Chapter 657 Oregon Laws 2011

AN ACT

HB 2578

Relating to Oregon Veterans’ Homes; amending ORS 408.370 and 408.385.

Whereas Oregon is home to 341,000 veterans; and

Whereas the United States Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that Oregon has a need for more than 900 skilled nursing beds for its veteran population; and

Whereas the Oregon Veterans’ Home in The Dalles has 151 skilled nursing beds; and

Whereas a planned second veterans’ home in Linn County would have up to an additional 150 skilled nursing beds; and

Whereas Oregon would still need another 600 skilled nursing beds to meet the demand estimated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; now, therefore,

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. ORS 408.385 is amended to read:

408.385. (1) The State of Oregon and the Director of Veterans’ Affairs shall [not establish more than two Oregon Veterans’ Homes until the two facilities authorized by law on July 17, 1995, are constructed and have provided services to patients for a period of time that is sufficient to allow a determination to be made concerning the effectiveness and efficiency of the facilities in providing for the needs of the veterans of Oregon for long term care. Nothing in this section shall be construed to support any further consideration for additional veterans’ homes.] establish a third Oregon Veterans’ Home in Roseburg, in addition to the two facilities authorized by law on July 17, 1995.

(2) The director may seek federal grant funds from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of establishing the third Oregon Veterans’ Home in Roseburg.

SECTION 1a. If House Bill 3208 becomes law, section 1 of this 2011 Act (amending ORS 408.385) is repealed and ORS 408.385, as amended by section 1, chapter 296, Oregon Laws 2011 (Enrolled House Bill 3208), is amended to read:

408.385. (1) The Director of Veterans’ Affairs [may not establish more than two Oregon Veterans’ Homes until the two facilities authorized by law on July 17, 1995, are constructed and have provided services to patients for a period of time that is sufficient to allow a determination to be made concerning the effectiveness and efficiency of the facilities in providing for the needs of the veterans of Oregon for long term care] shall establish a third Oregon Veterans’ Home in Roseburg, in addition to the two facilities authorized by law on July 17, 1995.

(2) The director may seek federal grant funds from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of establishing the third Oregon Veterans’ Home in Roseburg.

[(2)] (3) [Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section,] If the director determines that [the two] three facilities [authorized by law on July 17, 1995,] will not be sufficient to provide for the needs of the veterans of Oregon, the director may begin planning for and developing [two] one additional Oregon Veterans’ [Homes] Home.

SECTION 2. ORS 408.370 is amended to read:

408.370. (1) In addition to the other uses for the Oregon Housing Fund set forth in ORS 458.600 to 458.665, financial support for an Oregon Veterans’ Home is a permitted use of moneys from the Oregon Housing Fund.

(2) Notwithstanding ORS 442.315, 442.325 and 442.584, an Oregon Veterans’ Home is not subject to any certificate of need requirement but is otherwise subject to the authority of the [Health Resources Commission] Oregon Health Authority.

Approved by the Governor August 2, 2011

Filed in the office of Secretary of State August 2, 2011

Effective date January 1, 2012

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