Item 3: Ratification of Intergovernmental Relations Committee Actions

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SB 500 Ms. Bettman wanted to support the bill, which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. Ms. Wilson noted that it had not had a hearing. Neither the League of Oregon Cities nor Association of Oregon Counties was taking a position on the bill. Ms. Towle said she did not know why the City would not support the bill as it regarded basic discrimination. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Mayor Piercy, moved to change the status of the bill to Priority 2, Support. The motion passed unanimously, 3:0. Ms. Bettman suggested that the committee’s action would make it easier for the City Council to take a position on its own human rights legislation as it related to gender identity. Mayor Piercy agreed, saying she could point back to the committee’s action. SB 407 Ms. Daut said the bill, which would provide freedom of choice of health care physicians, included an exemption for managed care and therefore it did not apply to the City. Ms. Bettman suggested the committee support the bill because it supported community members. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Mayor Piercy, moved to change the status of the bill to Support. The motion passed unanimously, 3:0. SB 446 Ms. Wilson indicated the bill, which would require health insurance coverage for infertility, was probably dead. Ms. Bettman wanted to oppose the bill because the procedures in question were expensive and optional. Ms. Daut said the City preferred the legislature defer to voluntary agreements between unions and employers. There were many health insurance mandates introduced during the session and she had asked staff to monitor them rather than oppose them. Mr. Pryor wanted to oppose the bill due to the preemption on home rule. Mr. Pryor suggested the committee continue to monitor the bill given it was unlikely to receive a hearing and not waste staff resources changing its status or the level of effort placed into lobbying it. Ms. Bettman and Mayor Piercy concurred. Mayor Piercy suggested that in some cases, mandates were not a bad thing. SB 486 Ms. Daut noted the similarity of the bill to the previous bill. The committee maintained the staff recommen- dation. MINUTES—Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations March 22, 2007 Page 10