STATE OF MINNESOTA EIGHTEENTHTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND
FINANCE DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair of the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division, called the meeting to order at 12:35 P.M. on Thursday, February 22, 2007, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
Rukavina, Tom, Chair
Poppe, Jeanne, Vice-Chair
Atkins, Joe
Bly, David
Brynaert, Kathy
Clark, Karen
Dettmer, Bob
Eastlund, Rob
Gunther, Bob
Haws, Larry
Hortman, Melissa
McFarlane, Carol
Mahoney, Tim
Moe, Frank
Murphy, Mary
Nornes, Bud
Norton, Kim
Ruth, Connie
Slocum, Linda
Severson, Dan
Welti, Andy
A quorum was present.
Chair Rukavina welcomed The Honorable Thomas L. Johnson, Chief Judge, Workers Compensation Court of Appeals, and invited Judge Johnson to begin his presentation on the Workers Compensation Court of Appeals' budget request.
The Honorable Thomas L. Johnson, Chief Judge, Workers Compensation Court of Appeals, introduced himself and his Administrative Assistant, Elaine Heikes. Judge Johnson provided testimony on the Workers Compensation Court of Appeals' budget request.
Questions and discussion followed.
HF 34 (Kahn)
Chair Rukavina moved that HF 34 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Public Safety Policy Committee.
Chair Rukavina asked that the testimony be limited to 5 minutes per presentation.
Representative Kahn presented HF 34, a bill relating to health; establishing state policy for stem cell research; providing criminal penalties; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 137; 145.
Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
February 22, 2007
Page Two
Jackie Hunt Christensen, State Coordinator, Parkinson Action Network, provided testimony in support of HF 34.
Meri Firpo, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota Stem Cell Institute, provided testimony in support of HF 34.
Phil Griffin, lobbyist for LifeScience Alley, provided testimony in support of HF 34.
Bishop Richard Pates, Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, lobbying for the Minnesota Catholic Conference, provided testimony in opposition to HF 34.
Julie Niccum, Legislative Associate for Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, provided testimony in opposition to HF 34.
Steve Calvin, MD, provided testimony in opposition to HF 34.
Questions and discussion followed.
Chair Rukavina invited Dr. Firpo, to come to the table to provide further testimony and respond to questions.
Dr. Firpo provided further testimony on HF 34.
Paul Wojda, Associate Professor, University of St. Thomas, and former Chair, Archbishop's Biomedical Ethics Commission, at the invitation of the Minnesota Catholic Conference provided testimony in opposition to HF 34.
Kirk Allison, Ph.D., MS, Program in Human Rights and Health, University of Minnesota, provided testimony in opposition to HF 34.
Chair Rukavina announced that HF 34 would be continued to the next meeting on Tuesday, February 27.
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Hortman moved that the minutes of February 21, 2007 be adopted with the following correction:
Page 2, second to the last paragraph, first line, delete "797" and insert "398"
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:05 P.M.
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair
Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant