Most of the bills that we deal with at the end of session are budget bills that have finally worked their way through the Ways and Means process to the floor for a vote.  But some of the bills get to us late in the session because they are controversial and have experienced a fair amount of opposition.  Here are a few bills that caused a good deal of discussion on the floor when they came up for a vote:

SB 412C grants tribal police officers the right to enforce state law off tribal lands even though the crime might not have been committed on a reservation.  Currently, state law allows tribal officers to arrest off tribal lands but only under narrow circumstances, namely if the suspect is attempting to elude and resisting arrest.  SB 412C expands a tribal officer’s ability to provide law enforcement off tribal lands beyond those two categories, but it also carries with it certain requirements, mainly with respect to training and certification.

With the passage of SB 412C, tribal officers will now have to complete all of the training and certification requirements imposed on all other police officers by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.  The tribes will also have to waive sovereign immunity from tort liability, insure public access to records, preserve biological evidence and adhere to the requirements surrounding the use of deadly force.  The bill passed 33-25, and I supported it because it will improve the overall professionalism of tribal forces and provide additional law enforcement for those adjacent communities that wish to create agreements of mutual cooperation.

Another bill that squeaked by on a 31-29 vote was HB 2726B, which modifies the definition of “smoke shop” for purposes of the Oregon Indoor Clean Air Act.  As you know, since 2007, smoking has been prohibited in almost all public places except cigar bars and smoke shops certified by the Oregon Tobacco Prevention and Education Program (TPEP).  But since December 2008, TPEP has received close to 50 applications for a smoke shop exemption, mainly from hookah lounges, establishments where patrons smoke sweetened or flavored tobacco through water pipes.

HB 2726B modifies provisions of the Clean Air Act largely in response to the recent proliferation of hookah lounges.  But there was also the need to further define smoke and cigar shops, and to restrict the sale of food and beverages therein.  The bill also imposes new specifications regarding ventilation and it grandfathers in eight smoke shops (statewide) that share a common wall.  Although this is not a perfect bill, and there was heated debate about its merits, I was persuaded to support the bill because it puts restrictions on smoke and cigar shops and hookah lounges that do not now exist.  There is more that can be done, but this is a step in the right direction.

Finally, as I write this newsletter we are in the midst of approving the Sine Die Resolution, the bill that brings the 76th Legislative Assembly to a close.  Most of us greet this event with a mixture of emotions: happiness to be able to return to “normal” life, and sadness that the close working relationships that we have developed are coming to an end.  This has been an historic session for the House of Representatives.  When we began this grand experiment, with Republicans and Democrats evenly split, we had no way of knowing if we would even be able to function.  I am proud to say that we did and, thanks to the even-handed leadership of our Co-Speakers, Bruce Hanna and Arnie Roblan, I will dare to say that it was a resounding success.

Thank you to all who read this weekly newsletter and who took the time to comment, call, email and question me on my votes.  I hope that you learned something about the process and that you will continue to be engaged not only with me but with all your elected officials.  This will be my last regular newsletter; however I will keep in touch whenever issues of interest arise.  I hope to run into many of you as I attend the fairs and festivals throughout the district – please come up and say hi. 

Thanks again for your support and have a wonderful summer!