Bill Text: OR SB521 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to foster care; appropriating money.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Failed) 2013-07-08 - In committee upon adjournment. [SB521 Detail]
Download: Oregon-2013-SB521-Introduced.html
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 3634
Senate Bill 521
Sponsored by Senator BATES; Representative BUCKLEY
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.
Directs Department of Human Services to implement
Strengthening, Preserving and Reunifying Families programs to
provide child welfare services on statewide basis.
Appropriates moneys from General Fund to department for
implementation of programs on statewide basis.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to foster care; amending ORS 418.580; and appropriating
money.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 418.580, as amended by section 29, chapter 97,
Oregon Laws 2012, is amended to read:
418.580. (1) { + (a) + } { - By October 1, 2012, and to the
extent practicable using available resources, - } The Department
of Human Services and county partners shall implement
Strengthening, Preserving and Reunifying Families programs as
described in this section { + on a statewide basis in each
county or designated region of this state + }. { + The
department may designate a combination of whole or parts of
counties as a region when the availability of services is such
that a program is best implemented on a regional basis.
(b) + } County partners { - are encouraged to - } { +
shall + } form collaborations with programs to design, oversee
and participate in program development and implementation as
appropriate.
{ + (c) + } The department shall be the lead agency in
efforts undertaken pursuant to this section, but all officers,
boards, commissions and other agencies of the State of Oregon
shall cooperate with the department to accomplish the duties
imposed on the department by ORS 418.575 to 418.598 and to
allocate services provided by programs as described in this
section.
(2)(a) The Director of Human Services or the director's
designee { - , the Director of the Oregon Health Authority or
the director's designee or the Director of the Housing and
Community Services Department or the director's designee - }
shall enter into a contract with, and make reasonable payment for
services provided by, { - a program - } { + at least one
program in each county or designated region of this state to
provide services + }in accordance with ORS 418.575 to 418.598,
and shall, where necessary, enter into contracts with a lead
agency or with county and community entities that have been
designated by the county partners to { + establish and + }
coordinate services provided under this section. { + The
department shall work with counties and designated regions,
county partners, the Director of the Oregon Health Authority or
the director's designee and the Director of the Housing and
Community Services Department or the director's designee to
ensure the identification and availability of at least one
program and service providers in each county or designated region
of this state. + }
{ - (b) A contract entered into under this subsection shall
require only those services that are reasonably available in the
county or region where the program is or will be providing
services. Services may or may not be located in a given county or
region. - }
{ - (c) - } { + (b) + } At the election of { - any
director { + + }or - } { + the Director of Human Services or
the + } director's designee, a contract entered into under this
subsection may be a performance-based contract.
(3) The programs implemented under this section shall provide
an array of services. { - Depending on resources and
availability, - } The services provided may include but are not
limited to the following:
(a) Front end intervention services that include alcohol and
drug treatment providers or mental health providers accompanying
department caseworkers on initial calls and visits in response to
allegations or reports of abuse or neglect. County partners shall
participate in assessments to determine the appropriateness and
level of program services required for a child and the child's
family, the creation of safety plans to enable the provision of
in-home services if appropriate and the development of family
preservation and reunification plans for presentation to the
juvenile court.
(b) Residential treatment whereby a member of a child's family
with care, custody or control of the child enters a treatment
facility accompanied by the child with 24-hour supervision while
the child and the member of the child's family engage in family
strengthening activities and receive appropriate mental health
and addiction treatment support and services.
(c) Supervised housing whereby a child and the child's family
remain together in program housing while they participate in
family strengthening activities, receive mental health and
addiction support and services and have the appropriate level of
supervision to ensure the physical health, care and safety of the
child.
(d) Family-centered day and outpatient treatment services,
either after completion of residential treatment or in lieu of
residential treatment, designed specifically for
substance-abusing parents of children involved in the child
welfare system.
(e) Intensive in-home services while the child and family
engage in family strengthening activities.
(f) Facilitation of regular contact between a child and the
child's family, if separation has occurred, to facilitate an
easier, quicker and more successful transition of the child back
into the family home.
(g) Case managers who provide child and family supervision,
assistance identifying and accessing needed services, observation
and monitoring of parenting behavior, assistance with life skills
development and assistance in removing barriers to system
independence.
(h) Immediate access to supervised drug-free emergency and
short-term housing.
(i) Access to permanent, drug-free housing with on-site case
managers and access to supportive services that increase
stability for a child and the child's family.
(j) Family finding services to identify extended family members
to provide additional support, resources and alternative
placement options if necessary.
(k) Services of a court appointed special advocate appointed
under section 2, chapter 97, Oregon Laws 2012, where available.
(L) Other services and interventions as programs evolve,
research develops and funding becomes available.
(4) The services provided by programs must be culturally
competent and include evidence-informed or evidence-based
practices.
(5) The department shall establish by rule client-focused
functional outcome measures for programs implemented under this
section.
(6) Client-focused functional outcome measures may be used as a
basis for funding programs and entering into or renewing
contracts with programs.
(7) Programs shall develop and implement training and
continuing education curricula for persons delivering program
services and, when adequate funding exists, sponsor the
attendance of service providers at state or national training
programs, conferences or other similar events.
(8) Programs may seek funds from public and private sources to:
(a) Meet match requirements for state or federal grants to
support the provision of program services;
(b) Implement and operate the training and educational
requirements of subsection (7) of this section; and
(c) Provide financial resources for the hiring of personnel and
the provision of existing or enhanced program services.
(9) The department, in consultation with programs, shall report
annually to the Governor and the appropriate interim committees
of the Legislative Assembly that address child welfare issues on
{ - the progress toward and projected costs of full - } { +
statewide + } implementation of ORS 418.575 to 418.598 { + in
each county or designated region of this state + }.
SECTION 2. { + There is appropriated to the Department of
Human Services, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2013, out of
the General Fund, the amount of $___ for deposit in the
Strengthening, Preserving and Reunifying Families Program Fund
established under ORS 418.585 to be used for the purposes of
implementing the amendments to ORS 418.580 by section 1 of this
2013 Act. + }
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