Legislative Session Begins

The 2008 legislative session begins today, and it promises to get off to a very quick start. The first committee deadline is March 14, which gives policy committees just slightly over a month to hear and process bills. Action on the bonding bill, which funds capital projects, will be very swift. Governor Pawlenty has said he wants the Legislature to send him a bonding bill no later than March 15, and legislative leaders have said they expect to have it to him even sooner than that. Despite the quick start, most observers expect the session to last until the constitutionally mandated adjournment date of May 19.

Here is a look at key issues for libraries:

Library Accessibility and Improvement Grants: MLA/MEMO is requesting $10 million for this grant program, which funds construction and renovation of public library buildings. This is a very ambitious request, given that we have never received more than $1.5 million for these grants in any bonding bill. The Department of Education submitted a request for $10 million through the Governor's process, but Governor Pawlenty did not include any funding for libraries in his capital budget. The Governor allocated nearly 40% of his capital budget to transportation, leaving little room for other projects. The Legislature will For every dollar available to be spent in the bonding bill, more than $4 has been requested, so competition is extremely fierce.

Our bill, HF 2558, has been introduced by Rep Mary Murphy (DFL - Hermantown). Co-authors are Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL - Minneapolis), Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL - Roseville), Rep.Sondra Erickson (R - Princeton) and Rep. Bud Heidgerken (R - Freeport). Our bill will be heard on Tuesday, February 12 in the House K-12 Education Finance Division at 2:15pm in Room 10, State Office Building. We have an excellent group of witnesses who will testify in support of the bill.

The bill will be introduced in the Senate this week. The chief author in the Senate is Senator Dan Skogen (DFL - Hewitt). Our bill will be heard on Tuesday, February 19 in the Senate E-12 Education Finance Division at 8:30am in Room 112, Capitol.

ELM Bill: A bill to allow public libraries that are not members of their regional public library system to have access to the ELM databases will be introduced shortly by Senator Ann Lynch (DFL - Rochester). It is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, February 20 at 3pm in Room 15 of the Capitol. MLA opposes this bill. It has been a longstanding state policy that public libraries must be members of their regional public library in order to benefit from state library funding. State funding provides an incentive for libraries to cooperate together in order to deliver services effectively. This bill would undermine that incentive.

LMS Bill: The MLA/MEMO platform calls for legislation requiring all students to have the regular services of a licensed school media specialist. The bill is being drafted by legislative staff and Doug Johnson and I just negotiated the final bill language this morning. It will be ready for introduction soon. Our chief authors are Senator Kathy Saltzman (DFL - Woodbury) and Rep. Marcia Swails (DFL - Woodbury). This bill will be controversial and is likely to be opposed by school district lobbyists because it is an unfunded mandate.

Budget: The state has a budget deficit, and the only question is how large that deficit is. The November economic forecast projected a deficit of $373 million. The economy has worsened since then, and the next forecast, which will be released on February 28, is expected to show a much larger deficit, possibly even approaching $1 billion. Under that scenario, budget cuts are very likely. It will also make it next to impossible for the Legislature to increase funding for cities and counties and schools. The MLA/MEMO platform supports increases in aid to cities and counties and in the general education formula for schools.