Minutes

Present: Senator John A. Hoffman - Chair, Senator Omar Fateh - Vice Chair, Senator Jim Abeler, Senator Alice Mann, Senator Andrew Mathews, Senator Erin K. Maye Quade, Senator Nicole Mitchell, Senator Jordan Rasmusson, Senator Paul J. Utke, Senator Melissa H. Wiklund

Absent: No Members Absent

Senator John A. Hoffman called the meeting to order at 3:00pm.

Introductions of Committee Members.

Senator Hoffman introduced all committee members.

 

Senator Hoffman Powerpoint Presentation describing Human Services committee

S.F. 7: Senator Hoffman: Caregivers Stabilization Act of 2023.

Senator Hoffman introduces SF 7 with remarks by Senator Fateh:

    Caregivers Stabilization Act will provide changes and rate increases to services needed by individuals, including

    staff shortages

 

Senator Hoffman introduces testifiers in support of SF 7:

    - Trevor Turner, Minnesota Council on Disability

    - Julia Page, Policy Co-Chair of MN Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities

    - Rick Varco, SEIU

    - Gail Larson (Zoom), 15-year PCA

    - Josh Berg, Accessible Space, Inc.

    - Alan Berner, Vice President of Community Services with The Phoenix Residence

    - David Hancox (Zoom), ACCRA Homecare

    - Zahnia Harut (Zoom), Residential Providers Association of MN; primarily BIPOC

    - Andre Best (Zoom), PCA Agency Owner and CEO Best Care

    - Kathy Messerli (Zoom), Executive Director of the MN Home Care Association

    - Lori Schluttenhofer (Zoom), Opportunity Partners

    - Emily Hartzog, RN Manager at Pathstone Landing, Memory Care Assisted Living Communty in Mankato

    - Amanda Johnson, RN at Life Spark; 11,000 admissions denied due to staff shortages

    - Jeff Bangsberg (Zoom), Disability Advocate; PCA

    - Jill Anderson, Parent

    - Barbara Del Caro Scaia, Parent of an individual receiving Residential Services; son traumatic brain injury

    - Jason Bennet (Zoom), Parent of disabled child

    - Jeff Tob (Zoom), a PCA recipient

    - Lisa Friesenhahn (Zoom), Parent, wants to increase 40-hour household cap

    - Gail King (Zoom) & Ryan Holmquist (Zoom), final speaker; father-in-law, leg amputations, no care plan, no PCA,

    bed sores, infection, death

 

Senator Hoffman goes back to previous Powerpoint presentation: "We all do better, when we all do better"

 

Discussion only.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:44pm.

Senator John A. Hoffman, Chair	David Zak, Legislative Assistant