Sen. Aaron Woods

Digest: This Act does not allow a board or a person to choose or not choose materials that are used in a school when the choice is discrimination. (Flesch Readability Score: 66.5). Prohibits discrimination when selecting textbooks, instructional materials, program materials or library books that are used in the public schools of this state. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Digest: The Act creates the Task Force on Improving the Safety of Behavioral Health Workers. The Act says who must be on the task force and the duties of the task force. The Act creates a program in which OHA pays persons who run places that provide mental health care or substance use care so that the persons can provide their workers with on-the-job training or other types of training. (Flesch Readability Score: 69.4). [ Digest: The Act requires each person who runs a place that provides mental health care and substance use care to have a safety plan to protect the person's workers. The Act sets out how a safety plan must be created and requires a person to submit the safety plan to OHA by a certain date. The Act puts civil penalties on persons who do not have safety plans, who do not submit the plans to OHA by the due date or who fail to comply with the safety plans. ] [ The Act creates a program in which OHA pays persons who run places that provide mental health care or substance use care so that the persons can provide their workers with on-the-job training or other types of training. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.4). ] [ Requires a behavioral health care facility to have in place a safety plan to ensure the safety of the employees of the facility. Specifies procedures for creating the safety plan that include involving the exclusive representative of any employees who are in a collective bargaining unit. Requires behavioral health facilities to submit safety plans to the Oregon Health Authority by September 1, 2025, and every two years thereafter. ] [ Requires the authority to establish a process for individuals to file a complaint regarding a violation of a safety plan and allows the authority to audit a facility for compliance with a facility's safety plan. ] [ Authorizes the authority to impose specified civil penalties. ] Establishes the Task Force on Improving the Safety of Behavioral Health Workers. Specifies the membership and duties of the task force. Requires the task force to provide a preliminary report on its recommendations for improving worker safety by September 1, 2024, and a final report by December 1, 2024, to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to health. Establishes the United We Heal Medicaid Payment Program in the Oregon Health Authority to make payments to behavioral health facilities to offer apprenticeship and training opportunities to their employee behavioral health providers. Appropriates moneys to the authority to distribute to the United We Heal Training Trust to provide grants to employers of behavioral health workers to make safety improvements. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Digest: This Act changes the state's greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. The Act changes the term "global warming" to "climate change" in some laws. The Act declares an emergency and takes effect when it passes. (Flesch Readability Score: 68.4). Modifies state greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. Replaces the term "global warming" with "climate change" in provisions related to the Oregon Climate Action Commission. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Digest: Requires a majority of the members of the House and the Senate to be present to take action. (Flesch Readability Score: 66.3). Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require a majority of each house of the Legislative Assembly to be present to conduct business. Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.

Digest: The Act removes an exception to the state law concerning pay equity requirements. The Act changes the law to add to the list of factors that an employer can use as a reason for a pay differential. The Act becomes effective when the Governor signs it. (Flesch Readability Score: 64.3). Provides factors upon which compensation differentials may be based for an employer to lawfully pay employees who perform work of comparable character at different compensation levels. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Digest: The Act repeals laws related to boats and towed sports. The Act changes laws about boating safety education. The Act goes into effect 91 days after the session ends. (Flesch Readability Score: 65.7). Repeals provisions related to the towed watersports program. Provides that the minimum standard for boating safety education must include instruction relating to towed watersports safety education. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Digest: The Act changes the state law that prohibits housing discrimination. The Act removes an exemption from the law. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.4). Removes from state law an exception that allowed for residential property owners to engage in housing discrimination based on certain protected characteristics in certain circumstances.

Digest: The Act allows DHS to license adult foster homes with up to seven residents. The Act sets out the requirements for licensing an adult foster home with six or seven residents. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.1). Authorizes the Department of Human Services to license adult foster homes serving up to seven residents if the home meets specified criteria and pays the appropriate fee. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Digest: The Act would impose a new tax on the gross proceeds from the sale of unprocessed timber cut on private land larger than 500 acres held in common ownership. The Act would provide funding to counties and to protect homes, neighborhoods and water supplies from wildfire damage. The Act would repeal the current forest products harvest tax. The Act will be referred to the people at the 2024 general election. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.3). Imposes a new tax on the gross proceeds from the sale of unprocessed timber harvested on private land in excess of 500 acres held in common ownership in this state. Repeals the current forest products harvest tax regime. Refers the Act to the people for their approval or rejection at the next general election.

Digest: The Act gives money to the YMCA to be used for a social services resource center. The Act takes effect as soon as it is passed. (Flesch Readability Score: 86.2). Appropriates moneys from the General Fund for distribution to the Family YMCA of Marion and Polk Counties for a social services resource center. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.