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Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division

FIFTY-SIXTH MEETING

2007-2008 Regular Session - Tuesday, March 11, 2008

STATE OF MINNESOTA FIFTY-SIXTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION

HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND
FINANCE DIVISION

MINUTES


Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair of the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division, called the meeting to order at 6:35 P.M. on Tuesday,
March 11, 2008, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:

Rukavina, Tom, Chair
Poppe, Jeanne, Vice-Chair
Atkins, Joe
Bly, David
Brynaert, Kathy
Clark, Karen
Dettmer, Bob
Gunther, Bob
Haws, Larry
Hortman, Melissa
Mahoney, Tim
McFarlane, Carol
Moe, Frank
Nornes, Bud
Norton, Kim
Ruth, Connie
Severson, Dan
Slocum, Linda
Welti, Andy

Members excused:

Eastlund, Rob
Murphy, Mary

A quorum was present.

Chair Rukavina invited Representative Norton to begin her presentation of HF 3885.

HF 3885 (Norton)

Representative Norton presented HF 3885, relating to higher education; establishing a pilot financial aid program for teachers of color; appropriating money.

Romaine Dallemand, Superintendent, Rochester Public Schools, introduced herself and provided testimony in support of HF 3885.

Discussion and questions followed.

George Thompson, Consultant, Winona State University, introduced himself and provided testimony in support of HF 3885.

Discussion and questions followed.

Stephanie Crosby, Director of Human Resources, Robbinsdale Public Schools, introduced herself and provided testimony in support of HF 3885.

Discussion and questions followed.


Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
March 11, 2008
Page Two



Maureen Prenn, Acting Dean, Minnesota State University Mankato, introduced herself and provided testimony in support of HF 3885.

Discussion and questions followed.

Mary Bentz, Associate Dean, College of Education and Human Development, introduced herself and provided testimony in support of HF 3885.

Discussion and questions followed.

Stacia Smith, Manager, Education Policy, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, introduced herself and provided testimony in support of the program but in opposition to the funding source in
HF 3885.

Discussion and questions followed.

Susan Heegaard, Director, Office of Higher Education, introduced herself and provided testimony in support of the program but in opposition to the funding source in HF 3885.

Discussion and questions followed.

A quorum was present.

Representative Norton moved that HF 3885 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill.

Representative Norton moved to amend HF 3885 with the amendment H3885A1, attached.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Norton renewed her motion that HF 3885 as amended be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chair Rukavina began discussion of the $15 million increase in the Federal Pell Grant Program.

Kathy Novak, House Research, discussed the $15 million increase in the Federal Pell Grant Program.

Discussion and questions followed.

HF 3363 (Haws)

Representative Haws moved that HF 3363 be taken off the table.

Chair Rukavina stated that HF 3363 is back for consideration before the committee.

Representative Haws presented HF 3363, relating to higher education; clarifying certain scholarship program provisions; amending grant requirements; amending certain private institution provisions; making technical changes; providing for data sharing.

Representative Haws moved to amend HF 3363 with the amendment A08-1330, attached.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Susan Heegaard, Director, Office of Higher Education, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding amendment A08-1330.

Discussion and questions followed.


Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
March 11, 2008
Page Three



Mark Misukanis, Director, Office of Higher Education, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding amendment A08-1330.

Discussion and questions followed.

Representative Haws moved to amend HF 3363 with the amendment A08-1338, attached.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Tricia Grimes, Policy Analyst, Office of Higher Education, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding amendment A08-1338.

Discussion and questions followed.

Representative Haws moved that HF 33363 as amended be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Representative Welti assumed the chair.

HF 3867 (Moe)

Representative Moe moved that HF 3867 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill.

Representative Moe moved to amend HF 3867 with the amendment H3867DE1, attached.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Moe presented HF 3867 as amended, relating to higher education; appropriating money to reduce tuition at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

Scott Formo, President, Minnesota State College Student Association, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 3867 as amended.

Discussion and questions followed.

Kara Brockett, Chair, Minnesota State University Student Association, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 3867 as amended.

Discussion and questions followed.

Representative Moe provided further comments on HF 3867.

Discussion and questions followed.

Representative Moe renewed his motion that HF 3867 as amended be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 1142 (Atkins)

Representative Atkins moved that HF 1142 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill.

Representative Atkins moved to amend HF 1142 with the amendment H1142A1, attached.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Atkins presented HF 1142 as amended, relating to higher education; modifying the state grant program; appropriating money.

Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
March 10, 2008
Page Four



Charmaine Bell, Student at Augsburg College, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 1142 as amended.

Mark Ckronister, Board Member, Minnesota Private College Council, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 1142 as amended.

Discussion and questions followed.

Mark Misukanis, Office of Higher Education, introduced himself and assisted in answering questions.

Stacia Smith, Manager, Education Policy, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 1142 as amended.

Discussion and questions followed.

Representative Atkins renewed his motion that HF 1142 as amended be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chair Rukavina resumed the chair.

HF 3794 (Carlson)

Representative Welti moved that HF 3794 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill.

Representative Carlson presented HF 3794, relating to higher education; establishing the power of you program; report to legislature; appropriating money.

Donovan Schwichtenberg, President, St. Paul College, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 3794.

Discussion and questions followed.

Michael Favor, Principal, Robbinsdale Cooper High School, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 3794.

Discussion and questions followed.

Bev Turner, Vice President, Travelers Company, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 3794.

Discussion and questions followed.

Donovan Schwichtenberg provided assistance in responding to questions.

Discussion and questions followed.

Susan Heegaard, Director, Office of Higher Education, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 3794.

Discussion and questions followed.

Michael Samuel, Student at St. Paul College, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 3794.

Discussion and questions followed.

Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
March 11, 2008
Page Five



Miracle Ebumen, Student at St. Paul College, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 3794.

Discussion and questions followed.

Kanita Dangerfield, Student at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 3794.

Discussion and questions followed.

Donald Cummings, Student at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 3794.

Discussion and questions followed.

Stacia Smith, Manager, Education Policy, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, introduced herself and provided testimony in support of the program but in opposition to the funding source in
HF 3794.

Discussion and questions followed.

Representative Carlson provided further comment on HF 3794.

Representative Welti renewed his motion that HF 3794 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Representative Severson moved that the minutes of March 10, 2008 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 P.M.


Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair


_______________________________________
Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant
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