News From The Legislature

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
 
Earlier last week, the co-Chairs of the Joint Ways and Means Committee released their budget proposal for 2009-2011. As expected, the state's dramatic revenue shortfall will require a combination of budget reductions and increased revenue sources. The co-Chairs' budget is not the end of the discussion but it will serve as a guide to the final budget. In addition to the release of the co-Chairs' budget, this week also marked the close of policy committees for the 2009 session. With the close of these committees, the budget will be at the forefront of the legislature's work. Throughout the rest of this session, I will continue to work towards preserving essential services in the next biennium.
In This Issue
 
1. Co-Chairs Release Budget
2. Prescription Drug Donation Program
3. Senate Votes to Extend Consumer Protection Suits
4. Woman's Health and Wellness Update
5. Legislative Policy Committees Close
Ways & Means co-Chairs Release Budget
 
On Monday May 18th, the co-Chairs of the Joint Ways and Means Committee released their proposed budget for 2009-2011. As I mentioned in the previous newsletter, the state is facing a budget deficit of $4.36 billion. The co-Chairs' budget has addressed this shortfall through a combination of federal matching funds, reserve funds, budget reductions, and new revenue.
 
In the proposed K-12 education budget, there is a proposed reduction of roughly $550 million. For Portland Public Schools, this translates into a reduction of $18 million, which is about $4 million above the amount anticipated by the school district. In addition, other education services face a reduction of roughly $300 million dollars. Similarly, human services face a reduction of nearly $400 million and public safety, a reduction of over $250 million.
 
This budget proposal is not final, however it is the blueprint for the state's spending priorities for the next biennium. The co-Chairs made balancing reductions with increasing revenue a priority. However, it is essential that the state enacts legislation for new revenue to prevent the loss of much needed social services. 
Prescription Drug Donation Program
 
On May 22nd, the Senate unanimously passed House Bill 2535, which creates a donation program for unused prescription drugs. This bill will create a program to allow Oregonians to donate their unused prescription drugs, so those drugs can be used by individuals that cannot otherwise afford medication. As you may remember from past newsletters, this session I am working on a related program to dispose of unused medication. HB 2535 is complementary to drug disposal. The drug donation program affects drugs that are safe to redistribute to those in need, while the drug disposal program affects drugs that are no longer safe for human use.
Senate Votes to Extend Product Liability Suits
 
On Tuesday, May 26th, the Senate voted in favor of Senate Bill 284, which extends Oregon's Statute of Ultimate Repose (SOUR). The SOUR law places a time limit for when a consumer can seek a civil action for a defective product, from the time the product is purchased. This time limit is different from the more commonly known statute of limitations, which limits when a consumer can sue from the time of the injury. Currently, a product defect suit must take place within 8 years of that product being originally purchased. SB 284 will raise this limit to 10 years. The bill will also create a "look away" provision, which allows an injured consumer to use the SOUR law of the state in which the product was made, instead of the 10 year Oregon limit. I voted for this bill in both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate floor because it will expand the ability of consumers to hold manufactures responsible for defective products.  
Woman's Health and Wellness Update
 
Today, May 29th, the Senate passed House Bills 3273 and 3022, two priorities of the Woman's Health and Wellness Alliance, of which I am a member. HB 3273 allows the Department of Human Services to contract for specialists in domestic violence services. This will allow DHS offices to provide in-depth services for victims of domestic violence and their children. A study by Portland State University found that similar programs improve victims' access to social services and decrease children being taking into foster care. HB 3022 grants physicians the power to prescribe antibiotics for gonorrhea and Chlamydia to an individual and their partner, without examining the partner of the infected individual. This bill gives healthcare providers an important tool in preventing the spread of the two most common sexually transmitted diseases in the state. I am proud to have supported these bills and I look forward to the Governor signing them soon.  
Legislative Policy Committees Close
 
This past Thursday, May 28th, was the final day for policy committees to meet for the 2009 legislative session. Until the end of session, the only committees left operating are the Joint Ways and Means Committee and each chamber's Rules and Revenue Committees. Much of our work will now focus on completing the 2009-2011 budget.