HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

BUSINESS, LABOR AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS

January 24, 2003 Hearing Room E

9:00 A.M. Tapes 7 - 8

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rep. Betsy Close, Chair

Rep. Derrick Kitts, Vice-Chair

Rep. Diane Rosenbaum, Vice-Chair

Rep. Mary Gallegos

Rep. Bill Garrard

Rep. Jeff Merkley

Rep. Mike Schaufler

STAFF PRESENT: Megan Palau, Committee Administrator

Mike Reiley, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: Informational Meeting – Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association and Sheet Metal Contractors Association

HB 2055 – Public Hearing

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 7, A
003	Chair Close	Calls meeting to order at 9:01 am. Notes that HB 2130 will not be heard. Opens informational meeting.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING
022	Paul Phillips	Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association and Sheet Metal Contractors Association. Outlines goals and objectives for organizations. Expresses desire for enforcement of current laws.
139	Chair Close	Asks for bill number regarding public contracting legislation.
140	Phillips	Responds it is HB 2241. Explains apprenticeship programs.
245	Rep. Kitts	Expresses support for legislation regarding big shopping. Asks what can be done specifically to promote Oregon Hire.
266	Phillips	Responds that enterprise zone statutes should be re-written.
288	Chair Close	Asks for comment about perception that most of developable land is in Portland Metro area and other areas of Oregon are left out.
295	Phillips	Explains developable land regarding urban growth boundary.
324	Chair Close	Asks about decision making process for industrial developable land.
326	Phillips	Responds that it has to do with infrastructure.
371	Chair Close	States that rural areas should be included in the economic development.
381	Phillips	Responds that entire state needs to be included, notes importance of infrastructure.
416	Rep. Gallegos	Emphasizes that major corporations often begin small and develop.
433	Phillips	Concurs. Explains how companies are attracted to Oregon due to tax policy and other incentives.
447	Rep. Rosenbaum	Asks how people come to be aware of apprenticeship programs and if there should be more promotion of programs in schools.
TAPE 8, A
018	Phillips	Responds that there are students that are more apt to be successful in trade and apprenticeship programs than college programs.
081	Rep. Kitts	Asks for explanation of apprenticeship program and asks why union and non-union apprenticeship programs have different graduation rates.
093	Phillips	Explains differences between apprenticeship programs.
125	Chair Close	Asks for further clarification.
126	Phillips	Responds that the best explanation would be from apprenticeship director.
132	Chair Close	Closes informational hearing. Opens public hearing on HB 2055.
HB 2055 – PUBLIC HEARING
138	Matt Markee	Oregon Collectors Association (OCA). Submits and summarizes prepared testimony in support of HB 2055 (EXHIBIT A). States that OCA is working on amendment.
179	Rep. Garrard	Asks about differences in collection agencies’ rates.
185	Markee	Responds that the competitive bid process should resolve it.
200	Rep. Garrard	States that Klamath Falls works with collection agency who charges 40%.
204	Markee	Responds that the additional fee would be discretionary.
218	Chair Close	Asks about public bidding process.
220	Markee	Answers that other cities engage in public bidding process.
228	Rep. Gallegos	Asks if fiscal impact has been requested on HB 2055.
233	Markee	Explains fiscal impact process.
257	Chair Close	Asks for clarification of exemptions to collection.
259	Markee	Explains exemptions.
269	Chair Close	Asks if child support is exempt in other states.
272	Markee	Explains policy differences in other states.
286	Rep. Rosenbaum	Asks for priority order for collection agencies.
291	Markee	Explains priority order.
298	Rep. Rosenbaum	Asks for clarification regarding commercial debt.
304	Markee	Clarifies commercial debt.
315	Rep. Merkley	Asks about ability to impose fees.
324	Markee	Explains fee collection.
330	Rep. Garrard	Asks about unfunded mandate.
333	Markee	Explains potential costs.
350	Rep. Kitts	Asks if fees for collection agencies are instead of or in addition to current fees.
360	Markee	Explains collection process.
377	Rep. Schaufler	Asks about percentage of collections made.
384	Markee	Explains Oregon’s role in using collection agencies.
404	Chair Close	Adjourns meeting at 9:55 am.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – HB 2055, prepared testimony, Matt Markee, 1 p