgerton, an official with the De- employer’s health plan. permission. partment of Natural Resources, said he op- A 1997 law provided health coverage to Goodno’s bill would establish a reporting poses the bill because of the potential negative officers and firefighters and their dependents, form that physicians would have to submit repercussions it could have upon the public’s because many who were disabled by duty- annually. The bill also specifies that the statis- perception of hunting, especially after a ma- related injuries were receiving pensions but tical data compiled from the reports would be jority of voters in the last election approved a were not eligible for health-care coverage. public and outlines a process by which con- constitutional amendment in support of tra- Sen. Randy Kelly (DFL-St. Paul) sponsored cerned citizens can sue the state to get access to ditional hunting. the legislation in the Senate. the report. The bill moves to the House Agriculture HF49*/SF162/CH12 “We have no idea how many minor girls are and Rural Development Finance Committee. going through the bypass,” said Jackie Schwietz, a spokeswoman for Minnesota Citi- HEALTH zens Concerned for Life. “That’s what we want to find out.” GOVERNMENT Goodno amended his bill to provide data Abortion information sought privacy protections for minors having abor- Keeping tabs on fees The House Civil Law Committee narrowly tions and for physicians who perform the State agencies would not be able to impose approved a bill March 15 that would establish procedures. or increase fees without legislative approval, a system for reporting data about certain mi- But some committee members expressed under a bill advanced March 16 by the House nors who receive abortions. The vote was 8-6. concern that the bill does not provide ad- State Government Finance Committee. The bill (HF377) would require physicians equate protection for the judges who rule on Under the measure, budget proposals for to report information, including age and race, such cases because the reports would provide each state agency would have to list proposed about minors who receive abortions after ob- information on specific counties and some fee changes or new fees, including admission taining a judge’s permission instead of paren- counties have only one judge. fees to state facilities and charges for goods, tal consent. The statistical data would become The bill, approved earlier by the House services, regulation, or licensure. public. Health and Human Services Policy Commit- Rep. Phil Krinkie (R-Shoreview), commit- Under current law, doctors are required to tee, now goes to the House Health and Human tee chair and sponsor of the bill (HF1471), notify parents or guardians at least 48 hours Services Finance Committee. said many fees are already in statute but that before performing an abortion on a minor. many are established through rules promul- gated by state agencies. The bill would enable the Legislature to review all of those fees. Suburban history Krinkie said the bill would help solve the problem of temporary fees becoming perma- nent or being used for purposes other than those for which the fees were originally intended. For example, Krinkie said, a fee for busi- nesses making Uniform Commercial Code transactions — which is collected by the secre- tary of state’s office —was originally intended to pay for computer upgrades but now goes into the general fund. The bill would not apply to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. The measure now moves to the House Ways and Means Committee.

Coverage for survivors

Dependents of peace officers and Don Wiegert, standing, a founding member of the Maplewood Area Historic Society, speaks firefighters who are killed in the March 17 before the House Jobs and Economic Development Finance Committee. The committee line of duty will continue to be was considering a bill that would provide funds to relocate historic farm buildings in Maplewood. Also on hand were Maplewood City Councilor Sherry Allenspach, left, bill sponsor Rep. Betty Signed eligible for health insurance cover- by the McCollum, second from right, and Robert Overbey, a member of the Maplewood Area Historical governor age, even if they are not covered at Society.

March 19, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 11 Tobacco money plans from the committee would provide some funds But the proposed resolution notes that for grants to help local anti-smoking initia- Minnesota’s lawsuit was based on business A proposal for spending the state’s windfall tives. issues, not health issues. It also would call on from 1998’s tobacco settlement was approved Goodno’s endowment plan now heads to Minnesota’s U.S. senators and representatives March 15 by the House Health and Human the House Governmental Operations and to support legislation — already introduced Services Policy Committee. Veterans Affairs Policy Committee. in Congress — that would prohibit federal The bill (HF1600) would establish four en- recovery of any state tobacco settlement pay- dowments with the money, an idea supported ments. by Gov. Jesse Ventura. Rep. Kevin Goodno Resolution says hands off Rep. Lee Greenfield (DFL-Mpls) expressed (R-Moorhead), sponsor of the bill, said about Some lawmakers believe the U.S. Congress concern the resolution could actually over- $1.3 billion total would be set aside under his should not be casting its eyes upon Minnesota’s state the case. And he said that can be more proposal. tobacco settlement money. damaging at times than understating the A Minnesota Families Foundation would The House passed a resolution March 15 argument. be created with $600 million; a medical educa- that aims to tell the federal government just Seifert disagreed and reminded Greenfield tion and research costs fund would be estab- that. The vote was 129-1. of the original grounds under which the case lished with $100 million; a health professional The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Jim was filed, alleging illegal business practices on education and medical research endowment Seifert (R-Woodbury), would remind federal the part of tobacco companies and not claim- would be founded with $350 million; and a officials that they were not part of Minnesota’s ing that their product was defective. local public health endowment fund of $260 suit and inform them that the federal govern- The measure (HF719/SF757*) goes to the million would be created. ment has no right to the money. governor. Debate on the bill centered around an The federal government has said it may be amendment — accepted by the committee — entitled to a portion of state tobacco settle- that would allow money from the medical Ambulance volunteers ments as repayment for its share of Medicaid education and research endowment to go to costs. Volunteer ambulance drivers in research activities that are conducted in non- Minnesota now have a precise defi- educational settings. Under the bill, those ac- nition in state law, under a new law tivities could be sponsored by any Breathing room effective March 16. Minnesota-based nonprofit organization. Signed by the The law defines ambulance driv- Rep. Lee Greenfield (DFL-Mpls) objected governor ers as volunteers, who as such are to that provision, saying the primary purpose not entitled to minimum wage and other work- of the endowment in his mind is to educate ers’ protections even if they receive some fi- medical personnel. nancial compensation for their services. The Both Greenfield and Rep. Thomas Huntley need for a definition grew out of a legal debate (DFL-Duluth) said Minnesota’s educational over wage and hour laws. facilities are the appropriate arena for research, Rep. Kevin Goodno (R-Moorhead) and Sen. and they reminded committee members that Dallas Sams (DFL-Staples) sponsored the about $80 million in federal support for those measure. facilities has been cut. HF214*/SF241/CH8 Greenfield said he opposed state funding for medical research because it is the purview of the federal government. Anything the state New purchasing plans could contribute would only be “chump change,” he said. Ambulance services will be allowed But Goodno said the bill doesn’t require to participate in shared service pur- money be given to entities not engaged in chasing arrangements for supplies, training medical personnel, it only affords Signed materials, and equipment, under a by the eligibility for those organizations. He added governor new state law effective Aug. 1. that there are entities other than the Univer- Supporters of the legislation said sity of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic that are ambulance services need more flexibility in doing research. approaching purchases, particularly of expen- Earlier this year, the committee approved a sive items such as vehicles. They also expressed separate measure that would dedicate tobacco concerns that pending changes in the way settlement revenue to eliminating the state’s federal programs reimburse ambulance ser- health-care provider tax. Stacy Enzmann, a fourth-grader at Crooked vices may have a negative financial impact. The committee also rejected a different en- Lake Elementary School in Andover, listens as Current state law requires government- her mother, Connie, testifies March 15 before owned ambulance services to let bids on equip- dowment plan earlier this session. That plan the House K-12 Education Finance Committee. was included in a bill (HF223), which is spon- Connie Enzmann told the committee how her ment costing over $25,000. The new law will sored by Rep. Peggy Leppik (R-Golden daughter had difficulty breathing while allow co-ops to purchase ambulances, the most Valley). The committee approved a heavily attending school before the building’s air costly expenditure an ambulance provider amended version of Leppik’s bill after it had intake system was improved. The committee faces. was hearing a bill that would create standard The law was signed March 16 by Gov. Jesse been stripped of the endowment-related pro- management procedures for such facilities. visions. The version of the bill that emerged Ventura.

12 SESSION WEEKLY / March 19, 1999 Rep. Gregory Davids (R-Preston) and Sen. this session for inclusion in the omnibus higher reduce the percentage of the expected contri- Jim Vickerman (DFL-Tracy) sponsored the education finance bill. bution on which the state’s student-aid grant legislation. calculation is based for independent students HF302*/SF579/CH13 and independent students with children. Helping part-timers The second part of the bill would change Protection for peer review A bill that would make college more afford- how grants are calculated for part-time stu- able for independent and part-time students dents. Right now, the state estimates the cost Ambulance services and first responders was considered March 15 in the House Higher of school attendance based upon the number would have the benefit of peer review under a Education Finance Committee. of credits a student is taking, and financial aid bill the House passed March 11. The vote Rep. Marty Seifert (R-Marshall) is sponsor- is reduced as the student takes less credits. was 129-0. ing the bill (HF1096), which addresses a grow- This often disqualifies students altogether from The proposal, sponsored by Rep. ing population of part-time and state grant eligibility because their cost of at- Greg Davids (R-Preston), would allow ambu- non-traditional students attending post- tendance is too low. lance services to consider controversial inci- secondary institutions. The bill would change that system by re- dents without being subject to discovery should “A lot of people today need to work to go to quiring the state to reduce grants proportion- a lawsuit arise. school, and that’s driving students into part- ately according to the full cost of attendance. Peer review is used extensively in a number time [school],” said Morrie Anderson, chan- Many part-time students would be able to of medical professions to find solutions and to cellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and receive state grant money or see their grant prevent further problems. In many cases, in- Universities system. dollars increase. formation exchanged in peer reviews is pro- Anderson told lawmakers that he supports The committee may consider Seifert’s bill tected from legal discovery. The idea is that the bill because it would help attract and re- for inclusion in the omnibus higher education the protection will allow a free discourse so tain part-time students, a trend of college finance bill. medical professionals can learn from each attendance he expects will continue. other’s experiences and improve service. “The system is clearly biased toward full- Allowing more state aid The bill would extend that peer review pro- time students, and I don’t know if that’s where tection to ambulance services and their we should be today,” he said. A bill that would allow some students to employees. Seifert’s bill has two parts. The first would receive financial aid increases was considered The bill (HF463) moves to the Senate. March 17 by the House Higher Education Finance Committee. Child care funding Rep. Lyndon Carlson (DFL-Crystal) is spon- HIGHER EDUCATION soring the legislation (HF1686). Last year, Congress increased the maximum amount of money college students can receive More aid for students under a federal Pell Grant from $2,700 to Students would be responsible for paying $3,000 per year. for a smaller share of their college education However, Minnesota students did not see when they receive state grants, under a pro- an increase because the state’s own grants to posal considered March 17 by the House students are based partly on how much a Higher Education Finance Committee. student is awarded in Pell Grant money. When Rep. John Tuma (R-Northfield) is sponsor- the Pell Grant amount increases, the state ing a bill (HF210) that would lower to grant amount decreases, so the student re- 40 percent the amount a post-secondary stu- ceives the same amount of aid. dent is expected to contribute to his or her The bill would cap at $3,000 the Pell amount education. on which the state bases its own grant adjust- Under current law, students who apply for ment. The cap would not allow students to state grants are expected to come up with realize more aid now, but in the case of expected 47 percent of their educational costs. The re- federal increases in Pell amounts, it would allow maining 53 percent is made up by federal and students granted more than $3,000 to continue state grants and other sources to receive maximum state aid as well. Tuma said the cost of college has risen well Carlson said his bill would allow the needi- past the rate of inflation and that his bill is a est students to receive Pell Grant increases. He step toward keeping students’ costs down. said these students were the target of the fed- His is not the only proposal calling for eral increases in the first place. lowering the student share. On March 17, the The committee is expected to consider the committee also discussed a bill sponsored by bill for inclusion in the omnibus higher edu- Rep. Julie Storm (R-St. Peter) that would lower cation finance bill. Amal Yusef testified for the Somali Women’s the student’s expected contribution to 45 per- Association on behalf of a bill calling for cent. That bill (HF1363) originated from a funding child care for African immigrants and To find out who represents you request from the state’s Higher Education Ser- refugees during a March 15 hearing of the at the Capitol . . . vices Office, which doles out the grants. House Family and Early Childhood Education Call the House Public Information The committee may consider the bills again Finance Committee. Office at (651) 296-2146

March 19, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 13 also necessary, Ainsworth said. Her sons have The bill (HF928), sponsored by Rep. Tom HUMAN SERVICES learned sign language, and they are learning Hackbarth (R-Cedar), would require the English language, including reading and snowmobilers to buy a $10 sticker to use metal Law expands eligibility writing. traction devices, or studs. A 1997 law prohibits Ainsworth said people who have lost their using the studs on paved public trails, and pro- A new state law will make it easier hearing and then received cochlear implants ceeds from the $10 fee would be used to repair for people with developmental dis- say the quality of sound produced by the de- damage to those trails caused by illegal stud use. abilities to access the Consumer vices is similar to people talking underwater. How much will it cost to repair the damage? Support Program operated by the Signed That plus the fact that her sons could not hear Dennis Asmussen, an official from the Trails by the Department of Human Services. governor before receiving the implants makes the and Waterways Division of the Department of Effective March 16, the new law therapy and training necessary, she said. Natural Resources, said he is confident in the eliminates an income cap for participation in “They are so normal, but they work really, department’s $1.5-million damage estimate. the program. really hard just to live their lives,” she said. Department staff surveyed the damage last Under prior law, people were ineligible for She suggested that people try watching tele- summer and projected the costs at $15,000 per the program if their income was equal to or vision with the volume turned down and then mile for a 1-inch pavement overlay. The state more than the level at which they would be imagine similar barriers to every conversation has a total of 200 miles of paved trails, and required to pay a parental fee for medical throughout the day. about 100 miles have been damaged by snow- assistance services and county social services. The bill would require coverage of surgical mobiles with studs. (That would translate to an income level that costs and other expenses related to cochlear However, local and county governments is the lesser of 150 percent of the federal pov- implants. have built an additional 100 miles of paved erty guidelines or $30,000 annually.) The bill (HF186) now moves to the House trails. Representatives of the Minnesota Asso- The program is generally used to pay for in- floor. ciation of Counties estimate the costs of re- home support services received by qualifying pairing the damage to those trails at $20,000 individuals. per mile, because some areas will require a 1.5- Rep. Jerry Dempsey (R-Hastings) and Sen. LAW inch overlay. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing) sponsored Rep. Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) said that esti- the new measure. Real estate rewrite mate is too high. Bakk said that the engineer HF356/SF73*/CH10 who designed the Mesabi Trail in northern Gov. Jesse Ventura signed a law Minnesota gave an estimate of $5,000 per mile March 15 that makes several tech- for an overlay and $15,000 per mile to build a INSURANCE nical changes to the state’s new trail.

Signed real estate laws. The state already has some money to pay for by the Coverage for ear implants governor Among other things, the measure trail repairs. A 1998 law required snowmobilers eliminates the requirement that to buy a $50 sticker to use studs on their A bill that would require health insurers owners of registered land have an owner’s snowmobiles, but that law was repealed and health maintenance organizations to cover duplicate certificate of title in order sell the March 4. Asmussen said $754,000 had been costs related to an implant device that helps land. collected from sales of the $50 stickers as of people hear was approved March 16 by the The law also makes several minor changes March 11. House Commerce Committee. to the Common Interest Ownership Act gov- The state Department of Revenue estimates Rep. Greg Davids (R-Preston), chair of the erning housing cooperatives and condomini- the $10 sticker will generate about $800,000 committee, said he usually opposes mandates ums. Most provisions of the new law are per year. on the insurance industry but that he changed effective Aug. 1. Rep. Tom Osthoff (DFL-St. Paul) ques- his mind on this bill after hearing the testi- The changes were recommended by the real tioned the philosophy of the bill, because it mony of Julie Ainsworth. Two of Ainsworth’s property section of the Minnesota State Bar would make law-abiding snowmobilers pay three sons were born deaf but can hear with Association. for damage caused by lawbreakers. the help of cochlear implants. Rep. Jim Seifert (R-Woodbury) and Sen. “Instead of paying for more (conservation The implant is connected to an external David Knutson (R-Burnsville) sponsored the officers) to enforce the laws, we’re paying to microphone and miniature computer that measure. fix the blacktop every year,” he said. transmits sounds to the auditory nerve, by- HF382/SF343*/CH11 The bill now moves to the House Ways and passing the damaged inner ear. Means Committee. While some insurance plans cover costs of cochlear implant surgery, most plans do not SPORTS cover post-operative expenses such as speech therapy or implant maintenance, said Rep. TAXES Harry Mares (R-White Bear Lake), sponsor of Snowmobile stud solution the bill. A bill that would help pay for snowmobile- Ventura’s tax plan Ainsworth estimated that the surgery costs stud damage to public paved trails was ap- A bill containing key portions of Gov. Jesse about $40,000 to $50,000. But each part of the proved March 17 by the House Environment implant is fragile, and they often need to be Ventura’s tax-relief proposal for the coming and Natural Resources Finance Committee. biennium drew cheers and jeers March 16 repaired or replaced, which also costs thou- However, committee members disagreed sands of dollars. from the House Taxes Committee. on how much money it will take to repair the The bill (HF890), sponsored by Rep. Speech therapy and auditory training are damage.

14 SESSION WEEKLY / March 19, 1999 Ron Abrams (R-Minnetonka) outlines Help for flooded cities “unrealistic” fiscal note provided by the De- Ventura’s plans for tax cuts, tax discounts, partment of Revenue. farm assistance, and simplifying the state’s tax It was two years ago that flooding in the Red As a result, the program hasn’t worked as code. River Valley caused millions of dollars in dam- well as it should. Goodno said the exact details The one-time discount proposals drew fire age. The high waters have gone away, but the of how the additional revenue would be ac- from both sides of the aisle. affected cities are still struggling to recover counted for haven’t been dealt with. “Why so leery of permanent tax reduc- financially. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion tions?” Rep. Ann H. Rest (DFL-New Hope) To help the process, Rep. Kevin Goodno in the omnibus tax bill. asked Department of Revenue Commissioner (R-Moorhead) is sponsoring two bills that would allow more money for and latitude in Matt Smith. An affordable option The governor’s proposal calls for an average existing programs. 6.75-percent cut in individual income tax, The first measure (HF1143) would provide Owners of manufactured housing parks in targeted to working middle-income families $1.5 million in additional border city enter- Minnesota claim they are providing much- and toward fixing the so-called “marriage prise zone credits for Breckenridge, Dilworth, needed affordable housing and that they ought penalty.” East Grand Forks, and Moorhead. The credits to pay less in taxes. Also included are proposed one-time in- can be used to reduce any tax to retain existing That was the gist of March 15 testimony come tax discounts of 3 percent in tax year or attract new businesses. before the Property Tax Division of the House 1999 and 1.5 percent in 2000. The second bill (HF1133) would allow those Taxes Committee in favor of a bill that would “How many years do we have to have a cities and Ortonville to exceed the maximum decrease the class rate on manufactured home surplus before we say, ‘This is what we will tax statutory dollar limits established in 1998 on parks from 2 percent to 1 percent. and no higher’?” Rest asked. “Enough is tax reductions for development projects. The bill (HF1313) is sponsored by Rep. enough.” Goodno told the House Taxes Committee Julie Storm (R-St. Peter). She said the hesitation to make permanent March 15 that enterprise zone credits are Steve Riegert, owner of Camelot Park in cuts year after year has made the Legislature needed to help the cities battle back from North Mankato, said the tax break is needed look ridiculous. flood damage and to fight off competition for to help keep lot rent rates down. He also said Abrams said he shares those concerns, but new industry and jobs coming from that it is inherently unfair for residents of a that the plan was a result of the governor’s North Dakota and South Dakota. home across the street from the park to pay advisers being “super-cautious.” He said the competitiveness issue existed less than his tenants, noting that the park pays Smith said that was the case because “the prior to the flood but has grown worse in a disproportionate share of costs for infra- governor has to be there when things go south.” recent months. structure services. And Rep. Myron Orfield (DFL-Mpls) said He also said the 1998 law addressing tax Several committee members expressed con- he believes caution is a good thing because the reductions for development projects was cern that the tax break might be used to line economy tends to go through cycles. capped at just under $2 million because of an the pockets of park owners while lot rents “Prudence is not a bad thing,” he said. remained unchanged and improvements went Rep. Kris Hasskamp (DFL-Crosby) said she St. Patrick’s Day song uncompleted. supports the governor’s proposal to lower the Storm said her bill would require half of the passenger automobile registration tax and savings to be used for investment in capital supports his plan to eliminate the June accel- improvements or for direct assistance to erated payment for sales tax paid by busi- homeowners for home improvements. nesses. The measure was laid over for possible in- Other concerns were expressed that the clusion in the omnibus tax bill. governor’s plan to help agriculture has be- Storm’s bill is similar to a proposal dis- come a political game of one-upping. Ventura cussed earlier this session and sponsored by had originally proposed spending $10 million Rep. Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar). Hackbarth’s for farm relief, but he has since amended that bill (HF1064) includes a provision that would to $60 million,with another $20 million annu- replace lost revenue in impacted cities with ally over the next three years. over $7 million in Home and Agriculture Rep. Bill Kuisle (R-Rochester), who is spon- Credit Aid from state coffers during the next soring the farm support plan favored by the biennium. House Republican caucus to provide assis- tance to all farmers, said the governor’s plan to target certain farmers he considers needy is Power company seeks break dividing the agricultural community. Two powerful forces intersect on the quiet Smith said no aid formula is going to be prairie of Lakefield Junction in southeastern perfect, but he added that not all farmers are in Minnesota — a 42-inch natural gas pipeline the same financial shape and that’s why the and a 345-kilovolt high-voltage electric trans- governor believes the money should be Tom Jung of Hastings performs a St. Patrick’s mission line. Day rendition of “An Irish Lullaby.” Jung, who targeted. That means it’s considered an ideal location The bill was laid over for possible inclusion works as an assistant captain in the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Office, led both Irish and for a gas-fired peak electricity generating in the omnibus tax bill. non-Irish lawmakers and staff in the sing- facility. along March 17 in the House chamber. A Nebraska company hoping to develop the

March 19, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 15 facility outlined its plan March 16 before the school districts with a state appropriation underway, and the historical society wants to House Taxes Committee, which heard a bill through the K-12 education budget. name the prairie in the author’s honor. (HF887) that would exempt the facility from Mulder called it a permanent tax cut for farm- The Ingalls family did not live in the Roch- paying property taxes. ers and said it is essential to preserve small ester area, but Pa Ingalls once worked in Robert Knudsen, general manager for busi- farmers and the communities around them. Olmsted County. And Laura Ingalls Wilder is ness development of Tenaska Inc. of Omaha, Keith Eitreim, a board member of the known to have traveled through the city many Neb., said the project will help address an Pipestone-Jasper School District in the south- times on her trips to neighboring states. expected nationwide energy shortfall in the western corner of the state, told the commit- Rep. Bill Kuisle (R-Rochester) and Sen. next decade. tee that voters in his district already turned Kenric Scheevel (R-Preston) sponsored the His company’s facility would use six gas down a $23.5 million bond proposal and a measure. turbines to provide electricity to utilities similar plan is on the ballot April 13. HF157*/SF379/CH16 throughout the Midwest to help them meet Eitreim said the district’s high school was peak demands. built in 1917, doesn’t meet code, and isn’t He said without the tax break, the project upgradable. He said the dilemma is particu- TRANSPORTATION probably wouldn’t be economically feasible, larly tough for him because he’s a banker as and the company may be forced to look at well as a school board member. Plan to scrap tests what he said are less ideal sites in Iowa or in “I know my farmers can’t afford to pay another state with a more friendly tax outlook. more, yet I know we have to protect the quality A bill that would repeal the state’s motor The project would mean an additional of education in our district,” Eitreim said. vehicle emission testing program is headed to $575,000 annually to coffers of Martin County While most on the panel were sympathetic the House floor after being modified and ap- and the city of Trimont, according to the bill’s to the district’s plight, several noted that it proved March 12 by the House Environment sponsor, Rep. Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont). isn’t only farmers who are feeling the crunch. and Natural Resources Finance Committee. The project would generate only three addi- Rep. Bob Milbert (DFL-South St. Paul) said The bill (HF7) originally called for elimi- tional jobs on an intermittent basis, but that when a bonding proposal appears on the nating the testing requirements July 1, 2000, Knudsen said Martin County and the state ballot in his school district, it’s the senior but under an amendment offered by the would benefit from 150 construction jobs over citizens that get hammered. He suggested a proposal’s sponsor, Rep. Barb Haake (R- a two-year period and the long-term business better solution might be to unlink property Mounds View), the date was moved ahead six impact in communities across the area. taxes and education finance. months to Jan. 1, 2000. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion Mulder agreed, adding that education fund- Haake said the earlier date would be most in the omnibus tax bill. ing should mirror the economy and that in- prudent for taxpayers, and that it became come tax is the appropriate funding source. feasible after the Minnesota Pollution Control Mulder said until more sweeping reforms Agency said it expects the Twin Cities will be Farm property taxes are enacted, he wants to see farmers receive in compliance for carbon monoxide levels by Financially strapped farmers often can’t help immediately, with an eye toward solving that time. shoulder additional tax burdens, so when ru- problems both for farmers and educators in The testing program was signed into law in ral Minnesota school districts ask voters for the future. 1988 by then-Gov. Rudy Perpich. It was cre- more money to build facilities, they’re often The bill was laid over for possible inclusion ated in response to a U.S. Environmental Pro- turned down. in the omnibus tax bill. tection Agency finding that the seven-county That sets up a battle in many of those com- metro area’s carbon monoxide level exceeded federal and state standards. The program went munities, with city residents accusing farmers TOURISM of being anti-education. Farmers counter that into effect in mid-1991 for all vehicles built after 1976. they’re as much for education as anyone, but The Wilder way they simply can’t afford to pay the large assess- In 1995, then-Gov. Arne Carlson signed a bill that exempted new cars up to five years old ments on their agricultural property the bond A road named after one of from emissions testing. That measure cut by issues bring with them. Minnesota’s most famous authors one-third the number of vehicles required to “Total farm income was at a 17-percent net is changing its route, under a new undergo inspection each year. loss last year,” Rep. Richard Mulder (R- law signed by Gov. Jesse Ventura. Signed Emissions inspections cost $8 per vehicle Ivanhoe) told the Property Tax Division of the by the Effective March 19, the Laura governor and are assessed as part of vehicle registration. House Taxes Committee March 15. “The farm- Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway Gov. Jesse Ventura’s biennial budget pro- ers are losing money and being taxed on their near Rochester is able to be rerouted from a posal also calls for the repeal of the emissions losses.” U.S. highway to a county highway. inspection program, contingent upon federal Mulder is sponsoring a bill (HF401) that Currently the specially designated route runs approval of air quality standards approval. would exempt agricultural homestead prop- through a mostly commercial area on heavily Under the governor’s budget, the program erty of up to 320 acres from all school district traveled U.S. highways 14 and 52. After the would be repealed as of Aug. 1. taxes, except for the portion of the tax for the reroute, it will use a county road and pass by house, garage, and surrounding one acre of the Olmsted County Historical Society, which land. To be eligible for the exemption, the is planning to develop exhibits about the famed For an unofficial list of Minnesota owner would have to actively farm the prop- pioneer author. commissioners and appointed agency erty and derive at least $30,000 in income The historical center has a log cabin that heads on the World Wide Web go to: from farming. resembles one in which the Ingalls family lived. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/ The bill would replace the money lost to Plans for a prairie restoration project are comm.htm

16 SESSION WEEKLY / March 19, 1999 Sane lanes saved She said it reduces the traffic going into the Parking cheats targeted Lowry Hill tunnel. Lawmakers on the House Transportation Several suburban bus company representa- A bill that would enhance law enforcement Policy Committee rejected a chance March 16 tives also argued against the bill, saying the officials’ ability to crack down on handicapped to put an end to controversial metro-area lanes allow buses to make quick trips, which parking violators was considered March 15 by “sane” lanes. attracts commuters. the House Transportation Finance Committee. Sane lanes, otherwise known as high-occu- Beverley Miller, a staff member at the Min- Rep. Joe Opatz (DFL-St. Cloud) is sponsor- pancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, operate on two nesota Valley Transit Authority, said bus rid- ing the bill (HF1053). heavily traveled highways in the metro area. ership has increased 7.5 percent in the I-35W The bill would repeal a $1 per month credit One runs on Interstate 35W between corridor with the help of the HOV lane. Elimi- on registration taxes for vehicles with disabil- Lakeville and Bloomington, and the other runs nating the lane would hurt bus service, she ity plates, thus bringing in $644,976 in high- on Interstate 394 between St. Louis Park and said. way funding over the next two years. downtown Minneapolis. With an estimated population growth of That money would pay for a computer net- Rep. Doug Reuter’s proposal (HF367) 650,000 by 2020, some lawmakers expressed work to list names of anybody holding a dis- would have eliminated those designated lanes, concern that shutting down HOV lanes would ability parking certificate. Currently, law in which carpools and buses travel during give people the wrong message about promot- enforcement officials have no way of tracking peak traffic hours. ing mass transit. in a timely manner who might be using a Reuter (R-Owatonna) said he thinks the “If we believe that we’re heading in the right counterfeit, expired, or stolen handicapped lanes are not being used to their expected direction, then I don’t believe we can block off parking hang tag. capacity. He said drivers of single-occupancy access to those HOV lanes,” said Rep. The new system would cost about $140,000 vehicles who see an empty lane while sitting in Carol Molnau (R-Chaska). to set up and would allow officials to obtain rush-hour traffic are motivated to break the the information 24 hours a day. The bill would law and use the HOV lane. also tighten up the process by which disability “I just think it’s time to admit that some- Ramp meters find support certificates are issued. thing isn’t working and correct it,” Reuter The committee did not take any action on A plan to study metered freeway ramps was said. the bill, but lawmakers will consider including rejected March 16 by the House Transporta- But Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL- it in this year’s omnibus transportation fi- tion Policy Committee. Mpls) said the HOV lane on I-394 does work. nance bill. Rep. Doug Reuter (R-Owatonna) is spon- soring the bill (HF442) that would shut down all meters on freeway ramps for one month to City limits on speed look at how meters affect traffic flow. “They may work and they may not work,” A bill that would let cities set their own he said. “But we don’t know yet.” speed limits was approved March 18 by the Reuter said he thinks too many people abuse House Transportation Policy Committee. the meter system and that the money would be The bill (HF1196) is sponsored by Rep. better spent on road or bridge repair. Henry Todd Van Dellen (R-Plymouth) and is Many lawmakers on the committee dis- similar to a plan that stalled on the House agreed and said they have not heard from floor last year. many constituents requesting the meter study. Under Van Dellen’s proposal, all cities and But Rep. Dan Larson (DFL-Bloomington) towns would be able to set their own speed said his constituents have expressed frustra- limits on residential and other local streets. It tion regarding drivers who don’t abide by the would only apply to roads over which cities meter system. have jurisdiction. “The people in my district would probably Van Dellen said the bill would give author- support life without parole for the violators,” ity to cities to set lower speed limits in certain Larson said. residential areas or potentially dangerous Glen Carlson, manager of the Traffic Man- routes. agement Center in the Department of Trans- Under current law, city streets have a speed portation, said the 400 existing metered ramps limit of 30 miles per hour, and cities can apply cost about $2.5 million and are proven safety to the Minnesota Department of Transporta- devices. tion to have the limits lowered. “The problem is we don’t have enough free- Some lawmakers opposed the bill, saying way capacity,” Carlson said. “The ramp meters that differing speeds on county and city roads Glen Carlson, an engineer with the Minnesota are not the problem.” could confuse motorists and create speed traps. Department of Transportation’s Traffic Rep. Carol Molnau (R-Chaska) also ob- But Rep. Len Biernat (DFL-Mpls) supported Management Center in Minneapolis, testified jected to the study because of safety concerns. the measure. He said many streets in Minne- against a pair of bills that would eliminate the She said the meters provide protection against apolis have cars parked on both sides and the “sane” lanes on interstates 35W and 394, and city should have the authority to lower limits require a study of freeway ramp lights in the metro accidents and help relieve some congestion on in those areas to ensure traffic safety. area. Both bills were rejected by the House freeways that already have limited capacities. Transportation Policy Committee. “I have a difficulty even thinking of turning The bill moves to the House floor. these (meters) off,” she said.

March 19, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 17 Abortion debate . . . Bills may ban certain procedure, require waiting period By Paul Wahl cians could find themselves forced to choose A pair of controversial abor- between what’s legal and what’s best for a tion-related bills advanced patient if the bill passes. She said that as far as through two House panels she knows, the procedure is not performed in March 16 and 17 and are Minnesota. headed for more committee In fact, just how often the late-term abor- debate. tions are performed remains unclear. Mulder Both proposals sparked pas- said there is no exact known number, but in a sionate debate, but perhaps the most emo- recent court case in New Jersey, witnesses said tional testimony came on behalf of a measure about 1,500 had been performed in that state that would ban so-called “partial-birth” or in one year. late-term abortions. The same two House committees also ap- Lawmakers and others are so divided on the Rep. Richard Mulder presents his controversial plan proved a second bill (HF178) relating to abor- issue that they can’t even agree on an exact to ban late-term abortions, which won approval tion during the same hearings. from two key House committees March 16 and 17. definition of the medical procedure targeted Mulder is shown here in March 16 testimony before Under the proposal, sponsored by Rep. by the proposal. the House Health and Human Services Policy Lynda Boudreau (R-Faribault), a woman The bill (HF177), sponsored by Rep. Rich- Committee. would be prohibited from receiving an abor- ard Mulder (R-Ivanhoe), uses the term “par- tion unless she voluntarily provides informed approved by the Congress, but it was vetoed tial-birth” to describe certain late-term consent to the procedure. by President Bill Clinton in 1997, essentially abortions. But opponents of the bill use the To be informed, the woman would have to leaving the matter up to individual states. phrase “intact dilation and extraction” to re- receive specific information at least 24 hours Since then, 25 states have adopted bans. The fer to the same procedure. prior to the procedure. laws have been challenged in 18 of those states. Mulder’s bill would provide civil and crimi- The information would have to detail the Only South Dakota, Mississippi, Indiana, Ten- nal penalties for performing such abortions. medical risks associated with abortion, risks nessee, Virginia, Oklahoma, and South Caro- Under the proposal, a woman receiving an related to carrying the fetus to term, the prob- lina have bans on the books that have not been illegal late-term abortion, her spouse, and, if able age of the fetus, the likelihood that the challenged. she is under 18, her parents, could sue doctors mother could qualify for medical assistance But Mulder said his bill would not violate to recover psychological and physical dam- should she have the child, and how the father the Roe vs. Wade ruling because it does not ages resulting from the procedure. Perform- could be legally forced to help support her and apply to most abortions. He said that 90 per- ing such abortions would also be a felony the child. cent or more of so-called “partial-birth” abor- offense, punishable by up to two years in The bill would also establish civil penalties tions are performed in the fifth and sixth prison plus fines. for any woman, and for the parents of a minor month of pregnancy and often when the And the procedure would remain legal only woman, who has an abortion without informed mother and baby are in good health. in cases necessary to save the life of the mother. consent. “My bill bans a procedure,” Mulder told The House Health and Human Services Informed consent would not be required in members of the civil law panel. “It does not Policy Committee approved the measure medical emergency situations. ban abortions. The procedure is never March 16 and the House Civil Law Commit- A 1998 omnibus health and human services necessary.” tee gave its approval March 17. Both commit- bill that included a ban on “partial-birth” Exceptions to the proposed ban were a stick- tees rejected amendments that would have abortions passed the House, but the ban did ing point for many as well. Supporters of eliminated the criminal penalties and ex- not make it out of a House-Senate conference Mulder’s bill said that proposed amendments panded exceptions to the ban to include pre- committee. And although 75 House members to expand the exceptions only clouded the serving the health or fertility of the mother or had said they would not support a final omni- issue. when there is proof of severe fetal anomalies. bus bill without the ban, the last-minute addi- Rep. Bill Haas (R-Champlin) said additional Rep. Lee Greenfield (DFL-Mpls) offered tion of abortion-reporting requirements language offered by Greenfield to allow the pro- one such amendment in the health and hu- helped the bill win final passage. cedures in order to “preserve the fertility of the man services committee and Rep. Wes A law requiring doctors and medical facili- female” sounded like a medical loophole. Skoglund (DFL-Mpls) offered a similar one ties to provide the state with information con- “Exactly how do you document that?” Haas before the civil law panel. cerning abortions performed went into effect asked. Both Greenfield and Skoglund argued that July 1, 1998. But Connie Perpich, an official from as drafted, Mulder’s bill would be unconstitu- HF177 moves to the House Crime Preven- Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, said that tional, saying that similar laws have been struck tion Committee, and HF178 goes to the House her group’s concern is that without the ex- down in other states. Health and Human Services Finance Com- panded language, a woman’s doctor would be The U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade mittee. prevented from using a full range of medical decision protecting abortion rights remains services in tending to health care needs. the country’s highest ruling concerning abor- Jeri Rasmussen, a member of the board of tion. A ban on late-term abortions was the National Abortion Federation, said physi-

18 SESSION WEEKLY / March 19, 1999 Tracking the Bills . . . Jan. 5 - March 18, 1998

CH1-CH17

Bills await governor’s action doesn’t sign the bill within this time frame, it The governor’s veto authority is outlined will become law with or without his signa- in the Minnesota Constitution (Article IV, Once a bill has passed both the House and ture. (Sundays are not counted in the three- Section 23). the Senate in identical form, it’s ready to be day time limit, but holidays are.) sent to the governor for consideration. The Only on appropriations bills can the gov- Internet access to this information is avail- governor has several options when consid- ernor exercise the line-item veto authority. able at: ering a bill. The governor can: This option allows the governor to eliminate http://www.mainserver.state.mn.us/ • sign the bill and it will become law; the appropriation items to which he objects. governor/ • veto the bill; As with all vetoes, the governor must include (select “It’s a New Day” and then click on • line-item veto individual items within an a statement listing the reasons for the veto “Legislative Logs”) appropriations bill; or with the returned bill. Here, too, the time- • do nothing, which results in the bill be- table is within three days after the governor Key: coming law in the first year of the biennium. receives the bill. CH=Chapter; HF=House File; SF=Senate File The timing of these actions is as significant A two-thirds vote of the members in each as the actions themselves. house is needed to override a veto. But be- In the first year of the biennium, the cause only the governor can call a special important thing to remember is that the session of the Legislature, anything vetoed governor has three days from the time of after the Legislature adjourns is history — at “presentment” to veto a bill. If the governor least until the next year.

CHHF SF Description Signed Vetoed

1 88 139* Campaign finance and public disclosure board member qualifications specified 2/17/99 2 29 26* Mississippi education center previous grantee changed to the city of Grand Rapids, and condition imposed 2/17/99 3 107 133* Minneapolis and St. Paul residency requirements repealed 3/4/99

4 40 6* Snowmobile metal traction device use restrictions modified and recreational vehicle rulemaking authority modified 3/4/99 5 121* 171 Health related licensing board licensees infection control 3/8/99 6 424* 370 Nonregistered pesticide distribution permitted for certain uses outside the state 3/8/99

7 324 248* Crooked Lake detached banking facility 3/15/99 8 241 214* Emergency medical services volunteer ambulance attendant definition 3/15/99 9 464* 536 Carisoprodol classification as controlled substance effective date delay 3/15/99

10 73* 356 Consumer support progam for persons with functional limitations financial eligibility criteria modification 3/15/99 11 343* 382 Real estate provisions modifications 3/15/99 12 162 49* Peace officers or firefighters killed in line of duty spouse health insurance coverage 3/16/99

13 579 302* Ambulance services shared service purchasing 3/16/99 14 301* 74 Health care directive form modification 3/16/99 15 416 453* Minneapolis skilled workers and apprentices deferred compensation plan participation 3/18/99

16 379 157* Laura Ingalls Wilder historic highway route modification 3/18/99 17 564 454* Nursing home administrators sharing authority expansion 3/18/99

*The legislative bill marked with an asterisk denotes the file submitted to the governor.

XXXXX XX, 199X / SESSION WEEKLY 19 Minnesota’s Congressional Delegation U.S. Senators Senator Senator P.O. Box 281 Rod Grams (R) Paul Wellstone (DFL) 105 S. Second Ave. 2013 Second Ave. N. 2550 University Ave. W. Virginia, MN 55792 Anoka, MN 55303 Suite 100 North (218) 741-1074 (612) 427-5921 St. Paul, MN 55114 Fax: (218) 741-8544 Fax: (612) 427-8872 (651) 645-0323 Fax: (651) 645-0704 136 Hart Senate Office Building 257 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510-2303 Washington, D.C. 20510 417 W. Litchfield Ave. (202) 224-5641 (202) 224-3244 Willmar, MN 56201 Fax: (202) 224-8438 Fax: (202) 228-0956 (320) 231-0001 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Fax: (320) 231-0006 Web site: http://www.senate.gov/~wellstone Web site: http://www.senate.gov/~grams

U.S. Representatives

First District Third District Sixth District Eighth District Gil Gutknecht (R) Jim Ramstad (R) William P. Luther (DFL) James L. Oberstar (DFL) 1530 Greenview Drive S.W. 8120 Penn Ave. S. 1811 Weir Drive 231 Federal Building Suite 108 Suite 152 Suite 150 Duluth, MN 55802 Rochester, MN 55902 Bloomington, MN 55431 Woodbury, MN 55125 (218) 727-7474 (507) 252-9841 (612) 881-4600 (651) 730-4949 Fax: (218) 727-8270 1-800-862-8632 Fax: (612) 881-1943 Fax: (651) 730-0507 Fax: (507) 252-9915 Brainerd City Hall 103 Cannon House 117 Cannon House 501 Laurel St. 425 Cannon House Office Building Office Building Brainerd, MN 56401 Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20515 (218) 828-4400 Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-2871 (202) 225-2271 Fax: (218) 828-1412 (202) 225-2472 Fax: (202) 225-6351 Fax: (202) 225-3368 Fax: (202) 225-3246 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Elk River City Hall E-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.house.gov/ Web site: http://www.house.gov/ 13065 Orono Parkway Web site: http://www.house.gov/ ramstad/ luther/ Elk River, MN 55330 gutknecht/ (612) 241-0188 Fourth District Seventh District Fax: (612) 241-0233 Second District Bruce F. Vento (DFL) Collin Peterson (DFL) David Minge (DFL) Galtier Plaza, Box 100 714 Lake Ave. Chisholm City Hall 542 First St. S. 175 E. Fifth St. Suite 107 316 Lake St. Montevideo, MN 56265 Room 727 Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 Chisholm, MN 55719 (320) 269-9311 St. Paul, MN 55101-2901 (218) 847-5056 (218) 254-5761 Fax: (320) 269-8651 (651) 224-4503 Fax: (218) 847-5109 Fax: (218) 254-5132 Fax: (651) 224-0575 205 E. Fourth St. Minnesota Wheat 2365 Rayburn House Chaska, MN 55318 2413 Rayburn House Growers Building Office Building (612) 448-6567 Office Building 2603 Wheat Drive Washington, D.C. 20515 1-800-453-9392 Washington, D.C. 20515-2413 Red Lake Falls, MN 56750 (202) 225-6211 Fax: (612) 448-6930 (202) 225-6631 (218) 253-4356 Fax: (202) 225-0699 Fax: (202) 225-1968 Fax: (218) 253-4373 E-mail: [email protected] P.O. Box 367 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.house.gov/ 938 Fourth Ave. Web site: http://www.house.gov/ 110 Second St. S. oberstar/ Windom, MN 56101 vento/ Suite 112 (507) 831-0115 Waite Park, MN 56387 Fax: (507) 831-0118 Fifth District (320) 259-0559 Martin Olav Sabo (DFL) Fax: (320) 259-0413 Unofficial list as of 3/5/99 1415 Longworth House 286 Commerce at the Crossings Office Building 250 Second Ave. S. 2159 Rayburn House Washington, D.C. 20515 Minneapolis, MN 55401 Office Building (202) 225-2331 (612) 664-8000 Washington, D.C. 20515 Fax: (202) 226-0836 Fax: (612) 664-8004 (202) 225-2165 Internet e-mail: http:// Fax: (202) 225-1593 www.house.gov/writerep/ 2336 Rayburn House E-mail: Web site: http://www.house.gov/ Office Building [email protected] minge/ Washington, D.C. 20515 Web site: http://www.house.gov/ (202) 225-4755 collinpeterson/ Fax: (202) 225-4886 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.house.gov/ sabo/ 20 SESSION WEEKLY / March 19, 1999 In the Hopper . . . March 12 - 18, 1999

HF1897-HF2182

Monday, March 15 HF1906—Tunheim (DFL) HF1915—Leighton (DFL) HF1924—Otremba (DFL) Transportation Policy Jobs & Economic Environment & Natural Development Policy Resources Policy HF1897—Clark, K. (DFL) Warroad to Baudette connecting rail- Family & Early Childhood road speed limit required. Workers’ compensation third-party Todd County authorized to sell tax- Education Finance liability provisions modified, filing of forfeited land bordering public water HF1907—Anderson, I. (DFL) attorney fee statements required, spe- and wetland. Substance abuse intervention in Transportation Policy cial compensation fund procedures neighborhoods program grants pro- Canada; railroad entry fee imposed modified, and alternative cost HF1925—Otremba (DFL) vided and money appropriated. and penalty provided. allocation accounts provided. Governmental Operations & Veterans Affairs Policy HF1898—Daggett (R) HF1908—Tunheim (DFL) HF1916—Solberg (DFL) Environment & Natural Independent School District No. 786, Transportation Policy Local Government & Resources Policy Bertha-Hewitt, teacher retirement Canada; trains entering Minnesota Metropolitan Affairs clerical error corrected. Wadena County authorized to pri- from a foreign country required to be Itasca County tax increment financ- vately sell tax-forfeited land inspected, and penalty imposed. ing district creation authorized, and HF1926—Huntley (DFL) bordering public water. taconite mine direct reduction plant Health & Human Services Policy HF1909—Larson, D. (DFL) HF1899—Olson (R) and steel mill adjacent power plant Telemedicine network established, Local Government & K-12 Education Finance development powers provided. interstate telemedicine service regu- Metropolitan Affairs lated, medical assistance reimburse- Independent School District No. 882, DNL65; Anoka, Carver, Dakota, HF1917—Hausman (DFL) ment authorized, grants provided, Monticello, technology grant autho- Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Wash- Transportation Finance and money appropriated. rized, and money appropriated. ington counties preschool airport Metropolitan and greater Minnesota HF1927—Storm (R) HF1900—Mulder (R) noice insulation provided. transit appropriated money. Crime Prevention Jobs & Economic HF1910—Gunther (R) HF1918—Van Dellen (R) Development Policy Police agency shared information Jobs & Economic K-12 Education Finance managment system established and Historic Pipestone Indian school Development Policy Independent School District No. 277, money appropriated. buildings transfer authorized, Housing finance agency home im- Westonka, referendum revenue pipemaker museum and resident provement and equity take-out loans, adjusted. HF1928—Bishop (R) academy restoration planning grant and family stabilization rental assis- Environment & Natural provided, and money appropriated. tance provided; community rehabili- HF1919—Ozment (R) Resources Policy Environment & Natural HF1901—Broecker (R) tation fund use clarified; and Olmstead County authorized to con- Resources Policy Health & Human Services Finance consumer-owned housing revolving vey tax-forfeited land bordering account established. Preferred waste management prac- public water and wetland. Ramsey County; Lake Owasso inter- tices expanded to include methane mediate care facility replacement au- HF1911—Mariani (DFL) gas recovery. HF1929—Westerberg (R) thorized. Jobs & Economic Jobs & Economic Development Finance HF1920—Ozment (R) Development Policy HF1902—Jennings (DFL) Crime Prevention Transportation Policy Science Museum of Minnesota open- Home ownership pilot project estab- ing grant provided and money Dakota County community justice lished under the family stabilization Delivery vehicle mounted rear light- appropriated. zone pilot project established and program and money appropriated. ing authorized and department of money appropriated. public safety allowable lighting rec- HF1912—Huntley (DFL) HF1930—Van Dellen (R) ommendations required. Health & Human Services Policy HF1921—Dawkins (DFL) K-12 Education Finance Civil Law HF1903—Bakk (DFL) Minnesota Family Investment Plan School district referendum allowance Transportation Policy (MFIP) provisions modified and Relative custody and adoption assis- maximum increased. money appropriated. tance maximums modified to corre- Canada; foreign country incorporated spond to foster care assistance rates, HF1931—Trimble (DFL) railroads required to install signal- HF1913—Pugh (DFL) obsolete AFDC references repealed, Jobs & Economic ized grade crossing protection at all Commerce and money appropriated. Development Finance grade crossings in Minnesota. Metropolitan area utility transmis- Contaminated site cleanup and de- HF1922—Dawkins (DFL) HF1904—Anderson, I. (DFL) sion line upgrade siting regulated. velopment grant program funded, Taxes Transportation Policy and money appropriated. HF1914—Swenson (R) Individual income tax restructured. Ranier authorized to prohibit run- K-12 Education Finance HF1932—Jennings (DFL) ning railroad locomotive parking Independent School District No. HF1923—Mares (R) Commerce within the city. 2859, Glencoe-Silver Lake, long-range Governmental Operations & Rental vehicle insurance coverage Veterans Affairs Policy HF1905—Seifert, M. (R) facility study conducted, and money regulated. Governmental Operations & appropriated. Legislative Commission on Pensions HF1933—Boudreau (R) Veterans Affairs Policy and Retirement membership modified. Health & Human Services Policy Governor authorized to veto agency Day training and habilitation task rules. force established, and new payment and rate structure developed.

March 19, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 21 HF1934—Bradley (R) HF1944—Wenzel (DFL) HF1954—Paymar (DFL) HF1965—Finseth (R) K-12 Education Finance Environment & Natural Crime Prevention Environment & Natural Independent School District No. 535, Resources Policy Crime victim and witness services Resources Policy Rochester, special education revenue Paul Bunyan state trail route modified. pilot project grant program estab- State land drainage benefit payment adjustment grant provided, and lished, and money appropriated. responsibility transferred to the com- money appropriated. HF1945—Wenzel (DFL) missioner of finance and money Agriculture Policy HF1955—Goodno (R) appropriated. HF1935—Harder (R) Meatpacking industry possible illegal Health & Human Services Finance Health & Human Services Finance practices investigated by the attorney Regional coordinating boards provi- HF1966—Mulder (R) Approved nursing facility completed general, report required, and money sions modified, radioactive material Commerce projects replacement cost new appropriated. regulatory authority provided, speech Wind energy mandate modified and calculation modified. pathologist and audiologist fees modi- portion set aside for farmers, wind HF1946—Ness (R) fied, lead safety provisions modified, energy revolving loan account cre- HF1936—Dempsey (R) Agriculture & Rural penalties provided, and money ated, utility renewable energy obliga- Jobs & Economic Development Finance appropriated. tions regulated, and money Development Policy Department of Agriculture appropriated. Hastings Le Duc mansion refurbished, appropriated money. HF1956—Goodno (R) bonds issued, and money appropriated. Health & Human Services Finance HF1967—Tunheim (DFL) HF1947—Jennings (DFL) Human services appropriations bill. Taxes HF1937—Bishop (R) Commerce Cities with reduced commercial and Local Government & Brewer and wholesaler judicial rem- HF1957—Haas (R) industrial property market values pro- Metropolitan Affairs edies modified. Health & Human Services Policy vided increased local government aid County services districts established, Senior drug program annual fee elimi- distributions. county cooperation required, and HF1948—Munger (DFL) nated, qualified Medicare beneficiary boards and advisory committees Transportation Policy asset limit eligibility increased, and HF1968—Davids (R) authorized. Amtrak; passenger rail service con- study required. Commerce necting the Twin Cities, Duluth, and Medicare supplemental insurance HF1938—Anderson, B. (R) the Iron Range studied; and money HF1958—Haas (R) federally required changes provided. State Government Finance appropriated. Health & Human Services Policy Camp Ripley national guard youth FATHER welfare-to-work demon- HF1969—Juhnke (DFL) camp operation and staffing assis- HF1949—Munger (DFL) stration project participants direct Taxes tance provided, and money Environment & Natural child support payments authorized, Agricultural homestead acreage sub- appropriated. Resources Policy and money appropriated. ject to a lower property tax class rate Omnibus packaging regulation bill; increased, and homestead and agri- HF1939—Howes (R) mandatory recycled content require- HF1959—Bradley (R) cultural credit and adjustment Environment & Natural ments provided, transport packaging Health & Human Services Policy provided. Resources Policy regulated, beverage packaging re- Human services county-based pur- Motorized wheelchairs and devices quirements provided, wood waste and chasing implementation date and HF1970—Mares (R) operated by persons with physical product residue marketing plan provisions modified. Governmental Operations & disabilities authorized on required, and penalties provided. Veterans Affairs Policy nonmotorized state trails. HF1960—Gray (DFL) Minnesota State Retirement System HF1950—Johnson (DFL) Family & Early Childhood (MSRS) and Department of Employee HF1940—Jennings (DFL) Governmental Operations & Education Finance Relations (DOER) required to report Commerce Veterans Affairs Policy Child care system obsolete reports correctional plan employee count to Renewable energy development fund- Citizens advisory council on food, eliminated. Legislative Commission on Pensions ing requirements modified and re- report required, and money and Retirement. quired expenditures specified as appropriated. HF1961—Otremba (DFL) recoverable. Taxes HF1971—Stanek (R) HF1951—Workman (R) Low-income housing tax credit Commerce HF1941—Clark, K. (DFL) Jobs & Economic provided. Minnesota wireless emergency Judiciary Finance Development Finance telephone services act adopted. Substance abuse intervention in Grimm farmstead restoration grant HF1962—Otremba (DFL) neighborhoods program grants pro- provided and money appropriated. Commerce HF1972—Biernat (DFL) vided and money appropriated. Inherited metabolic disease equal K-12 Education Finance HF1952—Abrams (R) insurance coverage required. Statewide youth athletic program HF1942—Bakk (DFL) Taxes provided and money appropriated. Environment & Natural Additional homestead classification HF1963—Howes (R) Resources Policy qualifications prohibited. Civil Law HF1973—McGuire (DFL) County natural resources land in lieu State and political subdivisions pro- Health & Human Services Policy tax payments provided inflation HF1953—Reuter (R) hibited from bringing certain suits Birth information release provided adjustment. Jobs & Economic against firearms or ammunition to adopted persons and money Development Finance manufacturers. appropriated. HF1943—Bakk (DFL) Owatonna infrastructure improve- Environment & Natural ment grant provided and money HF1964—Finseth (R) HF1974—Kuisle (R) Resources Policy appropriated. Environment & Natural Taxes Cook County authorized to sell tax- Resources Finance Transit system and provider pur- forfeited land bordering public Red River basin flood water manage- chased motor vehicles and replace- water. ment grants provided and money ment parts sales and use tax appropriated. exemption provided.

22 SESSION WEEKLY / March 19, 1999 HF1975—Wolf (R) HF1986—Nornes (R) HF1997—Dawkins (DFL) HF2007—Abrams (R) Governmental Operations & Transportation Policy Taxes Taxes Veterans Affairs Policy Trunk highway No. 59 designated as Comprehensive low-income tax credit Digital television broadcast equip- State archaeologist appointment pro- Otter Trail Veterans memorial drive. provided replacing the working fam- ment sales and use tax exemption cess and position classifications ily tax credit, dependent care tax provided. modified. HF1987—McCollum (DFL) credit, education credit, and property Environment & Natural tax refund; and money appropriated. HF2008—Van Dellen (R) HF1976—Mahoney (DFL) Resources Policy Taxes Jobs & Economic Minnesota River valley birding trail HF1998—Rest (DFL) Certain homeowners provided Development Finance developed and money appropriated. Taxes additional property tax refund. St. Paul Stroh’s brewery site acquisi- Marriage penalty and property tax tion and development funded and HF1988—Otremba (DFL) provisions modified, income tax rates HF2009—Hausman (DFL) money appropriated. Health & Human Services Policy reduced, alternative minimum tax K-12 Education Finance Free of charge health care services pro- exemption increased, and constitu- St. Paul provided appropriation for HF1977—Lenczewski (DFL) vided MinnesotaCare tax exemption. tional amendment proposed dedicat- natural science education coordinator Higher Education Finance ing motor vehicle sales taxes to the for Como Park. Minnesota State Colleges and Uni- HF1989—Otremba (DFL) highway user trust fund. versities (MnSCU) board of trustees K-12 Education Finance HF2010—Paulsen (R) required to reduce spending dispari- School districts with a substantial en- HF1999—Paulsen (R) Commerce ties between campuses. rollment of students eligibile for free Governmental Operations & Workers’ compensation self-insur- or reduced priced meals provided Veterans Affairs Policy ance regulated, and reporting and fi- HF1978—Abrams (R) additional compensatory revenue. Constitutional amendment proposed nancial requirements provided. Taxes limiting the scope of the legislature Tangible personal property awarded HF1990—McCollum (DFL) during the second year of each HF2011—Bishop (R) as prizes in games of skill or chance Taxes biennial session. Higher Education Finance considered property for resale. Lawful gambling tax collection date Southeastern Minnesota regional modified. HF2000—Lenczewski (DFL) public safety training center HF1979—Rostberg (R) Health & Human Services Policy appropriation provided. Crime Prevention HF1991—Chaudhary (DFL) Medicare supplemental coverage for Critical incident stress management Civil Law low-income seniors study authorized. HF2012—Harder (R) (CISM), fire assistance support team Foster care placement deadline speci- Agriculture Policy (FAST) grant program established fied and permanency planning time HF2001—Abrams (R) Veterinary practice requirements and money appropriated. period shortened. Governmental Operations & modified and procedures clarified. Veterans Affairs Policy HF1980—Osskopp (R) HF1992—Krinkie (R) Reapportionment commission estab- HF2013—Hausman (DFL) Health & Human Services Policy Education Policy lished, legislative power to change the Jobs & Economic Child support mediation pilot pro- Teacher contract qualified economic number or senators and representa- Development Finance gram established, evaluation required, offer provided. tives limited, and constitutional Work first transitional employment and money appropriated. amendment proposed. project appropriation provided for HF1993—Workman (R) refugee and immigrant communitites. HF1981—Lenczewski (DFL) Transportation Policy HF2002—Lenczewski (DFL) Taxes Seasonal road restrictions task force Taxes HF2014—Anderson, I. (DFL) Local government city aid base re- established and study required. Roth IRA conversions excluded from Environment & Natural duced as aid appropriations increase. definition of household income Resources Policy HF1994—Marko (DFL) relating to property tax refunds. Gray wolf management provided, in- HF1982—McGuire (DFL) Family & Early Childhood cluding hunting and trapping provi- Health & Human Services Policy Education Finance HF2003—Olson (R) sions, and criminal penalties Medical assistance coverage of over- Family communication initiative Health & Human Services Policy provided. the-counter 5-hydroxytryptophan grant program established to provide Health plan companies requried to provided. services to families with deaf or hard- make health plans available that limit HF2015—Finseth (R) of-hearing children, and money coverage for abortions. Environment & Natural HF1983—Dorn (DFL) appropriated. Resources Policy Family & Early Childhood HF2004—Abeler (R) Consolidated conservation lands des- Education Finance HF1995—Mulder (R) Health & Human Services Policy ignated as wildlife management areas South central children’s project in K-12 Education Finance AIDS prevention program modified by rule. Blue Earth County appropriated Independent School District No. 303, to include human papilloma virus money. Lake Benton, fund balance penalty prevention. HF2016—Dawkins (DFL) reimbursement provided, and money Crime Prevention HF1984—Abrams (R) appropriated. HF2005—Molnau (R) Miscellaneous property and motor Governmental Operations & Transportation Finance vehicle forfeiture provisions Veterans Affairs Policy HF1996—McGuire (DFL) Transportation revolving loan fund modified. Department of revenue sign required. Environment & Natural appropriation provided for highways. Resources Policy HF2017—Mahoney (DFL) HF1985—Buesgens (R) Revision of public waters list autho- HF2006—Chaudhary (DFL) Governmental Operations & Transportation Policy rized to include additional water Crime Prevention Veterans Affairs Policy Motor vehicle registration suspension basins. Inmate chemical use and mental Administration and health depart- authorized when owner fails to file health assessment required, treatment ments directed to adopt newest edi- transfer of interest, detachable form required, records maintained, free tions of certain building code required, and money appropriated. weights and cable television prohib- standards. ited, and work assignments and other programs required. March 19, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 23 HF2018—Holberg (R) HF2028—Seagren (R) HF2038—Mullery (DFL) HF2048—Murphy (DFL) Jobs & Economic Taxes Crime Prevention K-12 Education Finance Development Finance Bloomington fiscal disparities con- Possession of a pistol with an altered, Independent School District No. 704, Wastewater funding provided for tribution adjustment requirement removed, or absent serial number pro- Proctor, ice arena safety improve- Cedar Lake township in Scott County, eliminated. vided mandatory minimum ments authorized through health and and bond sale authorized. sentence. safety program. HF2029—Van Dellen (R) HF2019—Pawlenty (R) Local Government & HF2039—Mullery (DFL) HF2049—Harder (R) Jobs & Economic Metropolitan Affairs Crime Prevention Agriculture Policy Development Finance Plymouth tax increment financing Level III sex offenders prohibited from Pesticide registration and aquatic pest Board of invention appropriation district provided local contribution residing within 500 feet of another control licensing provisions modified, provided. requirement waiver. level III sex offender. fertilizer reporting requirement clarified, and obsolete rules repealed. HF2020—Holberg (R) HF2030—Van Dellen (R) HF2040—Mullery (DFL) Jobs & Economic Taxes Governmental Operations & HF2050—Skoglund (DFL) Development Finance Health care provider tax exemption Veterans Affairs Policy Crime Prevention Wastewater funding provided for provided for medical examinations Hennepin County supplemental DWI; repeat offender electronic alco- New Market/Elko project, and bond for the purposes of insurance, litiga- retirement program terms modified. hol monitoring requirements sale authorized. tion, and employment. modified. HF2041—Kuisle (R) HF2021—Bishop (R) HF2031—Kubly (DFL) Transportation Finance HF2051—Huntley (DFL) Environment & Natural Taxes Personal rapid transit planning and Governmental Operations & Resources Policy Renville County authorized to design provided and money appro- Veterans Affairs Policy Vertical heat exchanger contractor impose an aggregate production tax. priated. Duluth firefighter consolidation ac- license provided, and training count surviving spouse benefit requirements established. HF2032—Gunther (R) HF2042—Bishop (R) increased. Jobs & Economic Crime Prevention HF2022—Chaudhary (DFL) Development Finance Obsolete statutory provisions HF2052—Kielkucki (R) Family & Early Childhood Housing finance agency affordable repealed. Environment & Natural Education Finance rental investment fund, community Resources Policy Adult graduation aid formula rehabilitation fund, and housing trust HF2043—Tuma (R) Wright County surplus land private modified. fund programs appropriated money. Health & Human Services Finance sale authorized. Intermediate care facilities for per- HF2023—Krinkie (R) HF2033—Buesgens (R) sons with mental retardation HF2053—Greenfield (DFL) Governmental Operations & K-12 Education Finance (ICF/MR) funding transferred to the Health & Human Services Finance Veterans Affairs Policy National Association of Student medical assistance program. Certified neonatal nurse practitioner Proponents of new or expanded oc- Councils’ 1999 national convention medical assistance coverage provided. cupational regulation required to grant provided and money appropri- HF2044—Anderson, B. (R) provide written reports to legislature. ated. Jobs & Economic HF2054—Wenzel (DFL) Development Policy Agriculture Policy HF2024—Seifert, J. (R) HF2034—Entenza (DFL) Burial expense reimbursement in- Dairy farming task force created and Health & Human Services Policy K-12 Education Finance creased, deceased workers memorial money appropriated. Medicaid facility preadmission Violence prevention through the de- developed, and occupational safety screening requirement exemption velopment of songs, performance, and and health (OSHA) penalty HF2055—Workman (R) extended for Dakota, Ramsey, and recorded educational resources grant provisions modified. Local Government & Washington counties. program established; and money Metropolitan Affairs appropriated. HF2045—Bishop (R) Local government service fees HF2025—Chaudhary (DFL) Judiciary Finance authorized. K-12 Education Finance HF2035—Tunheim (DFL) Rochester; southeastern Minnesota General community education rev- Environment & Natural regional public safety training center HF2056—Carlson (DFL) enue increase provided, and money Resources Policy development and construction pro- Education Policy appropriated. Commercial businesses operating on vided, and money appropriated. University of Minnesota Regent Can- shoreland permitted to rebuild. didate Advisory Council recommen- HF2046—Hausman (DFL) dation process modified. Wednesday, March 17 HF2036—Hackbarth (R) Higher Education Finance Environment & Natural University of Minnesota soccer sta- HF2057—Gleason (DFL) Resources Finance dium developed, women’s athletic Governmental Operations & HF2026—Sviggum (R) Anoka County trails previous program use specified, and money Veterans Affairs Policy Local Government & appropriation provisions modified. appropriated Government airline ticket purchases Metropolitan Affairs limited. Small city economic development dis- HF2037—Hackbarth (R) HF2047—Mulder (R) trict use for commercial developments Transportation Policy Health & Human Services Policy HF2058—Carruthers (DFL) modified. Town roads not providing adequate University of Minnesota rural preven- Civil Law turnaround space at cul-de-sacs and tative health care program established, Pollution Control Agency data HF2027—Storm (R) dead ends improvement remedy pro- rural medical community information classification provided. Local Government & vided, and county board spending resource system operation provided, Metropolitan Affairs limit increased. and money appropriated. St. Peter permitted to lay fiber dark optic cable.

24 SESSION WEEKLY / March 19, 1999 HF2059—Folliard (DFL) HF2069—Jaros (DFL) HF2079—Tomassoni (DFL) HF2091—Cassell (R) K-12 Education Finance Health & Human Services Policy Governmental Operations & Higher Education Finance First-year teacher induction program Minnesota family investment pro- Veterans Affairs Policy Farm and small business management grants provided, national board for gram (MFIP) transitional standard Statewide medical program estab- programs, and tuition assistance professional teaching standards cer- child only cash grants modified. lished to provided free or reduced- funded; and money appropriated. tification process participation en- cost health care to veterans. couraged, and money appropriated. HF2070—Sviggum (R) HF2092—Ness (R) Taxes HF2080—Seifert, M. (R) K-12 Education Finance HF2060—Fuller (R) Taconite production permanent tax K-12 Education Finance Interactive television program Crime Prevention rate provided and taconite economic Independent School District No. funding restored. Minnesota Correctional Facility-Sauk development fund distributions 2167, Lakeview, new school powered Centre authorized to accept parole increased. by gasification constructed, and HF2093—Erickson (R) status youth. money appropriated. K-12 Education Finance HF2071—Swenson (R) Urban educator professional devel- HF2061—Ozment (R) Transportation Finance HF2081—Storm (R) opment program grants established Environment & Natural County turnback account appropriated Environment & Natural and money appropriated. Resources Policy money. Resources Finance Local units of government bonding for St. Peter tree planting grants provided HF2094—Seagren (R) conservation easement acquisition HF2072—Westrom (R) and money appropriated. K-12 Education Finance authorized. Transportation Finance Collaborative Urban Educator, south- Local bridge replacement and reha- HF2082—Nornes (R) east Asian teacher licensure, and HF2062—Carruthers (DFL) bilitation funded, and money Health & Human Services Finance circles of support in educational lead- Transportation Finance appropriated. Nursing facility purchase price used ership programs funded; additional Hennepin County and west metro in property reimbursement rate salary authorized for graduates; and area driver improvement pilot project HF2073—McGuire (DFL) determinations. money appropriated. established, and money appropriated. Family & Early Childhood Education Finance HF2083—Peterson (DFL) HF2095—Dawkins (DFL) HF2063—McElroy (R) Federal welfare-to-work grant money K-12 Education Finance Taxes Jobs & Economic state match for child care assistance Minnesota River valley education dis- Working family credit based on Development Policy funding provided. trict and southwest Minnesota federal earned income tax credit. World Trade Center Corp. elimi- workforce development center pro- nated, and assets and liabilities trans- HF2074—Marko (DFL) gram and services colocation grant HF2096—Westrom (R) ferred to the Department of Trade Transportation Policy provided, and money appropriated. Jobs & Economic and Economic Development. Driver testing facilities and opera- Development Finance tions expanded and improved, adult HF2084—McCollum (DFL) Grant County infrastructure im- HF2064—Carruthers (DFL) driver license applicants required to Taxes provement grant provided and money Local Government & hold six month instruction permits, Individual income tax damages appropriated. Metropolitan Affairs department of public safety publica- awards exemption provided. Fiscal disparities exemption provided tions paid advertisements authorized, HF2097—Solberg (DFL) to superfund sites developed under a and money appropriated. HF2085—Tuma (R) K-12 Education Finance development action response plan. Taxes Independent School District No. 316, HF2075—Mahoney (DFL) Senior-owned homesteads estimated Greenway, full-day daily kindergar- HF2065—Ness (R) K-12 Education Finance market value increases prohibited. ten program grant provided, and K-12 Education Finance Independent School District No. 625, money appropriated. Third and fifth grade reading, math- St. Paul, stability demonstration HF2086—Peterson (DFL) ematics, and writing tests, and eighth project established, and money Transportation Policy HF2098—Solberg (DFL) grade basic skills reading and math- appropriated. Super-2 highway; trunk highway nos. Higher Education Finance ematics tests norm references 7 and 212 segments reconstructed. Itasca community college facilities established; and money appropriated. HF2076—Peterson (DFL) construction authorized. Environment & Natural HF2087—Krinkie (R) HF2066—Greenfield (DFL) Resources Finance Taxes HF2099—Tuma (R) Health & Human Services Policy Chippewa County; recreational trail Property tax use for light rail transit Health & Human Services Finance Office of minority health established, resurfaced from Milan to Lac Qui prohibited. Intermediate care facilities for per- and powers and dutiesspecified. Parle lake and money appropriated. sons with mental retardation (ICF/ HF2088—Solberg (DFL) MR) services and resident relocation HF2067—Westerberg (R) HF2077—Lieder (DFL) Jobs & Economic funding modifi ed. Crime Prevention Environment & Natural Development Finance Extended jurisdiction juvenile offend- Resources Policy Aitkin County Growth Inc. tax pay- HF2100—Wagenius (DFL) ers in violation of stayed sentences Norman County authorized to sell ment grant provided and money Health & Human Services Policy prohibited from receiving time served tax-forfeited land bordering public appropriated. Lead testing and child lead poisoning credit. water. treatment reimbursement by station- HF2089—Biernat (DFL) ary sources emitting large amounts of HF2068—Jaros (DFL) HF2078—Tomassoni (DFL) K-12 Education Finance lead required and civil cause of action Governmental Operations & K-12 Education Finance Area learning centers building lease provided. Veterans Affairs Policy School district public safety revenue aid provided. Teachers retirement association ser- provided. HF2101—Hilty (DFL) vice credit purchase authorized for HF2090—Cassell (R) Governmental Operations & former Lydia special education Education Policy Veterans Affairs Policy co-op teachers. College and university hazing policy Government training service pro- distribution provision modified. vided an exemption from the solicita- tion process and money appropriated. March 19, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 25 HF2102—Bakk (DFL) HF2112—Murphy (DFL) HF2122—Entenza (DFL) HF2133—Finseth (R) Jobs & Economic Judiciary Finance K-12 Education Finance Taxes Development Finance Carlton County criminal prosecution Center for Victims of Torture East Grand Forks and Warren pro- Larsmont design project wastewater expenses reimbursement provided appropriated money. vided temporary local government aid funding provided, bonds issued, and and money appropriated. increases, and money appropriated. money appropriated. HF2123—Tuma (R) HF2113—Boudreau (R) Education Policy HF2103—Lindner (R) Health & Human Services Policy Advocacy organization representa- Thursday, March 18 Jobs & Economic Nursing home services and elderly tives allowed to serve as lay advocates; Development Finance waiver services prepaid medical assis- and individual education plan meet- HF2134—Wenzel (DFL) Council on Affairs of Chicano Latino tance eliminated. ing, conciliation conference, and Crime Prevention People appropriated money. mediation session attendance one- HF2114—Davids (R) time reimbursement provided. Criminal gang prosecution council HF2104—Schumacher (DFL) Governmental Operations & created, strike force support provided, Jobs & Economic Veterans Affairs Policy HF2124—Tuma (R) guidelines developed, and attorney Development Finance Professional architect, engineer, sur- Education Policy general jurisdiction provided. Zimmerman wastewater funding pro- veyor, landscape architect, geoscien- Interagency dispute procedure affect- HF2135—Holsten (R) vided, bonds issued, and money tist, and interior design services bid ing persons with disabilities ages three Environment & Natural appropriated. solicitation process exception through 21 developed and Resources Finance provided. implemented. HF2105—Bishop (R) Natural resources, youth sports, agri- Ways & Means HF2115—Workman (R) HF2125—Clark, K. (DFL) culture, and wastewater funding pro- Legislative Advisory Commission re- K-12 Education Finance Taxes vided; and money appropriated. view of federal funds purpose changes Independent School District No. 112, Cities required to discharge unpaid HF2136—Holsten (R) provided, state finance information Chaska, eastern Carver community tax obligations of Neighborhood Re- Jobs & Economic submission dates modified and coor- collaborative project capital planning vitalization Program nonprofit Development Finance dinated, and expenditure forecast grant provided, and money contractors. bonding component provided. appropriated. Bayport storm sewer reconstruction HF2126—Abrams (R) project grant provided, bonds issued, HF2106—Sykora (R) HF2116—Howes (R) Taxes and money appropriated. Family & Early Childhood Jobs & Economic Fiscal disparities abatement autho- HF2137—Jennings (DFL) Education Finance Development Finance rized, school district uniform abate- Commerce Child care basic sliding fee assistance North ten mile sanitary district waste- ment authority provided, and eligibility modified. water funding provided, bonds issued, provisions clarified. Telecommunications service and money appropriated. regulated. HF2107—Kahn (DFL) HF2127—Abrams (R) Jobs & Economic HF2117—Howes (R) Taxes HF2138—Dempsey (R) Taxes Development Policy Jobs & Economic Public debt use limitations and Iraq; president, Congress, and other Development Finance conditions modified and imposed. Historic structure rehabilitation ex- national and international officials East Gull Lake projects wastewater penditures income tax credit memorialized to lift the economic funding provided, bonds issued, and HF2128—McElroy (R) provided. sanctions against Iraq. money appropriated. Health & Human Services Policy HF2139—Murphy (DFL) Board of Boxing abolished and Governmental Operations & HF2108—Abeler (R) HF2118—Howes (R) boxing regulation studied. K-12 Education Finance Jobs & Economic Veterans Affairs Policy School district immunization follow- Development Finance HF2129—Broecker (R) Minnesota State Retirement system up activities funded and money Longville wastewater funding pro- Judiciary Finance (MSRS) and state troopers retirement appropriated. vided, bonds issued, and money Criminal justice, corrections, and average salary definition modified. appropriated. public safety appropriations bill. HF2109—Boudreau (R) HF2140—Westfall (R) K-12 Education Finance HF2119—Rest (DFL) HF2130—Anderson, B. (R) Environment & Natural Resources Finance Independent School District No. 656, Taxes Crime Prevention Faribault, local levy authorized, fund Dependent care credit, education Runaway children in need of protec- Cromwell Township flood damage transfer allowed, and money credit and subtraction, and working tion or services (CHIPS) provided treat- mitigation funded and money appro- appropriated. family credit inflationary and family ment, notice required, and criminal priated. size adjustments provided; and money penalties imposed. HF2141—Kalis (DFL) HF2110—Wolf (R) appropriated. Commerce HF2131—Howes (R) Environment & Natural Resources Finance Qualified small and medium-sized HF2120—Osthoff (DFL) Taxes wind energy facilities renewable en- Environment & Natural County water implementation tax St. Clair; LeSueur River stream bank ergy production incentives provided. Resources Policy levy and base grant awards increased, stabilization grant provided and Additional critical habitat license and money appropriated. money appropriated. HF2111—Murphy (DFL) plates purchase provided and money HF2142—Tingelstad (R) Local Government & appropriated. HF2132—Greiling (DFL) Metropolitan Affairs K-12 Education Finance Judiciary Finance Proctor authorized to impose an ad- HF2121—Haas (R) Urban agricultural high school cre- DARE advisory council grant pro- ditional sales tax for construction and Transportation Finance ated, planning grant provided, and vided and money appropriated. improvement projects. Brooklyn Park; Trunk Highway No. money appropriated. 52 overpass feasibility, cost, and safety studied; and money appropriated.

26 SESSION WEEKLY / March 19, 1999 HF2143—Kahn (DFL) HF2154—Fuller (R) HF2166—Tuma (R) HF2176—Workman (R) Governmental Operations & Transportation Finance K-12 Education Finance Jobs & Economic Veterans Affairs Policy Local bridge road approach funding Independent School District No. 659, Development Policy State travel office feasibility and ben- authorized through previous trans- Northfield, community resource cen- Payments to employees for political efits studied. portation bonding authority. ter grant provided and money appro- purposes regulated. priated. HF2144—Kahn (DFL) HF2155—Vandeveer (R) HF2177—Ozment (R) Education Policy K-12 Education Finance HF2167—Solberg (DFL) Taxes University of Minnesota incumbent Elementary school supplemental lit- Governmental Operations & Agricultural and open space property regents provided exemption from eracy program grants provided and Veterans Affairs Policy taxation task force established, study advisory council evaluation require- money appropriated. PELRA; retired employees unilateral required, and appointments pro- ment. benefits modifications considered an vided. HF2156—Reuter (R) unfair labor practice. HF2145—Nornes (R) Civil Law HF2178—Ozment (R) Environment & Natural Economic loss arising from the sale of HF2168—Carruthers (DFL) Environment & Natural Resources Policy goods regulated. Civil Law Resources Policy Otter Tail County surplus land con- Multiple defendants aggregate fault Sales and use tax revenue portion veyance authorized. HF2157—Murphy (DFL) allowed related to comparative negli- dedicated to the game and fish fund, Governmental Operations & gence. and constitutional amendment pro- HF2146—Nornes (R) Veterans Affairs Policy posed. Taxes Legislative Commission on Pensions HF2169—Holsten (R) Fergus Falls community center con- and Retirement actuarial cost alloca- Environment & Natural HF2179—Krinkie (R) struction materials and supplies sales tion modified. Resources Finance Governmental Operations & tax exemption provided. Public trails and park facilities sur- Veterans Affairs Policy HF2158—Swenson (R) veyed for accessibility to persons with Rush City correctional facility opera- HF2147—Nornes (R) Judiciary Finance disabilities and money appropriated. tion proposal requests required and K-12 Education Finance Center for Reducing Rural Violence facility operator selected. School district sparsity revenue dis- funding continued and money HF2170—Ozment (R) tance factor increased. appropriated. Environment & Natural HF2180—Workman (R) Resources Policy Local Government & HF2148—Workman (R) HF2159—Harder (R) Board of Water and Soil Resources Metropolitan Affairs Rules & Legislative Administration Taxes shoreland protection pilot program Regional rail authority provisions Constitution; sovereignty of the Jackson tax increment financing dis- created, and money appropriated. modified, facilities financing pro- people and states reaffirmed, original trict duration extended. vided, intergovernmental agreements intention of the Constitution of the HF2171—Smith (R) and payments authorized, and gen- United States restored, and principles HF2160—Reuter (R) Commerce eral obligation bonds issued. provided. Taxes Real property titles required to be Owatonna Pearl Street 911 center registrated by 2030 and requirements HF2181—Tingelstad (R) HF2149—Workman (R) construction materials sales tax ex- phased-in. Capital Investment Taxes emption provided. Anoka County courthouse improve- Sales, use, and motor vehicle sales tax HF2172—Solberg (DFL) ments provided, bonds issued, and rates reduced. HF2161—Olson (R) Local Government & money appropriated. Health & Human Services Finance Metropolitan Affairs HF2150—Workman (R) Traumatic brain injury demonstra- Grand Rapids Public Utilities Com- HF2182—Dempsey (R) Governmental Operations & tion project appropriated money. mission membership increase autho- Capital Investment Veterans Affairs Policy rized. Minnesota Veterans Home in Hastings Employee and student political fund HF2162—Olson (R) improvements provided, bonds issued, solicitation negative checkoffs pro- Commerce HF2173—Smith (R) and money appropriated. hibited. Seat belt use automobile insurance Governmental Operations & premium reduction required. Veterans Affairs Policy HF2151—Dehler (R) State professional unit employee po- Higher Education Finance HF2163—Olson (R) sitions classified. University of Minnesota health-re- K-12 Education Finance lated tuition offset trust fund estab- Independent School District No. 727, HF2174—Chaudhary (DFL) lished and funding provided through Big Lake, technology grant provided Local Government & Legislative history can be cigarette tax revenue. and money appropriated. Metropolitan Affairs researched in printed Columbia Heights tax increment fi- materials at the Legislative HF2152—Otremba (DFL) HF2164—Jennings (DFL) nancing district extended and expen- Reference Library or, for the Health & Human Services Finance Environment & Natural ditures authorized. years since 1995, on the Cancer awareness and prevention Resources Policy Internet. funded, health data classification pro- County natural resources land in lieu HF2175—Krinkie (R) Find directions at: vided, and money appropriated. tax payments modified and money Governmental Operations & appropriated. Veterans Affairs Policy http://www.leg.state.mn.us/ HF2153—Gray (DFL) Public safety building safety division leg/leghist/histstep.htm Taxes HF2165—Holsten (R) established and duties transferred. Property tax and state aid special tax- Commerce ing districts expanded to include the Internet, interactive computer ser- middle Mississippi River watershed vices, digital broadband services, and management organization. high-speed data and Internet access services regulation restricted.

March 19, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 27 Coming Up Next Week . . . March 22 - 26, 1999

10 a.m. HF1952 (Abrams) Additional homestead Schedule is subject to change. classification qualifications prohibited. For information updates, call CIVIL LAW HF1869 (Van Dellen) City local government House Calls at (651) 296-9283. Basement Hearing Room minimum per capita aid amount established. State Office Building HF167 (Wenzel) State-paid agricultural property All meetings are open to the public. Chr. Rep. Steve Smith taxes provided, and money appropriated. Sign language interpreter services: Agenda: SF98 (Knutson) Granting prosecutors HF1210 (Gleason) Percentage of rent (651) 224-6548 v/tty discretion not to disclose a victim’s or witness’ constituting property taxes increased. To have the daily and weekly schedules date of birth. HF2058 (Carruthers) Pollution Control Agency 12:30 p.m. delivered to your e-mail address, send a data classification provided. message to: FAMILY & EARLY CHILDHOOD [email protected] ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL EDUCATION FINANCE RESOURCES FINANCE 5 State Office Building In the body of the message type: 10 State Office Building Chr. Rep. Barb Sykora Chr. Rep. Mark Holsten subscribe h-schedules Agenda: Attachment, bonding and early Agenda: Department of Natural Resources childhood development presentations by Dr. budget overview. Byron Egelund, Irving B. Harris professor of child development, University of Minnesota; MONDAY, March 22 HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE and Dr. William Bart, professor of educational 300S State Office Building psychology, University of Minnesota. Chr. Rep. Peggy Leppik 8 a.m. Agenda: HF1895 (Boudreau) Asian-Pacific ***Canceled*** American mental health graduate program LOCAL GOVERNMENT & ***Canceled*** student grants established, and money METROPOLITAN AFFAIRS GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS & appropriated. 200 State Office Building VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICY HF1391 (Leppik) Tobacco settlement money Chr. Rep. Peg Larsen Basement Hearing Room disposition provided, health professional Agenda: Canceled. State Office Building education and medical research endowment fund Chr. Rep. Jim Rhodes created, and money appropriated. 2:30 p.m. Agenda: Canceled. HF2098 (Solberg) Itasca Community College facilities construction authorized. HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE The House meets in session. 10 State Office Building K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE Chr. Rep. Kevin Goodno 5 State Office Building Agenda: Department of Human Services budget Chr. Rep. Alice Seagren presentation continued. Agenda: HF1137 (Greiling) Special education TUESDAY, March 23 reciprocity agreements developed, special JOBS & ECONOMIC education funding provided, state revenue source DEVELOPMENT FINANCE provided for court-placed unreimbursed tuition, 8 a.m. 200 State Office Building and money appropriated. Chr. Rep. Dan McElroy HF1186 (Greiling) Special education revenue HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES POLICY Agenda: HF918 (Kielkucki) Taconite mining and excess cost revenue modified, and pre K-12 10 State Office Building grant program appropriated money. special education pupil weighting increased. Chr. Rep. Fran Bradley Other bills to be announced. HF1220 (Dempsey) Child care and treatment Agenda: HF770 (Abeler) Essential community instructional aid provided, placement provisions provider status application deadline removed. TRANSPORTATION FINANCE modified, uniform billing system and approval HF863 (Tingelstad) Putative fathers’ adoption 5 State Office Building of education programs provided, and money registry, communication and contact Chr. Rep. Carol Molnau appropriated. agreements, and postadoption report Agenda: HF2041 (Kuisle) Personal rapid transit HF1357 (Carruthers) Limited English requirements and procedures modified. planning and design provided and money proficiency and special education programs two- HF1602 (Abeler) Prescription drug coverage for appropriated. year lag replaced with one-year lag. the senior drug program clarified, medical HF1917 (Hausman) Metropolitan and greater HF1360 (Tomassoni) Special education revenue assistance eligibility and income provisions Minnesota transit appropriated money. and excess cost revenue modified, and pre- modified, and other health care provider kindergarten special education pupil weighting provisions clarified. 8:30 a.m. increased. HF1563 (Entenza) Child support procedures HF826 (Johnson) School year minimum and requirements modified, certain clarifications STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE instructional days report provided and money made, account created, and money appropriated. 300N State Office Building appropriated. HF1687 (Tingelstad) Child welfare provisions Chr. Rep. Philip Krinkie modified. Agenda: Department of Administration budget Property Tax Division/ presentation continued. TAXES JOBS & ECONOMIC 200 State Office Building DEVELOPMENT POLICY Chr. Rep. Ron Erhardt 200 State Office Building Agenda: HF1700 (Paulsen) Metropolitan Chr. Rep. Arlon Lindner revenue distribution altered to provided Agenda: To be announced. distribution to counties based on uncompensated health care costs. HF1515 (Daggett) Certain assisted living facility property tax exemption provided.

28 SESSION WEEKLY / March 19, 1999 JUDICIARY FINANCE HF1356 (Wenzel) Operational skills instructor 6 p.m. 300S State Office Building funding authorized for Central Lakes College, Chr. Rep. Sherry Broecker Brainerd campus. K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE Agenda: To be announced. HF2009 (Hausman) St. Paul provided 5 State Office Building appropriation for natural science education Chr. Rep. Alice Seagren TRANSPORTATION POLICY coordinator for Como Park. Agenda: Continuation of morning meeting. 5 State Office Building HF1972 (Biernat) Statewide youth athletic Chr. Rep. Tom Workman program provided and money appropriated. Agenda: To be announced. HF1863 (Johnson) Substitute teacher state-paid WEDNESDAY, March 24 medical benefits provided and money 8:30 a.m. appropriated. 8 a.m. STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL 300N State Office Building RESOURCES POLICY Chr. Rep. Philip Krinkie 10 State Office Building GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS & Agenda: Budget presentations by Office of Chr. Rep. Dennis Ozment VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICY Administrative Hearings and Amateur Sports Agenda: To be announced. Basement Hearing Room Commission. State Office Building TAXES Chr. Rep. Jim Rhodes 10 a.m. 5 State Office Building Agenda: To be announced. Chr. Rep. Ron Abrams CRIME PREVENTION Agenda: HF656 (Daggett) Tree growth tax law HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE Basement Hearing Room public hunting and fishing requirement 10 State Office Building State Office Building exception created for nonindustrial privately Chr. Rep. Kevin Goodno Chr. Rep. Rich Stanek owned forest land. Agenda: HF669 (Goodno) Medical Assistance Agenda: To be announced. HF723 (McElroy) Employer provided transit income standard increased. benefits income tax credit created. HF1260 (Tingelstad) Medical Assistance EDUCATION POLICY HF1372 (Harder) Sales and use tax exemption reimbursement rate maximums increased 200 State Office Building provided for materials and supplies used in relating to special transportation services. Chr. Rep. Harry Mares expansion of an agricultural processing facility. HF912 (Jennings) Medical Assistance Agenda: To be announced. HF1322 (Paulsen) Corporate franchise education reimbursement geographic groups redefined, expenses credit authorized. nursing facility rate increase negotiations K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE HF1136 (Carlson) Higher education income tax authorized, and money appropriated. 200 State Office Building credit provided. HF332 (Mulder) Rural health clinics and Chr. Rep. Alice Seagren HF2007 (Abrams) Digital television broadcast federally qualified health center services cost- Agenda: HF1231 (Ness) Telecommunications equipment sales and use tax exemption provided. based reimbursement continued. access grants provisions modified, Minnesota HF1047 (Wejcman) Anorexia; Medical Education Telecommunications Council 12:30 p.m. Assistance coverage of anorexics authorized. modified, and money appropriated. HF1199 (Cassell) K-12 education technical AGRICULTURE & RURAL JOBS & ECONOMIC amendments bill. DEVELOPMENT FINANCE DEVELOPMENT FINANCE HF1573 (Gray) Minnesota adolescent parenting 10 State Office Building 200 State Office Building grant program provided, and money Chr. Rep. Bob Ness Chr. Rep. Dan McElroy appropriated. Agenda: Governor’s budget request for Agenda: To be announced. HF1677 (Carlson) Metro homework hotline Department of Agriculture. grant authorized, and money appropriated. TRANSPORTATION FINANCE HF1723 (Dempsey) Children’s Museum Ready? CAPITAL INVESTMENT 5 State Office Building Set. Read! program grant provided and money 5 State Office Building Chr. Rep. Carol Molnau appropriated. Chr. Rep. Jim Knoblach Agenda: HF698 (Workman) Major HF1773 (Dawkins) Youth works program Agenda: To be announced. transportation projects commission established legislative report required and money and report required. appropriated. COMMERCE HF1294 (McElroy) Prorated motor vehicle HF404 (Erickson) Advanced placement and 200 State Office Building license fees authorized after dealer transfer. international baccalaureate programs funded, Chr. Rep. Gregory M. Davids Other bills to be announced. and money appropriated. Agenda: To be announced. HF823 (Ness) School district transportation 10 a.m. reserved revenue accounts authorized. 2:30 p.m. HF1459 (Johnson) Learning academy training CIVIL LAW expanded, library site technology grants eligibility Child Care Workgroup/ Basement Hearing Room requirements modified, database access program FAMILY & EARLY CHILDHOOD State Office Building for public libraries and school modified, and EDUCATION FINANCE Chr. Rep. Steve Smith money appropriated. 400N State Office Building Agenda: HF478 (Haas) Structured settlement HF1452 (Boudreau) Library for the blind and Chr. Rep. Barb Sykora payment rights protected related to tort or physically handicapped appropriated money. Agenda: Child care issues. workers’ compensation claims. HF888 (Erickson) Multicounty, multitype library systems and basic system support grants funded; 4 p.m. ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL and money appropriated. RESOURCES FINANCE HF1202 (Ness) Minnesota foundation for HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE 10 State Office Building student organizations funding provided. Basement Hearing Room Chr. Rep. Mark Holsten HF1914 (Swenson) Independent School District State Office Building Agenda: Department of Natural Resouces budget No. 2859, Glencoe-Silver Lake, long-range facility Chr. Rep. Kevin Goodno overview. study conducted, and money appropriated. Agenda: Presentation on the ombudsperson for HF1832 (Swenson) All-day kindergarten mental health and mental retardation’s budget. HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE students pupil weight increased. Presentation on the ombudsperson for families’ 300S State Office Building HF1007 (Lindner) Independent School District budget. Chr. Rep. Peggy Leppik No. 728, Elk River, year-round school/extended Department of Human Services’ budget Agenda: General education overview and general week or day grant provided, and money presentation continued. fund expenditure report, Minnesota State appropriated. Colleges and Universities.

March 19, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 29 K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE and tax increment financing districts authorized; 6 p.m. 5 State Office Building airport impact fund created; and Metropolitan Chr. Rep. Alice Seagren Council activities permitted. JOBS & ECONOMIC Agenda: To be announced. Other business to be announced. DEVELOPMENT FINANCE Basement Hearing Room ***Canceled*** Subcommittee on Regulated Industries/ State Office Building Property Tax Division/ COMMERCE Chr. Rep. Dan McElroy TAXES Basement Hearing Room Agenda: To be announced. 200 State Office Building State Office Building Chr. Rep. Ron Erhardt Chr. Rep. Ken Wolf 6:30 p.m. Agenda: Canceled. Agenda: To be announced. K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE TAXES 4:30 p.m. 500S State Office Building 200 State Office Building Chr. Rep. Alice Seagren Chr. Rep. Ron Abrams FAMILY & EARLY CHILDHOOD Agenda: To be announced. Agenda: HF1295 (Clark, J.) Property tax EDUCATION FINANCE homestead treatment extended to include 217 State Capitol property leased to family farm corporations. Chr. Rep. Barb Sykora HF1771 (Kuisle) Agricultural tax relief provided Agenda: HF1209 (Boudreau) Child care worker THURSDAY, March 25 through offer-in-compromise program and training grants provided, advisory committee income tax exemption provided. created, and money appropriated. HF1821 (Harder) Brown County property tax HF1610 (Nornes) Child care improvement 8 a.m. credit provided for tornado damaged property grants modified, and money appropriated. and money appropriated. HF1857 (McGuire) Child care resource and HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES POLICY HF1839 (Van Dellen) Printing activities sales referral programs, and child care development 10 State Office Building and use tax exemption provided. grants provided; and money appropriated. Chr. Rep. Fran Bradley HF886 (Erhardt) State agency libraries sales and HF2073 (McGuire) Federal welfare-to-work Agenda: Member bills. use tax exemption provided. grant money state match for child care assistance HF1087 (Harder) Farmer income averaging funding provided. JOBS & ECONOMIC authorized for income tax purposes. DEVELOPMENT POLICY 5 p.m. 200 State Office Building 12:30 p.m. Chr. Rep. Arlon Lindner Legislative Commission on Pensions and Agenda: To be announced. AGRICULTURE POLICY Retirement 10 State Office Building 500N State Office Building JUDICIARY FINANCE Chr. Rep. Tim Finseth Chr. Rep. Harry Mares 300S State Office Building Agenda: HF509 (Swenson) Manure digester Agenda: HF1314 (Lenczewski) MSRS general Chr. Rep. Sherry Broecker technology demonstration project shared loans state employees retirement plan service credit Agenda: To be announced. provided, manure waste methane recovery purchase for prior temporary employment system energy purchase required, rebates authorized for a certain person. TRANSPORTATION POLICY provided, and money appropriated. HF1853 (Mares) Public employees police and 5 State Office Building HF1235 (Swenson) Livestock production fire plan and local police and fire consolidation Chr. Rep. Tom Workman facilities exempted from ambient hydrogen account provisions modified. Agenda: To be announced. sulfide standards on days manure is being HF1483 (Tomassoni) Minimum fire state aid removed from barns or manure storage facilities. relief association eligibility expanded. 8:30 a.m. HF688 (Kubly) Hydroponic greenhouses HF1487 (Wenzel) Minimum fire state aid corporate farm law exemption provided. eligibility expanded to post-1993 relief STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE associations. 300N State Office Building FAMILY & EARLY CHILDHOOD HF1444 (Krinkie) Public Employees Retirement Chr. Rep. Philip Krinkie EDUCATION FINANCE Association (PERA) provisions modified. Agenda: Budget presentations on public 5 State Office Building HF1842 (Swenson) Glencoe area health center television and public radio. Chr. Rep. Barb Sykora employee privatization pension benefit Agenda: HF883 (Nornes) Chemical abuse accommodation provided. 10 a.m. prevention matching grants provided to HF256 (Kahn) Minneapolis Firefighters Relief community collaborative projects and money Association provisions modified. CRIME PREVENTION appropriated. HF1561 (Mares) Metropolitan Council Basement Hearing Room HF1697 (Nornes) Male responsibility and authorized to offer early retirement incentive. State Office Building fathering grants provided, and money HF1076 (Rifenberg) Volunteer firefighter Chr. Rep. Rich Stanek appropriated. supplemental retirement benefit maximum Agenda: To be announced. HF647 (Sykora) Maximum child care assistance increased. reimbursement increased, payment HF1830 (Stanek) Minneapolis Police Relief EDUCATION POLICY requirements modified, and streamlined system Association authorized fund disbursements 200 State Office Building developed. modified. Chr. Rep. Harry Mares HF1864 (McGuire) Minnesota Family SF1886 (Sams) Retirement eligibility for Bertha- Agenda: To be announced. Investment Plan (MFIP) and basic sliding fee Hewitt school district teachers. child care assistance program consolidated, and HF1743 (Jennings) Public Employees Retirement ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL projected costs forecasted and recognized in the Association (PERA) military service credit RESOURCES POLICY fund balance. purchase authorized for a certain Rush City 10 State Office Building HF1960 (Gray) Child care system obsolete school district employee. Chr. Rep. Dennis Ozment reports eliminated. HF1302 (Pugh) Teacher earning limitations Agenda: To be announced. resumed for returning retirees. LOCAL GOVERNMENT & METROPOLITAN Other items designated by chair. TAXES AFFAIRS 5 State Office Building 200 State Office Building Chr. Rep. Ron Abrams Chr. Rep. Peg Larsen Agenda: HF584 (Dawkins) Low-income housing Agenda: HF1290 (Larsen, P.) Minneapolis-St. income tax credit provided. Paul International Airport; Bloomington, HF1961 (Otremba) Low-income housing tax Minneapolis, and Richfield airport impact zones credit provided.

30 SESSION WEEKLY / March 19, 1999 HF1335 (Hasskamp) Sales tax exemption HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE 12 noon provided for construction materials used in 10 State Office Building building Hallett Community Center in Crosby. Chr. Rep. Kevin Goodno HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE HF1334 (Howes) Sales tax exemption provided Agenda: HF756 (Westfall) Clay County 10 State Office Building for equipment and materials used to make nonprofit dental services grant provided and Chr. Rep. Kevin Goodno improvements to certain resorts. money appropriated. Agenda: HF634 (Bradley) Crisis nursery HF1485 (Howes) Deep Portage environmental HF424 (Westfall) Living-at-home/block nurse development funding increased and money learning center construction materials sales tax program expanded and money appropriated. appropriated. exemption provided. HF1116 (Huntley) City of Duluth appropriated HF1146 (Howes) Indian Child Welfare Defense HF900 (Rest) Working family income tax credit money for a family practice residency program Corporation provided grants to promote Indian percentages modified. for northeastern Minnesota. Child Welfare Act compliance. HF1997 (Dawkins) Comprehensive low-income HF1770 (Fuller) Senior nutrition meals provided HF1364 (Koskinen) New chance program tax credit provided replacing the working family increased funding and money appropriated. appropriation provided in Hennepin County. tax credit, dependent care tax credit, education HF1443 (Abeler) Independent living skills credit, and property tax refund; and money training program funded for persons with appropriated. JOBS & ECONOMIC epilepsy and money appropriated. DEVELOPMENT FINANCE HF1852 (Stanek) Asian-American juvenile crime 12:30 p.m. 200 State Office Building intervention and prevention program grant Chr. Rep. Dan McElroy provided and money appropriated. AGRICULTURE & RURAL Agenda: To be announced. DEVELOPMENT FINANCE K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE 10 State Office Building 10 a.m. 200 State Office Building Chr. Rep. Bob Ness Chr. Rep. Alice Seagren Agenda: Governor’s budget request for CRIME PREVENTION Agenda: To be announced. Department of Agriculture and Minnesota Board Basement Hearing Room of Animal Health. State Office Building Joint FAMILY & EARLY CHILDHOOD Chr. Rep. Rich Stanek EDUCATION FINANCE/ CAPITAL INVESTMENT Agenda: To be announced. JUDICIARY FINANCE 5 State Office Building 217 State Capitol Chr. Rep. Jim Knoblach ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL Chrs. Rep. Barb Sykora, Agenda: To be announced. RESOURCES FINANCE Rep. Sherry Broecker 10 State Office Building Agenda: Takeover of the Office of Drug Policy COMMERCE Chr. Rep. Mark Holsten by House Judiciary Finance Committee. 200 State Office Building Agenda: Department of Natural Resources Chr. Rep. Gregory M. Davids budget overview. Agenda: To be announced. HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE 2:30 p.m. 300S State Office Building Chr. Rep. Peggy Leppik Committee Deadlines The House meets in session. Agenda: HF1547 (Bishop) Minnesota State Colleges and Universities capital improvements Each year the House and Senate set dead- 30 minutes after session authorized, and money appropriated. lines by which most bills must be heard in a committee and forwarded through the HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE process. The deadlines weed out some of Basement Hearing Room 200 State Office Building State Office Building Chr. Rep. Alice Seagren the thousands of bills introduced each year. Chr. Rep. Kevin Goodno Agenda: To be announced. The first 1999 committee deadline is Agenda: HF1858 (Rhodes) Crisis intervention Friday, March 19. That means to be con- hotline pilot project established for the STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE sidered further, a bill must pass out of all metropolitan area Hmong community and 500S State Office Building necessary policy committees in its house of money appropriated. Chr. Rep. Philip Krinkie HF948 (Huntley) St. Louis County; statewide Agenda: To be announced. origin. adolescent compulsive gambling prevention and The second committee deadline is education project grant provided, and money TAXES Wednesday, March 31. By that date, all appropriated. 5 State Office Building bills other than those containing appro- HF910 (Finseth) Rural mental health services Chr. Rep. Ron Abrams priations will have to be passed out of all grants provided and money appropriated. Agenda: HF25 (Pawlenty) Charitable policy committees in the both the House HF818 (Nornes) Residential mental health contributions federal income tax subtraction facility upgrades established and money allowed for persons who do not itemize and Senate. To meet the second deadline, appropriated. deductions. bills will have to be acted upon before HF834 (Boudreau) Adult mental illness crisis HF108 (Pawlenty) Charitable contribution 4 p.m. March 31. housing assistance program created and money income tax credit provided. The third deadline is Friday, appropriated. HF109 (Pawlenty) Charitable contribution April 16. All omnibus appropriations bills income tax credit provided. HF224 (Ozment) Charitable contributions will have to pass out of a finance commit- FRIDAY, March 26 excluded from alternative minimum taxable tee by that date. income. Of course, there are exceptions to the HF89 (Rest) Nonprofits provided grants for deadlines. The House Ways and Means, 8 a.m. volunteer assistance to low-income taxpayers, Taxes, and Rules and Legislative Adminis- and money appropriated. tration committees are exempt, as are the GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS & HF1311 (Dawkins) This old house; property tax VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICY valuation exclusion for certain improvements Senate Finance, Taxes, and Rules and Ad- Basement Hearing Room application requirements modified. ministration committees. Also, a bill can State Office Building HF1505 (Carruthers) Nonprescription drugs and be heard after the deadlines if the rules Chr. Rep. Jim Rhodes residential fuels exempted from sales tax. committee in either body allows it. Agenda: To be announced. HF1511 (Carruthers) General sales tax rate reduction provided.

March 19, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 31 MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE 175 STATE OFFICE BUILDING ST. PAUL, MN 55155-1298

Speaker of the House: Steve Sviggum Majority Leader: Tim Pawlenty Minority Leader: Thomas W. Pugh

For more information

For general information, call: House Information Office Competition at the airport (651) 296-2146 or 1-800-657-3550 Rank of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport among U.S. airports, in passengers served ...... 13 To obtain a copy of a bill, call: Rank among world airports ...... 19 Chief Clerk’s Office Rank of Northwest Airlines among world airlines, in passengers served ...... 5 (651) 296-2314 Number of gates at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport ...... 70 To find out about bill introductions or Number controlled by Northwest...... 53 the status of a specific bill, call: Number of new gates at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport since 1991 ...... 5 House Index Office Number of those controlled by Northwest ...... 4 (651) 296-6646 Number of new gates planned by 2002 ...... 12 Northwest passengers in 1997, in millions...... 55 For up-to-date recorded message Percent of passengers to, from, or passing through Twin Cities in 1998 giving committee meeting times and who flew Northwest ...... 81 agendas, call: Percent in 1975 ...... 45 Committee Hotline Year U.S. airline industry was deregulated, allowing airlines to set their own (651) 296-9283 routes and prices ...... 1978 Year Northwest began airline service in Twin Cities...... 1927 Year Northwest began service from Twin Cities to Asia ...... 1947 Year until which Northwest provided the only nonstop service from The House of Representatives can be Twin Cities to destinations outside North America ...... 1997 reached on the World Wide Web at: Percent of passengers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport who were http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us connecting between two flights, in 1997 ...... 55 Percent in 1985 ...... 45 Percent in 1980 ...... 33 Number of major U.S. airports to which Northwest had no scheduled nonstop competition from Twin Cities, September 1998 ...... 16 Teletypewriter for the hearing impaired. Number of those airports that are in Los Angeles ...... 3 To ask questions or leave messages, Number that are in Washington, D.C...... 3 call: TTY Line (651) 296-9896 or Percent decline in average fares at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport 1-800-657-3550 from 1990-1998 ...... 13 Percent above national average (for 45 similar airports) paid by Twin Cities Check your local listings to watch passengers in 1998 ...... 49 House committee and floor sessions on TV. Source: Flight Plan: Airline Competition in Minnesota, 1999, Minnesota Planning. This document can be made available in alternative formats.