Bill Briefs
UPDATE: Healthy and Safe Schools Plan
What it does: Currently, all schools must have a Healthy and Safe Schools Plan, which should have been submitted to the Oregon Department of Education by January 2017. SB 1062 would put the requirement for plans into statute and add requirements for lead testing of drinking water sources. The Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education would work with school districts on guidelines and ways to reduce exposure to lead in water used for drinking or food preparation by January 2019. The bill also would set up a fund for reimbursement of labs fees and associated costs. OSBA has been involved in the crafting of the plan and bill.
What’s new: After a rocky start, the Healthy and Safe Schools Plan bill moved out of the Senate Rules Committee earlier this week.
What’s next: A Ways and Means subcommittee will review the bill and associated costs before determining if the bill will move forward.
UPDATE: “Lunch shaming”
What it does: The bill would place requirements around what schools and school districts can do when a student does not pay for a school meal, including a prohibition against publicly identifying, stigmatizing or marking a student who has not paid for a meal. Schools also are prohibited from requiring a student to work or perform service in lieu of payment for meals. The bill was introduced by Rep. Mike McLane (R-Powell Butte) and Rep. Brian Clem (D-Salem) after a series of stories in April about the New Mexico Legislature’s efforts to deal with “lunch shaming.”
What’s new: The House Committee on Rules held a work session on June 1. The committee adopted an amendment to the bill to remove specific, potentially expensive staff requirements for school administrators and guidance counselors. OSBA worked with McLane to draft the amendments, and he graciously supported its adoption. The amended measure was moved with a “do pass” recommendation to the floor of the House of Representatives.
What’s next: The amended bill will move to the floor for consideration by the full membership of the House. There are no known opponents to the measure.