STATE OF MINNESOTA EIGHTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION
LABOR AND CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION
of the
COMMERCE AND LABOR COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Jim Davnie, Chair of the Division, called the eighth meeting to order at 1:09 P.M. on, March 11, 2009, in the basement hearing room of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
Davnie, Jim, Chair
Fritz Patti, Vice-Chair
Lillie, Leon
Mack, Tara
Mahoney, Tim
Murdock, Mark
Nelson, Michael V.
Sanders, Tim
Simon, Steve
Zellers, Kurt
Members excused:
Solberg, Loren
Representative Davnie called the meeting to order at 1:09 P.M. A quorum was present.
Representative Davnie moved approval of HF925 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Commerce and Labor committee.
HF925 (Sertich) Official measure of unemployment expanded.
A handout was given to division members:
"Wall Street Journal - March 6, 2009 – Broader Unemployment Rate Hits 14.8%"
Testimony was given by:
Steve Hine, Director of Research, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development"
Representative Davnie renewed his motion that HF925 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to Commerce and Labor committee.
The motion prevailed.
Representative Davnie moved approval of HF818 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Commerce and Labor committee.
HF818 (Hilstrom) Financial records disclosure in connection with financial exploitation investigations authorized, procedures for reporting and investigating maltreatment modified, duties of financial institutions in cases of financial exploitation specified, and penalties imposed.
Testimony was given by:
Deb Holtz, State Ombudsman for LTC
Representative Davnie renewed his motion that HF818 be recommended to pass and re-referred to Commerce and Labor committee.
The motion prevailed.
Representative Mahoney assumed the chair.
Representative Nelson moved adoption of the March 6, 2009 minutes.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Davnie moved approval of HF1116 be recommended to pass and sent to the Commerce and Labor committee.
HF1116 (Davnie) Unemployment benefit requirements waived for dislocated workers, Minnesota investment fund authorization expanded, unemployment provisions modified, appeals required to be filed online, collection fee provided, unemployment benefit filing regulated, terms defined and clarified, and money appropriated
Testimony was given by:
Katherine Sherman Hoehn – Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Craig Gustafson - Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Representative Davnie renewed his motion that HF1116 be recommended to pass as amended and re-referred to Commerce and Labor committee.
The motion prevailed.
Representative Davnie moved approval of HF1214 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Commerce and Labor committee.
HF1214 (Davnie) Eviction provisions clarified, governing contracts for deeds modified, and contracts regulated for deeds involving residential property and residential leases with an option to purchase.
Representative Davnie moved approval of an oral amendment on page 8, line 8.23 after retains, delete "fee".
The oral amendment was adopted.
Testimony was given by:
Ron Elwood, Legal Aid
Christine Berger, Minnesota Association of Realtors
Chris Renz, Counsel, Minnesota Association of Realtors
Kevin Donley – co-chair of the Legislation committee
Dan Thiessen
Handouts were given to division members:
"Star Tribune Rent-To-Own is option for those who need one."
"New York Times – March 8, 2009 – All Boarded Up"
"Minnesota Association of Realtors – Opposition to HF1214"
Representative Davnie renewed his motion that HF1214 as amended be recommended to pass and re-referred to Commerce and Labor committee.
The motion prevailed.
Representative Davnie assumed the chair.
Representative Nelson moved approval of HF612 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Commerce and Labor committee.
HF612 (Lesch) Sick leave minimum standards established.
Testimony was given by:
Delinia Parris - Individual
Patricia Tanji, President Elect, Business and Professional Women Minnesota
Denise Welte, Service Employees Intl Union Council 7
Barb Johnson- Domestic abuse survivor
Laurie Elliott, HR Director City of Shoreview
Jeremy Estenson, Chamber of Commerce
Jamie Pfuhl, President of the Minnesota Grocers Association
Bruce W. "Buzz" Anderson, President, Minnesota Retailers Association
Joe Mathews, Minnesota Association of Counties
Handouts were given to division members:
"Acorn – Paid Sick Days Improve Our Public Health"
"Acorn – Paid Sick Days Make Good Business Sense"
"Paid Sick Days: Help in a Tough Economy"
"Our Economy Needs Family Values at Work Now More than Ever"
"Acorn – Busting the Myths about Paid Sick Days"
"Organizations In Support of the Healthy Families, Healthy Workplace Act"
"Twin West – March 10, 2009 – Chamber of Commerce"
"NFIB – To Labor and Consumer Protection Division HF612"
"Minnesota Chamber of Commerce – HF612"
"Minnesota Inter-County Association – March 10, 2009"
Representative Nelson renewed his motion that HF612 be recommended to pass and re-referred to Commerce and Labor committee.
The motion prevailed.
The meeting adjourned at 2:36 P.M.
REP. JIM DAVNIE, CHAIR
Mary Elizabeth Faust
Committee Legislative Assistant