STATE OF MINNESOTA NINTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-EIGHTH SESSION
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY FINANCE AND POLICY
Chair, Representative Michael Paymar
MINUTES
Representative Paymar, Chair of Committee on Public Safety Finance and Policy, called the meeting to order at 10:06 a.m. Tuesday February 5th, 2013 in Room 10 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
Paymar, Chair
Rosenthal, Vice Chair
Cornish, Lead
Hilstrom
Johnson, B.
Kelly
Kieffer
Lesch
Lohmer
Mullery
Newberger
Savick
Schoen
Simon
Simonson
Slocum
Uglem
Ward, J.
Carlson (ex-officio)
A quorum was present.
Chair Paymar informed committee members and the gallery of the process and procedures for the week's hearings. Chair Paymar invited Rep. Cornish to provide brief remarks on the process as well.
Vice Chair Rosenthal assumed the chair at 10:14 a.m.
H.F. 237 (Paymar) Pistol and semiautomatic military-style assault weapon transfer and firearm possession eligibility provisions modified, and criminal penalties provided.
Rep. Paymar moved that H.F. 237 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Gun Violence Prevention Act. (10:14 a.m.)
Rep. Paymar moved to amend H.F. 237 as follows:
Page 1, Line 15: delete the new language.
Page 6, delete section 8.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifying on behalf of H.F. 237 were:
Dennis Flaherty - Executive Director, Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association
Mark Bergeron - Brooklyn Park Police Department
Dave Pecchia - Executive Director, Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association
David Kolb - Chief of Police, Champlin Police Department
Kevin Benner - Chief of Police, Brooklyn Center Police Department
Kenneth Reid - Commander, Saint Paul Police Department
Jeff Beahen - Chief of Police, Rogers Police Department
Sami Rahamim - Son of Reuven Rahamim, Accent Signage founder
Testifying in opposition to H.F. 237 were:
Andrew Rothman - Vice President, Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance
Prof. Joseph Olson - President, Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance
Chris Rager - National Rifle Association
Rob Doar - Permit to carry instructor, Blue Line Defense
Vice Chair Rosenthal laid over H.F. 237, as amended.
H.F. 240 (Schoen) Mental health screening improved for persons applying for firearm permits.
Rep. Schoen moved that H.F. 240 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Gun Violence Prevention Act. (11:10 a.m.)
Testifying on behalf of H.F. 240 were:
Rich Stanek - Hennepin County Sheriff
Jim Franklin - Executive Director, Minnesota State Sheriffs Association
Testifying in opposition to H.F. 240 were:
Chris Rager - National Rifle Association
Doug Brown - Hutchinson, MN
David Gross - Treasurer, Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance
Tim Bender - Deputy Sheriff, Beltrami County
Chair Paymar laid over H.F. 240.
Presentation on mental illness and gun violence.
Testifying during the presentation were:
Sue Abderholden - Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota
Anna McLafferty - Criminal Justice Project Director, NAMI Minnesota
Dr. Trisha Stark - Minnesota Psychological Association
Patti Bitney-Starke, Consumer Survivor Network
Stefano LoVerso, Vail Place
At 12:00 p.m., Chair Paymar declared the committee in recess until 6:00 p.m.
At 6:03 p.m., Chair Paymar reconvened the meeting.
H.F. 244 (Johnson, S) Firearm loss or theft false report crime established, crime of transferring firearms to an ineligible person expanded, and a person convicted of these crimes made ineligible to possess a firearm.
Chair Paymar moved that H.F. 244 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Gun Violence Prevention Act. (6:04 p.m.)
Testifying on behalf of H.F. 244 were:
Dave Pecchia - Executive Director, Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association
Jim Franklin - Executive Director, Minnesota State Sheriffs Association
Heather Martens - Executive Director, Protect Minnesota
Pastor Gene Martin - Joint Heirs With Christ Faith International, Minneapolis
Testifying in opposition to H.F. 244 were:
Prof. Joseph Olson - President, Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance
Tim Bender - Deputy Sheriff, Beltrami County
Chair Paymar laid over H.F. 244
H.F. 184 (Winkler) Centralized register maintenance and creation required for individuals who voluntarily wish to be ineligible to purchase firearms for a self-determined period of time; and chiefs of police and sheriffs mandated to accept voluntary surrender of firearms and ammunition from persons on the voluntary register and establishment of procedures for return of the firearms and ammunition upon request.
Chair Paymar moved that H.F. 184 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Gun Violence Prevention Act. (6:30 p.m.)
Testifying on behalf of H.F. 184 were:
Diane Sellgren - Saint Louis Park
Sue Abderholden - Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota
Testifying in opposition to H.F. 184 were:
Prof. Joseph Olson - President, Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance
Thomas Boling - Coon Rapids, MN
Chair Paymar laid over H.F. 184.
H.F. 238 (Davnie) Offenders who unlawfully possess firearms on school properties equal penalties established.
H.F. 239 (Davnie) Persons who possess guns on private property after being ordered to leave the premises equal penalties established.
Chair Paymar moved that H.F. 238 and H.F. 239 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Gun Violence Prevention Act. (6:51 p.m.)
Testifying in opposition to H.F. 238 and H.F. 239 were:
Erik Pakieser - Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance
Cara Schulz - Board Member, Libertarian Party of Minnesota
Rob Doar - Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance
Prof. Joseph Olson - President, Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance
Chair Paymar laid over H.F. 238 and H.F. 239.
Chair Paymar invited members of the public to provide testimony on the bills heard during today's hearing.
Testifying before the committee were:
Dr. Alan Lifson - Protect Minnesota (in favor of H.F. 237)
Darrell Young -Minneapolis (in favor of H.F. 237)
Joan Peterson - Board Member, Domestic Abuse Intervention Project (in favor of H.F. 237)
Leroy Duncan - Protect Minnesota (in favor of H.F 237, H.F. 238, H.F. 239)
Heather Martens - Executive Director, Protect Minnesota (in favor of H.F. 237)
Andrew Rothman - Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance (in opposition to H.F. 237)
Chad Nelson - Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance (in opposition to H.F. 184)
Stephen Petersen - Ham Lake (in opposition to H.F. 237)
Derek Theide - Pine City (in opposition to H.F. 242)
Hamilton Ayerhart - Rochester (in opposition to H.F. 238, H.F. 239)
Jim Schulze - Forest Lake (in opposition to H.F. 237, H.F. 240)
Dan Gustafson - Delano (in opposition to H.F. 237)
Douglas Voigt - Saint Cloud (in opposition to H.F. 237)
Greg Royce - Roseau (in opposition to H.F. 237, H.F. 238, H.F. 239)
Linda Stanton - Woodbury (in opposition to H.F. 238, H.F. 239)
Jonathan Norling - Minneapolis (in opposition to H.F. 244)
Jeffrey Ahrens - Fort Ripley (in opposition to H.F. 237, H.F. 184)
Brett Baune - Marshall (in opposition to H.F. 237)
Roger Parras - Saint Peter (in opposition H.F. 240, H.F. 237, H.F. 238, H.F. 239)
John Mulfort - Pine City (in opposition to H.F. 237)
Vice Chair Rosenthal assumed the chair at 8:35 p.m. Thereafter, testimony resumed.
Mike Gutz - Bemidji (in opposition to H.F. 237)
Connor Daine - Oakdale (in opposition to H.F. 244)
Jim Orvis - Saint Paul (in opposition to H.F. 237)
Dylan Appel - Wabasso (in opposition to H.F. 237, H.F. 240, H.F. 184, H.F. 244, H.F. 238, H.F. 239)
Robert Malecek - Maple Plain (in opposition to H.F. 244)
The committee was adjourned at 8:48 p.m.
___________________________
Representative Michael Paymar, Chair
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DJ Danielson, Committee Legislative Assistant