Modifies what entities may receive restorative justice program grants.

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
A-Engrossed
Senate Bill 938
Ordered by the Senate March 5
Including Senate Amendments dated March 5
Sponsored by Senators PROZANSKI, GORSEK, Representatives CHAICHI, CHOTZEN; Senators PHAM K,
THATCHER, Representative GRAYBER (at the request of Restorative Justice Coalition of Oregon)
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 makes changes to the restorative justice grant program. (Flesch Read-
ability Score: 61.3).
[Digest: The Act changes the restorative justice grant program. The Act goes into effect when the
Governor signs it. (Flesch Readability Score: 66.1). ]
Modifies what entities may receive restorative justice program grants.
Establishes the Restorative Justice Grant Program Account and continuously appropriates
moneys in the account to the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission for the grant program.
[Declares an emergency, effective on passage. ]
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to restorative justice; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 137.679.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
ORS 137.679 is amended to read:
137.679. (1) The Oregon Criminal Justice Commission shall establish a program to award grants
to public and private entities for restorative justice programs.
(2) The commission shall adopt rules to administer the grant program described in subsection
(1) of this section. The rules must:
(a) Define restorative justice for the purpose of grant eligibility criteria.
(b) Specify the application process and eligibility criteria for the grant program, including a
requirement that:
(A) Each applicant demonstrate in the application coordination with community-based organiza-
tions and the ability to work collaboratively with system partners, including local law enforcement
entities, courts, district attorneys and defense attorneys.
(B) Each successful applicant demonstrate in the application how the applicant will center the
experiences of those harmed, encourage those who have caused harm to take responsibility and re-
pair the harm, and support persons who have been harmed, impacted community members and re-
sponsible parties in identifying solutions that promote healing, including promoting dialogue and
mutual agreement.
(c) Include a methodology for reviewing and approving grant applications and distributing grant
funds.
(3) The commission shall convene an advisory committee to evaluate and approve grant awards
under this section.
(4) The commission may award a grant described in this section to a statewide coalition
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 1988
A-Eng. SB 938
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dedicated to the advancement of restorative justice, that does not directly administer or
provide a restorative justice program, but that actively assists or supports other potential
grant recipients in applying for and receiving grants under this section. The commission
shall determine the proportion of grant funds available to an entity described in this sub-
section.
(5) Program participant data reported to the commission pursuant to this section may
be used only for statistical purposes and not for any other purpose, and any data reports
created by the commission may not contain information that reveals the identity of any in-
dividual. Data collected by government agencies or held by the commission pursuant to this
section that may reveal the identity of any individual is exempt from public disclosure in any
manner.
SECTION 2.
(1) The Restorative Justice Grant Program Account is created, separate and
distinct from the General Fund. Interest on the account shall be credited to the account.
(2)(a) Moneys in the account are continuously appropriated to the Oregon Criminal Jus-
tice Commission for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of ORS 137.679.
(b) The commission may accept grants, donations, contributions or gifts from any source
for deposit into the account.
(3) The account consists of:
(a) Moneys that the Legislative Assembly appropriates each biennium, or at any other
time, for deposit into the account;
(b) Interest earned on moneys in the account; and
(c) Other moneys deposited in the account from any source.
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