STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTY-EIGHTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION
EARLY CHILDHOOD FINANCE & POLICY DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Nora Slawik, Chair of the Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division, called the meeting to order at 4:35 pm on Thursday, March 18, 2010 in Room 200 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
House Members Present:
Slawik (Chair)
Rosenthal (Vice-Chair)
Bly
Buesgens
Downey
Hamilton
Jackson
Laine
Mack
Mariani
Nornes
Peterson
Ward
House Members Excused:
Greiling
A quorum was not present.
A quorum was present 4:43.
Representative Peterson moved that HF3195 (Peterson), Early childhood education program created for at-risk four-year-olds, be heard and laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division bill.
Representative Peterson moved to incorporate an oral amendment to HF3195 as follows:
Page 1, Line 9, after "education program", insert "or other school-based early childhood programs".
THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifying in favor of HF3195:
Al Ickler, Executive Director of Community Education, Robbinsdale Area Public Schools
Tom Holton, Executive Director of Community Education, Bloomington/Richfield Public Schools
Maureen Seiwert, Executive Director of Early Childhood, Minneapolis Public Schools
Testifying on the fiscal implications of HF3195:
Tom Melcher, Director of Program Finance, Minnesota Department of Education
Mr. Melcher answered the questions: Does the Peterson oral amendment change any of the assumptions in the fiscal note? Does this bill grant additional levy authority? This authority would be granted without referendum?
Mr. Ickler and Mr. Holton answered the questions: What does it mean on line 2.19 that districts do not have to have an approved plan? How is an at-risk student determined? How does this proposal differ from Head Start?
Representative Peterson laid over HF3195 for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division bill.
Representative Jackson moved that the minutes from Tuesday, March 16, 2010 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Vice-Chair Rosenthal assumed the gavel at 5:23 pm.
Presentation of Minnesota’s application for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for Early Childhood State Advisory Councils:
Debbie Hewitt, Early Childhood Education Specialist, Minnesota Department of Education
Chair Slawik resumed the gavel at 5:31 pm.
Presentation of the Minnesota Parents Know website:
Debbykay Peterson, Early Childhood Education Specialist, Department of Education
Ms. Peterson answered the questions: Is the Working Family Resource Center service free for workplaces or are workplaces charged? Is there a focus on providing content for curriculum improvement for providers or are parents the primary target?
The meeting was adjourned at 5:58 pm.
Representative Nora Slawik, CHAIR
Matthew M. Collie
Committee Legislative Assistant