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Hello Friends,
This week, we all have heavy hearts as we honor the memory of Kaylee Sawyer with Senate Bill 576. SB 576, also known as Kaylee's law, was created because of a tragic event that sent shock waves throughout Oregon. Kaylee was a 23-year-old bright student at Central Oregon Community College, but on July 24, 2016, she was taken from us after an incident with a campus police officer in Central Oregon. As a result, SB 576 was formed to provide stricter guidelines for campus security officers.
With its implementation, Kaylee's Law will create a distinction between campus security and the police force. The law will require all campus security officers to take mandatory national background checks. It will also remove the rear cage, that prevented Kaylee from escaping from the campus safety vehicles, remove the top bar lights and make sure that 'Campus Safety' is visibly written along the side of the vehicle. Additionally, the red and blue lights will be removed from the vehicle along with the front push bumpers; therefore, distinguishing campus safety vehicles from police force vehicles. With the requirements implemented from Kaylee's Law, precautions are made to prevent another incident like this happening again.
Last month the Senate voted unanimously (29-0, 1 excused) in support of Kaylee's Law and today in the presence of Kaylee's family, the House did the same, (58-0, 2 excused). I was honored to welcome the family of Kaylee Sawyer to the Capitol as they made their way to attend the vote on the House floor.
As parents, we worry about our children when they go off into the real world. Passing this law will not fill the hole left by the loss of Kaylee, but it is a step in the right direction from preventing it from happening to another individual and a family suffering another loss. You can read more about Kaylee's law here: https://www.ktvz.com/news/-kaylee-s-law-passes-oregon-house-unanimously/1078529787
I'd like to thank the chief co-sponsors of the bill for carrying it through the legislative process: Senator Floyd Prozanski, Senator Tim Knopp, Representative Jeff Barker, and Representative Cheri Helt. I'd also like to thank John Hummel, Deschutes County District Attorney and Jim Porter, Chief of Police for Bend Police Department for working on this piece of legislation. Furthermore I'd like to thank the family members of Kaylee Sawyer for their courageous work on this bill:
Jamie Sawyer
Crystal Sawyer
Julie Walden Van Cleave
Jim Walden
Sharon Walden
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach us at 503-987-1453 or email us at rep.jackzika@oregonlegislature.gov
Yours truly,
Jack Zika
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Gone but not forgotten. |
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I had a chance to speak on SB 576 and voice my support to help prevent another tragedy like this from ever happening again. |
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1453
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-387, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.JackZika@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/zika
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