House Judiciary committee adopts amendment to HB 2465; forwards bill to floor

The House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday adopted a dash-2 amendment to House Bill 2,465 and voted to send the bill, as amended, to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation.

The measure, as explained to the committee, adds a parole and probation officer as described in ORS 181A.355 to the definition of “custody” in the statute governing the crimes of escape (ORS 162.135). The draft also makes technical changes to the definition of contraband and provides that parole and probation officers may access Department of Transportation driver’s license photos. A dash-2 amendment before the committee declared an emergency and made section 1 effective on passage.

Jules, a committee staff presenter, summarized the bill’s changes and told members the measure had been heard previously on Feb. 12 and that a dash-2 amendment was in front of the committee. Vice Chair Chilton moved to adopt the dash-2 amendment. The amendment passed by voice/roll call. Members voting “aye” included Representative Anderson, Representative Taichi, Representative Lewis, Representative Tran, Vice Chair Chokson and Vice Chair Wallen; Representative Mannix was excused. The committee then voted to recommend HB 2465, as amended, to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation; the same group recorded “aye” votes and the motion carried. Representative Anderson volunteered to be the bill carrier to the floor.

The bill’s changes are procedural and definitional: adding parole and probation officers to the custody definition clarifies which personnel are covered by the escape statutes; the technical edits to contraband update statutory language; and the access to DOT driver’s license photos was explained as a limited investigatory or identification access tied to parole and probation duties. Committee members asked no substantive changes after the amendment vote.

With the amendment adopted and the due-pass recommendation recorded, HB 2465 will proceed to the House floor for further action.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to adopt dash-2 amendment to HB 2465 — Mover: Vice Chair Chilton; Outcome: adopted (ayes: Representative Anderson, Representative Taichi, Representative Lewis, Representative Tran, Vice Chair Chokson, Vice Chair Wallen; Representative Mannix excused). - Motion to recommend HB 2465 as amended to the floor with a due-pass recommendation — Mover: Vice Chair Chilton; Outcome: passed (ayes: Representative Anderson, Representative Chantee, Representative Lewis, Representative Tran, Vice Chair Chilton, Vice Chair Wallen; Representative Mannix excused). Representative Anderson will carry the bill to the floor.

The committee closed its work session on HB 2465 and proceeded to scheduled informational hearings.