SB 1532A – Adds stricter requirements for DHS when imposing licensing conditions on residential care or long term care facilities. Allows video cameras or electronic monitoring in resident rooms. Weakens exceptions to certain child placement limitations. Modifies laws about out-of-state placements of children in care and when DHS can find that a person abused a child in care.

PASSED SENATE –  ON HOUSE FLOOR – CONTACT HOUSE LEGISLATORS

Can create compliance challenges especially for smaller homes. The expanded use of video/monitoring is a big breach of privacy even with consent, creates potential data security issues, and creates additional costs to the homes. Creates new rate models for agencies that employ live-in support professionals.

Lots of folks operate smaller residential homes for elderly and this will hit them hardest.

Placement of a child out-of-state for urgent reasons, is a failure of the state to provide the urgent care needed so families aren’t separated. Oregon has a history of poor outcomes when children were placed out-of-state., still this bill allows for placement made outside the oversight framework typically relied
upon. This becomes particularly urgent when a child is experiencing acute substance use or mental health disorders and needs specialized treatment that may not be available within Oregon.