72nd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2003 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 2978
 
                         House Bill 2963
 
Sponsored by Representative BARNHART (at the request of Galen
  Phipps, Kitty Piercy)
 
 
                             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.
 
  Creates Task Force on Homeless and Runaway Youth for purposes
of assessing current status of homeless and runaway youth in
Oregon and recommending statewide system of care for homeless and
runaway youth and their families.
  Sunsets January 2, 2006.
  Declares emergency, effective on passage.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to task force addressing youth services; and declaring
  an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) The Task Force on Homeless and Runaway
Youth is created for the purposes of assessing the current status
of homeless and runaway youth in Oregon and recommending a
statewide system of care for homeless and runaway youth.
  (2) The task force shall consist of 16 to 25 members selected
as follows:
  (a) The President of the Senate shall appoint one member from
among the members of the Senate;
  (b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint
one member from among the members of the House of
Representatives; and
  (c) The State Commission on Children and Families and the
Department of Human Services shall jointly appoint the remaining
members of the task force, which shall include at least one of
the following:
  (A) A representative from the State Commission on Children and
Families;
  (B) A representative from the Department of Human Services who
has expertise in child welfare;
  (C) A representative from the Department of Human Services who
has expertise in mental health services;
  (D) A representative from the Department of Human Services who
has expertise in alcohol and drug abuse programs;
  (E) A representative from the Oregon Youth Authority;
  (F) A representative from the Housing and Community Services
Department;
  (G) A representative from the Oregon State Police;
  (H) A representative from the Department of Education;
 
  (I) A representative from the Oregon Homeless and Runaway Youth
Coalition;
  (J) A provider of services to homeless or runaway youth;
  (K) A provider of advocacy services related to homeless or
runaway youth;
  (L) A youth who was a homeless or runaway youth;
  (M) A youth who is from the community; and
  (N) A representative from a business with interest in homeless
or runaway youth.
  (3) The duties of the task force include:
  (a) Gathering research regarding the factors that precipitate
youth being homeless or running away;
  (b) Gathering data on the number of homeless and runaway youth
statewide;
  (c) Identifying gaps in existing services for homeless and
runaway youth;
  (d) Recommending state policy development and revision to
ensure the safety and welfare of homeless and runaway youth; and
  (e) Recommending a long-term plan for a statewide system of
care for homeless and runaway youth and their families that:
  (A) Establishes one state agency as responsible for
coordinating the efforts among other state agencies and service
providers and identifies the state agency as being ultimately
responsible for the well-being and safety of homeless and runaway
youth;
  (B) Integrates existing state and local services and supports
planning by local communities;
  (C) Provides culturally appropriate and gender appropriate
services;
  (D) Provides equal access to services, opportunities and
support for all homeless and runaway youth;
  (E) Applies state policies in a uniform, sensible, consistent
and coordinated manner;
  (F) Measures effectiveness and improvements of services in a
clear and concise manner; and
  (G) Addresses the financial impact of the system on state,
county and city resources and identifies adequate funding for
implementation of the system.
  (4) The task force shall select one of its members to serve as
chairperson.
  (5) 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.
  (6) The State Commission on Children and Families and the
Department of Human Services jointly shall provide staff support
to the task force.
  (7) 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.  { + The Task Force on Homeless and Runaway Youth
created under section 1 of this 2003 Act shall report its
findings and recommendations to the Seventy-third Legislative
Assembly in the manner provided in ORS 192.245 no later than
January 31, 2005. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + Sections 1 and 2 of this 2003 Act are repealed
on January 2, 2006. + }
  SECTION 4.  { + This 2003 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2003 Act takes effect on its
passage. + }
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