Trust lands reform progresses

The conference committee report of a bill that seeks to overhaul management of school trust lands awaits gubernatorial action.

When it became a state, Minnesota received the lands from the federal government with the requirement of using, selling or leasing the land to fund education. Critics say that isn’t actually happening.

Sponsored by Rep. Tim O'Driscoll (R-Sartell), HF2244 would provide that responsibility of overseeing trust lands be removed from the Department of Natural Resources, which proponents say has missed opportunities to maximize profit for the schools.

The bill would transfer land oversight to a school trust lands director and a Permanent School Fund Commission, which would equally represent the minority and majority parties with members from the House and Senate. Along with the input of the commissioner of natural resources, the legislative commission and director would review bills related to the lands and ensure the lands are managed efficiently to increase economic returns.

Following the 110-21 vote, the bill passed the Senate 42-20 on April 25. Sen. Benjamin Kruse (R-Brooklyn Park) is the companion sponsor.

“It has been said over and over again, but it is so true: we can’t change the past, but we can change the future. We can return the inheritance of the trust lands back to the children through a director who can give undivided loyalty to the beneficiaries of the state,” said Rep. Denise Dittrich (DFL-Champlin).

Rep. Jean Wagenius (DFL-Mpls) opposed a provision within the bill regarding lakeshore lands owned by the state.

“It is not necessary for the purposes of your bill to change the law to say the Legislature no longer has to approve the sale of lakeshore lands. It looks to me like there are other interests that are piggybacking on your bill,” she told O’Driscoll, who said that provision was added on the request of the Senate in the conference committee.

— E. Schmidtke

Education rule enforcement vetoed

Gov. Mark Dayton has vetoed a bill aiming to render unenforceable any unadopted policies, guidelines or other pronouncements fitting the description of official rules from the commissioner of education.

In a statement issued along with the April 20 veto, Dayton criticized what he called an attempt to interfere with the Department of Education’s jurisdiction.

“This bill is a disappointing attempt to strip away the powers expressly granted to the executive branch by the Minnesota Constitution,” he wrote.

Dayton also expressed concern that the bill would prevent the department from stepping in to advocate on behalf of students in schools.

Rep. Connie Doepke (R-Orono) said that the change was needed to prevent “chaos” in Minnesota schools by clarifying the requirements for rule enforcement. She and Sen. Dave Thompson (R-Lakeville) sponsor the bill.

HF2596/ SF2183*/CH191