Bill #

Issue

Final Status

Summary

HB 2365

Lighters – restrictions

Passed House 59 to 0. Passed Senate 23 to 5. Governor signed.

Effective March 4, 2009.

Prohibits selling, offering for sale or distributing novelty lighters. Prohibits manufacture or importing of novelty lighters for purpose of sale or distribution in this state. Prohibits possession of novelty lighter in inventory for purposes of sale or distribution in this state. Applies to sales and distribution 91 days after effective date of Act. Applies to manufacture and import on or after effective date of Act.  Creates exceptions for lighters manufactured before January 1, 1980, and for lighters permanently altered to prevent flame or other causes of combustion. Makes violations subject to civil penalty, not to exceed $500 per day for retail seller or distributor, $1,000 per day for wholesaler or $10,000 per day for manufacturer or importer.

HB 2578

Parking & towing

Passed House 56 to 0. Passed Senate 27 to 0. Governor signed.

Effective Jan. 1, 2010.

Requires tower who tows vehicle at request of owner of parking facility to take and maintain photograph of vehicle.  Requires tower to contact owner of parking facility or owner’s agent at time of tow before towing motor vehicle from facility.  Creates exceptions.  Requires tower to release motor vehicle free of charge or if hookup is complete, for cost of hookup if owner or operator of vehicle is present at time of tow.  Restricts landlord’s ability to remove vehicles from parking spaces reserved for tenants. Requires landlord to post sign designating guest parking space.

HB 3497

Ethanol exemption

Passed House 58 to 0.

Passed Senate 29 to 1.

Governor signed.

Effective Jan. 1, 2010.

Exempts premium gasoline, which has an octane rating of 91 or above, from the 10 percent ethanol blending requirement imposed under ORS 646.913.

SB 188

Food Safety – ODA authority

Passed Senate 29 to 0.

Passed House 57 to 0.

Governor signed.

Effective Jan. 1, 2010.

Authorizes ODA to impose civil penalties for violations of food safety laws; penalties not to exceed $10,000 for each violation. Resolves statutory conflict regarding criminal penalty applicable to violation of livestock inspection. Makes violation of livestock inspection statute or related rule Class A misdemeanor, punishable by maximum of $360 fine.

SB 277

Restroom facilities – Public use

Passed Senate 30 to 0. Passed House 57 to 0.

Governor signed.

Effective Jan. 1, 2010.

Requires a public place to allow customer with eligible medical condition, verified by doctor’s letter or similar document, access to employee toilet facilities. Punishes violation of requirement by maximum fine of $90.

SB 306

Legal – small torts

Passed Senate 17 to 13.

Passed House 49 to 7.

Governor signed.

Effective Jan. 1, 2010.

Modifies the law allowing for award of attorney fees. Increases demand limit amount of small tort actions from $5,500 to $7, 500; changing to $10,000 on Jan. 1, 2012. Changes requirement that plaintiff notify defendant of demand for fees from 10 to 30 days before commencement of action. Specifies information that plaintiff must include in demand.

SB 533

Shopping carts/ Local government

Passed Senate 28 to 0. Passed House 60 to 0. Governor signed.

Effective Jan. 1, 2010.

Allows local governments to create separate provisions with greater penalties for retailers not complying with shopping cart regulations.

SB 80

Cap & Trade – EQC

Bill amended & forwarded to W&M; remained in committee upon adjournment.

Requires Dept. of Transportation, Public Utility Commission & Dept. of Environmental Quality to develop and implement plans to meet 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal or, if meeting goal is not technologically or economically feasible, to develop and implement alternative green-house gas emissions reduction strategy.

Establishes Climate Policy Advisory Council for purpose of coordinating actions of state agencies to achieve reduction goal. Specifies duties and powers. Requires Council to submit report to Legislative Assembly on state agency plans prior to Jan. 1, 2011.  Directs council to appoint certain advisory committees for purposes related to carbon offsets. Requires committees to report recommendations to appropriate legislative interim committees prior to Oct. 1, 2012. Requires governing bodies of consumer-owned utility to establish local conservation and energy efficiency plan and to use specified amount of revenues to fund annual conservation, energy efficiency and carbon reduction or avoidance program.

Authorizes DEQ to require registration and reporting by certain persons whose activities result in emission or generation of greenhouse gases. Provides whistleblower protection to employee who in good faith reports possible violation of Act.

SB 978

CRINC Memorial

One hearing held; remained in committee upon adjournment.

Allows distributor or importer of beverage containers to participate in statewide distributor cooperative organization. Provides that dealer who uses statewide distributor cooperative organization is not required to return beverage containers to distributor that does not participate in statewide distributor cooperative organization.

 

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