CC Minutes - 04/09/07 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Pryor stated that HB 2370 was the “short version.” He related that the Governor requested that emergency operation functions be moved from the oversight of the Oregon State Police to the National Guard. He explained that HB 2370-A included an amendment that prohibited a unit of government from seizing firearms from individuals during a declared emergency. He noted that at times certain civil rights were suspended in an emergency. Ms. Wilson said in regard to the legislative process, the amendment had “come suddenly” in a work session. She stated that the bill was in the Ways and Means Committee and had not been scheduled for a hearing at this point. Emergency Program Manager Chuck Solin said originally he was in support of the bill. He noted that the Governor had already transferred the administration of Oregon emergency management to the National Guard of Oregon. He explained that the Governor was just moving a department that at one time reported directly to his office and had been moved under the auspices of the Oregon State Police to the Oregon military department. He related that a couple of people on the committee had concerns regarding firearms that had been seized in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; apparently the owners of the firearms were required to pay to retrieve them, sometimes more than the firearms were worth. He stated that in the City of Eugene there was an emergency code that gave city officers in very specific circumstances related to a true emergency the right to put price regulation in place, to establish curfews, order evacuations, and prohibit the sale, carrying, or possession of firearms or explosives of any kind on public streets. He said HB 2370-A dictated that if a person had a legal right to carry a firearm, no one could take it and if the firearm was confiscated all of the costs to recover the weapon would have to be borne by the City. Councilor Bettman thought the bill was more complicated than that. She had opposed the amendment, but she had larger concerns about the bill itself. She believed that the National Guard was the national military. She asserted that the bill would give all of the duties and powers of emergency management to the office of Homeland Security. She believed this would give all of the resources and equipment to make the decisions to the military. She averred this was a major policy issue. Ms. Wilson reported that there was strong backing for the bill and there had been no discussion of the amendment in the joint committee on emergency preparedness. She said the discussion would have to take place in the Ways and Means Committee or on the legislature floor. She suggested that the council might want to take a support-if-amended or oppose-unless-amended stance. Councilor Bettman, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to adopt a Priority 3 Oppose stance on HB 2370. Councilor Poling was reluctant to take a position because he could see both the pros and the cons of HB 2370-A. In response to a question from Councilor Solomon, Mr. Solin affirmed that emergency professionals supported the bill. He had talked to a number of staff in the Oregon Emergency Management and they were very supportive of this move. He underscored that they would all remain civilian employees, but they would be under the department of the military. He stated that Oregon was in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 10, which included Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Montana. Oregon was currently the only state that did not have its emergency management function under the military in the region. MINUTES—Eugene City Council April 9, 2007 Page 12 Regular Meeting