TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 41, A

003

Chair Smith

Calls the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. and opens a public hearing on HB 3082.

HB 3082 – PUBLIC HEARING

016

Patrick Brennan

Committee Administrator.  Summarizes HB 3082.

024

Chair P. Smith

Gives information about her involvement as a member of the Governor’s Methamphetamine Task Force.  Discusses the need for   HB 3082 and states that she supports the bill.

040

John Trumbo

Sheriff, Umatilla County.  Submits and reads prepared testimony in support of HB 3082 (EXHIBIT C).  Discusses an incident involving stolen anhydrous ammonia.

113

Rep. Boquist

Asks how the product that is added to anhydrous ammonia affects the production of methamphetamine.

119

Trumbo

Answers by giving information on what would happen to the methamphetamine if the chemical is added to the anhydrous ammonia.

123

Craig Durbin

Drug Enforcement Section Commander, Oregon State Police (OSP).  Submits and reviews prepared testimony with informational material in support of HB 3082 (EXHIBIT A).  Discusses how meth is made, and how the ammonia is used in the process.

156

Drubin

Lists how HB 3082 would benefit different people in Oregon. 

184

Durbin

Discusses Glo-Tell, a nontoxic dye that can be added to anhydrous ammonia.   

197

Durbin

Addresses problems that have been expressed to him in regard to      HB 3082. 

228

Chair P. Smith

Inquires if any other states have similar legislation.

230

Durbin

Responds that there are other states that are working on this type of legislation.

234

Rep. Roblan

Asks if we have any evidence of the people who make meth targeting the large tanks of anhydrous ammonia.

236

Trumbo

States that they generally do not.

244

Durbin

Refers to the notice that would be placed on tanks of anhydrous ammonia that had been treated with Glo-Tell (EXHIBIT A, Page 10).

256

Rep. Beyer

Inquires when in the process is the Glo-Tell added.

263

Durbin

Responds by stating when Glo-Tell can be added.

270

Rep. Beyer

Asks how much it will cost to add the Glo-Tell.

272

Durbin

Answers that it costs about $9 per ton of anhydrous ammonia treated.

281

Rep. Roblan

Inquires what a ton of the anhydrous ammonia costs. 

285

Durbin

Responds that he is unsure of the cost.

298

Terry Witt

Executive Director, Oregonians for Food and Shelter (OFS).  Submits prepared testimony and other informational material with comments on HB 3082 (EXHIBIT B).

367

Witt

Discusses suggestions for changes on HB 3082. 

TAPE 42, A

007

Witt

Continues discussing suggestions for change. Talks about the cost of the additive. Talks about the amount of ammonia that is used in Oregon.

060

Witt

Continues discussing concerns with HB 3082. Refers to information in the packets about what other states are doing regarding the issue (EXHIBIT B, Page 5-12). States that they would be happy to work with other interested parties to improve HB 3082.

100

Rep. Sumner

Inquires if anhydrous ammonia is the same chemical that is used in commercial refrigeration.

102

Witt

Responds that it is.

107

Rep. Sumner

Suggests there are other people who should be involved in the discussion.  Asks how the measure would affect people in the refrigeration industry.

113

Witt

Responds that they received information from the producers of Glo-Tell talking about it’s corrosive nature to refrigerant components.  States that this is an area that should be looked into.

132

Rep. Hass

States that the Rep. Sumner raises the important question of who might be next in line to receive the tax credit. 

139

Chair P. Smith

Comments that the state is trying to fight the meth epidemic. 

145

Witt

Talks about his experience on a Hazardous Material (HazMat) Response Team.

169

Rep. Roblan

Inquires how often farmers treat a field with anhydrous ammonia.

174

Witt

Responds that it depends on the crop but usually it is twice a year.

189

Rep. Beyer

Asks how HB 3082 interacts with the different methamphetamine bills that are currently in the Judiciary Committee.

196

Chair P. Smith

Responds that HB 3082 is part of the package of legislation that came out of the task force.

209

Trumbo

Comments on the theft of the ammonia, the damage that can occur during the theft, and the associated costs. 

238

Durbin

Talks about the problems related to protecting the ammonia, noting that some business have given up trying to deter thieves and now leave their doors unlocked.  States that this is a voluntary program.  Comments that he will check into how the measure would affect commercial refrigeration. 

291

Chair P. Smith

Asks if the panel would be willing to participate in a meeting to work out some of the issues.

292

Durbin

Answers that he would.

299

Rep. Burley

Asks if the chair can make sure that the tax credit captures all possibilities.

307

Rep. Roblan

Inquires if the amount that will be given to the distributor will be figured out.

310

Chair P. Smith

Responds that the Revenue Committee will figure out the amount that will be given to the distributor. 

312

Chair P. Smith

Closes the public hearing on HB 3082 and opens a public hearing on HB 2577.

HB 2577 – PUBLIC HEARING

326

Patrick Brennan

Committee Administrator.  Summarizes HB 2577.

345

Rep. Jeff Kropf

House District 17.  Discusses the problem that the work group on Noxious Weeds dealt with.  Comments on what they have tried to address in HB 2577. 

404

Rep. Kropf

Discusses the issues that HB 2577 would cover. 

TAPE 41, B

006

Rep. Kropf

Talks about the problems that HB 2577 would cover.  Discusses       HB 3316.

020

Rep. Kropf

Talks about what HB 2577 would do.  Talks about the amendments they want to make.

031

Chair P. Smith

Inquires how soon the amendment will be ready.

032

Rep. Kropf

Answers that he will have it by next week.

035

Rep. Burley

Asks how we get the federal agencies involved in the process of eradicating noxious weeds.

039

Rep. Kropf

Talks about how HB 2577 and HB 3316 would encourage the federal agencies to get involved.

067

Rep. Hass

Asks how ivy is classified.

073

Rep. Kropf

Answers that it is classified as a noxious weed. 

098

Rep. Sumner

Comments on the tansy ragwort problem from a few years ago. 

115

Rep. Kropf

States that HB 3316 helps provide money for research to help eradicate the weeds.  Says the measure also offers opportunity for the weed board to discusse how the money will be spent

131

Chair P. Smith

Opens a public hearing on both HB 2577 and HB 3316.

HB 2577 and HB 3316 – PUBLIC HEARING

135

Rep. Kropf

Discusses what HB 3316 does, and states that amendments are needed.  Talks about the intent of the legislation.

160

Rep. Kropf

Offers the suggestion for how the Oregon Department of Agriculture could use leftover money in its weed budget.

184

Rep. Roblan

Comments that HB 3316 includes aquatic weeds, but HB 2577 does not.  Asks if the plan is to include aquatic weeds in HB 2577.

188

Rep. Kropf

Concurs.

195

Dan Hilburn

Plant Division Administrator, Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA).  Comments on the work Rep. Kropf has put into this issue.  Testifies in support of HB 2577 and HB 3316. 

227

Tim Butler

Noxious Weed Program Supervision, ODA.  Submits prepared testimony on HB 2577 (EXHIBIT D) and prepared testimony on      HB 3316 (EXHIBIT E).

263

Butler

Comments on cooperation with federal agencies. 

287

Butler

Discusses the problem with kudzu and how that has been dealt with.  Highlights the importance of an active program. 

308

Rep. Burley

Inquires how the department is dealing with kudzu.

313

Butler

Responds that chemical application is one of the best ways to eradicate kudzu

327

Rep. Burley

Comments on the federal government’s management of its land and the need for rapid response when a noxious weed is found. 

344

Butler

Discuses what federal agencies are doing in response to weeds.

359

Chair P. Smith

Talks about the problem with weeds in the Columbia Gorge area, and the fact that they are on federal land means the state cannot do anything about them. Uses scotch broom as an example.

368

Butler

States that there are roadblocks and that we need to continue working on the problem.

376

Butler

Talks about tansy ragwort.  Comments on the environmental controls. 

TAPE 42, B

015

Rep. Hass

Inquires about how the department deals with ivy.

020

Butler

Responds that there is no biocontrol agent that works on ivy.  Reiterates that ivy is on the state noxious weeds list.

021

Rep. Hass

Asks how Mr. Butler would handle the ivy in Forest Park.

026

Butler

Comments that it depends on the situation but he would need to see the area. 

041

Butler

Talks about ODA’s position on HB 2577. 

070

Butler

Gives ODA’s position on HB 3316.

087

Justin Martin

The Nature Conservancy.  Submits and presents prepared testimony in support of HB 2577 and HB 3316 (EXHIBIT F).

097

Glen Stonebrink

Oregon Cattlemen’s Association.  Testifies in support of HB 2577 and HB 3316. 

133

Chair P. Smith

Closes the public hearing on HB 2577 and HB 3316 and opens a work session on HB 2656.

HB 2656 – WORK SESSION

138

Rep. Boquist

MOTION:  Moves to ADOPT HB  2656-4 amendments dated 4/5/05.

140

VOTE:  6-0-1

EXCUSED:  1 - Hass

Chair P. Smith

Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.

142

Rep. Boquist

MOTION:  Moves HB 2656 to the floor with a DO PASS AS AMENDED recommendation and BE REFERRED to the Committee on Ways and Means by prior reference.

146

VOTE:  6-0-1

EXCUSED:  1 - Hass

Chair P. Smith

Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.

152

Chair P. Smith

Closes the work session on HB 2656 and adjourns the meeting at 10:45 a.m.