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Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division

NINETEENTH MEETING

2009-2010 Regular Session - Thursday, March 12, 2009

STATE OF MINNESOTA NINETEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION


HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
FINANCE AND POLICY DIVISION


MINUTES


Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division, called the meeting to order at 1:05 P.M. on Thursday, March 12, 2009, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:


Rukavina, Tom, Chair
Bly, David, Vice Chair
Anderson, Sarah
Atkins, Joe
Brynaert, Kathy
Clark, Karen
Dettmer, Bob
Downey, Keith
Eastlund, Rob
Gunther, Bob
Haws, Larry
Mahoney, Tim
McFarlane, Carol
Murphy, Mary
Nornes, Bud
Norton, Kim
Obermueller, Mike
Poppe, Jeanne
Reinert, Roger
Slocum, Linda
Welti, Andy

Members excused:

A quorum was present.

Chair Rukavina asked Representative Dill to come forward to present HF1139.

HF1139 (Dill)

Representative Haws moved that HF1139 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation for re-referral to the Capital Investment Finance Division.

Representative Dill presented HF1139, relating to capital improvements; appropriating money for a renewable energy biofuels demonstration facility; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds.

Bob Johnson, Lobbyist for the Boise Fort Band of Chippewa, introduced himself and assisted in the presentation of HF1139. A handout was provided.

Questions and discussion followed.


Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
March 12, 2009
Page Two



Representative Haws renewed his motion that HF1392 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation for re-referral to the Capital Investment Finance Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF1634 (Clark)

Representative Clark welcomed those present from the Somali community for Somali Day on the Hill, and also the group from Summit Academy OIC.

Representative Clark moved that HF1634 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division.

Representative Clark presented HF1634, relating to capital improvements; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds; appropriating money for a Minnesota African American History Museum in Minneapolis.

Roxanne M. Givens, Founder, Minnesota African American Museum and Cultural Center, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF1634. A handout was provided.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Clark renewed her motion that HF1634 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF1263 (Mahoney)

Representative Mahoney moved that HF1263 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee.

Representative Mahoney discussed an amendment to HF1263 as follows:

Page 4, delete Section 2 and Section 3.

Page 4, after line 15, insert "Effective Date: this section is effective the day after the city

of St. Paul issues up to $40,000,000 in bonds for a community ice facility, as authorized in law."

Representative Mahoney explained the amendment and indicated the amended language would allow the bill to stay in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division for possible inclusion in the Division’s omnibus bill.

Representative Mahoney presented HF1263 as amended, relating to the city of St. Paul; forgiving repayments on a loan to finance the St. Paul RiverCentre; authorizing local bonds to expand the Minnesota event district; amending Laws 1998, chapter 404, section 23, subdivision 6, as amended.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Mahoney introduced Chris Coleman, Mayor, City of St. Paul.

Chris Coleman, Mayor, City of St. Paul, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF1263. A handout was provided.

Questions and discussion followed.


Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
March 12, 2009
Page Three



Margaret Kelly, City of St. Paul, introduced herself and assisted in answering questions.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Mahoney moved to amend HF1263 with the amendment previously stated.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Mahoney moved that HF1042 be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division omnibus bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF680 (Kalin)

Representative Mahoney moved that HF680 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee.

Representative Obermueller moved to amend HF680 with amendment H0680A7 as amended, attached. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Kalin presented HF680, relating to energy; providing direction for the use of federal stimulus funding for energy programs; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216B.

Representative Kalin welcomed Louis King and students from the Summit Academy OIC, and also those present from the Builders Association, Anderson Windows and Marvin Windows, and others in the hearing whe are eager to get Minnesotans back to work.

Representative Kalin continued his presentation.

Louis King, President and CEO, Summit Academy OIC, introduced himself and testified regarding HF680.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Mahoney renewed his motion that HF242 as amended be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Energy Finance and Policy Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF1323 (Rukavina)

Representative Bly assumed the chair at 2:25 p.m.

Representative Rukavina moved that HF1323 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division.

Representative Rukavina presented HF1323, relating to capital improvements; appropriating money for water plant improvements in the city of Hoyt Lakes; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Rukavina renewed his motion that HF1323 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
March 12, 2009
Page Four



Representative Haws moved that the minutes of March 10, 2009 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED

The meeting was adjourned at 2:30 P.M.



Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair




Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..

HF680 (Kalin) Federal stimulus energy funding
HF1139 (Dill) Bois Forte Reservation; Renewable energy biofuels demonstration facility authorized, bonds issued, money appropriated.
HF1323 (Rukavina) Hoyt Lakes; Water plant improvement funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HFxxx (Clark) African American historical museum
HF1263 (Mahoney) St.Paul RiverCentre finance loans forgiven, local bonds authorized to expand the Minnesota event district.