Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

TWELFTH MEETING

2023-2024 Regular Session - Thursday, February 16, 2023

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWELFTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-THIRD SESSION

JUDICIARY FINANCE AND CIVIL LAW COMMITTEE MINUTES

Representative Frazier, Vice Chair of the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee, called the meeting to order at 8:30AM on February 16, 2023 in Room 5 of the State Office Building. It was broadcast via House Public Information Services.

Members Present:
BECKER-FINN, Jamie, Chair FRAZIER, Cedrick, Vice Chair SCOTT, Peggy, Minority Lead CARROLL, Ned
CURRAN, Brion FEIST, Sandra FINKE, Leigh FREDERICK, Luke GROSSELL, Matt
JOHNSON, Brian MOLLER, Kelly NISKA, Harry WIENS, Mark

A quorum was present.

Representative Frederick moved approval of the minutes from February 9, 2023. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Representative Scott moved approval of the minutes from February 14, 2023. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Presentation providing a budget and department overview of the Judicial Branch.

Presenting:
• Jeff Shorba, State Court Administrator, Minnesota Judicial Branch
• Janet Marshall, Inter-Governmental Liaison, Minnesota Judicial Branch

HF305 (Becker-Finn); Fee for uncertified copies of instruments from civil or criminal proceedings eliminated.

Chair Becker-Finn moved that HF305 be recommended to be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Chair Becker-Finn presented HF305.

The following testified on HF305:
• Sarah Busch, Community Engagement and Outreach Manager, Missions Inc Programs
• Matt Ehling, Board Member, Minnesota Coalition on Government Information (MnCOGI)
• Rich Neumeister

Chair Becker-Finn renewed the motion that HF305 be recommended to be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF1580 (Becker-Finn); Onetime market adjustment provided to district court law clerks’ starting salary to align with competitive corridor, and money appropriated.

Chair Becker-Finn moved that HF1580 be brought before the committee.

Chair Becker-Finn moved the H1580DE1 (Becker-Finn) amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Chair Becker-Finn presented on HF1580, as amended.

The following testified on HF1580, as amended:
• Judge Lois Conroy, President, Minnesota District Judges Association (MDJA)
• Ellen Tschida, law clerk, district court
• Nicholas Redmond, former law clerk, district court
• Abou Amara, former law clerk, Supreme Court

Chair Becker-Finn moved that HF1580, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in a Judiciary Finance and Civil Law omnibus bill. The bill was laid over.

Chair Becker-Finn assumed the gavel at 9:46AM.

HF686 (Moller); Tracking device expanded use authorized during stolen vehicle investigations. Representative Moller moved that HF686 be recommended to be placed on the General Register. Representative Moller presented HF686.
The following testified on HF686:
• Mike Martin, Undersheriff, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office
• Rich Neumeister

Representative Moller renewed the motion that HF686 be recommended to be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF93 (Pinto); Slavery or involuntary servitude prohibited as criminal punishment for crime, and constitutional amendment proposed.

Chair Becker-Finn moved that HF93 be recommended to be referred to the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee.

Representative Pinto presented HF93.

The following testified on HF93:
• Todd Axtell, Former Chief of Police, St. Paul Police Department
• Ta’Mara Hill, Policy Officer, The Center for Victims of Torture (CVT)

Chair Becker-Finn renewed the motion that HF93 be recommended to be referred to the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The committee was adjourned at 10:05AM.

Representative Jamie Becker-Finn, Chair

Jack Dockendorf, Committee Legislative Assistant

More Info On This Meeting..

Bills Added:

HF93 (Pinto) - Slavery or involuntary servitude prohibited as criminal punishment for crime, and constitutional amendment proposed.
HF305 (Becker-Finn) - Fee for uncertified copies of instruments from civil or criminal proceedings eliminated.
HF1580 (Becker-Finn) - Judiciary finance bill.
HF686 (Moller) - Tracking device expanded use authorized during stolen vehicle investigations.

Documents:

HF 93 Fiscal Note.pdf - 2/10/2023
HF 93 House Research Summary.pdf - 2/10/2023
HF 686 House Research Summary.pdf - 2/10/2023
HF0093.0 (Pinto).pdf - 2/10/2023
HF0305.0 (Becker-Finn).pdf - 2/10/2023
HF0686.0 (Moller).pdf - 2/10/2023
HF1580.0 (Becker-Finn).pdf - 2/10/2023
Minnesota State Bar Association Testimony on HF 305.pdf - 2/13/2023
Judicial Branch Overview and Biennial Budget Request Presentation.pdf - 2/13/2023
HF 305 Fiscal Note.pdf - 2/13/2023
HF 305 House Research Summary.pdf - 2/13/2023
HF 1580 House Research Summary.pdf - 2/13/2023
2.9.23 Minutes.pdf - 2/13/2023
National Insurance Crime Bureau Testimony on HF 686.pdf - 2/14/2023
MN Newspaper Association and MN Broadcasters Association Testimony on HF 305.pdf - 2/15/2023
Minnesota District Judges Association Legislative Priorities (HF 1580).pdf - 2/15/2023
Minnesota District Judges Association PowerPoint on HF 1580.pdf - 2/15/2023
Minnesota State Bar Association Testimony on Judicial Branch Budget Request.pdf - 2/15/2023
H1580DE1 (Becker-Finn).pdf - 2/15/2023
2.14.23 Minutes from Joint Hearing.pdf - 2/15/2023
2.16.23 Agenda.pdf - 2/15/2023
MN Asian Pacific American Bar Association Testimony on HF 1580.pdf - 2/17/2023
MN Hispanic Bar Association Testimony on HF 1580.pdf - 2/17/2023

Audio:
Listen Now

House TV Video:
View Archive

01:07 - Judicial Branch overview and budget presentation.
38:50 - HF305 (Becker-Finn) Fee for uncertified copies of instruments from civil or criminal proceedings eliminated.
51:42 - HF1580 (Becker-Finn) Onetime market adjustment provided to district court law clerks' starting salary to align with competitive corridor, and money appropriated.
1:16:17 - HF686 (Moller) Tracking device expanded use authorized during stolen vehicle investigations.
1:27:51 - HF93 (Pinto) Slavery or involuntary servitude prohibited as criminal punishment for crime, and constitutional amendment proposed.
Runs 1 hour, 34 minutes.

Show Full Schedule Agenda:

1. Judicial Branch overview and budget presentation.
2. HF 305 (Becker-Finn) Fee for uncertified copies of instruments from civil or criminal proceedings eliminated.
3. HF 1580 (Becker-Finn) Onetime market adjustment provided to district court law clerks' starting salary to align with competitive corridor, and money appropriated.
4. HF 93 (Pinto) Slavery or involuntary servitude prohibited as criminal punishment for crime, and constitutional amendment proposed.
5. HF 686 (Moller) Tracking device expanded use authorized during stolen vehicle investigations.

Committee discussion of all bills will be limited to the provisions within the jurisdiction of the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee. Items may be taken up in any order, items may be added or removed at the Chairs' discretion.

HANDOUTS: Handouts in Word or PDF format should be emailed to the committee administrator by 10am the business day before the hearing. Submitted written testimony is public and will be included in the official committee record. It will be posted to the committee webpage if received by deadline.
TESTIFYING: The number of testifiers and length of time permitted is at the discretion of the chair, and is subject to change. If you would like to testify, please email the committee administrator by 5pm the business day before the hearing.
DOCUMENTS: Meeting documents may be found on the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law webpage.
ACCESSIBILITY: To learn more about requesting an accommodation, please visit the FAQs for Disability Access. If you have further questions on accommodations or accessibility, please contact the Committee Administrator.