STATE OF MINNESOTA EIGHTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FIRST SESSION
EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Cheryl Youakim, Chair of the Committee, called the meeting to order at 2:33 PM on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 in Room 5 of the State Office Building. A quorum was present.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members Present:
YOUAKIM, Cheryl, Chair
KUNESH-PODEIN, Mary, Vice Chair
ERICKSON, Sondra, GOP Lead
BAHR, Cal
BAKER, Dave
BENNETT, Peggy
BIERMAN, Robert
CHRISTENSEN, Shelly
GRUENHAGEN, Glenn
HASSAN, Hodan
HER, Kaohly
HUOT, John
MARIANI, Carlos
MOLLER, Kelly
SANDELL, Steve
SCOTT, Peggy
URDAHL, Dean
WAZLAWIK, Ami
Representative Christensen moved to approve the minutes for the Tuesday, February 12, 2019 meeting. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF606 (Hassan) – Student absence from school for religious holidays modified, and employee leave for religious holidays required.
Representative Hassan moved that HF606 be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
Representative Hassan introduced HF606.
Representative Hornstein testified in support of HF606.
Iman Asad Zaman, Executive Director, Muslim American Society of Minnesota, testified in support of HF606.
Rabbi Tamar Grimm, Beth Jacob Congregation and Board Member of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, testified in support of HF606.
Pastor Ingrid C.A. Rasmussen, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, testified in support of HF606.
Jason Adkins, Executive Director, Minnesota Catholic Conference, testified in support of HF606.
Representative Youakim renewed the motion to lay over HF606 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
Cristina Parra, Education Policy Legislative Analyst, House Research, gave a presentation on the school calendar.
Representative Kunesh-Podein, Vice-Chair of the Committee, assumed the gavel at 3:07 PM.
HF314 (Youakim) – School districts allowed to begin school year before Labor Day.
Representative Youakim moved to lay HF314 over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
Representative Youakim introduced HF314.
Steve Adams, Hopkins Public Schools Board Member, Association of Metropolitan School Districts, testified in support of HF314.
Ryan Laager, Belle Plaine Public Schools Superintendent, Minnesota Association of School Administrators, testified in support of HF314.
Paul Mandell, Minnesota School Boards Association, testified in support of HF314.
Bret Domstrand, Lake Marion Elementary School Principal, testified in support of HF314.
John Bezek, Prior Lake High School Principal, testified in support of HF314.
Joel Carlson, Community of Minnesota Resorts, testified in opposition to HF314.
Tony Kwilas, Hospitality Minnesota and Minnesota Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus, testified in opposition to HF314.
Joe Bagnoli, Minnesota State Agricultural Society and Minnesota State Fair, testified in opposition to HF314.
Representative Youakim renewed the motion to lay over HF314 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
Representative Youakim, Chair of the Committee, reassumed the gavel at 3:52 PM.
HF531 (Christensen) – School districts authorized to begin the school year before Labor Day in the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years.
Representative Christensen moved to lay over HF531 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
Representative Christensen introduced HF531.
Representative Youakim renewed the motion to lay over HF531 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
The meeting adjourned at 3:58 PM.
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Cheryl Youakim, Chair
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Laura Helgen, Committee Legislative Assistant