CLF Legislative Priorities for the 2015 Oregon Legislative Session
Coalition for a Livable Future has prioritized the following bills:
Descriptions of each of the bills:
| Issue/ Legislation | CLF Member Lead | Description & Priorities |
|---|---|---|
|
Bicycle Transportation Alliance on behalf of Transportation for Oregon's Future Contact: Chris Rall, Transportation for America |
High school students need better access to transportation options other than yellow school buses. Students who don’t have other options often are limited in participating in extracurricular activities or getting to needed after-school jobs; have trouble connecting to health, family, and social services; or suffer from excessive absenteeism. By setting aside up to $20 million from the General Fund, the Transit Funding for Youth would allow transit agencies, in collaboration with school districts and cities, to apply for grant funding to subsidize youth transit passes and/or increase transit service. |
|
| Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Funding |
Bicycle Transportation Alliance on behalf of Oregon Transportation Forum Contact: Craig Campbell, Oregon Transportation Forum craig@victorygrp.com |
Previously, bike and pedestrian project eligibility widened as part of ConnectOregonV, and the response for proposals surpassed the $42.3 million available for the program. This demand demonstrates a strong nationwide call for more bicycle and pedestrian facilities that can lead to higher rates of physical activity and better health outcomes. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Funding proposes to maintain the current breadth of eligible projects and restore funds to $100 million in lottery bonds for the 2015-2017 biennium. Funds would be used for grants and loans to support capital projects that involve non-auto modes of transportation, while also creating and improving access to jobs. This is considered a short-term step while the state progresses toward a Multi-Modal Trust Fund, similar to the Highway Trust Fund, with dedicated revenues evenly split between passenger and freight investments. |
|
(HB 2564) |
OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon Contact: Jonathan Ostar, OPAL jon@opalpdx.org |
Oregonians are struggling to find decent, affordable housing in communities with better education, cleaner air, transportation options, and improved safety. Currently, Oregon’s practice of banning mandatory Inclusionary Zoning tools means that new developments do not have to offer housing options at a mix of income levels. The legislation put forward is to repeal Oregon’s ban on inclusionary zoning to restore local control of land use planning, combat economic and racial segregation, free up public housing dollars, and promote overall community health and prosperity. |
|
Ban Junk Food Marketing in Schools (LC 2527) |
Upstream Public Health Contact: Kasandra Griffin, Upstream Public Health kasandra@upstreampublichealth.org |
Oregon has been on the forefront of promoting healthy foods in schools and banning junk food in vending machines. However, the current legislation does not address marketing materials such as signage and vending machine displays. The ban on junk food marketing in schools would be an addition to the current legislation with the simple message - if you can’t sell it, you shouldn’t be able to market it. |
|
(LC 1229) |
Upstream Public Health on behalf of Oregon Health Equity Alliance Contact: Andrea Paluso, Family Forward Oregon andrea@familyforward.org |
Too few people earn sick time at work, both private-sector workers and a high number of low-income workers. Everyone gets sick occasionally, but not everyone has the time they need to recover or care for sick family members, and individuals often risk their financial security when illness strikes. The Earned Sick Leave legislation will create a statewide standard that allows all Oregonians to earn sick time while working. |
|
(LC 2100) |
Urban League Contact: Midge Purcell, Urban League mpurcell@ulpdx.org |
What is the box? The “box” is the question on many employment applications that asks whether one has been convicted of a crime or been incarcerated. The Ban the Box Bill removes questions about criminal history from job and housing applications to ease employment and housing barriers. |
| Toxic Free Kids Act |
Oregon Environmental Council Contact: Angela Crowley-Koch, Oregon Environmental Council angelac@oeconline.org |
Various chemicals harmful to children’s development are found in consumer products specifically for infants and children. The Toxic Free Kids Act would establish a list of priority chemicals that pose the greatest concern to children’s health, require manufacturers to notify officials when their products contain them, and set manufacturers on a path to phase out hazardous chemicals. |
| CARE Act |
AARP Oregon Contact: Jon Bartholomew, AARP jbartholomew@aarp.org |
More than 460,000 individuals are caring for an aging loved one, helping them to live independently in their own homes. These caregivers perform a variety of duties valued at about $5.5 billion annually, in Oregon alone. The CARE Act will allow an individual to record the name of a family caregiver when admitted to a hospital and ensures that the facility provides an explanation and instruction of the medical tasks that will be performed at home. |
| Gas Tax Amendment (SJR 16) |
Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates (AORTA) Contact: Jim Howell, Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates |
Wiser Use of Oregon’s Motor Vehicle Revenue: Currently, gas taxes and motor vehicle fees can only be spent on maintenance and construction of roads, severely limiting the state’s ability to reduce climate changing emissions from transportation, improve air quality, and reduce people’s reliance on cars. SJR 16 would allow motor vehicle taxes and fees to be spent on bus, rail, bicycle and pedestrian facilities that reduce air pollution or vehicle congestion. Because the limitation on the use of gas tax dollars is in Oregon's Constitution, this bill if passed would be referred to the voters. |
Image Source/Attribution - Edmund Garmon