SENATE COMMITTEE ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT

February 26, 2003 Hearing Room B

3:00 p.m. Tapes 15-16

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Tony Corcoran, Chair

Sen. John Minnis, Vice-Chair

Sen. Bruce Starr

Sen. Vicki Walker

STAFF PRESENT: Mark Ellsworth, Committee Administrator

Heather Gravelle, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: SB 8 – Public Hearing and work session

SB 266 – Public Hearing

SB 267 – Public Hearing and Work Session

SB 269 – Public Hearing and Work Session

SB 271 – 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 15, A
005	Chair Corcoran	Calls the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. Opens public hearing on SB 8.
SB 8 – PUBLIC HEARING
010	Mark Ellsworth	Committee Administrator. Provides overview of SB 8.
015	Sen. Bruce Starr	District 15. Testifies in support of SB 8. Explains position. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT A).
020	Starr	Explains history of SB 8. States the importance of implementing the Amber Alert as soon as possible.
050	Sen. Peter Courtney	District 11. Testifies in support of SB 8. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT B).
065	Courtney	Explains where bill originated. Explains how it will work once it is implemented. Emphasizes the first few hours of abduction is the most critical if a child is to be brought home safely.
120	Sen. Minnis	Asks about flexibility in the statute, and if it would be too rigid if changes need to be made.
130	Courtney	States there will be some flexibility.
140	Chair Corcoran	Comments on adjustments that may need to be made.
155	Gregory Willeford	Commander, Oregon State Police Bureau of Investigation. Testifies in support of SB 8. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT C). Explains background, and gives overview of how SB 8 originated.
190	Willeford	Provides information on how the state Amber Alert Planning Group was formed. Explains the vital necessity of SB 8.
230	Willeford	Explains what the outcome will be upon passing SB 8. Highlights key features, which can be utilized by any law enforcement in the state of Oregon.
345	Sen. Minnis	Comments SB 8 seems flexible and establishing criteria could be general. Adds he doesn’t foresee a problem.
420	Larry Hatch	Assistant Director of 911. Testifies in support of SB 8.
TAPE 16, A
015	Pete Shepherd	Deputy Attorney General, State of Oregon. Testifies in support of SB 8. Provides copy of Amber Alert internet page (EXHIBIT D). Explains the need for Amber Alert to be implemented in Oregon.
035	Sen. Minnis	Inquires if there has ever been a false alert and what the process is.
045	Shepherd	Explains process.
075	Doug Tindall	Oregon Department of Transportation. Testifies in support of SB 8. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT E).
080	Chair Corcoran	Closes public hearing on SB 8. Opens work session on SB 8.
SB 8 – WORK SESSION
090	Sen. Starr	MOTION: Moves SB 8 to floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 4-0
095	Chair Corcoran	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. SEN. STARR will lead discussion on the floor.
125	Chair Corcoran	Closes work session on SB 8. Opens public hearing on SB 266.
SB 266 – PUBLIC HEARING
135	Mark Ellsworth	Committee Administrator. Provides overview of SB 266.
140	Bob Wolfe	Sheriff, Polk County. Testifies against SB 266. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT F).
165	Wolfe	Explains position. States there is no need to have senate confirmation.
195	Mary Botkin	AFSCME. Testifies in support of SB 266. Provides list of Corrections Policy Committee members, and a list of the Board of Public Safety Standards and Training members (EXHIBITS G & H).
210	Botkin	Explains position. Provides reasons why there should be a senate confirmation when electing new members.
220	Brian Delashmutt	OCPA. Testifies in support of SB 266. Explains position and why senate confirmation is necessary.
240	Chair Corcoran	Closes public hearing on SB 266. Opens public hearing on SB 267.
SB 267 – PUBLIC HEARING
250	Mark Ellsworth	Committee Administrator. Provides overview of SB 267.
255	Mary Botkin	AFSCME. Testifies in support of SB 267.
280	Botkin	Explains position. States there are very few females currently on the board.
340	Botkin	Provides examples of continuing frustration.
358	Brian Delashmutt	OCPA. Testifies in support of SB 267. Explains position. Comments the board should be made up of peers, so it is balanced. Adds it should represent all parties that have an interest in the training standards and discipline of officers in the state of Oregon.
445	Walker	Inquires why the board is so unbalanced.
450	Botkin	Answers and provides opinion.
TAPE 15, B
020	Sen. Minnis	Comments on the background of SB 267. Explains the transition period. States the Legislature has a degree of responsibility.
090	Botkin	Responds, clarifies position.
125	Bob Livingston	Oregon State Fire Fighters Council, Member of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training. Testifies neutral on SB 267. States SB 267 is a step in the right direction. Agrees the Board does need a balance.
160	Chair Corcoran	Reiterates the importance of the Board having a balance. States the ones who are actually doing the work don’t have a voice.
200	Bob Wolfe	Sheriff, Polk County. Testifies against SB 267. Provides written testimony from Rick Lewis, Chief Silverton Police Department (EXHIBIT I). States SB 267 excludes representation of county employees, which is unfair and discriminatory. States concern with adding more people to the Board. Feels it is an attempt to try and unionize. Provides history of past issues.
270	Chair Corcoran	Inquires about policy issues.
280	Wolfe	Claims there have been no issues to date.
290	Sen. Walker	Articulates SB 267 would provide an opportunity for people who are directly involved to provide input.
325	Sen. Starr	Inquires if there is a quorum requirement.
330	Wolfe	States yes, it is sometimes difficult to obtain a quorum.
375	Chair Corcoran	Closes public hearing on SB 267. Opens work session on SB 267.
SB 267 – WORK SESSION
380	Sen. Walker	MOTION: Moves SB 267 to floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 4-0
385	Chair Corcoran	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. SEN. MINNIS will lead discussion on the floor.
400	Chair Corcoran	Closes work session on SB 267. Opens public hearing on SB 269.
SB 269 – PUBLIC HEARING
TAPE 16, B
005	Mark Ellsworth	Committee Administrator. Provides overview of SB 269.
010	Mary Botkin	AFSCME. Explains the amendments to SB 269.
015	Chair Corcoran	Closes the public hearing on SB 269. Opens a work session on SB 269.
SB 269 – WORK SESSION
015	Sen. Minnis	MOTION: Moves SB 269 to floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 4-0
020	Chair Corcoran	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. Chair Corcoran will lead discussion on the floor.
035	Chair Corcoran	Closes work session on SB 269. Opens public hearing on SB 271.
SB 271 – PUBLIC HEARING
040	Mark Ellsworth	Committee Administrator. Provides overview of SB 271.
050	Mark Landauer	City of Portland, Office of Government Relations. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT J). Testifies in support of SB 271. Explains position.
055	Landauer	Explains why the bill is before the committee. Expresses amendments have been taken to Legislative Council for drafting.
075	Sen. Minnis	States the need to wait and see what the Governors recommendation is.
125	Minnis	Reiterates to hold onto the bill and wait for Governors decision.
130	Chair Corcoran	Comments and agrees. Closes public hearing on SB 271. Adjourns meeting at 4:45 p.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – SB 8, written testimony, Sen. Peter Courtney, 1 p

B – SB 8, written testimony, Sen. Bruce Starr, 2 pp

C – SB 8, written testimony, Gregory Willeford, 7 pp

D – SB 8, copy of internet page, Peter D. Shepherd, 2 pp

E – SB 8, written testimony, Doug Tindall, 1 p

F – SB 266, written testimony, Bob Wolfe, 1 p

G – SB 266, list of committee members, Mary Botkin, 1 p

H – SB 266, list of Board members, Mary Botkin, 2 pp

I – SB 267, written testimony, Rick Lewis, 2 pp

J – SB 271, written testimony, Mark Landauer, 2 pp