1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session House Bill 2858 Sponsored by Representative EVANS (Presession filed.) SUMMARY The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the measure as introduced.The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards. Digest: The Act creates new systems and structures to plan and improve emergency response in the state. (Flesch Readability Score: 68.9). Creates statewide preparedness offices in the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. Imposes duties on the offices re- lating to statewide coordination of emergency management. Creates the Commission on Statewide Intergovernmental Emergency Response Training Facili- ties and Programming. Directs the commission to develop and carry out a strategic plan for invest- ments to improve statewide emergency preparedness. Creates the Statewide Regional Training Office within the Department of Public Safety Stan- dards and Training. Directs the office to manage and operate facilities for emergency response training. Creates the Task Force on Twenty-first Century Emergency Management Local Governance. Directs the task force to evaluate models for conducting local and regional emergency management operations. Requires all state agencies to designate employees to act as liaisons for emergency management operations or for preparing continuity of governance plans. Requires each county to submit biennial reports on the state of the county’s emergency preparedness. Declares an emergency, effective on passage. A BILL FOR AN ACT Relating to emergency management; creating new provisions; amending ORS 401.913; and declaring an emergency. Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon: SPARTICIS SECTION 1. (1) The Oregon Statewide Preparedness Authority for Response Training and Intergovernmental Continuity of Imperative Services is established as an office within the Oregon Department of Administrative Services. The office is to be known as and may be cited as SPARTICIS. (2) The office is under the supervision and control of the State Resilience Officer, who is responsible for the performance of the duties, functions and powers of the office. (3) For purposes of administration, the State Resilience Officer may organize and reor- ganize the office and appoint administrative personnel as the State Resilience Officer con- siders necessary to properly conduct the work of the office. (4) The State Resilience Officer may divide the functions of the office into administrative divisions. The State Resilience Officer may appoint an individual to administer each division. The administrator of each division serves at the pleasure of the State Resilience Officer and is not subject to the provisions of ORS chapter 240. Each individual appointed under this subsection must be well qualified by technical training and experience in the functions to be NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted. New sections are in boldfaced type. LC 568 HB2858 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 performed by the individual. (5) The office shall: (a) Provide administrative and operational support for the development of strategic im- provements in facilities and programming; (b) Provide oversight for prioritization of funding associated with emergency-related equipment and functions implemented throughout the state; (c) Provide standardization across state agencies for continuity of governance planning, exercises and preparedness; (d) Serve as a platform for development, implementation and assessment of policies adopted by the State Resilience Officer and provide administrative and operational support as directed by the State Resilience Officer; (e) Carry out the duties imposed by sections 2 to 11 of this 2025 Act; and (f) Perform such other duties as may be assigned to the office. (6) The office shall periodically report to the Legislative Assembly on the office’s activ- ities, priorities and project outcomes. (7) The office may adopt rules as necessary to carry out its duties. SECTION 2. (1) SPARTICIS shall oversee state strategy relating to regional facilities and capacity related to emergency preparedness. (2) The office shall identify, prioritize and assist in obtaining funding for projects to construct or improve regional facilities. (3) The office shall ensure that the state has a combination of fixed, mobile and trans- portable supplies that is appropriate for emergency management purposes. (4) The office shall make expenditures, including grants to local governments, as defined in ORS 174.116, and private entities, that are consistent with the goal of enhancing regional facilities related to emergency management. The office may condition grants on matching contributions or other contributions from recipients. (5) The office shall monitor the progress of all projects overseen by the office under this section and publish quarterly reports on such progress. (6) The office shall provide administrative support as necessary to other interagency or intergovernmental bodies related to emergency management. SECTION 3.The Regional Facilities Account is established in the State Treasury, sepa- rate and distinct from the General Fund.The account consists of moneys appropriated, al- located, deposited or transferred to the account by the Legislative Assembly or otherwise. Moneys in the account are continuously appropriated to the Oregon Department of Admin- istrative Services for SPARTICIS to carry out the provisions of section 2 of this 2025 Act. SECTION 4. (1) SPARTICIS shall oversee collaboration, cooperation and coordination between the state and: (a) Organizations involved in the development, implementation and sustainment of the emergency supplies and equipment stockpile plan described in ORS 401.111; (b) Organizations involved in the development, implementation and sustainment of the emergency preparedness equipment grant program described in ORS 401.551; and (c) Organizations involved in other stockpile or resilience grant programs carried out by state agencies. (2) The office may take actions as necessary to ensure that supplies, equipment and other materials are appropriately staged in preparation for emergencies. [2] HB2858 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 (3) The office shall monitor the progress of all projects overseen by the office under this section and publish quarterly reports on such progress. SECTION 5. The Regional Stockpile Support Account is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. The account consists of moneys appropriated, allocated, deposited or transferred to the account by the Legislative Assembly or otherwise. Moneys in the account are continuously appropriated to the Oregon Department of Admin- istrative Services for SPARTICIS to carry out the provisions of section 4 of this 2025 Act. SECTION 6.(1) SPARTICIS shall enhance the emergency preparedness of this state through education and training as described in this section. (2) The office shall collaborate, cooperate and coordinate with appropriate private and public entities with responsibility for the emergency support functions identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to develop regionally specific public safety educa- tion, live exercises and training with the goal of improving statewide emergency preparedness. (3) The office shall develop, or support the development of, multidisciplinary, all-hazards emergency response training and exercises. (4) The office shall monitor the progress of all projects overseen by the office under this section and publish quarterly reports on such progress. SECTION 7.The Regional Training Account is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund.The account consists of moneys appropriated, allocated, deposited or transferred to the account by the Legislative Assembly or otherwise. Moneys in the account are continuously appropriated to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services for SPARTICIS to carry out the provisions of section 6 of this 2025 Act. SECTION 8.(1) SPARTICIS shall collaborate, cooperate and coordinate with state agen- cies and local governments to develop and standardize measures for continuity of governance during and after an emergency that affects normal government operations. (2) The office shall develop training for state agencies and local governments related to continuity of governance. The office may perform evaluations of continuity of governance measures adopted by state agencies and local governments. (3) The office shall monitor development of continuity of governance measures by state agencies and local governments and publish quarterly reports on such development until the office determines that sufficient measures are in place statewide. (4) The office may provide administrative and operational support for policies, programs and initiatives of the State Resilience Officer related to continuity of governance. SECTION 9.The Statewide Continuity of Governance Account is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. The account consists of moneys ap- propriated, allocated, deposited or transferred to the account by the Legislative Assembly or otherwise. Moneys in the account are continuously appropriated to the Oregon Depart- ment of Administrative Services for SPARTICIS to carry out the provisions of section 8 of this 2025 Act. SECTION 10. (1) SPARTICIS shall collaborate, cooperate and coordinate with public and private entities with responsibility for the emergency support functions identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to identify and implement strategic investments to enhance the emergency resilience of the state. (2) The office may issue grants to support strategic investments described in subsection [3] HB2858 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 (1) of this section. (3) The office shall monitor the progress of projects funded under this section and shall evaluate, using objective measurements, the improvements to statewide emergency preparedness attributable to such projects. The office shall publish quarterly reports on such progress and improvements. SECTION 11. The Strategic Partnership Account is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. The account consists of moneys appropriated, allocated, deposited or transferred to the account by the Legislative Assembly or otherwise. Moneys in the account are continuously appropriated to the Oregon Department of Admin- istrative Services for SPARTICIS to carry out the provisions of section 10 of this 2025 Act. SPARC SECTION 12.(1) The Statewide Preparedness Authority for Response Coordination is es- tablished as an office within the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. The office is to be known as and may be cited as SPARC. (2) The office is under the supervision and control of a facilitator, who is responsible for the performance of the duties, functions and powers of the office. (3) The Director of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training shall appoint the facilitator, who holds office at the pleasure of the director. (4) The facilitator shall be paid a salary as provided by law or, if not so provided, as prescribed by the director, with the approval of the Governor. (5) For purposes of administration, the facilitator may organize and reorganize the office as the facilitator considers necessary to properly conduct the work of the office. (6) The facilitator may divide the functions of the office into administrative divisions. The facilitator may appoint an individual to administer each division. The administrator of each division serves at the pleasure of the facilitator and is not subject to the provisions of ORS chapter 240. Each individual appointed under this subsection must be well qualified by tech- nical training and experience in the functions to be performed by the individual. (7) The office shall: (a) Develop a standardized and expandable training environment for emergency response training in consultation and collaboration with subject matter experts based on strategic, operational and tactical assessments, evaluations and requirements; and (b) Plan, develop, construct and operate facilities for emergency response training until the facilitator determines that the facilities are fully operational, at which time control of the facilities must be transferred to the Statewide Regional Training Office established under section 18 of this 2025 Act. SECTION 13. (1) SPARC shall develop and maintain a database to be known as the All- Hazards Statewide Responder Database. The database is to be a centralized and comprehen- sive repository of information regarding individuals and entities with skills or responsibilities relevant to emergency management. (2) The office shall negotiate any data sharing agreements with public and private entities necessary to develop or maintain the database. (3) The office shall collaborate, cooperate and coordinate with all appropriate private and public entities with responsibility for the emergency support functions identified by the [4] HB2858 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 Federal Emergency Management Agency to develop and maintain the database. (4) In developing the database, the office shall prioritize the inclusion of formalized emergency response exercise, experience and training information derived from the Emer- gency Management Institute of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the emergency health care provider registry established under ORS 401.651 to 401.670 and the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. (5) The office shall identify, implement and support an appropriate learning management system to be used in conjunction with the database. (6) The office shall prepare and publish an annual report on the development, mainte- nance and use of the database. The report must include assessments and recommendations for improvement relating to the operation and security of the database. (7) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, shall assist the office in carrying out the provisions of this section and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, shall furnish information and advice the office considers necessary to carry out those provisions. SECTION 14. (1) The All-Hazards Statewide Responder Database Oversight Authority is created within the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. The authority con- sists of: (a) The SPARC facilitator; (b) One member appointed by the Director of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to represent the Oregon Department of Emergency Management; (c) One member appointed by the Director of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training to represent the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training; (d) One member appointed by the Director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services to represent the Oregon Department of Administrative Services; and (e) One member appointed by the Director of the Oregon Health Authority to represent the Oregon Health Authority. (2) The authority shall oversee the development and maintenance of the database de- scribed in section 13 of this 2025 Act. COMMISSION ON EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING SECTION 15. (1) The Commission on Statewide Intergovernmental Emergency Response Training Facilities and Programming is established within the Oregon Department of Emer- gency Management. The mission of the commission is to develop and carry out a strategic plan for investments to improve statewide emergency preparedness and interoperability. (2) The commission consists of: (a) Two members from the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; (b) Two members from the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (c) The State Resilience Officer; (d) The SPARC facilitator; (e) One member with expertise in capital projects appointed by the Director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services to represent the Oregon Department of Ad- ministrative Services; [5] HB2858 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 (f) One member appointed by the Adjutant General to represent the Oregon Military Department; (g) One member appointed by the State Fire Marshal to represent the Department of the State Fire Marshal; (h) One member appointed by the Superintendent of State Police to represent the De- partment of State Police; (i) One member appointed by the Director of Human Services to represent the office re- lated to resilience and emergency management within the Department of Human Services; (j) One member appointed by the Governor to represent organizations of local govern- ments; (k) One member appointed by the Governor to represent the Oregon Emergency Man- agement Association; and (L) One member appointed by the Governor to represent tribal government emergency management agencies. (3) The commission shall: (a) Develop short, medium and long term strategic objectives and measurements; (b) Issue grants in support of its objectives; (c) Research and make recommendations regarding placement and distribution of facili- ties, equipment and supplies; (d) Adopt standards for regional training; (e) Identify, evaluate and recommend legislative changes associated with statewide emergency resilience; and (f) Carry out other tasks as necessary to further its mission. (4) A majority of the members of the commission constitutes a quorum for the trans- action of business. (5) Official action by the commission requires the approval of a majority of the members of the commission. (6) The SPARC facilitator shall serve as chairperson of the commission. (7) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing authority shall make an appoint- ment to become immediately effective. (8) The commission shall meet at times and places specified by the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the members of the commission. (9) The commission may adopt rules necessary for the operation of the commission. (10) SPARC shall provide staff support to the commission. (11) Members of the Legislative Assembly appointed to the commission are nonvoting members of the commission and may act in an advisory capacity only. (12) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, are directed to assist the commission in the performance of the duties of the commission and, to the extent per- mitted by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish information and advice the members of the commission consider necessary to perform their duties. SECTION 16. (1) In addition to its other duties, the Commission on Statewide Intergov- ernmental Emergency Response Training Facilities and Programming shall develop a six-year strategic investment plan and report on the plan to appropriate committees of the Legisla- tive Assembly on or before January 1, 2026. (2) The plan must: [6] HB2858 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 (a) Include a scalable investment strategy for enhancing existing Department of Public Safety Standards and Training facilities, with any additional construction to occur not more than five miles away from the department headquarters; (b) Identify at least seven locations for development of satellite training facilities; (c) Include investments for a standardized baseline training space, post-disaster evacuee support space and equipment necessary for long-term post-disaster continuity of operations; (d) Include a standardized list of equipment and investments for additional training sup- port and post-disaster evacuee support functions; and (e) Include a construction list, a phased timeline for development and plans for training programming at satellite training facilities, including potential training partners. (3) The commission shall prepare the plan in a manner that may be used for preparation of the budget for the biennium beginning July 1, 2027. (4) The commission shall provide updates on the preparation and execution of the plan at the request of committees of the Legislative Assembly. (5) On or before March 1, 2033, the commission shall report to an appropriate committee of the Legislative Assembly on progress made pursuant to the plan and recommendations for further legislative action. SECTION 17. Sections 15 and 16 of this 2025 Act are repealed on January 2, 2039. STATEWIDE REGIONAL TRAINING OFFICE SECTION 18. (1) The Statewide Regional Training Office is established within the De- partment of Public Safety Standards and Training. (2) The office is under the supervision and control of the Statewide Regional Training Officer, who is responsible for the performance of the duties, functions and powers of the office. (3) The Director of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training shall appoint the Statewide Regional Training Officer, who holds office at the pleasure of the director. (4) The Statewide Regional Training Officer shall be paid a salary as provided by law or, if not so provided, as prescribed by the director, with the approval of the Governor. (5) For purposes of administration, the Statewide Regional Training Officer may organize and reorganize the office as the Statewide Regional Training Officer considers necessary to properly conduct the work of the office. (6) The Statewide Regional Training Officer may divide the functions of the office into administrative divisions. The Statewide Regional Training Officer may appoint an individual to administer each division. The administrator of each division serves at the pleasure of the Statewide Regional Training Officer and is not subject to the provisions of ORS chapter 240. Each individual appointed under this subsection must be well qualified by technical training and experience in the functions to be performed by the individual. (7) The office shall manage and operate facilities for emergency response training after control of such facilities is transferred to the office from SPARC under section 12 of this 2025 Act. (8) The office shall develop and implement a long-term strategy for operation of the fa- cilities with the goal of optimizing the emergency preparedness of the state. (9) The office shall coordinate with the SPARC facilitator and the Commission on State- [7] HB2858 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 wide Intergovernmental Emergency Response Training Facilities and Programming to de- velop and sustain regional training programs. TASK FORCE ON LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SECTION 19. (1) The Task Force on Twenty-first Century Emergency Management Local Governance is established. (2) The task force consists of no fewer than nine members, to be appointed by the State Resilience Officer. (3) The task force shall evaluate advantages and disadvantages of various models for conducting local and regional emergency management operations, including models that place emergency management responsibility with county law enforcement offices and models that place such responsibility with local departments that report to senior elected leadership. (4) A majority of the voting members of the task force constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. (5) Official action by the task force requires the approval of a majority of the voting members of the task force. (6) The task force shall elect one of its members to serve as chairperson. (7) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing authority shall make an appoint- ment to become immediately effective. (8) The task force shall meet at times and places specified by the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the voting members of the task force. (9) The task force may adopt rules necessary for the operation of the task force. (10) The task force shall submit a report in the manner provided by ORS 192.245, and may include recommendations for legislation, to an interim committee of the Legislative Assembly related to emergency management no later than January 1, 2026. (11) The Oregon Department of Emergency Management shall provide staff support to the task force. (12) If public officials in the legislative department, as defined in ORS 174.114, are ap- pointed to the task force, such members are nonvoting members of the task force and may act in an advisory capacity only. (13) Members of the task force who are not members of the Legislative Assembly are not entitled to compensation or reimbursement for expenses and serve as volunteers on the task force. (14) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, are directed to assist the task force in the performance of the duties of the task force and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish information and advice the members of the task force consider necessary to perform their duties. SECTION 20. Section 19 of this 2025 Act is repealed on January 2, 2027. OTHER PROVISIONS SECTION 21.(1) The State Resilience Officer shall identify state agencies with responsi- bility for one or more emergency support functions identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. [8] HB2858 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 (2) Each state agency identified under subsection (1) of this section shall designate an employee of the state agency as the Emergency Management Responsible Officer. This offi- cer shall act as the primary liaison between the state agency and state authorities related to emergency management, including SPARC and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. (3) Each state agency not identified under subsection (1) of this section shall designate an employee of the state agency as the Continuity of Governance Responsible Officer. This officer shall act as the primary liaison between the state agency and SPARTICIS for the purposes of preparing continuity of governance plans. SECTION 22. Each county shall submit a report to the State Resilience Officer at least once per biennium on the state of the county’s emergency preparedness. The report must include: (1) An assessment of county-level emergency management administrative support for local first responder agencies and local nonprofit or volunteer organizations associated with emergency management; (2) An assessment of county-level strengths and weaknesses relating to emergency preparedness, response and recovery; (3) An assessment of regional partnership development; and (4) Recommendations for structural and systematic improvements. SECTION 23. ORS 401.913 is amended to read: 401.913. (1) The office of State Resilience Officer is created in the office of the Governor. The office of State Resilience Officer shall direct, implement and coordinate [seismic] all-hazards safety and resilience goal setting and state agency planning and preparation to improve [seismic] all- hazards safety and resilience. (2) The State Resilience Officer shall facilitate policy standardization among state agen- cies, prioritize investments for improving resilience posture and provide regular reports on state agency resilience policy compliance, organizational preparedness, continuity of governance procedures and measures of emergency readiness. Such reports may be made to the Governor, appropriate committees of the Legislative Assembly or relevant public safety advisory boards and commissions. [(2)] (3) The Governor shall appoint an individual to serve as the State Resilience Officer, sub- ject to confirmation by the Senate pursuant to Article III, section 4, of the Oregon Constitution. [(3)] (4) The legislative branch of government and the judicial branch of government shall each select an individual to monitor the effectiveness of seismic safety and resilience planning in their branch. CAPTIONS SECTION 24. The unit captions used in this 2025 Act are provided only for the conven- ience of the reader and do not become part of the statutory law of this state or express any legislative intent in the enactment of this 2025 Act. EMERGENCY CLAUSE SECTION 25.This 2025 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public [9] HB2858 1 2 3 peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2025 Act takes effect on its passage. [10]