Posted: 1/12/05
By T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
The first wash of bills have been filed at the Capitol. Thousands will follow.
House File (H.F.) 1 is a sex-offender bill, which calls for life sentences without the possibility of parole for first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
H.F. 2 deals with healthcare cost containment, and H.F. 3 is a capital investment bill.
Other first wave House bills include a proposed constitutional amendment on a motor vehicle sales tax dedication to transportation, a bill authored by Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville.
Three Anoka County lawmakers, Kathy Tingelstad, Barb Goodwin, and Jim Abeler, are authors on H.F. 14 dealing with policies on school bullying.
The first bill filed in the Senate was the bonding bill, with Senate File, or S.F. 2, an accounting bill requiring the disclosure of the impact of inflation on the state budget.
In a bipartisan move before the 2002 election, lawmakers voted to remove inflationary factors from spending projections.
The Senate Capital Investment Committee looked over Gov. Pawlentyís environment package of his proposed bonding bill and found it wanting.
ìOh yes,î said Senate Capital Investment Chairman Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon.
ìHeís light there. Like I said, I think the higher education is worst dollar-wise,î said Langseth.
ìBut heís light on the flood (hazard mitigation grants),î said Langseth. The governor is $10 million too low, he explained.
The All-Terrain Vehicle Association of Minnesota (ATVAM) wants to make mandatory ATV training for all riders born after July 1, 1987.
The group also wants mandatory training for riders who are ticketed while riding their ATV.
ATVAM is proposing an independent study CD-ROM ATV training program that would an extension of a current DNR program used for ATV youth safety training.
Anyone wanting to ride on public lands would be need to be certified to have taken the independent study course, under the ATVAM proposal.
The recreation vehicle group also wants to make mandatory for all riders 12 to 15 years-old a voluntary ìhands-onî ATV course currently taught by the DNR
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