On Wednesday, the Oregon Senate unanimously approved HJM 25 - calling on the United States Congress to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (federal forest payments). The debate in the Senate was obviously one-sided, but Senators sent a strong message to Congress - reauthorization is an obligation of the federal government to Oregon's timber communities. Senators pointed out that the health of Oregon's federal lands is abysmal and needs serious attention from the federal government immediately. Urban and suburban Oregon are also heavily impacted by the lack of public land management, economically and socially. 

HJM 25, having passed both chambers, now heads to Washington, D.C. where Congress is working on a budget that will hopefully include the reauthorization of federal forest payments. 

In our Nation's Capitol, Oregon's Congressional delegation continues to work tirelessly to secure a reauthorization of federal forest payments. The effort isn't easy by any means. 

U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings' (R-WA) office told the gathering of the Western Interstate Region (WIR) in Wenatchee, WA this week that the House Natural Resources Committee, which Rep. Hastings chairs, will hold hearings on the reauthorization sometime this summer.

On the Senate side, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) continues to work with other Senate offices on a long-term reauthorization and finding an appropriate legislative vehicle.  While the House has a budget plan, the Senate is apparently not going to have a similar blueprint, making Sen. Wyden's task that much more difficult.

If you have a chance over the next few weeks to interact with any of Oregon's Congressional delegation, please let them know how grateful Oregon counties are for their work on our behalf. 

Friday, the full Ways and Means Committee approved HB 2855, which continues the Government Efficiency Task Force, although in a slightly different way, for at least another biennium. Rep. Nancy Nathanson (D-Eugene), who chaired the previous GETF, sponsored HB 2855 and has been a dedicated champion of the concept.

Rep. Nathanson pointed out at the Ways and Means hearing Friday that the GETF produced 23 specific recommendations and many of those are currently making their way through the legislative process. One of them, HB 2854, regarding consolidating and coordinating motor pools, was passed out of Ways and Means Friday as well.

HB 2653A - a GETF bill on justice court collections has had a public hearing. HB 2482 - a GETF bill on jail pods and functions has also been given a public hearing. Both bills await a work session. 

One of the big issues still in play is Health Care Transformation. HB 3650 has been referred from the Joint Health Care Transformation Committee to the Ways and Means Committee. The Joint Committee on Health Care Transformation is not planning on any more meetings at this time.  

At the last meeting, the committee adopted the dash-4 amendments before passing the bill out. This version had language concerning counties that AOC's legislative committee voted to support.There were a couple of technical concerns AOC had concerning section 24 but legislators chose not to hear any other amendments. In fact, several other amendments were before members on Monday, but they were not considered at that time. The draft amendments are now posted on the committee web site. 

The Early Learning Design Team continues to meet plan the framework for the Early Learning Council.The Team is meeting both Saturday and Monday to continue their work.  

At the same time, two bills - SB 909 and HB 3086 - are making their way through the Legislature. SB 909 would establish the Early Learning Council. A recent amendment softened the language in regards to what will be included in the Early Learning Council. Rather than say that particular programs will be included in the Early Learning Council, it now states that "The council shall conduct an analysis of plans to merge, redesign or improve the co-ordination of early childhood services and to align early childhood services with child-centered outcomes" and then adds a long list including commissions on children and families and public health programs.  

HB 3086 is a companion bill that would abolish the State Commission on Children and Families and transfer the responsibilities to the Early Learning Council. HB 3086 also puts a July 1, 2012 sunset on local commissions with the idea that the local commissions would have an opportunity to "repurpose" themselves to align their responsibilities with the outcomes of the Early Learning Council. 

SB 909 has had a second public hearing in the Education subcommittee of Ways and Means. HB 3086-1 passed out of House Rules committee with a subsequent referral to Human Services subcommittee of Ways and Means.Rep. Tina Kotek's (D-Portland) office stated that the plan is to make amendments to HB 3086 in Ways and Means and eventually combine it with SB 909.

The wrestling match this session over how to provide funding to the Employment Relations Board for local government disputes was given a short time-out by the General Government Subcommittee of Ways and Means on Thursday.

The Subcommittee adopted a budget note to SB 5510 (ERB budget) that requests the Governor convene a workgroup to develop options and make recommendations to the Legislature at the beginning of the February 2012 session. The workgroup will address agency-wide process improvements, improved timely disposition of cases, limiting frivolous actions, management input into nominations to ERB, and an assessment-based model to fund services provided to local governments and their employees. The workgroup will be equally represented by management and labor and include representatives from AOC and 10 other organizations. 

The Subcommittee moved forward a one-year budget for local labor relations. If there is no agreement on funding out of the workgroup, ERB could provide services exclusively to those entities that provide funding to ERB.

Letters and testimony from around the state gave strong support for renewing locally sponsored enterprise zones. HB 3017 will renew the program to 2025. 

By the end of the public hearing, members of the Senate Revenue Committee said they were ready to vote the bill out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation. The bill is up for worksession on Monday May 23.

SB 317 which renews the Electronic Commerce Enterprise Zone Tax Credit will be heard by the Joint Tax Credit Committee on Tuesday. Since we understand that the Joint Tax Committee has a very limited "budget," providing letters and letting members of the committee know your strong support for this credit and the Longterm Enterprise Zone Tax Credit (HB 3173) would be important for these two bills.

HB 3656, a bill requiring the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and the state Commission to consult with cities and counties regarding fish and wildlife management, had a good hearing on Thursday night in House Rules. ODFW representatives and AOC Consultant Doris Penwell testified together on the bill. Before they testified, Reps. Mark Johnson (R-Hood River) and Sal Esquivel (R-Medford) testified in favor. Hanley Jenkins testified for Union County on how important it is for locals and ODFW to work together to get win-wins. Doris presented a letter from the cities in favor of the bill. Rep. Andy Olson (R-Albany), Chair of the Rules Committee, expects the bill to be back up on Monday for a work session at 3:00 pm.

An AOC focus item - support for funding of the Water Resources Department (WRD) and Commission at no less than the level of the Governor's Recommended Budget - is close to success after the Ways and Means Committee strong approval of HB 5049A on Friday. 

The budget is not perfect, but given the financial woes generally, it is adequate. It includes a five percent reduction to salaries and benefits of all staff, reduces four positions and 6.5 percent in services and supplies, and provides a seven percent "hold back" (also applied to other budgets) for year two if revenues are inadequate. Positive features include $15 million of general obligation bonds for loans for the Umatilla Basin, $1.2 million of lottery-backed grants for community water studies and two positions devoted to the Integrated Water Resources Strategy. 

An impressive array of stakeholders testified in support of the WRD budget, which has helped it be one of the least controversial agencies this session. 

Similarly, HB 2134A, a Tier I bill for the AOC Water Policy Committee, is headed to the Senate floor after the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee passed it on Tuesday. The bill would expand eligibility in a water exchange to include groundwater recharge permits in the Umatilla Basin as a means to implement the Umatilla Basin Project. It includes a provision for 'no net loss of flows in the Umatilla River'. After passing the House 59-0, positive Senate action appears assured.

 No Names Bill Passes

SB 628, which eliminates the requirement that counties post employee names and salaries annually, passed the House this week on a 59-1vote. It previously cleared the Senate and is now headed to the Governor's desk.  

On Thursday, the Senate Business, Transportation and Economic Development Committee voted out HB 3325 with a "do pass" recommendation. This bill, championed by Rep. Lew Frederick (D-Portland), will make changes to the "prospective purchaser agreement" statute and help stimulate the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated property by providing greater legal certainty to buyers of those properties.  

This bill is aimed at promoting the environmental clean-up of small brownfield sites and spurring economic re-development. Both urban and rural counties will benefit from this legislation because many communities around the state have small contaminated sites. For example, remnants of old defunct mechanic shops, processing facilities, dry cleaners and other facilities that used or disposed of toxic wastes. Often these small sites have been vacant for years and are blight in the community. Left alone, they can be public health hazards to nearby residents and businesses, including children who play on the vacant lots.   

At the same time, these small sites present an opportunity for re-development since they often have infrastructure readily accessible and can be a good location for entrepreneurs. HB 3325 helps address the barrier of legal uncertainty dealing with liability for prospective owners who are considering purchasing and developing brownfield sites. DEQ will be able to streamline the process by approving the prospective purchaser agreements through an administrative consent order rather than a court order, where appropriate. The expanded protections would be available only to prospective purchasers who have not previously owned or operated on the property and have no existing liability for contamination on the properties. 

Noxious Weeds Beware! 

HB 3358A, which will set up the infrastructure in the Department of Agriculture to issue grants for county noxious weed control, passed the House unanimously on Thursday after being presented by Rep. John Huffman (R-The Dalles). It now goes to the Senate, where passage is expected.

Veteran's Affairs

The Department of Veterans' Affairs budget was up for approval in the Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee of Ways and Means on Wednesday.  However, action on the bill was delayed until next Monday. The County Veterans' Service Officer's budget is part of this bill.The co-chair's budget was below the 09-11 adjusted budget and AOC staff is working on encouraging legislators to revert the budget to 09-11 adjusted levels (an increase of approximately $180,000.) This would allow the CVSOs from avoiding any further staff cuts. The CVSOs provide outreach and services to Oregon's approximately 350,000 veterans.

EFU Bill

The legislative proposal generated from the AOC Farmland Task Force, SB 960, has been scheduled for a hearing before the Senate Rules Committee on May 26th at 1:00 pm.  There are several bills still in play regarding wineries and farm land use. AOC is monitoring closely.  

BETC Study

The Oregon Department of Energy recently completed its BETC (Business Energy Tax Credit) return on investment ("Financial and Economic Impact of the Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit: An Analysis of Representative Projects Certified during the Period 2002-2009") report. You won't want to miss a word in the Final Report.  

Josi Receives Award

Tillamook County Commissioner Tim Josi is the receiptient of this year's prestigious Dale Sowards Award from the Western Interstate Region (WIR).  Commissioner Josi is a past WIR President in addition to his multi-terms as Chair of NACo's Public Lands Steering Committee. He is also a past president of AOC.

Former Wallowa County Commissioner Ben Boswell received the Sowards Award several years ago. 

The award is given for outstanding service to counties with public lands at the local, state and national levels.

Congratulations Tim!

Get Voting Credentials for 2011 NACo Election

Credentials and voting information for NACo's 2011 election have been mailed to the chief elected official of every member county. To vote, a county must have its 2011 dues paid, have at least one paid registration to the Annual Conference in Multnomah County, (Portland, Ore.) and have proper credentials. Click here to download the forms on or after May 19. Contact: Ilene Manster at NACo · 202.942.4291 for more information. 

NACo Presidential Appointments 

Time's running out to file NACo presidential appointment applications. June 2 is the deadline to submit names for NACo leadership appointments. Incoming President Lenny Eliason will appoint NACo's leadership team and a number of NACo committee appointments when he becomes president in July. Appointments are for one- to three-year terms, and membership on some of the committees has specific requirements. Fill out a Presidential Appointments Application online. Please click here to access the application. Contact: Karen McRunnel at NACo · 202.942.4238 for more information.

Ready to showcase Oregon to the nation? The National Association of Counties Annual Conference will be held in Multnomah County starting July 15th. Volunteers are needed to help guide the estimated 3000 county visitors around Portland and Oregon. Please consider using some of your spare time to help make their visit to our state and region a memorable one.  

Becoming a volunteer is easy. Just register. Volunteers will get training and a t-shirt among other things for their time. If you have questions, please contact Theresa Sullivan at Multnomah County. Her phone number is 503-988-3655. 

This Week's Contributors 

As you can see, we had a host of contributors this week.  Thanks to Lucy, Pig Pen, Peppermint Patty, Linus, Schroeder and Charlie Brown along with the usual gang (insert your own Mad Magazine reference here) - Mike McArthur, Gil Riddell, Marky Mark Nystrom, Annie Oakley Hanus, Doris Penwell, Art Schlack (really), Eric Schmidt, the Google Guy and Alex "AC" Cuyler".

Michael Eliason did not contribute this week, but he was preoccupied.  His wife Sally gave birth to their first child, Grant James Eliason.  Mother and baby are well.  Father is overwhelmed.  Congratulations to the Eliason family!

Have a Great Weekend!