Chapter 992 Oregon Laws 1999

Session Law

AN ACT

SB 870

Relating to brain development.

Whereas recent brain research demonstrates that what occurs during the first three years of life is critical to the development of children; and

Whereas a safe, stable, stimulating and nurturing environment is critical to optimal brain development; and

Whereas children lacking a developmentally appropriate environment may not reach their full potential; and

Whereas healthy brain development is imperative for a child's readiness to learn when entering public education; now, therefore,

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

SECTION 1. If the Department of Education is able to find adequate funding under section 2 of this 1999 Act, the department, in partnership with organizations including, but not limited to, the Institute on Violence and Destructive Behavior at the University of Oregon, the Child Care Division of the Employment Department, the State Commission on Children and Families and the Oregon Center for Career Development in Childhood Care and Education:

(1) Shall establish, in coordination with existing training systems, a statewide child care provider training program that will educate child care providers on:

(a) The importance of healthy brain development in the first three years of a child's life.

(b) The identification of risk factors and behaviors that indicate that a child:

(A) Needs special education or mental health treatment; or

(B) Is at risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system.

(c) Appropriate referrals for intervention for the behaviors identified under paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(2) Shall establish an application process for child care providers who wish to attend the program and may charge child care providers a fee for attending the program.

(3) May adopt any rules necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 2. The Department of Education shall seek funds from public and private sources to implement and operate the child care provider training program established under section 1 of this 1999 Act.

SECTION 3. The Department of Education shall report to the Seventy-first Legislative Assembly on its progress in implementing the child care provider training program established under section 1 of this 1999 Act.

SECTION 4. Section 5 of this 1999 Act is added to and made a part of ORS chapter 352.

SECTION 5. (1) Pursuant to ORS 351.870, there is created within the Department of Higher Education the Center for Brain, Biology and Machine. The center shall be administered by the University of Oregon.

(2) The purpose of the center is to promote interdisciplinary teaching and research in scientific areas, including but not limited to brain structure, development and functions, genetics and genomics, cognitive neuroscience, molecular biology, computational science, computing, magnetic resonance imaging and optics.

SECTION 6. The Department of Higher Education may receive moneys from any public or private source to support the Center for Brain, Biology and Machine created under section 5 of this 1999 Act. Gifts or grants received to support the center shall be deposited in an appropriate fund at the University of Oregon by the Department of Higher Education.

Approved by the Governor August 20, 1999

Filed in the office of Secretary of State August 23, 1999

Effective date October 23, 1999

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