2017 End of Session Report

On 7/7/17 the Oregon Legislature passed resolutions to Sine Die, otherwise known as adjourn session. This report is a snapshot of the student victories and missed opportunities. Students were at the center of Oregon politics and were represented at the capitol every day. We have over 150 students at our lobby days, over 130 in person student testimonies, over 150 written student testimonies and over 350 calls to legislative offices. The power of this advocacy has helped us to advance our agenda as an association. Here are some of the results of student advocacy:

Priority Policy Issues

• SB 762 – Survivor Amnesty PASSED

  • Summary: Exempts sexual assault victims and persons assisting sexual assault victims from arrest or prosecution for offense related to purchase or possession of alcoholic beverage by person under 21 years of age if evidence of offense was obtained because of contact with law enforcement agency or emergency medical services to report assault or obtain assistance.

• SB 231- Mental Health & Neurodivergancy Research PASSED

  • Summary: Establishes Task Force on Student Mental Health Support.

• HB 2845 – Ethnic Studies Standards PASSED

  • Summary: Directs Department of Education to convene advisory group to develop statewide ethnic studies standards for adoption into existing statewide social studies standards for public kindergarten through grade 12.

• HB 2864 – Cultural Competency PASSED

  • Summary: Requires each community college and public university to establish process for recommending, and providing oversight for implementation of, cultural competency standards for institution and institution’s employees.

• HB 2355 – End Profiling PASSED

  • Summary: Directs Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to develop method for recording data concerning officer-initiated pedestrian and traffic stops. Also trains mandates cultural competency trainings of all Oregon law enforcement officers and reduces drug felonies to misdemeanor for the first 2 offenses.

• HB 2673 -Gender Documentation PASSED

  • Summary: Creates alternative process for persons seeking to change name on vital record for purpose of affirming gender identity.

Priority Budget Issues

Other Priorities

Click here to view a spreadsheet that overviews other student priorities and where they landed at the closing of the 2017 Legislative Session.

Written by Lamar Wise