[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6302718,"mediaKeyId","2476519-b0f166de99b1b63ecbe761eca75b1250","parentId",2476519,"title","House committee hears $3 million request to sustain WorkSource reentry services in Oregon prisons","audioSeconds",751,"startMs",1361000,"endMs",610000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2476519-b0f166de99b1b63ecbe761eca75b1250&start=1361&end=610","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2476519-b0f166de99b1b63ecbe761eca75b1250/thumbnail_1361000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6302718/Oregon/House-committee-hears-3-million-request-to-sustain-WorkSource-reentry-services-in-Oregon-prisons","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302718-c8c7973e868f30fd56e06799a005b655/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167390&Signature=mIovjNnsbVEA~TbqHaT5v6R3Q2UyHHWCb7nDVWhGvSsaWv2KEhwLMt4sB1w2imgnvauBXCvfxwmtcp~uenXRBK4QsI7Y7qNZ8uA~2tJvR4imrPGOQcuqiYjvCPPl~0bYnmxZ23cdXjEzRmDnmUoOyZLcAYWgXQaL0cOg0MVp54MnRryEuOpjv5vTaVYxMy0OQPioq0hYwnqqqcWhivrkoMyRGtm3-VOdvQ0EUUfmbLyLepJWddy2l5Lx~IAK6S3b3PVWAkrVTdJxb53k5KOTVftvByA4l937CK~7pQGzSVCEbSSrrz0zddnYnlUSaTO7noqXOFmPu-qvuqh8N7qHyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-03-03T15:00:00Z","article","House lawmakers heard testimony March 3 on House Bill 2972, which would appropriate $3 million from the general fund to the Oregon Employment Department to staff WorkSource reentry programs for adults in custody across Oregon’s state correctional facilities.

Supporters told the House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards that the WorkSource reentry program delivers job search assistance, resume help, interview practice, training, and computer labs inside prisons and that federal funding supporting the efforts is expiring. Representative David Gomberg (House District 10) said the funding request is “modest” and urged support; Representative Kevin Mannix (House District 21) said corrections should provide education and reentry assistance authorized under the Oregon Constitution and described the bill as an investment in public safety and workforce development.

The bill’s backers — local workforce boards, the Oregon Employment Department and Department of Corrections staff, and current and former program participants — described the program’s rollout and early performance. Heather Ficht, executive director of East Cascades Works, said the WorkSource Reentry Program began locally in 2018, expanded under a U.S. Department of Labor Pathways grant and now operates computer labs and staff in all 12 state prisons. Ficht said the program reached 332 people in two prisons from 2022 to mid‑2024; of those, 277 were released, 38 remained engaged after release and 107 entered employment or training. She said the program enrolled about 350 adults in custody in the current program year and that year‑one recidivism for participants was 1.43 percent, which she described as a promising early indicator.

A former participant, Joshua McDougall of Bend, described meeting WorkSource staff while incarcerated at Deer Ridge, completing a peer‑support training paid in part by the program and then taking a paid position as a lead mentor with Central Oregon Peer Services after release. “They were able to sit down with me and we created a resume,” McDougall told the committee. “That plan was huge for me. I felt like I had a little hope for my life.”

Department of Corrections assistant director Larry Bennett and Amy Bertrand, DOC’s reentry and release administrator, answered technical questions. They said the current funding mix includes contracted staff and Oregon Employment Department staff and that the present federal and grant funding sunsets, which is the impetus for the general fund request. Committee staff noted the measure has a subsequent referral to the Ways and Means Committee for budget consideration.

The committee opened and then closed the public hearing on HB 2972 during the March 3 session; no committee action or vote was taken on the bill at the hearing.

Why it matters: Supporters framed the appropriation as a preservation step for services that connect people exiting custody to training and employment, which they argued reduces recidivism and addresses workforce shortages. Opponents were not recorded at the hearing; the measure will be considered further in budget deliberations if it advances to Ways and Means.

Next steps: Committee staff recorded that HB 2972 will be referred to Ways and Means; the committee did not vote on the measure during the March 3 hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee On Labor and Workplace Standards 03/03/2025 3:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","House lawmakers heard testimony March 3 on House Bill 2972, which would appropriate $3 million from the general fund to the Oregon Employment Department to staff WorkSource reentry programs for adults in custody across Oregon’s state correctional facilities.","taxTitle","Workplace Standards, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",78401,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6302710,"House committee hears bill to strengthen workplace protections and accommodation guidance for people with disabilities",796,4179000,4975000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2476519-b0f166de99b1b63ecbe761eca75b1250&start=4179&end=4975","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2476519-b0f166de99b1b63ecbe761eca75b1250/thumbnail_4179000.jpg","/articles/6302710/Oregon/House-committee-hears-bill-to-strengthen-workplace-protections-and-accommodation-guidance-for-people-with-disabilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302710-14a75d200bb346d8e82041700e6a1ac2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167390&Signature=UzkhHMUnquyZSTd48yuLVH57TE9zv6657YRS6IVj1jxKGvFpvoYvFvF720wh4-LvxyjoWtMu8bW1WhmiJr4KifEAW0czfUygbdDj1Mnt3d99R3XCKn6ktw59BI9TnPHe5FNZ77jC2xUdVtkUPz5F~ycIcQSKnutAHZg1tj6gmRemmnGYahw6vjgnkS8Qbi5nTMYidXvvSThr5qKmOGc~qGrHyqkNsOYJjhC2oMbQFgURYZROk7G0PPWUMfhJvc2qY-2QEa0si7Kg-BpBoF9ca4e0ijAURmq6hZdJL~bkZDAgaWTtI93OJEF2N7WvMEj8H6cgA642WCkFXRBfYnjz~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards heard testimony March 3 on House Bill 2742, a measure sponsors said would strengthen workplace accommodation guidance and protections for people with disabilities and expand anti‑discrimination coverage for local government services.

Representative Travis Nelson told the committee the bill would direct the Bureau of Labor and Industries to provide clearer guidance on reasonable accommodations, establish low‑ or no‑cost mediation services for accommodation disputes, prohibit unnecessary physical job requirements and require union representation in accommodation discussions. He said the bill would also require state agencies and contractors to include inclusive outreach and hiring strategies in affirmative action plans.

Ben Gurewitz of Disability Rights Oregon had intended to testify but was not present in the room; Representative Nelson and other witnesses described the goals as removing barriers to employment and clarifying employer obligations. Supporters said many discrimination claims the committee reviewed in the interim were disability‑related and argued clearer processes would reduce costly disputes.

Business groups raised concerns. Paloma Sparks of Oregon Business & Industry told the committee that mandating free mediation services for all accommodation disputes would be cost‑prohibitive without additional state funding and that reasonable accommodation processes are complex and require individualized back‑and‑forth between employers and employees. Scott Winkels of the League of Oregon Cities said some municipal and public‑safety positions require physical tests or standards (for example, police physical ability tests or public works roles) that cannot reasonably be accommodated; he warned the bill could create new outreach obligations for cities that may raise unfunded‑mandate issues under the state constitution.

Committee members asked how employers would establish essential job duties and how the bill’s language would apply to positions with legitimate physical requirements, such as school aides who must assist heavier students. Witnesses said the bill intends to target situations where employers use generic minimum physical requirements to screen out applicants without connecting the requirement to essential job duties; they acknowledged that determining “reasonable” and “essential” is fact‑specific under existing federal and state law.

The committee closed the public hearing on HB 2742; no vote was taken and sponsors said they were working on amendments to address stakeholder concerns.

Why it matters: Supporters called the bill a clarification and enforcement tool to make accommodation processes more transparent and accessible for workers with disabilities; local governments and business groups warned about potential costs, operational impacts on physically demanding jobs and the need to avoid unfunded mandates.

Next steps: Sponsor indicated work on amendments and stakeholder negotiations; committee will consider revised language in a future work session.","The House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards heard testimony March 3 on House Bill 2742, a measure sponsors said would strengthen workplace accommodation guidance and protections for people with disabilities and expand anti‑discrimination coverage for local government services.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6302713,"Committee hears competing views on wage‑transparency bill requiring salary ranges in job postings",3811,1368000,5179000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2476519-b0f166de99b1b63ecbe761eca75b1250&start=1368&end=5179","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2476519-b0f166de99b1b63ecbe761eca75b1250/thumbnail_1368000.jpg","/articles/6302713/Oregon/Committee-hears-competing-views-on-wagetransparency-bill-requiring-salary-ranges-in-job-postings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302713-dacef4ec65e8a2adbe9853fffb824eef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167390&Signature=HTefipOSWYrz3mWQj~qAta7dF-Z66T-oOvlhkuuJM1Qm51Xs9I-2vHIgIQQousH9Ouo8EoBXlzI4lMLr0IMfGNCSwHII0omBSvtWdJl5SXYGIev7ZuIfdNtP~OEC6bV529u3-Ny1zvrVisl0HyIb34Qz66zAmAWLE-6gYPvF6fnJwHEHWEh2VWExlzM4uNDHMmZQlTbIS73IFmHLXI8HRei9XIv9Gg~twVCzracnWUVa7HWwoMfwBQ9lBwFOvjC60rjN5B4QwSDQsGtDFGaa~kJjCcmFMzCEma2aMdnBkwCJr5ulGJXK20fCAd3StBvsF0D9-VVxng4JTblsV-7mjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lawmakers and stakeholders debated House Bill 2746 on March 3, a proposal that would require employers and employment agencies to include good‑faith salary ranges in job postings and allow civil penalties for violations, with initial enforcement discretion for education.

Representative Travis Nelson (House District 44) and Senate Majority Leader Casey Chama presented the bill and a dash‑1 amendment that removes a private right of action, authorizes the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) to issue educational letters for first violations and retains a structured penalty system for subsequent violations, with a maximum of $10,000 for related violations within a year. The dash‑1 also exempts the Oregon Employment Department from the definition of employment agency to account for interstate job exchange functions.

Supporters including Senator Chama, Representative Nelson, Intersectional Group researcher Jo Fang, the National Women’s Law Center (Vasu Reddy) and several individuals argued pay‑range disclosure narrows gender and racial pay gaps, saves recruitment time and aligns Oregon with other states that have passed similar laws. “Pay transparency prevents wage theft,” testified Astrid Kurniawan, who described discovering a pay disparity in her workplace only after seeing a posting in another state.

Opponents — including the National Federation of Independent Business (Anthony Smith), Oregon Business & Industry (Paloma Sparks) and NFIB members — said the bill would impose recordkeeping burdens and civil‑penalty exposure on small employers that lack dedicated human resources staff. OBI and NFIB warned that one‑size‑fits‑all rules do not account for small‑business hiring realities and urged caution; OBI said Washington State exemptions for very small businesses have reduced compliance burdens there.

Committee members pressed witnesses on specifics: how employers handle candidates whose expected pay exceeds a posted range, how to prevent overly broad ranges, and how the proposal interacts with Oregon’s existing pay‑equity laws. Witnesses and the sponsor said employers may pay outside a posted range but must post a range “set in good faith,” and that breadth of a posted range can factor into a good‑faith determination. The dash‑1’s educational first‑violation approach was highlighted as a compromise.

The committee closed the public hearing on HB 2746 but carried the hearing over to Wednesday for an invited question‑and‑answer session with BOLI and technical staff; committee members said the Wednesday session will not be open public testimony but will be an invited Q&A to clarify enforcement and technical details. No committee vote was taken March 3.

Why it matters: Supporters framed the bill as a proactive complement to Oregon’s pay‑equity statutes that could reduce wage disparities and improve hiring efficiency; business groups cautioned about compliance costs, enforcement mechanics and unintended consequences for small employers.

Next steps: Committee staff scheduled an invited follow‑up Q&A with BOLI and Oregon Employment Department before the committee proceeds to legislative action.","Supporters told the House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards that House Bill 2746 would close wage gaps and help job seekers by requiring employers to publish good‑faith salary ranges; business groups and trade associations warned the measure would burden small employers and raised enforcement and constitutionality concerns. The committee","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House committee hears $3 million request to sustain WorkSource reentry services in Oregon prisons

House committee hears bill to strengthen workplace protections and accommodation guidance for people with disabilities

Committee hears competing views on wage‑transparency bill requiring salary ranges in job postings