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Bill to create veterans crisis response task force draws emotional testimony and local‑level funding concerns
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Summary
HB 4,099 would create a task force to design county‑level two‑person veteran crisis response teams, implement voluntary veteran crisis cards and data flags, and recommend funding; veterans, VFW leaders and county officials testified in support, highlighting personal incidents and a cited statewide mobile crisis funding shortfall of just under $26 million.
Lawmakers heard emotional testimony and practical details about House Bill 4,099, which would create a task force to design veteran‑specific crisis response teams, implement a voluntary veteran crisis card, and identify funding and training needs.
Sponsor Rep. Rick Lewis described the task force composition and aims: two nonvoting House members, 12 governor‑appointed voting members including veteran peer advocates, law‑enforcement and sheriff representation, state police, veteran service officers, an Oregon Health Authority representative, DPSST, and city and county representation. He said the task force would explore a CAD‑flagging system in law‑enforcement dispatch to notify responders that a person is a veteran in crisis and trigger a crisis team response.
Veterans and VFW members traveled from Curry County to testify. Mike Hamilton, a U.S. Marine veteran, recounted a November 24, 2024 crisis in which he said he was handcuffed and held in a squad car for 30 minutes and then placed alone in a police holding room for three hours. Hamilton said a veteran crisis card and trained response team would have led to better communication and de‑escalation: "This card would be huge for veterans like me, families like me." VFW legislative chair Anthony Barber and Tim Dooley of the Association of Oregon Counties signaled organizational support and readiness to help implement the concept, with Dooley noting the state's mobile crisis system has a funding shortfall he described as "just under $26,000,000" per year and a workforce shortfall of roughly 54 positions.
Members asked about training, ODVA and OHA participation, and pilot approaches; sponsor Lewis said the task force would work through those operational questions. The bill sunsets Dec. 31, 2027, and the task force would report back by Sept. 15 to inform potential legislative concepts in 2027.
The committee closed the public hearing on HB 4,099 and moved to the next item on its agenda.
