HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT

March 18, 2003 Hearing Room D

8:30 AM Tapes 34 - 36

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rep. Jerry Krummel, Chair

Rep. Donna Nelson, Vice-Chair

Rep. Floyd Prozanski, Vice-Chair

Rep. Brad Avakian

Rep. Derrick Kitts

Rep. John Mabrey

MEMBER EXCUSED: Rep. Kelley Wirth

STAFF PRESENT: Patrick Brennan, Committee Administrator

Jeana Harrington, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: HB 2676 – Work Session

Informational Meeting - METRO

HB 2913 – 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 34, A
004	Chair Krummel	Call meeting to order at 8:36 AM. Opens work session on HB 2676.
HB 2676 WORK SESSION
008	Patrick Brennan	Committee Administrator. Explains the progression of the bill through the -2 amendments (EXHIBIT A).
023	Rep. Prozanski	MOTION: Moves to ADOPT HB 2676-2 amendments dated 03/14/03.
025		VOTE: 5-0-2 EXCUSED: 2 - Kitts, Wirth
	Chair Krummel	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
029	Rep. Nelson	Speaks on behalf of Rep. Shetterly in thanking the administrator and the county.
033	Rep. Prozanski	MOTION: Moves HB 2676 to the floor with a DO PASS AS AMENDED recommendation.
036		VOTE: 5-0-2 EXCUSED: 2 - Kitts, Wirth
	Chair Krummel	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. REP. NELSON will lead discussion on the floor.
043	Chair Krummel	Closes work session on HB 2676. Opens an informational meeting on METRO.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING
050	Doug Riggs	PAC WEST. Explains the situation of the Oregon Zoo parking situation (EXHIBIT B) with regard to park and ride and visitors.
170	Rep. Nelson	Asks if METRO is considering a bill concerning the issue.
172	Riggs	Explains he does not feel a bill is necessary.
176	Chair Krummel	Requests the cost of transportation passes.
180	Riggs	Responds with cost of the passes.
195	Chair Krummel	Asks how the process on the issue of the taxicab situation is going.
205	Riggs	Explains the proposed amendment to the taxi regulatory system (EXHIBIT C).
229	Chair Krummel	Inquires if Mr. Riggs has spoken with Senator Ringo.
230	Riggs	Responds that he has not yet done so.
232	Chair Krummel	Closes informational meeting. Opens public hearing on HB 2913.
HB 2913 PUBLIC HEARING
239	Rep. Max Williams	House District 35. Testifies in favor of HB 2913. Provides history of the legislation on the matter of public safety and 9-1-1 services. Speaks to the related taxation.
303	Rep. Mabrey	Asks if it is statutory for each county to provide 24 hour services.
310	Rep. Williams	Responds that may be required. Explains that counties have created cooperative call centers.
323	Rep. Mabrey	Asks if a telephone line would need to be dedicated.
329	Rep. Williams	Responds that it may be true although he is not sure.
333	Rep. Mabrey	Requests the situation in Wheeler County.
337	Rep. Williams	Explains he could not inform him of Wheeler county.
343	Rep. Nelson	Asks if the issue is that counties are not receiving enough money.
359	Rep. Williams	Responds that the issue is of equal distribution.
370	Chair Krummel	Clarifies that some counties were receiving more money than they should.
376	Rep. Williams	Replies that is his understanding.
380	Chair Krummel	Inquires if HB 2913 would take care of the overage.
384	Rep. Williams	Responds it is an equalization approach.
TAPE 35, A
003	Rep. Williams	Continues answer. Explains the intent of the bill.
015	Chair Krummel	Comments.
023	Sam Hamilton	Executive Director, Klamath County Emergency Communications District. Speaks in favor of HB 2913 (EXHIBIT D). Explains the telephone tax monies distribution. Refers the committee to the provided documents to explain county and city receipt of funds.
123	Rep. Nelson	Refers to page seven of EXHIBIT D to request clarification of a figure.
133	Hamilton	Explains the amount is per capita distribution for Wheeler County and explains how the amounts are found. Refer committee to the spreadsheets and explains their use. Notes the amount of money going to counties is different. Believes HB 2913 corrects the inequities that exist throughout.
231	Rep. Avakian	Inquires about the inclusion of different counties in the documents.
241	Hamilton	Explains that is not the case in the listed counties.
244	Rep. Avakian	Asks what amount the counties would receive.
250	Hamilton	Answers the counties would receive the residual per capita amounts similar to those that go to the cities.
255	Rep. Avakian	Inquires if Mr. Hamilton believes the amount will fit the needs of the counties.
259	Hamilton	Explains that the bill is a starting point. Believes the current distribution is nebulous. Refers committee to the last page of EXHIBIT D. Believes the unincorporated population in the formula is a problem. Believes state tax money should be equally distributed across the state.
369	Dave Austin	Director, Washing ton County Consolidated Communications Agency. Testifies in favor of HB 2913 (EXHIBIT E).
TAPE 34, B
003	Austin	Comments on the distribution of the telephone taxes. Believes the bill is fair and equitable.
028	Jeff Johnson	Fire Chief, Tualatin Fire and Rescue. Testifies in favor of HB 2913 as he believes it is a fair and equitable measure. Speaks to public safety consolidation. Comments on the formulas for allocation of the funds.
078	Rep. Nelson	Refers to page six of Mr. Hamilton’s handout. Inquires as to the reason behind system administration.
094	Hamilton	Uses Wallowa County to explain minimal operating costs. Reiterates the importance of equal distribution.
115	Rep. Nelson	Refers the committee to page four. Understands that the costs of the system were to be included in the information. Asks about the cost of a unit.
121	Hamilton	Explains it is a portion of the overall tax given to counties.
138	Rep. Nelson	Clarifies there is nothing in the administrative rules about the number of individuals required.
145	Hamilton	Responds listing staffing requirements.
150	Rep. Nelson	Comments.
157	Chair Krummel	Asks how the changes occurred to the formula without legislation.
161	Hamilton	Explains he attempt to acquire that information.
167	Paul Snyder	Association of Oregon Counties (AOC). Provides example to illustrate the taxation system, population, and actual costs. Testifies against HB 2913. Explains reasoning for AOC objection to the bill listing costs for providing service and minimum amount of money required. Believes a population based formula does not account for the minimums.
245	Jean Cowan	Lincoln County Commissioner, AOC. Testifies in opposition of HB 2913. Recognizes the need for review of the formulas. Notes the desire of the Associated Public Safety Communications Officials - National Emergency Number Association (APCO-NENA) to conduct a review.
	Lynne Iverson	Director, Lincoln County Communications Agency. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT F).
333	Sally Jones	Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District. Provides history. Testifies in opposition of HB 2913 (EXHIBIT G). Supports APCO-NENA review of the program.
TAPE 35, B
005	Jones	Discusses the formula for funds. Emphasizes the Sherman-Wheeler County issue is atypical. Discusses the unintended impacts of the formula. Believes a ‘red-line’ concept should be included in the bill. Refers committee to spreadsheet provided in EXHIBIT G. Notes the counties receiving the largest amount of funds are the largest counties.
122	Chair Krummel	Requests how past changes to the formula occurred without legislation.
125	Jones	Explains she believes there may have been legislation.
133	Chair Krummel	Asks why smaller counties looked to create their own centers.
145	Cowan	Responds that those counties desire to have a public safety answering point (PSAP).
162	Hasina Squires	Oregon chapters of APCO-NENA. Testifies in opposition to HB 2913 (EXHIBIT H). Explains a more appropriate approach to accounting for costs of services. Discusses the need for a red-line clause. Notes that no association supports HB 2913, only individual agencies. Directs attention to the bill’s language concerning counties that currently contain a PSAP. Responds to Rep. Mabrey’s earlier question on Wheeler County. Speaks to legislation on HB 3977 from last session. Informs the committee of the redirection of PSAP consolidation incentive and 9-1-1 funds.
318	Lynne Reeve	APCO-NENA. Testifies in opposition to HB 2913. Informs the committee of red-line implementation.
349	Mary Botkin	Association of Federal, State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 75. States she will not be testifying for or against the issue.
TAPE 36, A
005	Botkin	Speaks to professionalizing the 9-1-1 system. Provides her attitude towards the situation.
042	Rep. Nelson	Requests the decisions of the past committee’s decisions on HB 3977 from last session regarding cost analysis.
057	Chair Krummel	Comments the need for a financial analysis.
060	Brennan	Informs the committee that a fiscal statement will be issued and that Legislative Fiscal believes the bill should go to Ways and Means.
067	Rep. Nelson	Requests cost per unit information regarding tourism.
076	Chair Krummel	Appreciates the work of APCO-NENA on cost. Notes the disagreement of counties on the issue. Calls attention to the audit report issued by the Secretary of State’s Audit Division. Notes his disagreement with the past measure during the special session. Believes there is a constitutional problem with the bill. Requests that APCO-NENA ask its members for amendments so that services can provided in a cost effective manner.
137	Rep. Nelson	Requests information on Homeland Security funding.
140	Chair	Concurs.
143	Rep. Mabrey	Comments on the audit report. Suspects that the counties were targeted by the audit, and believes all funds were used appropriately.
165	Chair Krummel	Concurs. Closes the public hearing on HB 2913. Adjourns the meeting at 10:35 AM.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – HB 2676, Staff, 6 p

B – Informational, Oregon ZOO, Doug Riggs, 2 p

C – METRO, Doug Riggs, 1 p

D – HB 2913, Sam Hamilton, 20 p

E – HB 2913, Dave Austin, 1 p

F – HB 2913, Lynne Iverson, 2 p

G – HB 2913, Sally Jones, 3 p

H – HB 2913, Hasina Squires, 1 p