Senate Democrats released summaries of their accomplishments for the 2010 February Session online today. The issue areas emphasize the caucus’ commitment to helping middle class families, supporting small businesses, and working to create jobs for out-of-work Oregonians.

“The February session illustrated that we can accomplish important and pressing work during a short supplemental session,” said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin). “Without last month’s session, thousands of Oregonians would be running out of unemployment benefits, thousands of Oregon parents would be forced to choose between their job and day care for their kids, and thousands of students would be losing the help they need to stay in college.”

Devlin also pointed to major accomplishments in consumer protection, taking care of Oregon children, and reforming state programs as indicative of the session’s success.

“I’m proud of what we accomplished in 20 working days. During a time when many states have been immobilized by budget problems and partisan gridlock, Oregon Democrats have continued to deliver meaningful help for Oregonians who are struggling to get by,” said Devlin.

The customary “end-of-session binder” created by the Senate Majority Office at the completion of each session can be found at this link or this address: http://www.leg.state.or.us/senatedemocrats/docs/2010_end_of_session_report.pdf.

Senate Leaders today called the February 2010 Supplemental Session a success, citing a list of budgetary and policy accomplishments which will create jobs and protect public schools and the middle class. Lawmakers convened the session February 1 and officially adjourned sine die at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, three days before the Legislature’s self-imposed deadline.

“This session, our second attempt at an annual session, has been tough. Things are tough everywhere, in every state. We showed that in Oregon when the going gets tough, the tough get going. We didn’t sit on our hands. We accomplished what we came here to do. We brought the state budget back into balance after a revenue forecast that was down and tackled important policy issues,” said Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem/Woodburn/Gervais). “We met our internal deadlines and for the fourth straight session, the Legislature has kept its word to the Oregon people and adjourned ahead of schedule.”

Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin) pointed to the Senate Democratic Caucus’ follow through on the priorities they set for the February session.

“We came to the Capitol focused on helping Oregonians get back to work and looking out for them middle class,” said Devlin. “Our accomplishments reflect that commitment. From expanding job-creating programs to extending emergency unemployment to eliminating barriers to work, Senate Democrats delivered.”

Devlin said the February session illustrated why annual sessions are necessary. The Legislature addressed student assistance, rebalanced the budget, responded to immediate threats to the state’s agricultural industries, and took action on items that could not wait until the next regular session in 2011.

“Given the fast-paced nature of our world, we need to change the way we do business in Salem,” said Devlin. “The annual sessions bill we passed today will ask voters if the Legislature should be required to meet for annual, fixed-length sessions. This will allow us to be more responsive to Oregonians and exercise greater control over our budget, all within a fixed timeline that gives us the time to get the job done.”

The proposed Constitutional change will, for the first time, set absolute limits on the number of days the Legislature can meet.

In addition to accomplishing all of the goals laid out on their 2010 February Agenda, Senate Democrats made advances in areas of consumer protection, public safety, and protecting school funding. An abbreviated list includes:

Access to Business Capital Act for Oregon Businesses

Senate Bill 1017 gives small businesses better access to the capital they need through the Oregon Business Development Fund and the Oregon Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund. This will help create and expand small businesses across the state.  (Agenda item)

Building Opportunities for Oregon Small Business Today Fund

House Bill 3698 creates the BOOST Fund to increase the availability of working capital to Oregon small businesses that create jobs and hire Oregonians to fill them.

Helping Oregonians stay afloat

House Bill 3655 provides an immediate six week extension in unemployment insurance benefits for out-of-work Oregonians. This will help nearly 19,000 Oregonians make ends meet while they search for employment while putting dollars into local communities. (Agenda item)

Giving consumers rights against unscrupulous lenders and banks

House Bill 3706 broadens the state’s anti-fraud laws so that both private citizens and the Attorney General can sue lenders for misrepresentations, as they can do with most other businesses in Oregon.  Consumer finance lenders, banks and trusts, credit unions, and mortgage lenders would no longer be exempt from legal action.

Eliminating unreasonable barriers to employment

Senate Bill 1045, the Job Applicant Fairness Act, will help Oregonians get back to work by allowing them to compete for jobs based on their qualifications, not their credit history. The bill will restrict job related credit checks, eliminating unreasonable barriers to employment for Oregon’s jobseekers.  (Agenda item)

Increasing access to affordable health care

Senate Bill 1003 gives small businesses and their employees increased access to affordable health insurance by modifying requirements for association health plans. Such plans are used by many general contractors and other small businesses to offer health care to their workers.  (Agenda item)

Ended resentencing hearings for violent criminals and sex offenders

Senate Bill 1009 clarifies that violent criminals cannot be granted 10 percent additional earned time. The bill automatically suspends resentencing hearings, imposes a “time-out” on additional earned time, expands the list of ineligible crimes, and calls for an independent audit of the program so the Legislature can adjust accordingly next session.

Protected funding for public schools

The re-balanced state budget makes good on the Legislature’s intent in 2009 to provide $6 billion in funding for Oregon’s public schools. This money provides certainty to school districts, allowing them to plan a full school year for Oregon’s children.

Approved construction projects creating hundreds of jobs

Senate Bills 5563 and 5564 authorize bond sales to fund the $65 million renovation of the Oregon Department of Transportation building on the Capitol Mall and $75 million for a new 451-bed dormitory on the University of Oregon’s East Campus. Combined the two projects will create approximately 600 jobs. (Agenda item)

Oregon Opportunity Grants

House Bill 5100 provides $9.7 million in additional financial aid that will make a college education more affordable in the current academic year and set aside another $10 million for future enrollment growth. The grants are money paid directly to students to help offset the cost of a college education.

Help with daycare for working parents

House Bill 5100 includes $12.8 million for Employment Related Day Care allowing parents of 5,500 Oregon children from 2,900 families to continue to work. ERDC assistance allows parents to keep their jobs and avoid having to choose between work or staying home to care for their children. Additionally, it protects the jobs of more than 1,500 daycare workers who care for 5,500 Oregon children from 2,900 Oregon families.

Protected Oregon’s Fruit Crop

House Bill 5100 includes $225,000 to battle a fruit fly infestation in Oregon’s fruit industry. State experts estimate these fruit flies could damage 20 percent of the state’s fruit crop and deal a severe blow to the state’s agricultural economy.

Increased funding for Public Safety

House Bill 5100 includes the use of $706,000 in dedicated funds for the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training to fund two additional 16-week basic training academies for law enforcement officers. This will expedite placement of police officers throughout Oregon communities and on state highways.

Annual sessions

SJR 41 asks the voters to decide whether the Legislature should be required to meet yearly and limits the regular session to 160 days in odd-numbered years and 35 days in even-numbered years. This change will modernize state government to make it more responsive to Oregonians’ needs and increase financial accountability over the state budget. (Agenda item)

Legislation passed by the Senate and on the way to the Governor’s desk includes:

• Health care for foster kids (HB 3664): Allows young adults up to 21 years old who are leaving the state’s foster care system to continue receiving health care benefits.

Today, children who are in foster care receive their medical coverage through the Oregon Health Plan. However, upon becoming 19 years old, they are no longer eligible for this coverage. A Medicaid option, known as the Chafee option, allows states to extend Medicaid to former foster children up to age 21. Currently, there are 21 states that use the Chafee option to provide health care coverage to former foster youth.

• Vision screening for Oregon children (HB 3626): Directs the Department of Education to establish pilot programs that provide vision screenings to students. Early detection of vision problems can provide a child more opportunity for educational success.

• High Risk Health Care Pool (HB 3659): authorizes the Oregon Health Authority to apply to the Federal Government for authorization to establish a Temporary National High Risk Pool Program if federal legislation creates and allocates funds for it.

“In these closing days of the February session, we’re passing out legislation targets our limited resources where they can do the most good,” said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin. “This bills help set the stage for healthy development and utilization of federal dollars that will benefit our entire health care system.”

The Senate passed legislation this afternoon that broadens the state’s anti-fraud laws to apply to lenders. House Bill 3706 will allow both private citizens and the Attorney General to sue lenders for misrepresentations, as they can do with most other businesses in Oregon.

“Banks and lenders should be subject to the same laws as other Oregon businesses, and if they break those laws we should be able to hold them accountable,” said Senator Suzanne Bonamici (D-NW Portland/Washington Co.), chair of the Senate Consumer Protection Committee. “Strengthening consumer confidence is an important part of rebuilding our economy, and better consumer protection laws can help bring back that confidence.”

HB 3706 will add “loans and extensions of credit” to the definition of “real estate, goods, or services” in the Unlawful Trade Practices Act. Consumer finance lenders, banks and trusts, credit unions, and mortgage lenders would no longer be exempt from legal action.

“This session is about sticking up for middle class families,” said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin). “When fraud is committed, Oregonians need to be able to take action against those that did them wrong. This bill closes a major loophole.”

Enforcement of HB 3706 would be both through Oregon’s Attorney General and a private citizen’s right to sue.

“The Oregon Legislature has plugged a gaping hole in the law that allows banks to take advantage of consumers with no repercussions,” said Attorney General John Kroger. “With this new authority, the Department of Justice will hold banks and mortgage companies responsible if they violate the law.”

The bill will now go to the House for a concurrence vote.

Senate Democrats fulfilled a key commitment on their February 2010 Agenda this afternoon by passing legislation that allows greater access to business development funds. Senate Bill 1017, called the Access to Business Capital Act (ABC Act) gives small businesses better access to the capital they need through the Oregon Business Development Fund and the Oregon Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund.

Senator Suzanne Bonamici (D-NW Portland/Washington Co.) and Representative Margaret Doherty (D-Tigard) worked together on the legislation, which is a key part of both the House and Senate Democrats’ agendas for the February session.

“The ABC Act helps community businesses by making it easier for them to access small business loan programs,” said Bonamici. “This bill will provide additional flexibility to get money out the door more quickly to companies that need help.”

Nearly 60 percent of Oregon Business Development Fund loans are made in rural areas of Oregon, giving help to small businesses who need capital to expand and grow and helping create jobs. The Oregon Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund helps smalls businesses get off the ground by providing start-up funds and has been one of the most successful tools the state has in targeting loans to women, with over 36 percent of the existing loans being made to women-owned businesses across the state.

“Senate Democrats have made creating jobs and making Oregon an attractive place to open and grow small businesses their top priority for the February Special Session said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin). “This bill is a great indicator of how we can help foster Oregon’s path to economic recovery.”

The bill will now go to the House for consideration.

SALEM – A pair of construction projects that will create hundreds of jobs in Oregon for the next two years were approved by the State Senate Tuesday.

Senate Bills 5563 and 5564 authorize the use of dedicated funds for the $65 million renovation of the Oregon Department of Transportation building on the Capitol Mall and $75 million for a new 451-bed dormitory on the University of Oregon’s East Campus. Neither project requires general fund dollars to repay the bonds.

“Approval of these projects continues the commitment we made during the 2009 session to use the tools the Legislature has to create jobs in Oregon’s economy,” said Senate President Peter Courtney, who also serves as the Senate Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. “We didn’t just sit back and wait for the things we did last year to make a difference. We have kept our focus on giving Oregon and her people the opportunity to work their way out of this crisis.”

In February 2009, the Legislature passed the $175 million “Go Oregon” stimulus package of 477 shovel ready deferred maintenance projects and followed it up with a $1.3 billion investment in capital construction at the close of session in June. To date, more than 7,700 people have received paychecks as a result of Go Oregon and the end of session capital construction legislation is expected to create 12,000 jobs.

“Democrats’ number one focus for this session has been creating jobs,” said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin). “With spring around the corner, we’re making sure the historic investments we made in 2009 are creating jobs while putting additional available resources into projects that will create additional work in the hard-hit construction sector.”

ODOT forecasts its project will create the equivalent of 466 jobs per year for the 18-month duration of the project. The number takes into account direct construction jobs and indirect jobs with suppliers and contractors. Additionally, ODOT anticipates the project expenditures will create 260 secondary jobs elsewhere in the Oregon economy. Repayment of the bonds sold to finance the ODOT building project will be replaced using dedicated transportation funds.

The University of Oregon estimates that construction of the dorm will sustain the equivalent of 126 construction jobs throughout the 22-month duration of the project, with peak on-site employment of approximately 300 workers. Repayment of the bonds sold to finance the dormitory project will be repaid using fees paid by University students.

Legislation that will help governments make decisions about how to develop smart, sustainable, and cost-effective transportation systems passed in the Senate this afternoon. Senate Bill 1059 lays the groundwork for communities to plan for future population and employment growth while reducing greenhouse gases.

“This bill deals with one important piece of the climate puzzle – transportation,” said Senator Alan Bates (D-Ashland), who carried the bill on the floor. “We must design our cities more efficiently, everything from timing our traffic signals to increasing our ability to run errands with fewer or shorter trips in the car. This bill sets the stage for progress.”

A task force established by the 2009 Legislature proposed Senate Bill 1059, which would assist Oregon’s six major metropolitan areas to develop plans to broaden transportation choices while also helping Oregon meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals.

“Oregon is fast becoming a leader in green transportation options, be it light rail or streetcar, bike paths, or pedestrian friendly neighborhoods,” said Senator Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland). “Cutting down on driving saves money, encourages healthy behavior, and promotes greater energy independence.”

Specifically, SB 1059 lays the groundwork for smart and cost effective action by developing a state-level strategy to reduce greenhouse gases from transportation sources, developing a “toolkit” to assist local governments and metropolitan planning organizations,  setting greenhouse gas reductions targets, and encouraging public education.

“A sizable majority of people want to live in communities that allow them to drive less often,” said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin), citing a study by the National Association of Realtors. “This bill is a good step forward in figuring out how to address Oregon’s transportation needs while meeting Oregon’s renewable energy goals.”

The bill will now go to the House for consideration.

Victims of sexual assault can be assured their experiences won’t prevent them from getting health care with legislation passed this evening in the Oregon Senate. HB 3631 prohibits insurers from discriminating against victims of sexual violence by treating that victimization, or physical or mental injuries sustained as a result of that victimization, as a preexisting condition that would exclude or limit coverage.

“Approximately one in six Oregon women will experience sexual assault in her lifetime. This bill corrects an injustice that adds insult to injury when victims of sexual assault and domestic violence are at risk of losing their health care coverage,” said Senator Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland), who co-chairs the Oregon Women’s Health and Wellness Alliance.

Although sexual assault is a medical emergency, a minority of victims seek immediate medical care. The Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force reports that recent studies have shown that 37 percent of health care costs may be the result of sexual assault, which includes mental health care, disease processes that are the result of drugs, nicotine and alcohol addiction, heart disease and hypertension.

“Sexual assault can have permanently damaging mental, emotional, and physical side effects,” said Deputy Senate Majority Leader Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham) “Hopefully this legislation can encourage victims to ask for the care they need without fear of denial.”

HB 3631 was introduced in the House by Representative Suzanne VanOrman (D-Hood River). The bill will now go to the Governor for his approval.

Legislation encouraging Oregon entrepreneurs to start new businesses found enthusiastic support in the Senate this morning. HB 3627, coined the Oregon Entrepreneur Investment Act, allows workers who receive a severance package to deduct that severance pay from their income taxes in order to invest in a new or existing small business.

“One of the biggest obstacles to starting a business is raising capital.  And sometimes a severance check is the largest portion of capital people can bring to their new business,” said Senator Mark Hass (D-Beaverton), who carried the bill on the floor. “This is a small shot in the arm for Oregonians who can take an economic setback and turn it into an opportunity.”

HB 3627 allows Oregon residents to claim an income tax subtraction of up to $500,000 for investing their severance pay into a new or existing Oregon small business.  The bill requires people who claim this credit to maintain their investment for at least 24 months and makes the credit conditional on stringent requirements about the investor’s participation in the business.  The program will sunset in 2014.

“It’s more important than ever to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit in Oregon,” said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin). “The success of our state is reliant upon encouraging investment and innovation. Growing businesses create jobs, and jobs are our number one priority this session.”

Over the past ten years roughly 5 to 9 percent of employees start their own business in response to a job loss. This policy would provide additional capital for such taxpayers as an incentive to start their own business. HB 3627 was sponsored in the House by Representative Tobias Read (D-Beaverton). The bill will now go to the Governor for his approval.

In a rare Saturday session, the Senate voted this morning to pass legislation that helps out some of the most low-income homeowners in the state. House Bill 3640 requires the four largest Oregon counties to cancel property taxes on manufactured homes valued at less than $12,500.

“The people living in these homes typically live at or below the poverty line,” said Senator Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland), who carried the bill on the floor. “Small bills of a hundred dollars here and there can add up to an insurmountable obstacle. This bill offers relief for these low-income Oregonians.”

Rosenbaum explained that the cost of collecting outstanding taxes from these properties is often more expensive than forgiving the debt in the first place.

“In a time when so many people are struggling to get by and county services are already stretched thin, this bill gives low-income Oregonians a break and counties some flexibility,” said Senator Chris Edwards (D-Eugene), the chief Senate sponsor of the bill.

According to Multnomah County, the majority of properties valued under $15,000 were delinquent, even when outstanding debts were only $100 a year.

“This legislation will allow county assessors to better budget their time,” said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin). “Not all counties are required to participate, but it does give them another tool in their toolbox.”

The counties affected are Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, and Lane. HB 3640 was introduced by Representative Val Hoyle (D-Eugene) in the House. The bill will now go to the Governor for his signature.