STATE OF MINNESOTA NINETEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-NINTH SESSION
EDUCATION INNOVATION POLICY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Sondra Erickson, Chair of the Education Innovation Policy Committee, began the meeting at 9:00 AM on March 13, 2015, in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
ERICKSON, Sondra, Chair
BENNETT, Peggy,
Vice Chair
BLY, David
CHRISTENSEN, Drew
DAVNIE, Jim
KRESHA, Ron
LUCERO, Eric
MORAN, Rena
NORNES, Bud
PETERSON, Roz
PIERSON, Nels
SELCER, Yvonne
URDAHL, Dean
WARD, JoAnn
WHELAN, Abigail
WILLS, Anna
YARUSSO, Barb
Members excused:
MARIANI, Carlos
WINKLER, Ryan
A quorum was present at 9:01 AM and the meeting was called to order.
Representative Abigail Whelan moved to approve the minutes of March 12, 2015. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chair Sondra Erickson moved House File 1529 to be re-referred to the Committee on Civil Law.
Representative Kelly Fenton testified to House File 1529. (A bill for an act relating to education; creating Education Savings Accounts for Students with Special Needs Act; appropriating money).
Chair Erickson amended her motion and moved House File 1529 to be re-referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
Lee McGraff, Executive Director of the Institute for Justice Minnesota, testified in favor of House File 1529.
Mitch Pearlstein, President of Center of the American Experiment, testified in favor of House File 1529.
Wyayn Rasmussen, Head of School Academy of Whole Learning, testified in favor of House File 1529.
Melissa Sirek, parent, testified in favor of House File 1529.
Amy Christensen-Bruce, parent, testified in favor of House File 1529.
Adosh Unni, Director of Government Relations with Minnesota Department of Education, testified with concerns about House File 1529.
Grace Keliher with the Minnesota School Boards Association testified with concerns about House File 1529.
Mary Gilbert with St. Paul Public Schools testified with concerns about House File 1529.
Representative JoAnn Ward requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:
AYES NAYS ABSENT
ERICKSON, Sondra BLY, David MARIANI, Carlos
BENNETT, Peggy DAVNIE, Jim PETERSON, Roz
CHRISTENSEN, Drew MORAN, Rena PIERSON, Nels
KRESHA, Ron SELCER, Yvonne URDAHL, Dean
LUCERO, Eric WARD, JoAnn WINKLER, Ryan
NORNES, Bud YARUSSO, Barb
WHELAN, Abigail
WILLS, Anna
On a vote of 8 AYES, 6 NAYS, and 5 ABSENT, THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chair Erickson renewed the motion and moved House File 1529 for re-referral to the Committee on Government Operations.
Chair Erickson moved House File 1485 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. (A bill for an act relating to education; allowing charter schools to give an enrollment preference to children who are eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.10, subdivision 9).
Chair Erickson moved to delete amendment A14852-1 to House File 1485. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chair Erickson offered amendment A1485A3 to House File 1485.
Chair Erickson withdrew amendment A1485A3 to House File 1485.
Chair Erickson moved amendment A1485A4 to House File 1485.
Karen Klinzing with Friends of Education testified to the A1485A4 Amendment.
THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Karen Klinzing with Friends of Education testified to House File 1485 as amended.
Dan DeBruyn with Minnesota Association of Charter Schools testified with concerns about House File 1485.
Brian Sweeney, Director of Public Affairs with Charter School Partners, testified in favor of House File 1485.
Chair Erickson renewed the motion and moved House File 1485 as amended for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
Chair Erickson moved House File 1657 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. (A bill for an act relating to education; empowering authorizers to terminate contracts based on student performance; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.10, subdivision 23).
Brian Sweeny, Director of Public Affairs with Charter School Partners, testified in favor of House File 1657.
Al Fan, Executive Director of Charter School Partners, testified in favor of House File 1657.
Joshua Crosson with MinnCAN testified in favor of House File 1657.
Kevin McHenry, Assistant Commissioner of Minnesota Department of Education, testified in favor of House File 1657.
Dan DeBruyn with Minnesota Association of Charter Schools testified with concerns about House File 1657.
Chair Erickson renewed the motion and moved House File 1657 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:28 AM.
Representative Sondra Erickson, Chair
Ethan Hellier, Committee Legislative Assistant