2011

Legislative

Session

OverviewOverview

Genoa Ingram, Oregon Fire District Directors Association

1284 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301 800-223-9708

Nicole Palmateer Armstrong, Oregon Fire Chiefs Association

PO Box 2618, Salem, OR 97308 503-329-3375

Statistics and Leadership Profiles

The 76th Oregon Legislative Assembly convened on

January 10, 2011, and adjourned sine die on

June 30, 2011.

Measures Introduced: 2,806 Measures Introduced: 2,806

Passed by House: 427

Passed by Senate: 306

Signed by Governor: 732

Senate Leadership

• 16 Democrats, 14 Republicans

• Senator Peter Courtney (D-Salem), President of the SenateSenate

• Senator Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland), Senate Majority Leader

• Senator Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day), Senate Republican Leader

House Leadership

• 30 Democrats, 30 Republicans

• Representative Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg) and Representative Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay), Co-Speakers Representative Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay), Co-Speakers of the House

• Representative Kevin Cameron (R-Salem), Republican Leader

• Representative Dave Hunt (D-Clackamas County), House Democratic Leader

Co-Speakers Arnie Roblan and Bruce Hanna

Governor John Kitzhaber, Democrat

SB 640: Division of EFU Land for Fire StationsChapter 581 (2011 Laws): Effective date May 24, 2011

• Legislation passed in 1999 authorized fire service facilities in

Excusive Farm Use (EFU) zones.

• 1999 Legislation did not include right to subdivide.

• SB 640, at the request of Aurora Fire:

� Allows fire districts to subdivide EFU land for the purpose

of building additional fire stations.

________SB 5529:_EMS Fees_______(Passed – Fees stripped from final version)

Current Proposed

1st Responder $ 15.00 $120.00

Basic $ 40.00 $230.00

Intermediate $ 65.00 $260.00

Paramedic $120.00 $346.00Paramedic $120.00 $346.00

HB 2075: 911 Assessment on Pre-paid Wireless(Did not Pass)

• Prepaid Wireless users currently exempt from the 911

surcharge.

• HB 2075 offered two options for collecting the tax.

• Legislative Counsel ruled it a new tax requiring a 3/5

vote of approval in the House.vote of approval in the House.

• Wireless carriers countered:

� IT’S A SALES TAX!

NEW DEVELOPMENT!!!

Legislative Counsel reverses opinion!

_________HB 2741 – Protection of 911 Funds_________(Did not pass)

• HB 2741 would have prevented legislative “raids” on 9-1-1 funds (the Emergency Communications Account) by the legislature and required that the funds, derived by the $.75 monthly surcharge on telephone lines, be used for their intended purpose. purpose.

• Legislators have diverted the funds several times in recent years in order to balance the State budget resulting in a loss of over $14 million dollars over the last decade.

____HB 3186 – CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING___Effective date January 1, 2010

• Modifies HB 2377 (passed during 2009 Session)

• Removes Exemptions for "a person operating a motor vehicle in the scope of the person's employment if operation of the motor vehicle is necessary for the person's job".

• Exemptions for public safety personnel remain intact.• Exemptions for public safety personnel remain intact.

______SB 424 – PEDESTRIAN CROSSING________Chapter 507 (2011 Laws): Effective date June 23, 2011

• Provides clarification of laws relating to pedestrian crossings.

• Provides clarification of laws relating to pedestrian crossings.

• Requires drivers to stop for pedestrians who are crossing the roadway in a crosswalk and in the lane or adjacent to the lane in which the driver’s vehicle is traveling.

Addresses pedestrians with “improper

position” on the roadway

• Intended to restrict:

� Hitchhikers

� Panhandlers

� Demonstrators

� Others who do not intend to cross a roadway

“Fill the Boot” Exemptions (Pedestrians with improper position on roadway)

• Do not impede traffic or create a traffic hazard;

• Post advance warning signs;

• Wear high-visibility safety apparel; and

• Have a fundraising permit.

_____SB 5541 – DPSST BUDGET______Chapter 586 (2011 Laws): Effective date July 1, 2011

• Loss of 13 positions/12.33 FTE

– 7 Management/Executive Service positions;

– 6 Represented positions

• Loss of two Basic Police Courses

– 15 down to 13 with permission to return if additional classes are needed

– 15 down to 13 with permission to return if additional classes are needed

• Director’s Office:

– Loss of Deputy Director (currently vacant)

– Loss of Executive Assistant (currently vacant)

• Human Resources Impact:

– Loss of HR Analyst 3 (layoff)

– Loss of one background Investigator 3 (layoff)

• Training Division Impact

� Loss of Administrative Supervisor (Currently vacant).

� Student Worker (vacant),

� 2 PSTS-1 positions (filled with part-time instructors),

� Range Master/Armorer (layoff),

� Regional/Adv Supervisor (Layoff),

� Office Specialist 2 (vacant),

� Office Specialist 1 (used for custodian),

� Academy Operations Supervisor (layoff), � Academy Operations Supervisor (layoff),

� Two 16-week Basic Police classes.

• Private Security/Private Investigators: No reductions of personnel or services.

• Fire Training & Fire Certification: No reductions of personnel or services.

• 9-1-1 Program: No reductions of personnel or services.

• Note: Four full-time permanent positions are added for custodians. Net loss will be 9 positions/8.33 FTE.

__HB 3207 & SB 277 – VETERAN PREFERENCE FOR CIVIL SERVICE__Chapter 484 (2011 Laws): Effective date January 1, 2012

Chapter 82 (2011 Laws: Effective date Mary 19, 2011

• HB 3207 � Requires public employers to interview veterans if the

interview is part of the selection process.

� Veteran must meet minimum and special qualifications � Veteran must meet minimum and special qualifications for the position.

� Veteran has transferable skills.

• SB 277� ALL public employers are subject to the hiring and

promotion preference for veterans.

_______HB 2679 – FIRE INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX________Chapter 660 (2011 Laws): Effective date September 1, 2012

• Conforms Oregon law with the federal Reinsurance

Reform Act of 2010.Reform Act of 2010.

• Adds independently procured insurance polices for

property and liability insurance to those policies for

which the two percent FIPT may be collected.

• (FIPT accounts for more than 50 percent of the OSFM

budget.)

HB 2564 – TAX CHECK-OFF FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS

(In committee upon adjournment)

HB 2564 would have added the Oregon Volunteer Firefighters

Association to the list entities eligible for individual income

tax return check-off contribution, enabling the Association to

bypass the requirement to show that it

show that it has banked $1,000,000.

Under the charitable contribution Under the charitable contribution

guidelines, funds received by the

eligible entity may only be used for

charitable purposes. In OVFA’s case,

contributions would have funded

hardship grants, death benefits, and

scholarships

• Focus during 2011 Session:

� Expansion of filings of Statements of Economic Interest (SEIs).

oWho should file (primary focus on Treasurer’s office

oWhat should be disclosed.

• SB 540 – Expanded requirements for receipt of honoraria by

HB 2573, SB 269, SB 510 AND SB 540 –

_______________EXPANSION OF SEI FILINGS_______________(Did not Pass)

• SB 540 – Expanded requirements for receipt of honoraria by public officials.

• SB 46 – INCREASED PENALTIES FOR ETHICS VIOLATIONS

� Official Misconduct: From Class A misdemeanor to Class C felony

� Official Misconduct in the First Degree:

o5 Years Imprisonment

o$125,000 fine

o (Both)

Looking Ahead…

2011

Legislative

Session

OverviewOverview

Genoa Ingram, Oregon Fire District Directors Association

1284 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301 800-223-9708

Nicole Palmateer Armstrong, Oregon Fire Chiefs Association

PO Box 2618, Salem, OR 97308 503-329-3375