On its March 11, 2021 meeting, the Executive Council took position on the following bills:
HB 3299: OPPOSE
Relating to elections; declaring an emergency.
Prohibits individual from collecting and returning ballot of another individual, subject to specified exceptions.
Sponsored by Rep Drazan
Rationale: HB 3299 would ban many “Get Out the Vote” efforts and make access to the franchise more difficult for many Oregonians. This is against AAUP OR principle in support of the defense and expansion of democratic practices.
HB3300: OPPOSE
Relating to mandatory payments to labor organizations by public employees.
Removes authority of public employer and labor organization to enter into fair-share agreement.
Sponsored by Rep Nearman
Rationale: HB 3300 would limit local collective bargaining agreements in scope and is an attack at the financial health of AAUP OR member locals.
HB 3351: SUPPORT
Relating to minimum wage rate.
Establishes increase in statewide minimum wage rate beginning on July 1, 2022.
Sponsored by Rep Campos; Rep Dexter; Rep Grayber; Rep Pham; Sen Patterson
Rationale: HB 3351 would phase in an increase to the statewide minimum wage to $17/hr by 2024. AAUP OR stands with working people across OR, including our students and staff colleagues and allies who would benefit greatly by this action.
HB 3352: SUPPORT
Relating to access to health care.
Renames Health Care for All Oregon Children program as Health Care for All Oregon program and expands eligibility to adults who would qualify for Medicaid-funded state medical assistance program or for federal premium tax credits but for their immigration status.
Sponsored by Rep Alonso Leon; Rep Campos; Rep Grayber; Rep Hudson; Rep Pham; Rep Reynolds; Rep Salinas
Rationale: HB 3352 would expand the Health Care for All Oregon Children program to cover a wide range of adults and other Oregonians. AAUP OR has a long-standing principle that everyone should have high quality health care, and that removing the burden and anxiety around health care costs will help Oregonians from all walks of life gain access to higher education.
HJR 18: OPPOSE
Terminating state of emergency relating to COVID-19.
Terminates state of emergency relating to COVID-19.
Sponsored by Rep Nearman; Rep Reschke
Rationale: HJR 18 would terminate the state of emergency relating to COVID-19. AAUP OR believes that doing so now, before the end of the pandemic, and with the virus still spreading throughout Oregon, would be a detriment to our state and to higher education.
The Oregon PERS Coalition and the PSU-AAUP Legislative Committee are recommending that the PSU-AAUP Executive Council vote in SUPPORT of HB 2375, HB 2867, HB 2906, and SB 111:
HB 2375: SUPPORT
Relating to the forfeiture of retirement credit under the Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan; declaring an emergency.
Provides for restoration of retirement credit for member of Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan who forfeited retirement credit due to lack of service at end of 2020. Provides that member forfeits retirement credit on December 31, 2021, if member performs fewer than 600 hours of service in 2021. Declares emergency, effective on passage.
HB 2867: SUPPORT
Relating to payments under the Public Employees Retirement System subject to Oregon personal income tax; prescribing an effective date.
Directs Public Employees Retirement Board to initiate, resume or suspend payment of certain increased benefits under Public Employees Retirement System on first day of calendar quarter following receipt of notice by board that benefit payments are or are not subject to Oregon personal income tax. Directs board to pay increased benefits not paid to person because board determined that payments were not subject to Oregon personal income tax if person later establishes that payments were subject to Oregon personal income tax. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.
HB 2906: SUPPORT
Relating to employee contributions to the Public Employees Retirement System.
Directs Public Employees Retirement Board to study methods for allowing members of Public Employees Retirement System to certify that member will earn less than $30,000 in calendar year so that board does not credit employee contributions to employee pension stability account.
SB 111: SUPPORT
Relating to public employee retirement.
Modifies provisions relating to public employee retirement.
You can find all our latest endorsements and positions HERE.