Legislature roundup: Bills on homeless, racist legacy, bullying, unemployment insurance advance
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) Here are several news releases received from Salem on Thursday on legislation making its way through the Oregon Legislature:
From the Oregon House Democrats:
Oregon House Democrats Pass Bill Protecting Survival Activities in Public Space
HB 3115 protects Oregonians sleeping outdoors when no reasonable alternative is available
SALEM, OR Today, House Democrats passed House Bill 3115, which will ensure that individuals experiencing homelessness are protected from fines or arrest for sleeping or camping on public property when there are no other options.
Without adequate alternatives like housing, shelter, and safe camping spaces, some Oregonians are left with no option but to sleep outside in public spaces – in a park, under an overpass, or wherever they can find shelter and safety.
Bill Would Provide Funds for Mobile Mental Health Crisis Assessment Teams
For 17 years, Deschutes County has operated a program similar to the one proposed by the
Oregon legislature It s a Tuesday evening and Nicole Von Laven, a behavioral health specialist with Deschutes County s Mobile Crisis Assessment Team, answers a phone call from Bend Police Sgt. Elizabeth Lawrence that the veteran officer placed to the county s mental health crisis hotline. Lawrence tells Von Laven she s at the home of a family whose adult son is experiencing a mental break that, as far as they know, is happening for the first time. Lawrence told Von Laven the subject is agitated, loudly arguing with himself and pacing around the backyard and sweating, although the temperature on this night is in the high 20s. Lawrence said the man is not threatening to harm himself or others. His father says there are no firearms or intentional weapons in the home, she relates, but the man is not responding
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Oregon Senate hit by another GOP lawmaker boycott, now over COVID-19
(Update: Adding video, more comments from Knopp, says it was one-day deal )
Knopp says Democrats afraid of people that don’t agree with their agenda
SALEM, Ore. (AP) Republican lawmakers boycotted an Oregon Senate session Thursday morning, using a tactic they had employed in the past two years to assert their will by stopping work in the Democratic-led Legislature.
This time, it was over the state’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod said the Legislature “has abdicated too much responsibility” to Democratic Gov. Kate Brown. He demanded legislation aimed at school reopenings, vaccine distribution, economic recovery and government accountability.