STATE OF MINNESOTA SEVENTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
AGRICULTURE, RURAL ECONOMIES AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Otremba, Chair of the Committee, called the meeting to order at 8:005A.M. on, March 21, 2007, in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
OTREMBA, Chair HEIDGERKEN
FAUST, Vice-Chair HOSCH
HAMILTON, Republican Lead JUHNKE
BROWN MORROW
DOTY SHIMANSKI
EKEN URDAHL
FINSTAD
A quorum was present.
Rep. Hamilton moved approval of the minutes from March 19, 2007.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE MINUTES WERE ADOPTED.
Representative Faust moved HF 1939, to be recommended to pass and re-referred to General Register.
Representative Tschumper explained HF 1939, relating to agriculture; changing certain food license requirements; changing certain milk requirements; eliminating a requirement on sale of bulk tanks; repealing the Dairy Trade Practices Act; clarifying certain penalties.
Representative Hamilton moved Amendment
H1939A1.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Mr. Kevin Elfering, Dairy and Food Inspection Division, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Dr. Nicole Neeser, Dairy, Meat, Poultry and Egg Inspection Program Manager, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Representative Hamilton renewed his motion that HF 1939 be recommended to pass as amended and re-referred to General Register.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Faust moved HF 1612, the Committee Engrossment be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
Representative Fritz explained HF 1612, relating to the military; improving access to counseling services for returning soldiers and veterans; requiring a report; appropriating money.
Testifying in favor of HF 1612 were:
Ms. Nancy Gertner, retired National Guard
Colonel Eric Ahlness, Department of Military Affairs
Representative Faust renewed his motion that HF 1612, the Committee Engrossment, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Faust moved HF 1594, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the General Register.
Representative Hosch explained HF 1594, relating to military; expanding the reenlistment bonus program; providing for certain academic awards.
Colonel Eric Ahlness, Department of Military Affairs testified in favor of HF 1594.
Representative Faust renewed his motion that HF 1594 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Consent Calendar.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Faust moved HF1891, the division report, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
Representative Haws explained HF 1891, the division report, relating to veterans; changing certain qualifications for service on Minnesota Veterans Homes Board and service as the board's executive director,
Representative Faust moved amendment
H1891A1.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifying in favor of HF 1891 were:
Mr. Michael Pugliese, Department of Veteran Affairs
Representative Faust renewed his motion that HF 1891, the division report, as amended, to be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Faust moved HF 2196, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
Representative Sailer explained HF 2196, relating to agriculture; modifying provisions of the waste pesticide collection program; increasing the minimum annual program expenditure amount.
Testifying in favor of HF 2196 were:
Mr. Mike Hanan, Solid Waster Director, Otter Tail County
Mr. Steven Dittman, Director of Household Hazardous Waste Management, Bagley, MN
Mr. Greg Buzicky, Director, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, shared his concerns with this bill and explained he would be happy to work with the author.
Mr. Bill Bond, Executive Director, Minnesota Crop Production Retailer, explained how he would like to part of the solution and work on this bill.
Representative Faust renewed his motion that HF 2196 be recommended to pass and re-referred to Committee on Finance.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Faust moved HF 1955 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
Representative Olin explained HF 1955 relating to veterans affairs; providing a health screening benefit for eligible members of the armed forces; requiring notification.
Representative Faust moved amendment ACS-INDEMNITY.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Olin moved to amend HF 1955, as amended by the ACS-INDEMNITY amendment, as follows:
Page 1, line 15, delete "on the comparative cervical skin test"
Page 1, delete lines 22 through 25 and insert:
"(b) Indemnity payments made by the board are subject to the requirements of chapter 336A."
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifying in favor of HF 1955 were:
Dr Kris Petrini, Assistant Director with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health
Representative Faust renewed his motion that HF 1955 be recommended to pass, as amended and re-referred to Committee on Finance.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Faust moved HF 1683, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the General Register.
Testifying on behalf of HF 1683:
Mr. Rick Nord, Farmer, Northfield, MN
Mr. Mark Robert Koenig, Farmer, Buffalo Lake, MN
Representative Faust moved to table HF 1683 until our evening meeting.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The committee recessed until 6:00 P.M. this evening.
The committee reconvened at: 6:08 P.M., Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Representative Faust moved HF 1683 be taken off the table.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Heidgerken moved amendment
H1683A2.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Koenen explained HF 1683, relating to agriculture; extending the prohibition on certain new open air swine basins.
Mr. Pete Kennedy, resident, Murdock, Minnesota spoke in favor of amendment H1683A3..
Representative Doty moved to verbally amend to amendment
H1683A3 as follows:
Page 1, line 8, delete "2" and insert “3".
THE MOTION FAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Representative Doty moved amendment
H1683A3.
Representative Hamilton requested a Roll Call Vote on amendment
H1683A3.
Voting Nay:
Otremba, Chair
Faust, Vice-Chair
Hamilton
Brown
Doty
Eken
Heidgerken
Hosch
Juhnke
Morrow
Shimanski
Urdahl
Absent:
Finstad
Being 12 nays and one absent.
THE MOTION FAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Mr. Jerry Schoenfeld, Minnesota Pork Producers testified in favor of HF1683.
Representative Heidgerken renewed her motion that HF 1683, be recommended to pass, as amended and re-referred to the General Register.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Faust moved HF 1633, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the General Register.
Representative Koenen explained HF 1633, relating to veterinary medicine; defining certain terms; changing certain requirements for provision of animal husbandry.
Representative Juhnke moved amendment
H1633DE1.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifying in favor of HF 1633 were:
Ms. Kelly Murphy, Massage Therapist and Horse Owner.
Mr. James Johnson, Sacred Heart, performs teeth floating
Mr. Chris Johnson, Hutchinson, MN
Mr. Jay Wood, resident Plato, MN
Dr. Mike Pierce, Animal Chiropractor/Neurologist
Mr. Lee McGrath, Executive Director, Institute for Justices
Ms. Barb Scottston, Horse owner and consumer of Equine services
Mr. Austin Figge, Breed and Show Austrian Show Horses
Mr. Thom Petersen, Minnesota Farmers Union
Ms. Pat Ness, Horse owner
Mr. Richard Thomas, Cedar Ridge Arabians
Testifying in opposition the HF 1633 were:
Dr. Joanne Schulman, President, Board of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Meg Glattly, Board Member, Board of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Julie Wilson, Stillwater, MN, AAEP
Dr. Tracy Turner, Minnesota Horse Counsel
Dr. Tom Hagerty, Veterinary
Senator Steve Dille, Veterinary
Dr. Kate Ann Hunter, Small Animal Veterinarian, Horse and Dog owner
Dr. John Mason(SP?), Veterinary, Stillwater, MN
Dr. J.C. Thieke, Prviate practice veterinarian
The Chair handed over the gavel to Representative Hamilton at 8:15 P.M.
The Chair resumed the gavel at 8:18 P.M.
Representative Faust renewed her motion that HF 1633 be recommended to pass, as amend and re-referred to the General Register.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Hosch moved HF 1838, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
Representative Hosch moved amendment
A07-0487
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Hosch explained HF 1838, relating to agriculture; regulating certain pesticide applications; authorizing rulemaking; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes.
Testifying in favor of HF 1838 were:
Mr. Karl Knutson, Retired Director, Soo Line Railroad
Mr. Lee Majority, Union Pacific Railroad
Mr. Gene Bell, General Maintenance for Soo Line Railroad
Mr. Phillip Qualy
Testifying in opposition of HF 1838:
Mr. John Apitz, Regional Railroad Association, Messerli and Kramer explained to the committee how he is willing to work with
Ms. Quinn Cheney, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Representative Hosch renewed her motion that HF 1838 be recommended to pass, as amended and re-referred to Committee on Finance.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:08 A.M.
_______________________________________
REP. MARY ELLEN OTREMBA, Chair
_______________________________________
Mary M. Larson, Committee Legislative Assistant