ActionALERT

Legislative Update

Almost all of the omnibus finance and policy bills in both the Senate and the House have been passed on the floor.  This includes the House omnibus K-12 Finance bill (HF 2), the House omnibus Early Childhood Education bill (HF 2088), the omnibus Senate E-12 Education bill (SF 1328), the omnibus Public Safety Finance bills (HF 1657 / SF 802), and the omnibus Economic Development (DEED) bills (HF 1169 / SF 2081).

The omnibus Tax bills were also passed this weekend.  The House and Senate bills differ in where they are generating new revenues.  The Senate bill relies much more heavily on increasing state income taxes, and includes a new tax bracket for the highest income earners.  The Senate bill balances the budget for four years.  The House bill includes the new tax bracket, along with reforms in the tax code, closing business loopholes, and increases in the cigarette and alcohol taxes.  Both bills also cut aid to local governments.
 
All of the omnibus bills will now be sent to a conference committee made up of ten appointed legislators (five from the House and five from the Senate).  The conferees will work out differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill, creating a single compromise bill that will be sent back to the House and Senate for approval.

If you believe that afterschool and summer learning opportunities are critical to provide in your community this is likely your last chance this legislative session to voice your support for afterschool and summer programs by contacting our legislators.  We strongly encourage you to call and email the legislators appointed to the conference committees by Wednesday, April 29, as they will be making significant decisions in the coming days.

Conference Committees to Contact:

E-12 / K-12 Education
HF 2 / SF 1328

House Conferees:
Rep. Mindy Greiling
Rep. Carlos Mariani
Rep. Nora Slawik
Rep. John Ward
Rep. Pat Garofalo

Senate Conferees:
Sen. LeRoy Stumpf
Sen. Gen Olson
Sen. Kathy Saltzman
Sen. Charles Wiger
Sen. Kevin Dahle

Important messages: 1) HF 2 - Encourage members to secure funding for the Afterschool Community Learning Grant program during the upcoming biennium using Federal Stimulus money (**NOTE: Because HF 2088 has provisions from both Health and Human Services and Education, the bill is being split for conference committees between those two committees**).  2) SF 1328 - Encourage members to include language in the Summer of Success program that allows afterschool programs to be potential grantees

Public Safety
HF 1657 / SF 802

House Conferees:
Rep. Michael Paymar
Rep. Debra Hilstrom
Rep. Tina Liebling
Rep. John Lesch
Rep. Tony Cornish

Senate Conferees:
Sen. Linda Higgins
Sen. Leo Foley
Sen. Mee Moua
Sen. Ron Latz
Sen. Mary Olson

Important Message:
Encourage members to maintain Youth Intervention Program funding so programs do not have to cut services.

Economic Development (DEED)
HF 1169 / SF 2081

House Conferees:
Rep. Tom Rukavina
Rep. Mary Murphy
Rep. Karen Clark
Rep. Tim Mahoney
Rep. Bob Gunther

Senate Conferees:
Sen. David Tomassoni
Sen. James Metzen
Sen. Dan Sparks
Sen. Kenneth Kelash
Sen. Amy Koch

Important messages:
1) Encourage members to continue funding the MN Youth Programs.
2) Encourage members to continue state support of the Boys and Girls Club. 

Both of these programs support youth employment programs providing job readiness skills and exploration.

Youth Community Connections
1313 - 5th Street SE, Suite 321, Minneapolis, MN 55414
PH: 612.627.0160
WEB: www.youthcommunityconnections.org