SENATE COMMITTEE ON

AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

March 10, 2003 Hearing Room B

8:30 a.m. Tapes 33 - 34

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Frank Shields, Chair

Sen. Roger Beyer, Vice-Chair

Sen. Tony Corcoran

Sen. Bill Fisher

STAFF PRESENT: Judith Callens, Committee Administrator

Patricia Nielsen, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: SB 748 Public Hearing and Work Session

SB 673 Public Hearing

SB 770 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 33, A
005	Chair Shields	Calls meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. Opens a public hearing on SB 748.
SB 748 – PUBLIC HEARING
010	Judith Callens	Committee Administrator. Presents overview of SB 748.
015	Sen. Jason Atkinson	District 2. Testifies in favor of SB 748. Submits article (EXHIBIT A). Discusses lead poisoning in the environment due to lead fishing tackle and the need for cleanup. Requests rescinding the subsequent referral to Ways and Means because there should be no fiscal impact.
110	Chair Shields	Asks about pollution from fluorocarbons.
115	Sen. Atkinson	Explains it is a new technology for fishing line, which does not break down and continues in the environment longer than the monofilament line currently in use.
125	Kay Brown	Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Testifies in support of SB 648 but raises concern over recycling bins which attract trash and then must be sorted. Recommends limiting to fishing line but not lead.
150	Chair Shields	Asks about trash in recycling containers.
155	Brown	Discusses options for smaller bins and other containers used in Alaska. Expresses support for a pilot program, to be started in areas of high angler use. Discusses staff requirements for the program.
180	Sen. Beyer	Asks about other rivers to be included.
185	Brown	Lists possible rivers: Deschutes, Alsea, Salmon, North Fork Nehalem, Grand Ronde.
195	Chair Shields	Asks about working with Sen. Atkinson to develop the bill.
200	Brown	Offers to work with Sen. Atkinson.
205	Phil Donovan	Northwest Steelheaders. Testifies in support of SB 748. Submits written article (EXHIBIT B). Discusses possible rivers to be included in the pilot program.
255	Chair Shields	Asks whether lead should be included.
260	Donovan	Suggests some would be returned anyway.
265	Chair Shields	Asks whether anglers would participate.
270	Donovan	Answers positively.
280	Roy Elicker	ODFW. Testifies in support generally. Recaps issue of focusing on fishing line.
290	Sen. Beyer	Asks about staff time to prepare the required report.
300	Elicker	Explains and discusses assistance by angler organizations.
305	Sen. Atkinson	Responds to concerns raised: · Tackle manufacturers support the bill · Did not include required dimensions for boxes so conservation groups would decide · Interested parties were given an opportunity to respond · Asks for strong support from ODFW to promote the program
370	Chair Shields	Asks about Alaska experience with recycling efforts.
375	Sen. Atkinson	Describes types of tackle being recycled.
385	Callens	Discusses possible fiscal impact.
400	Sen. Beyer	Points out the bill would not use general fund dollars.
TAPE 34, A
005	Elicker	Confirms the program would be supported by license dollars or federal funds, not general fund dollars.
010	Chair Shields	Closes public hearing on SB 748. Opens work session on SB 748.
SB 748 – WORK SESSION
010	Sen. Beyer	MOTION: Moves SB 748 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation and the SUBSEQUENT REFERRAL to the committee on Ways and Means BE RESCINDED.
015		VOTE: 4-0 AYE: In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye.
020	Chair Shields	The motion CARRIES. SEN. ATKINSON will lead discussion on the floor.
025	Chair Shields	Closes work session on SB 748. Opens public hearing on SB 673.
SB 673 – PUBLIC HEARING
030	Callens	Provides overview of SB 673.
040	Chuck Craig	Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture (ODA). Testifies in favor of SB 673. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT C). Explains that bargaining price-setting is only allowed with state supervision. Discusses experiences of ryegrass growers.
070	Sen. Corcoran	Asks for comparison with crab fishery bargaining.
075	Brent Searle	ODA. Testifies in support of SB 673. Discusses how the negotiation process works. Explains need for bargaining process which includes more than one dealer at a time.
095	Sen. Corcoran	Asks about prior season bargaining difficulties.
100	Searle	Explains how the negotiation is meant to shorten the bargaining process.
110	Sen. Beyer	Asks about Perennial Ryegrass Buyers Association (PRBA) and lawsuit against bargaining by growers.
115	Searle	Discusses how the negotiations are conducted in ryegrass industry, which the seafood industry would like to emulate.
130	Sen. Beyer	Asks if the price of the commodity would be affected.
135	Searle	Points out the same parties are negotiating as would if there were no change or improvement in the process.
140	Sen. Beyer	Points out it is a voluntary association and asks about possible future problems if individuals pull out of the association when the market declines.
150	Searle	Agrees it is always a challenge.
165	Sen. Beyer	Comments on bail-outs if the market declines and expresses concern if that happens to the crab industry.
175	Searle	Discusses how the challenge might be met.
195	Craig	Points out the organization provides a better avenue for producers to see whether production is at an appropriate level.
225	Roger Martin	Pacific Seafood (seafood wholesaler). Testifies as neutral on SB 673. Provides background of crab market issue. Asks for input from the Oregon Crab Commission before the bill is passed. Expresses concern over government involvement in the process.
370	Martin	Continues and discusses upcoming shrimp harvest.
380	Callens	Provides additional information about background of SB 673. Advises the fiscal impact will be minimal.
400	Chair Shields	Closes public hearing on SB 673. Opens public hearing on SB 770.
TAPE 33, B
SB 770 – PUBLIC HEARING
020	Callens	Presents overview of SB 770.
030	Chuck Craig	ODA. Testifies in opposition to SB 770. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT D). Discusses enforcement difficulties if exemption is created. Describes brand inspection requirements in Oregon and other states.
090	Rodger Huffman	Administrator, Animal Health and Identification Division, ODA. Testifies in opposition to SB 770. Expands on concerns, especially the fact that all states rely on the inspections and this measure would create an exemption to the process. Discusses minimal cost of current inspections.
180	Sen. Beyer	Asks about process of transporting cattle and inspecting brands.
185	Huffman	Explains the process.
220	Sen. Beyer	Asks about branding of dairy cattle.
225	Huffman	Discusses various methods, especially if the animals will move out of state.
245	Cynthia Kok	Director, Fish and Wildlife Division, Oregon State Police. Testifies in opposition to SB 770. Discusses difficulties in enforcement if there is an exemption to inspection requirements.
285	Glen Stonebrink	Oregon Cattlemen’s Association. Testifies in opposition to SB 770.
300	Greg Addington	Oregon Farm Bureau. Testifies in opposition to SB 770. Advises the bill creates more problems than it solves.
310	Chair Shields	Discusses background of bill. Closes public hearing on SB 770.
335	Chair Shields	Adjourns the meeting at 9:53 a.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – SB 748, article, Sen. Jason Atkinson, 3 pp

B – SB 748, article, Phil Donovan, 1 p

C – SB 673, written testimony, Chuck Craig, 3 pp

D – SB 770, written testimony, Chuck Craig, 2 pp