Committee hears public testimony on HB 5041, Oregon Youth Authority budget

The Oregon Public Safety Committee held a public hearing Thursday, March 27, on House Bill 5041, the Oregon Youth Authority's primary budget bill, and heard more than a dozen registered speakers testify in favor of preserving service levels, modernizing the juvenile justice case management system and investing in reentry and frontline staffing.

Supporters at the hearing included county juvenile department directors, behavioral health and residential service providers, AFSCME and SEIU union representatives, and family- and community-based program staff. Kimberly Broton, program director of Oregon Community Programs and co-chair of the Oregon Alliance of Children's Programs juvenile justice affinity group, told the committee that continuing funding for behavioral rehabilitation services allows providers to deliver counseling, school support and family therapy and to “interrupt escalations to the juvenile justice system.” Broton also urged funding for a JAGES modernization project (referred to in testimony as POP 301) so referrals and placements can be managed more quickly.

“The referral process for programs like treatment foster care relies on the outdated JAGES system, which is clunky and slow and pulls time away from our staff,” Broton said. She also supported POP 551—dedicated staff to help youth move into independent…