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Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division

TWENTYEIGHTH MEETING

2007-2008 Regular Session - Thursday, March 15, 2007

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

HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND
FINANCE DIVISION

MINUTES


Representative Jeanne Poppe, Vice Chair of the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division, called the meeting to order at 1:07 P.M. on Thursday, March 15, 2007, 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
Eastlund, Rob
Gunther, Bob
Haws, Larry
Hortman, Melissa
Mahoney, Tim
McFarlane, Carol
Moe, Frank
Nornes, Bud
Norton, Kim
Ruth, Connie
Slocum, Linda
Welti, Andy

Members excused:

Murphy, Mary
Severson, Dan

A quorum was present.

HF 675 (Rukavina)

Representative Rukavina moved that HF 675 be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill.

Representative Rukavina asked Susan Heegaard, Director, Office of Higher Education, and Mark Misukanis, Director of Fiscal Policy and Research, Office of Higher Education, to assist him in presenting HF 675, appropriating money for higher education and related purposed to the Office of Higher Education, the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, and the Mayo Clinic, with certain conditions; increasing the amounts of matching grants; defining terms; making technical changes; eliminating certain report requirements; eliminating certain Legislative Advisory Commission approval requirements; permitting certain interest rate savings and other agreements; amending certain Pell grant requirements; requiring summary statistics in required reports; repealing certain data sharing and collecting requirements; modifying certain aspects of financial aid programs; establishing a scholarship program for high achieving high school students; establishing the Minnesota GI bill program; requiring reports, prohibiting issuance, manufacture or use of false or fraudulent academic credentials; providing penalties.


Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
March 15, 2007
Page Two



Susan Heegaard, Director, Office of Higher Education, introduced herself and began the presentation of HF 675.

Mark Misukanis, Director of Fiscal Policy and Research, Office of Higher Education, introduced himself and assisted with the presentation of HF 675.

Questions and discussion followed.

Susan Heegaard continued the presentation of HF 675.

Questions and discussion followed.

Vice Chair Poppe assumed the chair at 1:22 P.M.

Tricia Grimes, Policy Analyst, Office of Higher Education, introduced herself and assisted with the presentation of HF 675.

Questions and discussion followed.

Chair Rukavina resumed the chair at 1:28 P.M.

Tricia Grimes continued with the presentation of HF 675.

Questions and discussion followed.

Mark Misukanis continued with the presentation of HF 675.

Questions and discussion followed.

Susan Heegaard continued with the presentation of HF 675.

Mark Misukanis continued with the presentation of HF 675.

Further discussion followed.

HF 1142 (Atkins)

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

Representative Atkins presented HF 1142 modifying the state grant program; appropriating money.

Representative Atkins introduced David Laird, President, Minnesota Private College Council.

David Laird, President, Minnesota Private College Council, introduced himself and provided testimony in support of HF 1142.

Questions and discussion followed.

Stacia Smith, Manager, Policy, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, introduced herself and provided testimony in opposition to raising taxes but in support of the state grant program.

Questions and discussion followed.


Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
March 15, 2007
Page Three



HF 1484 (Dittrich)

Representative Hortman moved that HF 1484 be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance omnibus bill.

Representative Dittrich presented HF 1484, requiring information and skills training in personal financial management.

Questions and discussion followed.

Chair Rukavina announced that HF 1508 and HF 626 would be moved to agenda for the Thursday, March 22 meeting.

Further questions and discussion followed.

Representative Slocum moved that the minutes of March 14, 2007 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 P.M.


Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair


Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..

HF1142 (Atkins) modifying the state grant program for post-secondary student financial aid
HF675 (Rukavina) Governor's recommendations for higher education - focus will be on financial aid programs in Article 2
HF1508 (Moe) creating a textbook pricing and access act; establishing a pilot textbook rental program
HF 1484 (Dittrich) requiring information and skills training in personal financial management
HF626 (Nornes) establishing the academic competitiveness highlighting individual excellence and valuing education scholarship program