SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota House Education Finance Committee held a remote hearing to discuss COVID-19 related legislation. After the House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee met over the telephone last week, today’s hearing was the second official meeting to be conducted over video conference in the history of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
“Minnesotans expect all their elected officials to step up to the challenge that Minnesota families are facing today as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” remarked Rep. Jim Davnie, Chair of the House Education Finance Committee. “Our goal with this legislation is to support schools, staff, students and families by directing a stable and predictable a path amid what will be and feel like a challenging situation. We’re looking forward, anticipating challenges, and planning for them. I’m pleased to have bipartisan involvement in our work in the Minnesota House.”
The committee discussed a proposed COVID-19 response bill for hourly school workers. A summary of the legislation is available here. Among other things, the legislation provides for compensation for hourly school employees and allows entities that contract with schools to provide services to be reimbursed for paying their employees, for changes in school employment practices related to COVID-19 related school closures and the conversion to distance learning programs. Continue reading “Minnesota House Education Finance Committee holds official remote hearing”