Mid-Session Review

We are halfway through the session! Time is really flying. Second Deadlines for committees were on March 22, and then the legislature took our mid-session recess. We are back at the Capitol now and working in finance committees to meet third deadline on April 19.

Around District 51

April Town Hall Meeting: We will be holding our mid-session Town Hall on Thursday, April 25 at 7pm. Location is to be determined, we will keep you informed!

EHS Robotics Team wins Chairman Award: Recently the Eagan High School robotics team participated in an event sponsored by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), the FIRST Robotics Competition, where the team took home the Chairman’s Award. The Chairman’s Award is the most prestigious award handed out at the competition, and it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate. It embodies the goals and mission of FIRST.

Congratulations to the Eagan High School robotics team on their outstanding work. I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to operate the 2012 robot last year. These competitions provide students with an opportunity to work directly with professionals in the science and engineering fields, learn new skills and build relationships for the future. These students are the foundation of the next generation of innovators and inventors.

State Essay Contest: Governor Mark Dayton, the Minnesota Twins, and the Minnesota Department of Commerce are inviting all students in grades 3-5 to participate in our Financial Literacy Essay Contest. Learn more at the Department of Commerce website.

Mid-Session Review

In this edition we will be summarizing some of the more notable pieces of legislation and action in the Senate for the first half of the session. In the interest of keeping the newsletter to a reasonable length I cannot be exhaustive, so if there is an issue we do not cover below please do not hesitate to contact my office using the information above!

Elections and Voting

Early and No Excuse Absentee Voting
Early and no excuse absentee voting are two proposals that have passed the Subcommittee on Elections and have been referred to the Finance Committee. You can read more about them in my Newsletter 4 here:

Electronic Poll Books Pilot Project
I served on a task force that developed legislation to establish a pilot project for electronic poll rosters. The pilot project will be held in Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Moorhead, St. Anthony, St. Paul, and St. Peter. 

An electronic roster will be pre-loaded on a computer with data from the statewide voter registration system or be able to connect to the statewide voter registration system so that information may be entered and viewed in real time. The system will indicate if the voter has already voted, is ineligible to vote in the precinct, or if the voter’s registration status is challenged. On Election Day, judges in participating precincts must use an electronic roster to verify the registration status of preregistered voters and to perform same day voter registration. The Secretary of State will issue a report by February 14, 2014 regarding the success of the pilot project.

Campaign Finance Disclosure and Reform
The Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board have recommended the some changes to campaign finance. The bill includes provisions that expand disclosure for electioneering communications and non-profits that use their general treasury for independent expenditures. The legislation also defines a “ballot question political committee” and “ballot question political funds.”

The campaign finance board’s ability to investigate violations is expanded so that the Board may bring legal action to recover contributions raised and expended in an illegal manner. This legislation was waiting for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Schools and Education

All-Day Kindergarten

Legislation was introduced to provide funding for statewide implementation of all-day kindergarten at all public schools. The legislation does not mandate student enrollment—parents would still able to decide what is right for their children.  You can read more about the full-day kindergarten proposal in my Newsletter 2 here:

Safe School Levy and Mental Health Reforms

The Education Policy committee passed a bill to that authorizes schools to pay the cost of collaborating with mental health professionals, who are not district employees or contractors.

• School districts have the ability to expand their levy from $30 multiplied by pupil units to $45, and from $10 to $15 for intermediate districts.
• Schools will have the ability to bring in experts from beyond the school district to develop positive behavioral interventions for students.
•  Next stop is Education Finance Division

Another bill includes mental health training as a component of teacher re-licensure, which will help teachers further understand and target students with mental health needs. These initiatives seek to provide additional support to students and keep every child safe in the classroom.

Energy and Environment

Omnibus Energy Bill
The Environment and Energy Committee has been working on a set of proposals to move Minnesota toward a sustainable energy economy. Proponents have argued the win-win nature of promoting Minnesota’s renewable energy industry: thousands of jobs and resulting economic development, reducing reliance on imported energy, and pushing Minnesota forward to capture a share of the developing renewable energy industry. Some ideas under consideration include:

•    Updating Minnesota’s 30-year old law that limits solar units to 40 kilowatts, expanding that limit to 1,000 kilowatts. 

•    Enhancing and reauthorizing the current “Made in Minnesota” Solar Bonus Program.

•    Encouraging the use of Minnesota-made solar electric and heating systems in state buildings.

•    Authorizing individuals to join together and build community solar projects.

•    Comprehensive, integrated study of Minnesota’s long-term energy future.

Silica Sand Mining
Legislation that places regulations on silica sand mining has cleared two policy committees, and will be taken up next in the Finance and Tax Committees. The bill calls for a one year moratorium on new mining of silica sand, to give the state some time to take an in-depth look at environmental and other effects of an expected major expansion of this industry in several southeast Minnesota counties.

Wolf Hunting Moratorium
Legislation is moving through committees to place a five year moratorium on wolf hunting in Minnesota, beginning June 20, 2013. After that time, the Department of Natural Resources could set a hunting season for wolves, but only if wolf population control is deemed necessary, and other ways of controlling the wolf population are explored.  The bill is now in the Finance Committee.

Toxic-free Children’s Products
Two bills are moving forward that attempt to improve the safety of children’s products. One bill requires that personal care products, such as baby shampoos, soaps and lotions, be free of formaldehyde, beginning in 2014.  The other bill prohibits children’s food containers containing Bisphenol A (BPA) from being sold in Minnesota, also beginning in 2014. These bills are supported by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Health and Human Services

Health Insurance Exchange
Read about the Health Insurance exchange our previous newsletters, found here:

Continuing Care Reform 2020
Long-term care is the biggest cost driver in the state’s health and human services budget. Reform 2020 as directed by the 2011 legislature, implements measures to move our state toward a more efficient, cost-effective system.

The Senate is considering legislation that seeks to increase community integration for our vulnerable adults and to find the best services for the community, the patient and the state. Federal approval will be sought so the state can make changes in the areas of community integration and independence, improved health, reduced reliance on institutional care, attainment of housing and employment and reduced use of expensive, unnecessary services.

Autism Coverage and Funding
April is Autism Awareness Month, and I have joined the Governor, and many of our constituents, in support of insurance coverage for Autism services. The Governor’s budget establishes an intensive early intervention benefit for children in Medicaid, including a comprehensive diagnostic assessment, ongoing progress evaluations, and medically necessary treatment of autism.

Judiciary

Gun Violence Reduction
The Senate discussed several measures aimed at reducing gun violence. A legislative package was put together by a wide group of stakeholders including state and national gun rights advocates, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and community safety advocates. Proposal from all stakeholders were incorporated into the package.

Some of the highlights are:

·    Ensure law enforcement and related organizations submit fingerprints and other data to the Minnesota Crime Information System as well as the federal National Information Center (NICS) system in a timely manner to facilitate background checks.

·    Extend public safety protections by preventing felons and individuals who have been involuntarily hospitalized as mentally ill from possessing firearms.

·    Proposals to keep ammunition out of the hands of felons.

·    Update the definition of “crime of violence” to be consistent with current law

·    Provision to keep pistols and assault weapons out of the hands of juveniles.

·    Strengthen the criminal background check system on transfers of pistols and assault weapons.

Marriage Equality
Legislation was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee to define civil marriage as between two persons. This legislation would allow those religious institutions who wish to marry same-sex couples to do so. Of all the marriage equality proposals throughout the nation, the proposed legislation in Minnesota has some of the strongest protections on religious liberty and freedom of conscience. You can read more about marriage equality in Newsletter 3 here:

Minnesota Child Victims Act
The Minnesota Child Victims Act will make it easier for Minnesotans who were sexually abused as children to bring civil lawsuits against their abuser or the institution that facilitated the abuse. The bill removes the current statute of limitation that requires victims to file a lawsuit within six years of becoming an adult. If the bill is passed into law, victims could file a lawsuit at any time no matter how long ago the abuse occurred. 

Taxes

Angel Investment Tax Credit
Several bills have been introduced to draw more Angel Investment Tax Credit-related investments to greater Minnesota businesses. Currently, the tax credit may be claimed on 25% of the investments made in a qualified small business. Recent reports indicate that money has not been distributed in a proportional manner between metro areas and greater Minnesota. The new bills could help address concerns about these differences. 

Research & Development tax credit
The Tax Committee has considered legislation to increase the Research and Development Tax Credit available in Minnesota. Like the federal program, companies may receive tax credits for a certain level of research and development expenses each year. This year’s bills propose to increase the credit to encourage more growth in the high-tech industries.

Corporate-small business partnerships
A few bills this year would incent partnerships between corporations and small businesses, allowing the two to trade certain tax benefits in order to provide revenue for start-up companies focused on lucrative, high-technology developments. They are creative approaches that are just beginning to be discussed, but members of both parties realize the ideas have potential to expand on Minnesota’s leadership in the med-tech and bioscience industries.

Veterans hiring
The Tax Committee also is considering a bill to provide tax incentives to businesses that hire unemployed veterans, to address the fact that Minnesota has one of the highest veteran unemployment rates in the country. Much like the federal Wounded Warrior Tax Credit program, the bill would provide the highest credit to businesses hiring a disabled veteran and offer slightly lower credits for those hiring unemployed veterans.

Transportation & Public Safety

Transportation Omnibus

The transportation policy omnibus bill was heard in committee this week. It covers a wide range of issues that will protect Minnesotans, make our roads safer and clarifies language in various statutes.

The bill includes possible expansion of public transportation, as well as provisions to help the disabled. Language to address bike lanes is also included. The legislation protects school children by making it illegal for bus drivers to use cell phones and provides an opportunity for business expansion and addresses speed limits and the gross weight of a vehicle.

Thank you.

Thank you for your interest in our community and our state. I am thankful to be serving our district and Minnesota this session.  You can also keep up with me at my Senate website, click on the “In Touch with Senator Carlson” link at www.senate.mn/senatorcarlson.

Sincerely,

Jim Carlson