STATE OF MINNESOTA SEVENTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING FINANCE COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
Representative Nora Slawik, Chair, called the seventeenth meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. on Tuesday March 13, 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
KRANZ, Ryan
NORNES, Bud
Robbie LeFleur, Director, Legislative Library
Testified on project to have central place for research information related to Committee.
Quorum was reached at 4:05 p.m.
Representative Murphy, E moved approval of the minutes for Thursday, March 8, 2007. THE MOTION PREVAILED and the minutes are approved.
Emily Adriens, House Fiscal Analyst
Testified on new budget numbers after February forecast.
HF1275 (Lesch) St. Paul neighborhood circulators grant provided, and money appropriated
Representative Ward moved HF 1275 to be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
People testifying:
Mayor Christopher Coleman
Testified on overview of second-shift legislation and benefits to children.
Representative John Lesch
Testified on what the "circulator" is.
Heidi Bajaras, University of Minnesota Associate Dean, College of Education and Human Development
Testified on positive effects of many services working together to benefit our children.
Nan Skelton, Co-Director, Center for Democracy and Citizenship, Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota
Testified on importance of wrap around programs on the West Side.
Maria McNamara, parent from the West Side of St. Paul
Testified on the benefits of programming for her children and her family.
Samad Nakumbe, Second Shift Youth Commissioner, West Side resident
Testified on benefits of having transportations to get to after-school programs.
Kalia Her, Second Shift Commissioner and East Side resident
Testified on the benefits the circulator bus would have on the East Side.
Janice LaFloe, Interim Executive Director of the American Indian Family Center
Testified on importance of circulator bus to her community and how it keeps the youth engaged.
Vallay Varra, Education Director, Mayor's office
Testified on security provided on the circulator bus.
Representative Ward moved HF 1275 to be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
Early Childhood Learning Finance Learning Committee
March 13, 2007
Page 2
HF1276 (Murphy, E) St. Paul; professional development funding provided to parks and library staff who interact with children and families, and money appropriated
Representative Murphy, E moved HF 1276 to be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
Representative Murphy, E moved amendment
H1276A1 (attached). THE MOTION WAS APPROVED.
People testifying:
Representative Erin Murphy
Heidi Bajaras, University of Minnesota Associate Dean, College of Education and Human Development
Testified on importance of professional development for parks and rec staff.
Robin Madsen, AFSCME Member and St. Paul Public Library staff
Testified on importance of professional development for library staff.
Lisa Thompson, family home daycare provider
Testified on importance of professional development for family home day cares.
Representative Murphy moved HF 1276, as amended, to be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
HF1277 (Mariani) St. Paul; grant provided to notify citizens of youth services available in the community, and money appropriated
People testifying:
Marnie Wells, Second Shift Commissioner, Mayor Coleman's Office
Testified on benefits of the " virtual one stop shop" legislation.
Representative Slawik moved HF 1277 to be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
HF1264 (Eastlund) Early childhood education access grants contribution and early childhood educational expenses income tax credit authorized
Representative Eastlund moved HF 1264 be referred to the Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness for further referral to the Committee on Taxes.
Representative Eastland moved amendment
H1264A1 (attached). THE MOTION WAS APPROVED.
People testifying:
Representative Rob Eastlund
Testified on additional funding for early childhood programs.
Karen Effrem, Ed Watch
Testified on support of tax credit bills that empower parents and parental choice.
Jim Bartholomew, Business Partnership
Testified on benefits of legislation for low income, at risk families.
Representative Eastlund moved HF 1264, as amended, be referred to the Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness for further referral to the Committee on Taxes. THE MOTION WAS APPROVED.
Representative Bly assumed the gavel at 5:21p.m.
HF1056 (Slawik) Early childhood education provisions modified, and money appropriated
Representative Slawik moved HF 1056 to be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
Representative Slawik moved amendment
H1056DE3 (attached). THE MOTION WAS APPROVED.
Early Childhood Learning Finance Committee
March 13, 2007
Page 3
People testifying:
Representative Nora Slawik
Testified what was removed from HF 1056 and new proposals added.
Barbara Yates, Director of Programs and Operations, Minnesota Early Learning Foundation
Testified on demonstration projects in the amendment.
Representative Slawik moved HF 1056, as amended, to be considered for inclusion in the omnibus bill.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:29 p.m.
_______________________________________
Representative Nora Slawik, Chair
_______________________________________
Tricia Kiefer, Committee Legislative Assistant