SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY

April 22, 2003 Hearing Room B

1:00 pm Tapes 63 - 64

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Bill Morrisette, Chair

Sen. Bill Fisher, Vice-Chair

Sen. John Minnis

Sen. Frank Shields

Sen. Charles Starr

Sen. Vicki Walker

STAFF PRESENT: Marjorie Taylor, Administrator

Saranelle Allen, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: SB 886 – Public Hearing

SB 684 – 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 63, A
009	Chair Morrisette	Convenes meeting at 1:16 p.m. and opens a public hearing on SB 886.
SB 886 – PUBLIC HEARING
020	Marjorie Taylor	Administrator. Explains the bill.
	Sen. Frank Shields	District 24. Testifies on the -1 amendment to SB 886. Reviews the rewrite (EXHIBIT A).
088	Michael Buckley	Acting Administrator, Department of Human Services (EXHIBIT B).
		Testifies in support of SB 886 and the -1 amendment, and does not feel there is any area of concern with confidentiality and does not allow outside organizations any access to department records.
189	Chair Morrisette	Asks about current faith-based organizations.
	Sen. Shields	Enters written testimony from Lowell Greathouse on SB 886 (EXHIBIT C).
304	Steven Green	Professor, Willamette College of Law. Submits a suggested amendment to SB 886 (EXHIBIT D). Testifies and makes several suggestions on refining the proposed amendment.
403	Sen. Shields	Asks question on language changes.
	Sen. Minnis	Suggests placement of a statement on non-discrimination.
Tape 64, A
022	Green	States a potential exists of differences between what a faith-based organization would recommend vs. the Department of Health Services.
	Chair Morrisette	Raises questions on what programs are offered and what information is required to place an individual in a specific program.
054	Andrea Meyer	Legislative Director, ACLU. Expresses concerns on SB 886. Feels clients may feel coerced or pressured, and gives an example on the Muslim faith as not having ‘membership’ in a Mosque. Feels Mr. Green’s amendment would satisfy some of these concerns.
253	Meyer	Gives response that there will probably be a faith-based reply given.
	Sen. Minnis	Suggests a minor word change to state it is a voluntary offer for an individual and the individual would have his own choice.
299	Sen. Starr	Expresses hope for members of faith-based programs who could volunteer to do so.
340	Sen. Shields	Asks if any one has suggestions on the amendment to let him know.
	Chair Morrisette	Suggests reworking the amendment, and hearing the bill again.
390	Chair Morrisette	Closes public hearing on SB 886, and opens a public hearing on SB 684.
SB 684 – PUBLIC HEARING
399	Marjorie Taylor	Administrator. Explains bill, and submits several packets of documents (EXHIBIT E).
404	Gordon Martin	Tigard. Testifies to the many problems facing his district for either having or not having fluoride in their water, and the multi-ramifications of costs, personal choice and other issues.
Tape 63, B
040	Martin	Gives additional explanation on his involvement with other districts, and the process of getting public vote.
	Chair Morrisette	States the intent of having this hearing.
206	Williams S. Ten Pas	Dentist. Testifies to the benefits of fluoride for dental care and prevention. Advises there is a standard for placing fluoride in water, and states the benefits. Continues with further testimony.
	Sen. Minnis	Asks who makes the decision on what to put in our water, and why isn’t the decision left up to individuals.
293	Dr. Ten Pas	Continues with additional testimony.
Tape 64, B
023	Martin	Feels the two way conversation just held would allow him to do his due diligence on making a decision on the fluoride issue for his board.
056	Sen. Fisher	Asks if there is a state law that requires fluoride, and is there a state agency that puts fluoride in water.
		Asks if local water departments have a constituency, and a right to demand what the water quality should be. States that he worked on this bill about 2 years ago, and the outcome should be put out for a decision by the people.
	Sen. Fisher	Declares that it should be a community decision, and doesn’t feel the state should be involved in it.
199	Sen. Walker	Expresses concern on no approval noted from the FDA. Feels there is little need for the legislature to take any time reviewing these issues again.
	Chair Morrisette	Summarizes the discussions of the hearing.
255	Sen. Starr	States the positive aspects of fluoride.
270	Chair Morrisette	States the bill is very controversial, and is not sure how the bill could pass anywhere at this point.
	Chair Morrisette	Closes public hearing on SB 684 and adjourns the meeting at 3:01 p.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – SB 886, submitted proposed -1 amendment, Senator Frank Shields, 3 pp.

B – SB 886, written testimony, Michael Buckley, 2 pp.

C – SB 886, submitted written testimony, Lowell Greathouse, 2 pp.

D – SB 886, submitted proposed amendment, Steven Green, 1 p.

E – SB 684, written testimony, Gordon Martin, Dr. William S. Ten Pas, and

submitted documents from miscellaneous other authors, 163 pp.