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Government Operations and Elections Policy

EIGHTEENTH MEETING

2017-2018 Regular Session - Tuesday, March 7, 2017

STATE OF MINNESOTA EIGHTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETIETH SESSION

GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS POLICY
MINUTES

Representative O’Driscoll, Chair of the Government Operations and Elections Policy, began the meeting at 10:15AM on March 7th, 2017, in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:

O’DRISCOLL, Tim - Chair
PUGH, Cindy - Vice Chair
NELSON, Michael
BLISS, Matt
FENTON, Kelly
FREIBERG, Mike
HALVERSON, Laurie
JESSUP, Randy
LEE, Fue
MASIN, Sandra
NASH, Jim
PETERSON, Roz
QUAM, Duane
SANDSTEDE, Julie
SWEDZINSKI, Chris
THEIS, Tama
WEST, Nolan
YOUAKIM, Cheryl


Members Excused:

Chair O’Driscoll called the meeting to order at 10:15AM. A quorum was present.

Representative Freiberg moved to approve the minutes of March 3rd. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF1117 (Bahr) Oak Grove; areas designated as residential for the purposes of the comprehensive plan update.

Chair O’Driscoll moved that HF1117 come before the committee and be re-referred to the General Register.

Representative Bahr testified regarding HF1117.

The following testified regarding HF1117:
Mayor Mark Korin, Oak Grove,
Lisa Betahaus, Metropolitan Council.

Chair O’Driscoll renewed the motion that HF1117 be re-referred to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF1101 (Howe) Cities authorized to spend money on National Night Out and events that foster positive relationships between law enforcement and the community, and fundraising authorized for these purposes.

Chair O’Driscoll moved that HF1101 come before the committee and be re-referred to the General Register.

Representative Howe testified regarding HF1101.

The following testified regarding HF1101:
Chief Paul Wegner, Paynesville Police Department.

Chair O’Driscoll moved that HF1101 be re-referred to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.


HF136 (Howe) Zero-based budgeting provided.

Chair O’Driscoll moved that HF136 come before the committee and be re-referred to the State Government Finance Committee.

Representative Howe testified regarding HF136.

The following testified regarding HF136:
Peter Nelson, Vice President and Senior Policy Fellow, Center of the American Experiment,
Margaret Kelly, State Budget Director, Minnesota office of Management and Budget.

Chair O’Driscoll renewed the motion that HF136 be re-referred to the State Government Finance Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF739 (Hoppe) Small wireless facility collocation provided.

Chair O’Driscoll moved that HF739 come before the committee and be re-referred to the Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance Committee.

Representative Hoppe testified regarding HF739.

The following testified regarding HF739:
Tony Mendoza, Minnesota Cable Communications Association,
Laura Ziegler, MPP, Intergovernmental Relations, League of Minnesota Cities,
Shelly Hanson, City Engineer, City of Bloomington,
Amanda Duerr, Government Relations, Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association,
Paul Weirtz, AT&T,
John Dukich, Minnesota High Tech Association,
Michael McDermott, Verizon.

Chair O’Driscoll moved the HF739A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Chair O’Driscoll renewed the motion that HF739, as amended, be re-referred to the Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF828 (Albright) Metropolitan Council governance modified.

Chair O’Driscoll moved that HF828 come before the committee and be re-referred to the Ways & Means Committee.

Representative Albright testified regarding HF828.

The following testified regarding HF828:
Mayor Mark Korin, Oak Grove,
Mayor Bob Crawford, Elko New Market,
Patricia Nauman, Executive Director, Metro Cities,
Sean Kershaw, Citizens League.

Chair O’Driscoll renewed the motion that HF828 be re-referred to the Ways & Means Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The committee recessed at 12:00pm.

The committee reconvened at 7:30pm

HF1689 (Ecklund) City and town expenditures for historical societies permitted.

Chair O’Driscoll moved that HF1689 come before the committee and be re-referred to the General Register.

Representative Ecklund testified regarding HF1689.

Chair O’Driscoll renewed the motion that HF1689 be re-referred to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF1030 (Drazkowski) Employees allowed to opt out of state-paid insurance and benefits.

Chair O’Driscoll moved that HF1030 come before the committee and be re-referred to the State Government Finance Committee.

Representative O’Driscoll moved the HF1030A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Drazkowski testified regarding HF1030.

Chair O’Driscoll renewed the motion that HF1030, as amended, be re-referred to the State Government Finance Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.


Chair O’Driscoll moved to reconsider HF1146. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chair O’Driscoll moved to re-refer HF1146.to the Taxes Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.


HF654 (Drazkowski) Reverse referendum for property tax levies allowed.

Chair O’Driscoll moved that HF654 come before the committee and be re-referred to the Education Finance Committee.

Representative Drazkowski testified regarding HF654.

The following testified regarding HF654:
Valerie Dosland, Director of Government Affairs, Ewald Consulting,
Matt Hilgart, Government Relations, Association of Minnesota Counties,
Gary Carlson, Intergovernmental Relations Department, League of Minnesota Cities.

Chair O’Driscoll renewed the motion that HF654 be re-referred to the Education Finance Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF1866 (Albright) Metropolitan Council governance modified.

Chair O’Driscoll moved that HF1866 come before the committee and be re-referred to the Transportation Finance Committee.

Representative Albright testified regarding HF1866.

The following testified regarding HF1866:
Mayor Mark Korin, Oak Grove,
Mayor Bob Crawford, Elko New Market,
Patricia Nauman, Executive Director, Metro Cities,
Keith Carlson, Executive Director, Minnesota Inter-County Association,
Chris Gerlach, Commissioner, Dakota County,
Judd Schetnan, Government Affairs Director, Met Council.

Representative Nelson moved the HF1866A7 amendment. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Representative Youakim moved the HF1866A8 amendment. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Representative Nelson moved the HF1866A9 amendment. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Chair O’Driscoll renewed the motion that HF1866 be re-referred to the Transportation Finance Committee. Representative Nelson requested a roll call. The results were as follows:


AYES NAYS
O’DRISCOLL, Tim FREIBERG, Mike
PUGH, Cindy HALVERSON, Laurie
BLISS, Matt LEE, Fue
FENTON, Kelly MASIN, Sandra
JESSUP, Randy NELSON, Michael
NASH, Jim SANDSTEDE, Julie
QUAM, Duane YOUAKIM, Cheryl
PETERSON, Roz
SWEDZINSKI, Chris
WEST, Nolan

There being 10 ayes and 7 nays, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF1585 (Quam) Four uniform election dates per year provided, special elections required to be held on one of the uniform dates, counties required to administer school elections, and conforming changes made.

Representative Quam moved that HF1585 come before the committee and be held over for possible inclusion in the Government Operations and Elections Policy omnibus bill.

Representative Quam testified regarding HF1585.

The following testified regarding HF1585:
Kent Sulem, Minnesota Association of Townships,
Grace Kelliher, Minnesota School Boards Association,
Julie Strothers, Government Relations Director, Office of the Secretary of State,
Keith Carlson, Executive Director, Minnesota Inter-County Association,
Troy Olsen, Minnesota Association of County Officers.

Representative Quam moved that HF1585 come before the committee and be held over for possible inclusion in the Government Operations and Elections Policy omnibus bill.

HF2040 (Pugh) Postelection sampling report requirements amended for county auditors and the secretary of state.

Representative Pugh moved that HF2040 come before the committee and be held over for possible inclusion in the Government Operations and Elections Policy omnibus bill.

Representative Pugh testified regarding HF2040.

The following testified regarding HF2040:
Julie Strothers, Government Relations Director, Office of the Secretary of State,

Representative Pugh renewed the motion that HF2040 be held over for possible inclusion in the Government Operations and Elections Policy omnibus bill.

HF2050 (West) Electronic voter signatures for purposes of electronic rosters allowed.

Representative West moved that HF2050 come before the committee and be held over for possible inclusion in the Government Operations and Elections Policy omnibus bill.

Representative West testified regarding HF2050.

The following testified regarding HF2050:
Ginny Gelms, Elections Manager, Hennepin County,
Max Hailperin, Private Citizen.

Representative West renewed the motion that HF2050 be held over for possible inclusion in the Government Operations and Elections Policy omnibus bill.

HF1192 (Johnson, C) Farm safety working group codified, farm safety initiative funding provided, and money appropriated.

Chair O’Driscoll moved that HF1192 come before the committee and be re-referred to the Agriculture Finance Committee.

Representative Johnson, C testified regarding HF1192.

The following testified regarding HF1192:
Paul Aasen, President, Minnesota Safety Council.

Chair O’Driscoll renewed the motion that HF1192 be re-referred to the Agriculture Finance Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.


The meeting was adjourned at 9:43PM.




Representative Tim O’Driscoll, Chair




Steve Barthel, Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF1101 (Howe) - Cities authorized to spend money on National Night Out and events that foster positive relationships between law enforcement and the community, and fundraising authorized for these purposes.
  • HF136 (Howe) - Zero-based budgeting provided.
  • HF1117 (Bahr) - Oak Grove; areas designated as residential for the purposes of the comprehensive plan update.
  • HF739 (O'Neill) - Small wireless facility collocation provided.
  • HF828 (Albright) - Metropolitan Council governance modified.
  • HF1866 (Albright) - Metropolitan Council governance modified, farebox recovery objective for Twin Cities metropolitan area transit established, Metropolitan Council prohibited from undertaking a light rail project without explicit legislative authority, consideration of reasonableness of system plans in Metropolitan Land Planning Act allowed, light rail transit project development governing requirements established, and Metropolitan Council required to revise transportation policy plan.
  • HF1689 (Ecklund) - City and town expenditures for historical societies permitted.
  • HF1585 (Quam) - Four uniform election dates per year provided, special elections required to be held on one of the uniform dates, counties required to administer school elections, and conforming changes made.
  • HF1192 (Johnson) - Farm safety working group codified, farm safety initiative funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF2040 (Pugh) - Postelection sampling report requirements amended for county auditors and the secretary of state.
  • HF2039 (Pugh) - Statewide voter registration system status changes and removals required to be included in public information lists.
  • HF2050 (West) - Electronic voter signatures for purposes of electronic rosters allowed.
  • HF1030 (Drazkowski) - Employees allowed to opt out of state-paid insurance and benefits.
  • HF654 (Drazkowski) - Reverse referendum for property tax levies allowed.

***Government Operations and Elections will reconvene at 7:30pm in room 500S***

Bills may be taken in any order. More bills may be added. If committee business is not finished during the regularly scheduled time, the committee will meet in room 500S at 7:30pm or the call of the chair.