Minutes

Present: Senator David J. Tomassoni - Chair, Senator Jason Rarick - Vice Chair, Senator Gregory D. Clausen, Senator Michael P. Goggin, Senator John R. Jasinski, Senator Aric Putnam

Absent: No Members Absent

Senator Jason Rarick, Vice Chair, called the meeting to order at 1:12 p.m. A quorum was present.

S.F. 3229: Senator Coleman: Alternative teacher preparation program grant eligibility modification and appropriation.

Senator Coleman, chief author of S.F. 3229, explained the bill as follows (see bill summary and bill):

A bill for an act relating to education; modifying alternative teacher preparation program grant eligibility; appropriating  money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.1276.

Testifying in support of S.F. 3229 were the following:

    1) Matt Shaver, Policy Director - EdAllies

    2) Kelly Dietrich, Director of SpecialEd - Indigo Education

Senator Goggin moved that S.F. 3229 be recommended to pass and rereferred to the Committee on Education Finance and Policy (see committee report).  The MOTION PREVAILED.

S.F. 2856: Senator Rarick: State grant eligibility requirement expansion for institutions.

Senator Rarick, chief author of S.F. 2856, explained the bill as follows (see bill summary and bill):

A bill for an act relating to higher education; expanding the state grant eligibility requirements for institutions; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.103.

Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Regional Vice-President, and Patrick Baker, Government Relations Director, for Western Governor's University, presented a power point and overview of the University (see WGU handout #1).

Testifying in support of S.F. 2856 were the following:

    1) Katherine Sexton, student at Western Governors University

    2) Stephanie Struzyk, student at Western Governos University

Questions and comments from committee members ensued.

Testifying in opposition to S.F. 2856 were the following:

    1) Nekey Oliver, Grants and Government Relations Manager - MN Office of Higher Education (see letter from              Commissioner Dennis Olson)

    2) Betsy Talbot, Licensing and Registration Manager - MN Office of Higher Education

Senator Rarick moved to amend S.F. 2856 (see attachment SCS2856A-1).  The MOTION PREVAILED and the AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Senator Rarick announced that S.F. 2856, as amended, would be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Higher Education bill.

S.F. 2894: Senator Tomassoni: State grant program student responsibility assignment decrease and appropriation increase.

Senator Rarick, on behalf of Senator Tomassoni, chief author of S.F. 2894, explained the bill as follows (see Fiscal Note and bill).

Testifying in support of S.F. 2894 were the following:

    1) Paul Cerkvenik, President - Minnesota Private College Council (see handouts #2 - 7)

    2) Barbara McDonald, President - The College of St. Scholastica

    3) Stephanie Young, student at Winona State University

    4) Davaris Cheeks, student at Concordia University, St. Paul

    5) Ilhan Ahmed, student at Augsburg University

Hannah Grunewald, Fiscal Analyst with Senate Counsel and Research, spoke to the Fiscal Note on S.F. 2894.

Paul Cerkvenik presented closing comments. 

Senator Rarick presented closing comments.

Senator Rarick announced that S.F. 2894, as amended, would be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Higher Education bill.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:31 p.m.

Senator David J. Tomassoni, Chair	Laura Bakk, Legislative Assistant