Meeting follow-up & request: AOC Jt PS & Veterans-HHS Steering Cmte

[Jessica Pratt]

Thank you all who participated in our joint meeting of the AOC Public Safety & Veterans and HHS Committees this afternoon, especially our guest subject matter experts, for great information sharing to prepare counties for the 2025 legislative session.

Attached is the final meeting packet with additional materials from today's presenters | Meeting recording

Please consider and reply: The MEIOW workgroup will consider the following recommendations at its next meeting. Please review the recommendations and provide any feedback to Jen Lewis-Goff by Friday, May 10th:

1.     Does MEIOW recommend department-sponsored student loan forgiveness as a tool for recruiting and retaining forensic pathologists at the State Medical Examiner’s Office?

2.     Does MEIOW recommend using Conrad 30 waivers to expand options for the State Medical Examiner’s Office to recruit forensic pathologists?

3.     Does MEIOW recommend authorizing the use of pathology assistants for enhanced technical support at the State Medical Examiner’s Office?

4.     Does MEIOW recommend amending ORS 146 to allow appointment of supervised physician associates and nurse practitioners as County MEs?

5.     Does MEIOW recommend using the Scientific Working Group on Medicolegal Death Investigation standards as a resource to determine facility size and staffing when new State Medical Examiner autopsy facilities are constructed?

6.     Does MEIOW recommend building a larger State Medical Examiner autopsy facility in the Portland-metro area sized to handle current and future case volume?

7.     Does MEIOW recommend adding a new State Medical Examiner autopsy facility in Central/Eastern Oregon to increase access to forensic pathology services and reduce transport distances for central and eastern counties?

Best,

Jess

Jessica Pratt

Legislative Affairs Manager

Association of Oregon Counties

a: 1212 Court St NE, Salem, OR 97301

m: 503.515.6884

e: jpr...@oregoncounties.org

w: www.oregoncounties.org