Legislative Session 2009 In Focus: Senator Starr’s Priority Bills
The focus of 2009 for Senator Starr was simply about people- protecting those who are vulnerable, providing greater safety to our neighborhoods, and making Oregon a better place to do business by keeping your taxes low and our roads clear of congestion. In a session crippled with never-before-seen budget challenges, Senator Starr worked tirelessly to secure meaningful compromise on legislation this state desperately needed to enact. Despite a tough fight put up by the Republicans in the legislature, the Democrats in the majority focused on fixing the budget gap by raising taxes and fees, to the tune of more than $1.4 billion! Even though Senator Starr regrets this increased burden on Oregon taxpayers, there are many accomplishments worth highlighting. What follows are the fruits of many months, in some cases even years, of Senator Starr’s labor to make our Oregon just a little bit better, one idea at a time.
After a lengthy series of hearings, work sessions, and negotiations to secure a consensus, Senator Starr was triumphant in presenting a transportation package that will stand as one of the session’s greatest accomplishments. With Starr’s leadership, this bill was made possible. It garnered near universal support of the business community and benefits Oregonians all around the state, both urban and rural, by giving 50% of the funds to counties and cities to invest in locally identified projects. The other 50% will fund state highway maintenance and preservation, as well as 50 specified projects, a distinction from past transportation packages, to ensure the trust of the public and that certain projects get done. In total, the project list will amount to a $960 million investment.
In addition, this legislation will generate 4,600 full-time jobs each year, creating more Oregon jobs than any other bill this session and creating both short term and long term gain. In the short term this bill puts people back to work building projects, and in the long term these projects will increase the economic vitality of our state and make this a more attractive place to operate a business.
Also a concern of Senator Starr’s- as Hillsboro’s technology belt grows, encouraging greater economic development in his district is largely dependent on convenient access to the area and the swift movement of traffic. Upcoming projects in Washington County include lane expansion on Highway 26 and revamping both the Shute road interchange and the Highway 26/Glencoe Road interchange. The bill is funded through a $16 increase in the auto registration fee, a $22 increase in the title fee, and a six cent increase in the gas tax in January 2011 or two consecutive quarters of economic growth, whichever occurs first.
Human trafficking is a practice most think has faded out of existence, and therefore we rarely think about or discuss it. The reality is that it is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world, and its time to start doing something about it. Children are often kidnapped; some are sold by their own families. The Council of Europe states that trafficking “has reached epidemic proportions over the past decade.” Some studies estimate that more than 1.2 million people are trafficked around the world every year, and in some countries, the cost of a slave is as little as $90.
Perhaps, even more shocking, this issue hits much closer to home than most think. The U.S. Government believes that 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. each year, the northwest being a major port of entry for international human traffickers. Young girls born and raised in the U.S. are also increasingly being pulled into this life shattering trade. Senator Starr recently began working with local organizations to start taking steps to eradicate human trafficking in Oregon. After SB 839 seemed doomed to die in the Senate Judiciary Committee, but with help from local groups combating human trafficking, it received second life late in the session. SB 839 makes the victims of human trafficking eligible for the widely successful Address Confidentiality Program operated through the Department of Justice. Until our state can offer greater levels of protection and quality services to those solicited by traffickers, a safe and secure address will go a long way in bringing an increased element of security.
Senator Starr introduced a bold package relating to neighborhood safety this session. SB 910 and SB 911 were a direct response to a disturbing situation that occurred in the Senator’s district two years ago. Several criminals who had been found guilty except for insanity (GEI) were transferred to a Secure Residential Treatment Facility (SRTF) in Cornelius and on conditional release by the Psychiatric Review Board (PSRB). This was a regular, residential home, in a formerly quiet, safe Cornelius neighborhood. These criminals had been found GEI on a number of charges including arson, rape, sex abuse, and murder. The Connell House became the new home of the convicted GEI individuals and they moved in before any local safety officials or local residences were notified of the decision.
Not surprisingly, members of the community were concerned and upset when they eventually found out. The Connell House had opened up with no thought or notification to the surrounding families. Then, in January 2008, Senator Starr attended a meeting on the topic along with 300 other Cornelius residents. They came to find there are other SRTF facilities around the state, housing 54 people, and with more planning to open. In the case of The Connell House, reports of drugs, sex abuse and an escape led the facility to temporarily close. But the Cornelius community members called for a more permanent answer.
Of utmost concern to Senator Starr was that the local community and law enforcement were left in the dark, and there were no defining terms for “secure” as it relates to an SRTF. We know some of these facilities have high fences, one in Oregon has a moat, and others allow the residents to walk around the community. These ambiguities led him to introduce SB 910 and SB 911. While only the second bill was enacted, it was a major victory and a big step forward for neighborhoods throughout the state. SB 911 establishes solid standards for security and staff training.
In March, a pastor from Washington County brought to Senator Starr’s attention a significant problem caused by an Oregon personal property tax reporting requirement. A meeting including the Senator and more than 50 local Pastors was quickly arranged to discuss their concerns and possible solutions.
Starr immediately began working with Washington County and the Oregon Department of Revenue to amend Oregon's law that requires non-profits and churches to provide a list of all their real and personal property, even if they are exempt from paying property taxes! All hospitals, churches, and other non-profits throughout the state were informed of this new reporting requirement in a January 2009 letter. For some of the larger organizations—such as hospitals—compliance has cost them upwards of $30,000 and hundreds of hours of additional work.
Senator Starr presented amendments to SB 594 in the House Revenue Committee fixing this out of date Oregon law.
On the evening of Friday, June 5th, 21-year-old Heather Snively’s life was taken in a Tigard home in a tragic and horrifying way. If this burden of sorrow weren’t already enough for Heather’s family, they must also grieve the loss of her unborn child, John Stephen, who was cut from her womb at eight months. Korena Roberts, the alleged killer, met Heather through Craigslist and the two had arranged to trade baby items. Neither Heather nor her baby John Stephen survived their meeting. Korena Roberts stands as a prime example of the vast shortfall in Oregon law on fetal homicide. She will only be held accountable for the death of Heather Snively, and John Stephen, who was growing strong and on all accounts at a normal rate, will never see a moment of justice in Oregon’s court of law. The family of Heather Snively and many throughout Oregon say Ms. Roberts should face the consequences for knowingly killing both Heather and John Stephen.
Senator Starr responded immediately upon hearing news of the incident and introduced legislation to remedy Oregon’s law. Thirty-six other states in the U.S. recognize “maternal homicide” as a prosecutable crime, and although this issue has come before the Oregon Senate before, Starr had hoped Heather’s recent case would be a voice to the bill. HB 3505 was introduced on Heather’s behalf. After weeks of jockeying with Legislature leadership to get a hearing on SB 982, a few of Starr’s Democrat colleagues agreed to step up and support HB 3505. With bipartisan muster, the bill saw great success. With barely a moment to spare, the bill was considered and passed out of both chambers within a three-day time span. Effective January 1, 2010, knowingly killing a woman who is pregnant will automatically be classified as aggravated murder. In the case of assault, sentencing is elevated to an assault in the first degree.
SB 566 was critical in order to grow development in Washington County and all that falls under the Metro’s jurisdiction. The purpose of SB 566 is to fix a flaw in defining the urban growth boundary and urban/rural reserves that was created in SB 1011 of the 2007 legislative session. There was a list of criteria that determined how the land would be classified, and the #1 determinant on that list was the quality of the soil. Statewide planning required that high quality soil be protected, even if it fell within the urban growth boundary. Because Metro, and particularly Senate District 15, is inundated with high quality soil, Metro had effectively locked up further development for the next 50 years.
SB 566 brushes aside the former criteria. Now, when Metro studies urban reserves that fall within the urban growth boundary, it does not have to consider the criteria as it relates to the quality of land. Urban reserve land can be developed within the next 50 years if it is deemed beneficial to the district. On the other hand, the rural reserves will remain untouched and protected for the next 50 years.
One of the better surprises of the session was the unexpected success of Senator Starr’s community gardening bill. This bill came to be introduced in a special way and is a testament to the value of sharing your thoughts and opinions with Senator Starr. At a local town hall meeting in March, a constituent of Senator Starr’s requested action by the legislature to encourage the growth of community gardening. An unprecedented growth in family vegetable gardens has occurred statewide due to the conditions of the economy, yet many who would like to start a garden don’t have the land to do so. Senator Starr stuck with this bill through many roadblocks in the committee process and successfully passed HB 2003 on June 12th.
More specifically, the bill gives landowners immunity from liability when they donate a private lot to be used as a community garden. HB 2003 effectively removes any hindrances on the part of the landowners and opens up access to more land that can be cultivated.
Looking Forward- Getting State Spending Under Control
The ratio of growth in government spending to personal income is 2.5:1. The office of Senator Larry George compiled this budget comparison and growth rate chart for the Oregon State Budget, and it shows what is fundamentally wrong with our state’s budget formula. By the end of the ’07-’09 biennium, total state spending will amount to more than $49.1 billion! Salem legislators clearly have an addiction to spending taxpayer dollars. Senator Starr has consistently spoken out on this issue and will continue to work to reverse this trend.
Compare the rate of growth in the state budget during the recession of the early 1980’s to our current recession. In the ’81-’83 biennium, state spending was reduced by 10.9% in response to the recession. The 2009 Legislature ignored the fact that many Oregon taxpayers will suffer due to an increased tax burden and is increasing the budget by 9.4%. What kind of sense does it make to tax Oregonians more when we have one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation and many who have managed to keep their jobs have accepted fewer hours and lower pay rates? This is salt to the wound and the reason Senator Starr is anxious to continue to work to bring common sense to the Salem roundtable.
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