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Oregon Senate Extends 'Kaylee’s Law' To Off-Campus Security Firms

An example of a private security firm's vehicle that could be mistaken for law enforcement. The photo was submitted in testimony from the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY STANDARDS AND TRAINING
An example of a private security firm's vehicle that could be mistaken for law enforcement. The photo was submitted in testimony from the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.

The Oregon Senate voted Monday to ban private security firms from using vehicles or uniforms that could be confused with law enforcement agencies.

Senate Bill 116 is modeled after a 2019 measurethat was meant to make it easier for the public to tell the difference between a security guard and a police officer. It applied to college campuses, and was named “Kaylee’s Law” after a student who was murdered by a security officer at Central Oregon Community College.

Sen. James Manning, D-Eugene, urged his colleagues to vote to extend that law to off-campus locations, "to continue to reduce the confusion and make clear that private security providers are not law enforcement officers.”

The measure passed the Oregon Senate 20-10 and now heads to the Oregon House. 

Copyright 2021 KLCC. To see more, visit KLCC.

Chris Lehman has been reporting on Oregon issues since 2006. He joined the KLCC news department in December, 2018. Chris was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and graduated from Temple University with a degree in journalism. His public broadcasting career includes stops in Louisiana and Illinois. Chris has filed for national programs including “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered.”