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Dear friends,
We find ourselves in uncharted territory when it comes to COVID-19 and the Delta variant. Cases are at record levels, hospital ICUs are beyond capacity, the school year is beginning, and misinformation abounds.
Make no mistake: The Delta variant is much more dangerous than previous COVID variants. Not only is Delta a thousand times more infectious than previous COVID variants, it also causes more severe cases of COVID among people of all ages. Doctors have warned that the variant is "moving like a buzz saw" through the unvaccinated population in Oregon, and children as young as 18 months have died from it. Because this virus keeps mutating, we have to keep changing how we respond.
My message is simple: Get vaccinated, mask up (especially at gatherings, inside or out), and social distance. Also remember to frequently wash your hands. These are simple measures that we can all take to protect our families, loved ones, neighbors and community members, especially children under 12 years old, as we head into Labor Day weekend. To avoid further spreading the virus and to avert more illness and deaths, health officials have advised that people who are not vaccinated should not travel over the holiday weekend.
Douglas County has been hit particularly hard due to low vaccination levels. Individual school districts in the county have delayed their start of the school year to "wait out" the current surge. Oregon's National Guard has been deployed to Mercy Medical in Roseburg — as well as to other hospitals in the district and state — to assist overwhelmed health care staff. Across the state, urgent medical treatments are being delayed because hospitals lack staff/space to provide treatment, since beds are taken up by unvaccinated COVID patients.
You can find information about Douglas County vaccination clinics here, and Lane County clinics here.
A summary of September's state revenue forecast is provided below in this e-bulletin. A record "kicker" is expected, totaling $1.9 billion thanks to a strong economic recovery. If this holds, Oregonians will see credits on their 2021 tax returns. Oregon's kicker law refunds filers whenever personal income tax revenue exceeds projections by at least two percent.
During August, I enjoyed taking part in a Small Woodlands Association tour of Whitewater Forests, a family-operated tree farm west of Noti in Lane County. I saw how the farm managed their wood, wildlife, water, and recreation resources. Also last month, I attended an outdoor meeting of local leaders at the McKenzie River Discovery Center. I continue to be a strong supporter of MRDC and its mission to honor and promote the McKenzie watershed and its unique hydrology, inspiring stewardship through education. It is also poised to help the area in its economic recovery.
Please be safe this Labor Day weekend. Some interesting facts about the holiday, as shared in a recent "Around the Grove" newsletter (8/30/21) for the Cottage Grove community:
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Labor Day is said to be the third most popular day in the United States for grilling. (Number one is the Fourth of July and number two is Memorial Day.)
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Labor Day is considered the end of "hot dog season."
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Many other countries celebrate Labor Day on May 1st. It's the same day as May Day and is called the International Worker's Day.
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The first Labor Day parade was in protest to poor working conditions and long 16-hour workdays.
Below you will find information on:
- 2021 Session Accomplishments: Improving Public Safety & Justice
- Redistricting Public Hearings Go Virtual
- September Revenue Forecast
- Grant Proposals for Rural Opportunity Initiative Grant Program
- Foreclosure Moratorium Extended
- State Library ARPA Grants in Senate District 4
I hope this information is helpful and informative for you or someone you know. As always, feel free to share your comments, questions or concerns with me by phone, mail or e-mail.
2021 Session Accomplishments: Improving Public Safety & Justice
Beginning with this e-bulletin, I'm sharing in-depth summaries of bills passed during the 2021 Legislative Session by subject area. Below is a comprehensive listing of accomplishments related to improving public safety and justice — by Senate/House bill and in numerical order:
Senate Bills
SB 554 - Prohibiting Guns in Public Buildings and Safe Storage: I was proud to help champion this legislation to create safer environments at public buildings and schools. Previous law provided concealed handgun license (CHLs) holders an affirmative defense for bringing loaded firearms into schools and public offices. SB 554 allows school districts and public higher education institutions to vote to remove that affirmative defense and ban firearms on their premises. The bill also requires that gun owners store firearms safely by using a cable lock, a storage container or safe, or in a gun room. Safety measures must also be used when transferring a firearm and owners must report if a gun is stolen or missing. Finally, SB 554 prohibits the CHL affirmative defense in public buildings.
SB 621 - Police Accountability and Civilian Oversight Board: This legislation is one in the series of police accountability measures that the Legislature has passed since 2020. SB 621 is part of the Senate Democrats' ongoing commitment to making police-community interactions safer. The bill allows cities to create civilian boards to oversee law enforcement disciplinary matters, so long as a related measure was referred to voters on or after July 1, 2020, and the measure passed.
SB 755 - Ballot Measure 110 Implementation: This legislation is the omnibus bill to implement Ballot Measure 110. Also referred to as the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act, Ballot Measure 110 decriminalized possession of small amounts of controlled substances. It classified those offenses as Class E violations that are subject to a $100 fine. If a cited person completes a screening, the fine will be waived. Screenings are to assess level of addiction and provide access to services for both recovery and acute care. Cited individuals will also be offered access to services related to housing and employment. The act additionally establishes the Treatment and Recovery Services Fund, which is financed primarily by marijuana revenues and is disbursed through grants to increase access to behavioral health care. Finally, it creates an Oversight and Accountability Council (OAC) that acts as the rulemaking and grant disbursement body under the wing of the Oregon Health Authority. It appropriates $1.9 million over the 2021-2023 and 2023-2025 biennia to launch Ballot Measure 110. As chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary & Ballot Measure 110 Implementation, SB 755 was a major focus of my work during the 2021 Legislative Session.
House Bills
HB 2513 – Police Training in Cardiopulmonary/Circulatory Anatomy: This legislation is another step toward ending police brutality. It requires that law enforcement be trained on the airway and circulatory anatomy to know clearly what impedes someone's ability to breathe so that can be avoided. It also requires police to call for emergency medical services immediately if a person is suffering from respiratory or cardiac compromise.
HB 2527 - Private Security Firms Licensing: This legislation creates regulatory oversight of private security operations. It directs the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training to license the approximately 1,600 businesses that employ private security providers and ensure competency of the providers. This will be a fee-based program and will be supported by certification, licensure, and renewal fees.
HB 2928 - Limiting Police Munitions: This legislation prohibits the use of chemical incapacitants, kinetic impact projectiles, munitions, and sound cannons for purposes of crowd control unless use of force is otherwise authorized by statute. It also provides that if munitions are to be used, law enforcement officers must give instructions on how to safely disperse and provide accommodations for those who cannot disperse. Law enforcement must also make every reasonable attempt to get medical care to any subsequently injured individuals.
HB 2936 - Police Background Checks and Conduct: This legislation is a multipronged police reform bill. It requires the development of universal background checks for law enforcement candidates that shall include an assessment of history in biases towards races, gender, sexual orientation, and related identities. HB 2936 also directs enforcement units to adopt policies setting standards for speech and expression by officers in and out of course and scope of employment.
HB 2986 - Police Training on Prejudice Based on Perceived Gender: This legislation is intended to track and end bias crimes. It requires that police officers be trained to identify and investigate crimes committed based on a victim's gender identity or perceived gender. This is already required for crimes committed based on a persons' perceived race, color, religion, national origin and sexual orientation. It also requires that these crimes be reported and tracked.
HB 3047 - Civil Remedy for Doxing: "Doxing" is the term used for disclosing someone's identity and related personal information with the intent of harassing, stalking, or causing harm. This legislation creates a civil cause of action for doxing victims. A prevailing plaintiff may recover economic and non-economic damages as well as other types of relief. The statute of limitation is two years.
HB 3059 - Unlawful Assemblies: This legislation removes language requiring an arrest if a person fails to disperse as ordered during an unlawful assembly. It still permits police to engage with a crowd and to order dispersal when appropriate.
HB 3164 - Interfering with Police Officer: This legislation provides that a person cannot be arrested or charged with interfering with a police officer if the person has already been arrested or charged with a crime for the same conduct.
HB 3273 - Booking Photos: Currently, when a person is booked at a jail, their photo is taken and is generally published online whereupon it is publicly accessible. This often causes humiliation and makes it hard for people to move on with their lives. HB 3273 prohibits law enforcement agencies from releasing booking photos except under certain circumstances and sets requirements for the destruction of a booking photo image by a publish-for-pay publication upon request.
HB 3355 - Law Enforcement Officer Uniforms: This legislation requires that police wear uniforms and gear that is easily identifiable when conducting crowd management in cities with populations of 150,000 or more. It also provides that a law enforcement officer must provide their name and identifying number or a business card to a member of the public upon request, so long as doing so is practical, safe, and tactically feasible.
Redistricting Public Hearings Go Virtual
In response to growing hospitalization rates across the state due to the Delta variant , Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek announced that the upcoming public hearings of the Senate and House Redistricting Committees will be moved to a virtual format.
The new schedule for the September Redistricting Public Hearings can be found below (Douglas and Lane Counties fall within Congressional District 4). Meetings will be held virtually and organized to hear from residents of each current congressional district. Oregonians can participate by signing up for video or phone testimony or uploading written testimony.
Wednesday, September 8
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (residents of Congressional District 1)
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (residents of Congressional District 2)
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (residents of Congressional District 3)
Thursday, September 9
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (residents of Congressional District 4)
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (residents of Congressional District 5)
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (residents of Congressional District 1)
Friday, September 10
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (residents of Congressional District 2)
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (residents of Congressional District 3)
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (residents of Congressional District 4)
Monday, September 13
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (residents of Congressional District 5)
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (statewide: open to residents of any district)
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (statewide: open to residents of any district)
Find your congressional district here (enter your address in the top-right corner and click the “Congress” tab): https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/FindYourLegislator/leg-districts.html. For more information on redistricting or how to participate, visit www.oregonlegislature.gov/redistricting.
September Revenue Forecast
A strong September 2021 Economic and Revenue Forecast was released at a joint virtual meeting of the Senate and House Revenue Committees. This forecast, summarized below, shows that Oregon's economic response continues to provide for a strong recovery. It's important that everyone do their part to encourage how we improve public health, including vaccinations against COVID-19, so we can remain on this trajectory.
Revenue Outlook
2019-21 net General Fund (GF) resources are up $699.1 million from the June 2021 forecast. The current GF ending balance is $3,704 million compared to June's projected ending balance of $2,824 million. The ending balance is also up $3,199 million from the 2019 close-of-session (COS) estimate. Projected 2019-21 lottery resources are unchanged from the June 2021 forecast.
As the current biennium (2021-23) begins, net GF projected revenue is up $96 million and Lottery projected revenue is up $48 million when compared to the COS forecast. In addition, the GF beginning balance for this biennium is up $679 million. Taken together, the current projected ending balance for 2021-23 is up $775 million from the COS.
Kicker Outlook
A personal kicker of $1,898 million is projected to be paid in the 2021-23 biennium. The projected corporate kicker of $846 million is to be dedicated to K-12 education spending in in the 2021-23 Biennium.
Corporate Activity Tax (CAT) Projections
HB 3427 (2019) created a new state revenue source by implementing a corporate activity tax (CAT) that went into effect January 2020. Collections for 2019-21 totaled $1,374.9 million, which is somewhat higher that the June forecast due to stronger estimated payments in the second quarter. The forecast for the current biennium is $2,376.8 million, only slightly above the June forecast.
Grant Proposals for Rural Opportunity Initiative Grant Program
Business Oregon has an open request for grant proposals for the 2021-2023 Rural Opportunity Initiative (ROI) grant program. ROI is an initiative that works with rural communities to create environments that support entrepreneurs and small businesses. The application period will close on September 20, 2021.
ROI is designed to be inclusive and community driven. The program empowers local leaders to define and implement collaborative strategies that elevate the role of entrepreneurship in rural economic development work. It is ultimately about enabling entrepreneurs to create rural businesses that in turn bolster rural economies.
The program provides financial support, innovative partnerships, network expansion, and access to business development resources to successful applicants. Grants are available for communities in different stages of building an entrepreneurial ecosystem. It can help communities get started, and also help communities that are farther along scale what they’ve already built.
After launching as a pilot program in 2016 with four recipients, the program has since made 21 grant awards to communities across Oregon. The Legislature allocated $2 million to ROI for the current biennium, a significant budget increase over prior cycles.
An evaluation committee comprised of internal and external stakeholders will review proposals to determine awards, with an announcement of awardees expected in October. A detailed overview of the program can be found here. Completed applications are due by Monday, September 20, 2021.
Foreclosure Moratorium Extended
Governor Brown has extended a temporary halt to residential foreclosures through December 31, 2021. Homeowners behind in mortgage payments and facing foreclosure can meet with housing counselors. They also will have access to $90 million in a homeownership assistance fund, which is in its first stages. The Oregon Department of Housing & Community Services should have more information from the U.S. Treasury about the fund in the fall.
State Library ARPA Grants in Senate District 4
In March, the State Library of Oregon received nearly $3 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). These funds were given to the State Library by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services to help Oregon libraries, museums, and related nonprofits promote digital inclusion and connectivity, address needs arising from the pandemic, and generally support efforts to provide equitable service to communities. In turn, the State Library has allocated more than $2.1 million of the ARPA funds in competitive grants to local organizations. Grants are being distributed to 61 institutions across the state. Projects include efforts to improve Internet connectivity and accessibility; expand access to and education about digital resources and tools; reach out to and better serve underrepresented communities; promote workforce development; and respond to needs arising from the pandemic.
The following projects are being funded in Senate District 4:
Cottage Grove Public Library - $70,560 for programs and updates to better serve Spanish and Mayan-language (Mam, K'iche') speaking communities, and to support a community health worker who can act as a resource navigator for individuals and families who come to the library, community center, or Senior & Disabled Services offices.
Elkton Community Education Center - $17,050 to address the community need for safe gathering spaces and reliable services by establishing a telehealth kiosk, extending Internet access, adding technology for virtual programs, and equipping the building for extended power outages.
Lane County Law Library - $31,284 to work with partners to establish a central hub for authoritative, comprehensive, and current legal information on landlord/tenant law targeted specifically to Lane County renters.
Museum of Natural and Cultural History (University of Oregon) - $97,144 to design and develop Museum Adventures, a set of bilingual English/Spanish traveling exhibits, activities, and professional development tools for libraries to use while serving families in rural areas.
Oakland Public Library - $25,000 to set up public computer stations for community members to apply for jobs, digitize important documents, and access educational programs and recreational activities.
Roseburg Public Library - $2,462 to install an assistive listening system in the community room to allow people with hearing disabilities to actively engage in recreational activities.
Umpqua Community College - $15,510 to lend hotspots to digitally disadvantaged students; to purchase a scanner for course reserves and loaning materials; and to curate early childhood and workforce development collections.
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