|
Today is my birthday and I wanted to take the time to update you on my latest legislative work. My office has been busy preparing my legislative concepts for the 2024 short session. Since each Legislator is limited to requesting only two bills, I focused my policy on protecting healthcare workers.
My healthcare workplace violence protection bill aims to increase penalties for those who assault healthcare workers while protecting those with disabilities and experiencing a mental health crisis. This bill also looks at how hospitals can prevent and respond to workplace violence. My healthcare worker protections and hospital accountability bill will take some of my bills from the 2023 session. It would help healthcare workers by addressing issues with scheduling and increase transparency for hospital finances.
I will be continuing conversations with stakeholders on both of these concepts over the next several months. I look forward to finding compromises that keep our healthcare workers a priority.
Transgender Day of Remembrance
On this day, I’m taking time to honor the memory Transgender people throughout the world who have lost their lives for living as their authentic selves. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and to feel safe in their community without the fear of discrimination or violence.
As a member of the legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus, I stand with the transgender community and will continue to fight to ensure Oregon is a safe and welcoming place for all people.
|
Legislative Days Committee Highlights
House Interim Committee On Business and Labor
- We heard from the Oregon Employment Department about the implementation of Paid Leave Oregon
- Benefits and assistance grants from Paid Leave Oregon started on September 3rd.
- Small employers may apply for an assistance grant when an employee takes paid leave. These grants will cover $3,000 if hiring a replacement worker or up to $1,000 for wage related costs. An employer can apply for up to 10 grants per year.
- The program has processed 70% of the applications received as of November 6th.
 If you would like more information about Paid Leave Oregon or would like to file for benefits, click this photo.
- More information from this committee meeting can be found here.
House Interim Committee On Early Childhood and Human Services
- Representative Bowman was joined by SEIU and the Department of Human Services to share information about the Agency with Choice model.
- Agency with Choice is a Medicaid-recognized service delivery model. In this model home care workers would be co-employed by the individual and a home care agency.
- More information from this committee can be found here.
House Interim Committee On Behavioral Health and Health Care
Monday Meeting
- We had multiple stakeholders share information on Oregon’s Sustainable Health Care Cost Growth Target Program
- The health care cost growth target is a target for the annual per capita rate of growth of total health care spending in the state.
- Members from the Sustainable Cost Growth Committee shared an update on the progress they are making on financial penalties within the cost containment framework.
- You can learn more about this program here.
- More information from this committee meeting can be found here.
Wednesday Meeting
- Representative Dexter shared information on a bill concept she has been working on with stakeholders for School-Based Health Centers.
- I was a regular sponsor of Senate Bill 549 in the 2023 session that unfortunately did not make it out of Ways and Means.
- The proposal for 2024 will increase funding for School Based Health Centers like the one we have at Roosevelt High School.
- Outgoing Interim Director Dave Baden shared information on the Medicaid 1115 Waiver.
- Under this waiver, Oregon can provide housing and nutrition services for those on Medicaid.
- You can learn more about the work on this waiver here.
- More information from this committee meeting can be found here.
Congratulations to SEIU Local 49 on their Contract with Kaiser Permanente
I wanted to congratulate Service Employees International Union Local 49 (SEIU) who ratified their tentative agreement with Kaiser Permanente in October. Because of these successful negotiations, thousands of Oregon health care workers will see significant wage increases, bonuses, and increased health care and prescription benefits.
You can read my full press release on critical healthcare wins here.
Portland Public School Strike Update
Last week, I spoke at a rally for our teachers. This fight is for the kids. We cannot put students first if we are putting teachers last.
I have heard positive news about the negotiations over the last 24 hours. IApparently both sides are very close to getting a deal done that prioritizes kids, is acceptable to PPS and meets the needs of the teachers.. I have been following the strike closely and will continue to advocate on the behalf of teachers and students.
 On November 2nd, I joined other Portland area Legislators in encouraging Portland Public School (PPS) board members to take an active role in the negotiations with the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT). In the days leading up to this letter, some of the leadership at PPS said that they could not provide the increases the teachers had been asking for because of a lack in state funding. You can read the full letter HERE. While I agree that we need to fund our schools based on the Quality Education Model, we did make historical investments in education. I have been a long time advocate of reforms to the “kicker” which is at a historic high of $5.61 billion! We could fully fund education if the state could use the higher than forecasted revenue. I want to fully fund schools and will continue to advocate for increasing wages of teachers but we need changes to the kicker.
Letters from my Interns
I wanted to give an opportunity to my recent interns to share some of the work they have been doing in my office. This newsletter will highlight Anwesha who is a sophomore at West Linn High school. She has done a lot of research for my office in preparation for my healthcare workplace violence protection bill.
You can read about what she has been learning on this topic below:
Hi, my name is Anwesha, and I work as an intern for Representative Nelson. For the past few months, I have had the opportunity to work on an engaging project regarding workplace violence in healthcare settings. My research provided information to Representative Nelson on a bill he is working on for the 2024 Short Session.
Workplace violence (WPV) refers to any harmful physical, sexual, or psychological acts committed against workers while on duty. This legislation will focus on healthcare workers who are assaulted by patients or visitors. It can be damaging to the nurse-patient relationship, which is why it’s important this topic is addressed.
I first started researching this topic in depth during August, and have gradually acquired more knowledge on how different states have dealt with instances of hospital WPV, how states classify punishment for committing WPV, and different protections and training programs states have implemented in healthcare settings to deal with WPV. Using this research, I summarized common policies, training requirements, and protections between states and compiled a list of states that have the most protections for healthcare workers regarding WPV.
Other states that I researched include California, Louisiana, and Washington in particular. Some notable protections from California included asking hospitals to have effective training programs that address work violence risks, provide sufficient staff members to prevent/respond to WPV, to create a physical layout that allows a line of sight or other immediate communication in all areas where patients or members of the public may be present, and also monitoring and controlling designated public entrances by use of safeguards. Some notable protections from Louisiana were charging big fines and long terms of imprisonment for assaulting healthcare workers, asking hospitals to create standard processes to report and record threats of and actual incidents of workplace violence, a sign displayed at every hospital entity stating that WPV of healthcare staff will not be tolerated, interactive annual training programs, and providing resources to workers to cope with WPV incidents. Some notable protections from Washington include classifying assault of healthcare workers as a Class C felony, annual interactive and effective training programs covering many details on topics related to WPV ( such as de-escalation techniques, assault prevention, etc), providing a written safety and security plan to workers, and urging hospitals to have physical layouts that provide line of sight or other immediate communication in all areas where patients or members of the public may be present. These different policies allow for more safety for healthcare workers.
I look forward to learning more regarding how states have been creating bills to combat WPV, and I appreciate the work our staff and Rep. Nelson have been putting in to address this growing issue.
Thank you!
I hope you are able to enjoy the upcoming Holiday Season. I will be spending time with family and loved ones before we head back for Legislative Days in January.
Best,
 Travis Nelson
State Representative
House District 44
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1444
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-275, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.TravisNelson@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/nelson
| 
