[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6106969,"mediaKeyId","2779151-79e0d4a2b6a08e3543e5078b3ae93b4f","parentId",2779151,"title","Witnesses split over House Bill 3835’s changes to restraint rules and out‑of‑state placements","audioSeconds",3179,"startMs",13135,"endMs",3192640,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779151-79e0d4a2b6a08e3543e5078b3ae93b4f&start=13&end=3192","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779151-79e0d4a2b6a08e3543e5078b3ae93b4f/thumbnail_13135.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6106969/Oregon/Witnesses-split-over-House-Bill-3835s-changes-to-restraint-rules-and-outofstate-placements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106969-3f0b9f251a28d672344552e82e342dfd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985530&Signature=J9edkRFSLKIzbViRscwFX-KC7amFkfUC43Qus7WajNMS159M7~7SiZ3yYVIAp4ynlAXRExq3GqA1dPH8ta8ZU4VBKunR~WjNgHltSnanpQGi0GDRmo13lBJqUMnwSIedeiBYijLpbdl34qLq2eFg7nv7yvUwO~dl38SPppgLDq50Dx1G-lg1Kgc100VcE7~rCmj9MS22aQgDcDgm5GQH96OpJAAzMxW~Uh~DW~g7dTNWya25ve308H5~NQPimp60C3GxYZqN1kC49RuVGOebngKoAB5Gy~Q~bE-BGWTREiVeuVtLEx~YnZg6OhbioxOuMOtlSrVkDvOL-ECU0dqdeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","The House Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services held a public hearing Tuesday on House Bill 3835, a measure that would change how child‑serving programs may use physical restraint and expand narrow exceptions for out‑of‑state placements. The committee heard roughly 28 in‑person and remote witnesses during the allotted period; no committee vote occurred at the hearing.

Supporters — including some clinicians, residential program directors and a union representative — testified that HB 3835 would give staff legal clarity and restore tools to keep other children and employees safe when served youth exhibit violent behavior. Dr. Daniel Nikolai, a child and adolescent psychiatrist testifying for the Oregon Psychiatric Physicians Association and the Oregon Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, said clinicians sometimes face urgent decisions in higher levels of care and called HB 3835 “a more trauma‑informed way for staff and families to work collaboratively to keep everyone safe.”

Opponents—family members, disability advocates and current and former residents of out‑of‑state facilities—said the bill would roll back hard‑won limits on restraints and increase the risk of abuse, particularly for children with disabilities and children of color. Jenny Canaday, who said her son was blind, autistic and nonverbal, testified that her child was restrained “hundreds of times” and now lives with PTSD, and urged the committee to vote no on HB 3835.

Why the debate matters

Proponents framed the bill as a response to staffing shortages and shrinking capacity in Oregon’s system of care; several witnesses including Doug Riggs of Alliance for Kids pointed to a long‑term decline in in‑state residential treatment capacity and the resulting placements in emergency departments or outside the state. Riggs said the number of children’s residential programs in Oregon fell from 51 in 2014 to 14 in 2023 and to seven “today,” and said programs frequently must refuse very high‑acuity youth because staff cannot safely provide care. He described HB 3835 as “a small attempt to start the process of finding safe spaces for kids.”

Opponents disputed that loosening restraint rules is the right solution. Lillianne Miller, a foster youth and youth consultant, said HB 3835 “attacks protections on physical restraint and seclusion” and warned the bill would undermine bipartisan protections enacted in Senate Bill 710. Several witnesses cited concerns about due process and accountability; Jenny Canaday said incidents were often not reported to parents and that removing reporting protections “opens the door to hide abuse.”

What supporters say the bill preserves

Dana Hittle, interim director of the Office of Developmental Disability Services (ODDS), told the committee ODDS “supports the broad goals of House Bill 3,835” but stressed the agency does not endorse involuntary seclusion. Hittle said ODDS prohibits involuntary seclusion and that HB 3835 does not change statutory prohibitions on the most dangerous restraints, nor current crisis‑intervention training standards. She described existing reporting practices: quarterly reports from 24‑hour residential and host‑home providers that include demographic information, each restraint experienced by a child, injuries, training status of involved staff and follow‑up actions, and she said case managers receive written notice of every incident.

What opponents emphasize

Parents and advocates said the bill would weaken accountability and disproportionately harm disabled children and youth of color. Grace Forson of Our Children Oregon said the bill “would further endanger our children” and urged waiting for the outcome of an already‑established, legislatively mandated committee reviewing definitions and reporting for child abuse. Several witnesses recounted personal trauma following restraint and seclusion; Anne Marie Beckstrom described witnessing children being restrained and said she now lives with PTSD, and Ella Marie Gaskillkrest said the first time she was restrained was at age 7 and that she still has flashbacks.

Concerns about out‑of‑state placements

HB 3835 would allow a narrow exception to Oregon licensure and contract requirements when specialized services are not available in Oregon. Supporters said the exception is needed for clinically appropriate placements when state capacity is insufficient. Opponents argued that out‑of‑state placements have a documented history of abuse and inadequate oversight and cited examples of mistreatment in privatized out‑of‑state programs; former foster youth Shane Ruhl described prolonged solitary confinement and medical neglect while placed out of state.

Questions raised by committee members

Witnesses and members discussed system capacity, staff training, and reporting timelines. Committee members were told ODDS already requires certification in crisis prevention and detailed incident reporting, while program leaders and hospital administrators described longer stays in locked psychiatric units because of lack of step‑down placements.

Outcome and next steps

The committee closed the public hearing without taking a vote on HB 3835. Multiple witnesses submitted longer written testimony to the legislative OLIS record. Committee members said they will continue conversations about the bill and its proposed technical and policy changes.

Ending note

Testimony demonstrated deep disagreement about whether the proposed statutory changes would improve safety for children and staff or reduce accountability and increase risk. The committee will carry the bill forward for further consideration in subsequent committee action and staff analysis.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee On Early Childhood and Human Services 03/25/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The House Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services held a public hearing Tuesday on House Bill 3835, a measure that would change how child‑serving programs may use physical restraint and expand narrow exceptions for out‑of‑state placements.","taxTitle","Early Childhood and Human Services, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",17511,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6106957,"Votes at a glance: committee advances four bills from work sessions",249,3192670,3441779,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779151-79e0d4a2b6a08e3543e5078b3ae93b4f&start=3192&end=3441","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779151-79e0d4a2b6a08e3543e5078b3ae93b4f/thumbnail_3192670.jpg","/articles/6106957/Oregon/Votes-at-a-glance-committee-advances-four-bills-from-work-sessions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106957-d6bc825de1abbdeded6adfe6d4595889/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985530&Signature=jdi~qNsVYQDAzEPZCBHmufgIcvAN3jyxzkURYh23xHR5SCD0W3JJ8ub0nl2sremO8OXXKZleAHLez0OjZDxf3RJ7gHd6wmu7Vdgn9S3QBAO1skj~Uxbc2qyA-bPr2KlZcjzOsZvWQXHoumNHXBWwHUB4UorH6HCDI~fmeX59V9wp4xqXRRraQ2W1d106osiB~390zlVRHveAPVyvIByfgCGTBv8yMc6vZqhaqE98bCuQBGt~6G8LiHkgHW~aAJHiB1u~LO~hbuag7GfKYJuPlIaMNjBK0EUon3vq-l1yYNbeKy44wGDWFMw8Tj81Y82bHON4fhxq5UFDk9O6RTuxFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services met Tuesday for a series of work sessions and took formal committee action on four bills.

House Bill 3348 — child support administration (moved to floor, due pass)

Summary: HB 3348 modernizes child support program administration, authorizes certain electronic notification in place of physical mail, and clarifies when later judgments supersede earlier judgments. A -1 amendment removed proposed language adding child support program employees to the list of mandatory reporters.

Actions: Vice Chair Sharf moved adoption of the -1 amendment (motion passed), then moved that HB 3348 as amended be recommended to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation. The committee passed the motions without a roll call. Representative Cropp agreed to carry the bill on the floor.

House Bill 2976 — appropriations for indigenous language interpretation (referred to Ways and Means)

Summary: HB 2976 would appropriate funds to nonprofit organizations to support indigenous language interpretation. A -1 amendment removed an appropriation to the Oregon Worker Relief fund. The bill carries a fiscal impact statement and was referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means by prior reference.

Actions: The committee adopted the -1 amendment and moved HB 2976 as amended with a due‑pass recommendation and referral to Ways and Means by prior reference. The motions passed by voice vote; absent/excused members were noted in the record.

House Bill 2814 — early learning certification waivers (moved to floor, due pass)

Summary: HB 2814 allows the Department of Early Learning and Care to waive certain certification requirements for child care facilities for good cause, removes current statutory limits on numbers of children by age group for certain facilities and directs the Early Learning Council to adopt rules specifying permitted numbers by age group. The measure declares an emergency and would take effect on passage; a minimal fiscal impact was posted.

Actions: Vice Chair Sharf moved to send HB 2814 to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation; motion passed by voice vote. Representative Walters volunteered to carry the bill on the floor.

House Bill 3168 — staffing ratios and safety plans in residential training facilities (referred to Ways and Means; roll call recorded)

Summary: HB 3168 would direct DHS to require enhanced staffing ratios in residential training facilities and homes serving high‑needs residents under specified circumstances and would require homes and facilities that serve high‑needs residents to provide a staff safety plan to DHS. The measure takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die and carries an indeterminate fiscal impact; the bill was referred to Ways and Means by prior reference.

Actions and recorded vote: Vice Chair Sharf moved HB 3168 with a due‑pass recommendation and referral to Ways and Means. Representative Sharf expressed concerns in remarks recorded on the floor and later cast a no vote during roll call. The roll call recorded in committee was: Representative McIntyre — Yes; Representative Noce — Yes; Representative Rees — Yes; Representative Walters — Aye; Vice Chair Winn — Excused; Vice Chair Sharp (Sharf) — No; Chair Hartman — Aye. The motion passed. Representative Sharf stated she would be a no on the bill for purposes of flagging fiscal and timeline concerns for Ways and Means.

Context and next steps

All bills were advanced as described above; some motions passed by voice vote and without roll call, while HB 3168 included a recorded roll‑call vote. Several members noted the bills carry fiscal or implementation questions that will be handled in Ways and Means or in subsequent staff work.

Ending note

Committee minutes show the committee advanced bills that range from technical program modernization to proposals with indeterminate fiscal impact. The record lists excused members where applicable and identifies sponsors or floor carriers where named.","The House Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services advanced four bills in work sessions Tuesday, moving two to the floor and referring two to Ways and Means.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6106964,"Committee hears bill to study ERDC enrollment and barriers for student parents",1645,3755805,5400950,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779151-79e0d4a2b6a08e3543e5078b3ae93b4f&start=3755&end=5400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779151-79e0d4a2b6a08e3543e5078b3ae93b4f/thumbnail_3755805.jpg","/articles/6106964/Oregon/Committee-hears-bill-to-study-ERDC-enrollment-and-barriers-for-student-parents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106964-ca9e5a6a1a9e5635db764c1cee08defb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985530&Signature=BaMp7fSNW9maB8zKo~bXOG2AVMWFCjmaZnunSLMqew8Zn~2m8y6iLieGmpsqC6P7Nay-5X6I6Iqj9GIy-EuU9ssFo--0GBnxFAlG5OV5p4snFqHuLaQVY3Yy8rH8kfnN2mlHSqrFu0~eqUNdTj31GC8KqzgYzH~RMwHANY9X-~tGkqfRWXHvVWzpKJjoeXKUKUK2HMeJhlHC9fL3c7Q5I~jgbjXJFU7KbrKGtgIK2SuQYEYsm58LozpQJL2SSxwV8nM6WChx-BsZKIuwVEPvoIQt19HU7oyjItOU2u9cOg4mnwBiZh8B0relzGX9evdrxItW5TCw0JliYGKnmJsW2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Zach Hudson opened a public hearing Tuesday on House Bill 2593, which would require the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) to report on current enrollment and changes since the ERDC wait list was implemented, and to recommend strategies to ensure enrollment includes a minimum 50% working families and 20% student parents.

Supporters including student parents, labor advocates and immigrant‑rights groups urged passage of the bill as a transparency and outreach measure. Andrea Haverkamp of AFT Oregon said ERDC was designed to support student parents but is “falling short of reaching its full potential,” and urged lawmakers to require data that will inform future policy and funding choices. Felicity Ratway, a graduate research assistant and Spanish interpreter who testified with her six‑month‑old child present, described paying thousands of dollars in neonatal bills and struggling to find affordable childcare slots while completing her PhD work.

Community testimony and concerns

Multiple witnesses described high childcare costs and long wait lists. Kim Sekishiro, a small‑business owner and college student, described infant care in Salem costing roughly $1,500 a month and urged renaming ERDC to “Child Care Affordability Program” to reduce confusion about student eligibility. Amanda Orozco of Unite Oregon said many immigrant and low‑income families are effectively shut out by bureaucratic barriers and called for targeted outreach and data collection to ensure equity.

Agency response and committee questions

Jennifer Aras, Childcare Assistance Program manager for DELC, said the agency already collects some information about why families receive subsidies (employment, education, TANF) and has recently updated data collection to better identify student parents. She described ERDC’s financial mechanics: a regional maximum payment rate combined with a family co‑pay (the largest current co‑pay cited by the program manager was $130 per month). Committee members asked whether the department has the capacity to reach everyone on the wait list and whether a name change would impose costs. Aras said family, friend and neighbor (license‑exempt) care is part of ERDC’s coverage and that outreach materials exist, but acknowledged a wait list can make outreach feel frustrating for families who cannot immediately access slots.

Outcome and next steps

The committee closed the public hearing without a vote and invited written testimony to OLIS. Members encouraged DELC and stakeholder groups to continue coordination; Representative Hudson framed the bill as a first step to collect data and to improve access for student parents.

Ending note

HB 2593 does not itself appropriate additional funds; supporters said the required DELC report would produce the data legislators and stakeholders need to decide whether and how to expand ERDC or otherwise change eligibility, outreach or funding.","House Bill 2593 would require the Department of Early Learning and Care to report on Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) enrollment, outreach and strategies to meet enrollment targets for working families and student parents. Testimony emphasized steep childcare costs, confusing program name and long wait lists.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Witnesses split over House Bill 3835’s changes to restraint rules and out‑of‑state placements

Votes at a glance: committee advances four bills from work sessions

Committee hears bill to study ERDC enrollment and barriers for student parents