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State Representative Tim O'Driscoll
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7808
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
HOUSE BRIEFS
Water Pricing Bill Passes House!
Greetings!
As we approach the last month of the 2012 Legislative session, members of the House are working long hours to try to accomplish all of our legislative goals. This week I saw one of my goals for this session, a very important water pricing bill, get passed on the House floor. Another one of my big goals, the school land trust bill, was passed through the Senate today and will now await a conference committee. You’ll find more information on these bills and other important developments listed below.
Modifying Mandatory Tiered Water Pricing by Cities - Passed by House
An important bill of mine, HF1923 passed the House earlier this week. Under current Minnesota state law, effective January 1, 2013, all public water suppliers (cities) of more than 1000 people would be required to implement a tiered water pricing system. This would mean that larger water users would be charged more per unit for water than others. Current law would most likely have a negative effect on schools, hospitals, hotels, beverage bottlers and other water depended users in our area. My bill removes the state mandate on cities to implement such a program and would instead encourage other water conservation methods for each community. This bill also passed through the Senate this week and will now go to a conference committee to iron out some language between the two bills.
School Land Trust Bill Passed by the Senate
As you know from previous updates, I have been working on a bi-partisan bill that will change the management methods of the permanent school trust lands. HF2244 would shift the management of these lands from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to a Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission and a Permanent School Fund Board which will be appointed by the governor. The bill, which had passed the House with a very bi-partisan vote of 104-26, was passed by the Senate today by a vote of 54-8 and sent to conference committee.
What does your school district receive?
The objective of the land trust reform measures are to grow the fund balance of the trust, so that the state of Minnesota can increase the size of payments from the fund to school districts. Listed below is the amount of funds central Minnesota areas schools have received for fiscal year 2012.
District Funds Received
Sauk Rapids-Rice $108,852
Foley $50,713
Holdingford $28,447
St. Cloud Area School $276,186
Sartell-St. Stephen $104,349
ROCORI $59,344
Passing of Larry Haws
Central Minnesota has lost a legend with the passing of former Representative Larry Haws. Larry was the parks director for the city of St. Cloud for a number of years, a Stearns County Commissioner and most recently a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, until his retirement in December of 2010. Larry's achievements have affected the central Minnesota area in many positive ways and he will be missed. Please join me in keeping Larry's wife, Faye, and the entire Haws family in your thoughts and prayers.
K-12 Education Shift Repayment Agreement
The bill to pay back the K-12 Education shift was settled in Conference Committee on Wednesday. The differences between the House and the Senate versions of the bill were quickly fixed and the bill will now be returned to both bodies for approval. With this bill (HF2083), we would pay back all of the $430 million additional education shift passed as part of the budget agreement with Governor Dayton last year. We would also make the first ever repayment of the $2 billion education shift leftover from previous years.
Other Important House Business
HF2508 was passed by the House this week. It would enhance the penalty for selling synthetic drugs to a felony, would expand the list of synthetic substances and would grant the Board of Pharmacy expedited rulemaking authority to handle new chemical formulas used by drug producers.
A bill was passed by the House this week which would ban attempts to limit ticket resale. HF657 would stop event operators from restricting reselling through methods such as requiring proof that the original buyer’s identification matches the ticket user.
The House also voted to instate tougher penalties for those convicted of neglecting children and vulnerable adults. HF1945 would create a new felony crime for intentional deprivation of a vulnerable adult, such as with food, clothing, shelter or health care, when the caregiver “is reasonably able to make the necessary provisions.”
Until next week...Best Wishes!
-Tim
News Items
- O'Driscoll Begins Second Term in MN House - (Posted: Jan 11 2013 4:00PM)
- MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE ANNOUNCES PASSAGE OF BILL TO MODIFY MANDATORY TIERED WATER PRICING FOR CITIES - (Posted: 2012-04-02 00:00:00)
- REPRESENTATIVE O’DRISCOLL’S LAND TRUST BILL PASSES THROUGH THE HOUSE - (Posted: 2012-03-19 00:00:00)
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