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2003 Notable State Documents

These notable Minnesota documents were produced in 2002-2003. They are a selection of the quality work done each year by Minnesota state agencies.

Education

2002 Minnesota Education Yearbook: the Status of Pre-K-12 Education in Minnesota. Minneapolis, MN: Office of Educational Accountability, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota, 2003. (Minn. Doc. 03-0312) http://education.umn.edu/oea/II/Reports/2002Yearbook/2002yrbk.pdf

This document, like previous editions of the Yearbook, presents statistics and analyses of Minnesota's education policy and the state of Minnesota's students and schools, including coursework, school completion, school finance, and student achievement. However, a special focus of this edition is the passage of the federal No Child Left Behind Act and its impact on accountability and achievement in Minnesota's schools. Included are helpful policy recommendations, statistical tables, a bibliography, and a glossary.

Investing in People: Access to Higher Education. Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Higher Education Services Office, 2003. (Minn. Doc. 03-0265) http://www.mheso.state.mn.us/pdf/GovReport2003.pdf

This item describes the Minnesota Higher Education Services Office and its various services in the interest of furthering access to higher education in Minnesota. Student aid and tuition reciprocity programs, library information networks and systems, data collection, and the administration of state and federal higher education grant programs are covered.

Environment/Natural Resources

2001 Right-To-Know Chemical Information Report: State of Minnesota. Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Emergency Response Commission, Department of Public Safety, November 2002. (Minn. Doc. 02-0540) http://www.erc.state.mn.us/tri/rtk/2001rtkreport.pdf

321,410,932 pounds of hazardous chemicals were released into the environment in 2001 in Minnesota. This summary of toxic release inventory and pollution prevention reports includes details on the locations and the chemicals.

Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission: Special Review. Saint Paul, MN: Office of the Legislative Auditor, Financial Audit Division, 2003. (Minn. Doc. 03-0131) http://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/fad/pdf/fad0307.pdf

The review was conducted in response to a request from a member of the Minnesota Legislature who alleged that the commission unlawfully used part of its appropriation for development of a National Children's Golf Course to buy land for soccer fields. The office conducts several Special Reviews each year, often investigating high-profile entities in the news.

Minnesota Invasive Non-Native Terrestrial Plants: an Identification Guide for Resource Managers. Saint Paul, MN: Department of Natural Resources, Trails and Waterways Division, 2003.

This sturdy, small guide includes clear photos of plants and grasses. Ecological threats and control methods are described. The nominating librarian wrote, "I love this. Just plain handy for me to show someone what the dreaded buckthorn looks like!" (Note: This item is available for purchase for $9.95 at Minnesota's Bookstore. http://www.comm.media.state.mn.us/bookstore/bookstore.asp)

Recreation Compass (electronic resource). Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/compass.html

Lake Finder (electronic resource). Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/index.html

One happy citizen reported using the DNR Recreation Compass database to "zoom in on an area and find the names of nearby lakes - even tiny little lakes that don't show up on normal maps and only the locals know about. Then I can use the Lake Finder database to look up information on the lakes. The DNR database contains lots of key information, including public accesses, lake depth maps, and netting surveys. This is a fun and extremely productive tool to use in finding fishing lakes with high potential."

State-Funded Trails for Motorized Recreation. Saint Paul, MN: Office of the Legislative Auditor, Program Evaluation Division, 2003. (Minn. Doc. 03-0022) http://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/ped/pedrep/0301all.pdf

This report on motorized recreation on Minnesota's trails includes recommendations for future planning and funding of trails, and the enforcement of the laws and rules governing snowmobiles and off-highway vehicles.

Benson, David R. Stories in Log and Stone: The Legacy of the New Deal in Minnesota State Parks. Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, 2002.

This book, containing more than 170 photos, is a story of the Depression, the New Deal, and the legacy they left in the form of stone and log structures that remain in 27 Minnesota State Parks. (Note: This book is for sale by the Department of Natural Resources for $18.95 plus tax. See http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/logstonebook.html)

Health Care

Health Care Coverage and Financing in Minnesota: Public Sector Programs. Saint Paul, MN: Health Economics Program, Health Policy and Systems Compliance Division, Minnesota Department of Health, 2003. (Minn. Doc. 03-0110) (http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpsc/hep/miscpubs/pubprog.pdf)

Nearly one quarter of Minnesota residents rely on public health insurance programs such as Medicare, Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, and General Assistance. The Health Economics Program staff have written an overview of each program including a brief history, enrollment figures over time, costs, and sources of funding.

Minnesota Health Licensing Boards Biennial Reports: July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2002. Minnesota Health Licensing Boards, 2002. (Minn. Doc. 03-0020)

Have you ever needed to know how many licensed dentists there are in Minnesota? This compilation of reports from the fourteen independent health licensing boards provides information on the number of licensed practitioners, the regulatory functions performed, a list of board members, and the fees assessed by each of the licensing boards.

A Quiet Crisis: Minnesota's Rural Ambulance Services at Risk. Saint Paul, MN: Office of Rural Health & Primary Care, Minnesota Department of Health, 2002. (Minn. Doc. 03-0140) http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/chs/rhpc/PDFdocs/ambulancerpt.pdf

Using case histories and survey data, this report discusses the demographic and governmental forces that have created a 'quiet crisis' in Minnesota's rural ambulance services, where EMTs are often unpaid volunteers with full-time jobs outside the community, where emergency calls can involve traveling long distances in poor conditions, and where Medicare patients are the single largest segment of ambulance service users.

Tobacco Prevention and Local Public Health Endowment: Biannual Report to the Legislature : 2002 Activities. Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Dept. of Health, 2003. (Minn. Doc. 03-0058) http://www.mntobacco.net/LegislativeReport2002.pdf

The first required evaluation of the youth tobacco prevention programs funded through an endowment established as part of Minnesota's historic settlement with the tobacco companies highlights notable programs around the state. Answers to a survey measure progress toward the goal of a 30 percent reduction in youth tobacco use by 2005.

Governing/Government

2003 New Laws (electronic resource). Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Office, 2003. http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/2003nulaw.htm

This annual publication provides a summary of the 2003 Legislative session divided into three highly usable sections. Part one provides highlights of the session. Section two includes additional highlights, as well as all the bills the governor vetoed, including reasons, and selected bills that were considered, but not passed. Section three is technical summaries and an index. Previous editions were available in print, but the 2003 edition is online only.

Indians, Indian Tribes, and State Government, 3rd ed. Saint Paul, MN: Research Department, Minnesota House of Representatives, 2003. (Minn. Doc. 03-0103)

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/indiangb.pdf

This publication introduces readers to the major legal issues involved in the relationship between Indian tribes, Indians, and state government. Information includes demographic data for tribes in Minnesota, terms and concepts necessary for understanding the basic nature of state and federal power relative to Indians and Indian tribes, and a series of papers on specific legal issues relevant to policy makers, such as criminal and civil jurisdiction in Indian Country, gaming regulation, and education laws affecting Indian students.

Todd, Tom. Making Laws. Saint Paul, MN: Research Department, Minnesota House of Representatives, 2002. (Minn. Doc. 02-0580)

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/mkglaws.pdf

This House Research Information Brief outlines clearly the process of making laws in Minnesota through flowchart and narrative. Good references point to appropriate places in the Minnesota Constitution, House Rules, Senate Rules, and Statutes.

Judicial Administration/Courts

Diebel, Jeffrey. The Minnesota Judiciary: a Guide for Legislators. Saint Paul, MN: Research Dept., Minnesota House of Representatives, March 2003.

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/judiciary.pdf

This guide provides a very clear and concise description of the structure, functions, personnel, and finances of the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Information is presented through maps, charts, and a glossary.

Labor & Employment Issues

Minnesota Salary Survey. Minnesota Department of Economic Security, Research and Statistics Office, December 2002. (Minn. Doc. 03-0168)

Based on the 1999, 2000 and 2001 versions of an annual mail survey done by the Occupational Employment Statistics program, this publication provides estimates of employment and wages for 793 occupations. Grouped by occupation, this handy listing shows employment levels and wages regionally and statewide in comparison to the national average. How many surveyors in Minnesota? 930, including 730 from Minneapolis-St. Paul, 50 from Duluth, 20 from St. Cloud, 10 from Rochester. Nationwide? Approximately 54,650. (A searchable version of the salary survey is available at http://www.mnwfc.org/lmi/salary/.)

Local Government

Survey of Legal Costs: July 2000-June 2001. Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Office of the State Auditor, 2002. (Minn. Doc. 02-0544)

http://www.osa.state.mn.us/reports/gid/2001/legal/legal_01_report.pdf

The 1997 Legislature approved legislation having the State Auditor (OSA) gather data on legal-service costs of counties, some cities and many school districts. Included in this document is information on the spending of public funds for legal services or used to defend the county, etc., in a court action.

Special Study: Local Government Aid and Its Effect on Expenditures. Saint Paul, MN: Government Information Division, Office of the State Auditor, State of Minnesota, 2003. (Minn. Doc. 03-0138) http://www.osa.state.mn.us/reports/gid/2003/lga_study/lga_030210_report.pdf

The Governor and Legislature are looking at state programs during this time of budget crisis. In particular, the Local Government Aid (LGA) program has been open to much debate and controversy. This special study, from the Office of the State Auditor, considers the effect of LGA on spending patterns of cities of over 2,500 population.

Taxation

Minnesota Tax Incidence Study: An Analysis of Minnesota's Household and Business Taxes. Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Revenue, Tax Research Division, March 2003. (Minn. Doc. 03-0227)

http://www.taxes.state.mn.us/taxes/legal_policy/other_supporting_content/whole_doc_feb2003.pdf

This study, mandated biennially by Minnesota Statutes 270.0682, estimates how tax burden was distributed across income groups in Minnesota previously, and also makes projections about what can be expected for state and local taxes in 2005. Tax burden is shown in a number of ways, including total tax burden, taxes by sector, taxes by decile and overall tax rates. Impacts on both households and businesses are examined, with the aim of providing a tool for evaluation of the overall tax system in Minnesota.

Miscellaneous

Enterprise Management Reporting System (EMRS(electronic resource). Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Finance, 2002

http://rpt.finance.state.mn.us/eis/

This website database provides access to financial and human resources reports with the option of investigating specific boards or agencies, or viewing statewide budget information. In addition to the board or agency's mission, different report types show budget expenditures, revenues, or the number of active employees categorized by bargaining unit. A useful link to state agency background information allows for more in-depth exploration of an agency's functions and budget.

Minnesota Impaired Driving Facts, 2001. Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety, 2003. (Minn. Doc. 03-0368)

http://www.dps.state.mn.us/OTS/crashdata/2001Impaired_Facts/Impaired_Facts2001.pdf

This publication provides thorough statistics on impaired driving, as well as information on and clarification of Minnesota's impaired driving law. Impaired driving incident statistics are broken down in a number of ways, including by gender, age, type of incident, violations involved, time, location of incident, and area of residence of violator. Included are criminal conviction rates, recidivism, and crash data.

Minnesota Population Projections 2000 - 2030. Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Planning, State Demographic Center, 2002. (Minn. Doc. 03-0337) http://www.demography.state.mn.us/DownloadFiles/00Proj/PopulationProjections02.pdf

This report projects Minnesota's population growth to reach 5,452,500 by 2010 and 6,268,200 by 2030. Estimates shown by county, development region and metropolitan area illustrate which regions should expect continued growth, and which regions might lose population. Charts include information about age and gender, as well as projected percentage changes in population. (Note: Although Minnesota Planning has been merged with the Minnesota Department of Administration, the State Demographic Center continues with their invaluable work analyzing and distributing demographic data. See their new Web site at: http://www.demography.state.mn.us/index.html)