Rep. Brad Witt

Directs Department of Transportation to issue Oregon Wounded Warrior parking permits to qualified applicants. Defines "wounded warrior." Permits person issued Oregon Wounded Warrior parking permit or person transporting person issued parking permit to park motor vehicle in any public parking zone restricted as to length of time permitted therein without incurring overtime penalties and to park motor vehicle in any public parking zone with metered parking without being required to pay any parking meter fee. Provides exceptions. Becomes operative January 1, 2018. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Requires employers with 100 or more employees to provide 60 days' notice to employees and certain officials before ceasing operations, relocating or ordering mass layoff involving 50 or more employees. Creates exceptions. Requires employer attempting to invoke exception involving active pursuit of capital or business to provide, under penalty of perjury, written documentation of efforts to court or Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries. Requires commissioner to adopt rules related to requirements. Provides that employer is liable for back pay to employee and other relief.

Modifies law regarding requirement that public employer grant preference to veteran or disabled veteran in selection process for civil service position. Limits eligibility for preference to veteran who applies for position within 10 years of discharge or release from service in Armed Forces of United States. Requires evidence of eligibility and disability to be provided at time of application. Sets forth processes for granting one or more preferences. Allows public employer to exercise discretion to not appoint qualified veteran or disabled veteran to civil service position based solely on veteran's or disabled veteran's merits or qualification in final stage of selection process. Requires public employer to provide written reasons for not appointing veteran or disabled veteran to position under certain circumstances. Requires aggrieved veteran or disabled veteran to exhaust nonjudicial remedies with Bureau of Labor and Industries before filing civil action for unlawful employment practice.

Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution establishing independent redistricting committee to adopt redistricting plans for state Senate and state House of Representatives. Refers proposed amendment to people for their approval or rejection at next regular general election.

Authorizes governing bodies of cities and counties to jointly form district for purposes of acquisition, design, construction, reconstruction, installation, operation, maintenance and repair of limited-access public highway projects within district boundaries. Specifies powers of district. Provides civil penalty and collection mechanism for failure to pay toll established by limited-access public highway project district on tollway project. Requires county that receives application for limited-access public highway project submitted by limited-access public highway district to review and approve application subject only to standards for construction of highways as prescribed by Department of Transportation. Prohibits county from denying application based on finding that project is inconsistent with local intergovernmental agreement or law limiting use or development of land designated rural reserve.

Directs Department of Education to coordinate with Oregon FFA Association to increase student achievement and improve college attendance and career placement for students enrolled in agricultural education courses. Directs department to establish grant program for purpose of funding extended duty contracts to agricultural and science educational programs during summer months. Directs expenses of grant program to be paid from High School Graduation and College and Career Readiness Fund. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Requires Governor to certify to United States Secretary of Commerce that terms of national marine sanctuary located within seaward boundary of Oregon are unacceptable unless Legislative Assembly confirms designation.

Prohibits requiring high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate as qualification for obtaining limited specialty plumber license to install or replace residential water heaters.

Directs Department of Veterans' Affairs to develop and implement one or more pilot programs statewide to provide training, job placement services, financial assistance, technical support and business creation assistance to veterans in construction and construction materials industries. Permits moneys in Veterans' Services Fund established pursuant to constitutional provision to develop, implement and maintain pilot programs. Requires report to Legislative Assembly regarding status of pilot programs by September 15, 2018. Sunsets pilot programs on December 31, 2019. Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2017.

Specifies that amateur athlete is not employee for purpose of certain employment-related provisions.