AGC’s board of directors has adopted the Oregon-Columbia Chapter’s Legislative Agenda. The planks of the agenda include: transportation, liability insurance reform, workers’ compensation and SAIF, public contracting/general construction issues, and workforce/apprenticeship issues.

Transportation
AGC will support the Connect Oregon package proposed by Governor Kulongoski, which would invest $100 million of Oregon Lottery funds into heavy rail, passenger transit, marine, and aviation infrastructure investments. In addition to supporting the package, AGC will work to educate legislators about and advocate for the need to increase funding for preservation and maintenance of highways. Additionally, AGC will be steadfast in its protection of the Highway Trust Fund. Budget pressures may make the fund an attractive source of funding for other purposes; AGC will oppose any attempt to raid the fund.

Liability Insurance Reform
AGC members continue to face skyrocketing costs in acquiring liability insurance. To address this issue, AGC will sponsor legislation to mirror the state of Washington’s statute of repose at six years. Current Oregon contractors face a 10-year statute of repose. Further, AGC will sponsor legislation clarifying that contractors are not “sellers or distributors” of asbestos for purposes of the asbestos liability statute.

Workers’ Compensation/SAIF
Oregon’s workers’ compensation system and SAIF Corporation will be a major topic of conversation this session, despite the outcome of the ballot measure. AGC will support the reforms presented by SAIF Corporation, including proposals to require that the SAIF board of directors approve group contracts and requirements that group programs be based upon sound business and insurance principles. AGC will also work to ensure that SAIF’s existence as a public corporation remains intact. SAIF plays an important role in maintaining the equilibrium of Oregon’s workers’ compensation market, and AGC will work to ensure that their role in the market is not changed. The chapter will also be active in ensuring the continued effectiveness and existence of the Management Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC), which reviews technical legislative proposals on workers’ compensation issues and ensures a fair balance in those proposals for management and labor.

Contracting Issues
Every session produces a number of proposals on contracting issues; AGC will be monitoring these proposals as they emerge, particularly on public contracting, to ensure they create a benefit to the industry and do not further hamper the competitiveness of the Oregon construction market. AGC will specifically sponsor legislation to prohibit out-of-state Education Service Districts (ESD) from bidding on construction management contracts, which has been a problem of late. Technical fixes to the rewrite of ORS 279, proposals to require prevailing wage on private projects, independent contractor bills, and legislation emanating from public agencies will all be monitored by the AGC legislative committee and lobbying team.

Workforce/Apprenticeship
AGC will sponsor legislation that will bring some of Oregon’s apprenticeship laws in line with recommendations released by the federal government. AGC will work to ensure that additional proposals on apprenticeship or workforce are balanced in their approach and are in line with our strategies on workforce development.

Other Opportunities
Other additional opportunities may present themselves as the session develops. AGC will be prepared to respond to land use legislation, support legislation on aggregate mining, assist in passing a higher education bonding package, support business-friendly health care reform initiatives, and monitor a whole host of other proposals. As these opportunities emerge, AGC’s lobbying team will work with the Legislative Committee to develop an appropriate response that is beneficial to the industry.