SESSION WEEKLY A NON-PARTISAN PUBLICATION OF THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 12, 1995 VOLUME 12, NUMBER 19 WEEK IN REVIEW. . . May 4 - 11, 1995 HIGHLIGHTS Reforming the system . . . Proposal aims to cut workers' compensation costs A bill that promises to reform Minnesota's $1 billion workers' compensation system won final approval from the House May 9. The vote was 85- 47. Supporters of the measure say it will cut workers' compensation insurance premiums for businesses by 11.4 percent. Most of the savings would be accomplished by three main changes. First, the automatic cost-of-living increases in the benefits paid to injured workers would be cut. The annual hikes would be trimmed from the current 4 percent to 2 percent. However, the 2 percent limit could be exceeded with the consent of Workers' Compensation Advisory Council, which is comprised of labor and business representatives. (A 1992 workers' compensation reform bill cut the automatic increase from up to 6 percent to the current 4 percent.) Second, the bill would make it more difficult to qualify for permanent total disability benefits. These are benefits paid to injured workers who are found to be unable to work. The stricter standards for permanent total benefits would cut in half the number of people receiving them, supporters said. This would be accomplished by altering the current complex formula to determine one's disability classification. This change alone, according to the Department of Labor and Industry, would give businesses an estimated 5 percent savings in their workers' compensation insurance premiums. Third, the workers' compensation insurance industry would face limited regulation. Insurance companies would have to receive approval from the Department of Commerce for any premium increase or decrease exceeding 25 percent, under the bill. (Currently, insurance companies are only required to notify the state of rate increases before they are implemented.) Any workers injured before Oct. 1, 1995, would not see their benefits cut, but all would see their annual cost of living adjustment capped at the proposed 2 percent rate, under the bill. Supporters say the reforms would bring under control escalating costs to employers and help Minnesota compete with neighboring states to attract businesses while still providing protection for workers. "It's good for the injured workers of this state. It's good for the employers of this state," said Rep. Hilda Bettermann (IR-Brandon). But critics said the bill fails to address all the factors that drive workers' compensations costs and is too focused on reducing benefits to injured workers as a way of controlling costs. "There are a lot of benefit cuts in here that are so bad it boggles my mind," said Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia). Although the proposal is sponsored by Rep. Ted Winter (DFL-Fulda), the measure differs significantly from Winter's original proposal. The bill Winter brought to the floor sought to control costs through insurance reform. It would have required state approval for any proposed rate increases. It also would have expanded opportunities for small businesses to self insure and simplified the system of paying out benefits. But a group of lawmakers dubbed the Bipartisan Workers' Compensation Caucus found the necessary support to attach sweeping amendments to the bill, essentially replacing Winter's proposal. Amendments offered by Rep. Becky Kelso (DFL- Shakopee) and Rep. Wayne Simoneau (DFL-Fridley) now make up the core of the reform bill. The final vote had 21 DFLers and 64 IRs voting for the bill. The insurance regulation provisions now in the bill drew criticism from Rep. Jim Rice (DFL-Mpls). "That is not regulation," he said. "It's a fraud. It's a sham." Rice said the "mean, ugly, vicious bill" would do nothing to provide savings to businesses and shows no regard for injured workers. But Rep. Jeff Bertram (DFL-Paynesville) said the bill would correct a troubled system that has employers "paying through the nose" and would still protect workers who have a legitimate need for help. Supporters also noted the bill would increase the amount paid to some workers receiving benefits for a temporary total disability -- boosting the maximum benefit for a temporary total disability from the current $516.66 a week to $615. Kelso used an endorsement from Minnesota Teamsters Joint Council 32 to refute claims the proposed benefit cuts would be punitive to workers. Although major changes to the workers' compensation system were enacted by the legislature as recently as 1992, it is such a divisive issue that is more frequently talked about than actually acted upon. In 1992, lawmakers put a temporary freeze on workers' compensation rate increases and created a managed care system of medical providers in an attempt to control costs. These and other changes helped to stem the rise of employers' insurance premiums, but critics said the 1992 law did not provide the "institutional reform" that proponents are now promising should HF642 become law. "The quintessential case of orchestrated gridlock" has stalled year-after-year efforts to reform the workers' compensation system, said Kelso. "My hope is that today will be the end of this gridlock." The bill now goes to the Senate. --Nick Healy BONDING Bonding bill fails twice A bill to authorize the sale of $25.4 million in state bonds to build schools and remodel the State Capitol failed twice in the House May 11. On the first vote, the measure failed 66-67. The bill was tabled and then reconsidered about two hours later. The second vote was 79-54 in favor of the bill -- two votes shy of the 81 votes needed for a bonding bill to pass. (The Minnesota Constitution requires that 60 percent of both the House and Senate must approve a bill to sell state bonds.) The bill is now tabled, which means it may be reconsidered at a future date. The proposal (HF1010) would authorize the sale of $25.4 million of bonds in this non-bonding year. Last year, the governor signed a $621 million bonding bill into law, the largest in state history. (Bonding bills are typically assembled in the second year of the state's two-year spending cycle.) HF1010 would authorize $23.7 million in bonds for maximum effort school loans to three school districts. Such loans are granted to districts which, due to low property tax values, cannot raise sufficient funds through property taxes to make much needed capital improvements. Districts must show they meet a number of tax capacity qualifications to be eligible for the loans, which allow them to take advantage of the state's low-interest loan rates. (The loans are repaid according to a schedule based on a district's property tax values.) Under the bill, the Kelliher School District would receive $6.9 million to help construct a new school, the Littlefork-Big Falls School District would have received $7 million for building expansion and to make the schools handicapped accessible, and the Big Lake School District would receive $9.7 million to help repay a short-term loan used to build a new school. The Big Lake proposal has been approved by the House each of the past three years but removed from the bonding bill during conference committee negotiations, said bill sponsor Rep. Henry Kalis (DFL-Walters). Also under the bill, the Department of Administration would receive nearly $1.7 million in bonds to make design and renovation improvements to the State Capitol building. Of the amount, $184,000 would come from the general fund. The money is intended to resolve the turf battle over Capitol office space. Earlier this session, the Legislature went to Ramsey County District Court and won an injunction to stop the governor from moving into office space lawmakers said was theirs. The bill also would allow Normandale Community College to construct a parking ramp for its students. The bill would authorize the community college system to sell revenue bonds for the project, though the total amount borrowed for the project could not exceed $4.2 million. The money would be paid back through the fees paid by people parking at the ramp. The bill also limits -- to one-half of total project costs -- the amount of general fund dollars used to pay for building or repairing parking ramps and lots at community colleges. Also, the community college system would have to develop a plan by January 1996 to finance all future parking lot construction and repair expenses with parking fees rather than state appropriations. The Senate passed a $37.8 million bonding bill May 3. CHILDREN Foster homes A new law, effective Aug. 1, 1995, requires that the Department of Corrections notify local governments before licensing a foster care facility for delinquent children. Under current law, all such facilities are reviewed by the department at least once every two years. But the department doesn't have to notify the town or city that such a license is being issued. The new law requires the department to give a 30-day written notice to any city or town before issuing a license to a foster home for delinquent children that would be located within its boundaries. The requirement applies to a home's initial license. Notification, however, must be made annually should the local government request such a notification in writing. The notice is not required if the foster home will hold six or fewer children. Any state funds funneled to the licensed foster care home cannot be made until the notification requirements are met. The measure was sponsored by Rep. Alice Johnson (DFL-Spring Lake Park) and Sen. Don Betzold (DFL-Fridley). HF74/SF64*/CH12 CRIME Protecting police horses A bill that would make it a crime to assault a police horse is on its way to the governor. After a conference committee worked out the differences between the House and Senate proposals, both chambers unanimously passed the measure (HF1399*/SF1274). The House passed the bill May 10. The vote was 128-0. The Senate passed the bill May 11 by a vote of 60-0. Minneapolis launched its mounted patrol program Nov. 3, 1994. Four horses patrol mainly downtown Minneapolis along Hennepin and Nicollet avenues. (See March 24, 1995, Session Weekly, page 5; March 31, 1995, Session Weekly, page 5) But no laws are in place to punish those who may punch, pull the tail, or heave full pop bottles at a police horse -- all of which have already occurred. If such an assault results in "demonstrable bodily harm," the maximum penalty would be a year and a day in prison and a $3,000 fine. Lesser assaults on a horse could result in a misdemeanor offense. The bill calls for a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $4,000 fine for killing a police horse. The measure also carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for killing a police officer, or any other person, as a result of an assault on a police horse. (This charge would be in addition to other offenses that would apply in such a case.) Under current law, police dogs are similarly protected and have been since 1987. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Wes Skoglund (DFL-Mpls) and Sen. Sam Solon (DFL- Duluth). Powers of arrest A new state law allows a police officer to arrest someone whom the officer has reason to believe committed a misdemeanor offense within a school zone even when the officer didn't witness the alleged offence. A school zone is defined as any school property and the area within one city block of a school. It also includes a school bus while it is transporting students. The change allows an officer to arrest someone without a warrant. The arrest can be made anywhere, as long as the criminal behavior takes place within a school zone and within four hours of the arrest. Such crimes include a fifth-degree assault or a disorderly conduct offense. Under current law, an officer normally can't arrest someone for a misdemeanor offense that the officer did not witness. The law, which becomes effective Aug. 1, 1995, was sponsored by Rep. John Dorn (DFL-Mankato) and Sen. John Hottinger (DFL-Mankato). HF110/SF320*/CH55 ENVIRONMENT Natural disaster relief Effective Aug. 1, 1995, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be allowed to lend equipment to cities and counties facing a natural disaster, under a new law signed by the governor. Under current law, the DNR is authorized to lend its equipment only for "wildfire prevention or suppression." The new law replaces that reference with "natural disaster relief," which includes "wildfire prevention or suppression, hazardous material discharge control or clean-up, and flood or windstorm relief." The DNR provided gloves, shovels, pumps, and large earth-moving equipment during the 1993 Minnesota floods, even though it did not have specific legal authorization to do so, said Olin Phillips, a manager in the DNR's Forestry Division. DNR finance officials suggested the state law be changed to cover this practice. The DNR and the U.S. Forest Service jointly maintain fire fighting equipment in Grand Rapids, Minn. Phillips explained that the new law, signed April 12, 1995, allows the DNR to provide municipalities and counties with "multi-use equipment," such as shovels and bulldozers, needed for natural disaster relief. Local governments will reimburse the state for the cost of the equipment used, and the money will revert to the DNR's emergency fire fighting fund. "This is a small piece of legislation that's going to have a lot of value," Phillips said. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Dennis Ozment (IR-Rosemount), and Sen. Dennis Frederickson (IR- New Ulm). HF812*/SF710/CH36 ETHICS Promoting congeniality A legislator could meet with a lobbyist and accept up to $25 worth of food, beverages, and tickets to cultural or sporting events, under a bill that would modify the 1994 ethics law that banned most gifts to lawmakers. The bill was approved by the House Ways and Means Committee May 10. HF856, sponsored by Rep. David Bishop (IR- Rochester), would have limited lawmakers to accepting only "food or a non-alcoholic beverage" from a lobbyist that did not exceed $5 in total cost. A successful amendment offered by Rep. Don Frerichs (IR-Rochester) alters the bill to allow legislators to accept $25 worth of tickets, food, and beverages at events away from the Capitol. Lobbyists who provide dinner or refreshments to lawmakers would have to itemize the expenditures in a quarterly report to the Ethical Practices Board. Under current law, lobbyists file such reports three times a year. Legislators also would have to disclose the dollar amount, the nature of the gift, the name and address of the gift giver, and the date it was given, in a quarterly report to the Ethical Practices Board. Frerichs said that a $25 limit on food, drinks and tickets would promote "congeniality" between business representatives and lawmakers. "Why would I spend my money and my time going someplace to listen to [a lobbyist's] story?" Frerichs said after the committee hearing. He said that not allowing lobbyists to provide a meal for legislators blocks the "networking process that is absolutely vital" to the legislative process. "People back home know me and they know that I can't be bought for $5 or $25. I think we went much too far last year and it's time to correct it," Frerichs said. Although Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL-Roseville) sponsored an ethics bill (HF802) that would have exempted coffee and refreshments under $3 from the 1994 ban, she spoke against the $25 limit proposed by Frerichs. She said that "a bill that has meals, tickets, and would allow trips to Hawaii is going to outrage the public, if they become aware of the situation and we aren't able to correct it on the House floor." The reference to Hawaii concerns a provision in the bill that would allow legislators to receive reimbursement for reasonable travel and lodging expenses "necessary for participation" in an event where they give a speech or answer questions. Under current law, lawmakers can't be reimbursed for travel expenses in such cases. The law flatly prohibits lawmakers from accepting any food or beverage purchased by a lobbyist, unless the lawmaker is giving a speech or answering questions at an organization-sponsored meeting. (See March 17, 1995, Session Weekly, page 9 and March 31, 1995, Session Weekly, page 8) The Senate passed a companion bill May 9 that sets a $5 limit on food and non-alcoholic beverage for legislators. HF856 is expected to be taken up on the House floor next week. If it passes, differences between the House and Senate proposals would likely have to be worked out in a conference committee. FAMILY Children of divorce Divorce is never easy, but it often hits children the hardest. A new law could require parents who are separating to attend a special workshop. After Aug. 1, 1995, in a proceeding involving child custody, child support, or visitation of children, the court may require the parents to attend an orientation and education program which addresses the impact of such proceedings on children. Parents could be required to pay a fee to cover the costs of the program. (Any fees would be waived for those who are unable to pay.) The proposal was sponsored by Rep. Fran Bradley (IR-Rochester) and Sen. Sheila Kiscaden (IR-Rochester). HF1008*/SF606/CH127 GOVERNMENT Top government salaries The heads of state departments, boards and agencies would be eligible for a significant pay raise, under a bill approved by the House Ways and Means Committee May 8. But whether they would get the raises is another matter. The bill, following a successful amendment offered by Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Mpls), would scrap the current three-tiered system of paying top-level state employees and replace it with a two-tiered system. The bill would divide state agency heads into two salary ranges, each of which is tied to the governor's salary, currently at $114,506. In the first range, commissioner salaries could not exceed 85 percent of the governor's salary ($97,330); the second range would be capped at 75 percent ($85,880). The first range is nearly $20,000 more than the highest cap under current law and the second nearly $8,000 higher. Gov. Arne Carlson has argued that salary increases are needed to attract top candidates for high-level state jobs. Although state department and agency heads last received a salary increase in 1990, the caps have not been changed since 1987. Under current law, the salaries of top-level state officials are divided into three ranges, depending on a the size of the agency. The ranges are capped at $78,000, $67,500 and $60,000, respectively. (See April 7, 1995, Session Weekly, page 9 and April 21, 1995, Session Weekly, page 13) Some lawmakers argued that the proposed changes could result in pay increases that would simply be too great. The commissioner of the Department of Veteran Affairs, one of the lowest paid commissioners, for example, would be eligible for a $38,860 pay raise -- a 66 percent increase, under the bill. Rep. Phil Carruthers (DFL-Brooklyn Center) questioned the equity of putting a member of the Transportation Regulation Board and the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) in the same salary range, because the PERA director has greater responsibilities. (PERA has 140,000 county, city and school district employees as members. It manages a $5 billion retirement fund, and pays benefits to 40,000 retirees.) Bruce Johnson, Department of Employee Relations commissioner, responded that the two- tier system "increases [salary] ranges and does not increase anyone's pay." The bill would also allow "equity adjustments for individual commissioners" based on the number of employees, budget and performance of their departments, Johnson explained. "It is not a foregone conclusion that everyone is going to get an increase," he said. HF1710, sponsored by Rep. Greg Davids (IR- Preston), would require that any salary increases recommended by the governor would have to be "approved, rejected, or modified" by the Legislative Commission on Employee Relations and the Legislature. The bill also calls for the heads of departments and other state agencies to receive automatic annual cost of living raises equal to the lowest amount of pay increases in collective bargaining agreements with state employees. Elected officials, including legislators, constitutional officers and judges, would receive raises in 1997 and 1998 of 3 percent, or the average pay increase in contract agreements with state employees, whichever is less. Another section of the bill sets the salary of a Metropolitan Council member at $20,000 per year, which it is under current law. (The full House voted March 23 to trim the salaries to $6,000 per year.) A similar bill (SF1406) in the Senate failed to pass on a 22-44 vote May 10. HF1710 now goes to the House floor. Better metro planning A bill to coordinate planning and development across the Twin Cities metropolitan region has passed the Legislature and is on its way to the governor. The House passed the bill May 11 by a vote of 72-59. The Senate passed the bill May 8, 62-1. Under HF833, cities, counties, and towns within the seven-county metropolitan area must review and update their comprehensive plans by December 1998. Each would then have to repeat the process every 10 years. (The final plans are then submitted to the Metropolitan Council.) A comprehensive plan serves as a development and planning blueprint for a local government. Plans include a section stating how the government's planned land use and its urban services, such as sewer service, would affect adjoining communities. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Dee Long (DFL-Mpls), would not allow local governments to adopt zoning ordinances which conflict with their comprehensive plans. The zoning guide laid out in the plans, however, can be amended by a two-third majority vote of the cities' council. Currently, if a government's zoning ordinance differs from its comprehensive plan, the zoning ordinance supersedes the plan. HEALTH Licensing acupuncturists A bill that would require Minnesota acupuncturists to be licensed by the state is on its way to the governor's office. The House May 11 passed the bill 119-10; the Senate passed the bill 57-4 May 9. Acupuncture involves the ancient Chinese practice of puncturing the skin with needles at specific points to relieve pain and cure diseases. Currently, the state requires neither training nor licensing for acupuncturists. Bill sponsor Rep. Peggy Leppik (IR-Golden Valley) has told House members that's precisely the problem. There are 50,000 acupuncture treatments performed each year in Minnesota and consumers have no assurance that their practitioner is trained in either acupuncture or clean needle techniques. The measure (HF446) would prohibit a person from practicing acupuncture after June 30, 1997, unless certified by the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists or unless "grandfathered" in under the bill. During a two-year transition period beginning July 1, 1995, a current acupuncturist may qualify for a state license without national certification if they have practiced in the field for at least three years between July 1, 1991, and June 30, 1995. During those years, they must have had at least 500 patient visits annually with at least 100 different patients. Last year, an acupuncture certification provision appeared in the omnibus health and human services bill, but Gov. Arne Carlson vetoed the entire bill. Members of the profession have unsuccessfully sought state licensure for several years. The bill, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Dallas Sams (DFL-Staples), also requests that acupuncturists be regulated by the same board that regulates doctors: the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice. (See Feb. 17, 1995, Session Weekly, page 8, March 31, 1995, Session Weekly, page 11) Alcohol and drug counselors A bill to license chemical dependency counselors and change their title to "alcohol and drug counselors" is on its way to the governor for consideration. It is unclear how many non-licensed chemical dependency counselors there are in the state but estimates range from 3,000 to 5,000. The House passed the bill, sponsored by Rep. Lee Greenfield (DFL-Mpls), 93-30 on May 8. The Senate passed it 61-0 on April 26. Alcohol and drug counselors are currently regulated by the Office of Mental Health Practice within the Department of Health. Under the bill (HF1442), the Department of Health -- with the help of an advisory council -- would establish licensure requirements including an exam, educational requirements from an accredited school, and actual counseling experience. The department says it could have rules written and be issuing licenses within a year, said Jon Hall, administrative rules writer with the Health Occupations Program in the Department of Health. Licenses would be renewed each year, but the department hopes to change that to every two years in the future. Minnesota has had a law on the books regarding licensure for chemical dependency counselors since 1992 but complications have resulted in delays. The 1992 licensure law made the Department of Human Services responsible for licensing the counselors but no money was appropriated to do the job, Hall said. Later, the Department of Health was given the responsibility for licensing chemical dependency counselors. The current bill gives the Department of Health the authority it needs to create the license requirements and to hold counselors accountable. Current law allows for a two-year transition period to grandfather in some current counselors and makes it a misdemeanor to practice without a license. It also exempts from the law some drug and alcohol counselors working with some American Indian groups. The health department could also discipline drug and alcohol counselors for not abiding by its regulations. Such violations, under the bill, would include habitual over-indulgence or dependence on alcohol; sexual contact with a client; careless disregard for the health, welfare, or safety of a client; or being "unable to provide alcohol and drug counseling services with reasonable safety to clients." The department could deny, revoke, or suspend a license, and impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each separate violation. It could also impose community service. Also under the bill, hospitals, clinics, and other establishments hiring counselors would have to report to the Department of Health any action the workplace takes against an alcohol or drug counselor. Insurance companies also would have to report to the department information about malpractice settlements and awards against alcohol and drug counselors. HUMAN SERVICES Welfare reform A welfare reform bill that would require some new Minnesota welfare recipients to take part in a tough new jobs program and mandates that teen- aged moms on welfare live at home, is on its way to the governor. The bill (HF5*/SF1) was fashioned by a conference committee whose members spent the past few weeks working out the differences between the House and Senate versions of their welfare reform proposals. The House passed the bill May 10 on a vote of 132-0. The Senate passed it May 11 by a vote of 62-0. The bill no longer contains House provisions that would have cut off Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) benefits after two years or that would have required welfare applicants without children to live in the state for 60 days before they could receive General Assistance benefits. The bill also originally contained $18 million to subsidize child care costs for low- and moderate- income families, thus removing a barrier to their returning to work. That money, however, now sits in the omnibus Health and Human Services bill (HF1588/SF1110*). The bill, sponsored by Rep. Bob Anderson (DFL- Ottertail) and Sen. Don Samuelson (DFL-Brainerd), would authorize $29 million in spending during the 1996-1997 biennium for a variety of programs. But despite the price tag, supporters of the welfare reform measure say it will actually save $7 million over the next two years. Some of the savings stem from cuts in some public assistance benefits such as AFDC. The bill would appropriate $1.7 million for AFDC grants, $500,000 for welfare fraud prevention efforts, and beginning July 1, 1996, it would spend more than $1 million for an intensive six-month language program for some non-English speaking welfare recipients who participate in work training programs. "We've begun welfare reform. This is obviously not the end," said Minority Leader Steve Sviggum (IR-Kenyon), who supported the bill because it stresses that work pays and that welfare recipients need to become self-sufficient. Majority Leader Phil Carruthers (DFL-Brooklyn Center) agreed and congratulated members on a bipartisan effort. A major component of the bill would replace the state's Work Readiness assistance program for single able-bodied adults with a one-month per year payment of $203. The Work Readiness program offers cash assistance and job services to employable people who qualify for General Assistance. The bill would repeal Work Readiness and require families on General Assistance to participate in a food stamp employment and training program. The Work Readiness program name would change to the Temporary County Assistance Program and the bill would spend $6.25 million on it. New participants would have to wait one month after applying before receiving their payment. This is to discourage people from other states from coming to Minnesota for better welfare benefits. Another provision in the bill would appropriate more than $1 million to help some counties design their own employment program for first-time public assistance recipients or participate in a Work First pilot program. The Work First program would include tough penalties, such as losing benefits, if participants don't stick to a contract to search for a job and accept work. The bill does not specify which counties could operate the program. Under Work First, participants would not receive a check, but see their AFDC or other public assistance grant money first go toward vendor payments for rent and utilities for up to six months. They also would receive food stamps, medical assistance, child care assistance, and a job search allowance. The bill also would require most teen-aged moms, beginning Oct. 1, 1995, to live at home or with a supervising adult except in special circumstances, such as an in a case where there has been abuse at home. A waiver of federal rules would be required before this could be implemented. The proposal also seeks exemptions from federal rules that some argue discourage welfare recipients from finding work. One waiver would allow welfare recipients to spend more for an automobile, giving them more reliable transportation to and from work. The bill asks that the limit be raised to $4,500 -- up from the current $1,500 limit. Another would allow individuals receiving AFDC to work more than 99 hours per month and remain eligible for public assistance. In addition the bill would: -- prohibit Medical Assistance from paying for fertility drugs; -- prohibit General Assistance Medical Care from paying for sex-change operations; -- require the Department of Human Services to develop a grant pilot program to enable AFDC caretakers to become child care workers; and -- expand the Minnesota Family Investment Plan (MFIP) welfare program to Ramsey County at a cost of $6.6 million in grants. The program is currently a five-year pilot project in seven counties. It allows families to accept lower paying jobs while receiving some public assistance. This helps them gain work experience. The bill would further tighten the MFIP program and specifies that participants must seek and accept full-time employment (30 or more hours per week). After three months of searching for a job, participants would be required to take any suitable job. Those who quit, lose their job, or fail to meet with their case manager, would be subject to sanctions. (See Jan. 13, 1995, Session Weekly, page 6; Jan. 20, 1995, Session Weekly, pages 6-7; Feb. 3, 1995, Session Weekly, page 10; and Feb. 17, 1995, Session Weekly, pages 8-9; Feb. 24, 1995, Session Weekly, page 9) ------------------- Electronic conference committee updates People with access to the Internet can now easily obtain the latest changes in conference committee schedules -- as well as the daily and weekly schedules of the Minnesota House. The House Public Information Office, with technical help from the House computerization pilot project, has established a system that will automatically e-mail an updated schedule to anyone who asks for it. The schedule will be updated several times each day for distribution to everyone who subscribes to the service. Here's how to subscribe: Address your e-mail message to majordomo@house.leg.state.mn.us. Leave the subject line blank. In the body of the message, type Subscribe daily-schedule. To stop receiving the schedules, send an e-mail message to the same address and in the body of the message type Unsubscribe daily-schedule. The conference committee schedule will sometimes be listed at the bottom of the regular daily committee schedule. The electronic conference committee schedule is only as good as the information we are able to ferret out the old-fashioned way: through endless phone calls and personal contacts. And as many of you know, the legislative pace is very hectic this time of year and changes in meeting times and places occur regularly. So call our office, (612) 296-2146, or the Senate Information Office, (612) 296-0504, with any further questions. Thanks. -- The Editors ---------------- Terminal illness, insurance A new state law will provide protection for AIDS patients and other terminally ill people who sell the rights to their life insurance policies and sometimes end up on the short end of the deal. The law, effective Jan. 1, 1996, will regulate what are called viatical settlements. Under the agreements, those who face certain death sell off their life insurance policy to receive some cash on their investment before they die. Those who buy the insurance policies do so as an investment. They receive the value of the policy when the person dies. The problem is that in some cases profiteers have purchased policies for as little as 25 percent of the amount that will be received in death benefits The law, signed by Gov. Arne Carlson May 10, will require companies or individuals who provide viatical settlements to be licensed by the state and to be subject to state oversight. Under the measure, buyers will be required to pay a minimum percentage of the face value of the policy dependent on the seller's life expectancy. For example, the buyer would have to give the ill person at least 80 percent of the value of the policy if the seller has less than six months to live or 70 percent if the seller has between six months and a year to live. The law sets an absolute minimum of 50 percent of the policy value to be paid to sellers with a life expectancy of two years or more. Policy buyers will be required to receive a physician's statement showing the seller is of sound mind. They'll need to obtain a signed and witnessed statement from the seller demonstrating he or she understands the consequences of the contract and consents to it. The law also will require policy buyers to inform sellers of alternatives to viatical settlements, including the fact that some insurance companies are willing to offer them early payments on their policy benefits. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Wayne Simoneau (DFL-Fridley) and Sen. Sam Solon (DFL-Duluth). HF217*/SF139/CH151 Rental car coverage Vehicle owners will be able to rent cars, trucks, and vans by the month and still expect their private automobile insurance to extend coverage to those rental vehicles, under a new state law. Current law calls for private automobile insurance to cover vehicles rented on a weekly or daily basis. But House sponsor Rep. Betty McCollum (DFL-North St. Paul) said those who rent cars are able to obtain better rates when renting by the month. The law calls for vehicles rented on a monthly basis to be accompanied by a statement which informs the renter that, under state law, personal automobile insurance policies issued in Minnesota must cover rental vehicles. Currently, such statements must accompany vehicles rented by the day or week. The measure includes language that would prevent long-term renters from leasing cars and having their auto insurance provide coverage for those cars, McCollum said. The proposal, which becomes effective Aug. 1, 1995, was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. James Metzen (DFL-South St. Paul). HF1308/SF973*/CH140 LABOR Elevator repairs Work performed on a passenger or freight elevator would have to be done by a state licensed elevator mechanic, under a bill that won final passage in the House May 8. The vote was 89-38. The bill (HF398/SF255*), sponsored in the House by Rep. Phil Carruthers (DFL-Brooklyn Center), requires that a licensed person or company obtain a state permit before installing, altering, repairing, or removing an elevator. Current law requires only that a person apply for a permit before work is started. A person must complete the National Elevator Industry Education Program and must have an elevator constructor license issued by the state Board of Electricity before receiving state licensure. A licensed elevator mechanic could supervise up to five helpers, under the bill. Requirements of the bill would not apply to demolition work or minor repairs. Carruthers said the bill addresses important public safety concerns. He said that a similar measure passed out of committee last year but no action was ever taken on the House floor. The bill has been sent to a conference committee to work out differences between the House and Senate versions. LAW Tracing phone calls A bill to ensure the safety of anyone calling 911 from a business which routes its phone calls to several locations won final passage from the House May 8. The vote was 69-58. Currently, when most callers make an emergency 911 call, their address is displayed on the dispatcher's computer screen. But some large businesses (or other buildings such as dormitories) use a "private branch exchange," through which all outgoing and incoming phone calls are routed. So when callers from such a business make emergency phone calls, only the location of the central exchange appears on the dispatcher's computer screen. In some cases, the company's "phone center" may be miles away from the emergency being reported. For example, a Norwest Bank employee once called police to report a robbery in progress at a branch location. The responding officers arrived not at the bank where the robbery was occurring, but at the downtown Norwest computer center where the company's telephone center is located, said bill sponsor Rep. Mike Delmont (DFL-Lexington). Also, calls from 80 individual Minneapolis School District schools and district sites all switch through the central district office location, so any emergency call made from one of the 80 sites would appear to have come from that central office, said Delmont. The school district and the bank are now correcting the problem, as are the University of Minnesota and "other schools and administrative bodies," said Delmont. His bill (HF1290/SF734*) would ensure that businesses and buildings with private switch telephone service include "station number identification," which means dispatchers could identify the location of each call that is placed. The average cost to a business or unit of government to include the technology is estimated to be a $15,000 one-time cost, Delmont said. "Any company with a private branch exchange has a substantial investment in a phone system and so we figure this is a small price for them to pay," he said. School districts would have until Jan. 1, 1998, to make the change because many don't have adequate funds, Delmont said. Also, hospitals and nursing homes are exempted from the bill. The Department of Administration would have until Dec. 31, 1996, to adopt standards that businesses with private branch exchanges would have to meet, under the bill. Elevator safety The Department of Administration would be charged with ensuring elevators in Minnesota buildings operate safely, under a bill given final approval by the House May 8. The vote was 126-1. The bill would place in Minnesota law a measure the governor put into effect by executive order in 1993. At that time, the governor moved state responsibility for elevator safety from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration to the state Department of Administration. The department has carried out that function since the order, said Rep. Fran Bradley (IR- Rochester), who sponsored the bill. Also under the bill, (HF1469/SF870*) non- metropolitan counties which have adopted the state building code prior to 1977 could not change requirements pertaining to elevator safety. Current law says those municipalities can determine by a majority vote of residents that no part of the state building code, except those pertaining to access for the handicapped, applies within the county. The bill would specify that counties couldn't vote to not abide by the state's building code when it comes to elevator safety -- essentially adding elevator safety to the list of exemptions alongside laws relating to handicapped access. Also, cities and towns under 2,500, which can now declare the state building code -- apart from the handicapped access requirements -- does not apply to them, would have to abide by elevator safety standards regardless of whether they adhere to the building code. The bill now moves to the governor for his consideration. Icehouse identification In the land of Olsons, Petersons, and Johnsons, where the winter religion is ice fishing, how can you tell one ice house from another? It's not easy -- particularly when the only identifiable landmark on a windswept lake may be a frozen walleye or a block of ice. But a new law will allow anglers the option of painting their drivers' license number on the shack's outside wall. Currently, icehouse residents must identify their home-away-from-home by painting their name and home address in letters at least three inches high. But problems ensue when more than one -- or even more than two or three -- Johnsons or Olsons share the same lake, said House sponsor Rep. Don Ostrom (DFL-St. Peter). The painted names serve to identify fish house owners to the Department of Natural Resources, which issues licenses for, and regulates fish houses. The measure, effective Aug. 1, 1995, was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. John Hottinger (DFL-Mankato). HF1307*/SF867/CH65 Abandoned waste A building owner now has a greater chance of successfully suing a renter who moves out leaving behind containers of hazardous waste, under a new state law. The law, effective May 6, 1995, applies to both residential and commercial space rental. It requires the property owner to request in writing that the former renter "remove and properly dispose of the abandoned waste." Cleaning solvents or other flammable or corrosive liquids are examples of such waste. By law, they must be properly disposed of at an authorized waste facility. If the renter does not remove all the waste within 20 days, the property owner can then remove the waste which entitles him or her to twice the cleanup and disposal costs. The owner also is entitled to "losses that result from court costs and attorney fees." Under current law, a property owner's only financial recourse is to withhold a tenant's damage deposit. The measure was sponsored by Rep. Robert Leighton (DFL-Austin) and Sen. Kevin Chandler (DFL-White Bear Lake). HF1320*/SF1073/CH119 Radar jamming On Aug. 1, 1995, speeders will lose a leg up on police, under a new state law. The measure will make it illegal to sell, use, or possess a radar jammer. Violators could face a $200 fine. The law targets devices that send out radio waves from a car or truck to block the effectiveness of radar guns police use to catch speeding drivers. House sponsor Rep. Dan McElroy (IR-Burnsville) has said radar jammers are more dangerous than their less-sophisticated brethren, radar detectors or fuzz busters. Why? Because a screeching radar detector likely will cause a driver to slow down, McElroy said, but a driver using a jamming device can travel at illegal speeds relatively free from the risk of being caught. The Senate companion was sponsored by Sen. Tom Neuville (IR-Northfield). HF1011*/SF1015/CH118 Probate guide The state court administrator will prepare a guide to informal probate proceedings, under a new state law. Such court proceedings are necessary to validate a will or administer an estate following a death. But the paperwork involved in such probate proceedings is complex and often baffling, House sponsor Rep. Kris Hasskamp (DFL-Crosby) has said. In addition, the "legalese" can be confounding. In the lingo of probate, houses become "domiciles" and the subject of a will is termed a "decedent." Standards of "reasonable diligence" apply, and applicants for such an informal proceeding must state whether they are aware of any "unrevoked testamentary instrument relating to property having a situs in this state." The probate guide to be prepared by the state court administrator promises to use plain English to interpret the law and application process for those who encounter the system. The measure, which became effective April 21, 1995, was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Jane Krentz (DFL-May Township). HF544*/SF520/CH78 Notary cops Beginning Aug. 1, 1995, all licensed peace officers will have the authority to notarize certain witness statements, under a new state law. Currently, such authority rests only with state- licensed notaries public -- people authorized by the state to administer oaths and authenticate signatures. Such a license, purchased from the Department of Commerce, costs $40. The law will grant peace officers some of the authority of a notary, which means no license or fee is required of them. The need for the law stems from a 1991 U.S. Supreme Court decision which required that all witness statements submitted to the court to establish probable cause be notarized. Police officers administer an oath to a person providing information for such a purpose. Since the court ruling, police departments have had to pay to have a certain number of their officers become notaries public. The city of Bloomington -- at a cost of $800 -- has 20 officers that are state certified. The law will not extend to police officers the other statutory powers given to notaries public: "to take and certify all acknowledgments of deeds, mortgages, liens, powers of attorney, and other instruments in writing; and to receive, make out, and record notarial protests." Any officer wishing to perform any of these duties must apply to the Department of Commerce for the proper notary license. The measure was sponsored by Rep. Mark Mahon (DFL-Bloomington) and Sen. Phil Riveness (DFL-Bloomington). HF564*/SF748/CH37 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Paying the bills Minnesota towns may not have the hustle and bustle of big cities, but they've got to pay the bills just the same. A new law, effective Aug. 1, 1995, will allow towns in Minnesota to have petty cash funds to help pay some of the bills. Previously, only cities and counties had the authority. In the past, when town officials wanted to pay the phone bill, electric bill, or other monthly normal operating expense, they had to wait until the regular meeting of the town board to seek approval. The new law will help speed up the process and make it more practical, said David Fricke, executive director of the Minnesota Association of Townships. It does not specify how much money can be in a petty cash fund. The law does state that the town board at its regular meetings must receive an itemized list of what bills the petty cash fund is paying off. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Bertram (DFL-Paynesville) and Sen. Joe Bertram (DFL- Paynesville), prohibits using the petty cash fund to pay the salary and personnel expenses of a town officer or employee. HF362*/SF266/CH15 Random audits Minnesota cities and towns with annual revenues of $100,000 or less and combined clerk and treasurer offices will be audited once every five years, and then for only one of those years, under a new law. The measure clarifies a 1994 law that allowed for an audit once every five years for some smaller cities and towns. That law, however, did not specify whether each of the years in the five-year period, or only one year chosen at random, had to be audited. The new law, effective March 30, 1995, clarifies that auditors or accountants will audit only one year, chosen at random, for each five-year period. Prior to the 1994 law change, towns and cities -- regardless of size -- had to be audited by the state auditor or a public accountant every year. The measure was sponsored by Rep. Roger Cooper (DFL-Bird Island) and Sen. Dallas Sams (DFL- Staples). HF305*/SF265/CH27 TRANSPORTATION Bus safety initiative A total of $354,000 would be spent to improve safety for bus drivers and passengers, under a bill approved by the House Ways and Means Committee May 8. The money to improve bus safety was offered as a successful amendment to HF1342/SF979*, a bill which makes technical changes to a 1994 law concerning the transportation of hazardous waste. Amendment sponsor Rep. Darlene Luther (DFL- Brooklyn Park) explained that the money would pay for Plexiglas shields to protect drivers and surveillance cameras on 59 buses that travel six "high-risk routes" in the Twin Cities. Combined with the planned purchase this year of similarly equipped buses, there would be cameras and shields on 150 of the approximately 1,000 buses in the Metropolitan Council Transit Operation (MCTO) fleet. The shields would protect drivers from blind attacks from the rear or side, and the cameras would record the behavior of passengers. The bus safety provision was originally introduced as a bill (HF848), sponsored by Luther, which stalled in the committee process. Luther has said the idea for the proposal came from one of her neighbors, a bus driver who was assaulted on the job twice within an eight-month span in 1993. Luther stated that the growing violence on MCTO buses demands action. (See March 17, 1995, Session Weekly, page 14) Concerns about passenger safety on MCTO buses were heightened by a recent attack on a 20-year- old passenger in Minneapolis. Latell Chaney, who is deaf, lost his sight in one eye and suffered damage to the other in a Feb. 26 attack by a group of men whom police believe mistook his sign language for gang signs or obscene gestures. One of the men broke a bottle over Chaney's head and then gouged his eyes with it. In January, the MCTO began a 90-day test of video surveillance on select buses, and officials said its preliminary results are promising. Videotapes will improve chances to identify and apprehend people who commit crimes on buses, according to Tom Sather, general manager for MCTO. HF1342/SF979* now goes to the House floor. High-risk bus routes -- Route 5 -- Begins in Brooklyn Park, goes to Brookdale, and along Penn Avenue and Fremont Avenue to downtown Minneapolis; then south along Chicago Avenue through Richfield and Bloomington to the Mall of America. -- Route 9 -- Travels east from Golden Valley along Glenwood Avenue to downtown Minneapolis; then south along Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue to 48th Street. -- Route 16 -- Travels through Minneapolis and St. Paul along University Avenue. -- Route 18 -- From Apache Plaza through Columbia Heights to downtown Minneapolis; then south along Nicollet Avenue through Richfield and Bloomington to Southdale. -- Route 21 -- Runs along Lake Street in Minneapolis, and Marshall Avenue and Selby Avenue in St. Paul. -- Route 22 -- Begins in Brooklyn Center then goes down Lyndale Avenue to downtown Minneapolis; and south along E. 24th Street, Cedar Avenue, and 34th Avenue to Highway 62 (Crosstown). Source: Bob Gibbons, director of public relations, Metropolitan Council Transit Operation. Selling junked cars Effective Aug. 1, 1995, junked vehicles which have been towed to private or public impound lots could be immediately sold, under a new state law. Junked vehicles -- vehicles with little value that don't run -- frequently sit at impound lots with little or no chance that their rightful owners will claim them. The public impound lot usually ends up losing money whenever such a vehicle is towed, said House sponsor Rep. Jeff Bertram (DFL-Paynesville). The measure would allow junk vehicles to immediately be sold at public auctions or sold as scrap. Present law says the vehicle may be sold 15 days after the owner receives notice that the impound lot has the car. A "junk vehicle" is defined as one that is at least three or more years old, extensively damaged, apparently inoperable, not registered, and has value only as scrap. The law also will allow the towing of "unauthorized" vehicles -- those left unattended on public property more than 24 hours after being tagged for unauthorized parking. Currently, local governments can tow only "abandoned" vehicles -- vehicles which have sat for long periods of time on public or private property. (Vehicles also can be towed immediately for specific reasons outlined in Minnesota law, such as if a car is parked in a location that creates a traffic hazard.) Such vehicles could be sold at a public auction 45 days after notice is given to the vehicle's owner of the proposed sale. The law also will allow impound lot owners to notify a vehicle owner of the proposed public sale of their car. Under present law, only units of local government can give such notice. The measure was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Joe Bertram (DFL-Paynesville). HF586*/SF553/CH137 Title transfer Car buyers who fail to promptly transfer the title on the vehicle would face new penalties, under a bill that won final passage in the House May 4. The vote was 129-0. Rep. Ron Erhardt (IR-Edina), who is the sponsor of HF575/SF1199*, said the bill could solve a potential problem for car sellers. Sometimes buyers, who may want to avoid paying for insurance or may not have a driver's license, do not transfer the vehicle title in their name, he said. The problem is, the person who sold the car may be held liable if the buyer gets in an accident or other problems arise. Currently, it is a misdemeanor for a buyer to fail to apply for a title transfer of a vehicle within 14 days. The bill would give buyers just 10 days to apply for a title transfer and pay the necessary fees. The Department of Public Safety would suspend the license plates on the vehicle if the buyer does not transfer the title within 10 days of the sale, under the bill. If the plates are suspended, the buyer would have to pay an additional $5 reinstatement fee along with normal title transfer charges. If after 14 days, the buyer still has not transferred the title, he or she will face another $2 charge. Vintage license plates Vintage car owners will be able to display license plates from the year their car was made, under a new state law. Currently, those who own restored or vintage automobiles can display special "collector license plates" that bear the year a car was built, but the plates don't look like the original license plates issued for that year. Cars with collector plates can be used only to drive to and from collector car shows. Owners of such plates need not renew them on an annual basis. However, they may drive only 2,000 miles per year in the cars. Under the new law, collector car owners will be allowed to use the original plates for cars that are at least 20 years old. The license plate number, however, cannot have been previously issued. Owners of such plates will need to renew them each year. To preserve the aesthetic integrity of the original plates, owners will not have to display the month and year renewal stickers on the plate's lower corners, but they will have to carry the vehicle license registration in the car with them at all times. The measure, effective Aug. 1, 1995, was sponsored by Rep. Alice Seagren (IR-Bloomington) and Sen. Bill Belanger (IR-Bloomington). HF1402*/SF1163/CH145 Educating drivers Minnesotans learning to drive will now be taught how they could be affected by the state's DWI laws. Under the new law, all schools and private companies teaching drivers' training must instruct their students on the hazards of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Also, students will hear what the criminal penalties and financial consequences are should they get caught driving under the influence. Training courses also must teach students how drinking and using drugs can affect a person's ability to drive. Also under the law, the written test given by the Department of Public Safety must include information on the penalties one could face for driving drunk or after using drugs. Such information must also be contained in future editions of the state driver's manual issued by the department. Future manuals also will warn teens that, should they drive after consuming any amount of alcohol, they could face a driver's license suspension -- whether they are legally drunk or not. (The 1993 Legislature enacted the so-called "not a drop law," which calls for a mandatory 30-day drivers' license suspension for anyone under the age of 21 who is caught drinking and driving.) The measure, effective July 1, 1995, was sponsored by Rep. Doug Swenson (IR-Forest Lake) and Sen. Linda Runbeck (IR-Circle Pines). HF901*/SF1129/CH104 Rescuing rail travel A resolution asking Congress to continue funding the Amtrak passenger rail service has been signed by Gov. Arne Carlson. Congress is discussing major cuts to the federally subsidized Amtrak budget. House sponsor Rep. Mark Mahon (DFL-Bloomington) said the nation's only passenger rail service would not be viable without federal funding. "No passenger rail service in the world makes money," he said. Last year, Amtrak received a $952 million subsidy from the federal government. One Amtrak route passes through St. Paul on a line running between Seattle and Chicago. About 160,000 people take the train each year in Minnesota. About 130,000 of them arrive in or depart from St. Paul, according to Mahon. Amtrak employs 74 Minnesotans, who make a combined $3 million annually, he said. (See March 10, 1995, Session Weekly, page 13) The measure was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing). The law was signed April 28, 1995. HF821*/SF700/Res. 3 Q & A Q: When is the best time to plan a visit to the Capitol to see legislators at work? A: The weekdays when the House is in session are often the best days to see lawmakers at work, unless you are interested in a particular issue. Then, it would be best to visit the committee that is debating the issue on the day of the debate. The convening time for daily House floor sessions is set by the House rules. In the past, the daily convening time has been 2:30 p.m., unless otherwise ordered. During the early weeks of a session the full House usually does not meet each day. Members often meet Mondays and Thursdays. During the last few weeks of the session, the full House often meets daily and the beginning times change frequently. To find out when lawmakers will meet during the week or when a particular issue will be debated in a committee, call the House Public Information Office at (612) 296-2146. Seating is available to the public in both the House chamber and in House committee hearing rooms. The House chamber offers a public gallery overlooking the House floor which can be accessed on the third floor of the Capitol. Most House committee hearings are held in the State Office Building, across the street from the Capitol. Public parking in the Capitol area is available. There are meters in the State Office Building parking lot, accessible from Rice Street, across from Sears Roebuck and Co. department store. There also are meters in State Parking Lot Q, at the corner of Sherburne and Cedar. For more information about public parking, contact the House Sergeant at Arms Office at (612) 296-4860. A partial listing . . . 1995 House files incorporated into other bills Editor's note: This is an unofficial listing of House files that have been incorporated into other bills so far. Other bill listings will appear in the next issue of Session Weekly. Ongoing conference committee action may well alter the makeup of these bills before they reach the end of the legislative process. In many cases, the language found in the major bills may not be exactly as it appears in the original House files. The list was compiled by the House Public Information Office from a variety of sources, including committee administrators, committee legislative assistants, researchers, and fiscal analysts. An asterisk after a House or Senate file number indicates the version of the bill under consideration. If you're interested in following conference committee action (and have access to the Internet), you can subscribe to a service that will automatically e-mail an updated schedule of meetings to anyone who asks for it. To subscribe, you simply address your e-mail message to: majordomo@house.leg.state.mn.us. Leave the subject line blank. In the body of the message, enter Subscribe daily-schedule. If you have questions, call our office, (612) 296- 2146, or the Senate Information Office, (612) 296- 0504. Bonding HF1010/SFnone (Kalis) Omnibus bonding bill HF63 (Schumacher) Independent School District No. 727, Big Lake, provided capital loan and bond issuance HF221 (Anderson, I.) Independent School District No. 362 Littlefork-Big Falls, capital loan approved, bonds issued, and money appropriated HF505 (Olson, E.) Independent School District No. 36, Kelliher, capital loan approved, money appropriated and bonds issued HF766 (Ness) Public facilities authority maximum bonding amount changed HF1066 (Knoblach) Department of Finance commissioner to establish listing of state bonds and certificates of indebtedness HF1432 (Winter) Prairieland Expo facility appropriated money for land acquisition HF1507 (Murphy) Fond du Lac Community College appropriated money for residential facility planning, and bonds issued (parts of bill incorporated) HF1705 (Knoblach) Public bond issuance seven- year authority limit provided HF1841 (Johnson, V.) Environmental learning center matching money provisions modified (amendment) Government HF1542/SF1246* (Orenstein) State government reorganization HF1695 (Delmont) Legislative Commission to Review Rules; Children, Youth, and Families; Water; Economic Status of Women; Child Protection; Health Care Access; Long Term Health Care; Waste; and Tax Study commissions abolished, and LCMR duties transferred HF138 (Kahn) Gambling department created; Racing Commission, Gambling Control Board, and State Lottery Board abolished and duties transferred HF788 (Marko) State government efficiency and openness provided, state agency efficiency required and mission statements provided, and public participation encouraged HF867 (Orenstein) Customer service office created to provide assistance to state government service users HF307 (Pelowski) Higher Education Coordinating Board abolished, and higher education services office and higher education administrators council established As of 5/10/95 Omnibus gambling bill HF265/SF619 (Dorn) HF542 (Pellow) Lawful purpose expenditures by or to tax exempt organizations regulated HF1281 (Pugh) Pull-tab and tipboard tax modified, lawful purpose expenditure definition modified, bingo occasion increase authorized, and bingo prize determination provision clarified (parts of bill included) Health As of 5/2/95 HF1588/SF1110* (Greenfield) Omnibus health and human services appropriations bill Article 1 HF506 (Clark) Lead abatement recodification ($ in rider only) HF511 (Lourey) Money for senior nutrition program (as rider) HF517 (Rest) MN ENABL ($ in rider only) HF1517 (Lourey) Money for Family Services Center HF1610 (Clark) Indian child welfare defense corp. (as rider) Article 2 HF940 (Macklin) Welfare fraud provisions modified HF1035 (Wecjman) DHS foster care, licensing changes HF1719 (Onnen) McLeod County offices relocated Article 3 HF842 (Jennings) Day training and habilitation vendor appeals HF1005 (Onnen) Mental health and developmental disability provisions modified HF1729 (Tuma) Prader-Willi syndrome treatment facility certification required Article 4 HF1129 (Van Engen) DHS children's services provisions HF1583 (Lourey) Contract foster care and DOC payments HF1655 (Wecjman) Transitional housing HF1685 (Lourey) Ombudsman for kinship caregivers Article 5 HF1686 (Wejcman) Group residential housing moratorium exception Article 6 HF161 (Leppik) Long-term hospital inpatient rates HF510 (Clark) Pesticide poisoning covered by EGAMC HF525 (Jennings) MA prior authorization modifications HF1005 (Onnen) Mental health and developmental disability provisions modified HF1203 (Greenfield) Alternative care and MA waivered services HF1286 (Onnen) DHS Health Care Admin. changes HF1361 (Greenfield) Eliminate hospital peer grouping HF1453 (Onnen) DHS Home Care changes, incl. PCA service HF1491 (Greenfield) Expanding MA coverage for TB services HF1555 (Van Engen) Nursing home placement level of care established HF1603 (Greenfield) Hospital, nursing home use CPI-U for inflation HF1713 (Greenfield) Surcharge, DPA, IG xfr modifications Article 7 HF320 (Dorn) Adjustment to nursing home's rental per diem HF466 (Pugh) Nursing home moratorium exception HF490 (Greenfield) Nursing home moratorium exceptions process HF513 (Cooper) Nursing home moratorium exception HF519 (Greenfield) Subacute care defined and rule waivers HF743 (Solberg) Nursing home swing beds HF1251 (Davids) Nursing home swing beds modified HF1301 (Rhodes) Nursing home moratorium exception HF1384 (Greenfield) DHS LTC facilities provisions HF1603 (Greenfield) Hospital, nursing home use CPI-U for inflation HF1664 (Onnen) Nursing home moratorium exception Article 8 HF1031 (Van Engen) RTC fund use designated HF1081 (Boudreau) Developmental disability services in Faribault RTC catchment HF1662 (Jennings) Cambridge cachement ISN for DD HF1738 (Greenfield) Children's mental health collaboratives Article 9 HF347 (Cooper) Emergency medical services board established HF481 (Marko) Osteoporosis program established HF668 (Tuma) Psychologist licensure modification HF950 (Wecjman) US Army aerial spraying report HF1210 (Greenfield) Elderly housing with services HF1357 (Lourey) Expanding MDH home health visiting Various articles HF1183 (Boudreau) DHS federal mandates and technicals HF1208 (Tompkins) DHS various provisions As of 5/10/95 HF1077*/SF822 (Lourey) MinnesotaCare HF818 (Haas) MinnesotaCare; private sector administration evaluated by Department of Administration commissioner HF516 (Lourey) Managed care health plans required to provide certain enrollees with expanded geographic access to primary care physician services Law As of 4/5/95 HF1473/SF1279* (McGuire) Omnibus data practices bill HF376 (Van Engen) Classifying certain data of the economic security department HF393 (Leighton) Relating to employment; modifying provisions relating to access to occupational safety and health investigation data HF538 (McGuire) Relating to state government; secretary of state; authorizing access to social security numbers of individuals in certain circumstances HF546 (McGuire) Relating to privacy; limiting the release of copies of videotapes of child abuse victims; authorizing the requirement of a stipulation and order in certain cases HF584 (Goodno) Relating to the Department of Human Rights; specifying the scope of an inquiry by the commissioner; changing the classification of certain data in an open file HF731 (Bakk) Confidentiality of mineral resources data HF768 (Delmont) Relating to evidentiary privileges; providing a privilege for public safety peer counseling debriefing that makes any information or opinion stated at the debriefing confidential; providing for recovery of damages in case of breach of the peer counseling privilege . . . HF772 (Farrell) Classifying name changes of protected witnesses as private data; expanding the crime of witness tampering HF784 (Weaver) Clarifying application of mandatory minimum penalties for controlled substance offenses; authorizing use of drivers' license photos to investigate or prosecute misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor-level thefts; precluding the expungement of criminal records in diversion cases; authorizing sentencing . . . HF900 (Broecker) Allowing certain holders of disabled parking certificates to make their address or name and address private HF992 (Pugh) Data practices; eliminating a sunset on computer matching agreement requirements HF1067 (Van Engen) Health; modifying provisions relating to access to certain data HF1095 (Rest) Data practices; law enforcement data; modifying the test for public access to the identities of certain crime victims and witnesses HF1326 (Skoglund) Data practices; providing for the classification and release of booking photographs HF1473 (McGuire) Providing for the classification of and access to government data . . . (vehicle bill) HF1644 (McGuire) Data practices; authorizing use of audio recording of calls placed to 911 for certain training purposes HF1659 (Skoglund) Drivers' licenses; requiring that drivers' records pertaining to alcohol-related offenses be retained permanently HF1676 (Pugh) Recodifying and clarifying portions of the assault in the fifth degree statute which concern domestic assault HF1696 (McGuire) Providing for the protection of state agency intellectual property As of 3/31/95 HF1309/SF1088* (Pugh) Omnibus civil law bill HF57 (Onnen) Relating to local government; providing that maintenance of abandoned or neglected cemeteries by non-profit organizations does not create employment relationship or liability for local governments HF170 (Rhodes) Relating to civil actions; providing for recovery of damages and injunctive relief for victims of bias offenses; imposing parental liability HF184 (Simoneau) Relating to civil actions; regulating punitive damages HF261 (Bishop) Relating to civil actions; including occupational therapists in the limitation period for bringing suit against health care professionals HF535 (Haas) Civil actions; barring perpetrators of crimes from recovering for injuries sustained during criminal conduct HF779 (Orfield) Conservation easement assessment benefit determination, zoning and planning, and metropolitan agricultural preserves provisions clarified (part of bill included) HF795 (Pugh) Relating to trusts; limiting liability for hazardous waste to the extent of trust assets; providing for payment of trustee compensation HF835 (Trimble) Relating to claims against governmental units; increasing liability limits; providing for inflation adjustment; exempting medical expenses HF1309 (Pugh) Courts; civil actions; modifying the requirements for an application to proceed in forma pauperis; allowing the court to dismiss an action for false allegations of poverty or if it is frivolous or malicious; providing for a hearing; providing for the payment of fees and costs by inmates; . . . (vehicle bill) As of 3/22/95 HF966*/SF8217 (Entenza) Omnibus family law bill HF117 (Smith) Marriage dissolution; providing that interference with or denial of visitation is grounds for modification of a custody order HF348 (Kinkel) Family law; child support enforcement; modifying the accrual of interest on child support arrearages HF421 (Smith) Providing for care of children by non-custodial parents in certain cases HF845 (Swenson, D.) Child support obligation and enforcement HF935 (Farrell) Changing child support provisions HF966 (Entenza) Family law; providing for enforcement of child support obligations (vehicle bill) HF1076 (Rhodes) Human services; changing absent parent's liability for child support; adding provisions relating to: recognition of parentage, administrative proceedings, and child support collection As of 5/10/95 HF980*/SF1564 (Skoglund) Miscellaneous crime provisions HF772 (Farrell) Protected witness name changes classified as private data (parts of bill included) HF784 (Weaver) Controlled substance offense penalty application clarified, drivers' license photograph use authorized in theft investigations, criminal record expungement precluded in diversion cases, victim restitution provided, and fine imposed (parts of bill included) HF785 (Weaver) Expanding the scope of first degree burglary HF786 (Weaver) Expanding the definition of "value" in the theft statute HF826 (Pugh) Authorizing peace officers to detain probationers based on an order from the chief executive officer of a community corrections agency HF980 (Skoglund) Amending the definition of manslaughter in the first degree (vehicle bill) HF981 (Skoglund) Clarifying the reasonable person standard for manslaughter in the first degree; clarifying certain acts that constitute murder in the first degree HF1137 (Wagenius) Public nuisance; modifying the grounds and procedure for proving a nuisance; providing for a meeting to attempt resolution of the issue HF1168 (Weaver) Increased penalties for fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle; expanding the obstructing legal process offense to include fleeing a police officer by means other than a motor vehicle HF1241 (Luther) Limiting who can benefit from profits derived from prostitution As of 4/21/95 HF1700*/HF1653 (Murphy) Omnibus judiciary finance and criminal justice appropriations bill Article 1 HF3 (Skoglund) Electronic alcohol monitoring (rider) HF159 (Murphy) DARE (rider) HF179 (Skoglund) STS graffiti removal (rider) HF263 (Skoglund) Crime information reward fund (rider) HF264 (Skoglund) Witness and victim fund (rider) HF445 (Skoglund) Cap improvements (rider) HF522 (Swenson, D.) Bomb squad ($) HF559 (Carruthers) NW law enforcement project (rider) HF610 (Farrell) Safe schools ($) HF840 (Kelley) Grant Hussey II ($) HF847 (Murphy) Interview training (rider) HF1247 (Pugh) Five new judges ($) HF1339 (Skoglund) Interstate compact (rider) HF1438 (McGuire) Battered women's shelters ($) HF1476 (Murphy) Out-of-home placement (rider) HF1496 (Orenstein) POST board ($) HF1544 (Skoglund) Nonfelony Enforcement Advisory Committee HF1558 (McGuire) Violence prevention councils (rider) HF1643 (McGuire) Sexual assault grants (rider) HF1700 (Murphy) Productive day (rider) HF1761 (Murphy) Juvenile offender bill ($) HF1783 (Schumacher) Fireworks operators ($) HF1784 (Kinkel) Ah Gwah Ching (rider) Article 2 HF34 (Pawlenty) Limiting stays HF177 (Skoglund) Sex offenders HF176 (Skoglund) Lengthening statute of limitations for criminal sexual conduct HF178 (Skoglund) Expanding scope of sex offender registration law HF272 (Lynch) Expanding the interference with privacy crime HF633 (Skoglund) Increased penalties for indecent exposure HF911 (Skoglund) Tolling the statute of limitations while physical evidence relating to a crime is undergoing DNA analysis HF881 (Pugh) Various crime provisions HF1195 (Carruthers) Surcharges Article 3 HF610 (Farrell) Safe schools HF1428 (Murphy) Youth crime prevention HF1761 (Murphy) Juvenile offender bill Article 4 HF72 (Greiling) Background checks HF181 (Bishop) Community notification HF406 (Luther) Undercover buy/witness fund HF522 (D. Swenson) Bomb squad HF969 (Murphy) Background check fee HF840 (Kelley) Grant Hussey II HF1360 (Skoglund) POST Board HF1496 (Orenstein) POST board HF1783 (Schumacher) Fireworks operators Article 5 HF454 (Wejcman) Inmate wages HF455 (Wejcman) Inmate wages HF1034 (Brown) State agencies purchase from DOC Article 6 HF1189 (Leppik) Guardian ad litem HF1247 (Pugh) Five new judges HF1544 (Skoglund) Nonfelony Enforcement Advisory Committee Article 7 HF771 (Farrell) Witness and victim fund HF840 (Kelley) Grant Hussey II HF881 (Pugh) Various crime provisions HF1026 (Entenza) Expiration date; advisory council HF1253 (Seagren) Crime victim ombudsman HF1438 (McGuire) Battered women's shelters Taxes As of 4/25/95 HF1864*/SFnone (Rest) Omnibus tax bill Article 1 HF1380 (Rest) Modifies the exemption for MN state bond interest (new language) (Secs. 1 and 3-4) HF854 (Milbert) Conforms to federal tax law changes for the GATT and (new language) IRC amendments through April 15, 1995 (Secs. 2 and 5) Article 2 HF635 (Rhodes) Clarifies that for purposes of calculating the motor vehicle license tax, the "base value" means the manufacturer's suggested retail price plus the destination charge using information published by the manufacturer (Sec. 1) HF635 (Van Dellen) Amendment allows citizens to match the duration of motor vehicle registration for their leased vehicles with the terms of their leases (Secs. 2-3) HF1295 (Ostrom) Replaces alternative fuel permits with an equivalent rate system (Secs. 4-20 and 41(a)) HF1422 (Winter) Exempts racehorses and feed and bedding for all horses from sales tax (Secs. 21 and 26) HF1811 (Wagenius) Clarifies the scope and application of the sales tax on mixed municipal solid waste management services (formerly "SCORE"); requires the Department of Revenue to evaluate the accuracy of past collections and report (Secs. 21-22, 25, 30, and 38) HF602 (Winter) (DOR) Provides a partial exemption from sales tax for purchasers of "park model" trailers and provides and appropriation for refunds (Secs. 23 and 33) (See Article 3 for additional provisions) HF571 (Wolf) Exempts rental of cargo vans from automobile rental tax (Sec. 24) HF59 (Bertram) Extends for one year the used farm equipment exemption (Sec. 27) HF1206 (Jaros) Exempts building materials and supplies for construction of a Duluth Convention Center (Sec. 28) HF1744 (Milbert) Exempts building materials and supplies for construction of qualifying indoor ice youth sports facilities. (Sec. 29) HF8 (Onnen) Imposes a tax of $90 in lieu of the normal sales tax on motor vehicles for fire trucks that are classified as collector vehicles (Secs. 31-32) HF173 (Pelowski) Authorizes Winona, after it has retired the debt on its steamboat center, to use 50 percent of the proceeds from its lodging tax to promote certain tourism activities not authorized by general law (Sec. 34) HF1222 (Long) Exempts Minneapolis Women's Club for the obligation to collect the Minneapolis sales and lodging taxes and the Downtown Minneapolis special district restaurant food and on-sale alcohol taxes (Sec. 35) HF1495 (Ness) Authorizes City of Hutchinson, subject to referendum, to impose a one-half cent sales tax and a $20 motor vehicle tax for five years; and a liquor and food sales surtax, subject to reverse referendum (Secs. 36-37) HF577 (Bertram) Exempts building materials and supplies for construction of agricultural processing facilities that meet specific criteria (Sec. 39) HF1825 (Rest) Creates a 17-member advisory council to study the sales tax system and tax policy, and report to the Legislature (Sec. 40) HF287 (Abrams) Repeals the sales tax on 1-900, 1- 960 and 1-976 calls (Sec. 41(b)) Article 3 HF1000 (Johnson, A.) Adjusts time line on school levy certification and truth-in-taxation (Secs. 1-2 and 11-12) HF602 (Winter) (DOR) Taxes park trailers the same as manufactured homes, not as vehicles (Secs. 3, 19-22, and 41) HF1398 (Winter) Authorizes wind energy property tax pass through to rate payers (Sec. 4) HF777 (Winter) Establishes property tax levels on wind energy conversion systems (Secs. 5, 10, and 13-14) HF1173 (Wagenius) Establishes lower C/I class rate in "transit zones" (Secs. 7 and 24) HF127 (Kalis) Reduces class rate on certain apartment property (Secs. 8-9) HF1029 (Milbert) Extends through pay 1997 taxes the reduction of the class rate for manufactured home park property from 2.3 percent to 2.0 percent (Sec. 8) HF357 (Smith) Exempts probate estates from property tax penalties and delinquency under certain circumstances (Sec. 17) HF1673 (Wejcman) Authorizes county boards to delegate administration of tax forfeited land to county auditor (Secs. 18 and 23) HF1566 (Long) Establishes a special service district in Minneapolis (Sec. 25) HF1237 (Jaros) Modifies boundary of special service district in Duluth (Sec. 26) HF606 (Solberg) Modifies the time limitation for filing local approval of the Nashwauk area ambulance district by certain cities and towns (Sec. 27) HF1182 (Dawkins) Authorizes St. Paul to continue rental tax equity pilot project for one additional year using only funds previously appropriated (new language) (Sec. 28) HF1792 (Rest) Reduces Hennepin County HACA to offset state cost of court employees (Sec. 29) HF1824 (Milbert) Adjusts aid payment for Dakota County public defender costs (Sec. 30) HF1770 (Kelley) Provides exception to time requirements for property tax exempt status (Sec. 31) HF186 (Kelley) Establishes a special service district in St. Louis Park (Sec. 32) HF1327 (Garcia) Authorizes Richfield to create non- profit housing corporations (Sec. 33) HF712 (Luther) Establishes one-year rental tax equity project in Brooklyn Park; compensates renters for reduction in property tax refunds as a result of property tax reductions under the project (new language) (Secs. 34-35 and 39) HF1182 (Dawkins) Amendment limits St. Paul rental tax equity pilot project to necessary repairs and requires reinspection following repairs; compensates renters for reductions in property tax refunds as a result of property tax reductions under the St. Paul rental tax equity pilot project (Sec. 36) HF712 (Dawkins) Amendment requires the commissioner of revenue to study and report to the House and Senate Committees on Taxes regarding alternative proposals for using reductions in property taxes on apartments as an incentive for owners to repair their apartment buildings (Sec. 37) HF162 (Bertram) Requires Stearns County to refund to Melrose a portion of the amount paid by the city for the purchase of certain property in 1994 (Sec. 38) Article 4 HF461 (Wagenius) Provides property tax deferment for seniors Article 5 HF1831 (Rest) Provides that property tax refunds will be itemized on tax statements Article 6 HF1682 (Bakk) Extends property tax refund to seasonal recreational property Article 7 HF1830 (Rest) Imposes requirements for exempting a municipality from the state aid offset or extending the duration of a district. Technical amendments, including clarification re: computing state aid offset where ethanol project exceeds exemption ceiling (Sec. 1-4, 25, 30, and 32) HF131 (Peterson) Increases ceiling for LGA/HACA offset exemption from $1.0 M to $1.5 M and eliminates "cliff" effect for ethanol plants (Sec. 3) HF147 (Ozment) Modifies many aspects of TIF law (Sec. 6-8, 12-16, 18-21, 27-29, and 31) Article 8 Sets amount of budget reserve and cash flow account at $350 million (Sec. 1) Article 9 HF1494 (Dawkins) Establishes local government efficiency and effectiveness panel to review applications from certain metro-area units of government for release of 5 percent of each unit's state aid; the application requires each metro-area county, city or town with a population greater than 5,000 to demonstrate that it has considered certain issues re: efficiency and inter-unit cooperation (new language) (Secs. 1 and 20) HF1755 (Onnen) Authorizes the Attorney General to investigate alleged misconduct re: revenue recapture and to suspend the revenue recapture authority of any offending unit of government. Establishes a procedure for a unit of government to challenge suspension by the Attorney General. Extends the jurisdiction of the taxpayer's rights advocate to include revenue recapture (Secs. 2-4, 7- 10, and 12-13) HF755 (Johnson, B.) Increases the premium tax on certain lines of insurance issued by certain kinds of insurance companies to increase funding for fire fighter and police pensions and other purposes (Sec. 5-6) HF1653 (Dawkins) Requires units of government using revenue recapture to provide written notice to the debtor advising the debtor of her right to contest the validity of the unit's claim at a hearing (Sec. 11) HF1820 (Bakk) Extends the sunset of the allocation of taconite taxes to the taconite economic development fund from the end of 1996 to the end of 1997 at the present allocation rate of 15.4 cents per ton (Sec. 14) HF1569 (Mulder) Authorizes Rock County to impose a tax on gravel (Sec. 15) HF1470 (Garcia) Increases amount that a charitable organization may deduct for the premises used for lawful gambling other than bingo from $15,000 to $35,000 (Sec. 16) HF149 (Olson, E.) Repeals the limit on the amount of funds counties may appropriate or accumulate for societies or organizations involved in economic or agricultural resource development (Sec. 17) HF1840 (Wenzel) Permanently increases annual LGA for Pillager by $40,000 (Secs. 18 and 25) HF916 (Murphy) Permanently increases annual HACA for Hermantown (Sec. 21) HF449 (Mulder) Authorizes Pipestone County to issue $598,000 of GO bonds to pay for repair and renovation of its county courthouse. (Sec. 22) HF183 (Peterson) Authorizes Swift County to create a rural development finance authority that has the powers of a city's economic development authority, other than the power to issue GO bonds, as well as the powers of a rural development finance authority; exempts Swift County from some of the restrictions that are imposed on cities when forming economic development authorities (Sec. 23) HF955 (Dehler) Authorizes Morrison County to issue GO bonds in an amount not to exceed $1.2 million for improvements to its county fairground (Sec. 24) In the Hopper . . . May 5 - 11, 1995 BILL INTRODUCTIONS Friday, May 5 HF1896--Lourey (DFL) Education School district levies reduced, transportation and general education state aid increased, and individual income tax rates modified. HF1897--Munger (DFL) Environment and Natural Resources White Pine Restoration Act adopted. HF1898--Kahn (DFL) International Trade & Economic Development National Hockey League franchise controlling interest purchase by state provided, and money appropriated. Monday, May 8 HF1899--Finseth (IR) Environment and Natural Resources Hunting, trapping, and angling lawful activity impedance or obstruction prohibited, and penalties provided. HF1900--Tomassoni (DFL) Governmental Operations Video lottery terminal operation authorized, pull- tab and tipboard taxation method modified, amateur sports commission renamed, and penalties prescribed. Tuesday, May 9 HF1901--Huntley (DFL) Economic Development, Infrastructure & Regulation Finance St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center addition construction provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF1902--Smith (IR) Labor-Management Relations Public employee number limit imposed and constitutional amendment proposed. HF1903--Smith (IR) Governmental Operations Appropriations not to exceed consumer price index rate increases, and constitutional amendment proposed. HF1904--Carlson (DFL) Governmental Operations Legislature permitted to call itself into special session and constitutional amendment proposed. Wednesday, May 10 HF1905--Perlt (DFL) Environment and Natural Resources Toxics in products prohibition exemption provided for certain transportation safety materials. HF1906--Pugh (DFL) Judiciary Joint and several liability apportionment regulated. HF1907--Mares (IR) Judiciary Education data directory information designation and release limited. HF1908--Jefferson (DFL) Governmental Operations Minneapolis Fire Department Relief Association retirement administration provisions recodified. HF1909--Garcia (DFL) Transportation and Transit Bus definition expanded to include special transportation service vehicles. Thursday, May 11 HF1910--Olson, E. (DFL) Ways and Means Corrections and veterans affairs departments appropriated money for payment of claims against the state. MINNESOTA INDEX Workers' compensation in Minnesota Annual workers' compensation costs to Minnesota employers, in billions, 1993 $1.22 Cost to employers, in millions, 1980 $471 Cost per day, in millions, 1993 $3.3 Cost to employers per $100 of payroll, 1993 $2.46 Number of Minnesota workers injured on the job or who become ill from job-related causes, each day, 1993 435 Number of workers' compensation claims, 1993 159,600 in 1980 149,600 Cases where the worker received a cash benefit to compensate for "lost wages, functional impairment, or death, 1993 38,900 Cases where only medical or rehabilitation costs were paid, 1993 120,700 Minnesotans killed on the job, 1993 113 in 1991 89 Rate of Minnesota men fatally injured on the job compared to women 8:1 Nationwide, deaths on the job, 1993 6,271 Rank of the construction industry, in number of claims filed as a percentage of workers 1 Rank of the services industry in number of claims filed 1 Injured workers who are between 30 and 39 years of age 1 in 3 Ratio of injured men to injured women 2 to 1 Claims resulting in a cash workers' compensation claim resulting from a back injury 1 in 3 Maximum grant award a business could receive from the Department of Labor and Industry for "projects designed to reduce the risk of injury and illness to their employees" $10,000 Amount given out by the department, October- December 1994 $129,000 Calls to the department's workers' compensation hotline, per year 80,000 Number of different languages posters on work safety and other labor standards are published in 6 Employees in the department's Workers' Compensation Fraud Unit 7 Investigations completed by the unit, January 1993 - May 11, 1995 101 Number of independent contractors, insurance agents, employers, and claimants charged with workers' compensation-related crimes 43 Number of those convicted 19 Cases pending 14 Source: Minnesota Workplace Safety Report: Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in Minnesota, 1993, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Research and Education Unit.