Sen. Rod Monroe

Removes requirement that students who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents apply for official federal identification document to be eligible for exemption from paying nonresident tuition at public universities. Permits public universities, Oregon Health and Science University and community colleges ] Higher Education Coordinating Commission to provide scholarships and other financial aid to students who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents. Permits Oregon Health and Science University and community colleges ] to exempt from paying nonresident tuition students who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Specifies that amount in account established for higher education expenses is disregarded for purposes of determining account owner's financial eligibility to receive assistance or benefit authorized by law, other than means-tested state financial aid for higher education, to extent permitted under federal law. Directs Higher Education Coordinating Commission to study potential effects on financial aid programs of excluding amounts in accounts established for higher education expenses from determination of expected family contributions and to study policies to incentivize saving for higher education expenses among families at or below median income. Applies to eligibility determinations made on or after January 1, 2019. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Provides that person commits crime of strangulation if person knowingly impedes normal breathing or circulation of another person by applying pressure to chest of other person. Increases penalty for crime of strangulation when victim is family or household member. Punishes by maximum of five years' imprisonment, $125,000 fine, or both. Directs Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to classify felony strangulation as crime category 5 if committed against family or household member .

Establishes Small Business Expansion Loan Fund to be administered by Oregon Business Development Department for purpose of making loans of early stage growth capital to individuals and business entities with 50 or fewer employees that may not be able to obtain adequate traditional commercial or private financing to meet operational and growth needs. Provides that no individual loan may be made for amount greater than $2 million. Authorizes Oregon Business Development Commission to transfer moneys in Oregon Business Development Fund to Small Business Expansion Loan Fund when reasonable and financially appropriate for purpose of making loans under Act.

Increases amounts of moneys received by school districts that are not considered Local Revenues for purposes of State School Fund calculations. Takes effect July 1, 2018.

Prohibits fact finder from determining plaintiff's damages for civil cause of action using calculation for projected future earning potential of plaintiff that takes into account race or ethnicity of plaintiff. ] Makes calculation of projected future earning potential of plaintiff that takes into account race or ethnicity of plaintiff inadmissible in civil action. Directs court to instruct jury in civil action involving claim for projected future earnings that jury may not consider race or ethnicity of plaintiff.

Authorizes Department of Transportation to enter into intergovernmental agreement with city having population of 500,000 or more for purpose of removing certain personal property from locations within city's urban growth boundary ] owned by department . Sunsets January 2, 2023.

Provides that fixed percentage of certain forecasted video lottery revenues be transferred to counties for economic development. Provides that disbursals to counties from video lottery revenues be adjusted to compensate for differentials between previous biennium's forecasted revenues and actual revenues. Provides that amount transferred to counties from video lottery revenue must be calculated as if certain transfers of lottery revenues to Public Employees Retirement Fund were not made. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Directs Public Employees Retirement Board to initiate, resume or suspend payment of certain increased benefits under Public Employees Retirement System on first day of calendar quarter following receipt of notice by board that benefit payments are or are not subject to Oregon personal income tax. Directs board to pay increased benefits not paid to person because board determined that payments were not subject to Oregon personal income tax if person later establishes that payments were subject to Oregon personal income tax. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Requires certain public improvement contracts to meet certain requirements related to use of diesel engines in course of performing public improvement contract. Requires Environmental Quality Commission to adopt indirect source review program by rule. Requires certain nonroad diesel engines to be registered with Department of Environmental Quality. Authorizes commission to adopt rules and registration fees. Directs commission to adopt by rule diesel engine emission standards for medium-duty trucks, heavy-duty trucks and nonroad diesel engines. Requires commission to phase in implementation of certain standards. Makes certain provisions operative January 1, 2019. Authorizes additional uses of moneys received by state pursuant to Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Agreement. Repeals state preemption of local regulation of idling by primary engines in commercial vehicles. Takes effect July 1, 2018.