STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTIETH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION
EARLY CHILDHOOD FINANCE & POLICY DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Nora Slawik, Chair of the Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division, called the meeting to order at 4:36 pm on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 in Room 200 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
House Members Present:
Slawik (Chair)
Rosenthal (Vice-Chair)
Bly
Buesgens
Downey
Hamilton
Jackson
Laine
Mack
Nornes
Peterson
House Members Excused:
Greiling
Mariani
Ward
A quorum was present.
Representative Hamilton moved that the minutes from Thursday, March 26, 2009 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Vice-Chair Rosenthal assumed the gavel at 4:40 pm.
Representative Slawik moved that H.F. 2088 (Slawik), Early childhood education funding provided relating to school readiness programs, school readiness service agreements, and prekindergarten exploratory projects, reports required, and money appropriated, be heard and laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division bill.
Representative Slawik moved the
H2088A1-1 amendment (attached). THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifying in favor of H.F. 2088, as amended:
Sandy Myers, Director of Programs, Resources for Child Caring
Kerry Gleason, Community Program Coordinator, Center for Early Education and Development, University of Minnesota
Representative Slawik was asked if she had certain figures on the money being spent since the bill contained blank appropriations.
Testifying in opposition of H.F. 2088, as amended:
Karen Effrem, Policy Analyst and Board Member, EdWatch
Representative Slawik was asked how many providers are there with School Readiness Service Agreements (SRSA), if they would have to convert to QRS and if that conversion is feasible. Cherie Kotilinek, Manager, Child Care Assistance Program, Minnesota Department of Human Services provided additional information on the SRSAs.
Representative Rosenthal laid over H.F. 2088, as amended, for future consideration.
Chair Slawik resumed the gavel at 5:15 pm.
Representative Bly moved that H.F. 2202 (Bly), Early childhood education funding provided for after-school community learning programs, and money appropriated, be heard and laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division bill.
Testifying in favor of H.F. 2202:
Marnie Thompson, Assistant Principal, Northfield High School
Laura LaCroix-Dalluhn, Executive Director, Youth Community Connections
Ms. Thompson was asked to explain what will happen to the grant programs when the state funding runs out and if the programs currently operate during the summer months.
Ms. LaCroix-Dalluhn was asked what the age distribution was for the grant programs.
Representative Bly was asked if the federal stimulus money has stipulations which would require the state to fund the grant programs into the future. Melva Radtke, DFL Caucus Research Analyst, further explained the federal stimulus money’s stipulations.
Testifying in opposition of H.F. 2202:
Karen Effrem, Policy Analyst and Board Member, EdWatch
Ms. LaCroix-Dalluhn was asked how many of the 21 grant programs had an academic focus.
Representative Bly laid over H.F. 2202 for future consideration.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:52 pm.
Representative Nora Slawik, CHAIR
Matthew M. Collie
Committee Legislative Assistant