24/7 Drop Off Receiving and Sobering Services; HB 4002
Multnomah County is implementing House Bill 4002, which made significant changes to Measure 110 with a focus on the timelines in the legislation. These changes will affect many systems within the county and among jurisdictional partners. The County is also working to open sobering services as a part of a new 24/7 drop off receiving and sobering center.
HB 4002 Investments in the FY 2025 budget will support the County’s work to implement a deflection program by September 1, 2024, and collaborate with inter-governmental partners and law enforcement to share definitions, eligibility, and expectations.
Multnomah County will clearly articulate the phasing of its response to this new law and ongoing need for sobering services and connections to withdrawal management, treatment, recovery, and other services. Implementation will happen through partnership with justice and law enforcement partners, behavioral health providers, other jurisdictional partners, and internal County departments.
The FY 2025 budget appropriates $26.9 million of State and City funding for the development of a 24/7 drop off receiving and sobering center. Activities funded under this program will aid in the coordination of the many systems designed to address the region's severe drug and alcohol abuse crisis.
These funds, along with additional State dollars, will also support initial tracking and assessment of the impacts of this new law on the community, with particular regard to racial disparities and disparate impacts for historically marginalized groups.
The Health Department will work in collaboration with the Department of Community Justice and County leadership to develop the necessary services and structures to ensure that individuals have access to resources that support treatment and recovery and that enhance community safety.
This budget note requests the following:
- The County creates a Sobering Services Leadership Team to provide oversight and direction to the creation of sobering services at the 24/7 dropoff receiving and sobering center. This team should include the District 3 Commissioner, the Chair’s office, County leadership, City leadership, internal County departments, and other experts as needed.
- County departments move forward to open a permanent 24/7 drop off receiving and sobering center in alignment with timelines and programmatic elements outlined in the draft Multnomah County 24/7 First Responder Drop off Sobering Center Plan.
- Work with inter-governmental partners to provide public education about how the County is implementing HB 4002.
- Provide one or more Board Briefings no later than August 15, 2024 addressing the following topics:
- The elements of HB 4002 and how they impact County operations and our community
- Overview of deflection programs
- Overview and status of phased launch activities
- Determination of ongoing annual operating expense for comprehensive 24/7 drop off and receiving center with sobering services, transportation, and security
Provide the Board with quarterly updates on the opening of sobering services in or around October 2024, January 2025, March 2025, and June 2025.