STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-THIRD MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION
HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
FINANCE AND POLICY DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division, called the meeting to order at 1:05 P.M. on Thursday, March 26, 2009, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
Rukavina, Tom, Chair
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:
A quorum was present.
Chair Rukavina asked Representative Champion to come forward to present HF 644.
HF 644 (Champion)
Representative Mahoney moved that HF 644 be recommended to pass and be referred to the House Floor.
Representative Champion presented HF 644, relating to cities; authorizing a home rule charter or statutory city to adopt a program requiring certain hiring practices in city contracts.
Representative Champion introduced Elizabeth Campbell from Ryan Companies US Inc. who would be testifying on HF 644.
Elizabeth Campbell, Ryan Companies US Inc., introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 644.
Questions and discussion followed.
Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
March 26, 2009
Page Two
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Mahoney renewed his motion that HF 644 be recommended to pass and be referred to the House Floor. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Eastlund moved that the minutes of March 24, 2009 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 1029 (Winkler)
Representative Haws moved that HF 1029 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 Winkler presented HF 1029 relating to economic development; appropriating money for BioBusiness Alliance; requiring a report.
Dale Wahlstrom, CEO, BioBusiness Alliance, introduced himself and Gregg Mast. Mr. Wahlstrom provided testimony regarding HF 1029.
Questions and discussion followed.
Gregg Mast, Senior Programmer, BioBuisiness Alliance, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 1029.
Questions and discussion followed.
Lisa Jansa, CEO, Exsulin Corporation, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding
HF 1029.
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Haws renewed his motion that HF 1029 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 1479 (Kahn)
Representative Slocum moved that HF 1479 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Taxes Committee.
Representative Kahn presented HF 1479 relating to taxation; individual income; providing a refundable credit for payment of principal and interest on student loans; appropriating money.
Representative Slocum moved to amend HF 1479 with the amendment attached. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Kahn introduced the students who would be testifying regarding HF 1479. A handout was provided.
Ryan Kennedy, a student at the University of Minnesota, Student Senate Chair and MPIRG member, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 1479.
Questions and discussion followed.
Josh Winters, Executive Director, MPIRG, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding
HF 1479.
Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
March 26, 2009
Page Three
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Slocum renewed her motion that HF 1479 as amended be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Taxes Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 1104 (Haws)
Representative Haws moved that HF 1104 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 Haws presented HF 1104, relating to employment; appropriating money for a grant to administer a statewide program for youth job skills development.
Mark Sakry, Director, Boys and Girls Club, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 1104. Handouts were provided.
Questions and discussion followed.
Tatiana Thompson, student member of Boys and Girls Club, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 1104.
Questions and discussion followed.
Calitta Jones, student member, Westside Boys and Girls Club, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 1104.
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Haws renewed his motion that HF 1104 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 1901 (Haws)
Representative Haws moved that HF 1901 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 Haws moves to amend HF 1901 with the amendment
A09-0224, attached. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Haws presented HF 1901 as amended, relating to employment; appropriating money for the Minnesota youth program.
Norm Champ, Tree Trust, Minnesota Youth Program, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 1901. Handouts were provided.
Questions and discussion followed.
Cortland Johnson, Supervisor, Tree Trust, Minnesota Youth Program, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 1901.
Questions and discussion followed.
Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
March 26, 2009
Page Four
Anne Olson, Minnesota Workforce Council Association/Minnesota Youth Program, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 1901.
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Haws renewed his motion that HF 1901 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 785 (Thissen)
Representative Mahoney moved that HF 785 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill.
Maureen Gustafson, Minnesota Works, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 785.
Questions and discussion followed.
Jim Rooker, Director, Minnesota Works, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 785.
Questions and discusson followed.
Representative Thissen presented HF 785 relating to employment; appropriating money for a grant to a nonprofit organization to work on behalf of licensed vendors to coordinate responses to solicitations or other requests and to increase employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Representative Downey assumed the chair at 2:25 p.m.
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Mahoney renewed his motion that HF 785 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 927 (Mahoney)
Representative Mahoney moved that HF 927 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee.
Representative Mahoney presented HF 927 relating to labor and industry; modifying construction codes and licensing; requiring rulemaking.
Representative Mahoney discussed the amendment
H0927A2, and an oral amendment to HF 927.
Representative Mahoney moved to amend HF 927 with the amendment
H0927A1, attached.
Anita Neumann, House Research, discussed HF 927, second engrossment.
Chair Rukavina discussed HF 927.
Representative Mahoney renewed his motion to amend HF 927 with the amendment H0927A1, attached. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
March 26, 2009
Page Five
Chair Rukavina resumed the chair at 2:35 p.m.
Representative Mahoney moved to amend HF 927 with the oral amendment, attached.
Chair Rukavina suggested laying bill over until next week. Discussion followed. Representative Mahoney requested that the bill continue to be debated and moved.
Representative Mahoney renewed his motion to amend HF 927 with the oral amendment, attached. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Mahoney renewed his motion that HF 927 as amended be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chair Rukavina recognized the presence of David Metzen, the new Director of the Office of Higher Education.
Representative Brynaert discussed HF 1048, relating to unemployment compensation, providing eligibility for benefits under certain training programs, that was heard at the March 24, 2009 meeting.
Representative Brynaert moved to reconsider the motion that HF 1048 be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Brynaert moved that HF 1048 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:43 P.M.
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair
Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant