STATE OF MINNESOTA SIXTEENTH 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 4:38 pm on Thursday, March 12, 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
Greiling
Hamilton
Jackson
Laine
Mack
Mariani
Nornes
Peterson
Ward
A quorum was present.
Representative Mariani moved that HF768 (Mariani), Child care assistance program modified, money appropriated, be heard and laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division bill.
Testifying in favor of HF768:
Jerrica Walker, parent
Shannon Greely, Director of New Horizons, Brooklyn Park
Susie Brown, Executive Director, Child Care WORKS
Danyell LeMire, House Research Legislative Analyst was asked when the state was last at the 75th percentile in Child Care Assistance Program and Basic Sliding Fee reimbursement rates.
Representative Mariani laid over HF768 for future consideration.
Representative Peterson moved that the minutes from Tuesday, March 10, 2009 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Vice-Chair Rosenthal assumed the gavel at 5:02 pm.
Representative Slawik moved that HF597 (Slawik), Early childhood learning and child protection facility construction and rehabilitation funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated, be heard and laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division bill.
Representative Slawik moved the
H0597A1 amendment (attached). THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifying in favor of HF597, as amended:
Nedra Sims Fears, Business Development Director, First Children's Finance
Rick Bartz, Elementary Principal and Community Education Director, Houston Public School
Steve Nagle, Executive Director, West Central Minnesota Communities Action
Francie Mathis, Minnesota Department of Human Services was asked to explain how bonding funds were dispersed previous to 1998 and under what statutory authority those funds were dispersed.
Representative Slawik was asked if the bonding money in HF597 could be used to increase workers’ pay; if her intention was not to use HF597 to increase workers’ pay but instead to enhance facilities; and to explain Youth Build.
Vice-Chair Rosenthal laid over HF597, as amended, for future consideration.
Chair Slawik resumed the gavel at 5:37 pm.
Representative Peterson moved that HF641 (Peterson), Office of Early Learning created, be heard and laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division bill.
Testifying in favor of HF641:
Rob Grunewald, Associate Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Zoe Nicholie, Early Childhood Systems Specialist, Ready4K and BUILD manager
Ms. Nicholie was asked if a list of all the government programs that effect small children could be supplied to the committee.
Representative Peterson was asked to whom the proposed Office of Early Learning would report; to explain the fiscal note; if a fiscal note ordered for HF641; and if the mandated report by February 2009 was a typo in the bill.
Representative Peterson laid over HF641 for future consideration.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:02 pm.
Representative Nora Slawik, CHAIR
Matthew M. Collie
Committee Legislative Assistant