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Labor Committee
Thursday, March 14, 2024
12:30 PM, 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg.

Minutes

Present: Senator Jennifer A. McEwen - Chair, Senator Grant Hauschild - Vice Chair, Senator Gene Dornink, Senator Glenn H. Gruenhagen, Senator Robert J. Kupec, Senator Bill Lieske, Senator John Marty, Senator Sandra L. Pappas, Senator Nathan Wesenberg

Absent: Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten

Senator Jennifer A. McEwen called the meeting to order at 12:36pm.

Call to Order


S.F. 4709: Senator Seeberger: Credit card charges wage deductions modification.

Senator Judy Seeberger presented Senate File 4709.

 

Wade Luneberg, Political Director at UNITE HERE Local 17, testified in support of SF 4709.

 

The following individuals testified in opposition to SF 4709:

            Ken Rockler, Bowling Proprietors Association of Minnesota

            Troy Reding, President, Ally Restaurants

 

Discussion.

 

Mr. Rockler and Mr. Reding answered member questions.

 

SF 4709 is laid over for potential omnibus inclusion.

 

1:04pm gavel is passed to Vice Chair Grant Hauschild

 

Senator McEwen moved that S.F. 4709, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION ADOPTED.

S.F. 4742: Senator McEwen: Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program establishment.

Senator Jen McEwen presented Senate File 4742.

 

Senator McEwen moved the A-1 amendment to SF 4742.

            The A-1 amendment is adopted along a voice vote.

 

Adam Hutchens, with LiUNA Minnesota and North Dakota, testified in support of SF 4742, as amended.

 

The following individuals testified in opposition to SF 4742, as amended:

            Tony Mendoza, General Counsel for the Minnesota Cable Association

            Brent Christianson, President/CEO of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance

 

Discussion.

 

Mr. Christianson answered member questions.

 

Carlon Doyle Fontain, Senate Council, answered member questions.

 

Senator Gene Dornink requested a roll call vote.

 

Senator McEwen moved that SF 4742, as amended, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Senate Energy, Utilities and Environment Committee.

 

YEA: McEwen, Hauschild, Kupec, Marty

NAY: Dornink, Gruenhagen, Wesenberg

Absent: Lieske, Oumou Verbeten, Pappas

 

There being 4 yea and 3 nay, the motion is adopted and SF 4742, as amended was recommended to pass and re-referred to the Senate Energy, Utilities and Environment Committee.

 

1:36pm the gavel is passed to Chair McEwen


Senator McEwen moved that S.F. 4742, as amended, recommended to pass and re-referred to the Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Committee. - MOTION CARRIED.

S.F. 4444: Senator Port: Annual adverse health event report publication continuation requirement provision, retaliation against patient care staff prohibition, and enforcement provisions.

Senator Lindsay Port presented Senate File 4444.

 

Senator John Marty moved the A-2 amendment be adopted to SF 4444.

            The A-2 was adopted along a voice vote.

 

The following individuals testified in favor of SF 4444, as amended:

            Melissa Hysing, Legislative Director, Minnesota AFL-CIO

            Kent Eken, Political Director, AFSCME Council 5

            John Welsch, Registered Nurse

            Jen Armbrust, Registered Nurse

            Vanessa Soldo-Jones, Registered Nurse

            Ursula Clarin, Registered Nurse

 

The following individuals testified in opposition to SF 4444, as amended:

            Adam Karlen, Chief Nursing Officer, M Health Fairview South

            Mary Krinkie, Legislative Director, Minnesota Hospital Association

 

Discussion.

 

Ms. Krinkie answered member questions.

 

Ms. Soldo-Jones answered member questions.

 

Mr. Karlen answered member questions.

 

Senator McEwen moved that SF 4444, as amended, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Senate Finance Committee.

            The motion is adopted along a voice vote.

 

Senator McEwen moved that S.F. 4444, as amended, recommended to pass and re-referred to the Finance Committee. - MOTION ADOPTED.

S.F. 3538: Senator Port: Expedited rulemaking authorization to modify the State Building Code to allow a single exit stairway to serve multifamily residential structures under certain circumstances.

Senator Port presented Senate File 3538.

 

Senator Rob Kupec moved the A-2 amendment be adopted to SF 3538.

            The A-2 amendment is adopted along a voice vote.

 

The following individuals testified in favor of SF 3538, as amended:

            Stephen Smith, Center for Building in North America

            Cody Fisher, Footprint Development

            Chris Palkowitsch, BKV Group

 

Mr. Smith answered member questions.

 

Senator Dornink moved that SF 3538 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the State & Local Government and Veterans Committee.

            The motion is adopted along a voice vote.

 

Senator Dornink moved that S.F. 3538, as amended, recommended to pass and re-referred to the State and Local Government and Veterans Committee. - MOTION ADOPTED.

S.F. 4600: Senator Gustafson: Acceptable blood lead levels for workers adoption requirement.

Senator Heather Gustafson presented Senate File 4600.

 

Steven Wurtz, former employee at Water Gremlin, testified in favor of SF 4600.

 

Roger Miksad, Executive Director of the Battery Council International, testified in opposition to SF 4600.

 

Discussion.

 

Senator Hauschild moved that SF 4600 be recommended to pass, and re-referred to the State & Local Government and Veterans Committee.

            The motion is adopted along a voice vote.

 

Senator Hauschild moved that S.F. 4600, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the State and Local Government and Veterans Committee. - MOTION ADOPTED.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:04pm.


 
                                                                      
Senator Jennifer A. McEwen, Chair
                                                                      
Jack Fischer, Legislative Assistant