TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 47, A

004

Chair Smith

Calls the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m.  Opens a public hearing on HB 2881.

HB 2881 – PUBLIC HEARING

007

Rep. Wayne Krieger

House District 1.  Testifies in support of HB 2881.  Submits informational material regarding HB 2881 (EXHIBIT B).

047

Rep. Bob Jensen

House District 58.  Testifies in support of HB 2881. 

075

Rep. Roblan

Asks if the listed status of Aleutian Canadian geese means they cannot be harassed.

077

Rep. Jensen

Responds that he is correct.

088

Roy Elicker

Deputy Director, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW).  Submits prepared testimony with comments on HB 2881      (EXHIBIT C).  Discusses what would happen if HB 2881 passes. 

151

Ron Anglin

Wildlife Division Administrator, ODFW.  Comments on the situation with the geese in California.  Talks about the process of working with the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife to offer harassment permits. 

207

Rep. Boquist

References HJM 5, which was heard by the committee on March 9.  Inquires if this is one of the species that was discussed in regard to the Yu’pik native Alaskans and the Pacific Flyway Council issues discussed a few weeks ago.

209

Anglin

Responds that there was some conversation with regard to the Aleutian.

212

Rep. Boquist

Asks if the Yu’pik support or oppose HB 2881.

231

Anglin

Answers that it is not an issue to the Yu’pik,  but presumes they would be supportive.

215

Rep. Roblan

Inquires about managing the subpopulation of the birds in the Tillamook area.

219

Anglin

Responds that the population can be managed.

221

Chair P. Smith

Asks what the change would be to the scientific name of the bird.

222

Elicker

Answers that he has the correct name in his written testimony.

233

Justin Martin

Nature Conservancy of Oregon.  Testifies in support of HB 2881.  Submits prepared testimony in support of HB 2881 (EXHIBIT D).

261

Ed Johnston

Resident, Lane County.  Testifies in support of HB 2881.

275

Steven Kafoury

Wildlife Society of Oregon.  Agrees in substance with HB 2881.  States that there is a problem with the process. 

311

Chair P. Smith

Closes the public hearing and opens a work session on HB 2881.

HB 2881 – WORK SESSION

316

Rep. Boquist

MOTION:  Moves HB 2881 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.

319

Rep. Roblan

States that a message needs to be sent to the Senate that the scientific name needs to be changed, and comments on Mr. Kafoury’s suggestions. 

335

Rep. Hass

Asks if there is a reason not to wait until the amendments are drafted.

344

Chair P. Smith

Answers that the only amendment that needs to be done is to change the scientific name.

347

Rep. Boquist

Comments on the need to quickly pass the bill.  States that ODFW might want to have both names in HB 2881.

366

VOTE:  7-0-0

AYE:            In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye.

Chair P. Smith

The motion CARRIES.

REP. JENSEN and REP. KRIEGER will lead discussion on the floor.

373

Chair P. Smith

Closes the work session on HB 2881 and opens a public hearing on  HB 2529.

HB 2529 – PUBLIC HEARING

386

Patrick Brennan

Committee Administrator.  Summarizes HB 2529.

415

Ron Harder

National Rifle Association of America (NRA).  Testifies in support of HB 2529.  Reads Rep. Krieger’s prepared testimony (EXHIBIT A) in support of HB 2529.  Submits and reads prepared testimony in support of HB 2529 (EXHIBIT F). 

TAPE 48, A

028

Harder

Discusses the -1 amendments (EXHIBIT G).

043

Rep. Hass

Asks for clarification on the problem that HB 2529 is addressing, asks if there are any facts to demonstrate that hunting is on the decline.

049

Harder

Responds that when areas are made inaccessible to hunters, HB 2529 would require that another area be made available to hunters.

058

Al Elkins

Oregon Hunters Association.  Testifies in support of HB 2529 and the  -1 amendments

072

Roy Elicker

Deputy Director, ODFW.  Testifies in support of HB 2529.  Submits prepared testimony in support of HB 2529 (EXHIBIT H).

084

Ron Anglin

Wildlife Division Administrator, ODFW.  Discusses the need for      HB 2529.  Gives an example of people asking for access for hunting in wildlife areas adjacent to new subdivisions.  

109

Chair P. Smith

Asks if there will be a fiscal impact to HB 2529.

110

Elicker

Responds that he does not believe there will be a significant fiscal impact.

113

Rep. Hass

Asks how the department responds when they are told that people want access for hunting on wildlife areas closed.   

117

Anglin

Answers by giving information on how the issue has been handled in the past.

128

Rep. Hass

Asks if the department has ever make the decision to close down an area from hunting.

131

Anglin

Responds that in recent times they have not made such a decision.

139

Elicker

States that people are concerned about illegal activities, so the department also cooperates with the State Police on these issues.

148

Rep. Hass

Wonders how big of a problem HB 2529 is seeking to address.  Asks for statistics or facts to show that need for HB 2529.

153

Elicker

Responds that he cannot give statistics.  Comments that ODFW supports hunting, and wants to make sure that hunting is a viable option on lands that the department manages. 

166

Rep. Burley

Comments on taking his children hunting and the difficulty of finding land to hunt on.  Summarizes what HB 2529 would do.  Asks if Bridge Creek is closed to hunting.

183

Anglin

Responds that Bridge Creek is open, but there are times when it is closed for wildlife management.

185

Rep. Burley

Comments on how HB 2529 would affect Bridge Creek.

189

Elicker

Discusses other times when the department has closed Bridge Creek to hunting.

194

Rep. Beyer

Expresses the concern with restricting the department in the future, on being able to manage animals. 

208

Elicker

Responds that his sense is that HB 2529 is asking the commission to keep close reporting on lands with hunting access.  States that he does not see the measure having a big impact on the department.

220

Rep. Sumner

Asks where the department is going to get lands to replace the lands that they close.

237

Elicker

Answers that they would look to the Access and Habitat Program.

260

Rep. Sumner

Clarifies that this is not something the department dreads, rather it is considered an opportunity.

262

Elicker

Responds that the department does not have serious concerns about the bill and comments on how the department views HB 2529.

280

Anglin

Mentions that outside of migratory birds the federal government has no authority to regulate hunting. 

287

Rep. Hass

Comments on the possibility of HB 2529 putting the agency in a bind in the future.

301

Elicker

Responds that that agency can work with HB 2529.

325

Ed Johnston

Resident, Lane County.  Testifies in support of HB 2529. 

387

Jerod Broadfood

Safari Club International “First for Hunters” (SCI).  Testifies in support of HB 2529. 

TAPE 47, B

014

Rep. Burley

Comments on Section 2 and ways the commission can work within the parameters of HB 2529.

024

Rep. Hass

Talks about why he has a problem with the section referred to by Rep. Burley. 

037

Chair P. Smith

Closes the public hearing on HB 2529 and opens a public hearing on HB 2597.

HB 2597 – PUBLIC HEARING

049

Patrick Brennan

Committee Administrator.  Summarizes HB 2597.

053

Rep. Mike Schaufler

House District 28.  Testifies in support of HB 2597.  Explains what the measure sets out to do.  States that he supports the -1 amendments. 

091

Rep. Jeff Kropf

House District 17.  Testifies in support of HB 2597.  Discusses how the minimum wage increase has affected farmers. 

178

Rep. Kropf

States that the point of this bill is to make it easier for the farmers to compete despite the rising minimum wage. 

191

Rep. Kropf

Testifies in support of the -1 amendments.

198

Rep. Schaufler

Discusses why he supports HB 2597.

216

Rep. Kropf

Comments on the increasing problem for farmers of wage adjustments as a result of the minimum wage adjustments.  

244

Rep. Sumner

Discusses the fact that farmers are replacing hand labor with equipment, and that as a result of the purchase of the equipment they can write it off their taxes.  States that if farmers are allowed to write off a portion of the labor expense it will encourage them to keep producing the products we need them to produce.

259

Rep. Kropf

States that Rep. Sumner is correct.  Gives information on how the federal tax benefits have affected this situation. 

312

Scott Ashcom

Oregon Agricultural Alliance.  Testifies in support of HB 2597.  Submits prepared testimony in support of HB 2597 (EXHIBIT I).  Gives information on the number of minimum wage jobs that have been lost as a result of the minimum wage change. 

351

Chair P. Smith

Asks if Oregon and Washington are the two states with the highest  minimum wage.

355

Ashcom

Concurs.

383

Don Schellenberg

Oregon Farm Bureau (OFB).  Testifies in support of HB 2597.  Submits and reads prepared testimony in support of HB 2597 (EXHIBIT J).

TAPE 48, B

014

Barry Bushue

President, OFB.  Testifies in support of HB 2597.  Discusses the problems that HB 2597 addresses. 

042

Kathleen Femrite

Femrite Nursery Company.  Testifies in support of HB 2597.  Submits prepared testimony in support of HB 2597 (EXHIBIT K).  Discusses the consequences of the higher minimum wage on Femrite Nursery. 

077

Rep. Beyer

Inquires what percentage of Femrite Nurseries employees earn minimum wage and what percentage are paid over minimum wage.

078

Femrite

Responds by giving information on their employees.

084

Rod Park

Parks Nursery Company.  Testifies in support of HB 2597.  Submits and reads prepared testimony in support of HB 2597 (EXHIBIT L).

129

John McCulley

Tree Fruit Growers.  Testifies in support of HB 2597.

153

Mark Krautmann

Heritage Seedlings Incorporated.  Testifies in support of HB 2597. 

192

Rep. Beyer

Asks about profit margins for nurseries. 

200

Krautmann

Explains how they make their profit. 

215

Rep. Beyer

Asks how many employees Heritage Seedlings has and how many are entry level employees.

220

Krautmann

Responds by giving numbers of how many employees they have, and how many of them are entry level.  Discusses added costs for the business.

235

Rep. Beyer

Inquires if the entry level positions are seasonal.

238

Krautmann

Responds that Heritage Seedlings has no seasonal employees.

248

Shawn Miller

Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association.  Testifies in support of HB 2597 with the -1 amendments. 

260

Bob Schafer

Testifies in support of HB 2597.  Gives information on how the minimum wage is affecting his company. 

297

Rep. Boquist

Asks about foreign competition.

303

Schafer

Discusses companies that are growing Christmas trees in Mexico.

330

Pieper Sweeney

County Heritage Farm.  Testifies in support of HB 2597.  Gives information on how the rise in minimum wage has affected her farm. 

387

Billy Townsend

Townsend Farms.  Testifies in support of HB 2597.  Gives information on how the minimum wage increase has affected his farm. 

450

Chair P. Smith

Closes the public hearing on HB 2597 and adjourns the meeting at 10:57 a.m.