ActionALERT
The 2009 Legislative Session began with grim budget news.  This year the Legislature will work with the Governor to address the State’s $5.2 billion budget deficit, which is expected to increase after the February Forecast is released on March 3, 2009.

The Governor released his budget on January 27, 2009.  Information on his budget is summarized below and available on-line http://www.mmb.state.mn.us.   The House and Senate will each create a budget of their own during the legislative session, then work together to present a budget to the Governor.  The Governor has the opportunity to sign the House and Senate compromise into law, allow it to become law by not signing the House and Senate compromise, or vetoing budget bills that come from the House and Senate. 

House and Senate Hosting Town Hall Meetings to Discuss Governor’s Budget Recommendations. They want to hear the public’s reaction to the Governor’s Budget recommendations.

Calling all youth advocates!  The House and Senate are hosting Town Hall meetings and need to hear from you.  If you want to share your opinion about investing in children and youth through afterschool and summer learning programs, please consider signing up to speak at one of the Town Hall Meetings over the next week! 

Information about the Afterschool Community Learning Opportunities Act , The McKnight Challenge Grant , and potential Talking Points are available on our website.  Feel free to use these resources if you speak at the Town Hall Meeting.


Thursday, Feb. 19:
Mankato
Thursday, February 19th - 6:00 p.m.
Mankato Intergovernmental Center-Mankato River Room
10 Civic Center Plaza
Sign up to speak at this location

Rochester
Thursday, February 19th - 6:00 p.m.
Rochester Community and Technical College-Heintz Center Commons Area
1926 Collegeview Road SE
Sign up to speak at this location

St. Cloud
Thursday, February 19th - 6:00 p.m.
St. Cloud City Hall-Council Chambers
400-2nd Street South
Sign up to speak at this location

Willmar
Thursday, February 19th - 6:00 p.m.
Kennedy Elementary School
824-7th Street SW
Sign up to speak at this location
 


Friday, Feb. 20:  
Albert Lea
Friday, February 20th - 10:00 a.m.
Albert Lea City Hall-Council Chambers
221 E Clark Street
Sign up to speak at this location

Alexandria
Note: Time Change
Friday, February 20th - 4:00 p.m.
Alexandria City Hall
704 Broadway
Sign up to speak at this location

Bemidji
Friday, February 20th - 3:30 p.m.
Bemidji State University-American Indian Resource Center Gathering Place
1620 Birchmont Drive
Sign up to speak at this location

Brainerd
Friday, February 20th - 10:30 a.m.
Washington Educational Services Building-Board Room
804 Oak Street
Sign up to speak at this location

Duluth
Friday, February 20th - 9:30 a.m.
Duluth City Hall-Council Chambers
411 W 1st Street
Sign up to speak at this location

Little Falls
Friday, February 20th - 9:30 a.m.
Morrison County Government Center-Garden Level Meeting Room
213-1st Avenue SE
Sign up to speak at this location

Marshall
Friday, February 20th - 2:30 p.m.
Southwest Minnesota State University Lecture Hall
1501 State Street
Sign up to speak at this location

Moorhead (Senate Tax Committee)
Friday, February 20th - 12:30 p.m.
Minnesota State University Moorhead-Comstock Union
1104-7th Avenue South
Sign up to speak at this location

Virginia
Friday, February 20th - 1:30 p.m.
Mesabi Range Community and Technical College-Small Auditorium
1001 Chestnut Street W
Sign up to speak at this location

Winona
Friday, February 20th - 3:30 p.m.
Winona City Hall-Council Chambers
207 Lafayette
Sign up to speak at this location

Worthington
Friday, February 20th - 10:30 a.m.
Worthington City Hall-Council Chambers
303 Ninth Street
Sign up to speak at this location

Monday, February 23
Woodbury
Monday, February 23rd - 6:00 p.m.
Central Park Ampitheater
8595 Central Park Place
Sign up to speak at this location

Tuesday, February 24
Bloomington
Tuesday, February 24th - 7:00 p.m.
Bloomington City Hall
1800 W Old Shakopee Rd
Sign up to speak at this location

Minneapolis
Tuesday, February 24th - 6:00 p.m.
Minneapolis Park Board
2117 West River Road
Sign up to speak at this location

Wednesday, February 25
Burnsville
Wednesday, February 25th - 7:30 p.m.
Fairview Ridges Hospital
201 E Nicollet Blvd
Sign up to speak at this location

White Bear Lake
Wednesday, February 25th - 6:30 p.m.
White Bear Lake High School-South Campus
3551 McKnight Rd N
Sign up to speak at this location

Thursday, February 26
Coon Rapids
Thursday, February 26th - 7:00 p.m.
Coon Rapids City Hall
11155 Robinson Drive
Sign up to speak at this location

Plymouth
Thursday, February 26th - 7:00 p.m.
Plymouth City Hall
3400 Plymouth Blvd
Sign up to speak at this location

St. Paul
Thursday, February 26th - 6:00 p.m.
West Minnehaha Recreation Center in Frogtown
685 Minnehaha Ave W
Sign up to speak at this location

Dates To Be Announced
Forest Lake
TBD
Sign up to speak at this location

Governor’s Budget Recommendations

Governor Tim Pawlenty has released his budget proposal for fiscal year 2010-2011.  His proposal seeks to erase a projected budget shortfall of $5.2 billion for the upcoming biennium. The Governor’s budget proposal calls for spending of $33.61 billion for FY 2010-2011, which is a 2.2% reduction from current FY 2008-09 spending of $34.36 billion.

To view Governor Pawlenty’s full budget proposal, visit the Minnesota Management and Budget Department’s website: www.mmb.state.mn.us/fin/budget

Education Budget
The Afterschool Community Learning Grants were not refunded in the Governor’s proposed budget.  They were funded at $5.3 million with one-time money for the 2008-09 biennium.

The education budget does include $9.4 million for a targeted program called Summer of Success, which targets students who are not performing in school and offer remediation in math and reading.

Health Budget
The Governor recommends reducing and extending this existing program from $47 million over two years to $24 million over four years from the Health Care Access Fund.

Human Services Budget

Public Safety Budget
Funding for the Youth Intervention Programs was included in the Governor’s budget.  In 2007 the program received an increase in funding using one-time funds and the additional increase was not included.

Workforce Development Budget
The Youth Employment Program was included in the Governor’s budget but the direct set aside for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Minnesota was not included in the budget proposal.

2009 Legislative Committee Deadlines

1st deadline - Friday, March 27
2nd deadline - Tuesday, April 7
3rd deadline - Thursday, April 16
4th deadline - Wednesday, April 22
5th deadline - Thursday, May 7

Note: The first and second deadlines do not apply to the House committee on Finance, Ways and Means, Taxes, or Rules and Legislative Administration, or to the Senate committee on Capital Investment, Finance, Taxes, or Rules and Administration. See the concurrent resolution on committee deadlines for further explanation.

Explanation of Committee Deadlines

1st deadline - is for committees to act favorably on bills in the house of origin.
2nd deadline - is for committees to act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other house.
3rd deadline - is for committees to act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
4th deadline - is for the House and Senate Committees on Finance, the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the House and Senate Committees on Taxes to act favorably on omnibus appropriation and tax bills.
5th deadline - is for conference committees on omnibus appropriation and tax bills to report bills to the floor.

http://www.mmb.state.mn.us/doc/budget/report-issue/10/education.pdf

Legislation

HF 378 - The Afterschool Community Learning Opportunities Act is being carried by Representative Nora Slawik. 

Youth Community Connections
1313 - 5th Street SE, Suite 321, Minneapolis, MN 55414
PH: 612.627.0160
WEB: www.youthcommunityconnections.org