Friday, April 13, 2007
I was wonderin' ...
- Our winner, HF1015, had some language changes and is now visiting a second committee. In response to Michael's card, one need now only "claim to have" an "eligible medical condition" to gain access to the restroom; the fine has been cut from $100 to $50 for noncompliance. Senate Judiciary is hearing this vital piece of legislation this morning (companion bill SF140).
- The sex ed begins at kindergarten bill got rewritten, but as best I can tell it was window dressing. They at least are requiring parental 'consultation', whatever that means.
- Health and Human Services has reported out the baby inspection bill and added some goals to the training mommy and daddy is to receive from the nanny state. Rather than relying on existing health professionals, they would have a group of trained individuals who receive instruction on
- building effective relationships with families
- effective methods of parent education and home visit conduct
- early childhood development to age five
- diverse cultural practices
- recruiting, supervising and retaining staff
- increasing services to the underserved
- child welfare and protective services
- But this one is my absolute favorite. Remember Phyllis Kahn's bill to stop light pollution at outdoor stadiums and ballfields? On March 19, they went and re-did this bill. (Re-did is my slang for "delete everything but the title and let's put a new law here!" That's how you got that 9.7% income tax rate in the Senate, by the way.) Here's the start of the new part.
The commissioner of administration, in consultation with the commissioner of commerce, associations for local governments, and any other interested person, shall develop a model ordinance that can be adapted for use by cities, counties, and towns, governing outdoor lighting to reduce light pollution. The model ordinance must include provisions addressing elements similar to those in subdivision 1. In addition, the model ordinance must address:
(1) standards for lighting on private property, outdoor advertising, lighting on commercial, industrial, or institutional property, canopies covering fueling stations, and public streets, sidewalks, and alleys;That's right folks, they want to regulate your lamp post on your front lawn, if it causes too much light pollution by Phyllis' standards.
Labels: legislature, Minnesota