Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin

Modifies allocation formula for grants to children's advocacy centers. Establishes Child Abuse Assessment Account within State Treasury for purpose of grant program for children's advocacy centers. Authorizes Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Intervention Program to reallocate undistributed moneys to specified organizations. Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of Justice for purpose of funding grant program. Limits biennial expenditures by department for grant program from Child Abuse Assessment Account. ] Modifies authority of Advisory Council on Child Abuse Assessment to deposit contributions to Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Intervention Account and Child Abuse Assessment Account. ] Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die. ] Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of Justice for Crime Victim and Survivor Services Division, for distribution to eligible children's advocacy centers. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Prohibits Department of Human Services from using specified moneys received on behalf of child in care for maintenance costs. Directs department to maintain separate accounts for each child on whose behalf moneys are received. Specifies types of expenses that may be paid from account. Authorizes department, upon request, to instead pay moneys directly into specified accounts for child's benefit. Creates exceptions. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Directs Department of Human Services to consider hours worked as graduate assistant as hours worked in employment for purpose of meeting work requirements in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Directs Oregon Department of Administrative Services ] Higher Education Coordinating Commission to distribute moneys to Area Health Education Center program of Oregon Health and Science University for specified purposes. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Creates refundable child tax credit, calculated based on number of dependents of taxpayer that are qualifying children with respect to taxpayer and are under six years of age at close of tax year. Limits credit to five dependents per tax return. Phases out amount of available credit based on adjusted gross income of taxpayer. Adjusts credit amount and phaseout threshold for inflation. Directs Department of Revenue to make quarterly advance payments of credit amounts. 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 child tax credit payments. Provides that credit is not subject to garnishment. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2024 ] 2023 , and before January 1, 2030 ] 2029 . Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Extends deadlines for affinity group task forces to complete their work with respect to allocations of resources to address communities' needs and health inequities faced by communities and to report recommendations to Legislative Assembly. Extends deadlines for Oregon Health Authority to develop recommendations for linguistically specific intervention programs and to report recommendations to Legislative Assembly. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Increases membership of State Board of Education to include additional representative of congressional district and to include member engaged as classified staff member for public school or education service district. Reduces number of members of Teacher Standards and Practices Commission who are members of public and requires one member of commission to be employed as classified staff at public school or education service district. Requires Educator Advancement Council to include member who is classified staff in public school or for education service district. Reduces number of members of Oregon Educators Benefit Board who have expertise in health policy or risk management and requires one member of board who is employed as classified staff at public school or for education service district. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Prohibits Oregon Board of Dentistry from requiring applicant for certification as dental assistant to pass written examination. Requires board to adopt rules to establish alternative pathways to certification. ] Allows Oregon Board of Dentistry to require applicant for certification as dental assistant to pass written examination. Specifies requirements for examination. Becomes operative July 1, 2025. Directs board to convene advisory committee to study dental assistant workforce shortage and review dental assistant certification requirements in other states. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Requires Governor, in appointing members to Oregon State Board of Nursing, to balance diversity of setting in which nurse or certified nursing assistant members provide care. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Revises provisions relating to chemicals in children's products. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.