Senate hearing spotlights SB 538, "Tenzi's Law," to allow paid parent caregivers for Oregon's highest-need children

PORTLAND, Ore. — On Feb. 5, the Oregon Senate Committee on Health Care heard public testimony on Senate Bill 538, known as "Tenzi's Law," which would prohibit the Oregon Department of Human Services from restricting the number of attendant care service hours a parent may provide to a child with very high medical or behavioral needs, except where a parent chooses not to provide the hours or where an employer, collective bargaining agreement or the client child restricts that care.

Supporters told the committee the bill is intended to ensure children already assessed as eligible for care receive the hours they are authorized, by allowing parents to be compensated for those hours when professional caregivers are unavailable.

The bill’s technical description was presented by Mr. Deetz, who told the committee SB 538 "would prohibit the Oregon Department of Human Services from restricting the number of care attendant service hours provided by a parent caregiver except by choice of the parent provider, the agency that employs a parent provider, any applicable collective bargaining agreement, or the client child." Senator Sarah Gelser Bluhm, who has led legislative work on the issue for multiple sessions, and Representative Courtney Neron also voiced sponsorship and support during the hearing.

Why it matters: Supporters said the…