STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTIETH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION
PUBLIC SAFETY POLICY & OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Debra Hilstrom, Chair of the Public Safety Policy & Oversight Committee, started the twentieth meeting of the House Public Safety Policy & Oversight Committee at 6:42 pm on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 in Room 300 North of the of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members Present:
HILSTROM, Debra, Chair
BIGHAM, Karla, Vice-Chair
ANDERSON, Bruce
CORNISH, Tony
DRAZKOWSKI, Steve
JOHNSON, Sheldon
KATH, Kory
KELLY, Tim
KULICK JACKSON, Gail
KOHLS, Paul
LESCH, John
MASIN, Sandra
MULLERY, Joe
OLIN, Dave
PAYMAR, Michael
ROSENTHAL, Paul
SHIMANSKI, Ron
Agenda:
Ken Merz, Minnesota Department of Corrections, presented information on Governor Pawlenty’s proposal to repeal the requirement that short-term offenders serve their sentences in county jails and instead, such offenders will serve their time at state corrections facilities, then took questions from the committee.
A quorum was present at 6:46 and the meeting was officially called to order.
HF1050 (Olin): Short term commitment authorization repealed.
Rep. Olin presented HF1050 and took questions from the committee.
The following individuals testified on HF1050 and took questions from the committee:
Jerry Driessen, Hennepin County Community Corrections & Association of Minnesota Counties,
Jim Franklin, Executive Director, Minnesota Sheriffs Association
Ken Merz, Minnesota Department of Corrections
Rep. Olin moved that HF1050 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Finance with a recommended re-referral to the Committee on Public Safety Finance.
THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE BILL WAS PASSED.
HF1521 (Liebling): Earned release dates for imprisoned offenders provided, qualifying offenders required to be placed on enhanced reentry supervised release, and law requiring short term offenders to be incarcerated in local correctional facilities repealed, and money appropriated.
Rep. Liebling presented HF1521 and took questions from the committee.
Doug Lambert, Community Services for Dodge and Olmsted counties, testified in support of HF1521 and took questions from the committee.
Ken Merz, Minnesota Department of Corrections took questions from the committee on HF1521.
Chair Hilstrom moved that HF1521 be re-referred to the Committee on Finance with a recommended re-referral to the Committee on Public Safety Finance without further recommendation.
THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE BILL WAS PASSED.
HF67 (Mullery): Gross misdemeanor created for assaulting a utility employee or contractor.
Rep. Mullery moved that HF67 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Public Safety Policy & Oversight omnibus bill.
Rep. Mullery presented HF67 and took questions from the committee.
Tim Lovaasen, Communications Workers of America, MN State Council, testified on behalf of HF67 and took questions from the committee.
Rep. Mullery renewed his motion that HF67 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Public Safety Policy & Oversight omnibus bill.
Chair Hilstrom laid HF67 over for possible inclusion in the Public Safety Policy & Oversight omnibus bill.
HF1270 (Paymar): Short-term offender pilot project development required, money appropriated.
Chair Hilstrom moved that HF1270 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Finance with a recommended re-referral to the Committee on Public Safety Finance.
Chair Hilstrom presented HF1270 on Rep. Paymar’s behalf.
Chair Hilstrom moved to amend HF1270 (see
H1270A1).
THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chair Hilstrom moved to orally amend HF1270, as amended, as follows:
Page 1, line 6, strike "corrects" and insert "corrections"
THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE ORAL AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Andy Erickson, Ramsey County Corrections, testified in support of HF1270 and took questions from the committee.
Chair Hilstrom moved to orally amend HF1270, as amended, as follows:
Page 1, line 7, strike "shall" and insert "may"
THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE ORAL AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chair Hilstrom renewed her motion that HF1270, as amended, be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Finance with a recommended re-referral to the Committee on Public Safety Finance.
THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE BILL WAS PASSED.
Chair Hilstrom called for a motion to approve the minutes of February 12, 2009 and February 17, 2009.
Rep. Bigham moved to approve the minutes of February 12, 2009 and February 17, 2009.
THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE MINUTES WERE ADOPTED.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:52pm.
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Debra Hilstrom
CHAIR, Public Safety Policy & Oversight
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Erin Huppert
Public Safety Policy & Oversight Committee Legislative Assistant