| For Immediate Release |
| March 21, 2000 |
SAINT PAUL The Minnesota House of Representatives passed Republican-sponsored Omnibus Appropriations Bill early this morning that provides increased funding for nursing homes, expands the eligibility of the Senior Prescription Drug Program, fully funds Minnesota ethanol plants and stiffens the penalties for repeat DUI offenders. The legislation also provides $10 million to help speed up a cure for Juvenile Diabetes.
"The Omnibus Appropriations Bill takes care of many of the important needs in our state ," said House Speaker Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon). "This legislation gives appropriate and necessary funding increases for the care of our elderly and disabled, increases the state's commitment to ethanol production, provides additional welfare reforms and send a message that we will not tolerate repeat drunk drivers ."
The highlights of the legislation include:
Health & Human Services
Increases the per diem reimbursement rates for nearly 200 nursing homes across the state to provide equity. Directs $10 million from the MERC portion of the Tobacco Use Prevention and Local Public Health Endowment allocated to the University of Minnesota for pancreatic islet cell transplantation research directed at Type 1 diabetes. Expands the eligibility for the Senior Prescription Drug Program to anyone enrolled in Medicare regardless of age, opening up the program to disabled persons under the age of 65. The asset limits are also doubled to $8,000 for an individual and $12,000 for a couple. Provides tougher sanctions for Minnesota Family Investment Planning (MFIP) recipients that don't comply with the program's policies after six months of non-compliance.
Agriculture & Environment
Expands eligibility for Ethanol Producer Payments and provides an additional $3.6 million in funding for the current biennium to the value-added ethanol program. Due to weather and disease related problems that are causing economic hardships for some farmers, economic assistance is provided through the Agricultural Land Set-Aside Program. Money is appropriated for accelerated walleye stocking and fish and wildlife management.
Judiciary
Makes a fourth or subsequent DUI offense a felony and requires the court to impose a five-year prison sentence and provides for a $14,000 maximum fine. Provides financial incentives for counties to make greater use of the juvenile offender facilities at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Red Wing.
State Government Finance
Revokes the light rail transit design-build authority for the Hiawatha Light Rail Line. Amends the Bleacher Safety Act to reduce the fiscal impact to local governments. Raises the salary of the Governor, but tied to that is a provision that places him under the state ethics code limiting his outside income.
Rural Economic Development
Provides funding for a workers skills inventory in rural Minnesota that will match employers to workers. Provides $1.5 million in one-time grants for wired and wireless technology. A one-time $500,000 cash infusion into the nearly depleted Minnesota Tourism Revolving Loan Fund. A one-time $200,000 appropriation to Minnesota Technology to launch the e-business institute. $500,000 for the Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance through TANF.
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