SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

February 27, 2003 Hearing Room C

3:00 p.m. Tape 24-25

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Charles Starr, Chair

Sen. Ted Ferrioli

Sen. Bill Morrisette

MEMBERS EXCUSED: Sen. Ryan Deckert, Vice-Chair

STAFF PRESENT: Jan McComb, Committee Administrator

Heather Gravelle, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: SB 240 – Public Hearing and Work Session

SJR 1 – Work Session

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 24, A
005	Chair Starr	Calls meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. Opens public hearing on SB 240.
SB 240 – PUBLIC HEARING
010	Jan McComb	Committee Administrator. Provides overview of SB 240.
015	Richard Jarvis	Chancellor, Oregon University System. Testifies in support of SB 240. Provides written information (EXHIBITS A, B).
020	Robert Simonton	Director of Capital Construction, Oregon University System. Testifies in support of SB 240. Identifies the problem is deferred maintenance.
040	Simonton	Explains basis for findings of backlog in building repairs. Adds it has been difficult convincing others of the magnitude of the problem.
100	Simonton	Explains how much it will cost for repairs and outlines the geographical areas.
120	Sen. Morrisette	Inquires if there is a mission statement or rules that have been adopted regarding deferred maintenance.
135	Simonton	Comments the state board has adopted rules and management principals to ensure repairs are done. States the problem is funding.
190	Elisabeth Zinser	President, Southern Oregon University. Testifies in support of SB 240. Explains SB 240 is vital to protecting the safety and the quality of education and access to students. States providing efficient ways to accomplish goals is of utmost importance.
200	Zinser	Explains top priorities and provides information on specific buildings that need repair.
245	Tim White	President, Oregon State University. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT C). Stresses that Universities generate jobs. Explains that universities cannot continue to provide high level jobs or produce graduates with facilities that are continuing to degrade.
255	White	Continues explaining why the problem should be addressed immediately. Provides list of buildings which are the highest priorities.
325	Dan Bernstine	President, Portland State University. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT D). Explains building repairs that need to be accomplished immediately.
360	Sen. Morrisette	Asks about future needs of PSU.
370	Bernstine	Articulates current needs and comments if they are not addressed, they will become future problems. Adds parking issues have continued to be an issue.
405	Sen. Morrisette	Inquires if PSU has a budget set aside for maintenance and repair.
410	Bernstine	Explains there have been significant budget cuts and shortfalls. Adds they have sacrificed maintaining the campus in favor of access to academic programs.
435	Zinser	Comments many universities need special funding in order to repair the buildings. Adds these issues have compounded over time.
460	White	Comments that preventative maintenance and repairs is the goal for the future. Continues by stating the bonds will help to get caught up and ensure maintaining the buildings in the future.
TAPE 25, A
005	Dan Williams	Vice-President of Administration, University of Oregon. Testifies in support of SB 240. Explains funding problems for maintenance and repairs.
035	Philip Conn	Western Oregon University. Testifies in support of SB 240. Explains repairs that need to be addressed immediately. States specific problems are with the electrical and plumbing systems, which are at the critical level.
062	Martha Anne Dow	President Oregon Institute of Technology. Mentions specific buildings and what needs to be repaired. Explains what the buildings are being utilized for currently.
160	Williams	Outlines solutions and specifies the money needed to provide efficient repairs.
210	Sen. Morrisette	Asks why issue is being addressed now.
305	Williams	Explains history and specifies what brought the issue to this point.
315	Jessica Harris	Associated General Contractors. Testifies in support of SB 240. Explains position. Provides information on the companies hardest hit, due to the economy.
358	Harris	Explains the issues, and the projects. Adds once you build, it is incumbent to maintain the building.
360	Bob Shipwreck	Oregon Building Construction and Trades Council. Testifies in support of SB 240.
370	Shipwreck	States the importance of maintaining the buildings.
TAPE 24, B
005	Grattan Kerans	Director of Government Relations. Reports that SB 240 and SJR 1 have been reviewed by the Treasurer and the Director of Debt Management, and both have given their approval.
010	Kerans	Adds they are working with the Treasury Department on technical amendments, so the bills will be in proper form and match language in the most recent General Obligation Bond Constitutional Amendments. States they will follow up with Ways and Means.
020	Chair Starr	Closes public hearing on SB 240. Opens work session on SB 240.
SB 240 – WORK SESSION
035	Sen. Morrisette	MOTION: Moves SB 240 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation and BE REFFERED to the Committee on Ways and Means by prior reference.
		VOTE: 3-0 EXCUSED: 1 – Sen. Deckert
045	Chair Starr	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
050	Chair Starr	Closes work session on SB 240. Opens work session on SJR 1.
SJR 1 – WORK SESSION
055	Sen. Morrisettee	MOTION: Moves SJR 1 to the floor with a BE ADOPTED recommendation and BE REFFERED to the Committee on Ways and Means.
		VOTE: 3-0 EXCUSED: 1 – Sen. Deckert
060	Chair Starr	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
065	Chair Starr	Closes work session on SJR 1. Adjourns meeting at 4:55 p.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – SB 240, written information, Richard Jarvis, 16 pp

B – SB 240, written information, Richard Jarvis, 104 pp

C – SB 240, written testimony, Tim White, 1 p

D – SB 240, written testimony and visual aids, Dan Bernstine, 11 pp