Legislative Issues
Park Development Issues
Bills effecting the development, expansion or construction of parks and recreation related facilities.
Oregon House Bill 2757: Relating to Systems Development Charges
Caps amount of system development charges per dwelling unit
that may be imposed for parks and recreation capital improvements.
State
of Oregon web site for details of the bill.
OPA
stand on the issues. PASSWORD PROTECTED
Access Issues
Legislation effecting Oregon residents ability to access or create access to public lands, parks, open space and waterways.
Oregon Senate Bill 1028: Regulates the public right to use
certain waterways
(Requested by Senators Ted Ferrioli & Kate Brown)
Establishes public right to use certain waterways up to line of ordinary
high water for certain recreational purposes. Specifies limit of public
right. Directs State Land Board to adopt statewide management plan Governing
recreational use of certain waterways. Allows modification of plan.
Directs State Land Board to appoint Class 1 Waterways Advisory Committee.
Specifies duties. Establishes Class 1 Waterways Subaccount within Boating
Safety, Law Enforcement and Facility Account. Continuously appropriates
moneys in sub account to State Marine Board for purposes of regulating
waterways. Directs State Marine Board to establish program for regulation
of recreational use of waterways of state. Directs board to issue recreational
use registrations. Directs use of registration fees. Specifies that
portion of fees be allocated to counties for law enforcement. Punishes
violation of statewide management plan and violation of public right
to use certain waterways by maximum fine of $360. Declares emergency,
effective on passage.
State
of Oregon web site for details of the bill.
OPA
stand on the issues. PASSWORD PROTECTED
Oregon Senate Bill 1014: Regulates use of water bodies to high
water line
(Requested by Coalition for Oregon River Rights)
Establishes public right to use certain water bodies up to ordinary
high water line for certain recreational purposes. Specifies limits
of public right. Provides that title to land lying between ordinary
high water line is unaffected. Provides that landowner is not liable
for damage to natural resources caused by public use of water body.
Directs State Marine Board to develop management plan governing recreational
use of water bodies. Allows modification of plan. Directs State Marine
Director to establish Floatable Water Bodies Advisory Committee. Specifies
duties. Establishes program for issuance of recreational use registrations.
Directs use of registration fees by board. Specifies that portion of
fees be allocated to counties for law enforcement. Punishes violation
of management plan or violation of public right by fine of up to $180.
State
of Oregon web site for details of the bill.
OPA
stand on the issues. PASSWORD PROTECTED
Oregon Senate Bill 423: Property tax exemptions for certain
waterways
(Requested by the Northwest Steelheaders)
Establishes public right to use certain waterways for
recreational uses. Specifies extent of right. Limits right to use portions
of waterways near hydroelectric power generating facilities. Exempts
from property tax waterways for which public right to use exists. Allows
property tax exemption for other waterways for which owner allows public
use. Limits landowner liability. Punishes violation of statutes or rules
regulating public access to waterways by fine of up to $360.
State
of Oregon web site for details of the bill.
OPA
stand on the issues. PASSWORD PROTECTED
Parks and Recreation Funding
Protection and enhancement of funding sources for County Parks.
Oregon House Bill 5056: Regarding RV License Fees
RV Licensing fees are a major source of funding for Oregon’s County
Parks System.
State
of Oregon web site for details of the bill.
OPA
stand on the issues. PASSWORD PROTECTED
Oregon House Bill 5050: Regarding Budget
Oregon State Marine Board Maintenance Assistance Program Funding.
State
of Oregon web site for details of the bill.
OPA
stand on the issues. PASSWORD PROTECTED
Oregon House Bill 5029: Regarding Budget
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
State
of Oregon web site for details of the bill.
OPA
stand on the issues. PASSWORD PROTECTED
Other Issues of Interest to our Members
NATIONAL ISSUE- Re-authorization of Federal Timber Safety-Net Funds: County and local school funding received from the Federal government in lieu of local property taxes on Federally owned lands.
NATIONAL ISSUE-Land and Water Conservation Funds(LWCF):
Presidents Bush’s budget has proposed the elimination of the Land
and Water Conservation Fund, a program which was a critical component
on building local parks and recreation infrastructure. The LWCF has
been severely under funded for several years, elimination of this program
would be a terrible blow to advocates for public recreation.