STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-SECOND MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION
HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
FINANCE AND POLICY DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative David Bly, Vice Chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division, called the meeting to order at 1:10 P.M. on Tuesday, March 24, 2009, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
Bly, David, Vice Chair
Anderson, Sarah
Atkins, Joe
Brynaert, Kathy
Clark, Karen
Dettmer, Bob
Downey, Keith
Eastlund, Rob
Gunther, Bob
Haws, Larry
Mahoney, Tim
McFarlane, Carol
Murphy, Mary
Nornes, Bud
Norton, Kim
Obermueller, Mike
Poppe, Jeanne
Reinert, Roger
Slocum, Linda
Welti, Andy
Members excused:
Rukavina, Tom, Chair
Vice Chair Bly asked Representative Gunther to come forward to present HF 1669.
HF 1669 (Gunther)
Representative Gunther discussed the amendment
H1669A1 to HF 1669.
Representative Gunther presented HF 1669, relating to state government; appropriating money for jobs, economic development, housing, and Minnesota Heritage; establishing and modifying certain programs; providing for regulation of certain activities and practices; providing for accounts, assessments, and fees; changing codes and licensing provisions; providing penalties.
Representative Gunther moved that HF 1669 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill.
Representative Gunther moved to amend HF 1669 with amendment
H1669A1, attached. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Gunther continued his presentation of HF 1669 as amended.
Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
March 24, 2009
Page Two
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Gunther renewed his motion that HF 1669 as amended be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill.
Representative Bly moved to reconsider the motion referring SF 684 to the Finance Committee.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Bly moved that SF 684 be recommended to pass and be referred to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 1048 (Brynaert)
Representative Brynaert moved that HF 1048 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill.
Representative Brynaert presented HF 1048 relating to unemployment compensation; providing eligibility for benefits under certain training programs.
Representative Brynaert introduced Lee Nelson and Teresa Kittridge who would be available to testify regarding HF 1048 and answer questions.
Lee Nelson, Director of Legal Affairs, Unemployment Insurance Division, Department of Employment and Economic Development, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 1048.
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Brynaert renewed her motion that HF 1048 as amended be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 1941 (Brynaert)
Representative Brynaert presented HF 1941 relating to employment; appropriating money for extended employment services for persons with disabilities; establishing purpose and need for extended employment services.
Representative Brynaert introduced Wally Waranka, job counselor with Lifetrack Resources, who would be testifying regarding HF 1641.
Representative Brynaert moved that HF 1941 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill.
Walter Waranka, job counselor, Lifetrack Resources, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 1941.
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Brynaert renewed her motion that HF 1941 as amended be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill.
Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
March 24, 2009
Page Three
HF 1116 (Davnie)
Representative Gunther moved that HF 1116 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill.
Representative Bly moved to amend HF 1116 with amendment
H1116A4, attached. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Davnie presented HF 1116 as amended, relating to employment and economic development; making technical changes; limiting certain liability; allowing funding for strategic investments; waiving certain unemployment benefit requirements for dislocated workers; expanding the authorized use of the Minnesota investment fund; modifying unemployment insurance provisions; requiring appeals to be filed online, providing for collection of fees; regulating continued request for unemployment benefits filings, providing administrative penalties; defining and clarifying terms.
Chuck Hamilton, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, introduced himself and assisted Representative Davnie with his presentation of HF 1116,
Article 1.
Questions and discussion followed.
Chuck Hamilton continued assisting Representative Davnie with his presentation of HF 1116, Article 2.
Questions and discussion followed.
Lee Nelson, Director of Legal Affairs, Unemployment Insurance Division, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, introduced himself and assisted Representative Davnie with his presentation of HF 1116, Article 3.
Questions and discussion followed.
Lee Nelson continued assisting Representative Davnie with his presentation of HF 1116,
Article 4.
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Obermueller moved to amend HF 1116 with amendment
A09-0238, attached.
Representative Obermueller discussed the A09-0238 amendment.
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Anderson moved to divide the A09-0238 amendment between lines 1.6 and 1.7.
THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL. THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Anderson called for a division on her motion to divide the A09-0238 amendment between lines 1.6 and 1.7. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL. THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Representative Obermueller withdrew the A09-0238 amendment.
Representative Obermueller moved to amend HF 1116 with amendment
A09-0239, attached.
Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
March 24, 2009
Page Four
Representative Obermueller moved to incorporate an oral amendment to amendment A09-0239, as follows:
Page 1, line 13, delete "and the applicable" and strike "burden of proof"
Page 2, line 1, delete "the unemployment law judge must narrowly"
Page 2, line 2, delete "construe"
Page 2, line 2, after "benefits" insert "must be narrowly construed"
Representative Obermueller discussed amendment A09-0239 as amended.
Representative Obermueller moved to amend HF 1116 with amendment A09-0239 as amended. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Gunther renewed his motion that HF 1116 as amended be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:30 P.M.
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair
Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant