STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-THIRD MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FIRST SESSION
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Liebling, Chair of the Division, called the meeting to order at 12:48 P.M. on March 6, 2019 in Room 200 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
LIEBLING, Tina, Chair
MANN, Alice, Vice-Chair
SCHOMACKER, Joe, Lead Republican
ACOMB, Patty
BAKER, Dave
BIERMAN, Robert
CANTRELL, Hunter
FRANSON, Mary
GRUENHAGEN, Glenn
HALVERSON, Laurie
HAMILTON, Rod
KUNESH-PODEIN, Mary
LOEFFLER, Diane
MORAN, Rena
MUNSON, Jeremy
NOOR, Mohamud
OLSON, Liz
SCHULTZ, Jennifer
ZERWAS, Nick
Members excused:
HALEY, Barb
A quorum was present.
Representative Mann moved that the minutes of March 5, 2019 be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Claire Wilson, Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Department of Human Services (DHS) gave a brief overview of the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP).
Testifying in support of MFIP bills:
1. Jessica Webster, Staff Attorney, Legal Services Advocacy Project
2. Toshieka Washington, Parent on MFIP, Duluth, MN
3. Senta Leff, Executive Director, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless
4. Anne Krisnik, Executive Director, Joint Religious Legislative Coalition
5. Doug Mitchell, Presbyterian Minister, Joint Religious Legislative Coalition
6. Stephanie Hogenson, Outreach Director, Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota
7. Tom Sampson, Member, Pax Christi Catholic Community
8. Sue Watlov Phillips, Executive Director, Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing (MICAH) and Vice Person of the National Coalition for the Homeless Board
9. Marty Roers, Co-Director, St. Paul Province’s Justice Office, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
HF 799 (Kunesh-Podein) Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) transitional standard increased.
Representative Kunesh-Podein requested that HF 799 be heard and laid over for possible inclusion in the Health and Human Services Finance Division bill.
Representative Kunesh-Podein and Representative Noor presented HF 799.
Representative Kunesh-Podein moved the H0799A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chair Liebling laid over HF 799, as amended, for possible inclusion in the Division bill.
HF 1272 (Hausman) Minnesota Investment Family Program (MFIP) transitional standard increased.
Chair Liebling moved that HF 1272 be heard and laid over for possible inclusion in the Health and Human Services Finance Division bill.
Representative Hausman presented HF 1272.
Chair Liebling moved the H1272A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chair Liebling laid over HF 1272, as amended, for possible inclusion in the Division bill.
HF 309 (Kunesh-Podein) Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and general assistance cash grants increased, and money appropriated.
Representative Kunesh-Podein requested that HF 309 be heard and laid over for possible inclusion in the Health and Human Services Finance Division bill.
Representative Kunesh-Podein moved the H0309A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Kunesh-Podein and Representative Noor presented HF 309.
Chair Liebling laid over HF 309, as amended, for possible inclusion in the Division bill.
INFORMATIONAL ONLY - HF 522 (Kunesh-Podein) Minnesota Family Investment Program sanctions and hardship extensions modified.
Representative Kunesh-Podein explained HF 522.
Testifying in support: Jessica Webster, Staff Attorney, Legal Aid
Doug Berg, House Fiscal Analyst, explained the DHS Federal TANF Reserve Fund SFY 2017 – SFY 2023, February 2019 Forecast spreadsheet.
Responding to member questions from earlier:
1. Deb Tibstra, Director of App Services, MNIT@DHS
2. Jennifer Sommerfeld, Legislative Director of Children and Family Services, DHS
3. Deborah Schlick, Strategic Projects Manager, Economic Assistance and Employment Supports, DHS
The meeting was adjourned at 2:19 P.M.
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Representative Tina Liebling, Chair
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Krysta Niedernhöfer, Committee Legislative Assistant