Senate Bill 1065 would establish a Center for Decision Making Supports to coordinate services and alternatives to guardianship, provide information and referrals, and promote supported decision-making and other less-restrictive options for adults with disabilities and older adults.

Supporters included people with personal experience, advocacy organizations and service providers. Jan Friedman, an attorney with Disability Rights Oregon, called the proposal a needed “clearinghouse” for alternatives to guardianship and emphasized that guardianship should be a last resort because it substantially restricts individual autonomy. “Information about alternatives is currently provided by many nonprofits and state agencies, but there's no one go-to place,” Friedman said.

Fred Steele, the state long-term care ombudsman, testified both in his advocacy role and as a representative from the agency that would host the center. Steele said the center fits the ombudsman’s mission of protecting rights and promoting independence but noted that the agency’s executive-branch position does not make a recommendation on bill placement. He said a center could serve families, case managers and providers and direct people to existing legal and advocacy resources.

Witnesses and advocates described the center as an informational and referral resource — not a staffed legal services provider. Committee members asked for clarity: the center would provide technical assistance and referrals to legal or advocacy organizations when people need formal documents such as powers of attorney or advanced directives; it would not itself staff attorneys to draft documents.

Advocates said the center should serve transition-age youth, adults experiencing new disabilities, older adults and families, and that supported decision making already has legal recognition in Oregon practice stakes such as the 2021 law requiring supported decision making to be discussed in transition planning meetings. Supporters asked for the center to provide clear public-facing materials and to coordinate with Centers for Independent Living, case-management entities, The Arc Oregon, Oregon Community Brokerages and Disability Rights Oregon.

The committee closed the public hearing on SB 1065 after a slate of supporters testified; no committee vote was taken during the hearing.