SENATE COMMITTEE ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT

May 19, 2003 Hearing Room B

3:00 P.M. Tapes 56-57

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: HB 2893 A – Public Hearing and Work Session

HB 2743 A – Work Session

HB 3061 A – Public Hearing and Work Session

SJM 6 – Public Hearing and Work Session

HB 3212 – Public Hearing and 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 56, A
005	Chair Corcoran	Calls the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. Opens a public hearing on HB 2893 A.
HB 2893 A – PUBLIC HEARING
010	Sen. Frank Morse	District 8. Testifies in opposition of HB 2893. Provides information on the roles of the Board of Geologists Examiners. Explains the Board provides the boundaries in which the profession will operate.
025	Sen. Morse	States in respect to HB 2893 A, you need to distinguish what is a broad public policy and the interest of one individual.
035	Rep. Phil Barnhart	District 11. Testifies in support of HB 2893 A. Provides background and history of the bill. Explains HB 2893 A establishes fundamental rights, and the scope of the practice of geology, which does not include testifying at a public hearing.
100	Chair Corcoran	States as an outsider, the Board seems to make decisions that are highly questionable constitutionally.
115	Rep. Barnhart	Clarifies HB 2893 A does not allow anyone to start practicing geology. Explains it won’t change the requirements to become a geologist. Adds it simply says anyone can come to a public hearing and testify on a geology issue.
140	Sen. Starr	Inquires why the Consulting Engineer Geologists are so upset over HB 2893 A.
145	Rep. Barnhart	Suggests people are reviewing the earliest version of HB 2893 A. Explains it has been amended and is now simplified.
155	Mark Reed	Professor of Geology, University of Oregon. Testifies in support of HB 2893 A. States the bill clarifies the practice of geology. Provides written testimony (EXHIBITS A & B).
185	Reed	Explains the bill is narrowly defined.
225	John Beaulieu	Director of Geology. Testifies in opposition of HB 2893 A. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT C).Provides background and history. Adds the specific case that brought the issue forward. Expresses the need to maintain some kind of standards and ethics regarding geology.
305	Sen. Walker	Inquires if HB 2893 A passed, would it allow a person to give false testimony without being reviewed by the Board first.
310	Beaulieu	Answers he feels it will.
340	Gary Peterson	Registered geologist. Testifies in opposition of HB 2893 A. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT D). Explains why he is opposed. States the bill undermines accountability. States he doesn’t believe the language in current statute is unconstitutional.
TAPE 57, A
030	Dr. Steve Taylor	Assistant Director of Geology. Mentions credentials. Testifies as neutral on HB 2893 A. Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT E). Expresses there is a regulated framework for standards and practicing geology. Appreciates the freedom of speech, but on this issue, there is the potential of weakening licensing standards.
085	Chair Corcoran	Closes the public hearing on HB 2893 A. Opens a work session on HB 2893 A.
HB 2893 A – WORK SESSION
095	Sen. Minnis	MOTION: Moves HB 2893 A to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 4-0
100	Chair Corcoran	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. SEN. MINNIS will lead discussion on the floor.
115	Chair Corcoran	Closes the work session on HB 2893 A. Opens a work session on HB 2743 A.
HB 2743 A – WORK SESSION
120	Sen. Minnis	MOTION: Moves HB 2743 A to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 4-0
125	Chair Corcoran	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. SEN. CORCORAN and SEN. MINNIS will lead discussion on the floor.
130	Chair Corcoran	Closes the work session on HB 2743 A. Opens a public hearing on HB 3061 A.
HB 3061 A – PUBLIC HEARING
140	Mark Ellsworth	Committee Administrator. Provides an overview of HB 3061 A.
145	Jon Chandler	Land Use Specialist, Oregon Building Industry Association. Testifies in support of HB 3061 A. Provides written testimony. (EXHIBIT F). Explains the intent of HB 3061 A.
150	Chair Corcoran	Closes the public hearing on HB 3061 A. Opens a work session on HB 3061 A.
HB 3061 A – WORK SESSION
165	Sen. Starr	MOTION: Moves HB 3061 A to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 4-0
170	Chair Corcoran	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. SEN. STARR will lead discussion on the floor.
175	Chair Corcoran	Closes the work session on HB 3061 A. Opens a public hearing on SJM 6.
SJM 6 – PUBLIC HEARING
180	Mark Ellsworth	Committee Administrator. Provides an overview of SJM 6.
185	Jon Mangis	Veterans Affairs. Testifies in support of SJM 6. States the history and background. Expresses changing how things are done now to help those in the future. Continues explaining that many states are working on similar legislation.
200	Chair Corcoran	Asks why the issue hasn’t been addressed before.
225	Mangis	Responds and provides information.
255	Walter Crews	Legislative representative. Testifies in support of SJM 6. Explains position and why he is supportive. Adds NCOA does support the bill.
260	Greg Warnock	Oregon Veteran’s Association. Testifies in support of SJM 6. States position. Mentions credentials.
280	Sen. Walker	Expresses it is shameful that no one has moved on the issue. Adds it needs to be changed in Congress.
283	Chair Corcoran	Closes the public hearing on SJM 6. Opens a work session on SJM 6.
SJM 6 – WORK SESSION
285	Sen. Minnis	MOTION: Moves SJM 6 to the floor with a DO ADOPT recommendation.
		VOTE: 4-0
290	Chair Corcoran	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. SEN. MINNIS will lead discussion on the floor.
295	Chair Corcoran	Closes the work session on SJM 6. Opens a public hearing on HB 3212 A.
HB 3212 A – PUBLIC HEARING
300	Mark Ellsworth	Committee Administrator. Provides an overview of HB 3212.
325	Greg Warnock	Oregon Veteran’s Association. Testifies in support of HB 3212 A. Explains position. States the intent of the bill. Expresses the reason he is supportive, is because it distinguishes and offers a leave of absence for employees of the National Guard.
360	Dennis Hooyman	Veteran. Testifies in support of HB 3212 A. States position and expresses how important it is to pass the bill.
365	Jon Mangis	Department of Veterans Affairs. Testifies in support of HB 3212 A. Expresses the difference between HB 3212 A and SB 325.
TAPE 56, B
005	Chair Corcoran	Closes the public hearing on HB 3212 A. Opens a work session on HB 3212 A.
HB 3212 – WORK SESSION
005	Sen. Starr	MOTION: Moves HB 3212 A to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 4-0
010	Chair Corcoran	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. SEN. STARR will lead discussion on the floor.
015	Chair Corcoran	Closes the work session on HB 3212 A. Adjourns the meeting at 4:05 p.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – HB 2893 A, written testimony, Mark Reed, 11 pp

B – HB 2893 A, written testimony, Mark Reed, 4 pp

C – HB 2893 A, written testimony, John Beaulieu, 2 pp

D – HB 2893 A, written testimony, Gary L. Peterson, 4 pp

E – HB 2893 A, written testimony, Steve Taylor, 2 pp

F – HB 3061 A, written testimony, Jon Chandler, 1 p