Section 459A.932 - Equity study(1) The Department of Environmental Quality, in consultation with local governments and the Oregon Recycling System Advisory Council, shall conduct a study of equity in Oregon's recycling system to determine conditions and make recommendations, including goals to achieve continuous improvement. The department shall provide public involvement opportunities for underserved communities during the study. The study must include, but need not be limited to: (a) An evaluation of commingled recycling processing facility worker conditions, wages and benefits;(b) The availability of opportunities in the recycling system for women and minority individuals as defined in ORS 200.005;(c) The sufficiency of local government requirements related to multifamily recycling services and their implementation;(d) The sufficiency of recycling education programs relative to desired equity outcomes;(e) The availability of opportunities in the recycling system for Oregon and other Pacific Northwest businesses; and(f) Recommendations for improving equity and equitable outcomes for underserved populations in Oregon's recycling system, including recommendations for new responsibilities of producer responsibility organizations and recommendations for funding such responsibilities.(2)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, a person operating within the recycling system in this state shall, upon request, furnish the department with information necessary for the department to meet the requirements of subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section. Proprietary information furnished to the department under subsection (1)(a) of this section is not subject to public disclosure under ORS 192.311 to 192.478, except that the department may disclose summarized information or aggregated data if the information or data do not directly or indirectly identify the proprietary information of any specific person.(b) Paragraph (a) of this subsection does not apply to any person described in ORS 459A.863 (3)(b).(3) The department shall complete the study required under this section at least once every four years. The department shall report the results of the study and recommendations required under this section, in the manner provided by ORS 192.245, to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to the environment. Section 61 (2), chapter 681, Oregon Laws 2021, provides:
Sec. 61. (2) The department [Department of Environmental Quality] shall first submit the report required under section 29 of this 2021 Act [459A.932] no later than September 15, 2024. [2021 c. 681, § 61(2)]