Emergency management department would run statewide volunteer registry

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management would take over the Higher Education Coordinating Commission's duties, records, property, employees and available funds related to the ORVID volunteer database. The transfer covers the commission's duties and resources connected to ORVID, including employees who mainly perform those duties. Transferred employees must keep their compensation, subject to later changes or termination allowed by law. Existing legal actions, duties, contracts, leases and obligations continue, with the department taking the commission's place where required. Existing rules continue until the department replaces or repeals them. The act takes effect on passage, but sections 1 through 7 become operative the day after the required legislative and Legislative Counsel notifications are complete.

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management would maintain a statewide registry of people willing and able to perform emergency service activities. The registry may include emergency volunteers, local or tribal government volunteers, skilled trades workers, building evaluators and others the department finds able to help. The department may require proof of relevant qualifications and emergency-response training before listing someone. The registry must include each person's name, contact information, base location and relevant emergency skills or training. Emergency management agencies and program managers must be able to use the registry. The department may provide access to others when it decides that doing so would improve public safety. The act takes effect on passage, and the text states no separate start date for these registry duties.

The General Fund appropriation for the department's Preparedness and Response program would increase by $32,600. The money is for carrying out the ORVID transfer and statewide emergency-volunteer registry provisions. The appropriation applies to the biennium ending June 30, 2027. The additional funding is available for the biennium ending June 30, 2027.