Capitol Review: Area Legislator Wants Tougher Standards on Dog Breeders

Editor’s Note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they’re voting, the bills they’re writing and the issues they’re getting behind. Come back to Minnetonka Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review.

Minnetonka’s State lawmakers: Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43), Sen. David Hann (R-District 42), Sen. Gen Olson (R-District 33), Rep. John Benson (DFL-District 43B), Rep. Connie Doepke (R-District 33B), and Rep. Kirk Stensrud (R-District 42A).

• SF 60, the GOP-crafted budget bill which would have cut almost $1 billion from the State’s looming $6.2 billion budget deficit, was passed almost two weeks ago. But because this Senate version made more modest cuts than the House version of the same bill, HF 130, the legislation needed to be negotiated in conference over the last week. And after conference negotiation, the legislation (SF 60/ HF 130) was voted on again by the legislature on Feb. 10. Sens. Olson and Hann and Reps. Doepke and Stensrud voted for the legislation, while Sen. Bonoff and Rep. Benson voted against it. The budget bill was passed and then sent to Gov. Dayton who in turn, vetoed it.

 Sen. Gen Olson (R-District 33)

• On Feb. 9, introduced SF 272, a bill permitting a onetime fund transfer for Independent School District No. 879, Delano. The bill was referred to the Committee on Education, which Sen. Olson chairs.
• On Feb. 14, will introduce, in partnership with Sen. Bonoff, SF 315, a bill modifying school lease levy authority by allowing lease agreements in place of lease purchase agreements to finance improvements. The bill will be referred to the Committee on Education.
• On Feb. 14, will introduce SF 334, a bill modifying charter school authorizer restrictions. The bill will be referred to the Committee on Education.
• On Feb. 14, Senators Hann, Olson and Bonoff will collectively introduce, SF 325, a bill establishing the MNovate commission to provide leadership for the creation of
new and innovative models of public schools and schooling. The bill will be referred to the Committee on Education.
• Earlier in the session, Sens. Olson and Hann co-authored SF 56, which would from July 2011 to June 2013. The bill would also put strict limits on a school employee’s ability to strike over a school's refusal to raise salaries. On Feb. 10, the Senate passed this bill, 36-29. Sens. Olson and Hann voted for the legislation while Sen. Bonoff voted against the legislation.

 Sen. David W. Hann (R-District 42)

• On Jan. 31, introduced SF 160, the "Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act" which prohibits actions against
certain persons for weight gain as a result of consuming certain foods.
• On Feb. 14, will introduce SF 302, a bill regulating dental plan contracts and provider audits. The bill will be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43)

• On Feb. 14 ,will introduce SF 306, a bill appropriating money to public schools’ fiber optic infrastructure grant program. The bill will be referred to the Committee on Capital Investment.
• On Feb. 14, will introduce SF 331, a bill creating an early childhood education scholarship finance system, providing tax credits for training and retaining early education workers and improving quality early childhood education programming. The bill will be referred to the Committee on Education.
• On Feb. 10, introduced SF 283, a bill providing tax credit for investment in start-up and emerging Minnesota businesses. The bill was referred to the Committee on Jobs and Economic Growth.
• On Feb. 10, introduced SF 300, a bill establishing a Minnesota science and technology program--a commercialized research program to accelerate science and technology products commercialization, a federal research and development support program to increase federal funding, and an industry technology and competitiveness program to advance technological capacity. The bill was referred to the Committee on Jobs and Economic Growth.
• To read Sen. Bonoff’s latest Capitol update, click here.

Rep. John Benson (DFL-District 43B)

• On Feb. 7, introduced HF 388, a bill establishing dog and cat breeder standards of care provided, fees established, rule making
 authorized, criminal penalties provided, and money appropriated.