Capitol Review: Long-term Natural Disaster Relief Could See Changes

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. Come back to Northfield Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review.

Here’s what’s happened this past week with bills authored or co-authored by local legislators:

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

• Co-authored a bill that would make modify provisions to state legislation for state agency response to natural disasters. The bill would make it easier for entities—including cities, schools and counties—to apply for and receive forgivable loans from the Board of Water and Soil Resources.

Also, according to the proposed legislation, the commissioner of the Water and Soil board may use "appropriations to provide technical assistance to local jurisdictions or to make grants to counties, regional consortia, and nonprofit organizations working in the disaster area to provide assistance in coordinating long-term recovery activities related to the disaster." SF1044 was introduced March 25.

• Work continues on these bills, which DeKruif previously authored or co-authored: a bill that would allow individual counties to use private auditors, once per year, in addition to state auditors as long as county funds and personnel permit. The private auditor must meet a standard of approval from state auditors (SF0896); a bill that would establish a pilot project to examine how school districts might operate jointly to provide innovative delivery of programs and activities and share resources (SF0946); a bill that would authorize special overweight permits for motor vehicles hauling construction aggregate (SF0978); a bill that would clarify and provide for sales tax collection for rent-to-own and lease-to-own motor vehicles (SF0985); a bill that would modify licensing requirements for well contractors in certain cases. SF0588 was introduced March 7.

• A bill that would allow high school freshmen and sophomores to enroll for college in the school classes to earn college credits (SF0510); a bill to eliminate sales tax for purchases made by local government bodies, including counties, cities and townships (SF0371); a bill that would modify the Minnesota rural preserve property tax program (SF0298); a bill that would increase sanctions for careless driving resulting in a death to be a gross misdemeanor. Currently it’s a misdemeanor (SF0201);

• A bill that would change eligibility requirements for unemployment insurance for minors of business owners (SF0114); a bill that would provided a phased-in subtraction for military retirement pay (SF0041); a bill that would abolish prohibition of certificate of need for new nuclear power plants (SF0004); a bill that would restore the Green acres and agriculture classification to pre-2008 (SF0002).

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

• Tweet of the week: "Congrats to @SenatorBenson! RT @jakeloesch: Claire Ann Benson has arrived! Mom and baby are both doing well."

• DeKruif's Twitter handle is @SenatorDeKruif

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

• Co-authored a bill that would extend by four years the time frame by which residential and commercial entities must comply with the 2008 policy for implementing a subsurface sewage treatment system. Originally, parties would have had to comply with the new rules by Feb. 4, 2012. If Woodard's bill is passed, parties would have until Feb. 4, 2016 to comply (HF 1238).  

• Work continues on these bills, which Woodard previously authored or co-authored: a bill that would allow a municipality to issue liquor licenses to private, non-profit colleges or universities within that municipality. The bill would allow the college or university to sell alcohol on all days of the week to those attending events at the institution (HF 1174); a bill that would appropriate an undetermined amount of funds in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 from the general fund to the commissioner of public safety. The funds would be used to establish grants to establish a demonstration project for high-risk adults (HF 1182).

• A bill that would make it illegal to have an abortion at or after 20 weeks of gestation. The bill, dubbed the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, would bring felony charges against the person who gives or attempts the abortion, but no legal action would be taken against the patient (HF0936); a bill that would create crime of organized retail theft. Under the proposed legislation, any person who steals or receives merchandise valued at more than $1,000 with the intent to sell would be charged (HF1001).

• A bill that would create a commission called MNovate. It would "assist the governor, the legislature, the commissioner of education, and learning communities of Minnesota; a bill that would change the definition of sex trafficking to include the term "commercial sex acts," which is defined as a "sex act on account of which anything of value is given or received by any person" (HF0750).

• A bill that would change the funding formula for charter schools (HF1008); a bill that would amend statutes in relation to the Minnesota Youthworks program and recast it as the AmeriCorps Innovation program, aligning it with federal law (HF0617); a bill that would streamline revenue for health and safety programs, relating to education finance (HF0420); a bill that would allow students who perform well at public schools that consistently underperform to enroll at a private school with financial assistance from the state. There are several requirements needed to make students eligible, such as the child's family income being equal to or less than 175 percent of the federal income level (HF0273); a bill that would require photo identification to vote (HF0210);

• A bill that would limit funding for abortion for state-sponsored health programs, unless required to continue in federal programs (HF0201); a bill that would change the language of the basic skills test aspiring teachers are required to take to earn their licenses. The wording would change from "successfully complete" to "pass"(HF0183); a bill that would delay charter school authorizer approval from June 30, 2011, to June 30, 2012 (HF0134);

• A bill that would change the language of insurance coverage of dependents of a deceased peace officer or firefighter (HF0149); a bill that would introduce "Choose Life" license plates (HF0091); a bill that would repeal the political contribution refund (HF0066); a bill that would restore the Green acres and agriculture classification to pre-2008 (HF0012); a bill that would establish a Healthy Minnesota contribution program, redesigning service delivery for lower-income MinnesotaCare enrollees (HF0008); a bill that would abolish some local government mandates (HF0007); a bill that would increase the penalty for those convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (HF0006).

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

• Tweet of the week: "RT @SNienow MT @PatGarofalo TWITTERFAIL-Latest excuse of the left-rich kids can use public $ 4 privt college PSEO but poor kids CANT use $ 4"

• Woodard's Twitter handle is @KelbyWoodard

State Sen. Dave Thompson (R-District 36) of Lakeville

• Authored two bills last week, including a bill that requires an auditor to provide dependent eligibility verification for state-paid hospital, medical, and dental benefits provided to state employees and their dependents (SF0811), as well as, SF1034, which repeals a law precluding the admissibility of seat belt use evidence in certain civil actions.

• Work continues on these bills, which Thompson previously authored or co-authored: a bill (SF0750) that would change the state’s graduation requirements to include completion of “one-half credit of classes through post-secondary enrollment options, advanced placement, or international baccalaureate, or complete a successful work experience in a program approved by the student's school district or charter school.” The students would have to complete the requirement anytime between grades 9 and 12; a bill that would appropriate more than $1.5 million through a bond sale to complete the Cannon Falls Lake Byllesby Dam spillway project. SF0690 mirrors a House bill Garofalo previously introduced.

• A bill that would prohibit "public school employees from using public funds and resources to advocate to pass, elect, or defeat a political candidate, ballot question, or pending legislation" (SF0577); a bill that would reduce the number of members in the House of Representatives and the Senate (SF0419); a bill that would limit the availability of evidence derived from a collective law process, in the court room for civil and criminal proceedings (SF0344); a bill that makes statutory conforming amendments relating to civil actions. The bill also makes assignments for receiverships and creditors. (SF0352); a bill authored (SF0056).

• Thompson serves on the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, Education Committee, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, and State Government Innovation and Veterans Committee.

• Tweet of the week: "So you think it is Republicans that are the corporate tax break apologists? Notice the comment about Rangel. http://tinyurl.com/4tsuapu"

• Thompson's Twitter handle is @ThompsonSenate

State Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-District 36B) of Farmington

• Work continues on the state’s omnibus education bill as the clock ticks down until the end of the session on May 23.

In the first reading of the bill, (HF0934), very little changed from the last omnibus package. But that’s not going to be the case moving forward. Garofalo has already begun work on changing how $64 million in integration funding is doled out by the state. He’s proposed changing the name of the aid to "innovation revenue" and wants it only used for "research-based activities" to close the achievement gap between minority and white students.

• Work continues on these bills, which Garofalo previously authored: a bill, related to school district financing, that would clarify interest payments on the permanent school fund (HF0785); two bills that would appropriate more than $3 million toward projects around Lake Byllesby in Cannon Falls. The first bill, HF0490, would appropriate $1.5 million through a bond sale to complete the Lake Byllesby Dam spillway project. The second bill, HF0491, would appropriate another $1.5 million for a pedestrian bridge to span the Cannon River in Lake Byllesby Regional Park.; a bill that would offer the presidency to the candidate who receives the popular vote, rendering the Electoral College obsolete (HF0495); a bill that would reinstate a general education aid reduction for certain taconite distributions. (HF0306);

• A bill that would require photo identification to receive Minnesota Family Investment Program assistance and would restrict users from using monthly cash payments to purchase tobacco, alcohol or lottery tickets (HF0171); a bill that would exempt pet sales from sales taxes (HF0036); a bill that would amend teacher licensure provisions by establishing an alternative teacher preparation program that allows eligible individuals to acquire a two-year limited-term teaching license (HF0063), a bill that would increase sanctions for careless driving resulting in a death to be a gross misdemeanor. Currently it’s a misdemeanor (HF0068).

• Garofalo chairs the Education Finance Committee this session. He also sits on the Redistricting Committee, Taxes Committee and Ways and Means Committee.

• Tweet of the week: "What will happen first? Vikings win Super Bowl OR New bridge built over St. Croix river? #IfYouBetNeitherYouWin"

• Garofalo's Twitter handle is @PatGarofalo