Oregon task force plans county teams for veterans in crisis

The law establishes a task force to develop a proposal for county teams that respond to veterans in crisis. The proposal must provide for a team in every Oregon county, with at least two people properly trained to respond to veterans in crisis. The proposal must cover how teams would be organized and funded, training standards, and possible certification. It must also address crisis identification cards, police database flags, possible legal changes for transfers to teams, and other needed recommendations. The task force must report its recommendations to the Legislature's emergency management and veterans committee by September 15, 2026. The task force provision ends December 31, 2027.

The Governor and House Speaker appoint members to the task force. The task force has at least 14 members: at least 12 appointed by the Governor and two nonvoting legislators appointed by the House Speaker. The Governor's appointees must include people with specified roles in veterans' support, law enforcement, government, veterans' services, and health. The two legislators appointed by the Speaker must be from different parties and may advise but cannot vote. Other non-legislative members serve as volunteers and generally receive no pay or expense reimbursement, unless they qualify under state law. The task force provision ends December 31, 2027.