GO! Bulletin
Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS)
Budget Hearings
 
Last Thursday, April 1st, the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS) had a more in-depth presentation before the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Services, featuring invited testimony from director, Lilia Teninty. 
 
Director Teninty gave the committee background on the mission and vision of ODDS, the individuals it serves, as well as an overview of its programs and services. She also shared some of ODDS’s Service Equity Initiatives as well as some key accomplishments in the 2019-21 biennium. She also reviewed the Governor’s Recommended Budget for the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities program area within the Department of Human Services budget, and identified areas for additional investment, consistent with ODDS’s strategic plan for 2018-23. 
 
To learn more about ODDS, we highly recommend you watch the video from the hearing, which can be accessed here, and the presentation materials can be viewed and downloaded here. 
 
Next week, ODHS will wrap up its agency deeper dive presentations with the following:
  • Aging and People with Disabilities - April 6th
  • Vocational Rehabilitation / ODHS Closing - April 8th
 
The following week, on April 13th, individuals will have an opportunity to provide public testimony on the ODHS budget. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to advocate for the ODDS supports and services that make a difference in your life or the life of someone you know who experiences a developmental disability. In the next issue of the GO! Bulletin, we will give more guidance about how to give or submit testimony, so get your stories ready!!!

2021 Oregon Budget Virtual Hearings
 
The Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means [Senator Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose), Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D-Beaverton), and Representative Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis)], announced the dates for the 2021 Oregon Budget Virtual Hearings at the end of last week. 

In years past, these hearings used to be called the “budget road show” because the members of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means would travel around the state, holding budget hearings in key locations where they could get feedback on budget priorities from a wide range of Oregonians across the state. 

Because of the pandemic, these hearings will be held virtually this year, and legislators are hoping to receive public feedback on how the Legislature should balance the state budget and use federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.  The Co-Chairs are also interested in hearing how equity can be embedded across the board in both current and new investments.

The hearings will be organized by congressional district.*  Members of the public will be able to submit written testimony, as well as provide live testimony by phone or video during the hearings.  The five dates and times are listed below:
  • District 1 - Wednesday, April 14, 5:30-7:30 pm
  • District 2 - Saturday, April 17, 1:00-3:00 pm
  • District 3 - Wednesday, April 21, 5:30-7:30 pm
  • District 4 - Thursday, April 22, 5:30-7:30 pm
  • District 5 - Saturday, April 24, 1:00-3:00 pm

Keep an eye on future issues of the GO! Bulletin for more information about these virtual budget hearings. For more background, see the Co-Chairs’ recently released 2021-23 Budget Framework. The document serves as a starting point for the 2021-23 budget cycle.

*Oregonians can find their congressional district here.  

Busy Legislative Week Ahead

Below are some of the hearings and bills we’re tracking during the upcoming week. Please see our DD Coalition Priority Bills Report for more information.
 
MONDAY — April 5, 2021  
 
8:00 am / Remote C: House Committee on Behavioral Health will be holding the following hearings:
o  Public hearing and work session on HB 3069, a bill that requires Oregon Health Authority to study and make recommendations to interim committees of Legislative Assembly, no later than September 15, 2022, for legislative changes needed to increase access to behavioral health services for all Oregonians.
o  Work sessions on the following bills:
HB 2086: Appropriates moneys to Oregon Health Authority to undertake specified steps to address needs of individuals with behavioral health disorders for services, treatment and housing.
HB 2950: Requires Oregon Health Authority to study impacts of COVID-19 on demand for behavioral health services and make recommendations to interim committees of Legislative Assembly, no later than September 15, 2022, for legislative changes needed to increase access to behavioral health services for all Oregonians.
HB 2980: Provides funding to peer-run organizations in Portland metropolitan area, southern Oregon region and eastern and central Oregon region to operate peer respite centers to provide peer respite services to individuals with mental illness who experience acute distress, anxiety or emotional pain.
 
1:00 pm / Remote B: House Committee on Early Childhood will be holding a work session on HB 2503, a bill that expands eligibility for certain child care subsidy programs.
 
1:00 pm / Remote B: Senate Committee on Healthcare will be holding work sessions on the following bills:
o  SB 800: Requires Oregon Health Authority to study and make recommendations to interim committees of Legislative Assembly, no later than September 15, 2022, for legislative changes needed to increase access to health care for all Oregonians.
o  SB 748: Requires Public Employees' Benefit Board, Oregon Educators Benefit Board and private insurers to provide insurance coverage to adult disabled children and adult disabled siblings of insureds under certain circumstances.
 
1:00 pm / Remote E: Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Education will continue its public hearings on the Oregon Department of Education budget bills (SB 5513 and SB 5514) with invited testimony from the Oregon Department of Education.
 
3:15 pm / Remote F: House Committee on Human Services will be holding work sessions on the following bills:
o  HB 2964: Requires Department of Human Services to reimburse cost of care provided in residential training facilities and residential training homes in amounts sufficient to allow facilities and homes to pay direct support professional 150 percent of state minimum wage.
o  HB 2444: Extends sunset for tax credit for child with disability.
o  HB 3128: Requires long term care facilities and residential facilities to permit resident of facility to have support person to provide emotional and physical support and supplemental care.
o  HB 2442: Extends sunset for additional personal exemption credit for taxpayer with severe disability.
 
3:15 pm / Remote B: Senate Committee on Education will be holding work sessions on the following bills:
o  SB 747: Allows students, including students receiving special education, to take additional two years to complete high school.
o  SB 732: Requires school districts to establish educational equity advisory committee.
 
TUESDAY — April 6, 2021
 
8:00 am / Remote D: House Committee on Housing will be holding work sessions on the following bills:
o  HB 2842: Establishes Healthy Homes Program within the Oregon Health Authority to provide grants to entities to provide financial assistance to low income households and landlords.
o  HB 2163: Establishes long term rental assistance program in Housing and Community Services Department.
 
8:15 am / Remote A: Senate Committee on Judiciary and Ballot Measure 110 Implementation will be holding work sessions on the following bills:
o  SB 579: Relating to guardianship services for defendants who are unable to aid and assist. 
o  SB 780: Limits liability of health care providers, health maintenance organizations and hospitals for certain claims arising during COVID-19 emergency period.
o  SB 409: Expands applicability of certain laws requiring reporting and investigating of sexual conduct in schools to include sexual conduct by students.
 
1:00 pm / Remote 170: House Committee on Rules will be holding a work session on HB 2992, a bill that requires state boards or commissions to pay compensation and expenses to certain members with adjusted gross income below certain threshold.
 
1:00 pm / Remote F: House Committee on Judiciary will be holding a work session on HB 2502, a bill that adds five members to the Task Force on School Safety who represent historically disadvantaged groups.
 
1:00 pm / Remote E: House Committee on Education will be holding the following hearings:
o  Public hearing and possible work session on HB 3363, a bill that stablishes the Racial Equity and Justice Student Council.
o  Work Session on HB 2954, a bill that allows a public charter school to implement a weighted lottery that favors historically underserved students when number of applications for enrollment exceeds capacity of program, class, grade level or building.
 
1:00 pm / Remote 174: Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Services will continue its public hearings on the Oregon Department of Human Services budget bill (SB 5529), with invited testimony only from the Oregon Department of Human Services, Aging and People with Disabilities. 
 
3:15 pm / Remote B: Senate Committee on Human Services, Mental Health and Recovery will be holding work sessions on the following bills:
o  SB 710: Modifies allowed and prohibited uses of restraint of children in care by child-caring agencies, proctor foster homes and developmental disabilities residential facilities.
o  SB 556: Specifies that on-site inspections must be in person for child-caring agencies, proctor foster homes, private residential boarding schools, foster homes, youth offender foster homes, health care facilities, home health agencies, residential facilities, adult foster homes, developmental disability child foster homes, hospice programs and qualified residential treatment programs.
o  SB 707: Directs Department of Human Services to provide certain notices to children and wards whom department placed in out-of-state residential facilities between January 1, 2016, and June 30, 2020, and to provide representatives of children and wards with certain documentation and information.
o  SB 714: Establishes minimum staffing ratio for residential care facilities and facilities with memory care endorsements.
o  SB 265: Requires Department of Human Services to study and make recommendations to interim committees of Legislative Assembly, no later than September 15, 2022, for legislative changes needed to improve care of residents and training of staff in residential programs.
o  SB 267: Requires Department of Human Services to report to interim committees of Legislative Assembly related to human services any changes needed to statutes governing programs administered by department due to changes to budget.
 
3:15 pm / Remote F: House Committee on Health Care will be holding work sessions on the following bills:
o  HB 3159: Requires health care provider and health insurer to collect from patient, client or member data on race, ethnicity, preferred spoken and written languages, disability status, sexual orientation and gender identity.
o  HB 3352: Renames Health Care for All Oregon Children program as Health Care for All Oregon program and expands eligibility to adults who would qualify for Medicaid-funded state medical assistance program or for federal premium tax credits but for their immigration status.
 
5:15 pm / Remote F: House Committee on Judiciary will be holding work sessions on several police bills, including HB 3355, a bill that specifies identification required on uniforms of law enforcement officers working in crowd management.
            
WEDNESDAY — April 7, 2021
 
1:00 pm / Remote B: House Committee on Early Childhood will be holding a work session on HB 3334, a bill that Directs Early Learning Division to develop plan to coordinate provision of services to children who are in early childhood and to report on plan to appropriate interim committee of Legislative Assembly
 
1:00 pm / Remote B: Senate Committee on Healthcare will be holding work sessions on the following bills:
o  SB 674: Requires Oregon Health Authority to investigate best practices and latest technology and to establish hospital procedures to enable family members to visit hospitalized patients during pandemic.
o  SB 699: Prohibits grandfathered health plan from imposing preexisting condition exclusion.
 
1:00 pm / Remote E: Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Education will continue its public hearings on the Oregon Department of Education budget bills (SB 5513 and SB 5514) with invited testimony from the Oregon Department of Education.
 
3:15 pm / Remote F: House Committee on Human Services will be holding the following:
o  Public hearing and work session on HB 2105, a bill that prescribes standards for supported decision-making agreements.
o  Work sessions on:
HB 3039: Requires Oregon Health Authority, in coordination with Department of Human Services, to convene one or more groups of stakeholders and experts to study and make recommendations regarding electronic referral system for social services and statewide health information exchange.
 HB 2394: Requires long term care facilities, residential facilities, adult foster homes and facilities with memory care endorsements to have isolation prevention plans to enable residents to communicate with other residents, family members, friends or other external support systems during public emergency.
HB 2595: Requires Department of Human Services to conduct staffing and workload analysis and update it before developing biennial budgets and whenever department implements policies or procedures affecting workloads of local office staff.
 
3:15 pm / Remote B: Senate Committee on Education will be holding a public hearing on SB 356, a bill that creates the position of School Nurse Specialist in Department of Education.
 
THURSDAY — April 8, 2021
 
8:00 am / Remote D: House Committee on Housing will be holding a work session on HB 2336, a bill that directs the Department of Consumer and Business Services to establish by rule appendix in Oregon residential specialty code based upon visitability standards for Type C Units provided by American National Standards Institute.
 
8:00 am / Remote A: Senate Committee on Judiciary and Ballot Measure 110 Implementation will be holding work sessions on the following bills:
o  SB 199: Modifies laws relating to form of advance directive.
o  SB 418: Prohibits peace officer from using deceit, trickery or artifice during interview of youth concerning act that, if committed by adult, would constitute crime.
 
1:00 pm / Remote E: House Committee on Education will be holding the following hearings:
o  Public hearing and possible work session on HB 3350, a bill that prescribes requirements for providing education to student with disability during COVID-19 emergency.
o  Work sessions on HB 2408, a bill that directs the Department of Education to conduct a study on meeting students' behavioral health needs and to report results of study to interim committee of Legislative Assembly related to education by September 1, 2021.
 
1:00 pm / Remote 174: Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Services will continue its public hearings on the Oregon Department of Human Services budget bill (SB 5529) with invited testimony only from the Oregon Department of Human Services, focusing on Vocational Rehabilitation and then an Agency Summary.
 
1:00 pm / Remote 170: House Committee on Rules will be holding the following hearings:
o  Public hearings on two bills relating to providing language services for the Legislative Assembly free of charge in order to facilitate witness participation in hearings or informal meetings with legislators (HB 2944 and HB 3264).
o  Work session on HB 2991, a bill that requires the Legislative Policy and Research Director or chief sponsor of bill or proposed constitutional amendment to prepare racial and ethnic impact statement.
 
3:15 pm / Remote F: House Committee on Health Care will be holding the following hearings:
o  Public hearing and possible work session on HB 3062, a bill that requires the Oregon Health Authority to study and make recommendations to interim committees of Legislative Assembly, no later than September 15, 2022, for legislative changes needed to increase access to health care for all Oregonians.
o  Work sessions on:
HB 3159: Requires health care provider and health insurer to collect from patient, client or member data on race, ethnicity, preferred spoken and written languages, disability status, sexual orientation and gender identity.
HB 2010: Creates a public option to allow consumers to enroll in state-designed health plans through health insurance exchange.
 
3:15 pm / Remote B: Senate Committee on Human Services, Mental Health and Recovery will be holding work sessions on the following bills:
o  SB 686: Establishes right to receive inpatient psychiatric care in person and on-site.
o  SB 680: Provides funding to peer-run organizations in Portland metropolitan area, southern Oregon region and eastern and central Oregon region to operate peer respite centers to provide peer respite services to individuals with mental illness who experience acute distress, anxiety or emotional pain.
o  SB 84: Directs Department of Human Services to prepare report regarding Strengthening, Preserving and Reunifying Families programs and make recommendations for legislation.

INTERESTED IN GIVING TESTIMONY AT A COMMITTEE HEARING? 

In order to prevent COVID-19 from spreading, entry to the Oregon State Capitol is for authorized personnel only until further notice. The Oregon Legislative Assembly has established a process to accept remote verbal public testimony on bills by video or phone during this time, in addition to written public testimony.  For more information, see the helpful information posted online. 
INTERESTED IN TRACKING BILLS OR HEARINGS?

  • Use the Oregon Legislature's Capitol e-Subscribe service to receive bill alerts for individual bills as they move through the legislative process, receive committee agendas, news from members of the legislative body and more.
  • You can also watch or listen to live or archived video and audio of Senate and House chamber sessions and Committee hearings. 
2021 Legislative Session Budget Priorities

  • Reinstate Regional Family to Family Networks ($1.3 million GF)
  • Set DSP Wage at 150% of minimum wage (HB 2964)
  • Fully Fund Case Management Entities
  • Develop Statewide Data System
GO! ONLINE: 2021 DD Advocacy Days
2nd Wednesday of each month from 10AM - Noon

Join the Oregon DD Coalition’s GO! Project Advocacy Team online to learn about:
  • Legislative Budget Priorities
  • Sharing Your Story & Effective Messaging
GO! ONLINE: DD Advocacy Videos
We created a series of training videos to support your preparation for remote legislative advocacy. Visit our You Tube Channel or Facebook Page to view them.

  • Introduction to the GO! Project
  • 2021 Legislative Advocacy
  • Why Is Advocacy Important?
  • How To Develop Your Message
  • Making a Legislative Appointment
  • Preparing For a Virtual Visit
  • Expecting the Unexpected
  • What to Do After a Legislative Visit
  • Advocacy Via Email
It’s quick and easy to find out who your State Senator and State Representative are at www.oregonlegislature.gov
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.

Interested in signing up for the GO! Bulletin or
becoming a member of the Oregon DD Coalition?
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