MINUTES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STATE OF MINNESOTA
EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION THIRTY-THIRD MEETING
HEALTH CARE AND HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE DIVISION
Thomas E. Huntley, Chair
Chair Huntley began the thirty-third meeting at 12:29 p.m. on Thursday, March 29, 2007, in Room 200 of the State Office Building. A quorum was present at 12:30 p.m. The Chair formally called the meeting to order and the clerk noted the roll:
Members Present:
Huntley, Chair
Hosch, Vice Chair
Abeler
Anderson
Brod
Bunn
Dean
Erickson
Fritz
Gottwalt
Liebling
Loeffler
Murphy
Otremba
Peppin
Peterson
Ruud
Slawik
Thao
Thissen
Walker
The meeting began with John Walz, Fiscal Analyst, doing a walk-through of the omnibus bill spreadsheet. Discussion and testimony followed:
Don Allen, Department of Human Services, Chemical and Mental Health
Ann Sessoms, Department of Human Services, Chemical and Mental Health
Sue Aberholden, Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness
Will Wilson, Mental Health Association
Jessica Webster, Legal Aid Advocate
Trishalla Bell, Welfare Rights Committee
Deb Konechne, Welfare Rights Committee
Mark Peterson, President & CEO, Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota
Mark McAffee, Legislative Representative, AFSCME, Council 5
Steve Larson, The Consortium for Disabilities and Executive Director, The Arc
of Minnesota
Kari Thurlow, Long Term Care Imperative
Patti Cullen, Care Providers, Inc., on behalf of the Long Term Care Imperative
Deborah Schlick, Affirmative Options Coalition
Amy Wilde, Meeker County Board of Commissioners (District 3), representing
the Association of Minnesota Counties; MACSSA; and MICA
Paul Fleissner, Olmstead County Director of Community Services, on behalf of MICA
and MACSSA
Mary Wellik, Local Public Health Association of Minnesota, Olmstead County
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At 1:49 p.m., Representative Liebling assumed the gavel while testimony continued:
Carol Backstrom, Health Partners, Inc. and Regions Hospital
Geoff Bartsch, Health Partners, Inc. and Regions Hospital
Mary Regan, Executive Director, Minnesota Council of Child Caring Agencies
and CTSS (Children's Therapeutic Services and Supports)
Jim Haddican, Chief Financial Officer, Gillette Children’s Hospital
Mary Krinkie, Minnesota Hospital Association
Paul Cassidy, Children’s Hospital and Clinics of Minneapolis
Kris Flaten, State Advisory Council on Mental Health and Minnesota Mental Health
Action Group (M/MHAG)
Don Allen (again) from Department of Human Services, to respond to a question
Patricia Seifert, Minnesota Disability Law Center
Deb Holmgren, Executive Director, Portico Healthnet
Bruce Nelson, ARRM
Carol Specktor, Legislative Affairs Director, Children’s Defense Fund of MN
There being no further testimony, Chair Liebling adjourned the meeting at 2:44 p.m.
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Thomas E. Huntley, Chair
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Jan Horner, Committee Legislative Assistant