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House passes bill to add Court Appointed Special Advocates to local review teams when available
Summary
The House approved Senate Bill 135 to allow local CASA volunteers to sit on multidisciplinary domestic violence, child‑abuse and critical incident review teams when available; some members voiced concern about CASA funding stability after federal changes.
SALEM, Ore. — The House passed Senate Bill 135, which authorizes local Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) to be added to multidisciplinary domestic‑violence review teams, county child‑abuse teams convened by district attorneys, and critical incident review teams run by the Department of Human Services when a CASA representative is available.
Representative Elmer, who carried the bill, said CASA volunteers represent the best interest of children and do not speak for an agency, making their perspective valuable on review panels. The bill includes language that CASA participation is contingent on availability — i.e., the bill provides for CASA representation “if available.”
Several House members supported the measure on the floor. Representative Evans and others noted CASA is a volunteer organization that provides extensive training to its advocates and argued the state should continue to incorporate their perspectives. Representative Scharf highlighted that CASA volunteers often are the primary consistent adult in a child’s life and said their insight is critical on critical incident review teams that examine deaths of children in state care.
Representative Evans and others raised concerns on the floor about federal funding cuts to the national CASA program in April 2025 and cautioned that the state should be mindful of CASA’s financial stability when imposing new expectations on volunteers. The sponsor responded that the bill’s “if available” language addresses that concern.
After discussion the clerk announced SB 135 had received the constitutionally required majority and was declared passed.
