Jun 27, 2023 | AOC News
National Association of Counties Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing Amplifies Message at White House, on Capitol Hill
As a member of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing, Gina Firman Nikkel, Ph.D, advocated last month in Washington, D.C. for policy priorities around mental and behavioral health. The commission also released new research highlighting county perspectives on this national crisis.
Part of Mental Health Awareness Month efforts, on May 10, the group joined the White House State and Local Partners Forum on Mental Health and Wellbeing, and on May 11, the commission met on Capitol Hill with the Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus and the Bipartisan Addiction Task Force. The commission shared crucial county perspectives geared towards strengthening the intergovernmental partnership and urging action to achieve shared goals.
“Counties in Oregon are the boots on the ground – and by law – the local mental health authority. We must continue to present the whole story of what is needed to coordinate and deliver an effective local continuum of care. This care should be driven by science not profit. It should be driven by people experiencing mental health challenges and addiction not commercialization. And, it should be driven by compassion not apathy,” stated Nikkel.
The commission released new data based on a survey of over 200 U.S. counties, with findings focused on the mental health landscape in counties and the areas of greatest need. Key takeaways from the research include:
- The nation is facing an acute escalation of the mental and behavioral health crisis.
- Seventy-five percent of counties reported an increase in incidence of behavioral health conditions in the last year, and 89 percent reported an increase compared to five years ago.
- Youth behavioral health needs are at the forefront of the crisis.
- Two-thirds (67 percent) of counties reported that youth behavioral health conditions are “definitely a problem” or “very prevalent and/or severe.”
- Limited access to services inhibits county residents from receiving the help they need.
- Seventy-four percent of counties cited financial costs as a barrier to expanding access to behavioral health services, and 71 percent cited lack of direct service providers.
- The crisis is exacerbated by a lack of behavioral health workers.
- Nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of counties consider the shortage of behavioral health workers in their county to be “definitely a problem” or “a severe problem.”
- The financial and human costs of behavioral health are compounding across all county systems.
- Eighty percent of counties indicated that they incurred associated costs in the legal system (courts and jails), 77 percent indicated associated costs in law enforcement, and 54 percent indicated associated costs in the health system and hospitals.
“This data released on behavioral health conditions by the NACo Mental Health Commission is significant and supports what our counties are experiencing on the ground in their communities. We must tackle the workforce shortages, unfair policies, and the risks of profit over personalized care,” stated Nikkel.
The new research pairs key findings with associated policy objectives, including:
- Amending detrimental policies under Medicaid, like the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) and the Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMD) exclusion
- Obtaining direct and flexible resources to support the recruitment, training and retention of a sufficient behavioral health workforce
- Enhancing the intergovernmental partnership for the development and modernization of local crisis response systems and infrastructure, and
- Enforcing policies that ensure equitable coverage for treatment of mental illness and addiction.
The events last month marked the first in-person meeting of NACo’s Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing since it was announced in February. The group is focused on building urgency, awareness, and crucial partnerships around the mental health crisis in America, with plans to release in-depth policy and programmatic recommendations in early 2024.
For more information about NACo’s Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing, click here.
Jun 26, 2023 | AOC Advocacy, AOC News
The 82nd Legislative Assembly adjourned sine die on June 25, 2023 after a whirlwind of productivity during the initial four months followed by an historic six week stalemate. Under leadership from AOC policy steering committees and AOC Legislative Committee, members and staff spent the last six months advocating for AOC’s 2023 legislative priorities, negotiating away threats to county budgets and services, and securing significant policy wins and funding for counties.
This year saw a newly elected governor and administration, new leadership in both the House and Senate, and a large majority of freshmen legislators. Recognizing this as both an opportunity and a challenge, AOC prioritized meaningful relationship development this session. AOC President Derrick DeGroot and AOC Executive Director Gina Nikkel spent time over the last six months with Governor Kotek and staff, House Speaker, House and Senate Majority and Minority Leader offices, and key committee leadership.
“Politics is a person-to-person business,” said President DeGroot. For AOC and counties to achieve more influence and impact in Salem, we have to spend time developing long-term relationships and implementing thoughtful, productive strategy.”
Notable AOC wins this session include:
- HB 2101A – Surface Transportation Block Grant Fund Exchange Program stability
- HB 3201 – Critical updates to broadband statutes to secure nearly $900M in federal funding
- SB 80A – Improved Dept of Forestry/county engagement process on wildfire hazard map
- HB 2010A – Place based water planning and drought resources
- Interim work group on aid and assist liability mitigation and a risk fund
- SB 344A – Reauthorization of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative
The AOC legislative affairs team lobbied for/against over 180 bills this session, analyzed and submitted fiscal impact statements on over 500 bills, and secured interim legislative workgroup commitments for priorities that did not pass this session.
Details on every bill on which the AOC Legislative Committee took a position will be included in the AOC Legislative Session Report, published in the coming weeks. Please join the upcoming virtual meetings of the AOC Steering Committees for a deeper dive into policy and budget outcomes.
Contributed by: Mallorie Roberts, AOC legislative affairs director
Jun 26, 2023 | Natural Resources
Counties have until July 12th, 2023 to submit allocation elections between SRS and USFS 1908 payments – and elections between SRS Title I, II, and III – to AOC.
Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (County FY 2024) Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Program payments are projected to be greater than United States Forest Services (USFS) 1908 Act 25 percent timber harvest (USFS 1908) payments for all Oregon counties.
Please send the “Oregon Election Form FY24” for your county to Branden Pursinger at AOC to ensure all forms are submitted to DAS by the deadline.
Contributed by: Branden Pursinger, AOC legislative affairs manager
Jun 26, 2023 | AOC Advocacy, AOC News, Governance, Revenue, & Economic Development
House Bill 2009 became the vehicle for negotiations that began early in session about several economic development and tax incentive programs long supported and utilized by counties. Negotiations centered on policy differences about the importance of these locally-driven tools to attract businesses to areas that need development and the alternative viewpoint that the subsidies in these programs needlessly reduce local revenues that could be used for other services, in particular schools.
AOC supported the efforts to keep these incentives as strong as possible and worked with other stakeholders, including the Oregon Economic Development Association and League of Oregon Cities to keep the programs intact.
After weeks of negotiation, public hearing testimony and advocacy from AOC members, and multiple rounds of amendments, a -15 amendment to HB 2009 was finally adopted and now goes to the governor for signature.
The compromise legislation does the following:
- Reinstates the research and development tax credit, which was discontinued by the legislature in past years
- Tax credit is in effect for 5 years, the percentage is 15 percent of the investment, and the maximum credit per taxpayer is $4 million
- Extends the Enterprise Zone and Long-term Rural Enterprise Zone programs through 2032
- “Fulfillment centers” are no longer eligible
- Increases the eligibility threshold for projects in the strategic investment program and indexes the eligibility threshold and the taxation threshold
- Adds a new “school impact fee” to the Enterprise Zone program
- Extends the Gain Share program through 2030
- Adds transparency and notice requirements
The most concerning part of HB 2009 for AOC was the addition of the new school impact fee. Fortunately, the initial proposal was negotiated down to be imposed only in years four and five for regular Enterprise Zones and year six for Long-term Rural Enterprise Zones. The fee will be negotiated between the school district and the zone sponsor and be between 15 percent and 30 percent of the property taxes that would otherwise be paid. Each fee negotiated would apply to all subsequent agreements.
Contributed by: Anna Braun, AOC contract lobbyist
Jun 26, 2023 | AOC News
Hood River County Chair Jennifer Euwer and Grant County Commissioner Jim Hamsher are among new members appointed to the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) Local Officials Advisory Committee (LOAC) last month. The LOAC was created by statute (ORS 197.165) with a mandate to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between local governments and the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) in implementing state land use law, including Oregon’s statewide land use planning goals, and ORS chapters 195, 196, and 197. Staff transitions and the pandemic led to a several-year hiatus, but the committee was reconstituted in 2022 after a joint effort by AOC, League of Cities, and DLCD.
The DLCD provides staffing support to LOAC. Per the committee’s bylaws, the membership must be made up of city or county elected officials, who are appointed by LCDC and serve four-year terms. Other county officials serving on the LOAC include Marion County Commissioner Colm Willis and Benton County Commissioner Nancy Wyse, who serves as the committee chair after being elected by the committee’s membership last year.
LOCA Chair Commissioner Wyse hopes the LOAC can promote increased collaboration. “Counties play an important role in determining how state land use law should apply to the unique circumstances in their communities, so it’s critical that counties have opportunities to weigh in as LCDC and DLCD deliberate about policy. I’m grateful for the renewed commitment to collaborating with local governments through LOAC. Our focus will be on working together to ensure development rules work well in practice and to promote the kind of development Oregon communities want and need, said Wyse.”
In welcoming the new members, DLCD Director, Dr. Brenda Ortigoza Bateman personally congratulated them and expressed her appreciation for their service. “This is a tremendous group of people. We now have elected officials serving on LOAC from every region of the state. LOAC Members review our policy agenda and provide implementation advice; they play a critical role in our ongoing relationship and partnership with local governments, said Ortigoza.”
The next LOAC meeting is scheduled for September 11, 2023; the meeting agenda and supplemental materials will be made available on the committee’s website as the meeting approaches.
Contributed by: Michael Burdick, AOC legislative affairs manager
