Amends Constitution: Expands availability of home ownership loans for Oregon veterans through Oregon War Veterans’ Fund

RESULT OF “YES” VOTE: “Yes” vote extends home loan program for Oregon veterans to lifetime benefit and increases eligibility for non-combat veterans, National Guard veterans and veterans who served after 9/11.

Yes

RESULT OF “NO” VOTE: “No” vote retains current law: Some combat veterans who completed service within past 30 years are eligible for loans; other veterans honorably discharged and some National Guard veterans remain ineligible.

No

SUMMARY: The Oregon Constitution currently provides that Oregon combat veterans may receive low-interest home loans from the Oregon War Veterans’ Fund. Veterans must have received an honorable discharge and must have served for more than 210 consecutive days or been released because of injury or disability. Veterans must apply for loans within 30 years after release from service and must show ability to repay the loans. This measure amends the Oregon Constitution to make loans available to more veterans, including National Guard veterans, others who have honorably served overseas and veterans who have not seen combat. This measure would make low-interest home loans a lifetime benefit and would increase the number of honorably discharged veterans and surviving spouses who are eligible for the low-interest loan program.

ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct financial effect on either state or local government expenditures or revenues.

Amends Constitution: Requires legislature to meet annually; limits length of legislative sessions; provides exceptions.

RESULT OF “YES” VOTE: “Yes” vote requires Legislative Assembly to meet each year, limits regular sessions to 160 days in odd-numbered years and 35 days in even-numbered years, and allows five-day extensions by two-thirds vote.

Yes

RESULT OF “NO” VOTE: “No” vote retains current law, requiring regular sessions of Legislative Assembly only in odd-numbered years, with no limit on length of sessions.

No

SUMMARY: The Oregon Constitution currently requires legislative sessions to be held biennially. Current law permits the Legislative Assembly to meet without a limit on the length of session. This measure requires the Legislative Assembly to meet each year, limits regular sessions to 160 calendar days in odd-numbered years and 35 calendar days in even-numbered years, and allows regular session to be extended by five days with an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of each chamber.

ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: The direct effect of the measure on state or local government expenditures or revenues will not exceed $100,000.

Amends Constitution: Authorizes exception to $50,000 state borrowing limit for state's real and personal property projects

RESULT OF “YES” VOTE: “Yes” vote authorizes exception to $50,000 state borrowing limit for state to issue lowest-cost bonds to finance state real and personal property projects. Prohibits property tax for repayment. Limits amount borrowed.

Yes

RESULT OF “NO” VOTE: “No” vote retains state borrowing limit prohibiting state from issuing lowest-cost general obligation bonds except for certain purposes.

No

SUMMARY: Currently, the state constitution forbids lending the state's credit or borrowing in excess of $50,000, with some exceptions.  The measure would amend the state constitution to add a new exception to allow the state to issue general obligation bonds to finance acquisition, construction, remodeling, repair, equipping or furnishing of state owned or operated property. General obligation bonds are the cheapest method of borrowing the state may use and would cost less than the certificates of participation the state currently uses. The bonds would save an estimated $5 million on interest costs for each $100 million issued. The measure does not authorize any specific bonds, but authorizes the Legislative Assembly to enact implementing legislation. The measure prohibits the levy of property taxes to repay the bonds and limits the amount of outstanding bonds to one percent of the real market value of property in the state.

ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: Measure 72 has no direct financial effect on state or local government expenditures or revenues.  General obligation indebtedness authorized by this measure typically provides the lowest-cost method of financing.  If the State of Oregon uses this authority to issue general obligation indebtedness or refinance current debt, the state should experience lower financing costs.

Requires increased minimum sentences for certain repeated sex crimes, incarceration for repeated driving under influence

RESULT OF “YES” VOTE:  “Yes” vote increases minimum sentences for certain repeated sex crimes (300 months), imposes minimum incarceration sentence for certain repeated driving under influence convictions (90 days).

Yes

RESULT OF “NO” VOTE:  “No” vote retains mandatory-minimum sentences of 70 to 100 months for certain sex crimes, provides no mandatory-minimum incarceration sentence for driving under influence.

No

SUMMARY:  Current law imposes mandatory-minimum sentences of 70 to 100 months for certain sex crimes; no mandatory-minimum incarceration sentence for driving under influence of intoxicants (DUII).  Measure imposes mandatory-minimum sentence of 300 months for person convicted of “major felony sex crime” if previously convicted of major felony sex crime; defines “major felony sex crime” as first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, using child in sexually explicit display; previous conviction includes statutory counterpart in another jurisdiction, and separate criminal episode in same sentencing proceeding.  Measure makes DUII a class C felony if defendant previously convicted of DUII, or statutory counterpart, at least twice in prior 10 years; imposes mandatory-minimum sentence of 90 days, at state expense.  Other provisions.

ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: The measure will require additional state spending of $1.4 million in the first year, $11.4 million to $14.6 million in the second year $13.9 million to $21.0 million in the third year, $16.7 million to $26.6 million in the fourth year and $18.1 million to $29.1 million each year after that. 

The measure does not require additional local government spending.  The measure directly reduces expenditures for local government by $0.4 million in the first year and $3.2 million to $4.6 million each year after that, primarily by shifting costs to the state.

The measure does not increase the amount of funds collected for state or local government.

Establishes medical marijuana supply system and assistance and research programs; allows limited selling of marijuana

RESULT OF “YES” VOTE:  “Yes” vote establishes supply system, low income assistance program for medical marijuana cardholders; establishes research program; grants limited state regulation authority; allows limited marijuana sales.

Yes

RESULT OF “NO” VOTE:  “No” vote retains current law without:  supply or assistance programs for medical marijuana cardholders; or authorization for state organized scientific program; or medical marijuana sales.

No

SUMMARY:  Current law allows specified individuals to become registered growers of medical marijuana by meeting criteria; does not allow marijuana sales or state assistance to cardholders in obtaining marijuana; limits growers to six mature plants and 24 ounces of useable marijuana for each cardholder; limits certain growers to growing for four cardholders; limits growers’ reimbursements.  Measure creates medical marijuana supply system composed of licensed dispensaries and producers.  Establishes licensing guidelines.  Producers and dispensaries can possess 24 plants and 96 ounces of marijuana.  Allows limited sales (by expanding cost categories currently not reimbursable).  Exempts dispensaries, dispensary employees, and producers from most marijuana criminal statutes.  Establishes low income cardholders’ assistance program.  Allows state to conduct or fund research of cardholders’ marijuana use.  Retains grow registration system.  Other provisions.

ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: The measure will require estimated state expenditures between $400,000 and $600,000 each year beginning in 2012.  These costs are to be paid only from program fees required by the measure.

The exact amount by which the measure will increase state revenues cannot be determined. Potential additional state revenue could range from a minimum of $400,000 to a maximum of between $3 million and $20 million in the first year. The amount of revenue will be affected by the number of dispensaries, number of participants, pricing and costs of production. 

The measure has no direct effect on local government spending or revenues.

Authorizes Multnomah County casino; casino to contribute monthly revenue percentage to state for specified purposes

Result of “Yes” Vote:  “Yes” vote authorizes a single privately-owned casino in Multnomah County; requires casino to give percentage of monthly revenue to State Lottery for specified purposes.

Yes

Result of “No” Vote:  “No” vote maintains the current state of the law, which does not authorize any privately-owned casino or casinos anywhere in the State of Oregon.

No

Summary:  Currently, Oregon Constitution prohibits establishing casinos within state.  Under measure, State Lottery shall issue renewable 15-year lease permitting owner of former Multnomah Kennel Club in Multnomah County to operate gaming devices, table games, keno, other games of chance at that site.  Measure would become operative only if constitution is amended to permit casino or casinos within state.  Casino operator shall pay 25% of adjusted gross revenues each month to State Lottery.  Lottery shall deposit money into a Job Growth, Education and Communities Fund (separate from general fund), annually shall apportion half of fund for classroom instruction expenditures, 30% to counties.  Casino operator initially shall pay $1 million, subsequently shall pay $2 million annually, to Lottery to administer measure.  Other provisions.

ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: To implement the measure, state government would be required to spend approximately $1 million in the first year. If a casino is licensed, state government would be required to spend between $4 million and $6 million in the following two-year period; and between $4 million and $8 million in each two year period after that.  These costs will not be incurred unless a state constitutional amendment, separate from this measure, authorizes implementation of this measure.

The measure would not require any local government spending.  The measure, alone, will have no direct effect on state or local revenues. If a casino is licensed, state and local revenues would be increased between $13 million and $68 million each year. However, the measure would result in a shift of funds from the state to local governments which would leave the state with a gain of no more than $1.8 million and a possible loss of $26.2 million.

Amends Constitution:  Continues lottery funding for parks, beaches, wildlife habitat, watershed protection beyond 2014; modifies funding process

Result of “Yes” Vote:  “Yes” vote continues constitutional dedication of 15 percent of lottery proceeds for parks, beaches, wildlife habitat, and watershed protection beyond 2014.  Modifies funding process, allocations.

Yes

Result of “No” Vote:  “No” vote retains current constitutional provision dedicating 15 percent of lottery proceeds to parks, beaches, wildlife, and watershed protection through 2014.  Continuation requires voter approval.

No

Summary:  Under current constitutional provision, 15 percent of net lottery proceeds are placed in a Parks and Natural Resources Fund, half for state parks, beaches, historic sites and recreation areas, and half for restoration and protection of natural resources, including fish and wildlife habitat and protection of watersheds.  Currently, funding ends after 2014 unless voters approve continuation beyond that date.  The proposed measure continues 15 percent funding for the same purposes beyond 2014.  State agencies receiving monies from the Fund are required to use the money only for the specified purposes. 

The proposed measure also identifies eligible grant recipients and establishes minimum allocation levels of grant funding for local and regional park projects that protect and restore fish and wildlife habitats, and protect watersheds.  Other provisions.

ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: The measure makes permanent the dedication of 15% of state lottery proceeds each year to parks and natural resources. For the year 2011 this amount is estimated to be $87 million.  

The measure dedicates a minimum amount of funds for local parks.

The measure does not produce additional revenue for state government. 

The measure does not require additional state or local government spending, but would require adjusting spending between programs or funding sources.