TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 56, A

003

Rep. Beyer

Calls the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. Opens a public hearing on      HB 3323.

HB 3323– PUBLIC HEARING

009

Rep. Bill Garrard

House District 56. Explains and testifies in support of HB 3323 relating to prohibiting the resident of a facility who has a disabled person parking permit from parking overnight in the space reserved for a disabled person if the space reserved for the residents of the same facility is available to the resident in the same parking lot.

020

Claire Griffin

Portland. Testifies in support of HB 3323.

044

Rep. Garrard

Notes that no one has come forward to speak in opposition to the bill.

048

Rep. Burley

Asks if the other reserved spots are labeled as “disabled.”

053

Griffin

Stresses that the bill would only apply to persons who are provided another spot in the same parking lot.

064

Rep. Beyer

Closes the public hearing on HB 3323 and opens a public hearing on HB 2869.

HB 2869 – PUBLIC HEARING

067

Patrick Brennan

Committee Administrator. Introduces HB 2869, relating to imposing a fee on the retail sale of studded tires or on the installation of studs in tires.

085

Rep. Terry Beyer

House District 12.  Submits and summarizes the “Studded Tire Use in Oregon” report (EXHIBIT A) and testifies in support of HB 2869.

110

Rep. Beyer

Talks about how the road damage could be addressed easier if more money was funneled into prevention.  Discusses the drawbacks of studded tires as opposed to regular tires.

150

Rep. Dave Hunt

House District 40. Testifies in support of HB 2869. Notes that there are eight states that have banned studded tires.  Stresses that this bill does not seek to ban studded tires in Oregon.

187

Chair Gilman

Inquires if the $10 fee was selected arbitrarily.

189

Rep. Hunt

Explains that he contacted the tire manufacturers, who were unable to provide a number and cites the Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) estimate.

205

Rep. Beyer

Notes that ODOT estimates a $22 per tire fee.

224

Rep. Bruun

Asks how much revenue would be generated by a $10 fee per tire.

231

Rep. Beyer

Answers that she does not know, but declares that the $22 per tire fee would generate an estimated $7.8 million.

240

Rep. Bruun

Wonders if other states have established fee structures rather than banning the tires.

242

Rep. Hunt

Replies that Alaska has specific fees associated with tires that have studs.

250

Rep. Bruun

Clarifies that not many states use a combination of approaches.

260

Rep. Beyer

Answers that they came to the work group with nothing.

263

Rep. Hunt

Explains that he asked the manufacturers if they would live with the results from another study.

275

Rep. Bruun

Talks about what the cost in terms of property damage, injury and loss of lifewould be of banning studded tires.

301

Rep. Beyer

Concurs that it is difficult to reach a consensus on the costs of allowing or prohibiting studded tires.

327

Rep. Hunt

Speaks to the arguments against banning studded tires.  Addresses the correlation between the fees on studded tires with driving more miles and passenger cars causing more damage.

358

Rep. Boone

Imagines that the damage quotient in Eastern Oregon would be less due to a more dispersed population, more snow, and less drivers. Explains the need for studded tires on rescue vehicles in her district on Hwy 26.

392

Rep. Beyer

Notes that the work group addressed the use of studded tires by emergency vehicles and that was a reason for not banning them. Talks about the differences between eastern and western Oregon and cites previous legislation that sought to address the issue regionally.

416

Rep. Boone

Stresses that the coast range is still receiving ice and snow during the spring months.

427

Rep. Beyer

Declares that there is more damage from studded tires on the western side roads due to the higher traffic volumes.

TAPE 57, A

002

Rep. Burley

Explains that studded tires are helpful. Asks where the money goes. Describes the problem with where the money comes from and where it goes.

021

Rep. Hunt

Responds that he is open to amendments to resolve the funding issue.

026

Rep. Beyer

Concurs with Rep. Hunt.

034

Rep. Thatcher

Inquires whether damage caused by chains, as opposed to studded tires, was discussed.

041

Rep. Beyer

Replies that it was not brought up in the work group.

049

Rep. Boone

Notes that part of the fees from tires bought in Bend would go towards checking the east side roads.

063

John Jackley

Highway Division, ODOT. Submits and summarizes prepared testimony regarding HB 2869 (EXHIBIT B).

109

Rep. Hunt

Asks if a formula could be created for the equitable distribution of the fees to address the ruts caused by studded tires.

119

Jackley

Responds that it is a policy decision for the legislature, but says the department would prefer no additional studies be conducted.

140

Rep. Boone

Proposes a fee for studded tires and a credit for tires without studs.

148

Rep. Beyer

Describes the incentives versus disincentives and the Highway Fund.

156

Rep. Thatcher

Asks about the administration and enforcement costs being thought of when imposing the $10 fee.

162

Jackley

Describes that $6 million would go to the state and it would not have an impact on the budget.

171

Rep. Thatcher

Wonders if the figure came about from the estimation of how many tires are out there, and whether it takes into account the enforcement costs and other factors.

177

Jackley

Answers that it was a straight analysis of the $10 fee by the ODOT.

181

Rep. Hunt

Notes that 5 percent would come “right off the top” for the administrative costs the tire dealers must face.

192

Rep. Thatcher

Talks about the cost to government enforcing the fees.

203

Kevin Westfall

Oregon Cattlemen’s Association. Submits and summarizes prepared testimony on behalf of Glen Stonebrink in opposition to HB 2869 (EXHIBIT C).

229

Rep. Hunt

Asks if Mr. Westfall would acknowledge that studded tires cause more damage to roads than non-studded tires.

230

Westfall

Answers yes but stresses that much of the driving done in Eastern Oregon is on ice and snow rather than bare pavement and would not impact the roads as much as in Western Oregon.

240

Mark Nelson

Les Schwab Tire Company. Testifies in opposition to HB 2869. Describes the safety benefits of studded tires.

305

Nelson

References a study from the State of Alaska that concluded that studded tires provide enhanced safety. Notes that there are barriers to using tire chains, including physical limitations

350

Nelson

Asserts that studies should include all economic costs of using or not using studded tires, not just wear on the roads. Talks about the pros and cons of a ban on studded tires.

410

Nelson

Argues that imposing a tax forces people to make a choice between costs and safety.

430

Rep. Hunt

Wonders if Mr. Nelson would agree that damaged roads are a safety concern.

435

Nelson

Responds affirmatively, and talks about the safety issues concerning snow and ice driving where studded tires/chains were unable to be used.

TAPE 56, B

004

Rep. Hunt

Discusses the Alaska study and notes that it recommended a $5/tire fee; would Mr. Nelson agree with something similar to this method.

011

Nelson

Answers no, because all economic costs have not been addressed in that study.

024

Rep. Hunt

Asks if Mr. Nelson would be supportive of the results of another study.

027

Nelson

Responds that they would agree with the assessment, but the safety costs outweigh the road damage costs.

042

Rep. Boone

Inquires about the use of rubber studs.

046

Nelson

Replies that lightweight studs are being used now.

055

Rep. Thatcher

Observes that the work group was made up mostly of government agency representatives with very little representation of the industry.

067

Rep. Bruun

Wonders about what the burden on Les Schwab would be if HB 2869 were implemented.

073

Nelson

Explains that they would simply be collecting $10 more per tire and notes that it is not a major reason why Les Schwab opposes the bill.

082

Rep. Beyer

Notes that the work group was not able to use information from the Alaska report.

095

Nelson

Answers that it is a fair criticism and talks about the good and bad aspects of the Alaska report.

101

Rep. Beyer

States that the tire industry was not on this work group but says she wants their opinion before the issue goes further

110

Nelson

Concurs with the process.

116

Bill Linden

Les Schwab Tire Company. Discusses concerns with the findings in the state of Washington.

129

Don Schellenberg

Oregon Farm Bureau (OFB). Points out that road damage is less in central and eastern Oregon due to the snow and ice covering the street and more driving on non-paved roads. Mentions that the OFB advisory committee unanimously supports HB 2869.

167

Rep. Beyer

Closes the public hearing on HB 2869.

171

Rep. Thatcher

Notes that her office has coordinated a trip to the Mexican consulate.

194

Rep. Beyer

Adjourns the meeting at 2:13 p.m.