Capitol Review: Film Production Investment Credit

Editor's Note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they're voting, the bills they're writing and the issues they're getting behind. 

State Sen. Al DeKruif (R-District 25) of Madison Lake

• Authored SF2499, which involves "Civilian escort drivers and licensed protective agents authority to escort oversized loads clarification."

• Co-authored SF2455, which involves "Film production investment credit authorization."

• DeKruif spoke on the reasons (click on the video) he is shepherding five bills through the Senate that would prevent some of the  witnessed last year when the Minnesota government shut down. Senate Files1975, 1843, 1844, 1561 and 1551, all chief authored by DeKruif, "would address keeping certain functions of government that are either self-sufficient revenue generators, or have to do with safety issues, open during the event of government going into a shutdown situation where specific biennial appropriations have not been made." Senate Files 1844 and 1551 were both passed by the .

• Co-authored a bill that would adjust payments to charter schools. SF2119

• Authored a bill that would exempt permits for shoreland tree, brance and log removal. SF2144 was referred to the Environmental and Natural Resources Committee.

• Click on the video to the right to hear DeKruif talking about the Sexual Offender Notification Bill—which was approved by the House and Senate last week and signed by Gov. Mark Dayton—and the Minnesota Personal Protection Act.

• Authored a bill that would eliminte transfering funds from the construction code fund to the general fund. The bill (SF1983) was refered to the Jobs and Economic Growth Committee.

• Co-authored a bill that would require teacher candidates to pass a basic skills exam. The bill (SF1493) was referred to the Senate Education Committee on Jan. 24.

• Co-authored a bill dealing with the contingent appropriation to fund state road operation, maintenance, planning and construction. The bill (SF1530) was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee on Jan. 24.

• Co-authored a bill requiring drug screenings for people to be eligible for General Assistance and the Minnesota Family Investment Program. The bill (SF1535) was referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Jan. 26.

• Authored a bill that would require operators of natural gas, propane or electric facilities to locate and mark locations of customer-owned service lateral underground facilities before excavation. The bill (SF1539) was referred to the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on Jan. 26.

• Authored a bill that would authorize the City of Montgomery to transfer property to the Montgomery Legion Post, if the transaction is approved by the City Council. The bill (SF1544) was referred to the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee on Jan. 26.

• Authored a bill relating to electrical contractor fees. The bill (SF1551) was referred to the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Committee on Jan. 26.

• Authored a bill providing appropriations for highway safety rest stops in case money is not appropriated for state roads operation and maintenance. The bill (SF1561) was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee on Jan. 26.

• Authored a proposed constitutional amendment requiring a photo ID to be eligible to vote. The bill (SF1578) was referred to the Senate Local Government Elections Committee on Jan. 26.

DeKruif serves on the Education, Jobs and Economic Growth, and Transportation committees.

DeKruif's Twitter handle is @SenatorDeKruif

State Rep. Kelby Woodard (R-District 25B) of Belle Plaine

• Authored HF2950, which involves "highway safety rest areas contingent appropriation provided."

• Co-authored HF2931, which involves "high-risk adult demonstration project funding provided, and money appropriate."

• Authored HF2801, which involves "charter school student population accountability measures clarified."

• Authored HF2723, which involves "Criminal records expungement for individuals who have received stays of adjudication or diversion authorized, expungements without petitions authorized in cases where charges were dismissed against a person upon prosecutorial approval and with victim notification, persons petitioning for expungement required to provide a copy of the criminal complaint or police report, and opening of expunged records without a court hearing authorized in limited circumstances."

• Authored HF2714, which involves "Charter school accountability and success fostered, and money appropriated."

• Co-authored HF2674, which involves "Abortion; licensure required for certain facilities."

• Co-authored HF2639, which involves "Voters required to present photographic identification, photographic identification provided to voters at no charge, equal verification standards required for all voters, and constitutional amendment proposed."

• Authored a bill that would make certain special or independent school districts subject to mayoral control. According to HF2621, if there is not a law to the contrary, "the governance of an independent school district with administrative offices in a city with more than 250,000 residents located in the seven-county metropolitan area shall be as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c). The care, management, supervision, conduct, and control of the school district and all the powers and rights of school boards of independent school districts except as otherwise stated are as described in paragraphs (b) and (c). 

(b) Notwithstanding other law to the contrary, a mayor shall appoint a seven member board of education and a chief executive officer with recognized administrative ability and management experience who manages the district and has all other powers and duties of the district superintendent. The chief executive officer is not required to hold a school superintendent license or other administrative license under this section. The powers and duties of the board of education include: 

(1) increasing the quality of education services in the school district; 

(2) implementing policies, programs, and strategies to increase challenging learning opportunities targeted to diverse groups of students, increase student engagement and connection and community and family partnerships, and improve the educational outcomes of all groups of students enrolled in district schools so that students at least meet or exceed statewide averages for proficiency in reading and math and demonstrate medium or high growth or, if students are not proficient in reading and math, they consistently demonstrate high growth; 

(3) reducing the cost of noneducational services and implementing cost-saving measures; 

(4) developing a long-term financial plan;

(5) streamlining and strengthening management of the system, including a school-based budgeting process to refocus resources on student achievement;

(6) enacting policies and procedures to ensure an ethical and efficient system;

(7) establishing or repurposing local school or school site council advisory boards; and

(8) establishing organizational structures needed to efficiently and effectively operate the system. The members of the board of education shall serve staggered four-year terms. Board members serve without compensation or reimbursement of expenses incurred in performing board duties unless the mayor establishes a procedure to reimburse members for reasonable and necessary expenses.

(c) Notwithstanding other law to the contrary, school districts under this section  are exempt from the statutes and rules specified in section 124D.10, subdivision 7, to the extent the exemptions are consistent with and required to implement the provisions of this section.

(d) A mayor shall appoint an education advisory council composed of representatives of the business community with experience in finance and management, parents of enrolled students, teachers and principals currently employed in the schools, and other interested persons representing various education-related service organizations and public and private nonprofit agencies, among other interests. Advisory council members shall convene periodically and provide advice to the mayor and city governing body upon request. Members serve without compensation and without reimbursement of expenses incurred in performing duties under this paragraph."

• Co-authored a bill that would expand the public safety radio communication systems exemption.HF2612 was referred to the Taxes Committee.

• Authored a bill that would eliminate the county purchase sales tax when counties make purchases from other government entities. HF2436 was referred to the Taxes committee and later the Property and Local Tax Division Committee.

• Authored a bill that would create a "fusion center" that would "assist with detection, prevention, and investigation of, and response to, criminal and terrorist activities." HF2435 was referred to the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee.

• Ao-authored HF 2103, a bill that would outlaw abortions when doctors can detect the fetal heartbeat of the unborn child—except in the case of a medical emergency that threatens the health or life of the mother. If a doctor carries out an abortion despite the presence of a fetal heartbeat, the doctor may face felony criminal charges and and a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. The bill was proposed on Feb. 8 by District 56A Rep. Kathy Lohmer (R), and was also referred to the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee.

• Woodard also cast his support behind a bill that would require a physician who prescribed an abortion-inducing drug or chemical to be present when that drug is administered to the patient. Under the legislation, proposed on Feb. 16 by District 32A Rep. Joyce Peppin (R), a doctor who is not present for the chemically-induced abortion could face felony criminal charges. The bill also permits civil action by the patient, the father of the fetus or the maternal grandparents of the unborn child against the physician who prescribed the drugs if he or she is not present for the abortion.

• Co-authored a bill that would establish gaming machines at a licensed race track, with fees imposed going to a Minnesota First fund that would dedicated for the Minnesota Vikings and a ballpark for the St. Paul Saints. The bill (HF1779) was referred to the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee on Jan. 24.

• Authored a bill that would require operating referendum levies to follow resident students to charter schools. The bill (HF1860) was referred to the House Education Finance Committee on Jan. 24.

• Co-authored a bill that would modify scrap metal processing regulations. The bill (HF1901) was referred to the House Transportation Policy and Finance Committee on Jan. 24.

• Co-authored a bill that would prohibit state funding of abortions and would propose a constitutional amendment. The bill (HF1928) was referred to the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee on Jan. 26.

• Co-authored a bill that would require a physician to be physically present for abortion procedures. The bill (HF1929) was referrred to the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee on Jan. 26.

• Co-authored a bill that would restrict legislator coverage and end contributions to an unclassified retirement program. The bill (HF1932) was referred to the House Government Operations and Elections Committee on Jan. 26.

• Co-authored a bill that would require counties and cities to report additional budgetary information. The bill (HF1954) was referred to the House Operations and Elections Committee on Jan. 26.

Woodard is vice chair of the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee and serves on the Education Finance and the Education Reform committees.

Woodard's Twitter handle is @KelbyWoodard

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