Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin

Directs Department of Human Services to begin search for relative placement resources immediately upon child or ward entering substitute care. Directs department to take into consideration parent's objection to department's contacting or placing child or ward with certain relatives. ] Directs department to provide notice in certain circumstances to parents and relative placement resources or prospective adoptive parent regarding current caretaker priority status if child or ward remains in substitute care for at least 12 months. Modifies direction to department regarding home studies and placement reports to provide that current caretaker in specified circumstances is considered to have priority as guardian, potential placement resource or prospective adoptive parent ] , if adoption is disrupted, consider any relative or current caretaker who was not initially selected as prospective adoptive parent as adoptive resource . Prohibits department from moving child or ward to prevent person from establishing current caretaker relationship or caregiver relationship with child or ward. Declares child support arrears owed to State of Oregon are deemed satisfied upon termination of parental rights. Permits court to deem satisfied child support arrears owed to State of Oregon by parent. Modifies factors of failure or neglect for purposes of termination of parental rights proceedings to remove failure to pay for care and maintenance of child or ward in substitute care. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Limits ] Caps annual rent increases for residential tenancies. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Modifies abbreviated school day program requirements. Requires that parent or foster parent must give informed and written consent for student with disability to be placed on program. Prescribes duties of school district superintendent and Department of Education in relation to abbreviated school day programs. Directs school districts to provide notice to parents or foster parents of every student with disability who was on abbreviated school day program at end of 2022-2023 school year or who had abbreviated school days during 2022-2023 school year. Prescribes requirements of notice. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Declares legislative intent to address inequities facing Compact of Free Association islanders residing in State of Oregon.

Directs Department of Human Services to use information acquired during abuse investigations arising from actions of child in care to make certain assessments regarding placement. Prohibits department from finding that allegation of abuse is substantiated or founded. Creates exceptions. ] Prohibits department from determining that individual is unfit solely based on substantiated or founded allegation of abuse arising from acts of individual when under 18 years of age. Creates exceptions. ] Creates exception to requirement to enroll in Central Background Registry if individual was under 18 years of age at time of incident resulting in substantiated or founded allegation of abuse. Creates exceptions. ] Modifies definitions relating to child abuse investigations. Defines "qualified subject." Limits duty of Department of Human Services and law enforcement agency to investigate allegations of child abuse to only those allegations of child abuse committed by qualified subjects. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Directs State Board of Education to adopt by rule standards by which certain students may take assessment to satisfy high school diploma requirements. Allows certain persons who pass practice high school equivalency test to be eligible to enroll in public school and earn high school diploma. Directs public universities and community colleges to accept academically accepted document to validate military occupational experience for purpose of awarding academic credits.

Establishes Oregon Spirits Board as semi-independent state agency to develop and promote Oregon's distilled spirits industry. Imposes 50 cents per bottle surcharge on distilled liquor manufactured in Oregon. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Directs insurer to consider only specified information in determining rates for motor vehicle liability insurance policy. Prohibits insurer from considering other specified information in determining eligibility, rates or premiums for motor vehicle liability insurance policy. Permits insurer, under specified circumstances, to consider abstract of individual's nonemployment driving record when evaluating individual's application to obtain or renew motor vehicle liability insurance. Prohibits insurer from using credit history to determine eligibility, rates or premiums for motor vehicle liability insurance. Becomes operative on January 1, 2024. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

In memoriam: Walter Willard Cole Sr. (aka Darcelle XV), 1930-2023.

Instructs State Department of Agriculture to establish grant program for purpose of facilitating nonlethal deterrence of wildlife conflict species by individuals who raise, keep or produce livestock or crops. Establishes Wildlife Conflict Species Nonlethal Deterrence Fund to support grant program. Appropriates moneys to department out of General Fund for deposit into Wildlife Conflict Species Nonlethal Deterrence Fund. Sunsets grant program and fund on January 2, 2029. Declares emergency, effective on passage.