STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRD MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
VETERANS AFFAIRS DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Koenen, Chair of the Veteran Affairs Committee, called the second meeting to order at 8:05 AM on Friday, February 2, 2007 in the Room 5 State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
KOENEN, Lyle, Chair DOTY, Al
TINGELSTAD, Kathy, Vice-Chair HAWS, Larry
WARDLOW, Lynn, Republican Lead HOSCH, Larry
BIGHAM, Karla SEVERSON, Dan
DETTMER, Bob OTREMBA, Mary Ellen, Ex-Officio
DOMINGUEZ, Willie
Members excused:
WOLLSCHLAGER, Sandy OLSON, Mark
A quorum was present.
Rep. Dominguez moved approval of the minutes from January 25, 2007.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED.
Representative Haws moved that HF 137 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veteran Affairs.
Representative Haws moved to amend HF 137 as follows:
Page 1, line 21, delete "periodically"
Page 1, line 24, before "discharged" insert "honorably"
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Haws and Representative Severson presented HF 137 Veteran-owned small businesses designated as targeted group businesses for purposes of awarding state and metro agency procurement contracts.
Testifying on behalf of HF 137 were the following:
Mr. Kent Allin, Department of Administration
Ms. Kim Brouillett, CFO, Semper Fi Security, LLC
Mr. Jerry Kyser, Chairman, United Veterans Legislative Council
They answered questions from the committee members.
Representative Haws renewed his motion that HF 137 as amended, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veteran Affairs.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Dominguez moved that HF 291 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veteran Affairs.
Representative Dominguez moved to amend HF 291 as follows:
Page 1, line 10, delete “is mandated or volunteers to work" and insert “works"
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Dominguez and Representative Haws presented HF 291 Veterans home employees granted commissary privileges when working double shifts. Representative Dominguez and Representative Haws took and answered questions from committee members.
Representative Wardlow moved the following verbal amendment
Page1, line11, delete “shall" and insert “may".
THE AMENDMENT WAS TABLED.
Speaking on behalf of HF 291 were:
Mr. Mark McAfee, AFSCME Council 5, represent workers in the Minneapolis
Veterans homes.
Ms. Mary Jo George, MN Nurse Association, Government Affairs Specialist.
Mr. Charles Cox, Interim Director, Minnesota Veterans Homes Board
Representative Wardlow moved the following verbal amendment
Page1, line11, delete “shall" and insert “may".
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Dominguez renewed his motion that HF 291 be recommended to pass as amended and re-referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veteran Affairs.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Tingelstad abstained from voting on HF 291 because she felt it was a conflict of interest being that she is an Ex-Officio Member of the Veterans Home Board.
The meeting adjourned at 9:24 AM.
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REP. LYLE KOENEN, Chair
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Mary M. Larson, Committee Legislative Assistant