2019 Oregon Legislative SummaryHB 3063 - Eliminates Non-medical Exemptions from School Immunization Law: OPHA supports this bill to ensure the protection from vaccine-preventable diseases for all populations. House bill 3063:
Children who have not been vaccinated pose a risk to both the individual child and to others in their school and community. In Oregon, 7.5% of children in kindergarten are unvaccinated. Individuals who exempt their children from vaccinations for non-medical reasons place other children at risk of catching and spreading preventable diseases and put our community immunity at risk. When the threshold of immunity gets too low, all of us become more vulnerable to diseases. Serious diseases that were previously thought to be eradicated in the US, such as measles and polio, are returning. In terms of health outcomes, even single percentage point changes are huge. Every person that is immune becomes one fewer person to spread infection. Measles, for example, is expected to infect up to 18 new persons for each ill person in the susceptible population. Vaccination reduces that reproduction rate, the pathogen hits diminishing returns, and eventually there are too few susceptible people left for the germ to keep spreading. Click here for OPHA Testimony and an Op-Ed in support of HB 3063 HB 2270 - Increases tax on distribution of cigarettes and allocates funding to Medicaid/prevention programs OPHA supports this bill because it will decrease tobacco use--improving the health of many Oregonians. HB 2270 increases the tax on cigarettes, and includes inhalant delivery systems in the definition of other tobacco products for taxation purposes. The revenue generated from this tax will be invested in prevention programs and allocated to fund Medicaid, which provides healthcare to low-income populations. Prevention programs will further decrease tobacco use and tobacco-related disparities. Overall, HB 2270 will improve the health of Oregonians by:
HB 2233 and SB 639 related to the Oregon Indoor Clean Air Act:
Working toward public health modernization remains an OPHA priority and we are committed to advocating for its full funding. This year Oregon Health Authority requested $47.7 million and we will press for the full amount. Public Health Modernization will ensure basic public protections critical to the health of all in Oregon and future generations.
Learn more about Public Health Modernization here. HB 2020 - Oregon Climate Action Plan (Clean Energy Jobs Bill): OPHA supports HB 2020. Today, creating climate pollution is free to emitters but impacts all people. OPHA endorses the Clean Energy Jobs bill (HB 2020) because it will limit and start to draw down climate pollution in Oregon, increase resiliency to the health challenges we face, and create new job opportunities. The Clean Energy Jobs bill will hold transportation, utilities and industrial facilities accountable for their climate pollution by setting a cap and price on greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation will limit climate pollution for the largest emitters and energy importers in the state. Emitters will have to hold allowances for each ton of pollution they produce. Allowances will be sold at auction, generating proceeds that can then be reinvested to further reduce climate (and air) pollution, assist low-income households, create benefits for disproportionately impacted communities, retrain workers, advance clean economic development, and help the state adapt to climate change. The policy will require reductions through 2050, in line with what science says is necessary for avoiding the worst climate impacts. The 2014 Oregon Climate and Health Profile Report issued by Oregon Health Authority outlines the health risks that will increase as our climate changes and describes the populations most vulnerable to these risks. Threats to health include increased heat, flood, drought, wildfire, infectious disease, allergens and more. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels can build public health resilience. Investing in a green energy economy can reduce public health vulnerabilities and strengthen health delivery infrastructure by preparing for the increases in energy demand and the interruptions in energy supply predicted as a result of climate change. Transportation is a major source of climate pollution in Oregon. Investing in transportation options can not only decrease air pollution, but also reduce noise, accidents, social exclusion of vulnerable groups, and encourage active lifestyles. The revenue generated from putting a price on climate pollution has the potential to invest millions of dollars in public health initiatives to reduce pollution, increase climate resilience, and provide job opportunity where the greatest inequities exist today. Major investment will go to reduce pollution and grow opportunities for low-income and rural communities, communities of color, and training workers in Oregon.
SB 698 / HB 2801 - Translation of prescription bottle labels for patients with limited or no English proficiency: OPHA supports SB 698 and HB 2801. Patients with limited or no English proficiency (LEP) experience over twice the rate of medical errors as patients who can read English in part because their medication is not labeled in a language they can read. This bill requires that prescription medication containers be dual labeled in English and a language that a patient can read and understand. OPHA endorses this bill to reduce language barriers and increase health equity throughout Oregon. Key elements:
Expanding translation of prescription bottle labels should result in reduced medication errors by LEP patients, fewer clinic and emergency department visits for adverse drug reactions, and increase access to drug information, health equity, and health literacy in the State of Oregon.
HB 2007 - Reducing diesel pollution: OPHA supports this bill to reduce diesel pollution throughout Oregon because it aligns with our priorities of improving children’s health, reducing health inequities, and addressing climate change. This bill will:
About 90% of Oregonians live where diesel exhaust exceeds health benchmarks. Diesel pollution is associated with heart, lungs, and brain adverse impacts, as well as contributing to climate change. Oregon could avoid up to 119 asthma emergency room visits for children each year by reducing harmful diesel exhaust; 25,910 lost work days, and 176 premature deaths. Diesel pollution is also highly concentrated in neighborhoods of low-income and communities of color—exacerbating health inequities. This bill would benefit these communities the most.
HB 2505 / SB 275 Cindy Yuille and Steve Forsyth Act (Relating to gun violence prevention): OPHA supports HB 2505 and SB 275. Expands the prohibition on possession of firearms or ammunition to include certain persons in domestic violence situations. Changes "intimate partner" to "family or household member" within the prohibition. Specifies that family or household member includes persons who have co-habitated with each other or who have been involved in a sexually intimate relationship. Includes persons convicted of stalking and persons convicted of qualifying misdemeanors who are parents or guardians of victims of offense in the prohibition. Requires Department of State Police to enter qualifying convictions and judicial findings or terms of judgment, when available, into Law Enforcement Data System (LEDS) and the National Crime Information Center of the U.S. Department of Justice (NCIC). Requires Department to report attempted transfer to or purchase of firearm by individual prohibited from possessing a firearm within 24 hours to all federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including district attorneys having jurisdiction in the location of the sale or transfer. Includes notification, as appropriate, to supervising officer, court, or Psychiatric Security Review Board. Requires yearly report on number of attempted purchases, the number of investigations resulting from those reports, and the charges and dispositions of charges arising from the reports, and updates language. OPHA continues to support this ballot measure. SB 543 - Relating to Children's Service Districts: OPHA supports this bill to add children's service districts because out-of-school time programs advance educational success and involvement, family well-being, and health equity--especially for economically disadvantaged children and their families. SB 543 does not ask for State funds, but allows citizens to sign petitions to organize children’s service districts in a democratic manner to serve the children of their community. Unfortunately, Oregon has is challenged by a lack of student success for all students. Only 78.7% graduated from high school in 2018 and only 72.4% of those who are economically disadvantaged graduated. Further, Oregon’s 3rd grade English language performance scores show only 46.4% were proficient and only 34.5% for the economically disadvantaged group. Out-of-school-time programs promote academic success, higher graduation rates, positive behavior and safety, and good citizenship. Quality child care and after school programs have long term effects on graduation and eventual career success. By the time students reach 5th grade, those who are economically disadvantaged who do not participate in summer programs average 3 years behind their middle-income peers who do participate. In addition, most programs include some federally-subsidized nutrition which increases overall health and the ability to function in school. In addition, the families benefit by reduced costs that free up a significant part of the family’s hard-earned income to pay for housing, food, and medical care. HB 3031 - The FAMLI Equity Act OPHA supports HB 3031 because paid family and medical leave is imperative to the livelihood and health of Oregonian families. Likewise, insurance benefits while on family or medical leave are essential to access healthcare--which OPHA believes is a human right. This bill will:
Overall, HB 3031 will create more access to family medical leave benefits, and establish funds/protections for family medical leave.
OPHA & Coalition LettersOregon State Advocacy Efforts: Clean Energy Jobs Coalition Policy Outcomes Sign On Letter (Signed by OPHA September 2018) HB 2020 - Oregon Climate Action Plan Written Testimony (Signed by OPHA February 2019) HB 3031 - FAMLI Equity Act Written Testimony (Signed by OPHA March 2019) National Advocacy Efforts: H.R. 6022- Amending Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (Signed by OPHA August 2018) Opposing EPA's Censoring Science Proposal (May 2018) Removing Citizenship Question from 2020 Census (July 2018) OPHA Action AlertsPublic comment opposing citizenship question on the 2020 Census Clean Energy Jobs Bill - Attend a public hearing or submit testimony! Show your support for the FAMLI Equity Act, School Vaccinations, and more Oregon legislation! Public Health Modernization Funding Vaccine Bill Public Hearing and Vaccine Report from Clackamas County PH |
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