STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-EIGHTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Kahn, Chair of the Division, called the meeting to order at 8:39 A.M. on November 15, 2007 in Room 200 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
KAHN, Phyllis, Chair
DELAFOREST, Chris, Lead Republican
BIGHAM, Karla
DRAZKOWSKI, Steve
HILTY, Bill
HORTMAN, Melissa
PEPPIN, Joyce
POPPE, Jeanne
WINKLER, Ryan
Members excused:
WARD, John, Vice-Chair
ANDERSON, Sarah
LESCH, John
ZELLERS, Kurt
A quorum was present.
Representative Hilty moved that the minutes of May 11, 2007 and October 25, 2007 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Winkler presented an overview of HF XXXX, creating a disaster survivor compensation fund. He also showed some video clips from the Joint House/Senate Subcommittee on Claims meeting on November 9, 2007. The clips were excerpts from the testimony given by Kenneth Fienberg, The Fienberg Group, and his work on the 9/11 fund.
Karen Kelley-Ariwoola from the Minnesota Helps Fund and Vice President of the Minneapolis Foundation explained the Fund and how the money is distributed.
Dave Dahl, husband of Kim Dahl one of the victims of the 35W bridge collapse, testified that the process of applying for and receiving a grant was easy and quick.
Chris Messerly, Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi, who represents some of the victims and their families, testified in support of creating a disaster survivor compensation fund.
Tom Hanson, Commissioner of Finance, explained some of the reasons that it was difficult to determine how much money would be needed for the fund.
Jim Schwebel, Schwebel, Goetz and Sieben, who represents some of the victims and their families, testified in support of creating a disaster survivor compensation fund.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 A.M.
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Representative Phyllis Kahn, Chair
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Krysta Niedernhofer, Committee Legislative Assistant