TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 124, A

003

Chair Brown

Calls the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.  Opens the work session on HB 2525.

HB 2525 – WORK SESSION

008

Janet Adkins

Committee Administrator.  Explains HB 2525 and submits the -3 amendments (EXHIBIT A).

017

Scott Barrie

Home Builders Association.  Speaks in support of HB 2525 and the -3 amendments.  References SB 909 (2003) and says that the offers to repair were often rejected by the homeowner.  Wants to put in place a more specific process for contractors and home owners to make appeals.  States that insurance prices have driven some contractors out of business and hopes that this will help encourage the arbitration process instead of having the complaints sent to court.  Outlines the arbitration process that HB 2525 would put into place.

068

Barrie

Concludes by explaining the four options the homeowner has.

072

Rep. Esquivel

Asks how HB 2525 works with SB 909 (2003).

076

Barrie

Explains that the process, in HB 2525, couples very well with SB 909 (2003).  States that HB 2525 will give the contractor more of a chance to fix the problem.

087

Rep. Shields

Asks if the contractor has to fix the problem by a certain time.

091

Barrie

States that if a contractor does not meet the deadlines then the process is terminated and the consumer can move the process into the court system.

102

Kevin Neely

Department of Justice.  Believes that HB 2525 places an excessive burden on the consumer.  Says that the consumer may be required to pay for the arbitration process if they leave the process.  Indicates that it seems as though a consumer cannot bring a court case against the contractor.

141

Rep. Schaufler

States that he believes that HB 2525 is addressing the good faith effort of contractors to meet the needs of the consumer.  Believes that HB 2525 is fair for everyone.

174

Kristin Leanord

Oregon Trial Lawyers Association.  Wants to continue to work on HB 2525 in the senate and submits written testimony addressing the concerns of the OTLA (EXHIBIT B).  States that the OTLA has been working very hard with the Home Builders Association.

186

Rep. Holvey

Asks if the homeowner can seek a remedy through the courts without going through the process in HB 2525.

196

Neely

States that HB 2525 seems to preclude a consumer from gaining remedy in the court system if the consumer does not go through the process outlined in HB 2525.

210

Leanord

Adds that one of the other issues is that the relationship may be beyond repair between the contractor and the homeowner.

222

Chair Brown

States that all the people that have testified want to get to the same place and are very close to being there.

225

Neely

States that the Attorney General realizes the tremendous burden contractors are under and would like to remedy the situation.  Says that they do not want to remedy the problem on the backs of the consumers.

230

Leanord

Asserts that the groups are close to reaching an agreement and would like to continue to work together.

235

Chair Brown

States that he would like to move HB 2525 to the floor.

244

Rep. Schaufler

MOTION:  Moves to ADOPT HB 2525-3 amendments dated 05/10/05.

247

Rep. Holvey

States that he will vote to move it to the floor as a courtesy, but that he may vote against it on the floor.

250

VOTE:  7-0-0

Chair Brown

Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.

252

Rep. Schaufler

MOTION:  Moves HB 2525 to the floor with a DO PASS AS AMENDED recommendation.

256

Rep. Shields

Shares concerns about the disagreements on HB 2525.  Notes that he will have to consider HB 2525 before it gets to the floor.

259

Rep. Kitts

States that the -3 amendments do not entirely alleviate his concerns.

275

VOTE:  7-0-0

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

Chair Brown

The motion CARRIES.

REP. ESQUIVEL will lead discussion on the floor.

286

Chair Brown

Closes the work session on HB 2525.  Opens the work session on HB 2596.

HB 2596 – WORK SESSION

290

Janet Adkins

Committee Administrator.  Explains HB 2596 and submits the -4 amendments (EXHIBIT C). 

315

Jerod Broadfoot

National Electrical Contractors Association.  States that a compromise was reached with the engineers.  Urges the committee to adopt the -4 amendments and move HB 2596 to the floor.

322

Rep. Schaufler

MOTION:  Moves to ADOPT HB 2596-4 amendments dated 05/11/05.

324

VOTE:  6-0-1

EXCUSED:  1 - Kitts

Chair Brown

Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.

327

Rep. Schaufler

MOTION:  Moves HB 2596 to the floor with a DO PASS AS AMENDED recommendation.

332

VOTE:  6-0-1

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

EXCUSED:  1 – Kitts

(NOTE: Please see page 4, tape 125 A, of this tape log for Rep. Kitts’ vote.)

Chair Brown

The motion CARRIES.

REP. SCHAUFLER will lead discussion on the floor.

347

Chair Brown

Closes the work session on HB 2596 and opens the public hearing on SB 433A.

SB 433A – PUBLIC HEARING

350

Janet Adkins

Committee Administrator.  Explains SB 433A.

378

Bob Russell

President, Oregon Trucking Association, Inc.  Submits written testimony in support of SB 433A (EXHIBIT D).  Talks about how an owner-operator leases a truck and driver to another company.  Says that some worker’s compensation insurers require the independent contractors to be covered while others do not.  Notes that many companies do not know until they are audited and this situation has put companies out of business.

TAPE 125, A

001

Russell

States that the concept was unanimously passed out of the Management Labor Advisory Committee, the Senate Commerce Committee, and the Senate.

006

Chair Brown

Asks why independent truck drivers were left out.

008

Russell

States that he does not know.

012

Chair Brown

Closes the public hearing on SB 433A.  Opens the work session on SB 433A.

SB 433A – WORK SESSION

015

Rep. Esquivel

MOTION:  Moves SB 433A to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.

017

VOTE:  7-0-0

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

Chair Brown

The motion CARRIES.

023

Rep. Esquivel

MOTION:  Moves SB 433A be placed on the CONSENT CALENDAR.

025

VOTE:  7-0-0

Chair Brown

Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.

027

Chair Brown

Closes the work session on SB 433A and reopens the work session on HB 2596 for the purpose of allowing Rep. Kitts to vote.

HB 2596 – WORK SESSION

028

Rep. Schaufler

MOTION:  Requests unanimous consent that the rules be SUSPENDED to allow REP. KITTS to BE RECORDED as voting AYE on the motion to move HB 2596 to the floor with a DO PASS AS AMENDED recommendation.

(NOTE: Please see page 3, tape 124 A, of this tape log for the orginal vote.)

030

VOTE:  7-0-0

Chair Brown

Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.

037

Chair Brown

Closes the work session on HB 2596 for the purpose of allowing Rep. Kitts to vote.  Opens the public hearing on SB 81.

SB 81 – PUBLIC HEARING

039

Janet Adkins

Committee Administrator.  Explains SB 81.

050

Lee Beyer

Oregon Public Utility Commission.  Submits written testimony for SB 81 (EXHIBIT E).  States that SB 81 would allow utilities to go to residential users and give them incentives for cutting their peak time usage.  Notes that SB 81 gives the utilities the chance to work with industry to reduce peak usage.

072

Rep. Shields

Asks if any of the consumer or industrial groups have a problem with SB 81.

074

Beyer

Says that legislation like SB 81 is usually supported by consumer groups.

078

Chair Brown

Closes public hearing on SB 81.  Opens the public hearing on SB 84. 

SB 84 – PUBLIC HEARING

079

Janet Adkins

Committee Administrator.  Explains SB 84.

094

Lee Beyer

Chairman, Oregon Public Utility Commission.  Submits written testimony in support of SB 84 (EXHIBIT G).  States that it encourages people to generate electricity on site.  Talks about how net metering is already in statute.  Notes that it adds biomass electrical generation to net metering. 

118

Scott Bolton

Pacific Power.  Submits written testimony in support of SB 84 (EXHIBIT H).  States that net metering is growing across Oregon.  Believes that SB 84 will help utilities address these changes.

133

Chair Brown

Closes the public hearing on SB 84.  Opens the work session on SB 84.

SB 84 – WORK SESSION

136

Rep. Kitts

MOTION:  Moves SB 84 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.

140

VOTE:  7-0-0

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

Chair Brown

The motion CARRIES.

144

Rep. Kitts

MOTION:  Moves SB 84 be placed on the CONSENT CALENDAR.

146

VOTE:  7-0-0

Chair Brown

Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.

160

Chair Brown

Adjourns the meeting at 9:16 a.m.