Interim Legislative Days – Winter 2014
The January Legislative Days were packed for The Oregon Student Association. Our priorities this week were lobbying efforts on our Financial Aid Protection bill, Good Samaritan legislation, governance reform, and electoral engagement access.
Lobby Visits
OSA executed over thirty meetings with legislators and leadership staff during the 3 Interim Committee Days. Discussing issues from the Good Samaritan legislation about how the state can help increase reporting rates of alcohol poisoning to Higher One’s excessive fees and predatory marketing. Lots of conversations were had regarding regional university governance and student representation on the Higher Education Coordinating Commission as well as how the institutions can increase voter registration efforts on college campuses.
Students from OSU, WOU, EOU, UO, and PSU made the trip to Salem during the committee days and spent several hours in hearings for Regional University Governance, Higher Education and Consumer Protections to name a few. The OSA Legislative Director and Executive Director spent some time gaining new co-sponsors for our priority issues as well; including the Student Loan Tax Benefit, Governance and Voter Registration. With the bill filing deadline approaching on Tuesday January 21st – many lobbyists, advocates and organizations were in the building shopping bills and getting members to sign on to concepts. Although this isn’t the official beginning of the legislative session the feeling amongst everyone in the capitol is clear that the legislative session is in full swing.
Confirmation of new House of Representative Member
Representative Barbara Smith Warner was confirmed early Wednesday afternoon – replacing Michael Dembrow – who was recently appointed to the state senate. http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/12/barbara_smith_warner_new_orego.html
Racial Equity Report
“Facing Race: the 2013 Oregon Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity” is a multi-issue assessment of the 2013 legislative session, evaluating lawmaker’s commitment to advancing opportunity and addressing disparities affecting Oregonians of color. The report card was put together by the Western States Center. The Oregon Student Association along with many other advocacy groups signed on in support earlier this year and have taken an active role in it’s creation.
Oregon Student Access Commission
The Oregon Student Access Commission (OSAC) met on Friday 1/17/2014. The commission is helping the Higher Education Coordinating Commission decide how the Oregon Opportunity Grant, Oregon’s only need based aid program, will be allocated moving forward. They are going to answer hard questions. For example, should the OOG be allocated to everyone regardless of how small the grant will be or should we provided a more meaningful grant to a smaller number of people. The Oregon Student Association BOD Chair and Vice Chair brought forward similar questions to OSA General Assembly to aid OSAC in their efforts to meet the needs of students.
OSAC also reported that community college students are filing for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) this year at a higher right than last year. There is increased activity from all student segments for their Oregon Opportunity Grant. OSAC is on track to allocate $54.5-55.5 million dollars this year and about 55 million+ for 2014-15. There are 34,000 recipients in 2013-14.
Next steps
The short legislative session is scheduled to commence on Monday February 3rd. By the end of that week we must have public hearings scheduled for all of our priorities or they will die. Let’s continue to prepare for the session by holding issue and lobby trainings on campus and lay the groundwork needed to be as ready as possible for the quick 45 day session.
Written by Mario-Parker Milligan