SB 67: MENTAL HEALTH TRUST AMENDMENTS Number 055 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS thanked participants for their input on the beetle issue, and announced the committee would take up discussion of the mental health lands issue for the remainder of the meeting. He referred to the two previous meetings where the state and the plaintiffs had presented their views on the issue. He asked committee members to consider the options available to them on the issue, one being to introduce a committee-sponsored bill in the House, and referred their attention to a draft bill before them. He also directed their attention to copies of SB 67 and back-up material in members' packets. Other options included doing nothing and letting the current settlement agreement run its course in the courts, or waiting to see what became of SB 67. Number 124 REPRESENTATIVE FINKELSTEIN referred to SB 67 and said his thought was that the committee should introduce draft legislation for discussion purposes, rather than waiting until late in the session to make decisions on such a complicated issue. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES concurred, and said he thought having a bill before the committee would give purpose to their discussions and would be the best course to take. REPRESENTATIVE JEANNETTE JAMES objected to introducing bills just for the purpose of discussion. She was not convinced any legislation could solve the problem, and felt Chapter 66 should be given more opportunity to work. Number 158 REPRESENTATIVE PAT CARNEY agreed, but said the committee had to have something to work with. He believed SB 67 could be modified to suit the committee's intent. Number 183 REPRESENTATIVE FINKELSTEIN clarified he was not suggesting the bill be introduced for the sole purpose of discussion. REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE was not satisfied with the options available and wanted more information. Number 203 REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON suggested one of two things could occur. First, the committee could do nothing and Chapter 66 would go through its process, or second, it could introduce the draft bill knowing it would not necessarily be the bill that came out. The advantage of introducing the bill, he said, was that it would allow all interested parties the opportunity to come forward with their ideas. He proposed the committee vote on how members would like to proceed. Number 240 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS believed the committee needed a bill before them for the purpose of discussion. He appointed a subcommittee to look into the issue, which included Representative Hudson as chairman, and Representatives Carney, Davies, and James as members. Number 254 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE asked that the committee defer further discussion of the mental health lands issue. CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS announced the matter would be examined by the subcommittee, and thanked witnesses who had offered to be available. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the committee, Chairman Williams adjourned the meeting at 9:50 a.m.