Legislative Briefs
Abuse reporting
What it does: SB 155 would change the way that sexual conduct and abuse are reported, monitored and handled in Oregon. Many legislators and all major education stakeholder groups have worked on the bill. It would allow a tiered reporting structure from law enforcement, to the Department of Human Services, the Oregon Department of Education, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, then to school districts. It would also allocate funds to make sure these agencies can meet expanded staffing needs. OSBA is one of the bill’s chief proponents.
What’s new: The bill moved from the Joint Student Success Committee to the Joint Ways and Means Committee.
What’s next: OSBA will advocate with legislators on Ways and Means to fund and pass the bill.
Student privacy
What it does: HB 2514 resolves a conflict of federal and state laws around school board executive sessions. The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act prohibits school districts from disclosing student-specific information. When a school board must discuss this kind of information, such as disciplinary hearings or hearings related to student safety complaints, it often enters into executive session. Oregon law allows news media to attend executive sessions, with limited exceptions. Those exceptions are not broad enough to cover all the information protected by FERPA. HB 2514 resolves this conflict by changing Oregon law to permit the use of executive session to discuss all “matters pertaining to or examination of the confidential records of a student.” OSBA was the bill’s chief proponent.
What’s new: The bill passed the Senate with no opposition.
What’s next: The bill awaits Gov. Kate Brown’s signature.
Opioid overdose medication
What it does: Naloxone is an anti-opioid overdose nasal spray. It is available by prescription to the person administering the spray so that it is readily available in the case of an overdose. If administered, it should stop an opioid-induced overdose. If administered to a person who is not experiencing an opioid overdose, it should do no harm. SB 665-A is necessary because there is an existing administrative rule, OAR 581-021-0037(3), that requires medication administered in schools to be prescribed in the name of the person using the medication, not the person administering it. This rule needs to be changed so school districts can adopt policies for the safe training, storage and administration of naloxone. OSBA is the bill’s chief proponent.
What’s new: The bill moved out of the House Health Care Committee without opposition.
What’s next: The bill will move to the House floor, where it is expected to pass. There is no cost and no known opposition.