1/4/2023 Senate District 15 Newsletter

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Senator Janeen Sollman

Friends and Neighbors,

Upcoming Events

Community Conversation with Senator Sollman

Join the Senate District 15 Team on Saturday, January 7th, at 10:00-11:30am, for our first Community Conversation of 2023. Come in person at the Cornelius Library, or attend virtually, via Zoom. We will spend the first 30 minutes doing a tutorial of the Oregon Legislative Information System, or OLIS, so that you can follow along with bills of interest in the upcoming session. We will share our 2023 session priorities and share opportunity to hear your questions and concerns. We look forward to seeing you there!

Register for the Zoom link here.

CC Flyer

Legislative Updates

NEW YEAR, NEW LAWS: What Changed in Oregon on January 1, 2023

Shared from Oregon Senate Democrats

SALEM – Important, new laws passed by the Oregon Legislature went into effect on New Year’s Day. These statutes will impact the day-to-day lives of Oregonians, covering everything from restitution for crime victims to workers’ compensation to voter registration.

“These changes will make Oregon more safe, more fair, and more affordable,” said Senate
Majority Leader Kate Lieber. “But, the work isn’t done. We look forward to delivering more
progress for the people of Oregon in 2023.”

A selection of the new laws going into effect on January 1, 2023 is available below.

FIXING PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM

House Bill 4075: Access to Restitution for Crime Victims 

Access to restitution is important in the process for crime victims to move forward. HB 4075 streamlines the court process for obtaining an award of restitution and elevates payments to a higher obligation, so crime victims have priority in the distribution of payments made by the offender. 

Senate Bill 1574: Ensure Proper Medical Forensic Care for Survivors of Sexual Assault Survivors of sexual assault seek care from Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners and Sexual Assault Examiners in hospitals across Oregon. It is often assumed that the evidence collected in hospital exams is included in the SAFE Kit, but sometimes it does not get included. SB 1574 ensures that the Medical Forensic Examination Forms are included in the SAFE Kit prior to transferring it to law enforcement. 

STRENGTHENING OUR WORKFORCE AND THE ECONOMY

House Bill 4002: Farm Worker Overtime 

Both state and federal law establish a maximum hour requirement of 40 hours per week and require employers pay one and one-half times the regular rate for all hours worked over 40 hours. However, agricultural workers were exempt from both the state and federal maximum hour requirement laws and therefore were not entitled to overtime pay. This inequity was accentuated by the intense manual labor, extreme heat and chemical exposure that farmworkers often face. HB 4002 remedies this inequity by phasing in overtime limits over several years, starting at 55 hours in 2023 and reaching 40 by 2027. Farmworkers will be entitled to one and half times pay for each hour beyond these limits. HB 4002 also allocates $55 million in tax credits and $10 million in grants or loans to help farm owners make this transition. 

House Bill 4138: Injured Worker Parity Bill 

Often, injured workers must rely on workers’ compensation benefits to replace their wages while unable to work. Once that worker reaches maximum improvement, the worker's compensation benefits end. At the same time, workers often find that their maximum improvement has been determined earlier than the doctor's final ruling, and they are faced with overpayments by the insurance company that paid out these benefits. HB 4138 provides worker protection by creating restrictions and extending time periods for backdated maximum improvements. 

Senate Bill 1586: Protections from Inappropriate Nondisclosure Agreements 

The Legislature passed the Workplace Fairness Act (WFA) in 2019. Under the WFA, a private employer must adopt a written policy outlining procedures and practices for reducing and preventing discrimination and sexual assault. The WFA also prohibits employers from entering into a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) as a condition of employment. It was brought to the attention of the Legislature that a loophole was being exploited that was effectively continuing the use of NDAs in inappropriate situations. SB 1586 closes this loophole. The law extends the prohibition regarding NDAs to cover former employees of private and public employers and clarifies that the prohibition covers current employees. The measure permits otherwise prohibited NDAs under specified circumstances and declares prohibited NDAs to be void and unenforceable. 

Senate Bill 1513: Protecting Bakery Workers from Forced Overtime 

Oregon law generally prohibits an employer from requiring an employee at a mill or factory to work more than 10 hours in a day or 55 hours in a workweek. If the employer processes perishable products, the employer may claim undue hardship. Oregon's predictive scheduling law also requires employers with at least 500 employees worldwide in the retail, hospitality, and food service industries to give employees a written work schedule at least two weeks in advance, however, it exempted manufacturing. SB 1513 rectifies loopholes that some bakeries were exploiting to force workers to work overtime without notice. The bill prohibits bakery and tortilla manufacturers from taking adverse employment action against an employee who refuses to work a mandatory overtime shift without at least five days’ notice.

House Bill 4113: Worker Compensation for Firefighters with Ovarian Cancer 

Oregon workers’ compensation laws establish that certain cancers, including oral and male reproductive cancers, are presumed to be a compensable occupational disease for non volunteer firefighters who have been on the job for at least five years. HB 4113 adds bladder and female reproductive cancers to this list. An employer can rebut the presumption by providing clear and convincing medical evidence that cancer was not caused or materially contributed to by the firefighter’s employment. 

MAKING HEALTH CARE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE

Senate Bill 1555: Universal Home Visiting Reimbursement 

Senate Bill 526 established the Universal Home Visiting program in Oregon. Home Visit programs have shown positive impacts on reducing incidences of child abuse and neglect, improvement in birth outcomes, improvement in school readiness, and increased high school graduation rates for others who participate. SB 1555 clarifies the Oregon Health Authorities responsibility to support local newborn home visiting services and provide reimbursement for these services. 

Senate Bill 1538: Dental care for the Compact of Free Association Communities 

SB 1538 Establishes a dental program through the Oregon Health Authority for low-income citizens of Pacific Island countries in the COFA community who reside in Oregon. 

SUPPORTING OREGON TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

House Bill 4124: Survey and Best Practices for School Assessments 

Oregon schools administer a wide range of standardized tests to identify student progress, barriers, and improvements needed. While standardized tests are helpful, we must understand which are the right types of assessments and when is the best time to administer them. House Bill 4124 creates a workgroup to administer a survey to gather information about assessments mandated by the state, federal government, and school districts. This survey will capture who provides these tests, how much they cost, the purpose, and what data this information provides back to the schools. In partnership with the Department of Education, this workgroup will develop recommendations and best practices to ensure mandated academic assessments are used effectively. 

House Bill 4031: Establishing Diversity Goals for Oregon Schools 

To promote equality and representation in our schools, House Bill 4031 creates a goal to have the percentage of diverse employees employed by the Department of Education match the percentage of diverse students in our public schools. 

SAFEGUARDING DEMOCRACY

House Bill 4114: Economic Disclosure Filing for School Board Members 

Most Oregon elected officials are required to annually disclose their economic affiliations to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission on a form called the ‘Statement of Economic Interest’ or SEI. Before the passage of HB 4114, local school board members across the state were not required to submit the form. HB 4114 changes the statute to require school board members to annually complete and submit the SEI to the Ethics Commission. 

House Bill 4133: Online Voter Registration 

Since 2010, Oregon has made it easy for citizens with a driver's license to register to vote online. Before the passage of HB 4133, eligible voters who did not possess a driver's license did not have access to this method of online registration. This bill makes it easier for Oregonians who do not have a driver's license to register to vote online. 


Oregon Heat Pump Incentive Program

In response to the heat dome event of 2021, during which at least 100 Oregonians died of heat-related illness — often in their own homes — the legislature passed SB 1536 in 2022 to bring much-needed heat relief.

Visit here to sign up for update emails from the Oregon Department of Energy regarding various climate incentive programs.

ODOE will hold a virtual rulemaking hearing to accept oral testimony on the draft rules for the Community Heat Pump Deployment Program, created by SB 1536.

Hearing Details:

Thursday, January 5, 2023 | 2-3 p.m.

https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Get-Involved/Pages/CHPD.aspx 


Out and About in Senate District 15

Laika Studios Tour

Many of you may know that Senate District 15 is home to world-renowned Laika Studios. I was thrilled to tour their facilities recently, and learn about their great community partnerships, including workforce development with community colleges, and hear about upcoming projects. Many PCC students have had successful internships at Laika, leading to continued industry employment opportunities. Laika's presence in Oregon has also brought other stop motion animation studios to the state, such as ShadowMachine, that hired Pacific University graduates to work on their recent film. Oregon is considered one of the top places in the world for the stop motion animation industry.

Did you know that Oregon's film industry has a long history, with some of the earliest silent movie studios located in Oregon in the early 1900s? Since then over 500 feature films and television projects have been produced in Oregon (as well as hundreds of commercials and interactive games). The Oregon Film office, a state agency, works to promote our state as a location for entertainment projects. You can learn more about the Oregon Film Office here.

Laika Pics

Eastwood Elementary Morning Greeter

Who needs coffee at 7:20am when you get to hang with Cindy Cosenzo of Just Create Community and students?! Cindy's positive energy burns bright and I was happy to join her at Eastwood Elementary this morning to greet happy student faces for a fun morning!

Eastwood Pics

Community Outreach

Hillsboro Hops 2023 Youth Sports Grant Application Now Open

Shared from the Hillsboro Hops Facebook

Our 2023 youth sports grant application is now open!

The application will be open through Feb. 5 at 11:59PM and is open to all youth and high school baseball/softball programs in the greater Hillsboro & Portland Metro area.
Applicants will receive a response by March 1 of their status.
Apply here! https://atmilb.com/3VFMDEU

Hillsboro Hops Flyer

Project Homeless Connect - Looking for Service Providers and Donated Items for Event on 1/27/23

PHC Flyer

Double Up Food Bucks 

Shared from Double Up Food Bucks Oregon

Graphic

Farmers Market Fund is excited to offer the Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) program in Oregon!

Adapted from the Fair Food Network’s national model, DUFB makes it easy for low-income Oregonians to eat more fruits and vegetables while supporting family farmers and local economies. Double Up is Oregon’s first statewide incentive program, designed to be convenient for shoppers. The program doubles the value of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at local farmers markets so shoppers can bring home more fresh fruits and vegetables. Double Up Food Bucks will be offered at more than 75 farmers markets across the state in 2022. The program also provides incentives for SNAP participants purchasing Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares from Oregon farms, and shoppers as several independently-owned rural grocery stores.

Please help us support Double Up Food Bucks! With one in eight Oregonians experiencing food insecurity, programs that increase access to healthy, locally- grown fruits and vegetables are more important than ever.


Meals on Wheels People - Free Technology Classes for Seniors

MOWP

PlanetCon - Saturday, Jan. 14th 

#ReduceReuseRecycle (and even Repair)! Mark your Calendar and gather those recycle and repair items…it’s PlanetCon time! Saturday, January 14th from 11am-2pm at PCC Rock Creek. For more information, visit their website at: https://www.planetcon.org/

Planetcon

Be good to yourself and each other. ❤

Onward & Upward,

Janeen

Senate District 15 lies on Kalapuya land. The Atfalati were the northernmost band of the Kalapuya that lived along the Tualatin River in present day Washington County. Many of the Atfalati descendants are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon today. The Indigenous Peoples of this land experienced a painful history of colonial violence, sickness and removal from their land. The Atfalati are the foundation of Oregon’s past and we must honor them well into our future.    

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1715
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-207, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman