Sen. Bill Hansell

Allows person to continue to qualify for Oregon Promise if, after being awarded grant, person enters into service with career and technical student organization approved by Department of Education before attending community college. Permits Higher Education Coordinating Commission to allow person to qualify for Oregon Promise program if, due to significant hardship, person does not start attending classes at community college until more than six months after person completed previous highest level of education. Applies to all persons who received grants for community college courses enrolled in during 2016-2017 academic year or later. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Establishes Oregon Empowerment Scholarship Program for purpose of providing options in education to students of this state. Establishes qualifications for participation in program, qualified expenses under program and transfers of moneys made under program. Restricts number of students from each school district who may enroll in program for first 10 years. Establishes Department of Education Empowerment Account. Continuously appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of Education for payment of department's expenses under program. Establishes Treasurer Empowerment Account. Continuously appropriates moneys from General Fund to State Treasurer for payment of treasurer's expenses under program. Establishes Oregon Empowerment Scholarship Account with State School Fund. Continuously appropriates moneys to Department of Education for purpose of making transfers under program. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Declares policy of state to use zero-based budgeting in developing biennial budget plan. Requires state agencies to include information justifying proposed expenditures in agency request budgets filed with Oregon Department of Administrative Services. Applies to biennia beginning on or after July 1, 2019.

Requires snowmobiles and certain all-terrain vehicles to cross highway at intersection or more than 100 feet from intersection. Permits Oregon Transportation Commission to authorize person to operate all-terrain vehicle within portion of state highway right of way designated all-terrain vehicle highway access route. Establishes All-Terrain Vehicle Highway Access Routes Advisory Committee. Directs Oregon Transportation Commission to designate all-terrain vehicle highway access routes on state highways throughout state after consultation with advisory committee. Provides exemption from vehicle equipment requirements if person is crossing portion of highway right of way designated as all-terrain vehicle highway access route.

Requires State Department of Agriculture to conduct four-year pilot program for replacing noxious weeds that supply pollen and nectar to pollinating insects with noninvasive forage plants offering similar benefit for pollinating insects. Requires department to report results of pilot program to interim committee of Legislative Assembly on or before September 15, 2022. Establishes Pollinator Forage Pilot Program Fund for purpose of carrying out pilot program. Provides for fund moneys not expended for pilot program to be transferred for use in issuing weed control grants to counties. Makes requirement for pilot program operative January 1, 2018. Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2017.

Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution to provide that every legislative measure must be introduced at request of Senator or Representative. Prohibits committees from introducing legislative measures. Refers proposed amendment to people for their approval or rejection at next regular general election.

Requires committees and subcommittees of Senate and House of Representatives, and joint committees and subcommittees of Legislative Assembly, to accept remote testimony given by remote videoconferencing link , if authorized by President of Senate and Speaker of House of Representatives . Upon authorization, requires committees to dedicate time to allow for video testimony on any agenda item. Suspends rules until Legislative Administrator reports that adequate technology and infrastructure are in place to allow witnesses to go to remote locations and testify via videoconferencing link at committee meetings.

Designates Kiger Mustang as official state horse.

Revises definition of "beneficiary." Modifies requirements for trustee to foreclose trust deed by advertisement and sale. Declares recorded trustee's deed prima facie evidence that all assignments required to be recorded are recorded. Declares instrument executed by beneficiary prima facie evidence that beneficiary is authorized to execute instrument. Permits beneficiary to designate agent or nominee to act on behalf of beneficiary. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Oregon Health Authority for Senior Farm Direct Nutrition Program and Women, Infants and Children Farm Direct Nutrition Program. Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2017.