PUBLIC HEARING: SB 758, SJR 30

PUBLIC HEARING AND WORK SESSION: SJR 7

TAPES 82-83, A-B

SENATE REVENUE COMMITTEE

April 7, 2003 1:00 PM STATE CAPITOL BUILDING

Members Present: Senator Ryan Deckert, Chair

Senator Ted Ferrioli, Vice Chair

Senator Tony Corcoran

Senator Lenn Hannon

Senator Charlie Ringo

Senator Bruce Starr

Witnesses Present: Richard Jarvis, Chancellor of Oregon University System

Dave Frohnmayer, President, University of Oregon

Tim White, President, Oregon State University

Dolores Raymond, Washington County Alzheimer’s Association

Nicola Cribb, Aloha Resident

Robert Harvey, Alzheimer’s Association of Oregon and Greater Idaho

Jim Davis, Alzheimer’s Association of Oregon and Greater Idaho

Senator Vicki Walker, District 7

Hasina Squires, Association of Public Safety Communications Officials

Larry Hatch, Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency

Kristina Wilde, Central Lane Communications Center

Paul Snider, Oregon Association of Counties

Staff Present: Paul Warner, Legislative Revenue Office

Lizbeth Martin-Mahar, Legislative Revenue Office

Richard Yates, Legislative Revenue Office

Tara Lantz, Committee Assistant

TAPE 82, SIDE A

004

Chair Deckert

Calls meeting to order at 1:05pm.

OPENS PUBLIC HEARING ON SJR 7

012	Richard Yates	Explains SJR 7 which proposed an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to reduce the general fund match required to issue general obligation bonds under article 11-G. Exhibit 1.
030	Richard Jarvis	Testifies in support of SJR 7 because since the passage of Measure 5 Oregon universities have only received enough money from the general fund to complete six projects. Discusses proposed amendment. Exhibit 3.
064	Sen. Deckert	Asks why they want to move the date to general election of 2004 rather then the next primary.
066	Jarvis	Responds that they would be proceeding as anticipated in the next biennium and this would be moving with the current process.
066	Dave Frohnmayer	Testifies in support of SJR 7 because with record enrollment the university is exceeding capacity. Refer to written testimony. Exhibit 4. Explains that one reason to move the election to the general election is that they already have a major bonding issue to deal with deferred maintenance is already on the ballot.
103	Tim White	Testifies in support of SJR 7 because it would leverage more private investments in capital facilities. Refer to written testimony. Exhibit 5.
142	Sen. Deckert	Asks if the passage of SJR 7 would cause a decrease in private donations.
146	White	Responds that the needs are so great that the foundation would not become less aggressive in finding private donations.
161	Frohnmayer	Responds that it would be an incentive for donors because they would see the state stepping up to do its part.
176	Sen. Deckert	Asks if the Kelley investment would have been less had this law been in effect.
185	White	Responds that if there had been a different kind of match the investment from the Kelley group there might have been a broader investment.
189	Sen. Hannon	Expresses strong support for SJR 7 and a great appreciation for the work of university leaders.
236	Sen. Ringo	States that supporting higher education is the best economic development investment that the legislature can make.
255	Frohnmayer	Discusses study done that found a high return in the Oregon economy for every dollar spent. Discussion follows.

CLOSES PUBLIC HEARING ON SJR 7

OPENS WORK SESSION ON SJR 7

335	Sen. Ferrioli	MOTION: MOVES SJR 7-1 AMENDMENTS DATED 4/3/03 BE ADOPTED.
342	Sen. Deckert	ORDER: HEARING NO OBJECTION, MOTION PASSES: 5-0-1. SENATORS EXCUSED: STARR.
343	Sen. Ferrioli	MOTION: MOVES SJR 7 TO THE SENATE FLOOR WITH A DO PASS AS AMENDED RECOMMENDATION.
346	Sen. Deckert	ORDER: HEARING NO OBJECTION, MOTION PASSES: 5-0-1. SENATORS EXCUSED: STARR. Sen. Hannon and Sen. Clarno will carry the bill on the Senate Floor.

CLOSES WORK SESSION ON SJR 7

OPENS PUBLIC HEARING ON SB 758

386

Lizbeth Martin-Mahar

Explains SB 758 which authorizes a personal income tax credit for an individual that provides unreiumbursed care to a relative that consists of providing assistance to a relative with daily living activities for more than six months. Exhibit 6.

402

Dolores Raymond

Testifies in support of SB 758 because it would help families that have the financial and physical burden of caring for relatives with disabilities. Refer to written testimony. Exhibit 9.

TAPE 83, SIDE A

067	Nicola Cribb	Testifies in support of SB 758 because it is necessary, especially during the current economic crisis, for people taking care of family members with disabilities that are no longer able to get assistance from the state.
099	Robert Harvey	Gives personal account of caring for his wife who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
178	Sen. Ringo	Points out that the bill is targeted for moderate income people. Asks about a figure given by Raymond.
186	Raymond	Responds that it was a fiscal statement from the 2001 Regular Legislative Session. Discussion follows.
205	Jim Davis	Testifies in support of SB 758 because it is important to provide more financial support to family caregivers. Refer to written testimony. Exhibit 10.

CLOSES PUBLIC HEARING ON SB 758

OPENS PUBLIC HEARING ON SJR 30

287	Richard Yates	Explains SJR 30 which proposes amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require that any revenue from a State tax on telephone service be used to fund emergency and public safety communications facilities, equipment, and services. Exhibit 12.
301	Sen. Starr	Asks if SJR 30 impacts the fees imposed to fund services for the deaf.
307	Yates	Responds that he believes it would not affect those services. Discussion follows.
340	Sen. Hannon	Asks if all taxes used to fund other programs would be taken for 911 funds.
349	Sen. Walker	Discusses the intent of the bill and states that it needs to be amended to narrow the scope. Expresses her support for SJR 30.

TAPE 82, SIDE B

018	Hasina Squires	Explains the telephone tax and how it is distributed and used. Testifies in support of SJR 30 because it has recently been diverted to fund other services, depleting the funds used for 9-1-1 services. Refer to written testimony. Exhibit 14.
115	Larry Hatch	Testifies in support of SJR 30 because in the future the money coming from the 9-1-1 telephone tax should be used for what it is intended.
129	Sen. Deckert	Asks if there is an excess in funds since the extraordinary growth in cell phones.
136	Hatch	Responds that an increase in calls accompanied the growth in cell phones. Discussion follows.
159	Kristina Wilde	Responds that the FCC mandated that wireless lines have the same technology as hard lines so that callers can be located.
172	Sen. Ferrioli	Asks if the bill excludes areas that do not have call centers and if it would exclude using the funds to build cell phone towers.
185	Squires	Responds that amendments are going to address what the funds can be used for.
191	Sen. Ferrioli	States that he supports SJR 30 but expresses concern that the entire state needs to be able to access the service. Discussion follows.
224	Sen. Corcoran	States that he doesn’t like the fact that they are amending the constitution for this and expresses concern over the language.
234	Squires	Responds that the amendments would address that language.
272	Paul Snider	Testifies in support of SJR 30 because the telephone tax should be used for what it is dedicated for.
284	Sen. Deckert	Adjourns meeting at 2:20pm.

Tape Log Submitted by,

Tara Lantz, Committee Assistant

Exhibit Summary:

1. SJR 7, Richard Yates, Staff Measure Summary, 1p.

2. SJR 7, Richard Yates, Fiscal Impact Statement, 1p.

3. SJR 7, Richard Yates, Proposed SJR 7-1 Amendments, 1p.

4. SJR 7, Dave Frohnmayer, Written Testimony, 1p.

5. SJR 7, Tim White, Written Testimony, 1p.

6. SB 758, Lizbeth Martin-Mahar, Staff Measure Summary, 1p.

7. SB 758, Judie Christensen, Written Testimony, 2pp.

8. SB 758, Sally Madden, Written Testimony, 2pp.

9. SB 758, Dolores Raymond, Written Testimony, 3pp.

10. SB 758, Jim Davis, Written Testimony, 1p.

11. SB 758, Oregon Revenue Coalition, Written Testimony, 3pp.

12. SJR 30, Richard Yates, Staff Measure Summary, 1p.

13. SJR 30, Richard Yates, Fiscal Impact Statement, 1p.

14. SJR 30, Hasina Squires, Written Testimony, 13pp.

15. SJR 30, Larry Hatch, Written Testimony, 1p.

16. SJR 30, Kristina Wilde, Written Testimony, 1p.

17. SJR 30, Oregon Telecommunications Association, 1p.