Absent: No Members Absent
Senator Rarick, on behalf of Senator Tomassoni, the chief author of S.F. 2905, explained the bill as follows (see bill and Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) handout):
A bill for an act relating to higher education; providing supplemental financing to the University of Minnesota for the NRRI; appropriating money.
Testifying in support of S.F. 2905 were the following:
1) Michael Oakes, Interim Vice President for Research - U of M
2) Rolf Weberg, Excutive Director - NRRI
Questions and comments from committee members ensued.
Senator Rarick announced that S.F. 2905 will be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Higher Education bill.
Senator Goggin assumed the chair while Senator Rarick presented his bill.
Senator Rarick, chief author of S.F. 4096, explained the bill as follows (see bill summary and bill):
A bill for an act relating to higher education; establishing an allied health technician scholarship program;
requiring a report; appropriating money.
Senator Rarick moved to amend S.F. 4096 (see document SCS4096A-1). The MOTION PREVAILED and the AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Danny Ackert, Director of Government Relations for the Minnesota Hospital Association, testified in support of S.F. 4096, as amended.
Questions and comments from committee members ensued.
Following Senator Rarick's closing remarks, Senator Goggin announced that S.F. 4096, as amended, will be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Higher Education bill.
Next on the agenda was S.F. 3510, authored by Senator Tomassoni. The bill title is as follows (see bill summary and bill):
A bill for an act relating to higher education; providing for supplemental funding for the Office of Higher
Education, Minnesota Stte Colleges and Universities, and the University of Minnesota; creating and amending
financial aid programs; appropriating money; requiring reports; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections
136A.1796; 175.45, subdivision 1; Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, sections 136A.121, subdivision 9;
136A.1241, subdivision 5; 136A.1791, subdivision 5; Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 2, article 1,
section 2, subdivisions 1, 2, 8, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 36; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 136A.
Senator Rarick, on behalf of Senator Tomassoni, moved the author's amendment to S.F. 3510 (see document SCS3510A-2). The MOTION PREVAILED and the AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifying in support of S.F. 3510, as amended, were the following:
1) Miriam Cullimore, student parent and Whole Family Coordinator
2) Lori Barr, Co-founder and Executive Director - Raise the Barr (RTB)
3) Tavia Paredes, parent and RTB scholar
4) Jennifer Mueller, Dean of the College of Education and Learning Design - St. Cloud State University
5) Nathan Zierden - Advanced Manufacturing dual trainee
6) Taylor Sautbine - Health Care Services dual trainee
7) Ann McCully, Executive Director - Child Care Aware Minnesota
8) Brittany Tweed, Director of Financial Aid - Metro State University
9) Olivia Osei-Tutu - University of Minnesota-Duluth student (UMD)
10) Jeffrey Rop, history professor and legislative liaison - UMD
Nekey Oliver, Grants and Government Relations Manager for the Office of Higher Education (OHE), presented closing remarks and referred to two letters endorsing the college application fees waiver (see Great River and Spectrum handouts).
Questions and comments from committee members ensued.
Commissioner Dennis Olson and Nicole Whelan, Research Analyst with the OHE, answered questions of committee members.
Senator Rarick thanked testifiers for their comments on how these programs have helped them. He announced that S.F. 3510, as amended, would be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Higher Education bill.
|
Senator David J. Tomassoni, Chair |
Laura Bakk, Legislative Assistant |