Some of the bills affecting migrant farmworkers and the low-income Latino community include:
Low-income farmworker housing
House Bill 2096 would provide tax incentives for developers to construct low-income farmworker housing. It was last seen at a work session April 19 before the House Revenue Committee.
Recovering civil penalties
House Bill 2205 would have established a procedure for a person to bring action in the name of the state to recover civil penalties for violations of state law. It died March 17 when the House Committee on Civil Law failed to take any action during a work session.
Child care subsidies
Both House Bill 2503, which would have expanded eligibility for certain child care subsidy programs, and a similar bill, Senate Bill 239, died in committee.
Overtime pay
House Bill 2358 would expand overtime compensation to farmworkers. The bill was passed to the House Rules Committee April 12 by the House Committee on Business and Labor without a recommendation on whether it should be passed or not. No work sessions or hearings have been scheduled.
Earned income tax credit
House Bill 2819 would allow otherwise qualified individuals to claim earned income tax credit under an individual taxpayer identification number in lieu of a Social Security number. On April 22 the House Revenue Committee held a work session without recommendation to pass or not. No further work sessions or hearings have been scheduled.
Early learning
House Bill 3073 would expand eligibility and accessibility for child care programs. It was sent to the House Ways and Means Committee by the House Committee on Early Childhood on April 12 with a recommendation that it be passed.
Sanctuary
House Bill 3265 would prohibit government agencies and local police from working and communicating with federal immigration agents. It was sent to the House Ways and Means Committee by the House Judiciary Committee on April 13 with a recommendation that it be passed.
STREET ROOTS NEWS: Latino farmworkers press Oregon Legislature for overtime pay, other protections
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This article appears in May 5, 2021.