STATE OF MINNESOTA FIFTY-THIRD 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 Wednesday,
March 5, 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
Atkins, Joe
Bly, David
Brynaert, Kathy
Clark, Karen
Gunther, Bob
Haws, Larry
Hortman, Melissa
McFarlane, Carol
Moe, Frank
Nornes, Bud
Norton, Kim
Ruth, Connie
Severson, Dan
Slocum, Linda
Welti, Andy
Members excused:
Dettmer, Bob
Eastlund, Rob
Mahoney, Tim
Murphy, Mary
Chair Rukavina invited Dr. Finnegan to come up and give his presentation on HF 3569, and said action would be taken on HF 3569 when a quorum was present.
John R. Finnegan, Jr. Dean, School of Public Health, and Vice President, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 3569.
Jeffrey Mandel, Faculty, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 3569.
Discussion and questions followed.
John Finnegan and Jeffrey Mandel continued their presentation.
Further discussion and questions followed.
Chair Rukavina provided some historical information on the issue of mesothelioma and on past studies.
Further discussion and questions followed.
Charles Olson, Steelworker, Side Lake, Minnesota, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 3569.
Chair Rukavina officially called the meeting to order at 1:15 p.m. A quorum was present.
Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
March 5, 2008
Page Two
Charles Olson continued his testimony regarding HF 3569.
Chair Rukavina invited Representative Tom Anzelc to come and sit at the table due to his strong interest and involvement in the issue.
Discussion and questions followed.
Jeffrey Mandel provided further testimony regarding HF 3569.
Discussion and questions followed.
Jeffrey Mandel provided further testimony regarding HF 3569.
Discussion and questions followed.
Chair Rukavina commented regarding the cost of the study.
Chair Rukavina moved that HF 3569 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Housing Policy and Finance and Public Health Finance Division.
Chair Rukavina presented HF 3569, relating to workers' health; directing the University of Minnesota to study workers' health including lung health; appropriating money.
Chair Rukavina moved that HF 3569 be amended with the amendment
HF3569A1, attachedl
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Further discussion and questions followed.
Chair Rukavina asked for a representative of the Minnesota Department of Health to come forward to provide testimony regarding HF 3569.
Margaret Kelly, Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Health, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 3569.
Further discussion and questions followed.
Chair Rukavina commented further on HF 3569.
Margaret Kelly provided further testimony regarding HF 3569.
Chair Rukavina renewed his motion that HF 3569 be recommended to pass as amended and be re-referred to the Housing Policy and Finance and Public Health Finance Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3143 (Winkler)
Representative Welti moved that HF 3143 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Taxes Committee.
Representative Winkler presented HF 3143, relating to state government finance; allowing an individual income and corporate franchise credit for investment in Minnesota high technology businesses; reducing an appropriation.
Discussion and questions followed.
Chair Rukavina indicated that HF 3143 needed to be re-referred back to the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division from Taxes because it comes out of the Division's budget, and commented on the need to work on the bill more, and to include a requirement to report back to the legislature.
Discussion and questions followed.
Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
March 5, 2008
Page Three
Representative Welti renewed his motion that HF 3143 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Taxes Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3295 (Solberg)
Representative Gunther moved that HF 3295 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Committee.
Representative Solberg presented HF 3295, relating to economic development; clarifying conflict of interest rules for local economic development authorities; providing criminal penalties.
Representative Solberg presented amendment SCS2806A-1.
Representative Gunther moved to amend HF 3295 with the amendment SCS2806A-1, attached.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Ed Zabinski, President, Grand Rapids Economic Development Authority, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 3295.
Discussion and questions followed.
Representative Gunther renewed his motion that HF 3295 as amended be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3707 (Hortman)
Representative Hortman moved that HF 3707 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 Hortman presented HF 3707, relating to economic development; appropriating money for industry sector training initiatives.
Discussion and questions followed.
Jane Samargia, Executive Director, HIRED, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 3707.
Discussion and questions followed.
Representative Hortman renewed her motion that HF 3707 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.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:15 P.M.
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair
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Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant