TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 13, A

004

Chair Berger

Calls the meeting to order at 8:31 a.m. and welcomes new committee member Rep. Brad Witt, House District 31. Opens the public hearing on HB 2154.

HB 2154 – PUBLIC HEARING

009

Caralyn Fischer

Committee Administrator. Reviews what HB 2154 does.

022

Nancy Orr

State Fire Marshal. Introduces Robert Garrison, retired State Fire Marshal and John McDonald of the Springfield Fire Department. Submits and summarizes prepared testimony in support of HB 2154 (EXHIBIT A).

038

Robert L. Garrison

Citizen Advisor to the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Force. Submits prepared testimony in support of HB 2154 explaining that the Task Force was established to address the rescue of trapped victims from earthquakes or terrorist attacks (EXHIBIT B). Notes there are 28 USAR teams around the nation but none are located in Oregon.

068

Garrison

States there are only nine fire departments that have mutual aid agreements but there are many areas that need trained responders and equipment.

092

Don McDonald

Head of the Technical Rescue Team, Springfield Fire Department. States that these rescues require specialized training.

121

McDonald

States that the probability for survival of a trapped victim in the first 24 hours is 85 percent, after that it drops to about 30 percent and after that it continues to drop.

130

Orr

Submits prepared testimony from the City of Portland in support of   HB 2154 (EXHIBIT C).

126

Rep. Sumner

Notes that the high school involved in the spring break earthquake was Molalla High School.

134

Chair Berger

Inquires who, under current agreements, pays for the fire fighter from Portland to go to Florence to assist.

148

Orr

Explains that the expenses for the responding agencies would be reimbursed by the state. Only those fire departments with mutual aid agreements can assist eachother. In this scenario, the only way to provide aid to Florence is through this legislation.  

180

Chair Berger

States that essentially, someone responds and the bill is sent to the Emergency Board.

190

Orr

Adds they get FEMA declarations that reimburse approximately 75 percent of the cost to the state.

199

Bob Livingston

Oregon State Firefighters Council. States support for HB 2154. Adds that this bill addresses the category of risk known as low frequency, high risk.

215

Ken Armstrong

Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, Oregon Volunteer Fire Fighters and Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue. States support for HB 2154 noting that this is a high priority for the fire chiefs.

235

Genoa Ingram

Oregon Fire District Directors Association. States that the Joint Fire Service Legislative Committee supports both HB 2154 and HB 2155. Notes that the last survivor of the October 1989 San Francisco earthquake lost his life to dehydration because he was trapped for five days.

283

Chair Berger

Closes the public hearing on HB 2154 and opens the public hearing on HB 2155.

HB 2155 – PUBLIC HEARING

269

Nancy Orr

State Fire Marshal. Submits prepared testimony in support of HB 2155 which expands the Conflagration Act (EXHIBIT D). Notes the liability risk for fire departments to send personnel and apparatus in “good neighbor” assistance outside of having the authority to do so. References the Coos Bay fire of 2002.

343

Robert Garrison

Submits prepared testimony in support of HB 2155 referencing the Coos Bay fire of 2002 (EXHIBIT E). Discusses the strain and liability risk on supporting fire services for local communities when they assist other communities outside the scope of their authority.

370

Garrison

Notes the issue of small communities that have one station which would leave the community without fire service if the station and its apparatus were destroyed.

391

Genoa Ingram

States this closes the circle allowing firefighters to assist where there is not a Conflagration Act.

430

Rep. Buckley

Inquires if there is a chain of command that directs assistance.

437

Orr

Answers affirmatively and describes the fire defense districts.  

TAPE 14, A

019

Chair Berger

Refers to the language excepting “self propelled pumping equipment” and asks what it means.

023

Orr

Responds that the language was established during World War II for urban Conflagration. The intended use addresses not sending those departments that do not have additional resources. States for the record that in reference to the fiscal statement, they do not foresee fire departments requesting reimbursement for administrative non-fire emergencies. The legislation is needed to cover the liability and scope of authority.

053

Chair Berger

Closes the public hearing on HB 2155. Opens the work session         HB 2087.

HB 2087 – WORK SESSION

055

Caralyn Fischer

Committee Administrator. Reviews what HB 2087 does.

061

Rep. Sumner

MOTION:  Moves HB 2087 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.

062

VOTE:  6-0-0

Chair Berger

Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.

066

Rep. Sumner

MOTION:  Moves HB 2087 be placed on the CONSENT CALENDAR.

067

VOTE:  6-0-0

Chair Berger

Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.

068

Chair Berger

Closes the work session on HB 2087 and opens the public hearing on HB 2115.

HB 2115 – PUBLIC HEARING

072

Bill Foster

Acting Administrator of the Facilities Division, Department of Administrative Services (DAS). Expresses concern on the level of clarity in the language but says the overall concept is fine.

083

Chair Berger

Requests the committee’s indulgence to allow the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and DAS to resolve their differences and bring HB 2115 back before the committee. Closes the public hearing on HB 2115 and opens the work session on HB 2173.

HB 2173 – WORK SESSION

094

Caralyn Fischer

Committee Administrator. Reviews what HB 2173 does.

097

Rep. Esquivel

Comments that this could be utilized in title recordings.

114

Rep. Esquivel

MOTION:  Moves HB 2173 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation and BE REFERRED to the committee on Trade and Economic Development by prior reference.

116

VOTE:  6-0-0

Chair Berger

Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.

118

Chair Berger

Closes the work session on HB 2173. Adjourns the committee meeting at 9:10 a.m.