Issues

Friends and neighbors in Senate District 7,

We have reached the end of the 2020 short legislative session here in the Capitol. I worked hard this session to pass critical legislation for the people of Oregon, addressing the high cost of healthcare, discrimination in all forms, the use of dangerous chemicals, and access to quality education. However, many efforts of mine and of my Democratic colleagues to deliver these much-needed changes were derailed when Republican elected officials chose to walk away from their legislative duties.

The current make up of the Oregon State Senate is 18 Democrats and 12 Republicans. By statue two-third or 20 Senators are required before the Senate Floor can open to conduct legislative business. The Republican's walkout left us two short of the required 20 Senators and denied a quorum.

Because of the Republicans' walkout we could not vote to provide critical disaster relief for the suffering Oregonians of Pendleton as they recover from the recent devastating flooding, to invest in Emergency Services and transitional housing, shake alert system to prepare for the inevitable Cascadia earthquake and tsunami, a Vietnam War Memorial on Capitol grounds, revamping our public defense services, protecting Oregonians from high insulin prices, funding for the downtown riverfront project, and much more.

Based solely on their opposition to one single bill, Republican lawmakers chose to deny their constituents, my constituents and every Oregonian the benefits of these and other bills by shutting down our state government. Every Oregon elected official gave an oath to the US Constitution and to the Constitution of Oregon. Voting on every bill is an obligation of that oath. I have voted against bills, which is a requirement of my oath of office, and lost but I never ran away from my responsibilities as a duly elected official.

Still, while Republicans took taxpayer-funded vacations, I continued doing the work my constituents elected me to do. As a member of the Joint Emergency Board I will meet with legislative colleagues on Monday to provide critically needed funds to combat COVID-19 coronavirus, relief for the people in Pendleton, and other immediate needs.

The following bills I chief sponsored would have been put to a vote had Republican lawmakers had been present:

*While reading this newsletter, when you come across blue text that is underlined, that means there is a hyperlink. If you click on the blue text, you will be redirected to the topic that is hyperlinked*

SB 1564 (Established product stewardship for mattress)

SB 1565 (Establishes rates of compensation to be paid by Oregon Liquor Control Commission to distillery retail outlet agent for distilled liquor retail sales by agent)

SB 1566 (Extending Oregon Promise to out-of-state foster placements)

SB 1567 (Relating to arbitration awards)

SB 1569 (Establishes State Board of Towing within Department of Transportation)

SB 1573 (Modifies procedure for expunction of certain juvenile records)

HB 4003 (Authorizes assistance to homeownership program access to persons of color)

HB 4065 (Relating to driving privilege suspension for failure to pay fine)

HB 4103 (Allows cities and specified counties to designate certain highway speeds)

HB 4107 (Relating to discrimination)

HB 4109 (Prohibits aerial spraying of pesticides containing chlorpyrifos)

HB 4110 (Grace periods for paying certain health insurance premiums)

HB 4160 (Relating to the success of underrepresented students)

HJR 202 (Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution relating to obligation of state to ensure access to health care

The following are bills of which I co-sponsor that would have been put to a vote had Republican lawmakers been present:

SB 1540 (Requires certain student loan servicers to obtain license)

SB 1568 (Modifies protective proceedings to permit vulnerable youth

SB 1577 (Requires Department of Revenue to issue license to qualified retailers of tobacco products and inhalant delivery systems)

HB 4005 (Relating to secure firearm storage)

HB 4076 (Establishes Task Force on Age Discrimination)

HB 4083 (Modifies criteria for erecting roadside memorial highways for deceased veterans, POW, or unaccounted for)

HB 4102 (Relating to managing the utilization of health care)

HB 4108 (Relating to salary under PERS)

HCR 204 (Commemorating centennial of Oregon ratifying the 19th amendment)

Upcoming Events

Universal Health Care Taskforce

On March 30, 2020, the Universal Health Care Taskforce will meet from 9:00am to 12:00pm in Capitol room 343 where we will appoint the Taskforce Chair, Vice Chair, and welcome all task force members. This meeting is open to the public.

Joint Legislative Town Hall

When: Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Where: Roosevelt Middle School (500 E 24th Ave., Eugene)

Community Coffee's

I will be announcing my in-district Community Coffee's each month in email updates. These are opportunities for me to hear from you, my constituents, between legislative sessions.

It was a very busy 2019 Legislative Assembly, thank you for your support. We had huge wins and some major setbacks. But all and all we accomplished great things for which I am extremely proud. To reflect on all that has been achieved, the following is a brief summary of bills that I chief or co-sponsored:

I personally introduced 13 bills this session as a first chief sponsor. The following bills are:

• SB 272 prohibits assistant attorneys general from striking. This bill has been signed into law.

• SB 507 expands worker's compensation eligibility for certain public safety employees (police, fire, public safety, and medical response) who file claims for mental illnesses suffered from work-related duties. This bill has been signed into law.

• SB 924 modifies juvenile code to prohibit the placement of runaway foster children and wards of the state in criminal detention facilities. This bill has been signed into law.

• SB 240 A directs state agencies to use electronic signatures by July 2020.

• SB 273 allows the base pay of attorneys in the public sector to be used as the base pay for assistant attorneys general.

• SB 274 expands eligibility for support services to individuals with developmental disabilities who are 14 to 17 years of age.

• SB 275 requires owners of firearms to safely store and transfer firearms with a trigger lock, cable lock, or locked container.

• SB 276 A establishes a statewide product stewardship program for mattress recycling.

• SB 737 extends the sunset on a property tax exemption for low-income housing.

• SB 867 declares legislative findings for an ideal health care system.

• SB 868 prohibits placing ballot drop off sites on private property unless deemed absolutely necessary through a procedure with the Secretary of State.

• SJR 23 proposes a constitutional amendment to redirect tax kicker revenues to a statewide K-12 education fund.

I also signed-on as a chief sponsor for several bills introduced by my colleagues, of which the following have passed:

• HB 2015 eliminates the requirement that a person provide proof of legal presence before the Department of Transportation issues a noncommercial driver license, noncommercial driver permit or identification card.

• HB 2623 A prohibits use of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas exploration and production.

• HB 2769 permits contracting agency, in conducting procurement for architectural, engineering, photogrammetric mapping, transportation planning and land surveying services, to consider pricing policies, proposals and other pricing information as part of screening and selection of consultants in specified circumstances.

• HB 2812 A expands Housing and Community Services Department's use of Home Ownership Assistance Account to support households with below area median income and to support organizations' homeownership programs with any percentage of home construction or rehabilitation costs.

• HB 2932 prohibits court from inquiring into defendant's immigration status or requiring defendant to disclose defendant's immigration status at time of plea or at any other time during criminal proceeding.

• HB 3064 B expands membership of Justice Reinvestment Program Grant Review Committee.

• HB 3201 B provides that agreement for conditional discharge for controlled substance offenses may not contain requirement that defendant enter plea of guilty or no contest.

• HB 3216 B creates civil cause of action against person who knowingly summons police officer with intent to cause specified harm.

• HB 3310 A prohibits school district, community college district and certain education service district elections from being conducted in manner that impairs ability of members of protected class to have equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice as result of dilution or abridgment of rights of electors who are members of protected class.

• SB 408 allows county to approve certain divisions of land zoned for exclusive farm use for purposes of siting utility facilities necessary for public service.

• SB 423 A prohibits law enforcement agencies from employing person as law enforcement officer unless person has completed psychological screening to determine person's fitness to serve as law enforcement officer.

• SB 577 B renames crime of intimidation as bias crime.

• SB 593 makes person holding resident disabled veteran hunting license eligible for additional preference points in controlled hunt permit preference system.

• SB 664 requires school districts to provide instruction about Holocaust and genocide beginning with 2020-2021 school year.

• SB 740 B requires health benefit plans that cover radiation therapy for cancer to cover proton beam therapy on basis no less favorable than other covered benefits.

• SB 770 B creates a Medicaid-like buy-in program for uninsured Oregonians and develops a Task Force charged with designing a universal, single-payer health care system for Oregon.

• SB 861 B requires state to pay for ballot return envelopes that can be returned by business reply mail, or other mailing service determined by Secretary of State to be more cost effective or efficient, for each election held in this state. This bill is prepared for a final vote in the House.

Regular-Sponsor Bills

Finally, there are dozens of bills which I have signed onto as a regular sponsor. Among these bills, the following have passed:

• SCR 25 A declares the support of legislature for survivors of sexual violence. This bill is awaiting a final reading on the Senate floor.

• SJM 5 A urges Congress to lead a global effort to reduce threat of nuclear war. This bill is currently awaiting a final reading on the House floor.

• SB 8 A requires Land Use Board of Appeals to award local governments and applicants their expenses and attorney fees against petitioners if affirming local governments approval of publicly supporting housing.

• SB 52 which would require school districts to come up with a compressive district plan on student suicide prevention.

• SB 256 prohibits the Department of State Lands from leasing any lands for the exploration, development or production of oil, gas or sulfur.

• SB 262 extends the sunset, or the expiration date of the bill, for property tax exemptions for multiple-unit housing.

• SB 297 modifies provisions for emergency commitment of individuals in Indian country.

• SB 321 B modifies the court procedures in handling a person convicted of a felony in obtaining DNA testing.

• SB 420 B establishes procedures for persons with qualifying marijuana convictions to file motion requesting court to enter order setting aside conviction.

• SB 424 requires that mental health wellness policies be implemented to address issues regarding mental health for law enforcement officers employed by agency.

• SB 438 allows person issued disabled parking permit to park in parking space otherwise reserved for residents.

• SB 455 A requires [public universities, community colleges and community college districts] certain institutions of higher education to require contractors to employ apprentices and to establish and execute plan for outreach, recruitment and retention of women and minority individuals for certain work relating to improvements to real property.

• SB 474 A reduces length of time of parental desertion or abandonment of child resulting in forfeiture of parent’s intestate share of child’s estate [and] or parent’s interest in property transferred from child to parent by transfer on death deed in parental forfeiture action to one year if person who would benefit from forfeiture is child or sibling of deceased child or three years for all others.

• SB 495 prohibits the use of dogs to extract inmate from cells in correctional facilities.

• SB 498 prohibits Department of Corrections from entering into contract with inmate telephone services provider that authorizes department to receive fee or commission other than reimbursement for expenses.

• SB 526 B directs the Oregon Health Authority to design, implement and maintain a voluntary statewide program to provide nurse home visiting services to families with infants up to six months of age.

• SB 576 imposes certain requirements related to private security providers who contract with or are employed by institutions of higher education to provide private security services on campus and special campus security officers commissioned by governing boards of public universities.

• SB 582 A authorizes Governor to enter into agreement with another state for purposes of cross- jurisdictional coordination and enforcement of marijuana-related businesses and cross- jurisdictional delivery of marijuana items.

• SB 596 provides that if person reports commission of person felony to emergency communications system or law enforcement agency, evidence of prostitution obtained as result of making report may not be used against person in prosecution for prostitution or attempted prostitution.

• SB 597 authorizes use of pseudonym, initials or other signifier instead of name of victim, or witness if witness is also victim, in indictment when specified requirements are met.

• SB 608 prohibits landlord from terminating month-to-month tenancy without cause after 12 months of occupancy.

• SB 638 requires research facilities that use dogs or cats for laboratory research to offer dogs or cats that are no longer used for research be put up for adoption prior to euthanization.

• SB 698 B directs the State Board of Pharmacy to adopt rules to require that prescription drugs be labeled in English and other language upon request of practitioner, patient or patient representative.

• SB 725 B specifies charges, [or] convictions, arrests, deferred sentences, conditional discharges, referrals for diversion programs and pending indictments that may not be considered in fitness

• SB 726 makes it unlawful employment practice for employer to enter agreement that would prevent employee from disclosing or discussing conduct that constitutes unlawful discrimination, including sexual assault.

• SB 775 B requires agencies of state government to conduct criminal records checks relating to employment by agency through Department of State Police.

• SB 810 modifies definition of "vulnerable user of a public way" to include persons operating or riding on moped or motorcycle.

• SB 829 B requires that, to extent provided by Oregon Liquor Control Commission rules, if appellation of origin on wine label is American viticulture area in Oregon that is in larger American viticulture area, label must also identify larger American viticulture area.

• SB 854 A directs professional licensing boards, in certain circumstances, to accept individual taxpayer identification number or other federally-issued identification number in lieu of Social Security number on applications for issuance or renewal of authorization to practice occupation or profession.

• SB 855 A directs professional licensing boards to study manner in which persons who are immigrants or refugees become authorized to practice occupation or profession.

• SB 870 enacts Interstate Compact for Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote.

• SB 873 A allows defendant in eviction action to apply for order setting aside judgment.

• SB 944 A permits county clerk to decide whether to conduct hand count of ballots or risk-limiting audit following each primary, general or special election.

• SB 962 B directs certifying agencies to certify to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, within specified time, victim helpfulness in detecting, investigating or prosecuting qualifying criminal activity.

• SB 1039 B authorizes appointment of health care advocate to make health care decisions for individual with developmental disability receiving services through individualized written service plan if individual does not have guardian or health care representative.

• HB 2013 A provides that person subject to certain court protective orders is prohibited from possessing firearms if person had opportunity to be heard on order and did not request hearing, failed to appear at hearing or withdrew request before hearing occurred.

• HB 2016 B requires public employer to grant reasonable paid time to public employee who is designated representative to engage in certain activities.

• HB 2227 modifies list of mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse to include animal control officers.

• HB 2231 A provides a right to collectively bargain with State of Oregon to health care interpreters.

• HB 2321 A exempts from required disclosure pursuant to public records request, home address, home phone number and other specified personal information of county juvenile department employees who primarily perform duties related to youth offenders confined in detention facilities.

• HB 2328 modifies culpable mental state for crime of unauthorized use of a vehicle when person takes, operates, exercises control over or otherwise uses vehicle, boat or aircraft without consent of owner.

• HB 2500 A provides a private right of action to recover for expenses in relation to veterinary care for abused domestic animal.

• HB 2508 B would require the Department of Human Services to award grants to refugee resettlement agencies to provide specified services to refugees.

• HB 2585 B establishes a process for completing and filing report of death for person missing in wilderness or forested environment and believed to be deceased.

• HB 2589 A clarifies that sexual orientation is not considered physical or mental impairment and that individual does not have disability solely by reason of individual's sexual orientation.

• HB 2601 A would limit a guardian's authority to limit protected person's preferred associations with third parties.

• HB 2603 A would direct the Department of Transportation to study train delays experienced by trains operated by Amtrak and report on findings to interim committees of Legislative Assembly related to transportation on or before September 15, 2020.

• HB 2625 A would direct the Department of State Police to study how to increase and improve criminal justice resources relating to missing and murdered Native American women in Oregon and report to appropriate committee or interim committee of Legislative Assembly no later than September 15, 2020.

• HB 2935 B requires pharmacies to notify person to whom prescription drug is dispensed of availability of prescription reader.

• HB 3076 A requires nonprofit hospitals and their nonprofit affiliated clinics to establish financial assistance policies meeting specified criteria, including reducing charges to low-income patients.

• HB 3077 B requires nonprofit hospitals and their nonprofit affiliated clinics to establish financial assistance policies meeting specified criteria, including reducing charges to low-income patients.

• HB 3117 A Modifies Family Abuse Prevention Act to authorize court to continue restraining order if abuse occurred within specified period, petitioner reasonably fears for petitioner's physical safety and respondent represents credible threat to physical safety of petitioner or petitioner's child.

• HB 3224 A directs district attorney of each county to, no later than December 1, 2020, develop and adopt policies relating to discovery, charging decisions, sentencing and program recommendations and other specified subjects, and to make policies available to public on website.

• HB 3249 provides that client has right to privately communicate with lawyer and representative of lawyer.

• HB 3252 A excludes, for limited duration, certain employees of Oregon State Police from meaning of supervisory employee for purposes of public employment.

• HB 3261 A modifies requirement to record interview with person under 18 years of age to include custodial interviews conducted inside law enforcement facility by peace officer, school resource officer or special campus security officer of investigations into misdemeanors, felonies and acts that, if committed by adult, would constitute misdemeanors or felonies.

• HB 3273 A directs each covered manufacturer of covered drugs that are sold within this state to develop and implement drug take-back program for purpose of collecting from individuals and nonbusiness entities covered drugs for disposal.

• HB 3415 B requires institutions of higher education to both adopt written policies and require certain individuals to participate in annual training on sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your State Senator.

Dear Friends and Neighbors in the 7th District:

As your Senator, during my first term in the Oregon State Senate, I worked with my Senate colleagues on criminal justice reform, funding for education at all levels, including career technical education programs, health care for all Oregonians, renters’ rights and protections, environmental justice, climate change, and new policies that will protect low wage workers. I was chief sponsor or co-sponsor of legislation that will protect and improve the lives of Oregonians. Closer to home, my actions and the support of my colleagues will bring millions of dollars to fund jobs in Lane County.

It was my privilege, as your Senator, to cast my vote for the largest transportation infrastructure package in the history of the State of Oregon. That package will bring Lane County and the cities of Eugene and Junction City an additional $102.5 million for roads improvement over the next seven years. That additional money will support improvements to Territorial Highway, bicycle infrastructure, safe school routes, and public transportation.

This year, the Oregon State Senate approved a robust package of capital construction and lottery backed bonds for significant projects in Lane County and across the state. Through this bonding, Elliott State Forest will remain in public hands and $100 million in bonding will satisfy the obligation to the Common School Fund. The Common School Fund distributes money to Oregon K-12 schools each year. Other projects which will improve life in Lane County include: $50 million to the University of Oregon for its new Knight Science Campus project; $8.3 million to Lane Transit District as part of the plan to seek federal funding for additional EmX lines; $8 million to Lane Community College for a new health care facility; $6 million to the Eugene Civic Alliance to move forward with KIDSPORTS to rebuild Civic Stadium; $5 million to Lane County to help purchase land for the new courthouse; and $750,000 to the Eugene Ballet Company to relocate to an improved facility.

These bond-funded capital construction projects will generate more than 1000 good-paying, local construction jobs.

While in Salem, I worked hard to keep the Junction City Hospital open and I am happy to report that the Junction City Hospital will not close. As your Senator, I remain committed to wise investments of public funds in mental health and substance abuse treatment programs for nonviolent offenders to reduce our prison population.

For further information about the 2017 Legislative Session, please visit my legislative page https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/manning.

Thank you for your attention and support and for the opportunity to serve you.

Sincerely,

James I. Manning Jr.