Signed by Governor Tina Kotek

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the Oregon Healthcare Authority (OHA) to provide services to certain individuals under 21 years of age in mental health emergencies.

Highlights:

• Requires the Oregon Healthcare Authority (OHA) to provide services to certain individuals under 21 years of age in mental health emergencies (Sec. 2-20).

• Requires the OHA and DHS ensure that children and youth who both agencies serve get the services they need from both agencies (Sec. 2-20).

• Requires the Oregon Health Authority to ensure that all children or youth who are eligible for home or community-based services receive the services to which they are entitled (Sec. 2-20).

• Requires the authority and the Department of Human Services to adopt rules to facilitate cross-agency coordination to support multi-system involved children and youth and specifies minimum requirements for the rules (Sec. 2-20).

• Requires the authority to investigate the services and supports that are provided, through the K plan, to children and youth to enable the children or youth to avoid placements in institutional settings (Sec. 2-20).

• Requires the authority to report specified data and recommendations on the authority's investigation to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to health care and human services by October 1, 2024 (Sec. 2-20).

• Prohibits the denial of mental health assessment, treatment or services to individuals on the basis that the individuals have intellectual or developmental disabilities (Sec. ).

• Requires the authority to review and amend, as needed, current administrative rules and contracts to ensure that individuals under 21 years of age have access to specified services (Sec. 2-20).

• Requires the authority and the Department of Education to develop strategies and recommendations for leveraging federal funds to provide certain school-based services and submit a report to the Legislative Assembly by October 1, 2024 (Sec. 2-20).

• Amends provisions regarding the assessment of a youth's fitness to proceed in a juvenile delinquency proceeding. Clarifies that an order directing that a youth receive restorative services does not commit the youth to the custody of the Oregon Health Authority or alter the youth's guardianship (Sec. 2-20).

• Limits when a youth may be removed from a current placement to a new placement to receive restorative services (Sec. 2-20).

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

Full Bill Text