STATE OF MINNESOTA NINETEENTHTH 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 12:32 P.M. on Tuesday, February 27, 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
Members excused:
Murphy, M.
A quorum was present.
Chair Rukavina announced that HF 640 was placed first on the agenda to accommodate persons testifying who had traveled from Walker, and that HF 34 would need to be laid over temporarily in order to hear HF 640 first. The Division members agreed.
HF 640 (Howes)
Representative Dettmer moved that HF 640 be held over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.
Representative Howes presented HF 640, a bill relating to finance; appropriating money for the Walker Area Community Center.
Gloria Dudley, Planning Division Director, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, introduced herself and provided testimony in support of HF 640.
Mitch Loomis, President, Walker Area Community Center Board, introduced himself and provided testimony in support of HF 640.
Questions and discussion followed.
Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
February 27, 2007
Page Two
Representative Dettmer renewed his motion that HF 640 be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill.
HF 34 (Kahn)
Representative Kahn continued her presentation of 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.
Representative Kahn asked that Jeffrey Kahn, Chair, Stem Cell Ethics Advisory Board, University of Minnesota, come to the table to assist with her presentation and to answer questions.
Representative Severson moved to amend HF 34, the first engrossment, with amendment
H0034A1, attached.
Vice Chair Poppe assumed the chair at 12:43 P.M.
Questions and discussion followed.
Chair Rukavina resumed the chair at 12:48 P.M.
Representative Severson provided additional information on his amendment H0034A1 with a hand out, attached.
Questions and discussion followed.
Kathy Novak, House Research, provided further information pertinent to the Severson amendment
H0034A1.
Representative Kahn provided further testimony regarding the Severson amendment and HF 34.
Representative Severson provided further comment regarding his amendment.
Representative Kahn provided further testimony on HF 34 and the Severson amendment.
Representative Severson provided further comment regarding his amendment.
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Severson renewed his motion to amend HF 34, the first engrossment, with amendment
H0034A1.
Representative Severson requested a roll call vote on his amendment,
H0034A1, as follows:
Rukavina - Nay
Atkins - Nay
Bly - Nay
Brynaert - Nay
Clark - Nay
Dettmer - Aye
Eastlund - Aye
Gunther - Absent
Haws - Nay
Hortman - Nay
McFarlane - Aye
Mahoney - Nay
Moe - Nay
Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
February 27, 2007
Page Three
Nornes - Aye
Norton - Nay
Poppe - Nay
Ruth - Aye
Severson - Aye
Slocum - Nay
Welti - Nay
TOTALS: 6 AYES, 13 NAYS.
THE MOTION FAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Representative Eastlund moved to amend HF 34, the first engrossment, with amendment
H0034A2, attached.
Questions and discussion followed.
Jeffrey Kahn, Chair, Stem Cell Ethics Advisory Board, University of Minnesota, introduced himself and responded to questions from members.
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Eastlund renewed his motion to amend HF 34, the first engrossment, with amendment
H0034A2. THE MOTION FAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Chair Rukavina moved to amend HF 34, the first engrossment, with amendment H0034A3, the author's amendment, attached.
Representative Kahn explained amendment
H0034A3.
Questions and discussion followed.
Chair Rukavina renewed his motion to amend HF 34, the first engrossment, with amendment
H0034A3. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chair Rukavina renewed his motion that HF 34, as amended, be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Public Safety Policy Committee.
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Eastlund requested a roll call vote on passage of HF 34, as amended, as follows:
Rukavina - Aye
Atkins - Aye
Bly - Aye
Brynaert - Aye
Clark - Aye
Dettmer - Nay
Eastlund - Nay
Gunther - Absent
Haws - Nay
Hortman - Aye
McFarlane - Nay
Mahoney - Aye
Moe - Aye
Nornes - Nay
Norton - Aye
Poppe - Aye
Ruth - Nay
Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
February 27, 2007
Page Four
Severson - Nay
Slocum - Aye
Welti - Aye
TOTALS: 12 AYES, 7 NAYS.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Kahn made final comments regarding HF 34.
Chair Rukavina invited Representative Mariani to begin his presentation of HF 771.
HF 771 (Mariani)
Representative Moe moved that HF 771 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the House Floor.
Representative Mariani presented HF 771, a resolution memorializing the President and Congress to promote the United States' ability to compete in the global marketplace for talented and necessary workers.
Vice Chair Poppe assumed the chair at 1:30 P.M.
Vice Chair Poppe invited persons testifying on HF 771 to come forward to introduce themselves and provide testimony.
John Keller, Executive Director, Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, introduced himself and provided testimony in favor of HF 771.
Sam Myers, Attorney, Myers, Thompson PA, introduced himself and provided testimony in favor of HF 771.
Alejandra Cruz, Student, Minneapolis, introduced herself and provided testimony in favor of HF 771.
Questions and discussion followed.
Kathy Novak, House Research, provided information regarding resolutions.
Representative Moe renewed his motion that HF 771 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the House Floor. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Vice Chair Poppe invited Representative Anzelc to begin his presentation of HF 874.
HF 874 (Anzelc)
Representative Rukavina moved that HF 874 be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill
Representative Anzelc presented HF 874, a bill relating to the city of Northome; appropriating money for the construction of a new municipal building.
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Rukavina renewed his motion that HF 874 be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill.
Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
February 27, 2007
Page Five
Representative Rukavina moved that the minutes of the February 22, 2007 meeting be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:05 P.M.
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair
Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant