Capitol Review: Woodard Gets Behind Abortion Bill

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

• Co-authored 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. The patient or partner of the patient could then take civil action against the person who performed or attempted to perform the abortion, according to the language of the bill (HF0936).

• Authored 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. The charge would be a felony and punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine up to $20,000. HF1001 was introduced March 9.

• Authored a bill that would change the funding formula for charter schools. HF1008 was introduced March 10.

• Work continues on these bills, which Woodard previously authored or co-authored: 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 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: "Minority leader Thiessen quoted my promise to ensure we live within our means on the floor today. Is he trying to get me re-elected?#mnleg"

• Woodard's Twitter handle is @KelbyWoodard

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

• Authored a bill that would modify licensing requirements for well contractors in certain cases. SF0588 was introduced March 7.

• Work continues on these bills, which DeKruif previously authored or co-authored: 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: "Headed for my hearing this morning on SF371 in Taxes Committee at 8:30 - local government sales tax exemption #mnleg"

• DeKruif's Twitter handle is @SenatorDeKruif

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

• 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.

• Authored 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 State Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-District 36B) of Farmington previously introduced.

• Work continues on these bills, which Thompson previously authored or co-authored: 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: "Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) on ridiculous administrative regulations. Boy do we need more of this. http://tinyurl.com/639tv9l"

• Thompson's Twitter handle is @ThompsonSenate

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

• 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: "Was told yesterday I text like a high schooler. Ego downgrade of 2.3."

• Garofalo's Twitter handle is @PatGarofalo