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
83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 3331
Sponsored by Representative EVANS
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 says that a portion of dividends paid by SAIF must be redirected into a fund
for disaster preparedness. The Act creates a board to advise on how the fund is used. (Flesch
Readability Score: 72.1).
Provides that a percentage of dividends paid by the State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation
are redirected to a fund for catastrophic disaster preparedness. Creates an advisory board to advise
on expenditures from the fund and on other policy improvements. Directs the advisory board to
make recommendations on or before February 1, 2027.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to catastrophic disaster; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 656.526.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 656.526 is amended to read:
656.526. (1) Periodically, the State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation shall determine the
total liability existing against the Industrial Accident Fund.
(2) If, after the determination required by subsection (1) of this section, the State Accident In-
surance Fund Corporation finds the Industrial Accident Fund, aside from the reserves deemed
actuarially necessary according to recognized insurance principles, contains a surplus, the State
Accident Insurance Fund Corporation in its discretion may, after providing for any payments to the
state, taxes, payments under subsection (3) of this section or other dispositions of surplus pro-
vided by law, declare a dividend to be paid to, or credited to the accounts of, employers who were
insured by the State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation during all or part of the period for which
the dividend is declared. Any dividend so declared shall give due consideration to the solvency of
the Industrial Accident Fund, not be unfairly discriminatory and not be promised in advance of such
declaration.
(3) When the State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation determines that a dividend will
be distributed under subsection (2) of this section, the State Accident Insurance Fund Cor-
poration shall pay 10 percent of the total amount available to be paid as dividends to the
State Treasurer for deposit in the Oregon Catastrophic Responders Fund established under
section 2 of this 2025 Act.
[(3)] (4) An employer in default when the dividend is declared shall not be eligible to receive
payment or the credit provided by subsection (2) of this section.
SECTION 2. (1) The Oregon Catastrophic Responders Fund is established in the State
Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. The Oregon Catastrophic Responders
Fund consists of moneys deposited in the fund under ORS 656.526 and moneys appropriated,
allocated, deposited or transferred to the fund by the Legislative Assembly or otherwise.
Moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the Oregon Department of Emergency
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 3840 HB3331
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
Management for the purposes specified in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) In consultation with the advisory board established under section 3 of this 2025 Act,
the department shall expend moneys in the fund to increase the state’s readiness to manage
a declaration of catastrophic disaster under Article X-A of the Oregon Constitution.
(3) The department may adopt rules necessary for the administration of this section.
SECTION 3. (1) The Catastrophic Disaster Advisory Board is created. The board shall:
(a) Advise the Oregon Department of Emergency Management on expenditures from the
Oregon Catastrophic Responders Fund established under section 2 of this 2025 Act; and
(b) Study and make recommendations to the Legislative Assembly regarding
sustainability and emergency management policy improvements.
(2) The board consists of up to 15 members appointed by the Governor, subject to con-
firmation by the Senate pursuant to Article III, section 4, of the Oregon Constitution.
(3) A majority of the members of the board constitutes a quorum for the transaction of
business.
(4) Official action by the board requires the approval of a majority of the members of the
board.
(5) The board shall elect one of its members to serve as chairperson.
(6) The board shall meet at times and places specified by the call of the chairperson or
of a majority of the members of the board.
(7) The board may adopt rules necessary for the operation of the board.
(8) The office of the Governor shall provide staff support to the board.
(9) Members of the board are not entitled to compensation or reimbursement for ex-
penses and serve as volunteers on the board.
(10) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, are directed to assist
the board in the performance of the duties of the board and, to the extent permitted by laws
relating to confidentiality, to furnish information and advice the members of the board con-
sider necessary to perform their duties.
SECTION 4. The Catastrophic Disaster Advisory Board shall make its first recommen-
dations to the Legislative Assembly under section 3 (1)(b) of this 2025 Act on or before Feb-
ruary 1, 2027.
[2]