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Hearing on Cybersecurity for the Oregon Judicial Department
On June 2, 2021, the Oregon Judicial Department provided an information security report to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Information Management and Technology. The committee members heard presentations from the State Chief Information Officer, the Judicial Department, the legislative branch, the Secretary of State, the Oregon State Treasury, and the Department of Justice. The meeting materials can be found here.
The Oregon Judicial Department provided a brief presentation about its technology infrastructure. Currently there are almost 10,500 external registered system users. Thirty-five million court records are available online, both through the appellate system and the trial court system. The Oregon Judicial Department also shared a brief overview regarding the development and implementation of the information security policies.
While the reports were submitted in response to legislation passed in the 2016 legislative session, committee members and presenters acknowledged that with the recent push towards technology due to COVID and the ransomware cases that have recently been in the news, additional discussions would be helpful.
Legislature Passes House Bill 2168 – Juneteenth Expected to Become Legal State Holiday
In early June the Legislature passed House Bill 2168. The bill establishes Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, as a legal state holiday.
Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day, and Freedom Day, recognizes the day Union General Gordon Granger entered Galveston, Texas, to announce, almost three years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, the abolition of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth commemorates both the end of slavery and the work of those African Americans who have worked to bring their dreams of equality to reality.
Oregon has recognized Juneteenth as a holiday since 2001. HB 2168 goes further and includes the celebration of Juneteenth, beginning in 2022, as a legal holiday on par with Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving Day.
The bill was sent to the Governor on June 7, 2021 and is expected to be signed in the next few days.
Bills of Interest
The Ways and Means Committee has begun scheduling public hearings in its subcommittees. Below is a list of some of the bills that may be of interest.
HB 2178 – Modifies provisions relating to fees in tax court.
HB 2738 – Modifies CASA Volunteer Programs to direct Oregon Department of Administrative Services to contract with nongovernmental entity to serve as statewide coordinating entity for provision of court appointed special advocate services.
HB 2992 – Modifies amount of compensation paid to members of state boards and commissions. Requires state boards or commissions to pay compensation and expenses to certain members with adjusted gross income below certain threshold. Provides that members may decline to accept compensation or reimbursement.
HB 2993 – Provides that advisory committees appointed by agency as part of rulemaking must represent interests of persons and communities likely to be affected by rule. Requires agency to include in notice of rulemaking statement identifying how adoption of rule will affect racial equity.
Annual Adjustment for Tort Claims Published
The Office of the State Court Administrator (OSCA) has calculated the annual adjustment to the limitations on liability of state and local public bodies for personal injury, death, and property damage or destruction. Based on these calculations, the limitations are adjusted as shown in this table.
The new limitations become effective on July 1, 2021. They apply to all causes of action arising on or after July 1, 2021, and before July 1, 2022. OSCA opened a public comment period on the adjustments from April 5, 2021, to 5:00 p.m. on May 24, 2021. It received no public comment.
OSCA makes these adjustments annually, as required by ORS 30.271(4), 30.272(4), and 30.273(3). A list of past and current limitations on liability of public bodies can be found on the Oregon Judicial Department website at: http://www.courts.oregon.gov/Pages/tort.aspx.
Archives
Thank you for reading the Oregon State Bar’s CAPITOL INSIDER.
The archives are available here.
2021 Oregon State Bar Officers and Public Affairs Chair
David Wade, President, Oregon State Bar
Kamron Graham, President Elect, Oregon State Bar
Liani Reeves, Immediate Past President, Oregon State Bar
Katherine Denning, Chair, Public Affairs Committee, Oregon State Bar Board of Governors
For questions about articles, legislation, or the legislative process, please contact:
Susan Grabe, Public Affairs Director
Amy Zubko, Public Affairs Legislative Attorney