House Bill 3434 headed to House floor
On May 25th, the House Committee on Rules moved to the House floor the bill to extend the sunset on the only statute that provides a process in the event of a county public safety fiscal emergency. Sponsored by Representative and former Clackamas County Commissioner Ann Lininger, House Bill (HB) 3434 would moved the sunset on Chapter 753, Oregon Laws 2013 to January 2, 2024.
Fortunately, the statute has not been utilized, but may yet be.
The procedure it provides is elaborate. The Governor must proclaim an emergency when when conditions exist in one or more counties that compromise the county ability to provide a minimally adequate level of public safety services. After written authority by the majority of the county governing body, the county and Governor may enter into an intergovernmental agreement for performance of functions and specify debts liabilities, and obligations of the parties. The state and county split the cost of services provided under the inter-governmental agreement (IGA).
Other county fiscal emergency statutes relate to property tax services (ORS 306.117), county elections (ORS 246.710), and assistance from the Governor’s Office (ORS 203.105).
Contributed by: Gil Riddell | AOC Policy Director