The 2010 Minnesota legislative session opened with a lot of promises, even one to adjourn early so that members could hit the campaign trail. Despite passing a bonding bill early on, legislators left with a lot still on the table.

When members assemble for the 2011 session, they will be facing a $6 billion deficit, a decision to make on whether or not to opt-in to the federal government’s Medicaid expansion program, and a number of policy issues that were pushed aside with the intent of debating them during a non-election year. It seems that the tone of the session shifted from the imperative to defending the status quo. As a result, a number of task forces and commissions were established to delve into the issues more deeply and provide recommendations to the legislature next year.

Health Care Reform Task Force
With the recent passage of the federal health care reform legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the state legislature passed a bill that would establish a Health Care Reform Task Force to assist the Governor and legislature in implementing the new federal legislation.

Similar to the Governor’s 2008 Health Care Transformation Task Force, the task force will be made up of Governor-appointed members of the Senate, the House of Representatives, state agencies, representatives from health care organizations, health plan companies, the business and labor communities, and other professional associations.

The task force members must be appointed by July 1, 2010, and must hold its first meeting by July 15. They are to develop a report and recommendations on state implementation of federal health care reform by December 15, 2010. Part of their report must include necessary changes to current state law so as to comply with the federal requirements, to the extent that it maximizes federal dollars, and a timeline for future reports on state implementation.

Chemical and Mental Health Services Transformation Task Force
The legislature also established the Chemical and Mental Health Services Transformation Advisory Task Force, which is charged with the task of making recommendations to the Commissioner of Human Services and the legislature on the continuum of services needed to provide individuals with mental illness, chemical dependency, traumatic brain injury and developmental disabilities.

The task force is made up of members of the legislature, appointees from the Department of Human Services, representatives from the disability and medical community, Association of Minnesota Counties, Minnesota Disability Law Center and clients or client family members. They are to make recommendations to the commissioner and legislature on delivery service models, gaps and barriers to accessing quality care, the redesign of the Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center, an implementation plan to ensure that individuals with complex chemical and mental health needs receive the appropriate level of care, and possible financing mechanisms to maximize federal funding and promote cost efficiencies. They are required to report to the legislature by December 15, 2010.

Legislative Energy Commission
The Legislative Energy Commission (LEC) was created in 2008 to “evaluate the energy policies of this state and the degree to which they promote an environmentally and economically sustainable energy future.” The commission is made up of ten House members and ten Senate members, with at least two legislators who also serve on the NextGen Renewable Energy Board.

The commission is responsible for monitoring the state’s progress in achieving its goals to develop renewable sources of electric energy, examining the success of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in various energy sectors, and reviewing proposed energy legislation. The LEC has jurisdiction over issues such as: alternative energy sources, energy conservation, the transmission and distribution of electricity, and the development of renewable energy supplies.

The commission holds public hearings during the interim when feasible to make legislative recommendations and to solicit public testimony on the economic, environmental and social implications of state energy plans and policies.

Legislative Audit Commission
The Legislative Audit Commission (LAC) is made up of six members from the House of Representatives and six from the Senate, with equal division among both parties. The commission selects topics for the Legislative Auditor and the Program Evaluation Division to review. They also hold public hearings to review their audit and evaluation reports.

Currently, the division is working on three topics: Governance of Transit in the Twin Cities Region, Nonemergency Medical Transportation Services and the Renewable Energy Development Fund. In addition, the Topic Selection Subcommittee approved three topics for evaluation by the Office of the Legislative Auditor: Environmental Permitting, K-12 Online Learning and Sex Offender Treatment Programs at Moose Lake and St. Peter.

Environmental permitting issues received a lot of attention this session as a number of legislators and business organizations expressed concern that obtaining an environmental permit was cumbersome, lengthy, and an impediment for job growth and creation. As a result, the Legislative Auditor will conduct a series of interviews, surveys and analyses of administrative records, to find out where Minnesota ranks in its permitting process. They will also examine other permitting or review processes to improve efficiency, evaluate what is being done in neighboring states and how that compares to Minnesota’s system, and what lessons can be learned from other state or federal approaches.

Legislative Auditor reports generally take between six and nine months to complete, at which time a hearing will be scheduled to review the results.

Ladder Out of Poverty Task Force
In 2006, the legislature established the Legislative Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020. They completed their work and published their findings and recommendations in January 2009. However, due to the housing market crisis, high unemployment rates and worsening of the economic climate, legislators felt a need to continue the work of the committee this year with the goal of formulating a legislative proposal.

The Ladder Out of Poverty Task Force was created this session to identify specific policies and legislation to increase opportunities for low-income families and individuals. The task force will examine incentives and mechanisms to increase community engagement in combating poverty, reducing predatory lending practices and providing financial literacy information to poor and near-poor families.

The task force is made up of Senators, Representatives and a designee from the Department of Commerce and Attorney General’s office. Appointments will be made by August 15, 2010. Representatives from credit unions, banks, financial institutions, community action agencies, faith-based social justice organizations, legal service organizations, University of Minnesota personnel and community organizations will also have an opportunity to present their views to the task force.

The task force will provide their written recommendations for possible legislation to the chairs of the Senate and House committees with jurisdiction over commerce and consumer protection no later than June 1, 2012.