Senate committee sends SB 1569 to Ways and Means after debate over PERS classification

The Senate Committee on Labor and Business voted 4–1 on Feb. 11 to send Senate Bill 1569 to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means without recommendation after a brief work session that centered on whether the measure is policy-ready and the potential effects on the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).

Whitney, committee staff, told the committee that "there is no revenue impact, and there is an indeterminate fiscal impact," and summarized the bill: "It adds assistant attorney generals, juvenile custody service specialists, and juvenile court counselors of a county juvenile department who perform specific duties, forensic scientists, or evidence technicians employed by county sheriff, municipal police department, or a university police department, personal persons responsible for obtaining, classifying, and verifying fingerprints who are employed by the Department of State Police, the county sheriff, and municipal police department, or university police department, a certified medicolegal death investigators employed by county sheriff, municipal police department, county health department, or university police department, and force protection officers and leaders employed by the Oregon military department who perform specified duties to the definition of police officers for purposes of the public employees retirement system."

Committee members debated both classification and fiscal consequences. Chair Taylor urged caution about expanding "police and fire" categories and noted she had circulated a gubernatorial letter from Governor Kotek dated 04/17/2024 urging care on similar PERS changes. Taylor also said, "This is not altering the statewide liability in any way, shape, or form," while adding that local employer contribution rates could nevertheless change and that the bill would affect people employed on or after the bill's effective date.

Senator Threesen objected to sending the bill to Ways and Means without a clear policy position, saying she "will not be supporting the recommendation to send it to ways and means with no recommendation from this body" because she believes the measure is not yet ready and could increase exposure to PERS. Threesen argued that policy should be settled before the bill reaches a fiscal committee.

At roll call, Senator Campbell voted "Aye," Senator Draesen voted "No," Senator Paterson voted "Aye," Vice Chair Hayden voted "Aye," and Jared Taylor voted "Yes." The chair announced the measure would be referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

The committee did not adopt any amendments and did not take final passage; the referral sends the bill to Ways and Means for fiscal review and any further amendments. Committee staff said the next meeting likely will be Monday, pending referrals from the House floor.

The committee adjourned after the referral.