8:15 AM

8:15 AM

Government Operations

Chair: Rep. Michael V. Nelson *** Note: *** Change in Agenda Bill(s) Added Bill(s) Removed Room: 5 State Office Building Agenda: .HF629 (Murphy, M) the first omnibus pensions bill, will be the first bill on the printed agenda. The Chair reserves the right to adjust the order of the agenda to accommodate member availability an length of time needed for individual bills. HF866 (Freiberg) Procurement and solicitation process provisions changed. HF938 (Sawatzky) State government streamlined. HF1220 (Winkler) Online and Digital Learning Advisory Council modified. HF855 (Johnson) State agencies and legislature waste management resource recovery provisions changes made. HF629 (Murphy) Local police and salaried firefighter relief association consolidation accounts statutes revised and repealed. HF1383 (Newton) Special education case loads task force established, and report required. HF767 (Morgan) Continuing care provisions changes made; advisory task force, nursing home, resident relocation, medical assistance, long-term care consultation services, assessments, maltreatment reporting provisions modified, and report required. HF655 (Howe) High-voltage transmission line routing process regulated, and designation of a preferred route prohibited in the permitting process, and condemnation procedures modified. HF1284 (Schoen) Motor fuel sale restriction prohibited. Bills Removed from the agenda:HF758 (Albright) Adult basic education program representative added to the Workforce Development Council. Committee Documents: Amendment A2 for HF 866 Amendment A1 for HF 938 Omnibus Pension Bill – delete everything amendment for HF 629 Amendment A2 for HF 655 Amendment A6 for HF 767 Amendment A3 for HF 866 Amendment SD486-16A for HF 629

9:00 AM

9:00 AM

Health and Human Services Policy

*** Note: *** Change in meeting room Chair: Rep. Tina Liebling *** Note: *** Change in Agenda Bill(s) Added Room: Basement State Office Building Agenda:HF978 will be heard pending re-referral from the commerce and consumer protection committee. To testify please contact Committee Administrator Matthew Bergeron at matthew.bergeron@house.mn HF1395 (Dehn) Residency radio restrictions for home and community-based services waiver and general assistance recipients. HF1345 (Moran) Health care and health disparity-related provisions modified, reports required, and money appropriated. HF856 (Loeffler) Adult Mental Health Act; mental illness definition modified. HF1157 (Norton) Medical assistance provisions modified relating to quality assurance. HF1156 (Fritz) Parental contribution amounts modified. HF1047 (Loeffler) Maternal depression outreach, public education, and screening development required, medical assistance eligibility expanded for pregnant women and infants, commissioner of human services required to provide technical assistance related to maternal depression screening and referrals, parenting skills added to adult rehabilitative mental health services, Minnesota health care program outreach expanded, reports required, and money appropriated. HF453 (Dorholt) Medical assistance coverage modified to include consultations with psychologists. HF1604 (Abeler) Diverted narcotic or controlled substance report required. Bills Removed from the agenda:HF978 (Huntley) Policy and contract coverage regulated, and state law conformed to federal requirements. Committee Documents: HF 1157 A13-0227 HF 978 A13-0349 HF 1047 DE1 Amendment HF 1604 DE1 Amendment HF 1325 A1 Amendment HF 1395 A2 Amendment HF 1047 A1 Amendment HF 1047 A2 Amendment

9:00 AM

*** Note: *** Meeting is Canceled

Public Safety Finance and Policy

Chair: Rep. Michael Paymar Room: 200 State Office Building Agenda:

9:00 AM

Transportation Finance

Chair: Rep. Frank Hornstein Room: 10 State Office Building Agenda: Informational hearing on bonding bills. Bills may be added. The order posted online will be updated on Thursday. HF1644 (Bernardy) Marked Interstate Highway 35W managed lane segment funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF1101 (Newton) Blaine; local road funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF864 (Ward) Gateway Corridor transit way funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF934 (Lesch) Como Regional Park funding provided for access and circulation improvements, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF1509 (Anderson) Trunk highway interchange funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF1270 (Sawatzky) Willmar; transit facilities funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF1272 (Fritz) U.S. Highway 14 segment four-lane expansion funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF1285 (Johnson) Nicollet County; marked U.S. Highway 14 interchange funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF1610 (Johnson) Nicollet county; U.S. Highway 14 construction funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF1334 (McNamar) Elbow Lake transit facilities funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF1430 (Bernardy) Transit capital improvement program funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF249 (Slocum) Richfield; 77th Street underpass funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF1517 (Newton) BNSFNorthtown Yard safety and infrastructure improvements to increase the speed of Northstar Commuter Rail travel through the yard funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF1310 (Dorholt) Wright County; Interstate Highway 94 expansion funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF713 (Hornstein) Hennepin County; Lake Street Transit Station funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. Bills Removed from the agenda:HF1339 (Brynaert) Mankato transit facilities funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. Committee Documents: HF713A1 HF1334A3

12:30 PM

12:30 PM

Legislative Audit Commission – Evaluation Subcommittee Chair: Rep. Rick Hansen Room: 400S State Office Building Agenda: Working session to select evaluation topics for further consideration by the subcommittee

That’s a bad idea.  I tried to put elected representation on the board, but that measure was rejected.

What’s worse is that Minnesota doctors are excluded from this board.  Lawyers, politicians and union representatives can be appointed, but not MN doctors. The very people we will depend on to make life and death decisions with our care are not trusted by the people who created the Democrat Exchange.  Democrat Exchange: “MN Doctors, we don’t trust you.”

While the bill authors claim the legislation will increase competition, it mearly puts the private market in competition with the public market and Minnesota in competition with other states who are not adopting a state based exchange.

Here are some of my comments about this from my floor speech Democrat Health Exchange-Wrong Competition

Historical Deadlines

The 2013 committee deadlines are listed in S.C.R. 4.

1st deadline – March 15, 2013 2nd deadline – March 22, 2013 3rd deadline – April 19, 2013

Explanation

There is no yearly deadline for the introduction of bills. However, each year the Legislature establishes deadlines for committee action on bills. Committee deadlines are announced during the first half of a session in order to winnow the list of topics to be dealt with that year.

“The deadlines do not apply to the House committees on Capital Investment, Ways and Means, Finance, Taxes, or Rules and Legislative Administration, nor to the Senate committees on Capital Investment, Finance, Taxes, or Rules and Administration.”

“The first deadline is for committees to act favorably on bills in the house of origin.”

“The second deadline is for committees to act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other house.”

“The third deadline is for committees to act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.”

“When a committee in either house acts favorably on a bill after a deadline established in the concurrent resolution, the bill must be referred in the Senate to the Committee on Rules and Administration and in the House of Representatives to the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration for disposition. Either rules committee, when reporting a bill referred to the committee under this rule, may waive application of the rule to subsequent actions on that bill by other committees.” (Joint Rule 2.03, Deadlines)

10:00 AM

*** Note: *** Meeting is Canceled

Ways and Means

Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson Room: 200 State Office Building Agenda: TBA

12:00 PM

12:00 PM

Energy Policy

Meeting Time Note: Please note that if the committee doesn’t finish its agenda, it will reconvene at 3:30 p.m. or 30 minutes after session in 118 State Capitol to finish the day’s agenda. Chair: Rep. Melissa Hortman *** Note: *** Change in Agenda Bill(s) Added Room: 10 State Office Building Agenda: HF1001 (Ward) Notice to cities of utility disconnections regulated. HF1079 (Benson) Geothermal heating and cooling systems allowed to apply to a utility’s renewable energy obligation under certain conditions. HF1167 (Melin) Renewable development account funds allocated, “Made in Minnesota” solar energy production incentive account created, and financial incentives provided for photovoltaic modules manufactured in Minnesota. HF1029 (Persell) Petroleum inspection fee revenue clarified. HF1147 (Dehn) Energy improvement program terms defines for local governments. HF1326 (McNamar) Cost recovery provided for emission reduction projects. HF879 (Falk) University of Minnesota; renewable energy research funding extended. HF1075 (Falk) Renewable development account annual transferred fee revised for each cask of spent nuclear fuel stored in Minnesota. HF1170 (Falk) Small electricity generator maximum capacity to qualify for net metering amended, rate at which small generators may elect to be paid by utilities definition amended, and treatment of a purchase from a small generator by a nongenerating utility supplied by a municipal power agency amended. HF1174 (Falk) Public Utilities Commission required to initiate a proceeding culminating in an order establishing standards for utility rates regarding the interconnection of small electric generating facilities. HF1015 (Selcer) Gas utility infrastructure cost recovery regulated. HF1146 (Morgan) Public Utilities Commission required to initiate a proceeding regarding interconnection of distributed generation facilities, establishment and operation provided for community solar generating facilities, ownership of renewable energy credit governing provisions amended, and residential solar design standards established. HF1000 (Kelly) Commissioner of commerce required to make assessments to fund clean energy resource teams. HF1084 (Kelly) Transmission cost utility recovery regulated. HF1301 (Hortman) State energy conservation policies provided for. HF338 (Bly) Appraisal fee award in utility takings made the same as other takings, and “buy the farm” provisions modified. HF955 (Hortman) Small electric generators maximum capacity to qualify for net metering amended. HF854 (Atkins) Low-income utility program conservation improvement investments regulated. HF567 (Melin) Solar energy requirements modified for state buildings. HF623 (Melin) Biomass mandate project regulated. HF421 (Quam) Hydroelectric electric project revolving loan fund established to facilitate the dredging of lakes to improve water flow, report required, and money appropriated. Committee Documents: HF338A2 Amendment HF338A3 Amendment HF338A-181 Amendment HF1001A1 Amendment HF1079A1 Amendment HF1146A1 Amendment HF1167A1 Amendment HF955A-181 Amendment HF1084A1 Amendment HF1015A1 Amendment

12:30 PM

12:30 PM

Higher Education Finance and Policy

Chair: Rep. Gene Pelowski Room: 5 State Office Building Agenda: Presentation by the MN Office of Higher Education: MN State Grant Spending, part-time students. Report from the University of Minnesota on the cost of administration, President Eric Kaler. University of Minnesota 2014-2015 biennial budget request.

12:30 PM

Housing Finance and Policy

Chair: Rep. Karen Clark Room: Basement State Office Building Agenda: Informational hearing will take place on the Governor’s proposals aroung housing initiatives and programs (HF1344). HF536 (Davnie) Sellers in real estate sales for contracts for deed notice requirement, and civil action remedy for violations of the notice requirements for contracts for deed created. HF8 (Mullery) Supporting Responsible Homeowners and Stabilizing Neighborhoods Act enacted, and homeowner opportunities provided in regard to underwater mortgage loans and foreclosure relief on residential homestead property. HF1344 (Clark) Housing Finance Agency money appropriated. Committee Documents: HF536 (Davnie) Delete All Amendment HF8 (Mullery) Delete All Amendment

12:30 PM

State Government Finance and Veterans Affairs

Meeting Time Note: The Committee will reconvene at 6:45 p.m., if necessary, to complete the agenda. Chair: Rep. Mary Murphy Room: 200 State Office Building Agenda: Additional bills may be added HF525 (Erhardt) Active duty service members allowed to take a peace officer reciprocity examination. HF591 (Sanders) Partisan office vacancy nomination procedures modified, and money appropriated. HF819 (Murphy) Public Facilities Authority grant programs reorganized, and small community wastewater treatment grants provided for. HF1241 (Dettmer) Community safety personnel training about the use of de-escalation techniques for dealing with veterans returning from active military service in combat zones grant money appropriated to public safety. HF764 (Mariani) Minnesota Humanities Commission grant established for a reading program for Minnesota childen, and money appropriated. Committee Documents: 525A1 Amendment

3:00 PM

3:00 PM

Chair: Room: THE HOUSE MEETS IN SESSION

3:30 PM

3:30 PM

Education Policy

Meeting Time Note: Committee will convene at 3:30 or after Session recesses or adjourns. Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani Bill(s) Removed Room: Hearing Room 200, Hearing Room 300 North after 7pm Agenda: **NOTE** HF1067 is authored by Rep. ROGER Erickson. Also, the deadline for amendments for Monday’s hearing is Noon that day. HF1067 (Erickson) Land transfer from Red Lake School District to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians authorized. HF984 (Urdahl) School board prohibited from not renewing a coaching contract based solely on the existence of parent complaints. HF734 (Urdahl) Career and technical education advisory task force established for improving student outcomes in grades 11 to 14. HF562 (Abeler) Medical assistance coverage provided for services provided by a licensed professional counselor. HF354 (Selcer) Teacher licensure renewal requirements related to recognizing mental illness in children and adolescents clarified. HF860 (Bernardy) English language learning aid for students not yet proficient in the English language extended from five to seven years. HF1151 (Mariani) Early childhood through grade 12 education policies modified including general education, education excellence, special programs, libraries, and early childhood education. Bills Removed from the agenda:HF1006 (Selcer) Teachers licensed to teach deaf and hard-of-hearing students in prekindergarten through grade 12 continuing education clock hour requirements clarified. HF147 (Slocum) Teacher and school administrator cultural competency training required for renewal of professional license. HF356 (Newton) School districts allowed to use safe schools levy proceeds for collaborating with mental health professionals, and money appropriated. Committee Documents: HF562 DE1 HF1151 Amendment (to be numbered)

4:00 PM

4:00 PM

Subcommittee on Employee Relations Chair: Rep. Leon Lillie Room: 400S, State Office Building Agenda: 1) Review/approval of collective bargaining agreements • American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 5, Unit 225 • Minnesota Nurses Association • Inter Faculty Organization 2) Review/approval of Higher Education Office compensation plan 3) Other items as approved by the chair

5:30 PM

5:30 PM

Compensation Council Chair: Tom Fraser Room: 300S State Office Building Agenda: Review/discuss/adopt report

5:30 PM

*** Note: *** Meeting is Canceled Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources Chair: Room: 5 State Office Building Agenda: TBA

6:00 PM

6:00 PM

Housing Finance and Policy

Chair: Rep. Karen Clark Room: 500 North State Office Building Agenda: HF1055 (Clark) Mortgage registry and deed tax deposit in an affordable housing fund provided for. HF1377 (Hortman) Mortgage lenders and servicers loss mitigation required.

Alternatively, it may be a brilliant but cynical call from a political playbook. Take a popular tax increase (taxing wealthy business executives) and jettison it to appear as though you are willing to absorb criticism and compromise. This will allow the Governor to “own” a proposal that no one believed would happen, and give him the ability to disavow what ever legislative budget that his democrat colleagues produce in the upcoming month.

Which is the case? The Governor’s first term would indicate that the more cynical view is accurate. This approach will allow him the flexibility to remain unattached to whatever kooky and ridiculous spending and tax increases the democrat legislature produces. In the end he can agree “to” but not “with” the budget he signs. He will lament the economy, the process and blame the predicament on the previous administration and Republicans in the legislature. It will likely go unreported that not a single republican vote is required for taxing or spending a dime however.

In his first term, facing an unprecedented deficit, he proposed unrealistic tax increases and ambiguous “cuts” to government. He joked that no one liked his budget less than he did. The governor refused to negotiate with republican leadership, saying “I will not agree with anything until I agree with everything.” After vetoing all outstanding budget bills after the session ended, it became clear he was intent on shutdown. Unlike his predecessor Governor Pawlenty (who also dealt with a legislature of the opposite party) he asked for not a single vote from his own party members to come together on a deal to move the state forward.

After a shutdown, republicans held tight against tax increases and the governor gave up his tax increase amid public anger and frustration. While ending the shutdown, he began what would be a triumphant campaign against the very document he signed.

This curious disassociation was politically successful. In fact, it has been so wildly successful that few would predict that he would abandon it as other national democrats appear to be adopting it. It’s safe. It is very likely the Governor will have his cake and eat it too. The Governor will get tax increases, while being able to claim he does not like them.

Balancing the last budget required tough choices.  Many conservatives were disappointed about the use of one-time tobacco settlement money and delayed payments to schools as a means to balance the budget.  Liberals were  denied the massive spending increases demanded by the unions and special interest groups.  That budget funds 98% of our anticipated spending in the upcoming biennium.  It also provides surpluses in the current and subsequent biennia.  The Governor takes no ownership in anything but criticism of it.  Now that he is abandoning his own new tax proposal, he is seemingly poised to treat the democrat’s budget in the same manner he treated the republican budget of two years ago.

The times call for more from our governor. Any of us can admire the many problems and challenges we face. We can all ask for ideas and solutions. We can all find more than enough blame to go around without disappointing our friends. The times call for leadership that will fight partisanship rather than simply lament it.  They call for real solutions.

8:15 AM

Capital Investment

Chair: Rep. Alice Hausman *** Note: *** Change in Agenda Room: 200 State Office Building Agenda: Removed from agenda: Debt service guidelines update, Minnesota Management & Budget
Removed from agenda: Informational-only hearing: HF409 (Norton) Medical center development authority established and organization, powers, and duties provided for; medical center development districts provided for; bonds and state assistance authorized; tax increment financing provided for within a medical center development district; funding provided; bonds issued; and money appropriated. (only provisions under the committee’s jurisdiction)
Added to Agenda: Minnesota Zoo bonding update
Continued on Agenda: Amateur Sports Commission bonding update

8:15 AM

Education Finance

Chair: Rep. Paul Marquart Room: 10 State Office Building Agenda: HF247 (Mariani) Integration revenue replacement advisory task force recommendations implemented, and integration revenue repurposed by establishing the “Achievement and Integration for Minnesota” program to increase student performance and equitable educational opportunities and prepare all students to be effective citizens. HF895 (Marquart) Referendum equalization revenue calculation obsolete language removed.
Committee Documents: H0247A14 amendment H0247A16 amendment H0247A17 amendment H0247A18 amendment

8:15 AM

Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Finance

Chair: Rep. Jean Wagenius Room: 5 State Office Building Agenda: Budget Overview: Parks and Trails HF116 (Johnson) St. Paul; Pig’s Eye Regional Park funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

8:15 AM

Labor, Workplace, and Regulated Industries

Chair: Rep. Sheldon Johnson Room: Basement State Office Building Agenda: Note: HF602 is being placed on the agenda in order to amend the motion that it should go to the Committee on Jobs, not Commerce as originally moved. HF748 (Simon) Prompt payment of wages requirements and penalties modified. HF690 (Mahoney) Reliance on criminal history for employment purposes limited, and remedies provided. HF572 (Nelson) Commissioner of labor and industry allowed to issue compliance orders for violations of misrepresentations of employment relationships. HF602 (Atkins) Additional unemployment benefit eligibility modified.
Committee Documents: H0748A1 Amendment H0748A2 Amendment

10:00 AM

Education Policy

Meeting Time Note: The committee may recess until 5 p.m. and reconvene in Room 5 to complete the day’s agenda. Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani Room: Basement State Office Building Agenda: HF925 (Mariani) School district ability to request department assistance clarified. HF771 (Davnie) Restrictive procedures for children with disabilities use clarified. HF363 (Benson) Students per school counselor minimum ratios established. HF1003 (Morgan) Minnesota math corps program established and money appropriated.
Bills Removed from the agenda:HF860 (Bernardy) English language learning aid for students not yet proficient in the English language extended from five to seven years.
Committee Documents: HF771 A1 HF363 Author Delete All A13-0116 HF363 A1 HF363 A2

10:00 AM

Health and Human Services Finance

Chair: Rep. Tom Huntley Room: 200 State Office Building Agenda: To sign up to testify, please contact the committee administrator at lucy.morgan@house.mn. HF937 (Laine) Human services programs funding provided, and money appropriated. HF698 (Halverson) Runaway and Homeless Youth Act modified, and money appropriated. HF119 (Gruenhagen) McLeod County; nursing facility property rate increase provided. HF139 (Nornes) Otter Tail County; nursing facility payment rate increase provided. HF375 (Erickson) Nursing facility rate increase provided for.
Committee Documents: H0698A1 H0119A1

10:00 AM

Public Safety Finance and Policy

Chair: Rep. Michael Paymar Room: 10 State Office Building Agenda: HF814 (Schoen) Hazardous substance release report required to local fire or law enforcement. HF491 (Dehn) Individual civil rights restored upon release from incarceration, and notice required.
Bills Removed from the agenda:HF479 (Dehn) Good conduct certificate established and effects of certificate and elgibility described, and money appropriated.
Committee Documents: HF 814 Amendment Amendment HF491

10:00 AM

Transportation Finance

Chair: Rep. Frank Hornstein Room: 5 State Office Building Agenda: HF434 (Kahn) Franklin Avenue Bridge rehabilitation funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF797 (Hortman) Safe routes to school program funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF587 (Falk) Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF500 (Masin) Driver’s license filing fee increased by driver license agents.

11:30 AM

Jobs and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Chair: Rep. Tim Mahoney *** Note: *** Change in Agenda Room: 200 State Office Building Agenda: If you have any questions on the bill or would like to testify, please contact Committee Administrator Abou Amara at 651-296-4110. HF92 (Winkler) Minimum wage regulated. HF763 (Metsa) Employment law provisions federal conformity changes made.
Committee Documents: HF763 (Metsa) A13 Amendment

12:30 PM

Agriculture Policy

Chair: Rep. Jeanne Poppe Room: 5 State Office Building Agenda: HF1175 (Wagenius) Minnesota agricultural water quality program established and rulemaking authorized.

12:30 PM

Elections

Chair: Rep. Steve Simon *** Note: *** Change in Agenda Bill(s) Added Room: Basement State Office Building Agenda: HF664 (Laine) Campaign finance and public disclosure law changed, and definition of public official expanded. HF979 (Halverson) Election procedures modified, election administration modified, ballot formatting modified, and timelines adjusted. HF863 (Winkler) Campaign finance additional disclosure provided for, and various changes made to campaign finance and public disclosure law.

12:30 PM

Taxes

Chair: Rep. Ann Lenczewski Bill(s) Added Room: 10 State Office Building Agenda: HF805 (Mullery) Gift tax imposed and coordinated with the estate tax. HF806 (Mullery) Situs rules provided for pass-through interests. HF426 (Davnie) Motor vehicle paint and material sales tax clarified.

3:00 PM

Chair: Room: THE HOUSE MEETS IN SESSION

3:30 PM

Rules and Legislative Administration

Meeting Time Note: or immediately following Session Chair: Rep. Erin Murphy Room: 118 State Capitol Agenda: House Legal Fees ***NOTE: HF1183, HF1184, and HF1233 are governor’s budget bills. Pursuant to rule 2.03 of the Joint Rules, the rules committee is required to re-refer any bills necessary to implement the governor’s budget if introduced 15 days after the budget was submitted. HF143 (Persell) Minnesotan American Indian veteran plaque authorized for placement in the court of honor on the Capitol grounds. HF1183 (Kahn) Clean water fund and parks and trails fund money appropriated. HF1184 (Murphy) State auditor costs and fees modified, IT cost determination required, e-government advisory council re-setablished, audit responsibility for job opportunity building zones changed to the legislative auditor, campaign finance provisions changed and fees established, school trust lands director provisions changed, “Support Our Veterans” license plates authorized, provisions relating to veterans changed, department of revenue changes made, automobile theft prevention surcharge established, conforming changes made, and money appropriated. HF1233 (Huntley) Health and human services budget established; provisions related to health care, continuing care, nursing facility admission, children and family services, human services licensing, chemical and mental health, program integrity, managed care organizations, waiver provider standards, home care, and the Department of Health modified; home and community-based services redesigned; community first services and support and Northstar Care for Children established; child care assistance program fraud investigations provided for; autism early intensive intervention benefits established; human services performance council created, technical changes made, money appropriated, and MinnesotaCare repealed.
Committee Documents: HF 143 – A1 Amendment

5:00 PM

Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy

Chair: Rep. Joe Atkins Room: Basement State Office Building Agenda: TBA – The purpose of this meeting is to resume discussion on any bill from Wednesday night’s agendas.

5:00 PM

Transportation Policy

Chair: Rep. Ron Erhardt Room: 500S State Office Building Agenda: HF847 (Masin) Public-private partnerships involving public infrastructure investments regulated, and joint program office established. HF708 (Masin) Local option transportation taxes amended, and county wheelage tax authority broadened. HF709 (Sawatzky) Local option transportation taxes amended, county wheelage tax authority broadened, and greater Minnesota transportation sales tax authority amended. HF761 (Sawatzky) Sign franchise program modified, trunk highway emergency relief account changes made, county state-aid highway and municipal state-aid street systems rules and engineering standards variance requirements modified, cities apportionment formula definition and public transit participation program modified, railroad crossing warning sign requirements updated, and intrastate motor carrier driver medical waiver requirements changes conformed. HF1036 (Simonson) Salvage titles regulated.

5:30 PM

Early Childhood and Youth Development

*** Note: *** Change in meeting room Meeting Time Note: Please note the committee is not meeting at our usual time and place. Chair: Rep. Joe Mullery Room: 200 State Office Building Agenda: At the discretion of the Chair, discussion and amendment will be confined to the purview of the committee’s policy jurisdiction. HF631 (Brynaert) Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and commissioner of human services required to convene a summit related to mental health and workforce development issues, and legislative report required. HF950 (Nelson) Family child care providers collective bargaining authorized.
Committee Documents: HF631 A1 Amendment HF950 DE1 Amendment (author’s) HF950 A1 Amendment to the DE1 (author’s) HF950 A11 Amendment HF950 A16 Amendment

5:30 PM

Subcommittee on Employee Relations Chair: Rep. Leon Lillie Room: 500N State Office Building Agenda: 1) Review/approval of collective bargaining agreements • American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 5, Unit 225 • Minnesota Nurses Association • Inter Faculty Organization 2) Review/approval of Higher Education Office compensation plan 3) Other items as approved by the chair

Today we will be taking up the Health Exchange bill on the floor. HF5 Atkins

I will be offering an amendment to make the case that Minnesota should lead and not follow health reform.  Most of all we should not

be forced to hold up both state and federal ends of a bad deal.  Check out our amendments to HF 5 Here: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cco/amendmentall.asp

1. What is a Health Care Exchange (HIX)?

The Health Care Exchange is a way for people and groups to purchase health insurance in a mechanism whose rules are set and upheld by government. 

2. Why are we doing this now?

The ACA, PPACA, (AKA Obamacare) says that all states need to set one up this year or the federal government will do it for us.  Some states are moving forward to do their own exchange (like us) while others are essentially calling the bluff of the federal government, calculating that the federal government has neither the authority, nor the ability to set up and manage state based private health insurance. 

Here is an excellent (nonpartisan) site that just looks at where states are in this gobbledygook. http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=962&cat=17

If you have other good links please email or dm me.

We have until Oct to start loading people onto the site. We are to be up and running by Jan 1, 2014.

3. If I am not in this exchange, will it impact me?

Yes. MCHA, MN Care enrollees will be in large part or on whole, moved to Medicaid or the exchange.  Large employers may “dump” (stop providing insurance and pay a fine) or move from the self-insured market to the exchange.  Small groups may do the same.

All industry and government  models predicting the impact of the ACA now anticipate changes in availability and benefits of existing policies. 

4. Will this lower cost?

No. Minnesota has one of the lowest cost structures of any state in the country.  We also have the highest quality of care, and among the lowest levels of uninsured.  Some studies show Obamacare will increase federal debt by $6T.

If the goal is to insure more people, we would be better off to just buy health insurance policies for uninsured people to raise our insured rate from 91 to 98%).

5. Where’s Matt @?

I am opposed to this bill. 

We have great healthcare in this state.  In fact, we are the envy of every other state in the country.  Rather than being the first one in line for this federal experiment, we should be offering the rest of the country a viable alternative to ObamaCare. 

We do have great care.  But the way we pay for it makes it unaffordable to many and unavailable to some.  That’s not fair and it is getting worse.  Some say that we need some sort of “Preiceline-type” polling environment to level access and price in this marketplace.    

The problem is not that government is not doing enough in healthcare.  The problem is that government is trying to do too much.  With every layer of regulation and new bureau, doctors and patients are separated ever more.  Costs are driven up, and quality down with each layer.    

In my nine years at the Capitol, I can not think of a bill that did so much, that impacted so much of our economy and the healthcare of every Minnesotan.  It is less than 15 pages long.  Although it has gone through countless hearings, there is almost no understanding among members of how this bill works.