HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

March 19, 2003 Hearing Room E

1:00 PM Tapes 47 - 48

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rep. Vic Backlund, Chair

Rep. Elaine Hopson, Vice-Chair

Rep. Brad Avakian

Rep. Mary Nolan

Rep. Wayne Scott

MEMBER EXCUSED: Rep. Pat Farr, Vice-Chair

Rep. Billy Dalto

STAFF PRESENT: Jim Keller, Committee Administrator

Jeana Harrington, Committee Assistant

MEASURES HEARD: HJR 16 – Public Hearing and Work Session

HB 2807 – 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 47, A
004	Chair Backlund	Calls meeting to order at 1:07 pm. Opens public hearing on HJR 16.
HJR 16 PUBLIC HEARING
005	Jim Keller	Committee Administrator. Reads Staff Measure Summary (SMS).
010	Jim Craven	American Electronics Association (AEA). Introduces HJR 16.
023	Eve Menger	President and Director, Youth Exploring Science (YES). Testifies in favor of HJR 16. Provides examples of the benefits of science fairs. (EXHIBIT A). Describes the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) coming to Portland in 2004. Notes YES is seeking private funds to include high-school students. Reads a letter submitted to her concerning the fair.
112	Chair Backlund	Comments.
117	Menger	Shows the committee ISEF related materials.
125	Mark Knight	Participant, ISEF. Testifies in favor of HJR 16 (EXHIBIT B). Illustrates the need for additional physics and math by informing the committee of the his research and participation in ISEF and related science fairs.
176	Chair Backlund	Asks how he communicated with the others at the conference.
180	M. Knight	Informs him that many languages were used to communicate. Provides example.
194	Rep. Avakian	Comments
197	M. Knight	Comments.
200	Dick Knight	YES. Testifies in favor of HJR 16 (EXHIBIT C). Informs the committee of the fairs being created in the state of Oregon by INTEL ISEF (EXHIBIT D). Informs the committee of the number of judges present in Oregon.
278	Rep. Hopson	Requests how the information is being disseminated to schools throughout the state.
282	D. Knight	Explains the network of volunteers that has been created to cover the issue. Notes there is also press coverage and support from the Oregon Department of Education (ODE).
300	Rep. Hopson	Asks if there is specific criteria for participation and how it is obtained.
304	D. Knight	Explains ‘affiliated fairs’ and criteria.
323	Harvey Matthews	Associated Oregon Industries (AOI). Testifies in favor of HJR 16. Explains the intent of the resolution. Believes efforts such as these will help with other educational and economic pursuits.
362	Chair Backlund	Thanks Mr. Matthews for bringing him the issue. Comments on his own perception of scientific research at a high school level. Closes public hearing and opens a work session on HJR 16.
HJR 16 – WORK SESSION
390	Rep. Hopson	MOTION: Moves HJR 16 be sent to the floor with a BE ADOPTED recommendation.
399	Rep. Avakian	Comments on the importance of the program. Thanks INTEL for its recognition of young adults in Oregon.
TAPE 48, A
003	Rep. Avakian	Thanks Chair Backlund for sponsoring the bill.
006	Nolan	Comments.
007	Rep. Scott	Thanks Chair Backlund for sponsorship.
010		VOTE: 5-0-2 EXCUSED: 2 – Dalto, Farr
	Chair Backlund	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. CHAIR BACKLUND will lead discussion on the floor.
014	Chair Backlund	Closes work session on HJR 16. Opens public hearing on HB 2807.
HB 2807 PUBLIC HEARING
025	Jim Keller	Reads SMS on HB 2807.
029	Rep. Greg Smith	House District 57. Testifies in favor of HB 2807. Introduces his guests. Provides the students served by the bill in Eastern Oregon. Requests the bill be sent to Ways and Means upon passage.
051	Rep. Bob Jensen	House District 58. Comments. Testifies in favor of HB 2807. Provides he was once on the staff of Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC). Speaks to the importance of the Eastern Oregon Collaborative Colleges Center (EOCCC). Comments on the failure of the legislature to fund the program last session and its effects on the colleges of Eastern Oregon.
122	Rep. Hopson	Comments.
125	Chair Backlund	Requests the member that promised funding to the program.
130	Rep. Jensen	Responds that commitments that were made went unfulfilled during the end of last session and no one is directly at fault.
144	Dr. Phil Creighton	President, Eastern Oregon University (EOU). Testifies in favor of HB 2807 (EXHIBIT E). Provides an explanation into the collaboration of the EOCCC. Comments on the importance of a commitment to education in Eastern Oregon.
180	Chair Backlund	Asks what will occur if the program is not funded.
182	Creighton	Explains the program will diminish. Notes the fund request is solely for program delivery.
192	Art Hill	BMCC. Testifies in favor of HB 2807. Provides accounts of the program. Refers the committee to the letter submitted by the President of BMCC, Dr. Travis Kirkland (EXHIBIT F). Notes the choices available for the program.
257	Dr. Jim Sorenson	President, Treasure Valley Community College (TUCC). Testifies in favor of HB 2807. Remarks on the positive collaboration of the EOCCC. Notes the educational situation in Malheur County. Comments on the loss of funding. Encourages the committee to continue funding.
309	Rep. Hopson	Clarifies the centers of operation provided in EXHIBIT E.
319	Chair Backlund	Speaks on the funding of the issue being a compelling case. Explains his intentions for the bill.
334	Rep. Nolan	Believes the program is intriguing and impressive. Explains she would be happy to support the program if there is revenue available. Hesitates to offer false hope in funding the program.
353	Chair Backlund	Notes the program was not funded in the 2001 session. Offers that an attempt should be made.
367	Rep. Hopson	Concurs. Agrees the program is a positive one. Wonders about the readjustment of the community colleges.
375	Chair Backlund	Comments.
384	Cam Croise-Crawley	Commission of Community Colleges. Negates setting priorities of collaboration of community colleges. Explains the focus has been on funding students. Believes the EOCCC program is well-deserving.
420	Rep. Hopson	Provides figures on students and funds. Clarifies.
TAPE 47, B
002	Creighton	Answers the number of students served by the funds.
006	Rep. Nolan	Clarifies the figure is for the number of bodies and not for full time equivalent (FTE) students.
010	Creighton	Affirms.
012	Rep. Avakian	Requests the cost per student.
015	Creighton	Explains he does not have it.
018	Hill	Explains per term versus biennium amount of funds for students.
029	Chair Backlund	Requests the information be gathered. Closes the public hearing on HB 2807. Adjourns the meeting at 2:06 PM.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – HJR 16, Eve Menger, 2 p

B – HJR 16, Mark Knight, 1 p

C – HJR 16, Dick Knight, 2 p

D – HJR 16, Dick Knight, 1 p

E – HB 2807, Dr. Phil Creighton, 5 p

F – HB 2807, Dr. Travis Kirkland, 2 p