8.1. SR 05-12-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mas 05 2803 14:21:22 Yin Fax -> 7634417425 Administrator Pa§e 003 0£ 804 -FridayFax- ethanol producers to a lesser degree than the House and the Governor, paying producers 16 cents a gallon. Both bills increase water appropriation fees to fund DNR Waters division programs. The bills also contain several policy provisions, including a provision directing the Pollution Control Agency (PCA) to modify its water quality assessment rules. This language is the result of negotiations between the League of Minnesota Cities, the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, the Farm Bureau, and the PCA. Conceal and carry law to take effect May 28 A weekly legislative update from the League of Minnesota Cities May 5, 2003 Page 3 decide for themselves whether they need to carry a concealed weapon. Three groups supported the legislation - the National Rifle Association, Concealed Carry Reform Now and the Republican Party of Minnesota. Governor Pawlenty this week signed into law a bill that reduces local authority over issuance of concealed handgun permits and is expected to significantly increase the number of permit-holders. The law gives private entities the right to prohibit guns on private property, but preserves the longstanding law that prohibits local units of government from restricting permit holders from bringing concealed weapons to local public places. Guns are allowed in city halls, recreation centers, state and county fairgrounds, convention centers and public sports arenas. The Minnesota Personal Protection Act, passed in the Senate on a 37-30 vote and signed into law by Gov. Tim Pawlenty on April 28, removes all authority from police chiefs to issue conceal and carry permits and mandates that sheriffs issue permits to all applicants except those convicted of serious crimes. More than 300 organizations including city councils, statewide police associations, churches and health and education groups opposed the legislation, arguing that the new law would put an estimated 90,000 additional concealed weapons onto the streets. Currently, fewer thanl2,000 individuals have permits to carry concealed weapons. Proponents of the bill argued sheriffs had too much discretionary authority and that applicants should An amendment offered in the House on behalf of the League of Minnesota Cities would have allowed public facilities such as city halls, parks, and recreation centers to prohibit concealed weapons on the premises. The amendment failed on a vote of 48 to 84. League staff is in the process of drafting information about what the new law will mean for cities. The document will be available next week and will contain information relating to legal implications and human resource issues as well as details about what rights property-owners--such as cities, schools and private businesses-have to prohibit guns on property. Watch the League's web site and the Cities Bulletin for updates on the availability of the information. House Tax Committee completes tax bill Late Friday, the House Tax Committee completed work on its version of the omnibus tax bill. The bill contains numerous provisions that will impact city budgets in 2003 and beyond. The Senate will likely compile their version of an omnibus tax bill sometime this week, setting up a conference committee with less than two weeks remaining in the regular legislative session. The House bill contains deep cuts in LGA and market value homestead credit for 2003 and 2004-- although the cuts are nearly $75 million lower than the cuts contained in the governor's original budget proposal. The House tax bill has nearly $100 million in additional revenue when compared to the governor's plan due to new revenues generated by a casino operated at the Canterbury Downs racetrack. With this higher tax committee revenue target, the House has reduced the cuts to city LGA and market For more informalion on oily legiqalive issues, conlacl any member of the League 0f Minne$ola Cilie$ Inlergovemn'~nlal Relations learn. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122