STATE OF MINNESOTA FIFTY-FIRST 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 1:35 P.M. on Thursday,
February 28, 2008, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
Rukavina, Tom, Chair
Poppe, Jeanne, Vice-Chair
Bly, David
Brynaert, Kathy
Clark, Karen
Eastlund, Rob
Haws, Larry
Hortman, Melissa
Mahoney, Tim
McFarlane, Carol
Murphy, Mary
Nornes, Bud
Norton, Kim
Ruth, Connie
Severson, Dan
Welti, Andy
Members excused:
Atkins, Joe
Dettmer, Bob
Gunther, Bob
Moe, Frank
Slocum, Linda
Chair Rukavina invited Representative Paulsen to come forward to present his bill.
HF 2779 (Paulsen)
Representative Paulsen presented HF 2779, relating to workforce development; establishing a lifelong learning account program; allowing tax credits to employees and employers for contributions to lifelong learning accounts; appropriating money.
Richard King Johnson, State Policy Director, Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 2779.
Discussion and questions followed.
Valerie Pace, Manager, Corporate Citizenship, IBM, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 2779.
Discussion and questions followed.
Chair Rukavina indicated his intention to move that HF 2779 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill when a quorum is present.
Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
February 28, 2008
Page Two
HF 3363 (Haws)
Representative Haws expressed his intention to move that HF 3363 be recommended to pass and asked for the Chair's advice regarding the appropriate motion to make once a quorum is present.
Representative Haws presented HF 3363, relating to higher education; clarifying certain scholarship program provisions; amending grant requirements; amending certain private institution provisions; making technical changes; providing for data sharing.
A quorum was now present.
Representative Ruth moved that HF 2779 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division with a recommended re-referral to the Finance Committee with a recommendation for referral to the Taxes Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Haws moved that HF 3363 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill.
Mark Misukanis, Director of Finance, Office of Higher Education, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 3363.
Discussion and questions followed.
Tricia Grimes, Office of Higher Education, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 3363.
Discussion and questions followed.
Mark Misukanis provided further testimony regarding HF 3363.
Discussion and questions followed.
Susan Heegard, Director, Office of Higher Education, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 3363.
Discussion and questions followed.
Representative Haws renewed his motion that HF 3363 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative McFarlane moved that the minutes of February 26, 2008 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative McFarlane moved that the minutes of February 27, 2008 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 2676 (Mullery)
Representative Welti moved that HF 2676 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill.
Representative Mullery presented HF 2676, relating to employment; providing for voluntary paid parental leave; appropriating money.
Jim Koppel, Executive Director, Children's Defense Fund Minnesota, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 2676.
Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
February 28, 2008
Page Three
Discussion and questions followed.
Amy Brenengen, Director, Office of the Economic Status of Women, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 2676.
Discussion and questions followed.
Brad Lehto, Chief of Staff, Minnesota AFL-CIO, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 2676.
Discussion and questions followed.
Chair Rukavina asked if a fiscal note had been requested, and Representative Mullery indicated that it had been.
Representative Welti renewed his motion that HF 2676 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3349 (Rukavina)
Representative Rukavina presented HF 3349, relating to higher education; removing a surplus appropriation sunset provision.
Discussion and questions followed.
Representative Rukavina renewed his motion that HF 3349 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division with a recommended re-referral to the Finance Committee with a recommendation for referral to the House Floor. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 2629 (Rukavina)
Representative Rukavina indicated that due to time constraints, he would take up HF 2629 at Tuesday's meeting, and also indicated that he would be offering a delete everything amendment to HF 2629 and that anyone who wanted a copy of the amendment in advance of the meeting was welcome to a copy.
Discussion and questions followed.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:20 P.M.
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair
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Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant