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Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division

FORTY-THIRD MEETING

2009-2010 Regular Session - Tuesday, March 16, 2010

STATE OF MINNESOTA FORTY-THIRD MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION


HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
FINANCE AND POLICY DIVISION


MINUTES


Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division, called the meeting to order at 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:


Rukavina, Tom, Chair
Bly, David, Vice Chair
Anderson, Sarah
Atkins, Joe
Brynaert, Kathy
Dettmer, Bob
Downey, Keith
Eastlund, Rob
Gunther, Bob
Haws, Larry
Mahoney, Tim
McFarlane, Carol
Murphy, Mary
Nornes, Bud
Norton, Kim
Obermueller, Mike
Poppe, Jeanne
Reinert, Roger
Slocum, Linda
Welti, Andy

Members excused:

Clark, Karen

Chair Rukavina invited Representative Bunn to come forward to present HF 2839.

HF 2839 (Bunn)

Representative Bunn presented the delete everything amendment H2839DE1 to HF 2839, relating to economic development; authorizing the development of a virtual assistance network for Minnesota entrepreneurs; appropriating money.

Mike Myhre, Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 2839.

Questions and discussion followed.

A quorum was present.

Representative Mahoney moved that HF 2839 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee.

Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
March 16, 2010
Page Two


Representative Mahoney moved to amend HF 3413 with the delete everything amendment H2839DE1. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Mahoney renewed his motion that HF 2839 as amended be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 3216 (Masin)

Representative Obermueller moved that HF 3216 be recommended to pass and be referred to the General Register

Representative Masin presented HF 3216, relating to economic development; requiring a report; creating a fast-action economic response team.

Questions and discussion followed.

Mark Lofthus, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 3216.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Obermueller renewed his motion that HF 3216 be recommended to pass and be referred to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.


HF 3570 (Norton)

Representative Norton moved that HF 3570 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion.

Representative Norton presented HF 3570 relating to economic development; expanding loan program to veteran-owned small businesses.

Jeff Nelson, Office of Business Finance, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 3570.

Questions and discussion followed.

Dan Dordan, recently returned from the National Guard, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 3570.

Questions and discussion followed.

John Baker, Retired U.S. Marine and and attorney, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 3570.

Questions and discussion followed.

Jeff Nelson commented further.

Colonel Ahlness, Veterans Department, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding
HF 3570.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Norton renewed her motion that HF 3570 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion.

Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
March 16, 2010
Page Three



HF 2781 (Obermueller)

Representative Obermueller moved that HF 2781 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion.

Representative Obermueller presented HF 2781, relating to labor and industry; modifying licensing provisions; imposing and modifying certain license fees.

Representative Obermueller moved to amend the amendment A10-2370 as follows, to be incorporated into the amendment as a friendly amendment:

Page 4, line 3, delete "$260" and insert "$270"

Representative Obermueller moved to amend HF2781 with the amendment A10-2370 as amended, attached. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Questions and discussion followed.

Tom Joachim, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI), introduced himself and assisted with answering questions.

Questions and discussion continued.

Steve Sviggum, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI), introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 2781.

Questions and discussion followed.

Commissioner Sviggum commented further.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Obermueller renewed his motion that HF 2781 as amended be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion.

HF 3324 (Brynaert)

Representative Gunther moved that HF 3324 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion.

Representative Gunther presented HF 3324, relating to economic development; expanding the Minnesota investment fund; removing a restriction on construction mitigation pilot program grants.

Bob Isaacson, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 3324.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Gunther noted that Representative Mahoney wanted to move the amendment H3324A4.

Questions and discussion continued.

Bob Isaacson, DEED, assisted with answering questions.

Representative Mahoney moved to amend HF 3324 with the amendment H3324A4.

Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
March 16, 2010
Page Four



Questions and discussion continued.

Representative Brynaert arrived and made comments regarding HF 3324.

Representative Mahoney renewed his motion to amend HF 3324 with the amendment H3324A4
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Questions and discussion followed.

Bob Isaacson, DEED, assisted with answering questions.

Mark Lofthus, DEED, assisted with answering questions.

Questions and discussion continued.

Representative Brynaert presented information regarding the construction mitigation grant portion of HF 3324 as amended.

Mike Myhre, Office of Enterprise and Small Business, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) introduced himself and provided testimony regarding the construction mitigation pilot program grants.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Brynaert renewed her motion that HF 3324 as amended be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion.

Chair Rukavina made announcements.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:15 P.M.



Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair




Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF3216 (Masin) - Report required on at-risk businesses and a fast-action economic response team created.
  • HF3570 (Newton) - Loan program expanded to veteran-owned small businesses.
  • HF2781 (Obermueller) - Grant and loan programs modified, duties modified, technical changes made, terms defined, Minnesota Science and Technology Authority created, licensing provisions modified, fees imposed and modified, construction codes modified, study requested, reports required, and money appropriated.
  • HF3324 (Brynaert) - Minnesota investment fund expanded, and construction mitigation pilot program grants restriction removed.
  • HF2839 (Bunn) - Minnesota entrepreneur virtual assistance network authorized, and money appropriated.