Summary: House Bill 2009 was Ordered printed by the Speaker pursuant to House Rule 12.00A (5). Presession filed (at the request of House Interim Committee on Health Care) -- Relating to health care; appropriating money; prescribing an effective date; providing for revenue raising that requires approval by a three-fifths majority.

Relating to health care; creating new provisions; amending ORS 25.323, 65.800, 107.092, 127.646, 192.410, 192.502, 192. 75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 Regular Session NOTE: Matter within braces and plus ... http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measures/hb2000.dir/hb2009.a.html

[snip]

SECTION 93. ORS 135.917 is amended to read:

135.917. (1) Courts having jurisdiction over the offense of possession of less than one ounce of marijuana shall designate agencies or organizations to perform the diagnostic assessment and treatment required under possession of marijuana diversion agreements described in ORS 135.907. The designated agencies or organizations must meet the standards set by the { - Department of Human Services - } { + Oregon Health Authority + } to perform the diagnostic assessment and treatment of drug dependency and must be certified by the { - Department of Human Services - } { + authority + }. Wherever possible, a court shall designate agencies or organizations to perform the diagnostic assessment that are separate from those that may be designated to carry out a program of treatment for drug dependency.

[snip]

{ - (3) - } { + (4) + } 'Delivery' has the meaning given that term in ORS 475.005. 'Delivery' does not include transfer of marijuana by a registry identification cardholder to another registry identification cardholder if no consideration is paid for the transfer.

[snip]

(6) 'Marijuana' has the meaning given that term in ORS 475.005.

(7) 'Marijuana grow site' means a location where marijuana is produced for use by a registry identification cardholder and that is registered under the provisions of ORS 475.304.

(8) 'Medical use of marijuana' means the production, possession, delivery, or administration of marijuana, or paraphernalia used to administer marijuana, as necessary for the exclusive benefit of a person to mitigate the symptoms or effects of the person's debilitating medical condition.

(9) 'Production' has the meaning given that term in ORS 475.005.

(10) 'Registry identification card' means a document issued by the { - department - } { + authority + } that identifies a person authorized to engage in the medical use of marijuana and the person's designated primary caregiver, if any.

(11) 'Usable marijuana' means the dried leaves and flowers of the plant Cannabis family Moraceae, and any mixture or preparation thereof, that are appropriate for medical use as allowed in ORS 475.300 to 475.346. 'Usable marijuana' does not include the seeds, stalks and roots of the plant.

[snip]

SECTION 965. ORS 475.303 is amended to read:

475.303. (1) There is created the Advisory Committee on Medical Marijuana in the { - Department of Human Services - } { + Oregon Health Authority + }, consisting of 11 members appointed by the Director of { - Human Services - } { + the Oregon Health Authority + }.

(2) The director shall appoint members of the committee from persons who possess registry identification cards, designated primary caregivers of persons who possess registry identification cards and advocates of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act.

(3) The committee shall advise the director on the administrative aspects of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, review current and proposed administrative rules of the program and provide annual input on the fee structure of the program.

[snip]

SECTION 966. ORS 475.304 is amended to read:

475.304. (1) The { - Department of Human Services - } { + Oregon Health Authority + } shall establish by rule a marijuana grow site registration system to authorize production of marijuana by a registry identification cardholder, a designated primary caregiver who grows marijuana for the cardholder or a person who is responsible for a marijuana grow site. The marijuana grow site registration system adopted must require a registry identification cardholder to submit an application to the { - department - } { + authority + } that includes:

(a) The name of the person responsible for the marijuana grow site;

(b) The address of the marijuana grow site;

(c) The registry identification card number of the registry cardholder for whom the marijuana is being produced; and

(d) Any other information the { - department - } { + authority + } considers necessary.

(2) The { - department - } { + authority + } shall issue a marijuana grow site registration card to a registry identification cardholder who has met the requirements of subsection (1) of this section.

(3) A person who has been issued a marijuana grow site registration card under this section must display the registration card at the marijuana grow site at all times when marijuana is being produced.

(4) A marijuana grow site registration card must be obtained and posted for each registry identification cardholder for whom marijuana is being produced at a marijuana grow site.

(5) All usable marijuana, plants, seedlings and seeds associated with the production of marijuana for a registry identification cardholder by a person responsible for a marijuana grow site are the property of the registry identification cardholder and must be provided to the registry identification cardholder upon request.

(6)(a) The { - department - } { + authority + } shall conduct a criminal records check under ORS 181.534 of any person whose name is submitted as a person responsible for a marijuana grow site.

[snip]

SECTION 967. ORS 475.306 is amended to read:

475.306. (1) A person who possesses a registry identification card issued pursuant to ORS 475.309 may engage in, and a designated primary caregiver of such a person may assist in, the medical use of marijuana only as justified to mitigate the symptoms or effects of the person's debilitating medical condition.

(2) A person who is a registry identification cardholder must possess the registry identification card when using or transporting marijuana in a location other than the residence of the cardholder.

(3) The { - Department of Human Services - } { + Oregon Health Authority + } shall define by rule when a marijuana plant is mature and when it is immature. The rule shall provide that a plant that has no flowers and that is less than 12 inches in height and less than 12 inches in diameter is a seedling or a start and is not a mature plant.

SECTION 968. ORS 475.309 is amended to read:

475.309. (1) Except as provided in ORS 475.316, 475.320 and 475.342, a person engaged in or assisting in the medical use of marijuana is excepted from the criminal laws of the state for possession, delivery or production of marijuana, aiding and abetting another in the possession, delivery or production of marijuana or any other criminal offense in which possession, delivery or production of marijuana is an element if the following conditions have been satisfied:

(a) The person holds a registry identification card issued pursuant to this section, has applied for a registry identification card pursuant to subsection (9) of this section, is the designated primary caregiver of the cardholder or applicant, or is the person responsible for a marijuana grow site that is producing marijuana for the cardholder and is registered under ORS 475.304; and

(b) The person who has a debilitating medical condition, the person's primary caregiver and the person responsible for a marijuana grow site that is producing marijuana for the cardholder and is registered under ORS 475.304 are collectively in possession of, delivering or producing marijuana for medical use in amounts allowed under ORS 475.320.

[snip]

The text on this Bill can be found in PDF format at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb2000.dir/hb2009.intro.pdf

Status:

01/12 (H) First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
01/12 (H) Referred to Health Care with subsequent referral to Revenue, then Ways and Means.
01/26 (H) Public Hearing held.
01/28 (H) Public Hearing held.
02/04 (H) Public Hearing held.
02/09 (H) Public Hearing held.
02/11 (H) Public Hearing held.
02/23 (H) Public Hearing held.
02/27 (H) Work Session held.
03/04 (H) Work Session held.
03/13 (H) Work Session held.
03/16 (H) Work Session held.
03/18 (H) Work Session held.
03/20 (H) Work Session held.
03/25 (H) Work Session held.
03/30 (H) Work Session held.
04/08 (H) Work Session held.
04/09 (H) Without recommendation as to passage, with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, and be rereferred to Health Care.
04/09 (H) Rereferred to Health Care by order of Speaker.
04/13 (H) Work Session scheduled.
04/14 (H) Work Session scheduled.
04/15 (H) Work Session scheduled.
04/17 (H) Work Session scheduled.

Testifying

Each speaker called to testify will have two minutes to address the committee. The order of testimony may be managed to ensure that all points of view on these measures are presented.

Staff respectfully requests that you submit 25 collated copies of written materials at the time of your testimony and, if possible, an electronic copy of materials provided to staff 24 hours prior to the meeting. Persons making presentations including the use of video, DVD, PowerPoint or overhead projection equipment are asked to contact committee staff and provide an electronic copy 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Whether you want to testify or not, it would be good to come to Salem for any hearings. It would be especially good to try to schedule a meeting with your Senator -or- Representative before the meeting, possible.

As with coming to court, if you decide to attend hearings, please dress appropriately and be polite and respectful.

click here -

http://www.leg.state.or.us/capinfo/

- for Capitol Info, such as directions, phone numbers and maps.

If you cannot attend, Please write and testify. You can find wording of the measures here: http://www.leg.state.or.us/bills_laws/

you can listen to the hearings online here http://www.leg.state.or.us/listn/

Details:  

> Establishes Oregon Health Authority Board and Oregon Health Authority and specifies duties, functions and powers. Transfers health { - and health insurance - } functions to authority from Department of Human Services { - and Department of Consumer and Business Services - } .

> Creates Quality Care Institute { - and Oregon Health Insurance Exchange - } in Oregon Health Authority. { + Directs authority to develop and submit to Legislative Assembly for approval Oregon Health Insurance Exchange plan.

> Expands eligibility for medical assistance. + } Requires authority to implement premium assistance program. Requires { - authority to streamline - } { + Department of Human Services to implement streamlined and simple + } application process for medical assistance and premium assistance programs. Requires authority to increase reimbursement rates for health services providers participating in medical assistance { - programs - } { + program + }. Requires authority to conduct outreach for and marketing of medical assistance and premium assistance programs.

> Creates tax on health insurance and managed care plans. Sets fixed rate for hospital assessment and removes sunset. { - Creates new cigarette tax. - } Establishes Oregon Health Authority Fund. Deposits moneys from taxes and assessments into fund. Continuously appropriates moneys in fund to authority for purpose of carrying out functions of authority.

> Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.  

A copy of the Bill may be found online at:

http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb2000.dir/hb2009.intro.pdf

. and here .

http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measures/hb2000.dir/hb2009.intro.html

LTL (Letters-To-yer-Legislator, Editor, Org Director, Biz Owner)

you can send identical emails to every oregon senator (which will show as individual emails from you, to that senator) by sending To: orsen@oreg.net

you can send identical emails to every oregon representative (which will show as individual emails from you, to that representative) by sending To: orhouse@oreg.net

NOTEs - MAP's media resource center:


http://www.mapinc.org/resource/

If you go to about the middle of the page you will find the "Style Guide" with links to:

• MAP Letters to the Editor Archive
• Tips for Getting Letters to the Editor Published, by Platinum Letter Writer, Robert Sharpe
• Letters to the Editor & Opinion Pieces, American College of Emergency Physicians
• MAP Three Tips for Letter Writers
• Powerful Paragraphs, ClearWriter's ClearTips
• How to Write Letters to the Editor, Schaffer Library of Drug Policy
• Grammar Bytes!, Grammar Instruction with Attitude
• How to Communicate with Journalists, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting
• Letter Writer's Style Guide, by Chris Donald
• Writing Effective Letters to the Editor, 20/20 Vision


respectfully, we suggest two main rules-of-thumb for letter writing to improve the liklihood of being published.

1. Write short declarative sentences as if you were speaking to a child, a small animal or a judge.

2. Limit yourself to 150 words.

Best of luck.

Here is .   Examples -

Will be posted as we learn about them.

Questions?  Comments?   Need some info?   Got some info?   NetWork!   E-Mail us or visit the Bulletin Board for further comments on this Bill -or- to post your own.

comments will go here.