Requires Water Resources Department to establish expedited process for approval of permits and certificates to construct and operate ponds on agricultural lands to capture runoff or ephemeral or intermittent stream water.
Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution establishing independent redistricting commission to adopt redistricting plans for state Senate, state House of Representatives and United States House of Representatives. Refers proposed amendment to people for their approval or rejection at next regular general election.
Allows county with no population growth, and city within county with no population growth, to adopt exception to any statewide land use planning goal for certain purposes, with exceptions. Requires Land Conservation and Development Commission to review and approve proposed exception within 60 days of receiving notice from county or city. Permits person adversely affected by adoption of exception to obtain judicial review of exception. Directs Oregon Business Development Department to monitor adoption of exceptions by counties with no population growth and cities within counties with no population growth. Requires department to submit report to interim committee of Legislative Assembly no later than October 1, 2020. 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.
Increases weight allotted for children in poverty, in foster homes and in certain state-recognized facilities for purposes of State School Fund distributions. Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2017.
Redirects employee contributions made by member of system from individual account program to account to be used to pay for member's pension or other retirement benefits accrued on or after January 1, 2018. For years beginning in 2018, caps at $100,000 annual salary used to calculate final average salary for purposes of Public Employees Retirement System. Directs Public Employees Retirement Board to recalculate employer contribution rates to reflect savings attributable to Act. Provides for expedited review of Act by Supreme Court upon petition by adversely affected party.
Establishes public access requirements for written records and other informational materials presented at public meetings of public bodies. Provides exceptions for written records or other informational materials presented at executive sessions or certain school board or hearing officer proceedings.
Limits availability of paid and unpaid sick leave to employee who uses leave because of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault, stalking or harm as result of certain felonies.
Prohibits discrimination based on age, expected length of life, present or predicted disability, degree of medical dependency or quality of life in determination of medical services covered by state medical assistance program, in coverage under medical retainer practice and in issuance of health benefit plans. Applies to medical retainer practices and health benefit plans in force on January 2, 2018. Declares emergency, effective on passage.
Requires State Forester to manage state forestlands to provide for timber sales each year in amounts that equal or exceed 125 percent of 2016 timber sales amount. Provides for moneys from timber sales exceeding 2016 timber sales amount to be used for funding high school and community college career and technical education, STEM Investment Grant Program distribution to public universities and kindergarten to grade 12 education.
