Construction plan pays for school earthquake improvements


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SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Schools would have access to millions of dollars for earthquake-safety improvements, but the state Capitol would remain vulnerable under a $1.2 billion plan for statewide construction projects that advanced Friday.

The list of debt-financed projects is one of the final pieces of the budget before lawmakers can close out the 2015 legislative session. The House and Senate spent Friday debating several dozen bills as they push to adjourn next week.

The House joined the Senate in approving a bill phasing out potentially harmful chemicals in children's products. The Senate signed off on raising the speed limit on eastern Oregon highways and on hiking fees for hunting and fishing. Those bills all go now to Gov. Kate Brown.

The Ways and Means Committee approved the construction plan without $164 million to begin the Capitol renovation after an emotional speech by Senate President Peter Courtney, who has championed the project for years. Experts have predicted that the Capitol will sustain catastrophic damage in a major earthquake. Lawmakers last year approved about $30 million for planning work for the Capitol project — money that Courtney says is now wasted.

"When the Magnitude 9 quake hits, the loss of life and property across our state will be tremendous," said Courtney, Oregon's longest-serving legislator, whose district includes the 77-year-old capitol. "The decision not to complete this project ensures that those losses will include the Oregon State Capitol and the people inside it."

Some lawmakers, particularly in the House, have been squeamish about the appearance of improving their own building while many schools remain vulnerable to earthquakes.

"Now is not the time to greenlight the project," said House Speaker Tina Kotek, a Portland Democrat. "We need further public support for it."

The proposed construction plan, paid for by bonds backed by general fund and lottery revenue, would allocate $175 million for seismic improvements in schools and $30 million for similar upgrades at emergency-services buildings like police and fire stations.

The plan includes $300 million for university buildings on all seven campuses. It would grant $40 million for the state to build affordable housing units as rent prices rise precipitously throughout the state. While still a significant investment, the $40 million is less than the $100 million requested by Gov. Kate Brown and her predecessor, John Kitzhaber.

The plan, which is scheduled for a House vote on Monday, also devotes money for highways, juvenile detention centers, water infrastructure and state agency computer system upgrades. A variety of smaller projects would be funded, including a health clinic in Elgin, a park in Portland and repairs to the Brookings Harbor dock.

Meanwhile, lawmakers gave final passage to a measure requiring large manufacturers to disclose and phase out hazardous chemicals used in children's products.

Companies with annual global gross sales exceeding $5 million of children's items — such as toys, clothes and car seats — would have to inform state health officials that their products are processed with chemicals that fall on a high priority list. Companies that make products for kids under the age of 3, children's cosmetics, or items knows as "mouthables" — such as pacifiers or teething rings — would have to phase out those ingredients after six years, unless they can prove there isn't an economically effective way to remove that chemical or if there isn't a safer alternative.

"This is not a ban on products," said Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer, a Portland Democrat. "If there's one thing you can take away from this bill it's if there's a safer alternative that's technically and economically feasible, the company should remove it. That is the bottom line of this bill," she added.

Opponents argued oversight should come from federal authorities. They said Congress is moving toward updating the Toxic Substances Control Act, which regulates thousands of chemicals and hasn't been changed since 1976. In June, the U.S. House gave overwhelming bipartisan support to a bill modernizing the act. It's currently awaiting a Senate vote, which is also considering a similar measure.

"We are such a small player we're not going to make these manufacturers change. This needs to be done at the federal level. This is a waste of resources, our revenue," said Rep. Jim Weidner, a Yamhill Republican.

Lawmakers also advanced a variety of other bills, including measures that would:

— Allow recent high school graduates to qualify for a tuition waiver at Oregon community colleges

— Give gun owners the option of calling the Oregon State Police for a background check if they're loaning a firearm to a friend for a week, instead of appearing at a licensed firearms dealer for the check

— Raise speed limits from 55 mph to 65 outside city limits in eastern Oregon. Parts of Interstate 84 and all of U.S. Highway 95 would increase to 70 mph

— Gradually increase license and tag fees for hunting and fishing, with supporters saying the rising fees are necessary to keep the state Department of Fish and Wildlife running.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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