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 83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session House Bill 3497 Sponsored by Representatives TRAN, HARTMAN, Senator PATTERSON, Representative WATANABE; Represen- tativeNOSSE 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 a task force to develop a comprehensive state plan on aging. (Flesch ReadabilityScore:71.7). Requires specified agencies to consider the effects of a proposed action on older adult popu- lations. Establishes the Shared Future Oregon Task Force and specifies the task force’s membership and duties. Sunsets the task force on January 2, 2027. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die. A BILL FOR AN ACT Relating to Oregon’s growing aging population; and prescribing an effective date. Whereas by 2030, the number of Oregonians aged 65 and older is projected to grow to over a million, with older adults comprising 21 percent of Oregon’s population, representing a seven per- cent increase over a 20-year period; and Whereas rural counties are already leading the way with more than 30 percent of residents be- ing older adults; and Whereas Oregon faces a historic, unprecedented and permanent demographic shift, and by 2034, there will be more residents over the age of 65 than children 18 years of age and under; and Whereas Oregon’s older population is also becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, with over 45 percent of older adults projected to be people of color by 2050; and Whereas the change in this state’s demographics provides the state with a unique opportunity to use the skills and experience of older adults to benefit all generations; and Whereas the aging of this state’s population will have significant long-term impacts on this state’s workforce, housing, homelessness, caregivers, behavioral and physical health care service providers and infrastructure; and Whereas Oregon is not sufficiently prepared to address the financial costs of our changing de- mographics, including the financial strain on individuals and families, as well as the community and institutional needs around living longer; and Whereas a coalition of private entities, nonprofit organizations, membership organizations, cul- turally specific entities and philanthropy has come together to understand the impact of this demo- graphic shift and engage state and local agency leaders with the intention of creating a pathway to systems change to support older Oregonians living and aging in their communities; and Whereas that coalition, through listening sessions, studies, envisioning sessions, roundtables and other engagement has identified five bold focus areas for advancing the needs of an aging population through supporting multigenerational, urban and rural age-friendly communities that are strengths- based, equitable and accessible; and 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 2112 HB3497 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 Whereas those focus areas include housing, overall health, paid and unpaid caregiving, workforce and economic vitality; and Whereas Oregon families, communities, businesses and civic and public institutions would ben- efit from the development of a long-term, multisector plan on aging and recommendations for be- coming an age-friendly state where people of all ages and abilities thrive; now, therefore, Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon: SECTION 1. (1) To elevate the experiences of and improve the health and quality of life of older adults in Oregon and enhance the attractiveness of communities in Oregon to people of all ages, each agency listed in subsection (2) of this section shall, in determining whether and how to act, consider the effects of the action on older adult populations. (2) Subsection (1) of this section applies to: (a) The Oregon Health Authority; (b) The Department of Human Services; (c) The Department of Consumer and Business Services; (d) The Oregon Business Development Department; (e) The Department of Education; (f) The Department of Transportation; (g) The Bureau of Labor and Industries; (h) The Housing and Community Services Department; (i) The Department of Land Conservation and Development; (j) The Department of Veterans’ Affairs; (k) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission; (L) The Employment Department; (m) The division of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services that serves as the office of economic analysis; (n) The State Workforce and Talent Development Board; and (o) Local workforce development boards, as defined in ORS 660.300. SECTION 2. (1) The Shared Future Oregon Task Force is established. (2) The task force consists of: (a) Two members appointed by the President of the Senate from among the members of the Senate, including one member from the majority party and one member from the mi- norityparty. (b) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from among the members of the House of Representatives, including one member from the majority party and one member from the minority party. (c) The Director of the Oregon Health Authority or the director’s designee. (d) The Director of Human Services or the director’s designee. (e) The Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services or the director’s designee. (f) The Director of the Oregon Business Development Department or the director’s designee. (g) The Superintendent of Public Instruction or the superintendent’s designee. (h) The Director of Transportation or the director’s designee. (i) The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries or the commissioner’s designee. [2] HB3497 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 (j) The Director of the Housing and Community Services Department or the director’s designee. (k) The Director of the Department of Land Conservation and Development or the director’sdesignee. (L) The Director of Veterans’ Affairs or the director’s designee. (m) The executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission or the executive director’s designee. (n) The Director of the Employment Department or the director’s designee. (o) The chairperson of the Governor’s Commission on Senior Services. (p) A representative of the division of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services that serves as the office of economic analysis. (q) The chairperson of the State Workforce and Talent Development Board or the chairperson’sdesignee. (r) Four community members appointed by the Governor as follows: (A) A representative of a statewide nonprofit organization focused on older adults that has technical expertise on aging and on building capacity within organizations to better serve olderadults. (B) A representative of an organization that advocates for older adults and has broad membership throughout this state. (C) Two representatives of the coalition described in subsection (4) of this section. (3) The task force shall: (a) Develop a multisector plan for aging that: (A) Provides a comprehensive framework for Oregon state government, local govern- ments, private and nonprofit sector entities and philanthropists and philanthropic organiza- tions to implement coordinated statewide strategies and partnerships to promote healthy aging and prepare for the growth of this state’s older adult population; (B) Includes guidance to state agencies on complying with section 1 of this 2025 Act; (C) Identifies opportunities for systems change to support older Oregonians living and aging in their communities, including in the priority areas of housing, overall health, paid and unpaid caregiving, workforce and economic vitality; (D) Includes recommendations to better coordinate federal, state and local government programs and services to serve and support the needs of older adults, their families and their caregivers; (E) Includes recommendations to better engage older adults in efforts to address workforce shortages, especially in the areas of early childhood education, caregiving and end-of-lifecare; (F) Includes recommendations for reducing substance use among older adults; (G) Includes key data indicators, with 10-year targets, to support implementation of the plan; and (H) Includes strategies and rubrics to measure progress in implementing the plan. (b) Develop recommendations, including recommendations for legislation if necessary, for an appropriate continuing body to: (A) Oversee and coordinate implementation of the plan developed under this section; (B) Update, oversee and create consistent tools for state agencies to implement the guidance in the plan; and [3] HB3497 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 (C) Update the plan as necessary based on key performance indicators. (4) In developing the plan described in subsection (3) of this section, the task force shall: (a) Engage with interested parties in the community and provide updates on the plan’s development and implementation; (b) Review and consider research and reports relevant to developing a comprehensive plan for aging in this state; (c) Coordinate with and regularly solicit input from a coalition of private entities, nonprofit organizations, membership organizations, culturally specific entities, philanthropists and philanthropic organizations and other interested parties convened for the purpose of understanding the impacts of the demographic shift in Oregon toward an older population and engaging in research, advocacy and coordination to create systems change to support older Oregonians living and aging in their communities; and (d) Before finalizing the plan, solicit and incorporate comments on the draft plan from the coalition described under this subsection. (5) A majority of the voting members of the task force constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. (6) Official action by the task force requires the approval of a majority of the voting members of the task force. (7) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one of the task force’s members to serve as chairperson. (8) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing authority shall make an appoint- ment to become immediately effective. (9) 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. (10) The task force may adopt rules necessary for the operation of the task force. (11) The task force shall submit a report in the manner provided by ORS 192.245, and may include recommendations for legislation, to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to addressing Oregon’s aging population no later than December 15, 2026. The report must contain: (a) A final multisector plan for aging; (b) Recommendations for an appropriate continuing body to oversee implementation of the plan and recommendations for legislation as necessary to create or provide authority to the recommended body; and (c) Recommendations for any other legislative changes or budgetary actions necessary to implement the plan. (12) The Legislative Policy and Research Director shall provide staff support to the task force. (13) No later than 60 days after appointments to the task force have been completed, the Legislative Policy and Research Director shall work with the chairperson of the task force to prepare a work plan for the task force to review and adopt. The task force, by official action, may modify the work plan. (14) Members of the Legislative Assembly appointed to the task force are nonvoting members of the task force and may act in an advisory capacity only. (15)(a) Community members of the task force who are appointed by the Governor and who have incomes at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty guidelines are entitled to [4] HB3497 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 compensation for actual and necessary expenses incurred by the members in the perform- ance of their official duties, as provided in ORS 292.495. (b) Members of the task force who are members of the Legislative Assembly are entitled to a per diem as provided in ORS 171.072 (4). (c) Members not described in paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection are not entitled to compensation or reimbursement for expenses and serve as volunteers on the task force. (16) The task force may accept public or private funding to carry out the goals of this section. (17) 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 3. Section 2 of this 2025 Act is repealed on January 2, 2027. SECTION 4.This 2025 Act takes effect on the 91st day after the date on which the 2025 regular session of the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly adjourns sine die. [5]