| SENATE MAJORITY OFFICE Oregon State Legislature State Capitol Salem, OR |
News Release
April 5, 2011
CONTACT: Molly Woon (503) 986-1074
Senate Education Committee approves "mandate relief" legislation
SB 800 streamlines and eliminates wasteful requirements for educators
SALEM – A bill that will reduce the number of mandates that the state requires of Oregon’s public education system passed out of the Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee this afternoon on a 5-0 vote. Senate Bill 800 will cut administrative costs and improve efficiency at the Department of Education by eliminating cumbersome and unnecessary requirements.
“These are tough times for Oregon. That means it’s more important than ever that we find ways to work more efficiently,” said Senator Suzanne Bonamici (D-Washington Co./NW Portland), a chief sponsor of the bill. “Senate Bill 800 is a great example of how we are working to eliminate unnecessary mandates and make sure tax dollars are directly benefiting Oregon children and their families.”
Statutes listed for amendment or repeal in SB 800 include:
- Simplifying statewide and school and district report cards by putting some of the information on the Internet and allowing reports to be emailed;
- Eliminating a duplicate report on the race and ethnic characteristics of high school graduates;
- Eliminating curriculum requirements for the Irish Potato Famine, the arms race, and on conflict resolution;
- Eliminating an outdated requirement that school districts record the contents of student dental certificates;
- Eliminating the requirement that school districts withhold grade reports, diplomas, and records of students who owe more than $50; and
- Eliminating redundant and outdated requirements that the Superintendent distribute and prepare education laws.
“These are really straightforward changes that will lessen the burden on educators and free up resources to work on the issues that really matters,” said Senator Mark Hass (D-Beaverton), chair of the Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee. “We need to spend more time making sure our kids are getting a quality education, and less on bureaucratic reporting requirements.”
SB 800 has broad bipartisan support and was introduced at the request of a broad coalition of stakeholders including the Department of Education, the Oregon Education Association, the Oregon School Boards Association, the Oregon Association of Education Service Districts, the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators, the Oregon School Employees Association, and the American Federation of Teachers-Oregon.
The committee recommended that the bill go to the floor for consideration, rather than be referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means as previously indicated.
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For more information on the Senate Majority Caucus, please visit
oregonsenatedemocrats.com