2023 Regular Session Senate Bills Updates

There were several bills in Congress this year pertaining to AICs. Per an email from Senator

Prozanski: As of 5/5, any bill that passed out from its chamber of origin and was assigned to a

regular policy committee in the other chamber needed to be scheduled for a "work session" to remain in play this session. May 19th is the final day to move the remaining bills out of those policy committees. If it hasn't moved out of committee by then, it's considered "dead" this session and cannot advance. Below bill updates as of 5/23/2023:

SB 270 – Authorizes AICs to enroll in academic program at any community college in the state, any distance learning academic program or any other higher education academic program that adult in custody applies for and is accepted into, provided that enrollment in academic program is consistent with administrative rules and regulations adopted by DOC. On 3/8 a Public Hearing was held. 4/4 a Work Session was held. On 4/17 it passed in the Senate and was referred to Higher Education. On 4/27 a Public Hearing was held in the House of Representatives. On 5/9 a Work Session was held. On 5/16, the House had a second reading. On 5/18 a third reading was held. On 5/23 it passed in the House. Next step – Governor’s approval.

SB 270 – Authorizes AICs to enroll in academic program at any community college in the state, any distance learning academic program or any other higher education academic program that adult in custody applies for and is accepted into, provided that enrollment in academic program is consistent with administrative rules and regulations adopted by DOC. 3/8 a Public Hearing was held. 4/4 a Work Session was held. 4/17 passed in the Senate and was referred to Higher Education. 4/27 a Public Hearing was held in the House of Representatives. 5/9 a Work Session was held. 5/16, the House had a second reading. 5/18 a third reading was held. 5/23 passed in the House. Next step – Governor’s approval.

SB 320 – Provides that person sentenced to mandatory minimum sentence under Ballot Measure 11 (1994), for crime other than murder, who has not been previously sentenced under measure is eligible for reduction in sentence for appropriate institutional behavior and participation in certain programming unless otherwise ordered by court for substantial and compelling reasons. On 4/3 a Public Hearing was scheduled but the Judiciary committee pulled this bill, it died in the Senate on 3/31.

SB 321 – Creates process by which person convicted or found guilty except for insanity as result of nonunanimous jury verdict may file petition for post-conviction relief within one year of effective date of Act. On 3/21 a Public Hearing was held. On 4/4 a Work Session was held. On 4/14 the Senate referred it to the Ways and Means Committee. This bill died.

SB 467 – Establishes mandatory minimum sentence of 48 months’ imprisonment for assault committed by correctional facility inmate against corrections officer. It died in the Senate on 3/31.

SB 520 – Establishes Medical Release Advisory Committee within State Board of Parole and

Post-Prison Supervision. Specifies qualifications of members of committee. Establishes procedures by which AIC may apply for early medical release from custody and standards by which committee recommends release. On 3/13 a Public Hearing was held. On 3/29 a Work Session was held. On 4/3 it was referred to the Ways and Means Committee to make amendments. This bill died.

SB 579 – Allows persons convicted of felony to register to vote, update voter registration and vote in elections while incarcerated. Specifies that person’s residence is where person resided prior to incarceration. On 1/26 a Public Hearing was held. On 3/9 a Work Session was held. 3/15 it was referred to the Ways and Means Committee. This bill died.

SB 1070 – Requires sentencing court to consider as mitigation evidence whether defendant was subjected to domestic abuse that was ongoing when criminal behavior occurred and was contributing factor in criminal behavior. On 3/28 a Public Hearing was held. 4/4 a Work Session was held. 4/17 it was referred to Human Services. This bill died.

You can download a complete copy of the bills on the Oregon State Legislature website.