Item 5: Action: Discussion and Approval of Non-Unanimous IGR Positions

Home Browse Search

Eric Wold Eric Wold PW-POS 2/21/2009 Pri 3 Yes YesVII. B5 Support Comments: HB 2628 would authorize money from ODFW to be spent on programs that promote access to public and private lands through the acquisition of lands or through acquisition of easements. This bill could help the City implement some of its Parks and Open Space goals, including providing habitat and recreational connections as identified in the Rivers to Ridges Vision Strategy. HB 2678 Relating Clause: Relating to crime; providing for criminal sentence reduction that requires approval by a two-thirds majority. Title: Reduces sentences of persons committed to custody of Department of Corrections by one percent. Requires that costs saved by department as result of reduced sentences be expended by Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to reduce crime. Sponsored by: Representative SHIELDS; Representative GREENLICK URL:http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb2600.dir/hb2678.intro.pdf RespondentDept Updated Priority Policy Poli Numb Recommendation Contact E. Cushman S. Swenson EPD-ADM 2/24/2009 Pri 3 No No Oppose Comments: This bill would mandate a 1% reduction in the sentence of anyone sentenced to state prison (except those sentenced to death or life without possibility of parole), calculate the amount of monetary savings resulting from those reduced sentences, and deposit that amount of money to the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to be used "solely for the purposes of developing and executing policies that reduce crime and delinquency." The goal is laudable---money for crime prevention by reducing incidences of crime and delinquency would be a good thing. However, to mandate an across-the-board reduction in prison sentences is not the way to go about this. First, it thwarts the actions and authority of judges whose responsibility it is to determine appropriate sentences for convicted persons within prescribed sentencing guidelines. Another issue is that, to the extent that sentencing guidelines allow, such a law may result in some judges giving longer sentences, knowing that they will be reduced by 1%---or, perhaps even giving longer sentences so that more money will be calculated to go into this fund (which, of course, would result in a false saving). Further, we think it may be difficult to have a really precise estimate of costs saved. HB 2699 Relating Clause: Relating to the application of prevailing wage rates; declaring an emergency. Title: Modifies definition of 'public works.' Requires payment of prevailing rate of wage in connection with public works for which funds of public agency are used, including funds received in form of tax credit or tax abatement. Exempts projects that are privately owned and that use private funds and not more than certain amount of funds of public agency from prevailing wage requirements. Declares emergency, effective on passage. Sponsored by: Representative HOLVEY URL:http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb2600.dir/hb2699.intro.pdf ContactRespondentDept Updated Priority Policy Poli Numb Recommendation Lauren Sommers ATTNY 2/24/2009 Pri 2 No No Oppose Comments: This bill would increase the number of projects on which the City would be required to pay prevailing wage by amending the definition of "public work" to require that prevailing wage be paid on public projects that "use the funds of a public agency" rather than those carried on or contracted for by a public agency. The bill also amends the definition of "funds of a public agency" to include tax credits provided in conjunction with a project or an enterprise zone. Finally, the bill would lower the threshold of projects requiring 4