Legislative Notes for the week of February 2- February 6, 2004

Governor's State of The State / Study of Higher Education

Governor Tim Pawlenty addressed all 201 members of the state legislature Thursday with a message of future and vision for the state. The most controversial parts of the speech were casino gambling and the death penalty. In the speech, Pawlenty asked the Minnesota Citizen's league to conduct a study of higher education and make recommendations. The league will conduct an assessment of the current situation, create a vision of where we need to be, and a roadmap of how to get there. Recommendations will be sent to Pawlenty for the next legislative session. A study committee of 30 members of the Citizen's League will do the study. More details will be released in the coming weeks.

Employee Contract Ratification

Members of the Joint Legislative Subcommittee on Employee Relations approved the contracts with Minnesota State College Faculty (MSCF) and Minnesota State University Association of Administrative and Service Faculty (MSUAASF) at their February 2 meeting. Associate Vice Chancellor John Shabatura presented details of the agreement to the 10 members committee for their approval. They voted to approve the contract without dissent. Minnesota law provides for implementation of the contracts (retroactive to July 1, 2003) at the time the subcommittee takes action. The final approval by the full legislature is expected as the session closes in two months. These two contract approvals join AFSCME, MAPE, the Commissioners Plan, Managerial Plan, and the MnSCU Administrators plan for final consideration by the legislature. Shabatura reported no progress in reaching an agreement with the State University Faculty members (IFO) but expressed hope that a contract would be completed in the foreseeable future.

Bio-Science "101" for Lawmakers

Lawmakers held a briefing with faculty members from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and the University of Minnesota together with scientists from industry this week at the State History Center. The meeting was hosted by Senator Steve Kelley (DFL - Hopkins) and Representative Lynne Osterman (R - New Hope). The informal briefing was to "teach" lawmakers about the future of bio-science in Minnesota and the nation. Bioscience technology will focus on industrial products, regenerative medicine, food and nutrition, and biobased energy. The colleges and universities will play a major role in research and training employees to work in this new field. Investments in bioscience are a key element of Governor Pawlenty's bonding bill recommendations for the legislature this session.

President's Budget for Education Sent to Congress

The President's budget for fiscal year 2005 was unveiled Monday, February 2nd. The budget includes a 7.1% increase ($12.8 billion) for the Pell grant program, bringing the maximum grant award to $4,050. The President's FY2004 budget is also proposing to eliminate the Perkins Vocational Act and replace it with a new $1 billion block grant - Secondary and Technical Excellence Education Act (Sec Tech). Funds would flow to the States by formula, and be used to make competitive grants to partnerships between local school districts and community and technical colleges. The budget also proposes $250 million for competitive grants to community colleges for partnerships with employers in high-demand job sectors. This is the proposal announced in the President's State of the Union Address. The President's budget must now work through Congress.