A Nonpartisan Publication of the Minnesota House of Representatives ♦ March 26, 1999 ♦ Volume 16, Number 12

HF2183-HF2291 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 26, 1999 • Volume 16, Number 12 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. One could say it all started in Minnesota. No fee. On March 21, two men touched down in Egypt, miles past the point of completely circling the Earth for the first time in a hot-air balloon. To subscribe, contact: One of them was Swiss psychiatrist Bertrand Piccard, the grand-nephew Minnesota House of Representatives of Drs. Jean and Jeannette Piccard of Minnesota. Jean and Jeannette also Public Information Office made aviation history. In 1934, Jean accompanied his wife as she piloted 175 State Office Building a balloon to a point in the stratosphere that, at 57,979 feet, was higher than St. Paul, MN 55155-1298 had ever been reached before. By so doing, they broke the record held by Jean’s twin (651) 296-2146 or brother, Auguste. His record of 53,152 feet was set in 1932. 1-800-657-3550 Auguste Piccard also designed a pressurized balloon gondola — and his grandson TTY (651) 296-9896 Bertrand and fellow balloonist Brian Jones drew on that concept for their balloon trip around the earth. Director Don Piccard, the son of Jean and Jeannette, still lives just across the state capital’s city LeClair G. Lambert limits. Like his parents, Don made history. He fondly remembers being the first to cross Acting Assistant Director/Editor the English Channel by balloon in 1963. Nick Healy He said that without the Legislature’s funding for the University of Minnesota, his father and others in the aeronautical engineering department could not have invented the Acting Assistant Editor plastic balloon that spurred today’s hot-air balloon industry. Sandy Donovan The sale of land and iron ore in 1933 produced a permanent fund of $5.6 million for the university. Since the institution is governed by a Board of Regents, as fixed by an act of the Art & Production Coordinator Paul Battaglia 1851 territorial Legislature, the regents’ governance cannot be repealed or amended by elected officials. Writers “Today’s space program is based on plastic balloon research programs conducted by Jon Fure, Sarah Hallonquist, General Mills, Raven Industries, and the G.T. Schjeldahl Company in Northfield, and my Grant Martin, Paul Wahl father’s efforts at the University of Minnesota,” said Don Piccard. Jeannette Piccard was named one of Minnesota’s Women of Distinction in 1956. Chief Photographer Tom Olmscheid Among many other accomplishments, Dr. Piccard was one of the early consultants to NASA’s manned Spacecraft Center. Also, she was ordained as the first female priest of the Photographers Episcopal church. Prior to that she served as a deacon at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Gina Dabrowski, Laura Phillips, Summit Avenue. Andrew Von Bank Minnesota and the Piccards have been a major influence on today’s balloon flights. In fact, the first air balloon race in the United States was held by Don Piccard at a St. Paul Office Manager Nicole Wood Winter Carnival in 1962. Don Piccard says it’s time to bring this annual event back to the state. “Maybe the Legislature can help balloonists once again,” he said, noting that Staff Assistant modern technology has come full circle. “My cousin’s accomplishment last week is not the Jennifer Ridgeway end of an era, but the beginning, thanks to those who worked with the University of Minnesota to make it happen.” Session Weekly (ISSN 1049-8176) is pub- Much like the fictitious Captain Picard of the Starship Enterprise, the Swiss and lished weekly during the legislative session by Minnesota Piccards, with indirect assistance from the Minnesota Legislature, have made the Minnesota House of Representatives Pub- lic Information Office, 100 Constitution Ave., it possible “to go where no one has ever gone before.” St. Paul, MN 55155-1298. Periodicals postage —LeClair Grier Lambert paid at St. Paul, MN, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Session Weekly, Public Information Office, Minnesota House of Representatives, 175 State Office Building, 100 Constitution Ave., INSIDE St. Paul, MN 55155-1298. Highlights ...... 5

Printed on recycled paper which is 50% recycled, A Closer Look: Crowded classrooms...... 18 20% post-consumer content. Bill Introductions (HF2183 - HF2291)...... 21 Committee Schedule (March 29-April 2)...... 24 t e d i n o r n

P On the cover: Warm sunshine comes through the windows of the Capitol dome during r

e r c e the first week of spring. y p c a l e d p —Photo by Andrew Von Bank

Piccard photo from The Space Center web site at: http://www.zianet.com/space/jrpic.html 2 SESSION WEEKLY / March 26, 1999 Identity fraud . . . Growing crime problem demands new legal remedies By Grant Martin The House passed a bill passed March 23 maiden name — to commit economic fraud. ictims of identity fraud say they often that aims to give prosecutors the tools to deal Identity fraud can range from the unautho- have a difficult time convincing people with identity fraud. The vote was 132-0. rized use of a credit card to a complete theft of Vthat they are truly victims of a crime. The measure (HF112/SF333*) would make another person’s identity. And because merely possessing someone it a crime to transfer, possess, or use another Most people agree that identity fraud is on else’s identification information — including person’s identity with the intent to commit an the rise, and many claim that one of the main credit card and bank account numbers — is unlawful act. reasons is the easy access to information via not technically a crime, law enforcement offi- Penalties for the crime would vary depend- the Internet. cials often find themselves unable to pros- ing on the amount of loss incurred and the According to a report released in May 1998 ecute offenders. number of victims involved. by the U.S. Government Accounting Office, But armed with that supposedly private in- The bill also states that any direct or indirect officials at the Trans Union Corporation, one formation, criminals can run up credit cards victim of an identity crime is a victim for of the three main national credit bureaus, and clear out entire bank accounts, often over purposes of the law and has rights to any reported that fraud inquiries increased from the phone or Internet and often without the court-ordered restitution. 35,235 in 1992 to 522,922 in 1997. victim discovering the fraud for weeks or “This bill gives prosecutors the opportunity Secret Service officials also reported an in- months. to prosecute identity theft,” said Rep. Dave crease in cases investigated by that agency. Federal law limits a consumer’s liability for Bishop (R-Rochester), the bill’s sponsor. The agency said that actual losses to both credit or banking fraud to $50, so the real Bishop said that under current law, police consumers and financial institutions due to identity fraud increased from $442 million in 1995 to $745 million in 1997. Visa and Mastercard place their losses due to fraud in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually. And the U.S. Public Interest Re- search Group estimates at least 40,000 in- stances of identity theft each year. Bishop’s bill now goes back to the Senate. The Senate version of the bill has a consumer reporting provision that the House did not include in their bill. Under that provision, consumer reporting agencies, such as the Trans Union Corpora- tion, would be required to inform the con- sumer every time a person or business requests a credit report. The reporting agency would also have to provide a name, address, and telephone number of the person or business. Proponents argue that the consumer would then know each time a credit application is Lawmakers are working on measures to combat growing troubles with crimes involving identity theft. being processed against their credit history. Credit card fraud is a common form of such crimes, but law enforcement officials are dealing with a Critics of this provision argued that it is variety of other problems. —Photo illustration by Tom Olmscheid unnecessary and places too heavy a burden on the consumer reporting agency. victim under the law is the financial institu- can arrest people who attempt the illegal trans- Bishop’s bill is similar to a law signed by tion liable for the loss. Financial institutions actions, but the ringleaders often go free. He President Bill Clinton in October 1998. The often chose not to pursue these cases because said that his bill would allow prosecutors to federal identity theft law makes it a crime to their losses don’t justify the potential cost of charge these individuals just for possessing use a person’s identity to commit an violation investigating the crimes. someone else’s identification numbers. of federal law. The federal law also created a However, people who are identity theft vic- For purposes of tracking identity theft na- centralized identity theft unit within the Fed- tims often experience problems later, when tionally, no standard definition of such crimes eral Trade Commission. they apply for loans, credit cards, and jobs. exists and no single agency or business tracks Proponents of the federal law argue that They spend countless hours writing letters these types of crimes. state laws are also needed to assist local law and making phone calls in efforts to restore Typically identity theft means using an- enforcement and local prosecutors. their good credit. Some victims have even other person’s personal information — name, During committee hearings on the bill, been arrested for crimes committed by some- address, social security number, mother’s one who took their identity. March 26, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 3 prosecutors told lawmakers that Bishop’s bill could also be used to prosecute organized Official fought freeway route near Capitol check fraud schemes. In January 1999, Minneapolis police offic- In 1958, 90-year-old George ered as the spot for the interstate freeway, ers arrested several individuals allegedly in- H. Herrold, former chief and began to lobby against the plan. volved in a check fraud scheme. The suspects city planner of St. Paul, He argued that a freeway through the were allegedly stealing check routing numbers made one last stand in his heart of the city would be a terrible idea. and other information from the mail and us- effort to fight what he saw He said it would be an unsightly and noisy ing this information to create counterfeit as misguided progress. ditch and that it would be foolish to focus checks. A long-time opponent of all traffic onto one artery. The Crime Prevention Committee approved a planned freeway between downtown Min- Most important, he argued, there were a bill March 23 that seeks specifically to ad- neapolis and downtown St. Paul — today’s serious social considerations. dress the issue of check fraud. Interstate 94 — Herrold sent an open letter “The freeway idea requires the moving That bill (HF624/SF441*), sponsored by to the chairman of the mayor’s special com- of thousands of people, who must give up Rep. Rich Stanek (R-Maple Grove), would mittee studying proposed freeway routes. their homes, churches, schools, neighbors, create a new felony level penalty for attempt- In the letter, Herrold expressed his dis- and valued social contracts, who lose the ing to pass a fraudulent check worth $500 or gust at the fact that the leading proposed institutions they have built for their plea- more. The bill would also create a pretrial route would run between the Capitol com- sure and profit,” Herrold wrote. diversion program for certain check fraud plex and St. Paul’s central business district. Realizing that he might have to accept offenders. Referring to the planned route as a “seri- some sort of freeway between the cities, Stanek said the pretrial diversion program ous engineering blunder,” Herrold lam- Herrold began work on a compromise would separate those offenders with criminal basted the state highway department for proposal. He noted that St. Paul had al- intentions from the offender with poor finan- approving a plan that would divide the city. ready been divided and subsequently de- cial skills. “They have never considered the eco- veloped along its 22 railroad lines. So he That bill now goes to the House Commerce nomic effect of splitting the town in two designed an alternative route along an Committee. and placing the hundreds of employees of existing railroad line one mile north of the the Capitol and the highway department, planned freeway route. for example, outside the commercial and Herrold said his compromise plan recreational districts,” he wrote in the would work just as well and be less intru- Minnesota State Agencies letter. sive both socially and economically. (Area code 651) As the city engineer in 1938, Herrold had Nonetheless, the city approved the high- Administration ...... 296-1424 begun working on a way department’s Agriculture ...... 297-2200 plan to relieve the con- proposed route in Children, Families gestion developing on 1947. Herrold retired and Learning ...... 582-8200 city streets between the from his post in 1953, Commerce...... 296-4026 two cities’ central busi- following a 33-year Corrections ...... 642-0200 Economic Security ...... 296-3644 ness districts. He pro- career. Employee Relations ...... 297-1184 posed creating a In 1956, the down- Job Information ...... 296-2616 multi-lane, tree-lined town St. Paul business Finance ...... 296-5900 parkway on St. Paul’s community, which Health ...... 215-5800 St. Anthony Avenue. had generally been sup- Human Rights...... 296-5663 Toll Free ...... 1-800-657-3704 But the state and fed- portive of the freeway Human Services ...... 296-6117 eral governments had idea, realized that the Labor and Industry ...... 296-6107 a different idea on how proposed plan would Military Affairs...... 282-4662 best to relieve traffic sever the Capitol area Natural Resources...... 296-6157 congestion in the city. and its consumers from Pollution Control Agency ...... 296-6300 Public Safety...... 296-6642 They proposed a lim- the downtown. They Driver and Vehicle Services 296-6911 ited-access freeway An alternative freeway routing plan in the also opposed redevel- Fire Marshal ...... 215-0500 along the same route. 1940s would have directed Interstate 94 opment efforts west of Alcohol and Gambling Highway officials north of the Capitol. the Capitol, saying that Enforcement Division ...... 296-6159 chose the freeway route would attract business State Patrol ...... 297-3935 Public Service ...... 296-5120 based on typical highway design criteria, away from downtown. Revenue including geographic considerations and The group also Taxpayer Assistance...... 296-3781 driver surveys. But officials failed to con- hired the national firm of Victor Gruen Toll Free ...... 1-800-652-9094 duct any detailed social science research Associates to evaluate the proposal and Trade and into the economic effects of the proposed make recommendations. Gruen suggested Economic Development ..... 297-1291 Office of Tourism ...... 296-5029 routes. an alternate route that would bypass the Transportation ...... 296-3000 In 1942, Herrold discovered that his St. Capitol to the north and west. Veterans Affairs ...... 296-2562 Anthony Avenue route was being consid- But city planning officials rejected the State Information ...... 296-6013 Continued on page 17

4 SESSION WEEKLY / March 26, 1999 Week in Review . . . March 18 - 25, 1999

But some tribe members say that the bill Protection for search dogs CRIME might create and legitimize a “goon squad” created to maintain the standing tribal The House Crime Prevention Committee Defending your castle government. approved a bill March 25 that would impose The bill, sponsored by Rep. Steve Smith criminal penalties for killing or harming search A recent court decision has changed the (R-Mound), would outline the conditions and rescue dogs. standard for when deadly force can be used to under which the tribal law enforcement agency Under current law, harming or killing a defend your home, and lawmakers want to could exercise concurrent jurisdictional au- police dog is a crime that can be punished by change it back. thority with the local sheriff. up to two years imprisonment. In Minnesota vs. Carothers, the state Court The bill would also allow tribal police offic- The bill, sponsored by Rep. Darlene Luther of Appeals ruled last year that deadly force can ers to become certified by the state’s officer (DFL-Brooklyn Park), would add search and be used only as a last resort and that a resident licensing board. rescue dogs to that law. has a duty to retreat from an intruder if at all Supporters of the bill said the proposal Mark Haskins, a spokesman for Northstar possible. would help ensure public safety on reserva- Search and Rescue Dog Association, brought A bill advancing in the Legislature would tions and that the certification provisions his dog Peshtigo to the committee hearing. He overrule the Carothers decision and would would help the tribal governments recruit and told the committee that the bill is necessary to outline in statute when deadly force could be retain qualified police officers. provide protection for these important dogs. used as self-defense in the home. The House But Marvin Manypenny, a White Earth tribal “If someone harmed or killed this dog, he passed the bill March 25. The vote was 121-12. member, said the tribal governments haven’t The bill would specifically state that a resi- worked with the tribal members on establish- dent doesn’t have a duty to retreat before ing and regulating a police force. He said he using deadly force when an intruder unlaw- fears potential abuses by law enforcement fully enters a residence, as long as the resident personnel. believes the intruder intends to cause harm to “Let the tribal leaders work with the people,” people in the residence. he said. “They haven’t. They have left us out.” Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty (R-Eagan), Current law authorizes the Mille Lacs Band, the bill’s sponsor, said that the court’s deci- the Lower Sioux Indian Community, and the sion is “misguided.” Fond du Lac Band to exercise concurrent “If you wake up in the middle of the night to jurisdictional authority. Smith’s proposal an intruder in your living room, possibly with would expand the law to include the other a gun, you have a duty under the Carothers eight tribes in Minnesota. decision to go back upstairs or to the base- The bill (HF1607) now goes to the House ment,” he said. “I think that’s ludicrous.” floor. The court’s decision runs contrary to the so-called “castle doctrine.” That doctrine states that unlike other cases of self-defense where Punishment for no-shows the victim has a duty to retreat if possible, The House passed a bill March 24 that would defending oneself against an unlawful intruder help prosecutors recoup costs when defen- inside the home has special status. dants don’t show up for court appearances. The court itself notes in the Carothers opin- The vote was 127-2. ion that most jurisdictions outside of Minne- The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Osskopp sota apply the castle doctrine to self-defense in (R-Lake City), would allow judges to order the home. defendants who are convicted of failing to The Minnesota Supreme Court is currently appear in court to pay any costs incurred by reviewing the Court of Appeal’s ruling in the the county or city attorney. Carothers case. And the bill would eliminate a requirement The bill (HF839) now goes to the Senate. that defendants receive notice stating that fail- ure to appear at court is a crime. The bill (HF732/SF99*) now goes to the Tribal police proposed governor. Members of the House Crime Prevention Mark Haskins, from the Northstar Search and Committee approved a bill March 19 that To find out who represents you Rescue Dog Association, testifies in support of a at the Capitol . . . bill that would impose penalties for killing or would allow tribal law enforcement agencies injuring a rescue dog. Haskins brought his German to share authority with local sheriffs on tribal Call the House Public Information Office at (651) 296-2146 shepherd Peshtigo before the House Crime land. Prevention Committee on March 25.

March 26, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 5 wouldn’t be available to do the lifesaving work empt from such traffic laws and do not have to pose and place on the ballot for statewide he is trained to do,” he said. stop when a school bus extends its stop arm approval changes in state law or in the state Associations like Northstar are part of a and has its lights flashing. constitution. Under citizen referendum, Leg- network that provides volunteer services to Rep. Howard Swenson (R-Nicollet) is spon- islators can submit proposed legislation for fire and police departments. soring the legislation (HF1291). voter approval. The bill (HF67) now goes to the House Swenson’s bill would also extend the school Opponents of the bill argued that it could floor. bus driver licensing authority held by the state’s cause Minnesota to become more like Califor- public safety commissioner. It would allow nia, where special interest groups spend mil- SCHOOL EDUCATION the commissioner to waive restrictions in some lions of dollars on advertising for initiative or cases where applicants have criminal referendum campaigns. A counselor shortage convictions. Under current Minnesota law, only the Leg- This would apply when an applicant has a islature, with the governor’s approval, can Rep. Matt Entenza (DFL-St. Paul) said he past conviction, such as burglary at a young change laws or place a constitutional amend- believes many schools do not have sufficient age, but has shown responsible behavior over ment question on the ballot. ratios of guidance counselors to students. time as an adult. The bill (HF484), sponsored by Rep. Entenza spoke March 18 on behalf of a bill The bill moves to the House floor. Erik Paulsen (R-Eden Prairie), would place a he is sponsoring that would require school constitutional amendment on the ballot for districts to have one guidance counselor for the 2000 general election that would allow every 250 students by the start of the 2000-01 ELECTIONS voters to choose if they want the power of school year. initiative and referendum. Lawmakers on the House Education Policy Initiative bill passed Under the proposed amendment, the Leg- committee approved the bill (HF1227). islature could refer up to three laws per gen- Rep. Alice Johnson (DFL-Spring Lake Park) The House approved a bill March 22 that eral election to the voters for approval or said she strongly supports having more coun- would allow Minnesotans to choose if they rejection. selors in schools because it is an old idea with want the rights of citizen initiative and refer- Also, an initiated law or a proposal to repeal proven success. Too many times, she said, new endum. The vote was 77-51. an existing law could go on the ballot if a ideas that are implemented to help students Under the initiative process, voters can pro- petition is signed by 5 percent of the number don’t work. of voters who voted for governor in the previ- However, the Minnesota School Boards As- ous election. That threshold would have to be sociation opposed the bill, saying it would be Junior lobbyist met in three-quarters of the state’s congres- difficult financially to meet the proposed sional districts and on a statewide basis. And a ratio. constitutional amendment question could go “I’d like to know which elementary and on the ballot if a petition is signed by 8 percent secondary education teachers you’d like us to of those voters. lay off in order to meet this mandate,” said A “yes” vote by a majority of voters voting Bob Meeks, director of governmental rela- on the question would enact an initiated law, tions for the association. while an affirmative vote by a majority of But Entenza said that guidance counselors voters voting in the election would ratify a play a crucial role in students’ lives and that constitutional amendment. The governor many schools need more counselors to serve would not be able to veto a voter-approved their existing student populations. initiative. “We have ignored this issue,” he said. The requirement that a certain number of Entenza said he would work on adding a signatures be gathered in different con- provision to the bill to provide some aid to gressional districts is designed to make it dif- schools to help achieve the ratio. ficult for proposed legislation or constitutional The bill now moves to the House K-12 amendments to be placed on the ballot with- Education Finance Committee. out support from diverse regions of the state. But the bill’s requirements don’t go far enough, said Rep. Al Juhnke (DFL-Willmar). Bigger buses ahead Of the state’s eight congressional districts, all except two extend into the Twin Cities metro- A bill that would allow larger school buses politan area, so metro-area voters could po- was approved March 18 by the House Educa- tentially place on the ballot, and subsequently tion Policy Committee. approve, legislation that would benefit them The bill would extend to 45 feet the maxi- at the expense of Greater Minnesota, he said. mum length of a school bus. Under current Juhnke proposed requiring the signatures law, school buses cannot measure longer than from each of Minnesota’s 87 counties, but his 40 feet. The extension would allow buses to Fridley parent Connie Benardy holds her amendment to do so failed. carry more passengers. 5-year-old daughter Kyla as she testifies in “We don’t want to put up so many barriers Another provision of the bill would require favor of a bill that would increase per-pupil that we can say we have initiative and referen- road work vehicles such as snow plows to stop funding during a March 19 hearing in the dum, but we really don’t,” said House for school buses. Those vehicles are now ex- House K-12 Education Finance Committee. Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty (R-Eagan).

6 SESSION WEEKLY / March 26, 1999 An amendment was adopted to provide that emerged from the roundtable, but the voter information on initiative and referen- ENVIRONMENT lawmakers voted 87-45 to reject that dum issues through the Office of the Secretary amendment. of State. Rep. Betty McCollum (DFL-North Wolf management plan Rep. Dennis Ozment (R-Rosemount), chair St. Paul) said information on the pros and of the Environment and Natural Resources The House passed a bill March 24 that would cons of each proposal on future ballots should Policy Committee, was among the supporters establish a statewide wolf management plan. be available on the Internet. Printed copies of of Hausman’s amendment. He said the The vote was 94-37. that information should also be available by roundtable met many times and had input The federal government is set to remove the mail for people who do not have Internet from various experts on the subject and that gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act, access, she said. the Legislature should support those efforts. and the bill (HF1415) would allow people to Another provision that was adopted on the But lawmakers from northern Minnesota destroy wolves to protect themselves, their House floor would require petitions to have a said wolves often come in people’s yards and family members, their pets, or other domestic disclosure statement if the people collecting near their homes. And they argued people animals from attack. signatures are being paid by a company or who don’t live there don’t realize the serious- The bill also would authorize the Minne- organization. Rep. Rob Leighton (DFL- ness of the problem. sota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Austin) offered that amendment. Rep. Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) described two to develop a plan to control the wolf popula- The bill now moves to the Senate. incidents where wolves attacked children (nei- tion so that it stays at or above the federal ther occurred in Minnesota), and he said requirement, which is 1,400 in Minnesota. wolves have become unafraid of humans be- Rep. Tim Finseth (R-Angus), sponsor of the cause they have not been hunted. 2000 primary questioned bill, said the wolf was put on the endangered “Wolves have no natural predator, and if species list in 1974 but that the wolf popula- A bill that would eliminate the presidential the population is not managed, that popula- tion has exceeded the federal requirement to primary in Minnesota was approved March 19 tion will continue to increase,” he said. be removed from the list since 1994. by the House Governmental Operations and The bill now moves to the Senate. Veterans Affairs Policy Committee. A wolf management roundtable was orga- The bill (HF1423), sponsored by Rep. Bruce nized under the DNR, with representatives Anderson (R-Buffalo Township), would re- from various interest groups. The roundtable place the primary with an informal ballot to be participants agreed to a compromise proposal, FAMILY distributed at the precinct caucuses, which are which led to Finseth’s bill. held the first Tuesday in March. On that bal- That bill was amended in the House Agri- Funds for fatherhood culture Policy Committee, but some House lot, participants would indicate their prefer- Continued funding for grants aimed at en- ence for presidential or gubernatorial members pushed an amendment on the House floor to revert to the language that came from couraging young men to be responsible fa- candidates, and the results would be reported thers was considered March 24 by the House to the Office of the Secretary of State. the roundtable. “No matter what happens today, some Family and Early Childhood Education Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer spoke in Finance Committee. favor of the bill, saying it would save local people think the bill goes too far, and there are others who think it doesn’t go far enough,” Rep. Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls) is spon- governments millions of dollars. soring a bill (HF1697) that would provide Under current state law, a presidential pri- Finseth said. “So you won’t satisfy everybody.” The amended bill would allow the DNR to $750,000 over two years for male responsibil- mary is set to be held the first Tuesday in April ity grants. These grants are available to com- 2000. Printed ballots will have to be prepared, institute a trapping and hunting season for wolves if the population is more than 1,600. munity programs that focus on teen pregnancy and all of the state’s precincts will have to go prevention and the importance of fatherhood. through the formal election process. Kiffmeyer That provision was not in the original bill. (Trapping and hunting would not be allowed Many of the programs serve men or boys estimated that the costs of paying election who are fathers of children by teen-age girls, judges, printing the ballots, and other ex- in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.) and some also offer education to boys who do penses to be about $3.5 million. not have responsible adult male role models in “I think that $3.5 million could be better Another change would require people to report a killed wolf to a DNR conservation their lives. spent somewhere else,” she said. One such program, Dads Make a Differ- Under the plan, the secretary of state would officer within 48 hours. The original bill would have required reporting within 24 hours. ence, trains teen-agers to teach their younger report the results of the informal preference peers about the realities of becoming a parent ballots to the media. Kiffmeyer estimated that Other provisions of the bill would allow trained guard animals to protect livestock from too early in life and the value of a father’s to cost about $8,000, and she said it would involvement in a child’s life. accomplish the same goal as the more formal gray wolves and allow people to kill a gray wolf if it attacked a human or threatened livestock “If we’re going to teach them what sex is, — and more expensive — voting process. why don’t we teach them what goes along with The bill now moves to the House floor. or other animals. A person could “harass” a gray wolf if it came within 500 yards of people, it?” said Dimitris Kelly, a trainer with Dads buildings, livestock, or other domestic Make A Difference. If you will be visiting the Capitol in animals. The program is a joint partnership of the the near future, call the Illegal hunting of a gray wolf would be a University of Minnesota Extension Service Capitol Historic Site Program gross misdemeanor with a fine of $250 per and the Minnesota Department of Human at (651) 296-2881 wolf. Services. to schedule a tour. Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul) offered Other grant recipients around the state teach an amendment to restore the bill to the form young fathers about paying child support, the

March 26, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 7 The bill (HF1029), sponsored by Rep. Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook), would expand creel surveys by the Minnesota Department of Natu- ral Resource to include information on whether fish are caught while using electronic devices. Creel surveys are done each year to deter- mine basic information on the fish popula- tion. People are asked how many fish they caught, how much the fish weighed, and how long it took to catch them. The bill would add questions on whether fish were caught using an underwater camera, depth finder, or other electronic device. Bakk had originally sought to regulate the use of underwater cameras, a new technology that he said could lead to a reduced fish population. Like depth finders and other forms of technol- ogy, Bakk said the quality of the underwater Dimitris Kelly, a trainer for the Dads Make a Difference program in St. Paul, describes his job for camera is likely to advance rapidly. An earlier lawmakers considering a bill that would continue providing state grants for male responsibility and proposal called for a requirement that people fatherhood training programs. release fish caught while using the camera. family courts system, and fathering skills. ballot as a proposed constitutional amend- “When a lot of people have [cameras], it’ll Gov. Jesse Ventura proposed eliminating ment. be too late to do anything about it,” Bakk said. the grants, which the state funded at $500,000 “I think it’s the Legislature’s job to make But lawmakers were reluctant to support in the 1998-99 biennium. this decision, but not everyone thinks the way such limits on the equipment, and the com- Tammy Pust, director of government re- I do,” Holsten said. mittee accepted an amendment offered by lations and policy development for the De- If the bill becomes law, Minnesota residents Rep. Bill Haas (R-Champlin) that replaced the partment of Children, Families and Learning, would vote on the issue in the 2000 election. If bill’s original provisions with the measure to said the governor does not object to the grants the voters approved the measure, the Legisla- expand the survey. Haas said he once tried on merit. Rather, she said, he is trying to rid ture would then have to establish the require- using the camera and fish swam away from it. the state’s budget of small grant programs. ments for the casino. Bakk showed part of a video where a group The committee did not take any action on Holsten said the casino would help Canter- of ice fishermen caught more than 20 fish the bill, but lawmakers will consider it for bury Park attract better horses for races and using the camera. inclusion in the omnibus family and early keep horse farms from moving out of the state. But supporters of the technology said the childhood education finance bill. The track’s nearest competitor, Prairie Mead- video doesn’t tell the whole story. ows in Des Moines, Iowa, has about 1,000 slot Jeff Zernov, president of Nature Vision machines and offers purses that are about $10 Inc., a company that makes underwater cam- GAMBLING million higher than those at Canterbury Park. eras, said the camera was being used in the Several committee members spoke against video for illegally catching small mouth bass in their wintering hole. The fish were found Voters could choose slots the proposal. Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL- Roseville) cited some of the problems caused using a radio transmitter, which is also A bill that would allow voters to decide if a by compulsive gambling and urged commit- illegal, he said. state-operated casino could be opened at a tee members to vote against the bill, even Zernov said the company has sold more Shakopee horse track was approved March 19 though voters would have a chance to vote than 5,000 cameras and that they have been by the House Governmental Operations and against it. tested by professional fisherman and sports Veterans Affairs Policy Committee. The vote “If you’re opposed to something, I don’t writers. was 11-10. think you should vote to pass it along for “There has not been one honest report that The bill (HF1374) had originally proposed another decision to be made,” she said. it offers anglers an unfair advantage,” Zernov allowing slot machines and blackjack tables at The bill now moves to the House floor. said. Canterbury Park. The Minnesota State Lot- Tony Capra, a professional fisherman and tery would oversee the casino, and a portion of producer of a fishing show on television, said the profits would be used to increase the purses GAME & FISH the camera has many limitations. It uses a for horse races. wide-angle lens that distorts the view of un- The committee heard several hours of testi- Fishing camera controversy derwater images, it cannot be used at high mony on that proposal March 9 but did not speed, and the water must be clear. And even act on it. Technological advances in fishing equip- if the camera helps someone find fish, it doesn’t Rep. Mark Holsten (R-Stillwater), the bill’s ment have prompted concern that too many make the fish bite. sponsor, said he decided to amend his bill on fish are being caught, and a bill approved “The fish has the final say if it’s going to take the recommendation of another lawmaker and March 25 by the House Environment and the bait,” he said. to seek to have the question placed on the Natural Resources Policy Committee aims to The Department of Natural Resources has address that concern. formed a committee to study the impact of

8 SESSION WEEKLY / March 26, 1999 Under the proposal, a woman receiving an illegal late-term abortion, her spouse, and, if she is under 18, her parents, could sue doctors to recover psychological and physical dam- ages resulting from the procedure. Perform- ing such abortions would also be a felony offense, punishable by up to two years in prison plus fines. The procedure would remain legal only in cases necessary to save the life of the mother. The bill (HF177) now goes to the House Health and Human Services Finance Com- mittee.

Professional fisherman Tony Capra, left, testifies against a bill that would restrict use of underwater Covering costly prescriptions fishing cameras. Ron Payer, right, operations manager of the Fish and Wildlife Division of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill, which was amended to call only for If you’re on a fixed or limited income and increased reporting of the use of such equipment. spend hundreds of dollars per month on medi- cine, you’ve got a problem — regardless of technology on fishing, but determining the Law, spoke in favor of the bill. He said the your age. impact of a particular type of technology would board members have similar powers to those But a bill approved March 19 by the House be incredibly expensive, said Ron Payer, oper- of a state agency commissioner, and therefore Health and Human Services Policy Commit- ations manager in the department’s Fish and having lawmakers serve on the board violates tee aims to aid many in that fix by expanding Wildlife Division. the incompatible offices provisions of the state eligibility for the state’s senior drug program. The bill now moves to the House Environ- constitution. The measure would remove the age limit for ment and Natural Resources Finance Com- Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia), a mem- beneficiaries of the Medicare drug program mittee. ber of the IRRRB, spoke against the bill. and increase the income limit to 300 percent “The bottom line is this: Every dollar that is of the federal poverty guidelines. spent goes by the governor,” Rukavina said. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jim Abeler (R- GOVERNMENT “We do not have the final say on anything.” Anoka), told lawmakers that his bill would Rukavina said the board deals with issues also replace the current fixed annual premium IRRRB plan advances unique to the Iron Range. The Legislature with a sliding scale version and eliminate the established the board in 1941 because of eco- Lawmakers who serve on the Iron Range $4 million cap on funding for the drug pro- nomic problems associated with the cyclical Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) gram. nature of the iron ore industry. would be replaced by appointed citizens, un- Joel Ullund, a spokesman for the Minne- The Legislature also imposed an “occupa- der a bill approved March 18 by the House sota Chapter of the National Multiple Sclero- tional tax” on mining that is higher than any Governmental Operations and Veterans Af- sis Society, said there are several medicines other corporate tax, Rukavina said. That tax fairs Policy Committee. available to help control multiple sclerosis, has contributed to the Permanent Schools House Speaker Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon) but they carry a high price tag. Fund, so Iron Range residents have paid dis- said the IRRRB’s current makeup causes con- Because of the extremely high costs, people proportionate taxes toward schools, he said, stitutional problems, because legislators are who would be helped by the medicine often because they also have paid local property prohibited from holding other public offices. don’t get it, Ullund said. Patients are often taxes that go to schools. Sviggum dubbed his bill (HF249) the “If under age 65 and don’t qualify for other gov- The committee voted 10-8 to approve the Residents Ran the Range Board” plan. ernment health care programs with prescrip- bill. “(The bill) seeks to bring back credibility to tion coverage. The measure now moves to the House floor. the IRRRB by putting it in the hands of work- The bill also has the support of the Minne- ing people from the Range,” Sviggum said. sota Chapter of the American Association of The IRRRB oversees six different accounts Retired Persons. that appropriate money for environmental or HEALTH Several lawmakers argued that if the federal economic development projects. Under cur- government raised the Medicare reimburse- rent law, the House Speaker appoints five state Abortion ban advances ment level, the problem would be solved. Oth- representatives to serve on the board, and the ers suggested Medicare supplements as a A controversial bill to ban the so-called Senate Subcommittee on Committees ap- solution. “partial-birth” abortion procedure continues points five state senators. Rep. Bill Haas (R-Champlin) said another its advance through the House committee The bill would require the governor to ap- solution could come from the drug compa- process. point 10 board members who are not legisla- nies themselves, many of which have estab- The House Crime Prevention Committee tors. No more than six board members could lished programs for providing their product approved the bill March 19. support the same political party and all would free to those in need. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Richard Mulder have to live in the Iron Range tax relief area. Rep. John Dorn (DFL-Mankato) said that (R-Ivanhoe), would provide civil and crimi- Neil Hamilton, trustees professor of regula- expanding the senior drug program could be nal penalties for performing late-term tory policy at William Mitchell College of advantageous in the long run, because if a abortions.

March 26, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 9 patient foregoes necessary medicine because Testing for chiropractors of costs, the state will eventually pick up a Indian child welfare higher health care bill when complications The House passed a bill March 22 that would arise. change state licensing requirements for chiro- The bill (HF1769) moves to the House practors. The vote was 127-2. Health and Human Services Finance Under the bill, chiropractors practicing in Committee. Minnesota would no longer have to pass the Minnesota licensure practical exam, as long as Pharmacists’ growing job they have passed any examination that is ap- proved by the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The House passed a bill March 24 that would The bill (HF1216) is sponsored by Rep. make changes to the Minnesota Pharmacy Jim Abeler (R-Anoka), who is a chiropractor. Practice Act. The vote was 130-0. He said the intent of the bill is to follow a The bill (HF408) would allow pharmacists nationwide effort to standardize the chiro- to engage in monitoring of drug therapy, se- practic field. lection of therapeutic devices, drug adminis- His bill moves to the Senate. tration of first dosage and emergencies, and drug research. It would also allow pharmacists to manage Clarifying water laws and modify drug therapy on a case-by-case Effective Aug. 1, the definition of basis according to a written agreement be- “public water supply” in the state’s tween the pharmacist and a health-care Safe Drinking Water Act will match practitioner. Signed the definition in the federal law. Rep. Kevin Goodno (R-Moorhead), spon- by the governor The new state law was signed sor of the bill, said the language in the bill March 25 by Gov. Jesse Ventura. recognizes current practices. The possibility that some water projects in The original pharmacy act was adopted in Minnesota would lose federal funding because 1937. of the discrepancy prompted the clarification. The bill moves to the Senate. Rep. Kathy Tingelstad (R-Andover) and Sen. Terri Yellowhammer of the Indian Child Martha Robertson (R-Minnetonka) sponsored Welfare Law Center testifies March 24 before the measure. Ensuring financial stability the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee in support of continued state HF610/SF649*/CH18 The state’s three community integrated funding for the Indian Child Welfare Defense health care service networks would have to Corporation. maintain a net worth reserve of three times HIGHER EDUCATION their minimum net worth requirement, un- Expanding lab help der a bill the House passed March 22. The vote Health endowment proposed was 126-0. The House passed a bill March 22 that would exempt some medical researchers from medi- The networks, often called CISNs, are man- A proposal to create an endowment that cal licensing requirements. The vote was aged health care networks similar to health would fund medical education at the Univer- 127-0. maintenance organizations (HMOs), but the sity of Minnesota with a portion of the state’s Rep. Fran Bradley (R-Rochester), who is networks have smaller enrollments and oper- tobacco settlement was considered March 22 sponsoring the bill, said the exemption would ate mostly outside the urban areas. by the House Higher Education Finance apply to those performing medical research The net worth holdings are required to as- Committee. for a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization op- sure financial solvency. Rep. Peggy Leppik (R-Golden Valley) is erated primarily to conduct scientific research Rep. Gregory Davids (R-Preston) said his sponsoring a bill (HF1391) that would put on causes and cures of human disease. bill is designed to treat CISNs in a way similar $350 million into an endowment for 10 years, To qualify, researchers would be required to the way the state treats HMOs, which were bringing in $35.5 million in interest over the to perform duties that are related to public required to up their net worth holdings under first two years to fund the U of M’s Academic health education and conducted under the a bill passed last year. Health Center. supervision of one or more licensed The bill also accords peer review protection Leppik said the endowment is necessary for physicians. to the CISNs, which shields their deliberations the Academic Health Center to continue its Bradley said researchers often come from from the legal process should a contested inci- mission of educating the majority of the state’s other countries and are not licensed to prac- dent occur. health care professionals. tice medicine here but desire to participate in The bill (HF614) moves to the Senate. A loss in patient revenues that in the past research projects. paid for medical education and increasing The bill (HF1660) moves to the Senate. health care costs are two major factors con- If you have Internet access, visit the tributing to reduced funding for the Academic Legislature’s web page at: Health Center. In addition, federal cuts in http://www.leg.state.mn.us graduate medical education funding have also added to the funding gap.

10 SESSION WEEKLY / March 26, 1999 U of M President Mark Yudof said without (DFL-Mpls). “Why have a process when we’re general education requirements from diploma the money, rural Minnesota could suffer from automatically going to let the incumbent go and certificate programs and made optional a potential cutbacks in rural physician training. through it?” skills assessment for students wishing to enter “We do not have the sources of income to During last month’s regent election, former those programs. But that bill was not popular keep this great medical program going,” Yudof Regent Julie Bleyhl was not selected as a final- with MnSCU officials. said. ist. She was twice nominated at the last minute The compromise amendment would allow How to spend the tobacco settlement during a vote on the House floor, but did not relevant general education courses. And the money, expected to total $6.1 billion over the win a second term. skills assessment would be allowed only on the next 25 years, has been a recurring issue in the Rep. Bob Ness (R-Dassel) said the current condition that it would not disqualify a stu- House this session. Earlier, the House Health process sets up embarrassing situations for dent for a certificate or diploma program. and Human Services Policy Committee ap- candidates and the Legislature and that it could “We’re opening the door and not turning proved a plan to use the money to eliminate be changed. people away,” Ness said of the amendment. the state’s health care provider tax. It also The committee did not vote for or against He said he is concerned that students who approved funding a grant program to aid local Carlson’s bill, but instead forwarded it to the need remedial instruction or general educa- anti-smoking programs. House Higher Education Finance Committee. tion courses could lose interest in school be- Another bill moving through the House, fore they actually begin the program in their sponsored by Rep. Kevin Goodno (R- field. In addition, general education require- Moorhead), would distribute $1.3 billion of Tech college requirements ments could make some programs longer, the tobacco settlement dollars between four possibly sending students to private schools endowments. That plan is supported by Gov. Students pursuing certificates or diplomas with shorter programs, he said. Jesse Ventura and it includes the $350 million at technical colleges would not be subject to John Ostrem, deputy to the MnSCU chan- endowment for the U of M. the same general education requirements as cellor for legislative analysis, said the system’s The committee did not take any action on their degree-seeking counterparts, under a original plan to require general education in Leppik’s bill, but will consider it for inclusion proposal discussed March 24 by the House all programs would have created more trans- in the omnibus higher education finance bill. Higher Education Finance Committee. ferable credits for students who might want The proposal was offered as a compromise pursue degrees at a later date. alternative to a bill (HF1811) sponsored by MnSCU has now abandoned that plan, Regent change proposed Rep. Bob Ness (R-Dassel). The proposal was Ostrem said, and favors the new language in considered but not formally adopted by the A proposal that would allow incumbent the proposed amendment to Ness’ measure. committee as an amendment to Ness’ bill. candidates to be automatically considered for Lawmakers will consider the proposal as Three options exist in technical school pro- re-election to the University of Minnesota part of their omnibus higher education fi- grams: certificates, diplomas, and associate Board of Regents was considered March 18 by nance bill. degrees of applied sciences. Certificate pro- the House Education Policy Committee. grams usually last one year or less, and di- Rep. Lyndon Carlson (DFL-Crystal) is spon- ploma programs take two years to complete. Mental health help wanted soring the bill (HF2056), which would alter Degree programs also last two years, but the current process of nominating regent More mental health workers are needed to they require a general education component, candidates. help Southeast Asian immigrants, said Ilean which can later be used toward a bachelor’s Carlson said he has heard from some in- Her, executive director of the Council on degree. Currently, the decision to require gen- cumbents who said they feel they are held to a Asian-Pacific Minnesotans. eral education credits for certificate or di- different standard during the initial interview She cited a tragedy last fall when a St. Paul ploma programs is left up to individual process because of their board experience. Hmong woman killed her six children in an colleges. The bill would require the Regent Candi- act of desperation, stemming from her un- Under the compromise proposal, only gen- date Advisory Council to automatically for- happiness with her life. eral education courses specifically related to a ward the name of incumbents among its But incidents like that could be prevented if student’s field of study could be required. recommendations to the Legislature. more culturally sensitive mental health care That could be a course requested by a trade The council recruits and interviews candi- services were available to immigrants, par- industry as an occupational requirement. For dates every two years for four spots on the 12- ticularly Southeast Asian immigrants, Her told example, a carpentry student might need to member board. The council then selects two lawmakers. show proficiency in applied mathematics. to four names for each spot and forwards A bill sponsored by Rep. Lynda Boudreau Ness’ original bill was drafted in response to them to the Legislature. (R-Faribault) would provide $100,000 in a plan considered by the Minnesota State Col- A joint House and Senate committee inter- grants for Asian Americans to attend graduate leges and Universities (MnSCU) system. The views the candidates and narrows the slate to school to become licensed mental health plan would have required all students enrolled one candidate for each seat, and the entire professionals. in a technical college to complete 15 percent of Legislature votes on those candidates. The House Higher Education Finance Com- their credits in general education courses such Some lawmakers criticized Carlson’s pro- mittee discussed the bill (HF1895) March 22. as math or English. posal, saying it would put incumbents on an The grants, ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 The MnSCU plan prompted a backlash from inside track to re-election, take authority away per year, would be targeted toward Asian- students and technical education leaders who from the advisory council, and possibly deter Pacific Americans who currently work in the were concerned that many students would be other potential regent candidates. mental health field but have only bachelor’s turned off by technical programs because of “To force a recommendation on them is degrees. the new requirements. really troublesome,” said Rep. Len Biernat While many do work in community clinics, Ness’ original bill would have barred

March 26, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 11 they do not have professional licenses, which consisting of adoption agency, legal, and other would entitle them to reimbursement costs Bright page officials. from health care insurance. This makes offer- The bill (HF863), sponsored by Rep. Kathy ing some mental health services difficult for Tingelstad (R-Andover), moves to the House clinics because of the expense of paying for floor. non-reimbursed services. Stephen Maxwell, a social worker and clinic No free rides administrator at the Community University Health Care Center, said more licensed Asian Medical services abound in Minnesota, but mental health professionals are needed be- they don’t help much if people in need can’t cause of increased language and cultural bar- get to the doctor’s office. riers between immigrant patients and health Most older people and people with disabili- care workers. ties who need transportation to a clinic ap- “There’s just a huge cultural divide,” he pointment rely on a network of special said. “Especially in a crisis situation, my skills transportation services. The cost of the trips is and my knowledge are just not sufficient.” often paid by the state. Nearly 130,000 Asian immigrants live in Rep. Kathy Tingelstad (R-Andover) is spon- Minnesota, and the bulk are from Southeast soring a bill (HF1260) that would increase Asia. The majority are refugees who have left reimbursement to the transportation compa- war-torn countries and family members be- nies for such trips. The bill was considered hind, and as a result, many experience severe March 24 by the House Health and Human mental health problems while trying to par- Services Finance Committee,. ticipate in American society. “Special transportation providers, just like Maxwell said the grant money would make direct care providers, are struggling to attract a “dent” in problems in metro-area clinics, and maintain quality employees in a very com- but he hopes that if successful, the program petitive job market,” said Allyson Hartle, a could reach into the rest of Minnesota. spokeswoman for the Special Transportation The committee will consider Boudreau’s Services Association. bill for inclusion in the omnibus higher edu- She said that as the population of elderly cation finance bill. and disabled people increases, there will be higher demand for service. That means every effort to keep all providers in business should HUMAN SERVICES be taken. Officials from transportation service pro- viders in metropolitan and rural areas also Changes to fathers’ registry spoke in favor of the plan. Bright sunlight streams through a set of Steve Elwood, who operates R. and S. Trans- second-floor French doors in the Capitol as Although 28 men registered on Minnesota’s House page Wayne Kline makes his way to the portation in Rochester, said the challenges are Fathers’ Adoption Registry in 1998 and seven House chamber for a floor session. particularly tough for rural providers because infants were matched with their birth fathers, of the large areas they cover. He explained that if one of his drivers has to officials say the program could become more in the event his child is put up for adoption, make a trip to Preston to bring someone to successful with a little tweaking. and it protects children and adoptive parents Mayo Clinic and take them home again, the The registry was created by a 1997 law and from conflicts with fathers contesting an adop- driver racks up 180 miles but the company is allows any man who believes he may be the tion. only reimbursed for 90 miles. biological father of a child to register with the Last year, the Legislature passed a measure “A lot of providers just choose not to do it,” state Department of Health so he will be noti- requiring the mother to be notified when the he said. fied if his child is put up for adoption. father has registered. Also, if a driver brings a patient into the Laura Arvold, coordinator of advocacy ser- Arvold told the committee that in addition Twin Cities and waits to take the person home vices for Children’s Home Society, spoke to the seven children who were matched with again, the driver’s salary expenses are borne by March 23 in favor of a bill that would make their fathers last year, 282 adoptions were run the provider and are not reimbursed. minor changes to the registry. She was testify- through the registry and turned up no matches. The reimbursement boost would cost the ing during a hearing of the House Health and This year, suggested changes include mak- state about $850,000 annually. There are about Human Services Policy Committee, which ing all data in the registry private, requiring 180 special transportation service providers approved the bill. that fathers on the list be notified of the juris- statewide. The registry is for any male who is or be- diction where an adoption petition will be The bill was laid over for possible inclusion lieves he may be a child’s father but is not filed, and providing that post-adoption re- in the omnibus health and human services married to the mother and has not otherwise porting requirements of another country be finance bill. established paternity. The law is aimed mainly given full faith and credit by the courts in at couples who have little or no relationship Minnesota. beyond the time of conception. Arvold said the proposed changes grew from The registry protects a birth father’s rights unanimous recommendations by a task force

12 SESSION WEEKLY / March 26, 1999 Mental health board many of the state’s disabled people are able to Raising the lifetime limit to $3 million was work, but employment generally means loss proposed as a compromise. The House passed a bill March 18 that would of eligibility for the Medical Assistance pro- The bill now moves to the Senate. modify the membership and reporting re- gram. And because of their medical conditions, quirements for the State Advisory Council on many don’t qualify for standard health care Mental Health. The vote was 131-0. coverage offered by employers. SAFETY Sponsored by Rep. Fran Bradley (R-Roch- Goodno told his House colleagues that his ester), the bill would add a representative from bill aims to allow greater self-sufficiency for Bleacher safety addressed the Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Net- disabled people. He said under current law, work of Minnesota to the council. It would some disabled people have nothing to gain A bill that would establish safety requirements also require one or more of the council mem- from working. for bleacher seats was approved bers to be a person of color. The bill would require the state to provide March 24 by the House Governmental Oper- And the bill would require the council to Medical Assistance coverage for people who ations and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee. report on its activities to the Legislature, in are employed, eligible for the Supplemental The bill (HF1124), sponsored by Rep. Steve addition to the executive branch. Security Income program, have assets of less Smith (R-Mound), would require bleachers, The 30-member panel is charged with pro- than $20,000, and pay required premiums. such as those in sports stadiums or other viding input on policy, programs, and services Minority Leader Rep. Tom Pugh (DFL- facilities, to include guardrails or safety nets. affecting people with mental illness. South St. Paul), questioned whether passing Open spaces between floorboards, seats, and The bill (HF640) moves to the Senate bills requiring significant spending commit- guardrails would have to be four inches or less, ments is proper, without overall spending tar- or safety nets would have to be installed. Assistance hike proposed gets in place. The bill would also appropriate money for Goodno, who chairs the House Health and grants to help pay for upgrades to make bleach- Twenty-seven dollars may not seem like a Human Services Finance Committee, said the ers comply with the safety standards. great deal of money to most people. But if proposal should be a priority and that ample Ted Haase of Mound spoke in support of you’re income is low and medical bills absorb funding would be made available. the bill on behalf of the Toby Lee Memorial much of your monthly finances, it can mean The bill moves to the Senate. Committee. Six-year-old Toby Lee died in the difference between eating and not eating. January after falling from a set of bleachers That’s the case made by Barbara Collins, an while attending a hockey game at a Hutchinson attorney for Legal Services Advocacy Project, INSURANCE arena. in March 24 testimony to the House Health Haase said there have been many other and Human Services Finance Committee. Benefits limit may rise accidents that have been less publicized and Collins was speaking in favor of a bill that that the Legislature should take steps to help would raise the Medical Assistance income The lifetime limit on health benefits through prevent future tragedies. standard to allow about 12,000 people to each the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Asso- Lawmakers indicated support for the con- receive $27 in additional monthly aid. ciation (MCHA) would be raised from $2 cept, but they debated the broad rule-making The bill (HF669) would cost the state about million to $3 million under a bill approved authority that would be given to the Minne- $2.7 million per year. March 22 by the House. The vote was 128-0. sota Department of Administration under the Collins said the net impact of the legislation The association provides insurance to Min- measure. would be to help keep elderly people and nesota residents who cannot get insurance in Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Mpls) said the rule- others in their homes and out of long-term the private market because of chronic health making process would include a series of pub- care facilities, housing shelters, and other such conditions. lic meetings that could take more than one institutions. “I had originally hoped to remove the cap, year. And that process has been known to “If they cannot survive in the community, because since it is the insurance of last resort, create rules that are beyond the scope of the many of these individuals may find that nurs- it seems odd to me that it would have a cap,” related legislation, she said. ing home placement is a more viable option,” said Rep. Mike Osskopp (R-Lake City), who is The committee voted to allow the depart- Collins said. “If placed in a nursing home, sponsoring the bill (HF270). ment to create rules concerning only design these individuals will receive all their medical Osskopp said an 8-year-old boy in Red Wing standards for the safety nets, grant adminis- care, food, and shelter, but at a much higher stands to benefit from a raised cap. The child tration, periodic safety inspections, and the cost to the state.” needs a special ventilator to breathe and re- designing of devices that prevent children from The bill, sponsored by Rep. Kevin Goodno quires constant supervision. His medical needs climbing on the guardrails. (R-Moorhead), was laid over for possible in- cost about $30,000 per month. The committee also adopted an amend- clusion in this year’s omnibus health and hu- MCHA participants pay higher premiums ment that would prevent the department from man services finance bill. than they would pay for similar coverage in passing rules that include fees. the private market, and the state subsidizes the The bill now moves to the House State association to help offset financial losses due Government Finance Committee. Making work possible to the high costs of claims. When the bill was heard by the House Com- For an unofficial list of Minnesota A bill (HF670) that would expand Medical merce Committee, some lawmakers had ex- commissioners and appointed agency Assistance eligibility for employed people with pressed concerns about eliminating the lifetime heads on the World Wide Web go to: disabilities passed the House March 18. The limit because it is not known how that would http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/ vote was 131-0. affect the industry overall. comm.htm Rep. Kevin Goodno (R-Moorhead) said

March 26, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 13 He added that the employers would not get Erik Paulsen (R-Eden Prairie), would include TAXES the tax break on the full amount of the transit health care in the distribution formula for a pass. For example, if an employer bought a current program of pooling and sharing tax Transit tax break bus pass for one month from Metro Transit revenues in the metropolitan area. for $57 and sold it to an employee for $27, the As it exists now, the so-called fiscal dispari- There are probably hundreds of ways to employer would receive a 30-percent credit ties program takes into account real property convince people to ride the bus to work, but for the $30 subsidy only. The entire cost would market value and population in participating Rep. Dan McElroy (R-Burnsville) believes be deductible as a business expense, however. municipalities, but the program does not con- money can be a powerful motivator. If adopted, the plan would cost the state an sider issues like health care costs. He’s sponsoring a bill (HF723) that would estimated $2 million per year in lost tax McLaughlin said his county is being asked provide a tax credit for employers who pro- revenue. to pay uncompensated health care costs for vide transit passes for their employees. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion many residents of the other counties in the McElroy told the House Taxes Committee in the omnibus tax bill. fiscal disparities program. That price is borne March 23 that the use of mass transit in the by Hennepin County taxpayers, and he be- metro area is a key to a higher quality of life. lieves neighboring counties should be willing “It reduces stress to build new roads, and County seeks payback to give up a piece of their fiscal disparities the need for huge parking lots connected to funds to help out. our buildings goes down,” McElroy said. Some say Hennepin County is going broke “Uncompensated health care costs have al- Under the bill, employers would receive an trying to provide health care for uninsured ways been part of the cost of doing business, income tax credit equal to 30 percent of the Minnesotans who don’t even live in the county. but this problem has grown so rapidly in the cost of transit passes provided to employees. Dan McLaughlin, Hennepin’s director of last two years that it threatens the viability of The credit would apply to both the corporate health policy, testified before lawmakers in our Hennepin County health-care programs,” franchise tax and the income tax. favor of a bill aimed at distributing those costs McLaughlin said. However, the credit would not apply to any more evenly between the home counties of Hennepin County Medical Center expects amount the employer recoups from employ- those receiving the health care. The Property to provide $31 million in uncompensated care ees by selling the passes at a “bargain” price. Tax Division of the House Taxes Committee in 1999. The cost has been increasing at a rate Qualifying passes could be used for public considered the proposal March 22. of 10 percent to 15 percent annually. or private transit systems, as long as the ve- The bill (HF1700), sponsored by Rep. Between the medical center and all of the hicle used seats six or more individuals besides other county-sponsored programs, the cost the driver. After-school reading approaches nearly $50 million annually. About The idea drew cheers from several organi- $6.2 million of that amount goes to providing zations. free care for residents of other counties. Todd Otis, a spokesman for Minnesotans “Let me put this in context,” McLaughlin for an Energy-Efficient Economy, said reduc- said. “If we did not have this obligation, we ing air pollution and providing less congested could pay for our new public safety facility in access to downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul just over two years with cash.” would have a mushrooming impact. While lawmakers said they are sympathetic “If we are to control sprawl, reduce pollution, to the county’s problem, few at the hearing and maintain vibrant cities, we need a break- said using fiscal disparities is the answer. through in transit use,” Otis said. “The Ventura Anoka County Administrator Jay McLinden administration sees that, as do business, en- said uncompensated care is a state obligation vironmental, labor, and political leaders.” and urged the panel not to dismantle a suc- Patrick Loonan of Capital City Partnership cessful program for something “unrelated to said transit options are a lynchpin in his group’s the original intent.” plan to revitalize downtown St. Paul. He said Using a revamped fiscal disparities formula the proposed tax break is an opportunity for would simply transfer the costs to property- the state to “leverage its investment in transit” tax payers in other metro counties, added Jim and that it beats the alternative — building Schug, Washington County Administrator. more parking ramps. He suggested the Legislature devise another But some lawmakers expressed concerns way to pay uncompensated health care costs. that the bill would benefit only metropolitan Under Paulsen’s proposal, 50 percent of the areas. Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia) said fiscal disparities aid would be based on the the plan could give Minneapolis businesses a current mechanism and 50 percent would be competitive advantage by allowing them to based on the proposed distribution factor by save on taxes and parking costs and to attract Emily Shannon, a third-grader at Christie 2004. employees. McAuliffe Elementary School in Hastings, Meanwhile, Hennepin County has tried a McElroy said the difference in cost between reads “Educating Arthur” to the House K-12 number of different approaches to solving the doing business in the Twin Cities and in Education Finance Committee on March 24. problem on its own. Shannon participated in an after-school outstate areas more than offsets any advan- McLaughlin said the county employs 10 tage the tax break might foster. He also pointed program to improve her reading skills, and she urged lawmakers to continue financial full-time workers to help patients at its medi- out that metro-area property tax dollars go to support for the program. cal center enroll in state and federal health pay for transit services. care programs.

14 SESSION WEEKLY / March 26, 1999 He said that task was made even more diffi- ing into 2001. It would be completed in the The situation is worst for stations that must cult by the 22-page application process for spring of 2001. convert in November since some of the equip- assistance. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion ment required isn’t even on the market yet. Further complicating the situation is the in the omnibus tax bill. The federal ruling will also have a downside recent trend among employers to limit insur- for television owners, Abrams said. ance benefits due to rising costs and competi- “Digital signals will not work on your ana- tion in the health care industry. log set, so you’ll have to buy a new television or The bill was laid over for possible inclusion TV stations face crunch a converter that could cost between $100 and in the omnibus tax bill. $200 dollars,” he said. Big changes are ahead for Minnesota’s televi- TV stations must simulcast programming sion stations. Expensive changes. Changes that on both their digital and analog frequencies might drive smaller stations out of business. for at least 10 years to give consumers time to Meat packing project pitched In April 1997, the Federal Communications purchase digital television receivers. Commission issued orders requiring affiliates How much would the state be willing to The bill was laid over for possible inclusion of the top four television networks in the 30 invest to help bring 150 new jobs to Windom? in the omnibus tax bill. Rep. Elaine Harder (R-Jackson) hopes the largest markets in the country to begin broad- answer is $580,000. casting digital television signals by Nov. 1, That’s the potential price tag of her bill 1999. The remaining stations must comply by Military-friendly Minn. (HF1372), which calls for the state to forego 2007, when the commission plans to end ana- collecting sales tax on materials and supplies log television signals entirely. One of the advantages to serving in the U.S. for an expansion project planned by Caldwell That mandate has left owners of television military is the opportunity to pick the state in Packing Co. The measure was considered stations scrambling to find and fund new which you establish residency. March 23 by the House Taxes Committee. equipment. Some lawmakers are asking why members Caldwell has been operating in the Windom Rep. Ron Abrams (R-Minnetonka) is spon- of the military would choose a state that taxes area since 1946 and employs 190 workers with soring a bill (HF2007) that would exempt military pay and benefits — as Minnesota an annual payroll of $3 million. About 190,000 from sales tax purchases of necessary machin- does — over one that gives service members head of cattle are run through the plant annu- ery, equipment, and supplies for the con- an income tax break. ally, and the carcasses are shipped to Iowa for version. The House Taxes Committee For most, the choice is obvious, and that fabrication and finishing. considered the proposal March 23. presents problems for Minnesota. James Bever, general manager of the plant, The changeover could cost stations between The House Taxes Committee debated three said his company wants to invest another $15 $1 million and $5 million each, and stations bills March 19 that present three slightly dif- million in the Windom facility and to expand that don’t comply could lose their license to ferent solutions to that problem. to include the fabrication and finishing opera- operate. HF123, sponsored by Rep. Phil Carruthers tion. Stations owned by large companies, includ- (DFL-Brooklyn Center), would allow active- He estimates that would mean an addi- ing the bulk of those in the metro area, wouldn’t duty personnel to subtract the first $5,000 of tional 150 workers with about $4 million in feel as much impact as smaller ones in Austin, military pay in determining Minnesota tax- added payroll. Duluth, and Mankato. able income and income tax liability for ser- And with all of the processing capacity in Pat St. George, general manager of KAAL- vices performed outside the state. one plant, the company could pay higher TV in Austin, called the mandate a “runaway HF375, sponsored by Rep. Steve Wenzel wages, Bever said. train.” He said it was the latest in a series of (DFL-Little Falls), would allow taxpayers to Jim King, economic development director blows, including the growth of cable televi- subtract up to $8,000 of military pay from for Windom, told the committee that without sion, that have left small-market stations with taxable income in calculating state income the state’s participation, the company might fractured audiences. tax. Some National Guard members’ pay would choose to go down the well-traveled road of Complicating matters, the stations have little also be deductible. moving operations to Iowa. control over their advertising rates, which are And HF1218, sponsored by Rep. He said his city is at a “crossroads of oppor- generally set according to ratings points. That Mark Buesgens (R-Jordan), would let active- tunity,” and encouraged the committee to means recouping the investment to go digital duty personnel stationed outside of Minne- consider the ripple effect the plant expansion isn’t simply a matter of charging more for sota subtract eleven-twelfths of active military would have in the agricultural economy. their services. pay in determining Minnesota taxable income. Rep. Ron Abrams (R-Minnetonka) said he Rep. Loren Jennings (DFL-Harris) said he “The current tax code is a major disincen- is “conflicted” over the proposal because he is sympathetic to the plight of station owners tive to say you’re a resident of Minnesota,” fears establishing a pattern in which the state’s but that he isn’t sure it is the state’s place to said Carruthers, adding that with the loss of forgiveness of taxes becomes a tool for eco- help them out. residents goes the loss of census numbers and nomic development. He pointed to a similar federal mandate the commensurate loss of federal aid dollars. Harder said the crux of the situation is the regarding large storage tanks for gas stations. Three mothers of cadets at the U.S. increased competition from Iowa, something When stricter tank laws were passed, the state Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., that Rep. Ted Winter (DFL-Fulda) agreed is didn’t provide owners with aid. told the committee that it was likely none of getting worse each year. “A lot of them quit,” Jennings noted. their sons would choose Minnesota residency Although a construction schedule hasn’t The Minnesota Department of Revenue because of the tax situation. In many cases, the been completed, it is expected the project expects the conversion will cost the state’s 22 military provides information on which states would begin late in 2000 with work continu- television stations an average of $3.8 million have tax codes that are soldier-friendly. per station in taxable equipment. The mothers said that besides federal

March 26, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 15 dollars, the state was losing an even more forest properties that are designated exclu- and said the Legislature should not take on the valuable asset, bright and dedicated young sively for growing forests on a continuous responsibility of airport policy-making and in- men and women. basis. stead should rely on trained professionals. The proposals would cost the state any- The bill was laid over for possible inclusion If such decisions are made at the state level, where from $5 million to $12 million in the in the omnibus tax bill. “we’re looking at a full-time Legislature” said next biennium. Rep. Alice Johnson (DFL-Spring Lake Park). When Minnesota implemented its income “We are micro-managing.” tax in 1933, military pay was fully taxable. The TRANSPORTATION The bill would require the MAC to set up a Legislature enacted a $2,000 exemption for sound abatement council to handle airport military pay in during World War II. That was Airport rules proposed noise issues in communities with smaller increased to $3,000 in 1951, during the Ko- airports. rean War. The exemption was upped once A bill that would increase state authority In addition, the commission would be re- again during the Vietnam War to $5,000. over airports in the Twin Cities area won quired to craft policies to divert aircraft from It took war of another kind — the battle to approval March 19 from the House Transpor- the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport to the smaller balance the state’s budget in 1987 — to tor- tation Policy Committee. airports. The commission would have to re- pedo the exemption entirely. Rep. Barb Haake (R-Mounds View) is spon- port those policies to the Legislature next year. Wenzel said he voted against the repeal and soring the bill (HF849), which has the support The bill moves to the House floor. added that the issue had bothered him ever of local groups from cities including Mounds since. View, Eden Prairie, and Lake Elmo. All three bills will be considered for possible The measure would further classify airports Personal transit plan inclusion in the omnibus tax bill later this throughout the metropolitan region. It would Yet another mass transit option was un- session. set runway lengths to define the airports as veiled March 22 before the House Transpor- intermediate-use or minor-use airports. And tation Finance Committee. Incentive to protect forests under the bill, legislative approval would be Rep. Bill Kuisle (R-Rochester) is sponsoring required before airports could be re-desig- a bill (HF2041) that would fund a $600,000 Owners of land that is part of a state-spon- nated or runways lengthened. study of personal rapid transit, or PRT. sored program designed to save Minnesota’s The bill comes in response to efforts made Personal rapid transit is an electric system forests pay hardly any tax on the property, but by the Metropolitan Airports Commission of small, individual cars that run on an el- the land is open to the general public for (MAC) to expand some of the runways at evated rail line. The cars operate 24 hours a fishing and hunting. smaller airports. Those plans have been met day and depending on their design, can fit one A bill considered March 23 by the House with opposition from some residents who live person or a group of passengers. Taxes Committee would change that. near the airports. Minnesota PRT, a design scheme for such a The bill (HF656), sponsored by Rep. An intermediate-use airport handles mostly system, is a registered trademark owned by the Roxann Daggett (R-Frazee), would apply only corporate flights and mid-sized aircraft, while University of Minnesota and was crafted by a to non-industrial forest land. The plan would minor-use airports experience less traffic, have group of engineers there in the 1980s and early retain the tax break but get rid of the stipula- smaller runways, and handle instructional and 1990s. tion that the owner make the land available for personal aircraft. Members of Citizens for PRT, a local group public use. Currently, there are 11 airports in the met- that advocates for the proposed rail system, Non-industrial landowners are those who ropolitan area. Minneapolis-St. Paul Interna- told lawmakers that it would not compete have no capacity, such as a mill or lathe opera- tional Airport is the only major-use airport in with other modes of transit, such as bus ser- tion, to produce any sort of product on their the area and would not be affected by the bill. vice or light rail transit. However, it would land. The public would still have access to But smaller airports, such as Flying Cloud provide an alternative to using a car while still industrial forest land included in the forest Airport in Eden Prairie, the St. Paul Down- providing a somewhat private environment. management program. town Airport, and the Anoka County-Blaine Instead of focusing on commuters, PRT is David Parent, vice president of Minnesota Airport, would be affected. designed for all travelers, said group member Forestry Association in Grand Rapids, told Testimony on the bill lasted nearly five Steven Anderson. the committee that lagging participation in hours. Several witnesses argued that the MAC Anderson said the system is designed so that the program spurred the Daggett proposal. and the Metropolitan Council exceeded their cars wait for passengers, eliminating waiting He said fishermen and hunters are tough on authority to lengthen runways and re-desig- times at stations. The cars travel at about 30 seedlings and some property owners would nate airports and did not communicate with miles per hour and do not stop before reach- rather pay a higher tax and protect their trees. local residents before making such decisions. ing the passenger’s destination. But, he added, it is in the state’s best interest to Officials from both organizations disputed While Minnesota PRT is still a concept on try to maximize participation in the forest those statements, and they said they acted paper, its advocates say it is a low-cost, energy- management program. within their jurisdiction with the goal of pro- efficient system. He pointed out that 190,000 private land- viding efficient airport service in the Twin “I love my car, but this is something I would owners own over 45 percent of the forested Cities area. actually use,” said Rep. Ray Vandeveer (R- land in the state, and he said 50 percent of the Haake said her bill would hold the Metro- Forest Lake). wood being harvested today comes from those politan Council and the MAC accountable for The committee discussed but did not vote lands. their decisions by setting up the legislative on the bill. Lawmakers may consider it for The tree growth tax was established as an in- approval process. inclusion in this year’s omnibus transporta- lieu property tax in the 1960s. It is used on Many lawmakers questioned the bill’s intent tion finance bill.

16 SESSION WEEKLY / March 26, 1999 Lower rural speed limits establish tax-increment financing districts to “We have been very happy until recently,” assist with redevelopment and noise mitiga- she said. “Never did we believe we would have A bill that would reduce speed limits in tion costs in areas airport expansion is planned. hundreds of planes a day taking off from a residential areas of rural townships was ap- “The benefits (of the expanded airport) to runway within walking distance of our home.” proved March 23 by the House Transporta- the state are significant, and the impact should Gleason, who has a lawsuit pending against tion Policy Committee. not be borne entirely by those residents who the MAC challenging the validity of a study The measure would set a speed limit of 30 live next to the airport,” said Rep. Peg Larsen concerning airport noise, said he sees the bill miles per hour on town roads that run through (R-Lakeland), sponsor of the bill. as a step in the right direction. He said it would residential developments. Larsen said her main concern is for people be a cooperative effort between the cities, the Under current law, many of those roads who have lived in that area for many years and Metropolitan Council, and the MAC. have limits of 55 miles per hour because they are now forced to relocate because of the But Rep. Ron Abrams (R-Minnetonka) do not fit the state’s definition of an urban expansion. objected to creating more tax-increment fi- district, and thus don’t qualify for a reduced Lawmakers who supported the proposal nancing (TIF) districts, where local govern- speed limit. pointed to a study by the Metropolitan Air- ments are allowed to capture some state tax In an urban district, the speed limit is port Commission (MAC) that found it would revenue, often used for attracting businesses 30 miles per hour where buildings are within be better to expand the airport at its current to their area. He urged lawmakers from the 100 feet of each other. site than to build a new one. affected cities to come up with a more straight- The bill, sponsored by Rep. Tom Workman That decision led to the proposal to add a forward solution, such as an appropriation (R-Chanhassen), would put in law a separate new north-and-south runway, which will in- from the state’s general fund or a bonding definition for rural residential districts, allow- crease airport noise in homes and businesses request. ing the reduced speed limit when houses are in South Minneapolis, Richfield, and Abrams said the bill would allow the Metro- within 300 feet of each other for a distance of Bloomington. politan Council to establish boundaries of the at least one quarter of a mile. Rep. Mark Gleason (DFL-Richfield) said TIF districts, dedicate sales tax revenue from The bill (HF1265/SF1150*) now moves to the estimate to build a new airport was $4 the airport to local units of government, and the House floor. billion compared to the $2 billion estimate to use general obligation bonds to protect bonds expand the existing airport. But that $2 billion issued by the local governments. The Airport noise payback estimate did not include the costs of mitigat- Met Council has never had such control over ing noise by soundproofing homes and build- a TIF district, Abrams said, and it would set a A bill designed to help redevelop the areas ings in those areas, he said. bad precedent for public policy. around the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Gleason said those neighborhoods will also The committee voted to send the bill to the Airport advanced, without a recommenda- be hurt because of the number of families that House K-12 Education Finance Committee tion, through the House Local Government will move away, causing the school districts to without a recommendation. and Metropolitan Affairs Committee on lose students and state funding. March 24. Marlys Michalik spoke in favor of the bill, The bill (HF1290) would allow the cities of saying she and her husband have lived in their Bloomington, Minneapolis, and Richfield to home in Richfield for 34 years. Continued from page 4 Gruen proposal, stating that it would Territorial Gov. Alexander Ramsey, on his “aim people away from the central busi- first day in Minnesota, May 27, 1849, made his ness district.” And officials stuck with first gubernatorial visit to Fort Snelling. the original proposed route approved in Upon realizing that he was in the presence the 1940s. of the new territory’s chief executive, the com- Steve Elwood, who operates a transporta- Construction of I-94 began in the early manding officer told Ramsey that military tion company in Rochester, told a House com- 1960s, and the first section was opened regulations called for a 17 gun military salute mittee that because of the expanse of his in 1967. Many critics today decry the for such an occasion. company’s coverage area, his vehicles are high- affect the route has had on St. Paul. The officer began belting out the orders for mileage. Six vehicles in the fleet have over In his 1958 letter, Herrold lamented the troops to get into formation to fire. 350,000 miles, and four others have over the disconnect between highway plan- “Whoa, whoa,” said Ramsey. 300,000. ning and social concerns. Perhaps still a little groggy from the long Rep. Luanne Koskinen (DFL-Coon Rapids) “We have excellent highway engineers journey from his Pennsylvania home, Ramsey wanted to know what kind of vehicles survive versed in the economics of highway con- told the officer that he would much prefer a that kind of torture. struction, moving dirt, of locating high- shot of good whiskey over any show of mili- Chrysler minivans, Elwood replied. ways across country, around swamps, tary regalia. That response drew a huge smile from hills, and lakes, and through cut over The officer gladly accepted the alternative Koskinen. “My daughter sells Chrysler lands,” Herrold wrote in the letter. “But plan. minivans for a living,” she said. they are not versed in the economics of a “I think that must have been pretty good city, what makes property values, what whiskey, for we went down to St. Paul that day causes obsolescence, blight and slums, and laid the foundations for a good state,” and what keeps customers coming into a Ramsey told a reporter some years later. retail district.”

March 26, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 17 Crowded classrooms . . . Proposals would reduce class sizes in early years By Sandy Donovan The plans would have to detail the district’s Instead of calling for districts to submit a n 34 years as an elementary current class sizes, the proposed class sizes for plan for reducing class sizes, Seifert’s measure school teacher, Nancy coming years, how the 17-to-1 ratio would be would direct extra funding — $600 per stu- I Enstad has taught classes met for reading and math classes in kindergar- dent — for each kindergartner through third- of 24 children, classes of 32 ten through third grade, and the proposed grader who spends their entire day in a class of children, and ones of just number of additional teachers needed to meet 17 or fewer children. Districts could receive about every size in between. the district’s goals. $300 per pupil who spends one-half of the day “Each year I know the di- Upon the plan’s approval, districts would in a class of 17 or fewer students. rectives and goals I’m trying to meet. I have receive an extra $370 per student in grades one “(My bill) is class-size reduction on ste- the training and skills to meet them. And each to three and an extra $185 per kindergartner roids,” Seifert said. “It will reduce class size the year I wait to see how large my class will be,” annually. quickest.” the second-grade teacher said. “Each year I “The governor’s philosophy is to get as much In addition to keeping paperwork down, wonder if I’ll be able to do it.” local control as possible,” Jax told lawmakers. Seifert said his proposal would offer districts Enstad, who teaches at Gordon Bailey “We are not coming up with a one-size-fits-all the advantage of being able to use the extra Elementary School in Woodbury, was plug- plan. Instead we say, ‘Tell us what your plans money for whatever they deem necessary. ging smaller class sizes before the House K-12 are, what you want to focus on.’” “The constant attachment of strings by the Education Finance Committee, but she was School districts that already have small classes state is what I hear concerns about from su- largely preaching to the choir. in kindergarten through third grade would still perintendents in my district,” he said. In fact, it’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t be eligible for the extra funding. With approval But some lawmakers voiced concerns that think students would learn better in smaller from the department, such districts could put Seifert’s plan wouldn’t benefit enough districts. groups. Up for debate is how to achieve — and the money toward other goals including reduc- “Some districts would not be able to access to pay for — that goal. ing class sizes in fourth through sixth grade, the money without swelling up class sizes for Lawmakers on the education panel heard providing all-day kindergarten, increasing staff, part of the day,” said Rep. Matt Entenza about five such proposals — including Gov. or upgrading technology. (DFL-St. Paul). Jesse Ventura’s — The committee also considered three identi- on March 19. cal proposals that mirror Ventura’s plan for Ventura’s plan for reducing class sizes in kindergarten through third reducing class sizes grade. The bills — HF1166, sponsored by Rep. is included in his Satveer Chaudhary (DFL-Fridley); HF1353, omnibus education sponsored by Rep. Lyndon Carlson (DFL-Crys- proposal (HF1117), tal); and HF1407, sponsored by Rep. Betty sponsored by Rep. Folliard (DFL-Hopkins) — would provide the Alice Seagren same per-pupil finding as Ventura’s proposal (R-Bloomington). and would require the same type of plan to be The governor’s submitted to the education department. plan would spend Those three bills would also increase the about $150 million level up to which the state “equalizes” local over the next two referendum revenue. Under equalization, the years for class-size state provides additional aid based on a reduction pro- A proposal supported by many lawmakers as well as Gov. Jesse Ventura would district’s property tax base and its approved grams. The pro- provide extra funding for schools to reduce class sizes in the earliest grades to levies. The bills would up the level from the grams would target 17 children per teacher. current $350 to $465 per pupil unit, in an kindergarten through third-grade classes, with Districts would also be required to submit attempt to offset the impact of potential local the goal of having one teacher for every 17 an annual report of their progress toward the levy increases to fund additional classroom students for reading and math instruction in 17-to-1 goal, which Jax said would open up an space for smaller classes. those grades. important dialogue between her department Although lawmakers began targeting money “This is a K-3 rather than a K-6 initiative,” and individual districts. for class-size reduction in a 1993 law, any of said Christine Jax, commissioner of the Min- “We want to be more service oriented and the proposals discussed this year would, for nesota Department of Children, Families and we want to offer technical help to districts and the first time, provide districts with additional Learning. “Research shows that class-size re- to teachers,” she said. funding expressly for that purpose. Under duction does not have the impact in later years But the extra paperwork stemming from current law, districts must reserve for class- that it does in earlier ones. Basically, the gov- those dialogues between department and dis- size reduction programs 6 percent of their ernor wants to make sure we put the money trict is exactly what some lawmakers would general state aid for elementary students. where it works best.” like to avoid. The education finance panel will consider Under Ventura’s proposal, school districts Rep. Jim Seifert (R-Woodbury) is sponsor- the proposals for inclusion in the omnibus would submit to the department a two-year ing a class-size reduction bill (HF3) that he K-12 education funding bill, expected to be plan for reducing class sizes. said would also “limit administrative hassles.” compiled in April.

18 SESSION WEEKLY / March 26, 1999 Visiting the Minnesota State Capitol complex can be a rewarding and educational experience for everyone. There are buildings to explore and tours to take almost any time you choose to visit. And when the Legislature is in session during the first part of every year, there are floor sessions to observe, committee meetings to attend, and legislators to meet. Remember that this is your state Capitol, and you are always welcome.

Parking Office Building Ramp; and on the entry level of Public metered parking is available in the Administration Building Ramp (two stalls). Lot Q, north of the Capitol at Cedar Street and There are two handicapped entrances to the How to get here Sherburne Avenue; Lot D, next to the State Capitol. One is on the northeast side of the Location Office Building off Rice Street on Aurora Av- building, just off Lot O; the other is a drop-off The Capitol complex is north of I-94, just enue; Lot F, directly behind the Transporta- entrance under the south main steps at the minutes from downtown St. Paul. It is acces- tion Building; Lot K, across from the Armory front of the building. sible from the east and west on I-94, and from on Cedar Street (enter from 12th Street); and Since parking is limited during legislative the north and south on I-35E. on the orange level of the Centennial Office sessions, busing may be easier. Freeway ex- I-94 eastbound: Exit at Marion Street. Turn Building Ramp at Cedar Street and Constitu- press bus service is available. Bus number 94B left. Go to Aurora Avenue and turn right. Go tion Avenue. All-day metered parking is avail- takes you to the Capitol and the State Office one block, cross Rice Street, and enter Parking able in Lot Q. Capitol Security personnel will Building. Call the Transit Information Center Lot D. issue tickets for expired meters. at (651) 349-7000 for schedule and route I-94 westbound: Exit at Marion Street. Turn All-day parking permits may be purchased information. right. Go to Aurora Avenue and turn right. Go for $3.50 from Plant Management on the third one block, cross Rice Street, and enter Parking floor of the Ford Building. Cash or checks are Lot D. accepted and correct change is appreciated. What to do I-35E northbound: Exit at Kellogg Boule- For more information, call (651) 297-3993. Tours vard. Turn left. Go to John Ireland Boulevard Outdoor handicapped parking is available Tours of the Capitol are offered through the and turn right. Metered parking spaces line in Lot O, which is on the northeast side of the Capitol Historic Site Program of the both sides of the boulevard. Capitol, and in Lot F. Minnesota Historical Society. I-35E southbound: Exit at University Av- Indoor handicapped parking is available on Tour guides lead the 45-minute tours on the enue. Turn right. Go to Rice Street and turn the lower level of the State Office Building hour Mondays through Fridays between 9 a.m. left. Go one block and turn left to enter Parking Ramp (use the call box at the ramp entrance to and 5 p.m. (last tour leaves at 4 p.m.); Satur- Lot D. gain entry); on the blue level of the Centennial days between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (last tour leaves at 3 p.m.); and Sundays between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. (last tour leaves at 3 p.m.). The tours are free of charge and begin at the Capitol’s Valley St. information desk at the end of the corridor to

Charles Ave. the right of the main entrance. Brochures in Capitol Heights about 20 foreign languages also are available there. Lot Q N Tour participants may request customized Sherburne Ave. Blvd. Capitol tours that emphasize either the building or Admin. LEGEND state government. Ford Bldg. Bldg. = public Historical society officials ask that groups of Rice St. Rice University Ave. St. Cedar parking Marion ➞ 10 or more call at least two weeks in advance to Lot O reserve a tour time. Capitol Judicial

Ctr. The society offers “Voice of the People: Your Lot D Aurora Aurora Ave. Role in Minnesota Government,” a half-day

State Ave. Constitution session for students in grades 9-12. Ramp Office Fuller Ave. Bldg. Also, special tour events are scheduled ➞ Cedar St. . Cent. Cons Ave monthly throughout the year. Some of these Lot F titution CentennialRamp events entail admission fees; others are free. A Bldg. special events guide is available upon request. Transportation Veterans Service Lot K For a recorded message regarding tours and

John Ireland Blvd. 12th events, call (651) 297-3521. For more information about the tours or to reserve a time, call the Capitol Historic Site I-94 Program, (651) 296-2881.

N History Center M ➞ Marion St. Concordia exit Ave. Kellogg

March 26, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 19 Legislative sessions ings is available from the House Public Infor- Members of the House of Representatives mation Office. Where to find and the Senate debate bills when the Legisla- ture is in session. Dining information At the beginning of a legislative session, the Most buildings in the Capitol complex have House Public Information Office pace of floor sessions is generally slow as new their own cafeterias. The small State Office 175 State Office Building bills are assigned to committees and non-con- Building cafeteria is usually open only when the Legislature is in session, but it will remain (651) 296-2146 or 1-800-657-3550 troversial items are discussed. At about the The House Public Information Office is a session’s midpoint, however, the legislative pace open year-round during the restoration of the Capitol cafeteria, due to be completed in 2000. nonpartisan office that provides committee quickens. meeting schedules; legislator information; A large, year-round cafeteria is available in the The House usually meets at 2:30 p.m. Mon- and publications, including the Session Weekly days and Thursdays, and the Senate meets at Transportation Building. newsmagazine, educational brochures for all 11:30 a.m. Mondays and at 9 a.m. Thursdays Also, there are many restaurants within walk- ages, and member directories. All informa- during the first few weeks. House floor sessions ing distance. On Rice Street, there is Benjamin’s tion is available at no charge. are scheduled for the afternoon because com- Restaurant and Lounge located inside the Kelly Most of what this office publishes can be mittees meet in the morning and early after- Inn, Cafe Capitol, the Lagoon Vietnamese Res- viewed on the Legislature’s World Wide Web noon. As the session nears the end, however, taurant, White Castle, and El Bravo Mexican page. To connect, point your web browser at: http://www.leg.state.mn.us both bodies may meet several times a day, Restaurant. On University Avenue, there is McDonald’s, Burger King, Mai Village, and often into the night. House Television Services other restaurants. There also are dozens of All House and Senate floor sessions are open 216C State Capitol (651) 297-1338 to the public. Visitors interested in observing restaurants only minutes away in downtown House Television Services is responsible these sessions may call the House Chief Clerk’s St. Paul. Bus rides downtown cost 25 cents. Bus for live coverage of House floor sessions and Office, (651) 296-2314, or Senate Information, stops are located on Constitution Avenue. some committee hearings. Such coverage is aired in the Twin Cities area on KTCI-TV, (651) 296-0504, with questions. Spectators may Group visits sit in the galleries of either chamber. Channel 17. The House also broadcasts via Sometimes groups plan a “legislative day” at satellite statewide. 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Groups planning a trip to the Capitol should 211 State Capitol (651) 296-6646 upon their size and workload. Informational The House Index Department, a part of remember that seating is fairly limited in some handouts that committee members receive dur- the Chief Clerk’s Office, has a computerized ing meetings or hearings are considered public committee rooms — particularly when the index available for public use. House Index information and are available to the audience topic is controversial. lists bills by committee, topic, author, file on a first-come, first-served basis. number, and other categories. The office can Major proposals often have several public also give you the current status of legislation. hearings so committee members may listen to Senate Information Office all arguments for and against a bill. E-mail schedules Anyone with e-mail can receive both 231 State Capitol (651) 296-0504 Each committee has a chair, vice chair, The Senate Information Office is respon- House and Senate committee schedules. administrator, and legislative assistant. A list of sible for all information about the Senate, committees and members is available in the To receive the House schedule, send a including the committee schedule, bill sta- House Public Information Office in Room message to: tus, legislator information, and the distribu- 175, State Office Building or the Senate Infor- [email protected] tion of bill copies. mation Office in Room 231, State Capitol. Leave the subject line blank, and in the Senate Media Services Groups and individuals wishing to testify body of the message, enter: subscribe h-schedules B-44 State Capitol (651) 296-0264 before a committee should call the appropriate Senate Media Services, a bipartisan office, committee’s legislative assistant well in ad- To receive the Senate schedule, send a message to: produces television programs, multi-media vance of the meeting and ask to be placed on productions, scriptwriting, photography and [email protected] the agenda. Committees prefer requests one graphics. It offers live coverage of the Senate week in advance but will accept later notifica- Leave the subject line blank, and in the floor sessions and some committee hearings. tion when unexpected issues appear on the body of the message, enter: committee schedule. A brochure containing subscribe sen-schedules tips on testifying at legislative committee hear-

20 SESSION WEEKLY / March 26, 1999 In the Hopper . . . March 19 - 25, 1999

HF2183-HF2291

Monday, March 22 HF2192—Peterson (DFL) HF2202—Dawkins (DFL) HF2211—Schumacher (DFL) K-12 Education Finance Taxes Taxes HF2183—Davids (R) Special operating levy extended for Education expense credit and deduc- Previous capital equipment refunds Commerce Independent School District tion applicability extended to certain interest paid provision effective date Motor vehicle sales and distributions No. 2853, Lac qui Parle Valley. expenditures for prekindergarten ex- changed. regulated, unfair practices specified, penses and museum memberships. HF2193—Jennings (DFL) HF2212—Davids (R) and civil remedy provided. K-12 Education Finance HF2203—Clark, K. (DFL) K-12 Education Finance HF2184—Otremba (DFL) School impact fees authorized in In- Jobs & Economic Fund transfer authorized for Inde- Environment & Natural dependent School District Nos. 138, Development Policy pendent School District No. 495, Resources Finance North Branch and 2144, Chisago Affordable housing production and Grand Meadow. University of Minnesota Center for Lakes. preservation appropriation provided. HF2213—Dawkins (DFL) Integrated Natural Resources and Ag- HF2194—Greenfield (DFL) HF2204—Hausman (DFL) Taxes ricultural Management (CINRAM) Health & Human Services Policy Governmental Operations & research and technology transfer on Income tax credit allowed for child Veterans Affairs Policy agroforestry appropriation provided. Public hospital administrators ex- support payments made by low-in- empted from a certain compensation Non-hard-wired stairway chair lifts come noncustodial parents, and HF2185—Rest (DFL) limit. in private residences authorized in money appropriated. Taxes certain circumstances. HF2195—Holsten (R) HF2214—Mariani (DFL) Income tax rates reduced, dependent Local Government & HF2205—Knoblach (R) K-12 Education Finance care credit income limitations increased, Metropolitan Affairs Capital Investment income tax credits for children pro- School choice enrollment provisions vided, property tax refund amounts Annexation removed from munici- Itasca Community College construc- expanded and modified, and money adjusted, sales tax exemption provided, pal board jurisdiction, and annex- tion project authorized. appropriated. and money appropriated. ation by mutual agreement provided as exclusive means of annexation. HF2206—Abrams (R) HF2215—McElroy (R) HF2186—Van Dellen (R) Taxes Taxes K-12 Education Finance HF2196—Molnau (R) Certain Holocaust claim settlement Individual income tax education sub- Jobs & Economic School district referendum allowance payments exempted from state traction and education credit Development Finance limit increased. income taxation. modified. Public facilities authority wastewater HF2187—Gray (DFL) treatment funding formula modified. HF2207—McElroy (R) HF2216—Trimble (DFL) Education Policy Taxes Governmental Operations & HF2197—Entenza (DFL) Veterans Affairs Policy Compulsory education parent defini- Income and franchise tax provisions K-12 Education Finance tion modified, reporting to county and modified relating to allocation of gross Resolution memorializing the Presi- state agencies permitted, at-risk stu- Minnesota International Center’s in- income to state. dent and Congress to honor Hmong dent needs developed, staff develop- ternational classroom connection and Lao combat veterans by easing HF2208—Wejcman (DFL) ment grants provided, advisory council funded, and money appropriated. naturalization requirements, and en- Health & Human Services Policy created, and money appropriated. acting the Hmong Veterans’ HF2198—Munger (DFL) Universal health board established, Naturalization Act of 1999. HF2188—Gray (DFL) Environment & Natural universal health program and trust K-12 Education Finance Resources Policy fund created, statewide and regional HF2217—Murphy (DFL) Governmental Operations & Urban League Street Academy expan- No net loss of public shoreland act health care budgets established, board Veterans Affairs Policy sion grant provided, and money adopted, and money appropriated. memberships modified, health care appropriated. commission abolished, and money Rates modified for transfers of con- HF2199—Daggett (R) appropriated. tributions and interest for employees HF2189—Westerberg (R) Taxes transferring from the general Minne- Jobs & Economic Sales and use tax exemption provided HF2209—Carruthers (DFL) sota State Retirement System to the Development Finance materials and supplies used in con- Civil Law unclassified plan. Individual sewage treatment system structing a community center by a Government data classifications pro- HF2218—Pugh (DFL) loans authorized in Blaine, and money nonprofit corporation. vided and clarified, and terminology K-12 Education Finance appropriated. simplified. HF2200—Pugh (DFL) Laboratory school grants modified to HF2190—Rest (DFL) Commerce HF2210—Schumacher (DFL) include the operation of schools, and Education Policy Negative option offers treatment K-12 Education Finance money appropriated. School site decision-making team provided. Special assessment costs authorized HF2219—Hasskamp (DFL) composition modified. to be included in debt service equal- HF2201—Dawkins (DFL) ization revenue for Independent Taxes HF2191—Otremba (DFL) Taxes School District Nos. 477, Princeton; Property tax market value increases Education Policy Residential property containing four and 51, Foley. limited. Semiannual visits required to or more units tax class rates reduced. unaccredited educational institutions.

March 26, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 21 HF2220—Leppik (R) HF2231—Larsen, P. (R) HF2240—Abrams (R) HF2250—Lindner (R) K-12 Education Finance Local Government & Taxes Jobs & Economic Independent School District No. 270, Metropolitan Affairs Transit zone tax relating to property Development Finance Hopkins, grant provided for a year- Annexation of urban towns limited taxation repealed with certain Asian-Pacific community center grant round school/extended week or day to certain processes. exceptions. provided in St. Paul, and money program, and money appropriated. appropriated. HF2232—Chaudhary (DFL) HF2241—Murphy (DFL) HF2221—Ozment (R) Taxes Governmental Operations & HF2251—Cassell (R) Ways & Means State share of education funding in- Veterans Affairs Policy Agriculture Policy Claims against the state paid, certain creased, income tax reduction pro- Duluth air base STARBASE educa- Temporary permit provided for pro- language concerning claims clarified, vided, local property tax levies tional program appropriation pro- ducers of Grade A or manufactured and money appropriated. reduced, sales tax reduced, vided. grade milk for adulterated milk. MinnesotaCare provider tax elimi- HF2222—Biernat (DFL) nated, and increases in market value HF2242—Huntley (DFL) HF2252—Paulsen (R) K-12 Education Finance limited. K-12 Education Finance Taxes Violence prevention grant program Supplemental and transition educa- Municipal contributions to areawide established through the Department HF2233—Erhardt (R) tion revenue consolidated, and state tax base limited. of Children, Families and Learning, Taxes aid provided for levies recognized and money appropriated. Registration tax rate for passenger early. HF2253—Holsten (R) automobiles decreased. Taxes HF2223—Kalis (DFL) HF2243—Smith (R) Grant city levy limit base adjusted. Health & Human Services Policy HF2234—Chaudhary (DFL) K-12 Education Finance Compulsive gambling program sup- Taxes School districts prohibited from bill- HF2254—Carruthers (DFL) port provisions modified, relating to Corporate franchise tax research ing special education tuition to resi- Education Policy the governor’s request for funding credit rate increased. dents open enrolled in other districts, Minimum number of days of student from tribal governments, and money Independent School District No. 277, instruction established, and aid appropriated. HF2235—Dorman (R) Westonka, reimbursed for tuition penalty provided. Taxes payments, and money appropriated. HF2224—Biernat (DFL) Sales tax exemption provided for sales HF2255—Dorn (DFL) K-12 Education Finance to political subdivisions of a state. HF2244—Westfall (R) K-12 Education Finance Minneapolis YMCA provided grant Environment & Natural District-sponsored choice magnet for the Beacons Project, and money HF2236—Bishop (R) Resources Finance schools created and authorized to appropriated. Higher Education Finance Glyndon provided park construction qualify for start-up grants. Minnesota State Colleges and Uni- appropriation. HF2225—Bishop (R) versities Board of Trustees granted HF2256—Lenczewski (DFL) Capital Investment certain authority with respect to prop- HF2245—Westfall (R) Local Government & Grant provided for the southeastern erty transactions, constructions, re- Environment & Natural Metropolitan Affairs Minnesota regional public safety pairs, and improvements, and money Resources Finance Metropolitan Airports Commission training center in Rochester, bonds appropriated. Whiskey Creek restoration project required to study and propose noise issued, and money appropriated. appropriation provided in city of restriction on certain aircraft use of Barnesville. Minneapolis-St. Paul International HF2226—Abrams (R) Wednesday, March 24 Airport. Taxes HF2246—Westfall (R) Property tax forfeiture and HF2237—Seifert, M. (R) Environment & Natural HF2257—Peterson (DFL) delinquency procedures modified. Taxes Resources Finance Judiciary Finance Southwest regional emergency re- Hitterdal provided appropriation for Law enforcement agency grants pro- HF2227—Abrams (R) sponse and fire training center con- park construction at Lake Flora. vided for purchase of drug detection Taxes struction materials sales and use tax dogs, and money appropriated. HF2247—Gunther (R) Local contribution rate reduced for exemption provided. housing districts relating to tax Jobs & Economic HF2258—Chaudhary (DFL) increment financing. HF2238—Entenza (DFL) Development Finance Local Government & K-12 Education Finance Portion of opportunities industrial- Metropolitan Affairs HF2228—Broecker (R) Teacher licensure program created in ization centers appropriation reserved Fridley Tax Increment Financing Judiciary Finance Special School District No. 1, Minne- to match federal welfare-to-work District duration extended. Hennepin and Ramsey counties au- apolis; and Independent School Dis- funds. HF2259—Clark, J. (R) thorized grants to construct law en- trict No. 625, St. Paul to educate HF2248—Mahoney (DFL) K-12 Education Finance forcement training facilities, plans teachers of students with emotional Jobs & Economic required, and money appropriated. and behavioral disorders, and money Inflationary increase provided in the Development Policy appropriated. general education basic formula al- HF2229—Harder (R) Employment-related empowerment lowance, and money appropriated. Civil Law HF2239—Munger (DFL) groups in St. Paul provided funding, Reduced marriage license fee provided Jobs & Economic and money appropriated. HF2260—Entenza (DFL) for couples who obtain premarital Development Finance Commerce HF2249—Harder (R) counseling. Lake Superior Mississippi Railroad Automobile insurance premium re- K-12 Education Finance scenic railway appropriation pro- duction eligibility modified for HF2230—Dorn (DFL) vided. Independent School District No. completion of accident prevention Education Policy 2862, Jackson County Central, facili- course. Student membership provided on ties and consolidation costs grant school boards. provided, and money appropriated.

22 SESSION WEEKLY / March 26, 1999 HF2261—Carlson (DFL) HF2271—Trimble (DFL) HF2280—Howes (R) HF2289—Carlson (DFL) K-12 Education Finance Environment & Natural Jobs & Economic Governmental Operations & School district state aids payment Resources Policy Development Finance Veterans Affairs Policy dates modified. Contamination cleanup grant applica- Relating to community development; Relating to retirement; Minneapolis tion content requirements modified. providing financial assistance to the Teachers Retirement Fund Associa- HF2262—Ness (R) city of Backus for its waterfront im- tion; authorizing the purchase of ser- Education Policy HF2272—Trimble (DFL) provement project and related road- vice credit for various periods of prior Statewide educational testing pro- Jobs & Economic way improvements; appropriating teaching service. vided in autumn to ensure test results Development Finance money. in a timely fashion during the same Metropolitan and rural economic HF2290—Tomassoni (DFL) school year. development grants provided, and HF2281—Holberg (R) Jobs & Economic money appropriated. Taxes Development Finance HF2263—Ness (R) Relating to taxation; sales and use; Relating to appropriations; appropri- K-12 Education Finance HF2273—Dempsey (R) exempting construction materials ating wastewater funding for the city Categorical funding restored for pu- K-12 Education Finance used in certain library constructions of Hibbing; authorizing the sale of pil transportation to and from school, Independent School District No. 256, and improvements. state bonds. and money appropriated. Red Wing, grant provided for the con- centrating on reading enhancement HF2282—Mahoney (DFL) HF2291—McElroy (R) HF2264—Greenfield (DFL) program, and money appropriated. Crime Prevention Agriculture Policy Health & Human Services Policy Relating to corrections; requiring all Relating to agriculture; repealing the Health insurance premium growth HF2274—Greiling (DFL) counties to be charged for the actual weather modification regulatory laws. goals established. Governmental Operations & costs of confinement of juvenile fe- Veterans Affairs Policy males at the Minnesota correctional HF2265—Lenczewski (DFL) Polling place required on every col- facility-Sauk Centre; amending. Taxes lege campus with 500 or more stu- Bloomington fiscal disparities obli- dents enrolled. HF2283—Howes (R) Legislative history can be gation eliminated under certain con- K-12 Education Finance researched in printed ma- ditions, and Mall of America tax HF2275—Seagren (R) Relating to education; authorizing a terials at the Legislative revenue study authorized. K-12 Education Finance technology grant for Independent Reference Library or, for Professional teaching standards pro- School District No. 116, Pillager; the years since 1995, on the HF2266—Skoe (DFL) moted, salary incentives provided, appropriating money. Jobs & Economic and money appropriated. Internet. Development Finance HF2284—Daggett (R) Find directions at: Bagley stormwater and sediment con- HF2276—Chaudhary (DFL) K-12 Education Finance http://www.leg.state. trol project appropriation provided. Family & Early Childhood Relating to education; authorizing a mn.us/leg/leghist/ Education Finance technology grant for Independent histstep.htm HF2267—Chaudhary (DFL) Child care assistance provisions modi- School District No. 23, Frazee; Family & Early Childhood fied, dependent care tax credit ex- appropriating money. Education Finance panded, and basic sliding fee Trust fund to support innovation and transition credit provided. HF2285—Kalis (DFL) self-sufficiency in families and chil- Governmental Operations & dren act adopted, and money HF2277—Otremba (DFL) Veterans Affairs Policy appropriated. Taxes Relating to retirement; teachers re- Municipalities authorized to use the tirement association; permitting cer- HF2268—Kalis (DFL) Revenue Recapture Act to collect de- tain retiring teachers to elect the Crime Prevention linquent payments for ambulance improved money purchase benefit Operation of a motor vehicle at cer- services. plan in lieu of the formula benefit tain speeds deemed grossly negligent plan. relating to criminal vehicular homicide. Thursday, March 25 HF2286—Erhardt (R) K-12 Education Finance HF2269—Trimble (DFL) HF2278—Osthoff (DFL) Relating to education; authorizing Jobs & Economic Taxes funding for voluntary integration pro- Development Finance Relating to county property tax lev- grams; appropriating money. Neighborhood Development Center, ies; deleting a sheriff's authority to HF2287—Solberg (DFL) Inc. grant provided for neighborhood appeal budget and salary decisions. improvement and ethnic-based Environment & Natural entrepeneurial support in Minneapolis HF2279—Howes (R) Resources Policy and St. Paul, and money appropriated. Crime Prevention Relating to recreational vehicles; re- Relating to crimes; amending the defi- quiring a title for certain recreational HF2270—Trimble (DFL) nition of harassment for purposes of vehicles; providing criminal Environment & Natural the harassment restraining order law; penalties. Resources Policy authorizing the court to find a hear- HF2288—Seagren (R) Contaminated land petroleum tank ing is unnecessary in certain harass- K-12 Education Finance cleanup provisions modified. ment cases; authorizing indigent parties to perform alternative com- Relating to education; authorizing munity service work in lieu of paying funding for voluntary integration pro- filing fees. grams; appropriating money.

March 26, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 23 Coming Up Next Week . . . March 29 - April 2, 1999

education project grant provided, and money Act considered binding when all parties are Schedule is subject to change. appropriated. represented by counsel. For information updates, call HF910 (Finseth) Rural mental health services HF1153 (Paymar) Juror compensation studied House Calls at (651) 296-9283. grants provided and money appropriated. by the Supreme Court. HF818 (Nornes) Residential mental health Note: In the event that the agenda is not All meetings are open to the public. facility upgrades established and money completed, the committee will reconvene at Sign language interpreter services: appropriated. 3 p.m. or 15 minutes after session in 10 State (651) 224-6548 v/tty HF834 (Boudreau) Adult mental illness crisis Office Building. To have the daily and weekly schedules housing assistance program created and money appropriated. ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL delivered to your e-mail address, send a HF951 (Abeler) Area agencies on aging provided RESOURCES FINANCE message to: funding for support and planning services, and 10 State Office Building [email protected] money appropriated. Chr. Rep. Mark Holsten HF959 (Goodno) Supplemental aid recipients Agenda: HF794 (Hackbarth) Natural resources In the body of the message type: with special needs provisions modified. department account interest disposition specified HF1426 (Tinglestad) Well notification fees, and unrefunded gasoline tax computation subscribe h-schedules advisory council on water supply systems and provisions modified. wastewater treatment facilities terms, rural HF654 (Tingelstad) Metropolitan area regional hospital grant provisions, and health professional parks maintenance and operation funded, and student loan repayment provisions modified. money appropriated. MONDAY, March 29 HF842 (Fuller) Cross-country ski pass provisions JOBS & ECONOMIC modified. 7 a.m. DEVELOPMENT FINANCE HF1481 (Hausman) Como Park education and 200 State Office Building resource center construction completed, and ***NOTE EARLIER TIME*** Chr. Rep. Dan McElroy money appropriated. TRANSPORTATION FINANCE Agenda: To be announced. HF1321 (Hausman) St. Paul Como Park zoo 5 State Office Building and conservatory maintenance subsidy provided, Chr. Rep. Carol Molnau JUDICIARY FINANCE and money appropriated. Agenda: HF1294 (McElroy) Prorated motor 500N State Office Building HF2081 (Storm) St. Peter tree planting grants vehicle license fees authorized after dealer Chr. Rep. Sherry Broecker provided and money appropriated. transfer. Agenda: HF1927 (Storm) Police agency shared HF1472 (Mulder) Special number plates for information management system established and HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE collector aircraft provisions modified. money appropriated. 300S State Office Building HF773 (Westfall) Fire department expense HF2142 (Tingelstad) DARE advisory council Chr. Rep. Peggy Leppik reimbursement provided for costs incurred grant provided and money appropriated. Agenda: HF1241 (Bishop) University Center extinguishing motor vehicle fires within highway HF2158 (Swenson) Center for Reducing Rural Rochester appropriation for course and degree or interstate rights-of-way. Violence funding continued and money offerings. HF1886 (Krinkie) Seven-county metropolitan appropriated. area regional rail authorities abolished. HF1893 (McGuire) Crosswalk safety awareness K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE HF1215 (Pelowski) Southern rail corridor grade campaign continued and expanded, and money 5 State Office Building crossing minimum safety standards provided. appropriated. Chr. Rep. Alice Seagren Discussion on deputy registrars. HF1954 (Paymar) Crime victim and witness Agenda: To be announced. HF1993 (Workman) Seasonal road restrictions services pilot project grant program established, task force established and study required. and money appropriated. Property Tax Division/ Note: Meeting will continue at 12 noon in 10 TAXES 8 a.m. State Office Building. 200 State Office Building Chr. Rep. Ron Erhardt GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS & 10 a.m. Agenda: HF2226 (Abrams) Property tax VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICY forfeiture and delinquency procedures modified. Basement Hearing Room CIVIL LAW HF1869 (Van Dellen) City local government State Office Building Basement Hearing Room minimum per capita aid amount established. Chr. Rep. Jim Rhodes State Office Building HF1981 (Lenczewski) Local government city aid Agenda: HF1825 (Osskopp) Pull-tab dispensing Chr. Rep. Steve Smith base reduced as aid appropriations increase. machines authorized in premises licensed for Agenda: HF478 (Haas) Structured settlement HF1295 (Clark, J.) Property tax homestead off-sale liquor, progressive bingo prizes modified, payment rights protected related to tort or treatment extended to include property leased and maximum tipboard prizes specified. workers’ compensation claims. to family farm corporations. HF483 (Tuma) Special education provisions HF1728 (Seifert, J.) Board of architecture, HF167 (Wenzel) State-paid agricultural property modified and rulemaking provided. engineering, land surveying, landscape taxes provided, and money appropriated. HF2173 (Smith) State professional unit employee architecture, geoscience, and interior design fees HF667 (Milbert) Proposed property tax optional positions classified. and continuing education provisions modified; public hearings authorized and reverse and penalties increased. referendum for levy increases required under HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE HF1348 (Holberg) Tort liability exception certain circumstances. 10 State Office Building clarified relating to snow and ice accumulation HF2177 (Ozment) Agricultural and open space Chr. Rep. Kevin Goodno on municipal property. property taxation task force established, study Agenda: HF1858 (Rhodes) Crisis intervention HF862 (Holberg) County board ordinance required, and appointments provided. hotline pilot project established for the violation civil penalty procedures established, metropolitan area Hmong community and and fine certification to auditors as a special tax STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE money appropriated. against the land authorized. 300N State Office Building HF948 (Huntley) St. Louis County; statewide HF1122 (Leighton) Mediated settlement Chr. Rep. Philip Krinkie adolescent compulsive gambling prevention and agreements under the Minnesota Civil Mediation Agenda: To be announced.

24 SESSION WEEKLY / March 26, 1999 12 noon contribution adjustment requirement or Minneapolis coordinated criminal justice eliminated. strategies demonstration grant program JUDICIARY FINANCE HF2126 (Abrams) Fiscal disparities abatement established; and money appropriated. 10 State Office Building authorized, school district uniform abatement HF2228 (Broecker) Hennepin and Ramsey Chr. Rep. Sherry Broecker authority provided, and provisions clarified. counties authorized grants to construct law Agenda: Continuation of morning meeting. HF2240 (Abrams) Transit zone tax relating to enforcement training facilities, plans required, property taxation repealed with certain and money appropriated. 12:30 p.m. exceptions. HF1979 (Rostberg) Critical incident stress HF2252 (Paulsen) Municipal contributions to management (CISM), fire assistance support AGRICULTURE POLICY area-wide tax base limited. team (FAST) grant program established and 500S State Office Building HF2087 (Krinkie) Property tax use for light rail money appropriated. Chr. Rep. Tim Finseth transit prohibited. HF338 (Larsen, P.) Emergency management Agenda: HF1235 (Swenson) Livestock HF2085 (Tuma) Senior-owned homesteads grant program created and rulemaking production facilities exempted from ambient estimated market value increases prohibited. authorized. hydrogen sulfide standards on days manure is HF294 (Broecker) Extraordinary local disaster being removed from barns or manure storage 30 minutes after session expense aid provided and money appropriated. facilities. Note: Meeting will adjourn and reconvene at HF1142 (Rostberg) Animal cruelty provisions Health Care Directives Subcommittee/ 12 noon in 500S State Office Building. modified, and criminal penalties imposed. HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES POLICY HF688 (Kubly) Hydroponic greenhouses 300N State Office Building 8:30 a.m. corporate farm law exemption provided. Chr. Rep. Fran Bradley HF2251 (Cassell) Temporary permit provided Agenda: HF718 (Ozment) Advanced practice STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE for producers of Grade A or manufactured grade registered nursing regulated. 300N State Office Building milk for adulterated milk. Chr. Rep. Philip Krinkie Agenda: Secretary of State budget presentation. Regulated Industries Subcommittee/ 6 p.m. Bills may be added to the agenda. COMMERCE 10 a.m. Basement Hearing Room JOBS & ECONOMIC State Office Building DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CRIME PREVENTION Chr. Rep. Ken Wolf Basement Hearing Room Basement Hearing Room Agenda: HF1940 (Jennings) Renewable energy State Office Building State Office Building development funding requirements modified Chr. Rep. Dan McElroy Chr. Rep. Rich Stanek and required expenditures specified as Agenda: To be announced. Agenda: recoverable. SF1562 (Kleis); HF1583 (Anderson, B.) Firearm HF2165 (Holsten) Internet, interactive computer report requirement repealed. services, digital broadband services, and high- SF1553 (Berglin); HF1602 (Abeler) Prescription speed data and Internet access services regulation TUESDAY, March 30 drug coverage for the senior drug program restricted. clarified, Medical Assistance eligibility and Other bills to be announced. income provisions modified, and other health 8 a.m. care provider provisions clarified. FAMILY & EARLY SF1192 (Berglin); HF1490 (Mullery) Hennepin and Ramsey counties community service crime CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FINANCE HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES POLICY 5 State Office Building prevention grants authorized, and money 10 State Office Building appropriated. Chr. Rep. Barb Sykora Chr. Rep. Fran Bradley Agenda: Omnibus finance bill. Other bills to be announced. Agenda: HF1593 (Mulder) Loan forgiveness Note: If necessary, the committee will meet in program established for certain pharmacy LOCAL GOVERNMENT & 316 State Capitol after a short lunch break. students, sole community pharmacy financial Note: If necessary, an additional meeting will METROPOLITAN AFFAIRS assistance authorized, and drug therapy 200 State Office Building be scheduled on Wednesday, March 31 at 2:15 Chr. Rep. Peg Larsen management pilot project established. p.m. in the Basement Hearing Room, State Agenda: Office Building. SF1712 (Pariseau); HF1628 (Kelliher) JOBS & ECONOMIC Metropolitan transit system operation DEVELOPMENT POLICY EDUCATION POLICY performance audit schedule changed. 200 State Office Building 200 State Office Building Other bills to be announced. Chr. Rep. Arlon Lindner Chr. Rep. Harry Mares Subcommittee referrals. Agenda: Agenda: SF1848 (Novak); HF1915 (Leighton) Workers’ SF86 (Pogemiller); HF76 (Seagren) K-12 2:30 p.m. compensation third-party liability provisions education technical changes provided; modified, filing of attorney fee statements governor’s workforce development council, state The House meets in session. required, special compensation fund procedures interagency coordinating council, and certain modified, and alternative cost allocation accounts lease purchase installment buys and Immediately following session provided. transportation aid repealed. SF1471 (Murphy); HF1613 (Storm) Tenant K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE screening fees limited. ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL 200 State Office Building SF1148 (Janezich); HF1266 (Mullery) Women RESOURCES POLICY Chr. Rep. Alice Seagren encouraged to enter nontraditional careers, 10 State Office Building Agenda: Continuation of morning meeting. grants provided, and money appropriated. Chr. Rep. Dennis Ozment Other bills to be announced. Agenda: HF1493 (Ozment) Public waters Property Tax Division/ wetlands classification modified. TAXES JUDICIARY FINANCE Other bills to be announced. 5 State Office Building 300S State Office Building Chr. Rep. Ron Erhardt Chr. Rep. Sherry Broecker Agenda: HF1721 (Kelliher) Residential Agenda: HF1031 (Broecker) County or homestead first tier property valuation limit municipal attorney authorized to prosecute increased, education homestead credit rate domestic assault misdemeanors in Ramsey increased, and general education levy reduced. County, domestic assault and child abuse HF2028 (Seagren) Bloomington fiscal disparities protection unit funded, and money appropriated. HF892 (Stanek) CODEFOR; Hennepin County

March 26, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 25 TAXES HF1782 (Westfall) Erosion and sediment control HF915 (Jennings) Pine County; nursing home 5 State Office Building and water quality cost share grants provided, bed moratorium exception provided. Chr. Rep. Ron Abrams and money appropriated. HF1458 (Jennings) Certain Chisago County Agenda:SF655 (Hottinger); HF538 (Abrams) HF797 (Finseth) Small city wetland replacement nursing facility reimbursement provision Resident definition clarified related to individual cost-share program created and money modified. income tax. appropriated. HF1460 (Jennings) Certain Chisago County SF618 (Johnson, D.J.); HF761 (Abrams) School nursing home reimbursement provisions district number required on state income tax 2:30 p.m. modified. returns. HF170 (Nornes) Nursing facility technology SF1316 (Scheid); HF1011 (Abrams) Utility The House meets in session. room grant program established in the property tax class rate modified. Department of Health, and money appropriated. SF1285 (Stumpf); HF1285 (Harder) Agricultural Immediately following session HF2082 (Nornes) Nursing facility purchase price aircraft registration tax exemption provided. used in property reimbursement rate SF1456 (Pogemiller); HF1322 (Paulsen) K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE determinations. Corporate franchise education expenses credit 118 State Capitol HF1956 (Goodno) Human services authorized. Chr. Rep. Alice Seagren appropriations bill. HF2002 (Lenczewski) Roth IRA conversions Agenda: To be announced. HF467 (Goodno) Medicare certification excluded from definition of household income exemption allowed for nursing facilities under relating to property tax refunds. Property Tax Division/ certain circumstances and criteria specified. HF2206 (Abrams) Certain Holocaust claim TAXES settlement payments exempted from state 300N State Office Building 5 p.m. income taxation. Chr. Rep. Ron Erhardt Agenda: Continuation of March 29 meeting COMMERCE 12 noon agenda. Basement Hearing Room State Office Building JUDICIARY FINANCE 30 minutes after session Chr. Rep. Gregory M. Davids 500S State Office Building Agenda: Continuation of morning meeting Chr. Rep. Sherry Broecker GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS & agenda. Agenda: Continuation of morning meeting. VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICY 300S State Office Building 7 p.m. 12:30 p.m. Chr. Rep. Jim Rhodes Agenda: To be announced. Compensation Council/ CAPITAL INVESTMENT Legislative Coordinating Commission Basement Hearing Room HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE 316 State Capitol State Office Building 200 State Office Building Agenda: Consideration of possible Chr. Rep. Jim Knoblach Chr. Rep. Kevin Goodno recommendations to the Legislature. Agenda: HF1791 (Solberg) Itasca County Agenda: HF1028 (Leppik) Rule 80; Golden Valley railroad and public highway improvements, and nursing facility medical assistance Nashwauk wells and wastewater treatment reimbursement rate modified for residential WEDNESDAY, March 31 facilities funded; bonds issued; and money rehabilitation services. appropriated. HF1025 (Murphy) Carlton County nursing facility moratorium project deadline extended, 7 a.m. COMMERCE Medical Assistance reimbursement rates 200 State Office Building modified, and money appropriated. ***NOTE EARLIER TIME*** Chr. Rep. Gregory M. Davids HF1935 (Harder) Approved nursing facility TRANSPORTATION FINANCE Agenda: SF441 (Spear); HF624 (Stanek) completed projects replacement cost new 5 State Office Building Dishonored checks; theft and related crimes calculation modified. Chr. Rep. Carol Molnau penalty uniformity provided, civil penalties HF1030 (Seifert, M.) Canby nursing facility Agenda: Bills to be announced increased, and pretrial diversion program property related per diem rate increased. Agenda starting at 8 a.m.: Light rail transit created. HF361 (Molnau) Carver County nursing home presentation, Department of Transportation SF583 (Novak); HF700 (Davids) Fire protection reimbursement operating per diem limit Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg; Metropolitan notification required in contracts for the sale of exemption provided. Council Chair Ted Mondale; Metropolitan newly constructed residential dwellings. HF1788 (Kalis) Faribault County nursing facility Council Director of Transportation Planning SF1607 (Scheid); HF1932 (Jennings) Rental spend-up limit exemption provided. Nacho Diaz; and Department of Transportation vehicle insurance coverage regulated. HF1317 (Daggett) Becker County nursing facility Assistant Metro Division Engineer Bob Winter. SF243 (Cohen); HF846 (Koskinen) Eyeglasses Medical Assistance rate increase provided. and hearing aid health insurance coverage HF962 (Winter) Murray County; nursing facility 8 a.m. required. Medical Assistance reimbursement modified. Other bills to be announced. HF916 (Rifenberg) Houston County; nursing facility rate spend-up limit exemption created. GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS & ***NOTE TIME CHANGE*** HF480 (Workman) Carver County intermediate VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICY ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES care facilities for persons with mental retardation Basement Hearing Room FINANCE (ICF/MR) reconfiguration project authorized. State Office Building ***NOTE ROOM CHANGE*** HF2099 (Tuma) Intermediate care facilities for Chr. Rep. Jim Rhodes 5 State Office Building persons with mental retardation (ICF/MR) Agenda: To be announced. Chr. Rep. Mark Holsten services and resident relocation funding Agenda: HF138 (Seifert, M.) Lazarus Creek/ modified. JOBS & ECONOMIC LQP-25 floodwater retention project HF2043 (Tuma) Intermediate care facilities for DEVELOPMENT FINANCE appropriated money. persons with mental retardation (ICF/MR) 200 State Office Building HF1676 (Swenson) Minnesota river basin funding transferred to the Medical Assistance Chr. Rep. Dan McElroy appropriation provided. program. Agenda: To be announced. HF1781 (Howes) Soil and water conservation HF934 (Greenfield) Hennepin County; nursing districts technical support grants provided and facility Medical Assistance reimbursement JUDICIARY FINANCE money appropriated. modified. 300S State Office Building HF1780 (Ozment) Soil and water conservation HF1214 (Haas) Nursing home bed moratorium Chr. Rep. Sherry Broecker districts general services allocation provided and exception provided. Agenda: HF1118 (Stanek) Criminal and juvenile money appropriated. HF1154 (Goodno) Nursing home moratorium justice task force membership increased, funding exception provisions modified. requests reviewed by task force, grants provided

26 SESSION WEEKLY / March 26, 1999 to develop integrated criminal justice 10:45 a.m. information systems, and money appropriated. Constitutional Other bills to be announced. ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES FINANCE Officers 10 a.m. 10 State Office Building Governor Chr. Rep. Mark Holsten Jesse Ventura CIVIL LAW Agenda: HF1221 (Finseth) Commissioner of Basement Hearing Room natural resources appropriated money for 130 State Capitol State Office Building construction of ring dikes. 75 Constitution Ave. Chr. Rep. Steve Smith HF1964 (Finseth) Red River basin flood water St. Paul 55155 ...... (651) 296-3391 Agenda: HF2229 (Harder) Reduced marriage management grants provided and money license fee provided for couples who obtain appropriated. premarital counseling. HF2140 (Westfall) Cromwell Township flood Lieutenant Governor HF1067 (Fuller) Orders for protection service damage mitigation funded and money Mae Schunk short form notification authorized, domestic appropriated. 130 State Capitol assault crime sentences modified, cash bail HF1666 (Kelliher) Lake of the Isles flood 75 Constitution Ave. increased, and criminal penalties imposed. mitigation appropriation provided. St. Paul 55155 ...... (651) 296-3391 HF1631 (Goodno) Protocol established for HF1277 (Bishop) Wastewater treatment occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens provisions modified and money appropriated. in certain settings, and criminal penalties HF1774 (Bakk) Gitchie-Gami trail constructed Attorney General imposed. along Lake Superior in Lake and Cook counties, Mike Hatch HF805 (Leighton) Municipal liability provisions and money appropriated. 102 State Capitol expanded to include municipal power agencies. HF955 (McCollum) Ramsey and Washington Note: In the event that this agenda is not counties regional trail development around Silver 75 Constitution Ave. completed, the committee will reconvene at Lake funded, and money appropriated. St. Paul 55155 ...... (651) 296-6196 3:30 p.m. or 15 minutes after session in 300N State Office Building. 12:30 p.m. Secretary of State HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE AGRICULTURE POLICY Mary Kiffmeyer 300S State Office Building 10 State Office Building 180 State Office Building Chr. Rep. Peggy Leppik Chr. Rep. Tim Finseth 100 Constitution Ave. Agenda: HF1356 (Wenzel) Operational skills Agenda: Continuation of March 29 agenda. St. Paul 55155 ...... (651) 296-2803 instructor funding authorized for Central Lakes College, Brainerd campus. FAMILY & EARLY HF2091 (Cassell) Farm and small business CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FINANCE State Auditor management programs, and tuition assistance 5 State Office Building Judith H. Dutcher funded; and money appropriated. Chr. Rep. Barb Sykora Suite 400 Other bills to be announced. Agenda: Omnibus finance bill. 525 Park St. K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE LOCAL GOVERNMENT & St. Paul 55103 ...... (651) 296-2551 5 State Office Building METROPOLITAN AFFAIRS Chr. Rep. Alice Seagren 200 State Office Building State Treasurer Agenda: To be announced. Chr. Rep. Peg Larsen Carol Johnson Agenda: Bills to be announced. STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE Subcommittee referrals. 303 Administration Building 300N State Office Building 50 Sherburne Ave. Chr. Rep. Philip Krinkie 2:30 p.m. St. Paul 55155 ...... (651) 296-7091 Agenda: Office of Technology/Department of Administration budget presentation. The House meets in session. Bills may be added to the agenda. Immediately following session TAXES Where to find information 200 State Office Building K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE Chr. Rep. Ron Abrams 5 State Office Building Agenda: Chr. Rep. Alice Seagren Chief Clerk’s Office SF1344 (Hottinger); HF900 (Rest) Working Agenda: Continuation of morning meeting. 211 State Capitol (651) 296-2314 family income tax credit percentages modified. The Chief Clerk’s Office provides cop- HF1015 (Abrams) Election redistricting provided and money appropriated. ies of bills at no charge, all agendas for SF1308 (Ten Eyck); HF1272 (Abrams) Court THURSDAY, April 1 House sessions, and the Journal of the administration costs in specified judicial districts House. funded by the state, court employee collective bargaining provisions established, taxes imposed, The House will not meet in session. House Index Department and money appropriated. Committees will not meet. 211 State Capitol (651) 296-6646 SF1889 (Johnson, D.J.); HF1998 (Rest) Marriage The House Index Department, a part of penalty and property tax provisions modified, FRIDAY, April 2 income tax rates reduced, alternative minimum the Chief Clerk’s Office, has a computer- tax exemption increased, and constitutional ized index available for public use. House amendment proposed dedicating motor vehicle Holiday. Index lists bills by committee, topic, au- sales taxes to the highway user trust fund. House offices will be closed. thor, file number, and other categories. SF1153 (Pappas); HF2119 (Rest) Dependent care The office can also give you the current credit, education credit and subtraction, and status of legislation. working family credit inflationary and family size adjustments provided; and money appropriated. HF2226 (Abrams) Property tax forfeiture and delinquency procedures modified.

March 26, 1999 / SESSION WEEKLY 27 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 The graying of Minnesota (651) 296-2146 or Number of Minnesotans age 65 and older in 1996 ...... 578,000 1-800-657-3550 As percent of state population ...... 8.1 To obtain a copy of a bill, call: Percent for whom Social Security is the major source of income ...... 46 Chief Clerk’s Office Estimated number of Minnesotans age 65 and older in 2000 ...... 600,000 (651) 296-2314 As percent of state population ...... 12 Estimated number of Minnesotans age 65 and older in 2030, in millions ...... 1.2 To find out about bill introductions or As percent of state population ...... 24 the status of a specific bill, call: Minnesotans age 65 and older who lived alone in 1990 ...... 167,000 House Index Office Estimated number that will be living alone in 2020 ...... 262,230 (651) 296-6646 Percent of increase ...... 36 Minnesotans age 65 and older who were employed in 1990 ...... 62,560 For up-to-date recorded message giving committee meeting times and Estimated number that will be employed in 2020 ...... 144,110 agendas, call: Percent of increase ...... 57 Committee Hotline Percent of Minnesotans age 60 and older who reported needing help (651) 296-9283 with heavy household chores in 1995 ...... 31 Percent of those who said they received necessary help ...... 81 Percent of older Minnesotans needing long-term care who received unpaid care from family or friends in 1995 ...... 95 The House of Representatives can be Percent who received care from service agencies ...... 5 reached on the World Wide Web at: Average number of children of Minnesota seniors in 1995 ...... 3.2 http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us Average number of children of Minnesotans who will be seniors in 2030...... 1.8 Percent of Minnesotans who will be over age 85 in 2030 ...... 12 Percent in 2050 ...... 22 Teletypewriter for the hearing impaired. Number of women age 85 or older per each man in that age group, 2050 ...... 2 To ask questions or leave messages, Percent of Minnesotans earning more than $50,000 per year who believe call: they will maintain a comfortable lifestyle upon retirement ...... 75 TTY Line (651) 296-9896 or Percent earning less than $35,000 per year who believe that ...... 53 1-800-657-3550 Percent earning less than $25,000 per year who believe that ...... 33 Percent of expected increase in Minnesota’s total Medicaid costs from Check your local listings to watch 1995 to 2030, adjusted for inflation ...... 400 House committee and floor sessions on TV. Sources: Aging Initiative: Project 2030; 1999, Minnesota Planning; Minnesota State Demographic Center Web site (http://www.mnplan.state.mn.us/demography/demogest); Minnesota Databook This document can be made available for Legislators, 1999, House Research Department. in alternative formats.