Committee advances bill that broadens definition of brain injury for education purposes

The Senate Education Committee on May 21 advanced House Bill 2,670, which would modify the definition of brain injury used in education statutes. Committee staff told members the bill aligns the definition of brain injury with ORS 410.075 by including damage to the brain from internal or external sources, and a committee amendment (dash A3) was adopted that places internal brain injuries under the category of "other health impairment," removes the explicit tie to ORS 410.075 and removes inclusion of internal brain injuries from the low-incidence disability statute.

Lisa, committee staff, told the panel the underlying measure and the A3 amendment have minimal fiscal impact and no revenue impact. The amendment and the bill as amended received committee approval and were sent to the floor with a due-pass recommendation.

Committee members praised Representative McIntyre’s work on addressing stakeholder concerns during bill drafting; one committee member noted McIntyre asked a lot of questions and helped find a path forward. The committee adopted the A3 amendment on a roll call recorded in the transcript (recorded ayes included Senator Gelser [Blue/Fluor], Senator Robinson, Senator Sullivan, Vice Chair Weber and Chair Frederick). Vice Chair Weber moved the bill, as amended, to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; a subsequent roll call recorded in the transcript shows the motion passed.

The amendment changes how internal brain injuries are categorized for special-education and disability statute purposes; committee staff emphasized the changes are intended to clarify definitions rather than to create new programmatic funding requirements. The committee record shows the bill will now move to the next stage of legislative consideration.