STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-NINTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FIRST SESSION
EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Cheryl Youakim, Chair of the Committee, called the meeting to order at 9:06 A.M. on, Friday, February 28, 2020, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
YOUAKIM, Cheryl (Chair)
KUNESH-PODEIN, Mary (Vice-Chair)
ERICKSON, Sondra (GOP-Lead)
BAKER, Dave
BENNETT, Peggy
BIERMAN, Robert
CHRISTENSEN, Shelly
GRUENHAGEN, Glenn
HASSAN, Hodan
HER, Kaohly
JORDAN, Sydney
MARIANI, Carlos
SANDELL, Steve
SCOTT, Peggy
URDAHL, Dean
WAZLAWIK, Ami
Members excused:
BAHR, Cal
MOLLER, Kelly
A quorum was present.
Representative Christensen moved that the minutes of February 26, 2020 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Mary Cathryn Ricker, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education, gave opening remarks and took questions from members.
HF 2243 (Mariani) Pupil Fair Dismissal Act amended, nonexclusionary disciplinary policies and practices required, and money appropriated. ****INFORMATIONAL****
Representative Mariani presented HF 2243 and took questions on the bill.
Josh Crosson, Senior Policy Director of EdAllies testified in support of the bill.
A group of students from St. Louis Park High School testified in support of the bill. The group included Aliviah McClinton, C.C. Owens, and Ari Balfour.
HF 1761 (Hassan) Pupil nonexclusionary disciplinary policies and practices provided, and report required. ****INFORMATIONAL****
Representative Hassan presented HF 1761 and took questions on the bill.
Maren Hulden, attorney with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, testified in support of the bill.
Susan Montgomery, a parent advocate, testified in support of the bill.
HF 3396 (Her) Student discipline and nonexclusionary disciplinary policies and practices modified.
Representative Her moved HF 3396 be recommended to be placed on the General Register.
Representative Her presented HF 3396 and took questions on the bill.
Marikay Camaga Litzau, Director of Compliance and Assistance with the Minnesota Department of Education testified in support of the bill.
Daron Korte, Assistant Commissioner with the Minnesota Department of Education, testified in support of the bill.
The following public testifiers spoke in support of the bill:
Jonelle Ellis, a parent advocate;
Erica Valliant, a parent advocate;
Libby Gunther, a parent advocate;
Dr. Justin Killian from Education Minnesota;
Idil Abdull, a parent advocate;
Mai Thao, an educator with St. Paul Public Schools;
Matthew Shaver, a teacher at Northeast College Prep.
The following public testifiers spoke regarding the bill:
Mark Mischke, Principal from Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose High Schools;
Tom Brenner, Principal from Cloquet Middle School;
Mary Macbee, Former Principal from St. Paul Central High School;
Jon Millerhagen, Executive Director from the Minnesota Association of Elementary School Principals.
Testifiers took member questions on the bill.
The meeting recessed at 12:42 P.M.
The meeting reconvened at 1:04 P.M.
Chair Youakim laid HF 3396 on the table.
HF 55 (Jurgens) School meal provisions modified.
Chair Youakim moved HF 55 be recommended to be placed on the General Register.
Chair Youakim moved the DE2 Amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Jurgens presented HF 55.
Jessica Webster, attorney from Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, testified in support of the bill.
Colleen Moriarty, Executive Director of Hunger Solutions Minnesota, testified in support of the bill.
Michelle Koffa, Policy Manager with EdAllies, testified in support of the bill.
Denise Dittrich, Director of Government Relations with the Minnesota School Board Association, testified regarding the bill.
Chair Youakim renewed her motion that HF 55, as amended, be recommended to be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3396 (Her) [Con’td.] Student discipline and nonexclusionary disciplinary policies and practices modified.
Representative Erickson moved the A1 Amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMDENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chair Youakim renewed Representative Her’s motion that HF 3396, as amended, be recommended to be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 1901 (Carlson, A.) Student death school board policy required.
Representative Wazlawik moved HF 1901 be recommended to be placed on the General Register.
Chair Youakim moved the A1 Amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Carlson, A. presented HF 1901.
Tarra Grammenos testified in support of the bill.
Kim Lewis, Director of Government Relations from the Minnesota School Board Association, testified regarding the bill.
Chair Youakim renewed Representative Wazlawik’s motion that HF 1901, as amended, be recommended to be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 244 (Claflin) School districts required to conduct radon testing.
Representative Jordan moved HF 244 be re-referred to the Health and Human Services Finance Division.
Representative Jordan moved the DE1 Amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chair Youakim moved the A1 Amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Claflin presented HF 244 and took questions on the bill.
Dan Tranter, Indoor Air Unit Supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Health took member questions on the bill.
Chair Youakim renewed Representative Jordan’s motion that HF 244, as amended, be re-referred to the Health and Human Services Finance Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3123 (Christensen) Student athlete concussion and sudden cardiac arrest information and training required.
Representative Christensen moved HF 3123 be recommended to be placed on the General Register.
Representative Christensen moved the DE1 Amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Christensen presented HF 3123 and took questions on the bill.
Gayle and Mike Schoonover testified in support of the bill.
Amy Hallstrom testified in support of the bill.
Roger Aronson, lobbyist for the Minnesota State High School League testified in support of the bill.
Chair Youakim renewed Representative Christensen’s motion that HF 3123, as amended, be recommended to be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 250 (Jordan) Sexual assault; affirmative consent instruction in schools required, and money appropriated.
Representative Jordan moved HF 250 be re-referred to the Education Finance Division.
Representative Jordan presented HF 250 and took questions on the bill.
Adrianna Perez, Prevention Program Coordinator with the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in support of the bill.
Abby Honold, survivor and advocate testified in support of the bill.
Kim Lewis, Director of Government Relations from the Minnesota School Board Association, testified regarding the bill.
Chair Youakim renewed Representative Jordan’s motion that HF 250 be re-referred to the Education Finance Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 575 (Huot) Unclaimed drugs or medications in schools disposal provided.
Chair Youakim moved HF 575 be recommended to be placed on the General Register.
Representative Huot presented HF 575.
Molly Forrest, a nurse with IMD 287, testified in support of the bill.
Chair Youakim renewed her motion that HF 575 be recommended to be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 1422 (Baker) Seizure training required in schools.
Representative Baker moved HF 1422 be recommended to be placed on the General Register.
Representative Baker moved the A1 Amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Baker presented HF 1422 and took questions on the bill.
Jamila Pickett, Senior Program Coordinator of Education at the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota testified in support of the bill.
Trisha and Rachel Zeller, a parent and student affected by epilepsy, testified in support of the bill.
Valerie Dosland, lobbyist for the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, testified regarding the bill.
Chair Youakim renewed Representative Baker’s motion that HF 1422, as amended, be recommended to be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:56 P.M.
Representative Cheryl Youakim, Chair
Megan Arriola,
Committee Legislative Assistant