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Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division

TWENTY-FIFTH MEETING

2009-2010 Regular Session - Thursday, April 2, 2009

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-FIFTH 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 1:05 P.M. on Thursday, April 2, 2009, 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
Brynaert, Kathy
Dettmer, Bob
Downey, Keith
Gunther, Bob
Haws, Larry
McFarlane, Carol
Murphy, Mary
Nornes, Bud
Norton, Kim
Obermueller, Mike
Poppe, Jeanne
Reinert, Roger
Slocum, Linda
Welti, Andy

Members excused:

Atkins, Joe
Clark, Karen
Eastlund, Rob
Mahoney, Tim
A quorum was present.

Chair Rukavina asked Representative Nornes to come forward to present HF 2087.

HF 2087 (Nornes)

Representative Nornes presented amendment A09-0287, the delete everything amendment to
HF 2087, relating to higher education; defining terms; providing an appeals process; requiring a report; providing awards for online courses; appropriating money.

Tricia Grimes, Office of Higher Education, introduced herself and provided assistance with the presentation.

Questions and discussion followed.

Mark Misukanis, Office of Higher Education, introduced himself and provided assistance with the presentation.

Questions and discussion followed.

Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
April 2, 2009
Page Two



Representative Nornes moved that HF 2087 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill.

Representative Nornes moved to amend HF 2087 with the delete everything amendment A09-0287, attached. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Nornes moved to amend HF 2087 with the amendment , attached. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Tricia Grimes continued her presentation assisted by Mark Misukanis.

Questions and discussion followed.

HF 1290 (Huntley)

Representative Murphy moved that HF 1290 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill.

Representative Murphy presented HF 1290, relating to capital improvements; appropriating money for a grant to the Duluth Children’s Museum to purchase land, renovate historic buildings, construct, furnish, and equip a new children’s museum.

Michael Garcia, President and CEO, Duluth Children’s Museum, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 1290.

Questions and discussion followed.

Rich Jaworski, Director of Operations, Duluth Children’s Museum, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 1290.

Questions and discussion followed.

HF 1850 (Haws)

Representative Haws moved that HF 1850 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill.

Representative Haws moved to amend HF 1850 with the delete everything amendment H1850DE3, attached. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Haws presented HF 1850, relating to state government; reorganizing the administration of various training and employment functions; transferring various responsibilities to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

Michael Murphy, Associate Vice Chancellor, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU), introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 1850.

Questions and discussion followed.

Anne Olson, Director, Minnesota Workforce Council Association, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 1850.

Questions and discussion followed.

Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
April 2, 2009
Page Three



Tom Cytron-Hysom, Chair, Literacy Minnesota, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 1850.

Questions and discussion followed.

Lynne Batzli, Legislative Liaison, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, introduced herself assisted with answering questions.

Questions and discussion continued.

Representative Haws moved that HF 1850 as amended be recommended to pass and be referred to the Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 908 (Urdahl)

Representative Welti moved that HF 908 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill.

Representative Nornes moved to amend HF 908 as follows:

Page 1, line 14, delete "plan" and insert "agreement"

Page 3, line 20, delete "contract" and insert "agreement"

Page 3, line 22, delete "employer" and insert "employee"

Page 3, line 29, delete "plan" and insert "agreement"

THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Urdahl presented HF 908 as amended, relating to unemployment insurance; providing for a shared work plan.

Questions and discussion followed.

Lee Nelson, Director of Legal Affairs, Unemployment Insurance Program, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 908 as amended.

Questions and discussion followed.

Lee Nelson, DEED, assisted with answering questions.

Questions and discussion continued.

Representative Welti moved that HF 908 as amended be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 1281 (Koenen)

Representative Dettmer moved that HF 1281 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill.

Representative Koenen presented HF 1281, relating to higher education; requiring the creation of course equivalency guides for military coursework.

Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
April 2, 2009
Page Four



Questions and discussion followed.

HF 1446 (Welti)

Representative Welti moved that HF 1446 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill.

Representative Welti presented HF 1446, relating to agriculture finance; appropriating money to the University of Minnesota for agricultural research and extension; requiring a report.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Bly moved to amend HF 1446 with the amendment H1446A5, attached. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Welti moved to amend HF 1446 as amended as follows:

Page 2, line 8, delete "and"

Page 2, line 9, delete "." and insert "; and"

Page 2, after line 9, insert "(12) programs to meet the needs of organic and sustainable

farmers."

THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Bly began discussion of another amendment, and Representative Welti agreed to work with Representative Bly to come to an agreement on the issue before the final bill draft.

Questions and discussion followed.

HF 552 (Norton)

Representative Norton moved that HF 552 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill.

Representative Norton presented HF 552 relating to higher education; appropriating money for the research partnership between the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Foundation.

Representative Norton moved to amend HF 552 with a technical amendment to amend the title as follows:

Page 1, line 5, delete "UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND MAYO FOUNDATION"

and insert "MINNESOTA PARTNERSHIP FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MEDICAL

GENOMICS"

Page 1, line 6, delete "PARTNERSHIP"

THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.


Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
April 2, 2009
Page Five



Representative Dettmer moved that the minutes of March 31, 2009 be adopted.

Representative Obermueller moved to amend the minutes of March 31, 2009 as follows:

Page 4, in HF 1963 section, paragraph 3, line 3, delete "tiele" and insert "title"

THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Dettmer renewed his motion that the minutes of March 31, 2009 as amended be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chair Rukavina discussed a letter from DEED, a copy of which was provided to all members, written in opposition to HF 1963. Chair Rukavina recommended taking HF 1963 from the table and referring to the Civil Justice Committee.

Discussion followed.

Representative Murphy moved that HF 1963 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Civil Justice Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chair Rukavina made brief announcements regarding upcoming meetings.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:20 P.M.


Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair


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

HF2087 (Nornes) Higher education funding provided, terms defined, appeals process provided, report required, awards provided for online courses, and money appropriated
HF1290 (Huntley) Duluth Children's Museum funding provided to purchase land, renovate historic buildings, construct, furnish, and equip a new children's museum, and money appropriated.
HF1850 (Haws) Administration of training and employment functions reorganized, responsibilities transferred to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. A delete everything amendment will be offered.
HF1281 (Koenen) Course equivalency guide creation required for military coursework
HF1446 (Welti) University of Minnesota agricultural research and extension funding provided, and money appropriated
HF908 (Urdahl) Shared work plan provided relating to unemployment insurance
HF552 (Norton) University of Minnesota and Mayo Foundation partnership research money appropriated