Senate DFL unveils first six bills of the session

Senate Democrats' first six bills of the session will address a skilled worker shortage, reform the child protection system and expand early childhood education, among other priorities, DFL lawmakers said Thursday.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk in a news conference stopped short of calling the bills top priorities but said they were important. Notably absent Thursday was a bill on transportation, an issue that is shaping up to be a legislative priority for the Gov. Mark Dayton, DFLers and Republicans alike.

Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, is crafting that bill and said it would likely be introduced early next week.

The six bills are:

-- An appropriation of $6.85 million for disaster relief from last summer's storms that heavily damaged dozens of counties in Minnesota. It would also provide an additional $3 million so local governments can receive matching funds for roads. An additional $2.4 million would be provided for erosion, sediment and water control to benefit farmers. The bill sponsor is Sen. Vicki Jensen, DFL-Owatonna.

-- Free two-year tuition at at Minnesota state community or technical college for new high school graduates. The bill sponsor Sen. Leroy Stumpf, DFL-Plummer, said the bill would help reduce student-loan debt and provide employers skilled workers.

-- In a nod to the rural parts of the state, the third bill would expand the state's loan-forgiveness program for health professionals. Under the program, participating health care professionals who serve up to four years in a rural area would have some of their college debt forgiven. The bill sponsor is Sen. Greg Clausen, DFL-Apple Valley.

-- DFLer's fourth bill would allow high school students to take vocational training in return for academic credit. It would include a partnership with local employers interested in providing training opportunities to students. The bill sponsor is Sen. Terri Bonoff, DFL-Minnetonka.

-- Lastly, Senate Democrats want to expand access to early childhood education, also a priority Gov. Dayton plans to pursue. The bill would allow every four-year-old in the state attend pre-school for free and would go into effect in fall 2016. The bill sponsor is Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin.