Legislative updates

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Legislative update
by Senior Policy Analyst Donna Disch
2009 Legislative Session
The Oregon State Fire Marshal Gated Wye

The 75th Legislative Assembly convened January 12, 2009. That same day, all OSFM pre-session filed bills were introduced. OSFM bills look a bit different from the original seven developed immediately after the 2007 session. The surviving four bills and one policy option package include:

SB 88 - Cardlock program funding (fiscal sustainability issue): Changes statute to increase funding to avoid shortfall in the 09-11 biennium. Clarifies statutory language by removing duplicative and outdated verbiage. Public hearing held in the Business and Transportation Committee, January 22.

SB 89 - Amends state explosives statutes (streamlining and compatibility with federal laws): Eliminates overlapping state and federal regulation of the explosives industry by allowing compliance with federal explosives regulations to satisfy state requirements. Public hearing held in the Judiciary Committee, January 20. Work session held February 23 adopting an amendment requiring USDOT compliance.

SB 91 - Liquefied petroleum gas program funding (fiscal sustainability issue): Changes statute to increase funding to avoid shortfall in the 09-11 biennium, allowing program to continue to operate at the same service level. Public hearing held by the Business and Transportation Committee, January 22.

HB 2365 - Prohibits the sale and distribution of novelty (toylike) lighters: Prohibits retail sale and distribution of novelty (toylike) lighters in Oregon and imposes civil penalties on noncompliant retailers. Policy Option Package - $116,538 FIPT

Fire inspection training

Adds a limited duration position. Increases the number of trained fire inspectors for providing consistent statewide fire code enforcement by developing, publishing and distributing inspection training curriculum and training to the Oregon fire service. Additionally, OSFM worked with the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, and the fireworks industry to develop HB 5038 to raise fireworks license and permit fees through administrative rules to continue the safest possible fire and life safety protection for fireworks dealers, their customers, and first responders. The OSFM web page on the 2009 Legislative session, http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/2009_Legis.shtml, lists the fifteen House bills and nine Senate bills of interest to the Office of State Fire Marshal. The number of bills monitored will likely increase as the session continues and more bills are introduced. Currently monitored bills include HB 2420 establishing presumptions that certain cancers are compensable occupational diseases for nonvolunteer firefighters; SB 189 clarifying the obligation of timberland owners regarding payment of assessments and taxes; and HB 2457 allowing journeyman plumbers to design fire sprinkler systems in 1- & 2-family dwellings. OSFM monitors only a portion of the bills of interest to the Oregon fire service. The OSFM watches a larger group of bills of interest to the fire service through the Joint Fire Service Legislative Committee (JFSLC). Fire organizations represented on JFSLC include representatives from Oregon Fire District Directors Association, the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, the Oregon Fire Marshals Association, Oregon Firefighters Council, Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association and the Oregon 9-1-1 group known as APCO-NENA. Oregon has a Citizen Legislature consisting of a Senate, whose 30 members are elected to four year terms, and a House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to two-year terms. The regular assembly convenes every two years on the second Monday in January, during odd-numbered years. The Oregon Constitution does not limit session length, however most sessions last about six months. For more information, contact Office of State Fire Marshal Senior Policy Analyst Donna Disch, 503-934-8275 or donna.disch@state.or.us or visit OSFM’s web page on the 2009 Legislative Session: http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/2009_Legis.shtml.