STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-FIFTH MEETING
MN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY FIRST SESSION
EDUCATION FINANCE DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Jim Davnie, Chair of the Education Finance Division, called the meeting to order at 9:46 am on March 20, 2019 in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
DAVNIE, Jim
SANDSTEDE, Julie
BENNETT, Peggy
DANIELS, Brian
DEMUTH, Lisa
DETTMER, Bob
EDELSON, Heather
ERICKSON, Sondra
HUOT, John
JURGENS, Tony
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie
KUNESH-PODEIN, Mary
MARQUART, Paul
MURPHY, Mary
NORNES, Bud
PRYOR, Laurie
RICHARDSON, Ruth
SANDELL, Steve
YOUAKIM, Cheryl
Excused:
KRESHA, Ron
A quorum was present.
Rep. Sandell moved that the minutes from March 13, 2019 be approved. Motion prevailed.
Rep. Bennett moved that the minutes from March 19, 2019 be approved.
Rep. Erickson requested a technical correction on the format of the minutes from March 19, 2019. Motion prevailed.
HF 1207 (Olson) Creates a new mechanism that applies to unreimbursed costs for some school districts and charter schools. It also adjusts the fiscal year 2016 special education base for the Duluth school district upwards for use in calculating future special education costs (instead of the charter school’s actual special education costs).
Rep. Richardson moved that HF 1207 be presented before the committee; be laid over for possible inclusion in a future division report.
Rep. Richardson moved that the amendment for HF 1207, DE2, be adopted by the committee. Motion prevailed.
Rep. Olson presented HF 1207, as amended.
Rep. Richardson renewed the motion that HF 1207, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in a future division report. The bill was laid over.
HF 814 (Edelson) Proposes coding for a section outlining the requirements for school-linked mental health grants, administered by the commissioner of human services, and appropriates money.
Rep. Edelson moved that HF 814 be presented before the committee as an informational hearing.
Rep. Edelson moved that the amendment for HF 814, A3, be adopted by the committee.
Rep. Edelson presented HF 814, as amended.
HF 1559 (Youakim) Requires that a paraprofessional employed to work with students with disabilities be given paid time to review a student’s individualized education program and collaborate with a student’s teacher regarding the plan. The bill also requires at least 16 hours of paid orientation or professional development annually to all paraprofessionals, Title I aides, and other instructional support staff before the first instructional day of the year. The bill appropriates money for paraprofessional training.
Rep. Youakim moved that HF 1559 be presented before the committee; be laid over for possible inclusion in a future division report.
Rep. Youakim presented HF 1559.
Rep. Youakim renewed the motion that HF 1559 be laid over for possible inclusion in a future division report. The bill was laid over.
HF 732 (Jurgens) Provides additional funds for the school-linked mental health grants. Under current law, the grants are awarded by the commissioner of human services directly to the qualifying mental health providers who have arrangements with school districts to provide school-linked mental health services. It appropriates $10 million per year for additional school-linked mental health grants and $120,000 per year for the Department of Human Services for the costs necessary to administer the grants.
Rep. Jurgens moved that HF 732 be presented before the committee; be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means with the recommendation that it be re-referred to the Division on Health and Human Services Finance.
Chair Davnie moved that the amendment for HF 732, A19-0210, be adopted. Motion prevailed.
Rep. Jurgens presented HF 732, as amended.
Rep. Jurgens renewed the motion that HF 732, as amended, be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means with the recommendation that it be re-referred to the Division on Health and Human Services Finance. Motion prevailed.
Testifiers:
Bill Gronseth, Superintendent, Duluth Independent School District
John Carlson, Rochester Public Schools
Michelle Dennard, Special Education ESP, Osseo Public Schools
Sieara Washington, Title I Math ESP, North View Middle School
Connie Hayes, Superintendent, Intermediate School District 916
Bailey Rettmann, Regional Director of Educational Learning Centers, SW/WC Service
Cooperative
Keith Jacobus, Superintendent, South Washington County School District
Mark Sander, Hennepin County School Linked Mental Health Coordinator
Sue Abderholden, Executive Director, National Alliance for Mental Illness (MN)
Additional Testifiers:
Jo Park, South Washington County School
Tom DeGree, Minnesota Association of Charter Schools
Tom Steinmetz, Washburn Center for Children
Rick Heller, Advocate
The meeting of the Education Finance Division was adjourned at 11:13 am.
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Representative Jim Davnie, Chair
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Brittney Sunderland, Committee Legislative Assistant