74th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2007 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 3534
 
                         House Bill 3512
 
Sponsored by Representative RILEY; Representatives CLEM, COWAN, C
  EDWARDS, D EDWARDS, GALIZIO, HUNT, KOMP, MACPHERSON, ROBLAN
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Creates Task Force on Agricultural Workforce Needs.
  Declares emergency, effective on 30th day following adjournment
sine die.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to Task Force on Agricultural Workforce Needs; and
  declaring an emergency.
  Whereas Oregonians recognize that Oregon's agricultural
industry is one of Oregon's top industries; and
  Whereas Oregonians recognize that Oregon's agricultural
industry requires an adequate workforce to meet the needs of the
industry; and
  Whereas agricultural labor requirements vary greatly among the
different phases of planting, cultivating, harvesting and
processing, and the needs are complex and varied depending on the
product, such as nursery stock, wine grapes, wheat, grass seed,
fruits or berries; and
  Whereas agricultural labor is crucial to the production of a
wide variety of crops in almost every state in the nation; and
  Whereas Oregonians rely upon farm workers to put food on their
tables and to support an industry that benefits the state's
economy; and
  Whereas Oregonians support making positive and lasting changes
for Oregon farm workers and their families so that they can
support themselves and the agricultural industry; and
  Whereas Oregon's agricultural workforce continues to be
composed primarily of immigrants, including women and children,
who work hard for the dollars they need to care for their
families; and
  Whereas these families want to be economically self-sufficient,
and they can achieve this goal if they receive job training and
other services that address their employment-related needs; and
  Whereas the Legislative Assembly needs to identify effective
ways to address the needs of Oregon's agricultural industry and
Oregon's agricultural workforce; and
  Whereas Congress and this state need to find practical ways to
provide agricultural labor for our country and our state that
will benefit the agriculture industry, farm workers and
consumers; and
 
  Whereas Oregon's Congressional delegation needs to know what
will work best for Oregon, including whether to allow
undocumented farm workers to earn the right to permanently stay
in this country by continuing to work in agriculture; and
  Whereas the country will benefit if we can find bipartisan
support using the principles set forth above to develop
comprehensive immigration reform that recognizes the needs of
farm workers and the agricultural industry; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) There is created the Task Force on
Agricultural Workforce Needs, consisting of 11 members appointed
as follows:
  (a) The President of the Senate shall appoint two members from
among members of the Senate, one from the majority party and one
from the minority party.
  (b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint
two members from among members of the House of Representatives,
one from the majority party and one from the minority party.
  (c) The President and the Speaker shall jointly appoint:
  (A) Two members who represent Oregon's agricultural industry;
  (B) Two members who are farm workers or who represent farm
workers;
  (C) One member with expertise in workforce development; and
  (D) One member with expertise in economic development.
  (d) The Governor shall appoint one member who represents the
public.
  (2) All appointments to the task force made under subsection
(1) of this section must be completed by the later of 30 days
after the effective date of this 2007 Act or August 1, 2007.
  (3) The purpose of the task force is to perform the study
described in subsection (4) of this section and make
recommendations on ways to balance the need of Oregon's
agricultural industry for an adequate agricultural workforce and
the needs of farm workers and their families.
  (4) The task force shall study:
  (a) The current supply of and demand for agricultural labor;
  (b) State and federal laws that address or affect the supply of
agricultural labor; and
  (c) The state and federal moneys available to address the needs
of farm workers and their families.
  (5) A majority of the members of the task force constitutes a
quorum for the transaction of business.
  (6) Official action by the task force requires the approval of
a majority of the members of the task force.
  (7) The President and the Speaker shall appoint one of the task
force members to serve as chairperson.
  (8) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing
authority shall make an appointment to become immediately
effective.
  (9) The task force shall meet at times and places specified by
the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the members of
the task force.
  (10) The task force may adopt rules necessary for the operation
of the task force.
  (11) The task force shall submit a report, and may include
recommendations for legislation, to the President and the Speaker
no later than 30 days before the next regular session of the
Legislative Assembly or, if a special session is scheduled to
convene pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution 1 (2007), 30
days before the special session.
  (12) The Legislative Administration Committee shall provide
staff support to the task force.
  (13) Members of the task force who are not members of the
Legislative Assembly are entitled to compensation and expenses
incurred by them in the performance of their official duties in
the manner and amounts provided for in ORS 292.495. Claims for
compensation and expenses shall be paid out of funds appropriated
to the Legislative Assembly for that purpose.
  (14) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS
174.111, are directed to assist the task force in the performance
of its duties and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to
confidentiality, to furnish such information and advice as the
members of the task force consider necessary to perform their
duties.
  (15) The Legislative Administrator may accept, on behalf of the
task force, contributions of moneys and assistance from the
United States Government or its agencies or from any other
source, public or private, and agree to conditions placed on the
moneys not inconsistent with the duties of the task force. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + Section 1 of this 2007 Act is repealed on the
date of the convening of the next regular biennial legislative
session. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + This 2007 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2007 Act takes effect on the 30th
day after the date on which the regular session of the
Seventy-fourth Legislative Assembly adjourns sine die. + }
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