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Friends and Neighbors,
Special Session
The Oregon Legislature will convene a special session, at the request of the Governor, tomorrow, June 24th at 8:00am. The current list of Legislative Concepts (LCs) under consideration can be found here.
Members of the public will be able to participate in the legislative process in multiple ways, though the Capitol will remain closed to the public during the Special Session due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Committee hearings on these concepts were held yesterday, access video here, and continue this morning at 9:30am, and there is still opportunity to submit public testimony (see below).
Go to https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2019I1/Committees/J1SS/Overview to access a livestream of today's meeting. Locate the meeting date and click on the camera icon at the designated time. A viewing station will also be available outside on the front steps of the Capitol Building.
Public Testimony Information
If you would like to provide testimony on any of the agenda items at the committee meetings, you have several options:
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Written Testimony: You may submit written testimony by email here (write the LC/Bill number in the subject line). Written testimony received by the meeting's start time will be uploaded promptly for committee members and the public on the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS).
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Remote Oral Testimony: Anyone wishing to speak to the committee verbally may use a public access station at the Capitol building at the designated meeting time. A
public testimony access station will be set up on the front steps of the Capitol at the designated meeting time.
Please Note: Being at the Capitol does not guarantee that you will be permitted to testify by speaking directly to the committee if the committee chair determines that public testimony must be limited. For this reason, pre-submitting your written testimony is encouraged even if you plan to testify.
Protective Measures During the Special Session
As the legislators convene for the Special Session on Wednesday, out of safety due to the ongoing pandemic, the Capitol will remain closed to the public and allow only for the legislators, necessary staff and members of the press to gain access to the building. Watch a livestream of the session, beginning at 8:00am, here.
Protective measures include:
- Members & staff strongly urged to maintain minimum physical distance of 6 feet
- Where not possible, personal protective equipment available upon request (i.e. parliamentarian staff, custodial staff)
- Recommend no more than two people in an elevator at a time
- One-way hallways & ‘keep to the right’ signs for stairwells will be posted to maintain physical distance as much as possible
- Recommend nothing communal
- No shared coffee pots
- No water fountains or water coolers
- No shared refrigerators
- No buffet-style meals
- No candy dishes
- No water pitchers
- No eating or drinking in close proximity.
- Place hand sanitizer in multiple locations (high traffic, entrances, exits) & emphasize frequent cleaning of hands
Additionally, as of Wednesday, face coverings are required for indoor public spaces for Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Marion, Polk, Hood River, and Lincoln counties.
I will be wearing my mask and taking every precaution to keep myself and others safe. I look forward to my colleagues doing the same.
As you follow along with the committee and special session proceedings, feel free to send any questions to me by emailing my office at: rep.janeensollman@oregonlegislature.gov.
County Specific Mask, Face Shield, Face Covering Guidance
This guidance applies to:
- All businesses, as defined below, and to the general public when visiting these
businesses, in Clackamas, Hood River, Lincoln, Marion, Multnomah, Polk and
Washington counties. Effective date: June 24, 2020
For purposes of this guidance the following definitions apply:
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“Business” means: Grocery stores, Fitness-related organizations, Pharmacies, Public transit agencies and providers, Personal services providers, Restaurants, bars, breweries, brewpubs, wineries, tasting room and distilleries, Retail stores, shopping centers and malls, Ride sharing services,
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Phase Two counties only: Indoor licensed swimming pool, licensed spa pool and sports court operators, Indoor entertainment facility operators, Indoor recreational sports operators for specified sports, Indoor venue operators
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“Face covering” means a cloth, paper, or disposable face covering that covers the nose and the mouth.
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“Face shield” means a clear plastic shield that covers the forehead, extends below the chin, and wraps around the sides of the face.
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“Fitness-related organizations” includes but is not limited to gyms, fitness centers,
personal training, dance studios, and martial arts centers.
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“Mask” means a medical grade mask.
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“Personal services providers” means barber shops, hair salons, esthetician practices, medical spas, facial spas and day spas, non-medical massage therapy services, nail salons, tanning salons, and tattoo/piercing parlors.
Businesses
A business is required to:
- Require employees, contractors, volunteers, customers and visitors to wear a mask,
face shield, or face covering, unless an accommodation or exemption is required by law or one of the following exemptions applies.
- Employees, contractors and volunteers: Masks, face coverings or face shields
are not required when eating/drinking or when at or in a location where the
employee, contractor or volunteer is not interacting with the public and six (6) or
more feet of distance can be maintained between other people.
- Customers and visitors:
- Masks, face shields or face coverings are not required in restaurants,
bars, breweries, brewpubs, wineries, tasting room and distilleries while
eating or drinking.
- Masks, face shields or face coverings are not required when at a business
and engaged in an activity that makes wearing a mask, face shield or face
covering not feasible, such as strenuous physical exercise, singing or playing an instrument if at least six (6) feet of distance is maintained from others.
- Provide masks, face shields, or face coverings for employees.
- Provide for accommodations and exemptions from the mask, face shield, or face
covering requirement for employees, contractors, customers and visitors if such
accommodations or exemptions are required by:
- State and federal disabilities laws if applicable, including the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) which protects people with disabilities from
discrimination in employment and requires employers to engage in the
interactive process for accommodations.
- State or federal labor laws.
- State and federal public accommodations laws that provide all persons with full
and equal access to services, transportation, and facilities open to the public.
- OHA public health guidance if applicable.
- Post clear signs about the mask, face shield, or face covering requirements.
A business should, but is not required to:
- Provide, at no cost, at least disposable face coverings for customers and visitors who
do not have one.
- Post signs about the mask, face shield, or face coverings requirement in languages that are commonly spoken by customers and visitors.
- Educate employees:
- On how to safely work and communicate with people who cannot wear masks,
face shield, or face coverings.
- That they may need to remove a mask or face covering while communicating with an individual who needs to read lips or see facial expressions to communicate.
The Public
Customers and visitors of businesses are required to:
- Wear a mask, face shield, or face covering when at a business unless the individual:
- Is under 12 years of age.
- Has a medical condition that makes it hard to breathe when wearing a mask,
face shield, or face covering.
- Has a disability that prevents the individual from wearing a mask, face shield, or
face covering.
Customers and visitors of businesses between the ages of 0 and 12 years old:
- Children under the age of two (2) may not wear a mask, face shield, or face covering.
- It is strongly recommended that children between two (2) and 12 years of age, wear
a mask, face shield, or face covering at all times in settings like grocery stores or
pharmacies, where it is likely that physical distancing of at least six (6) feet from
other individuals outside their household unit cannot be maintained, and vulnerable
people must go.
- Because children between the ages of two (2) and 12 years of age can have challenges wearing a mask, face shield, or face covering properly (e.g., excessively touching the face covering, not changing the face covering if visibly soiled, risk of strangulation or suffocation, etc.) we urge that if masks, face shields or face coverings are worn by this age group, that they be worn with the assistance and close supervision of an adult. Masks, face shields, or face coverings should never be worn by children when sleeping.
Requirements for other businesses and sectors
There may be mask, face shield, and face covering requirements and recommendations that apply to other businesses not listed in this guidance. For a business that is not in one of the counties listed above, or is not listed as a business in this guidance, the business should review other applicable sector guidance for mask, face shield, face covering requirements and recommendations.
For full guidance and links to other resources, visit here.
 Small Business Updates
SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Advance Program Reopened to All Eligible Small Businesses and Non-Profits Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic
To further meet the needs of U.S. small businesses and non-profits, the U.S. Small Business Administration reopened the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance program portal to all eligible applicants experiencing economic impacts due to COVID-19 this past Thursday.
SBA’s EIDL program offers long-term, low interest assistance for a small business or non-profit. These loans can provide vital economic support to help alleviate temporary loss of revenue. EIDL assistance can be used to cover payroll and inventory, pay debt or fund other expenses. Additionally, the EIDL Advance will provide up to $10,000 ($1,000 per employee) of emergency economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties, and these emergency grants do not have to be repaid.
SBA’s COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance
- The SBA is offering low interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses and non-profit organizations that are suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19 in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories.
- These loans may be used to pay debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact, and that are not already covered by a Paycheck Protection Program loan. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.
- To keep payments affordable for small businesses, SBA offers loans with long repayment terms, up to a maximum of 30 years. Plus, the first payment is deferred for one year.
- In addition, small businesses and non-profits may request, as part of their loan application, an EIDL Advance of up to $10,000. The EIDL Advance is designed to provide emergency economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. This advance will not have to be repaid, and small businesses may receive an advance even if they are not approved for a loan.
- SBA’s EIDL and EIDL Advance are just one piece of the expanded focus of the federal government’s coordinated response.
- The SBA is also assisting small businesses and non-profits with access to the federal forgivable loan program, the Paycheck Protection Program, which is currently accepting applications until June 30, 2020.
For additional information, please visit the SBA disaster assistance website at SBA.gov/Disaster.
Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce Hosts Washington County Business Recovery Centers: Thursday, June 25, 2020, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM.
Join Deanna Palm, President of the Hillsboro Chamber, for the in's and out's of the Washington County Business Recovery Centers (BRC) and how the BRC can help you reopen and recover.
The Business Recovery Centers are funded by the C.A.R.E.S. Act to provide community businesses with access to complimentary, individualized business consulting services.
The BRC services are complimentary to Washington County Business and offer services such as:
- One Stop Shop for business recovery
- Individualized answers to your business questions
- Assistance with connecting to available financial resources
- Help with navigating technical resources
- Providing educational resources
- Referrals to organizations and resources to help
- Access to interpreters and translation services
Register to learn more here.
Washington County Legislative Addendum: COVID-19
 Community Outreach
This Fireworks Season, Please Keep it Legal and Safe
Please see the following from the Oregon State Fire Marshal on the upcoming fireworks season. The 2020 Oregon fireworks retail sales season opens June 23 and runs through July 6.
Fireworks and the Impacts of COVID-19 in Oregon
Are legal fireworks going to be for sale in Oregon during the sale period (June 23-July 6) this summer?
OSFM has been receiving and processing applications for retail sales of consumer fireworks, therefore we anticipate residents will see Oregon consumer legal fireworks for sale this year.
Will the state’s rules and other measures implemented by local governments prevent organized fireworks displays?
Check with your local jurisdiction for updates on organized fireworks displays. Gov. Brown’s plan for reopening Oregon bans large gatherings such as conventions, festivals, and major concerts and live audience sporting events through September.
Can a local jurisdiction ban the sale and/or use of legal fireworks?
There could be local restrictions in place. Always check with your local city, county, and other local authorities jurisdictions before using any fireworks.
Why are the sale and use of legal fireworks being allowed as the state addresses COVID-19?
Gov. Kate Brown’s Executive Order to stay home and save lives does not specifically ban the sale and use of legal fireworks in Oregon due to COVID-19. Oregon law provides for the regulation of fireworks at the local community level since that is where they are sold and used. Check with your local authorities if any restrictions are in place before buying or using fireworks.
For further information please visit the Office of the State Fire Marshal Fireworks page.
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 Making A Difference
Kaiser Permanente Volunteers
Please read the following from Carolyn Ortman, a Regional Manager of Kaiser Permanente NW Hospitals, about ways they have been able to help during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID19 has certainly created an opportunity to see and do things in a different way than what was our norm. At Kaiser Permanente volunteers wanted to know how they could help-they were eager to do things from home while supporting the directives of the Stay at Home order.
So, they did what volunteers do-they got busy and created over 1800 ear savers for staff members to use with masks. They sent in thousands of cards to be shared with our Kaiser community partners and individuals who might appreciate a card of recognition. They wrote thank you notes to staff members. They continue to make fabric caps for our ICU and COVID unit staff (due to shortages in PPE). Currently we will have distributed close to 200 caps for staff. In all we had over 115 volunteers participate in these projects.
Kaiser volunteers stepped up and we are so grateful and appreciative of the commitment they continue to give to our communities.
Additional Resources
House District 30 Links
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Utilities Assistance
Food and Housing Assistance
- Governor Brown’s Executive Order 20-11: places a temporary moratorium on residential evictions for nonpayment in light of the public health emergency caused by the spread of coronavirus in Oregon. The order is effective for 90 days.
- Governor Brown's Executive Order 20-13 strengthens Governor Brown's previous ban on residential evictions, and prohibits landlords from charging tenants late fees for nonpayment of rent during the moratorium.
- Community Action.org
- Oregon Food Bank
- Meals on Wheels
There is something so wonderful and soothing about the sound of song. I hope you are able to take a break to enjoy this beautiful performance below from the One Voice Children's Choir.
 Be good to yourself and each other. ❤
Onward & Upward,
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1430
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-487, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman
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