Oregon’s short legislative session ended early on March 6th. Below is an update on the employment-related bills we were monitoring this session:
- Oregon HB 4089 – Passed both the House and Senate and is currently waiting for the Governor’s signature. This bill expands the crime of “theft of services” to specifically include the nonpayment of compensation to employees and independent contractors. This includes, but is not limited to, failure to pay overtime, failure to pay minimum wage, failure to pay for all hours worked, and making certain deductions without written consent or lawful authorization.
- Oregon HB 4093 – Did not pass. This bill would have required employers to allow employees to have an authorized representative participate in meetings related to reasonable accommodation requests. It also would have prohibited employers from using minimum physical requirements to screen out individuals with disabilities unless those requirements were connected to the essential functions of the job.
- Oregon HB 4094 – Did not pass. This bill would have required employers that provide paid vacation to pay out all earned and unused vacation time upon termination.
- Oregon SB 1505 – Did not pass. This bill would have established a Workforce Standards Board for employees in home and community-based services. The purpose of the board was to strengthen and maintain a sufficient supply of skilled home and community-based service workers and to adopt or revise minimum workforce standards to improve working conditions for this group of workers.
Cascade will continue to monitor HB 4089 and will provide an update once the Governor takes action.