Bill Text: OR HB2591 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to children in foster care; declaring an emergency.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Failed) 2013-07-08 - In committee upon adjournment. [HB2591 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2013-HB2591-Introduced.html

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     77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .

LC 854

                         House Bill 2591

Introduced and printed pursuant to House Rule 12.00. Presession
  filed (at the request of House Interim Committee on Judiciary)

                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.

  Establishes Task Force on Foster Care Alternatives.
  Sunsets July 1, 2015.
  Declares emergency, effective on passage.

                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to children in foster care; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) The Task Force on Foster Care Alternatives
is established, consisting of members appointed as follows:
  (a) The President of the Senate shall appoint one member from
among members of the Senate, who shall cease being a member of
the task force upon ceasing to be a member of the Legislative
Assembly.
  (b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint
one member from among members of the House of Representatives,
who shall cease being a member of the task force upon ceasing to
be a member of the Legislative Assembly.
  (c) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall appoint one
member.
  (d) The Board of Governors of the Oregon State Bar shall
appoint one member.
  (e) The Governor shall appoint members as follows:
  (A) Two from the Department of Human Services, one of whom has
expertise in foster care services;
  (B) One from an advocacy organization representing the rights
of children in foster care; and
  (C) One from an advocacy organization representing foster care
parents in this state.
  (f) The Governor shall appoint such other members as the task
force deems necessary.
  (2) The task force shall have its first meeting on or before
the later of 90 days after adjournment sine die of the 2013
regular session of the Seventy-seventh Legislative Assembly, or
September 30, 2013.
  (3) The task force shall study and make recommendations on:
  (a) Alternatives to placing children who are in the custody of
the Department of Human Services into foster care;
  (b) Sources and uses of available state and federal funding for
alternative placement options to foster care;

  (c) The 'Community Homes for Children' model or other, similar
models for providing safe, stable, nurturing homes for children
who have emotional and behavioral problems;
  (d) 'Wrap around supports' for children that allow children to
remain in their homes and communities instead of being placed
into foster care;
  (e) Protective factors that can be implemented and promoted in
high poverty communities so as to avoid displacement of children
who are in the department's custody or are wards of the court;
and
  (f) Any other issues or concerns identified by the task force
that would provide support to vulnerable families and children
who are facing foster care placement.
  (4) A majority of the members of the task force constitutes a
quorum for the transaction of business.
  (5) Official action by the task force requires the approval of
a majority of the members of the task force.
  (6) The task force shall elect one of its members to serve as
chairperson.
  (7) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing
authority shall make an appointment to become immediately
effective.
  (8) The task force shall meet at times and places specified by
the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the members of
the task force.
  (9) The task force may adopt rules necessary for the operation
of the task force.
  (10) The task force shall make a report, and may include
recommendations for legislation, to an interim committee of the
Legislative Assembly related to child welfare no later than
October 1, 2014.
  (11) The task force may accept donations of staff support,
office space and equipment from any advocacy organization to
assist the task force in the performance of its duties.
  (12) Notwithstanding ORS 171.072, members of the task force who
are members of the Legislative Assembly are not entitled to
mileage expenses or a per diem and serve as volunteers on the
task force. Other members of the task force are not entitled to
compensation or reimbursement for expenses and serve as
volunteers on the task force.
  (13) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS
174.111, are directed to assist the task force in the performance
of its duties and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to
confidentiality, to furnish such information and advice as the
members of the task force consider necessary to perform their
duties. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + Section 1 of this 2013 Act is repealed on July
1, 2015. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + This 2013 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2013 Act takes effect on its
passage. + }
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