OR HB2944

Public employers who violate union dues deduction requirements (ORS 243.804(4) or 243.806(7)) face mandatory civil penalties of $1,000-$5,000 for a second violation, and $5,000-$10,000 for subsequent violations

Public employers must remit union dues payments within 30 calendar days following the deduction date, aligned with the employer's payroll processing schedule

Employers can avoid civil penalties if violations resulted directly from natural disasters, computer crimes, or catastrophic events (fire, flood) that significantly disrupted operations

The Employment Relations Board must consider extenuating circumstances when determining penalty amounts, though such circumstances do not serve as an affirmative defense to the violation

Amends ORS 243.676 and 243.806 governing public employee collective bargaining and unfair labor practice penalties