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February 25, 2007

February 25, 2007 Legislative Update

Legislation changes fast and frequently as bills move through committees. If you contact a legislator and discover that a proposal you are calling about has been amended since you heard, thank them for the information and then verify. Legislators and their staff are well aware that everything is in constant motion. Even they sometimes can't keep up with it all. Don't be embarrassed about not being up-to-the-minute. Lawmakers need to get the message that there is real resistance to the direction they're headed on some of these very serious issues.

Here is our latest report on the bills we have brought to your attention:

1. HF 169/ SF 92 (Infant Mental Screening Alert)

For EdWatch testimony in the House E-12 Education Policy Committee on February 13th, you may listen to the streaming audio or download MP3. HF 169 passed the E-12 Education Policy committee, and it was referred to the Early Childhood Learning Finance Division. That hearing is scheduled for Thursday, March 1st, at 4:00 p.m. in Room 200 of the State Office Building. The offending language on infant mental health was NOT removed.

The Senate version, SF 92, was heard Monday, February 19, in the Senate Education Committee. The chief author, Senator Terri Bonoff, amended out the word "behavioral," so the Senate version no longer has the overt reference to infant mental health from the federal program, as discussed in our alert. She is to be thanked. Senator David Hann expressed concern about implementing a coordinated government system for early childhood programs. Senator Gen Olson also expressed concerns about how early childhood programs can undermine parental authority, and we may see some genuine improvement in this bill. Stay tuned. It was referred to the Senate State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Committee.

2. HF 585/SF 579 (Bad Data Justifies Nanny State Expansion)

HF 585 was heard in the House E-12 Education Policy Committee on Feb 15th (link to full audio here). Some committee members on both sides of the aisle demonstrated serious reservations and even Chairman Carlos Mariani (D) changed his recommendation from passing to sending it on to the Early Childhood Finance Committee without recommendation. It is scheduled to be heard in the House Early Childhood Learning Finance Division on Tuesday, February 27th at 4:00 p.m. in Room 200 of the State Office Building.

SF 579 was heard Monday, February 19, 2007 in the Senate Education Committee. It passed and was referred to the Senate Finance Committee. Senator Wergin has removed herself as an author of the bill. She is be thanked.

3. HF 595 /SF 434 (Home Visiting Womb to Tomb Control)

HF 595 was heard Thursday, February 22nd in the House Health and Human Services Committee. The author of the bill removed the "universal" language of the home visiting bill. However, there are many serious problems remaining. For example:

The amended version that took out "universal" also now targets not only mothers, but mothers-to-be (pre-natal) who are broadly classified as "high risk"of long term welfare dependency.
The amended version added a list of 10 risk factors, including an open-ended "other risk factors," as defined by the commissioner of health. In other words, "other risk factors" could include just about anyone.
Parents are not informed that during a home visit, data is being collected on them, their home environment, their family and their relationships, and that the data is kept in their files.
Parents are not informed that they may opt out of the home visit.
Low-income families are highlighted, but focusing simply on income includes, for example, two parent families that sacrifice to keep mom at home, maybe so they can home school. Low income families are red-flagged as "at risk" for welfare dependency and targeted for visits from the state.
The child receives a data number (MN Automated Recorded System) at the home visiting program that sends all data on that child on to a federal database (National Center on Educational Statistics) in Washington.
The bill allows a full roster of government agencies to share medical, mental health, home environment and family interaction data.

It passed and is referred to the House Health Care and Human Services Finance Division .

SF 434 has been referred to the Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee.

4. HF 302/SF 274 (An Assault on Families and Freedom)

HF 302 was heard was heard in the House E-12 Education Policy Committee on Feb 15th, and was laid over for further consideration. Some committee members demonstrated serious reservations. HF 302 will be heard again on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.

SF 274 is scheduled for the Senate E-12 Education Budget Division on Tuesday, February 27th at 8:30 a.m. in Room 112, Capitol Building.

5. HF 306/SF 148 ( Minnesota Introduces Legislation to fund TeenScreen)

HF 306 has not been heard. It is referred to the House K-12 Finance Division. However, the same language is included in a House omnibus bill (HF 196) that was heard Friday, February 23rd at 10:00 in the House Mental Health Division. An amendment was introduced by Rep. Tingelstad to remove TeenScreen funding from the bill, and her amendment failed. The bill passed and was referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee.

SF 148 is part of an omnibus bill and it will be heard on Monday, February 26th at 12:30 pm in Room 15 in the Capitol in the Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee. Dr. Effrem will testify.

6. HF 233, HF 417, and HF 804 ( Terrorism as taught by International Baccalaureate)

These three International Baccalaureate bills were heard in the House E-12 Education Policy Committee on Tuesday, Feb 20th. Our report is here. Streaming audio of the hearing can be heard here, or download MP3. All three were referred to the House K -12 Finance Division, where they were already heard on Thursday, February 22nd. They are waiting to be included in the House Education omnibus bill. EdWatch again testified against the bills.

The Senate versions (SF 220, SF 448, and SF589) are referred to the Senate Education Committee.

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952-361-4931 / http://edaction.org

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