Ways and Means committee approves two federal grant applications, accepts health and pension reports; schedules community budget hearings

The Joint Committee on Ways and Means on March 7 gave retroactive approval for two federal grant applications, accepted several agency reports including two from the Oregon Health Authority and two from the Public Employees Retirement System, and announced a series of community budget hearings across the state.

The committee approved a request from the Department of Emergency Management to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Nonprofit Security Grant Program for up to $4,275,000 to fund physical security enhancements for nonprofit organizations identified as at high risk of terrorist attack. The committee also approved a retroactive application from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training for up to $500,000 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program to buy live training props for firefighter training; the agency said it will meet the program's 15% match requirement from its existing training budget.

Why it matters: Both grants would, if awarded, direct federal funds to state public safety programs without requiring a state match and could affect local nonprofit and training capacity. Committee members also used the meeting to receive…