HOUSE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

March 04, 2003 Hearing Room E

1:00 PM Tape 20

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rep. Dan Doyle, Chair

Rep. Linda Flores, Vice-Chair

Rep. Vic Backlund

Rep. Phil Barnhart

Rep. Betsy L. Close

Rep. Joanne Verger

MEMBER EXCUSED: Rep. Laurie Monnes Anderson, Vice-Chair

STAFF PRESENT: Cara Filsinger, Administrator

Annetta Mullins, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: Introduction of Committee Bills – Work Session

HB 2557 – Public Hearing

HJR 12 – 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 20, A
004	Chair Doyle	Calls meeting to order at 1:36 p.m. and opens a work session on introduction of committee bills.
INTRODUCTION OF COMMITTEE BILLS – WORK SESSION
005	Rep. Flores	MOTION: Moves LCs: 3476, 3088, AND 3089 BE INTRODUCED as committee bills.
006		VOTE: 5-0-2 EXCUSED: 2- Reps. Close and Monnes Anderson
	Chair Doyle	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
	Chair Doyle	Opens public hearings simultaneously on HB 2557 and HJR 12.
HB 2557 AND HJR 12 – PUBLIC HEARINGS
022	Rep. Jeff Kruse	District 7. Explains history of introducing the same legislation. Comments on constitutional provision that allows the governor to appoint the superintendent of public instructions. States that the election of the superintendent is a popularity contest, not an election on the business of running education.
064	Rep. Kruse	Explains the provisions of HB 2557. States amendments are needed. States that a suggestion was made last session that school boards within the congressional districts elect the five positions on the board.
		Suggest that the committee take this one step further and consider having one board for K-college.
107	Chair Doyle	Asks if the state board currently covers community colleges.
	Rep. Backlund	Defers to Rep. Barnhart.
	Rep. Barnhart	Comments on community college board.
132	Rep. Backlund	Asks if all issues suggested by Rep. Kruse should be included in this one bill.
	Rep. Kruse	Responds that the relating clause would allow the inclusions, but would assume that it would depend on the perspective of the community colleges.
	Rep. Backlund	Asks how willing electors would be to give up their vote.
	Rep. Kruse	Responds they would not willingly do that. Suggests there would be more accountability under the proposal to have the local school boards elect the five members.
172	Chair Doyle	Asks Rep. Kruse if he sees this improving how government works and how the department would be more accountable to the citizens.
	Rep. Kruse	Responds, commenting on greater accountability and credentials and management skills to run a business the size of the Department Education. Adds that true efficiency could include community colleges and higher education because then the Board of Higher Education and the chancellor’s office could be eliminated.
209	Rep. Verger	Comments on public criticism of elected people not having experience and skills. Asks how the appointments would be made within congressional districts when there are multiple boards.
	Rep. Kruse	Responds there would be elections by each of the boards. Comments that agency heads with the exception of Bureau of Labor and Industries, Treasurer, and Secretary of State are hired based on their ability o do the job.
248	Andrea Henderson	Executive Director, Oregon Community College Association. Comments on governance structure of community colleges. States that community colleges are under the State Board of Education. The board meets on a separate docket for community colleges. The State Board of Education hires and oversees the commissioner for community colleges. The commissioner oversees community colleges and workforce development.
272	Chair Doyle	Closes the public hearings on HB 2557 and HJR 12.
	Chair Doyle	Announces that the he does not expect the committee to meet on Thursday and the committee will resume hearings next week on election issues.
291	Chair Doyle	Adjourns meeting at 1:57 p.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

NONE