STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTY SECOND MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FIRST SESSION
EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Cheryl Youakim, Chair of the Committee, called the meeting to order at 2:35 P.M. on, Tuesday, March 10, 2020, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
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
JORDAN, Sydney
MARIANI, Carlos
MOLLER, Kelly
SANDELL, Steve
SCOTT, Peggy
URDAHL, Dean
WAZLAWIK, Ami
A quorum was present.
Representative Hassan moved that the corrected minutes of February 28, 2020 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Jordan moved that the minutes of March 4, 2020 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 4117 (Becker-Finn) American Indian Education Act provisions modified; educational data disclosure to tribal nations allowed; consideration of advice from tribal nations, communities, and the Tribal Nations Education Committee required in statewide core academic standards; and various other provisions changed.
Chair Youakim moved HF 4117 be re-referred to the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Division.
Representative Becker-Finn presented HF 4117 and took questions on the bill.
Dr. Jane Harstad, Director of the Office of Indian Education at the Minnesota Department of Education testified in support of the bill.
Adosh Unni, Director of Government Relations for the Minnesota Department of Education, took member questions on the bill.
Chair Youakim renewed her motion that HF 4117 be re-referred to the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3339 (Mann) Pupil withdrawal agreement reporting defined and required.
Representative Her moved HF 3339 be recommended to be placed on the General Register.
Representative Mann presented HF 3339 and took questions on the bill.
Shannon Mitchell, Managing Director of External Affairs at Educators 4 Excellence, Mike Warner, Head of School at Venture Academy, and Roxanne Anoka, a parent advocate, testified in support of the bill.
Roger Aronson, Legal and Legislative Counsel for the Minnesota Elementary and Secondary Principals Association, testified regarding the bill.
Adosh Unni, Director of Government Relations for the Minnesota Department of Education, took member questions on the bill.
Chair Youakim renewed Representative Her’s motion that HF 3339 be recommended to be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3482 (Mann) Education; seclusion defined and prohibited.
Representative Hassan moved HF 3482 be recommended to be placed on the General Register.
Chair Youakim moved the A1 Amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Mann presented HF 3482 and took questions on the bill.
Maren Hulden, Attorney with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, and Maren Christenson, a parent advocate, testified in support of the bill.
Rick Heller, disability advocate, testified regarding the bill.
Adosh Unni, Director of Government Relations for the Minnesota Department of Education, took member questions on the bill.
Chair Youakim renewed Representative Hassan’s motion that HF 3482, as amended, be recommended to be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 2725 (Vang) Independent School District No. 279, Osseo; single-member school board election district establishment provided.
Chair Youakim moved HF 2725 be recommended to be placed on the General Register.
Representative Vang presented HF 2725 and took questions on the bill.
Dr. Cindy Shevlin-Woodcock, former Osseo School Board candidate and former Osseo School District educator testified in support of the bill.
Corey McIntyre, Superintendent for Osseo Area Schools, Kelsey Dawson Walton, board member for Osseo Area Schools, and Tanya Simons, board member for Osseo Area Schools, testified regarding the bill.
Chair Youakim renewed her motion that HF 2725 be recommended to be placed on the General Register. Representative Erickson requested a roll call vote.
AYES:
YOUAKIM, Cheryl (Chair)
KUNESH-PODEIN, Mary (Vice-Chair)
BIERMAN, Robert
CHRISTENSEN, Shelly
HASSAN, Hodan
HER, Kaohly
JORDAN, Sydney
MOLLER, Kelly
SANDELL, Steve
WAZLAWIK, Ami
NAYS:
ERICKSON, Sondra (GOP Lead)
BAHR, Cal
BAKER, Dave
BENNETT, Peggy
GRUENHAGEN, Glenn
SCOTT, Peggy
URDAHL, Dean
ABSENT:
MARIANI, Carlos
With 10 Ayes, 7 Nays, and 1 Absent, THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chair Youakim recessed the Committee at 4:21 P.M. and will reconvene at 6:00 P.M. in Room 5 of the State Office building.
Chair Youakim re-convened the meeting and called the Committee to order at 6:04 P.M.
School District Mental Health Presentations
Several school districts gave presentations on their work around student mental health.
From Southwest West Central Service Cooperative:
Bailey Rettmann, Regional Director of Educational Learning Centers
Chloe Carter, School Counselor
Emily Johnson, School Social Worker
From Minneapolis Public Schools:
Cathy Dalnes, Manager of Social Work Services
Kelly Arrington, School Social Worker at Whittier International Elementary School
From Hopkins Public Schools:
Mimi Allen, Hopkins High School student and founding member of Mental Health Matters student group
Liv Steen, Hopkins High School student, MN Youth Council member, and founding member of Mental Health Matters student group
Terese Kunick, School Psychologist
Holly Magdanz, One Voice Coordinator
Brian Stanley, Special Services Administrator
Presenters took member questions.
HF 4257 (Moller) Teacher license renewal requirements amended to include mental illness training, and rulemaking required.
Representative Moller moved HF 4257 be re-referred to the Government Operations Committee.
Representative Moller presented HF 4257 and took questions on the bill.
The following testifiers spoke in support of the bill:
Hufsa Ahmed, High School Student and member of MN Youth Council;
Laurel Wiehe, Educator at Centennial Schools;
Hannah Student, Educator at Columbia Heights Schools;
Christy McCoy, Legislative Chair for the Minnesota Schools Social Workers Association;
Brian Podany, Chief of Police for the City of Blaine;
Sue Abderholden, Executive Director of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Chair Youakim renewed Representative Moller’s motion that HF 4257 be re-referred to the Government Operations Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3219 (Moller) Comprehensive mental health services division of education department established, and money appropriated.
Representative Moller moved HF 3219 be re-referred to the Education Finance Division.
Representative Moller moved the DE1 Amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Moller presented HF 3219 and took questions on the bill.
Amy Jones, Educator and Former Chair of Mounds View School Board spoke in support of the bill.
Rick Heller, disability advocate, testified regarding the bill.
Chair Youakim renewed Representative Moller’s motion that HF 3219, as amended, be re-referred to the Education Finance Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:21 P.M.
Representative Cheryl Youakim, Chair
Megan Arriola,
Committee Legislative Assistant