Biomedical Authority, Stem Cells and Regents Oh My!
The Minnesota Biomedical Sciences Research Finance Authority legislation was considered in both houses of the legislature this week. On Monday, the Senate State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Committee heard SF 265 (Cohen) MBSRFA program. After substantial debate and amendments, the committee recommended that the bill be passed and referred it to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. On Tuesday, the House Government Operation, Reform, Technology and Elections Committee began hearing HF 132 (Mahoney) MBSRFA program, and continued their hearing the next day when the legislation was amended, recommended to pass, and referred to the House Finance Committee. In discussions with our author, it appears that the next committee hearing on this legislation will be held in the House Capital Investment Committee. In both committees there was discussion of the role and importance of the University being an economic stimulus for the biomedical industry.
The House Higher Education and Workforce Development Policy and Finance committee began hearing HF 34 (Kahn) Stem Cell Legislation, on Thursday. This legislation was subject to a lot of discussion, and was held over until Tuesday, February 27. This bill creates a state policy allowing state funds to be used for research on embryonic stem cells that remain ineligible for federal funding.
President Bruininks was at the Capitol several days visiting with legislators about the University.
Sr. Vice President Jones met with some of the Rochester legislators to update them on the University’s progress in Rochester.
Sr. Vice President Sullivan responded to the Higher Education Office’s new Minnesota Measures: 2007 Report on Higher Education Performance in the Senate Higher Education Committee. Accountability and performance measures are a priority for the Governor and the Senate Higher Education Committee appears to have an interest in pursuing possible methods of measurement also.
The House Higher Education Committee heard Rep. Huntley’s bill on Wisconsin tuition reciprocity at the University of Minnesota. Peter Zetterberg testified for the University. He gave an historic overview of reciprocity and explained that the University would like to charge Wisconsin students Minnesota tuition rates. He explained that current students would be grandfathered in with Wisconsin tuition and the change from Wisconsin tuition to Minnesota tuition would be phased in over 4 years. The committee members had a good discussion with Peter about the issue. Rep. Huntley’s bill has been laid over; our primary goal was to give information to the committee members as the two states are continuing to discuss these requested changes to the current contract.
Deans Allen Levine and Beverly Durgan met with several legislators this week and discussed the role the University plays in furthering agriculture in the state. Topics of discussion ranged from how the state ag special is utilized, to the role of Extension, to the protection of wild rice. The discussions have all been productive and positive.
Week of February 26:
As you may recall there are four positions on the Board of Regents that are up for election. The state stature requires that a committee of both senators and representatives meet to review the Governor’s proposed list of Regent candidates. That committee is meeting on Tuesday, February 27 at 6:30 PM.
