MINUTES
MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STATE OF MINNESOTA
EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION SIXTY-FOURTH MEETING
HEALTH CARE AND HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE DIVISION
Thomas E. Huntley, Chair
The sixty-fourth meeting of the Health Care and Human Services Finance Division was co-chaired by Representatives Kim Norton, Nora Slawik and Jeff Hayden. Representative Norton maintained the gavel and began the meeting at 10:27 a.m. on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 in Room 200 of the State Office Building. A quorum was not present.
Co-chairs Slawik and Hayden made opening remarks and testimony began on the issue of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the Somali community.
Judy Punyko, Epidemiologist, Department of Health
At 10:53 a.m. a quorum was present and the meeting was formally called to order. The clerk noted the roll:
Members Present:
Huntley, Thomas, Chair
Bunn, Julie
Gottwalt, Steve
Hayden, Jeff
Hosch, Larry
Kiffmeyer, Mary
Liebling, Tina
Murphy, Erin
Peppin, Joyce
Ruud, Maria
Slawik, Nora
Members Excused
Abeler, Jim, Vice Chair
Anzelc, Tom
Fritz, Patti
Otremba, Mary Ellen
Peterson, Sandra
Scalze, Bev
Thao, Cy
Thissen, Paul
Members Absent
Brod, Laura
Dean, Matt
Emmer, Tom
Representative Ruud moved approval of the April 26, 2010 minutes. The motion prevailed.
Testimony continued on the issue of autism in the Somali Community:
Gary Cox, Operations Supervisor, Department of Human Services
Heidi Hamilton, Division Legislative Lead, Disability Services, Dept. of Human Services
Health Care and Human Services Finance Division
May 5, 2010
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Abdul Diriya, New Brighton, parent of autistic child
Anne Harrington, Executive Director, Celebrate The Spectrum, Minneapolis
Abdihakin Hassan, Minneapolis, parent of child with autism
Gary Cox (again)
Nur Haile, Minneapolis, parent of child with autism
Idil Abdull, Somali American Autism Foundation, parent of child with autism
Mohamed Jibrell, Board Chair, Confederation of Somali Community Minnesota (CSCM)
Mohamed Kahli, parent of child with autism
Abdirashid Shire, PhD, Assistant Professor, Mayo Clinic, Rochester and member of
The Somali Community
Dr. Amy Esler, Psychologist and Assistant Professor, ASD Clinic, University of
Minnesota
Discussion occurred throughout the meeting. Co-chair Norton made closing remarks and
adjourned the meeting at 12:07 p.m.
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Representative Kim Norton, Co-chair
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Representative Jeff Hayden, Co-chair
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Representative Nora Slawik, Co-chair
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Jan Horner, Committee Legislative Assistant