Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin

Requires the Oregon Health Authority to develop, implement and administer a program to support consumer engagement efforts aimed at increasing and optimizing consumer involvement in planning and decision-making surrounding the access to, and delivery of, behavioral health services in this state. Requires coordinated care organizations to contribute $1 per member per month toward the consumer engagement program. Requires the authority to administer a pilot program in eastern Oregon to develop an innovative model for providing residential treatment to young adults experiencing early psychosis in conjunction with a substance use disorder. Sunsets the pilot program on January 2, 2036. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Directs the Department of Justice to report annually to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means and the committees of the Legislative Assembly related to the judiciary on the use of outside counsel to defend state agencies in lawsuits. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Directs the Department of Human Services to provide grants to nonprofit service providers to assist individuals who are noncitizens to change their immigration status or obtain lawful permanent resident status. Requires the nonprofit service providers to report on the number of individuals who succeed in changing their immigration status or obtaining lawful permanent resident status. Directs the department to provide every individual served by the department information about, and a referral to the grant program. Declares that it is state policy to help Oregonians who are eligible under federal law change their immigration status or obtain lawful permanent resident status. Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the department for the purpose of providing grants. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

] Directs the Oregon Health Authority to distribute moneys to an entity within the Oregon Health and Science University that advocates for improved maternal and neonatal outcomes. Requires the authority and a coordinated care organization to [ provide reimbursement for services provided by a peer support specialist ] reimburse the costs of covered peer delivered services , regardless of the clinical setting in which services are provided, and for inpatient hospital services provided to specified individuals. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Requires the petitioner in an intestate estate to make a reasonable effort to find persons of a higher priority of appointment before the court may appoint a personal representative.

Directs all state agencies, statewide elected officials and other entities to seek legislative changes only through legislative measures requested and introduced by members and committees of the Legislative Assembly. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Limits the total term of commitment and conditional release for certain persons found guilty except for insanity to the sentence the person would have received under the sentencing guidelines or as required by a mandatory minimum sentence. Establishes a process by which certain persons found guilty except for insanity and subject to a total period of commitment or conditional release equal to the statutory maximum sentence for the offense may petition for post-conviction relief.

Prescribes when the Department of Human Services may admit a child in the department's care or custody for inpatient or residential treatment as opposed to placement in a congregate care residential setting. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Maddy summarySB 743 requires Oregon's Department of Human Services and law enforcement agencies to electronically record interviews with alleged child abuse perpetrators during investigations under state law. This applies to interviews conducted in investigations under ORS 418.258, 418.259, or 419B.020, with limited exceptions like court statements, spontaneous disclosures, or safety risks. Agencies may also choose to record interviews with non-perpetrators, and recordings become official records under state law. The bill aims to improve transparency in investigations while allowing flexibility for technical issues, safety concerns, or other "good cause" scenarios.

Urges Congress to ensure strong annual federal funding for the National Institutes of Health and to increase investment in cutting-edge medical research through grants from the NIH to research institutions.