Editor’s note: Each Sunday throughout the legislative session, the Tribune will provide a wrap-up of bills discussed by legislators the previous week. For more information on these or other bills, call your legislator.

By Benjamin Dipman, Tribune staff writer

In the second week of session legislators have already introduced a number of bills for high-profile issues such as casinos, lowering the blood alcohol limit for drivers and the death penalty.

– Both Senate and House committees have received proposals regarding gambling. Bills would require cities to conduct referendums to approve casinos in their area. The commissioner of finance would reimburse cities for election costs. A bill has been sent to the House Committee on Governmental and Veterans Affairs Policy and a similar bill has been sent to the Senate Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming Committee.

– A house bill has also been issued that would allow for a casino in the metropolitan area. Revenue from the casino would go toward costs for stadiums for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings and University of Minnesota Gopher football teams. It was sent to the Committee on Governmental and Veterans Affairs Policy.

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A Senate proposal allows the use of the death penalty against certain people convicted of first-degree murder. The Committee on Crime Prevention and Public Safety will review the proposal.

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A Senate proposal would require automobile drivers to have a blood alcohol level of .08 or less. The bill allows, however, for exceptions for first-time offenders, with a clean driving record, that have a level between .08 and .10. It is being considered in the Judiciary Policy and Finance Committee.

Local representatives are pushing bills regarding kindergarten, funding for the Shooting Star Trail, pirating movies and the use of phosphorus in fertilizers.

– Reps. Dan Dorman, R-Albert Lea; Jeff Anderson, R-Austin; Randy Demmer, Scott Newman, and Kurt Zellers introduced a bill requiring students under the age of seven to complete kindergarten prior to being admitted to first grade. If passed, the law would be effective for the 2005-2006 school year. The bill was referred to the Committee on Education Policy.

– Reps. Dorman and Anderson introduced a bill that would allow for up to $800,000 for the proposed Shooting Star Trail from the bonds fund. The trail would run along state highway 56 from LeRoy to Austin.

The bill was referred to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Finance.

– Sens. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin, James Metzen, Carrie Ruud, Mike McGinn, and Dallas Sams introduced a bill prohibiting the use of audiovisual recording devices in motion picture theaters. Penalties include sentencing of no more than three years and/or fines of no more than $5,000. The proposal was referred to the Committee on Crime Prevention and Public Safety.

– Sens. Sparks, Steve Dille, Ruud and Sams introduced a bill extending the restriction on phosphorus use in fertilizers. If passed, people may not use fertilizer containing phosphorus anywhere in the state, as opposed to a metropolitan county, where the current restrictions are enforced. Referred to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

Other bills significant bills include:

– A senate bill establishing a Predatory Offender Screening Committee composed of a county attorney, or a designated representative of a county attorney, appointed by the attorney general; a judge or retired judge appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court; and a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist appointed by the commissioner of human services. The committee would make recommendations to the commissioner of corrections regarding referral of sex offenders to civil commitment proceedings. It was referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

– A higher education Senate bill allowing state colleges and universities to opt out of governance by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) board.

Independence must be approved by two of the following: a majority of full-time enrolled students, a majority of tenured faculty, the president of the school.

The governor would create a 15-member board for the school, which would be approved by the senate, and have the same governing powers the MnSCU board had. At least eight board members must live in the school’s county and three must be students in the school. The bill is being discussed by the Committee on Finance.

(Contact Benjamin Dipman at ben.dipman@albertleatribune.com or 379-3439.)