|
If you're having trouble viewing this message, please visit my legislative web page at http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/prozanski/, click "News and Information" on the left.
Dear friends,
Thanks to everyone who joined Representative John Lively and me for our community town hall in Springfield on August 28! We enjoyed robust discussion around accomplishments of the 2023 legislative session and heard from engaged constituents about their priorities, looking ahead to the 2024 short session. Even if you couldn't make it, I welcome your thoughts by phone, mail or e-mail.
As summer winds down, wildfires continue to burn throughout Oregon. The Bedrock, Lookout and — more recently — the Horse Creek fires in eastern Lane County have been particularly ferocious, sending smoke over and into the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon. When smoky conditions set in, please take precautions, including staying indoors if you're sensitive to unhealthy air. Hopefully, the onset of autumn will bring needed rains to help extinguish the fires. Also: Some roads have been closed due to fires. Make sure to check TripCheck.com for the latest travel information.
On August 21, I was honored to attend a bill signing ceremony with Governor Kotek, several of my legislative colleagues, other local elected officials and policy advocates to celebrate passage of key public safety legislation passed by the 2023 Legislative Assembly. One of the bills the Governor signed that day was SB 337, the product of a tri-branch work group that I co-chaired with Representative Paul Evans to address Oregon's public defense crisis. Please see below in this e-bulletin for details on that legislation as part of a comprehensive listing of accomplishments related to community safety & the justice system passed during the 2023 session.
Below you will find information on:
- September Revenue Forecast
- 2023 Session Accomplishments: Community Safety & the Justice System
- OHCS Approves Affordable Housing Funding in Eugene
- Salem YMCA Hosting Veterans Stand Down Event: 9/13/23
I hope this information is helpful and informative for you or someone you know. Again, and as always, feel free to share your comments, questions or concerns with me by phone, mail or e-mail.
September Revenue Forecast
Another robust economic and revenue forecast was released at a joint meeting of the Senate and House Revenue Committees this week by the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis (OEA). Below is a summary of the forecast.
Revenue Outlook
2023-25 net General Fund resources are up $437 million from the Close of Session forecast. The 2023-25 ending balance is now $880 million. Lottery revenue for the 2023-25 biennium is up $9.5 million.
Reserve accounts are currently at $710.8 million (Education Stability Fund) and $1,353.5 million (Rainy Day Fund). The projected ending balances for the 2023-25 biennium reserve account are as follows: Education Stability Fund: $1,009 million and Rainy Day Fund: $1,863 million. The Rainy Day Fund is projected to receive $271 million following the end of the 2021-23 biennium.
Kicker Outlook
A personal kicker of $5,619 million is projected for 2023-25. An increase in revenues at the end of 2021-23 results in a larger personal income kicker than previously estimated. The kicker will be certified in the coming weeks, but currently, $5.6 billion will be returned to Oregon taxpayers next filing season. The median, or typical Oregonian, is expected to receive a $980 credit.
OEA Economic Outlook
The economy continues to be in an inflationary boom. Growth is outpacing expectations. The good news is inflation has slowed considerably in the past year. The consensus of economic forecasters is now that the economic soft landing is the most likely scenario. The challenge today is twofold. First, there are emerging signs that the economy is reaccelerating, which means inflation could re-heat at some point in the quarters ahead. Second, this leaves the Federal Reserve in a tough position of trying to thread the needle of raising interest rates just enough to cool the economy and bring inflation down but not too much that chokes off growth. The initial descent appears to have gone as well as can be expected. However, navigating the crosswinds of waiting for the full impact of past interest rate increases to slow growth even as inflation remains above target is challenging.
Oregon's economic outlook remains effectively unchanged from last quarter. The labor market is tight, albeit less so than during the reopening phase of the cycle. And as inflation slows, income gains are once again outpacing price increases, leading to rising living standards. With the economy at full employment, future growth will come from labor force gains driven by a return of positive net migration in the years ahead, along with productivity gains driven by capital investment. The combination of the post-pandemic rise in start-up activity, large increase in federal investment, including in semiconductors, and the potential of generative artificial intelligence should all help to boost productivity in the years ahead. Oregon is well-positioned to benefit.
OEA's Corporate Activity Tax (CAT) Projections
The 2019 Legislature enacted the Corporate Activity Tax (CAT), a new tax on gross receipts that went into effect in January 2020. While taxpayers were required to file on a calendar year basis for tax year 2020, a law change allowed taxpayers to switch to a fiscal year basis beginning with tax year 2021. While a full snapshot of 2021 tax returns won't be available for a few months, an estimate of tax liability is well known. The estimate for 2022 liability will continue to evolve during the extension filing season in the fall. Given lower-than-expected refund activity in recent months, this estimate has been lowered modestly since the May forecast. Otherwise, the forecast remains little changed in line with the economic outlook. Available resources for the 2023-25 biennium have been revised upward by $29.9 million, primarily buoyed by a larger beginning balance, while legislatively adopted allocations were reduced well below the levels anticipated in the prior forecast. This results in a projected ending balance of $220.7 million in the Fund for Student Success.
2023 Session Accomplishments: Community Safety & the Justice System
Following the 2023 Legislative Session, I'm sharing in-depth summaries of bills passed by subject area. Below is a comprehensive listing of accomplishments related to community safety & the justice system — by Senate/House bill and in numerical order:
Senate Bills
SB 211 - Repeals Sunset on Basic Certification of Corrections Officers: Oregon law requires the Department of Corrections (DOC) to provide training for basic certification for correction officers as a pilot program. This legislation repeals the pilot program sunset and allows the DOC to continue to provide this training.
SB 234 - Chief Justice Evaluation of Justice System Disparities: In an effort to provide statistical data about the people served in our judicial system, this legislation permits the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court and the Oregon State Bar to make rules regarding the collection, use, and confidentiality of participants' demographic information.
SB 256 - Prohibits Fake Airbags: Counterfeit airbags can dangerously malfunction, some don't deploy or release shrapnel. This legislation, which — as chair — I was proud to pass out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, prohibits the manufacture, sale, import, distribution, transfer, and installation of a counterfeit automobile supplemental restraint system component and the sale or transfer of any vehicle with this component.
SB 310 - Increasing Antitrust Civil Penalties: Oregon last increased its civil penalty amount for violations of antitrust laws in 1999. This legislation increases the civil and criminal penalties for a violation of antitrust laws to $1 million. It allows the Attorney General to seek equitable relief, disgorgement of gains, and injunctive and monetary relief. It increases the criminal penalty from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class B felony.
SB 321 - Post-conviction Relief from Non-Unanimous Jury Verdict: In 2022, the Oregon Supreme Court upheld a Federal Court ruling that according to the Sixth Amendment, non-unanimous jury verdicts are unconstitutional. This long-overdue legislation, which I was proud to introduce as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, creates a process for a person convicted or found guilty, except for insanity, by a non-unanimous jury verdict to file for post-conviction relief.
SB 326 - Unlawful Marijuana Site Clean Up: In 2021, the legislature created the Task Force on Cannabis-Derived Intoxicants and Illegal Cannabis Production to make recommendations for legislation that improves law enforcement response to illegal cannabis operations. This legislation, which I was proud to introduce as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, establishes requirements for landlords to clean up illegal cannabis sites. It prohibits the use of groundwater, attempting to construct wells, collecting precipitated water, or diverting or storing water to grow cannabis. If a person is found to possess more than 32 times the maximum amount allowed, they can be charged with a marijuana offense of reckless unlawful conduct or knowing unlawful conduct, which is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and or a fine of up to $250,000.
SB 337 - Fixing Oregon's Public Defender Crisis: Oregon's Public Defense system has been in crisis for many years. In 2018, the state hired the Sixth Amendment Center to review our current system and create recommendations. This legislation, the product of a tri-branch work group that I co-chaired with Representative Paul Evans, incorporates those recommendations to modify the makeup of the Oregon Public Defense Commission, transferring it to the executive branch, modifying its pay structure for public defense attorneys, and creating a trial division for the state to directly hire public defenders.
SB 519 - Expunging Juvenile Records: In 2022, the legislature passed SB 575, permitting automatic expungement for juvenile records for those who have been involved in the legal system but not referred. This legislation expands these expungements to include youth who have committed an act that would be considered a violation or misdemeanor if they were an adult, along with applying for record expungement of records that do not qualify for automatic expungement once the youth reaches the age of 18.
SB 529 - Modifies Alternative Incarceration Program for Substance Use Treatment: According to the Department of Corrections, 63 percent of adults entering custody report having a substance use disorder, and 50 percent are classified as having a "severe" need for treatment. This legislation modifies the procedures of accepting participants into the current alternative incarceration program, requires intense addiction programs that address chronic disease, and includes a range of treatment services.
SB 615 - Cracking Down on Racing Crime: Communities in Oregon are experiencing an increase in speed racing events that often obstruct or barricade highways, bridges, and neighborhoods. This legislation changes the definition of the offense of organized speed racing. It changes the offense from a Class C felony to a Class A misdemeanor unless the defendant has been convicted of the same crime within the last five years.
SB 619 - Consumer Data Protection: In 2019, the Oregon Attorney General convened a Consumer Privacy Task Force to create recommendations regarding consumer online privacy and standards for businesses that obtain data. This legislation, which I was proud to personally introduce, reflects those recommendations and gives consumers the right to know when their data is being processed and disclosed to third parties, the ability to correct inaccuracies in data, the ability to delete personal data, the right to opt out of processing of personal data, and the ability to gain access to their own data.
SB 745 - Sex Trafficking Screening for Minors in Custody: This legislation requires that youth receive a screening when taken into custody to identify if the youth is a survivor of sex trafficking. The bill also requires a mandatory report to the Oregon Department of Human Services and a referral to appropriate services.
SB 900 - Organized Retail Theft Grant Program: Organized retail theft is an issue for businesses and their customers across Oregon. This legislation provides funding to establish an Organized Retail Theft Grant Program to assist cities, counties, police, and communities in addressing this issue.
SB 903 - OYA Demographic Data: As the agency responsible for holding youth offenders accountable for their actions and providing adjudicated youth with opportunities for reform in a safe environment, it's important that the Oregon Youth Authority provides the most appropriate cultural programs. This legislation directs OYA to collect demographic data and take into consideration the demographic disparities among adjudicated youth and employees when developing culturally appropriate programs and regularly reviewing and analyzing disparities in measurable outcomes.
SB 1052 - Involuntary Servitude and Human Trafficking Crime: This legislation expands the crime of involuntary servitude to include forcing another person to continue to engage in services by subjecting them to debt bondage, withholding medical care, limiting access to controlled substances, fraud, or misrepresentation. The bill also increases the penalties for minor victims and allows a person to claim affirmative defense when held criminally and civilly liable.
House Bills
HB 2005 - Preventing Crime and Violence from Ghost Guns: Guns that are undetectable or unserialized or "ghost guns" are the weapon of choice for many criminals because they can be obtained without a background check. Oregon currently does not regulate the manufacturing, sale or possession of these guns, while law enforcement recover thousands of untraceable ghost guns a year. This legislation, which I co-chief sponsored, creates laws to regulate and serialize ghost guns.
HB 2316 - Expands the Offense of Driving Under the Influence: Currently, laws regarding convictions of DUII are treated differently depending on which statute you are charged under. This legislation amends multiple statutes to reconcile felony DUII statutes governing repeated offenders and expands the offense of DUII to include influence of any impairing drugs.
HB 2320 - Establish Juvenile Justice Policy Commission: Oregon does not have a statewide policy development forum for those involved with the juvenile justice system. This legislation establishes a Juvenile Justice Policy Commission that will focus on analyzing our current system and providing data driven policy recommendations for improvement to the legislature.
HB 2572 - Unlawful Paramilitary Activity: Oregon ranks sixth in the nation for the number of violent extremist incidents between 2011 and 2020. This legislation creates a civil cause of action for a person injured as a result of paramilitary activity and authorizes the Attorney General to investigate certain paramilitary activity.
HB 2645 - Increases Penalties for Possession of Certain Amounts of Fentanyl: Fentanyl is a dangerous drug leading to high addiction rates and deaths. This legislation, which — as chair — I was proud to pass out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, aims to decrease the sale and possession of fentanyl by aligning it with similarly categorized controlled substances like heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. It creates the crime of possessing one gram or five or more user units of fentanyl or a derivative of fentanyl as a Class A misdemeanor.
HB 2772 - Creates Crime of Domestic Terrorism: Oregon ranks sixth in the nation for violent extremist incidents and currently relies only on the U.S. Department of Justice to bring domestic terrorism and violent extremist charges against individuals. This legislation defines domestic terrorism and creates the crime of first degree as a Class B felony and second degree as a Class C felony.
HB 2931 - Cannabis Reference Laboratory for Enforcement of Cannabis Regulation: The Task Force on Cannabis-Derived Intoxicants and Illegal Cannabis Production was created in 2021 to consider 12 subjects, including testing requirements and methods of enforcement. One of the recommendations was this legislation, which directs the Oregon Department of Agriculture to establish a cannabis reference laboratory and independently require targeted testing.
HB 3443 - Victim of Bias Crime Victim Tenant Protections: Oregon recently modified its bias crime laws and created a statewide hotline for victims of bias crime incidents to connect with advocates for support and resources. This legislation will expand the reporting of this hotline and include certain rights for victims of bias crimes in Oregon's landlord tenant laws.
OHCS Approves Affordable Housing Funding in Eugene
The Oregon Housing Stability Council has approved Permanent Supportive Housing funding for an affordable housing development in Eugene: The Bridges on Broadway. This development will provide 56 permanent supportive homes with on-site services connecting residents to food resources, transportation, employment, behavioral health support, and more. Rental assistance is also provided for individuals and families.
In total, Oregon Housing & Community Serves awarded funds to six developments statewide, providing 227 homes for people experiencing chronic homelessness or who need supportive services in addition to housing.
Salem YMCA Hosting Veterans Stand Down Event: 9/13/23
The Salem YMCA will host a Veterans Stand Down event on September 13 from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. at the YMCA located at 685 Court St. NE. The Stand Down will feature a resume workshop from 9-10 a.m., a "balancing your budget" seminar 10 a.m.-1 p.m., legal services from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., and a job fair from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.. Lunch will be provided and veterans will have opportunity to speak with organizations about multiple services. Other services available include:
- Medical/dental services
- Housing assistance
- Counseling and substance abuse referrals
- Haircuts
- Pet care
- Help accessing VA services and benefits
- DMV assistance
- Legal assistance
If you or a veteran you know has any questions, contact Rosa Macias at rosa.macias@va.gov. If you are interested in volunteering for the event, e-mail Sara at sara@j-one-9.org.
|
