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Panel backs technical changes to juvenile diversion plans to expand upstream services
Summary
The committee moved Senate Bill 816 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation after Oregon Youth Authority staff said the measure would let counties use diversion funds earlier in youth contact to provide targeted services without requiring adjudication.
The House Committee on Judiciary voted to move Senate Bill 816 to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation after hearing from the Oregon Youth Authority that the measure is a technical refinement to existing diversion funding and coordination.
Debbie Martin of the Oregon Youth Authority told the committee the bill allows counties to deliver diversion services without requiring youths to be adjudicated first. "The goal is to be able to move further upstream without having youth have to be engaged in the court and adjudication process in order to get services that are funded through these diversion dollars," Martin said. She described examples in which counties currently fund services that are only available after adjudication and said the change would broaden access for high-risk youth without opening services to all youth.
Why it matters: The measure affects how diversion dollars are administered at the county level, potentially allowing earlier intervention and prevention for youth identified as high risk. Proponents described it as a targeted change to reduce escalation through the juvenile justice system.
Committee action and discussion Committee members asked whether the bill's intent and scope were to shrink the population committed to state youth correctional facilities. Committee leadership and Martin confirmed the intent to reduce commitments by enabling upstream interventions.
Formal action Vice Chair Chotson moved SB 816 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the committee voted to send the bill to the House floor.
Discussion versus decision - Discussion: The committee discussed the mechanics of passing state funds through the Oregon Youth Authority to county programs and the targeted nature of the expanded eligibility. - Direction: The committee advanced the bill to the floor for further consideration. - Formal action: SB 816 moved to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation.
Next steps The bill will proceed to the House floor where further debate and votes will take place.
