‘Kaylee’s Law’ passes Oregon House unanimously

The Oregon House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously passed Senate Bill 576, otherwise known as Kaylee’s Law, named for Kaylee Sawyer, who was assaulted and murdered in July 2016 by a Central Oregon Community College campus security officer.

Kaylee’s Law clearly defines how campus security officers may appear so that they are not confused for official police officers. It also requires nationwide background checks of all individuals employed as campus security officers and removes the “stop and frisk” authority of special campus security officers.

Reps. Cheri Helt (R-Bend) and Jeff Barker (D- Aloha) carried the bill, which was declared a special order of business and passed out of the House unanimously, as it did the Oregon Senate last month.

Helt released this statement upon the bill’s passage: “It was an honor to carry Kaylee’s Law on the floor today, and while I am heartbroken by the events that led to the creation of this legislation, I am hopeful that the steps my colleagues in the House and Senate have taken will prevent a tragedy like this from occurring in the future.”

Helt said she especially wanted to thank Jaime and Crystal Sawyer “for their courage and strength to create this legislation and move it through the Legislature.”

Kaylee’s Law will be sent to Gov, Kate Brown’s desk for her signature before it becomes law.