GO! Bulletin
Last Full Week of Session

We are entering the last full week of legislative session. Last week bills saw an important deadline. If they did not hold a work session in the second chamber by last Friday, February 24th the bill died. This last week of session we will hear final readings on the House and Senate Floors and final votes for bills to pass before they move to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.

Notice from the Speaker of the House was sent out last week announcing that Sine Die is imminent. What does that mean? It means that we are nearing the end of legislative session and that they are suspending the rules that 48-hour notice is needed for public hearings and that 24-hour notice is needed for other meetings.
Message from Senator Gelser Blouin
 
I am humbled, inspired and grateful for the advocacy of the GO Network. In less than a week, you generated dozens upon dozens of personal letters to legislators about the importance of passing SB 1578A to get Oregon kids with disabilities back in school full time this school year. You shared your stories and the specific details of Oregon students currently being denied their right to a full-time public education. Your stories grabbed the attention of legislators on both sides of the aisle and in both the House and the Senate.
 
With no known opposition to the bill and formal support from the Oregon Department of Education, OSBA, COSA as well as the Governor, it is unclear why SB 1578A did not move forward this session. While I am disappointed that we will not see this expedited path to enforcement this school year, I have received commitments that this proposal will move forward and be fully funded in the 2023 session. We also had friends working hard to help us with this measure. 

Special thanks go to the following legislators who went above and beyond in their effort to help us:
  • Governor Kate Brown
  • Deputy State Superintendent Colt Gill
  • Senator Rob Wagner
  • Senator Lew Frederick
  • Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward
  • Senator Michael Dembrow
  • Senator Deb Patterson
  • Senator Tim Knopp
  • Senator Chuck Thomsen
  • Representative Ron Noble
 
In the meantime, our work is not over. With the help of the information shared from the All Means All initiative and the letters sent last week, we are now beginning the arduous process of crafting complaints at the district level and TSPC for all who are willing to move forward in that way. Keep watching for more details, and if you want to be kept abreast of developments shoot me an email at sen.saragelser@oregonlegislature.gov. I will add you to an e-newsletter that will be used specifically for updates about this topic.
 
To each of you that wrote a letter, please know that you made a difference. You elevated this issue to a place of urgency moving into the next session and you helped create public attention to this problem. We will get this done because of your work and efforts! Thank you again!
 
Senator Sara Gelser Blouin
Bills & Hearings

Below are priority bills that are on the legislative schedule this coming week. See our DD Coalition Bill Tracking Report for details.

02/28/2022 8:30AM Senate Floor
  • Education HB 4031 Establishes state goal that percentage of diverse employees employed by Department of Education reflects percentage of diverse students in public schools.

02/28/2022 9:00AM House Floor
  • Early Learning HB 4005 Extends date for transition of Early Learning Division to Department of Early Learning and Care.
  • Education HB 4124 Requires Department of Education to conduct survey related to academic assessments administered to students by school districts and to develop recommendations and best practices related to assessments.
  • Education SB 1583 Directs Department of Education to ensure that standardized summative assessments are administered to minimum extent practicable.
  • Education HB 4013 Modifies eligibility requirements for organizations that may receive grants from unaccompanied homeless youth grant program.
 
03/01/2022 9:00AM House Floor
  • Behavioral/Mental Health HB 4004 Requires Oregon Health Authority to distribute grants to behavioral health care providers for staff compensation and workforce retention and recruitment.
  • Behavioral/Mental Health HB 4142 Expands crime of assault in the third degree to include causing physical injury to person working in hospital while worker is performing official duties.
 
03/01/2022 9:00AM Senate Floor
  • DD Services SB 1548 Requires Department of Human Services to allow specified individuals receiving in-home services and supports to receive agency with choice services to perform employment-related functions with respect to direct support professionals employed by individuals to provide in-home services and supports.
  • Early Learning SB 1547 Requires operators, employees and certain volunteers of preschool recorded programs and school-age recorded programs to be enrolled in Central Background Registry.
It’s quick and easy to find out who your State Senator and State Representative are at www.oregonlegislature.gov

Visit the GO Project's You Tube Channel legislative advocacy videos created by our GO! Advocacy Team.
About the Oregon DD Coalition
The Oregon DD Coalition advocates for DD services on behalf of and with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and support organizations in Oregon.

We influence DD service and community support systems and legislation by communicating with a common, consistent voice – creating better opportunities for Oregonians with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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