Legislative Notes for the Week of March 15 - March 19, 2004

Session to "Go the Distance"

Veteran Capitol watchers are expecting the 2004 "short session" to take the full amount of time authorized in the constitution. Adjournment will likely be on May 17. Hopeful thoughts of an early agreement on a bonding bill have all but vanished as politics, elections, stadiums, marriages, gambling, constitutional amendments and budget cuts have moved to center stage. These issues take time to solve and become linked to each other as lawmakers struggle to complete the session. Look for eight more weeks of fun and games.

Teacher Licensure Bill Heard Again

Members of the House Higher Education Finance committee discussed a transfer of authority from the State Board of Teaching to the Commissioner and Department of Education in HF 1814 (Rep. Sondra Erickson, R - Princeton). The proposal would allow the commissioner to license teachers. Minnesota state universities have several alternative pathways and are working on new ones including online courses and specialized programs. Testifying on the legislation were Michael Miller, dean of the College of Education at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and Carmen Coballes-Vega, dean of the College of Professional Studies at Metropolitan State University. The proposal is from Education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke and is part of the response to the Federal No Child Left Behind legislation. Representatives from the University of Minnesota and private colleges expressed concerns about the legislation. Next stop is the K-12 funding bill. No action has been scheduled in the Senate.

Bonding Bill "Under Construction"

All is quiet for now, but we expect to start hearing more next week. Legislators are in the "back rooms" setting targets and counting votes on the bonding bill. It takes a 60 percent vote in the House and Senate to pass the legislation, so each vote is very important. Senators have not held Capital Investment committee hearings, but the House Capital Investment committee did take limited public testimony this week.

Bioscience Workers Needed

Gov. Tim Pawlenty's Bioscience Council recommended $750,000 for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities partnerships and internships with industry. Mary Rothchild, Office of the Chancellor, described the types of education programs that would support new jobs in bioscience as senators considered the legislation. According to Rothchild, both technical college and state university graduates are needed to support the new jobs.

Loans for Nursing Students

Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon (DFL - Duluth) is working on a $1.5 million loan program for students admitted into nursing programs. Loans are based on student income and would be forgiven if they practice nursing for a specified number of years. Mary Rothchild has worked with Solon on the legislation. A second program would offer scholarships for students taking "pre-nursing" classes prior to admission in the nursing major. These initiatives could be in the Senate Higher Education or Health and Human Services bills.

Tuition Reciprocity with Neighboring States

The Senate Higher Education Budget Division heard testimony this week on SF1825 introduced by Sen. Ann Rest (DFL - New Hope). The long-standing law allows students from Minnesota to attend Wisconsin, South Dakota and North Dakota schools paying the same rate as they do in Minnesota. The reverse is true for students from these states attending Minnesota colleges and universities. Each year the Higher Education Services Office settles up with the other states with an interstate payment. Rest's legislation requires legislative reauthorization of the reciprocity program every five years, and the North Dakota and South Dakota agreements are to be renegotiated. President Roland Barden of Minnesota State University Moorhead, and Vice President Jim Schmidt of Winona State University expressed concerns about the legislation and impact on students.