SENATE COMMITTEE ON RULES

February 13, 2003 Hearing Room 343

3:00 p.m. Tapes 8 - 10

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Kate Brown, Co-chair, Presiding

Sen. Bev Clarno, Co-chair

Sen. Jason Atkinson, Vice-chair

Sen. Ginny Burdick, Vice-chair

Sen. Roger Beyer

Sen. Tony Corcoran

STAFF PRESENT: Jim Stembridge, Committee Administrator

Pam Cox, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: Introduction of Committee Measures – Work Session

Executive Appointments – Public Hearing and Work Session

Department of Agriculture

State Lottery

SB 102 – 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 8, A
004	Co-chair Brown	Opens committee meeting at 3:07 p.m. Opens a work session for introduction of committee measures.
WORK SESSION
005	Jim Stembridge	Committee Administrator. Reads committee measure drafting and introduction request from Sen. Bill Fisher.
010	Sen. Clarno	MOTION: Moves LEGISLATIVE CONCEPT BE DRAFTED AND INTRODUCED as a committee measure.
011		VOTE: 5-0 EXCUSED: 1 - Sen. Corcoran
	Co-chair Brown	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
013	Co-chair Brown	Closes work session and opens public hearing on the appointment of Katy Coba to the Department of Agriculture.
PUBLIC HEARING DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE – KATY COBA (EXHIBIT A)
016	Katy Coba	Discusses her background and qualifications for the appointment.
043	Co-chair Brown	Closes public hearing and opens work session.

WORK SESSION AGRICULTURE – KATY COBA (EXHIBIT A)
045	Sen. Clarno	MOTION: Moves the APPOINTMENT of Katy Coba to the Department of Agriculture to the floor with the recommendation that the appointment BE CONFIRMED.
046		VOTE: 6-0
	Co-chair Brown	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
048	Co-chair Brown	Closes work session and opens a public hearing on the appointment of Brenda Rocklin to the Department of the State Lottery.
PUBLIC HEARING STATE LOTTERY – BRENDA ROCKLIN (EXHIBIT B)
065	Brenda Rocklin	Discusses her background and qualifications for the appointment.
076	Co-chair Brown	Closes public hearing and opens work session on the appointment of Brenda Rocklin to the Department of State Lottery.
WORK SESSION STATE LOTTERY – BRENDA ROCKLIN (EXHIBIT B)
077	Sen. Clarno	MOTION: Moves the APPOINTMENT of Brenda Rocklin to the State Lottery to the floor with the recommendation that the appointment BE CONFIRMED.
078		VOTE: 6-0
	Co-chair Brown	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
079	Co-chair Brown	Closes work session and opens public hearing on SB 102.
SB 102 – PUBLIC HEARING
080	Philip Schradle	Special Counsel to the Attorney General, Oregon Department of Justice. Testifies in support of SB 102, which allows circulation of state initiative petition with summary prepared by Attorney General. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT C).
222	Sen. Clarno	Asks for clarification on the fees from the Attorney General’s office.
229	Schradle	Answers.
240	Sen. Burdick	Asks what that would include.
247	Schradle	Answers.
252	Keith Garza	Oregon Supreme Court. Provides input in the process of ballot titles and submits proposed -2 amendments dated 2-4-03 (EXHIBIT D).
299	Sen. Burdick	Asks what other steps to this process his office handles.
300	Garza	Answers.
330	Sen. Beyer	Asks what the savings would be in the next election.
341	Garza	Notes the reductions and impact of SB 102.
419	Schradle	Describes the passage of this measure and bringing costs down.
467	Sen. Beyer	Asks for clarification on the differences if SB 102 passed.
TAPE 9, A
010	Schradle	Answers the process would be different during signature gathering.
014	Sen. Beyer	Clarifies some petitions in current election cycle would be treated differently.
015	Schradle	Discusses effect of an emergency clause.
045	Kappy Eaton	League of Women Voters of Oregon. Testifies in support of SB 102. Outlines the League’s research and discussion on SB 102. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT E).
110	Greg Wasson	Testifies in opposition to SB 102 and comments regarding the Constitution. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT F).
169	Sen. Burdick	Comments that it does not change the number of signatures.
170	Wasson	Responds a person would expend more effort.
187	Sen. Burdick	Asks if it would be harder to persuade people.
188	Wasson	Answers to the difficulty of writing ballot titles.
221	Eric Winters	Attorney. Testifies in opposition and explains.
294	Sen. Burdick	Asks about his experience on writing initiatives.
295	Winters	Describes these initiatives.
300	Co-chair Brown	Asks how many initiatives have become ballots.
302	Winters	Indicates he is not sure.
316	Dave Hunnicutt	Oregonians In Action. Testifies in opposition to SB 102. Submits written testimony and proposed amendments (EXHIBITS G, H).
TAPE 8, B
004	Co-chair Brown	Continues and gives an explanation of an alternate process.
079	Sen. Clarno	Asks whether he would support the bill if the Attorney General’s office was taken out of the process.
082	Hunnicutt	Answers he would like to see ballot titles handled like the explanatory statement.
104	Co-chair Brown	Asks if he is opposing those writing numerous ballot titles.
108	Hunnicutt	Comments on ballot title shopping.
131	Sen. Burdick	Asks whether his concerns would be addressed if his recommended process was used.
132	Hunnicutt	Responds no and recommends proponents preparing explanatory statements at beginning of process.
149	Sen. Burdick	Asks if having no summary statement would remove his concerns.
151	Hunnicutt	Answers signers would have nothing to educate them.
172	Sen. Atkinson	Comments the idea is on drafting ballot titles and the need to save time.
202	Hunnicutt	Notes he has written testimony that states he would like to help change the process.
215	Gayle Attebery	Oregon Right to Life. Testifies in opposition and comments on ballot title shopping.

266	Don McIntire	Taxpayer Association of Oregon. Testifies in opposition. Discusses constitutional limits on the power of government. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT I).
366	Sen. Burdick	Asks if the Secretary of State becomes involved at the end of the process.
367	McIntire	Answers negatively and comments on taking the Attorney General’s office out of the process.
TAPE 9, B
001	McIntire	Continues.
037	Co-chair Brown	Asks whether taking the Attorney General’s office out of the process would be a positive direction.
042	McIntire	Answers this is in the right direction.
060	Co-chair Brown	Asks if he would be comfortable if the Supreme Court wrote ballot titles.
069	McIntire	Responds it would not be necessary if statements were understandable.
073	Jason Williams	Taxpayer Association of Oregon. Testifies in opposition and comments on unfair ballot titles. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT J).
109	Bill Perry	Oregon Restaurant Association. Testifies in support of SB 102 and explains.
180	Kristen Leonard	Oregon Education Association. Testifies in support of SB 102 and on the need for the chief petitioner to put forth effort.
190	Tim Nesbitt	Oregon AFL-CIO. Testifies in support of SB 102. Discusses experiences in moving measures to the ballot and in ballot title challenges. Explains current system encourages ballot title shopping, editing and marketing. Suggests there is no grass-roots issue. Argues there would be no additional delay. Asserts an explanatory statement committee is not needed
277	Julie Brandis	Associated Oregon Industries (AOI). Testifies in support of SB 102. Comments on signature increases.
308	Sen. Burdick	Asks about their view on having a no-summary process.
309	Leonard	Answers it will make process harder.
343	Perry	Comments on citizens becoming active.
366	Ted Piccilo	Testifies in opposition to SB 102. Explains the people’s rights would be restricted.
TAPE 10, A
022	Sen. Burdick	Clarifies others besides public servants would benefit.
024	Piccilo	Explains we have a system that is designed to protect people’s rights and this process should be a part of the Attorney General’s office.
The following prepared testimony is submitted for the record without public testimony for SB 102:
	Keith Putman	Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT K)
068	Co-chair Brown	Closes public hearing. Adjourns committee meeting at 5:06 p.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – Department of Agriculture, Governor’s office and staff, 5 pp

B – Department of the State Lottery, Governor’s office and staff, 6 pp

C – SB 102, written testimony, Philip Schradle, 2 pp

D – SB 102, -2 amendments (2-4-03), Keith Garza, 6 pp

E – SB 102, written testimony, Kappy Eaton, 1 p

F – SB 102, written testimony, Greg Wasson, 2 pp

G – SB 102, written testimony, Dave Hunnicutt, 5 pp

H – SB 102, suggested amendments, Dave Hunnicutt, 2 pp

I – SB 102, written testimony, Don McIntire, 1 p

J – SB 102, written testimony, Jason Williams, 1 p

K – SB 102, written testimony, Keith Putman, 2 pp