Oregon To Establish New Licensing Standards & State Oversight For Foster Care Provider Organizations

On March 3, 2016, the Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 1515 to establish new standards and criteria for state oversight of mandatory licensing, certification, or authorization of child-caring agencies by the Department of Human Services (DHS). Further, it makes the failure to remove a child or young adult up to age 21 from an unlicensed facility a crime. The legislation expands the role of DHS to require more frequent and unannounced site visits and grants DHS additional means of enforcing and revoking provider organization licenses. DHS foster care officials will issue quarterly public reports listing confirmed findings of . . .