1/2/2024
The Linn County Board of Commissioners released their monthly newsletter the Linn County Reporter. The newsletter includes important updates on county activity, new laws, and fun holiday information like the winners of the Linn County ugly sweater contest and a holiday program that engaged qualified inmates and their families lead by Corrections Deputy Amber Erickson-Lovik.
The newsletter also discusses the recent passage of one mile CAFO setbacks. “The regulations will only apply to new large CAFO permit applications and are not retroactive. Specifically, the issue is the proposed development of large-scale chicken farms that produce millions of birds per year in confined buildings.” There have been a number of concerned citizens in areas of Linn County that could be effected by large chicken farms coming into the area.
There are also updates on new laws that went into effect on January 1st, 2024. There were over 650 laws passed and signed by the Governor during the 2023 legislative session. They cover a wide range of areas including criminal law, housing, business, and health care. A few of these are:
SB 529: In-custody substance abuse treatment. The newsletter reports that “this bill is supposed to make it easier for inmates to access drug treatment while incarcerated. The bill removes some outdated requirements for prison programs, including that they be “highly structured and regimented” and “include a component of intensive self-discipline, physical work and physical exercise” — it really can’t be understated how much the old statute emphasized discipline and physical labor. Importantly, SB 529 provides that DOC programs include a wide range of treatment services, recovery activities, engagement with peer mentors, educational and vocational services and self-help groups. They must address addiction as a chronic disease and recognize that participants have individualized needs.”
HB 3632: Expanding sex abuse statute of limitations. “This bill is a simple but important one. It expands the statute of limitations for first-degree sex crimes to 20 years from 12, or by the time the victim turns 30 years old if they were a minor at the time of the abuse — whichever is later. This change applies to all crimes committed before or after the law takes effect, but does not revive New laws coming to Oregon on January 1 any prosecutions that were barred by the old statute.”
You can access the full newsletter below for more information or sign-up for the newsletter listserv.
Would you like to receive the newsletter? Please send your email address to Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, apaul@co.linn.or.us or call 541-967-3825.
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