STATE OF MINNESOTA NINETEETH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-NINTH SESSION
JOB GROWTH & ENERGY AFFORDABILITY
POLICY & FINANCE COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Pat Garofalo, Chair of the Job Growth & Energy Affordability Policy & Finance Committee, called the meeting to order at 12:50 P.M. on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, in Room 10 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
GAROFALO, Pat
BAKER, Dave
CLARK, Karen
FABIAN, Dan
GUNTHER, Bob
HORTMAN, Melissa
ISAACSON, Jason
JOHNSON, Sheldon
LOONAN, Bob
MAHONEY, Tim
METSA, Jason
NEWBERGER, Jim
O’NEILL, Marion
SCOTT, Peggy
SIMONSON, Erik
SMITH, Dennis
SWEDZINSKI, Chris
VOGEL, Bob
WAGENIUS, Jean
Representative Garofalo called the meeting to order at 12:50 P.M. A quorum was present.
Representative Smith moved to approve the minutes from the previous hearing. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Susan Brower, State Demographer; gave an overview of the Minnesota State Demography Center and a report of the current population trends in Minnesota.
HF894 (Kiel) Permanent tax reduction authority provided to border city enterprise zones.
Representative Kiel; David Murphy, City Administrator of East Grand Forks; Scott Hutchins, Planning and Neighborhood Services Director of Moorhead; gave testimony on HF894, as introduced.
Representative Garofalo moved that HF894 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Taxes. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF593 (Kresha) Broadband development grant program provided funding, and money appropriated. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion.
Representative Simonson moved the A15-067 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Mahoney moved the A7 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Kresha; John Dukich, Minnesota High Tech Association; Dan Dorman and Marty Seifert, Greater Minnesota Partnership; gave testimony on HF593, as introduced.
HF1262 (Hackbarth) Upriver business grant program created for businesses affected by the closure of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, transportation economic development program modified, and money appropriated. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion.
Representative Garofalo moved the DE3 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Hackbarth; Steve Ettinger, Northern Metals; Jack Perry, Briggs and Morgan Law Firm; Robert Bieraugel, Aggregate Industries; Lorrie Louder, St. Paul Port Authority; Tom Diamond, Citizen; gave testimony on HF1262, as amended.
HF751 (Kiel) Job training tax credit provided, report required, and money appropriated.
Representative Garofalo moved the A1 Amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Kiel; Jennifer Libby, Greater Minnesota Partnership; gave testimony on HF751, as amended.
Representative Garofalo moved that HF751 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Taxes. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF402 (Davnie) Wage deductions for credit card charges modified. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion.
Representative Gunther moved the A1 Amendment. THE MOTION WAS WITHDRAWN.
Representative Davnie; Jennifer Schaubach, AFL-CIO; Shayna Nienow, Kaskaid Hospitality; Wade Luneburg, Unite HERE; Ginger Jentzen, Citizen; gave testimony on HF402, as introduced.
The meeting recessed at 2:41 P.M.
The meeting reconvened at 6:31 P.M.
HF484 (Urdahl) Eligible utility cooperatives authorized to receive state grants to match federal disaster assistance. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion.
Representative Garofalo moved the A1 Amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Urdahl; Tim Mergen, Meeker Cooperative Light and Power Association; gave testimony on HF484, as amended.
HF1416 (Smith) Unemployment insurance employer tax rate reduced. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion.
Representative Smith; Jennifer Schaubach, AFL-CIO; Rick Caliguiri, Director of Unemployment Insurance at the Department of Employment Economic and Development; Benjamin Gerber, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce; gave testimony on HF1416, as introduced.
HF335 (Clark) Rental subsidies grant program for exploited women and children established, and money appropriated. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion.
Representative Clark moved the RA15-003 Amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Clark; Claudia Wehring, Asian Women United of Minnesota; Deputy Todd Milburn, Brooklyn Park Police Department; Bea Vue-Benson, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist; gave testimony on HF335, as amended.
HF872 (Albright) Technology corporate franchise tax certificate transfer program established.
Representative Albright; Genevieve Plumadore, LifeScience Alley; gave testimony on HF872, as introduced.
Representative Garofalo moved that HF872 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Taxes. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF519 (Gunther) Small business investment tax credit modified.
Representative Gunther; John Dukich, Minnesota High Tech Association; Genevieve Plumadore, LifeScience Alley; gave testimony on HF519.
Representative Garofalo moved that HF519 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Taxes. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:08 P.M.
Representative Pat Garofalo, Chair
Jonathan Fortner, Committee Legislative Assistant