TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 30, A

003

Chair Gilman

Calls the meeting to order at 1:04 p.m. Opens a public hearing on

HB 2608.

HB 2608 – PUBLIC HEARING

014

John Houser

Committee Administrator. Introduces HB 2608.

020

John Scruggs

Police Officer, Washington County. Testifies in support of HB 2608. Argues that the bill is not anti-immigrant. Explains that it is important for a person to prove legal residency to be issued a driver license.

059

Rep. Hunt

Asks if non-citizens would continue to drive if HB 2608 was passed.

064

Scruggs

Testifies that some non-citizens will continue to drive and explains police procedures to identify non-citizens.

078

Rep. Hunt

Asks if HB 2608 would create a larger pool of unlicensed drivers.

085

Scruggs

Answers that the problem of unlicensed drivers would not change as  many drive without insurance anyway.

092

Rep. Bruun

Asks if insurance would become void if a driver license was issued on fraudulent information.

101

Scruggs

Answers that there are insurance provisions to address fraud, but is unsure the extent of the provisions.

108

Rep. Boone

Asks how a person could get two licenses with the same photo but different information.

110

Scruggs

Answers that a person would obtain two consular matriculars with two different names.

114

Rep. Boone

Asks how the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) could issue another license with the same picture.

116

Scruggs

Answers the DMV process for issuing licenses and verifying information and photos.

126

Rep. Boone

Asks about those who are in the U.S. legally but are not citizens.

128

Scruggs

Answers that those who are in the U.S. legally should be issued licenses.

136

Rep. Thatcher

Asks about a Utah law that grants driver certificates to those who cannot prove citizenship.

142

Scruggs

Answers that he disagrees with the law. Argues that the state of Oregon is violating statute by issuing licenses to those who could or should be known to not be legal residents.

154

Rep. Thatcher

Clarifies that the Utah law grants driving privileges without issuing a license that could be used as identification.

161

Scruggs

Speaks against the Utah law.

174

Ruth Bendl

Portland. Submits and summarizes prepared testimony in support of HB 2608 (EXHIBIT A). Explains the importance of properly issuing licenses to Homeland Security.

237

Sharon Cornish

Hillsboro. Testifies in support of HB 2608. Explains criminal activity associated with fraudulent driver licenses.

268

Rep. Hunt

Asks if the law should apply to everyone instantaneously or be phased in when renewing, replacing, or reinstating driver licenses.

276

Cornish

Answers that the criminal activity nullifies “all of our legitimacy” as it is difficult to tell if someone is who they claim to be. Argues that citizenship should be proven “in everything we do.”

284

Rep. Hunt

Asks if Ms. Bendl or Ms. Cornish has proof of residency.

286

Cornish

Answers that she does not have it with her, but she could produce it if necessary.

288

Bendl

Answers that she does not have her documentation with her. Argues that if the bill is not passed, Oregonians will have to use their passports to fly under the Real ID Act being passed by Congress.

329

Jim Ludwick

McMinnville. Testifies in support of HB 2608. Explains the Social Security Online Verification System. Reads from the 9/11 Commission Report about fraudulent documents. Explains the Real ID act passed by U.S. House of Representatives and its effect on Oregon’s driver licenses.

TAPE 31, A

035

Robin Freeman

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Submits and reads prepared testimony in regard to HB 2608 (EXHIBIT B).

106

Chair Gilman

Asks if names and faces will be able to be matched in a database.

112

Freeman

Explains the over-the-counter DMV license issuance process.

120

Chair Gilman

Clarifies that DMV cannot verify if a photo is duplicated in the system.

122

Freeman

Answers no.

125

Chair Gilman

Asks about the cost of implementing a system to check social security numbers.

128

Freeman

Answers that it may be approximately three cents per person.

131

Chair Gilman

Answers that he has heard it may be less than that.

136

Rep. Bruun

Asks about the cost impact for states that have changed driver license issuance procedures.

145

Freeman

Explains that she is unsure.

150

Rep. Bruun

Clarifies that according to the Census, 2.6% of the residents in Oregon are illegal residents. Asks if it is the figure that is used to estimate the cost and loss of revenue.

156

Freeman

Clarifies that ODOT is using 2000 Census statistics to make calculations.

162

Rep. Hunt

Asks if Oregon driver licenses are in compliance with federal law unless or until the Real ID Act is passed by Congress.

168

Freeman

Answers yes.

170

Rep. Hunt

Asks if Ms. Freeman has proof of identification to prove that she is legally present in the United States.

172

Freeman

Answers no.

175

Rep. Thatcher

Explains that her daughter received a driver license with a birth certificate and paycheck stub. Notes that Nevada does not accept Oregon driver licenses as identification. Asks about the revenue impact of the bill.

192

Freeman

Explains that the DMV workload would increase by verifying valid documentation.

201

Rep. Bruun

Cites the testimony of Michael Ward of DMV from the March 21 meeting about training for processing identification.

221

Chair Gilman

States that the bill needs to address proof of citizenship.

230

Andrea Meyer

Legislative Director, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Submits and reads prepared testimony in opposition to HB 2608 (EXHIBIT C).

296

Rep. Hunt

Asks if Ms. Meyer has proof that she is in the United States legally.

300

Meyer

Answers that she does not carry that information with her for fear of having it stolen.

303

Rep. Bruun

Expresses concern about language in Ms. Meyer’s testimony such as “perpetuates discrimination against immigrants” and “targeting immigrants for discrimination.” Cites concern about the bill being perceived as anti-immigrant. Explains that his chief of staff is a legal immigrant and does not view the bill as discriminatory.

345

Meyer

States that following testimony will show the effect on the immigrant community. Explains that the federal government is responsible for enforcing immigration laws, not the Oregon DMV. Notes that few documents prove U.S. citizenship, but driver licenses do not.

369

Chair Gilman

States that the driver license has become a piece of identification card, although it may not have been intended to be.

378

Meyer

Concurs with the comments of Chair Gilman.

385

Chair Gilman

Asks if illegal immigrants should be allowed to vote.

388

Meyer

Answers no. States that it is a criminal offense if a non-citizen signs a document indicating that he or she is a citizen.

410

Ramon Ramirez

President, Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United (PCUN). Submits and summarizes prepared testimony in opposition to HB 2608 (EXHIBIT D). Argues that HB 2608 is an attempt to forge immigration policy. Explains that many immigrant workers rely on driver licenses to get to work.

TAPE 30, B

105

Rep. Hunt

Asks how many PCUN members are required to drive for work.

110

Ramirez

Answers that it is “an overwhelming majority”.

112

Rep. Hunt

Asks if some are required to drive as part of their jobs.

115

Ramirez

Answers that a majority of agriculture and horticulture workers are required to drive various types of vehicles.

120

Rep. Hunt

Asks if Mr. Ramirez has any proof of U.S. citizenship or legal status.

124

Ramirez

Answers no and testifies that he has thought of getting a passport due to discrimination he has faced.

140

Rep. Thatcher

Expresses concern about discrimination. Asks about the Utah law to allow driving privileges, but is not usable as identification.

149

Ramirez

Answers that he opposes it. Argues that immigration reform is the bigger problem.

175

Rep. Thatcher

Cites a Christian Science Monitor article indicating terrorists’ desire to infiltrate the U.S. through the southern border.

190

Ramirez

Answers that it supports his point that immigration reform is necessary. Explains the proposed bi-national commission to address immigration reform. Argues that “we don’t have an immigration problem in this country, we have a labor problem in our hemisphere” and if “workers were paid a decent wage in their country, they wouldn’t come here.”

220

Rep. Thatcher

Further cites the article indicating that “some countries such as those known to export gang members show dramatic increases in numbers to be entering the U.S.”

226

Ramirez

Explains that the trend is “the other way around” with gangs in countries such as El Salvador that have the same gangs as the United States.

255

Eduardo Angulo

Chairman, Salem/Keizer Coalition For Equality. Submits and summarizes prepared testimony in opposition to HB 2608 (EXHIBIT E).

373

Santiago Ventura

Marion County. Testifies in opposition to HB 2608 and explains how he came to the United States. Argues that the bill would create insecurity for Oregonians with fewer drivers having insurance.

The following material is submitted for the record without public testimony:

Lorena Manzo

Submits written testimony in opposition to HB 2108 (EXHIBIT F).

Juan Bacilio

Submits written testimony in opposition to HB 2108 (EXHIBIT G).

Rev. Steven Witte

Executive Director, Oregon Farm Worker Ministry. Submits written testimony in opposition to HB 2108 (EXHIBIT H).

428

Chair Gilman

Closes the public hearing on HB 2108. Adjourns the meeting at 2:27 p.m.