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Legislative Update
March 20, 2017

 

Dear Constituents and Friends,

As the April 7th deadline by which all bills must be scheduled for a work session approaches, we are hopeful that many of ours will be voted out of committee and sent to the floor for passage soon.

One of these bills, HB 2729, relates to Open Educational Resources (OERs), which include free, online college textbooks. Last session, the House Higher Education Committee, of which I served as Vice Chair, created a task force to develop and implement at least 15 OER textbooks over the current biennium. It is estimated that this program will save college students over $2 million each year. The 2015 bill, however, did not allocate funds to continue the effort into the next biennium. HB 2729 would provide the structure needed to continue developing more OER textbooks into the future, reducing the cost of higher education and increasing student access.

Another bill, HB 2763, which we started working on last year with Oregon's 2016 Teacher of the Year, Heather Anderson, as well as Amy Sabbadini and other local Bend teachers, would encourage more teachers to obtain their National Board Certification. Currently, only one percent of Oregon's teachers are National Board Certified. By contrast, fifteen percent of Washington State's teachers are National Board Certified, and 21 percent North Carolina's teachers are National Board Certified. In Salem, my office has organized several productive meetings with the Executive Director of Oregon's Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, a representative from the Governor's Chief Education Office, Oregon Department of Education staff, and lobbyists from the Oregon School Boards Association and other education-related organizations. These meetings have helped us to thoughtfully draft and amend the bill, and I am hopeful that it will be signed into law.

Other bills that we hope will pass include HB 2618, relating to sex trafficking; HB 2222, relating to regional land use; HB 2225, relating to vacant FTEs; and HB 2956, relating to Oregon's Transparency Website.

Interestingly, Oregon's Legislative Counsel recently responded to a press inquiry regarding the average number of bills that is introduced in a given session. As it turns out, that number is 2,850, including almost 1119 from the Senate and about 1720 from the House. Of those 2,850 bills, an average of 897 actually pass, including almost 339 from the Senate and 513 from the House.

Finally, we hosted a group of cadets last week from the Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program, whose facilities are located just outside of Bend. My office tries to do this once every year. These cadets posted the colors and served as honorary pages in both chambers of the legislature as part of their citizenship curriculum. This program, which has received national recognition, is designed to benefit high school dropouts and academically at-risk youth, and about 130 of its 150 participants typically graduate from the 22-week course.

Respectfully submitted,
Gene Whisnant  

 
The Salem Professional Firefighters Pipe and Drum Corps perform during the opening ceremony of last Thursday's floor session


Northwest Youth Corps

Northwest Youth Corps is a non-profit organization established in 1984 which offers a challenging, adventure-based education and job-training experience that empowers youth and young adults from diverse backgrounds to develop the skills they need to lead full and productive lives.  Northwest Youth Corps is currently accepting applications for a number of paid positions including youth and young adult Corpsmembers, ages 15-26 years old, as well as Field Staff and Team Leaders.  In addition to paid job training programs, Northwest Youth corps is offering an overnight, week-long summer camping journey called Northwest Adventures for those who are 12-15 years old.  For more information, please visit Northwest Youth Corps' website or call (541) 349-5055.  To submit applications online, please click here.


Honorary Page Program

Interested in learning more about the lawmaking process and experiencing government firsthand? Are you between the ages of 12 and 18? Apply here to become an Honorary Page for a day!   View more information and details on the Program here. 


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Rep. Whisnant meets with the Superintendent of the Redmond School District, Mike McIntosh, and the Executive Director of the Redmond Proficiency Academy, Jon Bullock

Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program Cadets prepare to post the colors in the House chamber

Rep. Whisnant addresses the Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program Cadets at the State Capitol

Rep. Whisnant meets with Mid Oregon Credit Union staff on "Credit Union Day"

Rep. Whisnant meets OHSU dental students and Bend dentists

Rep. Whisnant meets with the owner of Aspen Lakes Golf Course, Matt Cyrus


Caleb Huegel, Josie Whisnant, and
Rep. Whisnant


Contacting our Salem office

Capitol Phone:
(503) 986-1453

Capitol Address:
900 Court St. NE, H-383
Salem, Oregon 97031

Email:

Website:


Michael C. Jensen  Photography
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