Capitol Review: Area Legislator to Create Autism Task Force

Editor’s Note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they’re voting, the bills they’re writing and the issues they’re getting behind. Come back to Minnetonka Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review.

Minnetonka’s State lawmakers: Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43), Sen. David Hann (R-District 42), Sen. Gen Olson (R-District 33), Rep. John Benson (DFL-District 43B), Rep. Connie Doepke (R-District 33B), and Rep. Kirk Stensrud (R-District 42A).

ALTERNATIVE TEACHER LICENSURE

On March 3, legislation creating an alternative teacher licensure pathway passed in the legislation with bi-partisan support. SF 40 (chief-authored by Sen. Olson and co-authored by Sen. Bonoff) passed the Senate on a 46-19 vote, and then hours later HF 63 (co-authored by Rep. Doepke) passed in the House, on an 80-51 vote. In total, Minnetonka six state lawmakers voted unanimously in favor of creating an alternative teacher licensure pathway. Gov. Dayton is expected to sign that bill into law at 9:30 on Monday morning. For a full story, click here.

Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43)

To see video of Sen. Bonoff talking about what she called, "missed opportunities" for Republicans and Democrats to work together, see the sidebar. 

Later today, will introduce, as a co-author, SF 612, a bill establishing policies for youth athletes with concussions resulting from participation in youth athletic activities. The legislation will be referred to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.

Later today, will introduce, as a co-author, SF 648, a bill appropriating money to construct and rehabilitate early childhood learning and child protection facilities. The legislation will be referred to the Senate Committee on Capital Investment.

Later today, will introduce, as a co-author along with Sen. Olson, SF 636, a bill modifying teacher licensure, evaluations, and tenure. The legislation will be referred to the Committee on Education.

On March 3, introduced, as a co-author, SF 534, a bill limiting the number of former legislators on the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota. The legislation was referred to the Senate Committee on Higher Education.

On March 3, introduced, as a co-author, SF 540, a bill modifying parent notification of child maltreatment in a school facility. The legislation was referred to the Senate Committee on Education.

On March 3, introduced, as a co-author, SF 562, a bill appropriating money for a physics and nanotechnology building on the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. The legislation was referred to the Senate Committee on Capital Investment.

To read Sen. Bonoff’s latest ‘Capitol Update,’ click here.

Sen. David W. Hann (R-District 42)

Later today, will introduce, as chief-author, five pieces of legislation (SF 619, SF 620, SF 621, SF 622, SF 623) aimed at changing Minnesota’s education system. The legislation will be referred to the Senate Committee on Education. Specifically the legislation calls for:

• Disallowing salary increases for teachers after contract expiration.
• Permitting nonunion teacher contracts.
• Prohibiting the requirement of common core standards for teachers.
• Prohibiting a dues check off.
• Authorizing a school district to use part of the district fund for an essential uses account.

Later today, will introduce, as chief-author, SF 607, a bill placing a sunset on the nursing facility equal rates provision. The legislation will be referred to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.

Later today, will introduce, as a co-author, SF 618, a bill establishing the learn-to-read grant program. The legislation will be referred to the Senate Committee on Education.

Later today, will introduce, as a co-author, SF 605, a bill requiring high school assessments (and reports) to determine college and career readiness. The legislation will be referred to the Senate Committee on Education.

Later today, will introduce, as a co-author, along with Sen. Olson, SF 646, a bill making changes in the public employee insurance program-- requiring that the program pay certain taxes and assessments on the same basis as private sector health insurers. The legislation will be referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

On March 3, introduced, as a co-author, SF 557, a bill repealing the statewide trauma system. The legislation was referred to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.

On March 3, introduced, as a co-author, SF 578, a bill requiring Department of Human Services to begin set up of an online eligibility and application portal for food support, cash assistance, childcare, and health care programs. The legislation was referred to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.

On March 3, introduced, as a co-author, SF 581, a bill allowing certain expenditures by nonprofit community-service organizations to be considered charitable contributions to qualify for a reduced property tax classification. The legislation was referred to the Senate Committee on Taxes.

To see video of Sen. Hann talking about Gov. Dayton's tax plan, see the sidebar. 

Sen. Gen Olson (R-District 33)

Later today, will introduce, as a chief-author, SF 643, a bill clarifying the interest payments on the permanent school fund. The legislation will be referred to the Senate Committee on Education.

Later today, will introduce, as a co-author, along with Sen. Hann, SF 646, a bill making changes in the public employee insurance program-- requiring that the program pay certain taxes and assessments on the same basis as private sector health insurers. The legislation will be referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Later today, will introduce, as a co-author, SF 615, a bill modifying certain financial statement requirements for charitable organizations. The legislation will be referred to the Senate Committee on State Government Innovation and Veterans.

Later today, will introduce, as a co-author along with Sen. Bonoff, SF 636, a bill modifying teacher licensure, evaluations, and tenure. The legislation will be referred to the Committee on Education.

Later today, will introduce, as a co-author, SF 638, a bill appropriating money for arts education regarding cultural heritage. The legislation was referred to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

Later today, will introduce, as a co-author, SF 641, a bill providing an equity and opportunity in education tax credit. The legislation will be referred to the Committee on Education.

Rep. Kirk Stensrud (R-District 42A)

On March 3, introduced, as a chief-author, HF 756, a bill specifying state employee performance appraisal and bonus pay system components. The Legislation was referred to the Government Operations and Elections Committee, which will hold a hearing on the bill on March 8. 

On March 3, introduced, as a co-author, HF 737, a bill aimed at creating jobs through innovative technology by modifying the air admittance valve building code requirements. The legislation was referred to the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee.

 On March 3, introduced, as a co-author, HF 759, a bill prohibiting motor vehicle insurance companies from restricting an insured's choice of rental vehicle company as a source of a temporary replacement vehicle. The legislation was referred to the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee.

On Feb. 28, introduced, as a co-author, HF 745, a bill creating an Autism Spectrum Disorder Task Force. The legislation was referred to the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee.

Rep. John Benson (DFL-District 43B)

On March 3, added his name to HF 669, a bill creating an early childhood education scholarship finance system, providing early education worker training tax credits and appropriating money for improving early childhood education programming quality. The legislation was referred to the House Education Reform Committee.

On March 3, introduced, as a co-author, HF 751, a bill prohibiting school boards prohibited from withholding students' grades for failing to pay school lunch debts and discriminating against students eligible to receive a free or reduced-price lunch prohibited by establishing parameters for collecting unpaid school lunch debts. The legislation was referred to the House Education Reform Committee.

On March 3, introduced, as a co-author, HF 752, a bill prohibiting school boards from withholding students' grades for failing to pay school lunch debts. The legislation was referred to the House Education Reform Committee.

On March 3, introduced, as a co-author, HF 759, a bill establishing annual evaluations for principals. The legislation was referred to the House Education Reform Committee.

Rep. Connie Doepke (R-District 33B)

On Feb. 28, introduced, as a chief-author, HF 731, a bill modifying referendum ballot language in cases where the same level of 
taxing authority is renewed. The legislation was referred to the House Education Finance Committee.