DRO Legislative Update: June 19, 2009

Governor Signs 11 Key Bills Affecting Oregon's Disability Community

• Senate Bill 200 sets state policy to end and prevent homelessness.

• Senate Bill 287 strengthens licensing enforcement for operators of multiple residential facilities.

• House Bill 2599 requires schools to strengthen anti-bullying policies.

• House Bill 2883 creates Public Guardian and Conservator Task Force.

• Senate Bill 16 adds authorization for treatment of dementia to advance health care directives.

• Senate Bill 275 permits prison inmates to apply for medical benefits prior to release.

• Senate Bill 277 requires businesses to allow customers with certain medical conditions to use toilet facilities.

• Senate Bill 316 requires health benefit plans to cover clinical trials.

• Senate Bill 348 requires coaches to be trained to recognize brain injury.

• Senate Bill 381 requires health benefit plans to cover treatment for brain injury.
• Senate Bill 731 exempts certain benefits from garnishment procedures. 

Bill to Protect Vulnerable Adults Sent to Ways & Means

House Bill 2442, passed by the House on June 12, was sent to the Ways & Means Committee on Wednesday.  The bill creates a Quality Care Fund to support training, technical assistance, quality improvement and licensing enforcement to ensure high standards of care.  Increased licensing fees and civil penalties are to be deposited in the fund.  

This bill will greatly increase the safety and care of vulnerable residents.  It expands the definition of what constitutes abuse for elderly persons and persons with developmental disabilities.  It provides immunity from civil liability for facility operators who disclose substantiated findings of abuse by their employees or former employees to prospective employers.  It prohibits the use of public funds to pay caregivers who have been convicted of serious crimes and sets standards for communications between the state, law enforcement and district attorneys concerning abuse reports.

District attorneys are also directed to establish a multidisciplinary team to develop a protocol for investigating and notifying persons of abuse procedures.

Bill to Protect Foster Children from Over-medication Passes House

House Bill 3114 passed the House on Wednesday and has moved to the Ways and Means Committee. 

Sponsored by Representatives Tina Kotek and Carolyn Tomei, the bill requires that children in foster care be provided a medical assessment before receiving psychiatric medication. It also prohibits the use of psychotropic medication for these children unless it is used for a “medically accepted indication that is age appropriate.”

DRO Welcomes Secretary of State at its Second Annual Open House

On Thursday, DRO welcomed Secretary of State Kate Brown to its second annual Open House.  Brown addressed a group of about 50 guests, noting her years of working collaboratively with DRO on disability issues and her desire that Oregonians with disabilities have full access to voting and to all services administered by her agency.

The event also featured remarks from DRO Board Chair Michael Bailey and an exhibit of work by four artists with disabilities:  Sam Roloff, Julianna Paradisi, Carole Zoom, all of Portland and DRO Board member Traci Murry, who lives in La Grande.