By Kevin Haas, Legislative Chair
Summary of 2008 Special Legislative Session - Recap of Bills of interest to ITE members
The Oregon State Legislature tested a potential move to annual sessions rather than meeting every other year as it has since Oregon became the 33rd State in 1859. The 2008 Special Legislative Session began on February 4, 2008 and concluded on February 22, 2008. Only 1 bill that might be of particular interest to ITE members was passed during the 2008 Special Session. Senate Bill 1084 allows pedestrians representing non-profit groups to enter the roadway for fund-raising purposes. Several engineers expressed safety and operational concerns with pedestrians being out in the middle of the roadway, but this bill passed with nearly unanimous support of the Legislature and Governor. A link to the bill that was passed is inlcuded below:
Senate Bill 1084 - Allows pedestrians representing non-profit groups to enter the roadway when a permit is issued by the road authority.
The Legislature is not scheduled to convene again until the 2009 Legislative Session begins on January 12, 2009. Although the Legislature stands adjouned until the 2009 Legislative Session, many Interim Legislative Committees and the Legislative Emergency Board meet regularly between Sessions. You can track all of the activities of the Oregon State Legislature including committee agendas and schedules on their web site at www.leg.state.or.us. Many of the documents linked from this web page require Adobe Reader to be installed on your computer. Adobe Reader is a free download and is available at www.adobe.com.
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) also closely tracks legislation related to transportation and publishes a Legislative Summary report after every Legislative Session. The document provides summaries of most transportation bills, with effective dates, and in some cases an ODOT staff person responsible for implementing the bill. A link to the 2007 Legislative Summary Report from ODOT is provided below.
2007 Legislative Summary Report
2007 Legislative Session - Recap of Bills of interest to ITE members
The 2007 Legislative Session began on January 8, 2007 and concluded on June 28, 2007.
Several transportation related Bills were passed during the 2007 session. They are linked below along with a summary of the Bill. If you have any questions or comments concerning Bills that were tracked during the 2007 legislative session, please don't hesitate to contact me via email or by phone at 503-986-3580.
Links to transportation related Bills passed by the Oregon Legislative Assembly during the 2007 session
Senate Bill 567 - Permits authority to declare vehicle with gross weight of 26,000 pounds or less and parked on freeway within city limits at any time hazard or obstruction for purposes of custody and removal of vehicle.
Senate Bill 829 - Directs mass transit district or transportation district that operates light rail system to study pedestrian safety at unguarded pedestrian crossings of light rail tracks.
Senate Bill 994 - Establishes amounts of certain funds to be distributed by Department of Transportation to counties. Requires counties to match specified percentage of funds if Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 is reauthorized.
Senate Bill 1002 - Requires sheriff or authorized individual to include procedures for multicounty search and rescue plan. Requires multicounty search and rescue procedures to comply with National Incident Management System Incident Command System. Modifies criteria under which sheriff must conduct critique of search and rescue.
House Bill 2273 - Revises definitions used in Oregon billboard law.
Deletes provisions for business identification signs, waiver, on-premise signs and directional signs.
Authorizes issuance of investigative demands by Department of Transportation.
Authorizes issuance of permits for outdoor advertising signs placed on benches or shelters for use by customers of mass transit districts.
Changes mandatory requirements to remove and pay just compensation for legal signs to permissive provisions.
Prohibits outdoor advertising signs on all scenic byways.
Prohibits Travel Information Council from erecting travel plaza on public lands without consent of agency that owns land.
Creates Sign Task Force and specifies duties of task force, including report to interim committee of Legislative Assembly by November 1, 2008.
House Bill 2274 - Eliminates sunset on law that doubles fines for traffic offenses committed in safety corridors.
House Bill 2297 - Establishes speed limit of 15 miles per hour for narrow residential roadways.
House Bill 2466 - Permits cities of Albany, Beaverton, Bend, Eugene, Gladstone, Medford, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Portland, and Tigard to operate photo radar. Permits Department of Transportation to operate photo radar in highway work zones.
House Bill 2508 - Allows any city to operate cameras designed to photograph drivers who fail to obey traffic control device. Deletes requirement that Department of Transportation provide Legislative Assembly with executive summary regarding camera surveillance. Removes limit on number of intersections at which cities may operate cameras.
House Bill 2567 - Requires tires with retractable studs to be allowed as traction tires under Oregon Transportation Commission rules.
House Bill 2628 - Declares legislative findings regarding outdoor lighting fixtures. Requires State Department of Energy to review model ordinance provisions relevant to outdoor lighting fixtures and publish report containing findings and recommendations based on review.
House Bill 2974 - Creates additional exemptions to requirements for scenic highways.
House Bill 3445 - Adds premises open to public in service district to definition of “highway” for purpose of enforcing traffic offenses, except unlawful sign display.
Links to National Legislative Issues
SAFETEA-LU - Information on the current federal authorization for Federal surface transportation programs for the 5-year period 2005-2009, officially known as the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).
MUTCD Federal Register Notices - Information on Notices of Proposed Amendments (NPAs) and Final Rules (FRs) regarding the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
September 12, 2008
19th Annual ITE Golf Tournament
Oregon Golf Accociation
Woodburn, OR
If you register and cannot make it, you may substitute a player, but you will still be charged.
FE and PE Review Courses
Courses start in Early September
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Last update: 07/10/2008