MINUTES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STATE OF MINNESOTA
EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION FIFTY-SECOND MEETING
HEALTH CARE AND HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE DIVISION
Thomas E. Huntley, Chair
Chair Huntley began the fifty-second meeting on March 18, 2008, at 1:59 p.m. in Room 200 of the State Office Building. A quorum was not present.
HF 2937 (Brynaert) Open Door Health Center funding provided, and money appropriated.
The Chair unofficially moved HF 2937 be recommended to pass and laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. Representative Kathy Brynaert presented her bill.
Testifying were:
Representative Kathy Brynaert
Annette McBeth, Past President, Open Door Health Center, Mankato
Cecil Gassis, Open Door Health Center Board Member, Mankato
Sara Kruse, Executive Director, Open Door Health Center, Mankato
The Chair indicated he would move the bill when a quorum became present.
HF 2671 (Urdahl) Nursing facility payment rates required to recognize pension benefit costs.
The Chair unofficially moved HF 2671 be recommended to pass and laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. Representative Urdahl presented his bill.
Testifying were:
Mary Ellen Wells, CEO, Hutchinson Health Care
William Ward, Administrator, Lakeside Health Care
A quorum now present, Chair Huntley called the meeting officially to order at 2:17 p.m. the clerk noted the roll:
Members Present:
Huntley, Chair
Hosch, Co-chair
Abeler
Anderson, B.
Brod
Bunn
Dean
Erickson
Fritz
Gottwalt
Liebling
Loeffler
Murphy, E.
Otremba
Peppin
Peterson, S.
Ruud
Slawik
Thao
Thissen
Walker
-49-
The Chair moved HF 2937 be recommended to pass and laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. The motion prevailed.
The Chair moved HF 2671
A08-1205, a delete everything amendment. The motion prevailed.
The Chair moved the
H2671A1 and directed staff to make necessary technical corrections.
Greg Tabelle, Department of Human Services, testified regarding the fiscal analysis on the bill and discussion occurred.
Chair Huntley moved HF 2671, as amended, be recommended to pass and laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. The motion prevailed.
HF 3009 (Morrow) Nursing facility employee pension benefit costs treatment provided
The Chair moved HF 3009 be recommended to pass and further moved the H3009DE1 amendment.
Representative Morrow explained the bill.
Chair Huntley moved HF 3009, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. The motion prevailed.
HF 3409 (Peterson, A.) Rural health care purchasing alliance funding provided, and money appropriated.
Chair Huntley moved HF 3409 be recommended to pass and Representative Peterson explained the bill. Also testifying:
Greg Thorson, Research Coordinator, West Central Health Care Purchasing Alliance
Following discussion, Chair Huntley moved HF 3409 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. The motion prevailed.
HF 3785 (Doty) Morrison County nursing facility payment rates increased
The Chair moved HF 3785 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill and Representative Doty gave a brief presentation. Testifying were:
Jim Birchem, President and CEO, Elder Care of Minnesota
Kathy Birchem, Elder Care of Minnesota
Discussion occurred and the Chair renewed his motion that HF 3785 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. The motion prevailed.
HF 3616, 3618, 3619 (Walker) Representative Walker stated she would moved all three of her bills together and then decided to move them separately:
HF 3616 (Walker) Minnesota Family Investment Program unpaid work prohibited, Minnesota Family Investment Program provisions repealed for family cap and rental subsidy as unearned income.
Representative Walker moved HF 3616 and further moved the
H3616A1 amendment. The motion prevailed.
HF 3618 (Walker) Minnesota family investment program family cap repealed.
Discussion occurred and Representative Walker moved HF 3618 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.
HF 3619 (Walker) Rep. Walker moved HF 3619 as well as the
H3619A1 amendment. The motion prevailed. Testifying were:
Linden Gawboy, Welfare Rights
-49a-
Representative Hosch replaced Representative Walker at the testimony table, as Rep. Walker had another bill up in a different committee. Chair Huntley took this opportunity to thank Representative Walker for her years of service with him on the health committees and said that she would be missed. Rep. Walker will not be seeking re-election in November. She took a moment to comment to members on the importance of their work and what her own service has meant to her.
Ms. Gawboy continued her testimony along with:
Tahsha Jackson, Welfare Rights
Jessica Webster, Policy Advocate, Legal Aid
Discussion occurred and more testimony by:
Alexandra Fitzsimmons, Policy Director, Minnesota Catholic Conference
Deborah Schlick, Executive Director, Affirmative Options Coalition
Representative Hosch commented briefly on the bills and discussion followed.
Chair Huntley moved HF's 3616, 3618 and 3619 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill and adjourned the meeting at 3:46 p.m.
___________________________________
Thomas E. Huntley, Chair
___________________________________
Jan Horner, Committee Legislative Assistant