Legislative Briefs
Student inventors
What it does: There are few innovation or intellectual property rights programs directed toward K-12 students in Oregon. The programs that are offered for student inventors are primarily aimed at college students. HB 2768 would direct the Oregon Department of Education to establish a program to assist student inventors in developing concepts or designs and to assist students and education service districts in entering into intellectual property rights agreements. It would establish a fund for the revenue from the use of such rights.
What’s next: The House Education Committee has scheduled a work session Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Teacher shortages
House Bills 2609, 3177 and 3178
What it does: House Bills 2609, 3177 and 3178 address teacher shortages in Oregon:
HB 2609 would permanently exempt school districts and education service districts from Teacher Standards and Practices Commission fees for educator preparation provider programs.
HB 3177 would appropriate $20 million to the Educator Advancement Fund for recruiting, retaining and providing professional learning opportunities for educators.
HB 3178 would expand the Higher Education Coordinating Commission criteria for awarding scholarships to culturally and linguistically diverse teacher candidates.
What’s next: The House Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Wednesday, March 1.
Teacher mobility
What it does: Interstate compacts are legally binding agreements among states. Occupational licensure compacts ensure that states honor the licenses granted in other compact-member states and already exist for medical licensure, nurse licensure, emergency medical service officials, physical therapists, psychologists, audiologists and speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and counselors. SB 279 would enact the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact into law and establish the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Commission. The compact would require member states to grant licenses to teachers with unencumbered licenses from other member states without having to meet additional requirements except for a criminal background check and require member states to provide information regarding investigation and discipline of teachers to other member states upon request. The compact would become effective when enacted into law in the 10th member state.
What’s next: The Senate Education Committee has scheduled a work session Tuesday, Feb. 21.
OSCIM
What it does: The Oregon Department of Education administers the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) program, which provides matching grants to school districts for capital costs that are financed with Article XI-P bonds. SB 285 would increase the grant amounts allowed through the program, modify the procedure for calculating and awarding grants, and allow for grant amounts to be biennially adjusted for inflation.
What’s next: The Senate Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Tuesday, Feb. 21.