Oregon's Legislative Session Week 9

Things have been moving quickly at the Capitol. The first deadline passed on Friday, March 17. Bills which did not have an agenda posted for a work session prior to Friday will not move forward. (Exceptions to this deadline are bills referred to Rules, Revenue, or Joint Committees). Leading up to the deadline, advocates rallied for their bills to be heard and scheduled, and committee leaders try to make it all work with the time remaining. We were pleased to see many of our priority bills including HB 2457 for DSP Wages and SB 1016 for Regional Family Networks have been scheduled for work sessions, surviving this first major hurdle of the legislative session.

DD Advocacy Day & Legislator Reception

The deadline wasn’t the only excitement in Salem this past week. The GO! Project team was thrilled to host our first-ever Legislator Reception at Willamette Heritage Center near the Capitol. While legislators were not able to attend as expected, we drew in advocates from all across the state who have not been together in community since before the pandemic. It was great to share smiles, hugs, and updates in person—visit our Facebook to see photos from the event! We are hosting another legislator reception at Willamette Heritage Center on April 27, and we not only want to invite every one of you, but we hope you will reach out and invite your legislators as well.

Online, the GO! team pulled off another first by hosting a Spanish-language session of our Legislative Advocacy 101 training. We learn a lot each time we try something new, and the DD Coalition is excited have the involvement of our Spanish-speaking community members. Our work is enriched by every new voice. We will look forward to expanding our Spanish-language offerings in the future!

Update: Regional Family Networks

The Senate Committee on Human Services held a public hearing on March 15th for SB 1016 which would officially add the Regional Family Networks into the DD Services system. One of the Chief Sponsors of the Bill, Senator Gelser Blouin noted that the hearing happened to coincide with Kathryn Weit's Birthday which was significant because the Regional Family Networks are a result of the visionary work Kathryn initiated over a decade ago. We are excited that the bill now has a very real opportunity to move forward this session.

Update: Direct Support Professional Wage Standardization

HB 2457 is a bill designed to increase Direct Support Professional (DSP) wages. This essential workforce supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work and thrive across our state. Increases in DSP wages are needed to address the current workforce shortage. Per a recent Oregon Resource Association survey, 85% of providers are no longer accepting referrals to serve new people and 86% have reduced capacity or closed services and anticipate closing additional services.

This bill will increase the average DSP wage to 150% of Portland-Metro minimum wage and make it possible for providers continue offering needed services. It also covers the employer portion of Paid Leave Oregon. The bill currently sits before the House Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services. A Work Session, scheduled for March 16, 2023, was held over to next week. A "yes" vote from this committee will move the bill forward. The DD Coalition is asking the legislature to value the work of DSPs and standardize their wages by backing this bill!

The Oregon DD Coalition Opposes SB 633

The Senate Education Committee is holding a public hearing on March 21st for SB 633. This bill proposes to use public education dollars to create segregated regional special education centers for youth with disabilities. This would reintroduce institution-like settings in Oregon only 15 years after the state finally closed the doors at its last institution for people with I/DD.  

While Oregon faces an educational crisis due to workforce shortages and need for specialized professional development to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Unfortunately, SB 633 unintentionally shifts the burden for these challenges onto our most vulnerable students. These centers would make it easier for districts to segregate children with the most significant support needs rather than apply strategies learned from 40+ years of best practices (such as universal design and co-teaching) which would improve the educational outcomes for all students.

The DD Coalition asks the legislature to oppose SB 633 and to uphold our responsibilities to students with disabilities under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Register at https://creatingops.typeform.com/2023DDadvocacy

Establish DSP Wage Standards

Finally resolve the DSP wage inequities by setting the average wage for Direct Support Professionals to 150% of the Portland Metro minimum wage and cover the cost of Paid Family Leave to stabilize this essential workforce and reduce turnover that places people with I/DD at higher risk. Long-term solution to a long-term issue. Link

Fully Fund DD Case Management

DD Case Management funding has not kept pace with increased workload and complexity of the work over the past several years. Full funding of the DD Workload Model and periodic administrative reviews are needed to ensure case managers who are a vital lifeline to Oregonians with I/DD are adequately compensated for their work. Link 

Support Regional Family to Family Networks

Regional Family Networks support more than 13,500 families experiencing disability, many who have barriers accessing the formal developmental disability service system. Regional Family Networks work in partnership with thousands of other community-based organizations to reduce inequities for marginalized families.

Support Healthier Oregon

Provides access to DD Services for everyone who meets disability criteria for DD Services and Medicaid regardless of their immigration status.

TRACK BILLS WITH US!

The GO! Bulletin focuses on updates, bills and topics of importance to the DD Community. Then at the start of each week we will post an updated bill tracking report that outlines upcoming hearings and work sessions for the week on our website and Facebook. Bills are still being introduced and we are updating our list of priority bills as we GO!

If you are interested in specific bills or legislative topics, this video goes through each step to help you find where bills are in the legislative process and how to sign up for email alerts to get updates directly.

Visit the GO Project's You Tube Channel legislative advocacy videos created by our GO! Advocacy Team.