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Hello friends,
As some of you may already know, we are fast approaching the 2020 legislative session - it is sure to be a whirlwind 35 days.
Prior to its start, I wanted to give you all some updates:
Staff Changes
Troy Duker, my Chief of Staff for the last 3 years, has left my office for a new opportunity at the state Department of Education's Early Learning Division; while I am sad that he is no longer in my office, I am excited for him to take on this new crucial role.
Replacing Troy as my Chief of Staff is Nathan Soltz. Nathan has worked for me since my first session in the Senate three years ago, though he usually worked later in the afternoons and into the evening so you may not have seen him. Nathan came to my office after working for Senator Dr. Alan Bates in his final session prior to his passing. During the 2019 interim, he also worked for Senator Golden back in his home district of Medford. Those of you who are involved in Democratic Party politics may also be familiar with Nathan, as he has been involved with the Democratic Party of Oregon since he was 17 and currently chairs the state party's Latino Caucus, Platform & Resolutions Committee and Congressional District 2 Committee. I am grateful to have him back on board.
Joining us for the short session will also be Lina deMorais. Lina comes to our office after working for Senator Gelser during the 2019 long session. Kevin Modica, former Assistant Chief of Police for the Portland Police Bureau, will also be returning to help our office with our bill for the short session. We are looking forward to having them on to round out our staff for the next couple months.
Senator Frederick (center) standing next to Nathan (left) and Troy (right).
Arbitration Bill
During the short session, each House member is permitted to introduce two bills and each Senator is permitted but one - how that was arranged is beyond me. I am using my one bill to reintroduce a bill from the last session that passed the Senate unanimously but regrettably died in committee in the House - Senate Bill 383A. This bill is designed to improve police accountability and was crafted in consultation with the City of Portland and the Portland Police Association which, at the time of its introduction last session, were preparing to enter contract negotiations; I am pleased that SB 383A was an agreeable result. Due to its death in committee last session, we are reintroducing an identical bill (currently known only as Legislative Concept 49) this session with an emergency clause to ensure that its enactment is not after the contract negotiations have completed.
LC 49 addresses the problem of an arbitrator agreeing with the Chief of Police's determination of an officer's misconduct but then lowering the disciplinary action. For example, if an officer is found to have a history of acting with prejudice against racial minorities and, as a result, the officer gets demoted and is required to participate in training, an arbitrator may find the same history of prejudice but reduce the sentence to nothing more than a slap on the wrist. LC 49 prohibits the lowering of a sentence if the arbitrator concurs that misconduct has occurred.
Oregon Greenhouse Gas Initiative & Other Bills
This session, we are again looking at ways to lessen Oregon's negative impact on climate change. This session's iteration of that proposal is currently known as Legislative Concept 19. I and many of my colleagues are determined to pass meaningful legislation to affect Oregon's carbon footprint. Expect significant discussions around that in the coming days and weeks.
There are a number of other interesting and significant LCs (soon to be bills) circulating the capitol and I am proud to have signed on as a sponsor for a number of them. The Senate Committee on Wildfire Prevention and Recovery, of which I am a member, will be introducing three bills this session designed to mitigate the cause and effects of wildfires on our state and people.
As always, please know that you can contact my office with your questions and concerns regarding any legislation.
Town Hall
Finally, on January 30, I will be having a town hall alongside Speaker Kotek and Representative Sanchez. I hope you will join us there. Here are the details:
What? Town Hall with Speaker Kotek and Rep. Sanchez
When? Thursday, January 30, 6-7:30 p.m.
Where? PCC Cascade Campus (705 N Killingsworth), Moriarty Auditorium - corner of N. Killingsworth & Albina
Why? To hear your concerns and share our legislative updates with you
Yours truly,
Senator Lew Frederick
Senate District 22
email: Sen.LewFrederick@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1722
address: 900 Court St NE, S-419, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/frederick
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