Veteran programs would offer grants and study treatment court access

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs would develop and operate a grant program for veteran suicide prevention and workforce training. The program would serve veterans, including disabled veterans, through organizations that pair suicide prevention with workforce training and preparation. The department would award grants through requests for proposals. The department would set program criteria and application procedures by rule. The department would give priority to organizations offering ways for veterans to take part in their local communities. The department could use Veterans’ Services Fund money and accept public or private gifts, grants, and donations. The program provisions would take effect July 1, 2026, and the department would report on the program by January 2, 2029.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs would provide education bridge grants of up to $10,000 per veteran. Eligible veterans would be enrolled in approved college, career school, apprenticeship, or public-employer training programs. A veteran would need to be making satisfactory academic or training progress. The veteran would need an unavailable required course or training period, qualifying education debt that blocks future enrollment, or financial hardship that threatens continued enrollment. Grants could be made only when the program fund has enough money. The department would set additional eligibility rules. These provisions would take effect July 1, 2026, and would apply to grants made under the program after that date.

The Judicial Department, with the Criminal Justice Commission, would study ways to provide access to veterans’ treatment courts across Oregon. The study would consider access for residents of every county or judicial district and would cover service members and veterans served by these courts. The study would identify cost-efficient, data-based ways to expand access while following applicable treatment-court standards. The departments could consult people and organizations involved with veterans’ treatment courts. A report could include recommendations for future legislation. The report would be due to legislative committees by November 1, 2026, and the study provision would end January 2, 2027.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs would distribute appropriated money to counties quarterly based on reported spending. The process would cover money appropriated for services provided by county veterans’ service officers. Counties would provide budgets and quarterly spending reports. The department would distribute money based on each county’s share of spending for these services. At year-end, remaining money would go to counties that spent at least 90 percent of their budget, under the required formula. The department could reduce distributions if the relevant General Fund or State Lottery Fund appropriations decrease. The distribution process would apply after the July 1, 2026, effective date; a report on the process would be due by January 2, 2030.

County clerks would produce recorded veteran discharge papers for inspection when a qualifying written request is made. Requests could come from the veteran, an authorized representative, a county veterans’ service officer, Veterans’ Affairs staff, or a licensed funeral home checking burial-benefit eligibility. The request would need the requester’s contact information and the veteran’s name plus date of birth or the last four Social Security digits. County clerks could adopt policies to protect the records and control copying. Clerks would keep each inspection request for at least 10 years. The provision would not create a private lawsuit claim. These inspection and recordkeeping rules would take effect July 1, 2026.