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How things stand in State Legislature By PETER WONG Status of major issues and budgets in the 1999 Legislature: Aid to public schools: Republicans propose $4.81 billion; Democrats and Gov. John Kitzhaber want $4.89 billion. State universities: Kitzhaber vetoed $630 million budget, $15 million more than requested. New budget will extend tuition freeze and start per-student budgeting for campuses. State Police: Kitzhaber signed $168 million budget providing 100 new troopers by mid-2001. Oregon Health Plan: Republicans propose to cut Kitzhaber's request by $15 million, which would drop or limit coverage for thousands. Gasoline tax: House passed 6-cent increase; Senate proposes 5-cent increase, substitution of diesel-fuel tax and higher registration fees for truck weight-mile taxes in House Bill 2082. Guns: House passed requirement for background checks for firearms purchases at gun shows; Senate vote pending on House Bill 2535. School safety and juvenile crime: Kitzhaber signed requirements for school workers to tell police about guns brought on campus and judges to detain students (Senate Bill 344), and for districts to adopt policies to deal with students who show violent tendencies (House Bill 3444). Kitzhaber wants $30 million for early-intervention and juvenile crime prevention, Republicans $15 million. Child care: Both houses passed requirements for state inspection of new family child-care homes (House Bill 2241), investigation of serious complaints (House Bill 2240), and more training for providers (Senate Bill 110). Driving: Kitzhaber signed House Bill 2440, requiring supervised driving before teenagers get provisional licenses. Both houses passed Senate Bill 487, which lets districts link licenses with school attendance. Labor: Both houses passed differing versions of House Bill 2793, which allows businesses to offset the minimum wage with tips and pay a training wage. House Bill 2486, guaranteeing workers an "equivalent" job if they take unpaid family leave, is pending in the Senate. Telephone deregulation: Both houses passed differing versions of Senate Bill 622, which would relax rate regulation of US West in exchange for investment in schools and rural telecommunications. Power deregulation: Both houses passed Senate Bill 1149, which would let business and industrial customers choose power suppliers in 2001. Crime: Final votes pending on ballot measures to establish victims' rights and limit defendants' rights. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA