Riley Report: October, 2015 Edition

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October, 2015

Riley Report: October, 2015 Edition

The period of time between legislative sessions is called the “interim.” The legislature has scheduled three sets of “Legislative Days” during this interim period prior to the 2016 Session – three days in September, three days in November, and three days in January. These days are set aside for the legislators to come back to Salem for informational hearings, to get updated on implementation of past legislation, and to hear reports from state agencies and task forces. The first set of Legislative Days for this interim happened this week – September 28, 29, and 30. If you are interested in attending the next set of Legislative Days, be sure to mark your calendar for November 16, 17, and 18.

Legislation going into Effect in October

While many bills passed during the 2015 Legislative Session have already become law, there are some new laws that will take effect this month. Among these are laws that will support rural communities and create jobs, prevent sex trafficking, provide reliable emergency preparedness funding, and help create a path to financial security and independence for Oregonians living with disabilities.

Here are a few legislative highlights from the 2015 Session that will become law in October, 2015:

SB 777: ABLE Act for Oregonians Living with Disabilities

The Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) program creates a savings program for children with disabilities or adults with disabilities whose disability manifested before 26 years of age. It allows those eligible to set and reach financial goals and become more self-sufficient. On October 5, 2015, Senate Bill 777 takes effect and requires the State Treasurer and the Oregon 529 Savings Board to begin work to establish and maintain a qualified ABLE program. Prior to passage of SB 777, individuals with disabilities could not have more than $2,000 in assets at any one time without losing access to Medicaid, Social Security, and other benefits. This made it nearly impossible for people with disabilities to save money for a house, a car, education services, or even medical necessities. Senate Bill 777 aligns state law with federal law, creating a path to financial security and independence for Oregonians living with disability.

HB 2643: Simplifying Economic Development through Enterprise Zones

Enterprise zones are an economic development tool used by local governments to exempt qualifying businesses from local property taxes on new investments. House Bill 2643 streamlines the process for establishing an enterprise zone and removes the limit on how many may be set up in Oregon at any one time. This allows cities and counties greater flexibility to use this proven economic development tool. The Oregon Business Development Department still must approve creation of new enterprise zones.

HB 3188: Predator Management in Rural Oregon

Many rural Oregonians rely on effective predator management to prevent costly damage to their livestock or timber. House Bill 3188 gives certain landowners in Coos and Douglas counties the option to petition the county to form a predator damage control district, giving these landowners the ability to voluntarily contribute to funding predator management services. As existing funding sources dwindle, this bill will help farmers protect their livestock and timber.

HB 3396: Healthcare Providers in Rural Oregon

House Bill 3396 requires the Oregon Health Policy Board to study and evaluate the effectiveness of existing financial incentive programs to recruit and retain health care providers to practice in rural and medically underserved areas in Oregon. The bill will address an ongoing need to attract and keep qualified healthcare providers to practice in rural Oregon.

HB 2908: Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families

This bill brings Oregon law into compliance with the federal Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act of 2014 (also goes into effect October 1, 2015). The federal act was passed to prevent and address sex trafficking of children in foster care, to extend and improve adoption incentives, and to improve international child support recovery. House Bill 2908 implements federal provisions in state law to support children in foster care. This includes: permanency planning, extracurricular, cultural and social activities, transition planning for children 14 and up, and foster children’s rights.

SB 262: Oil Spill Prevention

The Oregon Legislature passed the Oil Spill Prevention Act in 1991. This Act directed the Department of Environmental Quality to prevent, prepare, and respond to oil spills from large facilities, vessels, and petroleum transportation industries. To further prepare for possible oil spills, Senate Bill 292 increases fees, expands the uses of moneys in the Oil Spillage Control Fund, and expands reporting requirements.

HB 2171: Efficient Government to Protect Critical Services

House Bill 2171 protects taxpayers from waste by reining in tax credits and includes savings from several expiring tax credits. The bill also includes strategic investments in the Working Family Child and Dependent Care tax credit to increase access to quality, affordable childcare for working families.

Community Announcements

Hillsboro is seeking volunteers for a variety of City Commissions. There are vacancies on the Budget Committee, the Arts and Culture Council, the Historic Landmarks Advisory Committee, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Transportation Committee. Links to more information about each board and commission, as well as applications, are available online at www.hillsboro-oregon.gov (click on the Service Opportunity button underneath the photo slideshow). Applications can be submitted electronically, by fax, mailed to the city recorder’s office, or delivered in person. Applications are due by Friday, Nov. 6.

Pacific University is having its homecoming weekend this weekend from October 2-4. Activities include a parade, campus tours, reunions, tea parties, soccer and volleyball games, hall of fame inductions, celebrations and, of course, the big football game.

This coming Saturday, October 3, is “Hillsdoer Day!” This is the first city-wide volunteer day – come meet other members of our community, give back to a worthy cause, and embrace your hometown pride. There are a variety of Hillsboro-specific projects that you can sign up for – check it out today!

Affordable Art for Everyone will take place on October 3rd from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at NW Events in Hillsboro. This event was established in 2014 by Lisa Griffen and Christine Martell who wanted to make original art available to as many people as possible. The special event will have original artwork from more than 50 artists available for sale – many for less than $100. It’s a mixed media event with paintings, ceramics, glass, jewelry, wood, metalwork, and photography available for purchase. There will also be local performing arts organizations performing throughout the day. So, stop by to see performances by Bag & Baggage Productions, Hillsboro Artists Regional Theatre (HART), the Hillsboro Community Youth Choir, NW Conservatory of Dance, and STAGES. There will also be hands-on art activities for the whole family!

On October 3rd and 4th you can attend the Alpaca Harvest Festival and Sale at Alpacas of Oregon in Sherwood. This is a fun event for the entire family! You can meet alpacas, browse the barn store, and even take a class on how to felt an alpaca scarf.

Just in time for the Halloween season, STAGES Performing Arts Youth Academy presents “The Addams Family, The Musical.” More than 20 local children make up the cast of this quirky show, which runs from October 2 - 11 at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays at the HART Theatre in Hillsboro.

There are a couple of upcoming events aimed at increasing earthquake preparedness. On October 10th Washington County is hosting “Quake Up!” a hands-on educational event designed to help individuals and families take steps to prepare for an earthquake. This is a county-wide event that is being held at the Hillsboro Civic Center from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Then, on October 15th at 10:15 a.m. is “The Great Oregon Shakeout.” This is an international earthquake drill in which millions of people worldwide will practice how to drop, cover, and hold on. If you are planning to participate, you can register on The Great Shakeout website – so far 396,000 individuals in Oregon have signed up!

Snapshots

HB 3099 Signing Ceremony -- Sen. Riley with Governor Brown and three other attendees

Here I am with Governor Brown just after she signed HB 3099 into law. 

Here are some pictures from the Washington County Fair! This is me and Ross Lampert in the Washco Dems tent. 

Sen. Riley with Ross Lampert in the Washco Dems booth at the Washington County Fair
Sen. Riley with 3 young people in front of a 4H exhibit

Here I am with members of the OSU 4H Extension at the Fair.

And here I am at the Washington County Sheriff's tent at the fair with a future Washington County Sheriff!

A child putting their head through a WashCo Sheriff's cardboard cutout with Sen. Riley

 

Stay in Touch!

Please be advised that my capitol office will be operating on reduced hours during the interim. My staff will be available during normal business hours Tuesday through Friday. You may reach us by email: sen.chuckriley@state.or.us, or by phone: 503-986-1715. The Salem office mailing address is 900 Court St NE / S-303, Salem, OR 97301.

If you are not already subscribed, visit my legislative website and enter your email address into the “e-Subscribe” box at the right so that you never miss a newsletter. Or, simply email my office and we will sign you up!  I can be found on Facebook, or you can follow me on Twitter to stay up to date with what my office is up to.  Or, you can always check the events calendar on my legislative website!

As always, I am here to serve you.  If there is something I can do to assist you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office.

Sincerely,

Sen. Riley signature

Senator Chuck Riley

Senate District 15

email: Sen.ChuckRiley@state.or.us I phone: 503-986-1715
address: 900 Court St NE, S-303, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/riley

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