On Feb. 1, the 2016 February session will officially begin. You may recall that annual sessions were approved by the voters in 2010 and the even-year sessions were limited to 35 days and intended to give the legislature an opportunity to make needed budget adjustments and to consider “minor” policy needs. Each legislator is limited to introducing just two bills, with just a little more than one week to pass your bills out of committee.
My first legislative priority in February will be an investment in much needed supports for community college students across Oregon. After passing the Oregon Promise in the last session, establishing a tuition waiver program for high school graduates that meet the requirements, Oregon is now among the national leaders in increasing affordable access to higher education.
The next step in making sure the Oregon Promise is successful is helping students who enter college actually complete. In my testimony before a White House panel in December, I told the participants that passing the policy bill was the easy part. Now we have to make sure that these new students the state is investing in become successful and complete their degrees. HB 4076 calls for using existing resources to invest in proven programs that help students be successful. By completing their two-year degree or career technical certificate, students will be ready to fill a family wage job or move on to a bachelor’s degree and have a clear path to a more financially successful future.
A recent Oregon Supreme Court decision has created a great deal of uncertainty regarding the legal value of pre-activity liability release forms. With the number of recreational activities in the Gorge that involve some degree of participant risk, this is obviously an important issue for our region as it may impact the ability of event organizers and business owners to obtain liability insurance. As a first step in the process to provide better clarity on the issue, I’ve been working closely with representatives of Meadows, Timberline and Mt. Bachelor to update the skier activity statutes that exist in Oregon law.
My bill will update the current language, which dates all the way back to 1979. How many of you skiers are aware that Oregon statutes still require you use ski straps to fasten your skis to your boots? Since 1979, there have also been huge changes and developments to the industry, including snowboarding and terrain parks. By updating the statute, we will increase skier (and snowboarder) awareness and safety by clarifying how they should conduct themselves on the slopes and what potential hazards may exist, and we will also be clarifying the area operators’ responsibilities as well.
This much needed language change will also allow Oregon to become aligned with our other neighboring ski-states. Thank you to the Hood River City Council and County Commission for signing a resolution in support of this update.
February sessions are a fast-paced and hectic experience from start to finish. I’m looking forward to pursuing these important topics on behalf of my constituents in HD 52 and all Oregonians. As always, if you have any questions feel free to contact my office at 503-986-1452 or email rep.markjohnson@state.or.us.
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