About the Task Force
The Task Force on Responding to Veterans in Crisis (Task Force) was created by House Bill 4099 (HB 4099) in the 2026 legislative session and was formed to develop a proposal to ensure each county in Oregon has a veteran crisis response team consisting of at least two individuals properly trained in responding to veterans in crisis.
The proposal must take into consideration the following elements:
- The organizational structure and funding mechanism for each veteran crisis response team.
- Training standards and potential certification requirements for members of a veteran crisis team.
- A plan to provide each potential veteran in crisis with a unique government-issued identification card that specifies the veteran may be in crisis.
- A path to include a field to flag a veteran as potentially in crisis in the Law Enforcement Data System to provide law enforcement with timely and usable information.
- Any necessary changes to existing state law to ensure law enforcement may transfer a veteran in crisis to a veteran crisis response team, including the specification of criteria for such transfer.
- Any other necessary changes to existing state law or recommendations to ensure the proposal is successful.
The Task Force brings together representatives with expertise in veterans services, behavioral health, law enforcement, local government, and others with experience or expertise relevant to responding to veterans in crisis.
Task Force Membership
Non-voting members:
- Representative Court Boice, appointed by Speaker of the House
- Representative Paul Evans, appointed by Speaker of the House
Voting Members:
- Brian Blais, representing veterans' services officers
- Sheronne Blasi, at-large member
- Samantha Byers, representing the Oregon Health Authority
- Julie Collinson, representing the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training
- Sean Joyce, representing Department of State Police with expertise in the Law Enforcement Data System
- Geoff Kirkpatrick, representing an association of chiefs of police
- Caprice Massey, representing an association of county sheriffs
- Chathula Magage, at-large member
- Debbie Nieradka, expertise in advocating for veterans or providing peer support to veterans in crisis
- Todd Noble, representing an association of counties
- John Parsons, expertise in advocating for veterans or providing peer support to veterans in crisis
- Vacant, representing an association of cities
Legislative Reports
- Ratified legislative reports
Meeting Information