Establishes the COFA Shared Services Office to assist COFA citizens in applying for and accessing benefits and services.

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Senate Bill 442
Sponsored by Senators PATTERSON, GIROD, NASH; Senators GELSER BLOUIN, LINTHICUM, PROZANSKI,
Representative EVANS (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 as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The Act creates the COFA Shared Services Office. (Flesch Readability Score: 82.3).
Establishes the COFA Shared Services Office to assist COFA citizens in applying for and ac-
cessing benefits and services.
Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to services for COFA citizens; and prescribing an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
(1) As used in this section, “COFA citizen” means an individual who is a
citizen of one of the following countries with a Compact of Free Association with the United
States:
(a) The Republic of the Marshall Islands;
(b) The Federated States of Micronesia; or
(c) The Republic of Palau.
(2) The COFA Shared Services Office is established within the division of the Department
of Human Services and the Oregon Health Authority that is responsible for shared services.
The office shall:
(a) Assist COFA citizens in applying for and accessing:
(A) Any federal, state or local benefits for which they are eligible, including medical as-
sistance as defined in ORS 414.025, housing assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program benefits, temporary assistance for needy families benefits and federal Supplemental
Security Income benefits;
(B) Employment services;
(C) Legal representation; and
(D) Immigration services.
(b) Conduct outreach to inform COFA citizens about the availability of the benefits and
services described in this subsection.
(c) Award grants to community organizations that provide culturally specific services to
COFA citizens and ensure that grant moneys are used effectively to improve COFA citizens’
access to the benefits and services described in this subsection.
(d) Provide incentives to increase the recruitment and retention of traditional health
workers as defined in ORS 414.665 who are qualified to provide culturally specific health care
services to COFA citizens.
(e) Develop and maintain a website that provides information, in the languages spoken
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 235
SB 442
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by COFA citizens, about the office’s services.
(3) The office shall be under the supervision and control of a director who shall be chosen
through an open hiring process. In addition to the director, the office shall include at least
the following staff members:
(a) One innovator agent who shall collaborate with the department, the authority and
coordinated care organizations as defined in ORS 414.025 on improving COFA citizens’ access
to health care services;
(b) One community ambassador; and
(c) Three community outreach specialists.
SECTION 2.
No later than September 15 of each year, the COFA Shared Services Office
shall submit a report in the manner provided by ORS 192.245 to the interim committees of
the Legislative Assembly related to human services regarding the progress of the office in
implementing the functions and duties described in section 1 of this 2025 Act.
SECTION 3. (1) Section 1 of this 2025 Act becomes operative on January 1, 2026.
(2) The Department of Human Services and the Oregon Health Authority may take any
action before the operative date specified in subsection (1) of this section that is necessary
to enable the department and the authority to exercise, on and after the operative date
specified in subsection (1) of this section, all of the duties, functions and powers conferred
on the department and the authority by section 1 of this 2025 Act.
SECTION 4. This 2025 Act takes effect on the 91st day after the date on which the 2025
regular session of the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly adjourns sine die.
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