Oregon Measure 38, Government to Assume SAIF Responsibilities Initiative (2004)
| Oregon Measure 38 | |
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| Topic Insurance policy and Labor and unions |
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| Status |
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| Type Initiated state statute |
Origin |
Oregon Measure 38 was on the ballot as an initiated state statute in Oregon on November 2, 2004. It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported ending SAIF, a public corporation administering workers' compensation insurance, transferring its responsibilities to the state and obligating the state to oversee the accident fund, reinsure it, and meet SAIF's existing policy obligations. |
A "no" vote opposed ending SAIF, a public corporation administering workers' compensation insurance, transferring its responsibilities to the state and obligating the state to oversee the accident fund, reinsure it, and meet SAIF's existing policy obligations. |
Election results
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Oregon Measure 38 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 670,935 | 33.91% | ||
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1,307,722 | 66.09% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Measure 38 was as follows:
| “ | ABOLISHES SAIF; STATE MUST REINSURE, SATISFY SAIF’S OBLIGATIONS; DEDICATES PROCEEDS, POTENTIAL SURPLUS TO PUBLIC PURPOSES RESULT OF “YES” VOTE: “Yes” vote abolishes SAIF; state must reinsure, satisfy SAIF’s current obligations (including pending policyholder claims against SAIF); dedicates proceeds, potential surplus to specified public purposes. RESULT OF “NO” VOTE: “No” vote retains law authorizing SAIF, a public corporation, to sell and administer workers compensation insurance and to administer an accident fund for that purpose. SUMMARY: State Accident Insurance Fund (SAIF) is a public corporation selling, administering workers compensation insurance, and administering accident fund for that purpose. Measure abolishes SAIF. Requires state to assume SAIF’s authority over accident fund; reinsure fund; satisfy SAIF’s obligations under its existing policies; use fifty percent of any excess surplus (meaning any funds exceeding reserves and surplus necessary to satisfy future liabilities) to satisfy policyholder claims in litigation before October 2003; transfer forty percent of any excess surplus to new fund; sell SAIF’s assets; transfer proceeds to same fund; and reinsure, otherwise resolve SAIF’s remaining liabilities. Dedicates new fund to supporting schools, local law enforcement; providing medications to seniors, medically needy; promoting job growth. Requires certain reports to legislature regarding rates for insurance premiums. Other provisions. ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: The measure would reduce state revenue by approximately $405 million per year and would reduce state expenditures by approximately $301 million per year due to the elimination of SAIF. The measure would require additional state government expenditures of $1.8 million to $5.5 million per year on a recurring basis with an additional one-time expenditure of $2.2 billion to $2.4 billion. There will be a one time increase of state revenues of $32.6 million from sale of real property. The measure would require local government expenditures of $2.6 million to $10.5 million per year on a recurring basis. There is no financial effect on local government revenues. | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
An initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are 21 states that allow citizens to initiate state statutes, including 14 that provide for direct initiatives and nine (9) that provide for indirect initiatives (two provide for both). An indirect initiated state statute goes to the legislature after a successful signature drive. The legislatures in these states have the option of approving the initiative itself, rather than the initiative appearing on the ballot.
In Oregon, the number of signatures required for an initiated state statute is equal to 6% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Oregon Salem (capital) |
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