BRIEFLY
The Minnesota Senate Week in Review
April 13, 1995

Tax bill passed
     The omnibus tax proposal bill won the approval of the
Senate, 44-17, on Weds., Apr. 12.
     The Senate took up H.F. 602, amending it to incorporate the
contents of the Senate's omnibus tax proposal. Sen. Douglas
Johnson (DFL-Cook), the author of the Senate bill, said the
proposal contains no increases in sales tax and freezes property
taxes for 1996 at the 1995 levels.  "This bill continues our
efforts to not allow any sales tax increases this year," he said. 
"We're also telling the property owners of this state that they
are not going to pay one dime more [in property taxes] in 1996
than they pay in 1995."
     An amendment removing the property tax freeze provisions
from the bill was offered by Sen. William Belanger (IR-
Bloomington).  "The public is not buying into this," he said. 
"They see this as just a gimmick."  But the bill's author
defended the freeze.  "When we say we're not going to raise
income taxes or sales taxes, people believe that's not a
gimmick," Johnson said.  "When we say we want to prevent $270
million in property tax increases next year, that is no gimmick
either."  The Belanger amendment was defeated, 29-37.
     Sen. Gen Olson (IR-Minnetrista) presented an amendment to
give each person a $31 tax credit on their 1995 income tax
return.  The proposal provides a $62 credit for married couples
who file a joint tax return.  Olson said the funding to support
the tax credit would be provided by $91 million in additional
revenue the governor has announced was available.  "This tax
credit is a chance for us to put something back in the pockets of
the taxpayers," she said.
     Sen. Ember Reichgott Junge (DFL-New Hope) proposed an
amendment to the Olson proposal, replacing it with language to
set the property tax recognition shift applied to local school
districts at 44 percent.  Reichgott Junge said the additional $91
million offers an opportunity for the Legislature to ease the
impact of the shift on local school districts.  Setting the
recognition shift at 44 percent requires an additional $66
million, she said, "This is a chance for us to give something
back to our schools."
     Olson opposed the change.  She said the amendment was not
inconsistent with other options intended to give taxpayer a
break.  "But there has been continuous movement, up and down, in
the shift the last several years," she said.  "All we are doing
is putting that money back in the bank and use it again the next
time we would raise (the shift percentage)."  
     Reichgott Junge's proposal to the Olson amendment was
adopted, 54-8, and the provision was incorporated into the tax
bill on a voice vote.
     A number of other amendments were offered for the Senate's
consideration.  Sen. James Metzen (DFL-South St. Paul) proposed
to reduce the property tax rate applied to seasonal and
recreational properties with an assessed value of under $72,000. 
Under the amendment the tax rate for assessed against those
properties is reduced from 2.0 percent to 1.8 percent, effective
for taxes payable in 1997.
     The proposal lowers the amount of property tax revenue
generated from seasonal properties by about $9 million a year,
Metzen said.  The funds lost in the rate reduction will be made
up by cuts in other areas, he said. "The effects of this
reduction will not be shifted onto other property taxes," Metzen
said.
     Sen. Linda Runbeck (IR-Circle Pines), questioned the delay
and offered an amendment calling for the reduction to take effect
in 1996.  Her proposal was narrowly rejected, 31-33.  The Metzen
amendment was then adopted on a 43-22 vote.
     Members also rejected an amedment, offered by Sen. Sheila
Kiscaden (IR-Rochester), to increase the cigarette tax by 25
cents per pack.  The amendment also decreases the health care
provider tax from two percent to one percent.  The amendment was
rejected on a 44-17 roll call vote.
     Members adopted an amendment authorizing $1 million to be
used for the state wide telecommunications network.  According to
the amendment's author, Sen. Lawrence Pogemiller (DFL-Mpls.),
money for the amendment will be taken from the appropriation for
the Board of Government Innovation and Cooperation.
     Members rejected 12 additional amendments before granting
the bill final passage.

 Workers comp bill advances 
     The Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard and
approved S.F. 1020, a workers compensation bill, at the Thurs.,
Apr. 6, meeting.  
     The bill, authored by Sen. Steven Novak (DFL-New Brighton),
permits small employers to form groups and self-insure with a
mutual group. The measure also requires a 10 percent discount on
workers compensation premiums for small employers who have not
had an accident that resulted in a wage replacement benefit in
the past three years. The bill allows for the creation of major
workers' compensation procedures to be established through
collective bargaining. It also changes workers comp benefits,
replacing the current two-tier system with a single permanent
partial reimbursements system. The bill limits temporary total
benefits to 100 weeks, with a possible extension if the employee
is medically disabled due to the injury. It also limits temporary
partial benefits to 350 weeks. The measure also returns Minnesota
to the prior-approval system of workers comp insurance rate
regulation, providing that one statewide rate schedule for each
job classification replaces competitive rating, and requires that
rates proposed by the rating association must be approved by the
commissioner of commerce before they can be used. 
     The committee, chaired by Sen. Sam Solon (DFL-Duluth),
approved S.F. 1020 and sent it to the Finance Committee. 

Transportation bill passed
     On a 49-17 vote, the Senate passed a $2.5 billion omnibus
transportation funding package during the Weds., Apr. 12, floor
session.
     Authored by Sen. Keith Langseth (DFL-Glyndon), S.F. 1536
contains $2.3 billion for the operations of the Dept. of
Transportation (MnDOT) in FY 1996 and FY 1997.  Of that
appropriation, $1.3 billion is designated for state road
construction and $754 million is earmarked for aid for county and
municipal roads in the next biennium.
     The measure also provides $159 million to the Dept. of
Public Safety for the next two fiscal years, and $69 million in
support of the transit operations of the Metropolitan Council.
     Several members questioned the transit appropriations.  Sen.
Carol Flynn (DFL-Mpls.) said the Met Council faces a significant
shortfall in the near future that is not addressed in the bill. 
Sen. Florian Chmielewski (DFL-Sturgeon Lake) said the amount of
funding needed to maintain the state's highways is also lacking
in the proposal.  "Transit is in nearly as bad of shape as the
roads of the state," he said.
     Langseth said the bill attempts to balance both needs given
the fiscal constraints.  "There is nothing new in here for
highways from what there was two years ago nor is there an
increase in transit," he said.
     Sen. Jane Ranum (DFL-Mpls.) proposed an amendment requiring
MnDOT to submit its plans for a congestion pricing demonstration
project to the Met Council once the plans are developed.  The
amendment also calls on the council to hold a public hearing on
the plan and give its approval before the project can proceed. 
Sen. Terry Johnston (IR-Prior Lake) opposed the amendment, saying
it gives more power to the Met Council and could delay the
project.  But Ranum said she was concerned about the power that
has been given to MnDOT and that the council should be involved
because the project would be conducted on interstates in the
Metro Area.  The amendment was approved on a 41-20 vote.
     The members also approved an amendment on a voice vote,
offered by Sen. Dan Stevens (IR-Mora).  The Stevens amendment
calls on the Legislative Auditor to evaluate the cost-
effectiveness of the standards, practices and procedures used by
MnDOT in planning construction projects.

Committee Capsule

Commerce and Consumer Protection
Tobacco sales regulation heard
     In addition to taking action on the workers comp bill, the
Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, chaired by Sen. Sam
Solon (DFL-Duluth), also considered two bills aimed at
strengthening enforcement of the state's law prohibiting the sale
of tobacco to minors.
     First, the Senators heard S.F. 558, sponsored by Sen. Dallas
Sams (DFL-Staples). The bill provides that a town board or
governing body of a city may license and regulate the retail sale
of tobacco and establish a license fee. If the town or city does
not regulate it, the county board must do so. The bill
establishes a progressive system of fines for selling tobacco to
minors, and discounts the fines for businesses that have an
employee training program on not selling to minors. Under the
bill, the penalty for a fourth offense is a 7-day suspension of
authority to sell tobacco. The measure also imposes maximum fines
of $50 each for the employee who sells tobacco to a minor and the
minor who purchases it. In addition, the bill requires the cities
and counties to conduct annual, random, unannounced inspections
to test dealer compliance. 
     The committee then heard S.F. 703, sponsored by Sen. Ember
Reichgott Junge (DFL-New Hope). The measure also gives local
governments the authority to license tobacco sales. The
inspection portion of the bill requires the local governments to
conduct an unannounced compliance check of each location of a
licensed tobacco dealer at least once yearly. The bill imposes a
mandatory penalty of $250 or a 7-day suspension of tobacco
selling authority for the first offense by a retailer that sells
tobacco to minors. The penalty for a second offense is a $500
penalty or 7-day suspension, and for a third violation in a 24-
month period, the bill requires a 3-month suspension of authority
to sell tobacco. The bill also provides the opportunity for a
hearing before a suspension is imposed. It also requires a
mandatory $50 fine for the individual who sells tobacco to a
minor.
     Sen. John Hottinger (DFL-Mankato), offered an amendment
replacing the Sams bill with the language of Reichgott Junge's
bill.  The amendment failed on a 7-8 roll call vote. 
     The committee then turned back to S.F. 558 as drafted.
Members adopted four amendments before approving the measure. The
first, offered by Sen. Len Price (DFL-Woodbury), requires
employers to maintain a written record of training for each
employee and make it available to inspectors on demand. An
amendment offered by Sen. Edward Oliver (IR-Deephaven), specifies
that the bill does not preempt local ordinances that are more
restrictive.  An amendment offered by Sen. Kevin Chandler (DFL-
White Bear Lake), prohibits tobacco companies from providing
display allowances to retailers. Under the amendment, retailers
may still display tobacco products, but tobacco companies cannot
pay them to do so. An amendment offered by Sen. John Hottinger
(DFL-Mankato), requires that for a fourth offense, the penalty is
a mandatory suspension of authority to sell tobacco, not to
exceed 7 days. S.F. 558 now goes to the Senate floor. 
     The panel next heard S.F. 1590, sponsored by Sen. Pat Piper
(DFL-Austin), requiring health plans to pay for treatment of
breast cancer with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone
marrow transplantation. Piper said that currently, women whose
doctors prescribe the treatment must take their health insurer to
court to argue for the coverage, and that most people who seek
the treatment are so severely ill that they don't have time to
wage a court battle. Members voted to approve S.F. 1590 and send
it to the Senate floor. 
     The Senators also approved S.F. 1056, a bill allowing cities
or towns to create trust or escrow accounts for proceeds from
losses to insured real property occurring from fire or explosion.
Under the measure, sponsored by Sen. Carl Kroening (DFL-Mpls.),
the cities or towns may use escrowed funds to repair or demolish
damaged or destroyed structures if the owners of the structures
refuse to do so. When a loss occurs due to fire or explosion in a
municipality that has elected to apply the act, the insurer must
withhold 15 percent of the actual cash value of the insured real
property or 15 percent of the final settlement, whichever is
less, for deposit in the municipality's escrow account. The money
is released to the property owner after the structure is
repaired, replaced or removed, except to the extent that the
escrowed amount is needed to complete the work. The money is also
released if the property owner consents to payment of funds
directly to the contractor doing the work.  The bill was approved
and sent to the full Senate.
     S.F. 1337, sponsored by Hottinger, also received the panel's
approval. The bill prohibits the sale of drugs, medical devices,
cosmetics, and food for children under two years of age by
transient sales people.
     S.F. 1514, sponsored by Sen. Jerry Janezich (DFL-Chisholm),
requires disclosures prior to the replacement of an existing
annuity or life insurance contract. Under the bill, insurers must
notify policyholders when a policy is to be replaced if the
existing policy is to be lapsed, forfeited, surrendered,
converted to reduced paid-up insurance, or reduced in value or
benefits.  The bill was approved and sent to the Senate floor.
     S.F. 1647, sponsored by Solon, permits the sale of long term
care policies that have longer waiting periods before benefits
are paid. Under current law, the waiting period before benefits
are paid is limited to 90 calendar days. The bill extends this
time to 24 months.  The bill was approved and sent to the Senate
floor.

Crime Prevention
"Minibus" bills advance
     The Crime Prevention Committee considered two bills made up
of two larger bills and a number of so-called "rider bills." The
committee discussed the provisions extensively at meetings held
Thurs., Apr. 6. Chair Sen. Allan Spear (DFL-Mpls.) referred to
the bills as "minibus" bills, as opposed to one large omnibus
committee bill.
     Sen. Ellen Anderson (DFL-St. Paul) offered a bill as the
vehcile for one of the compilation of provisions. S.F. 1564
expands the definitions of first- and second-degree manslaughter
to include causing the death of another while committing
malicious punishment of a child, or neglect or endangerment of a
child.
     Six amendments, several of which were bills, were added to
Anderson's bill. An author's amendment received considerable
debate before being amended and approved by the committee.
Anderson offered a provision that would have removed language
exempting relatives or spouses from a felony offense for
knowingly receiving profits from a prostitute. But some division
members did not believe blood relatives or spouses should be
included in the statute and rejected the amendment. Sen. Gene
Merriam (DFL-Coon Rapids) then offered another amendment that
clarifies the provision under certain circumstances.
     Another author's amendment directs a peace officer to
forward information to the Health Department upon receiving a
report of a wound caused by a firearm. Anderson also successfully
offered an amendment to allow the sale of electronic
incapacitation devices under certain provisions; the amendment
also incorporated penalties for illegal use of the devices.
     The committee also adopted an amendment offered by Sen.
Warren Limmer (IR-Maple Grove) providing monetary restitution to
a victim's family or a victim assistance or community program.
     The bill, as amended, was advanced to the full Senate.
     Members also approved and advanced another bill with several
attached amendments. S.F. 882, authored by Sen. Jane Ranum (DFL-
Mpls.), makes several changes to laws dealing with patterned sex
offenders. Among its provisions is a section allowing a maximum
imprisonment penalty of 40 years if a jury or judge finds that a
predatory offense was sexually motivated. The bill also requires
an annual training course for prosecutors, public defenders and
peace officers on the sentencing laws applicable to sex
offenders.
     Limmer successfully offered an amendment that increases the
penalty for indecent exposure from a misdemeanor to a gross
misdemeanor if the act was committed in the presence of a person
under 16 years. Another Limmer amendment expands the crime
prohibiting surreptitious intrusions into a hotel sleeping room
or tanning booth.
     Finally, the committee adopted an amendment, offered by
Merriam, allowing persons who have served as a Minnesota peace
officer, meet the current peace officer firearm training
requirements and serve as an investigator in a felony prosecution
office to carry a firearm.
     The amended bill advances to the Senate floor.

Bills considered
     Members of the Crime Prevention Finance Division met again
Thurs., Apr. 6, to continue the process of considering bills for
inclusion in the omnibus appropriations bill.  The division,
chaired by Sen. Tracy Beckman (DFL-Bricelyn), is hearing bills
and testimony but not taking formal action on any of the
measures.
     S.F. 556, authored by Sen. Thomas Neuville (IR-Northfield),
requires deductions from inmate wages paid by private industry to
be the same as for deductions from inmate wages paid by the Dept.
of Corrections.  S.F. 1510, authored by Beckman, authorizes the
commissioner of corrections to set about the process of
establishing a minimum security correctional facility for men at
Camp Ripley.  S.F. 776, sponsored by Sen. Don Kramer (IR-Brooklyn
Center), authorizes the commissioner of corrections to deduct
room and board charges or other costs of confinement from
inmates' salaries.  Members amended the bill to reorder the
priority of deductions made from inmates' wages.
     S.F. 1341, authored by Sen. Linda Runbeck (IR-Circle Pines),
provides for the expansion of intervention services provided
through the Institute of Child and Adolescent Sexual Health.  The
services are aimed at early intervention with children who
exhibit signs of sexually aggressive behavior and who do not
currently receive services.  S.F. 758, carried by Sen. Jane Ranum
(DFL-Mpls.), authorizes the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to
charge and collect fees for background checks run for reasons
other than criminal justice.  The bill also specifies that the
fees are to be used to maintain and improve the quality of the
criminal record system.  Members also heard a proposal, offered
by Sen. Allan Spear (DFL-Mpls.), for an appropriation to the
Illusion Theatre for the development of plays, workshops and
educational resources promoting increased awareness and
prevention of sexual abuse, violence and sexual harassment.
     A proposal for privatizing the juvenile corrections system
sparked considerable discussion.  S.F. 1515, authored by Sen.
Randy Kelly (DFL-St. Paul), calls for the transfer, by July 1,
1996, of all juveniles confined at Red Wing and Sauk Centre to
either privately owned and operated residential facilities or,
upon request of the county, back to the county originally having
jurisdiction over the juvenile.  Kelly said that the high
recidivism rate of the most serious juvenile offenders has
convinced him that the state must try a new approach to the
problem of juvenile corrections.

Privatization reviewed
     The Crime Prevention Finance Division examined several
measures intended for the omnibus crime prevention bill at a
meeting Fri., Apr. 7. Among those reviewed was S.F. 1515, a bill
to privatize juvenile correction systems. Carried by Sen. Randy
Kelly (DFL-St. Paul), the measure requires that juveniles at Red
Wing  and Sauk Centre be transferred to private residential
treatment centers, or returned to the counties originally having
jurisdiction over them, by July 1, 1996.
     Commissioner of Corrections Frank Wood opposed dismantling
the two programs, calling the move "premature." Although
acknowledging that privatization is an option, he called for
thoughtful analysis of the situation. "We may end up closing Red
Wing and Sauk Centre, and redirecting those resources," he said,
"but a predisposition to privatization is wrong."
     Members questioned the cost effectiveness of current
programs. Sen. Gary Laidig (IR-Stillwater) asked, "but could we
do something different with less?"
     Sen. Allen Spear (DFL-Mpls.) pointed to the high rate of
recidivism, 69 percent, and said, "if we can't do any better than
this, why are we spending so much money on it? Maybe we should
deploy our resources in different areas?"
     S.F. 1460, authored by Sen. Richard Cohen (DFL-St. Paul),
establishes a Ramsey County program to identify and prosecute the
most serious juvenile offenders. The one time appropriation is
from the general fund and available until June 30, 1997.
     John Wodele, a deputy attorney with Ramsey County, testified
in support of the measure. "We have to target our resources,"
Wodele said. "We want to focus on the guns and the gangs. We know
that just a few individuals commit most of the crimes." 
     Melinda Ellidge, a Ramsey County prosecutor, voiced strong
support for the bill. "To have a specific unit track the most
dangerous offenders would be extremely helpful," Ellidge said.
She described the coordinated effort as a "preventative
approach."
     Chair of the division, Sen. Tracy Beckman (DFL-Bricelyn)
raised concerns about flushing offenders out of the Metro Area
and into the rural regions. Wodele said that the likelihood of
that occurring is very slim. "Gangs need a city network to
operate," he said.
     Cohen told members that his bill is modeled after a Chicago
program aimed at eradicating gangs. Local experts say Chicago's
program has been highly effective, to the detriment of the Twin
Cities, evidenced by growth of gang activity in the Metro Area.
     S.F. 1286, sponsored by Kelly, appropriates $4.3 million
annually for peace officer standards and training. Besides
changing the composition of the Peace Officer Standards and
Training Board to include two members actively employed in peace
officer education, the bill also requires Metropolitan State
University and Minneapolis Community College to provide core law
enforcement courses in an accelerated time period for Metro Area
students.
     A bill establishing a child abuse helpline and a training
program for interviewers of abused children, S.F. 650, was also
considered for the omnibus crime bill. Authored by Sen. Ember
Reichgott Junge (DFL-New Hope), the measure mandates the
commissioner of human services to oversee both programs.
     Reichgott Junge said that there is no single source of
information and advice for victims of child abuse. She pointed
out that the designated person to handle such matters,
particularly in rural regions, is frequently a source that
victims or their families would hesitate to seek out.
     The statewide, toll-free helpline would be staffed 24 hours
by professionals able to answer questions concerning the physical
and sexual abuse of children.
     An amendment, offered by Sen. Roy Terwilliger (IR-Edina),   
concerning data access by law enforcement agencies, was adopted
by the division. Under Terwilliger's amendment, the criminal
justice policy group is responsible for developing the database
plan, rather than the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the
Dept. of Public Safety.
     Two bills, both authored by Spear, were heard by the
division. S.F. 1205 mandates the Nonfelony Enforcement Advisory
Committee to analyze penalty levels for low-level felony crimes,
and makes a one-time appropriation for staffing the NEAC.
     S.F. 1153 earmarks monies for four judgeships, vetoed by the
governor last year, while creating and funding five new
positions. The measure also authorizes conversion of a vacant
referee position into a judgeship.
     Members also considered a bill, S.F. 1054, authored by Sen.
Jane Ranum (DFL-Mpls.), providing for year round school for
juveniles in correctional facilities.  The proposal, part of a
comprehensive juvenile justice measure, sets forth the funding
mechanism for the education component, requires the state to pay
the costs of some of the educational programs, and establishes
youth service centers and pilot projects.  Members tried to get a
handle on the actual cost of the proposal, but the bill did not
come with a fiscal note, although Ranum said she had requested
one.  The measure was laid aside.
     Senators also considered a proposal, sponsored by  Sen.
Arlene Lesewski (IR-Marshall), authorizing interactive video
arraignments.  The bill, S.F. 287, was laid over for
consideration for the omnibus crime finance bill.  S.F. 1315,
authored by Beckman, was also considered.  The measure
establishes the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension as an independent
agency of the executive branch.  Currently, the BCA is part of
the Dept. of Public Safety.  The proposal also transfers the
criminal justice information system unit to the BCA.  S.F. 1613,
sponsored by Sen. Thomas Neuville (IR-Northfield), authorizes the
creation of a nonprofit corporation to manage correctional work
programs.  The measure outlines the organization, duties and
authority of the corporation and authorizes the sale of
corporation goods and services to governmental entities and
private enterprises.  S.F. 1650, sponsored by Beckman, suspends
the implementation of the extended jurisdiction juvenile system
for one year.
     A proposal to revamp the sentencing guidelines was also
considered.  S.F. 470, authored by Sen. Gary Laidig (IR-
Stillwater), implements the recommendations of the Sentencing
Guidelines Commission for changes to the guidelines and the
guidelines grid.  Under the proposal, prison sentences are
reduced for property and drug crimes while the sentences for
selected crimes against persons are increased.
     Members did not take any action to advance the bills, but
rather will consider the measures for inclusion in the omnibus
proposal.

Allocation process starts
     The Crime Prevention Finance Division began the process of
making allocations at the Mon., Apr. 10, hearing.  The panel,
chaired by Sen. Tracy Beckman (DFL-Bricelyn), reviewed a spread
sheet with preliminary budget allocations.  Under the proposal,
the appropriations for areas under the division's jurisdiction
total $855.9 million.  The total is $29.3 million under the
governor's recommendation.  The proposal provides funding for the
courts, the Dept. of Public Safety, the Private Detective Board,
the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, public defenders,
the Dept. of Corrections, the Corrections Ombudsman, and the
Sentencing Guidelines Commission.  The proposal also removes the
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension from the Dept. of Public Safety
and makes the BCA a separate agency.  
     In addition, the proposal provides funding for a number of
bills that had been considered by the division.  S.F. 624,
authored by Sen. Don Betzold (DFL-Fridley), provides for an
appropriation to the Northwest Community Law Enforcement Project
at North Hennepin Community College. S.F. 413, sponsored by Sen.
Janet Johnson (DFL-North Branch), establishes a pilot program to
test the effectiveness of electronic alcohol monitoring of DWI
offenders.  S.F. 549, carried by Beckman, provides funding for
Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) programs.  S.F. 911,
authored by Sen. John Marty (DFL-Roseville), alters provisions
dealing with DWI license plate revocation.  S.F. 434, sponsored
by Sen. Randy Kelly (DFL-St. Paul), clarifies the scope of the
witness and victim protection fund.  S.F. 946, carried by Sen.
Ellen Anderson (DFL-St. Paul), provides for a study relating to
youth centers.  S.F. 778, carried by Kelly, changes provisions
relating to reimbursement for bullet proof vests.  S.F. 1341,
authored by Sen. Linda Runbeck (IR-Circle Pines), provides for an
appropriation for the Child Sexual Health Institute for early
intervention services for children exhibiting sexually aggressive
behavior. S.F. 1460, authored by Sen. Richard Cohen (DFL-St.
Paul), authorizes Ramsey County to establish a juvenile violence
prevention task force.
     S.F. 1515, sponsored by Kelly, provides for a task force to
study the privatization of the juvenile facilities at Red Wing
and Sauk Centre.  S.F. 1153, authored by Sen. Allan Spear (DFL-
Mpls.), provides funding for seven new judgeships.  S.F. 650,
carried by Sen. Ember Reichgott Junge (DFL-New Hope), requires
information to be gathered from crime victims for presentation at
bail hearings and providing for a child abuse telephone helpline.
S.F. 1205, carried by Spear, expands the duties of the Nonfelony
Enforcement Advisory Committee.  S.F. 435, authored by Kelly,
expands the crime of witness tampering and provides for victim
grants.  S.F. 359, sponsored by Sen. James Metzen (DFL-St. Paul),
provides for state reimbursement for bomb squads.  S.F. 1286,
carried by Kelly, makes changes in provisions relating to the
Peace Office Standards and Training Board.  S.F. 1054, sponsored
by Sen. Jane Ranum (DFL-Mpls.), makes numerous changes in
provisions relating to the juvenile justice system.  S.F. 418,
carried by Kelly, is the Safe Schools initiative and authorizes
special projects and programs to combat truancy and provides for
other crime prevention efforts in the schools.  Finally, a
proposal, sponsored by Spear, for an appropriation for the
Illusion Theatre to develop anti-violence programs, is also
included in the division's omnibus proposal.  The total
appropriation for the separate bills is $9.45 million.
     Several items in the proposal sparked division discussion. 
Sen. David Knutson (IR-Burnsville) questioned the separation of
the BCA from the Dept. of Public Safety.  Beckman said that the
intention of the split is to increase productivity and improve
morale in the agency.  Kelly added that for all practical
purposes the BCA has been functioning as a stand-alone agency for
several years. 
     Spear said that he was concerned about reductions in the
increase for the public defenders.  He pointed out that much of
the increased burden placed upon the public defenders system is
the result of legislation passed last year.  "We need to fund
last year's initiatives before taking on new ones," Spear said.
     Members also discussed the appropriations earmarked for the
Dept. of Corrections is some detail.  Under the proposal, no
appropriations are made available for expansion at the juvenile
facilities at Red Wing and Sauk Centre, nor are other program
increases funded to the full extent recommended by the governor.

Funding revamped
     Members of the Crime Prevention Finance Division met in the
afternoon Tues., Apr. 11, to consider a revised funding proposal
for the omnibus bill.  The new proposal totals $860.2 million and
is $25 million less than the governor's recommendations. The
revised spread sheet restores funding for several programs. 
Under the revised proposal, an addition $500,000 is earmarked for
legal aid, three positions are provided to aid the transition of
the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension into an independent agency, a
$4.6 million increase for public defenders recommended by the
governor is restored, and a 3 percent cut to the base,
annualization and jail rental categories of the Dept. of
Corrections budget is implemented.  The new proposal also
decreases the funding for the Safe Schools initiative by $1
million.
     An earlier version of the proposal did not include the 3
percent base cut for the Dept. of Corrections and had, instead,
decreased funding for facility caseload changes by $6.5 million. 
The new version leaves the funding for the facility caseload
changes and allows the department to make the necessary
reductions.  In addition, the previous version did not fund the
increase for the public defenders.  However, Sen. Allan Spear
argued that the division needed to fund the increase because of
the increased burden placed on public defenders as a result of
last year's legislation.
     Spear said that the new proposal does a good job of
addressing the concerns of the committee members about various
portions of the budget.
     Discussion at the afternoon hearing centered primarily on
the proposal to separate the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension from
the Dept. of Public Safety.  Commissioner Michael Jordan, of the
Dept. of Public Safety, testified against the proposal to
separate the BCA. Jordan said that the separation flies in the
face of the move to consolidate and streamline state government
in order to improve efficiency.  Beckman countered that the
initiative is an attempt to remove politics from the agency and
allow the BCA to continue to provide quality services.
     Sen. Gary Laidig (IR-Stillwater) questioned the lack of
increased funding for BCA lab improvements.  Laidig asked if
perhaps some of the funding for the Safe School initiative
couldn't be more properly located in the education funding
budget.  Spear responded that the division has traditionally
taken a broad approach to crime prevention in funding programs
such as Head Start and Success by Six.  Spear said, "We have
taken the position that getting a child started in life in a
healthy way is the most successful crime prevention effort we can
make."
     Members approved a motion to adopted the funding proposal
outlined in the spreadsheet.

Education
PSEO changes approved
     Proposals changing the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options
(PSEO) program were heard and approved by Education Funding
Division, chaired by Sen. Lawrence Pogemiller (DFL-Mpls.), Weds.
evening, Apr. 5.
     S.F. 1197 expands the eligibility for PSEO, allowing high
school students enrolled at a non-public school to participate in
the program.  Sen. Tom Neuville (IR-Northfield), the bill's
author, said allowing non-public school students to participate
in the program is a matter of fairness.  But the bill drew
opposition from education groups who argued the proposal will
divert money away from the public school system.  The proposal
was approved and will be incorporated into the omnibus funding
bill.
     In response to concerns that students may be using PSEO to
take easier courses than they could take at their own high
school, the division also approved and added S.F. 1509, presented
by Sen. Don Samuelson (DFL-Brainerd), to the omnibus bill.  Under
Samuelson's proposal, students are first required to complete the
courses of an Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate
Program, if those programs are provided by the school district,
before they participate in PSEO.
     Before approving the bill, the division considered two
amendments.  A requirement in the bill that students pay for the
textbooks used in advanced secondary school programs was struck
on a motion by Sen. Ember Reichgott Junge (DFL-New Hope).  An
amendment offered by Sen. Jerry Janezich (DFL-Chisholm), to place
PSEO tuition on a sliding fee scale was rejected.
     The division also approved a bill setting up a program that
allow Metropolitan Area districts to run all-day kindergarten.
Under S.F. 1359, authored by Sen. Jane Ranum (DFL-Mpls.), Metro
Area districts with high numbers of students that qualify for
free or reduced lunches could qualify for grants to extend the
length of the kindergarten program.  The bill provides the $13
million needed for the project by applying an assessment on
businesses operating at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International
Airport that currently pay no municipal or school district
property taxes.
     Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing) presented S.F. 1497,
exempting the State High School League from paying sales tax on
tickets to interscholastic tournaments.  The bill requires that
the amounts equal to what the tax generates to be set aside for
support activities for students with disabilities or to expand
activities for girls.  The measure was approved and sent to the
full Education Committee.
     The division approved and incorporated a number of other
bills into the omnibus funding package. S.F. 142, presented by
Sen. Dean Johnson (IR-Willmar), allows the school districts in
Danube, Renville, and Belview, and another non-public school to
enter into enhanced pairing agreements to discontinue one or more
grades.
     Also approved was S.F. 1449, authored by Sen. Jim Vickerman
(DFL-Tracy).  The bill extends the availability of a $100,000
grant given last year to a group of Southwestern school districts
that are planning for combination.  S.F. 584, carried by Sen. Don
Betzold (DFL-Fridley), allows the Osseo School District to levy
up to $500,000 for instructional services for at-risk students.
     Two other proposals by Betzold, S.F. 585 and S.F. 586, were
set aside.  S.F. 585 continues the Osseo district's levy
authority used to support programs for at-risk students and
establishes a low-income concentration grant program.  S.F. 586
provides a low-income concentration aid program.
     A proposal to create a homework help line was set aside for
further consideration.  S.F. 1443, presented by Sen. Kenric
Scheevel (IR-Preston), sets an annual appropriation of $125,000
to establish the Minnesota Homework Helpline. The bill also calls
for the appropriation to be matched by private funds.
     Scheevel's bill, S.F. 1450, to allow a district to hold a
referendum to fund extra-curricular activities, was rejected by
the division.
     Prior to the division's meeting, the full Education
Committee, co-chaired by Pogemiller and Sen. LeRoy Stumpf (DFL-
Thief River Falls), met briefly and approved S.F. 547, sponsored
by Sen. Steven Morse (DFL-Dakota).  The bill eliminates the
Office of Environmental Education in the Dept. of Education and
creates the Environmental Education Council.  The council is to
be housed in the Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning. 
The bill was re-referred to the Governmental Operations and
Veterans Committee.

Year-round school bills heard
     Several bills requesting grants to support year-round school
operations were considered by the Education Funding Division,
chaired by Sen. Lawrence Pogemiller (DFL-Mpls.), on Thurs.
evening, Apr. 6.
     The division heard five proposals, each providing the means
for school districts to operate throughout the year.  Sen.
Leonard Price (DFL-Woodbury) presented two bills offering revenue
for year-round school programs.  S.F. 1462 provides year-round
school pilot program grants for both operations and facilities. 
S.F. 1375 establishes a flexible learning year revenue program
and authorizes the sale of up to $5 million in bonds to support
the program.
     S.F. 1483, authored by Sen. Janet Johnson (DFL-North
Branch), provides an $83,000 grant to the Cambridge School
District for a pilot year-round school program.  Another
proposal, S.F. 1643 carried by Sen. Kevin Chandler (DFL-White
Bear Lake), creates the pilot Extend Program and includes a
$750,000 appropriation for a grant to the White Bear Lake
district under the program.  All four proposals were discussed
and then set aside for further consideration as part of the
omnibus funding bill.
     Other bills aimed at improving the educational performance
of targeted groups were considered.  S.F. 1595, presented by Sen.
Sandra Pappas (DFL-St. Paul), offers grants to provide academic
and culturally-related programs in districts with a student
population of more than 10 percent Mexican-American. The division
approved the proposal as part of the omnibus bill.
     S.F. 924, also offered by Pappas, allows a $500,000
appropriation designated in FY 1995 for the Teachers of Color
program to carry forward into the next fiscal year.  The measure
was adopted and added to the omnibus bill.  Also approved for
further consideration in the omnibus package was S.F. 1203.  The
bill, sponsored by Sen. Jane Krentz (DFL-May Township), calls for
appropriations to upgrade the skills of and certify school
interpreters.
     Pappas and Sen. Ellen Anderson (DFL-St. Paul) both offered
bills calling for additional funds in support of the Adult Basic
Education and Adult Graduation Aid programs.  Pappas' bill, S.F.
1161, did not specify an a appropriation for either program. 
Anderson's proposal designated a biennial appropriation of $8.1
million in Adult Graduation Aid.  The Pappas bill was accepted
for further consideration.
     Two bills clarifying the High School Graduation Incentives
program were also processed by the division.  Under the program,
students, who are at least age 16, may transfer to a private
school if a public district has a contract with the private
school for educational services.  S.F. 1612, authored by Sen.
Jerry Janezich (DFL-Chisholm), allows students of all ages to
transfer to a private school.  The bill also requires that 88
percent of the general education funding a district would receive
for each student be given to the private school.  The private
school may also appeal to the State Board of Education when a
school district rejects a contract proposal.
     S.F. 1294, offered by Pappas, transfers 88 percent of the
education revenue to a private school that accepts students from
a public system under the graduation incentives program.  The
division approved S.F. 1294, and adopted a portion of S.F. 1612,
allowing schools to make an appeal to the State Board.
     The division also set aside S.F. 1095 for further
consideration.  The bill, presented by Sen. Jane Ranum (DFL-
Mpls.), provides funds for school breakfast and lunch programs.

Appropriation bill considered
     Sen. LeRoy Stumpf (DFL-Thief River Falls), chair of the
Higher Education Funding Division, gave division and audience
members a pep-talk recently regarding the division's task to
develop an appropriation bill. At the Thurs., Apr. 6, meeting,
Stumpf reiterated the grim realities and challenges facing higher
education, but encouraged state leaders to work together to get
through the coming biennia.
     Wrapping up its week of meetings, the division heard
presentations on two bills to be considered for inclusion in the
division's omnibus bill. S.F. 1225, authored by Sen. Sam Solon
(DFL-Duluth), establishes a new nursing grant program under the
Higher Education Coordinating Board. The new program consolidates
several small grants available now. According to Susan Stout of
the Minnesota Nursing Association, the program provides a dollar-
to-dollar match with $50,000 in state funds. Currently, the state
provides some $120,000 in small nursing grants, she said.
     Another bill, S.F. 1295, authorizes the Bureau of Mediation
Services to transfer staff between bargaining units of the
community colleges and the technical colleges. The bill, carried
by Solon, stipulates a transfer can only occur if all parties
agree to do so. Some Senators expressed concern about the cost
implications of the provision, and representatives from Minnesota
State Colleges and Universities said they needed more time to
consider possible consequences.
     Stumpf said the provision should be looked at closely and
then, repeating a theme heard throughout the session, called for
a cooperative effort among all groups within higher education.
Because of the "dramatic" cuts facing all aspects of the state's
budget, everything in the higher education program is up for
discussion, he said. Leaders must consider changes in contract
bargaining, find efficiencies in programs, and examine
administration levels, all with the students in mind, Stumpf
said.
     "Keeping morale up out there is going to be difficult," he
said. "We'll need very good cooperation among all parties to make
it through the next couple years."

Certificate program defeated
     A bill to establish an educational certificate aid program
was rejected by the members of the Education Funding Division,
chaired by Sen. Lawrence Pogemiller (DFL-Mpls.), Fri., Apr. 7.
     S.F. 1377 creates the certificate program for students of
parents or guardians whose income is at or below 185 percent of
the federal poverty guideline.  Sponsored by Sen. Tom Neuville
(IR-Northfield), the bill requires the Dept. of Education to
provide qualifying parents or guardians with a certificate equal
in amount to 80 percent of the general education formula
allowance.  Those certificates may then be applied toward a
student's attendance at the public or private school of their
choosing.
     Supporters of the bill, including private school officials
and parents, argued the proposal serves those students who have
the greatest needs to be successful and who should be allowed to
make choices they may otherwise not have.  Representatives of the
various public school groups opposed the bill, saying the program
would divert funds from the system and that using public funds to
support private schools raises a question of constitutionality.
     The measure fell on a 3-10 roll call vote.
     The members also reviewed a number of other bills and voted
to include two directly into the omnibus funding bill.  S.F.
1625, presented by Sen. Dallas Sams (DFL-Staples), allows the
Detroit Lakes School District to make a fund transfer.  S.F.
1581, offered by Neuville, modifies a 1994 law providing a land
transfer to the Faribault School District for a new elementary
school site.
     S.F. 1047, carried by Sen. Ember Reichgott Junge (DFL-New
Hope), creates an open and standing appropriation category to
provide property tax abatement aid to school districts.  The
division, at the author's request, approved the measure as a
grant program and added it to the omnibus bill.
     Sen. Dallas Sams (DFL-Staples) presented S.F. 1172, calling
for a biennial appropriation of $23.3 million to support
secondary vocational education programs.  The members set the
proposal aside for further consideration.
     The division heard but chose not to include the provisions
of six other bills in the omnibus bill.  Among those bills was
S.F. 1174, authored by Sen. Steven Novak (DFL-New Brighton),
allowing districts to withhold the records of a transferring
student until any school property is returned, and S.F. 1559,
carried by Sen. Charles Berg (DFL-Chokio), providing a grant to
reduce the Milan School District's operating debt.
     Also, a proposal by Sen. David Knutson (IR-Burnsville), S.F.
712, to eliminate referendum levy equalization offset was not
included.  S.F. 1372, requesting funds for an asbestos sampling
program in the West Central Cooperative Service Unit, was
presented by Sen. Keith Langseth (DFL-Glyndon) but not included.
Reichgott Junge's proposal, S.F. 1050, to increase the general
education formula allowance was also not approved.
     S.F. 1480, authored by Sen. Sandra Pappas (DFL-St. Paul),
proposes using an excise sales tax revenue to reduce class sizes. 
The measure, calling for a two-year delay on the scheduled
reduction in the sales tax percentages paid by businesses to
replace their capital equipment, was not approved.

Transition system bill heard
     The Education Funding Division, chaired by Sen. Lawrence
Pogemiller (DFL-Mpls.), reviewed and approved a bill, Sat., Apr.
8, creating a system to help students make the transition from
education to employment.
     S.F. 1476, authored by Sen. Tracy Beckman (DFL-Bricelyn),
establishes an statewide education and employment transition
system.  The system is to include strategies to improve career
counseling, to incorporate work-based programs into the school
curriculum, and to develop private sector partnerships with the
education system.
     The bill creates the governor's Workforce Development
Council and makes the council responsible for development and
implementation of a transition system.  The proposal also calls
for grant programs for local education and employment transition
partnerships and for the support of a youth employers grant
program.  The provisions of the bill were approved and added to
the omnibus funding bill.
     The division also approved and added to the omnibus bill a
related proposal brought forward by Beckman, to encumber money
for participants in Youth Community Service Programs.  S.F. 1281
requires the Higher Education Coordinating Board to hold $4,725
in a special account for each student who enrolls in the youth
works service program.  The measure allows students who have
completed the program to draw the funds from the account and use
it toward their post-secondary education costs.
     In other business, the members reviewed several proposal to
fund interactive television (ITV) and other information delivery
systems in schools.  Four of the six bills the division heard
were presented by Sen. LeRoy Stumpf (DFL-Thief River Falls). 
S.F. 245 allows districts involved in the cooperation and
combination program to receive ITV revenue if they enter into an
ITV lease before combining.  S.F. 289 allows districts to use
capital expenditure and staff development revenue to train
teachers in computer use.  S.F. 892 provides grant programs that
allow districts to gain access to information delivery
technologies, and to fund the costs of connecting districts to
the Internet.  S.F. 567 provides a grant to the North Central
Minnesota Educational Consortium to set up an ITV network.
     Sen. Florian Chmielewski (DFL-Sturgeon Lake) presented S.F.
668, giving a grant to the Cromwell School District for ITV
installation.  S.F. 551, creating a technical support aid program
and providing funds for schools to access the Internet, was
offered by Sen. Jane Ranum (DFL-Mpls.).  After reviewing all of
the proposals, the division set the bills aside for further
consideration as part of their funding decisions.
     Two other bills were approved by the members and added to
the omnibus bill.  S.F. 1466, sponsored by Sen. Linda Runbeck
(IR-Circle Pines), permits schools to charge fees to provide an
elective course that would not otherwise be offered because of
low enrollment.  The bill also lets schools use unlicensed
teachers in elementary classrooms when a licensed teacher is
using their preparation time and allows districts to negotiate a
payment schedule, other than provided in law, with the Dept. of
Education.  The portions of the bill allowing districts to charge
fees, and to negotiate a payment schedule were approved.
     S.F. 945, carried by Sen. Martha Robertson (IR-Minnetonka),
appropriates funds for the Advanced Placement and International
Baccalaureate programs.  The measure was approved without a
specific appropriation.
     Several other bills were considered but the members voted
that they not be included in the omnibus bill.  Among those bills
was S.F. 796, authored by Sen. David Knutson (IR-Burnsville),
eliminating the State Board of Education, and S.F. 1466, offered
by Sen. Mark Ourada (IR-Buffalo), requiring the state board to
report the costs of implementing the graduation rule to the
Legislature before the rule can take effect.
     Robertson's bill, S.F. 788, allowing districts to levy for
insurance costs was not approved, nor was S.F. 1580, presented by
Sen. Cal Larson (IR-Fergus Falls), giving a levy to districts
losing a technical college to the merging higher education
system.
     Also not included were S.F. 1580, sponsored by Larson,
defining the effect of the debt service equalization aid has on
district projects, and S.F. 1340, authored by Sen. Sandra Pappas
(DFL-St. Paul), including provisions to fully fund special
education, allow fund transfers and offset certain property tax
aids.

Special ed bills discussed
     Several special education proposals were under consideration
when the Education Funding Division, chaired by Sen. Lawrence
Pogemiller (DFL-Mpls.), met Mon., Apr. 10.
     The members took up S.F. 917, presented by Sen. Jerry
Janezich (DFL-Chisholm).  The bill establishes the Options-Plus
Pilot Program.  The purpose of the program is to develop
alternative ways to serve students with specific disabilities
without formally enrolling them in a special education program. 
As part of the program, districts are to prepare a limited
educational plan for participating students that identifies how
their needs will be meet.  The division set the measure aside for
further consideration.
     A bill to establish a pilot program to provide early
intervention services to children with emotional or behavioral
disorders was also set aside for more consideration.  S.F. 1610,
authored by Sen. Kevin Chandler (DFL-White Bear Lake), provides a
grant to the White Bear Lake School District for "Project
Prevent," an early intervention program serving children with
emotional or behavioral disorders.
     Sen. Jane Krentz (DFL-May Township) presented S.F. 1400. 
The bill allows a county representative to participate in
preparing the education plan for a child with a disability, if
the parents and school district consent and it has been
determined that interagency services are appropriate.  The
measure also requires the Dept. of Education and the Dept. of
Human Services to evaluate their rules pertaining to special
education, and calls on both departments to jointly develop a
training program for school district staff who work with children
with disabilities.  The bill was approved and added to the
omnibus bill, while the funding provisions of the proposal were
set aside for future consideration.
     S.F. 707, authored by Sen. Warren Limmer (IR-Maple Grove),
was rejected by the division.  The measure excludes students from
enrolling in a school district if they had been previously
expelled from another district for possession of a firearm.  The
bill also prevents students released from a correctional
institution from returning to their school district, diverting
them instead into an alternative learning program.
     Special education components of S.F. 817 were also added to
the omnibus bill.  The measure, authored by Sen. Kenric Scheevel
(IR-Preston), gives the parties objecting to proposed changes to
a child's special education plan 15 days to provide the other
party with a statement identifying the specific remedies sought.
     In other business, the members approved Pogemiller's bill,
proposing funds in support of the artists in education residency
project, and the Partners: Arts and School for Students (PASS)
Program.  Included as part of S.F. 1649 is a biennial
appropriation of $842,000, which the division set aside.
     Sen. Jane Ranum (DFL-Mpls.) presented S.F. 1418, proposing
changes to teacher compensation mechanisms.  The bill changes
current training and experience revenue provisions to a teacher
compensation revenue program.  The revenue is to be used to pay
teachers who gain additional skills needed by their school
district to increase student achievement.  The measure was set
aside until language changing it into a grant program could be
developed.

Higher ed allocations considered
     Members of the Higher Education Funding Division, chaired by
Sen. LeRoy Stumpf (DFL-Thief River Falls), began discussing
provisions to the division's appropriation bill at a Mon., Apr.
10, meeting.
     The proposal includes three articles dealing with a new
funding policy, reorganization of the Higher Education
Coordinating Board, and changes to the financial aid policy.
Several individual bills also may be added to the package.
     Stumpf, as in previous meetings, emphasized the tough
decisions the division must make regarding the ever-tightening
budgets for higher education programs. "The budget proposal is by
no means adequate," he said, but it does limit severely adverse
impacts on all programs.
     Stumpf presented another provision outlining changes and
requirements for labor agreements and compensation planning. Most
notably, the measure directs the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities (MnSCU) Board of Trustees and the University of
Minnesota Board of Regents to increase the number of hours
faculty spend on instructional activities when negotiating labor
agreements. Another of the 10 measures calls for providing for
the equivalent of at least a 40-hour work week for all full-time
employees. The provision also allows immediate employee layoffs
in a financial emergency situation, as declared by the respective
board.
     Stumpf said the basis of the proposals is to deal with the
public's perception of how higher education systems are run. But
representatives of the systems' faculty groups testified against
the provisions, saying labor management should have the
prerogative to manage collective bargaining. Discussion will
continue.
     The division also took testimony on Stumpf's alternative
funding proposal introduced as S.F. 1234. The provision changes
the way campuses are funded by basing funding on the number of
diplomas, degrees or certificates handed out, instead of on how
many students a campus has enrolled. The bill also offers a high
school diploma warranty requiring a high school to pay for
remedial courses if a graduate scores below a 10th-grade level in
a college assessment test.
     Two provisions were added to provide for technical and
policy task forces to implement the proposal and work out the
details and concerns of the interested parties.
     Members scheduled continuing discussions on the proposals.

Environment and Natural Resources
Petroleum tank cleanup changes
     A bill relating to petroleum tank cleanup ate up more than
four hours of discussion at Weds., Apr. 5, meetings of the
Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division. The division,
chaired by Sen. Steven Morse (DFL-Dakota), also considered seven
other bills.
     S.F. 507, carried by Sen. Steven Novak (DFL-New Brighton),
deals with a variety of statutes related to petroleum tank
cleanup funds, site assessments and tank monitoring.
     Much of the division's debate focused on a section of the
bill dealing with reimbursement costs. The provision, Novak
explained, essentially singles out two contaminated sites,
located in Ramsey County and the city of Minneapolis, to be
eligible for state Petro Fund money for the cleanup of the land.
     In both cases, the responsible parties are unable to cover
the cleanup costs and the land would remain undeveloped unless
the state funds are accessed, Novak said. Because of changes in
laws since the land was purchased, the property owners got handed
the cleanup bill, he said.
     Sen. Janet Johnson (DFL-North Branch) successfully offered
an amendment establishing an environmental lien on the property
in the amount of the reimbursement, or the value of the property.
     The amended bill was advanced to the full committee.
     Another bill, S.F. 1253, was also advanced to the full
committee. The bill, authored by Sen. Don Samuelson (DFL-
Brainerd), also deals with the petroleum tank release cleanup
program and establishes registration requirements for contractors
and consultants. A provision establishing insurance coverage
criteria was deleted.
     The division also considered S.F. 693, a bill authored by
Sen. Steve Dille (IR-Dassel) changing the limits for
participation in rural finance authority loans. The goal of the
bill is to improve the livestock industry in the state, Dille
said. The bill also addresses development of best management
practices for feedlots, changes permit requirements for feedlots,
and appropriates funds. The bill was laid over for consideration
with the division's appropriation bill.
     Five other bills also were laid over for further
consideration, including S.F. 1358 authored by Sen. Dan Stevens
(IR-Mora). The bill appropriates $25,000 to the Dept. of Natural
Resources to establish a recreational shooting range within Sand
Dunes State Forest.
     S.F. 345, carried by Sen. LeRoy Stumpf (DFL-Thief River
Falls), expands the wastewater infrastructure funding program to
include basic assistance grants to municipalities. Stumpf also
presented S.F. 1193, a bill appropriating funds to establish a
task force to study interstate flood control projects.
     Sen. Pat Pariseau (IR-Farmington) offered S.F. 671, a bill
providing $175,000 in emergency bonding to repair erosion damage
to the Cannon Valley Trail near Cannon Falls.
     Morse presented S.F. 1201, a bill specifying that money
recovered in lawsuits for the destruction or loss of natural
resources resulting from a hazardous waste release must be used
for repairing or replacement of natural resources.
     Finally, the division heard a presentation by Sen. Roger Moe
(DFL-Erskine) regarding a tree plantation project overseen by the
University of Minnesota-Crookston. The project includes study of
a rapidly growing type of poplar tree. Moe requested the division
consider an annual appropriation of $200,000 to continue the
project.

Final bills advanced
     In one of its last policy meetings of the session, the
Environment and Natural Resources Committee processed some 14
bills at a Fri., Apr. 7, meeting.
     S.F. 507, carried by Sen. Steven Novak (DFL-New Brighton),
deals with a variety of statutes related to petroleum tank
cleanup funds, site assessments, tank monitoring, and
reimbursement requirements. Sen. Pat Pariseau (IR-Farmington)
successfully offered an amendment specifying that costs of a
corrective action performance audit also are reimbursable.
     Another bill, S.F. 1253, also deals with the petroleum tank
release cleanup program. The bill, authored by Sen. Don Samuelson
(DFL-Brainerd), establishes registration requirements for
contractors and consultants.
     Sen. Gary Laidig (IR-Stillwater) presented H.F. 1018, a bill
conforming state regulation of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to
federal law. The bill adds dehumidifiers, ice makers, water
coolers, heat pumps and commercial refrigeration systems to the
list of items from which CFCs must be removed and disposed. The
bill also clarifies training and certification requirements.
     Members discussed and advanced 11 other bills. Sen. Janet
Johnson's (DFL-North Branch) bill, S.F. 1076, dealing with wind
facilities, exempts large wind energy conversion systems from
power plant siting requirements.
     H.F. 1101, carried by Sen. Dennis Frederickson (IR-New Ulm),
is a housekeeping bill and makes several technical corrections to
laws related to shoreland ordinances, permitting, dam repair, and
other federal, state, and local provisions.
     Sen. Leonard Price (DFL-Woodbury) presented a bill, S.F.
897, related to surface and groundwater management in the Metro
Area. The provisions of the bill include groundwater management
planning provisions, standards and review. Price also carried
H.F. 1055, a bill amending the Watershed Act. The measure
contains a provision to raise the per diem for watershed district
managers by $5 a day. The bill also addresses changes in advisory
committees, watershed district plans, and simplification of
procedures to maintain and improve drainage ditches in the Metro
Area.
     Sen. Kevin Chandler (DFL-White Bear Lake) presented S.F.
1073, a bill specifying that a private property owner may recover
costs associated with cleanup of a contaminated site if the
person responsible for abandoning the hazardous waste did not do
so.
     Sen. Bob Lessard (DFL-Int'l. Falls), chair of the committee,
presented a bill, S.F. 1250, modifying the terms of payment for
certain tax-forfeited timber. The bill changes the required down
payment of 25 percent of the appraised value, to "no less than 15
percent."
     The committee also considered several bills providing for
the sale of tax-forfeited lands, including S.F. 243, carried by
Sen. Deanna Wiener (DFL-Eagan), authorizing the sale of land in
Dakota County. S.F. 1444, authored by Sen. Samuel Solon (DFL-
Duluth), authorizes the sale of tax-forfeited lands in St. Louis
County. Sen. Mark Ourada (IR-Buffalo) presented S.F. 1112, a bill
allowing the sale of county ditches from Sherburne County to the
city of Elk River. S.F. 1583, authored by Sen. Roger Moe (DFL-
Erskine), also allows the sale of acquired state land in Becker
County to a private landowner.
     Finally, the committee approved S.F. 867, carried by Sen.
John Hottinger (DFL-Mankato), a bill allowing drivers license
information to be included as required identification on fish
houses.

Budget proposal outlined
     The Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division
commenced its allocations hearings with an overview of all agency
programs and budgets presented by Chair Steven Morse (DFL-
Dakota).
     Morse began the Mon., Apr. 10, meeting by pointing out the
main "problem areas." The division faced a preliminary budget
some $800,000 over the targeted budget of $347.2 million, Morse
said. The division also has to make decisions regarding the
governor's proposal to eliminate the payment in lieu of taxes or
PILT program, and the proposed $3 million reduction in the
Conservation Fund, he said.
     Morse highlighted the differences between the division's
proposal and the governor's proposal. One of the most notable
changes is in the budget allocation for the Legislative
Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCMR). The governor had
reduced the budget for several projects choosing instead to fund
the projects with capital bonding; the division's initiatives,
however, reinstate the original $2.3 million in LCMR funding.
     The division budget also proposes a $1 million reduction in
ethanol producer payments, directs the Dept. of Agriculture to
cover indirect costs with fees, authorizes a Dept. of Natural
Resources pilot project to study eco-region management, and
directs the Pollution Control Agency and the DNR to consolidate
administration functions.
     In coming meetings, Morse said, the division also must
address Agriculture's Grain Inspection Program and proposed
changes to the Petro Fund.

Budget allocations continue
     Members of the Environment and Natural Resources Finance
Division continued their review of the division appropriation and
omnibus bills at meetings held Tues., Apr. 11. Division Chair
Steven Morse (DFL-Dakota) gave a section-by-section overview of
the policy document which contains a variety of Senate bills and
agency biennial proposals.
     Members briefly discussed several of the provisions. Some
members expressed concern about one of the amendments to the
Agriculture Best Management Practices Loan Program providing for
liens against a loan-holder's property.
     The bill also contains changes to statutes related to
ethanol production. The proposal, introduced by Morse, sets a
state production goal of 220 million gallons, establishes a
producer payment program for credits up to a state limit of $30
million a year, and repeals the credit program in 2010.
     Another change outlined in the bill is related to permit
fees, allowing the Pollution Control Agency to charge a fee based
on the amount of pollutants in the discharge instead of based on
the quantity of the discharge.
     Members also heard a presentation from Paul Burns of the
Dept. of Agriculture regarding the Agricultural Land Preservation
Program. Morse explained that the governor is proposing to move
$3 million from the conservation fund to the general fund. Burns
said the action could hurt the preservation program by
discouraging counties from participating without state
assistance.
     Dale Heimerman, also of the Dept. of Agriculture, gave an
overview of the changes made to the Grain Inspection Program
since January to deal with an anticipated budget shortfall.
Program officials have laid off 15 full-time employees and plan
to seek recommendations on operation methods, billing and
accounting practices, and develop better forecasting methods, he
said.
     The division will continue scrutiny of its budget proposal
before advancing it to the full committee.

Family Services
Senior nutrition program approved
     At the Thurs., Apr. 6 meeting of the Family Services
Committee, chaired by Sen. Pat Piper (DFL-Austin), two bills were
forwarded.  S.F. 576, authored by Sen. Janet Johnson (DFL-North
Branch) was sent to the funding division.  The bill appropriates
$1 million in additional funds to senior nutrition programs. 
Alice Davis, president of the Minnesota Nutrition Directors
Association, said that the programs, which include home-delivered
meals and congregate dining, are very effective in improving
seniors' health and well-being.  Nutritional intervention, Davis
explained, can greatly reduce illness and disease in seniors.
     Sen. Don Kramer (IR-Brooklyn Center) inquired whether
private support by recipients can supplement the base amount,
which totals $2 million for both programs.  Davis said that by
law they cannot charge for the meals and that age and disability
are the only eligibility factors.  
     Members also approved H.F. 694, carried by Sen. Sam Solon
(DFL-Duluth).  The bill amends the sliding fee child care program
to allow a county to reduce its assistance allocations, provided
the county continues service to families currently receiving
assistance.  The measure, which applies to St. Louis and Ramsey
Counties, eliminates unfair maintenance of effort for counties,
Solon said, and allows the counties to compete on a level playing
field.  An amendment was adopted that clarifies that the bill
does not affect the local match required.  The bill, as amended,
goes to the floor.

Finance
Transportation funding okayed
     A $2.5 billion omnibus transportation funding package was
approved, Tues., Apr. 11, and sent to the Senate floor by the
Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Gene Merriam (DFL-Coon
Rapids).
     S.F. 1536 provides $1.148 billion in FY 1996 and another
$1.157 bill in FY 1997 for the Dept. of Transportation (MnDOT). 
As part of the department's biennial budget, $1.3 billion is
earmarked for state road construction and another $754 million is
designated for distribution as aid to counties and
municipalities.
     The bill, authored by Sen. Keith Langseth (DFL-Glyndon),
also provides $165.5 million in the next biennium for the
operations of the Dept. of Public Safety, and another $69 million
in FY 1996 and FY 1997 for the Metropolitan Council Transit
Organization.
     Langseth said about $1.45 billion appropriated in the bill
comes from the Trunk Highway Fund.  Only about $22 million of the
amount provided will come from the state's general fund.
     The committee approved two amendments that Langseth offered. 
One amendment makes technical corrections to the measure while
the other eliminates $2.8 million from the appropriation for the
Dept. of Public Service and another $1.6 million that had been
provided to the Supreme Court in the bill.  Both of those
appropriations are to be included as part of a crime prevention
omnibus bill now under consideration.
     In reviewing S.F. 1536, the members discussed a provision
allowing MnDOT to implement a congestion pricing project.  The
project is to determine the feasibility of charging fees for the
use of an interstate.  The bill provides the department with a
waiver from rulemaking requirements as it prepares the guidelines
for the project.
     Sen. Jane Ranum (DFL-Mpls.) questioned how the funds
generated by the fees would be used and expressed concerns that
by giving the department a waiver from rulemaking, the project
would proceed without public input.  She offered an amendment
requiring that any fee proceeds be placed in the general fund, so
that they would be available to support transit operations.  The
amendment was adopted, but the committee defeated her second
proposal to remove the rulemaking exemption and sunset the
project on June 30, 1997.
     Langseth then offered to amend the provision by setting June
30, 1997 as the sunset date of the project, and the members
adopted the proposal before approving the bill.

Budget bill presented
     The Finance State Government Division began review of its
omnibus bill at a meeting Tues., Apr. 11. The division, chaired
by Sen. Richard Cohen (DFL-St. Paul), examined a spread sheet
detailing budget items for legislative, judicial and
administrative expenses of state government.
     Cohen called members' attention to two Senate proposals that
are significantly higher than the governor's recommendations. The
first concerns the appropriation for the attorney general's
office. The Senate total is $44.4 million compared to the
governor's figure of $40.2 million. Cohen said that to remain
even "slightly competitive" with private law firms, it is
imperative to increase salary levels. The measure also includes a
salary supplement for the secretary of state's office.
     The second item, funding for the State Board of Arts, is set
at $15 million in the Senate proposal, compared to the governor's
recommendation of $12.5 million. Cohen said that the state of
Minnesota provides very little funding for the arts.
"Comparatively speaking, we're near the end of the pack," Cohen
said.
     Funding for several commissions is eliminated under the
Senate proposal. Included in the cut are Legislative Commissions
on the Economic Status of Women, Planning and Fiscal Policy,
Waste Management, and the Water Commission.
     Sen. Gene Merriam (DFL-Coon Rapids) raised concerns about
the increase of fees for charitable gambling organizations. "I'm
opposed to doing this," Merriam said. "The biggest check they
write is to the state."
     Cohen pointed out, however, that many organizations haven't
incurred fee increases in several years. "You have to view this
from a linear perspective," he said.
     Sen. Roy Terwilliger (IR-Edina) also questioned fee
increases. "Fees can be taxes in disguise," he said. In light of
the goal to freeze taxes, Terwilliger said that imposition of
extra fees is inappropriate.
     Senate Counsel Peter Watson presented a quick preview of the
bill, which members will take up at a later meeting.

Governmental Operations and Veterans
Collection enterprise advances
     A bill to create a state collection agency was amended and
approved, Weds., Apr. 5, by the Governmental Operations and
Veterans Committee, chaired by Sen. James Metzen (DFL-South St.
Paul).
     Authored by Sen. Phil Riveness (DFL-Bloomington), S.F. 503
establishes the Minnesota Collection Enterprise, making it
responsible for collecting debt owed to state agencies, as well
as debts owed to the University of Minnesota and to local units
of government. The organization is also allowed to impose a
penalty for collection and use the tax collection remedies now in
law to collect the debt.
     A number of amendments were added, including three from Sen.
Linda Runbeck (IR-Circle Pines). The amendments require $35
million worth of accounts receivable be assigned to private
collection agencies as a pilot project, dictate that employees of
the enterprise in unclassified service, and sets the goal that 90
percent of the debt past-due by more than 120 days be collected.
     Two amendments offered by Sen. John Hottinger (DFL-Mankato)
were added - permitting private agencies to collect any assessed
penalties, and allowing a debtor to contest a penalty. An
amendment from Sen. Roy Terwilliger (IR-Edina), was added,
eliminating the requirement that private agencies have an audited
financial statement before they are allowed to collect state
accounts.  Sen. Don Kramer (IR-Brooklyn Center) offered language
that limits the enterprise to collecting only state agency
accounts.  The bill was approved and re-referred to the Judiciary
Committee.
     In other action, two bills were approved and sent to the
Senate floor.  H.F. 1211, authored by Sen. Roger Moe (DFL-
Erskine), exempts a bus manufacturer that is locating a plant in
Crookston from public contractors performance bond requirements. 
H.F. 624, presented by Hottinger, permits, but does not require,
public employees to take an unpaid leave of absence when they are
candidates for public office.
     S.F. 1076 gives exemptions to large wind energy conversion
systems from laws that now determine where power plants are
located.  The bill, carried by Sen. Janet Johnson (DFL-North
Branch), also directs the Environmental Quality Board to adopt
rules to governing the siting and construction of large systems.
The measure was approved and re-referred to the Environment and
Natural Resources Committee.  
     The Minnesota Office of Volunteer Services receives
additional duties under S.F. 1301, which the committee approved
and re-referred to the Finance Committee.  The proposal, offered
by Sen. Sandra Pappas (DFL-St. Paul), requires the office to
promote and facilitate citizen involvement in local government.
     S.F. 956, authored by Riveness, eliminates the Dept. of
Public Service and transfers its duties to other agencies.  The
bill was re-referred to the Jobs, Energy and Community
Development Committee without recommendation.

Pension bills approved
     Modifications to individual, local and statewide pension
plans were approved, Thurs. evening, Apr. 6, by the Governmental
Operations and Veterans Committee.
      The committee, chaired by Sen. James Metzen (DFL-South St.
Paul), took up three omnibus pension bills that had been
assembled and approved by the Legislative Commission on Pensions
and Retirement.
     H.F. 1040, authored by Sen. Steven Morse (DFL-Dakota),
provides modifications to the statewide general employee pension
plans, along with changes to the plans for public employees in
Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth.  The bill also contains changes
to the benefits in the Public Safety Employee Plan and additional
amortization aid for police and firefighter association programs.
     The committee approved an amendment, offered by Sen. LeRoy
Stumpf (DFL-Thief River Falls), allowing the Minneapolis Employee
Retirement Fund to be restructured if both the city council and
school board agree.  The amendment, Stumpf said, is offered as a
way to begin addressing the shortfall in the fund.  Another
Stumpf amendment, to include individuals of the Higher Education
Coordinating Board in the statewide plan for higher education,
was also adopted.  The bill was approved and re-referred to the
Finance Committee.
     The members also approved H.F. 617, providing changes to the
Individual Retirement Account Plan (IRAP).  The bill, presented
by Stumpf, combines the individual account plans of the State
University, Community College and Technical College Systems into
one plan, effective with the merger of the systems on July 1,
1995.  The measure also features provisions adjusting the plans
of individuals and small groups of employees, and allows
suspension and forfeiture of benefits to survivors in cases of
felonious death.  The bill was approved and sent to the Senate
floor.
     H.F. 493, carried by Sen. Lawrence Pogemiller (DFL-Mpls.),
was also approved.  The bill contains adjustments to a number of
local plans including consolidation of the Crystal and New Hope
Volunteer Firefighter Relief Association, and amends the St. Paul
Teacher Retirement Association's post-retirement adjustment
mechanisms.  The panel adopted an author's amendment, enabling
the new Minneapolis police chief to enroll in the Public Employee
Retirement Association.  The measure was sent to the floor.
     In other business, the members approved S.F. 1572 and sent
it to the floor.  Sen. Phil Riveness (DFL-Bloomington), the
bill's author, said the proposal prohibits the State Board of
Investment from investing public funds in certain assets.  He
said the bill formalizes the board's current practice, and will
prevent the kind of speculation that caused the financial
problems in Orange County, California.
     The members also recommended the confirmation of Wayne
Sletten to the Minnesota Veterans Homes' board of directors.

Sprinkler bill advances
     High-rise apartment buildings will be required to have
automatic sprinkler systems under a bill approved, Fri., Apr. 7,
by the Governmental Operations and Veterans Committee, chaired by
Sen. James Metzen (DFL-South St. Paul).  The measure now goes to
the Senate floor.
     S.F. 529, authored by Sen. Carl Kroening (DFL-Mpls.),
requires installation of automatic sprinklers in buildings where
at least one floor used for habitation is more than 75 feet above
the lowest level accessible by fire department vehicles.  The
bill gives owners until July 1, 1997 to prepare and submit a
compliance schedule to the state fire marshall.
     The committee adopted an amendment offered by Sen. Roy
Terwilliger (IR-Edina) adding electric generation and
distribution facilities to the buildings that are exempted from
the requirement.  Sen. John Hottinger (DFL-Mankato) presented an
amendment, that was also adopted, allowing public housing
agencies and owners of publicly-subsidized housing to receive an
extension to the compliance schedule requirement.
     At an earlier meeting, the members had narrowly adopted an
amendment from Sen. Linda Runbeck (IR-Circle Pines) excluding
residential high-rises from the sprinkler requirement. Sen. Dan
Stevens (IR-Mora) moved to reconsider the amendment and after
some discussion, the committee voted to reject the Runbeck
amendment and not exempt residential high-rises.
     In other business, the committee amended and approved S.F.
166.  The bill, authored by Metzen, limits the aggregate amount
that state agencies may spend on professional and technical
services contracts to 90 percent of what was spent in FY 1994 and
FY 1995. The measure also requires that contracts be publicized
before they are awarded and that state employees be given the
first chance to perform the services required in the contract.
     Metzen offered an amendment to exempt private collection
agencies from the contracting requirements.  The amendment was
adopted and the bill was approved.  The measure was re-referred
to the Finance Committee.
     S.F. 1034, sponsored by Sen. Deanna Wiener (DFL-Eagan),
establishes a higher education consortium to develop courseware
and identify new methods of delivery to make post-secondary
education available using distance learning technologies.  The
bill was approved and re-referred to the Finance Committee.
     S.F. 1135, carried by Metzen, was also approved and re-
referred to the Finance Committee.  The measures gives the
Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission the additional authority to
promote construction of new ice arenas and allows counties to
issue bonds to finance the construction of new arenas.  The bill
also appropriates $2.9 million from the state bond fund for the
commission to use as grants to build new arenas or renovate
existing facilities.
     Modifications to the Waste Management Act, contained in S.F.
462, were also approved.  The bill, presented by Sen. Janet
Johnson (DFL-North Branch), transfers the Metropolitan Council's
solid waste management duties to the Office of Environmental
Assistance.  The bill also includes a process to revise the
state's solid waste policy without the use of the state's
rulemaking procedures.
     The members approved two amendments offered by Stevens.  The
first requires the board and the commissioner of the Pollution
Control Agency to report on the governing board's impact on the
agency's actions.  The second amendment eliminates the provision
to ban corrugated cardboard from being mixed in a municipality's
solid waste.  The bill, as amended, was re-referred to the
Finance Committee.
     The members approved several other bills and sent them to
the floor. S.F. 1402, authored by Sen. Ellen Anderson (DFL-St.
Paul), allows state employees to submit suggestions to improve
state government, using forms to be included in their pay
envelopes.  S.F. 1075, sponsored by Sen. Pat Piper (DFL-Austin)
calls for individuals who use medical x-ray equipment to pass an
exam before being certified by the Dept. of Health to operate the
equipment.  
     S.F. 1417 was amended before it was approved.  The bill,
presented by Sen. Jim Vickerman (DFL-Tracy), provides processes
to license chemical dependency counselors and hearing instrument
dispensers.  The panel adopted amendments offered, by Terwilliger
and Hottinger, to remove provisions allowing data exchanges and
imposing penalties on actions taken by an unlicensed mental
health practitioner.
     A bill, offered by Sen. Don Betzold (DFL-Fridley), modifying
a number of programs operated by the Dept. of Health was also
amended and approved.  S.F. 425 allows the department to adopt
rules governing the installation and maintenance of swimming
pools and indoor arenas.  The measure also allows the department
to charge a permit fee for asbestos-related training courses. 
The members adopted Stevens' amendment requiring the department
to establish a certification process for managers of food service
operations.
     The committee also recommended the full Senate confirm the
appointments of Bernard Melter as commissioner of the Dept. of
Veteran Affairs, James Main to the Veterans Homes Board, Elaine
Hansen as commissioner of the Dept. of Administration, and Bruce
Johnson as commissioner of Employee Relations.

Health Care
Children's Dept. changes made
  Members of the Health Care Committee, chaired by Sen. Linda
Berglin (DFL-Mpls.), reconvened the evening of Thurs., Apr. 6, to
approve several bills.  S.F. 1103, sponsored by Sen. Jane Ranum
(DFL-Mpls.) was modified and sent to the Education Committee. The
bill eliminates the Dept. of Education and replaces it with a
Dept. of Children, Families and Learning to address the needs of
children in a holistic and integrated way by bringing together a
variety of services.  Numerous departments affect children, Ranum
explained, but the programs are not coordinated and therefore do
not meet their potential in reaching kids most effectively.  The
coordination of adult services with the children's initiatives
"looks at the whole child in the context of the family," said
Ranum.
     Members continued the debate that has followed the bill
throughout several committees: what programs should be
transferred to the new department.  Sen. Don Samuelson (DFL-
Brainerd) proposed the deletion of the child care programs from
the list of transferred programs.  "It's a good enough first
step" to implement the other programs and evaluate its success,
he said.  Sen. Harold "Skip" Finn (DFL-Cass Lake) also moved to
delete Head Start from the department.  Its success has been due
to local involvement and community action agencies, and the
transfer seriously undermines the purpose of the program,
explained Finn.     
     Sen. Pat Piper (DFL-Austin) encouraged the committee to
reject both amendments, stating that a change in the direction of
the education of children is desperately needed.  The
incorporation of varied programs focuses on the many aspects of
learning, Piper said.  The deletions were approved.  Berglin
offered an amendment that retains the authority to leverage
federal funds with the Dept. of Human Services and gives the
commissioner the authority to contract with the new department to
obtain reimbursements.  The amendment was approved.
     S.F. 1188, authored by Sen. Arlene Lesewski (IR-Marshall),
was amended and sent to the floor. The bill encourages breast
feeding by listing the benefits to both mother and child, permits
a mother to breast feed in any location with impunity, and
specifies recommendations relating to breast feeding for health
care facilities to follow.  "We need to send a message that this
is a natural, healthy" act, said Lesewski.  Sen. Sheila Kiscaden
moved to delete the recommendations, stating that the legislature
should steer clear of this type of directive.  The deletion was
approved.
     The committee also sent two bills to the floor.  S.F. 47,
the omnibus health and human services policy bill, authored by
Samuelson, and S.F. 770, sponsored by Finn, a bill that examines
pesticide poisoning, advance.

Omnibus bill constructed
     Continuing development of the omnibus bill for Health Care
and Family Services, the division met Thurs., Apr. 6.  Chaired by
Sen. Don Samuelson (DFL-Brainerd), the committee incorporated
non-budgetary portions of two bills.  S.F. 1535, authored by Sen.
Edward Oliver (IR-Deephaven) makes changes to the TEFRA (Tax
Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act) program, and S.F. 1114,
authored by Samuelson, modifies regional treatment centers and
state-operated community services.  The bill goes to the Health
Care Committee.
     The committee also approved S.F. 770, authored by Sen.
Harold "Skip" Finn (DFL-Cass Lake).  The bill originally required
a study and report by the Department of Health, in collaboration
with several other entities, to determine the effects on public
health from the spraying of zinc cadmium sulfide.  The chemical
was sprayed by the United States Army in Minnesota in the 1950s
and 1960s.  Finn offered an amendment, that was adopted, to
simply require the department to review the National Academy of
Science's report on adverse effects, instead of mandating another
government study and report, he said.  The bill also requires the
attorney general to determine whether any recourse against the
federal government exists.  We were the federal government's
guinea pigs, said Finn, and this bill will attempt to rectify
past wrongs.  
     Another bill of Finn's, S.F. 854, was modified and added to
S.F. 770 as an amendment.  As approved, the measure requires the
commissioner of health to determine the extent of pesticide
poisoning in Minnesota and offer remedies to the problem.  The
poisoning, particularly acute in rural areas, adversely affects
migrant workers, Finn explained.  The bill advances to the Health
Care Committee.

Allocations discussed
     At the Health Care and Family Services Funding Division
meetings Tues., Apr. 11, chair Sen. Don Samuelson (DFL-Brainerd)
and members reviewed proposed appropriations.  The chair
recommends a total FY 96-97 appropriation of $5 billion, $64
million less than the governor's proposal.  Some of the
differences between budgets include administrative cuts and no
additional staffing in certain areas of the committee's plan,
Samuelson explained.  Limited funding of statewide systems also
reduces the bottom line, he continued.
     Several riders, policy specifications for budget
allocations, were added to S.F. 1110, the omnibus funding bill. 
Sen. Sheila Kiscaden (IR-Rochester) offered a proposal relating
to nursing home eligibility.  It reinstates a service allowance
for high functioning "Class A" persons and gives counties the
option of providing services, cash allowances, or vouchers.  The
proposal was adopted.  
     Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Mpls.) offered an amendment
modifying nursing home rates.  It permits a higher pay rate only
if a nursing home and hospital facility are physically attached,
sets up a voluntary alternative payment system, and limits
private pay rates.  The limit encourages facilities to garner
Medicare reimbursement instead of using state funding, Berglin
explained, and only places administrative - not service -limits
on facilities.  Samuelson said it was preferable to proceed with
a pilot project to evaluate its effectiveness and offered a
similar amendment for consideration.  The proposals differed in
the extent to which the alternative system would be implemented,
Berglin favoring an unlimited number on a contract basis, and
Samuelson advocating 10 facilities at a later date.  Berglin's
amendment decreases property-related payments and increases the
reductions in the second year.  Tom Moss, of the Dept. of Human
Services, said that both rate proposals will effect the
underlying inflation rate. Berglin's amendment was adopted.
     Sen. Phil Riveness (DFL-Bloomington) questioned the savings
of achieving managed care.  "Why are we spending $35 million and
saving nothing?" he asked.  He proposed a rider to delay managed
care and evaluate whether managed care for GAMC and the prepaid
medical assistance project can be effective.  Helen Yates of the
department said that managed care is less costly and provides
better access.  Stopping the progress already made will be
problematic, she said.  The proposal failed.  As an alternative,
Riveness offered a ratable reduction on all MA and GAMC fee-for-
service and managed care payments of .9 percent.  The measure,
raising approximately $20 million in state and federal funds, was
adopted.  Riveness also offered a rider to study pharmacy
programs, including cost-effective intervention, a limit on
prescriptions, pharmacy case management, and co-payments to
reduce cost and misutilization.  The measure was adopted.
     Sen. Dallas Sams (DFL-Staples) offered an amendment in
response to the large disparity between Metro Area and rural
capitated payment rates.  The difference is highly unfair to
Greater Minnesota, he said.  The proposal transfers a certain
factor of Hennepin County rates to the non-Metro Area.  Berglin
countered that one statewide rate destroys the current system of
rates and does not make good sense.  The Hennepin County rates
reflect the rate of fees that are currently found in the Metro
Area market, she explained.  The amendment failed to gain
approval.  Discussion of appropriations will continue.

Jobs, energy and community development
TACIP bill heard
     A bill that abolishes the board for Telecommunications
Access for Communications Impaired Persons (TACIP), was heard by
the Jobs, Energy and Community Development Committee, Thurs.,
April 6.  Members of the committee, chaired by Sen. Steven Novak
(DFL-New Brighton), heard testimony from members of the TACIP
board, as well as representatives from the deaf community.
     Sen. John Marty (DFL-Roseville), author of S.F. 910,
explained the bill's intent.  Marty stated that the current
governance structure, which provides a telecommunications relay
service for communications-impaired persons is bureaucratic and
inefficient.  The removal of the TACIP board, Marty suggested
would create a more productive relay service and allow the deaf
community more involvement in its management.  The bill transfers
the board's functions and duties to the Department of Public
Service (DPS).  The DPS must administer the program for
communications-impaired persons and contract with a local
consumer group to operate the state's telecommunications relay
service.
     Proponents of the bill included Doug Bahl, president of the
Minnesota Assn. of Deaf Citizens, Randy Doane, chairperson of the
Minnesota Commission Serving the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and Steve
Hunter, of AFSCME, the union representing the relay service. 
Proponents briefed members on the ways in which the TACIP board
hinders quality communication service by ignoring the needs of
the deaf community.
     Opponents of the bill included, Bill Lamson, Linda
Waslawski, and Jeremy Nyquist, of the TACIP board, and Mike
Nowick of the Minnesota Telephone Assn.  Opponents briefed
members on the board's efforts to enforce federal service
standards, minimize operating costs, and increase the performance
of the relay service.  The committee approved S.F. 910 for
passage.  The bill moves on to the funding division of the full
committee.
     Members also approved S.F 1140, authored by Sen. Arlene
Lesewski (IR-Marshall).  The bill modifies provisions relating to
rehabilitation programs and services.  S.F 1140 moves on to the
funding division of the full committee.  

Ten bills heard
     Members of the Jobs, Energy and Community Development
Funding Division, chaired by Sen. Carl Kroening (DFL-Mpls),
reviewed ten bills, Thurs., Apr. 6.  No action was taken on any
of the bills.
     S.F. 826, authored by Sen. Randy Kelly (DFL-St. Paul),
appropriates $15 million to the Department of Trade and Economic
Development for contaminated land cleanup programs.  Kelly told
members that contaminated land is one of the state's biggest
impediments to economic development.
     S.F. 935, also authored by Kelly, appropriates money to the
Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board to create a customized job
training program.  Kelly told members that the program links the
needs of St. Paul manufacturers desiring skilled workers, and
area residents in need of employment.  The program targets high
school graduates and dislocated workers.  The state will contract
with community colleges to provide educational services.
     S.F. 1085, sponsored by Sen. Florian Chmielewski (DFL-
Sturgeon Lake), appropriates money to regional development
commissions to identify energy-efficient businesses.  Chmielweski
said the study of energy-efficient products and processes will
result in economic growth and job creation for the state.
     S.F. 1133, authored by Sen. Don Betzold (DFL-Fridley),
provides funding to the North Metro Business Development
Commission for the purpose of expanding the commission's business
retention and expansion program.  The program connects small
businesses with the resources necessary to find skilled
employees, Betzold said.           
     S.F. 1348, also authored by Betzold, provides grants to
cities to remove multi-unit blighted rental property.  Betzold
told members that the bill allows cities to remove rundown
apartments that are too costly to repair.  The bill would
ultimately allow cities to renovate communities with changing
housing needs. 
     S.F. 1142, introduced by Sen. Janet Johnson (DFL-North
Branch), provides additional funding to the North West Company
Fur Post Interpretive Center.  The center, located in Pine City,
has the highest visitor satisfaction rating in the state, Johnson
said.  Johnson explained that additional funding is needed to
keep the center open longer in F.Y. 95 and 96.
     S.F. 1424, authored by Sen. Carl Kroening (DFL-Mpls.), funds
the Minnesota Youthbuild program.  The program provides youth
with the opportunity to learn a trade or skill while still
attending high school.  Scott Furman, director of a Youthbuild
initiative, told members that the strong work ethic most youth
acquire while in the program has a positive effect on their
attendance in school and on their attitude toward others. 
     S.F. 1467, introduced by Sen. Richard Cohen (DFL-St. Paul),
appropriates money to the Department of Trade and Economic
Development to study the advantages of convention centers
throughout the state.  Cohen said the data obtained through this
study would help legislators prepare for the 1996 bonding
session.
     S.F. 1381, authored by Sen. Kevin Chandler (DFL-White Bear
Lake), provides additional funding for vocational rehabilitation
and employment support services for persons with mental illness. 

Jobs, Energy and Community Development
Numerous bills approved
     The Jobs, Energy and Community Development Committee met
Friday evening, Apr. 7, and approved numerous bills before the
second legislative deadline.
     The committee, chaired by Sen. Steven Novak (DFL-New
Brighton), first heard S.F. 927, authored by Sen. Pat Piper (DFL-
Austin). The bill provides additional funding to the Phoenix
Group, a nonprofit community organization that provides business
opportunities in poor communities.  Piper introduced an amendment
that requires the organization to focus its efforts in
neighborhoods with high levels of poverty and a lack of
affordable housing.  The bill was approved by members and
referred to the funding division of the full committee.
     S.F. 255, sponsored by Sen. Paula Hanson (DFL-Ham Lake),
calls for the registration of elevator workers who install or
repair passenger elevators.  The bill requires the registration
of all elevator mechanics unless under the direct on-site
supervision of a registered elevator mechanic.  The bill was
approved by the committee and re-referred to the Finance
Committee.
     S.F. 375, authored by Sen. Bob Lessard (DFL-Intl. Falls),
adds pumped hydropower to the list of alternative energy sources. 
The bill provides incentive payments to pumped hydropower
facilities.  The bill was approved by members and recommended for
the Consent Calendar.  
     S.F 629, sponsored by Sen. Don Betzold (DFL-Fridley),
establishes a rental tax equity program in the city of Brooklyn
Park.  The program provides a tax credit to owners of old
residential rental property who make needed repairs on their
property.  Betzold stated that the program will increase pride
and reduce crime in blighted neighborhoods.  The bill was
approved by the committee and referred to the Committee on Taxes
and Tax Laws.
     S.F. 910, authored by Sen. John Marty (DFL-Roseville),
abolishes the board for Telecommunications Access for
Communications Impaired Persons (TACIP), and transfers the
board's functions and duties to the Dept. of Public Service
(DPS).  The bill requires that DPS contract with a local consumer
group to operate a telecommunications relay service for
communications-impaired-persons.  The bill was approved by
members and referred to the Senate floor.
     H.F. 528, sponsored by Sen. Deanna Wiener (DFL-Eagan),
restricts eligibility for a communication device for
communication-impaired persons in a residential care facility. 
Wiener stated that it is the responsibility of the residential
care facility to provide communication-impaired occupants with a
functional communications device.  If the residential care
facility does not honor this obligation, it is no longer the
state's responsibility to provide the equipment.  The committee
recommended the bill for passage.  It advances to the Senate
Floor.
     Sen. Janet Johnson (DFL-North Branch), presented a number of
bills to the committee.  S.F. 890 adopts federal energy standards
for air conditioners, certain gas-burning equipment, and faucets. 
The bill was approved and it advances to the Senate floor.  S.F.
790 allows exemption from regulation for small electric utility
franchises serving fewer than 200 customers.  S.F. 791 clarifies
that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) may extend the
deadline for a rate suspension by 20 days when necessary.  S.F.
792 allows a longer review time for granting a petition for a
hearing by the PUC.  Members rolled S.F. 790, 791, and 792 into
H.F. 358.  The committee recommended the bill for passage.  It
advances to the Senate floor.
     S.F. 1186, authored by Novak, changes the age limitations
under the family homeless prevention and assistance program.  The
bill allows the agency to make grants to develop family homeless
prevention projects for persons under the age of 22.  The bill
was approved by members and referred to the funding division of
the full committee.  
     S.F. 1482, sponsored by Sen. Edward Oliver (IR-Deephaven),
establishes a Metropolitan Revitalization Fund designed to
support housing and urban development in metro areas.  The bill
authorizes a Job Opportunity Program which provides AFDC
recipients with an opportunity to improve their job skills and
obtain meaningful employment.  The bill also provides for the
removal of blighted housing and contaminated land cleanup in
metro areas.  Members recommended S.F. 1482 to pass.  The bill
advances to the Finance Committee.         
     S.F. 1125, sponsored by Sen. Sandra Pappas (DFL-St. Paul),
is a Dept. of Labor and Industry housekeeping bill that clarifies
the state's authority regarding the Labor Education Advancement
Grant Program, a program to facilitate the participation of
minorities and women in apprenticeships in trades and other
occupations. The bill goes next to the Senate floor.
     S.F. 705, sponsored by Sen. John Hottinger (DFL-Mankato),
requires businesses that accept state aid to prove that they have
created new, livable-wage or above jobs. Under the bill, large
businesses that accept $25,000 or more in economic development
grants, loans or benefit from tax increment financing must
demonstrate that they have produced a net job increase within two
years of receiving the aid. The jobs created must pay wages equal
to a poverty-level income for a family of four. Currently, this
wage is $7.28 per hour. Businesses that accept the aid but do not
create any new jobs are disqualified from further assistance, and
those that do not pay a livable wage must pay a local human
service agency double the difference between the livable wage and
the wage actually paid.
     The committee adopted an amendment to S.F. 705 offered by
Sen. Carl Kroening (DFL-Mpls.), that specifies that IRRRB grants
are subject to the bill's provisions. S.F. 705 now goes to the
Taxes and Tax Laws Committee.
     S.F. 1303, allows non-profit corporations controlled by the
Richfield Housing and Redevelopment Authority to sell non-
subsidized revenue bonds to acquire and operate low- and
moderate-cost housing projects. The measure, sponsored by Sen.
Phil Riveness (DFL-Bloomington), goes next to the Taxes and Tax
Laws Committee.
     S.F. 262 also received the panel's approval. The bill,
sponsored by Novak, makes permanent a pilot program enacted in
the 1993 session. The program provides grants to certain
businesses that provide high-quality jobs for handicapped workers
in an integrated situation. The bill now goes to the Jobs, Energy
and Community Development Finance Division. 
     S.F. 1051, authored by Sen. Dennis Frederickson (IR-New
Ulm), requires cellular phone services to include a notice in
each billing explaining to customers how to use 911 service from
their cellular phones and informing them that if a call is placed
to 911 from a cellular phone, 911 dispatchers cannot determine
where the caller is located.  After testimony from cellular phone
services opposing the bill, the panel approved an author's
amendment that requires the notice at the time of subscription
and at least once annually thereafter. The bill was approved and
sent to the Senate floor.
     H.F. 733, sponsored by Sen. Arlene Lesewski (IR-Marshall),
provides for an individual contracting pipefitter license. The
bill also sets forth bonding and insurance requirements for
licensees.  The bill now goes to the Senate floor. 
     S.F. 1285, authored by Sen. Carl Kroening (DFL-Mpls.),
appropriates $500,000 from the general fund for a grant to
Hennepin County for the purpose of planning a multi-
jurisdictional reinvestment program involving Hennepin County,
the cities of Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center, and other interested
local government jurisdictions. Participating entities are
required to match the state's contribution. The program must
include plans for housing rehabilitation and removal, industrial
polluted land cleanup, environmental cleanup, community corridor
connections, corridor planning, job creation, and creation of
green space. Up to one-half of the appropriation may be used as a
grant to the cities of Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center to provide
capital for the construction of public infrastructure improvement
to further economic development.  Members voted to approve the
bill and sent it to the Jobs, Energy and Community Development
Finance Division.
     The panel next approved S.F. 1173, a bill placing conditions
on the sale of local telephone companies. Under the measure,
sponsored by Sen. Kevin Chandler (DFL-White Bear Lake), the
selling company must give at least 90 days notice to its
customers, provide information on the proposed buyer, and provide
its customers with an opportunity to comment on the quality of
service provided by the local exchange. The bill also requires
the Public Utilities Commission to hold a public hearing about
the proposed sale. The Senators approved two amendments to the
bill. The first, offered by Chandler, clarifies the definition of
a Class A telephone company in the bill as having annual revenues
from regulated telecommunication operations of $100,000 or more.
The second, offered by Sen. Steve Dille (IR-Dassel), changes the
bill's effective date to assure that pending sales will not be
affected. The bill was referred to the Senate floor. 
     H.F. 354, sponsored by Novak, exempts small gas utility
franchises from rate regulation for incidental utility service.
The bill was approved and sent to the Senate floor. 
     S.F. 1186, also sponsored by Novak, expands eligibility for
the family rental housing assistance program to include families
with up to 80 percent of state median income. It also authorizes
the establishment of a rental housing assistance program for
persons of low income or for persons with a mental illness. The
measure also provides for accessibility rehabilitation loans for
people who require hospital or skilled nursing care and who could
live at home and use home care. The bill was approved and sent to
the Senate floor.
     S.F. 1273, sponsored by Sen. Ellen Anderson (DFL-St. Paul),
establishes the affordable home ownership investment account as a
separate account in the housing development fund. The purpose of
the account is to encourage private investment in affordable
housing and encourage collaboration of nonprofit organizations
and political subdivisions with each other and private lenders in
providing full cycle lending services for home buyers. The bill
was approved and sent to the committee's finance division. 
      The Senators failed to approve S.F. 1588, sponsored by Sen.
Linda Runbeck (IR-Circle Pines). The bill contains a resolution
that acknowledges the importance of jobs, capital investment,
legislation, and a healthy private business sector to the state's
business development, and resolves that the legislature commits
itself to strive for continuous improvement in the state's
environment as a location for business development.

Allocations discussed
     The Jobs, Energy and Community Development Finance Division
met briefly following the full committee meeting Fri., Apr. 7 to
discuss the allocations needs for this session.
     Sen. Carl Kroening (DFL-Mpls.), chair of the division,
outlined the division's tasks for the next two weeks. Kroening
said the division may allocate $311 million. The governor's
recommendations total $329 million, plus $15 million for Dept. of
Economic Security functions that the full committee removed from
the Children's Dept. bill, and minus $8 million for programs
already funded. The resulting $336 million must be cut by
approximately $25 million, Kroening said, if the division is
going to fund a large portion of the bills before it. 

Allocations talks continue
     The Jobs, Energy and Community Development Finance Division,
chaired by Sen. Carl Kroening (DFL-Mpls.), met Mon., Apr. 10, and
reviewed the appropriations portions of several bills. Members
took no formal action on the bills.
     The division heard S.F. 262, sponsored by Sen. Steven Novak
(DFL-New Brighton), a bill that makes permanent a pilot program
that provides grants to businesses that provide high-quality jobs
for handicapped persons.
     S.F. 903, sponsored by Sen. Phil Riveness (DFL-Bloomington),
modifies the economic recovery grant program. The measure also
requires a legislative audit of the program. 
     S.F. 1273, sponsored by Sen. Ellen Anderson (DFL-St. Paul),
establishes an affordable home ownership funding program to
benefit people and families whose income 50 is percent of Metro
Area median income or less.  The bill contains blank
appropriations for the housing trust fund, capacity building
grants, lead abatement, mortgage foreclosure prevention, family
homeless prevention and assistance, affordable rental investment,
and transitional housing programs. 
     S.F. 255, sponsored by Sen. Paula Hanson (DFL-Ham Lake),
changes requirements for elevator work. The bill specifies that
the wiring, installation, alteration, modernization, removal and
repair of elevators may only be performed or supervised by a
registered elevator mechanic. Proceeds from a fee for the permit
are designated for the Dept. of Labor and Industry. The amount of
the fee has not been determined. 
     S.F. 1285, authored by Kroening, appropriates $500,000 from
the general fund for a grant to Hennepin county for the purpose
of planning a multi-jurisdictional reinvestment program involving
the county, the cities of Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center, and
other local jurisdictions. 
     S.F. 1482, sponsored by Sen. Edward Oliver (IR-Deephaven),
establishes the metropolitan revitalization fund. The bill
appropriates $13 million from the general fund for an economic
vitality and housing initiative to provide funds for affordable
housing to ensure expansion and preservation of the economic base
and to ensure employment opportunities.  The bill also
appropriates $3 million from the general fund for the community
rehabilitation fund account for the purpose of fixing up blighted
areas in first class cities in the Metropolitan Area. 
     S.F. 927, sponsored by Sen. Pat Piper (DFL-Austin),
appropriates $250,000 to provide low-cost housing to low-income
families and individuals. It also appropriates $250,000 to
provide business opportunities in low-income areas of a first
class city. 

Community reinvestment bill heard
     Members of the Jobs, Energy and Community Development
Funding Division, chaired by Sen. Carl Kroening (DFL-St. Paul)
heard testimony on S.F. 1285, Tues, Apr. 11.  The bill
appropriates money for a multi-jurisdicitonal, collaborative
reinvestment program involving the cities of Minneapolis and
Brooklyn Center.  The panel also heard testimony from the Defense
Fund Conversion Program, the Minnesota Historical Society, and
the University of Minnesota Biomedical Project.
     Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat, stated that S.F.
1285 funds a program designed to remove blighted housing, assist
with stormwater runoff, and clean up polluted land in Hennepin
county.  Alice Raineville, a Minneapolis city council member
explained that the initiative provides stability to the corridor
of neighborhoods that border both Minneapolis and Brooklyn
Center.  "By renovating the infrastructure that already exists,"
Raineville stated, "we can meet the needs of both communities." 
She said that planning efforts for the program will cost
approximately $500,000.  No action was taken on the bill.
     Members also heard testimony on the Defense Fund Conversion
Program involving Hennepin and Ramsey Counties.  The initiative
provides loans to dislocated employees of the defense industry. 
The program provides dislocated workers with the capital needed
to convert hi-tech military enterprises into businesses that
benefit the private sector.
     John Wood, of the Minnesota Historical Society, briefed
members on the organization's need to reinvest in salaries paid
to employees.  Wood stated that the Historical Society has not
accounted for inflationary increases in employee salaries in
nearly eight years.  He told members an early retirement program
may be a  solution to the organization's economic problems.  By
initiating an early retirement program, the society hopes to
reduce salary expenses and preserve the careers of its long-term
employees.
     Rich Schliecher, Bill Hoffman and Aundrea Nelson, of the
University of Minnesota Medical School, briefed members on the
insitution's desire to develop a first-rate biomedical facility. 
Schliecher stated that the school received a large gift from
industry for this purpose.  He told members that a partnership
between the University, industry and the state would provide
adequate funding to create the facility.  Schliecher said, the
biomedical center will attract graduate students as well as
medical businesses to the state.      



Judiciary
Collection enterprise advanced
     The Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Carol Flynn (DFL-
Mpls.), wrapped up its hearing schedule for the session with an
evening hearing Thurs., Apr. 6.  Members took action on a number
of bills to clear the agenda before the second committee
deadline.
     A bill setting up a separate unit to collect debt owed the
state provided a focal point for committee discussion.  S.F. 503,
authored by Sen. Phil Riveness (DFL-Bloomington), establishes the
Minnesota Collection Enterprise to carry out debt collection
provisions of the bill pursuant to the commissioner of finance's
authority with the commissioner of revenue for collection
services.  The measure gives the commissioner of finance
authority to use tax collection remedies, currently used by the
Dept. of Revenue, to enforce debts owed to the state.  The bill
also provides for imposing a collection penalty on debts, however
the measure also outlines conditions under which the penalty may
be canceled.  
     Discussion on the bill centered on the amount of outstanding
debt owed the state.  Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Mpls.) and Sen.
Sheila Kiscaden (IR-Rochester) both pointed out that other bills
going through the Legislature, specifically the child support
enforcement bill, also are designed to collect debt.  In
addition, Sen. Harold "Skip" Finn (DFL-Cass Lake), said that he
was concerned about the penalty provisions in the measure. 
Riveness responded that he would gather more complete information
about the amount of debt and that the provisions for cancellation
of the penalty offered protections against placing an undue
burden on individuals.  The measure was approved and advanced to
the Committee on Finance.
     Members also advanced a number of other bills to the full
Senate.  S.F. 164, authored by Sen. John Hottinger (DFL-Mankato),
prohibits provisions that grant a health carrier a subrogation
right, except where the covered person has been fully compensated
from another source.  S.F. 1407, also sponsored by Hottinger,
permits optional voting systems for cooperatives that have other
cooperatives as members.  Hottinger said that the measure applies
to three cooperatives in the state.
     A bill, authored by Sen. Sam Solon (DFL-Duluth), dealing
with rent-to-own agreements also sparked considerable discussion. 
The measure, S.F. 836, was amended by Sen. Ember Reichgott Junge
(DFL-New Hope), to further define "cash price" and regulate
finance charges.  Cash price is defined as the fair market value
of the property and fair market value is the price at which
retail sellers and retail buyers are buying the same or similar
property for cash in the same area.  Further the bill sets forth
a number of provisions that are prohibited in rental agreements. 
In addition, the bill specifies that the finance charge on the
cash price is not to exceed an annual percentage rate of 36
percent.
     S.F. 347, carried by Sen. Ted Mondale (DFL-St. Louis Park),
regulates tenant screening practices.  The measure requires
landlords to notify a rental applicant if the landlord will use a
tenant screening service in determining whether to rent to the
individual.  In addition, the bill requires that when reporting
information on tenants from court files, the outcome must be
accurately reported.  The measure also specifies that a screening
service may not make a tenant screening report that contains
information on an unlawful detainer action more than four years
before the report. S.F. 732, authored by Sen. Don Betzold (DFL-
Fridley), revises Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code as
proposed by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform
State Laws.  S.F. 1091, authored by Sen. Don Kramer (IR-Brooklyn
Center), expands the authority of the commissioner of
transportation to regulate providers of special transportation
services.  The bill also provides for administrative fees and
penalties.  S.F. 1204, authored by Betzold limits the vicarious
liability of the owner of a rented vehicle to $250,000 for bodily
injury to one person in any one accident, to $500,000 because of
injury to two or more persons in any one accident, and $20,000
because of injury to or destruction of property in any one
accident.

Taxes and Tax Laws
Property tax provisions heard
     The Taxes and Tax Laws Subcommittee on Property Tax met
Thurs., Apr. 6, to continue the review of proposals for inclusion
in the omnibus tax bill.  The panel, chaired by Sen. John
Hottinger (DFL-Mankato), heard the bills and took public
testimony but did not take final action on the measures.
     S.F. 311, authored by Sen. Arlene Lesewski (IR-Marshall),
allows Pipestone County to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed
$598,000 to repair and renovate the county courthouse and annex.
S.F. 920, carried by Sen. Steven Morse (DFL-Dakota), provides for
a pilot conservation credit program in Houston County and
provides for a property tax credit for the program's
participants. S.F. 1064, sponsored by Sen. Pat Pariseau (IR-
Farmington), adds an exemption from property tax for property
used to provide aviation goods, services, or facilities if the
property is located on leased land at an airport owned by a city
of less than 50,000 in population.
     Two bills dealing with wind energy conversion systems were
also considered.  S.F. 902, authored by Sen. Janet Johnson (DFL-
North Branch), provides for property taxation on the foundation
or support structures of wind energy conversion systems that
produce more than two megawatts of electricity and were installed
on or after Jan. 1, 1995.  S.F. 637, authored by Lesewski,
provides for property taxation on the foundation or support pad
of wind energy conversion sytems that produce more than one
megawatt of power.  In addition, S.F. 637, provides a five-year
exemption for the devices in the system that convert wind energy
to a form of usable energy for systems built after Jan. 1, 1991
and producing more than one megawatt of electricity.  Finally,
S.F. 637 exempts turbines, blades, transformers, and related
equipment without any time limitation.
     S.F. 998, authored by Sen. Carol Flynn (DFL-Mpls.), provides
a reduced class rate to new or expanded commercial-industrial
properties located in transit zones.  S.F. 1160, sponsored by
Sen. William Belanger (IR-Bloomington), deletes a required
adjustment to the city of Bloomington's fiscal disparities
contribution. S.F. 1300, sponsored by Sen. Sandra Pappas (DFL-St.
Paul), provides for the detachment of intermediate airport land
from cities or school districts for property tax purposes.
     S.F. 1019, authored by Sen. Ted Mondale (DFL-St. Louis
Park), known as the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act, sets up
a Metropolitan Livable Communities Advisory Board and establishes
a livable communities fund.  Under the bill, the fund is to be
used to clean up polluted lands and to expand and preserve life-
cycle and affordable housing.  The Metropolitan Council is
authorized to levy a tax in the Metro Area for the fund while, at
the same time, the Metropolitan Mosquito Control Commission is
directed to reduce its levy.

Tobacco tax hike okayed
     Members of the Taxes and Tax Laws Subcommittee on Income and
Sales Tax met Mon., Apr. 10, to assemble the parts of the omnibus
tax bill that fall under the subcommittee's jurisdiction. 
Members, chaired by Sen. Len Price (DFL-Woodbury), reviewed the
four articles of the omnibus tax bill and considered two
amendments.
     One of the amendments, offered by Sen. William Belanger (IR-
Bloomington), sparked considerable discussion.  The proposal
calls for an increase of 40 cents per pack in the cigarette tax
and a decrease--from 2 percent to 1/2 percent--of the health care
provider tax.  Belanger said the proposal had two aims; to reduce
the burden on health care providers for funding MinnesotaCare and
to channel the increased revenue from the tobacco tax into the
health care access account.  According to Belanger, the proposal
is revenue neutral, yet assures a funding stream for
MinnesotaCare.  Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Mpls.), said that the
reduction in the health care provider tax was too steep and that
the funding for MinnesotaCare would be jeopardized under the
amendment.  Accordingly, Berglin moved that the amendment be
divided into two parts.  Members voted first to adopt the portion
of the amendment increasing the cigarette tax.  Sen. Edward
Oliver (IR-Deephaven) moved to amend the remaining portion of the
amendment.  Oliver's amendment substitutes a 1 percent provider
tax instead of the 1/2 percent provider tax.  The Oliver
amendment was adopted on a voice vote.  The portion of the
amendment dealing with the provider tax was then adopted on an 8-
3 roll call vote.
     A second amendment, offered by Sen. Dick Day (IR-Owatonna)
on behalf of Sen. Steve Dille (IR-Dassel), failed to gain
approval. The amendment allowed the city of Hutchinson to hold a
referendum for the imposition of sales, liquor and food taxes to
be used for city improvements. 
     Provisions adopted by the subcommittee include language
adapting Minnesota tax laws to newly enacted federal laws.  In
addition, the omnibus proposal includes several provisions
changing the exemption of the excise tax on alternative fuels.
The measure eliminates the exemption from gasoline tax for sales
of compressed natural gas or propane used in vehicles and
provides that the excise tax on gasoline also be imposed to
gasoline blended with ethanol and agricultural alcohol gasoline. 
The measure also sets the tax rates for the special fuel excise
tax.  Under the proposal, rental cargo vans are exempted from the
sales tax and 10 percent of the sales tax on construction
materials for juvenile correctional facilities is to be refunded. 
The farm machinery sales tax exemption is extended until June 30,
1996.  In addition, the measure excludes the Minneapolis Women's
Club from liquor, lodging and restaurant taxes imposed for the
convention center and authorizes the city of Winona to use half
of the proceeds for the 1 percent lodging tax for improvements to
the Julius C. Wilke Steamboat Center.  The proposal also repeals
the tax on 900 number phone calls
     Another article of the proposal deals with the Cambridge
Bank settlement.  The measure authorizes the commissioner of
finance to issue up to $400 million in state bonds to fund the
judgment in the Cambridge Bank case. In addition, the proposal
specifies that up to 60 percent of the net proceeds of the state
lottery are credited to the debt service fund along with
unrestricted reimbursements of health care costs from the federal
government and nonstate sources. The proposal specifies that the
bonds are not public debt, and the full faith, credit and taxing
powers of the state are not pledged for their payment.  The
proposal also establishes a revolving account for regional
treatment programs and requires that unrestricted money received
from the federal government and other nonstate sources for health
care costs incurred at regional treatment centers and other state
facilities be credited to a separate fund for the debt service.
     Finally, the proposal requires that if a debt subject to
revenue recapture is based on an overpayment of assistance the
claimant agency must notify the commissioner when the time period
for collecting the debt has expired and must send annual notices
to the debtor.

Tax bill assembled
     The Taxes and Tax Laws Subcommittee on Property Tax met
Mon., Apr. 10, to assemble the remaining portions of the omnibus
tax bill.  Members, chaired by Sen. John Hottinger (DFL-Mankato),
considered articles dealing with property taxes, the property tax
freeze, economic development and tax increment financing,
property tax refunds, taconite taxes, and miscellaneous tax
provisions.  The subcommittee adopted the articles for inclusion
in the omnibus tax bill.
     Debate centered primarily on the article dealing with
property taxes.  Sen. Steven Novak (DFL-New Brighton) offered an
amendment to lower the tax rate for seasonal and recreational
property.  Novak said that the amendment was an attempt to
address an inequity in that the tax rate for seasonal and
recreational property was substantially higher than for nearby
residential property.  Sen. Douglas Johnson (DFL-Cook) argued
against the amendment because the lowering of the rate for one
classification would cause the burden to shift to another
classification.  Johnson said, "I am very sympathetic to the
plight of seasonal and recreational property owners" but adoption
of the amendment would make it harder to hold the line on tax
increases.  The amendment failed on a voice vote.
     Sen. William Belanger (IR-Bloomington) offered two
amendments to the property tax article.  The first specifies that
if more than 25 percent of an area's tax capacity is seasonal and
recreational property, the board of equalization meeting must be
held on a Saturday. The amendment was adopted.  The second
amendment, lowering the penalty for delinquent taxes on seasonal
and recreational property from 8 percent to 4 percent, failed to
gain approval.
     Members also considered a lengthy amendment to the property
tax freeze article.  The amendment, offered by Johnson, was
drafted in response to suggestions made by representatives of
county governments.  The amendment makes changes, within the
context of the property tax freeze, that will result in savings
to county governments and the taxpayers without severely
affecting services provided by the counties.  The amendment
changes the date by which specific reports are due, alters
provisions dealing with maintenance of efforts for child care and
chemical dependency, changes some publications requirements,
suspends county attorney and sheriffs salary and budget appeal
processes, eliminates truth in taxation hearings, freezes local
match requirements and delays new unfunded mandates including
increases in tort liability.  The last provision dealing with
tort liability limits was deleted after considerable discussion. 
The remainder of the amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Omnibus tax bill approved
     Members of the Taxes and Tax Laws Committee, chaired by Sen.
Douglas Johnson (DFL-Cook), devoted the Tues., Apr. 11, hearing
to discussion of the omnibus tax bill.  S.F. 1123, carried by
Johnson, is the product of work by the committee's two
subcommittees.  The measure, which includes the property tax
freeze approved by the Senate last week, emerged from the
subcommittee process with an 40 cent per pack increase in the
cigarette tax and a reduction in the health care provider tax
earmarked for MinnesotaCare. 
     After hearing an explanation of the bill, members began the
process of considering amendments to the measure.  One of the
first amendments, offered by Sen. Steven Novak (DFL-New
Brighton), removes the provisions increasing the tobacco tax and
reducing the health care provider tax.  Johnson, who had opposed
the tobacco tax increase, strongly supported the amendment.  The
amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
     Novak also offered an amendment to reduce the tax rate on
seasonal and recreational property.  Johnson argued against the
amendment saying that the reduction would cause a shift onto
other property classifications.  Novak countered that the
reduction provides more equity in the property tax system. 
Members voted to adopt the amendment on a close voice vote. 
Later, Sen. Sandra Pappas (DFL-St. Paul), moved to reconsider the
amendment.  The motion was successful and the amendment was again
before the panel.  Johnson said that the amendment had severe
financial implications for other classes of property and should
not be adopted. A roll call vote was requested and the amendment
failed to be adopted 5-10.
     Members also approved an amendment reducing the penalty,
from 8 to 4 percent, on delinquent taxes for seasonal and
recreational property.  The amendment was offered by Sen. William
Belanger (IR-Bloomington).  Members also adopted a portion of an
amendment offered by Sen. Steve Dille (IR-Dassel).  The amendment
specifies that veterinarian supplies used to treat agricultural
production animals and horses are exempt from the sales tax.  
     Sen. Gen Olson (IR-Minnetrista) offered an amendment to
provide for a "taxpayers filing credit."  Under the amendment,
married couples filing a tax return would receive a $62 credit
and a single person file a tax return would receive a $31 credit. 
Olson said the amendment was an attempt to return $91 million to
the taxpayers.  Olson said the funds were overlooked because of
an accounting error and should be refunded to taxpayers.  Johnson
disputed the amount and said that at least $25 million of the
total has been described as the amount of interest on the $220
million rainy day fund--that has not been established--available
at the end of the biennium.  The amendment failed on a 5-16 roll
call vote.
     An amendment, offered by Dille, to allow the city of
Hutchinson to impose a sales, liquor and restaurant tax to be
used for civic improvements, also failed to gain approval.
     The bill was approved on a voice vote and sent to the full
Senate.

Transportation and Public Transit
Final bills considered
     Members of the Transportation and Public Transit Committee,
chaired by Sen. Florian Chmielewski (DFL-Sturgeon Lake),
considered two bills at its last policy meeting of the session
held Fri., Apr. 7.
     Members reconsidered and approved a bill that had been
tabled in a previous meeting. The bill, authored by Sen. Arlene
Lesewski (IR-Marshall), had contained several traffic provisions,
but the author offered an amendment to delete most of the
sections. The remaining provision, largely noncontroversial,
removed a requirement for speed limit signs at the beginning and
end of a highway construction zone.
     Members spent considerable time discussing an amendment
offered by Sen. Paula Hanson (DFL-Ham Lake) exempting new or
existing freeways from noise barrier requirements. The provision
also directs the Dept. of Transportation to implement a noise
abatement study contingent on the availability of funding.
     Sen. Jane Ranum (DFL-Mpls.) objected to the amendment,
saying the provision was too vague and that the public was not
notified. "This takes away the people's rights to participate in
the hearing process," she said. "This is big government."
     Merritt Linzie of the DOT said the state has "maybe been too
aggressive" in its noise barrier requirements. The department
most likely will continue noise abatement measures on the
noisiest individual projects, he said. He added that most states
do not have noise standards on traffic.
     The committee approved the amendment and advanced the bill
to the Senate floor.
     Members rejected a bill prohibiting a person from operating
a commercial vehicle on a limited drivers license after
revocation or suspension. S.F. 35, authored by Sen. Gene Merriam
(DFL-Coon Rapids), does not allow driving a commercial vehicle
for various time periods depending upon the offense.
     Most members agreed with the notion of zero-tolerance for
drinking and driving, however many believed the provision was too
strong since it could result in the loss of a job for first-time
DUI offenses. The bill failed on a 9-2 roll-call vote.

Monday, April 10
Helmet proposal defeated
     The floor session Mon., Apr. 10, was devoted to processing
bills on the Special Orders Calendar.   A bill designated a
Special Order is explained by the author, amendments may be
offered and the bill is given a third reading and placed on final
passage. Bills on Special Orders speed up the process because
they bypass the Committee of the Whole and do not have to be put
on the Senate Calendar and lie over one day.  The Senators
granted final passage to 14 bills on Special Orders and one bill
on the Consent Calendar.  
     A bill, H.F. 568, authored by Sen. Terry Johnston (IR-Prior
Lake), requiring adult motorcycle riders to wear protective
eyewear sparked considerable debate when an amendment was offered
to require all motorcycle riders to wear helmets.  Current law
requires motorcycle riders under the age of 18 to wear helmets. 
The amendment, offered by Sen. Sandra Pappas (DFL-St. Paul),
removes the age limitation so that all riders would be required
to wear helmets.  Pappas said she sponsored the amendment because
of "the tremendous cost of caring for individuals who were not
wearing helmets and who have been injured in motorcycle
accidents."  Johnston argued against the amendment and said that
"the [motorcycle] safety education efforts have eliminated more
accidents and prevented more injuries than helmets ever did."  In
addition, Johnston said that the amendment derails the original
bill and the eye safety issue would go unresolved.
     Sen. Joe Bertram, Sr. (DFL-Paynesville) also argued against
the bill.  "I am concerned that a lot of the groups that would
like to testify didn't have an opportunity to speak on this
bill," Bertram said.  The amendment was defeated on a 9-55 roll
call vote.  The bill was then approved 66-0.

Tuesday, April 11
Manager check bill passed
     Apartment building owners will be required to request
criminal background checks on their managers and prospective
managers under a bill passed Tues., Apr. 11, by the full Senate. 
A proposal to prevent health insurers from using genetic tests to
make underwriting decisions was also granted final passage on
Special Orders.
     S.F. 98 requires owners of residential rental buildings to
request criminal background checks on the managers of their
buildings.  The bill, sponsored by Sen. Gene Merriam (DFL-Coon
Rapids), also specifies that if those background checks reveal
the managers have been convicted of a number of felony-level
crimes, they are to be released.  Merriam said the bill will take
effect on Aug. 1, 1995 and apartment building owners will have up
to one year to conduct the checks on current managers. 
Provisions for notification of an individual's rights are also
included in the bill.
     Merriam said the proposal comes from a 1994 incident, where
a New Brighton women was killed by the manager of her apartment
building.  "We're talking about people who are given keys and
access to people's homes," he said.
     But several members raised concerns about the proposal. 
Sen. Sheila Kiscaden (IR-Rochester) said the bill takes a broad-
brush approached by limiting employment opportunities of those
who may have been convicted of a crime but are now rehabilitated.
     "Do we, as a society, believe people can be rehabilitated,
and if so, do we believe that they should be barred from
opportunities for further employment?" she said.
     Sen. Harold "Skip" Finn (DFL-Cass Lake) said instead of
placing mandates on apartment owners, "we ought to approach it
that landlords are going to be responsible."  "We ought to open
up the system and make [background checks] available to them," he
said.  Merriam said some apartment owners already conduct
background checks.  The bill, he added, attempts to strike a
balance between the safety of tenants and placing a requirement
on apartment owners.
     The measure was passed by a 60-4 roll call vote.
     S.F. 259, also sponsored by Merriam, regulates the use of
genetic testing by insurers.  The bill, he explained, provides
that health insurers cannot require an individual to undergo
genetic testing before being insured.  The measure also requires
life insurance companies to get written consent from an
individual before the use of genetic testing can proceed as part
of the underwriting process.
     Sen. Kevin Chandler (DFL-White Bear Lake) offered an
amendment to prohibit life insurance companies from using genetic
testing as the basis for underwriting policies in amounts up to
$100,000.  Chandler argued that companies could deny life
insurance if the tests indicate the potential for a person to
carry certain genetic diseases.  "We shouldn't allow companies to
deny insurance based on a probability," he said.
     Sen. Cal Larson (IR-Fergus Falls) was among those who spoke
against the amendment.  Larson argued the proposal would have the
effect of driving up the costs for all insurers.  But Merriam
said, the amendment limits the amount of insurance that is
exempt.  "This is drawn at such a basic level, what we're saying
is that (life insurance) is a basic right," he said.  The
amendment was rejected, 15-50.
     S.F. 259 was then passed, 62-2.

Floor action

Conference committee reports adopted and repassed, April 10, 1995
S.F. 335-Frederickson: Deficiency appropriations.

Bills given final passage on Special Orders, April 10, 1995
S.F. 566-Vickerman: Allows the residential program operated by
Independent School District No. 518 to remain open until June 1,
1996. 62-2
H.F. 1363-Vickerman: Modifies provisions relating to drug
dispensing by allowing pharmacies to fill prescriptions from
doctors in bordering states.  62-0
H.F. 568-Johnston: Requiring adult motorcycle riders to wear eye
protection devices. 65-0
H.F. 670-Morse: Authorizes Winona County to negotiate and enter
into a contract for deed with the Winona County Development
Achievement Center. 64-0
H.F. 457-Solon: Department of Commerce omnibus banking bill. 65-0
H.F. 782-Solon: Providing for compliance with requirements of the
Internal Revenue Code relating to the Western Lake Superior
Sanitary District. 65-1
H.F. 150-Solon: Extends the maximum length of a temporary on-sale
liquor license from three to four days and permits a municipality
to issue three temporary on-sale licenses but places no limit on
3.2 beer licenses.  63-0
H.F. 228-Piper: Reinstates specific advisory councils. 58-5
H.F. 226-Piper: Requires the reports of malpractice insurance
settlements made to the Board of Medical Practice to include the
names of the provider against whom the claim was made and the
circumstance of the settlement.  61-3
H.F. 715-Janezich: Provides for a damage award to an affected
property owner when a town board adopts a recorded town road map.
63-0
H.F. 216-Janezich: Changes the definition of fleet, from 1,000 to
100, for vehicle registration purposes. 64-0
H.F. 612-Sams: Requires equal treatment of rpescription drug
prescribers. 63-0
S.F. 1088-Krentz: Limits frivolous lawsuits filed by inmates of
correctional institutions. 64-0
H.F. 544-Krentz: Requires the state court administrator to
prepare a guide to informal probate. 61-0

Bills granted final passage on the Consent Calendar, April 10,
1995
H.F. 1065-Chmielewski: Modifies accounting and expenditure
requirements for road and bridge fund tax money derived from
unorganized townships in St. Louis County.  65-0

Bills granted concurrence and repassage April 11, 1995
S.F. 204-Chandler: Requires reporting on and analysis of federal
mandates imposed on state agencies. 56-0

Bills granted final passage on the Consent Calendar April 11,
1995
S.F. 1112-Ourada: Authorizes Sherburne County to convey specific
county ditches to the city of Elk River. 60-0
S.F. 375-Lessard: Adding pumped hydropower to the list of
preferred alternative energy sources and provides for incentive
payments to pumped hydropower facilities.  62-0

Bills granted final passage on Special Orders April 11, 1995
H.F. 859-Flynn: Authorizes the city of Minnepolis to determine
the method for the sale of unclaimed property. 63-0
S.F. 1144-Flynn: Authorizes the Minneapolis City Council to
delegate to the city engineer authority over traffic and parking
and authorizing the council to delegate authority to contract for
professional services.  63-0
S.F. 98-Merriam: Requires owners of residential rental buildings
to request criminal background checks of managers and prohibiting
owners from hiring or continuing to employ certain individuals as
managers. 60-4
H.F. 957-Vickerman: A resolution memorializing the President and
Congress to abandon the proposed sal of the western Area Power
Administration. 64-0
S.F. 259-Merriam: Regulates the use of genetic testing by
insurers. 62-2
S.F. 1343-Merriam: Provides for biennial license renewal for
individual certified and licensed public accountants. 65-0
H.F. 823-Mondale: Authorizes Hennepin County to lease hospital or
nursing home facilities under certain conditions. 65-0
H.F. 413-Samuelson: Designates and renames three highways. 64-0 

Bills granted concurrence and repassage April 12, 1995
S.F. 1055-Piper: Exempts certain social workers from the
requirement to obtain home care provider license and exempts some
social workers employed in a hospital or nursing home from
examination. 62-0

Bills granted final passage on the Consent Calendar April 12,
1995
H.F. 1091-Hottinger: Prohibits the sales of cosmetics, baby
formula and over the counter drugs at flea markets and
presecribes penalties. 63-0
H.F. 1307-Hottinger: Permits use of drivers license numbers as
identification required on ice fishing shelters.  64-0

Bills granted final passage on Special Orders April 12, 1995
S.F. 1536-Langseth: Omnibus transportation and transit funding
bill. 49-17
H.F. 602-Johnson: (amended to contain the provisions of S.F.
1123) Omnibus tax bill.

Preview  meetings scheduled for the week of April 17 - 21


Monday, April 17

No meetings scheduled.

Tuesday, April 18

Crime Prevention Finance Division
Chair: Sen. Tracy Beckman
Time and place to be announced.
Agenda: S.F. 1653-Beckman: Crime prevention budget bill.

The Senate will meet at 12 noon.

Wednesday, April 19

Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee
Chair: Sen. Sam Solon
2 p.m. Room 112 Capitol
Agenda: S.F. 410-Marty: Prescription Drug Fair Competition Act.

Joint House and Senate Subcommittee on Claims
Co-Chairs: Sen. Randy Kelly and Rep. Edgar Olson
6 p.m. Room 500S SOB
Agenda: Injury claims against the Dept. of Corrections.
Discussion on Dickman et. al. vs. Dept. of Corrections. Property
claims against the Dept. of Corrections. Discussion on the MCF-
Stillwater property room issue.

Thursday, April 20

Rules and Administration Committee
Chair: Sen. Roger Moe
8 a.m. Room 15 Capitol
Agenda: H.F. 22-Stevens: Resolution for restoration of checks and
balances between states and the federal government.

Tax and Tax Laws Committee
Chair: Sen. Douglas Johnson
4 p.m. Room 15 Capitol
Agenda: S.F. 1376-Reichgott Junge: Board of Government Innovation
and Cooperation pilot project for aid distribution councils. S.F.
1392-Pappas: Property tax reform commission. S.F. 1505-Novak:
Adjusting property tax rates; limiting property tax rates to
statutory rates. S.F. 1556-Hottinger: Constitutional amendment to
dedicate sales tax for property tax relief; levy limits. S.F.
1557-Hottinger: Redirect state-paid property tax relief; reduce
class rate on agricultural property; industrial property tax
credit. S.F. 1568-Novak: Tax and budget reform proposal.

Friday, April 21

No meetings scheduled.  

Compiled by:
 Senate Publications
 Room G95, State Office Building
 St. Paul, MN 55155
 (612)296-0259
 TDD 296-0250

****Rough edit of April 13, 1995***