BEND, OR -- State legislators met with Deschutes County commissioners and staff Friday to review plans for the legislative session starting next Monday, February 5th. Items of the county’s interest include amending measure 110.
Bend Representative, Democrat Jason Kropf said they’re taking input on proposed changes, “Law enforcement in public hearings, they said ‘we want a tool to intervene when we see something on the streets and we don't want to be taking people to jail.’ And the behavior health folks told us every time we make a connection between a person in crisis and treatment, there's a value to that. So that's what we've tried to blend together.”
Vale Senator Lynn Findley addressed the county’s concern with groundwater rule making, “We've got to figure out how to study our water better. Groundwater is a major issue. We keep running out of water.”
Klamath Falls Senator Dennis Linthicum suggests reservoirs could help, “Restoring the groundwater through natural filtration and whatnot versus just letting this precious water run out into the salty Pacific.”
Senate minority leader Tim Knopp of Bend identified key priorities, “Homelessness and housing affordability and the housing package, along with measure 110… Look forward to trying to resolve those issues this session because they both are emergencies.”
The county will also look to fund programs involving houselessness, behavioral health, and community corrections.
