Rep. Julie Parrish

Adds Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association to list of entities eligible for individual income tax return checkoff contribution. Provides conditions for use of contributions. Applies to individual income tax returns for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2017. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Exempts person serving in Oregon National Guard from requirement to enroll in community college courses within six months of attaining previous highest level of education in order to qualify for Oregon Promise grant , provided that person enrolls in community college courses within six months of completing initial active duty training .

In memoriam: Senator Alan Bates, 1945-2016.

Commemorates 69th anniversary of Vanport flood and remembers survivors and those who lost their lives.

Designates August 7 of each year as Oregon Purple Heart Recognition Day.

Provides definitions relating to comparable work for purposes of pay equity provisions. Makes unlawful employment practice to discriminate in payment of wages against employee on basis of protected class. Makes unlawful employment practice to screen job applicants based on salary history, to base salary decision on salary history, other than for internal hires, and to seek salary history information from applicant for employment other than after making offer of employment to employee that includes amount of compensation . Allows employer to pay employees for work of comparable character at different compensation levels only if entire compensation differential is based on bona fide factor related to position in question and based on certain criteria. Extends time limitation to bring certain pay equity claims by making each subsequent payroll action that is based on underlying pay equity violation actionable. Extends tort claim notice requirement from 180 days to 300 days for public employee to give notice of certain pay equity violations. Adds additional remedies for pay equity and wage-related violations that include right to jury trial and right to compensatory and punitive damages. Allows employee who files complaint alleging pay equity violation with Bureau of Labor and Industries and prevails to recover back pay for up to two years plus duration of time spent in complaint process. Permits employer to file motion to disallow award of compensatory or punitive damages. Provides that court shall grant motion if employer demonstrates that employer has completed equal-pay analysis that meets certain criteria, eliminated wage differentials for plaintiff and made reasonable and substantial progress toward eliminating wage differentials for other employees in same protected class asserted by plaintiff. Provides that, if court grants motion, court may award back pay only for two-year period immediately preceding filing of action and allow prevailing plaintiff costs and attorney fees but may not award damages. Becomes operative on January 1, 2019. Makes violation for seeking salary history from prospective or current employee prior to offer of employment subject to compensatory and punitive damages beginning on January 1, 2024. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Requires Department of Human Services to seek waiver of federal requirements in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in order to allow recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance to receive advance installment payments of tax credit for dependent care expenses. Sunsets January 1, 2023. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Directs Health Licensing Office to issue license to engage in practice of art therapy to qualified applicant. Requires person licensed to practice art therapy to comply with rules adopted by office. Allows office to impose discipline on person practicing art therapy for certain violations. Directs office to provide administrative and regulatory oversight to art therapy program. Directs office to adopt rules relating to art therapy. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

For purposes of determining which public buildings must comply with existing requirement to display Oregon State flag and National League of Families' POW/MIA flag, expands definition of "public building" to include all other county, municipal, school district and special district buildings upon which or near which it is customary and suitable to display United States flag. Requires all county, municipal, school district and special district buildings constructed on or after January 1, 2018, to be able to properly display all three flags.

Designates month of May of each year as Williams Syndrome Awareness Month.