SENATE COMMITTEE ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT

March 17, 2003 Hearing Room HR B

3:00 P.M. Tapes 23-24

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 650 – Public Hearing and Work Session

SB 495 – Public Hearing

SB 676 – Public Hearing and Work Session

HB 2004A – 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 23, A
005	Chair Corcoran	Calls the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. Opens a public hearing on SB 650.
SB 650 – PUBLIC HEARING
010	Sen. Bill Morrisette	District 6. Testifies in support of SB 650. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT A). Expresses concern over not having a warning system for tsunamis. Adds there is no uniform signal.
035	Sen. Morrisette	States they held a work session to determine a solution. SB 650 would establish the uniform tsunami warning signal. Points out packet of information for members to review.
045	Chair Corcoran	Closes public hearing on SB 650. Opens public hearing on SB 495.
SB 495 – PUBLIC HEARING
075	Larry Lehman	City Manager, City of Pendleton. Testifies in support of SB 495. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT B). Explains position and history. Expresses the importance of passing SB 495.
110	Lehman	Expresses in spite of steps taken over the next few years, Pendleton may need to reduce fire and police forces. Explains what the goal is.
135	Sen. Minnis	Asks why the City of Pendleton would need to reduce fire and police forces.
145	Sen. Minnis	Asks if the City of Pendleton has reserve police and voluntary fire fighters.
150	Lehman	Responds and clarifies specific questions.
145	Maria Keltner	League of Oregon Cities. Testifies in support of B 495. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT C).
155	Keltner	Expresses the importance of SB 495. Presents specific examples.
170	Chair Corcoran	Asks about the process of arbitration.
175	Keltner	Responds and provides clarity to the process.
190	Rep. Bob Jenson	District 58. Testifies in support of SB 495. States the importance of passing SB 495.
200	Jim Batwing	President, Oregon State Police Officers Association. Testifies against SB 495. Explains position and why he is against the bill. Comments the policy is already established. Adds SB 495 kills binding arbitration.
215	Brian DeLashmutt	Oregon Council of Police Association. Testifies against SB 495. States the language needs to be revised. Specifies which portions. Adds the interest and welfare of the public needs to come first.
275	Chair Corcoran	Closes public hearing on SB 495. Re-opens a public hearing on SB 650.
The following prepared testimony is submitted for the record without public testimony for SB 495:
	Dan Bartlett	Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT G)
SB 650 – PUBLIC HEARING
280	Rep. Joanne Verger	District 9. Testifies in support of SB 650. Explains position and why it is necessary. Presents example of an actual incident. Explains how the community rushed out and went to the highway to see the waves. Adds as mayor of the city, discovered that many had no idea there was a tsunami, states they now use a World War 11 siren, which is tested once a month.
325	George Priest	Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. Testifies in support of SB 650. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT D). Explains history. States why SB 650 is so important to implement.
370	Priest	Clarifies which areas will be most affected. Adds Educating the public before it happens is the goal. States that tens of thousands of lives may be lost if the magnitude nine earthquake hits.
400	Mark Darienzo	Testifies in support of SB 650. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT E). Explains what tsunamis are and how frequent they occur. Mentions statewide earthquake warning practice drills.
TAPE 24, A
005	Chair Corcoran	Inquires if people who are in remote areas will have access to radios.
015	Darienzo	Responds encouraging people to buy special radios to improve all areas of coverage.
030	Chair Corcoran	Asks if the agency anticipate any fiscal impact for the development of this warning system.
045	Priest	Explains how funds are gathered. Informs a fiscal impact is not foreseen. Clarifies funds will be gathered through the tsunami program.
055	Chair Corcoran	Closes the public hearing on SB 650. Opens a work session on SB 650.
SB 650 – WORK SESSION
060	Sen. Minnis	MOTION: Moves SB 650 to floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 4-0
090	Chair Corcoran	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. SEN. MORRISETTE will lead discussion on the floor.
100	Chair Corcoran	Closes the work session on SB 650. Opens a public hearing on SB 676.
SB 676 – PUBLIC HEARING
110	Rod Lohof	Fleet Manager, Department of Administrative Services. Testifies in support of SB 676. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT F). States the current rules are confusing and hard to implement. SB 676 allows for a more realistic approach. Explains why he feels it should be implemented.
145	Minnis	Asks who is exempt from the standard.
147	Lohof	States which agencies are exempt.
150	Chair Corcoran	Closes the public hearing on SB 676. Opens a work session on SB 676.
SB 676 – WORK SESSION
160	Sen. Minnis	MOTION: Moves SB 676 to floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 4-0
165	Chair Corcoran	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. SEN. STARR will lead discussion on the floor.
170	Chair Corcoran	Closes the work session on SB 676. Opens a work session on HB 2004A.
HB 2004A – WORK SESSION
175	Mark Ellsworth	Committee Administrator. Provides an over view of HB 2004A amendments.
208	Sen. Minnis	MOTION: Moves adoption of the-16 amendments to HB 2004A.
		VOTE: 4-0
215	Chair Corcoran	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
220	Brian DeLashmutt	Explains the -17 amendments to HB 2004A.
235	Chair Corcoran	Asks if the study would be financed through means other than general funds.
240	Delashmutt	Answers Yes, through PERS. Adds they tried to construct the amendments so it captured the primary police and fire traditional roles correctly.
275	Chair Corcoran	Advises consultation with Rep. Knopp before action is taken.
305	Chair Corcoran	Closes the work session on HB 2004 A. Adjourns the meeting at 4:45 p.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – SB 650, written testimony, Sen. Bill Morrisette, 15 p

B – SB 450, written testimony, Larry Lehman, 2 pp

C – SB 495, written testimony, Maria Keltner, 2 pp

D – SB 650, written testimony, George Priest, 2 pp

E – SB 650, written testimony, Mark Darienzo, 1 p

F – SB 676, written testimony, Rod Lohof, 2 pp

The following exhibit is listed out of order in the body of the tape log:

G – SB 495, additional testimony for the record, Dan Bartlett, 1 p