SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

February 21, 2001 Hearing Room B

1:00 PM Tapes 33 - 34

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Bill Fisher, Chair

Sen. Margaret Carter, Vice-Chair

Sen. Frank Shields

Sen. Ken Messerle

MEMBER EXCUSED: Sen. Gary George

STAFF PRESENT: Rick Berkobien, Administrator

Andrew Morris, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: SB 553 Public Hearing

Oregon Progress Board, Social Supports Benchmarks

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 33, A
004	Chair Fisher	Calls meeting to order at 1:25 p.m. and opens a public hearing on SB 553.
SB 553 PUBLIC HEARING
008	Rick Berkobien	Administrator. Explains SB 553 to the committee. Reviews the fiscal impact statement.
037	Richard Burke	Legislative Aide, Sen. Gary George. Testifies in support of SB 553. Comments on money being spent to advertise against legal products, but there is a lack of money being spent on advertising against illegal drugs. Comments on the reliance of tax money generated from tobacco sales.
120	Ann Blaker	Oregon Health Division, Manager, Tobacco Prevention and Education Program. Testifies in opposition to SB 553 (EXHIBIT A). Comments on the negative impacts of SB 553. States the fiscal impact would be very large. Comments on the tobacco prevention program. Explains that SB 553 would decrease the effectiveness of the anti-tobacco campaign.
188	John Valley	American Cancer Society. Testifies in opposition to SB 553 (EXHIBIT B). States the bill would endanger the existing successful anti-tobacco program. Gives reasons the bill would put the existing structure in danger. Explains the intentions of ballot measure 44 (1996).
225	Sen. Messerle	Asks if there would be any legal ramification is the bill was passed.
230	Blaker	States the ballot clearly directs where the money is to be spent.
240	Sen. Carter	Comments on the fiscal impact of SB 553. Asks about the effectiveness of the anti-smoking campaign.
286	Blaker	Responds that there has been a 42 percent drop in tobacco use among eighth graders. States that there has been a 20 to 24 percent drop in usage among eleventh graders.
300	Valley	States that incorporating the anti-drug and anti-smoking could inhibit the effectiveness of the campaign.
333	Chair Fisher	Asks about dual smoking and drug usage.
337	Blaker	Responds she is unsure.
346	Chair Fisher	Comments on the language of the bill.
357	Sen. Carter	Comments on the relationship with community based organizations. Asks if community based organizations could incorporate the anti-smoking anti-drug campaigns.
382	Blaker	Comments on work done with different population groups. States a willingness to pursue working cooperatively with other groups.
405	Valley	Presents ideas for different approaches. Comments on the costs.
430	Burke	Comments on the anti-smoking campaign.
TAPE 34, A
000	Burke	Rebuts Blaker’s and Valley’s testimony.
025	Chair Fisher	Asks if tobacco is considered an entry-level drug.
029	Burke	Responds that it is easier for teens to get marijuana than cigarettes.
036	Chair Fisher	Comments on reaching target audiences.
050	Blaker	States that Oregon’s consumption rate is dropping at twice the rate of other states. Comments on media outlets. Explains that people get confused with mixed messages.
068	Valley	States that Oregon’s success is based on a comprehensive approach.
094	Sen. Messerle	Comments on marketing practices.
125	Burke	State support of the anti-smoking campaign.
134	Chair Fisher	Comments on the success of the anti-smoking campaign.
151	Sen. Carter	Introduces interns.
171	Chair Fisher	Closes the public hearing on SB 553 and opens an informational meeting on Oregon Social Benchmarks.
OREGON SOCIAL BENCHMARKS
190	Jeffery Tryens	Executive Director, Oregon Progress Board. Presents a power point presentation on social benchmarks (EXHIBIT C). Gives an overview of the presentation.
225	Sen. Shields	Asks for the raw numbers of teen pregnancy.
228	Tryens	Responds by estimating about 6,000 teens. Explains the rate includes live births and abortions. Comments on the slow progress of women receiving early prenatal care. Explains the immunization rate.
287	Tryens	Points out the reduction in the infant mortality rate. Comments on early diagnosis of HIV. States that the case numbers have fallen.
311	Chair Fisher	Asks if the targets relating to HIV are realistic.
326	Tryens	Responds by explaining how the progress board developed the targets.
350	Chair Fisher	Comments on statistics. Relates personal opinion on setting targets. Asks if there are less cases of HIV.
385	Tryens	Responds the actual number of cases is falling. Explains the statistics of adults who do not smoke.
TAPE 33, B
000	Tryens	States that the data for 2000 shows that the rate of non-smokers is above 80 percent. Comments on premature mortality. States that life in Oregon is lengthening. Comments on Oregonians who perceive their health is very good or excellent. States the rate of childcare affordability has gone down since 1992. States that childcare slots are on target.
060	Tryens	Reviews tobacco, alcohol, and drug use among teens. Reviews child abuse statistics.
097	Chair Fisher	Comments on the target.
100	Tryens	States the new targets will be split based actual abuse and at-risk factors. States there is an increase in elderly abuse.
115	Chair Fisher	Asks about the targets for elderly abuse.
120	Tryens	Responds he is unsure of the differences. States the board sets the targets. States the state is on target for pregnant women who use alcohol and drugs.
139	Sen. Carter	Comments on data collection.
147	Tryens	Responds the numbers for pregnant women who use drugs and alcohol come from hospitals. Comments on the poverty rates in Oregon. States that Oregon falls in the middle in comparison to the other 49 states.
168	Sen. Messerle	Asks about rural and urban comparisons.
170	Tryens	Responds rural counties are usually more poor.
185	Sen. Shields	Asks why the poverty rates is coming down, but at the same time Oregon has the highest rate of hunger in the nation.
195	Tryens	Responds that researchers have been hired to study the issue. Comments on bias’s in surveys. Comments on housing costs in Oregon.
240	Sen. Shields	Comments on housing costs in other states.
264	Tryens	States that work is being done with the hunger task force to look into hunger issues.
292	Sen. Shields	Comments on the increased need for food from food banks.
312	Sen. Carter	Comments on poverty in rural and urban areas.
340	Tryens	Explains calculations for poverty in past studies.
355	Sen. Carter	Comments on statistical data collection.
372	Tryens	Comments on Oregon’s poverty rate compared to other states.
396	Sen. Carter	Offers viewpoint of economical changes.
407	Tryens	Explains the improval of health insurance rates.
TAPE 34, B
000	Sen. Messerle	Comments on health care costs in rural areas.
011	Tryens	Explains homeless statistics that have risen dramatically.
023	Sen. Shields	Discusses the collection of homeless data.
050	Tryens	Comments on data collection.
053	Sen. Messerle	Discusses resolutions. Comments on the specific needs of different parts of Oregon.
070	Tryens	Comments on housing policy.
073	Chair Fisher	Asks if the statistics include all forms of homelessness. States that some homeless people choose to be homeless.
092	Tryens	Explains how the survey was conducted.
096	Sen. Shields	Reviews homeless populations and demographics. Relates a personal experience.
144	Tryens	Comments on child support enforcement. Explains seniors living independently. Covers employment data for disabled people.
172	Chair Fisher	Closes the informational meeting and adjourns the meeting at 3:04 p.m.

Submitted By, Reviewed By,

Andrew Morris, Rick Berkobien,

Committee Assistant Administrator

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – SB 553, Written testimony, Ann Blaker, 2 pp.

B – SB 553, Written testimony, John Valley, 1p.

C – Oregon Progress Board, Jeffery Tryens, 16 pp.