bills3 2018 Oregon Legislature  Feb 19-23

Hearing
Date
 		Dan's Comment Others' Comments
SUPPORT
HB 4091 
  • Establishes Oregon Cash Depository Corporation as independent public corporation and prescribes corporation’s purposes and powers.
  • Directs corporation to lease or acquire real property and construct or renovate offices, facilities and business locations throughout state at which corporation receives, handles, stores and dispenses cash and other valuable property.
  • Establishes Oregon Cash Depository Corporation Fund in State Treasury and requires corporation to deposit all moneys corporation receives into fund.
  • Permits corporation to invest moneys in fund and fraction of corporation’s deposits in accordance with provisions of Act.
  • Subjects corporation to annual audit by Secretary of State and requires corporation to respond to recommendations in audit report. Requires study of corporation’s operations every four years and report to Legislative Assembly.
  • Requires Attorney General to defend corporation and directors, officers and employees of corporation against claim or charge brought for actions in performing duties of corporation.
  • Becomes operative January 1, 2019.
 Feb 19
x
 This is like a State Bank for marijuana businesses, which do their transactions in cash.  Wonder why this would not be considered a "state bank" that is banned by the Oregon Constitution?  Anyhow, I support.
HJR 203 Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution establishing obligation of state to ensure every resident of state access to effective, medically appropriate and affordable health care.

Actual text:  "It is the obligation of the state to ensure that every resident of Oregon has access to effective, medically appropriate and affordable health care as a fundamental right."
Feb 19
x
 HCAO supports this.  We should support it.

Is this enforceable on anyone?  Probably not.

To me, it looks like the feel-good Measure 1 of 2000 (chief petitioner was Kitzhaber), which passed and stated:

"The Legislative Assembly shall appropriate in each biennium a sum of money sufficient to ensure that the state’s system of public education meets quality goals established by law, and publish a report that either demonstrates the appropriation is sufficient, or identifies the reasons for the insufficiency, its extent, and its impact on the ability of the state’s system of public education to meet those goals."

The Oregon Supreme Court in 2009 ruled that no one could actually require the Oregon Legislature to fund the schools at the level "sufficient to ensure that the state’s system of public education meets quality goals established by law."
SB 1532 A Modifies definition of "motor assisted scooter" for purposes of Oregon Vehicle Code.

Feb 19
x
 We testified on this when it was in the Senate.  Now it is in the House.
HB 4104 Modifies requirements for health benefit plan coverage of hearing loss treatments.

Feb 20
x
 Requires that health insurance plans provide certain benefits for hearing impairment.
HB 4001 Requires Environmental Quality Commission to adopt by rule program that places cap on greenhouse gas emissions and that provides market-based mechanism for covered entities to demonstrate compliance.

Feb 20
x
 We testified on this bill earlier.  This is another hearing in same committee.  There are lots of proposed amendments.  We support the -6 amendment, which forbids recipients of cap-trade funds from making political campaign contributions or expenditures
HB 4146 Transfers $7 million from Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement to Health System Fund to pay for Oregon Reinsurance Program.
Feb 28
 This actually increases cigarette taxes to an undetermined degree.
HB 4022 Permits state agency to locate devices or facilities for providing electricity to public for electric motor vehicles in locations sufficient to meet demand for devices or facilities.
Feb 22
x

SB 1563 A Removes requirement that students who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents apply for official federal identification document to be eligible for exemption from paying nonresident tuition at public universities. Feb 22
x
 We testified for this before and will do again, depending on how it was amended.  Amendment not significant, so no new testimony needed.
OPPOSE
SB 1536 A Provides that directors of certain mass transit districts be appointed by Governor instead of elected. Feb 19
x
 We testified on this when it was in the Senate.  Now it is in the House.
SB 1547 A Expands list of health care professionals who can provide medical release to youth athlete who is suspected of having concussion.

Feb 20
x
 We testified against this bill in the Senate.  Now it is in the House, after having been amended in a trivial way.  More head injuries on the way!
HB 4052 A Establishes Small Business Rules Advisory Committee to serve as advisory committee for agencies adopting new administrative rules and to review effectiveness of existing administrative rules. Feb 22
x
 Lets agencies outsource their required rule review process to a committee consisting of representatives of private business.  This is a terrible bill.
 x
SB 1509 A Provides additional exception to prohibition on commercial vehicle idling.
Feb 23
 We testified against this before and will do again.
NEUTRAL