Summary of new laws that take effect July 1
Budget
General Fund spending will increase by $182 million state spending will increase in the 2016-17 biennium, using about a fifth of the $900 million projected surplus that was forecast in February.
Sponsored by Rep. Jim Knoblach (R-St. Cloud) and Sen. Richard Cohen (DFL-St. Paul), a new law appropriates an additional $182.39 million from the General Fund for the current biennium and anticipates an additional $233.33 million in 2018-19 biennial spending. Articles in the law cover E-12 education, higher education, health and human services, agriculture and environment, jobs and equity, public safety and state government. HF2749*/SF2356/CH189
Highlights of the law include:
Higher Education: $2 million for the state grant program for low- and middle-income Minnesota students attending any in-state postsecondary institution. The Office of Higher Education will also receive $500,000 for equity in postsecondary attainment grants and $500,000 for the creation of a web system connecting students and employers.
Broadband: An additional $40 million in General Fund spending in Fiscal Year 2017. Of the new money, $35 million is to go toward broadband development grants. Of this, $5 million may be used for grants to underserved areas, and up to $1 million may be used for administrative costs. The law will also change state access and high-speed goals.
Economic Disparities: An appropriation of $35 million to be distributed among a wide range of grant programs and organizations working to reduce economic disparities among racial and ethnic groups in the state.
Health and Human Services: No additional money for health and human services programming is provided in the new law. However, funding shifts, largely from the Health Care Access Fund, will provide an increase in certain reimbursement rates and subsidized services, including 35 percent for a dental clinic or group that meets the critical access dental provider designation and a 30 percent increase for dentists offering services to those on Medicare. The law also provides for a five percent payment rate increase for ambulance services in rural area.
Business and Commerce
Obstacles to clear for some coin dealers who sell, trade at shows: Some telemarketers and infomercials have made it harder for legitimate coin dealers to do business, especially those dealing in small quantities at coin shows.
A new law aims to strike a balance between the very small dealers and hobbyists versus the role of consumer protections.
Sponsored by Rep. Joe Hoppe (R-Chaska) and Sen. David Tomassoni (DFL-Chisholm), the law further refines 2013 laws dealing with bullion sales by:
o changing the definition of “bullion coin” to “bullion product”;
o requiring dealers and dealer representatives to register with the commissioner of commerce within 45 days of selling $25,000 worth of bullion product;
o providing that a surety bond is not required unless the dealer sells $25,000 in bullion;
o making changes to information a dealer must provide a customer; and
o requiring dealers to investigate consumer complaints and retain certain records pertaining to complaints.HF3309/SF3175*/CH134
Eyelash extension license to be required: People not licensed as cosmetologists or estheticians will be required to obtain a license to apply eyelash extensions. This new category of licensee, eyelash extension technicians, will be regulated by the Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. Sponsored by Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria), the law will require technicians to complete 14 hours of education or training in order to obtain the license. HF2389/SF2802*/CH127
Wagering on simulcast races could see bump: Live betting at Minnesota’s two racetracks is increasing, but the same can’t be said for wagering on races being simulcast at the track; therefore, overall racing revenue has left the Minnesota Racing Commission short on operating revenue.
A new law will make it easier for consumers to make bets over their phone or electronic device on horse races conducted outside the state.
Sponsored by Rep. Joe Hoppe (R-Chaska) and Sen. Dan Sparks (DFL-Austin), the law also:
o establishes licensing criteria and a regulatory framework for advance deposit wagering providers;
o provides the commission with operating revenue by targeting one percent of all amounts wagered to the commission;
o recaptures a portion of the wagering to benefit the horse breeding industry and make for greater purses; and
o establishes protections so that Minnesotans who bet on races taking place outside the state enjoy the protections offered by the state.
Last year, the Legislature appropriated $341,000 as stop-gap funding, with the request that interested parties come together to find a sustainable source of funding. HF3211*/SF2835/CH183
Electronic raffle stubs can replace those made from paper: Purchased raffle tickets are traditionally put into a container and winners hand-drawn. A new law will allow for numbers to be electronically selected.
Sponsored by Rep. Chris Swedzinski (R-Ghent) and Sen. Dan Sparks (DFL-Austin), the law will also increase bingo prize limits from $200 to $500; create a new definition for “share the pot” raffles; shorten from six months to 90 days the time a person must be with an organization before being named a gambling manager; clarify how hot-ball bingo prizes may be funded; and require local jurisdictions receiving ten percent of gambling net profits for charitable purposes to publicly acknowledge the source of the funds. HF3102*/SF3034/CH139
Employment
MN OSHA AWAIR list updated less frequently: Sponsored by Rep. Jason Rarick (R-Pine City) and Sen. Foung Hawj (DFL-St. Paul), a new law modifies a section of the Occupational Health and Safety Acts standards governing the AWAIR – “A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction Act.”
AWAIR requires employers in certain industries to develop written, comprehensive workplace safety and health programs within six months of the time their operations are included on the North American Industry Classification System. NAICS is the standard used by federal statistical agencies to classify businesses for data collection and analysis.
The law reduces the frequency with which the Department of Labor and Industry must update the list it keeps of employers who must comply from two to five years. HF2992/SF2733*/CH128
Changes made to electronic waste recycling laws: How electronics manufacturers arrange for the collection and recycling of their products, and how much they must pay, will be modified.
Sponsored by Rep. Denny McNamara (R-Hastings), a new law also requires the Board of Investment to manage the Metropolitan Landfill Contingency Action Trust “to maximize long-term gain.”
The law makes numerous electronic waste technical changes, and among other provisions will:
o specify that a manufacturer is financially liable for transporting and recycling video display devices, but not for the costs of activities with covered electronic devices that take place before they’re transported to the recycler;
o require collection sites to be staffed and open to the public for an “adequate” period;
o change how the amount of products each manufacturer must recycle annually is calculated;
o allow collectors to limit the covered electronic devices accepted per customer per day;
o amend the reporting date and add a requirement that recyclers report the weight of video display devices, and the weight of batteries and mercury containing lamps as covered electronic devices; and
o require certification that recyclers of covered electronic devices only accept them from registered collectors. HF2841*/SFnone/CH166
Environment
Nearly $38 million in LCCMR appropriations approved; $8.4 million vetoed: Sponsored by Rep. Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar) and Sen. Kari Dziedzic (DFL-Mpls), a new law allocates money based on recommendations made by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources for expenditures from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. This fund was established through a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1988 to direct proceeds from the state lottery and investment income to benefit natural resources.
When presented to Gov. Mark Dayton, the bill totaled $46.34 million in spending; however, the governor line-item vetoed $8.43 million for seven proposed projects. While not against the funding recipients, Dayton expressed concern in his veto letter that a number of other projects recommended by the commission were rejected.
The appropriations in the law are divided into eight general categories:
o Foundational Natural Resource Data and Information – $7.96 million
o Water Resources – $7.80 million
o Land Acquisition for Habitat and Recreation – $7.17 million
o Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species – $5.86 million
o Methods to Protect, Restore, and Enhance Land, Water, and Habitat - $4.52 million
o Environmental Education – $2.31 million
o Air Quality, Climate Change, and Renewable Energy - $2.09 million
o Administration – $210,000
The law also implements several policy changes including provisions that:
o require LCCMR meetings – its committees, subcommittees, technical advisory committees and peer reviewers – to be open according to the state’s open meeting law;
o prohibit recipients of appropriations used to purchase land from accepting a monetary donation or payment that exceeds documented expenses, except under certain circumstances; and
o require LCCMR members to develop a procedure to elect a chair that rotates each meeting, between legislative and citizen members. HF2993/SF2963*/CH186
Sulfate discharge limit to be changed at Keetac mine: A requirement that the United States Steel Corporation’s Keetac mining facility in Keewatin observe a wastewater discharge standard of 10 milligrams per liter into waters that produce wild rice has been removed.
Sponsored by Rep. Jason Metsa (DFL-Virginia) and Sen. David Tomassoni (DFL-Chisholm), a new law replaces the “10 standard” with a new sulfate discharge limit yet to be determined by the Pollution Control Agency.
Sulfate is a naturally occurring chemical, but research has shown it can harm wild rice when present in elevated levels. HF3726/SF3376*/CH165
State Government
Two-year terms for Legislative Coordinating Commission leaders: The Senate President and Speaker of the House will alternate as chair of the Legislative Coordinating Commission every two years instead of annually.
Sponsored by Rep. Joe Hoppe (R-Chaska) and Senate President Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul), a new law also requires that before a new professional or technical services contract is entered into a determination must be made that no current legislative employee is able to perform those services.
Under the former law, this requirement applied only to contracts over $5,000. For any professional or technical service contracts valued in excess of $25,000, a determination must also be made that reasonable efforts were made to publicize the availability of the contract and that performance metrics have been established to evaluate the performance of the contractor.
Appointees to ethnic councils need to attend orientation training only during their initial term, rather than each term. Ethnic council executive directors must consult with the commissioner of administration to ensure appropriate services for operation are in place.
The executive director must consult with the council chair before taking disciplinary actions that include written reprimands, suspensions, demotions or discharges. The executive director must also submit the council’s biennial budget request to Minnesota Management & Budget. The budget must also be submitted to the LCC by Feb. 1 of each odd-numbered year. HF1520/SF1372*/CH130
