Legislative Briefs
Collective bargaining statutes
What it does: Enacted in 1973, the Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act governs employment relations between public employers and their employees throughout the state. The act encompasses state, county, city, school district, transportation district and other local government agencies, as well as private employers not subject to the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board. This bill would modify the PECBA to place into statute much of what is currently negotiated.
What’s new: OSBA Legislative Services Director Lori Sattenspiel submitted testimony in opposition to the bill during the public hearing Thursday, April 18, stating, “Enacting HB 2016A would impact school districts statewide. Currently, at least 115 licensed collective bargaining agreements and 77 classified agreements have existing language that may be impacted by HB 2016A.”
What’s next: The bill passed the House on March 27 and has been referred to the Senate Workforce Committee. A work session is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, to review amendments that modify language regarding usage of employer electronic mail systems and employee information.
State Board of Education
What it does: Oregon law requires that the State Board of Education consist of seven voting members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate, with the secretary of state and the state treasurer serving as ex-officio, nonvoting members. The statute requires the governor to appoint one member from each congressional district and two members from the state at large. Under current law, the governor is prohibited from appointing a member who is engaged in teaching or participating in the administration or operation of any school. HB 2512 would remove the requirement that an appointed member not be a part of school administration or operations and would require the governor to appoint one member who is engaged in teaching as a licensed teacher in the state.
What’s new: At the April 22 public hearing, Laurie Wimmer, government relations consultant for the Oregon Education Association, said, “Oregon’s educators have a voice but no vote on the education policy board as it is now, despite the fact that their expertise and real-time knowledge could better shape education initiatives and administrative rules.”
What’s next: The bill passed the House on Feb. 18 and was referred to the Senate Education Committee. A work session is scheduled for Monday, May 20.
PERS reform
What it does: The Public Employees Retirement System Board presented several PERS reform concepts at a May 10 informational meeting of the Joint Ways and Means Capital Construction Subcommittee. The subsequent amendments would help bend the PERS cost curve by redirecting member contributions, setting a final average salary limit, creating a money match interest rate, reamortizing the Tier 1 and Tier 2 unfunded actuarial liability, and adjusting the contributions made by rehired retiree members.
What’s new: OSBA Executive Director Jim Green submitted supportive testimony at the Tuesday, May 14, public hearing.
What’s next: A work session is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21.
Legislative notes:
Senate Bill 665 (April 29 Legislative Briefs) would direct the State Board of Education to adopt rules for the administration of naloxone or any similar medication designed to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose and would address requirements for administration. The bill passed the Senate on April 8 and has been referred to House Health Care Committee. A work session has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 21. OSBA is the main proponent of this bill.
Senate Bill 726 (Feb. 18 Legislative Briefs) would address sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace, including extending the statute of limitations to file civil action for violations of the law to five years and prohibiting employers from requesting an employee enter into a resignation agreement if the agreement prevents the employee from disclosing or discussing employment discrimination or sexual assault. The bill would require employers to adopt written policies containing procedures and practices for reduction and prevention of discrimination and sexual assault. The bill passed the Senate on April 22 and passed the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, May 16.