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Governmental Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections

SEVENTH MEETING

2007-2008 Regular Session - Wednesday, February 14, 2007

STATE OF MINNESOTA SEVENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
February 14, 2007

GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, REFORM, TECHNOLOGY AND ELECTIONS

MINUTES


Representative Gene Pelowski, Chair of the Governmental Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections Committee, called the meeting to order at 8:00 A.M. on Wednesday, February 14, 2007, in Room 200 of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:

Pelowski, Chairman
Morgan, Vice Chair
Anderson, S.
Brod
Hilty
Howes
Kahn
Kalin
Nelson
Olson
Peterson, N.
Poppe
Simon
Winkler
Wollschlager

Excused: Emmer

A quorum was present.

A report was given to members of the committee from the Voting Machine Options
Working Group.

Testifying were the following:

Mark Halvorson, Director, Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota, and
appearing on behalf of Voting Machines Options Working Group

Mai Thor, Advocate, Voting Machines Options Working Group

Steve Jacobson, Vice President, National Federal of the Blind

A summary was given on the AutoMark survey (electronic ballot marking device). A
handout was distributed explaining products and services, election systems and software.

Scheduled for hearing was: H. F. 340 (Slawik)

A bill for an act relating to elections; allowing certain
persons access to multiple unit residences for certain campaign and election purposes; etc.

Representative Morgan moved that HF 340 be recommended to pass and placed on the General Register.

Representative Morgan moved to amend HF 340 (see attached H0340DE2 amendment). THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Slawik explained HF 340, as amended.

February 14, 2007
Page Two



Testifying on behalf of HF 340, as amended:

Jack Horner, General Counsel, Minnesota Multi-Housing Association

Representative Morgan moved to amend HF 340, as amended, as follows:

Page 1, line 12, strike the word "votes" and insert "voters"

THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Kahn moved to amend HF 340, as amended, as follows:

Page 1, line 9, strike "under section 204B.09,"

THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Further discussion was held on HF 340, as amended.

Matt Gehring, House Counsel, drafted the following amendment for the committee's consideration:

Page 1, line 17, after the word "them", delete the period and insert, "so long as the
materials are not left in a public area of the building.
"

More discussion followed and no motion was made on the proposed language.

Representative Brod moved to amend HF 340, as amended, as follows:

Page 1, line 15, strike "must" and insert "may"

THE MOTION FAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Representative Anderson, S. moved to amend HF 340, as amended:

Page 1, line 15, insert a period after "residents" and delete the remainder of the sentence on lines 16 and 17.

THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Morgan renewed his motion that HF 340, as amended, be recommended to pass and placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Scheduled for hearing was: H. F. 403 (Peterson, S.)

A bill for an act relating to elections; conforming disclaimer requirements for campaign material to constitutional requirements; etc.

Representative Morgan moved that HF 403 be recommended to pass and placed on the General Register.

Representative Peterson, S., explained HF 403.

Discussion followed.

Representative Brod moved to amend HF 403 as follows:

Page 1, delete lines 8-22

Discussion followed.

February 14, 2007
Page Three


Representative Brod withdrew her amendment to amend HF 403.

Representative Brod moved to amend HF 403, as follows:

Page 1, line 8, delete everything after "requirement", through lines 1.17.

Line 18, delete everything through "of", and capitalize the word "the"

Line 20, replace "fourth" with "second"

Representative Kalin moved to amend the Brod amendment as follows:

Page 1, beginning at line 18, insert, "One purpose of the disclaimer requirement"

Line 20, insert, "A second purpose".

Representative Brod accepted Representative Kalin's amendment as a friendly amendment. Representative Kalin's amendment was incorporated into the Representative Brod amendment.

Matt Gehring, House Research, clarified Representative Brod's amendment to read as follows:

Page 1, line 8,

"Subdivision 1. Purpose of disclaimer requirement.

One purpose of the disclaimer requirement is to give voters information about the source of statements in campaign material so they may better judge its credibility.

A second purpose of the disclaimer requirement is to make it possible to hold those who disseminate false campaign material in violation of section 211B.06
accountable for their actions.


A vote was taken on Representative Brod's amendment. On a voice vote, THE MOTION FAILED.

Division was requested. There were 5 ayes and 10 nays, THE MOTION FAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Representative Morgan renewed his motion that HF 403 be recommended to pass and placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:46 A.M.


_________________________________________
REP. GENE PELOWSKI, CHAIRMAN


_________________________________________
Kathy L. Anderson, Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..
House TV Video:
View Archive

01:10 - Gavel, and report from the Voting Machine Options Working Group.
28:25 - HF340 (Slawik) Candidates and campaign workers authorized to have access to multiple unit residences for campaign and election purposes.
1:16:42 - HF403 (Peterson, S.) Campaign material disclaimer requirements constitutional conformity provided.
Runs 1 hour, 47 minutes.


Report from the Voting Machine Options Working Group.
HF340 (Slawik) Candidates and campaign workers authorized to have access to multiple unit residences.
HF403 (Peterson, S.) Campaign material disclaimer requirements constitutional authority conformity provided.