TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 53, A

005

Chair Prozanski

Calls the meeting to order at 3:20 p.m.  Opens public hearing on HB 2311A. 

HB 2311A – PUBLIC HEARING

015

Rick Walker

Owner, Wild Bills Interactive Events.  Discusses and submits written testimony in support of HB 2311A (EXHIBIT A). 

060

Chris Dudley

Dudley Foundation.  Testifies in support of HB 2311A.  Discusses the work and fundraising efforts of his foundation.

095

Ross Laybourn

Assistant Attorney General. Attorney In Charge, Department of Justice Charitable Activities.  Testifies with a neutral position on HB 2311A.  Remarks that it will not be a significant change for his office to regulate the form of casino nights in HB 2311A.

105

Sen. Beyer

Asks Walker regarding his fundraising efforts.

110

Walker

Responds.

115

Sen. Ringo

Discusses potential problems with gambling.

132

Walker

Comments that typically invited guests are the only ones allowed to participate in charitable casino games.

137

Chair Prozanski

Clarifies that the casino games are not going to be extended from what is on page 1, subsection 4, of HB 2311A.

145

Laybourn

Answers, yes.  States that they have rule making authority to specify which games are permitted.

150

Chair Prozanski

Asks for clarification of the language of HB 2311A.  

151

Laybourn

Responds.

163

Chair Prozanski

Closes public hearing on HB 2311A and opens public hearing on HB 2127.

HB 2127 – PUBLIC HEARING

170

Anna Braun

Committee Administrator.  Provides an overview of HB 2127.

180

Deborah Lincoln

Director, State of Oregon Employment Department.  Discusses and submits written testimony in support of HB 2127 (EXHIBIT B).

275

Lincoln

Comments that lowering business taxes will bring in more employers to Oregon.  Continues testimony.

345

Lincoln

Summarizes and concludes testimony.

375

Sen. Whitsett

Clarifies that the Employment Department has been taxing at a higher level than is necessary.

383

Lincoln

Answers, yes.

385

Sen. Whitsett

Inquires if they are redirecting the interest income to the Employment Department.

390

Lincoln

Responds that the interest currently comes to the Employment Department and that it is only changing the way the revenue is generated.

398

Sen. Whitsett

Asks the amount of interest they receive.  

400

Lincoln

Responds that it is around $30 million and has been going down.  Provides statistics on revenue for the Employment department.

430

Sen. Whitsett

Asks the likelihood of combining efforts.

TAPE 54, A

015

Lincoln

Responds.

043

Sen. Whitsett

Asks what assistance they provide for people searching for jobs.

048

Lincoln

Responds.

055

Sen. Whitsett

Asks Lincoln regarding combining efforts.

058

Lincoln

Responds. 

075

Sen. Whitsett

States that he would like to speak further with Lincoln about this. 

080

J.L. Wilson

National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).  Testifies in support of HB 2127.

100

Lisa Trussell

Associated Oregon Industries (AOI).  Discusses and submits written testimony in support of HB 2127 (EXHIBIT C).

115

Steve Lanning

Political Director, Oregon American Federation of Labor – Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).  Discusses and submits written testimony in support of HB 2127 (EXHIBIT D).

127

Dan Floyd

Oregon Grocery Association.  Testifies in support of HB 2127.

140

Chair Prozanski

Closes public hearing on HB 2127 and opens public hearing on HB 2124A.

HB 2124A – PUBLIC HEARING

147

Renée Bryant

Unemployment Insurance Tax Manager, Oregon Employment Department.  Discusses and submits written testimony in support of HB 2124A (EXHIBIT E).

230

Bryant

Discusses current law regarding unemployment insurance tax rates.  Discusses proposed sanctions for violation.

310

Bryant

States that HB 2124A will be the Oregon Employment Department into conformity with federal requirements.  Concludes testimony.

360

Tom Barrows

National Association of Professional Employers Organization.  Testifies in support of HB 2124A. 

380

Sen. Whitsett

Clarifies that the federal government requires that the penalty be the highest tax rate plus 2% for 3 years.

388

Bryant

Responds.

395

Sen. Whitsett

Asks where the fines are held.

402

Bryant

Responds.

405

Chair Prozanski

Asks Bryant to discuss and separate the fines by civil and criminal.

408

Bryant

Responds.

412

Chair Prozanski

Discusses the disbursement of the funds from fines.

415

Bryant

Comments.

420

Sen. Beyer

Asks how the Employment Department will carry out HB 2124A.

430

Bryant

Discusses plans to implement HB 2124A.  

TAPE 53, B

030

Sen. Beyer

Asks if HB 2124A has been checked to avoid the technical issues that SB 37 (2005) had.

033

Bryant

Responds that HB 2124A alters the law that SB 37 is related to.

040

Chair Prozanski

Asks if the U.S. Department of Labor has provided feedback.

045

Bryant

Asks Chair Prozanski to rephrase the question.

047

Chair Prozanski

Restates his question.

050

Bryant

Answers, yes.  States that the U.S. Department of Labor has approved the proposed legislation.

052

Chair Prozanski

Closes public hearing on HB 2124A and opens public hearing on HB 2126.

HB 2126 – PUBLIC HEARING

062

Tom Byerley

Assistant Director, Unemployment Insurance, Oregon Employment Department.  Discusses and submits written testimony in support of HB 2126 (EXHIBIT F).

095

Sen. Beyer

Asks how far they can go back to collect.  

100

Byerley

Responds.

102

Sen. Beyer

Clarifies that they can go back as far as they choose if it is due to fraud.

104

Byerley

Answers, yes.  Discusses a scenario regarding benefits.

114

Sen. Beyer

Inquires how much overpayment is currently outstanding.

118

Byerley

Responds that it is at $34.6 million.

120

Sen. Beyer

Asks if HB 2126 will lower the amount.

122

Byerley

Responds.

128

Sen. Beyer

Asks if they are aggressively trying to collect the $34.6 million.

130

Byerley

Answers, yes.   

140

Chair Prozanski

Clarifies the intent of HB 2126.

146

Byerley

Responds.

148

Chair Prozanski

Closes public hearing on HB 2126.

150

Anna Braun

Committee Administrator.  Discusses plans for the April 14^th committee meeting in Eugene.  

158

Chair Prozanski

Discusses the April 14^th meeting committee meeting. Adjourns the meeting at 4:27 p.m.