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Supervisor raises alarm over bills that would criminalize homelessness; board asks lobbyists to oppose by consensus
Summary
A supervisor asked the Linn County Board to oppose Senate Study Bill 1195 and House Study Bill 286, which the speaker said would criminalize homelessness, levy fines and create citizen enforcement provisions. The board signaled no opposition and agreed that staff should ask the county lobbyists to file opposition.
During final public comment at the March 5 Linn County Board of Supervisors meeting, a supervisor urged the board to oppose two companion legislative proposals she said would criminalize homelessness and burden service providers.
"Senate Study Bill 1195 and House Study Bill 286 ... would criminalize homelessness, create a misdemeanor and a fine to individuals, [and] create additional duplications on efforts already underway in trying to serve populations that are homeless or at risk," the supervisor said, adding that the measures do not include additional funding and could impose fines on nonprofits.
The speaker told the board the bills also include a citizen-enforcement provision that could deputize private parties to remove encampments, and recommended the county's lobbyists file opposition. "I don't think it would have the support of this board, but certainly if we could take action on Monday, I would recommend being opposed," the supervisor said.
Board Chair Supervisor Rogers asked whether members wanted to vote immediately on a position. With no objection from other supervisors present, the chair said staff would ask the county's lobbyists to file opposition to the bills.
The record shows the board reached that course of action by consensus rather than by a formal roll-call vote; meeting staff noted there was no formal legislative update on the agenda that day.
