STATE OF MINNESOTA SEVENTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION
EARLY CHILDHOOD FINANCE & POLICY DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Paul Rosenthal, Vice-Chair of the Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division, called the meeting to order at 4:37 pm on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 in Room 200 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
House Members Present:
Rosenthal (Vice-Chair)
Bly
Buesgens
Downey
Hamilton
Jackson
Laine
Mack
Mariani
Nornes
Peterson
Ward
House Members Excused:
Slawik (Chair)
Greiling
A quorum was not present.
A quorum was present at 4:40 pm.
Representative Rosenthal moved that HF1324 (Hornstein), General Education Development test fee waiver authorized, be heard and laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division bill.
Testifying in favor of HF1324:
Matthew Ayers, Project Manager, Heading Home Hennepin, Hennepin County
Steve Cramer, Executive Director, Project for Pride in Living
Paul Ramsour, Program Director, Youth Link
Mr. Ramsour was asked of the 39 people mentioned who graduated with Youth Link how many were homeless at the time and if Youth Link was registered as a 501(c)(3) with the IRS.
Mr. Cramer was asked if Project for Pride in Living was registered as a 501(c)(3) with the IRS.
Testifying in opposition to HF1324:
Tom Cytron-Hysom, Legislative Issues Chair, Literacy Minnesota
Emily Adriaens, House Fiscal Analyst, testified on the status of a fiscal note for HF1324.
Mr. Cytron-Hysom was asked if he could provide details on what neighboring states are doing on this issue.
Representative Hornstein was asked if the bill language allowed for flexibility in funding the bill.
Mr. Ayers was asked how many homeless people in Minnesota do not have a GED and how much does the GED test cost.
Representative Rosenthal laid over HF1324 for future consideration.
Representative Peterson moved that HF1430 (Peterson), Working Family Resource Center grant provided, and money appropriated, be heard and laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division bill.
Testifying in favor of HF1430:
Marcie Brooke, Executive Director, Working Family Resource Center
Beth Quist, Director of Education and Development, Working Family Resource Center
Ms. Brooke was asked if the Working Family Resource Center operates in greater Minnesota; how big is the Working Family Resource Center; and what sources fund the Working Family Resource Center.
Representative Peterson was asked to explain what makes the Working Family Resource Center unique so as to appropriate a grant; if the Working Family Resource Center has previously received state funding; and how the appropriation number of $25,000 was derived.
Representative Peterson laid over HF1430 for future consideration.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:32 pm.
Representative Paul Rosenthal, VICE-CHAIR
Matthew M. Collie
Committee Legislative Assistant