75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 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 1278
House Bill 2544
Sponsored by Representatives BUCKLEY, GELSER; Representatives
CANNON, DEMBROW, HARKER, KOMP, READ, ROBLAN, VANORMAN, Senators
BONAMICI, DINGFELDER, ROSENBAUM
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.
Establishes Oregon Environmental Literacy Task Force. Directs
task force to develop Oregon Environmental Literacy Plan. Sunsets
task force on date of convening of next regular biennial
legislative session.
Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of
Education for purpose of funding task force and developing plan.
Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2009.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to environmental education; appropriating money; and
declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + (1) The Oregon Environmental Literacy Task
Force is established for the purpose of developing the Oregon
Environmental Literacy Plan described in section 2 of this 2009
Act.
(2) The task force consists of nine members as follows:
(a) The following three members appointed by the Superintendent
of Public Instruction:
(A) A representative of the Department of Education;
(B) A representative of a school district; and
(C) A representative of an education service district;
(b) A member who represents a nonprofit organization that
advances environmental education in Oregon and who is appointed
by the Governor;
(c) A member who represents the Institute for Natural Resources
created under ORS 352.239 and who is appointed by the Chancellor
of the Oregon University System;
(d) The Director of the Department of Environmental Quality, or
a designee;
(e) The State Parks and Recreation Director, or a designee;
(f) The State Fish and Wildlife Director, or a designee; and
(g) The Director of the Department of State Lands, or a
designee.
(3) A majority of the members of the task force constitutes a
quorum for the transaction of business.
(4) Official action by the task force requires the approval of
a majority of the members of the task force.
(5) The task force shall elect one of its members to serve as
chairperson.
(6) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing
authority shall make an appointment to become immediately
effective.
(7) 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.
(8) The task force may adopt rules necessary for the operation
of the task force.
(9) The task force shall submit a report, and may include
recommendations for legislation, to an interim committee of the
Legislative Assembly related to education no later than October
1, 2010.
(10) The Department of Education shall provide staff support to
the task force.
(11) Members of the task force are not entitled to
compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary
travel and other expenses incurred by them in the performance of
their official duties in the manner and amounts provided for in
ORS 292.495. Claims for expenses shall be paid out of funds
appropriated to Department of Education for purposes of the task
force.
(12) 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. + }
SECTION 2. { + (1) The Oregon Environmental Literacy Task
Force established by section 1 of this 2009 Act shall develop the
Oregon Environmental Literacy Plan.
(2) The goals of the Oregon Environmental Literacy Plan are to:
(a) Prepare students to understand and address the major
environmental challenges facing this state and country, including
the relationship of the environment to national security, energy
sources, climate change, health risks and natural disasters.
(b) Contribute to students establishing a healthy lifestyle by
making outdoor experiences part of the regular school curriculum
and creating programs that promote healthy lifestyles through
outdoor recreation and sound nutrition.
(c) Create opportunities for enhanced and ongoing professional
development of teachers by improving teachers' knowledge of
environmental issues, skill in teaching environmental issues in
the classroom and skill in teaching environmental issues in
settings outside of the classroom.
(3) To achieve the goals described in subsection (2) of this
section, the task force shall identify the following for the
plan:
(a) The academic content standards, content areas and courses
or subjects.
(b) The relationship of the plan to Oregon graduation
requirements.
(c) How the Department of Education will measure the
environmental literacy of students.
(d) The programs for professional development of teachers to
improve the teachers' knowledge of environmental issues, skill in
teaching environmental issues in the classroom and skill in
teaching environmental issues in settings outside of the
classroom.
(e) How the plan will be implemented, including securing
funding and other necessary support.
(f) How to encourage educational agencies and public schools to
participate in environmental education programs that:
(A) Improve teachers' knowledge of environmental issues, skill
in teaching environmental issues in the classroom and skill in
teaching environmental issues in settings outside of the
classroom.
(B) Focus on the development of teachers' environmental
knowledge and teaching skills as a career-long process that
stimulates teachers' intellectual growth and upgrades teachers'
proficiency in teaching about the environment.
(C) Develop teacher training curricula that focus on
environmental education and are aligned with state and local
academic content standards.
(D) Allow students to directly experience the outdoors by
providing environmental education experiences that are based on
outdoor activities and that use outdoor facilities.
(E) Incorporate field-based learning, place-based learning,
service learning, outdoor learning or experimental learning.
(F) Integrate environmental education into the curricula by
training teachers and administrators how to use field-based
learning, place-based learning, service learning, outdoor
learning and experimental learning and by encouraging and
supporting teachers to use the training in the curricula.
(G) Provide activities and programs that advance environmental
education, including interdisciplinary courses that integrate the
study of natural, social and economic systems and the use of the
environment as an integrating theme for a school curriculum. + }
SECTION 3. { + Sections 1 and 2 of this 2009 Act are repealed
on the date of the convening of the next regular biennial
legislative session. + }
SECTION 4. { + In addition to and not in lieu of any other
appropriation, there is appropriated to the Department of
Education, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2009, out of the
General Fund, the amount of $50,000 for the purpose of carrying
out the provisions of sections 1 and 2 of this 2009 Act. + }
SECTION 5. { + This 2009 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2009 Act takes effect July 1,
2009. + }
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