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Health Care and Human Services Finance Division

SIXTY-FOURTH MEETING

2009-2010 Regular Session - Wednesday, May 5, 2010

MINUTES


MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STATE OF MINNESOTA
EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION SIXTY-FOURTH MEETING


HEALTH CARE AND HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE DIVISION
Thomas E. Huntley, Chair


The sixty-fourth meeting of the Health Care and Human Services Finance Division was co-chaired by Representatives Kim Norton, Nora Slawik and Jeff Hayden. Representative Norton maintained the gavel and began the meeting at 10:27 a.m. on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 in Room 200 of the State Office Building. A quorum was not present.

Co-chairs Slawik and Hayden made opening remarks and testimony began on the issue of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the Somali community.

Judy Punyko, Epidemiologist, Department of Health

At 10:53 a.m. a quorum was present and the meeting was formally called to order. The clerk noted the roll:

Members Present:
Huntley, Thomas, Chair
Bunn, Julie
Gottwalt, Steve
Hayden, Jeff
Hosch, Larry
Kiffmeyer, Mary
Liebling, Tina
Murphy, Erin
Peppin, Joyce
Ruud, Maria
Slawik, Nora

Members Excused
Abeler, Jim, Vice Chair
Anzelc, Tom
Fritz, Patti
Otremba, Mary Ellen
Peterson, Sandra
Scalze, Bev
Thao, Cy
Thissen, Paul

Members Absent
Brod, Laura
Dean, Matt
Emmer, Tom

Representative Ruud moved approval of the April 26, 2010 minutes. The motion prevailed.

Testimony continued on the issue of autism in the Somali Community:

Gary Cox, Operations Supervisor, Department of Human Services

Heidi Hamilton, Division Legislative Lead, Disability Services, Dept. of Human Services

Health Care and Human Services Finance Division
May 5, 2010
Page 2




Abdul Diriya, New Brighton, parent of autistic child

Anne Harrington, Executive Director, Celebrate The Spectrum, Minneapolis

Abdihakin Hassan, Minneapolis, parent of child with autism

Gary Cox (again)

Nur Haile, Minneapolis, parent of child with autism

Idil Abdull, Somali American Autism Foundation, parent of child with autism

Mohamed Jibrell, Board Chair, Confederation of Somali Community Minnesota (CSCM)

Mohamed Kahli, parent of child with autism

Abdirashid Shire, PhD, Assistant Professor, Mayo Clinic, Rochester and member of
The Somali Community

Dr. Amy Esler, Psychologist and Assistant Professor, ASD Clinic, University of
Minnesota


Discussion occurred throughout the meeting. Co-chair Norton made closing remarks and
adjourned the meeting at 12:07 p.m.

___________________________________
Representative Kim Norton, Co-chair


___________________________________
Representative Jeff Hayden, Co-chair


___________________________________
Representative Nora Slawik, Co-chair


___________________________________
Jan Horner, Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..

Informational hearing on the prevalence of autism in the Somali community.