Oregon Senate GOP touts new laws due Jan. 1

Oregon Senate Republicans on Tuesday touted a wide range of legislation that takes effect Jan. 1, stressing the bipartisan nature of new laws that tackle issues ranging from combating sex trafficking to helping veterans and those in need while boosting public safety and government transparency.

Here’s their news release, in full:

The 2017 Legislative Session resulted in bipartisan legislation that will take effect on January 1.

Senate Republicans worked collaboratively with legislators on both sides of the aisle, and from all regions of the state, to craft laws that protect victims of sex trafficking, honor veterans, strengthen public safety, help vulnerable Oregonians and increase government transparency.

“When we work together on bi-partisan solutions that benefit Oregonians, we can accomplish great things,” said Senate Republican Leader Jackie Winters (R-Salem).

Protecting Victims of Sex Trafficking

“Oregon has a real problem with sex trafficking, and while there is still much work to do, I am proud of the legislation we passed together in 2017 to support and protect victims of sex trafficking,” – Senator Tim Knopp (R-Bend).

SB 249 A (Sen. Knopp, Sen. Gelser, Sen. Taylor, Rep. Huffman) – Requires the court to vacate a conviction for prostitution if the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the person was a victim of sex trafficking at or around the time of conviction.

SB 250 (Sen. Knopp, Sen. Gelser, Sen. Taylor, Rep. Huffman) – Creates affirmative defense to crime of prostitution if, at time of alleged offense, defendant was victim of certain trafficking crimes.

SB 375 (Sen. Hansell, Sen. Knopp, Sen. Roblan) – Directs certain agencies to allow informational materials about human trafficking to be posted at roadside rest areas.

SB 1050 (Sen. Thatcher, Sen. Courtney) – Creates a presumptive sentence of life imprisonment without possibility of release or parole, for sex crimes if there is a previous crime of the same nature.

Honoring Veterans

“Oregon’s Veterans have made great sacrifices for our country,” said Senator Alan Olsen (R-Canby). “If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that our Vet’s deserve our gratitude and honor!”

SB 116 A (Sen. Olsen, Sen. Riley) – Requires the State Forester to make any recreational opportunities in state forests free for disabled veterans and for persons who are on leave from military active duty on certain holidays.

SB 573 (Sen. Olsen, Sen. Knopp, Rep. Buehler) – Encourages Oregonians to honor and remember those who have given their lives in military service in war at noon on 21st day of each month.

SB 992 (Sen. Boquist, Sen. Knopp, Sen. Prozanski, Rep. Whisnant) – Designates the third Friday in September of every year to be Oregon POW/MIA Recognition Day.

SB 993 (Sen. Boquist, Sen. Knopp) – Designates August 7 of each year as Oregon Purple Heart Recognition Day.

Strengthening Public Safety

“Keeping Oregonians safe is always high on the priority list, and during the 2017 session we were able to work across the aisle and deliver some necessary legislation to strengthen public safety laws,” – Senator Chuck Thomsen (R-Hood River).

HB 2682 A (Sen. Thomsen, Rep. Nosse) – Authorized the City of Portland to designate a speed that is 5 mph lower than statutory speed when a highway is located in a residential area, and is not an arterial highway.

SB 367 B (Sen. Hansell, Sen. Knopp, Sen. Steiner Hayward, Rep. Barreto) – Permits health care provider to disclose protected health information of inmate of correctional facility to physician of employee of correctional facility or Oregon Corrections Enterprises who is exposed to bodily fluids of inmate if exposure is substantial and inmate has tested positive for communicable diseases.

SB 795 A (Sen. Knopp, Sen. Thatcher, Sen. Gelser, Sen. Manning Jr., Sen. Monnes Anderson, Rep. Lininger) – Requires medical assessment provider or law enforcement officer to contact victim advocate and make reasonable efforts to ensure that victim advocate is present and available at medical facility.

Helping Vulnerable Oregonians

“Protecting the neediest people in our state is important to most Oregonians. I was pleased to work with legislators from both sides of the aisle to extend help where it was needed,” – Senator Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer).

HB 2660 A (Sen. Knopp, Sen. Steiner Hayward, Rep. Bynum, Rep. Keny-Guyer, Rep. Piluso, Rep. Sanchez) – Requires the Oregon Health Authority and Department of Consumer and Business Services to make online written materials available regarding options for breast cancer patients for insurance coverage of breast reconstruction surgery, prostheses, and breast forms.

HB 3268 B (Sen. Boquist, Rep. Keny-Guyer, Rep. Piluso) – Extends sunset on provisions directing Public Utility Commission to administer programs related to residential telecommunication services, including Oregon Lifeline program. The federal Lifeline Program provides free telephones to low-income individuals, and all Medicaid members are eligible for one telephone or internet connection per household.

SB 682 A (Sen. Winters, Sen. Dembrow) – Establishes rebuttable presumption that certain incarcerated obligors are unable to pay child support.

SB 846 A (Sen. Thatcher, Sen. Frederick, Sen. Manning Jr.) – Prohibits use of physical restraints in juvenile court proceedings on youth, youth offender or young person, with exceptions.

Increasing Government Transparency

“Keeping government open and transparent is key,” said Senator Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer). “This session we continued taking important steps towards ensuring easy access to important information and services.”

HB 2946 A (Sen. Thatcher, Sen. Roblan, Rep. Holvey, Rep. Whisnant) – Directs State Chief Information Officer to include links to websites established by certain entities on Oregon transparency website.

HB 3139 B (Sen. Knopp, Rep. Buehler, Rep. Whisnant) – Requires the Oregon Arts Commission to establish policies and procedures that ensure Arts Program considers regional differences in public access to, or opportunities for engagement in, arts and cultural development when determining eligibility for grant awards and that promote investment in communities where opportunities for engagement in arts and cultural development are limited.

HB 3361 B (Sen. Thatcher, Sen. Roblan, Rep. Nathanson) – Directs State Chief Information Officer to appoint Chief Data Officer to maintain web portal for publication of data of state agencies to increase access to valuable data and promote more efficient and uniform state management practices.

SB 144 A (Sen. Ferrioli, Sen. Roblan, Rep. McKeown, Rep. Stark) – Increases protections for archeological objects unintentionally discovered on public lands, and requires the district attorney, together with the Legislative Commission on Indian Services, to determine which tribe or tribes the items should be returned to.

SB 253 A (Sen. Ferrioli, Sen. Roblan, Sen. Taylor, Rep. Huffman) – Requires institutions of higher education to provide information detailing amount of education loans received, amount of tuition and fees student has paid to institution, estimate of total payoff amount of education loans student has received, estimate of amount student will have to pay each month to service loans and percentage of borrowing limit student has reached for each type of federal loan.

SB 317 A (Sen. Boquist) – Expands where state, county or city public bodies may hold public meetings to include locations within Indian country of federally recognized Oregon Indian tribe that is within Oregon.