Team MAPE Legislative Update 3/30

Team MAPE Legislative Session Update

March 30, 2009

Results From Last Week:

Last Friday was the deadline for all bills to make it through the policy committee in their body (House or Senate) of origin in order to advance through the legislative process.  Bills that do not get through a policy committee will generally not resurface.  It is a rare exception that a bill would resurface and would be required to go through the Committee on Rules in order to do so.

 

H.F.1143 received a hearing on the elimination of state tree nurseries and selected fish hatcheries over the next five years.  The House’s Game, Fish and Forestry Division held a hearing and set the bill aside to be considered for inclusion in their omnibus bill.  There was no vote on the bill.  We will be watching this bill very closely.  Currently, the Senate companion bill has not been introduced. There is a large discrepancy in the costs between private proposals and state costs.  The state fisheries include one fishery used only as a research facility and a significant cost associated with central office expenditures.

 

S.F. 713 received a hearing on establishing a program to solicit suggestions from state employees for ways to reduce the costs of operating state government or providing better or more efficient state services. An employee or group of employees could receive a onetime award if their suggestion is determined by the commissioner to have resulted in documented cost-savings to the state. The maximum award is the lesser of ten percent of the documented savings in the first year in which the employee's suggestion is implemented or $2,500.  This bill was passed and was referred onto the Senate Finance Committee.
 
S.F. 271 received a hearing on protecting state employees in the classified service of state government who communicate information, which they believe to be truthful and accurate, to a legislator, legislative auditor or constitutional officer.   This bill passed out of Judiciary and was sent to the Senate floor where it received a second reading.
 
S.F. 1153 received a hearing on requiring that health insurance benefits be made available to domestic partners of state employees if they are also made available to spouses.  The bill passed out of State and local Government Operations and Oversight and was referred to the Senate’s State Government Budget Division.
 

 

This Week in the Legislature:
Now that the first bill deadline has come and gone, it is important to follow each and every bill that pops up on the schedule.  Bills can be added and scheduled the day before they are heard as things begin moving rapidly.   In an effort not to prioritize the importance of legislation to each individual represented, I have listed actual bills scheduled for hearings that have the largest impact on state employees.  It is likely additional bills will come up as the week progresses.
 
HEARING SCHEDULED:  Information Technology – Data Center Consolidation:
Today, the Senate’s State Government Budget Division will hold a hearing at 12:30 p.m. in room 112 of the capitol on the consolidation of the state’s data centers.  MAPE has a concern that consolidation, as it is outlined in the Governor’s budget proposal, opens the door for OET management to consolidate data centers using leased space in the private sector.  This could result in another loss of nearly 60 MAPE jobs.  MAPE will be having a member testifying in opposition to the issue.
 
Additionally, the committee will also hear S.F.1052 requiring the commissioner of finance, in consultation with other relevant state agencies and interested parties shall study issues related to the inclusion of school district employees in the state employee group insurance plan or the public employee insurance plan, or both plans.  This bill would allow MAPE to be a participant in the study.
 
The link to contact members of the State Government Division is http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=2004&ls=#members.
 
HEARING SCHEDULED:  State Employee Vacation Donation Program Expansion
On Monday at 3:00 p.m. in room 123 of the Capitol, the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Operations and Oversight will hold a hearing on S.F.702 expanding the vacation donation program to allow employees to donate 40 hours of vacation or sick leave and allow the recipient to use the time without a waiting period.  The link to contact members of the Committee on state and Local Government Operations and Oversight is http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=1026&ls=#members.
 
HEARING SCHEDULED:  Public Employee Retirement Incentives
On Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in room 112 of the Capitol, the Senate’s State Government Budget Division will hold a hearing on S.F.1679 providing a possible early retirement incentive of up to 36 months of employer paid health insurance at the rate specified in the collective bargaining agreement. The link to contact members of the State Government Division is http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=2004&ls=#members.
 
HEARING SCHEDULED:  State Employee Suggestion System
On Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in room 123 of the Capitol, the Senate’s Finance Committee will hear S.F.713 establishing a state employee suggestion system for making state government less costly or more efficient and provide an award system at a maximum of $2500.  The link to contact members of the Finance Committee is http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=1007&ls=#members.

In Solidarity,
Richard Kolodziejski
MAPE Legislative Affairs Director

Team MAPE Legislative Update 3/23

Team MAPE Legislative Session Update
March 23, 2009

Results From Last Week:

Last week was a great week at the legislature for MAPE employees.  On Tuesday, after extensive discussion, the Pension Commission voted against the motion to incorporate the pension provision of H.F.1279 into the Pension Omnibus Bill.  Those provisions included removing all MAPE job classes from the Correctional Employee Retirement Plan.  The provisions still exist in the Public Safety and DHS Budget bills.  This is a small victory in the fight to keep MAPE employees in the plan.

Wednesday, State Rep. Westrom pulled his bill requiring the Department of Corrections to transfer custody and control of the Minnesota Correctional Facility - Moose Lake to the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services and transfer offenders housed at MCF Moose Lake to a privately owned and operated medium security facility within the state.  MAPE members alone made 279 member-to-legislator contacts to express opposition to HF 1280.  In Rep. Westrom’s responses to members, he specifically cited the communications he received from Corrections employees as a major influence in his decision.  This goes to show what impact each MAPE employee can have on the process.

MAPE and AFSCME worked to eliminate required patient-centered decision-making processes for SEGIP employees before certain procedures are reimbursed under state employee health insurance program and medical assistance.  Legislators agreed that health insurance requirements belong at the collective bargaining table.

This Week in the Legislature:

The truth is that we are approaching the 4,000 mark for number of legislative bills introduced.  There are well over 100 bills that impact MAPE represented employees in one way or another.  In an effort not to prioritize the importance of legislation to each individual represented, I have listed actual bills scheduled for hearings that have the largest impact on state employees.  It is important to know, that Friday is the bill deadline for getting a bill through the policy committees in the legislature.  This significantly decreases the threat and/or likelihood of seeing additional bills not heard in a policy committee advance in the legislative process.

HEARING SCHEDULED:  Eliminating State Tree Planting Stock Nurseries Fish Hatcheries:

Today at 4:30pm, the House’s Game, Fish and Forestry Division will hold a hearing on H.F.1143 in the basement of the State Office Building.  This bill eliminates the State’s tree planting stock nurseries and the state fish hatcheries over the course of the next five years.  The state’s forest nursery program is not structured or managed to compete with the private sector.  Seedlings purchased from state forest nurseries cannot be used for ornamental purposes, the soil and water conservation districts are the only organizations allowed by statute to purchase and resell seedlings from the state forest nurseries to the public, state nursery seedling sales are capped, and seedlings are sold at a price established to recover production and infrastructure costs only.

State Fish hatcheries are also not managed or structured to compete with the private sector.  Hatchery numbers are capped at a lower number than private sector companies to preserve waters and the environment, the hatcheries are managed by the same number of employees who do additional work throughout the year including testing for mercury and other contaminants, netting, tagging and stocking.  Private competitors are only interested in loading waters down with fry to increase the number of fish raised each year causing irreversible damage to the rearing ponds, public waters, and wildlife.  
Please take the time to contact the bill’s author at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/mailto.asp?id=10776 or the members of the Game, Fish and Forestry Division at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/committeemembers.asp?comm=86137.

HEARING SCHEDULED:  Employee Suggestion System For Cost-Savings
Today at 12:30, the Senate State Government Budget Division will hear S.F. 713 in room 112 of the State Capitol.  The bill establishes a program to solicit suggestions from state employees for ways to reduce the costs of operating state government or providing better or more efficient state services. An employee or group of employees could receive a onetime award if their suggestion is determined by the commissioner to have resulted in documented cost-savings to the state. The maximum award is the lesser of ten percent of the documented savings in the first year in which the employee's suggestion is implemented or $2,500.  To contact members of the State Government Budget Division, go to http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=2004&ls=#members.

HEARING SCHEDULED:  State Employee Whistleblower Protections
On Tuesday, S.F. 271 will be heard in the Senate’s Committee on Judiciary in room 15 of the state capitol at 6:00 p.m.  This bill protects state employees in the classified service of state government who communicate information that the employee, in good faith, believes to be truthful and accurate, and that relates to state services to a legislator, legislative auditor or constitutional officer.   To contact members of the Judiciary Committee, go to http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=1016&ls=#members.

HEARING SCHEDULED:  State Employee Domestic Partner Insurance Coverage
On Friday at 10:00 a.m. in room 112 of the state capitol, the Committee on State and Local Government Operations and Oversight will hear S.F. 1153 requiring that health insurance benefits be made available to domestic partners of state employees if they are also made available to spouses.  To contact members of the Senate’s State Government Budget Division, go to http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=2004&ls=#members.

FUTURE HEARING SCHEDULED: Information Technology Outsourcing
On March 30th, the Senate’s State Government Budget Division will hold another hearing on the problems surrounding the outsourcing of information technology.  Anyone wishing to testify on the concerns of outsourcing the state’s information technology especially data centers and their management should contact me immediately at rkolodziejski@mape.org.

In Solidarity,

Richard Kolodziejski
MAPE Legislative Affairs Director

 

 

Team MAPE News 3/19

Team MAPE Newsletter

March 19th, 2009

Urgent Negotiations Update. Yesterday, MAPE negotiators and management met in our first round of contract negotiations. Before proposals were exchanged, both sides agreed this will likely be a very difficult negotiations cycles due to the $6.2 billion deficit the State of Minnesota faces and the worst recession since the 1940s. And that was where the agreement ended. CLICK HERE FOR AN URGENT MEMBERS ONLY NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE. Please encourage all MAPE members to sign up for personal email updates. As the negotiations and legislative processes continue, this will be the only way members will get regular, accurate updates. SEND THIS LINK TO ALL FULL MAPE MEMBERS: http://www.mape.org/forms/stayconnected.asp. Moose Lake Corrections Victory! Yesterday MAPE members made 279 member-to-legislator contacts to express opposition to HF 1280. This bill would have transferred inmates from the Moose Lake Correctional Facility to a private facility in Appleton, Minnesota. MAPE strongly opposes this bill because it would have eliminated MAPE jobs and put public safety at risk. Senator Tony Lourey and Representative Bill Hilty have gone on record saying this is a "colossally bad idea." There was a hearing scheduled for tonight on this bill. Late last night we received from Rep. Westrom that he is pulling the bill of the agenda for tomorrow's hearing! In a message to MAPE members, Westrom specifically cited the communications he received from Corrections employees for helping to influence his decision. Congratulations to all MAPE members that contacted their legislators on this important issue! This issue is a perfect example of how getting involved in the legislative process and making your voice heard can have a huge impact. Click here to read Rep. Westrom's email to MAPE members announcing that he decided to pull the bill off the agenda. Our work with the state Legislature is far from over. This will be one of the most difficult legislative sessions we have ever seen. Team MAPE makes victories like the Moose Lake Correctional bill possible by making it simple and easy for members to contact their legislators. Having friends in the legislature, like Rep. Bill Hilty and Sen. Tony Lourey who called this bill a "colossally bad idea" also helps a great deal. Help keep the momentum going! CLICK HERE TO INCREASE YOUR SUPPORT FOR TEAM MAPE. Read the Team MAPE weekly Legislative Update. Privatization is word at the Capitol. Whether in IT or Corrections, MAPE is fighting the idea that prioritization and outsourcing will save the state money. For more information about current out sourcing proposals, read the Team MAPE legislative update. CLICK HERE TO READ THE LATEST TEAM MAPE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE. Help Rep. Keith Ellison support the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). The Team MAPE legislative priorities state that "MAPE supports the right of all workers to earn adequate wages, organize labor unions and bargain collectively." MAPE support the EFCA because it will help unions organize and decrease the inequities between workers and CEOs. Join Congressman Keith Ellison in support of Employee Free Choice Act at this important event on March 21st. To contact your legislators, please visit TeamMAPE.org.

Rep. Westrom pulls prison outsourcing bill; Moose Lake hearing canceled

Yesterday, MAPE members made 279 member-to-legislator contacts to express opposition to HF 1280. Late last night, we received from Rep. Westrom that he is pulling the bill of the agenda for Thursday’s hearing! In a message to MAPE members, Westrom specifically cited the communications he received from Corrections employees for helping to influence his decision.

Congratulations to all MAPE members that contacted their legislators on this important issue! This issue is a perfect example of how getting involved in the legislative process and making your voice heard can have a huge impact.

Team MAPE makes victories like this possible by making it simple and easy for members to contact their legislators. Having friends in the legislature, like Rep. Bill Hilty and Sen. Tony Lourey who called this bill a "colossally bad idea" also helps a great deal. Help keep the momentum going! CLICK HERE TO INCREASE YOUR SUPPORT FOR TEAM MAPE.

This is the message MAPE members received from Rep. Westrom:

I have decided to remove House File 1280 (Moose Lake correctional facility bill) from tomorrow's Public Safety Committee agenda until further notice.
In recent days, I have heard from a number of Department of Corrections employees who have weighed in on this legislation. And while we may have disagreement on this issue, I appreciate your comments and feedback.

It is my understanding that a number of DOC employees, who contacted my office, had planned to travel to St. Paul for Thursday's hearing, and I wanted to give advance notice that this bill is being pulled from the committee agenda.

In addition to the comments regarding my bill, I was extremely interested in the number of examples of waste and top heavy governmental administration. It is my hope that anyone with further examples of wasteful governmental spending will email or call my office.

In this era of budget deficit, it is crucial that we look at any means of trimming cost and strive for greater efficiency in state government.

Thank you again for contacting my office and I look forward to hearing from you again with constructive comments and suggestions to move Minnesota forward.

Sincerely,

Torrey Westrom
State Representative

CLICK HERE TO INCREASE YOUR SUPPORT FOR TEAM MAPE.

Important Moose Lake Correctional Facility Hearing Thursday

Thursday at 6:15 the House Public Safety Policy and Oversight Committee will meet in room 10 of the State Office Building to hear House File 1280.

House File 1280 attempts to force the Department of Corrections to transfer custody and control of the Minnesota Correctional Facility - Moose Lake to the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services. The bill states that the DHS Commissioner must use the facility to house persons participating in the Minnesota sex offender program.  The Commissioner of the DOC shall transfer offenders housed at the Minnesota Correctional Facility – Moose Lake to a privately owned and operated medium security facility within the state. Simply put, this bill aims to privatize the Moose Lake Correctional facility. MAPE strongly opposes any efforts to privatize correctional facilities.

For more information, please contact Kendal Killian at MAPE at kkillian@mape.org.

Team MAPE Legislative Update 3/16

Team MAPE Legislative Session Update

March 16, 2009

PRIVATIZATION LEGISLATION

MAPE is watching the following legislation that can and will privatize state services and cost MAPE employees their jobs.  I encourage you to contact your legislators and let them know eliminating jobs is not going to help the state economy.

H.F.1280 (authored by Rep. Westrom)  http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/mailto.asp?id=10709
S.F.1188 (authored by Sen. Ingebrigtsen) mailto:sen.bill.ingebrigtsen@senate.mn
These bills require the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections to transfer custody and control of the Minnesota Correctional Facility - Moose Lake to the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services. The DHS Commissioner must use the facility to house persons participating in the Minnesota sex offender program.  The Commissioner of the DOC shall transfer offenders housed at the Minnesota Correctional Facility – Moose Lake to a privately owned and operated medium security facility within the state.  We believe there will be a hearing this coming Thursday on this bill in the House of Representatives!

H.F.1562 (authored by Rep. Huntley) http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/mailto.asp?id=10271
S.F.1344 (authored by Sen. Berglin) http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_emailform.php?mem_id=1005&ls=86
These bills require a request for proposal be done to develop a community-based mental health residential service for patients discharged from Anoka Regional Treatment Center.  This request for proposal is equivalent to 75 percent of the beds at Anoka RTC.  The result of the 75 percent vacancy in beds at the Anoka RTC will be closure of the majority of the facility. Unlike other bills in this section, the state employees working in the community-based residential services facilities under this proposal are state employees, however, employees are supervised by and report to the counties that operate the community-based residential services.  These employees would be very vulnerable for future cuts and layoffs.

H.F.1143 (authored by Rep. McNamara) http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/mailto.asp?id=10776
This bill eliminates one of the two state tree planting facilities and eliminates the second over a five year span.  Secondly, within five years, the Commissioner of DNR shall reduce and cease operation of state fish hatcheries and sell all remaining assets.

H.F.1486 (authored by Rep. Brod) http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/mailto.asp?id=10756
S.F.1291 (authored by Sen. Michel) mailto:sen.geoff.michel@senate.mn
These bills require the Commissioner of the Department of Administration to prepare a report on privatization potential and lack of competition with private enterprise along with a database of all assets owned by the State of Minnesota.

HEARING SCHEDULED:  Correctional Employees Retirement Program:
This Tuesday at 7:30pm, the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement will hold a hearing on H.F.1279 in room 123 of the State Capitol.  This is the bill that revises the CERP to remove all current MAPE employees in the plan. This bill affects everyone in the plan.  I would encourage everyone that would be impacted by the Department of Corrections and Department of Human Service’s proposals to show up at the hearing to show legislators that removing a term and condition of your employment based on the work you perform each day is not okay.  Legislators need to hear about the work you perform on a daily basis and the risks you take each and every day. 
 
I would also encourage everyone to contact the Governor’s office at (651) 296-3391 and tell him that any attempts to remove insurance benefits and terms and conditions of employment for employees in the Correctional Employees Retirement Plan must be negotiated at the bargaining table.
 

HEARING SCHEDULED: Information Technology Outsourcing
This Tuesday at 2:45 p.m. in room 5 of the State office Building, the House State Government Finance Division will hold a hearing on the outsourcing of information technology.  Anyone wishing to testify on the concerns of outsourcing state information technology especially data centers should contact me immediately.

S.F. 1395 was introduced this week by Sen. Betzold.  It is the Governor’s proposal for the state government division of the legislature.  That bill contains all of the Governor’s proposals including the consolidation of all the state’s data centers.  The proposal includes the cost to lease and operate a consolidated facility during fiscal year 2010 and a portion of 2011.  Right now, OET has no plans on where they could lease space.  It is a growing concern that the leased space may end up with a private entity such as Unisys or IBM.  A lease such as that would result in the initial loss of 60 jobs state wide.

I continue to gather information relating to the problems with outsourcing IT work.  The topic has not gone away and will continue to be pursued heavily by companies such as Unisys and IBM who stand to gain from the Governor’s proposal.  I would also encourage everyone to contact the Governor’s office at (651) 296-3391 and tell him outsourcing data center space operated by private sector employees is not the solution to the data center consolidation concerns.  The state should bond for the building of a data center and not allow private entity’s to store critical data expected of the State of Minnesota.  If you have any information on the problems created by outsourcing government IT work, please e-mail me at rkolodziejski@mape.org.

In Solidarity,

Richard Kolodziejski -MAPE Legislative Affairs Director

Team MAPE News 3/11

Team MAPE Newsletter

Team MAPE Day on the Hill was a huge success! By all accounts, Team MAPE Day on the Hill Wednesday at the state Capitol was an extraordinary success. "It was great," said MAPE Statewide President Chet Jorgensen. Nearly 200 MAPE members attended the event. Facing a nearly $5 billion state budget deficit, which may result in layoffs and cuts, both MAPE members and legislators are looking for solutions to the budget crisis. Attendees also heard from speakers like Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Tarryl Clark. Members spread out around the Capitol for meetings with their state senators and representatives, resulting in nearly 400 member-to-legislator contacts. Thanks to all that participated! CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES AND READ MORE ABOUT DAY ON THE HILL. Virtual Day on the Hill resulted in over 800 member to legislator contacts. Members asked legislators to support universal health care and whistle blower protection and to oppose a legislative wage freeze, elimination of corrections early retirement benefits, and changes to the state health-care pool. Our work with the state Legislature is far from over. Until a budget deal is reached, MAPE members will continually be asked to contact their legislators, asking for a balanced solution. For the latest updates on what's happening at the Capitol, please visit TeamMAPE.org. Read the MAPE Negotiations report. The MAPE negotiations team is hard at work, preparing for bargaining with the state. CLICK HERE TO READ THE MEMBERS ONLY NEGOTIATIONS REPORT. Take the MPR poll: Should government workers accept a wage freeze? Bob Collins of MPR has a poll up on the MPR blog regarding a state employee wage freeze. As you know, there legislation has been introduced that aims to prohibit wage increases for any state employee for over two years CLICK HERE TO READ THE STORY AND TAKE THE MPR POLL. Read the Team MAPE weekly Legislative Update. Things continue to move along rapidly at the Capitol. Some legislators are still working with the Governor to eliminate the Corrections Early Retirement benefit. MAPE is also working hard to prevent the out-sourcing of state IT jobs. CLICK HERE TO READ THE LATEST TEAM MAPE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE. Help Rep. Keith Ellison support the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). The Team MAPE legislative priorities state that "MAPE supports the right of all workers to earn adequate wages, organize labor unions and bargain collectively." MAPE support the EFCA because it will help unions organize and decrease the inequities between workers and CEOs. Join Congressman Keith Ellison in support of Employee Free Choice Act at this important event on March 21st. To contact your legislators, please visit TeamMAPE.org.

Team MAPE Legislative Update 3/9

Team MAPE Legislative Session Update

March 9th, 2009

Team MAPE Day on the Hill:

Thank you to the 200 MAPE employees who visited with their respective State Legislators and the additional 800 who participated in Team MAPE’s virtual day on the hill.  The turnout was the highest ever for MAPE Day on the Hill.  Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson-Kelliher and Senate Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark addressed members attending the morning rally.  For more details and photos please visit http://www.mape.org/legislature/leg2009/doh2009030509.asp.   

Corrections Early Retirement Program:

This week the Chair of the House Public Safety Finance Committee and the committee’s Lead Republican authored H.F. 1279.  The bill consists of the Governor’s proposal for Corrections and Public Safety.   The bill removes employees from the plan back to 1996, requires them to work ten years longer to qualify for a pension and uses their pension money to purchase General Fund Retirement Plan service credit.  This bill affects everyone in the plan.  If this were to be signed into law, current participants would have to pay an additional 2.3 percent of their pay if they were to offset the accrued liability to the plan.

The Department of Corrections finished their budget proposal in hearings this week.  The House Public Safety Finance committee may be taking public testimony including that on the Corrections Early Retirement in the near future.

H.F. 1279, will likely receive a hearing in the next couple of weeks in the Public Safety Policy Committee and the Public Safety Finance Committee.  While we have received confirmation that there will be an amendment to the bill eliminating the Governor’s proposal, there is no certainty of what will pass.

I would encourage everyone to contact the Governor’s office at (651) 296-3391 and tell him that any  attempts to remove insurance benefits for employees in the Corrections Early Retirement Plan should be negotiated at the bargaining table.

Outsourcing of State Jobs:

No meetings are scheduled on the outsourcing of state data centers or IT functions.  The Governor’s budget proposal consolidates all the state data centers in a possible outsourced location.  That means corporations could stand to gain a lucrative contract exceeding $12 million to store data currently being stored at OET or in other state agencies’ data centers.  OET has testified that their data does not show that outsourcing would save the state any money.  Imagine outsourcing storage of BCA data, Public Safety information, data for every Sheriff’s department in the state of Minnesota, the Criminal Justice Information System, 50,000 phone lines, and even the equipment to do teleconferencing in state classrooms.  The job loss would be detrimental.

I continue to gather data relating to the problems with outsourcing IT work.  The topic has not gone away and will continue to be pursued heavily by companies such as Unisys and IBM who stand to gain from the Governor’s proposal.  If you have any information on the problems created by outsourcing government IT work, please e-mail me at rkolodziejski@mape.org.

 Committee Hearings:

This Week:

On Tuesday at 8:30 in room 200 of the State Office Building, H.F. 691 modifying the vacation donation program allowing donation of up to 40 hours of vacation or sick time will be heard.  A recipient may use time as soon as their accruals run out for a total of up to 1044 hours.

On Wednesday at 1:00 in the basement of the State Office Building, H.F. 612, the Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act establishing minimum standards of sick leave for certain workers; providing civil penalties will be heard.

Last Week :

S.F. 814, a bill permitting local school districts to choose to provide health coverage to their employees through the state employee group insurance plan, received its first hearing in the Senate’s Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee.  The bill was laid on the table while the bill requiring all school districts to participate in an insurance pool through the Public Employee Insurance Plan passed out of committee.

S.F. 834, a bill establishing a state employee suggestion system for making state government less costly or more efficient and allowing for cash awards of up to $2500 passed out of the Senate’s State Government operations Committee and will await a hearing in the Senate’s State Government Budget Division.

Bills Introduced This Past Week: 

H.F. 1327 was introduced extending the current early retirement legislation to October 1, 2010.  The bill removes the optional $17,000 incentive in lieu of the cost of purchasing an additional six months of health insurance plus the amount that would be received for 72 weeks of unemployment compensation.  The incentive remains at the employer’s discretion.

H.F. 1219 makes domestic partner insurance available to all state employees.

S.F. 1052 requires the commissioner of finance, in consultation with other relevant state agencies and
interested parties, to study issues related to the inclusion of school district employees in the state employee group insurance plan (SEGIP), either combined with other persons currently covered by the SEGIP or as a separately rated group for premium purposes in a plan administered by the commissioner and based upon the SEGIP. The study must include analysis of costs, reserve requirements and other regulatory issues, effects on the SEGIP and the school districts, and any other factor deemed relevant by the commissioner to legislative consideration of this proposal. The commissioner shall report to the legislature by January 15, 2010, on results of the study.

 

H.F. 1402 (companion of S.F. 935) proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution to provide for public debt to be incurred for public information technology systems, licenses, and infrastructure.

 

Other Bills of Interest: 

• H.F. 1279 consists of the Governor’s proposal for Corrections and Public Safety.   The bill removes employees from the plan back to 1996, requires them to work ten years longer to qualify for a pension and uses their pension money to purchase General Fund Retirement Plan service credit.
• H.F. 992 and S.F.814 permits local school districts to choose to provide health coverage to their employees through the state employee group insurance plan.  MAPE will be working against this bill allowing groups, regardless of health, time of collective bargaining, and age of group into SEGIP without paying their share of the reserves.  They can get into a pool through the Public Employee Insurance Plan at the proper cost including paying their own reserve money.  However, school districts want to get in based on the reserves you’ve paid over time that are used to pay for all the medical expenses for everyone in the SEGIP pool.  Let’s remember, districts want to be part of your pool because it is cheaper than their insurance.  It is cheaper because their group is less healthy and more costly.  What will happen to the cost of your benefits when groups like these are added?
• H.F. 834 and S.F. 713 establishes a state employee suggestion system for making state government less costly or more efficient allowing for cash awards of up to $2500.
• H.F. 586is the companion to S.F. 372 which freezes salaries and wages for all public employees.
• H.F. 691 and S.F. 702 modifies the vacation donation program allowing donation of up to 40 hours of vacation or sick time.  A recipient may use time as soon as their accruals run out for a total of up to 1044 hours.
• H.F.135 and S.F.118 are comprehensive single-payer health plan bills for all Minnesotan’s.
• H.F. 938 and S.F. 334 provide 40 annual additional sick leave hours for state employees
• who are veterans with service-related disabilities.
• H.F. 724requires hospitals to report hospital acquired infections as adverse health care events.
• S.F.2, H.F.6 and S.F.271 all include a provision allowing state employees in the classified service the ability to disclose information that relates to state service or their finances to a legislator or legislative branch employee without retaliation or discipline.  This is what is known as whistleblower protection.

Resources: The Senates web forum for citizens to comment on any piece of the state budget and provide budget reduction solutions is available at http://budgetforum.senate.mn/.  This site is full of budget information and even breaks down the state budgets by divisions in state government.
The House of Representatives is continuing to accept budget cutting and revenue increasing ideas at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/budgetsuggestions.asp. 
Committee assignments for the House of Representatives are available at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/commemlist.asp Senate committee assignment are available at http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/index.php?ls=#header.

In Solidarity, 

Richard Kolodziejski             

MAPE Legislative Affairs Director     

 

Team MAPE Legislative Update 3/3

Team MAPE Legislative Session Update

March 2nd, 2009

Team MAPE Day on the Hill is March 4^th :

More than 200 Team MAPE members signed up to attend our annual MAPE Day on the Hill.  The current registration will result in a record turnout.  Many legislators have been forced to change appointments.  I urge everyone to carefully monitor your home e-mails this coming week.  You will receive updated talking points and notice of your final scheduled times of your appointments.   The Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie, the Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher and the Senate Assistant Majority Leader, Tarryl Clark will address those in attendance.   

Outsourcing of State IT Jobs:

There have been no more scheduled meetings on the outsourcing of state data centers or IT functions.  The Governor’s budget proposal consolidates all the state data centers in a possible outsourced location.  That means corporations could stand to gain a lucrative contract exceeding $12 million to store data currently stored at OET or other state agencies.  Imagine outsourcing storage of BCA data, Public Safety information, data for every Sheriff’s department in the state of Minnesota, the Criminal Justice Information System, 50,000 phone lines, and even the equipment to do teleconferencing in state classrooms.  The job loss would be detrimental.

 

Corrections Early Retirement Program: 

The Governor’s proposal removes all employees from the retirement plan except Security Counselors and Corrections Officers from the Corrections Early Retirement Plan.  His proposal removes employees whose job classes were included in statute in 1996, requires them to work ten years longer to qualify for a pension, it fails to inform employees about what happens to their additional retirement money they put into the corrections plan, and removes ten years of health insurance without bargaining.

 Commissioner Fabian from the Department of Corrections has testified that the proposal came from the DOC and the Minnesota Management and Budget.  Commissioner Fabian admitted that employees have 75% offender and patient contact as required by statute.  The DOC’s Asst. Commissioner of Finance simply stated they made a retroactive proposal because it was the only way they could save money off of such a proposal.  The Commissioner was clear she felt the Correctional plan needs changes to deal with an exceedingly growing health insurance liability expected to cost $250,000 for eligible employees from age 55 to 65 years old. 

 MAPE employees currently have to work ten years, not three, to get the early retirement benefits under the retirement plan.  MMD Asst. Commissioner has made a repeated issue out of the fact that someone can work three years and receive the health insurance benefit.  There are still employees who have three years of vesting in their collective bargaining units.

It is apparent that the DOC and MN. Management and Budget are attempting to remove insurance benefits for employees through legislation.  Pension language is legislated.  Insurance benefits are negotiated.  When you speak to your legislator, it is critical that you remind them of that.

 

Committee Hearings:

On Tuesday, March 3^rd at 12:30, the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection will hear S.F. 814 authored by state Senator Tom Bakk.  This bill allows school districts to provide health care coverage through the State Employee Group Insurance Plan.  The bill has an adverse affect on state employees.  It is your negotiated benefits and money that established the reserves necessary to pay the required bills and keep costs where they are at rather than even higher.  The bill also allows groups, many of which will be small in number and unhealthy, into your plan passing the costs onto you.  Unhealthy groups would be most likely to join based on cost and have the most to gain off of SEGIP.  Finally, let’s not forget that insurance is negotiated by state unions every two years.  Adding school districts, which have a legal right to bargain over health insurance and have contracts due at varying times, into SEGIP will diminish our right to collectively bargain over health insurance.  To contact the members of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, go to:  http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=1024&ls=#members.   

 

On Wednesday, March 4^th at 10:30 AM, the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division will hold a hearing on the budget discussions on the Hastings and Minneapolis Veterans Homes.

 

On Wednesday, March 4^th at 3:00, S.F. 713 creating a state employee suggestion system for cost-savings

And an award program will get its first hearing in the Committee on State and Local Government Operations and Oversight.

 

On Thursday, March 5^th at 8:30 AM, the Public Safety Finance Division will hold another hearing on the Department of Corrections budget following the new March budget forecast.

 

The Minnesota Health Plan (H.F.135), a comprehensive single-payer health plan for all Minnesotan’s received its first hearing in the House of Representatives in the Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight committee last Wednesday.  The bill did not pass out of committee.  It was laid on the table due to lack of supporters of the bill.   

 

Bills of Interest: 

H.F. 992 and S.F.814 permits local school districts to choose to provide health coverage to their employees through the state employee group insurance plan.  MAPE will be working against this bill allowing groups, regardless of health, time of collective bargaining, and age of group into SEGIP without paying their share of the reserves.  They can get into a pool through the Public Employee Insurance Plan at the proper cost including paying their own reserve money.  However, school districts want to get in based on the reserves you’ve paid over time to be used as payment for participant’s medical expenses.  Let’s remember, districts want to be part of your pool because it is cheaper than their insurance.  It is cheaper because their group is less healthy and more costly.  What will happen to the cost of your benefits when groups like these are added?  Groups who are healthier and have cheaper premiums have the choice not to join.

H.F. 834 and S.F. 713 establishes a state employee suggestion system for making state government less costly or more efficient allowing for cash awards of up to $2500.

H.F. 586 is the companion to S.F. 372 which freezes salaries and wages for all public employees.

H.F. 691 and S.F. 702 modifies the vacation donation program allowing donation of up to 40 hours of vacation or sick time.  A recipient may use time as soon as their accruals run out for a total of up to 1044 hours.

H.F.135 and S.F.118 are comprehensive single-payer health plan bills for all Minnesotan’s.

H.F. 938 and S.F. 334 provide 40 annual additional sick leave hours for state employees
who are veterans with service-related disabilities.

H.F. 724 requires hospitals to report hospital acquired infections as adverse health care events.

Resources: The Senates web forum for citizens to comment on any piece of the state budget and provide budget reduction solutions is available at http://budgetforum.senate.mn/.  This site is full of budget information and even breaks down the state budgets by divisions in state government.
The House of Representatives is continuing to accept budget cutting and revenue increasing ideas at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/budgetsuggestions.asp. 
Committee assignments for the House of Representatives are available at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/commemlist.asp Senate committee assignment are available at http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/index.php?ls=#header.

In Solidarity, 

Richard Kolodziejski             

MAPE Legislative Affairs Director     

Important Team MAPE Day on the Hill Info

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