GO! Bulletin
DD BUDGET PRIORITY: DSP WAGES

We all need support throughout our lives, and we all rely upon the people and services in our communities to help us. People with developmental disabilities who need support from Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) at home, at work and in our communities deserve a stable and reliable workforce. HB 2964 recognizes that DSP work is complex, skilled work that should be compensated above minimum wage, with the starting wage set at 150% of minimum wage.
 
Every part of the DD service system relies on access to a stable and skilled workforce of Direct Support Professionals to help ensure the health and safety people with IDD. Without a stable, skilled workforce of DSPs:
  • Case managers spend countless hours attempting to find professionals who are available to provide supports that help people with IDD to live their lives to the fullest.
  • People with IDD lose their jobs and housing due to inconsistent support.
  • People with IDD who use these services to meet complex medical or personal care needs are stuck in a cycle of turn-over, explaining the personal details of their support needs and preferences over and over again to a revolving door of strangers.
  • People with IDD are unable to use the services they so desperately need and are entitled to without a skilled provider.
 
Paying a fair wage to Direct Support Professionals will provide stability in the lives of people with IDD and our communities. However, when compensation is not a living wage, even people who are dedicated to the work cannot afford to stay in these jobs.
 
Please support HB 2964 to ensure that people with IDD can have the stable, skilled workforce they deserve to live and work in Oregon’s communities. 

How You Can Help:
Ask your State Representative and Senator to support House Bill 2964!
DEADLINES, BILLS AND HEARINGS

The first big legislative deadline is only two weeks away! Committee must schedule work sessions for measures in the chamber of origin no later than March 19, 2021. Note that this does not apply to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, other joint committees, the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue, the House Committee on Revenue, the Senate Committee on Rules, the House Committee on Rules, the Senate Committee on Redistricting and the House Committee on Redistricting. 
 
This means that we will continue to see a large amount of bills scheduled for hearings in the next two weeks as committees rush to consider all the bills they want to move forward. The DD Coalition is keeping an eye on many bills that could have an impact or be of interest to individuals with developmental disabilities. Please see our DD Coalition Priority Bills Report for more details. Below are some of the hearings and bills we’re tracking during the upcoming week:
MONDAY — March 8, 2021
 
8:00 am / Remote B: House Subcommittee on Equitable Policing will hold a public hearing on HB 2162, a bill that directs the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training to study changes to police officer training. 
 
8:00 am / Remote C: House Committee on Behavioral Health will be holding a public hearing on HB 3045, a bill that extends the sunset on the requirement that Oregon Health Authority reimburse cost of mental health drugs in medical assistance program.
 
1:00 pm / Remote B: Senate Committee on Health Care will hold a public hearing on SB 567, a bill that includes as unlawful practice a medical provider's denial of treatment that is likely to benefit a patient based on the patient's race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability. This is a high priority bill for the DD Community! 
 
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. 
 
1:00 pm / Remote C: House Committee on Early Childhood will be holding a public hearing on HB 3215, which establishes an ombudsman for early childhood care and education providers.
 
3:15 pm / Remote F: House Committee on Human Services will be holding public hearings on the following bills:
o  HB 2444: Extends sunset for tax credit for child with disability.
o  HB 2442: Extends sunset for additional personal exemption credit for taxpayer with severe disability
 
TUESDAY — March 9, 2021
 
8:00 am / Remote D: House Committee on Housing will be holding a public hearing on HB 2100, a bill that directs the Housing and Community Services Department to study laws related to housing and to report findings to interim committee of Legislative Assembly no later than September 15, 2022.
 
1:00 pm / Remote E: House Committee on Education will be holding the following hearings:
o  Public hearings on:
HB 2368: Establishes pilot program to improve educational outcomes by using trauma-informed approaches to education, health services and intervention strategies.
HB 2408: Directs Department of Education to conduct 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.
HB 3236: Establishes Task Force on Education Pathways.
o  Work sessions on:
HB 2051: Broadens eligibility of youths who may participate in statewide youth reengagement system.
HB 2060: Identifies economically disadvantaged students based on State Board of Education rule for purposes of Student Investment Account distributions.
 
1:00 pm / Remote C: Senate Committee on Housing and Development will be holding a public hearing on SB 282, a bill that directs the Housing and Community Services Department to study issues related to rental housing and report to appropriate committee or interim committee of Legislative Assembly on or before September 15, 2022.
 
3:15 pm / Remote B: Senate Committee on Human Services, Mental Health and Recovery will be holding public hearings on the following bills:
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 749:  Requires residential care referral agent to be registered with Department of Human Services.
 
WEDNESDAY — March 10, 2021
 
1:00 pm / Remote B: Senate Committee on Health Care will hold a public hearing on SB 699, a bill that prohibits grandfathered health plan from imposing a preexisting condition exclusion. It will also be holding work sessions on SB 584 (Requires Oregon Health Authority to provide medical assistance to employed individuals with disabilities without regard to individuals' income or resources) and 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 public hearings on the following bills:
o  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.
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. This is a high priority bill for the DD Community! 
 
3:15 pm / Remote B: Senate Committee on Education will be holding public hearings on the following bills:
o  SB 513: Requires student to demonstrate proficiency in civics in order to receive high school diploma.
o  SB 683: Requires school districts to provide instruction on racist history of this country and state.
o  SB 732: Requires school districts to establish educational equity advisory committee.
 
THURSDAY — March 11, 2021
 
8:00 am / Remote A: Senate Committee on Judiciary and Ballot Measure 110 Implementation will be holding public hearings on the following bills:
o  SB 409: Expands applicability of certain laws requiring reporting and investigating of sexual conduct in schools to include sexual conduct by students.
o  SB 566: Removes term "mentally defective" from statutes defining sexual offenses.
It will also be holding a work session on SB 418, a bill that prohibits a 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 D: Senate Committee on Rules will be holding a public hearing on SJR 25, a bill that proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution lowering the voting age from 18 years old to 16 years old.
 
3:15 pm / Remote B: Senate Committee on Human Services, Mental Health and Recovery will be holding a public hearing on SB 710, a bill that Modifies allowed and prohibited uses of restraint of children in care by child-caring agencies, proctor foster homes and developmental disabilities residential facilities.

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 US THIS WEEK on MARCH 10th our DD Advocacy Day!

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 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
  • 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?
 1775 32nd Place, Suite F, Salem OR 97301