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County lobbyists highlight public-safety funding, deflection and behavioral health bills at legislative update
Summary
Washington County government relations staff told the Board of Commissioners on April 1 that the county is tracking multiple public-safety and behavioral-health bills that would change funding formulas and grant eligibility for local deflection and community corrections programs.
Washington County government relations staff told the Board of Commissioners on April 1 that the county is tracking a set of public safety and behavioral health bills intended to shore up funding for community corrections, deflection programs and court services.
The county’s Government Relations Manager Pablo Nieves Valenzuela told the board that HB 3009 — and related language included in SB 236 — would allow funding tied to the jail-based medication for opioid use disorder program to be used in a county community corrections center. He said the bill is expected to move easily once scheduled for a work session and that conferees are discussing packaging that language with SB 236.
Why it matters: County officials said changes to funding formulas and where grant dollars can be used would affect how Washington County runs deflection and community-based treatment programs. Pablo said an amendment to SB 236 would also direct the Criminal Justice Commission to create a new funding formula for county deflection programs.
Key budget items: Staff briefed the board on a trio of budget bills that include county priorities. The presenters said HB 5012 (the Oregon Judicial Department budget) contains funding for county law libraries, mediation and court security; county lobbyists are seeking to raise the county law libraries line to $11.4 million. HB 5005 (Criminal Justice Commission) includes Justice Reinvestment and Specialty Court grant lines used by the county; staff said they are working with partners to increase the deflection line. HB 5004 (Department of Corrections) includes grant-in-aid for community corrections; staff said they are pushing for funding that aligns with a 2024 actual cost study.
Other public-safety items: Staff said HB 2056 aims to close funding shortfalls for civil commitment and aid-and-assist programs and that work sessions are scheduled. Pablo also reported a successful committee hearing on HB 3180, and said the bill passed unanimously out of committee the prior week. Pablo and county staff expressed hope these measures would receive bipartisan support in subsequent committee work.
Discussion and next steps: County staff said some of these items are currently scheduled for forthcoming work sessions and policy committee hearings; they plan continued engagement with the Washington County legislative delegation and the Criminal Justice Commission to press for funding and formula changes. County lobbyists also noted the heavier budgetary lifts for many items will occur in Ways and Means.
Ending: The government relations team asked commissioners whether they had specific follow-up questions; the commissioners thanked staff for the update and praised coordination with local public-safety partners.
