Politics & Government

District 39 Legislators Advance Elevator Bill, Oppose Party Endorsements During Session

Here's a slice of what the legislators representing the Mendota Heights area were up to last week.

Both major state political parties hosted nominating conventions last year during the Minnesota Legislature’s session. The pomp and circumstance of choosing party nominees was a distraction from the work at the capitol, and created a partisan backdrop that Rep. Rick Hansen (D-District 39A) wants to avoid in the future.

“I think having major political endorsement battles during the session is not good etiquette,” said Hansen. “You have people who are running for statewide office distracted from the task at hand.”

A bill submitted by Hansen last week would prohibit any party that uses public funding to host a nominating convention during the Legislature’s regular session.

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The bill also moves the filing period for affidavits of candidacy for state, municipal and school board elections that host a primary two weeks earlier, between 70 and 56 days before the primary.

A bill sponsored by Sen. James Metzen (D-District 39) that would give more time to building owners to comply with is ready for a floor vote. The building management must submit a plan for how they will meet the code requirements within a three-year grace period if they do not make the upgrades before the deadline of Jan. 1, 2012.

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The bill was presented in committee last week by bill co-sponsor and committee chair Sen. Geoff Michel (R-District 41). Metzen is working reduced hours at the capitol due to an back injury and could not be reached for comment.

The owner of Overlook Condominiums in Lilydale also addressed the committee. Tom O’Connell said the new codes require upgrades that will prevent elevator doors from opening between floors and, in the case of a fire alarm, direct the elevator to a designated stop point and open the doors.

The costs for his building’s repairs were estimated to be $100,000 per elevator, said O’Connell at the hearing, “which is a significant number for a small building.
“We’re a little disappointed in the cost benefit of what we’re facing, but right now what we need is more time.”

The Legislature is now on spring break and activity is scheduled to resume April 26.

 

Sen. Jim Metzen

Existing bills authored by Sen. Jim Metzen

Status updated:

—A bill for elevator code changes compliance timeline modification was swapped for its identical House companion, HF664, which has already passed on the House floor. SF617 introduced March 4

No change:

— Jobs and economic development appropriations. SF899 Portions of this bill were incorporated into SF887, the Senate’s jobs and economic development omnibus appropriations bill. introduced March 16

—Small business investment tax credit provisions modifications. SF790 incorporated into SF887 introduced March 14

—Inflow and infiltration reduction program metropolitan area grants appropriation. SF797 awaits a hearing in the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. introduced March 14

—Water quality enhancement citizen participation in the Star Lakes pilot program appropriation. SF796 awaits a hearing in the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. introduced March 14 

—A bill for probate and appointment proceedings time period modification awaits a hearing in the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. SF587 introduced March 4

—A bill for trunk highway #55 and county state-aid highway #63 (Argenta Trail) interchange construction environmental impact statement and scoping bond issue and appropriation awaits a hearing in the Transportation Committee. SF484 introduced Feb. 28

—A resolution urging support for the Republic of China as a part of the global community awaits a hearing in the State Government and Innovation Committee. SF483 introduced Feb. 28  

—A bill for an act relating to capital investment; appropriating money for the Darvan Acres Nature Center; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds. SF482 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill relating to natural resources; appropriating money from the Outdoor Natural Heritage Fund for Darvan Acres Nature Center awaits a hearing in the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. SF481 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill relating to capital improvements; appropriating $250,000 in bond proceeds for a transit facility on the Robert Street Corridor awaits a hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. SF531 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill relating to energy; regulating projects funded by renewable development
account awaits a hearing in the Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee. SF495 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill providing Trunk highway #52 noise barrier replacement bond issue and appropriation of $3 million awaits a hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. SF391 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill providing bonding money for inflow and infiltration projects awaits a committee hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. This is the companion bill to HF74. SF49 introduced Jan. 18

— A bill providing $240,000 for Inver Grove Heights historical buildings rehabilitation and capital improvements grant bond issue and appropriation of $240,000 awaits a committee hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. SF297 introduced Feb. 10

 

Rep. Rick Hansen

New legislation:

— A bill to prohibit political parties using public money from holding nominating conventions during the legislative session and making changes to the school board candidate filing window was introduced and awaits a hearing in the Government Operations and Elections Committee. HF1454 introduced April 14.

Existing bills authored by Rep. Rick Hansen

No change:

A technical bill to modify Legislative auditor governing provisions. HF1332 awaits a hearing in the Government Operations and Elections Committee. introduced March 30

Phase 1 Capitol security and access improvements money appropriated. HF1287 awaits a hearing in the State Government Finance  Committee. introduced March 23

—Water supply and groundwater degradation prevention provided, and money appropriated from the clean water fund. HF1127 Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. introduced March 14

Legislative Environment Commission established; Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Clean Water Council, and Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources eliminated; water system improvement loan program eliminated; appropriations from outdoor heritage fund modified; and appointments provided. HF1073 awaits a hearing in the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. introduced March 14

—A bill to provide funds for the state Capitol building was reviewed and laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus appropriations bill in the Legacy Funding Division. HF777 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill to provide competitive grant money for arts education to k-12 students awaits a hearing in the Legacy Funding Division. HF778 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill to allow Mighty Duck grants to be used for new or renovated air handling systems of indoor ice facilities awaits a hearing in the State Government and Finance Committee. HF684 introduced Feb. 24

— A bill providing bonding money for Highway 52 barrier replacement awaits a hearing in the Transportation Policy and Finance Committee. HF477 introduced Feb. 14

—A bill providing $1 million to the city of South St. Paul to replace a pumping station on the floodwall awaits a hearing in the Jobs and Economic Development Committee. This is the companion bill to SF145. HF277 introduced Jan. 31

— A bill providing bonding money for inflow and infiltration projects awaits a committee hearing in the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. HF74 introduced Jan. 13

—A bill providing $25 million in bonds for conservation easements to be purchased by the Board of Water and Soil Resources, with priority given to flood prone land in southeast Minnesota awaits a hearing in the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. HF109 introduced Jan. 18  


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