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Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs

TENTH MEETING

2007-2008 Regular Session - Wednesday, February 21, 2007

STATE OF MINNESOTA TENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION

AGRICULTURE, RURAL ECONOMIES AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

MINUTES


Representative Otremba, Chair of the Committee, called the meeting to order at 8:07 A.M. on, February 21, 2007, in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.


Members present:



OTREMBA, Chair HEIDGERKEN
FAUST, Vice-Chair HOSCH
HAMILTON, Republican Lead JUHNKE
BROWN MORROW
DOTY SHIMANSKI
EKEN URDAHL
FINSTAD



A quorum was present.

Rep.Doty moved approval of the minutes from February 19, 2007.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE MINUTES WERE ADOPTED.

Representative Faust moved HF 291 (see language at: http://wdoc.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/LS85/hf0291.1.pdf) be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.

Representative Morrow moved amendment H0291A1 as follows:
Page 1, Line 8, before "No" insert "Except as provided in this section,"
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Dominguez explained HF 291 Veterans home employees granted commissary privileges when working double shifts;

Speaking in favor of House File 291:
Mr. Mark McAfee, AFSCME Council 5
Mr. Charles "Chip" Cox, Executive Director, Veterans Home Board

Representative Faust renewed his motion that HF 291 be recommended to pass as amended and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Representative Faust moved HF 137/SF 255 (see language at: http://wdoc.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/LS85/sf0255.1.pdf) be recommended to pass and re-referred to the General Register.

Representative Haws and Representative Severson explained HF 137/SF 255 Veteran Owned small businesses designation as targeted group for state contracts;

Speaking to the committee in favor of HF 137/SF 255 were the following:
Ms. Kim Brouillet, CFO, Semper Fi Security, LLC
Ms. Dorothy Lovejoy, Department of Administration

Representative Faust renewed his motion that HF 137/SF 255 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the General Register.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.


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TENTH MEETING
February 21, 2007



Representative Faust moved HF 272 (see language at: http://wdoc.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/LS85/hf0272.1.pdf) be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Civil Justice.

Representative Haws and Representative Severson explained HF 272 Firearms safety and usage training certificates continuation provided while soldiers and essential employees are engaged in active military service;

Representative Faust renewed his motion that HF 272 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Civil Justice.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Representative Faust moves adoption of Division Report HF 279 (see language at: http://wdoc.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/LS85/hf0279.1.pdf) be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.

Representative Faust moved amendment HO279A1 as follows:
Page 1, Line 7, strike "ORPHANS" and insert “SURVIVORS"
Page 1, line 11, delete “at" and insert “within six months of"
Amend the title as follows:
Page 1, line 4, delete “Orphans" and insert “Survivors"
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Haws explained HF 279 War Orphans Act educational benefits eligibility clarified and extended for surviving military spouses and children;

Speaking in Favor of HF 279 was:
Mr. Clark Dyrud, Commissioner of Veteran Affairs
Ms. Susan Anderson, State Colleges and Universities

Representative Faust renewed his motion to adopt the Division Report on HF 279 as amended and be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance
THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Representative Faust moved the Committee Report on HF 451 (see language at: http://wdoc.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/LS85/hf0451.1.pdf) be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.

Representative Jaros explained HF 451 Honor guard member reimbursement provided for National Guard funerals to the committee.

Representative Faust renewed his motion that the Committee Report on HF 451 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chairman Otremba referred the following House Files to Veteran Affairs Division:

HF 1157 (Haws) Minnesota "Support Our Troops" account fund
uses expanded.

HF 142 (Wardlow) Property tax refund household income definition modified to exempt the amount of any military disability pay received by a veteran from the federal government.

HF 1065 (Otremba) Health screening benefit provided for eligible members of the armed forces, notification required, and money appropriated.


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TENTH MEETING
February 21, 2007



The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 A.M.


_______________________________________
REP. MARY ELLEN OTREMBA, Chair


_______________________________________
Mary M. Larson, Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..

HF137/SF255* (Haws) Veteran owned small businesses designation as targeted group for state contracts
HF272 (Haws) Firearms safety and usage training certificates continuation provided while soldiers and essential employees are engaged in active military service
HF279 (Haws) War Orphans Act educational benefits eligibility clarified and extended for surviving military spouses and children
HF291 (Dominguez) Veterans home employees granted commissary privileges when working double shifts
HF451 (Jaros) Honor guard member reimbursement provided for National Guard funerals.