“This historic session is noteworthy for the abundance of significant legislation that addresses the real concerns of Oregonians,” said Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland). “We made major breakthroughs in education and health care reform, passed sweeping improvements to the state’s economic development strategy, and avoided devastating cuts by balancing the budget to protect critical services.”

Senate Democrats released a 2012 “Check List” this morning, illustrating their agenda at the beginning of session and the bills passed that demonstrate their success. In particular, Rosenbaum pointed to the Senate Democrats’ major priority of helping Oregonians who are struggling to keep their homes.

“The Legislature’s agreement to help struggling homeowners is a major victory for Senate Democrats and all Oregonians,” said Rosenbaum. “The foreclosure prevention bill we passed will require banks to sit down with homeowners to see if there’s a way for families to keep their homes and will end the process of simultaneous negotiation and foreclosure, known as ‘dual track.’ If not for Senate Bill 1552, homeowners would continue to be at the mercy of big banks, many of whom are not acting in good faith with homeowners who have lost jobs, become ill, or are otherwise unable to keep up on payments through no fault of their own.”

The customary “end-of-session binder” created by the Senate Majority Office at the completion of each session can be found at this link or this address:
http://www.leg.state.or.us/senatedemocrats/docs/2012binder.pdf

“During this short session, Democrats came to Salem focused on prioritizing critical state services, protecting the most vulnerable, and standing up for middle class families and small businesses. We were successful on all fronts.

“Our budget rebalance approved this evening reflects our commitment to protect schools from further reductions and to cut waste to make sure the state lives within its means. This budget takes care of our most vulnerable, makes strategic investments in our safety net and economic development programs, keeps prisons open, and leaves money in reserves to cover potential shortfalls in the future.

“Senate Democrats stood up for middle class families this session by passing meaningful foreclosure reform. Even in the waning hours of session, we did not lose sight of the importance of helping struggling homeowners by requiring banks to sit down and talk to borrowers about a path to avoid mutually detrimental loss. This is a major step toward fairness for homeowners who deserve to be treated with respect and who deserve good-faith mediation with banks.

“For Oregon’s small businesses, we approved several bills to help them access capital to grow and expand. The most significant, the Oregon Investment Act, will substantially improve the state’s economic development strategy, streamlining and prioritizing how we use our economic development resources to better serve our homegrown business community.

“This short session has included a remarkable number of landmark legislative victories, including major breakthroughs in education and health care reform. On top of these policy priorities are several common sense legislative victories, including laws to increase transparency in government contracts to make sure taxpayers are getting the greatest value out of every dollar. We also made history, passing the Fair Employment Opportunity Act and making Oregon the second state in the nation to ban employment ads that discriminate against unemployed applicants.

“This session was historic. Our first annual session was not short on important work or legislative accomplishments. We did what we set out to do: fight for the middle class, champion the needs of our small businesses, and prioritize critical services in rebalancing the state budget.”

SALEM – Senate Co-Chair of Ways and Means Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin) released the following statement this evening following the passage of SB 5701 and SB 1579, two major budget bills of the 2012 short session:

“Just two years ago when voters were asked to approve annual sessions for the Legislature, one of the most significant justifications was to allow the full Legislature, representative of all of Oregon, to make budget adjustments in these modern times. This short February session, the first such annual session, served as an excellent example of this reasoning put to work. With a decline of over $300 million since the close of the 2011 Session, lawmakers needed this opportunity to make necessary adjustments to protect essential services. The series of bills passed this evening rebalances our 2011-2013 biennium budget in a thoughtful and prudent way and with the up or down vote of all members of this Legislature.”

“The Co-Chair’s rebalance agreement takes into account the greatest needs of Oregonians and our responsibility to keep our fiscal house in order. Most significantly, we protected the State School Fund, preventing our already tapped schools from further cuts. We prioritized our seniors and most vulnerable by protecting programs like Oregon Project Independence. Struggling families will not see their safety net disappear with the restorations made to Employment Related Day Care and Temporary Aid for Needy Families. We did all of this without closing a prison or releasing any inmates.”

“Looking ahead, we know in these uncertain times that we must keep a vigilant eye on our budget. While I am hopeful for growth in our economy, the economic volatility we’ve seen in the last several biennia is almost unmatched. This is why we have left sizable reserves for potential downfalls in the future. We must continue to manage through the aftermath of the Great Recession with an eye on protecting critical services for middle class families and our most vulnerable. Our current budget rebalance puts us in a good position to do so.”

SALEM – The Oregon Senate took action today on two major policy initiatives of the 2012 Session. House Bill 4165 implements the Early Learning Council, which will help coordinate resources and programs that serve Oregon’s youngest learners, ages 0-6. House Bill 4164 approves the business plan of the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange, an important step toward increasing access to quality, affordable health insurance for small businesses and individuals.

“Both the Early Learning Council and the Health Insurance Exchange are two landmark accomplishments of the 2012 short session,” said Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland). “The Early Learning Council will help ensure that kids are ready to learn when they start school while making sure resources to serve them are coordinated and delivered efficiently. Implementation of the Health Insurance Exchange is a major step for Oregon as we continue to serve as a national model for health care reform that will provide better care at more affordable cost for Oregon small businesses and individuals. Both bills have the enthusiastic support of advocates, stakeholders, and the business community because they will help us reach the goals of better health for Oregonians and better prepared students.”

HB 4165 will eliminate the State Commission on Children and Families and replace it with the more focused Early Learning Council (ELC). The ELC will reorganize policies, administration, and planning for the various commissions and agencies governing early childhood programs, placing them under a central council. This council will work to improve accountability and coordination to guarantee our children enter school ready to read and learn.

“As a lifetime educator and advocate for our kids, I know these are meaningful reforms that will help the state deliver better results for students,” said Senator Rod Monroe (D-Portland), co-chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education. “Investments made in our youngest learners have many benefits down the line for our students’ graduation rates, our crime rate, and our ability to educate the workforce of the future.”

The other major initiative approved today takes the next step in implementing Oregon’s Health Insurance Exchange, as required by the federal Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act of 2010. HB 4165 will help improve access to and bring down costs of health coverage by providing a central marketplace where individuals and small businesses can shop for health insurance plans. Oregonians will be able to easily compare plans, find out if they are eligible for tax credits and other financial assistance, and enroll in coverage through the Exchange website.

“The Exchange will empower Oregonians by giving them the information they need to make health insurance choices that meet their needs and values,” said Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham), chair of the Senate Health Care, Human Services, and Rural Health Policy Committee. “By building our own exchange, Oregon can ensure that this tool meets the state’s unique needs and insurance market.”

Both bills are major policy priorities for Governor John Kitzhaber. They now go to his desk for approval.

SALEM – Major legislation to improve the effectiveness of the state’s economic development strategy was approved in the Senate this morning. The Oregon Investment Act, HB 4040, now heads to the Governor for his signature.

“There are substantial economic resources available in the state of Oregon, but they are currently fragmented across different agencies,” said Senator Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin), chief sponsor of the bill in the Senate. “Reforming the way that these resources are managed will improve the way Oregon handles economic development, helping Oregon businesses prosper and create jobs.”

Currently, Oregon’s economic development resources are spread throughout multiple agencies and lack a coordinated strategic framework to prioritize investments where they are most needed. HB 4040 sets such a framework, outlining a streamlined, coordinated approach to the state’s economic development strategy.

“The Oregon Investment Act is a comprehensive strategy to support Oregon business and create quality jobs for Oregonians,” said Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland). “House Bill 4040 adjusts our economic development approach to allow us to increase capital for Oregon businesses, create more jobs, and foster greater public-private partnerships.”

Specifically, HB 4040 addresses coordination, flexibility, and leverage in Oregon’s economic development strategy. Under HB 4040:
• Economic development resources will be coordinated under an Oregon Growth Board, which will establish a unified strategic framework for all economic development resources. Businesses looking to grow jobs in Oregon will be able to find a full menu of assistance options in one place.

• The Oregon Growth Board will have broad authority over the Oregon Growth Fund, and be able to re-allocate resources where they will be most efficiently put to use. In this way, Oregon’s job-creation tools will be more nimble and more responsive to changing economic opportunities while still accountable to statutory goals and benchmarks.
• The Oregon Investment Act leverages in-state investments with out-of-state dollars and makes it incumbent for every portfolio to seek out private sector leverage – so that the State is not a lone investor and so that our resources and efforts are multiplied.

According to a recent study about access to capital in Oregon, the state’s businesses face multiple gaps in their ability to access the financial resources they need to grow and expand. While there are a number of providers of early stage venture capital in Oregon, emerging and growing businesses face significant challenges in accessing seed capital and growth capital. Over the last decade, Oregon companies have received $2.1 billion in private capital investment, but investment in Oregon has lagged Washington State on a per capita basis – particularly in the earliest seed capital investment stages.

SALEM – The Oregon Senate backed a bill this morning that will make major changes to Oregon law with respect to elder abuse, creating critical new protections for Oregon’s most vulnerable seniors. House Bill 4084 integrates several recommendations from a work group on elder abuse created in 2011 including increasing the statute of limitation for crimes against the elderly, modifying records disclosure laws to make sure law enforcement can investigate allegations of abuse, and creating a council to review reporting of abuse to determine root causes of abuse and how abuse can be prevented.

“In a time when criminals are creating new opportunities to prey on vulnerable victims, this legislation will arm law enforcement, financial institutions, medical providers, and the agencies charged with protecting Oregon’s elderly with the tools to prevent abuse,” said Senator Floyd Prozanski (D-Eugene), a member of the task force that developed HB 4084.

According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, state and local offices investigate more than 11,000 complaints of elder abuse or neglect each year. Oregon’s Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities Abuse Prevention Act defines an elderly person as any person 65 years of age or older. Abuse is defined as physical injury not caused by accident, neglect leading to harm, abandonment, willful infliction of physical pain or injury, unwanted sexual contact or the inability to consent to sexual contact, or financial exploitation.

“Our seniors deserve to be treated with dignity and we have an obligation to look out for those who are least able to care for themselves,” said Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D-NW Portland/Washington Co.), a practicing physician. “Many vulnerable seniors depend on assistance from others to take care of their basic needs. While the vast majority of these caretakers do admirable and compassionate work, there must be a system of accountability for those bad actors that take advantage of the most vulnerable.”

HB 4084 was crafted by a diverse work group comprised of legislators, law enforcement, financial institutions, care providers, and state government.

“House Bill 4084 will allow law enforcement to quickly react to allegations of elder abuse, specifically financial exploitation. This legislation will protect lives and livelihoods, and will hold those accountable who choose to victimize our seniors,” said Forest Grove Police Detective Matt Smith, who participated in the work group.

Additional work group members included a district attorney, the AARP, the Oregon Health Care Association, and the Oregon Bankers Association.

“HB 4084 provides important tools for investigators and prosecutors to better protect our most vulnerable citizens. And it addresses the need for greater training and awareness of the signs of abuse and exploitation by those who might report such crimes before irreparable harm occurs,” said Jerry Cohen, Executive Director of AARP Oregon.

HB 4084 also establishes the Resident Safety Review Council, which will be charged with reviewing abuse records in long term care facilities to consider whether the incident is an intentional act of abuse or an adverse event. The Council will report back to the 2013 Legislative Assembly.

The bill now goes to the Governor for his signature.

SALEM – Legislation that will empower schools districts to teach high school students about teen dating violence was approved in the Senate this morning. House Bill 4077 outlines a number of requirements for schools to develop programs and training to help students, teachers, and faculty better identify teen dating violence and understand how to prevent such violence.

“Domestic violence is a leading cause of death for women in Oregon,” said Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham), who carried HB 4077 on the floor and is the chief sponsor of the bill in the Senate. “This is a preventive measure that helps our sons and daughters identify and stop abusive tendencies before they become habits and lifestyles.”

Under HB 4077, schools will be asked to develop and incorporate age-appropriate curriculum educating students about teen dating violence and make available resources about the warning signs of unhealthy relationships. Schools will be required to include a policy against teen dating violence in their anti-bullying policies and a staff member will be designated as the responsible party for addressing reports of teen dating violence incidents. The Oregon Department of Human Services and the Department of Justice will be permitted to use resources from their existing domestic violence programs to fund educational and outreach efforts to support victims and prevent future incidences of teen dating violence.

“Teens who are victims of physical dating violence are more likely to do poorly in school, or to skip school entirely because they feel unsafe. Perpetrators who are identified while still in their teens are much more likely to change than those who are identified as adults,” said Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland). “We have an obligation to create environments that support the health and well-being of Oregon’s young people.”

HB 4077 was introduced in the House by Representatives by Jules Bailey (D-Portland) and Matt Wand (R-Troutdale). The bill now goes to the Governor for his approval.

SALEM – A bill that will increase access to capital for Oregon businesses earned unanimous support in the Oregon Senate this morning. House Bill 4150, introduced by Democrats in the House of Representatives, opens up eligibility for more businesses to tap the state’s Credit Enhancement Fund, a loan insurance program that helps Oregon companies grow and create jobs.

“With the state’s economy in recovery, many small businesses across Oregon are poised to grow, but have difficulty accessing loans,” said Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham), who carried the bill on the floor. “HB 4150 will allow the Credit Enhancement Fund to partner with banks and guarantee loans for non-traded sector businesses located throughout the state. This is a great proposal to help small businesses thrive in this recovering economy.”

Currently the Credit Enhancement Fund is used to help traded sector businesses access capital. With the economy improving, many small businesses across Oregon are poised to grow, but have difficulty accessing loans. HB 4150 temporarily extends the fund to non-traded sector businesses, partnering with financial institutions to help businesses access working capital.

“Standing up for small businesses is the best way to improve our economy and get Oregonians back to work,” said Senator Mark Hass (D-Beaverton), chief sponsor of the bill. “This bill will help Oregon businesses access the resources they need to grow and expand.”

The Credit Enhancement Fund, which was created in 1993 and is administered by the Oregon Business Development Department, is a loan insurance program available to lenders to assist businesses in obtaining access to capital. The Fund guarantees loans made by lenders providing working capital or fixed-asset loans to businesses and is available for traded sector manufacturing, production, processing and distribution companies.

The bill now goes to the Governor for his approval.

SALEM – The Oregon Senate approved legislation this morning that will help protect children from abuse by expanding the list of people who are required to report child abuse, commonly known as “mandatory reporters.” House Bill 4016 will help protect children attending extracurricular activities hosted at universities and colleges, sports organizations, and other youth-based organizations.

“Kids today have busy lives, with sports, summer camp, and many other activities outside of school,” said Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D-NW Portland/Washington Co.), who carried the bill on the floor. “While in a perfect world, every adult would recognize his or her responsibility to report abuse when they see it, by expanding the list of mandatory reporters, we are closer to the goal of protecting all kids under all circumstances.”

House Bill 4016 adds to the mandatory reporting law in Oregon:
• Employees of higher education institutions, community colleges, public or private universities, and OHSU.
• Employees of public or private organizations providing child-related services or activities to youth, excluding nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is to provide confidential services to victims of domestic or sexual violence.
• A paid coach or trainer of an amateur, semiprofessional, or professional athlete if the athlete is a child.
The bill also requires that a school board’s policy on abuse reporting specify an alternate person to receive abuse reports if the existing designee is the abuser.

“In 2010, nearly 75 percent of child abuse and neglect reports in Oregon were made by those required to report by law,” said Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham). “It is clear that mandatory reporting is an important tool to keeping our kids safe. This bill will help all adults recognize their responsibility to protect our kids.”

Oregon law requires public or private officials to make a report to the Department of Human Services or law enforcement if they have reasonable cause to suspect abuse or neglect of a child. Mandatory reporters include medical professionals, school employees, many state employees who work with children, emergency services, legislators, clergy, and many others who have frequent contact with children.

HB 4016 now goes to the Governor for his signature.

SALEM – Lawmakers approved legislation this morning providing some vulnerable seniors and disabled homeowners more time to remain on the Senior and Disabled Property Tax Deferral program. In order to protect the solvency of the program, changes were made in 2011 that reduced the number of qualified participants by half, but left many disqualified homeowners with sudden tax bills that they were unprepared to pay. HB 4039 will give many of those homeowners two more years on the program while still maintaining the changes necessary for the long term survival of the property tax deferral program.

“These changes will help many of the seniors who are at risk of losing their homes,” said Senator Ginny Burdick (D-Portland), Chair of the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee. “What is most important today is that with the changes from 2011, and those approved today, we can keep this program running for some of our most vulnerable Oregonians.”

The Senior and Disabled Property Tax Deferral Program allows seniors and disabled individuals who have qualifying incomes and meet other criteria to borrow from the state to pay county property taxes. The program is repaid when the homes are sold. Given the housing crisis of recent years, and increased demand, the program was on the verge of insolvency until the 2011 Legislature made significant changes to protect the core of the program. While the changes maintained program solvency, those changes also created an unexpected hardship for some vulnerable homeowners. HB 4039 addresses some of the gravest concerns by giving a two year relief period to seniors who were disqualified solely because they have reverse mortgages.

“This is a very valuable program to constituents in my district,” said Senator Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland). “After the changes made last session, these constituents were vocal in their concerns and I’m glad to see us find a legislative approach that provides some temporary relief for our most vulnerable Oregonians.”

Specifically, HB 4039 allows individuals who reapplied to the program and were disqualified solely because of a reverse mortgage to continue to participate in the program for two years. Participants who qualify for this extension will next owe taxes in November 2013. The bill also requires lenders to notify potential borrowers that they will not be able to participate in the deferral program if they have a reverse mortgage.

The bill now goes to the House for concurrence on a technical change made in the Senate.