Merit Institute Merit

The Oregon Worker-Merit Credentialing Act (OR-ACSA)

Oregon state companion to ACSA. Extends licensure recognition under ORS Chapters 670 et seq., the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, the Oregon Workforce and Talent Development Board, and ORS Chapter 315 credits, with labor-protective worker provisions.

THE OREGON WORKER-MERIT CREDENTIALING ACT (OR-ACSA)

Vehicle: State passage. Oregon Legislative Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Business and Labor / Revenue.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Oregon Worker-Merit Credentialing Act (OR-ACSA).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislative Assembly finds that Oregon occupational licensure operates under ORS Chapters 670 et seq.; that the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) operates under ORS Chapter 350; that the Oregon Workforce and Talent Development Board operates under ORS Chapter 660; that ORS Chapter 315 authorizes tax credits; and that ORS Chapter 659A provides labor protections. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH OREGON LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Oregon Recognized Merit Credential” or “ORRMC” means a competency-based credential designated by the Executive Director of HECC in coordination with the Workforce and Talent Development Board under Sec. 201.
  2. (b) “Federal FRAC” means a Federally Recognized Alternative Credential under Section 202 of the federal ACSA.
  3. (c) “Covered State licensing authority” means a board under ORS Chapters 670 et seq.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Oregon Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • ORS Chapters 670 et seq. (occupational licensing).
  • ORS Chapter 350 (HECC).
  • ORS Chapter 660 (Workforce Board).
  • ORS Chapter 315 (tax credits).
  • ORS Chapter 659A (labor protections).

TITLE II — OREGON RECOGNIZED MERIT CREDENTIALS

Sec. 201. Designation Authority

  1. (a) HECC shall maintain an Oregon Recognized Merit Credentials registry (“ORRMC Registry”) in machine-readable form, updated at least annually, crosswalked to Federal FRAC.

Sec. 202. Degree-Optional State Employment

  1. (a) The Department of Administrative Services, acting under ORS Chapter 240, shall apply State Personnel Relations classifications so that an ORRMC-holder satisfies any position qualification stated in terms of a college degree, unless expressly required by Oregon statute.

TITLE III — WORKFORCE-TRAINING TAX CREDIT (Worker-Protective Rewire)

Sec. 301. Oregon Skills-Based Hiring Tax Credit

  1. (a) A new credit is added to ORS Chapter 315 equal to a percentage of qualified first-year wages paid to an Oregon-resident employee whose qualifying pathway is an ORRMC or Federal FRAC.
  2. (b) Credit availability is conditioned on compliance with ORS Chapter 653 (wage and hour), Chapter 659A, and prevailing-wage under ORS 279C.
  3. (c) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45AA; aggregate cap.
  4. (d) Department of Revenue administers.

TITLE IV — OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE PORTABILITY

Sec. 401. Licensure by Demonstrated Competency

  1. (a) Demonstrated-competency pathway accepting ORRMC, Federal FRAC, or examination-plus-supervised-experience, subject to public health and safety requirements.

Sec. 402. Interstate Recognition for Federal-Fund Recipients

  1. (a) Recognition by federally-funded authorities, consistent with Section 401 of the federal ACSA.

TITLE V — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 502. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die, except that Sec. 301 shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: ACSA. Other Oregon bills: OR-MEWRA, OR-GT&P, OR-AI-Workforce.