Including pets in protection orders
Posted on 04. Mar, 2010 by Session Daily | Public Information Services in State Legislature
A civil order for protection can keep an offender away from a victim’s home and workplace. Seeing Fido and Fluffy could also get included. Rep. Michael Paymar (DFL-St. Paul) sponsors HF1396 that would permit a court to include provision for the care, possession or control of a pet or companion animal in a protective order. Approved [...]
CARZ proposal turns to cuts vs. credit debate
Posted on 04. Mar, 2010 by Session Daily | Public Information Services in State Legislature
CARZ, the governor’s list of proposed incentives to help keep the St. Paul Ford plant in operation, was held over by the House Taxes Committee for possible inclusion in its omnibus bill. Ford has threatened to close the plant in recent years, but the facility received a reprieve until at least the end of 2011 [...]
Ensuring parental notification of child abuse
Posted on 04. Mar, 2010 by Session Daily | Public Information Services in State Legislature
Lora and Shawn Herman’s lives changed in May 2006 — but they wouldn’t realize it for months. Their son, Kyle, then a nonverbal 6 year old with Down syndrome, had started kindergarten the previous fall. His behavior problems at home and at school were not resolved, although the Hermans sought medical and therapeutic help and [...]
Joint meeting focuses on distracted driving
Posted on 04. Mar, 2010 by Session Daily | Public Information Services in State Legislature
During a joint meeting of House and Senate transportation policy divisions, legislators heard testimony about the need for expanded laws regarding distracted drivers. (Watch the meeting.) In 2008, Minnesota was the third of 19 states to ban texting while driving, but lawmakers did not totally ban cell phone use in moving vehicles, an issue that [...]
Phy. Ed. standards get committee approval
Posted on 02. Mar, 2010 by Session Daily | Public Information Services in Schools, State Legislature
More Minnesota children could be on the move, in a good way. The House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight Committee approved HF3115, sponsored by Rep. Kim Norton (DFL-Rochester). It would require the state to adopt academic standards for physical education by July 1, 2010. The committee sent the bill to the House Finance Committee, recommending it go [...]
Legislative leaders, governor react to February forecast
Posted on 02. Mar, 2010 by Session Daily | Public Information Services in State Legislature
DFL and Republican legislative leaders offered conflicting interpretations of the February budget forecast — and conflicting ideas on how to solve the budget problems it predicts. Though the forecast projects a $1 billion budget deficit in the current biennium — a $209 million improvement over the November forecast — DFLers noted that the $5.8 billion deficit [...]
Looking for fund transparency
Posted on 01. Mar, 2010 by Session Daily | Public Information Services in State Legislature
by Lee Ann Schutz | Daily Session Some fees collected for specific purposes land in the state’s General Fund before being appropriated for their dedicated uses. Sponsored by Rep. Loren Solberg (DFL-Grand Rapids), HF2037 would change the deposit of some fees that now go to the General Fund to an account in the special revenue [...]
Minority will uphold GAMC veto, leader says
Posted on 26. Feb, 2010 by Chris Dohman in Health, Other Source, State Legislature
by Lauren Radomski | Session Daily House Republicans say they will work with Democrats and the governor’s office over the weekend to find a compromise on controversial health care legislation. Should those discussions fall through, House Minority Leader Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) said his caucus members will uphold Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto of HF2680/ SF2168*, [...]
GAMC override vote possible Monday
Posted on 26. Feb, 2010 by Session Daily | Public Information Services in Other Source, State Legislature
by Nick Busse | Session Daily The House may vote Monday on whether to override Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto of General Assistance Medical Care funding. House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL-Mpls) said legislative leaders will spend the weekend working with the governor’s office to find a compromise on GAMC. The program, which provides health coverage [...]
Syringe product stewardship program adopted by House committee
Posted on 26. Feb, 2010 by Session Daily | Public Information Services in Other Source, State Legislature
Story by Sue Hegarty | Session Daily Used syringes are one step closer to being kept of the waste stream, where they can infect or poke hospitality and waste management workers. The House Environment Policy and Oversight Committee approved HF1372/ SF1323* and referred it to the House Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight [...]
