STATE OF MINNESOTA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FIFTY-THIRD MEETING
NINETY-THIRD SESSION
EDUCATION FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES
Representative Cheryl Youakim, Chair of the Education Finance Committee, called the meeting to order at 10:33 AM on April 4, 2024, in Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Present:
YOUAKIM, Cheryl, Chair
CLARDY, Mary Frances, Vice Chair
KRESHA, Ron, Minority Lead
ALTENDORF, Pam
ANDERSON, Patti
BAKEBERG, Ben
BENNETT, Peggy
EDELSON, Heather
GREENMAN, Emma
HILL, Josiah
JORDAN, Sydney
KNUDSEN, Krista
PEREZ-VEGA, María Isa
PURSELL, Kristi
REHM, Lucy
SENCER-MURA, Samantha
VIRNIG, Bianca
Excused:
WEST, Nolan
A quorum was present.
Representative Jordan moved that the minutes from April 3rd, 2024, be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3564 (Hollins) Girl Scouts community engagement programs grant funding provided, reports required, and money appropriated.
Chair Youakim moved HF 3564 before the committee.
Representative Hollins presented HF 3564.
Testifiers:
• Sara Gangelhoff, Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement, Girl Scouts River Valleys
• Casi Lopez-Xiong, Latina Partnerships Coordinator, Girl Scouts River Valleys
• Mai Yang, Community Engagement Coordinator, Girl Scouts River Valleys
• Iris Xiong, Girl Scout
Chair Youakim moved that HF 3564 be laid over for possible inclusion in a final omnibus bill.
HF 2638 (Hill) Playworks grant funding provided for expansion of social-emotional programming in elementary schools, and money appropriated.
Representative Hill moved HF 2638 before the committee.
Representative Hill presented HF 2638.
Testifiers:
• Jenny Parker, Principal, Weaver Elementary School
• Maria Varela, 4th Grade, Junior Coach, Weaver Elementary School
• Luca Johnson, 4th Grade, Junior Coach, Weaver Elementary
• Chigozirmonu, 4th Grade, Junior Coach, Weaver Elementary
• Nadene Grice-Butle, 4th Grade, Junior Coach, Weaver Elementary
• Shauna McDonald, Executive Director, Playworks
Chair Youakim moved that HF 2638 be laid over for possible inclusion in a final omnibus bill.
HF 2696 (Greenman) Civic education grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
Representative Greenman moved HF 2696 before the committee.
Representative Greeman moved for the DE1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Greenman presented HF 2696, as amended.
Testifiers:
• Amy Anderson, Executive Director, YMCA Center for the Youth Voice
• Esha Vibhakar, 10th Grade, Wayzata High School
Chair Youakim moved that HF 2696, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in a final omnibus bill.
HF 5091 (Perez-Vega) Slice of St. Paul Kids literacy incentive pilot program created through a school and community partnership, reports required, and money appropriated.
Representative Perez-Vega moved HF 5091 before the committee.
Representative Perez-Vega moved the DE 1 amendment before the committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Perez-Vega presented HF 5091, as amended.
Testifiers:
• Robert Cruz, Executive Director, West Side Boosters Organization
• Carlo Franco, Board Members, St. Paul Public Schools
• Adam Kado, Owner, Slice Brother’s Pizza
Chair Youakim moved that HF 5091, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in final omnibus bill.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:44 AM
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Representative Cheryl Youakim, Chair
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Shamat Abraha, Committee Legislative Assistant