CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB 2727

June 20, 2001 Hearing Room B

10:00 AM Tape 1

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rep. Mark Simmons, Chair

Rep. Jim Hill

Rep. Kurt Schrader

Sen. Peter Courtney

Sen. Verne Duncan

Sen. David Nelson

STAFF PRESENT: Mark Jolley, Committee Administrator

Patrick Brennan, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: HB 2727A 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
004	Chair Simmons	Calls the committee to order at 10:06 a.m. States that the requested amendments have an error that must be corrected before action can be taken on the bill. Opens a work session on HB 2727A.
HB 2727A WORK SESSION
017	Rep. Hill	Describes the changes to be made to the amendments, primarily a change to the list of distribution funds from SB 622 (1999)
024	Sen. Courtney	Notes that there has been a great deal of attention directed toward the proposed amendments.
037	Sen. Duncan	Requests that copies of the corrected amendments be distributed to committee members prior to reconvening.
042	Sen. Nelson	Requests clarification whether the changes to the SB 622 allocation formula includes distribution amounts to K-12 schools for telecommunications technology.
050	Rep. Hill	Answers that neither the bill nor the amendments deal with that issue.
052	Sen. Duncan	Asks whether the parties to the bill will have opposition to the proposed amendments.
055	Chair Simmons	Replies that there should be no opposition to the proposed amendments.
059	Rep. Schrader	Asks what amendments will be under consideration.
061	Chair Simmons	Responds that the –A9 amendments (EXHIBIT A) may be considered, as well as the yet-to-be-received amendments that Rep. Hill described above. Declares the meeting to be in recess at 10:12 a.m.
-----------------------------------------------------RECESS-------------------------------------------------------------------
075	Chair Simmons	Reconvenes the meeting at 4:30 p.m.
080	Mark Jolley	Committee Administrator. Provides a description of the –9 amendments and –11 amendments (EXHIBIT B).
106	Rep. Hill	MOTION: Moves to ADOPT HB 2727-A9 amendments dated 6/20/01.
109		VOTE: 5-1 AYE: 5 - Courtney, Duncan, Hill, Nelson, Simmons NAY: 1 - Schrader
	Chair Simmons	The motion Carries.
111	Rep. Hill	MOTION: Moves to ADOPT HB 2727-A11 amendments dated 6/20/01.
113	Rep. Schrader	Requests clarification regarding the reprioritization of the allocations, specifically changes with other educational institutions and the insertion of the Legislative Administration Committee.
117	Rep. Hill	Explains that some of the anticipated funds were not received, which has required reprioritization of allocations. Emphasizes the importance of increasing public access to the legislature.
136	Rep. Schrader	Asks whether representatives for education interests support the –A11 amendments.
140	Rep. Hill	States he has not spoken to education groups regarding the –A11 amendments but says the amendments increase the allocation to K-12 education.
146	Rep. Schrader	States that the bill as amended appears to reduce, rather than increase allocations.
148	Rep. Hill	Explains that other statutes affect the distribution of funds and that the amended bill simply alters how money flows out of the fund. Says there is no expectation that any of the funds will be affected by the reductions.
159	Rep. Schrader	Asks whether representatives for higher education have signed off on the –A11 amendments.
160	Rep. Hill	Replies that he has not discussed the amendments with representatives for higher education.
163	Rep. Schrader	Asks if there is any known objection to the –A11 amendments among providers.
165	Rep. Hill	Clarifies that the amended bill has no effect on providers.
171	Rep. Schrader	Remarks that the amendments appear proscriptive, as they allow access to funds that may or may not be available or consistent with the original intent of SB 622. Requests that the committee solicit testimony from representatives of higher education prior to taking action.
180	Sen. Duncan	Echoes the concerns of Rep. Schrader.
188	Chair Simmons	Opines that the –A11 amendments are consistent with the legislature’s latitude and responsibility. Offers to solicit additional information to address the concerns of Rep. Schrader and Sen. Duncan. Declares the meeting to be in recess at 4:36 p.m.
-----------------------------------------------------RECESS-------------------------------------------------------------------
195	Chair Simmons	Reconvenes the meeting at 4:56 p.m.
199	Sen. Duncan	States that several education representatives have been provided copies of the –A11 amendments. States he will support the motion to adopt the amendments, adding that if there is a significant problem with them he may move not to adopt the conference committee report on the floor of the Senate.
207	Rep. Schrader	Concurs with Sen. Duncan.
		VOTE: 6-0
	Chair Simmons	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
216	Rep. Hill	MOTION: Moves HB 2727A to the floor with the recommendation that the House CONCUR in Senate amendments dated 4/11/01 and that the bill be FURTHER AMENDED by the –A9 and –A11 amendments and the measure be REPASSED.
223		VOTE: 6-0
	Chair Simmons	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. REP. SIMMONS will lead discussion in the House. SEN. DUNCAN will lead discussion in the Senate.
226	Chair Simmons	Closes the work session on HB 2727A and adjourns the meeting at 4:57 p.m.

Submitted By, Reviewed By,

Patrick Brennan, Mark Jolley,

Committee Assistant Committee Administrator

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – HB 2727A, -A9 amendments, Ken Armstrong, 4 pp.

B – HB 2727A, -A11 amendments, Rep. Jim Hill, 12 pp.