CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB 2137

June 22, 2001 Hearing Room B

11:00 AM Tapes 1 – 2

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rep. Bruce Starr, Chair

Rep. Joanne Verger

Rep. Cliff Zauner

Sen. Verne Duncan

Sen. Ken Messerle

Sen. Rick Metsger

STAFF PRESENT: John Leon, Committee Administrator

Jennifer Simmons, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: HB 2137B Work Session

These minutes are in compliance with Senate and House Rules. Only text enclosed in quotation marks reports a speaker’s exact words. For complete contents, please refer to the tapes.

TAPE/#	Speaker	Comments
TAPE 1, A
002	Chair Starr	Calls the committee to order at 11:15 a.m. and opens a work session on HB 2137B.
HB 2137B WORK SESSION
004	John Leon	Administrator. Explains the bill and the proposed amendments (EXHIBIT A).
060	Sen. Duncan	Asks if the proposed suspension is permanent.
064	Chair Starr	Answers yes.
065	Sen. Duncan	Expresses concern that a permanent suspension is too harsh.
073	Sen. Metsger	Says that he believes a permanent suspension is justifiable in the case of bus drivers who transport children.
090	Sen. Messerle	Expresses concern with the -10 amendment. Compares this amendment with SB 85.
112	Chair Starr	Says that this bill is narrower than SB 85.
130	Chuck Bennett	Confederation of Oregon School Administrators. States their support of the amendments.
158	Jim Green	Oregon School Board Association. Speaks to Section 14 of the amendments; regarding the fee. Explains why the fee is necessary. Speaks about the permanent suspension.
203	Chair Starr	Says that this shows zero tolerance for substance abuse among school bus drivers.
211	Rep. Verger	Asks for a definition of “motorcoach”.
212	Green	Answers that there is not a definition in statute. Says that they typically carry more than 20 passengers that is not designed like a schoolbus. Compares them to “Greyhound” buses.
223	Rep. Verger	Asks if this would lead to the elimination of vans.
226	Bennett	Answers no.
228	Sen. Messerle	Asks definition of schoolbus
230	Green	Answers that it is a vehicle designed to carry more than twenty people and has certain safety specifications.
237	Sen. Messerle	Asks if that definition includes motorcoaches and vans.
240	Green	Answers no.
241	Sen. Messerle	Says that he feels blindsided by these amendments.
256	Rep. Verger	Says that this is a sensitive in some districts.
265	BethAnne Darby	Oregon Education Association. Explains their concerns with the amendments.
333	Tricia Smith	Oregon School Employees Association. Says that Administrative Rules already outline the discipline of a school bus driver
405	Alan Tresidder	Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program Directors Association. Says that he is primarily concerned with lines 24-25 on page two of the amendments. Says that it is more effective to get someone into treatment rather than train new employees. Speaks about what is currently done in these situations.
TAPE 2, A
018	Sen. Duncan	Says that he believes that drivers deserve to have a chance to have their license back at some time. Points out that there are already limits set within Administrative Rules.
055	Chair Starr	Suggests changing “shall” to “may” in line 24.
078	Sen. Metsger	Suggests other conceptual amendments.
113	Rep. Verger	Asks if something could be added providing full disclosure to potential employers of the driver.
126	Darby	Speaks about the current Administrative Rules regarding disclosure.
163	Sen. Metsger	Says that current rule only provides for disclosure in the event of a “conviction”.
178	Darby	Responds that a revocation is counted as a conviction.
220	Green	Says that they would support eliminating the permanent suspension.
240	Rep. Verger	Asks how many incidents where a driver was found to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol have occurred in the last five years
243	Green	Answers none to his knowledge. Points out that there have been 17 incidents of failing a urinalysis in the last year.
280	Chair Starr	Withdraws the –10 amendments.
299	Rep. Starr	MOTION: Moves HB 2137B to the floor with the recommendation that the House CONCUR in Senate amendments dated 05/15/01 and that the bill be FURTHER AMENDED with the –B8, -B12, and –B13 amendments and the measure be REPASSED.
305	Sen. Duncan	Says that he appreciates the goal of the –10 amendments, but hopes to find another way to accomplish it.
327		VOTE: 6-0
	Chair Starr	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. Adjourns the meeting at 12:10 p.m.

Submitted By, Reviewed By,

Jennifer Simmons, John Leon,

Committee Assistant Committee Administrator

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – LC Amendments, HB 2137 -B8, -B12, -B13, staff