Legislative Positions

HB 2084 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to health care.
Requires Oregon Health Authority to report to interim committees of Legislative Assembly related to health on impacts of federal changes arising from executive or legislative branches of federal government on access to health care in this state and to recommend legislation, if any, that is needed to ensure no diminution of access to quality, affordable health care by residents of this state.

Rationale: HB 2084 would require a report on changes in federal law impacting PEBB’s and OEBB’s ability to provide benefits at current levels to public employees in OR. This is crucial information for chapters during negotiations.

HB 2175 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to student loan servicers; declaring an emergency.
Requires certain persons that service student loans in this state to obtain or renew license.

Rationale: HB 2175 would create accountability for student loan providers, which is important to students and people who plan on moving into the profession.

HB 2193 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to higher education; prescribing an effective date.
Directs Higher Education Coordinating Commission to study funding mechanisms to support research and innovation missions of public universities.

Rationale: HB 2193 requires a study of funding in Higher Education. It will provide context to legislators on the current funding of Higher Education and could provide the basis for new funding streams. It’s a crucial first step for any increase in funding that might come in the future.

HB 2194 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to tuition assistance at public institutions of higher education; prescribing an effective date.
Requires Higher Education Coordinating Commission to provide grants to qualified public safety and healthcare employees to attend community colleges, public universities, or Oregon Health and Science University.

Rationale: HB 2194 provides tuition assistance to front line workers and potentially increase the number of these employees attending universities and community colleges.

HB 2197 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to the regulation of post-secondary institutions of education.
Requires Higher Education Coordinating Commission to adopt by rule additional minimum standards regarding source of tuition revenue for licensing of career schools and schools authorized to confer degrees.

Rationale: HB 2197 would provide accountability for For-Profit Career Schools, ensuring that students are not exploited.

HB 2225 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to attending sessions of the Legislative Assembly.
Prohibits member of Legislative Assembly who is absent and unexcused when Legislative Assembly is in session from receiving salary, per diem or expense reimbursement, and imposes fine of $500 per day of unexcused absence.

Rationale: HB 2225 would create consequences for legislators walking out to deny quorum, ensuring that the Legislature can complete its work. Without these important fixes, AAUP OR priority legislation will be imperiled by an early end to the legislative session.

HB 2254 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to the deduction of pay of highly paid individuals; prescribing an effective date.
Requires addition, in determination of Oregon taxable income, of amount of compensation above $1 million threshold paid by taxpayer to any individual and deducted as business expense.

Rationale: HB 2254 would increase the state tax burdens on anyone with more than $1million in income for a year. This is in line with our recent support for tax fairness by increasing taxes on the richest earners in the state.

HB 2270 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to mandatory subjects of collective bargaining.
Amends definition of “employment relations” to include class size and caseload limits as mandatory collective bargaining subjects for school districts.

Rationale: HB 2270 would add class size as a mandatory subject of bargaining for K-12 locals. AAUP OR has supported such measures in the past to improve K-12 education and support our union brethren.

HB 2323 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to communicating false information about an election.
Prohibits knowingly communicating materially false statement with intent to mislead electors about date of election, deadline for delivering ballot, voter registration deadline, method of registering to vote, locations at which elector may deposit ballot, qualifications of electors or voter registration status within 30 days of primary election or special election or within 60 days of general election.

Rationale: HB 2323 will make it a crime to spread false election information in Oregon. This aligns with AAUP OR mission to encourage civic engagement.

HB 2349 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to amount paid to attend institutions of higher education by persons formerly in adoptive care; declaring an emergency.
Permits adopted former foster children to have amount of tuition and all fees waived if attending defined institutions of higher education for purposes of pursuing initial undergraduate degree.

Rationale: HB 2349 would provide former foster children with tuition and fee waivers and hopefully encourage more former foster children to attend college. This is in line with AAUP OR’s commitment to increasing access to Higher Education.

HB 2375 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to the forfeiture of retirement credit under the Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan; declaring an emergency.
Provides for restoration of retirement credit for member of Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan who forfeited retirement credit due to lack of service at end of 2020.

Rationale: HB 2375 helps to ensure certain public employees don’t have their retirement plans effected by the disruption of employment caused by the pandemic. This helps defend AAUP OR member’s public benefits promised to them in exchange for years of service.

HB 2401 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to employment protections; prescribing an effective date.
Makes certain actions taken by employer because of employee’s service as member of board, commission, council or committee created by statute unlawful employment practice.

Rationale: HB 2401 would protect members of state boards, commissions, councils, and committees with job protections. This will broaden the pool of citizens, including AAUP OR members, willing to serve in these important roles and encourage civic engagement.

HB 2412 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to assistance to low income students to attend a post- secondary institution; declaring an emergency.
Appropriates $500,000 to Higher Education Coordinating Commission to award grant to College Possible organization.

Rationale: HB 2412 would provide a large influx of money for College Possible in Oregon. College Possible is a non-profit organization which provides services and advising for low income students to attend college. AAUP OR is committed to expanding access to Higher Education in Oregon, and College Possible is working to do just that.

HB 2474 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to family leave.
Expands applicability of certain provisions relating to family leave to employers who employ one or more employees.

Rationale: HB 2474 expands the definition of employee to include those working less than 20 hours per week, shortens the time an employee must work before being entitled to leave from 180-30, makes permanent the inclusion of school closure due to pandemic as condition for allowing leave, and allows for the employee to decide on order of leave being used. All these changes are in line with AAUP OR’s commitment to expanding and enhancing family and medical leave in Oregon.

HB 2496 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to higher education tuition; declaring an emergency.
Provides that student who legally entered United States under Compact of Free Association treaty between United States and Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands or Federated States of Micronesia and who has not previously established residence in any state or territory of United States other than Oregon qualifies for exemption from nonresident tuition and fees at public universities and is eligible to receive state and university scholarships or other financial aid.

Rationale: HB 2496 expands college access by providing in-state tuition to COFA covered residents of OR. AAUP OR has supported similar bills in previous sessions.

HB 2542 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to disclosure of mandatory fees at public institutions of higher education.
Requires each public university and community college to prominently display mandatory fees charged.

Rationale: HB 2542 ensure more transparency on the cost of mandatory fees for students. AAUP members still enrolled in classes and allies from the Oregon Students Association will both benefit from this change.

HB 2569 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to student loans; prescribing an effective date.
Establishes Dreamers Access Program to award student loans to eligible students with demonstrated financial need.

Rationale: HB 2569 would create state sponsored loans for Dreamers who aren’t eligible for federal programs. Expanding access to Higher Education is a priority for AAUP Oregon.

HB 2590 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to underrepresented students at public post-secondary institutions of education; declaring an emergency.
Establishes Task Force on Student Success for Underrepresented Students in Higher Education.

Rationale: HB 2590 creates a task force to study issues for underrepresented students in Higher Education. These are crucial conversations to support both to support these students and to potentially uncover funding issues which could be addressed in the future.

HB 2599 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to sick time for certain employees covered by collective bargaining agreements.
Provides that employer signatories to multiemployer collective bargaining agreements are considered to have met minimum requirements of sick time provisions if terms of collective bargaining agreement provide, as benefit to employees subject to agreement, sick leave policy or other paid time off program that is substantially equivalent to or more generous than minimum requirements of sick time provisions.

Rationale: HB 2599 allows for CBA sick time provisions to replace state-backed policies if they are sufficiently generous. This supports our LIUNA union family and workers in general.

HB 2679 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to voting at primary elections.
Permits person who will be 17 years old on date of primary election and 18 years old on date of general election to vote at primary election for candidates of major political party with which person is affiliated if major political party has adopted rule to this effect.

Rationale: HB 2679 expands the voting franchise to more youth who would otherwise be excluded from the primary voting process, and aligns with AAUP Oregon’s commitment to increasing civic engagement across the state.

HB 2680 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to campaign finance.
Establishes limits on campaign contributions that may be accepted by candidates and political committees.

Rationale: HB 2680 establishes limits on money politicians can raise from large donors, which AAUP Oregon has supported in the past.

HB 2681 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to inactive voters; prescribing an effective date.
Requires each county clerk to file annual report with Secretary of State identifying each voter who clerk moved to inactive status during previous calendar year and specifying reason for moving voter to inactive status.

Rationale: HB 2681 helps prevent “purging” of voter rolls for dubious or inaccurate reasons. This is inline with our commitment to civic engagement and transparency.

HB 2687 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to election deadlines for returning ballots.
Requires ballots returned by mail to be postmarked not later than date of election.

Rationale: HB 2687 improves access to democratic structures by allowing for a longer grace period for mailed in ballots. This is inline with our commitment to civic engagement and transparency.

HB 2709 INTRO: OPPOSE
Relating to public employee retirement.
Provides that public employee may not become member of pension program of Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan on or after January 1, 2022.

Rationale: HB 2709 would remove the pension provisions from OPSRP and reduce the number of public benefits available to Oregonians. AAUP Oregon is committed to protecting public pensions and opposes efforts to reduce benefits to members at public universities and colleges.

HB 2748 INTRO: OPPOSE
Relating to the Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan.
Provides that persons employed by participating public employers may not become members of pension program or individual account program of Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan on or after January 1, 2022.

Rationale: HB 2748 would also shut down OPSRP enrollment and reduce public benefits available to Oregonians. AAUP Oregon is committed to protecting public pensions and opposes efforts to reduce benefits to members at public universities and colleges.

HB 2810 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to health benefit plans for public employees.
Requires Public Employees’ Benefit Board and Oregon Educators Benefit Board to offer at least one integrated health benefit plan meeting specified requirements in 2023.

Rationale: HB 2810 improves PEBB health insurance plans and adds public employee representation to metrics and scoring subcommittee. AAUP Oregon is committed to expanding and improving PEBB benefits and this would further that commitment.

HB 2835 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to benefits programs for students at institutions of higher education; declaring an emergency.
Requires each community college and public university to hire benefits navigator to assist students in determining eligibility and applying for federal, state and local benefits programs.

Rationale: HB 2835 would create a position that assists students in navigating benefit systems in Higher Education. This is a priority for the Oregon Student Association and aligns with AAUP Oregon’s commitment to expanding access to Higher Education by keeping more students enrolled.

HB 2839 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to connection to federal tax law; prescribing an effective date.
Disconnects from federal tax provisions, including federal repeals of previously enacted limitations on deductions, by requiring additions to federal taxable income for Oregon tax purposes.

Rationale: HB 2839 would disconnect OR from federal tax cuts that benefit the wealthy and could help with statewide revenue. This falls strongly in line with AAUP Oregon’s efforts for tax fairness in Oregon.

HB 2868 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to accelerated college credit programs; prescribing an effective date.
Establishes minimum education requirements for teachers of certain accelerated college credit program courses.

Rationale: HB 2868 ensures that educators of college credit programs have 27 hours of graduate credit or teaching through a program with national or international qualifications or CTE. AAUP Oregon is committed to protecting Higher Education by making sure students are only being taught by qualified individuals.

HB 2873 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to members of Higher Education Coordinating Commission.
Alters commissioner composition of Higher Education Coordinating Commission by redesignating five current nonvoting positions as voting positions and by adding one additional position for graduate student attending public university.

Rationale: HB 2873 amends the HECC to include crucial graduate employee voices to the oversight board. This has been a crucial AAUP Oregon priority the past few sessions and has been derailed by Republican walk outs.

HB 2876 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to instructors at institutions of higher education.
Requires each community college and public university to have at least 65 percent of total number of credit hours offered taught by full-time employee during 2022-2023 academic year and at least 75 percent of total number of credit hours offered taught by full-time employee every academic year thereafter.

Rationale: HB 2876 would create a requirement that most classes be taught by full-time faculty. This bill is a priority for our Oregon Education Association allies and an important measure to stem the tide of adjunctification in Oregon Higher Education.

HB 2906 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to employee contributions to the Public Employees Retirement System.
Directs Public Employees Retirement Board to study methods for allowing members of Public Employees Retirement System to certify that member will earn less than $30,000 in calendar year so that board does not credit employee contributions to employee pension stability account.

Rationale: HB 2906 would find ways to make sure PERS better serves low-income Oregonians. This is in line with long-standing AAUP OR principles to protect and expand public benefits and PERS in particular.

HB 2920 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to funding the Oregon Promise program; declaring an emergency.
Allocates $2,000,000 of lottery revenue to Higher Education Coordinating Commission for Oregon Promise Fund.

Rationale: HB 2920 directs money to the Oregon Promise Fund and directly supports Oregon students. This is a priority for the Oregon Student Association and aligns with AAUP Oregon’s commitment to expanding access to Higher Education.

HB 2988 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to employees at public institutions of higher education; declaring an emergency.
Provides that part-time faculty member at public institution of higher education who qualifies for health care benefits will pay 10 percent of insurance premiums for employee coverage.

Rationale: HB 2988 is similar to HB 3007 and SB 551 and creates a program which allows part-time faculty working at public institutions to purchase subsidized health insurance from the state’s public health insurance programs. AAUP Oregon has made this a legislative priority for several consecutive sessions and is committed to expanding health care coverage to faculty at public institutions.

HJR 11 INTRO: SUPPORT
Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution providing for same-day voter registration.

Rationale: HJR 11 allows for same-day voter registration, which is in line with AAUP Oregon’s commitment to expanding democratic access.

HJR 16 INTRO: OPPOSE
Proposing amendment to Oregon Constitution relating to legislative districts.
Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution to modify legislative districts so that each legislative district elects, on nonpartisan basis, one Senator and two at-large Representatives, all to four year term.

Rationale: HJR 16 would fundamentally change Oregon legislative districts and the system used to choose representatives. It would harm the ability of AAUP OR members and voters at large to make their voices heard, and is against AAUP OR principles around the expansion of democracy.

HJR 18 INTRO: OPPOSE
Terminating state of emergency relating to COVID-19.
Terminates state of emergency relating to COVID-19. 

Rationale: HJR 18 would terminate the state of emergency relating to COVID-19. AAUP OR believes that doing so now, before the end of the pandemic, and with the virus still spreading throughout Oregon, would be a detriment to our state and to higher education.

SB 255 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to campaign finance.
Establishes limits on campaign contributions that may be accepted by candidates and political committees.

Rationale: SB 255 is similar to HB 2680 and establishes limits on money politicians can raise from large donors, which AAUP Oregon has supported in the past.

SB 261 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to elections; declaring an emergency.
Prohibits members of Legislative Assembly from soliciting or using contributions to pay fines or legal expenses, replace salary, defray expenses or otherwise compensate members for monetary losses incurred as result of unexcused absences from sessions of Legislative Assembly.

Rationale: SB 261 prevents legislators from raising campaign dollars to pay any fines associated with a walkout. AAUP Oregon is committed to supporting the legislature in their efforts to complete the people’s business.

SB 262 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to attending sessions of the Legislative Assembly.
Prohibits member of Legislative Assembly who is absent and unexcused when Legislative Assembly is in session from receiving salary, per diem or expense reimbursement, and imposes fine of $500 per day of unexcused absence.

Rationale: SB 262 is similar to HB 2225 and would create consequences for legislators walking out to deny quorum, ensuring that the Legislature can complete its work. Without these important fixes, AAUP OR priority legislation will be imperiled by an early end to the legislative session.

SB 336 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to elections.
Prohibits candidates for state office from accepting contributions in excess of amounts specified and from sources not specified.

Rationale: SB 336 is a companion to SB 255 and HB 2680 and will place limits on campaign fundraising from large donors, which AAUP Oregon supports.

SB 446 INTRO: OPPOSE
Relating to the calculation of final average salary under the Public Employees Retirement System.
Changes calculation of final average salary for purposes of Public Employees Retirement System to use five years of salary instead of three years, for salary paid on and after January 1, 2022.

Rationale: SB 446 would lower PERS payments to public employer retirees by including 2 lower-earning years in the benefit payment calculations. AAUP Oregon is committed to protecting public pensions and benefits.

SB 460 INTRO: OPPOSE
Relating to zero-based budgeting.
Declares policy of state to use zero-based budgeting in developing biennial budget plan.

Rationale: SB 460 would establish zero-based budgeting in Oregon, which is likely to reduce the overall spending of the state government and imperil public benefits. AAUP Oregon opposes these efforts at benefit reductions to members.

SB 485 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to student loan servicers; declaring an emergency.
Requires certain persons that service student loans in this state to obtain or renew license.

Rationale: SB 485 is similar to HB 2175 and would create accountability for student loan providers, which is important to students and people who plan on moving into the profession.

SB 488 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to the compensability of COVID-19 for the purposes of workers’ compensation; declaring an emergency.
Adds exposure to or infection by SARS-CoV-2 to definition of occupational disease for purposes of workers’ compensation.

Rationale: SB 488 ensures that workers infected with COVID-19 are eligible for workers’ compensation, which aligns with AAUP Oregon commitment to expanding and protecting worker protections.

SB 551 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to employees at public institutions of higher education; declaring an emergency.
Provides that part-time faculty member at public institution of higher education who qualifies for health care benefits will pay 10 percent of insurance premiums for employee coverage.

Rationale: SB 551 creates a program which allows part-time faculty working at public institutions to purchase subsidized health insurance from the state’s public health insurance programs. AAUP Oregon has made this a legislative priority for several consecutive sessions and is committed to expanding health care coverage to faculty at public institutions.

SB 580 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to mandatory subjects of collective bargaining.
Amends definition of “employment relations” to include class size and caseload limits as mandatory collective bargaining subjects for school districts.

Rationale: SB 580 is similar to HB 2270 and would add class size as a mandatory subject of bargaining for K-12 locals. AAUP OR has supported such measures in the past to improve K-12 education and support our union brethren.

SB 588 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to sick time exemption for certain employees covered by collective bargaining agreements; declaring an emergency.
Provides that employer signatories to multiemployer collective bargaining agreements are considered to have met minimum requirements of sick time provisions if terms of collective bargaining agreement provide, as benefit to employees subject to agreement, sick leave policy or other paid time off program that is substantially equivalent to or more generous than minimum requirements of sick time provisions.

Rationale: SB 588 is similar to HB 2599 and allows for CBA sick time provisions to replace state-backed policies if they are sufficiently generous. This supports our LIUNA union family and workers in general.

SB 712 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to members of Higher Education Coordinating Commission.
Alters commissioner composition of Higher Education Coordinating Commission by redesignating five current nonvoting positions as voting positions and by adding one additional position for graduate student attending public university.

Rationale: SB 712 is similar to HB 2873 and amends the HECC to include crucial graduate employee voices to the oversight board. This has been a crucial AAUP Oregon priority the past few sessions and has been derailed by Republican walk outs.

SB 716 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to work scheduling; declaring an emergency.
Requires employers to reasonably accommodate employee’s work schedule availability related to child care.

Rationale: SB 716 would increase AAUP Oregon members’ ability to care for their child and lower barriers to entry for new academics looking to enter their career.

SB 748 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to benefit plans.
Requires Public Employees’ Benefit Board, Oregon Educators Benefit Board and private insurers to provide insurance coverage to adult disabled children and adult disabled siblings of insureds under certain circumstances.

Rationale: SB 748 would require insurance to cover adult disabled children and adult disabled siblings. This would benefit AAUP OR members who need to take time to care for disabled children or siblings. AAUP Oregon is committed to expanding benefits and easing the burden on our members as they balance their lives and careers.

SB 756 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to student loans for incarcerated individuals; declaring an emergency.
Requires Higher Education Coordinating Commission to conduct study and develop recommendations on how to establish coordinated, statewide approach to best serve currently incarcerated individuals who are recently eligible to receive student loans under federal program.

Rationale: SB 756 would create an opportunity to study ways of ensuring that incarcerated individuals in Oregon aren’t left out of higher education, and AAUP Oregon stands for expanding access to higher education in Oregon.

SB 787 INTRO: OPPOSE
Relating to the elimination of the corporate activity tax; prescribing an effective date.
Repeals corporate activity tax.

Rationale: SB 787 would reduce tax burdens on wealthy Oregonians at the expense of revenue used for crucial programs. AAUP OR supports expanding these programs and stands for tax fairness in Oregon.

SB 802 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to workers’ compensation for secondary effects of COVID-19.
Directs Department of Consumer and Business Services to study issues relating to workers’ compensation for secondary effects of infection by SARS-CoV-2 or diagnosis with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and report to appropriate committee or interim committee of Legislative Assembly on or before September 15, 2022.

Rationale: SB 802 would study the long term impacts of COVID-19 “secondary effects,” including with so-called “long haulers” who may suffer from the effects of COVID-19 longer than the average person. AAUP OR believes this data is invaluable to determining the true cost of the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting those impacted by this disease.

SB 849 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to benefits programs for students at institutions of higher education; declaring an emergency.
Requires each community college and public university to hire benefits navigator to assist students in determining eligibility and applying for federal, state and local benefits programs.

Rationale: SB 849 would create a benefits navigator position at each public institution. AAUP Oregon is committed to helping students get the most out of financial aid and other benefits.

SB 851 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to housing assistance for university students; declaring an emergency.
Requires Higher Education Coordinating Commission to provide grants to nonprofits providing affordable housing to university students. 

Rationale: SB 851 would offer public support to non-profit organizations who build housing for low-income students. This would lower barriers for underserved and struggling students to enroll and stay in college, and supports AAUP OR principles about expanding access to higher education.

SB 854 INTRO: SUPPORT
Relating to higher education governance; declaring an emergency.
Changes composition of governing board for public universities.

Rationale: SB 854 would change the composition of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to include a number of stakeholder votes, allow for appeals to reach the HECC, and provides for stringent oversight measures of Board appointments and transparency. This bill aligns very strongly with a number of AAUP OR principles, including Board transparency and HECC voting rights for faculty, grad employees, and students.

SJR 3 INTRO: SUPPORT
Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution to provide that member of Legislative Assembly who, without permission or excuse, does not attend 10 or more scheduled legislative floor sessions of Legislative Assembly is deemed to be engaging in disorderly behavior and is disqualified from holding office as Senator or Representative for term following member’s current term of office.

Rationale: SJR 3 is working toward the goals of HB 2225 and SB 262, and would create consequences for legislators walking out to deny quorum, ensuring that the Legislature can complete its work. Without these important fixes, AAUP OR priority legislation will be imperiled by an early end to the legislative session.

SJR 4 INTRO: SUPPORT
Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution to modify portion of each house of Legislative Assembly needed to be in attendance for quorum necessary for house to conduct business.

Rationale: SJR 4 lowers the quorum requirements so that walk outs are less likely to derail the entire legislative session. Without these important fixes, AAUP OR priority legislation will be imperiled by an early end to the legislative session.

SJR 9 INTRO: OPPOSE
Removes constitutional provision authorizing certain employees and board members of public education bodies to serve in legislature.

Rationale: SJR 9 would render AAUP Oregon faculty and other education professionals ineligible from serving as legislators in OR. AAUP Oregon is committed to the expansion of democratic access, as opposed to shrinking it, as SJR 9 would do.

SJR 12 INTRO: SUPPORT
Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution establishing obligation of state to ensure every resident of state access to cost-effective, clinically appropriate and affordable health care.

Rationale: SJR 12 proposes an Oregon Constitutional Amendment to obligate the state to provide access to health care for all Oregon residents. AAUP Oregon has supported similar efforts in the past.

SJR 14 INTRO: OPPOSE
Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution to limit increase in state governmental appropriations for general governmental purposes in biennium to least of percentage increase in projected personal income, percentage increase in projected population growth plus inflation or percentage increase in projected gross domestic product of Oregon for biennium.

Rationale: SJR 14 would lead to budget austerity by limiting the amount appropriations could increase. This would run against AAUP Oregon commitment to protecting and expanding public benefits available to members.

SJR 19 INTRO: OPPOSE
Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution to require vote of at least two-thirds of all members elected to each House of Legislative Assembly to pass bills during even-numbered year regular session of Legislative Assembly.
Sponsored by Sen Findley; Sen Girod; Sen Knopp; Sen Thatcher

Rationale: SJR 19 would make work done in even-numbered years very difficult and increase the likelihood of a minority party walk out. If this occurs AAUP OR priority legislation will be imperiled by an early end to the legislative session.

SJR 23 INTRO: OPPOSE
Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution to allow Legislative Assembly, by passage of joint resolution, to repeal administrative rule or amendment of administrative rule adopted by executive branch agency.

Rationale: SJR 23 would allow for a legislative override of administrative rules, including those by HECC, which could cause problems for AAUP Oregon priority legislation after adoption and generally create legislative and executive gridlock.

SJR 27 INTRO: OPPOSE
Proposing amendment to Oregon Constitution relating to the declaration of an emergency in bills.
Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution to require bills declaring emergency to receive at least two-thirds majority vote in each House of Legislative Assembly for passage.

Rationale: SJR 27 would amend the Constitution to require emergency bills to pass with a much higher threshold. This would encourage more gridlock in Salem and slow down much needed help to AAUP OR members and other Oregonians.

Last updated 04/08/21.