Oregon House Republicans introduce bill to end ‘failed’ Measure 110; Gunnels says it’s consistent with DAs’, cities’ proposal

(Update: Comment from Deschutes DA Steve Gunnels)

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – Oregon House Republicans introduced legislation Thursday for next month's "short session" that they said would "end the crises of drugs, homelessness, and crime that have been exacerbated by the failed Measure 110."

"The bill takes bold action to end Measure 110 as we know it to restore accountability and provide pathways to treatment for addicts so that they can become healthy, productive members of society," said their news release announcing the bill.

Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels, told NewsChannel 21, "This proposal is consistent with the proposal put forth by the Oregon District Attorney’s Association, Oregon Sheriff’s Association, Association of Chiefs of Police and League of Oregon Cities."

The GOP lawmakers' news release continues in full below:

The bill classifies possession of deadly drugs like fentanyl, heroin, and meth as a Class A Misdemeanor, mandates treatment to avoid jail time, bans public use, and requires evaluation and treatment as part of probation for certain drug and property crimes. It requires prison sentences for drug dealers and manufacturers with multiple convictions and increases the penalties for drug dealers who sell drugs that result in the death of a person.

The chief sponsors of the bill are Rep. Rick Lewis (R-Silverton), Republican House Leader Jeff Helfrich (R-Hood River), Rep. Tracy Cramer (R-Gervais), Rep. Kevin Mannix (R-Salem), Rep. Ed Diehl (R-Stayton) and Rep. Christine Goodwin (R-Canyonville).

“The citizens of Oregon understand the failures of Measure 110. We see the results on the streets, in the unacceptable overdose death rate, and in the catastrophic consequences to our communities, to public safety, and to livability,” said Lewis. “Change is needed, and we can’t afford to take small steps that fail to adequately address the problem. We filed the bill today. A great deal of thought has gone into it, and we have the opportunity to do the right thing for Oregon, for public safety, and for the drug addicted. The bill creates accountability, but it also provides the tools and the resources needed to get us on the road to recovery. We cannot wait any longer.”

“While the majority party talks endlessly about drug prevention, their policies opened the floodgates to drug access. Failing to end Measure 110 is to embrace the status quo of death, drugs, and decline. The people of Oregon have seen enough. House Republicans are answering their call for substantial, meaningful reforms to get drugs off the streets, put drug dealers behind bars, and get addicts into treatment. The legislature must deliver this short session by passing our bill,” said Helfrich.

"Enabling people to live on the streets and poison themselves is not compassionate, but that is exactly what Measure 110 is doing," said Cramer. "As a mother, we see hard drugs infiltrating our schools and it's caused overdose deaths among our teenagers to skyrocket to nearly 700% and third in the nation in teen addiction. We cannot settle for the bare minimum. It breaks my heart that Measure 110 is putting so many of our children’s futures at risk.”

“Oregonians are demanding drug addiction treatment and recovery.  Our bill delivers on the failed promise of Ballot Measure 110 by incentivizing people to seek treatment and supporting them on the road to recovery. There is dignity in each individual human being. This is the compassionate thing to do for those suffering from drug addiction and for all Oregon communities,” Diehl said.

“This bill reflects the unanimous position of our House Republicans that we need to return to significant accountability for the use of street drugs. This requires official authority to intervene in a serious way so we can assure society that we are pressing forward on a system covering both public safety and the provision of compassionate rehabilitation services to addicted persons,” said Mannix, who serves on the Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety.

“Measure 110 is sucking the life from our communities. They’re overrun with drugs, crime, and homelessness. People do not feel safe. Businesses are leaving. People are afraid to do business in our state. We must change direction, and this bill begins to put us on the right track,” said Goodwin, who serves on the Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety.