Bill > SF4059

This bill appropriates and transfers money for various state government functions, including education, environment, energy, jobs, public safety, and corrections, for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, and makes policy and technical changes related to these appropriations. * **Department of Education:** $46,508,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $42,647,000 for fiscal year 2027. This funding includes allocations for the Board of School Administrators, regional centers of excellence, English learner programs, mainframe updates, legal fees, district data modernization, specific learning disability initiatives, the Office of the Inspector General, audit resources, unemployment aid administration, general counsel and inspector general staff, and the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program. An additional $25,489,000 is appropriated for fiscal year 2027 for general education aid. * **Department of Corrections:** A base budget increase of $13,000 for fiscal year 2028 and $35,000 for fiscal year 2029 and later for bed costs related to criminal grooming offenses. * **Office of Higher Education:** $52,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 for the state grant program. * **Legislative Coordinating Commission:** $18,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $74,000 for fiscal year 2027 for the Legislative Budget Office to complete a report on school employee health insurance costs. * **School District Fund Transfers:** Authorizes specific school districts (Ivanhoe, Maple Lake, Moorhead Area, and West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan) to transfer funds between accounts. * **Department of Administration:** $17,040,000 for fiscal year 2024 and $14,105,000 for fiscal year 2025 for grants to various organizations for arts, cultural heritage, and educational programming, including Minnesota Public Radio, Public Television, Wilderness Inquiry, Como Park Zoo, Science Museum of Minnesota, and others. Specific grants are also provided for veterans memorial projects, Hmong cultural initiatives, and a study on new nuclear generation. * **Department of Natural Resources:** Extends the availability of certain parks and trails fund appropriations until June 30, 2027, and an appropriation for an electronic licensing system until June 30, 2027. Also extends an appropriation for wild elk population expansion until June 30, 2027. * **Minnesota Zoological Board:** $3,800,000 for fiscal year 2026 for a one-time appropriation. * **Pollution Control Agency:** $75,000 for fiscal year 2027 for a study on the unlawful transportation of infectious or pathological waste. * **Department of Natural Resources:** Authorizes the transfer of up to $1,600,000 in fiscal year 2026 from certain general fund appropriations to the Division of Enforcement for public safety costs. * **Battery Stewardship Program:** Establishes a program for the management of covered batteries, including definitions, producer responsibilities, stewardship plans, collection site requirements, and fees. This article is effective July 1, 2026. * **Department of Labor and Industry:** $163,000 for fiscal year 2027 for an additional full-time position to support the Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act, and $200,000 for fiscal year 2027 for enforcement of suitable seating for employees. * **Board of Barber Examiners:** Modifies provisions related to board composition, fees, examination requirements, school approval, and reciprocity for cosmetologists. * **Board of Cosmetologist Examiners:** Updates definitions, license fees, renewal processes, temporary military licenses, continuing education provider requirements, salon and school operational rules, and allows for reciprocity for barbers. * **Data Practices Act:** Modifies provisions related to town data requests for physicians and clarifies the scope of the attorney general's subpoena authority. * **Campaign Finance:** Increases penalties for late filing and other violations, introduces "enhanced penalties," and clarifies how penalties can be paid. * **Clemency Provisions:** Allows for panels to prescreen clemency applications and modifies waiver provisions for pardon eligibility. * **Public Safety:** Transfers $1,000,000 to the Minnesota victims of crime account. * **Peace Officer Compensation:** Retroactively applies changes to the definition of "killed in the line of duty" to include certain deaths from infectious diseases, complications from exposure, and deaths from natural causes under specific circumstances. It also clarifies definitions related to nonroutine strenuous and stressful physical activity. The bill also modifies salary survey requirements for State Patrol troopers and related ranks and allows for volunteer chaplains.