HB 3193
Requires the Oregon Health Authority to establish and implement a permanent farmworker disaster relief program.
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
98%
Oppose
2%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill requires the Oregon Health Authority to create and operate a permanent program to provide financial assistance to farmworkers who have lost income due to qualifying disasters, such as droughts, wildfires, or pandemics. The program will work with worker relief organizations to distribute funds to eligible farmworkers who can demonstrate a financial hardship related to the disaster. The bill also allocates $10 million from the General Fund to support the program’s initial operation.
Key provisions
- Defines ‘farmworker’ and ‘qualifying disaster’ for the purpose of the program.
- Requires the Oregon Health Authority to establish a permanent farmworker disaster relief program.
- Mandates the use of a worker relief organization to distribute financial support.
- Sets eligibility requirements for worker relief organizations to contract with the authority.
- Specifies documentation farmworkers must provide to receive assistance (disaster impact, location, and financial hardship).
- Authorizes the Oregon Health Authority to create rules for the program’s operation.
- Allocates $10 million from the General Fund to the program for the first two years.
Who is affected
- Farmworkers
- Oregon Agriculture Industry
- Oregon Health Authority
- Worker Relief Organizations
- General Public (through support for agricultural workers)
Notable changes
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsors
Cosponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of HB 3193 emphasize the crucial role farmworkers play in Oregon's agricultural industry and the need for basic protections during extreme weather conditions. They highlight the vulnerability of farmworkers to climate-related disasters, job loss, and health risks, which can have devastating effects on their livelihoods and well-being. Advocates argue that providing financial relief and support is essential to maintaining social cohesion and stability in affected areas, protecting farm workers' rights, and promoting social justice and human rights. They emphasize the importance of prioritizing the needs of farm worker communities in disaster preparedness and response plans, ensuring that their support is commensurate with their vital contributions to society.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Several ed concerns about the proposed legislation, citing issues with accountability and transparency. One concern centers on the allocation of funds to a nonprofit advocacy group that also lobbies for laws in the legislature, with some testifiers questioning whether these organizations are adequately accountable to the state. Additionally, opponents argue that HB 3193 represents an unnecessary and inequitable use of taxpayer dollars, as logging contractors already face prolonged shutdowns due to hazardous working conditions, rendering the proposed funding measures ineffective or even counterproductive.