Oregon Sen. Betsy Close (R)

OR - Judiciary (Senate)

Title:

Vice-chair

OR - Rural Communities and Economic Development (Senate)

Title:

Member

OR - SB1547 Authorizes county governing bodies and small business employers to enter into agreements for reimbursement of portion of wages paid to youth employees.

OR - SB1574 Clarifies that standards for dual credit programs must establish manner by which students in grades 9 through 12 may earn course credit for both high school and community college or public university.

OR - HB4057 Directs certain boards and agencies to report to interim and statutory committees of Legislative Assembly by October 1, 2014, regarding implementation of new requirements to accept substantially equivalent military training or experience for certain education, experience or training requirements in order to obtain license, certificate or other authorization to practice profession.

OR - HB4058 Amends 40-40-20 education goals to include apprenticeship programs registered with State Apprenticeship and Training Council.

OR - HB4072 Creates subtraction from federal taxable income for up to $500 in cash dividends paid by employer to employee for participation in workplace wellness program.

OR - HB4073 Defines "vapor product." Amends laws related to consumption of tobacco products by minors to include references to consumption of vapor products by minors, including crime of endangering welfare of minor and other criminal offenses and civil penalties related to use or acquisition of tobacco by minor.

OR - HB4116 Directs Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development and Higher Education Coordinating Commission to jointly establish grant program for purpose of distributing moneys to community colleges to increase number of underserved, low-income and first-generation college-bound students who enroll in community college and make progress toward degree or certificate.

OR - HB4120 Expands scholarships for children of public safety officers killed or injured in line of duty to include children of reserve officers and volunteer firefighters killed or disabled in line of duty.

OR - HB4148 Changes interest rate accruing on deferred taxes under homestead property tax deferral program from six percent compounded annually to six percent per annum.

OR - HB4150 Revises assessment and grading system standards for school districts.

OR - SB1509 Allows district school board to enter into approved written agreement with federally recognized Native American tribe in Oregon for use of mascot that represents, is associated with or is significant to tribe.

OR - SB1527 Directs Oregon Business Development Department, in coordination with local workforce investment boards, to contract with private or public entities to develop Dislocated Worker Training Program as pilot program to enable unemployed and underemployed engineers and industry professionals in bioscience and manufacturing traded sector industries to be reemployed in Oregon.

OR - SB1530 Modifies provisions allowing for optional reduced rates of personal income tax on nonpassive income.

OR - SB1531 Specifies that governing body of city or county may adopt ordinances that impose reasonable regulations on operation of medical marijuana facilities.

OR - SB1540 Prohibits person or person's affiliate from communicating demand to recipient if in demand person or affiliate alleges, asserts or claims in bad faith that recipient has infringed or contributed to infringing patent or rights that patentee, assignee or licensee has under patent.

OR - SB1541 Extends sunset for tax credit for crop donation.

OR - SB1553 Directs Long Term Care Ombudsman, in consultation with Residential Facilities Advisory Committee, to appoint Oregon Public Guardian and Conservator in office of Long Term Care Ombudsman to provide public guardian and conservator services for persons claiming to be without relatives or friends willing or able to serve as guardians or conservators and claiming to lack financial resources to obtain private guardian or conservator.

OR - SB1554 Authorizes county to adopt education funding protection ordinance for up to 10 years if at least 50 percent by area of county is subject to certain exemption or special assessment programs under ad valorem property tax statutes or if county has population of 100,000 or less.

OR - SB1555 Caps amount of bonds or other securities required of bidder or purchaser in connection with forest product sales by State Forester.

OR - SB1565 Prohibits discrimination based on age, expected length of life, present or predicted disability, degree of medical dependency or quality of life in issuance of health benefit plans and in determination of medical services covered by state medical assistance program.

OR - SB1576 Establishes Oregon Empowerment Scholarship Program for purpose of providing options in education to students.

OR - SB1578 Modifies types of green energy technology for which at least 1.5 percent of total contract price of certain public improvement contract for construction or certain reconstruction or major renovation of public building must be spent.

OR - SCR203 In memoriam: Thomas Vaughan, 1924-2013.

OR - SCR204 Honors Major General Raymond F. Rees for his distinguished career and service to his state and country.

OR - SCR205 Honors visionary Oregon musician Curtis Salgado.

OR - SJM201 Urges President and Congress to pursue Oregon and California Railroad grant land management reforms.