Oregon Trails

An Occasional Newsletter

from

The Association of Oregon Counties

Another Legislative Session in the Books

Big news from DC on federal forest payments

March 9, 2012

In the closing hours of the 2012 legislative session, House Bills 4175, 4176, and 4177 passed the Senate on votes of 30-0 each. HB 4175 (transfer of federal road funds for patrol), 4176 (declaration of fiscal emergency), and 4177 (property tax administration) are now waiting for the Governor's signature to become law, which is expected.

Temporary Rules, Request for Application and Model Contracts for CCOs

The Oregon Health Authority released the temporary rules, request for application (RFA) and model contracts for CCOs. These documents spell out the functional details of CCOs, how a group can apply to be a CCO and gives an example of the type of contract that is necessary for a CCO. These are lengthy documents that were published on Monday, March 5th and OHA is requesting feedback. The deadline for informal feedback is Tuesday, March 13th. AOC is working with its affiliates to provide feedback but each county is welcome to do so as well.

CCO Timeline

With the signing of SB 1580, the CCO process takes off once again at breakneck pace. OHA has released a timeline that details the checkpoints along the way. The next deadline is for non-binding letter of intent of CCO application due to OHA April 2, 2012. The first wave of new Coordinated Care Organizations will be certified May 28, 2012.

The Early Learning bill, HB 4165, was signed by Governor Kitzhaber on Tuesday of this week. The bill moves the Early Learning Council forward through eliminating the Commission on Childcare, Juvenile Crime Prevention Advisory Committee and State Commission on Children and Families and turns duties and funding of the State Commission to the Early Learning Council (ELC) and the new Youth Development Council. The bill also extends the life of the local commissions on children and families and ensures their funding through June 30th, 2013. It also impacts the local public health departments by requiring the new "community-based coordinators of early learning services" to make advantageous use of the system of public health care and services available through county health departments and other publicly supported programs delivered through, or in partnership with, counties. Finally, "in order to ensure an orderly transition from the local system of commissions on children and families, an entity submitting an application under section 77 must show inclusion of, and coordination with, county governments."

The Oregon Health Insurance Exchange (ORHIX) bill HB 4164 was signed by Governor Kitzhaber earlier this week. ORHIX will be a central marketplace providing access to affordable, quality health care coverage for individuals, families and small businesses. Under the law, people will be able to sign up for the exchange in October 2013, for coverage to start in 2014. Under the Affordable Care Act, over 95 percent of Oregonians will theoretically be covered by health insurance. ORHIX will be the marketplace for these individuals to obtain this insurance. Counties, as the providers of last resort, should see a reduction of costs as more individuals have access to federally supported health care. Clearly there are many variables and AOC will continue to monitor ORHIX's progress. For more information on ORHIX, please see OHA's page or the ORHIX Business Plan, or contact Mark Nystrom at AOC.

In the waning hours of the legislative session, SB 1564 was amended into SB 1552 and the amended SB 1552 was passed. This bill will allow for mediation before a lender can proceed with and eliminate dual tracking in which banks that are in the process of negotiating mortgage modifications with a homeowner while simultaneously pursuing a foreclosure.

The Oregon Investment Act, HB 4040, cleared the Legislature in the final days. Under the version passed by both chambers, the newly formed Oregon Investment Board will need to return with recommendations on which funds should be managed by the Board as well as procedures for coordination. Unless the Legislature concurs with the recommendations in 2013, the Act will sunset.

While in Washington, D.C. AOC executive director Mike McArthur had the opportunity to sit down and talk with the venerable Joe Miller

Oregon commissioners took a number of resolutions to the NACo Legislative Conference over the weekend. All Oregon resolutions were passed by NACo. They include:

• AOC's resolution urging reauthorization and funding for the Economic Development Adminisration (EDA).  
• The AOC resolution urging that post offices more than 30 miles apart not be closed. Oregon agreed to add language regarding distribution centers which solidified an urban/rural coalition to pass the resolution. 
• A Judge Steve Grasty initiative to oppose any defacto federal restrictions not explicitly enacted on use of public or private lands in proximity to designated wilderness or a wilderness study area.
• A Judge Gary Thompson proposal that supports the development of energy storage technology

Paul Woodin passed away on Friday, March 2 following a battle with brain cancer. Paul was the Executive Director and founder of the Community Renewable Energy Association and was known in the Northwest and nationally as an expert on policies surrounding the development of smaller, community-sized renewable energy projects.  Paul was a member of the AOC Energy and Environment steering committee and worked extensively with AOC and its counties on development of the Renewable Portfolio Standard, siting of wind energy facilities in counties, and reform of and replacement for the Business Energy Tax Credit to incent development in Oregon. 

Paul was a good friend to counties and we will miss him.

This spring, four high school seniors will earn $2,000 for college from the National Association of Counties (NACo)/Nationwide Scholarship. Winning applicants will have written a short essay describing why it's important for a public sector employee to start saving early for retirement.

This is the seventh year that Nationwide and NACo have teamed up to encourage high-school seniors to think about retirement.

Why spur students who haven't even started full-time work to think about retirement? Three reasons - by applying for the scholarship the students:

1. Must consider the financial impact of their decisions about college and their career and realize it is never too soon to start thinking about saving for retirement.
2. Begin to recognize the value perspective in turbulent financial times when often difficult decisions are required.
3. Identify specific actions that help prepare for a financially successful future.

To be eligible, applicants must be graduating high school seniors who are legal U.S. residents, their parent or grandparent must be enrolled in and contributing to the NACo 457 Deferred Compensation Program, and the student must enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study no later than the fall term of the 2012-2013 school year at an accredited two- or four-year college. Application and entry may be submitted on line between March 1 and April 16, 2012.

For more information about the scholarship

All of the information about eligibility, judging criteria and notification process are on the NACo and Nationwide Web sites. For more information, go to www.naco.org/retirementscholarship or www.nrsforu.com/scholarship.  

The Sonoma County Water Agency and Applied Solutions is proud to host The Growing Sustainable Communities Conferencein Sonoma County, California on May 2 - 3, 2012. With partners Climate Communities and Sustainable City Network, we are organizing a one-day educational opportunity on May 3, 2012 for municipal professionals and elected officials at the Double Tree Hotel in Rohnert Park, California. The conference will be preceded by a special, half-day legislative roundtable for top leadership, and a networking reception for all conference and roundtable attendees at the St. Francis Winery & Vineyards in Santa Rosa, California.

This conference will bring together leaders and staff from all over the West Coast region on the latest sustainability ideas, plans and best practices in four distinct programming tracks: Water, Energy, Transportation and Resource Management. Attendees will include mayors, council members, city/county managers, planners, engineers, departmental directors and local government staff, as well as state/federal elected officials.

What:      2012 Growing Sustainable Communities Conference

When:      Wednesday, May 2nd and Thursday, May 3rd , 2012

Where:     St. Francis Winery and Vineyards & Double Tree Hotel

                              Sonoma County, California

Hosts:      Sonoma County Water Agency

                              Applied Solutions

                              Climate Communities

                              Sustainable City Network

Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to seeing you. For additional information please call Amy Bolten at (707) 547-1981, amy.bolten@scwa.ca.gov or visit http://www.gscwest.com/.