Item 3: Ratification of IGR Committee Actions and Direction on Legislative Policy

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Oregon prevailing wage law to "the fabrication of non-standard items made to order" for building projects, a number of issues are created. First, there is no definition in the bill of what "non-standard" means. A number of building elements and systems are potentially "non-standard", as they are designed and fabricated for a specific, unique installation, even though some components of these elements may be standardized items. Examples are HVAC ducting and equipment connections, lighting systems, glazing systems, furniture systems, etc. Another issue is that these building elements may be constructed outside of the region, outside Oregon, and in some cases, outside the U.S. There is no indication how Oregon prevailing wage requirements would apply to these situations. Finally, enforcement of prevailing wage requirements are typically done by those managing the construction project, through payroll review and interviews with workers. It is not clear how the prevailing wage requirements would be monitored and enforces for the off-site fabrication of building components." ContactRespondentDept Updated Priority Policy Poli Numb Recommendation Mike Penwell Mike Penwell CS-FAC 1/23/2009 Pri 2 Oppose Comments: I agree with Paul's and Glen's comments. ContactRespondentDept Updated Priority Policy Poli Numb Recommendation Jeff Perry CS-FIN 1/16/2009 Pri 2 Oppose Comments: Completely agree with Glen and Paul's comments. HB 2401 Relating Clause: Relating to assault. Title: Expands crime of assault in the third degree to include assault with dangerous substance on public safety officer. Sponsored by: COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY (at the request of Oregon Council of Police Associations) URL:http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb2400.dir/hb2401.intro.pdf ContactRespondentDept Updated Priority Policy Poli Numb Recommendation E. Cushman E. Cushman EPD-ADM 1/24/2009 Pri 2 No No Support Comments: We strongly support this bill, which would expand a protection already in place for corrections officers to include firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and parole/probation officers. Current law makes is a crime under the Assault III statute to knowingly propel a dangerous substance (e.g., blood, urine, feces) at a corrections officer. This bill would expand the list of victims to include public safety officers (i.e., firefighters, EMTs, police officers, parole/probation officers). Besides being abhorrent to be struck with such substances, this act places public safety officers at serious risk because of the serious diseases which can be transmitted through such means. If such a public employee is assaulted in this manner, s/he must undergo a rigorous treatment regimen to try to mitigate the effects of any disease the suspect may have. In many cases, the employee may not know for a significant length of time whether s/he has in fact been exposed, and this affects his/her contacts with family and friends. It is difficult in many cases to obtain definitive information as to what the suspect may be infected with, and even if such information is obtained, test results are not absolutely determinative, as the suspect may have a disease which the test does not detect at that point. The best way to deal with this is to prevent it from happening in the first place. By making it a serious crime, some individuals who might otherwise be so inclined may be deterred. And, if someone decides to commit such an act anyway, s/he should be subject to significant sanctions upon conviction. 13