AOC Day Follow-up: Public Safety Steering Committee

[Michael Burdick]

Thank you to those of you who participated in the AOC Public Safety Steering Committee this month. Below is an overview of the meeting and outcomes of the recommendations made to the AOC Legislative Committee.

The committee heard from Major Alex Gardner, who runs the Forensic Science and Pathology Bureau of the Oregon State Police, about issues at the State Medical Examiner’s Office, SB 953, and upcoming changes to how death investigations will be managed. The Public Safety Steering Committee also heard report-outs from public safety partners. The committee deliberated and debated several action items and sent three recommendations to the AOC Legislative Committee. 

The AOC Legislative Committee approved two of the steering committee's recommendations:

• Support SB 953-1 with additional amendments creating a workgroup that includes counties, to collaborate on how to solve problems with managing death investigations.
• Support the language in HB 2513A/HB 2513-3 requiring the Criminal Justice Commission to study the efficacy of issuing citations for possession of controlled substances as a way to encourage drug addicts to seek treatment, as well as amendments giving counties a seat on the Oversight and Accountability Council.

The AOC Legislative Committee did not approve the following steering committee recommendation: 

• Oppose SB 348-3, modifying the provisions of Ballot Measure 114.

A bill report for Public Safety items on which AOC has taken a position will be updated on the AOC website every Friday afternoon. AOC members will also receive a mid-month update email with additional detail and highlights related to priority bills.

The next meeting of the AOC Public Safety Steering Committee will take place on May 8th at 10:00AM. It will take place virtually; you will receive an invitation shortly including instructions for how to participate.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, or contact your steering committee co-chairs, Commissioner Dave Henslee or Commissioner Jeremy Gordon.

Best,

Michael

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Michael Burdick

Legislative Affairs Manager

Association of Oregon Counties

a: 1212 Court St., Salem, OR 97301

m: 503.522.9743

e: mbur...@oregoncounties.org

w: www.oregoncounties.org