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Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division

TWENTYSEVENTH MEETING

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

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTYSEVENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION

HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND
FINANCE DIVISION

MINUTES


Representative Jeanne Poppe, Vice Chair of the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division, called the meeting to order at 12:30 P.M. on Wednesday, March 14, 2007, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:

Rukavina, Tom, Chair
Poppe, Jeanne, Vice-Chair
Atkins, Joe
Bly, David
Brynaert, Kathy
Clark, Karen
Dettmer, Bob

Eastlund, Rob
Gunther, Bob
Haws, Larry
Hortman, Melissa
McFarlane, Carol
Moe, Frank
Nornes, Bud
Norton, Kim
Ruth, Connie
Severson, Dan
Slocum, Linda
Welti, Andy

Members excused:

Mahoney, Tim
Murphy, Mary

A quorum was present.

HF 720 (Lanning)

Representative Lanning presented HF 720, appropriating money for a pilot workforce program.

Representative Lanning introduced Debra Carpenter, Director, Northern Connections; Leisa Lindberg, client, Northern Connections, and Beth Chapin, Counselor, Northern Connections.

Debra Carpenter, Director, Northern Connections, introduced herself and provided testimony in support of HF 720.

Leisa Lindberg, client, Northern Connections, introduced herself and provided testimony in support of HF 720.

Beth Chapin, Counselor, Northern Connections, introduced herself and provided testimony on behalf of Maria Torres, Client, Northern Connections, in support of HF 720.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Nornes moved to amend HF 720 with amendment A07-0291, attached.

Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
March 14, 2007
Page Two


THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Nornes moved that HF 720 as amended be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill.

Further discussion followed.

HF 1535 (Poppe)

Representative Poppe moved that HF 1535 be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill.

Representative Poppe presented HF 1535 appropriating money for a pilot project to provide certain employment and training services.

Representative Poppe introduced Randy Johnson, Executive Director, Workforce Development Center, and Bob Haas, Area Manager, Workforce Development Center.

Randy Johnson, Executive Director, Workforce Development Center, introduced himself and provided testimony in support of HF 1535.

Bob Haas, Area Manager,Workforce Development Center, introduced himself and provided testimony in support of HF 1535.

HF 377 (Thao)

Representative Welti moved that HF 377 be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance omnibus bill.

Representative Thao presented HF 377, providing for a grant to Lifetrack Resources; appropriating money.

Representative Thao Introduced Diane Heldt, Career Program Director, Lifetrack Resources; Liana Nordell, Adult Basic Education Counselor, Hubbs Center, Jewish Family Services; and Abdiaziz Ibrahim, Program Participant, Lifetrack Resources.

Abdiaziz Ibrahim, Program Participant, Lifetrack Resources, introduced himself and provided testimony in support of HF 377.

Liana Nordell, Adult Basic Education Counselor, Hubbs Center, Jewish Family Services, introduced herself and provided testimony in support of HF 377.

Diane Heldt, Career Program Director, Lifetrack Resources, introduced herself and provided testimony in support of HF 377.

Questions and discussion followed.

HF 58 (Mullery)

Representative Clark moved that HF 58 be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance omnibus bill.

Representative Mullery presented HF 58, requiring the preparation and implementation of an initiative to expand job training for minorities and to substantially increase the wages paid to minority workers; appropriating money.

Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
March 14, 2007
Page Three



Representative Clark moved to amend HF 58 as follows:

Page 1, line 8, delete "and implement"

Page 1, line 9, after "blacks," insert "and Native Americans"

Page 1, line 10, after "should" insert "determine ways to"

Page 1, line 11, after "minorities" insert ", near-full employment of minorities,"

THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Mullery introduced Roger Banks, Policy Analyst, Council on Black Minnesotans.

Roger Banks, Policy Analyst, Council on Black Minnesotans, introduced himself and provided testimony in support of HF 58.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Clark moved to amend HF 58 as follows:

Page 1, delete line 17.

Page 1, delete line 18.

THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Further questions and discussion followed.

HF 1655 (Slocum)

Representative Slocum moved that HF 1655 be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance omnibus bill.

Representative Slocum presented HF 1655, appropriating money for opportunities industrialization centers.

Bill Means, Executive Director, Minnesota OIC State Council, introduced himself and provided testimony in support of HF 1655.

Questions and discussion followed.

Leroy West, Chief Administrative Officer/Vice President, Summit OIC, introduced himself and provided testimony in support of HF 1655.

Questions and discussion followed.

Gregory Ives, Student, Summit OIC, introduced himself and provided testimony in support of HF 1655.

Questions and discussion followed.

Grant Jones, Student, Summit OIC, introduced himself and provided testimony in support of HF 1655.

Questions and discussion followed.


Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
March 14, 2007
Page Four



Stephanie Thompson, Student, American Indian OIC, introduced herself and provided testimony in support of HF 1655.

Questions and discussion followed.

Dr. Lee Antell, President and CEO, American Indian OIC, introduced himself and provided testimony in support of HF 1655.

Questions and discussion followed.

HF 1533 (Slocum)

Representative Slocum moved that HF 1533 be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance omnibus bill.

Representative Slocum presented HF 1533, appropriating money for Hennepin-Carver Workforce Investment Board.

John McLaughlin, Director, Hennepin-Carver Workforce Investment Board and Workforce Service Center, introduced himself and provided testimony in support of HF 1533.

Dr. Bruce McNauth, Planner, Hennepin County, introduced himself and provided testimony in support of HF 1533.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Norton moved that the minutes of March 12 and March 13, 2007 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Further questions and discussion followed.

HF 1711 (Hortman)

Representative Hortman moved that HF 1711 be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance omnibus bill.

Representative Hortman presented HF 1711, appropriating money for Vinland Center for rehabilitation services.

Jerry Seck, Senior Partner, Vinland Center, introduced himself and provided testimony in support of HF 1711.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Hortman renewed her motion that HF 1711 be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance omnibus bill.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 P.M.


Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair


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

HF720 (Lanning) Workforce transition assistance pilot program funding provided.
HF1535 (Poppe) Workforce Development Inc., employment and training services pilot project funding provided.
HF58 (Mullery) Increased job training and wages for minorities initiative and report required.
HF377 (Thao) Lifetrack Resources immigrant and refugee collaborative programs grant provided.
HF1533 (Slocum) Hennepin-Carver Workforce Investment Board funding provided.
HF1655 (Slocum) Opportunities industrialization centers funding provided.
HF1711 (Hortman) Vinland Center for rehabilitation services funding provided.
HF582 and HF 1358 have been removed from the Agenda