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Chip's Clips
News from Senate District 22 - N/NE Portland
Greetings!
As policy committees come to a close for this legislative session, I want to give you an update on my efforts to support living-wage jobs, health care, schools and equality.
As always, please don't hesitate to contact me or my staff, if we can assist you or your family in any way. We can be reached at sen.chipshields@state.or.us or 503-986-1722.
Sincerely,
Chip Shields
State Senator, District 22 N/NE Portland P.S. If you would like more frequent updates on my work, you can follow me on Facebook by clicking here. I regularly post about issues important to N/NE Portland. |
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Thank You to Everyone Who Attended My Small Business Reception!
Over 100 people came to share their views at EaT Oyster Bar! |  | |
Over 100 small business owners and constituents attended my small business reception at EaT Oyster Bar on Tuesday, April 30.
Thank you to Tobias Hogan and the staff at EaT Oyster Bar for hosting the event! I also want to thank everyone who came out to share their priorities for this session and beyond! The best ideas for legislation almost always come from community members. |
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Making Priority and Focus Schools a Budget Priority
Round table discussion with priority school PTA leaders and push for more funding for priority and focus schools
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On May 14 I met with a group of community s takeholders to discuss funding for our district's "priority schools," which are schools identified by the state as the most in need of improvement based on test scores. The meeting included PTA leaders from the district's five priority schools: Andy Roe from Ockley Green, Cheryl Russell from Woodlawn Elementary, Jamie Duncan from Rosa Parks Elementary, Nick Fenger from King Elementary, and Christi Bryant from Roosevelt High School. Also in attendance were Portland Public Schools (PPS) Deputy CFO and Director of the Budget Office David Wynde, PPS Board Member Matt Morton, Chief of Staff for the Oregon Department of Education Sarah Pope and staff from both Speaker Kotek and Rep. Fredrick's office.
I am working with my colleagues in the legislature on a proposal to invest an additional $200,000 in each of the state's 34 priority schools for the next biennium. We have also expanded the proposal to include state-designated "focus" schools, which represent the bottom 15% of high poverty, Title 1 schools. Focus schools in our district include:
- Jefferson High School
- Rigler Elementary School
- Vernon Elementary School
- C�sar Ch�vez K-8 School
- Sitton Elementary School
The additional funds would give each priority and focus school in the state the ability to hire one additional full-time teacher for the next two years. While all schools need increased funding, children in these low-performing and high poverty schools need extra attention to achieve.
Thank you to everyone who attended the round table to share their experiences and discuss ways to increase funding for schools!
If you are a PTO board member at a Priority or Focus school, and would like to help move this proposal, please call Amanda Hess in my office at 503-986-1722.
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Governor Signs Safe Roads Act
Allowing all drivers in Oregon to be tested and insured
 On May 1 Governor Kitzhaber signed Senate Bill 833 into law. I was proud to be a Chief co-sponsor.
Senate Bill 833 will allow individuals who have resided in Oregon for at least a year to obtain a driver's card without having to provide proof of legal residence in the United States. The goal of the bill is to increase traffic safety and decrease the number of uninsured and untested drivers on Oregon's roads. It also helps the elderly, those trying to access homeless services, and individuals who identify as transgendered in accessing driver's cards.
I was very proud to sponsor the bill, but it was a coalition effort to pass it across the Senate and House. Above is a picture of me with Ramon Ramirez of PCUN and Rep. Joe Gallegos at the signing ceremony. I would like to thank them, as well as Governor Kitzhaber, members of the Governor's task force who worked on the issue for the last two years, Jeff Stone and Elizabeth Remley of the Oregon Association of Nurseries, Senate and House leadership, the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs, CAUSA, the Dream Activists, and the other seven legislators who sponsored the bill for all their work and leadership in getting the bill passed.
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The Best Bills Come From Neighbors Like You!
Update on legislation introduced on behalf of my constituents
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Here is a status update on some of the bills I have introduced on behalf of my constituents this session:
- SB 406-A was introduced on behalf of Nathan White and his wife. This bill expands options in changing names after marriage or entering into a domestic partnership. I carried the bill on the Senate floor on March 12, where it passed. The bill passed in the House on a 53-5 vote on May 29 and was signed by the Governor on June 6th.
- HB 3159 was introduced on behalf of
Sandy Polishuk. This bill allows cities and counties to set maximum rates that towing companies can charge to people who have had their vehicle towed without their consent. HB 3159 passed in the House on April 25 and passed my General Government, Consumer and Small Business Protection Committee on May 31. I look forward to supporting the bill when it comes to the Senate floor for vote next week.
- SB 396 was introduced on behalf of MacKenzie Keith. This bill exempts medical and health savings accounts from the assets that trustees can liquidate when an individual enters into bankruptcy proceedings. I carried the bill on the Senate floor on April 18, where it passed on a 29-1 vote. The bill passed out of the House Judiciary Committee unanimously on May 30 and was amended to allow Oregonians filing for bankruptcy to claim either State or Federal exemptions. It is awaiting a vote on the House floor.
- SB 788 was introduced on behalf of Stephen Arnold. This bill would modify the types of conditions that qualify as a disability and the types of animals which qualify as assistance animals for the purpose of accessing public places. SB 788 was amended into and is now SB 610. SB 610 passed unanimously in the Senate on April 29 and is awaiting a vote on the House floor.
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Advocating for Foster Youth
Creating a Foster Youth Bill of Rights
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Drafted at the request of foster youth and Children First for Oregon, SB 123 would create a Foster Youth Bill of Rights to protect the rights of youth in the foster care system. A Bill of Rights would help address a host of challenges faced by children and deficiencies in our foster care system. On March 21, I testified in support of SB 123 in the Senate Healthcare and Human Services Committee. The bill was passed out of Committee on April 11 and passed the Joint Committee on Ways and Means on an unanimous vote on June 6. As a sponsor of the bill, I look forward to voting for it on the Senate floor next week.
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"The largest change in Oregon insurance law... in recent memory" clears both chambers.
SB 814 will make insurance companies pay environmental claims fairly and give small business a private right of action against insurance companies who use their power to engage in delay and deny tactics.
 Senate Bill 814, sponsored by Senator Johnson and myself, modernizes Oregon's Environmental Cleanup Assistance Act by making it easier for companies to resolve environmental claims and recover costs from insurers so that they can proceed with cleanup activities. The strengthened environmental claims provisions included in Senate Bill 814 will give shipbuilders and riverside industries in my district the tools they need to proceed with cleaning pollution of the lower Willamette River. Holding insurance companies accountable to their policyholders will ensure that these companies can do business in an environmentally-conscious way while continuing to put thousands of Oregonians to work.
The Northwest Policyholder blog called this victory, "The largest change in Oregon insurance law (in potential dollar value) in recent memory."
The bill passed in both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan support and will now be sent to the Governor for his signature.
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Bill to Remove Insurance Industry Exemption from Anti-Fraud Law Moves to Rules Committee with Do-Pass Recommendation
House Bill 3160-A needs support to pass Senate
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HB 3160-A removes the exemption insurance companies enjoy from Oregon's primary anti-fraud statute. Insurance is the only line of business which is exempt from the Unlawful Trade Practices Act. In public testimony on May 8, we heard from consumers from all over Oregon who faced difficulties getting their claims paid in a timely manner from their insurers.
The bill passed in the House but does not have enough support yet to pass in the Senate. It was moved to the Rules Committee on May 31 with a do-pass recommendation. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill to hold insurance companies accountable to their policyholders. Please feel free to contact your state senator to urge them to vote yes on HB 3160-A.
 | | Former Allstate claims processor Claire Paris tells all and testifies in support of HB 3160. |
Above is a clip of Claire Paris, a former insurance claims processor, testifying in support of HB 3160. Paris relates her experience in the insurance industry and how low-income folks were much more likely to get denied reinmbursement. |
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Bill Aiming to Curb Medical Self-Referral Abuse Goes to House Floor
Senate Bill 683 passes out of House committee | |
Senate Bill 683  requires health care practitioners making referrals to inform patients 1) if the practitioner has a financial interest in the referred service, and 2) that the patient has a choice of where they receive the referred service. The bill also prohibits practitioners from pulling or limiting a referral if the patient chooses to go elsewhere, and creates an exemption for emergency services. Ultimately the bill will put smaller ancillary service businesses on more even footing with larger providers, curb monopolistic behavior, and promote transparency and patient choice. I'd like to thank Dr. Chris Altenhofen of Epic Imaging for bringing the original bill concept forward.
SB 683 was passed out of the House Consumer Protection and Government Efficiency Committee and will be up for a vote soon on the House floor.
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House Passes Foreclosure Mediation Bill
Governor signs Senate Bill 558 into law | |
 Senate bill 558 passed the House on a 45-12 vote on May 22 and was signed by the Governor on June 4.
This bill closes a loop-hole and ensures that Oregonians get a chance to sit down with their lender in mediation before the lender starts the foreclosure process, no matter whether that process is in or outside the courts. I greatly appreciate the time and effort that Senators Lee Beyer and Brian Boquist put into this bill, as well as Sybil Hebb from the Oregon Law Center and Angela Martin, Director of Economic Fairness Oregon and Northeast Portland resident (pictured right).
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Racial Impact Statement Bill Moves to the House Floor for Vote
Bill culminates six years of work to give a closer look to racial disparities in Corrections and Child Welfare.
 Senate Bill (SB) 463 would require, upon request of two legislators, a racial impact statement on proposed child welfare and sentencing legislation. A racial impact statement will allow legislators to consider the disproportionate impact legislation may have on racial minorities and will be the first in the nation to factor in the racial impact of victims of crimes.
The bill passed 27-2 in the Senate and was passed unanimously out of the House Judiciary Committee on May 30. Passage of this bill in the House will represent the culmination of six years of hard work. Special thanks to Jess Barton for first bringing forward this concept.
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Retainage Bill to Help Small Contractors
SB 405-A passes the House floor with bipartisan support. | |
SB 405-A passed in the House unanimously on June 3.  The bill will now be sent to the Governor for his signature.
SB 405-A will limit the amount of retainage for contractor and subcontractor work on construction contracts and public improvement contracts to five percent of the contract price. "Retainage" refers to a portion of a contract's final payment that is withheld by a client owner until the project is complete in all respects and is confirmed to be functioning satisfactorily according to the terms of the contract.
Excessive retainage causes severe cash flow problems for businesses across the state. This bill will help contractors and subcontractors get the money they deserve for the services they provide to their clients. The idea was brought to me by Drew Park of Columbia Wire and Iron.
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Senator Shields Pushes Manufacturing-Boot Camp Investment
Program aims to increase employment in living-wage manufacturing sector | |
 Demand for skilled workers is expected to reach an all-time high in the next three years. Unfortunately many job openings remain unfilled because applicants do not have the proper training. In order to ensure that Oregonians have the knowledge necessary to fill these jobs, I am championing a manufacturing training investment proposal.
This proposal would establish and fund a Manufacturing Boot Camp at Portland Community College to train or retrain individuals for current job openings. It would also fund an expansion of an Impact NW program for high school students to learn about opportunities in the living-wage manufacturing sector. The bill is supported by Vigor Industrial, Gunderson, and over 10 other Oregon manufacturers. The proposal would help supplement, not supplant, current union training efforts. |
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Senator Shields Advocates for More Funding to Increase Diversity in Highway Construction Workforce
Bill aims to increase participation by women and minority-owned small businesses in highway construction trades
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 SB 831 will increase the amount of money set aside in federal flexible funds to increase diversity in the highway construction workforce and provide funding for pre-apprenticeship programs to prepare people to enter the workforce.
On May 8, we heard testimony on the success of these programs from the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Bureau of Labor and Industries, the Governor's office, contractor associations, unions, and organizations who use the funds to train individuals, like Oregon Tradeswomen Inc. and Constructing Hope, both headquarted in N/NE Portland. In the coming weeks I will be working with my colleagues in the legislature to ensure that we dedicate more money to increasing opportunities for women and people of color in the highway construction workforce.
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Bill to Ensure Health Inspections at Publicly-Run Restaurants Passes in Both Chambers
Senate Bill 631 signed by Governor on June 4 | |
 Senate Bill 631 passed in both the House and Senate and was signed by the Governor on June 4. The law requires that publicly-run restaurants receive the same health inspections as all other restaurants, to ensure food is properly prepared in a safe manner.
This issue was brought to my attention by an article written by Erin Fenner of Willamette Week last December. Ms. Fenner's article revealed that restaurants in the Oregon Zoo had not undergone health inspections since 2006 because of a loop-hole in the law exempting government-run restaurants. 135 patrons became sick from eating food at the Zoo in December of 2012.
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Senator Shields Carries SJM 5, Urging Congress to Investigate Chinese Trade Subsidies
Senate Joint Memorial 5 passes unanimously on senate floor. | |
 Over the last decade paper manufacturers all over Oregon have been struggling to compete with heavily subsidized Chinese paper manufacturers. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that the Chinese government has provided over $33 billion in subsidies to Chinese pulp and paper manufacturers over the last decade. This has resulted in the loss of living-wage jobs in Oregon as paper mills close.
Senate Joint Memorial 5 urges the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to investigate Chinese subsidies of their paper industry. If they find proof of subsidies, which violate World Trade Organization rules, the U.S. will be authorized to levy countervailing duties on Chinese paper to offset the subsidies.
SJM 5 passed unanimously in the Senate on March 18. I was happy to work the bill through committee and support it on the floor. On May 16 the bill passed unanimously in the House and will now be sent to Congress for their consideration.
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Making Insurance Companies Justify Rate Increases
Giving policyholders notice of premium increase requests
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B 413A passed unanimously on the Senate floor on April 2 and moved to the House.
This bill will require health insurers to provide consumers with information on how they can find out about proposed insurance premium rate increases. Every rate increase in the individual and small group (small employer) insurance market must be approved by the Oregon Insurance Division in a process called "rate review," wherein the Division reviews information from the insurance company on whether the increase is justified. SB 413A addresses spiraling health care costs by increasing public scrutiny on rate increase requests and asks insurance companies to better justify their premium increases.
On May 29, the House Health Care Committee adopted a number of amendments to strengthen the bill for consumers. The bill now requires that the Oregon Insurance Division factor in whether insurance companies used cost-containment strategies to bring down rates when deciding whether to approve a rate increase request. The bill also requires that insurance companies use data from the Insurance Division on the medical cost trend and for information on rate review to be more prominently posted on materials given by insurance companies to consumers. The bill will be up for a vote soon on the House floor. If it passes, it will come back to the Senate and senators will decide whether to concur with the House amendments or repeal any of them in conference committee.
You can sign up for free notifications of when your health insurer is proposing increasing premiums by visiting: http://www.oregonhealthrates.org/
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Been Mistreated by an Insurance Company?
File a complaint with the Oregon Insurance Division if you've been treated unfairly. Also, sign up to receive notice of a health insurance rate request filing. | | |
Been treated unfairly by an insurance company? File a complaint with the state's Insurance Division and let me know how it goes. Click here or call 1-888-877-4894 to file a complaint. In Oregon, the Attorney General cannot sue insurance companies that engage in fraud. I'm working to change that, but in the meantime, your only real recourse is with the state Insurance Division. Please keep my office appraised of how your complaint proceeds by emailing me at sen.chipshields@state.or.us or calling 503-231-2564.
Do you want to be notified when your health insurance carrier files a rate request in the individual or small group markets (2-50 employees)? Then click here to sign up for email alerts. You can comment on the rate request for 30 days after it has been filed with the state Insurance Division.
You can also contact the OSPIRG foundation's Health Insurance Rate Watch by clicking here.
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In the Community
Where I've Been. Where I'll Be. | | |
 Over the last month, my office had many opportunities to connect with people from North and Northeast Portland, as well as statewide.
Some of the places I've been:
- Met with constituents from Portland Community College, Disjecta, SEIU Local 49, Oregon Housing Alliance, American Cancer Society, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, Metropolitan Alliance for Common Good, Red Cross, Oregon Students Association, Oregon Media Production Association, and Alliance Against Gun Violence, Alliance to End Violence Against Women, Neighborhoods for Clean Air, Oregon Student Association, Citizens Utility Board, and Oregon Climate Action Day.
- Hosted a small business reception at EaT Oyster Bar.
- Spoke at an emerging leaders roundtable about the budget process.
- Held Roundtable discussion about how to increase funding for priority schools with PPS and PTA Presidents from our district's 5 priority schools.
- Spoke at the Construction Equity Day.
In the coming months, I am scheduled to:
- Speak to Health Administration students at Concordia University about the importance of being politically involved.
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