STATE OF MINNESOTA FIFTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING FINANCE COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
Representative Nora Slawik, Chair, called the fifteenth meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 in Room 200 State Office Building. Quorum was present
Members present:
SLAWIK, Nora - Chair
BLY, David - Vice Chair
MURPHY, Erin
LAINE, Carolyn
WARD, John
FRITZ, Patti
PETERSON, Sandra
EASTLUND, Rob
KRANZ, Scott
GAROFALO, Pat
WINKLER, Ryan
GOTTWALT, Steve
Members Excused:
NORNES, Bud
WARDLOW, Lynn
Representative Ward moved approval of the minutes for Thursday, March 1, 2007. THE MOTION PREVAILED and the minutes are approved.
Representative Bly assumed the gavel at 4:06p.m.
HF659 (Slawik) Childcare license fees reduced, and money appropriated
Representative Slawik moved HF 659 be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
Representative Slawik moved amendment
H0659DE1 (attached). THE MOTION WAS APPROVED.
People testifying:
Representative Nora Slawik
Tanya Shorter, licensed family child care provider, St. Cloud and former president of the Stearns Benton Family Child Care Association, SEIU Kids First
Testified on concerns about financial hardship of paying licensing fee.
Deloris Friske, Secretary, Scott County Licensed Family Child Care Association
Testified on home child care provider's income and need for lowering and making fees consistent.
Beth Mork, former director, Minnesota Licensed Family Child Care Association
Testified on importance of lowering licensing fees.
Kate Lerner, Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators
Testified on the effect on counties if licensing fee is reduced.
Jerry Kerber, Director of Licensing, Department of Human Services
Testified on the process and cost of background checks for licensing.
Amy Caucett, Olmstead County
Testified on effect on county if licensing fee is reduced.
Representative Bly moved HF 659 be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
HF685 (Slawik) Preschool program and home visiting program for children diagnosed with mental illness or development delays funding provided, and money appropriated
Representative Slawik moved HF 685 be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
Representative Slawik moved amendment
H0685DE2 (attached). THE MOTION WAS APPROVED.
Early Childhood Learning Finance Committee
March 6, 2007
Page 2
People testifying:
Representative Nora Slawik
Kris Muyskens, Licensed Psychologist, Lifetrack Resources
Testified on important Families Together program at Lifetrack and how it helps fragile children and families.
Karrin Corbett, parent
Testified on the positive effect Lifetrack has had on her children and her life.
Cindy Topin, VP of Programs, Lifetrack Resources
Testified on how they define "at risk."
Karen Effrem, Policy Analiyst, Ed Watch
Testified on concerns with "at risk" language in the bill.
Representative Bly moved HF 685 be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
HF976 (Slawik) After-school community learning grant program established, and money appropriated
Representative Slawik moved HF 976 be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
Representative Slawik moved amendment
H0976A1 (attached). THE MOTION WAS APPROVED.
People testifying:
Representative Nora Slawik
Laura LaCroix-Dalluhn, Executive Director, Youth Community Connections
Testified on importance of after-school programs and how important it is to our youth.
Brian Siverson-Hall, Executive Director, Minnesota School-Age Care Alliance,
Board Chair, Child Care WORKS
Testified on benefits of after-school programs and how they engage children and parents.
Jenny Wright, Beacons Network Director, YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis
Testified on need for programs and the waiting lists that exist for the programs.
Judy Williams, Peer Educator Beacons Network and past participant
Testified on benefits of having been served by an after-school program.
Ashanti Lynette Franklin, parent
Testified on the benefits of after-school programs on her children and her family.
Earl L. Whimper, Employee, Beacons Network
Testified on the importance of being served by the Beacon program and how important it is that he now gives back by working for the Beacons Network.
Representative Bly moved HF 976 be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
HF1272 (Slawik) Early childhood family education program funding increased, and minimum population guarantee used to calculate early childhood family education program revenue increased
Representative Slawik moved HF 1272 be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
People testifying:
Representative Nora Slawik
Mary O'Brien, Manager of Youth and Family Services, St. Louis Park Community Education
Testified on what might be done with additional funding.
Marge Porter, Parent, St. Paul
Testified on importance of additional funding for ECFE.
Karen Effrem, Policy Analyst, Ed Watch
Testified on concerns with ECFE's affect on children.
Representative Bly moved HF 1272 be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
Meeting was adjourned at 5: 38 p.m.
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Representative Nora Slawik, Chair
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Tricia Kiefer, Committee Legislative Assistant