76th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2011 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 2209
 
                         House Bill 2858
 
Sponsored by Representative NATHANSON; Representatives BARKER,
  BEYER, DEMBROW, GELSER, HOYLE, J SMITH, Senators EDWARDS,
  PROZANSKI (Presession filed.)
 
 
                             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 relief nursery pilot program in Lane County.
Requires Department of Human Services to refer children and
parents to program following conclusion of child abuse
investigation when abuse is not or cannot be substantiated.
Provides for collaboration between department and State
Commission on Children and Families to adopt rules and report to
legislature.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to relief nursery pilot program in Lane County.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) The Department of Human Services and the
State Commission on Children and Families shall establish the
Relief Nursery Inc. in Lane County pilot program for children,
and the parents or guardians of children, who have been the
subject of a child abuse investigation by the department under
ORS 419B.020.  The purpose of the program is to reduce
prospective child abuse, provide information and support to
parents or guardians when a finding of abuse is not or cannot be
substantiated, avoid repeated contacts with department staff by
parents or guardians who seek support and respite services, and
focus on the provision of services and interventions by local
resources.
  (2) The program shall apply to investigations for which:
  (a) The child involved is zero through five years of age;
  (b) The child involved is a resident of Lane County; and
  (c) The investigation concludes in a determination that the
report of alleged child abuse is not or cannot be substantiated.
  (3) Upon conclusion of the investigation under subsection (2)
of this section, the department shall refer the child and the
child's parents or guardians to the program for the following:
  (a) A determination, to be made within 24 hours of the
referral, that the program has available and appropriate services
for the child, or the child's parents or guardians;
  (b) An assessment of the needs and resources available to the
child's parents or guardians; and
  (c) Recommendations for appropriate interventions that may
include, but are not limited to:
 
  (A) Respite services for parents or guardians, including
short-term care and control for the purpose of providing parents
or guardians in crisis with relief from the demands of ongoing
care of the child;
  (B) Parental education and support;
  (C) Alcohol and drug recovery interventions; and
  (D) Mental health services.
  (4) The department and the commission shall work
collaboratively to:
  (a) Adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section;
and
  (b) Report to an appropriate legislative committee or interim
committee of the Legislative Assembly by January 1 of each year,
beginning in 2013. The report must evaluate the effectiveness of
providing services to children and parents or guardians through
the program as opposed to the absence of services to children and
parents or guardians following a child abuse investigation that
concludes in a determination that the report of alleged child
abuse is not or cannot be substantiated. The report must also
evaluate the actual and estimated costs of the program. + }
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