STATE OF MINNESOTA NINTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-EIGHTH SESSION

COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY FINANCE AND POLICY
Chair, Representative Michael Paymar

MINUTES

Representative Paymar, Chair of Committee on Public Safety Finance and Policy, called the meeting to order at 10:06 a.m. Tuesday February 5th, 2013 in Room 10 of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:
Paymar, Chair
Rosenthal, Vice Chair
Cornish, Lead
Hilstrom
Johnson, B.
Kelly
Kieffer
Lesch
Lohmer
Mullery
Newberger
Savick
Schoen
Simon
Simonson
Slocum
Uglem
Ward, J.
Carlson (ex-officio)

A quorum was present.

Chair Paymar informed committee members and the gallery of the process and procedures for the week's hearings. Chair Paymar invited Rep. Cornish to provide brief remarks on the process as well.

Vice Chair Rosenthal assumed the chair at 10:14 a.m.

HF237 (Paymar) Pistol and semiautomatic military-style assault weapon transfer and firearm possession eligibility provisions modified, and criminal penalties provided.

Rep. Paymar moved that HF237 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Gun Violence Prevention Act. (10:14 a.m.)

Rep. Paymar moved to amend HF237 as follows:
Page 1, Line 15: delete the new language.
Page 6, delete section 8.

THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying on behalf of HF237 were:

Dennis Flaherty - Executive Director, Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association
Mark Bergeron - Brooklyn Park Police Department
Dave Pecchia - Executive Director, Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association
David Kolb - Chief of Police, Champlin Police Department
Kevin Benner - Chief of Police, Brooklyn Center Police Department
Kenneth Reid - Commander, Saint Paul Police Department
Jeff Beahen - Chief of Police, Rogers Police Department
Sami Rahamim - Son of Reuven Rahamim, Accent Signage founder

Testifying in opposition to HF237 were:

Andrew Rothman - Vice President, Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance
Prof. Joseph Olson - President, Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance
Chris Rager - National Rifle Association
Rob Doar - Permit to carry instructor, Blue Line Defense

Vice Chair Rosenthal laid over HF237, as amended.

HF240 (Schoen) Mental health screening improved for persons applying for firearm permits.

Rep. Schoen moved that HF240 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Gun Violence Prevention Act. (11:10 a.m.)

Testifying on behalf of HF240 were:

Rich Stanek - Hennepin County Sheriff
Jim Franklin - Executive Director, Minnesota State Sheriffs Association

Testifying in opposition to HF240 were:

Chris Rager - National Rifle Association
Doug Brown - Hutchinson, MN
David Gross - Treasurer, Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance
Tim Bender - Deputy Sheriff, Beltrami County

Chair Paymar laid over HF240.

Presentation on mental illness and gun violence.

Testifying during the presentation were:

Sue Abderholden - Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota
Anna McLafferty - Criminal Justice Project Director, NAMI Minnesota
Dr. Trisha Stark - Minnesota Psychological Association
Patti Bitney-Starke, Consumer Survivor Network
Stefano LoVerso, Vail Place

At 12:00 p.m., Chair Paymar declared the committee in recess until 6:00 p.m.

At 6:03 p.m., Chair Paymar reconvened the meeting.

HF244 (Johnson, S) Firearm loss or theft false report crime established, crime of transferring firearms to an ineligible person expanded, and a person convicted of these crimes made ineligible to possess a firearm.

Chair Paymar moved that HF244 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Gun Violence Prevention Act. (6:04 p.m.)

Testifying on behalf of HF244 were:

Dave Pecchia - Executive Director, Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association
Jim Franklin - Executive Director, Minnesota State Sheriffs Association
Heather Martens - Executive Director, Protect Minnesota
Pastor Gene Martin - Joint Heirs With Christ Faith International, Minneapolis

Testifying in opposition to HF244 were:

Prof. Joseph Olson - President, Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance
Tim Bender - Deputy Sheriff, Beltrami County

Chair Paymar laid over HF244

HF184 (Winkler) Centralized register maintenance and creation required for individuals who voluntarily wish to be ineligible to purchase firearms for a self-determined period of time; and chiefs of police and sheriffs mandated to accept voluntary surrender of firearms and ammunition from persons on the voluntary register and establishment of procedures for return of the firearms and ammunition upon request.

Chair Paymar moved that HF184 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Gun Violence Prevention Act. (6:30 p.m.)

Testifying on behalf of HF184 were:

Diane Sellgren - Saint Louis Park
Sue Abderholden - Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota

Testifying in opposition to HF184 were:

Prof. Joseph Olson - President, Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance
Thomas Boling - Coon Rapids, MN

Chair Paymar laid over HF184.

HF238 (Davnie) Offenders who unlawfully possess firearms on school properties equal penalties established.
HF239 (Davnie) Persons who possess guns on private property after being ordered to leave the premises equal penalties established.

Chair Paymar moved that HF238 and HF239 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Gun Violence Prevention Act. (6:51 p.m.)

Testifying in opposition to HF238 and HF239 were:

Erik Pakieser - Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance
Cara Schulz - Board Member, Libertarian Party of Minnesota
Rob Doar - Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance
Prof. Joseph Olson - President, Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance

Chair Paymar laid over HF238 and HF239.

Chair Paymar invited members of the public to provide testimony on the bills heard during today's hearing.

Testifying before the committee were:

Dr. Alan Lifson - Protect Minnesota (in favor of HF237)
Darrell Young -Minneapolis (in favor of HF237)
Joan Peterson - Board Member, Domestic Abuse Intervention Project (in favor of HF237)
Leroy Duncan - Protect Minnesota (in favor of H.F 237, HF238, HF239)
Heather Martens - Executive Director, Protect Minnesota (in favor of HF237)
Andrew Rothman - Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance (in opposition to HF237)
Chad Nelson - Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance (in opposition to HF184)
Stephen Petersen - Ham Lake (in opposition to HF237)
Derek Theide - Pine City (in opposition to HF242)
Hamilton Ayerhart - Rochester (in opposition to HF238, HF239)
Jim Schulze - Forest Lake (in opposition to HF237, HF240)
Dan Gustafson - Delano (in opposition to HF237)
Douglas Voigt - Saint Cloud (in opposition to HF237)
Greg Royce - Roseau (in opposition to HF237, HF238, HF239)
Linda Stanton - Woodbury (in opposition to HF238, HF239)
Jonathan Norling - Minneapolis (in opposition to HF244)
Jeffrey Ahrens - Fort Ripley (in opposition to HF237, HF184)
Brett Baune - Marshall (in opposition to HF237)
Roger Parras - Saint Peter (in opposition HF240, HF237, HF238, HF239)
John Mulfort - Pine City (in opposition to HF237)

Vice Chair Rosenthal assumed the chair at 8:35 p.m. Thereafter, testimony resumed.

Mike Gutz - Bemidji (in opposition to HF237)
Connor Daine - Oakdale (in opposition to HF244)
Jim Orvis - Saint Paul (in opposition to HF237)
Dylan Appel - Wabasso (in opposition to HF237, HF240, HF184, HF244, HF238, HF239)
Robert Malecek - Maple Plain (in opposition to HF244)

The committee was adjourned at 8:48 p.m.




___________________________
Representative Michael Paymar, Chair



_________________________________________
DJ Danielson, Committee Legislative Assistant