Policy
Tuition Waivers for Foster Youth, Enacted in 2011
Youth, Rights & Justice supported HB 3471, which created a
tuition waiver program for current and former foster youth enrolled
in Oregon universities and community colleges, starting in the
2012-13 academic year. Read more about the program and the
eligibility requirements here.
Juvenile Sex Offender Registration Changes, Enacted in
2011
Youth, Rights & Justice worked to pass SB 408 during the 2011 Legislative
Session. The bill passed with 89 yes votes. Most sections of
the bill go into effect January 1, 2012. The bill modifies
the relief process for persons adjudicated as juveniles of a sex
offense and required to register as sex offenders. The
changes include:
- Juveniles adjudicated of misdemeanor offenses will no longer be
required to register, and the Oregon State Police (OSP) will remove
those previously required to register. The OSP has one year
after the bill goes into effect to remove these persons from
the registry.
- SB 408 allows youth adjudicated of a Class C felony to apply
for relief within 30 days prior to the end of the juvenile court's
jurisdiction.
- SB 408 removes the three-year time limit for persons registered
on the basis of a juvenile adjudication to apply for relief.
Persons adjudicated as juveniles of a Class A or Class B felony
offense must wait two years after juvenile court jurisdiction ends,
and then they may apply for relief at any time after the two-year
waiting period ends.
Read more on our SB 408 FAQ
page.
Keeping Youth out of Adult Jails, Enacted in 2011
Youth, Rights & Justice supported HB 2707, which was passed into
law by the Oregon Legislature. The bill was developed by the
Partnership for Safety and Justice to reduce the number of youth
under the age of 18 who are held in adult jails. The
number of youth charged as adults has increased dramatically since
the passage of Measure 11. While most youth who are convicted
of an adult charge serve their sentences in juvenile facilities,
many were being held in adult jails before their trial or
plea. The new law will create a presumption that counties
hold minors in juvenile facilities prior to their conviction or
aquittal. A recent study found that the
majority of youth who were charged under Measure 11 were not
convicted of a M11 crime (48.1%) or not convicted at all
(12.6%).
Restrictions on Restraint and Seclusion in Public Schools,
Enacted in 2011
Youth, Rights & Justice supported legislation developed by
Disability Rights Oregon to strictly limit the use of restraint and
seclusion of students in Oregon schools. Read the final
version of HB 2939, which was passed into law by the
Oregon Legislature.
Health Coverage for Former Foster Youth, Enacted in 2010
Youth, Rights & Justice supported HB 3664, which extends
state health coverage (Oregon Health Plan) to youth who are in
foster care immediately before their 18th birthday. The
coverage lasts until the young person's 21st birthday. Read
the bill passed by the Oregon
Legislature here. The new law went into
effect in May 2010.
Increased Oversight of Psychotropic Medication by DHS, Enacted
in 2010
Youth, Rights & Justice supported HB 3114, which requires
increased review and oversight of psychotropic medication for
children in foster care. YRJ also participated actively in
the rule making process with DHS and other stakeholders to
implement the requirements of the legislation. You can access
the bill passed by the Oregon
Legislature here.
Oregon Rules on Adoption, 2010
Youth, Rights & Justice submitted extensive comments on November 24, 2010,
on the proposed rules promulgated by the Department of Human
Services regarding permanency planning and adoption for children in
foster care. We recognize the value and importance of relatives in
the lives of children. While we are gratified to see that the
agency's attitude toward relative foster and adoptive parents has
changed significantly, we are gravely concerned that the proposed
policies represent an over-correction in attempt to redress past
mistakes. In so doing, the agency appears bound to commit a new set
of mistakes that will one day also need to be corrected.
Action Plan for Improving Oregon's Foster Care System,
2008
Foster Care and Beyond: An Action Plan
for Meeting the Needs of Abused and Neglected Children in Oregon,
January 2008.
