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
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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. |
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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! |
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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
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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,
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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