Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
Legislative Update 2006
Volume 11, Issue 12, May 24, 2006
The Update is available by fax or by e-mail, or can be viewed at www.mncn.org/legupdate.htm
To subscribe, please call 651-642-1904 x250 or e-mail josh@mncn.org
In this email:
Sine Die
The Minnesota State Legislature adjourned on May 21, 2006. The 85th Legislature will convene on Wednesday, January 3, 2007.
With only limited financial resources available, the 2006 Legislature was only able to make a few small steps in reversing some of the painful outcomes of recent budget deficits and to make some positive policy changes. Following is a partial list of SOME examples of legislative issues that various nonprofit agencies and coalitions worked on diligently throughout the session. What is listed does NOT constitute a legislative agenda of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.
Accomplishments include:
HOUSING:
- The $949 million bonding bill includes $17.5 million for permanent supportive housing and $2 million for transitional housing
POVERTY REDUCTION:
- A Legislative Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020 was created and fully funded. This Commission will allow for the study and identification of public policy strategies to end childhood poverty and to eliminate the racial disparities of poverty
EARLY CHILDHOOD:
- Nearly $16 million in FY 2007 and $52 million over the next three years was appropriated for child care assistance programs which, among other things, will increase reimbursement rates for child care providers; address the waiting list for basic sliding fee child care; and create an accreditation incentive for child care providers
- Nearly $5 million for early childhood and adult educational opportunities in FY 2007
ENVIRONMENT:
- Mercury Reduction Act, which will reduce mercury emissions from the three largest coal-burning power plants by 90% by 2014
- Clean Water Legacy Act, which establishes a Clean Water Council and provides nearly $25 million in one-time funding to begin cleaning up Minnesota’s most polluted lakes, rivers, and streams
ARTS:
- The bonding bill, while it did not fund all arts building projects, did include over $50 million in funds for projects including the Shubert Theater, MacPhail Center for Music, the St. Paul Asian Community Center, the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, and the Perpich Center for Arts Education
VOTING RIGHTS:
- Address Confidentiality Program – Creates a new system that establishes a substitute mailing address to shield the location of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The legislation also establishes a procedure for program participants to vote absentee without having their actual address appear on the public rolls. This provision of the Elections Omnibus bill will not go into effect until September of 2007
- Tribal ID’s, issued by a federally recognized tribe, may be used to register to vote on Election Day
- Agent delivery of ballots – A participant in a residential program for adults or a resident of a shelter for battered women may designate an agent to deliver their ballot to the county auditor
What wasn’t accomplished:
BUDGET:
- Attempts to restore the impact of inflation on spending in state budget forecasts
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS:
- The Senate Judiciary Committee defeated a proposed constitutional amendment banning marriage and its legal equivalent for same-sex couples. This marks a victory over an amendment which would cause significant harm to the thousands of LGBT families and their children living in Minnesota
- Creating a dedicated sales tax revenue source to fund the arts and the outdoors
TRANSPORTATION:
- Passing of a transportation bill
EARLY CHILDHOOD, SENIOR, and DISABILITY ISSUES:
- Assistance for counties facing significant cuts from the federal government for services for vulnerable children, seniors, and people with disabilities
IMMIGRATION:
- The Minnesota DREAM Act, which would have allowed in-state tuition for children of immigrants graduating from Minnesota high schools, did not pass. However, it is worth noting that many “enforcement-only” proposals, which were viewed generally by the nonprofit community as negative to immigrants, did not pass either.
The Changing Face of the Legislature
Changes ahead: By MCN’s unofficial count, at least eight members of the Senate and 17 members of the House have announced their resignations to pursue alternate elective offices or other career opportunities. Known departures include:
Senators: Michele Bachmann, John Hottinger, Bob Kierlin, Sheila Kiscaden, Becky Lourey, Sharon Marko, Jane Ranum, and Wes Skoglund
House: Ron Abrams, Fran Bradley, Jerry Dempsey, Keith Ellison, Matt Entenza, Barb Goodwin, Jeff Johnson, Ruth Johnson, Jim Knoblach, Dan Larson, Doug Meslow, Scott Newman, Char Samuelson, Katie Sieben, Barb Sykora, Ray Vandeveer, and Andy Westerberg.
The end of session leads us into the next arena of opportunity: Only 167 days left until November 7 - Election Day!
Minnesota Participation Project:
Voter Mobilization Kickoff 2006
Wednesday, June 7, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Metro State University, Great Hall
700 E Seventh St
St. Paul, MN 55106
Are you excited for the 2006 elections? You should be! 2006 is an election extravaganza – nearly every office in the state will be on the ballot in November! Whether you are just getting started or are a seasoned veteran, this is your opportunity to connect to the broader movement of nonpartisan, nonprofit voter engagement. You will walk away with November 7 t-shirts, voter mobilization toolkits, and information on how your organization can receive a Mini-Grant to host a candidate forum. If you plan on attending, please RSVP to Josh Winters at 651-642-1904 x250 or josh@mncn.org.
Josh Winters
Public Policy Associate
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
2314 University Avenue West, Ste. 20
St. Paul, MN 55114
651-642-1904 ext. 250
Fax 651-642-1517
josh@mncn.org
www.mncn.org
