Signed by Governor Tina Kotek

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to contract with at least one agency to provide care for vulnerable individuals in the state of Oregon.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to contract with at least one agency to provide care for vulnerable individuals including support workers in the state of Oregon by January 1, 2026 (Sec. 1-20).

• Amends the way that DHS makes a place that houses and takes care of people who are elderly or who have disabilities use a certain tool to make sure that the place has enough staff to meet the needs of the people who live there (Sec. 1-20).

• Requires that some people must be licensed to help children in DHS custody to stay out of temporary lodging (Sec. 1-20).

• Requires the Department of Human Services to contract with at least one organization by July 1, 2024, to provide enhanced support to employers of personal support workers and describes the support the organization must provide (Sec. ).

• Specifies the minimum requirements for agencies to be endorsed by the department to provide the agency with choice services and requires the department to contract with at least one organization to provide the agency with choice services by January 1, 2026 (Sec. 1-20)

• Requires the Oregon Health Authority to hire one additional position for the authority's Medicaid [fraud] program integrity unit (Sec. 1-20).

• Amends and modifies the enforcement by the Department of Human Services of the requirements for residential care facilities to use acuity-based staffing tools to ensure sufficient staffing levels to meet residents' scheduled and unscheduled needs at all times.

• Requires that certain providers of placement safety or crisis support for children in the custody of the department be licensed as child-caring agencies (Sec. 1-20).

• Specifies that certain providers of care or services to children are not child-caring agencies. Delays licensing requirements for certain providers of placement safety or crisis support to children until January 1, 2025 (Sec. 1-20).

• Authorizes the department until December 31, 2024, to continue contracting with certain providers of placement safety and support even though they are unlicensed (Sec. ).

• Extends deadline from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027, for residential training homes and adult foster homes licensed before July 1, 2026, to install automatic sprinkler systems (Sec. 1-20).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the governor (Sec. 21).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to contract with at least one agency to provide care for vulnerable individuals in the state of Oregon.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to contract with at least one agency to provide care for vulnerable individuals including support workers in the state of Oregon by January 1, 2026 (Sec. 1-20).

• Amends the way that DHS makes a place that houses and takes care of people who are elderly or who have disabilities use a certain tool to make sure that the place has enough staff to meet the needs of the people who live there (Sec. 1-20).

• Requires that some people must be licensed to help children in DHS custody to stay out of temporary lodging (Sec. 1-20).

• Requires the Department of Human Services to contract with at least one organization by July 1, 2024, to provide enhanced support to employers of personal support workers and describes the support the organization must provide (Sec. ).

• Specifies the minimum requirements for agencies to be endorsed by the department to provide the agency with choice services and requires the department to contract with at least one organization to provide the agency with choice services by January 1, 2026 (Sec. 1-20)

• Requires the Oregon Health Authority to hire one additional position for the authority's Medicaid [fraud] program integrity unit (Sec. 1-20).

• Amends and modifies the enforcement by the Department of Human Services of the requirements for residential care facilities to use acuity-based staffing tools to ensure sufficient staffing levels to meet residents' scheduled and unscheduled needs at all times.

• Requires that certain providers of placement safety or crisis support for children in the custody of the department be licensed as child-caring agencies (Sec. 1-20).

• Specifies that certain providers of care or services to children are not child-caring agencies. Delays licensing requirements for certain providers of placement safety or crisis support to children until January 1, 2025 (Sec. 1-20).

• Authorizes the department until December 31, 2024, to continue contracting with certain providers of placement safety and support even though they are unlicensed (Sec. ).

• Extends deadline from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027, for residential training homes and adult foster homes licensed before July 1, 2026, to install automatic sprinkler systems (Sec. 1-20).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the governor (Sec. 21).

Full Bill Text