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 1356
 
                         Minority Report
 
                           A-Engrossed
 
                         Senate Bill 519
                   Ordered by the Senate May 5
     Including Senate Minority Report Amendments dated May 5
 
Sponsored by nonconcurring members of the Senate Committee on
  Commerce and Workforce Development: Senators TELFER, GEORGE
 
 
                             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.
 
    { - Prohibits employer from taking adverse employment action
against employee who declines to attend meeting or participate in
communication concerning employer's opinion about religious or
political matters. Requires employer to post notice. Provides
exceptions for religious organizations, political organizations
and certain meetings and communications. Creates cause of
action. - }
   { +  Declares public policy relating to employer and employee
communications.
  Refers Act to people for their approval or rejection at next
regular general election. + }
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to mandatory workplace communications to employee about
  employer's opinions; and providing that this Act shall be
  referred to the people for their approval or rejection.
  Whereas employers are the economic drivers in Oregon; and
  Whereas communications made by employers are essential to
operations; and
  Whereas public policy has a direct effect on both employers and
employees; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + It is declared that it is the public policy of
the State of Oregon that:
  (1) The state shall not interfere in communications between
employers and employees;
  (2) The state shall not restrict the free speech communications
of an employer;
  (3) The state shall not restrict the rights of an employer to
communicate to the employees of the employer about how political
matters or the activities of labor organizations could affect the
activities of the employees or the employer, or the functions of
the employer or the employees; and
  (4) The state shall not restrict or limit any communication of
religious matters by employers with a religious focus. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + This 2009 Act shall be submitted to the people
for their approval or rejection at the next regular general
election held throughout this state. + }
                         ----------