The PSU-AAUP Executive Council met on February 21, 2019 to consider bills from our Legislative Committee and took the following positions:
HB 2927—OPPOSE
Relating to public employees placed on administrative leave.
Provides that employee of public employer is liable to employer for wages paid to employee during period of administrative leave if employee was placed on leave as result of allegation that employee engaged in criminal conduct and if employee is thereafter convicted of crime by reason of conduct.
Rationale: HB 2927 has the potential to require altering current Collective Bargaining Agreements that provide for paid administrative leave and is generally punitive to employees.
HB 2942—SUPPORT
Relating to access to educational opportunities; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 350.065 and 350.075.
Requires Higher Education Coordinating Commission to adopt statewide higher education equity plan and take plan into account in recommending to Governor appropriations for specified programs, facilities and investments and in advising Legislative Assembly, Governor, community colleges, public universities and other state boards and commissions on educational policies. Requires executive director of Higher Education Coordinating Commission to appoint Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer.
Rationale: HB 2942 aims to increase equity and inclusion within higher education, a value shared by AAUP-Oregon. The bill has the potential to expand higher education opportunities to a broader population and to support the success of students from historically marginalized groups.
SB 794—SUPPORT
Relating to student demographic data at post-secondary institutions of education.
Requires Higher Education Coordinating Commission to design question allowing each student to identify whether student is parent that will be placed on all forms used to collect demographic information by public post-secondary institutions of education. Requires each public post-secondary institution of education to make data available to commission. Requires commission to establish format and time frame for collection and reporting of demographic data, to evaluate public post-secondary institution of education compliance with collecting and providing data and to report to each regular session of Legislative Assembly on status of collecting and providing data.
Rationale: Lack of access to information on the number of student parents has been a significant barrier to securing both family coverage for graduate employee health insurance and child care support for graduate employees. GEU has provisions in their first contract for a task force to work on securing employee provided health insurance; SB 794 would support that work.