MSBA Legislative Platform Moves Forward 

MSBA's Legislative Platform is a compilation of our highest priorities and guides our discussions with legislators during the legislative session. With not quite one-third of the session underway, here is an update on where the Legislature is at on those issues.   

 

In the Senate, Sen. Greg Clausen (S.F. 122), Sen. Charles Wiger (S.F. 24) and Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (S.F. 1028 ) have introduced three bills increasing general education formula by 3 percent and indexing it to inflation. The House (Rep. Julie Sandstede H.F. 882) has introduced one bill.   

 

T here has been a flurry of activity aro und            s pecial education funding this session. Between the Senate and the House there have been at least 10 bills relating to the special education funding formula.  

In addition to the bills, MSBA met with Attorney General Keith Ellison and requested he look into the possibility of suing the federal government for up to the 40 percent of funding promised in the IDEA.     

 

 

A multitude of bills have been introduced proposing dollars for school-based mental health services. Our platform asks the Legislature to raise the Safe Schools Levy, which would allow school districts to hire counselors, and other support staff to help with students. Rep. Laurie Pryor and Sen. Paul T. Anderson introduced H.F. 514 / S. F. 900 to increase the Safe Schools Levy. 

 

MSBA has advocated strongly to fund the remaining grant requests of schools who applied last year. Rep. Jim Davnie (H.F. 521), Sen. Clausen (S.F. 861) and Sen. Wiger (S.F. 50) have introduced bills to fund the remaining grants once again through the bonding bill and funds from the surplus.  

 

MSBA is pleased to see Rep. John Huot introduced a bill (H.F. 839) that would allow school boards to replace a school board member by appointment until the vacant seat could be filled during the next general election.  

 

MSBA took the New Ulm School District's plan and worked with Sen. Eric Pratt to author six bills for special education paperwork reduction. Thank you to Senate authors Sen. Pratt, Sen. Gary Dahms, Sen. Clausen, Sen. Paul Utke and and Sen. Anderson.  

Last week, the Senate E-12 Finance and Policy Committee heard six bills (see the chart below) seeking to reduce redundant paperwork. All six bills were laid over for possible inclusion in the Senate E-12 Finance and Policy Omnibus bill.    

We anticipate the House will introduce compa nion bills and hear them in committees in t he near future.    

 

Bill Number	Author	Description
S.F. 482	Pratt	The individualized education program (IEP) may report the student's performance on general state or districtwide assessments related to the student's educational needs
S.F. 749	Dahms	Eliminating a conciliation conference
S.F. 244	Anderson	Amending conciliation conference requirements
S.F. 640	Utke	The commissioner of education must amend Minnesota Rules,  to remove the requirement that planning for a student's  transition from secondary to postsecondary services must begin in grade 9.
S.F. 717	Dahms	A school district may conduct a functional behavior  assessment (FBA) as defined in Minnesota Rules, as a stand-alone evaluation without conducting a comprehensive  evaluation of the student.
S.F. 159	Clausen	The individualized education program (IEP) must include a statement of short-term objectives and benchmarks  only if the student takes alternative assessments.

 

 

For the past three years, MSBA has led the effort to fix the teac her shortage problem. There is a lack of teachers of color in classrooms -- those who reflect the students served. MSBA supports the Increase Teachers of Color Act of 2019 to help attract, develop and retain teachers across Minnesota. There are several bills working to achieve this goal. Thank you to Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein and Sen. Patricia Torres-Ray (H.F. 824/S.F. 1012).

 

MSBA believes in the core principal of local control. As locally elected officials, school boards must be allowed to meet the needs of their schools and communities. Two examples are the ability to renew an existing operating referendum and allowing schools to start prior to Labor Day. Rep. Mike Freiberg introduced his bill (H.F. 116) last week. Sen. Ann Rest and Sen. Jerry Newton have introduced bills as well to allow school boards to renew an existing referendum. Rep. Cheryl Youakim and Sen. Carla Nelson introduced the Labor Day start bill (H.F. 314/S.F. 918). MSBA is also tracking the number of mandates proposed in bills. It will be heard in the House Education Finance Committee on Wednesday, February 20.

To date, over 30 new mandates have been introduced.  

House

Senate

 

Education Finance Division

Education Policy Division

Senate  

Committee on E-12 Finance and Policy

The governor's budget must be developed and presented to the Legislature on Tuesday, February 19.

Deadlines for Bills Announced

(1) The first deadline, March 15, 2019, at 11:59 p.m., is for committees to act favorably on bills in the house of origin.
(2) The second deadline, March 29, 2019, at 11:59 p.m., is for committees to act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other house.
(3) The third deadline, April 12, 2019, at 11:59 p.m., is for committees to act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.

 The Governor and Legislative leaders announced three new deadlines to help move bills forward after they have been heard in the House and Senate. The three new deadlines are:

• the House and Senate will pass all major finance bills off their respective floors and leadership will appoint conference committees by May 1;
• the governor, Senate majority leader and House speaker will provide fiscal targets to the chairs of conference committees on major finance bills by May 6; and
• conference committee chairs shall provide completed conference committee reports to the house of origin by May 13.

Mark your calendars for MSBA's Day at the Capitol on Monday, March 25.

The Weekly Advocate is delivered via email each Monday and is your "go-to" for education legislation.