STATE OF MINNESOTA SIXTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING FINANCE COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
Representative Nora Slawik, Chair, called the sixteenth meeting to order at 4:06 p.m. on Thursday, March 8, 2007 in Room 200 State Office Building. Quorum was not present.
Members present:
SLAWIK, Nora - Chair
BLY, David - Vice Chair
MURPHY, Erin
LAINE, Carolyn
WARD, John
FRITZ, Patti
PETERSON, Sandra
EASTLUND, Rob
GAROFALO, Pat
WINKLER, Ryan
GOTTWALT, Steve
WARDLOW, Lynn
Members Excused:
NORNES, Bud
KRANZ, Ryan
Quorum was reached at 4:07 p.m.
HF302 (Peterson) Early childhood and pre-kindergarten grant programs established, kindergarten developmental assessment expanded, and money appropriated
Representative Peterson moved HF 302 be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
Representative Peterson moved amendment
H0302A2 (attached). THE MOTION WAS APPROVED.
People testifying:
Representative Sandra Peterson
Introduced the bill.
Mary Kosak, Program Manager, Blandin Foundation
Testified on programming and services of Invest Early in Itasca County.
Karen Cadigan, Director of Outreach and Public Policy at the Center for Early Education and Development, University of Minnesota
Testified on assessment process and benefits of the outcomes.
Maureen Seiwert, Executive Director of Early Childhood Education, Minneapolis Public Schools
Testified on Pre-K-3 programming.
Representative Peterson moved HF 302, as amended, be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
Representative Bly moved approval of the minutes for Tuesday, March 6, 2007. THE MOTION PREVAILED and the minutes are approved.
HF1422 (Hilstrom) School finance equalizing factors indexed
Representative Slawik moved HF 1422 be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
People testifying:
Representative Deb Hilstrom
Testified on purpose of legislation in making levies more uniform.
Representative Slawik moved HF 1422 be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
Representative Bly assumed the gavel at 4:47 p.m.
Early Childhood Learning Finance Committee
March 6, 2007
Page 2
HF920 (Slawik) Childcare provisions modified and MFIP and basic sliding fee childcare programs consolidated
Representative Slawik moved HF 920 be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
Representative Slawik moved amendment
H0920A1 (attached). THE MOTION WAS APPROVED.
People testifying:
Representative Nora Slawik
Introduced legislation
Ann Kaner-Roth, Executive Director, Child Care WORKS
Testified on effects of funding cuts in 2003 and the need for restoration of childcare funding.
Deborah Schlick, Executive Director, Affirmative Options Coalition
Testified on how important childcare assistance is in the welfare to work program.
Chad Dunkley, President, Minnesota Child Care Association and COO, New Horizon Academy
Testified on importance of childcare assistance and the importance of consistent care.
Byron Laher, Director, Public Policy, Greater Twin Cities United Way
Testified on needs of childcare assistance.
Representative Slawik moved HF 920, as amended, be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
HF1292 (Slawik) Childcare finance provisions modified, and money appropriated
Representative Slawik moved HF 1292 be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
Representative Slawik moved an oral amendment as follows:
Page 12, line 21, after "119B.08" insert "subdivisions 1 and 2," and delete "is" and insert "are"
THE MOTION WAS APPROVED
Representative Slawik moved amendment
H1292A1 (attached). THE MOTION WAS APPROVED.
People testifying:
Representative Nora Slawik
Introduced bill.
Ann Sessoms, Director of Transitions to Economic Stability, Department of Human Services
Testified on details of legislation.
Representative Slawik moved HF 1292, as amended, be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:31 p.m.
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Representative Nora Slawik, Chair
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Tricia Kiefer, Committee Legislative Assistant