2018 Legislative Session in Review

The 2018 Legislative Session was a short one, but that didn’t stop it from seeing the passage of a number of important bills intended to benefit Oregon veterans and their families. The following summary highlights the key aspects of these measures.

Senate Bill 1506: Oregon Wounded Warrior Parking Program. This bill creates the “Oregon Wounded Warrior” parking designation for veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 50 percent or greater. Veterans must also have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions to qualify. Those who receive this designation will be able to enjoy free and unlimited parking in any time-limited or metered spaces in the state, without penalty.

This program, which is being administered by the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles, is now active. Interested veterans should contact their local DMV office and be prepared to show proof of disability and discharge status.

SB 1517: Free Hunting Tags for Disabled Veteran Organizations. The Department of Fish and Wildlife currently operates a program to provide terminally ill children with hunting and fishing opportunities, at no charge, by issuing a certain number of free tags to nonprofit entities that organize and sponsor such adventures. SB 1517 expands this program by incorporating disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients into the existing program.

A maximum of 35 tags will be made available to each year for both terminally ill children and veterans, with the former receiving precedence but being capped at 15. The measure also limits eligible veteran beneficiaries to one tag per year.

Jana Waller and Jim Kinsey, of "Skull Bound TV," and former Navy SEAL Bo Reichenbach scan for game during a hunting trip they organized for the double amputee. A bill passed by the Oregon Legislature during the last session will make it easier for nonprofits to organize hunting and fishing opportunities for disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients.

File photo

SB 1548: Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness. This bill establishes June as Oregon Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month and June 27 as Oregon Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day. The measure directs the Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and Oregon Military Department to continue working on educating victims of trauma about the causes, symptoms and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury.

House Bill 4035: Tuition Assistance for Oregon National Guard Members. This bill establishes a program to provide tuition assistance for eligible members of the Oregon National Guard, provided they attend an Oregon community college or public university and are working toward an associate or bachelor’s degree.

The expectation is that the eligible Guard member will not have to pay for any tuition when factoring in other federal and state assistance and the tuition assistance payments under the program. $2.7 million in General Funds are appropriated under the bill for tuition assistance payments and for program administration costs.

HB 4038: Veterans Omnibus Bill. HB 4038 addresses a number of issues of concern to veterans: the siting of the Roseburg Veterans’ Home, cemeteries for veterans, incarcerated veterans, the disposition of unclaimed military medals and veterans’ preference for public employment.

Roseburg Veterans’ Home: There are two Veterans’ Homes in Oregon, in The Dalles and Lebanon, and a third pending development in Roseburg, for which the state has appropriated $10 million. HB 4038 directs the ODVA to study the siting of the next Veterans’ Home in Roseburg.

State veterans’ cemeteries: Oregon has been identified by the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs as having elevated priority for the development of a state veterans’ cemetery. HB 4038 directs ODVA to study the siting of state veterans’ cemeteries and tribal veterans’ cemeteries.

Incarcerated veterans: In 2015, a task force convened pursuant to House Bill 2838 to study the needs of incarcerated veterans and make recommendations to the Legislature. Consistent with those recommendations, HB 4038 requires ODVA to provide reentry services that include assistance with reinstatement of veterans’ benefits and the appointment of veterans’ service officers.

Unclaimed property: Unclaimed property in Oregon can be sold or destroyed by the Department of State Lands upon proper notice. HB 4038 excludes military medals and decorations from this process and provides for alternative disposition.

Veterans’ preference: Veterans are given certain preferences in hiring for positions within state government, and disabled veterans receive even greater preference. HB 4038 expands the definition of “disabled veteran” for the purpose of receiving public employment preference to include any veterans who are receiving service-connected compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

HB 4098: Apprenticeship Informational Materials and Training. Apprenticeship programs provide onthe-job training for careers in industrial, manufacturing, and construction trades. The Bureau of Labor and Industries currently administers apprenticeship programs in 23 subject areas through its Apprenticeship and Training Division, in partnership with private businesses and local communities.

HB 4098 directs ODVA to provide veterans’ organizations and veteran service officers with information and training on apprenticeship opportunities for veterans.