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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
A-Engrossed
House Bill 2374
Ordered by the House April 4
Including House Amendments dated April 4
Sponsored by Representative LEVY B; Representatives BOICE, EDWARDS, RESCHKE (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards.
Digest: The Act creates a program to support families and improve school attendance. (Flesch
Readability Score: 60.7).
Establishes the [Parenting Effectiveness] CARE Program within the [Department of Human Ser-
vices] Youth Development Division to support families and reduce barriers that contribute to
absence from school and a lack of basic needs. Directs the [department] division to award grants
to counties or other local entities to [provide services to families of chronically absent students] im-
plement local CARE programs . [Directs attendance supervisors to refer chronically absent students
to the nearest local parenting effectiveness program.]
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to services to improve school attendance.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. (1) The CARE Program is established within the Youth Development Divi-
sion. The purposes of the program are to:
(a) Support families in this state in fostering a positive school-to-home connection that
promotes school attendance and academic success;
(b) Provide a coordinated and integrated social service delivery system that promotes the
education, re-engagement, health, safety and general well-being of children and families; and
(c) Reduce barriers that contribute to absence from school and a lack of basic needs,
including food, access to transportation, clothing, legal documents, health care, housing
supports and child care.
(2) In administering the program, the division shall award competitive grants to counties
or other local entities, as determined by the division, to implement local CARE programs.
(3) The grants awarded under this section may be used to:
(a) Advocate for participating families at school meetings and appointments with health
care providers to ensure that the families receive culturally and linguistically appropriate
services;
(b) Provide education and support to participating families, including information about:
(A) Individual and family safety planning;
(B) Bullying prevention;
(C) Suicide awareness;
(D) De-escalation skills;
(E) Inclusion and diversity;
(F) Basic needs and housing support;
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 641 A-Eng. HB 2374
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(G) Coping skills;
(H) Self-advocacy; and
(I) Mental health awareness; and
(c) Assist participating families in applying for and accessing resources, including:
(A) Supplemental nutrition assistance;
(B) Temporary assistance for needy families;
(C) Women, Infants and Children Program benefits;
(D) Substance use disorder treatment;
(E) Mental health services;
(F) Vision care; and
(G) Dental care.
(4) If a student is identified by a participating school district as needing attendance sup-
port, the school district shall refer the student and the student’s family to the nearest local
CARE program for a needs assessment and services, as described in subsection (3) of this
section, for the purpose of helping the student maintain regular attendance in school.
(5) The division shall adopt rules to carry out the provisions of this section, including
rules governing eligibility for grants and the form and process for grant applications.
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