Student Success Committee blunts usual effect of bill-killing deadline
Monday, April 15, 2019
The Legislature passed a major deadline Tuesday, April 9, that killed many bills that had not received a committee vote.
Traditionally, this deadline means a significant reduction in the number of bills under consideration. The Joint Committee on Student Success, however, has made this an unusual year, providing a haven where many bills live on, at least for the moment.
OSBA continues to track those bills, whether in the Student Success Committee or some other committee not affected by the deadline. Among the bills we are still keeping an eye on:
SB 764 would make class size a mandatory subject of bargaining. This is a major priority of the Oregon Education Association, and OSBA remains unequivocally opposed.
SB 584 would establish a statewide safety and prevention system. This bill represents the work of the Oregon School Safety Task Force. OSBA supports this bill.
SB 155 and related bills would overhaul the way sexual conduct and allegations of abuse are handled by agencies and school districts in Oregon. This topic is a legislative priority for OSBA this session.
HB 2016 would change the Public Employees Collective Bargaining Act and bargaining statewide. OSBA opposes this bill but is working with proponents on potential amendments.
HB 2224 is championed by the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators to address social and emotional challenges facing students and districts. OSBA supports this bill.
HB 2760 and HB 2765 would make investments in nutrition programs. OSBA supports these bills.
HB 2743, also championed by COSA, is the “grow your own” bill for educator development. OSBA supports this bill.
HB 3075 would continue to ability of districts to use incentive payments for employees eligible for double-coverage under the Oregon Educators Benefit Board and Public Employees’ Benefit Board. OSBA supports this bill.
Some of these bills will be left to die in committee, but the contents will be built into the legislative package passed by the Joint Committee on Student Success. It is almost certain that the school safety, nutrition, and social/emotional bills will be part of the final text of the committee’s main bill. Others, such as the sexual misconduct bills, will be tackled individually.
The Student Success Committee will have to make some choices soon.
