Distributes civil forfeiture proceeds to scholarship program for family members ] children of deceased or disabled public safety officers. Modifies criteria for scholarship program. Applies to applications for scholarships submitted on or after July 1, 2018. Declares emergency, effective on passage.
Modifies definitions, exceptions and affirmative defenses applicable to offense of driving a motor vehicle while using a mobile electronic device. Provides that enhanced classification of offense may only be based on prior conviction occurring on or after July 1, 2018. Creates procedure by which person convicted of enhanced offense based on prior conviction occurring prior to July 1, 2018, may request that court redetermine classification of offense. Takes effect July 1, 2018. ] Declares emergency, effective on passage.
Modifies funding mechanism for public employees' health care benefit to avoid excise tax under Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Requires local governments and school districts to participate in modified health care benefit plan. Permits public employees to redirect funds from health care premiums to other benefits. Dedicates portion of health care benefit costs to future health care costs and to critical services. Requires Public Employees' Benefit Board and Oregon Educators Benefit Board to assist employees in selecting benefit options. Excludes collective bargaining for specified health insurance benefits. Prohibits Public Employees' Benefit Board and Oregon Educators Benefit Board from self-insuring. Establishes Task Force on Flexible Benefits for Public Employees to monitor implementation of new benefit plans. Sunsets task force December 31, 2022. Declares emergency, effective on passage.
Transfers $7 million from Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement to Health System Fund to pay for Oregon Reinsurance Program. Increases taxes on cigarettes. Imposes assessment on ambulatory surgical centers and emergency ambulance services to be used for medical assistance program. Modifies hospital assessment and requires Oregon Health Authority to take specified actions with respect to medical assistance program. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Provides that "eligible location," for purposes of certain property tax benefits, includes location not formerly used for industrial purposes. Provides that "eligible property" may be property appraised either by county or by Department of Revenue. Provides that "eligible property" includes property constructed or installed at brownfield that is being cleaned up and cost of initial investment may include remaining cleanup costs. Clarifies definition of "rural area." Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Requires Department of Human Services to use savings in temporary assistance for needy families program to increase amount of cash grants or to make additional investments in JOBS program . Declares emergency, effective on passage.
Establishes retirement benefits payable under Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan to persons who establish membership in Public Employees Retirement System on or after effective date of Act. Provides that such persons do not become members of pension program of plan. Requires employers of such persons to make employer contributions to plan in amount equal to 10 percent of member's salary. Allows person to contribute additional two percent of salary, which is matched by employer. Provides break in service and change in service rules for persons who established membership in system before effective date of Act. Requires employer contribution rate set by Public Employees Retirement Board to be at least 18 percent of salary. For years beginning in 2019, caps at $200,000 annual salary used to calculate final average salary for purposes of Tiers 1 and 2 of system. Directs Oregon Investment Council to offer high, medium and low risk options for investment of individual accounts established under system. Directs board to adopt rules allowing members to elect from risk options. 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. Declares emergency, effective on passage.
Establishes official name of open resources program as "Oregon's Open Educational Resources (OER) Program." Requires Higher Education Coordinating Commission to regularly convene faculty, staff and librarians from public universities and community colleges for purpose of coordinating program in specified manner . Appropriates moneys from General Fund to fund program. Requires Higher Education Coordinating Commission to report to Legislative Assembly during each regular session held during odd-numbered year on summary of current status of program, amount of moneys program has saved students, amount of moneys commission anticipates program will save students in future and evaluation of existing barriers preventing approval of more open educational resources. Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2017.
Requires Housing and Community Services Department, in collaboration with Oregon Health Authority, to disburse moneys in Housing for Mental Health Fund for development of community-based housing, crisis intervention services, rental subsidies and other housing-related services for individuals with mental illness and individuals with substance use disorders . Requires department to convene advisory group. Declares emergency, effective on passage.
Provides that portion of U.S. Highway 20 shall be known as Oregon Medal of Honor Highway. Authorizes Department of Transportation to install memorial markers that recognize and honor Oregon's Medal of Honor recipients in roadside rest areas and turnouts on U.S. Highway 20 . Takes effect on 91st date following adjournment sine die.
