Category: News and Updates

Posted on

Capitol Update

Priority Issues

 

Cultural Competency HB 2864

The association has been focusing much of its legislative capacity towards cultural competency in the last couple weeks. We have been working with the Universities and community colleges on agreeing on a cost for the components of the bill and closing out policy negotiations. At this point universities have agreed to to report a minimal fiscal impact for this biennium if change the effective date of the bill to the end of 2019. After we get the amendment back HB 2864 will be scheduled for a work session. We should expect to see it scheduled within the next week.

 

End Profiling HB 2355

HB 2355 passed out of House Judiciary 8-2-1 with a few amendments. These amendments came forth after the speaker’s office and law enforcement negotiations completed. The coalition accepted these amendments in an effort to keep law enforcement on the table and keep the drug portion intact. At this point we will start to shift our efforts to Ways and Means so that it gets fully funded. The amendments include:

All residue cases are misdemeanors and will not count towards your number of charges to a felony.

3 strikes you’re out- after someone receives 2 drug misdemeanors charges, they will receive a felony charge on their 3rd conviction.

Lowering the amount of time someone can receive jail time for a drug misdemeanor.

Data collection on drug charges in Oregon.

 

Survivor Amnesty SB 762

We have finalized the amendments for SB 762 and we are looking to have a work session scheduled the second week of April. The amendment expands the protection to bystanders who are calling for medical assistance.

 

Ethnic Studies HB 2845

HB 2845 is scheduled for a work session April 10th. Since the hearing we have worked with Representative Parrish on an amendment to include someone who is an expert of Middle Eastern or Jewish studies.

 

Mental Health Taskforce SB 231

SB 231 is scheduled for a hearing and possible work session April 3rd where it is expected to be voted out and sent to Ways and means. There, we will have to opportunity to adjust the bill if necessary to ensure the bill is costing Oregon a substantial amount of money.

 

Gender and Name Change Documentation HB 2673

Now that HB 2673 is on the Senate side, we are waiting for the Senate to finish considering all of the Senate bills, which they are expected to wrap up by April 18th. After that the Senate will start to hear house bills.We have joined Basic Rights Oregon in efforts to provide organizing capacity to the bill when needed. BRO Lobbyist will be joining us for our O-Board lobby day to go over the bill and messaging.

 

Other Policy highlights

 

Stable Homes

Voted out of committee 5-4 on a party line vote with . Scheduled for a floor vote on in the house chamber April 4th.

 

Veterans Resource centers

Work Session Scheduled April 4th.

 

Student Fee Autonomy for community colleges

Work Session Scheduled April 6th.

 

Reproductive Health Equity

Seeking a work session date.

 

Undocumented survivor Protections

Public Hearing and Work Session scheduled April 4th.

 

Open Educational Resources

Referred to Ways and Means March 31st

 

Budget Priorities

 

Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education

Currently, the Ways and Means subcommittee on education is currently going through an educational series on Higher Education Budgets.They have also scheduled a set of public hearings where they hope to hear from students. The dates are as follows:

April 4th Public Hearing for Financial Aid

April 10th Public Hearing for Community Colleges

April 17th Public Hearing for Universities

 

Higher Education Coordinating Commission tuition setting meeting

As Universities begin to set their tuition increases, the HECC has planned on hearing all of the universities tuition increases on May 11th. This is an opportunity for students to testify about our budget asks and tuition affordability. Please note that this tuition setting meeting is only for universities that are planning to raise their tuition above 5%.

 

Higher Education Lobby day

We have been asked by the Higher Education coalition to participate in a lobby day May 16th. This is the same day that the May revenue forecast is being released, so we are hoping to talk to legislators about our budget asks and the need for more revenue.

 

May 16th Revenue forecast

The May revenue forecast is what the Co Chairs of Ways and Means base the bulk of their budget on. A week or two after the May revenue forecast is released, the Co-Chairs will release their preliminary budget, which will be a key point in time for students to see what dollars may be coming into Higher Education.

 

Legislator Townhalls

Students have started to attend local townhalls to talk about our Budget asks and the need for more revenue. Students may be asked to attend one in your district in the next couple of months.

 

 

Upcoming Key Dates

  • April 3rd Public Hearing and Possible work Session for SB 231 (Mental Health Taskforce)
  • April 4th Public Hearing for Financial Aid
  • April 10th Public Hearing for Community Colleges
  • April 10th Work Session for Ethnic Studies
  • April 17th Public Hearing for Universities
  • May 11th HECC Tuition Setting meeting
  • May 16th May Revenue Forecast
  • May 16th Higher Education Lobby Day

 

 

The HECC is still looking for a student to sit on this committee. Please email  [email protected] if you are interested.

Posted on

Capitol Update

Capitol Update

 

Priority Issues

  • Cultural Competency HB 2864

    • Since the hearing a couple weeks ago, OSA staff and Lobby Corps have been following up work with a variety of stakeholders to make sure we are addressing questions and concerns. We are looking to have a work session scheduled towards the end of March to get HB 2864 voted out of House Higher Education.

  • End Profiling HB 2355

    • We joined the End Profiling Coalition this week to discuss the best strategy moving forward after our successful hearing. We are still in talks with law enforcement, DA’s and the speaker’s office about the language around drug decriminalization. Once language is finalized we will move forward with a scheduling a work session.

  • Survivor Amnesty SB 762

    • We are currently in discussions with Sen. Gelser’s office and the Attorney General’s office about an amendment to also provide Amnesty to the friends who may call for medical assistance if the survivor is incapacitated. After the language is finalized this week we will be moving to schedule a work session.

  • Ethnic Studies HB 2845

    • Hearing date is set for March 15. We will have students, coalition partners and educators testify on the bill. We currently have over 40 organizations that have endorsed the Ethnic studies bill.

  • Mental Health Taskforce SB 231

    • We are currently working on an amendment to include drug addiction as it relates to mental health issues. We are hoping to have the amendment in the next couple of days to move forward with a work session.

  • Gender and Name Change Documentation HB 2673

    • This is scheduled for a House floor vote March 14th. We have submitted a letter of support for legislators to view.

  • Other Policy highlights

    • OSU Expansion package is scheduled for a work session for March 14th and will be referred to Ways and Means for further deliberation.

 

Upcoming Key Dates

 

  • Ethnic Studies Hearing – March 15th
  • Gender and Name Change Floor Vote – March 14th

 

 

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.

Posted on

Capitol Update

Capitol Update

In the past couple of weeks we have had a number of successful hearings on our priority issues and also a few key votes taken. Please see updates below:

 

Priority Issues

  • Cultural Competency HB 2864

    • Hearing was held March 2nd, work session to be scheduled soon

    • Mariana (LCC), Brent (PSU), Luke (OSU) and Devon (PSU) were all able to testify.

  • End Profiling HB 2355

    • Hearing held on March 6th

    • Mariana (LCC) Maria (UO) and (Corrina) were all able to testify.

  • Survivor Amnesty SB 762

    • Hearing held March 2nd

    • Tabitha (OSU) and Jacqueline (OSU) were able to testify.

  • Ethnic Studies HB 2845

    • Hearing date March 15 (tentative)

    • Currently asking organizations to sign on and support the bill

  • Mental Health Taskforce SB 231

    • Hearing held March 1st, Work session to be scheduled soon.

    • Lina (LBCC), Candaylynn(OSU), Dan (LCC), Samantha (LCC), Ryan (LCC)

  • Gender and Name Change Documentation HB 2673

    • Work session held March 6th

    • Passed out of committee with a 6-3 vote

  • Other Policy highlights

    • Hearing for the Student Fee Autonomy for Community Colleges was held March 2nd

      • Candalynn (OSU), Cody (PCC), Brent (PSU) and Alex (LCC) were able to testify

    • Stable Homes Hearing was held March 2nd

      • Rico (LCC) and Scott (LBCC) were able to testify.

    • Hearing for Universal Credit Transfer hearing was held Feb. 28th

      • Gus (LCC) was able to testify

 

Ways and Means Roadshows

  • Eugene

    • Rachel (OSU), Robert (OSU), Imani (UO) and Daniel (UO) were able to testify. There were about 15 students there.

 

Upcoming Key Dates

 

  • Ethnic Studies Hearing – March 15th

  • Sensible Tuition Caps Hearing – March 14th

  • Work Session on SB 231 – March 8th (Tentitive)

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.

Posted on

Lobby Day & Capitol Update

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.

Posted on

Capitol Update

Capitol Update 2/6

The first week of session has started in full swing for students and our priority issues. This past week, the Oregon Student Association Lobby Corps team had to balance defending attacks on students and pushing our issues forward. Here are some highlights from the last few days:

  • Informed legislative leadership about attacks on students
    • Stopping Lowering the Minimum wage for people under 21- HB 2378
    • Stopping Lowering the Minimum wage for work study students – HB 2145
    • Stopping the “Anti-Riot” Bill – SB 540
    • Stopping Mandatory E-Verify implementation at Oregon state agencies, including institutions – SB 545
  • Filed Ethnic studies bill- awaiting bill number
    • Chief Sponsors will be: Rep. Hernandez, Rep. Parrish, Rep. Doherty and Sen. Fredrick.
  • Filed Survivor Amnesty Bill – awaiting bill number
    • Chief Sponsors will be: Sen. Gelser and Sen. Taylor
  • Secured additional committee votes for End Profiling bill – HB 2355
  • Requested a Public Hearing for the Mental Health Taskforce bill – SB 231
  • Continued negotiations with Universities, Community College, and Unions on Cultural Competency
    • We are working on finalizing edits before requesting a hearing
  • Received a bill number for continued Open Educational Resources funding – HB 2927
  • Started to work with the Higher Education Coordinating Commission on edits to the Student Whistleblower bill- HB 2457
  • Worked to finalize details of the OSA Lobby day
Posted on

Mid-Session Update 2016

General Update

The Oregon Student Association started off the session with a successful lobby day. Since then, Students have been in the building every day testifying and lobbying on our priority issues. This short session has been an extremely busy one, as members debate the minimum wage, housing, and balancing the budget.  There is still about two and a half weeks left of session, which means we will have a short amount of time to get the rest of our bills through! Below is an update on where our bills are at currently.

Priority 1 Bills

  •  Civic Engagement Bill (SB 1586) – At the beginning of February, Oregon Students began lobbying the legislature for full passage of SB 1586. Our Civic Engagement bill is scheduled for a work session today, Tuesday (2/16) and has the support of most of the members on the Senate Rules Committee. On Tuesday, members will also be discussing an amendment that OSA and Universities jointly developed which will put the responsibility of requesting access for nonpartisan voter engagement work on student governments. After Tuesday’s committee vote, the bill will then go to Ways and Means where they will discuss the fiscal impact of the bill before sending it to the floor for a vote.
  • Budget Ask- The state’s revenue forecast[1] that came out last week showed lower revenue than the Co-Chairs of Ways and Means expected. The forecast showed that there are additional funds that could be dedicated to Higher Education, but not at the $15 million level we were hoping for. OSA will continue to work with the Co-Chairs to ensure some of their discretionary funds go towards Higher Education.

Priority 2 bills

  • Housing (HB 4143 and HB 4001)-  Passing Housing policy is priority for legislative leadership and the Governor this session. HB 4001- Contained both Inclusionary Zoning and Tenant Protections. The Tenant Protection pieces from HB 4001 were moved to HB 4143 last week. This was done because there are members in the Senate who do not want Inclusionary Zoning to move forward this session, which meant we had to split up HB 4001 in order to preserve the tenant protections piece. HB 4001 is no longer expected to move, but HB 4143 is expected to move out of committee this week.
  •  Campaign Contribution Reform (HJR 205 – Amends OR Constitution to permit campaign contribution limits) There is currently no movement on this bill.
  •  Amending the Oregon Promise (HB 4076– Amends the Oregon Promise and allocates $2.5 million to community colleges). This bill moved out of the  House Higher Education committee and is currently in Ways and Means.
  •  Researching Student Loan refinance (HB 4021) – Passed the house with 54 ayes- 6 nays. It is now on the Senate President’s desk and is awaiting to be assigned to the Senate Education Committee.
  •  Increasing opportunities for math majors (SB 1540)- At the request of the HECC, this bill was amended to increase the number of people in math related programs. The HECC wanted more flexibility on how they conducted their research than just providing tuition waivers. SB 1540 passed through the Senate 27-1 on Monday the 15th.
  •  Expanding Student Privacy (SB 1558)- This bill passed through the Senate unanimously without one word of debate on Monday the 15th.
  •  K-12 Bullying (HB 4024)-  creates standardized systems of response, and documents cases of bullying, harassment, intimidation and cyberbullying. Passed out of committee will be moving to ways and means.
  •  Extending Profiling Task force (HB 4003) -Passed through House unanimously, and is awaiting a hearing and work session in Senate Judiciary.

Opposing

  • Equities Bill (HJR 203– would allow universities to be able to invest in stocks; is a ballot measure referral to change the constitution to reflect current statute) – This ballot measure referral has passed out of the House chamber almost unanimously. HJR has a lot of support from members because they have technically already supported Universities being able to invest in stocks when they passed SB 270 in 2013. At this time because of the overwhelming support to pass this legislation in order to make the constitution mirror legislation it’s your staff’s recommendation that we do not spend any more capacity fighting this legislation.

[1] http://www.oregon.gov/DAS/OEA/docs/economic/forecast0316.pdf