I'm sitting in the House Human Services Committee where the committee just heard testimony on a bill that I can't easily explain but have worked on for the last month.  If House Bill 3618 is passed, people who are hired by folks with developmental disabilities or mental illness to provide assistance in the home or community would be registered with the Home Care Commission, receive workers compensation coverage and be allowed to vote to unionize.

My job in the hearing was to explain the latest set of amendments to the bill.  I tried to make is as simple as possible but legislative eyes were glazing over.  The upshot seemed to be that the Democrats like it and the Republicans don't.  It looks like the biggest issue will be the cost of providing workers compensation coverage to the workers.

The committee is now hearing a bill that would set up the Traumatic Brain Injury Strategic Partnership Advisory Council.  Senator Morrisette and Sherry Stock from the Brain Injury Association of Oregon are leading the testimony.  Additional testimony from General Mike Caldwell of the Oregon Military Department centers on the epidemic of brain injury that has been experienced by service members coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan.  General Caldwell notes that early identification and treatment is essential.  He adds that the military has ignored the problem of TBI until recently.  Things are now changing but the number of affected veterans has overwhelmed VA services.

HB 3692 creates information and referral services and an advisory committee that reaches across all departments of state government.  Sherry notes that 80% of homeless individuals have TBI, particularly homeless veterans.  Inmates in Oregon prisons are also affected in large numbers.  About half of those with TBI acquire their injury through auto accidents.  This is why the Advisory Council would be funded from fees charged on traffic violations.