THIRD MEETING

STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRD MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION


VETERANS AFFAIRS DIVISION

MINUTES


Representative Koenen, Chair of the Veteran Affairs Committee, called the first meeting to order at 8:35 AM on Friday, February 13, 2009 in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:

KOENEN, Chair
NEWTON, Vice-Chair
DETTMER, Republican Lead
DOTY
FAUST
LIEDER
OTREMBA
SANDERS
SEVERSON

Members excused:

MAGNUS

A quorum was present.

Representative Faust moved approval of the minutes from February 6, 2009. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED.

Chairman Koenen moved HF541 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee.

HF541 (Juhnke) relating to property taxes; extending the time frame for eligibility for the surviving spouses of certain disabled military veterans to receive the residential homestead market value exclusion;

Rep. Juhnke explained HF541 to the committee.

Chairman Koenen renewed his motion that HF541 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chairman Koenen moved HF303 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee.

HF303 (Lillie) memorializing the Congress of the United States to appoint an independent counsel to investigate the Prisoner of War - Missing in Action issue.

Representative Lillie explained HF303 to the committee and took questions from the members.

Mr. John Cox, Chairman, American Legion explained the importance of HF303.

Chairman Koenen renewed his motion that HF303 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Ms. Judy Kurki-Coleman, Administrator, Ms. Jill Smith, Assistant Administrator Clinical and Ms. Mary Zabel, Assistant Administrator with the Minneapolis Veterans Home presented the committee with an update and overview of the Minneapolis Veterans Home and resident care.


The meeting adjourned at 9:38 AM.




___________________________________________
REP. LYLE KOENEN, Chair




___________________________________________
Mary M. Larson, Committee Legislative Assistant