Sign Minnesota Assignment of Partnership Interest Easy

Document type sign assignment of partnership interest minnesota easy

IT IS THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021 MARCH 4TH, 2021 THE SENATE TAXES COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER. FROM A FORMER EDUCATION CHAIR. MEMBERS TODAY WE HAVE FOUR BILLS ON THE AGENDA AND THE FIRST BILL IS ONE WE HAD I KNOW YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT HAPPENS TO BE MY BILL SENATE FILE 1,322 YOU CAN SEE THE GAVEL HERE PASSING THIS TO SEN. MILLER HE IS GOING TO CHAIR HERE FOR THE FIRST TWO BILLS. TWO BILLS. CHAIR MILLER. THANK YOU CHAIR NELSON AND MEMBERS. THE FIRST BILL IN COMMITTEE IS SENATE FILE 1322 1,322 SEN. NELSON. THANK YOU SEN. MILLER. MEMBERS, I KNOW THIS BILL IS BEEN BEFORE THE TAX COMMITTEE BEFORE BECAUSE NOT ONLY HAVE I BROUGHT IT IN VARIOUS YEARS BUT I KNOW OTHER MEMBERS HAVE TWO TWO AND THIS HAS TO DO WITH CHARITABLE GAMING SOMETHING THAT SO IMPORTANT TO SO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES CHARITABLE GAMING EXISTS TO PROVIDE CONTRIBUTIONS AND DONATIONS TO THOSE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITIES WHETHER IT BE OUR VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS, OUR YOUTH SPORTS YOUTH HOCKEY, AND THE GIRL SCOUTS WE HAVE SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT BENEFIT FROM CHARITABLE GAMING BUT OVER THE YEARS, THERE IS BEEN ANY ROSHAN IN THEIR ABILITY TO FULFILL THEIR MISSION AND I WILL GIVE 2014 CHARITIES PAID 22% OF 2014- THEIR NET RECEIPTS THAT WOULD BE THE SALES MINUS THE PRIZES TO THE STATE FOR TAXES AND FEES AND BY 2020 THAT PERCENTAGE HAD GROWN TO 27% AND THEN IN 2017 2017 CHARITIES REACHED THE POINT WHERE THEY HAD PAID MORE IN TAXES AND FEES THAN THEY HAD AVAILABLE FOR DONATIONS TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND MISSIONS. CURRENTLY AFTER PAYING 27% TAXES AND EXPENSES FOR TOTAL OF 53% OF THE AVERAGE CHARITY HAS ONLY ABOUT 20% LEFT TO CONTRIBUTE TO MISSION AND COMMUNITY THIS EQUATES TO ONLY ABOUT $.03 PER DOLLAR WAGERED AVAILABLE FOR THE MISSION WHICH IS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS SO WITHOUT MUCH NEEDED TAX RELIEF THE CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO SEE STATE TAXES CONSUME MORE AND MORE OF THE CHARITABLE GAMING DOLLARS LIMITING ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR MISSION AND COMMUNITY AND MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE SENATE FILE 1,322 IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION SO WITH THAT MR. CHAIR I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE SENATE FILE 1322 BE LAID 1,322 BE LAID OVER FOR POSSIBLE INCLUSION AND ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THE A4 AMENDMENT MR. CHAIR. IT IS MY FIRST STOP. SEN. NELSON HAS AN AUTHOR'S AMENDMENT IT IS THE A4 AMENDMENT MEMBERS IT WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET TO THE A4 AMENDMENT SEN. NELSON. MR. CHAIR THE A4 AMENDMENT I WILL LET STAFF I THINK I'M NOT SURE IF MR. WILLMS OR MS. POLLOCK DESCRIBED THE AMENDMENT. WHO WILL HELP US ON THAT MISS POLLOCK. MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS, I THINK MR. WILLMS CAN HELP WITH A COUPLE OF ITEMS ON THIS AMENDMENT BUT GENERALLY THE FIRST PORTION OF THE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD BE LINES 1.2 THROUGH FOUR AS YOU SEE IN THE BILL THERE ARE BLANKS INSERTED THERE THE AMENDMENT FEELS IN THE NUMBER OF AMOUNTS THAT REFLECT WHAT NEEDS TO BE THE CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE TO THE BASE AMOUNT THAT IS CHANGED BECAUSE OF THE REDUCTION IN TAX REVENUE FROM THE REDUCTION IN TAX RATES FROM THE BILL. THESE NUMBERS WOULD HOLD THE STADIUM RESERVE ACCOUNT HARMLESS DUE TO THE CHANGE IN TAX REVENUE. THE NEXT SECTION OF THE AMENDMENT STARTING ONLINE 1.6 THIS MODIFIES THE CURRENT SECTION 3 SECTION 3 IN THE BILL MAYBE SEN. NELSON CAN SPEAK TO THE @RE REASONING FOR CHANGING THE STAR RATING BUT I BELIEVE THIS WAS KIND OF SEEN AS A MORE EFFECTIVE AND ACCURATE WAY TO MEASURE THE STAR RATINGS FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEN FINALLY MR. CHAIR THE AMENDMENT DELETES SECTION 4 OF THE BILL. THANK YOU MISS POLLOCK. MR. WILLMS ANYTHING TO ADD. MR. CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, IT'S A GOOD SUMMARY OF THE AMENDMENT ONE THING I WOULD ADD IS ONE OF THE KEY DIFFERENCES IN THE STAR RATING IS IT REMOVES THE CALCULATION OF TAXES PAID TO DETERMINE THE STAR RATING AND FOCUSES MORE ON THE RATIO OF LAWFUL PURPOSE EXPENDITURES TO ALLOWABLE EXPENSES WITHOUT TAXES ADDED INTO THAT CALCULATION. THANK YOU MR. WILLMS, SEN. NELSON ANYTHING TO ADD BUT FOR WE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT OR KNOW I AM READY FOR THAT. MEMBERS ANY DISCUSSION ON THE A4 AUTHOR'S AMENDMENT? SEEING NONE ON THE A4 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE, UNMUTE SHOW US A THUMBS UP OR HAND RAISED ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT, PLEASE, SAY AYE, THOSE OPPOSED, THE MOTION PREVAILS THE A4 AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. SEN. NELSON ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE OPEN IT TO TESTIFIERS. KNOW THANK YOU MR. CHAIR I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE LIST OF TESTIFIERS. I HAVE THE LIST MR. LUND WELCOME TO THE SENATE TAX COMMITTEE, PLEASE, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND PROCEED WITH YOUR TESTIMONY. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS I'M ALAN LUND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ALLIED CHARITIES IN MINNESOTA 501(C) SIX TRADE SIX TRADE ASSOCIATION THAT REPRESENTS LICENSE GAMING ORGANIZATIONS IN MINNESOTA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF TAX RELIEF PROPOSED IN SENATE FILE 1322 CHARITABLE GAMBLING 1,322 CHARITABLE GAMBLING HAS BEEN A STATEWIDE SAFETY NET FOR MORE THAN 75 YEARS THE RELIEF IN THIS BILL WILL HELP US CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR MISSION AND COMMUNITIES INTO THE FUTURE IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 TAXES TOOK 2020 TAXES TOOK AN AVERAGE OF 20% AS SEN. NELSON SAID AND THAT WAS $84 MILLION WE PAID IN TAXES AND FEES AND AFTER PAYING OUR EXPENSES TAXES AND FEES WE WERE LEFT WITH $63 MILLION $63 MILLION THERE IS A COMMON MISCONCEPTION THAT ONLY MEGA LARGE OUTLET MULTIPLE OUTLET CHARITIES PAY THE HIGH TAXES I'M A MEMBER OF THE OSSEO LIONS CLUB AND OSSEO AMERICAN LEGION BOTH ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ONLY ONE SITE AND THE LIONS ACTUALLY SHARE A SITE WITH ANOTHER CHARITY IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 THE 2020 THE LEGION PAID 33% OF THEIR NET RECEIPTS IN TAXES AND FEES OR $192,000 LEAVING US WITH $151,000 FOR VETERANS AND COMMUNITY ALLIANCE PAID 31% OF OUR NET RECEIPTS OR $160,000 LEAVING US WITH $95,000 FOR MISSION AND COMMUNITY WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE RELIEF IN THIS BILL IT WILL HELP US CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK WE DO IN OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MR. LUND MEMBERS WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE TESTIFIERS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS LISTEN TO THE TESTIMONY AND THEN OPEN IT FOR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION AFTER THAT. THE NEXT TESTIFIER ON THE LIST IS MR. HICKEY MR. HICKEY WELCOME, PLEASE, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND PROCEED. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS I AM MARK HICKEY I'M THE GAMBLING MANAGER FOR ROCHESTER YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION. OUR ORGANIZATION INCLUDES OVER 2700 YOUTH 2,700 YOUTH SKATERS PARENTS AND COACHES. THE LAWFUL PURPOSE IN OUR GAMBLING PROCEEDS IS TO BUILD HOCKEY ARENAS FOR SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA. AS AN ORGANIZATION WE CHOOSE TO DONATE 100% OF GAMBLING FUNDS TO OLMSTED COUNTY SO THEY CAN BUILD ICE ARENAS FOR ROCHESTER AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WITHOUT BURDENING THE PROPERTY TAXPAYERS GAMBLING TAX RELIEF IN THE COMBINED RECEIPTS TAX WILL ALLOW US TO PUT MORE DOLLARS TOWARDS OUR LAWFUL PURPOSE WE ARE A FIVE-STAR ORGANIZATION AND WE NEED EVERY EFFORT TO GET OUR DOLLARS TOWARDS DONATIONS GET EVERY YEAR WE PAY ALMOST TWICE AS MUCH IN TAXES AS WE ARE ABLE TO DONATE TO OUR LAWFUL PURPOSE. I WILL SAY THAT AGAIN WE ARE A FIVE-STAR ORGANIZATION THE HIGHEST RATED ORGANIZATION AND WERE RUN VERY EFFICIENTLY YET WE PAY ALMOST TWICE AS MUCH IN TAXES AS WE ARE ABLE TO DONATE TOWARDS OUR LAWFUL PURPOSE LAST YEAR WE PAID $810,000 IN GAMBLING TAX AND AFTER OTHER EXPENSES WE HAD $441,000 LEFT TO DONATE TO OLMSTED COUNTY. PART OF THE PROBLEM IS MOST OF OUR EXPENSES ARE DICTATED BY STATUTE NOT ALLOWING US THE DISCRETION TO PUT MORE TOWARDS MORE REVENUE HAS COME FROMMUCH- ELECTRONIC PULL TABS WHICH HAS BEEN A GREAT SOURCE OF REVENUE, SO IN ELECTRONIC PULL TABS 85% OF THE MONEY GOES BACK TO THE PLAYERS AND THE MONEY NEVER COMES TO OUR OFFICE OF THE $.15 ON THE DOLLAR THAT IS LEFT FOR MOST OF THE YEAR 36% GOES TO THE STATE FOR TAX AND 31% GOES TO THE E TAB MANUFACTURER AND 15% GOES TO THE BAR. THAT LEAVES US 18% TO COVER ALL OTHER EXPENSES INCLUDING OFFICE RENT UTILITIES STAFF SALARIES AND OTHER EXPENSES AND IN THE END THAT LEAVES US ABOUT THREE THREE AND HALF CENTS ON THE DOLLAR FOR OUR DONATIONS TO OUR LAWFUL PURPOSE AND YOU HEARD FROM SEN. NELSON THE AVERAGE IT IS ABOUT THREE WE ARE THREE WE ARE BEATING THE AVERAGE SO DROPPING THE TOP GAMBLING TAX RATE WHICH WE PAY MOST OF THE YEAR FROM 36 DOWN 36 DOWN TO 32 WOULD ALLOWS TO PUT THAT MONEY THE EXTRA MONEY DIRECTLY TOWARDS OUR LAWFUL PURPOSE AND FURTHER OUR MISSION TO BUILD ICE ARENAS IN THE HOME INSTEAD COUNTY PROPERTY TAXPAYERS WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO AND SUBJECT TO YOUR QUESTIONS THIS CONCLUDES MY REMARKS I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MR. HICKEY ON THE LIST IS MR. JENNER. WELCOME TO THE COMMITTEE, PLEASE, STATE YOUR NAME AND PROCEED. THANK YOU. I'M RACHEL JENNER I'M THE CEO OF DESTINATION EDUCATION A SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS ATTENDING TO AND FOR YOUR PROGRAMS FOR OVER 30 YEARS THE 30 YEARS THE SCHOLARSHIPS WE PROVIDE OFFER STUDENTS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO PAY FOR COLLEGE EDUCATION WE BEEN PLACED TO HEAR FROM ANY OF THOSE STUDENTS WHO BEEN GRATEFUL TO HAVE HAD A SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDED TO HELP THEM PAY THE RISING EDUCATION COSTS UNDER THE CURRENT TAX STRUCTURE WE ARE DANGER OF NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE PROVIDING THE SCHOLARSHIPS IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 OUR AVERAGE 2020 OUR AVERAGE TAX RATE WAS 33% SO WE ARE ABOUT 6% ABOVE THE INDUSTRY AVERAGE AND MUCH OF THAT COMES FROM OUR EGO GAMING BUSINESS IT'S BEEN A BOOST TO OUR BUSINESS BUT IT COMES AT A GREAT COST AFTER PAYING 33% IN TAXES OUR E TAB MANUFACTURER TAKES 31% FOR THE GAMES THEN WE PAY THE BUYER THE 15% THEY ARE ALLOWED BY LAW IN RENT THAT LEAVES US JUST 21% OF THE FUNDS WE DEPOSIT TO RUN OUR BUSINESS AND MAKE OUR DONATIONS. I'VE OFTEN HEARD CHARITIES NEED TO DONATE MORE FOR THEIR MISSIONS BY REDUCING EXPENSES AND WHILE I AGREE WITH THAT UNFORTUNATELY AFTER 79% IS TAKEN OUT IN TAXES RENT AND THE COST OF OUR GAMES THAT LEAVES US VERY LITTLE TO WORK WITH WE OPERATE EVERY DAY BEING MINDFUL OF EVERY COST WE HAVE BECAUSE IF WE DON'T WE WON'T HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO PROVIDE AND AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE VERY FEW BUSINESSES THAT CAN OPERATE ON THESE KINDS OF MARGINS OUR SITE IS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF ST. PAUL WHICH MEANS WE PAY A HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE FOR OUR FEW EMPLOYEES AND OFFER PAID TO SICKLY WHY WE WANT THE BEST FOR OUR EMPLOYEES WE HAVE TO STRIVE TO KEEP THOSE EXPENSES LOW AND TO MAXIMIZE OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS. I'M NOT PAID AS THE CEO I'M A VOLUNTEER AS OF THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, AND WITHOUT THIS TAX RELIEF I'M VERY CONCERNED OUR ORGANIZATION WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY ARE COST WILL CONTINUE TO RISE EACH YEAR AND WE HAVE VERY LITTLE ABILITY TO REDUCE THE MAJORITY OF THOSE COSTS TAXES ARE OUR SINGLE LARGEST EXPENSE AND A TAX REDUCTION WOULD BE SUCH A GREAT HELP TO US TO INCREASE OUR DONATIONS AND BE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR SCHOLARSHIPS THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY SEN. NELSON BEFORE WE OPEN IT FOR DISCUSSION I THINK IT MAY BE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE FISCAL STAFF GO THROUGH THE REVENUE ESTIMATE IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU. YES, MR. CHAIR I THINK WE SHOULD GO THROUGH THE REVENUE ESTIMATE AND IF NEED BE WE CAN HAVE MISS POLLOCK DO A WALK-THROUGH ON THE BILL. LET'S GO THROUGH REVENUE ESTIMATE FIRST THEN WE CAN TURN IT OVER TO MISS POLLOCK. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS THE REVENUE ESTIMATE PUBLISHED MARCH 3, MARCH 3RD, 2021 INDICATES THE ANNUAL REDUCTION OVER THE FORECAST TIME FROM THE COMBINED NET RECEIPTS TAX RANGES FROM $13.5 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR UP TO $17 MILLION IN THE LAST YEAR AND THAT IS CORRESPONDING TO THE GROWTH IN REVENUE FROM THE COMBINED NET RECEIPTS TAX. THE OTHER THING I WOULD NOTE ABOUT THE REVENUE ESTIMATE IS THERE ARE TWO CHARITABLE TWO CHARITABLE GAMBLING TAXES ONE IS A FLAT RATE AND THE OTHER THIS IS DEALING WITH IS THE GRADUATED RATE THE COMBINED NET RECEIPTS AND THAT'S THE ONE ONE THAT'S BEING AFFECTED BY THIS PROPOSAL AND IT'S WHERE THE VAST MAJORITY OF 90% OR MORE OF THE TAX IS COLLECTED EACH YEAR TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. I THINK THE AMENDMENT THAT MISS POLLOCK WALK THROUGH DESCRIBED THE CHANGES TO THE STADIUM RESERVE I THINK IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS THAT BUT I THINK THAT KIND OF SUMS UP THE JUST OF THE REVENUE ESTIMATE. THANK YOU MR. WILLMS MISS POLLOCK WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE US A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE BILL ITSELF AS AMENDED. MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS, SECTION SECTION 1 OF THE BILL IS THE PART THAT REDUCES IN THE FOUR FOUR BRACKETS OF GROSS RECEIPTS REVENUE SO IN THE FIRST BRACKET IS REDUCED FROM NINE DOWN TO 8% THE SECOND FROM 18 TO 16% THE THIRD FROM 27% TO 24% AND THE FOURTH FROM 36% DOWN TO 32%. SECTION 2 OF THE BILL IS THE SECTION THE AMENDMENT MODIFIED TO INSERT THE CORRECT NUMBERS TO REFLECT THE BASE AMOUNT IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND THEN THREE FOLLOWING FISCAL THREE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEARS THAT IS PROPORTIONATE TO THE REDUCTION IN THE TAX RATES UNDER THE SECTION LAW OF THE BILL AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO HOLD HARMLESS THE STADIUM GENERAL RESERVE ACCOUNT BALANCE. MR. CHAIR SECTION 3 SECTION 3 OF THE BILL AS AMENDED MODIFIES THE STAR RATING THRESHOLDS FOR THE CHARITABLE GAMBLING ORGANIZATIONS THESE ARE RATINGS ARE EVALUATED EVERY JULY 1ST FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF LAWFUL PURPOSE EXPENDITURES MADE COMPARED TO GROSS PROFITS AND UNDER THE AMENDMENT UNDER THE BILL AS AMENDED THE RATING WOULD BE BASED ON THE RATIO OF LAWFUL PURPOSE EXPENDITURES TO ALLOWABLE EXPENSES. AS MR. WILLMS MENTIONED EARLIER PART OF THE CALCULATION OF THIS RATIO IS MODIFIED BY TAKING OUT PAYMENTS OF VARIOUS STATE AND LOCAL AND FEDERAL TAXES AND ALSO THE FEES THE ORGANIZATIONS PAID TO CONDUCT LAWFUL GAMBLING IN MINNESOTA SO THOSE AMOUNTS ARE TAKEN OUT OF THE EQUATION. FINALLY THE THE FINAL ASPECT OF THE STAR RATING SYSTEM IS MODIFIED BY SAYING ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE GROSS RECEIPTS OF OVER $750,000 IN FISCAL YEAR BUT SPENT LESS THAN 20% OF THEIR ALLOWABLE EXPENSES ON LAWFUL PURPOSES WILL BE PUT ON PROBATION. THAT LAST ITEM MR. CHAIR IS NOT NECESSARILY A TAX ISSUE BUT IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE AMENDMENT AND THE BILL AS ANOTHER WAY OF MODIFYING THE STAR RATING SYSTEM. THANK YOU MISS POLLOCK. NOW WE WILL OPEN IT FOR COMMITTEE DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS. I AM NOT SEEING I SEE A COUPLE OF HANDS THE FIRST HAND IS SEN. KLEIN. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR THANK YOU SEN. NELSON FOR BRINGING FORWARD THE BILL I HAVE HEARD FROM ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MR. HICKEY'S AND OTHERS IN MY DISTRICT THAT ARE TRYING TO DO GOOD COMMUNITY WORK AND FEEL THIS TAX BURDEN IS EXCESSIVE SO IT'S A GOOD SUBJECT FOR OUR DISCUSSION IN THESE ORGANIZATIONS CLEARLY ARE DOING GOOD COMMUNITY WORK. PERHAPS AN UNINTENDED EFFECT OF THE BILL IS NOTED IN THE RIVER REVENUE REPORT WHICH IS THEIR APPROPRIATIONS WITHIN THE LEGISLATION FOR COMPULSIVE GAMBLING TREATMENT PROGRAMS WHICH I THINK IS GOOD WE SORT OF BALANCE THIS PROCESS WITH SOME TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WILL HAVE ADDICTION ISSUES AND THAT APPROPRIATION WOULD BE REDUCED UNDER THE BILL AS AMENDED BY ABOUT $600,000 PERHAPS NOT INTENDED EFFECT BUT ABOUT A $13 $13 MILLION A YEAR TAX DECREASE. AS THIS GOES FORWARD I UNDERSTAND MDM. CHAIR YOU WANT TO LAY THIS OVER FOR CONSIDERATION THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE COULD DISCUSS TRYING TO PROTECT GOING FORWARD THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE BILL. SEN. NELSON. I JUST WANTED TO THANK SEN. KLEIN FOR BRINGING THAT POINT FORWARD WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO FUND THE GAMBLING PROTECTION BOARD I THINK I SAID THE NAME NOT EXACTLY CORRECT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE RESOURCES TO HELP PREVENT AND STOP ADDICTIVE GAMBLING AND I WOULD NOTE THAT I THINK YOUR POINT IS RIGHT ON SEN. KLEIN AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH I GOT A NOTE LAST EVENING THAT I DID NOT REALIZE THIS UNTIL LAST NIGHT BUT THE GOV.'S BUDGET ACTUALLY REMOVES SOME OF THE FUNDING AND CLOSES ONE OF THE ONE OF THE NOT THE GAMBLING CONTROL BOARD BUT THE BOARD TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM GAMBLING SO I THINK THAT SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE SURE WE WATCH HERE IN THE SENATE AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE I WILL DO THAT AS WE GO FORWARD. SEN. CHAMBERLAIN. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND SEN. NELSON THIS IS LONG OVERDUE AS YOU KNOW IT'S BEEN STRUGGLED WITH AND FOUGHT OVER FOUR YEARS FOUR YEARS BUT JUST A QUICK QUESTION FOR MR. WILLMS AND A COMMENT. MR. WILLMS COULD YOU CONFIRM THE ANNUAL COST WAS ABOUT 14 OR $15 MILLION AT THIS POINT WITH THIS PROPOSAL. MR. CHAIR AND SEN. CHAMBERLAIN YES THAT IS CORRECT FOR FISCAL YEAR 22 IT'S $13.5 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR $2314.7 MILLION. THANK YOU SO MR. CHAIR I HAVE ONE QUICK FOLLOW-UP. THANK YOU, AGAIN THIS IS FANTASTIC IF WE HAVE ANY MONEY IN TAXES IT SHOULD GO TO THIS I WOULD RELAY ONE STORY KIND OF HAVE A NATURAL BIAS FOR THIS IN THE DISTRICT I SERVE WE HAVE THE LARGEST OPERATOR OF CHARITABLE GAMING IN THE STATE THE NUMBER NUMBER 1 REVENUE GENERATOR THAT REVENUE GENERATOR IS FOR AN ADULT DAY SERVICE TO HELP AND SUPPORTS ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES. THINK ABOUT THAT THINK ABOUT THAT THE NUMBER ONE NUMBER 1 REVENUE PRODUCER THE NUMBER 1 LARGEST CHARITABLE GAMING OPERATION IN THE STATE PAYS FOR ADULT DAY SERVICES THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT ANOTHER $500,000 OR MILLION DOLLARS WOULD HAVE ON THEM EVERY YEAR THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO FOR YEARS THERE'S NO REASON WE SHOULDN'T GET THIS DONE IT'S NOT BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE THE BUSINESS IN MY DISTRICT THE DISTRICT I SERVE THIS IS THE SAME THROUGHOUT THE STATE THERE IS NO REASON THE SHOULD BE LEFT ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR DURING THE GO SHE NATION'S IT HAS TO BE IN THE PACKAGE THANK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYONE THANKS FOR WORKING ON THIS. MEMBERS ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE TURN IT TO SEN. NELSON FOR FINAL COMMENTS I DON'T SEE ANY SEN. NELSON FINAL WORDS OF WISDOM. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR THANK YOU MEMBERS FOR HEARING THIS PROPOSAL AS YOU KNOW IT'S BEEN WORKED ON FOR MANY YEARS BY MANY LEGISLATORS BIPARTISAN WAY AND I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD PROPOSAL HERE THAT WILL ALLOW OUR CHARITABLE GAMING TO GET BACK TO THEIR MISSIONS WHICH IS WHY THEY'RE IN EXISTENCE IT WILL ALSO PROTECT THE STADIUM RESERVE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR AND IT MAY BE IN OTHER PORTIONS OF LEGISLATION WE WILL NEED TO MAKE SURE WE IN PLACE AS WELL THANK YOUING MR. CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MEMBERS SENATE FILE 1322 AS 1,322 AS AMENDED WILL BE LAID OVER FOR POSSIBLE INCLUSION. THE NEXT BILL IS SENATE FILE 1,323 SEN. NELSON. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. AGAIN THIS IS ONE OF THESE ISSUES THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR FAR TOO LONG I WOULD SAY HAS BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC. THAT HAS TO DO WITH STUDENT LOANS LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENT LOANS AND I PUT MY FAVORITE GRAPHIC UP I HOPE YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS IS PICTURE IS WORTH 1,000 WORDS THIS IS EXACTLY THIS PICTURE EXPLAINS EXACTLY WHY I AM BRINGING SENATE FILE 1,323 TO YOU TODAY. FAR TOO MANY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO START THEIR CAREERS BECOME HOMEOWNERS STILL I BELIEVE THE BEST FORM OF GAINING WEALTH IN OUR COUNTRY AND THEIR CAREERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND IT'S LIKE A BALL AND CHAIN AROUND THEIR ANKLE THAT STUDENT DEBT AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE SENATE FILE 1323 1,323 BEFORE YOU TODAY I WILL LET IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD I WILL ASK MISS POLLOCK IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE BILL THEN OBVIOUSLY ALL HAVE A FEW MORE COMMENTS AND TESTIFIERS. MISS POLLOCK. MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS, JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE CURRENT LAW AND THEN WHAT THE BILL DOES. AS WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE IN THE COMMITTEE FORGIVENESS OF INDEBTEDNESS IS GENERALLY INCLUDED IN GROSS INCOME UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS TO THAT. ONE OF THE ONE OF THE EXCEPTIONS GENERALLY IS WHEN STUDENT LOAN DEBT IS FORGIVEN STUDENT LOAN DEBT IN SOME LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES CAN BE FORGIVEN FOR EXAMPLE IF STUDENTS THE BORROWERS PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS FOR WHICH THEY WOULD HAVE TO APPLY AND BE CERTIFIED AND THEN SERVE A REQUISITE NUMBER OF YEARS IN A PARTICULAR GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR PARTICULAR PROFESSION THAT'S IN NEED OF WORKERS IN THAT AREA AND EXAMPLE WOULD BE RURAL HEALTH PROVIDERS OR RURAL DENTAL PROVIDERS. GENERALLY WHEN STUDENT LOAN DEBT IS FORGIVEN IT'S REQUIRED TO BE ADDED BACK TO TAXABLE INCOME AND THERE ARE HANDFUL OF PROGRAMS FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW THE DIFFERENT PAYMENT SCHEDULE FOR FEDERALLY HELD STUDENT LOANS THOUGH ALL THOUGH THOSE PAYMENT PLANS UNDER THOSE PAYMENT PLANS LOANS MAY BE FORGIVEN AT THE END OF THE PAYMENT TIME THE AMOUNT OF THE FORGIVENESS IS ADDED BACK TO GROSS INCOME SO WHILE SOME BORROWERS MAY BE ABLE TO EXTEND THEIR PAYMENTS OUT OVER A LONGER TIME AND PAY LESS EACH MONTH AT THE END OF THAT LONGER TIME OF COURSE INTEREST ACCRUES AND THAT GOES INTO THE AMOUNT THAT'S ADDED BACK TO TAXABLE INCOME IN THE YEAR THE LOAN IS FORGIVEN. IN 2017 MINNESOTA 2017 MINNESOTA IMPLEMENTED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SAY IF YOU HAD YOUR LOAN FORGIVEN UNDER ONE OF THESE HANDFUL OF FEDERAL PAYMENT PROGRAMS OR ONE ONE STATE TEACHER LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM THAT FORGIVENESS AMOUNT COULD BE EXCLUDED FROM YOUR MINNESOTA TAXABLE INCOME. WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS TO SAY IF YOUR LOAN IS FORGIVEN AS PART OF THE TEACHER LOAN STATE TEACHER LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM THAT REMAINS IN THE LAW OR ANY FEDERAL LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM THAT WOULD BE EXCLUDED FOR PURPOSES OF MINNESOTA TAXABLE INCOME SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY REMOVING THE SPECIFICALLY NAMED PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN CURRENT LAW AND SAYING ESSENTIALLY ANY FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM WOULD BE EXEMPT FORGIVENESS UNDER ANY STUDENT FEDERAL PROGRAM WOULD BE EXEMPT FOR PURPOSES OF CALCULATING YOUR MINNESOTA TAXABLE INCOME. THANK YOU MISS POLLOCK AND MR. WILLMS IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE AN UNKNOWN REVENUE ESTIMATE CAN YOU RUN THROUGH THAT. YES, MR. CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS THE REVENUE ESTIMATE CAME BACK AS UNKNOWN I THINK THE REASON WHY THAT HAPPENED IS STATED IN THE LAST BULLET POINT I THINK THERE'S SOME AMBIGUITY IN TERMS OF THE TERMS AND WHAT THESE PROGRAMS MIGHT LOOK LIKE AND IT'S KIND OF FORWARD-LOOKING WITHOUT A SPECIFIC PROGRAM IDENTIFIED SO THEREFORE THE BUDGET IMPACT WAS ESTIMATED AS UNKNOWN DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF THOSE FACTORS. THANK YOU MR. WILLMS SEN. NELSON ANY COMMENTS FOR WE GO TO TESTIMONY. KNOW I WILL SAVE MY COMMENTS FOR THE END. I SHOW ONE TESTIFIER ON THE LIST MISS OTTEN WELCOME TO THE COMMITTEE, PLEASE, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND PROCEED. BEFORE I BEGIN I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THANKS TO SEN. NELSON FOR INVITING ME ON SUCH A SIGNIFICANT MATTERS AND THANK OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS MR. CHAIR AND GUESTS I AM MONA OTTEN I'M 17 YEARS OLD I'M A SENIOR AT JOHN MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL YET I DO POST SECONDARY AT ROCHESTER COMMUNITY TECHNICAL COLLEGE THIS WILL BE MY SECOND AND FINAL YEAR AND I AM THE CURRENT VICE PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT I AM HERE BECAUSE OF SENATE FILE 1,323 WHICH SPECIFICALLY DRAWS UPON EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES REGARDING STUDENT LOAN DEBT WE CANNOT DENY THE FACT THERE'S A MOUNTING DEBT IS FOR STUDENTS AND STUDENTS TAKE OUT LOANS IN HOPES OF HIGHER EDUCATION BRINGING US INTO FINANCIAL STABILITY OWNED TO BE LEFT FEELING VULNERABLE STUDENT LOANS IMPACT EVERYONE I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A FEW OF THE HEARTBREAKING COMMENTARIES I RECEIVED REGARDING THE SITUATION THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE THAT I WILL DISGUISE THEIR NAMES. ASHLEY IS A 21-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT WHO ATTENDS ONE ONE OF THE MINNESOTA COLLEGES AND IS A SINGLE MOTHER OF A FIVE-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER SHE HOPES TO BECOME A NURSE STRUGGLING WITH PAYING FOR DIAPERS AND TAKING OUT A LOAN FOR HER PLACE IN COLLEGE SHE SAYS I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO CHOOSE TO GIVE MY DAUGHTER FOOD NOW OR IN MY FUTURE TELL HER NO BECAUSE OF THE DEBT I'M AFRAID OF HAVING. TYLER HAS GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE YET IS FACED WITH AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF MONEY HE HAS TO PAY BACK TOWARDS THE COLLEGE HE SAYS WHAT DO I TELL MY FAMILY I CAN AFFORD TO BUY GROCERIES BECAUSE OF THE LOANS I HAVE. TYLER'S DAD HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE II LUNG CANCER WHILE MANY DON'T COMPREHEND ON HOW THESE LOANS AFFECT THE LIVES OF CURRENT AND FORMER STUDENTS GOING FORTH THERE WAS DECISION-MAKING INVOLVED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS MANY ARE CONFUSED AND BELIEVE STUDENTS ARE FREE TO CHOOSE WHATEVER THERE'S A BILL TO BE PAID AND SOMEONE HAS TO PAY IT. WHILE WE START OUR FAMILIES AND DREAM OF GRADUATE SCHOOL WE KEEP IN MIND EVERLASTING DEBT THAT CONTINUES TO GROW FOR MANY OF US 10 - 20 TEN - 20 YEARS IN THE FUTURE AND MANY HAVEN'T STILL PAID OFF THESE LOANS AS A BLACK SOMALI AMERICAN WOMAN I FEAR FOR MYSELF ESPECIALLY DURING OUR BLACK GRADUATES 6% MORE THAN WHAT THEY BORROW COMPARED TO OTHER GRADUATES AND THE FACT THAT MANY AFRICAN-AMERICANS PAY OFF THEIR STUDENT LOANS MORE SLOWLY MANY FIRST-GENERATION AMERICANS ARE THE BREADWINNERS OF THEIR FAMILY AND TO SEE THIS DEBT TAKE THEIR PAYCHECKS AND HOLD IT OVER THEM IS HEARTBREAKING TO SEE LOWER-INCOME FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO SECURE A SPOT IN THE TOP SCHOOLS ONLY TO BE DENIED SCHOLARSHIP AND HAVE TO TAKE OUT A LOAN BECAUSE WE WANT TO BECAUSE IT'S OUR ONLY OPTION ESPECIALLY IN A TIME WHERE MANY HAVE DEFERRED THEIR ACCEPTANCE BECAUSE OF THIS ONGOING PANDEMIC AND ARE FEARFUL FOR THEIR FUTURE. SEN. NELSON IS INTRODUCING THIS BILL AND I'M BEHIND HER ALL THE WAY MY FELLOW PEERS ARE STANDING WITH HER AS WE HOPE THIS BILL WILL BE PASSED IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE FEAR MANY MINNESOTANS FACE ABOUT COLLEGE AND TO BE STEP FOR CHANGE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION MITIGATING STUDENT LOANS IS AN EFFORT WE APPRECIATED BY THIS GENERATION AND OTHERS FOLLOWING THANK YOU TO YIELD MY TIME TO THE CHAIR. THANK YOU MR. PADDEN FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. SEN. NELSON ANY FURTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE OPEN IT FOR DISCUSSION. KNOW I THINK MISS OTTEN'S COMMENTS PUT A VERY PERSONAL FACE ON THE REALITY OF WHY THIS LEGISLATION IS SO IMPORTANT. DISCUSSION SEN. DZIEDZIC. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR SEN. NELSON THANK YOU MISS AIDEN FOR TESTIFYING AND SHARING YOUR STORY I THINK YOU DID A VERY JOB AND PERSONALIZING IT AND IT'S IN FACT AFFECTING SO MANY PEOPLE WE'VE HEARD IN TAXES A FEW YEARS AGO SEN. MILLER HAD A BILL SEN. CLAUSEN HAD A BILL SHOWING HOW MUCH DEBT IS OUT THERE AND WHAT STUDENTS ACROSS MINNESOTA OLD AND IT'S CRIPPLING THEM I HEAR FROM STUDENTS ALL THE TIME WHERE IT'S IMPACTING WHAT JOBS THEY CHOOSE AND WHERE THEY LIVE AND THIS IS PRE-PANDEMIC AND THIS IS KIND OF MAKING IT WORSE SO I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD GO FORWARD IT DOESN'T RESOLVE ALL OF THEIR DEBT BUT IT HELPS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF STUDENTS A LITTLE BIT OR LOT SO THANK YOU. FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE BILL SEN. CHAMBERLAIN. TANK YOU I LIKE THE IDEA I WILL START WITH THAT. SIMILAR THINGS HAVE BEEN OFFERED IN THE PAST BUT I MUST REMIND PEOPLE THE DEDUCTION AND CREDIT WHICH IS HELPFUL TO THE STUDENTS FORGIVE ME FOR SAYING IS THAT THESE THINGS ARE ULTIMATELY THE SUBSIDY FOR THOSE INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE CHARGING SUCH EXORBITANT RATES AND FEES FOR THEIR SERVICES. I MAY STEP ON A FEW TOES BUT THAT IS THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM WE HAVE DISCUSSED MANY TIMES TAX POLICY CAN HELP HELP PEOPLE WHEN IT'S GOOD BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S NOT A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM THE PROBLEM THIS IS SIMPLY I DON'T WANT TO OPEN UP A LARGE DISCUSSION WHAT WE CAN DO TO MANAGE ALL THAT I UNDERSTAND IT I'M TRYING TO GET TO THE SIMPLE POINT I THINK THAT WOULD BE A SUBSIDY TO THOSE LARGER INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING BUT I THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA OVERALL WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE COST OF THOSE INSTITUTIONS I DON'T MEAN TO OPEN A LARGER PROBLEM CAN OF WORMS I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES OUT THERE I WANT TO KEEP IT FOCUSED ON THIS JUST MY THOUGHT THANK YOU THANK YOU TO THE TESTIFIER. OTHER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON SENATE FILE 1323 1,323 BEFORE WE TURN IT TO SEN. NELSON FOR CLOSING COMMENTS? I DON'T SEE ANY SEN. NELSON. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR THANK YOU MEMBERS MISS AIDEN AGAIN PHENOMENAL PERSONAL TESTIMONY AND TO SEN. CHAMBERLAIN'S POINT THERE ARE BROADER ISSUES HERE BY COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE MUCH BROADER THAN THE BILL BEFORE US BUT I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THIS BILL THIS INITIATIVE PROVIDES SUPPORT TO THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE THESE STUDENT LOANS SO THE COST OF THOSE HIGHER EDUCATION IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED IN MANY WAYS AND MANY COMMITTEES OVER A GREAT TIME I'M SURE BUT THIS IS ONE STEP ONE STEP ONE THING WE CAN DO TODAY THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON OUR YOUNGER GENERATION WHO ARE NOW IN HIGHER EDUCATION ARE ACTUALLY QUITE FRANKLY MANY MIDDLE-AGED MINNESOTANS ARE STILL PAYING OFF THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATIONS AND THIS IS ONE WAY ONE WAY TO EMPOWER MINNESOTANS EMPOWER THEIR FAMILIES AND I BELIEVE EDUCATION IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER BUT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT FOR THE REST F THEIR LIVES. I ASK FOR A FAVORABLE VOTE I KNOW TODAY WERE GOING TO LAY THIS OVER FOR POSSIBLE INCLUSION IN AN OMNIBUS BILL I APPRECIATE THE GOOD SUPPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE TODAY. THANK YOU SEN. NELSON BEFORE WE LAID OVER TO SEN. CHAMBERLAIN I WANT TO CONFIRM YOU GOT YOUR COMMENTS IN YOUR HAND WAS STILL RAISED I THINK YOU FORGOT TO LOWER IT. WE WILL GIVE HIM A MOMENT TO RESPOND. THAT IS CORRECT MR. CHAIR. OKAY MEMBERS WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION SENATE FILE 1323 1,323 WILL BE LAID OVER FOR POSSIBLE INCLUSION. SEN. NELSON WILL TURN THINGS BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR SENDING THAT GAVEL BACK SEN. MILLER. MEMBERS OUR THIRD ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS SEN. EICHORN'S BILL THAT IS SENATE FILE 1153 SEN. 1,153 SEN. EICHORN WELCOME TO THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU MDM. CHAIR I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY THANK YOU FOR ACCOMMODATING MY SCHEDULE TODAY SO I CAN MY HEARING IN VETERANS AS WELL WHICH WENT VERY WELL WE APPRECIATE THAT SENATE FILE 1,153 I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MICHAEL SPONSORS SEN. JASINSKI CHAMBERLAIN COLEMAN AND YOURSELF MDM. CHAIR. SENATE FILE 1,153 UNDER CURRENT LAW INDIVIDUALS MAY SUBTRACT UP TO A SPECIFIED AMOUNT OF EDUCATED RELATED EXPENSES FOR PURPOSE OF CALCULATING MINNESOTA TAXABLE INCOME THIS BILL CLARIFIES THE LANGUAGE LIMITING THE K-12 EXPENSE SUBTRACTION TO EXPENSES NOT CLAIMED IN THE CREDIT INCREASES THE SUBTRACTION TO $2,600 FOR EACH QUALIFYING CHILD IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE SIX AND $3,900 FOR EACH QUALIFYING CHILD IN GRADES SEVEN THROUGH 12 IT ADDS 12 IT ADDS TUITION TO THE ALLOWABLE EXPENSES AND INCREASES THE K-12 CREDIT AMOUNT TO $1,500 THE INCOME THRESHOLD TO $50,000 AND MODIFIES THE PHASEOUT SCHEDULE AND REQUIRES THE CREDIT BE ADJUSTED ANNUALLY FOR INFLATION. THE EDUCATION TAX CREDIT WAS ORIGINALLY PASSED IN 1997 AND THE AMOUNTS FOR THE CREDIT AND DEDUCTION HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2001 THE 2001 THE BILL INCREASES THE AMOUNTS OF THE CREDIT AND REDUCTION TO HELP FAMILIES PAY FOR ADDITIONAL EDUCATION EXPENSES THAT THEY INCURRED THIS YEAR NEEDED MORE NOW THAN EVER DUE TO THE PANDEMIC DURING THE LAST YEAR OF DISTANCE LEARNING WE KNOW THOSE STUDENTS ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING UNDER THE WORST ACHIEVEMENT GAPS IN THE COUNTRY AND THEY LOST GROUND THIS BILL HELPS ADDRESS THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP BY ALLOWING FAMILIES TO USE THE TAX CREDIT OR REDUCTION FOR TUTORS SUMMER CAMPS AND OTHER EDUCATION ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE UP FOR THESE MOUNTING DEFICITS THIS BILL ENSURES EDUCATION EQUITY MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE DEDUCTION FOR TUITION FOR YEARS BUT LOW INCOME FAMILIES CANNOT USE THE TAX CREDIT FOR TUITION MANY LOW INCOME FAMILIES WE SHOULD GIVE LOW INCOME FAMILIES THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES HAVE HAD FOR YEARS AND ALLOW PARENTS TO MAKE THE BEST CHOICES FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION I KNOW MDM. CHAIR YOU'VE HEARD OTHER BILLS SIMILAR TO THIS I BELIEVE SEN. REST HAS ONE COMING UP AFTER ME THIS GIVES YOU TOOLS IN YOUR TOOLBOX AS YOU GO TO PUT YOUR OMNIBUS BILL TOGETHER AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE THINK IS A TANGIBLE WAY WE CAN HELP FAMILIES THIS YEAR IN THIS TOUGH TIME THERE ARE SO MANY KIDS IN ALL OF US CAN HAVE A STORY FROM OUR DISTRICTS I'M SURE ABOUT THE KID WHO'S BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL IS GOING TO NEED THAT EXTRA HELP IN THIS LITTLE PIECE WILL GO A LONG WAY TO HELP THOSE FAMILIES GET THEIR KIDS CAUGHT UP WHETHER IT'S PART OF A SUMMER SCHOOL OR SOMETHING ELSE OR OTHER ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS TODAY AND HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE FOR NOW AND WOULD HANDED OVER TO THE TESTIFIERS. THANK YOU SEN. EICHORN. OUR FIRST TESTIFIER IS DON BEAVERS APPARENT FROM STILLWATER WELCOME TO THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU MDM. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING I'M DON BEAVERS I'M HERE AS A PARENT OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL ARE LIVING IN THE EAST METRO AREA I'M A FORMER PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND VARSITY COACH I STOPPED TEACHING WHEN OUR DAUGHTER ARRIVED 13 YEARS AGO 13 YEARS AGO THEN WE MOVED TO OHIO AND THEN HERE TO MI NESOTA OUR DAUGHTER HAS GONE TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL AND TO A LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL AND THE START OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN SCHOOLS WERE SHUT DOWN WE SAW A HUGE SHIFT IN OUR DAUGHTER AND HER MOTIVATION OUR DAUGHTERS AND ONLY CHILD IN AN OVERT AND SHE NEEDED SOME SOCIAL INTERACTION. WHEN WE FELT THAT SCHOOL CLOSURES WERE FOR A SHORT TIME WE ENCOURAGED HER TO HANG IN THERE AND GO OUTSIDE AND SOCIALIZE WITH FRIENDS 6 FEET SIX FEET APART OF COURSE IN THE FALL WHEN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT STARTED BACK HYBRID THE STUDENTS ACTUALLY LEARNED IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL COMPUTERS IN THE HOMEROOM CLASS WE CONTINUE TO SEE OUR DAUGHTERS MOOD ATTITUDE AND MOTIVATION DECLINE SHE STARTED SEEING A THERAPIST FOR DEPRESSION SHE ALL OF A SUDDEN HATED SCHOOL HOURS STRAIGHT A HONOR ROLL STUDENT WAS STRUGGLING BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT DOING AS WELL AS SHE DID WITH IN PERSON LEARNING AND THAT GAVE HER GREAT ANXIETY SHE COULD NOT SEE HER TEACHERS FACE-TO-FACE AND DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE ASKING QUESTIONS UNDER ZOOM MEETINGS SHE KEPT SAYING HOW DUMB SHE WAS. WHEN THE TALK OF CLOSING DOWN OUR HYBRID MODEL STARTED HER THERAPIST SUGGESTED WE CONSIDER A PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR HER AT LEAST UNTIL THE PANDEMIC WAS OVER SHE SAW ADDITIONAL ANXIETY WITH THE DISCUSSION OF MOVING TO FULL-TIME DISTANCE LEARNING AGAIN THE DAY OUR DISTRICT STARTED TO MOVE TO FULL DISTANCE LEARNING WAS THE DATE WE SWITCHED HER TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL THE DIFFERENCE FOR HER HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY SO MUCH SO NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR SHE WON'T BE RETURNING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL. I FEEL OUR DAUGHTER IS A VERY PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHY ALL CHILDREN DON'T ALWAYS DO BEST IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTING EVEN THOUGH THAT'S WHERE I TAUGHT I FEEL APPARENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THE BEST PATH FOR THEIR CHILD AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE FINANCIAL BURDENS OF A QUALITY EDUCATION THAT EVERY CHILD DESERVES. THE LEGISLATORS SUPPORT OF THIS BILL TO EXPAND THE CURRENT TAX CREDIT WILL ALLOW FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO PAY FOR NECESSARY EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES WHETHER THAT IS IN PUBLIC PRIVATE OR CHARTER SCHOOLS IF ANY YEAR HAS TAUGHT US THAT ONE SIZE DOES ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION IT IS BEEN THIS PAST YEAR MDM. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR LISTENING TO OUR STORY. THANK YOU MISS BEAVERS. OUR NEXT TESTIFIER IS OUR GOAL AT TAYLOR APPARENT FROM ST. PAUL WELCOME TO THE COMMITTEE, PLEASE, INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MDM. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE I'M BORED ALL AT TAYLOR APPARENT LIVING IN ST. PAUL A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE THREE SONS I HAVE MY OLDEST IS IN HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL MIGHT MIDDLE IS IN CHARTER SCHOOL AT THE ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE AND MY YOUNGEST I HAD TO PUT IN PRIVATE SCHOOL THIS YEAR. I WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME AND WHEN COVID STARTED LAST YEAR I HAD MY YOUNGEST IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL ONLINE I COULDN'T EXPECT MY OLDEST MY OLDER TWO TO COME IN SUPPORTED BECAUSE I DON'T WORK IN THE HOME SO I DECIDED IN THE FALL TO PUT THEM IN PRIVATE SCHOOL IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I'M TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM THE HIGHSCHOOLER THAT I WOULD BE INVESTING IN COLLEGE AND PUTTING IN HIS COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN AND I'M GIVING THIS NOW TO THE YOUNGEST SO IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE A GOOD DECISION WE DISCOVERED WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL HE IS BEHIND SO WE HAD TO WORK WITH HIM EVERY DAY TO HELP HIM CATCH UP AND IT IS HELPED AS EDUCATION QUITE A BIT SO HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS LIKE ME WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE WE HAVE TO WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME WITH VARIOUS SITUATIONS EVEN IF IT WAS IN PERSON HE ACTUALLY HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE PRIVATE SCHOOL I WOULD LIKE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME OTHER KIDS JUST THAT BEING DAY-TO-DAY INVOLVED WITH THEIR EDUCATION WHAT IS GOING ON PERHAPS THEY ARE BEHIND PERHAPS THE HAVE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES AT PRIVATE SCHOOLS SO HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY FOR THESE SERVICES WITH PRIVATE SCHOOL IS VERY IMPORTANT SO WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS EFFORT. THANK YOU MISS TAYLOR. YOUR TESTIMONY IS VERY POWERFUL AND REALLY POINTS TO THE POWER OF PARENTS AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THOSE DECISIONS. OUR FINAL TESTIFIER IS SIMON GLASER IN ENGLISH TEACHER FROM JOHN ADAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL IN ROCHESTER. THANK YOU MDM. CHAIR. MDM. CHAIR SEN. EICHORN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE I'M SIMON GLASER I'M AN ENGLISH TEACHER AT JOHN ADAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL IN ROCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS I'VE BEEN A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR FOR 28 YEARS 16 OF WHICH AS A TEACHER IN E 12 SCHOOLS I'M 12 SCHOOLS I'M HERE TO EXPRESS STRONG OPPOSITION TO SENATE FILE 1,153. COVID 19 IS SHOWN 19 IS SHOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE AT THE VERY CENTER OF THE COMMUNITY DESPITE WHAT SOME HAVE SAID OUR SCHOOLS HAVE NOT BEEN CLOSED FOR THE PAST YEAR NOT ONLY HAVE SCHOOLS BEEN OPEN WE BEEN PROVIDING MORE SERVICES THAN EVER BEFORE AT THIS TIME ABOUT A YEAR AGO ROCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS JOINED A PARTNERSHIP PROVIDING BOXES WITH 30 POUNDS OF FREE FOOD TO ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY JOHN ADAMS THE SCHOOL WHERE I TEACH HAS FOR THE PAST YEAR PROVIDED FREE CHILDCARE TO HEALTHCARE WORKERS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER FRONT-LINE WORKERS ROCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE ADAPTED FROM HYBRID TO DISTANCE-LEARNING TO IN PERSON AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO TO MEET THE ACADEMIC SOCIAL EMOTIONAL AND HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS EMPLOYEES HAVE MADE COUNTLESS HOME VISITS TO PROMOTE WELLNESS AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS DELIVERING SUPPLIES AS WELL AS MILES MY COLLEAGUES HAVE NOT BEEN ON VACATION MOST TEACHERS I KNOW SAY THEY WORKED HARDER THIS YEAR THAN AT ANY POINT IN THEIR CAREERS AND YET I BELIEVE TAX POLICY REFLECTS OUR VALUES AS A SOCIETY WE PAY FOR WHAT WE VALUE. AS I READ THROUGH SENATE FILE 1153 IT 1,153 IT STRUCK ME THERE'S A PROVISION REQUIRING THE COMMISSIONER TO INCREASE MAXIMUM AMOUNTS FOR EACH QUALIFYING CHILD COMMENSURATE WITH INFLATION THIS STRUCK ME BECAUSE IN THE LAST FUNDING CYCLE PUBLIC EDUCATION IT IS NOT VALUED AS HIGHLY AFTER AN OPENING POSITION OF 0.5% THE SENATE EVENTUALLY SUPPORTED YEARLY INCREASES OF 2% WHICH WAS BELOW THE RATE OF INFLATION TAX POLICY REFLECTS OUR VALUES AS A SOCIETY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE A PUBLIC GOOD THE SAME CANNOT BE SAID FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS PRIVATE SCHOOLS WERE NOT SUBJECT TO THE UNFUNDED MANDATE TO PROVIDE CHILD CARE FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS THEY DO NOT PROVIDE COSTLY SPECIAL EDUCATION AND LANGUAGE LEARNING SERVICES THEY WERE NOT REQUIRED TO BECOME VIEWED FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTERS THEY WERE NOT REQUIRED TO MEET THE STATE ECONOMY STANDARDS ARE RIGOROUS TEACHER LICENSURE EXPECTATIONS FUNDING VOUCHERS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS DOES NOT SERVE MINNESOTANS INSTEAD OF SHIPPING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE STATES BUDGET INTO VOUCHERS THE STATE SHOULD FIRST FOCUS ON FULLY FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION IF THIS PANDEMIC HAS SERVED ANY PURPOSE IT'S BEEN TO SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON THE INEQUITIES OF OUR CURRENT SYSTEM WE CANNOT MEET HEALTH CRISIS WITHOUT A SCHOOL NURSE IN EVERY BUILDING WE CANNOT MEET THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS WITHOUT SCHOOL COUNSELORS SOCIAL WORKERS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS WE NEED TO INVEST IN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WHICH PROVIDE THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT ARE STUDENTS NEED TO THRIVE AS PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS WE KNOW HOW TO HELP STUDENTS IN NEED WE KNOW HOW TO NARROW THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP WE KNOW HOW TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE WERE STRUGGLING WHAT WE LACK WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS LACKED IS THE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THAT KNOWLEDGE IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE TO USE TAXPAYER MONEY ON VOUCHERS AND EDUCATION STRATEGY WITH NO DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES NO PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY THE PRIORITY OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE TO FULLY FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS OUR CONSTITUTION DEMANDS IT I URGE THE COMMITTEE TO OPPOSE THIS BILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. GLASER FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. JUST TO LET THE RECORD REFLECT THE EDUCATION BILL ACTUALLY SURPASSED THE COST OF INFLATION IN THE LAST SESSION AND GOV. WALZ SIGNED THE BILL AS WELL SAYING IT WAS A TERRIFIC EDUCATION BILL SO CLEARLY OVER $20 BILLION WAS FUNDED SURPASSING THE COST OF INFLATION. SEN. EICHORN, I DON'T READ THIS BILL IS A VULTURE BILL IS THIS BILL ABOUT VOUCHERS SEN. EICHORN. MDM. CHAIR THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION IT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH WHEN WE'VE HEARD THIS AND YOU'VE HEARD THIS AS WELL WHEN YOU WERE CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE IT SEEMS EVERY TIME THERE IS A BILL THAT EDUCATION MINNESOTA DOESN'T LIKE IT'S VOUCHERS AND THAT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE THIS IS NOT ABOUT VULTURES AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE CREDITS I DON'T KNOW WHAT FAMILY IS GOING TO PAY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR $1,500 A YEAR OR $3,600 CREDIT ON THEIR TAXES IT'S NOT GOING TO PAY FOR A PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATION THIS ISN'T MEANT TO NOR WILL IT TAKE AWAY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT THIS WILL PROVIDE THOSE ADDITIONAL ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WHO BEEN HARMED BY COVID AND ARE DEALING WITH THIS HORRIBLE ACHIEVEMENT GAP THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO GET THOSE EXTRA ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM STILL WILL BE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THIS ISN'T GOING TO TRANSITION PEOPLE TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN ANY WAY IF THERE'S NOT AN ENOUGH MONEY FOR THAT TO EVEN BE THE CASE BUT THIS WILL HELP OUR STUDENTS GET THAT EXTRA LEARNING THEY NEED TO HELP THEM GET CAUGHT UP KNOW TO ANSWER THE QUESTION DIRECTLY THIS IS NOT ABOUT VULTURES AND IT IS NOT VOUCHERS NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS. THANK YOU SEN. EICHORN. MR. GLASER, REGARDING YOUR TESTIMONY I WANTED TO NOTE ARE YOU TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF YOURSELF OR YOU TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF OF EDUCATION MINNESOTA? AND ALSO MR. GLASER, ARE YOU OPPOSED TO THE BILL WHICH ACTUALLY ALLOWS A TAX CREDIT FOR PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN IN MANY CASES AUGMENTING WORKING WITH THEIR PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT EDUCATING THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME AS WELL AND FRANKLY ARE GOING TO NEED A LOT OF THIS A LOT OF LEARNING LOSS THAT EVERYONE IS QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT. ARE YOU OPPOSED TO INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF THE EDUCATION TAX CREDIT IT HASN'T BEEN INCREASED FOR YEARS PERHAPS DECADES. ARE YOU OPPOSED TO INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF THE CURRENT MR. GLASER. THANK YOU SEN. NELSON. TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION I'M HERE BOTH AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND A MEMBER OF THE ROCHESTER EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AND FOR FULL DISCLOSURE I SIT BODY. I CAN'T SPEAK AS ANTHAT- EXPERT ON TAX POLICY 'M HERE BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ANY BILL OR PROPOSAL THAT MOVES OUR PUBLIC PRIORITY ON EDUCATION AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TOWARDS FINDING WAYS TO CHANNEL THAT MONEY INTO PRIVATE EDUCATION I BELIEVE IS AGAINST THE PUBLIC GOOD AND I BELIEVE OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE ELSEWHERE IT'S NOT ABOUT HARMING PARTICULAR STUDENTS MANY OF WHICH I'M SURE HELPED BY THE PROVISION I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BY PLACING ALL OF OUR TRUST IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WE WOULD RESULT IN STUDENTS LIKE THIS AIDEN WHO HAS A BROTHER AT MY SCHOOL AND IS A PRODUCT OF ROCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I'M NOT SURE REMOVING RESOURCES FROM THE SCHOOLS TO HER PUBLIC CREDIT I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN HER MOUTH I DON'T PRESUME HOW SHE FEELS ABOUT THIS BILL I'M NOT HERE IS AN EXPERT ON TAX POLICY ONLY AS INEXPERT AS I BELIEVE IN EDUCATION WHO I BELIEVE THIS IS A FIRST STEP TOWARDS CHANGING THE PRIORITIES OF THE STATE AWAY FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THAT'S THE ITEM I OPPOSE. THANK YOU MR. GLASER. I CAN SPEAK AS CHAIR OF THE TAX COMMITTEE AND A FORMER CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR STATE 90% OF OUR KIDS ARE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WE BETTER HAVE GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR EVERY KID IN EVERY DISTRICT OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT. I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT A PUBLIC SCHOOLS I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL SEN. EICHORN IF WE HAD OUR FISCAL STAFF PERHAPS SHED SOME LIGHT ON EXACTLY WHAT SENATE FILE 1153 1,153 DOES REGARDING TAX CREDITS WHAT THEY CURRENTLY ARE AND WHAT YOUR BILL PROPOSES SO I WOULD LIKE I SEE YOUR HAND IS RAISED SEN. EICHORN I WILL TAKE THAT AS THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER FOR MORE IN-DEPTH FISCAL STUDY OF WHAT THE INTERACTION IS IN THIS BILL SEN. EICHORN. THANK YOU MANAGER IT WAS KIND OF A QUESTION FOR YOU AND MAYBE YOU MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS AS THE FORMER EDUCATION CHAIR MAYBE SEN. CHAMBERLAIN CAN ALSO PART OF THIS. THERE SEEMS TO BE THE NARRATIVE WERE TAKING AWAY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO DO THIS I ASSUME THAT'S NOT YOUR INTENT I DON'T THINK THAT'S SEN. CHAMBERLAIN'S INTENT IT'S NOT MY INTENT IF WE PASS THIS BILL AS IT STANDS TODAY AND INCLUDED IN YOUR OMNIBUS BILL DOES THIS IN ANYWAY TAKE AWAY FROM OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS LISTEN ANYWAY TAKE AWAY FROM SEN. CHAMBERLAIN'S BUDGET FOR K-12? IT DOESN'T SAY THAT IN THE BILL THERE'S NO INTENTION OF THAT IF YOU WOULD ASK ME IT DOES NOT TAKE AWAY IT JUST ADDS TO THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE. THANK YOU SEN. EICHORN. TO SAY THIS BILL WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM EDUCATION WOULD BE TO SAY AND EXPENSE IN THE STATE BUDGET WOULD BE TAKING AWAY FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION SO THAT IS IS NOT ACCURATE. LET'S GET DOWN TO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF WHAT WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH THIS TAX CREDIT AND MR. WILLMS COULD YOU EXPLAIN PRECISELY THE MOVING PIECES IN SENATE FILE 1153. 1,153. THANK YOU MDM. CHAIR. AS YOU NOTED THERE ARE QUITE A FEW MOVING PIECES IN THE BILL I WILL START BY SAYING THE CURRENT CREDIT AND SUBTRACTION THE EXPENDITURE FOR BOTH IS APPROXIMATELY $25 MILLION $25 MILLION ANNUALLY IT'S ABOUT $16.5 MILLION FOR THE SUBTRACTION AND THEN $9 MILLION $9 MILLION FOR THE CREDITS THE SUBTRACTION IS USED BY MORE FILERS AND IS BROADER AND THEN THE CREDIT SO THE CREDIT IS USED BY FEWER FILERS THE CREDIT IS REFUNDABLE AND ALLOWED EQUAL TO 75% OF ELIGIBLE EDUCATION EXPENSES FOR QUALIFYING CHILDREN K-12 AND THE HOUSEHOLD SIZE ADJUSTMENT BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SO FAMILIES WITH TWO CHILDREN RECEIVE MORE OF A CREDIT MAXIMUM THAN FAMILIES WITH ONE CHILD AND SO ON AND WHAT THE BILL DOES IS IN SEVERAL PARTS IT INCREASES THE CREDIT AMOUNT BY $500 OR 50% FROM $1000-$1500 IT ALSO SOFTENS THE SLOPE OF THE PHASE OUT RIGHT NOW UNDER CURRENT LAW THE PHASEOUT RANGE FOR THE MAXIMUM CREDIT IS INCREASED BY $2,000 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL CHILD THIS BILL WOULD BRING THAT TO $4,500 SO A LONGER PHASEOUT RANGE IT ALSO AS NOTED ALLOWS THE CREDIT FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION WHICH CURRENTLY THOSE EXPENSES QUALIFY FOR THE SUBTRACTION BUT NOT THE CREDIT AND THEN THE CHANGES TO THE SUBTRACTION IS THAT IT INCREASES THE MAXIMUM SUBTRACTION BY ABOUT 60% IN THE FIRST YEAR AND THEN 36% OR $1,400 IN THE SECOND TIER ON THE REVENUE ESTIMATE THE TOTAL IMPACT IS IN ADDITIONAL APPROXIMATELY $23 MILLION PER YEAR IN GENERAL FUND EFFECT TO THE STATE SO THAT'S ROUGHLY THE SAME SCOPE AND SIZE OF WHAT'S CURRENTLY IN LAW SO IT EFFECTIVELY DOUBLE THE EXPENDITURE THAT'S EXISTING. LASTLY THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES FOR INFLATION SO OVER TIME WHEN THE CREDIT WAS ENACTED ORIGINALLY OVER TIME THE INFLATION IS KIND OF ERODED THE NEWER FILERS AND THE AMOUNTS PEOPLE HAVE QUALIFIED FOR SO THIS WOULD SORT OF STOP THAT AND INFLATE THE CREDIT SUBTRACTION ANNUALLY. MR. WILLMS I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE K-12 SUBTRACTION AND K-12 CREDIT HAS NOT BEEN INDEXED FOR INFLATION IN OTHER WORDS WHEN IS THE LAST TIME WE INCREASED THIS CREDIT OR SUBTRACTION. MDM. CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS THE DEDUCTION WAS FIRST ENACTED IN 1955 BUT THEN IN 1997 THE DEDUCTION WAS EXPANDED FOR TAX YEAR 18 AND THAT'S ALSO THE SAME TIME AS THE CREDIT WAS ESTABLISHED IN THOSE WERE LAST MODIFIED AROUND 2000 I WOULD 2000 I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THE EXACT DATE OF THOSE BUT THERE WERE SOME BUDGET SAVING MODIFICATIONS IN THERE BUT REALLY LAST SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE AROUND 2001. 2001. THANK YOU MR. WILLMS. ACTUALLY WE ARE SEEING IT HAS BEEN 20 YEARS MAYBE TWO DECADES TWO DECADES UNTIL WE HAVE TOUCHED REALLY UPDATING THE CREDIT OR THE DEDUCTIONS. THEN TO CLARIFY TO MAKE SURE OUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY IS CLEAR HERE, THESE CREDITS THE 1153 1,153 CURRENTLY CURRENT K-12 SUBTRACTION AND CREDIT IN THE 1,153 IS PROPOSED ARE NOT THESE I WOULD ASSUME THESE CREDITS ARE ELIGIBLE TO ALL STUDENTS THAT WOULD BE 90% OF MINNESOTA STUDENTS WHO ARE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ALSO ELIGIBLE TO THOSE STUDENTS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT AND MAYBE THAT IS SOMETHING MR. WILLMS OR MS. POLLOCK CAN CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD THAT THESE I BELIEVE ARE NOT JUST EXPENSES OR CREDITS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS I BELIEVE THERE ELIGIBLE FOR ALL MINNESOTA FAMILIES WHO HAVE SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE EXPENSES. MDM. CHAIR AND MEMBERS THAT'S CORRECT. THE SUBTRACTION AND CREDIT ARE FOR EXPANDERS EXPENSES PAID FOR QUALIFYING ITEMS TEXTBOOKS INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, TUTORING MUSIC LESSONS, TRANSPORTATION THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THOSE WOUL APPLY REGARDLESS OF WHERE A STUDENOROR QUALIFYING CHILD WAS IN SCHOOL. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WHICH IS ADDRESSED IN THE BI IS THE SUBTRACTION FOR K-12 EXPENSES IS ALLOWED TO BE TAKEN FOR TUITION PAYMENTS THE CREDIT IS NOT IN THIS BILL THE TUIONON WOULD BE AN ELIGIBLE EXPENSE FOR E E CREDIT. THANK YOU MISS POLLOCK. THAT A AN EXPANSION IN ELIGIBILITY FOR THAT PARTICULAUSUSE THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL GO TO SOME FURTH Q QUESTIONS I THINK THE FIRST PERSON I SAW IT WA SEN. KLEIN. TANK YOU MANAGER IONON'T WANT TO DATE MYSELF R REMEMBER WHEN WE DO THIS WHEN ARNIE CARLSON WAS GOV. AND THERE IS A LETTER RCRCULATING FROM N NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT A O OPPOSED TO SEN. EICHORN'S BILL I DON'T EXPECT ANYONE THAT'S ONE OF THE ONE OF THE TESTIFIERS TO ANSWE TH B BUT IT WOULD BE TETERESTING TO KNOW IF WE TOO THE WORD TUITION OUT OF SEN. EICHORN'BIBILL AND WE JU INCREASED THE CREDIT I'D BE INTERESTED TO KNOW HOW TSESE OUOUPS THAT ARE POPOSED TO THE BILL MHTHT RESPOND. SOMEONE IS CERTAIY Y WATCHING THIFRFROM ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONSFF MEMEONE COULD SEND US A LETTER OF HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE BUT T IF THE WORD ITITION WAS TAKEN OUT I CAN TELLOUOU MDM. CHAIR I THINK THEY SHOULD PPPPORT IT HE REALITY IS THIS IS A WAYO O GET MORE MON I INTO K-12 WITHOUT SEN. CHAMBERLAIN HAHAVING TO ARGUE FOR TATARGET O COMMITTEE CHAIRS SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO T T MORE MONEY INTO THEIR BUDGET AND ISIS WOULD PUT AEXEXTRA $23 $23 LLLLION A YEAR INTTHTHE HANDS OF PARENTS FOR K-1 EDUCATIO I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO THINKBOBOUT THAT RATH T THAN THE OLD TRADITIONAL EVERY DOLLAR H T TO FALL ON THK-K-12 FORMULA MAYBE THERE'S OTHE WA T TO GET SOME MONEY INTO THE K- S SYSTEM. THERS S A LITTLE CREATIVITY THERE BUT SOMEONE CAN SEND US E EMAIL OR LETTER SAYING IF WE TOOK THE WORD TUTUITION OUT HOWIWITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS RESPONTHTHANK YOU MDM. CHAIR I REMEMBER WE TRIED THAT ASOSOME TIME BUT WE WEREN'T SUCCESULUL WITH THAT I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN SEN. EICHORN'S DRAFT NOT THE QUICK LOOK I HADETET ME SUGGEST N.N. EICHORN MIGHT NOT BE THE WSTST EAEA TO ADD THE SUMMER SCHOOL INTO THIS PROGRAM NOT ALL PARENTS IF SUERER SCHOOL IS INING BE AWKWARDHIHIS IS GOING TOEE OFFERED IN BIBIG WAY AND WE HAVE A LOT OFNENE TE E MONEY ONE TIME MEYEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT CLEAR K KIDS HAVE GOTNN SIGNIFICANTLBEBEHIND OVER TH LA Y YEA AND WERE GOING HA T TO SPEND SOME MONEY TO DO IT WCACAN TO HELP TH C CATCH UP BUT TTTONONEYARARS PROBABLY I GOING TO TOUCHVEVERY STUDENT I EVY Y BUILDING SO MAKING SURE EVERY KID IN THE STATE HAS AN OPPORTITITY TO DO SUMM S SCHOOL SOMEHOTHTHIS TAX CREDIHEHELPS WITH THAT I THINK THAT'S PROBLYLY WTHTH HAVINAA CONVERTITION ABOUT T THAT'S IT MDM. CHR R THANK YOU. THANKOUOU S. . BAKK. CARARLY WE DO NEED TO HAVE TTT ARARIFATATION I N NOTEEEE ANY OF THOSE OPPOSITION LETTS S BUT CLEARLY THE MAJITITY OF THE BIBILL ADDRESS ALL STUDENT THANK U U FOTHTHAT WE LLLL LKK R R THAT CLARIFICATION. I THINK E E NEXT HANI I SAW WAS SEN. KLN.N. THANK YOU MD CHAIR AND THTHANK YOU SEN. ICICHORN I I LE YOUR CHOICE AND SHIRT AND TIE TODAY. N.N. BAKK YOUR QUESONON ABOUT WT T IF WE ELIMINATED THE WORD TUITION FROMHEHE BL L I THINWIWILL GET A CHANCE TO DISCUSS THAT WIT THNENEXT BILL SSESEN. NELSON IS KINDLY PUT ON T A AGENDA WHICH IS AIMIMILAR SORT OF DADATE IN THE CREDIT FOR 1212 PEPENSES WITHOUT THAT ONE ONE PARTICUL P PROVISION BUT DOHEHE QUESTIOFOFOR MR. WILLMS. WN N YOU GERARATETHTHE REVENUE NOTE OTHTHISO O YOU KNOW THE OUOUNT OF COST TT T WA GERARATED INHEHE BL L BY THAT PROVIOION RUN PRIVATTUTUITION THE CREDITFOFOR PRIVATTUTUITION WHAT WERE YOESESTIMATING THA THE E WOULD CO T THE STATE IN TAXE MD CHAIR AND SEN. LELEIN, THE REVENUE ESTIMATE FRO DEPARTMENT OREREVENUE INDICATES TH L LINE IT O ON E E K-12 EDUCATION CRITIT IT SHOWTHTH REREDUCTION FOR THAT PORTION THT PROVISION ASPPPPROXIMATELY $ $1$1MIMILLION ANALALLY SO OUOUT HALF OF THPRPROPOSAL IRERETETED TO THAT SPIFIFIC PROVISION A A FOLLOWP P MD CHAIR, I WOULTHTHEN ASK A QUI Q QUESTION OF SEN. ICICHORN I UERERSTAND YOU DOT T WA T TO CALLHEHESE VOVOUCRSRS BECAUSE THAGEGENERATS A DETETE THAT'S BEENUNUNNING AROUNDHEHE LEGISLATUREOROR MANY YEARS BUT 'S'S $10 MILONONNN TAX RELIEF F P PRIVATE SCHOO TUTUIOION W WHAT DO Y W WANT TO INTENTION WI P PUTTING THAT TH P PARTICULAR BI I IF NOT TO GERARATE INTEREST D D TRANSFER FR P PUBLIC TO PRITETE STSTITUTIONS. SEN. EICHORN. THE INTERESDMDM. CHAIR THE ININTEREST IN TH I IS CREATING ADTITIALAL EDUCATI OPRTRTUNITIES FOR UDUDENTS AGAIN THE'E'S GOING TO B SUERER SOOOOL IN AIGIG W A AS SESEN. BAKKENENONONED THE STATE EAY Y GOING TOAYAYOROR SOME THAT B T THERE'S GOINGO O BE GAGAPS GOINGORORWA T THERE'S GOINTOTO BGAGAPS I C F FOREEEE ISIS BEING AOPOPRTRTUNITY OBOUOUSLY INTO THEUTUTURE THIS ISN'SOSOTHTHING THAT G GOI T TO TAKE KIDOUOUT OF THE PUBCC SCOLOL IT'S NOT CRTITING A VOUCHER SYST W WE CAN CA I I WHWHEVEVER WE WA B BUT THERE'S N VOHEHER SYSTEM CREEDED IN THE BILL BUT IO O THE FUTUREHEHERE AREN'T AOTOT ALWAYS S SMEMER HOHOOL OPPTUTUNIESES WITHITHTHE PUPUBL S SCHOOL SYEMEM THE A ARE ENRICHNTNT A O OTHER EDUTITI OPOPRTRTUNITY SOTITIMES OUT OF THSCSCOLOL SYSTEM ATATOEOESN'T SASAY THE BLBLICCHCHOOL SYEMEM N'N'T I IT BUTT'T'S AN ADDITIONAL WAYO O HELP KIDS GE AHD D AND THAT'S T R REAL GOAL OF TS.S. THK K YOSESEN. EIORORN. I LILIER.R. WILLMS Y YR R HAND RAISED F F FURTHER CLARIFICATNN. HAHANK YOU M. . CIRIR ONE ONOTOTHETHTHING I FOOTOTO O ADD ISN N THE REVEEE E ESTIMATE IT ENENTIFIES WNN MORFIFILERS TAKE THERERET T THERE WI B BE SASAVINGS TO THEUBUBTRACTION SO PORTION O OF THE EDEDITOROR TUITN N SMSMALL PORTNN THE OUOUNT IS SHIFTEININTO THE CREDIT SO O EIEIR SAVINGONON THE SUBTRACTION 'S'S ROUGHLY1010 0 0 LLLLION BUT VEVER R TAKE BASED ONHAHAT SHIFT OF 50500000 S SO I WANT T TO CLARIFY TH FOTHTHE RECORD. MR. WILS S JUST TO BE CARAR ERERE IS CURNTNT A CRET T RR ITITN O OR SUBTRAIOIO WHICH ONONE IS IT. ONE IS I CURRENTLTHTHE TUITION IS ALLOD D UNDER THSUSURARACTION AND ISOTOT QUALIFY FORHEHE EDEDIT. T TNKNK YOU. NT T SESEE SEN. IEIEICIC. T THANK YOUDMDM CHAHAIR. I WOULALALSO LIKE TO EOUOURAGE SESEN. EICHORN L LOOK AT SUMME SCOLOL AS SEN.BABA S SAID I THINK REREOIOING TO HA A A LOT OF STUNTNTTHTHAT EITHENENE THTH C CATCH UP F FOR THE SOCIA EMIOIONAL GROWTH WT TOTO MEET WITH THEIRRIRIENDS SO AS WGOGO PEPEFULLY THPAPAEMEMIC SLOWS DOWNO O WE CAN GININERERSON AND CHR R NELSON YOU'RAWAWARE THERE'S MMMM A ACADEMIC ENRIMEMENT PROGRAMS ICICH ARE LITTLE DIFRENTNT I DON'T KNO IFHEHEY QUALY FOFOTHTHE CRED SO TSESERERE SCHOOLS T THAT UALLLLCOCOMES THUGH H FIFICE OF HIGHERDUDUCATION B T TY Y ARE PAPAICICULAR PROAMAMTHTHAT THERE IS A A PROCESS THEGOGO THROU T O GET QUIFIEIED IN THE QLIFYFY R R THAT PGRGRAMNDND THEY' PRTY R ROROROUS COURWOWO S SO THTHAT MHTHTE E SOMETHINTHTH ALAL IS I INTERESTI T TSOSOME STSTUDENTS TT T YBYBE WE WANTOTO NSNSIDER ADDING RERE I WOULD HAVE TO OK A AT IT ME E BUI'I'M SUSUGGESTI ITT A W WLILING TO WOWO W WITH YOU T TT T SOMETHIN TH W WE WANT TO COIDERER. T THANK YOU SEN D DZIEDZIC. THERE G GATAT LEARNINLOLO AMAMONGST OUSTSTENENTS AND ERE'E'S GOING TOE ININTENSIVE SUMM S SOOOOL I'M AL G GD D TO KNKNOW THE FERER G GOVERNMEN IS WE A AWARE OTHTHISNDND ANANTIPAPATING AUT 1 18 BILLIO 1,288,0,0,0,0,000 SENTUTUTOROR R R PUBLIC SOOOOLSCRCROSS THE NANATION IT OKOKLIKEKE PERHA AN ADADTITIONAL $2 LLLLN N THAT'S A ROUGTOTOININNESOTA N ND THEY HAVE STT OVER $1 BILLN $1ILILLION ALRDYDYUTUT WERE GOING N NDD T THOSE FEDEDERAL LLARARTHTHEY HAVTHE E VEVERS THTHE STATE M MNENESOTAE E VEVE BALALANCE O B BGET T AND THAT'SOUOUGHT'T'S GOOD'M G GLAD WE HAVE TH REQEQUIREMENT BUTTT KEKES FOR TOH H CICISIONS TH FE O OTHTHE OTHER NDNDHEHEY CAN KIND OSENDND OUT THAT NEY Y AND THEY D'T'TAVAVE TH B BANANDD BUDGET RUIUIMENTNTS SO WARAR GOGOG TOTO BE LOINING O OUR FEFEDERAL RTNENE B BUT WE OULDLD D DNGNG WHAWEWEANAN IN MIMINNESOTASASELLL A AND MY INNT DADAISIS TO ARAREN. . REST' BI A AWELLLL TAKENLLLLHE COCOENENTS THEOMMIMIEEEE HAS BN ENOMOMALAL WITH THEHESE COMMENT AND SHSHIONING SETETNGNG THAT'S THTHHAHAT S S. . EICHORNOUOU HAVE ANY CSINGNG COMMENTS M T SESEEING ANYURURERER COMMES FRFROM MEMBERS S. . EICHON CLCLINING COMMTS.. W WLDLD JUSADADONONE ONE E ADDITIALALIECECE ON TH TUIOION RTRT. ON AT A A O ON THTHAT FRO WE E LKLKED ABOUT MMMM S SCHOOL A TTTT I T THINK WERE GNGNGO O SEE SUMM S SOOOOL IN A BIG W THIHIS SUMMER B ATATBOBOUT THE SMEME I IN THE FUTUREHERERE NEEDS TO ONING G OPPORTUNITS FOFOR THAT FIVE YRSRSN N THE FUTU O O1010 N N YEARS INHEHEUTUTURE WHATEVERT MAMAYBE THAT'SHY IS I IS IMPOANANTO K KEEP GOG ING G S SEE SUMR SCSCOLOL IN A BIWAWATHTH Y YEAR T T TH OSE E ONGOINOPOPRTUNUNITIES EE PORTRTT T IN ON E TUTUIOION A ACADEMICRORO T THE COURS W WLL HAHAVE TO BE ADEMIMIC IN NATUR THLEFTFT INCLUDEOUOUESES LIKE READINMAMASCSCIENCE HIOROR FIFI A ARTS, DOENOT T INCLUDE SPORTSTS ATHLETIACACVIVITIES DOE NOININUDUDE RELIGISS STSTCTCTION IN TSE C COURSES WILL HAVTO B BE TAUGHT B ALALIEIED INSTRUORORNONOT THE CHILD'SISIINING PARENTRR ANDPARARENT STSTNOTHTHER ADADDITION C CRIFIFICATIONN AT A AWEWELL FOREMBEBE A AGAIN THE WAWE S S T THIS AS A OPOPRTUNUNITY TOELELKIDSDS AND FAMILI D DECTLTLY AND E TITI OFOFHIHIS PANDIC T TS S IS NEED NONOMOMO T THAN ERER WANT T TO THANK U U HEAEARD SOMGRGRT TEIFIERS F FOR THEEED D RR ISIS BILL R FIFIT T TWO TWO STSTIERS W WILL ENENENALAL ON H HELPINGUIUI THEHE CASE R AT T THANK YOU MAGERER FOR THE OPPOUNITY Y TO HAVE EE SCSCSISION TODAYNDNDOROR HAVING A BRD D SCSCUSSION AUND THTHIS BECAUSE IT A W WAY WE CAN DICTLY H HELP FAMIESESN N A TATANGIBLEAY T TNKNK YOU TNKNKOU SENEN. EHOHO. T THE BIBILL SENE E LE 1 1153 WL BEBE 15153 WI B BLALA O OVER RR SSSSLE I INCLUSI. . EMBEBERS OUR LASTILL TOTODAY VY SIMILAR SUECT T SENATE FE 1,1 ISISENEN. RESS BIBI S SHE COULD T T H HERE TODASOSOENEN. K KLEIN WILBEBERERESENTING N. REST'S'S BILL SE KLKLEIN. THANK Y MDM. . CHAIR MOVE SESETETE FILE 251 1 B BE BERE E COMMMMTETEE. T TS S IS VERY SISIMILAR ASOU S SAY ADDRESSG THE SASAME ISSUEAS THEHE PREVIOU BI W WHEHEARD. SENEN RT ANANKS A CO-AUAUTHORS INUDUDG A AND SEN. ICICRNRN AND SEN MUHY ANDND SEN. DEDZIZIC. AS YOU MENTNEDD THEHE MINNESOTA CRIT FOROR K-12 EXNSES H HAS BEBEEN OUTDAD D ENEN BEFORE VIVI HAHABEBEEN UPDAT FOR 2 20 YEARS 20 YRS I IN THE COCO AMOMOUNTS AND CRIT A AUNUNTS DO T FLECECCUCURRENECONOMOMSS OBVIVIOUSLMUMU WORSESE ANDITIT THTHFACTCT PEOPL B BNGNG EDUCATE ININ NEW ENVONMENTNTS THROUGTHEE PANDNDEMIC TOUGH THIHIS LAST YEAR AS S E E COMMITE ISIS HEARAR THEHE QUALIFYG EXPEPENSES CURRENTLININUDUDE TUTORI F FSS XTXTBOOKS, SUCTURARALATERERIALS PEONAL COMOMPUTER RDWAWA A AND SOFTWA AND T TRANSPORTION EXEXNSNSES WHAT SETE FILILE 1251 1,1,251 DO IS INCRCREASE THEHE CRIT A ALLOWED F COMPUPUTER HARDWARENDNDOFOFTWARE EXNSNS TOTO $300 CLCLES M MONTHLY INTEET SERVIVICE CHAES T TO BE INCLUDEDN THOSOSE EXPENS FOR THTHCRCREDIT. IALALRSRSHEHE INCOME TESHOLDLD THERERETT STAR T TPHASE E OUT AT $4$400000 AND S SORRY IT JUST T THE CREDI ANNUAL F F I INFLATI. T CREDEDIT AMOTSTS ARERE DIFFERE OM T T P PREVIOUBILLLLE E HEAR INUGUGT THATAT IS T T SO THEHE PRPROVISIOFOR PRIVIVATE SCOL STRUCTIOIONND WITITH TH I I OPOP FOROR TESTINY OR R QUESTION MD CHCHAIR THANK U. THANANK YOU SE KLEIEIN. W W HA H H A GREREAT DCUCUION N I DODON'T SEANY TETESTIFIERSND MBMBERS E THERERANANY QUTIONS OR COMMEMENTS? I A AM NOT EINGNG ANYY I IO O THANYOU SEN. KLEI FOPRPRENTITING SEN R RT'T'S BIBILL MEMBE THIS S WAS A VE GO DISISCUSSION DAYNDND THINK THKEY TATAKEAWAYS E ERE E IS BIPARSAN SUSUPPORT THTH W WE KN TT NUMBERER ONE NUER 1 P POST PANDIC AS S WE COCOME OUT OTHTH P PANDEMIC OUR ILILDRENRE STRTRGLGLING THEIRIR EDEDUCATION THTHGHGH THERE'SEEEE MIGHTYTY EFFORTSY PARERENTS AND TEACRSND OUR S SCHOOL ADERER IT W VERY Y DIFFICULTITI F FOR STSTUDENTS SWHILE E THERE'S ALWA BEEN N A NEED F SUMMEMER LEARNI FOR ADDDDITIONA TURING F FOR ADDITNAL EDUCATIOWEWENONOW THAT'SEEEE COMPOUOUNDED T THROU T THE COV NDEMIC A AND THEELATED S SCHOO CLURES. . WE WIWILL LAY SATE LE 1,25151 OVER LOOK FORORWARD C CTINUNUING THDISCUSSISION AND THTHHAHAT MEMBER OURUR NEXT MEETING T TSDSDAY, MARC9T9T AND WIWITH THAT IS MEEEETING IS ADJONED.