Remember These? New Laws for a New Year
From AOI Leading Issues Email:
“The July adjournment of 2015 Session seems like a long time ago, but many of the laws the Legislature passed are just now taking effect. Unless an emergency clause caused a bill to go into effect immediately upon passage, all 2015 legislation will take effect January 1, 2016. As employers prepare for 2016, they should review the following list and consider whether any of their policies need updating.
Ban the Box: HB 3025, known as “Ban the Box,” prohibits employers from asking job applicants about their conviction history on the initial job application. However, note that nothing in this law prevents an employer from including a statement on their job applications saying that all job applicants will be subject to a criminal background check prior to hiring.
Employers in the City of Portland should note that the city recently passed a more restrictive ordinance which prohibits questions about conviction history and background checks until a conditional job offer is extended.
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Noncompetition Agreements: Oregon’s current law restricts the maximum length of a noncompetition agreement to two years, but the Legislature passed HB 3236, which reduces the allowable length of those agreements to 18 months. The reduction applies only to agreements entered into after January 1, 2016.”
New Sick Leave Law
BOLI has published the final rules for the Oregon Sick Leave law.  It will undoubtedly make for some quality reading this holiday season!  The best overall summary and wrap up of the changes that I have found were published by our member Cascade Employers Association.  You can find Ryan’s synopsis here as well as the full rule set here.  Further information can even be found here: http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI/TA/pages/index.aspx.  “SB 454, mandating that employers provide workers with up to 40 hours of sick time per year, takes effect January 1, 2016. Employers of 10 or more employees (six or more in Portland) must pay for the leave, those with fewer than 10 are not required to pay. The basic provisions of the law may be found here” (AOI Leading Issues Email, December 17, 2015).
As 2015 quickly comes to an end your McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce would also like to remind you to update your mandatory Employer Postings for 2016!  Find more information from the BOLI page.
Potential Gross Receipts Tax:
Initiative Petition 28 (the Gross Receipts Tax) will (very likely) be a ballot measure on the November 2016 ballot.  It is already a topic front and center in Oregon’s business community.  Your Chamber Government Affairs Council and your Chamber Board of Directors have been gathering information on this initiative.  Early in December the G.A.C. heard from the position opposing IP 28 and on January 7th the G.A.C. and Board will hear from the supporters and authors of IP 28.
In keeping with our policy to educate our members I have attached position papers at the bottom of this page for both sides of this topic and the proposed document in its entirety that would change the corporate tax structure.  Please feel free to either call or email and let us know your opinion and position on this ballot initiative.
I attended the Oregon Leadership Summit on December 14 and the AOI Annual Meeting in November.  At both meetings leaders from both political parties, as well as the Governor, called for compromise and working together to find a valid solution for this issue and funding as a whole.  I would encourage you to read this article in the Oregonian for a very good synopsis and summary of the Summit and analysis of speeches given: Democrats call for deal with businesses on tax measure.
Upcoming Legislative Session:
This coming session is the “Short” session lasting 35 days.  There are already committees meeting and addressing issues before the session convenes February 1st.  The Oregon State Chamber of Commerce has published their 2016 Legislative Priorities which I have attached at the bottom of the page for you.
Government Affairs Council:
Speaking of Legislation and Government…the Chamber Board of Directors is opening the application process for the Government Affairs Committee.  If you are interested in what that entails and how you too can get involved please visit our webpage for the background and application: https://www.mcminnville.org/government/.
Have a wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year!
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IP28 Text
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Opposition Fact Sheet_Oct 2015
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Support Fact Sheet Dec 2015
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2016 OSCC Legislative Priorities
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