Chair Charles Starr reportedly has agreed to strip out provisions in the original measure that specified levels of care for autistic students and included a health care coverage mandate. Senate Business will resume its work session Monday on legislation relating to the Public Employee Retirement System , now focused on more minor adjustments after GOP leaders gave up on creating a third tier of pension benefits for newly hired employees after January 1, 2002. House Business will hold a work session Tuesday on House Bill 3441 that creates a surtax on unemployment insurance to generate money for the Oregon JOBS Plus Unemployment Wage Fund . A compromise may surface Thursday when House Health holds a work session on House Bill 2763 that requires use of detailed pharmacy cards . Pharmacists introduced the bill, claiming insurers intentionally make it hard to use cards, which slows payment of claims.
Insurers counter that prescriptions require detail that is impossible to include on a card.
Chair Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, instructed both sides to reach a compromise by this week. It what seems like role reversal, House GOP leaders are spearheading union-backed legislation to require hospital staffing standards in state law over the strong objections of Oregon hospitals. The House is scheduled to vote this week on House Bill 2800, which is supported by the Oregon Nurses Association.