Legislative Briefs
Erin’s Law
What it does: In response to an increasing number of reported incidents of child sexual abuse, Senate Bill 856 (2015) required each school board to adopt a child sexual abuse prevention instructional program for students in kindergarten to grade 12. House Bill 2828 would require the Oregon Department of Education to provide technical assistance to school districts in the adoption and implementation of a child sexual abuse prevention instructional program.
What’s next: The House Education Committee will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 9.
LGBTQIA+ Student Success Plan
What it does: The Student Success Act did not include language to support students of certain gender identities, while statewide plans exist for the development and implementation of education programs for students who identify as African-American/Black, Latino/Latina/Latinx, and Native American/Alaska Native. Senate Bill 52 would require the Oregon Department of Education to develop a similar plan for students who may be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirit, intersex, asexual, nonbinary, or other minority gender identities or sexual orientations.
What’s new: The House Education Committee held a public hearing Feb. 3. OSBA submitted testimony in support of the bill.
What’s next: The bill has not been scheduled for further consideration, but OSBA will continue to monitor it.
Facilities assessment
What it does: The Office of School Facilities was established in 2015 and is responsible for maintaining a statewide school facilities database, distributing grants to districts, providing technical assistance and assisting with the prioritization of capital improvements. Senate Bill 55 would use $4 million of existing allocations to facility grants and apply it to the administration of a statewide facilities assessment program that would be administered by the Oregon Department of Education Office of School Facilities.
What’s new: The Senate Education Committee held a public hearing on Monday, Feb. 1. There was no opposition.
What’s next: A work session is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 10.