SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

March 18, 2003 Hearing Room C

3:00 p.m. Tape 36-37

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Charles Starr, Chair

Sen. Ryan Deckert, Vice-Chair

Sen. Ted Ferrioli

Sen. Bill Morrisette

STAFF PRESENT: Jan McComb, Committee Administrator

Heather Gravelle, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: SB 437 – Public Hearing and Work Session

SJR 7 – Public Hearing and Work Session

SB 509 – Public Hearing and Possible 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 36, A
005	Chair Starr	Calls the meeting to order at 3:15 p.m. Opens a public hearing on SB 437.
SB 437 – PUBLIC HEARING
010	Jan McComb	Committee Administrator. Provides overview of SB 437.
035	Sen. Deckert	Provides additional information on the-10 amendments.
055	Deckert	Continues explaining the -10 amendments. Adds further amendments may be needed.
060	McComb	Provides information on the -11 amendments.
065	Grattan Kerans	Oregon University System. Supports the -7 amendments to SB 437.
075	Hardy Meyers	Attorney General. Support the-7 amendments. Agrees the better course would be for the system specific contracts not to be part of the process. Mentions the information agreement. Avoids unnecessary delay, creates better communication and a faster process.
100	Chair Starr	Closes the public hearing on SB 437. Opens a work session on SB 437.
SB 437 – WORK SESSION
105	Sen. Ferrioli	MOTION: Moves adoption of the -7 amendments to SB 437.
		VOTE: 4-0
110	Chair Starr	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
120	Mellissa Unger	Oregon Student Association, Legislative Director. Supports the -9 amendments. Explains they replace the previously submitted -6 amendments. Feels the amendments would clarify the funds issue.
125	Kerans	States support of the -9 amendments.
135	Sen. Morrisette	MOTION: Moves adoption of the -9 amendments to SB 437.
		VOTE: 4-0
	Chair Starr	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
	Rich Peppers	Services Employees Union. Supports the -11 amendments. Explains position. States significant concern regarding the faculty. Asserts the -11 amendments simply states that classified employees continue to be covered through PEBB.
160	Mark Nelson	Association of Oregon Faculties. Supports the -11 amendments. Explains the faculty is a unique group within the state university system.
170	Kerans	States support of the -11 amendments.
190	Sen. Deckert	MOTION Moves adoption of the-11 amendments to SB 437.
		VOTE: 4-0
200	Chair Starr	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
205	Harvey Mathews	Associated Oregon Industries. States his opposition to the -7 amendments to SB 437.
250	Mathews	Explains why they should not incorporate the -7 amendments into SB 437. Highlights key points. States concern if the -7 amendments are allowed to stay in, there will be no concrete resolution.
TAPE 37, A
015	Kerans	Comments on subject. Explains contract, and administrative rule agreement between the Attorney General and the agency to come up with an interagency agreement. Adds at that point, the process moves forward.
045	Sen. Ferrioli	Comments on issues of licensing and development of properties. Asks what the objective of the whole process is.
075	Sen. Ferrioli	Also inquires how the business community will work with the education community.
080	Kerans	Answers and provides examples of history and assumptions of future.
115	Matthews	Expresses concerns again if -7 amendments are adopted.
150	Sen. Deckert	Inquires about the work group; states he would like to see results or product in the next couple of months to resolve the issues.
180	Meyers	States an initial product could be prepared, adds they will make every effort to accomplish that request.
215	Rem Nivens	Oregon Community College Association. States support of the -3 amendments. Explains the intent of the amendments.
230	Kerans	States supports to the -3 amendments.
295	Gary dean	Executive Director Oregon Independent College Association. States support of the -8 amendments. Declares few concerns have been expressed.
TAPE 36, B
085	Sen. Morrisette	Asks if they would accept the -10 amendments.
090	Kerans	Responds and gives clarification as to which amendments they are supporting.
115	Dean	States they would like to find a compromise.
130	Sen. Deckert	States appreciation of all comments and views; adds it will help develop a resolution to the issues.
222	Chair Starr	Appreciates the thoughtful presentation. Expresses holding off moving forward until further discussion.
245	Chair Starr	Closes work session on SB 437. Opens a public hearing on SJR 7.
SJR 7 – PUBLIC HEARING
265	Jan McComb	Committee administrator. Provides over view of SJR 7. States it is a companion bill to SB 437. Adds it still needs a revenue statement.
285	Chair Starr	Closes public hearing on SJR 7. Opens public hearing on SB 509.
SB 509 – PUBLIC HEARING
290	Jan McComb	Committee administrator. Provides overview of SB 509.
300	Grattan Kerans	Oregon University System Testifies in support of SB 509, with amendments. Provides written testimony from David McDonald, Director of Enrollment, Oregon University Systems. (EXHIBITS A & B).
330	Kerans	States there is a fiscal impact statement. States Oregon and Washington had a tuition reciprocity agreement that allowed residents from each state to attend public two and four year colleges and Universities to pay the tuition rate for in state residents.
380	Sen. Morrisette	Asks when the agreement lapsed.
395	Grattan Kerans	Answers in 2001, provides background on issue. Adds they would be interested in reconstituting the agreement if it guaranteed a uniform and fair way to balance.
TAPE 37, B
005	Chair Starr	Asks how the reciprocity agreement was formed.
010	Kerans	Expresses detailed information on how the agreement was initially formed.
045	Sen. Morrisette	Asks if Kerans is aware of balance issues in Washington.
050	Kerans	States yes and that is why the program is being eliminated.
060	Chair Starr	Requests Kerans to research and see if there is a reciprocity connection agreement that mitigates losses. Adds the bill will not move forward at this point.
105	Chair Starr	Closes the public hearing on SB 509. Adjourns meeting at 4:50 p.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – SB 509, written testimony, David McDonald, 2 pp

B – SB 509, Statistical Information, David McDonald 5 pp