Priority Issues update
In the past couple of weeks, students have been able to make progress on all of our priority issues:
- Cultural Competency HB 2864
- Hearing date for early March is being finalized
- Some language is still being finalized
- End Profiling HB 2355
- Hearing date for early March is being finalized
- The End Profiling coalition is negotiating with the District Attorney’s
- Survivor Amnesty SB 762
- Hearing date requested
- Currently asking organizations to sign on and support the bill
- Ethnic Studies HB 2845
- Hearing for early or mid March being finalized
- Currently asking organizations to sign on and support the bill
- Mental Health Taskforce SB 231
- Hearing date requested
- Currently asking organizations to sign on and support the bill
- Other Policy highlights
- Hearing for the Student Fee Autonomy for Community Colleges is will be at the beginning of March.
- Hearing for Reproductive Health Equity looks like it may be mid March (subject to change).
- Stable Homes bill will have a hearing at the beginning of March.
- Hearing for OER’s will be Feb. 23rd
- Hearing for OSU Cascades expansion will be Feb. 23rd
Ways and Means Roadshows
Students have been represented at every single road show:
- Salem
- Students from LCC, OSU, WOU, LBCC and Chemeketa all came out in support of OSA’s budget asks.
- Mariana (LCC) and Tabitha (OSU) were both able to testify on OSA’s behalf.
- Portland
- Students from PSU and PCC were present at this hearing.
- Brent (PSU) and Sabrina (PSU) were both able to testify on OSA’s budget asks.
- Devon (PSU) served as a spokesperson for the media.
- PCC student also advocated for OERs to be fully funded.
- Hermiston
- EOU and Blue Mountain Community College were both in attendance and advocated for funding for universities and community colleges.
- Madras
- Students from OSU Cascades and Central Oregon Community Colleges were present talking about our budget asks and funding for OSU Cascades expansion.
- Jori (COCC), Anthony (COCC), Sarah (OSU-CC) and Beverly (OSU-CC) were all able to testify on OSA’s budget asks.
OSA Lobby Day
Our Lobby day was a huge success:
- We were able to meet with about 70 legislators
- 2 panels where we talked to house members about budgets and revenue
- 150 students and coalition partners attended throughout the day
- Q and A with Governor Brown
We will be doing a debrief at the Board meeting
Credit for Prior Learning committee
The HECC is still looking for a student to sit on this committee. Please email me at [email protected] if you are interested.